POCO has introduced its latest true wireless earbuds, the Poco Buds X1, in India, aiming to deliver quality audio at an affordable price of just Rs. 1,699. These earbuds promise a great experience with features like 46dB Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), a lightweight design, and up to 38 hours of battery life with the case. Let’s take a closer look at what the Poco Buds X1 offers and whether they’re worth the price.
What’s Inside the Box?
When you purchase the Poco Buds X1, here’s what you’ll find inside the box:
– Poco Buds X1 in Titanium color
– Ear tips in Small and Large sizes (Medium is pre-installed)
– User manual
The packaging is straightforward, providing everything you need to get started with your new earbuds.
Design and Build Quality:
The Poco Buds X1 comes in a stylish oval-shaped charging case that has a matte finish, making it feel comfortable to hold and resistant to fingerprints and scratches. The POCO branding is elegantly placed on the back, and there’s an LED indicator on the front that lights up in white to show the charging status.
The charging case measures 57 x 55.9 x 26.8mm and weighs 38.5 grams, which makes it compact and easy to carry around in your pocket. At the bottom of the case, you’ll find the USB Type-C port and a pairing button.
Opening the case reveals the earbuds’ slots, where they securely fit in without falling out easily. The earbuds themselves have a glossy plastic finish and are lightweight, weighing just 4.2 grams each. They feature an in-ear design that stays put even during activities like running or cycling.
While the earbuds look good, they do tend to attract fingerprints due to their glossy finish. The earbuds are also rated IP54, meaning they are resistant to dust and water splashes, so you don’t have to worry about using them in light rain.
Connectivity and Controls:
The Poco Buds X1 uses Bluetooth 5.3 technology, which ensures a stable connection with your device. They support SBC and AAC audio codecs for quality sound. Pairing them with your device is simple: remove the earbuds from the case, and they automatically enter pairing mode. You can then find ‘Poco Buds X1’ in your device’s Bluetooth settings and connect.
The earbuds also support Google Fast Pair, which makes connecting them to Android devices even more seamless. You can switch between multiple devices, but the Poco Buds X1 does not support connecting to two devices simultaneously.
The touch controls on both earbuds allow you to manage your music and calls effortlessly. Here’s what you can do:
– Double tap to play/pause music or answer a call
– Triple tap to skip to the next song
– Press and hold to switch between noise cancellation modes
The Xiaomi Earbuds app on Android and iOS lets you customize these controls, including enabling volume control. You can assign different actions for single, double, and triple taps, as well as for press and hold gestures.
Sound Quality:
The Poco Buds X1 are equipped with 12.4mm dynamic drivers and a titanium-plated polymer diaphragm, which ensures clear and crisp audio quality. High and mid-range frequencies are handled well, but the bass might be a little low for those who love deep, booming sounds. You can adjust the sound settings using the EQ options available in the app.
Even at 50% volume, the earbuds produce loud sounds, though you might experience some audio leakage at higher volumes.
Noise Cancellation and Call Performance:
One of the standout features of the Poco Buds X1 is its 46dB Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). It effectively blocks out ambient noise, making it easier to focus on your music or calls. You can easily switch between ANC, transparency, and normal modes by pressing and holding the touch controls.
The transparency mode is particularly useful when you want to stay aware of your surroundings, allowing external sounds to filter through. Although the earbuds lack a dedicated low-latency gaming mode, they still offer 60ms low latency, which is good enough for most users.
Call quality is impressive, thanks to the dual microphones and AI noise reduction technology. It cuts out background noise, including wind, ensuring clear communication even in noisy environments.
Battery Life:
The Poco Buds X1 offers a battery life of up to 7 hours on a single charge without ANC. With ANC enabled you can expect around 5.5 hours of playback at 50% volume. When making calls with ANC on, the battery lasts about 4 hours.
The charging case, with its 480mAh battery, extends the total battery life to 38 hours without ANC. Charging the earbuds and the case takes about 2 hours, but fast charging gives you 2 hours of playback with just 10 minutes of charging.
Pricing and Availability:
The Poco Buds X1 is available at an introductory price of Rs. 1,699 on Flipkart starting August 5th. With its features and price point, it’s a compelling option for budget-conscious buyers.
FAQs:
- Can I use the Poco Buds X1 for workouts?
Yes, the Poco Buds X1 is suitable for workouts. With its IP54 rating, the earbuds are resistant to dust and water splashes, making them ideal for activities like running, cycling, and light exercises.
- How do I control the noise cancellation features on the Poco Buds X1?
Controlling the noise cancellation features on the Poco Buds X1 is easy. You can switch between ANC, transparency, and normal modes by pressing and holding the touch controls on the earbuds. You can also customize the controls using the Xiaomi Earbuds app.
Bottom Up:
The Poco Buds X1 is an excellent choice for those looking for budget-friendly true wireless earbuds with ANC capabilities. While it lacks some features like in-ear detection and dual-device pairing, it makes up for it with impressive noise cancellation, call quality, and long battery life. For the price of Rs. 1,699, the Poco Buds X1 offers great value.