Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro Review: A Deep Dive into Open-Ear Audio
The open wearable stereo (OWS) market has experienced significant growth in recent years, with numerous brands now offering their own iterations. Unlike traditional in-ear earbuds, which insert directly into the ear canal, OWS models position their drivers near the entrance of the ear canal. This design prioritizes situational awareness while potentially compromising passive noise isolation.
[Image of Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro]
The Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro represents the company’s latest contribution to the OWS category. Xiaomi aims to differentiate its offering with a focus on premium build quality. Key performance claims include reduced sound leakage and extended battery life, with an estimated 8.5 hours of playback from the earbuds themselves and up to 45 hours with the charging case.
This review evaluates the OpenWear Stereo Pro, weighing its performance against its pricing of €150/£140.
Table of Contents:
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Design
The OpenWear Stereo Pro earbuds and their accompanying case exhibit a high level of craftsmanship. The earbuds feature a metallic finish encasing the drivers, connected via a TPU component to the rear bulb. While aesthetically pleasing, the glossy surface of the earbuds is prone to fingerprint smudging.
[Image of Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro]
The design incorporates an over-ear hook structure that positions the driver above the ear canal without direct contact. This design promotes comfort, further enhanced by Xiaomi’s three-point support system, designed to distribute pressure evenly.
[Image of Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro]
Each earbud weighs 9.8 grams, while the case weighs 53 grams, resulting in a combined total exceeding 73 grams. The ergonomic design contributes to a comfortable wearing experience, rivaling the best in the OWS category.
[Image of Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro]
The over-ear hook design provides secure placement, even during rigorous activities such as running or workouts, where conventional in-ear TWS earbuds may dislodge.
The case, characterized by its smooth, sculpted form factor, offers a pleasant tactile experience. While not particularly compact, the case’s dimensions are consistent with other OWS earbud designs tested.
[Image of Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro]
The review unit features a Graphite Black finish, with a faux leather lid and a matte bottom half. The case, constructed primarily of plastic, demonstrates a robust build and lacks any creaking sounds. The lid closes with a satisfying snap, with a reassuring hinge mechanism.
The case’s interior features a suede-like lining on the upper section. This material choice is an unusual, premium addition, offering protection for the earbuds’ driver housing and mitigating potential scratches.
[Image of Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro]
The OpenWear Stereo Pro earbuds are rated IP54 for dust and water resistance, while the case lacks ingress protection. The packaging is typical, including the earbuds, charging cable, and user manual.
Features
The OpenWear Stereo Pro earbuds are equipped with a suite of features. They utilize Bluetooth 5.4 and support dual-device pairing, allowing simultaneous connections to two devices. The earbuds also feature 360° head-tracking with surround sound, optimized primarily for media consumption.
[Image of Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro]
Unlike many OWS earbuds, these lack active noise cancellation (ANC), which limits their effectiveness in noisy environments. The on-ear design is more comfortable for extended listening sessions.
Xiaomi claims to have improved sound leakage, a common issue with OWS earbuds, by incorporating a dedicated sound leakage reduction driver that emits reverse-phase sound waves.
Despite these advancements, sound leakage is still noticeable in close proximity, even with Xiaomi’s optimizations.
Control functionality is managed through touch-sensitive controls located on the exterior of the drivers. Single, double, and triple tap gestures, along with press-and-hold functionalities, can be customized.
[Image of Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro]
Adaptive volume, a feature that automatically adjusts volume levels based on ambient noise, presents some challenges. In our testing, the feature struggled to regulate volume effectively in environments with substantial background noise.
The earbuds include an audio recording feature. Users can record up to 120 minutes per earbud, offering a total of 240 minutes of audio recording time. While the recording quality is not exceptional, this feature provides utility for taking audio notes.
Connectivity was consistently reliable throughout testing on Android, iOS, and macOS devices.
Sound Quality
The OpenWear Stereo Pro incorporates custom 18 x 13mm dynamic drivers alongside piezoelectric ceramic tweeters and dual balanced armatures. They support AAC, SBC, and LDAC codecs and utilize Harman audio tuning. The audio quality from OWS earbuds can often be inconsistent due to sound leakage and an imbalanced frequency response.
[Image of Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro]
However, the OpenWear Stereo Pro delivers a surprisingly dynamic soundstage with adequate bass, especially considering the open-ear design. The earbuds provide detailed mids and highs, along with a comfortable over-ear design.
Increasing the volume does not introduce significant distortion. However, the volume needs to be adjusted in noisier environments due to sound leakage.
[Image of Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro]
The OpenWear Stereo Pro’s sound output offers improved detail compared to similar offerings such as the Nothing Ear (open), featuring deeper bass and a more vibrant soundstage.
Xiaomi provides four pre-set EQ modes, including Harman Master and Harman AudioEFX, alongside treble and voice enhancement modes. The Harman Master preset, in our experience, provides a wider soundstage and enhanced detail.
Microphone performance is adequate for indoor environments, delivering clear voice reception. However, the microphone struggles to perform in noisy environments.
Battery Life
Xiaomi claims a battery life of up to 8.5 hours of playback from the earbuds, extending to 45 hours in combination with the charging case. Each earbud has a 56 mAh battery, while the charging case holds a 700 mAh battery.
[Image of Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro]
Our testing yielded consistent playback of over 8 hours from the earbuds, with the case providing five full recharges. This level of battery endurance proves more than sufficient for multiple days of moderate to heavy usage.
The case charges via USB-C. A full charge, from 0 to 100%, takes over two hours, while a quick 10-minute charge provides approximately two hours of playback.
Verdict
The Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro presents a compelling option in the OWS category, offering detailed audio, environmental awareness, and impressive battery life. The earbuds feature a premium design and a comprehensive feature set.
[Image of Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro]
The over-ear design eliminates ear fatigue during extended use, and the even weight distribution contributes to the overall positive experience. The sound output is surprisingly rich for an OWS product, though volume adjustments are required in noisy environments. While Xiaomi has attempted to mitigate sound leakage, it remains a factor in everyday use, as expected with this form factor.
At a price point of €150/£140, the OpenWear Stereo Pro offers a balanced combination of features, aesthetics, comfort, and battery life. Although more value can be found in traditional in-ear TWS earbuds with ANC, those are not direct competitors. The OpenWear Stereo Pro is among the best OWS earbuds tested to date.
[Image of Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro]
In certain markets, Xiaomi bundles the OpenWear Stereo Pro with the Xiaomi 15T Pro, enhancing the value proposition.
