Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro Review: Stylish Open-Ear Headphones with Impressive Sound

Explore the stylish design and remarkable sound quality of Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro, open-ear headphones crafted for comfort and clarity.

The Rise of Open-Ear Headphones: A Fresh Take on Comfort

Open-ear earbuds are increasingly capturing the hearts of audio enthusiasts who prioritize freedom of movement and ear comfort. Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro is the latest entrant in this growing category, offering a compelling blend of style, function, and sound at a wallet-friendly price.

For those who’ve wrestled with in-ear buds that never quite fit right or found over-ear headphones too bulky, this open-ear design with ear hooks presents a breath of fresh air. Xiaomi has packed the OpenWear Stereo Pro with thoughtful tech like multiple balanced armature drivers, audio tuned by Harman, and even sound recording capabilities. Let’s dive into what makes these headphones stand out.

Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro at a Glance

Before we unpack the details, here’s a quick snapshot of what these headphones bring to the table:

• 18 x 13 mm dynamic drivers with multiple magnets
• Piezoelectric ceramic tweeter for crisp highs
• Frequency response: 20 Hz–40 kHz
• Touch controls for easy operation
• Lightweight open-ear design (9.7 grams per earbud)
• Stylish, vegan leather carrying case with suede lining
• IP54 dust and water resistance rating
• Built-in audio recording feature
• Support for LDAC codec for high-res sound
• Dual-device Bluetooth connectivity
• AI-generated subtitles support (exclusive to Xiaomi 15 phones)

Technical Specs and Color Options

Effortless Pairing and Smart App Features

Pairing the OpenWear Stereo Pro is as easy as opening the case—the earbuds instantly jump into pairing mode. You can enjoy Bluetooth streaming right away without the app, but installing the Xiaomi Earbuds app (available on both iOS and Android) unlocks a treasure trove of features.

Once connected, the app displays battery levels, lets you tweak the sound profile, and enables immersive audio modes like spatial sound that tracks head movement for a surround-sound vibe.

Design and Comfort: Featherlight Elegance

One of the biggest selling points is the weight: just 9.7 grams per earbud, including the driver, ear hooks, and battery. The combination of metal and soft thermoplastic polyurethane feels premium, while the titanium wire inside the flexible cable adds durability.

The Sand Gold color option is especially classy—it blends subtly with your skin tone, perfect if you want your earbuds to fly under the radar.

The vegan leather charging case with a soft suede interior not only looks sharp but keeps the buds scratch-free.

Fitting these headphones is a breeze—they don’t plug deep into your ear canal. Instead, the cable hooks behind your ear and the earbuds rest comfortably without sealing off your ear. The battery placement on the rear cable helps balance the weight, making you forget you’re wearing them.

However, fit can vary if your ears are unusually large or small, and while they hold up well during moderate activity like a 5K run or gym session, some slight movement and occasional sound fluctuations are possible. Thanks to their IP54 rating, sweat and dust won’t slow them down.

Intuitive Controls and Handy Features

The touch controls feel familiar: tap, double-tap, triple-tap, and long-press actions are customizable via the app. You can skip tracks, pause music, adjust volume, record audio, or summon your phone’s voice assistant—all at your fingertips.

Though there’s no full-fledged equalizer, you can select from presets like Harman Master or Harman AudioEFX, and boost either treble or vocals to your liking.

The adaptive volume feature works by analyzing ambient noise and adjusting levels automatically. It’s a neat idea, but the implementation can be hit-or-miss—sometimes the volume drops unexpectedly or stays low despite noisy surroundings.

The Dimensional Audio setting splits into two modes: “Immersive Sound,” which narrows the focus for a more in-ear sensation, and “Head Movement Tracking,” which follows your head’s motion for spatial audio effects. It works, but isn’t as impressively dynamic as some other spatial sound systems out there.

Recording audio with a tap is a unique addition—each earbud can record up to 120 minutes directly from the sound signal. While the recorded quality dips compared to the original, it’s a handy feature for capturing calls or lectures on the fly.

Sound Quality That Surprises

Surprisingly, the Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro delivers robust sound despite lacking a sealed ear canal fit—a typical challenge for open-ear designs, which often suffer from weak bass.

Here, the bass is crisp and satisfying, if not as thunderous as traditional in-ear buds. The mids and highs shine with clarity and detail thanks to Harman’s tuned sound profile. When you toggle off the Harman preset, the sonic precision noticeably declines, so sticking with the Harman AudioEFX setting is highly recommended.

Even at max volume, harmonic distortion remains minimal across frequencies, yielding a clean, linear sound stage all the way through. Calls come through loud and clear indoors or outside, which is always a bonus.

Of course, there’s no noise cancellation—active or passive—because the design leaves your ears open to ambient sounds. This can be a blessing or a curse depending on your environment: running safely near traffic is easier, but drowning out a crying baby on a plane is impossible.

Battery Life and Charging Experience

Xiaomi claims 8.5 hours of continuous playback on a single charge. In real-world use, 50% battery lasted about 4 hours on medium volume with Harman AudioEFX enabled—a respectable match.

Each earbud packs a 56 mAh battery, while the charging case carries a hefty 700 mAh cell that extends total usage time up to 45 hours (nearly two days). Charging is via USB-C, but sadly no wireless charging here.

A quick 10-minute charge from the case nets roughly 2 hours of playback, while a full charge of the earbuds takes about an hour—convenient for daily routines.

Final Thoughts: A Stylish and Sound-Savvy Choice for Open-Ear Fans

Open-ear earbuds like the Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro are carving out their niche for those who find in-ear models uncomfortable and over-ear designs too cumbersome. For sensitive ears and on-the-go lifestyles, this style is a breath of fresh air.

The OpenWear Stereo Pro nails the essentials: featherlight comfort, premium build, and superb sound quality that defies expectations for open-ear buds. Intuitive controls, handy app features, and solid battery life make them a winner.

They’re not without compromises—no active noise cancellation and a fit that may not suit every ear—but these are small prices for the comfort and situational awareness they provide.

Priced reasonably around $130 USD, they deliver excellent value for anyone seeking stylish headphones that keep you connected to your music and the world around you.

"Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro is a brilliant example of successful design. They are very comfortable, and the sound quality is simply magnificent."

FAQ

• What makes open-ear headphones like the Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro comfortable?
  Their design avoids sealing off the ear canal, reducing ear fatigue and allowing ambient sounds in for situational awareness.
• Do Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro headphones support noise cancellation?
  No, these are open-ear headphones designed without active or passive noise cancellation.
• How long does the battery last on these headphones?
  You get about 8.5 hours of playback per charge and up to 45 hours total with the charging case.
• Can I connect these headphones to two devices simultaneously?
  Yes, they support multipoint Bluetooth connectivity for seamless switching between two devices.
• Is there an app to customize the headphone settings?
  Yes, the Xiaomi Earbuds app allows you to adjust sound profiles, manage touch controls, and activate immersive audio features.

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