Xiaomi's First Clip-On Earbuds Are Official — 38 Hours, LHDC 5.0, and 5.5g Design
Xiaomi NewsMonday, 01 June 2026 at 08:53
Xiaomi launched its first-ever clip-on earbuds last week alongside the Xiaomi 17 Max. The design is earclip rather than in-ear — sitting on the outer ear rather than inserting into the canal. At 5.5 grams per earbud, they're among the lightest clip-style audio products currently available, and the spec sheet punches well above what that weight suggests.
Key Points
- Xiaomi's first clip-on earbuds officially launched May 21 alongside the Xiaomi 17 Max and Smart Band 10 Pro — a Xiaomi-branded product, not Redmi
- 11mm drivers with a microcrystalline metal-coated diaphragm — LHDC 5.0 transmission with Hi-Res Audio certification and HD audio decoding
- 5.5 grams per earbud, IP57 dust and water resistance — earclip form factor keeps ears fully open for ambient awareness
- Up to 38 hours total battery life including the charging case — USB-C case with built-in Find My Device speaker for location tracking
- 3-microphone array with VPU-powered call noise reduction, smart translation across 21 languages, Xiao Ai AI assistant integration, and independent recording with smart summaries
The Clip Design — Why It Matters
In-ear earbuds create isolation — useful for music, frustrating when you need to hear your environment. The earclip format keeps the ear canal open, making ambient sound natural while audio plays simultaneously. For commuters who need situational awareness, office workers on frequent calls, and runners who need to hear traffic, the open-ear design solves problems that ANC earbuds create.
At 5.5 grams, the earbuds are light enough to wear for extended periods without physical fatigue. The C-bridge and dual-end touch controls handle playback, calls, and volume without requiring a separate app to navigate basic functions.
Flagship Audio in a Clip Form Factor
The LHDC 5.0 codec supports up to 990kbps audio streaming — substantially higher bandwidth than LDAC at similar bitrates, and far above standard AAC and SBC. Combined with Hi-Res Audio certification and the 11mm microcrystalline metal-coated diaphragm, Xiaomi is positioning these earbuds as quality audio accessories rather than a novelty product.
Reverse sound wave technology prevents audio leakage from the open-back design — a critical engineering requirement for earclip earphones that allows high-volume listening without disturbing people nearby.
AI Features Beyond Playback
The 21-language smart translation, Xiao Ai conversational assistant, and one-tap recording with AI-generated summaries position the earbuds within Xiaomi's broader HyperOS ecosystem. These aren't just audio devices — they're AI accessories that work alongside Xiaomi smartphones for productivity and communication tasks.
Pricing confirmed at launch — available now in China through Xiaomi's official channels.
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