Tested: Redmi Buds 4 Lite - Haylou X1 Neo - Thinkplus LP40pro
The Redmi Buds 4 Lite has arrived, and for the first time in the series, it now has an AirPods-like design instead of a bean-shape with rubber ear tips. How good is the new model?
This is not just a review, but also a comparison to two other popular AirPods-like earbuds from AliExpress: the Haylou X1 Neo and the $10 (!) Lenovo Thinkplus LP40 Pro. Which is the best?
I've tested nearly all of the predecessors of the Redmi Buds 4 Lite on Scarbir.com, including the original Xiaomi Redmi Airdots, the Redmi Airdots 2, Redmi Airdots S, Redmi Airdots 3, Redmi Buds 3 Lite, and Redmi Buds 4 and Redmi Buds 4 Pro. While all these models score well in terms of comfort and value for money, not a single model got the highest score on this site, as nearly all Redmi models have the tendency to sound a little harsh and messy.
However, the Redmi Buds 4 Lite is the first model to drop the rubber ear-tips and instead come with an Apple AirPods 3-like design. Does Redmi finally get a high score?
Here's my review after extensive testing, including a comparison and reviews for the popular competitors Haylou X1 Neo and Lenovo Thinkplus LP40pro.
Redmi Buds 4 Lite review: Value for money with a tricky fit
$25 — 5 hours playtime — SBC Codec — IP54 Waterproof
The Redmi Buds 4 Lite (also known as Redmi Buds 4 Youth Edition) is the first in the series to ditch the rubber ear-tips and go for an AirPods-like design. It's comfortable to wear, but not without some flaws.
The earpiece of the Redmi Buds 4 Lite/ Youth Edition looks a lot like that of the Apple AirPods Pro 3, although it has an even bigger speaker hole. It has all the advantages of so-called ‘half-in-ears’. You can just hang them in your ears, and they will stay in comfortably and easily. You can still hear traffic and sounds around you when you wear them, and thanks to the IP54 waterproof rating, they survive rain and sweat.
However, the execution of the form factor is a tad tricky. You may have to put the Redmi Buds 4 Lite in your ears a little deeper than usual to get the most out of the sound, and may have to readjust them after gasping or smiling broadly. If you don't, the speakers drift away from your ear canal a bit, resulting in a loss of depth and warmth in the sound. It can be so bad, these earbuds sound like nothing more than a cheap, shrill bathroom speaker.
With the best fit, the Redmi Buds 4 Lite not only has a decent (mid-)bass slam, but also throws in some thumping and rumbling in the bass area. Music gets its warmth and fullness from subtly elevated lower frequencies, meaning drums, lower male vocals, and darker electronic tones are lightly emphasized. Higher voices, both male and female, have a neutral tonality: vocals don't sound cold or warm. As highs roll-off quick enough, the treble is never harsh or too sharp - but higher vocals can feel a little flat as a result. Overall, music is less fuzzy and sharp than previous Redmi Buds - but you do need to push them in your ears a bit to get it right.
When it comes to features, the Redmi Buds 4 Lite reminds you that it costs just 25 dollars. The matte black USB-C-powered charging case scratches very easily (you may want to go for another colour), and there's no auto-pausing music when you take an earbud out. Controls are limited too, as you can't change volume. You can activate the gaming mode, though, by holding down the two buds - reducing the delay in sound effects when you're playing games quite well. Playing videos isn't a problem at all.
The newest Redmi is also serviceable for calling. Your voice comes in clear and full in phone and video calls, and other sound effects are reduced neatly. Wind is still an enemy, though.
The Redmi Buds 4 Lite is a solid all-around pair of wireless earbuds for its low price, with good call quality, battery life and comfort - although the buds require a bit too much fiddling to get the most out of the sound.
Design and comfort: 3/5 - Comfortable, but needs fiddling to get the best sound
Controls and connectivity: 3/5 - Misses volume controls; cumbersome re-pairing on another Bluetooth device
Playback: 4/5 - Great for videos, solid gaming mode performance
Call quality: 3.5/5 - Full and clear voice, reduces surrounding noise well
ANC: n/a
Transparency mode: n/a
App support: n/a
Sound quality: 4/5 - Friendly sound tuning - if you push them in deep enough
VERDICT: FOUR STARS (Good)
$20 - $30
Buy on AliExpress
Haylou X1 Neo review: Better than Redmi Buds 4 Lite?
$25 — 5 hours playtime — SBC Codec — IPX4 waterproof
The still new Haylou X1 Neo are one of the most popular AirPods-like earbuds on AliExpress in early 2023. Do they deserve the high praise from the many buyers? It depends on what you use them for.
The Haylou X1 Neo immediately shows what the Redmi Buds 4 Lite does better: the wearing looks. No matter how you put the X1 Neo in; the stems always fall a bit weird from your cheeks, giving them a bit of a cheap look. That said, these ‘half-in-ears’ are extremely comfortable. They're light and super easy to wear, while they still stay snugly in your ears, and survive a shake test or workout. Thanks to the IPX4 waterproof rating, they'll survive a bit of light rain and sweat too.
The charging case may be a bit round too round to wear in a jeans pocket, but overall usability of the Haylou X1 Neo is decent. They connect easily and quickly, and respond well to your touches. There are no volume controls on the earbuds, and music doesn't automatically pause when you take an earbud out.
It's doable to take a phone or video call with them, as long as you avoid talking in the wind directly. Your voice comes across clear and full and sound around you are reduced well - even though it can sound like you're calling from a hollow room.
The X1 Neo's gaming mode is truly excellent. It synchronizes sound effects incredibly well with the action on your screen, and its sound profile also ensures you'll pick up footsteps and gunshots around you. In fact, you have to turn the gaming mode off for video playback - otherwise the sound will go faster than the video!
The sound is the biggest difference from the Redmi Buds 4 Lite, with more focus on treble. Mid-tones are clear and higher vocals are crisp and put forward from the rest of the music. This gives the Haylou a vibrant sound, but the clarity has a downside. Especially when you turn the music up, the upper-mid tones and highs can sound sharp or tiring to listen to. You should be very fine up to moderate volume, however, when there's also a pleasant airiness and nice left-right separation in the sound. Music on the Haylou X1 Neo is less full than on the Redmi Buds 4 Lite, but this gives breathing room to details that can make songs more engaging.
There's little reason to pick the Haylou X1 Neo over the Redmi Buds 4 Lite or the other way around - apart from one specific reason: the gaming performance of the Haylou might just be the best-in-class.
Design and comfort: 4/5 - Very comfortable; but looks cheap because of the fit
Controls and connectivity: 3/5 - Misses volume controls
Playback: 4.5/5 - Outstanding gaming performance, but turn the function off for proper video playback
Call quality: 3.5/5 - A tad hollow, but full and clear even with surrounding noise
ANC: n/a
Transparency mode: n/a
App support: n/a
Sound quality: 4/5 - Vibrant and crisp, yet sharp on higher volumes
VERDICT: FOUR STARS (Good)
$15 - $25
Buy on AliExpress
Lenovo Thinkplus LP40 Pro review: Are these 10 dollar earbuds really that good?
$10 - 5 hours playtime — SBC Codec — No waterproof rating
Or should you go even cheaper than the Redmi Buds 4 Lite? The best-selling Lenovo Thinkplus LP40 Pro only costs a tenner (!) on AliExpress… and it's popular for a reason.
The Thinkplus LP40 Pro is one of the many, many, many wireless Lenovo earbuds you can get on AliExpress for 10 to 15 dollars, like the previously reviewed X18/ LP1. This time around, it's actually in interesting model. That's because the internal chipset is good enough to establish a mostly quick and reliable Bluetooth connection (even though you may have to manually activate on of the earbuds after taking them out of the case)… and because of the interesting design.
The LP4 Pro seeks the middle-ground between earbuds with a rubber-tip, and AirPods-like ‘half-in-ears’. It mounts a very slim, thin rubber ear-tip on its earpieces. It comes in two sizes, and with the right size, it fits just as secure as a full ear-tip earphone, and almost as comfortable and easy like the other earbuds on this page. It can feel a bit more present and tiring to wear after a few hours. Still, this form factor previously only seen on the 1more ComfoBuds 2, is a good compromise.
So what more can you expect from a 10 dollars TWS?
Well, the basics. It lacks a waterproof rating, has simple controls (meaning it misses volume controls and auto-pausing), and you won't find a gaming mode here. But it's actually doable to take a phone and video call. Sure, there are crackles on the line and wind kills off your voice instantly, but your voice itself sounds clear, and noise is reduced fairly well. That's a surprise.
When it comes to sound, the Lenovo LP40 Pro hardly surprises: it's not very refined. Higher-vocals are forward enough to provide some clarity, but sound nasal and closed-in. Instruments are separated well from each other, but songs can become a little muddy on higher volumes. The bass barely sets itself apart from other frequencies and is limited to minor mid-bass slams. For background listening, music at least gets a comfortable warmth from boosted lower-mids and its darker-than-average tonality. It could have been much worse.
If money counts, the $10 Lenovo Thinkplus LP40 Pro has you covered, with a comfortable yet sturdy fit, decent call quality and non-offensive sound.
Design and comfort: 3.5/5 - A sturdier, yet less comfortable fit than other half-in-ears
Controls and connectivity: 2.5/5 - Misses volume controls, one earbud requires manual turning on sometimes
Playback: 2.5/5 - Good for videos, heavy delay in gaming sound effects
Call quality: 2.5/5 - Comes with crackles, but (indoor) phone calls are doable
ANC: n/a
Transparency mode: n/a
App support: n/a
Sound quality: 3/5 - Unrefined yet serviceable
VERDICT: FOUR STARS (Good)
$10 - $15
Buy on AliExpress
Concusion: Redmi Buds 4 Lite or another?
Like the models that came before it, the Redmi Buds 4 Lite is a safe purchase if you're looking for affordable wireless earbuds for all-around everyday use. Unfortunately though, it's nothing groundbreaking.
Its new ear-tip-less approach doesn't make it more user-friendly than the predecessors. While the Redmi Buds 4 Lite is comfortable to wear, it isn't helpful that you need a relatively deep insertion to get the most out of the sound.
As such, the Haylou X1 Neo may be a better alternative to you, especially when you often game with your earbuds, while the cheaper Lenovo LP40 Pro may also suffice.
Bonus: Redmi Buds 4 Lite vs Redmi Buds 3 Lite and Tozo A3
If you don't mind rubber ear-tips on your earphones, the older Redmi Buds 3 Lite may be a better choice than the newer Redmi Buds 4 Lite.
As its earpieces are stemless and round, they disappear into your ears, even making it possible to side-sleep with them when you have bigger ears. They also have a solid gaming mode, decent call quality, and a friendly if a somewhat brighter sound.
If you're looking for cheap AirPods-like earbuds and want a fun sound, also look at the $20 Tozo A3 that entertains with a strong bass and tons of warmth. If you want to have good sound quality and use your earbuds for calls, you may have to increase your budget to the $35 SoundPEATS Air3 or the even better $50 SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS.
Also read: The best wireless earbuds under $25!
Disclaimer: I bought these TWS true wireless earbuds myself or I received these products from the manufacturer or a distributor. I test and review all audio products equally honest - read about it here.
Consider buying this earphone? I'd really appreciate it if you use the links in this article. It won't cost you extra, yet it will financially support me a bit in my ongoing quest for great affordable audio. <3
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