The first ever Wi-Fi earbuds are here
Qualcomm claims Wi-Fi can even use less power than Bluetooth when streaming the same audio quality
Xiaomi has announced the Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi, the first earbuds to use Qualcomm's XPAN technology. This new tech allows wireless audio streaming over Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth, delivering better sound quality and lower latency.
Qualcomm says Wi-Fi offers higher-quality sound with less delay, something Bluetooth struggles with. Powered by Qualcomm's S7 Pro chip, the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi can stream 4.2Mbps lossless audio, much better than what Bluetooth allows.
Even more impressive, this high-quality audio does not drain the battery faster. In fact, Qualcomm claims Wi-Fi can even use less power than Bluetooth when streaming the same audio quality.
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Another advantage is extended range. As long as you stay connected to your Wi-Fi network, you can move freely without losing connection. However, to use XPAN, you need a Snapdragon-powered phone. For now, the feature is only available on the Xiaomi 15 and 15 Ultra, but it may come to other devices soon.
According to The Verge, the Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi share the same features as the Bluetooth version. These include active noise cancellation (up to 55 decibels), 40 hours of battery life with the case, wind noise reduction, and gesture controls. There are also AI-powered transcription and translation features.
The Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi will retail for €219.99 (~$228). Xiaomi has not confirmed which countries will get them first, but these groundbreaking earbuds are expected to launch in multiple markets soon.
