The AirDots (not to be confused with the AirPods, given the same white color) comes with a charging case. Xiaomi says the US$29 AirDots provide 4 hours of listening time per charge -- an hour short of the US$159 AirPods. (Picture: Xiaomi)
The AirDots (not to be confused with the AirPods, given the same white color) comes with a charging case. Xiaomi says the US$29 AirDots provide 4 hours of listening time per charge -- an hour short of the US$159 AirPods. (Picture: Xiaomi)
The AirDots connect via Bluetooth 5.0. If you own a Xiaomi smartphone, you can also tap the earbuds to bring up Xiaomi’s voice assistant, Xiao Ai. (Picture: Xiaomi)
The AirDots connect via Bluetooth 5.0. If you own a Xiaomi smartphone, you can also tap the earbuds to bring up Xiaomi’s voice assistant, Xiao Ai. (Picture: Xiaomi)
Huawei’s FreeBuds aren’t exactly free. But at US$115, they give you 3 hours of listening time on a single charge. They also come with silicone tips for better sound isolation and a more secure fit. (Picture: Huawei)
Huawei’s FreeBuds aren’t exactly free. But at US$115, they give you 3 hours of listening time on a single charge. They also come with silicone tips for better sound isolation and a more secure fit. (Picture: Huawei)
Weighing around 0.2 ounces, the FreeBuds are slightly heavier than the 0.14-ounce AirPods. And yes, it comes in black. (Picture: Huawei)
Weighing around 0.2 ounces, the FreeBuds are slightly heavier than the 0.14-ounce AirPods. And yes, it comes in black. (Picture: Huawei)
Named FlyPods, these AirPods lookalikes come from Huawei’s budget sub-brand Honor. The Pro version lets users unlock their phone through voice recognition. (Picture: Honor)
Named FlyPods, these AirPods lookalikes come from Huawei’s budget sub-brand Honor. The Pro version lets users unlock their phone through voice recognition. (Picture: Honor)
Honor’s FlyPods case can be charged wirelessly. Prices for the earbuds range from US$115 to US$144. (Picture: Honor)
Honor’s FlyPods case can be charged wirelessly. Prices for the earbuds range from US$115 to US$144. (Picture: Honor)
Oppo’s O-Free stand out from the crowd with their gradient color, similar to the company’s flagship Find X smartphone. (Picture: Oppo)
Oppo’s O-Free stand out from the crowd with their gradient color, similar to the company’s flagship Find X smartphone. (Picture: Oppo)
The US$100 O-Free is said to support real-time translation: When one person speaks to the phone in English, another person wearing the earbuds can hear the same words in Chinese. (Picture: Oppo)
The US$100 O-Free is said to support real-time translation: When one person speaks to the phone in English, another person wearing the earbuds can hear the same words in Chinese. (Picture: Oppo)
Like many other bluetooth earbuds, Meizu’s POP respond to touch controls to answer calls or bring up the voice assistant. (Picture: Meizu)
Like many other bluetooth earbuds, Meizu’s POP respond to touch controls to answer calls or bring up the voice assistant. (Picture: Meizu)
The Meizu POP case is compatible with Qi wireless charging. The earbuds cost only US$72 in China, charging pad excluded. (Picture: Meizu)
The Meizu POP case is compatible with Qi wireless charging. The earbuds cost only US$72 in China, charging pad excluded. (Picture: Meizu)
Mobvoi, a Beijing-based startup, raised US$2.8 million on Indiegogo to crowdfund the TicPods Free. Like Huawei’s FreeBuds, they also come with silicone tips. (Picture: Mobvoi)
Mobvoi, a Beijing-based startup, raised US$2.8 million on Indiegogo to crowdfund the TicPods Free. Like Huawei’s FreeBuds, they also come with silicone tips. (Picture: Mobvoi)
Also like the FreeBuds, The TicPods Free are also not free. But at US$128, they’re around US$30 cheaper than Apple’s AirPods. They are compatible with Amazon’s Alexa, Google’s Assistant, and Apple’s Siri. (Picture Mobvoi)
Also like the FreeBuds, The TicPods Free are also not free. But at US$128, they’re around US$30 cheaper than Apple’s AirPods. They are compatible with Amazon’s Alexa, Google’s Assistant, and Apple’s Siri. (Picture Mobvoi)
Various AirPods knockoffs are available on Taobao, Alibaba’s online shopping platform, for as little as US$28. I haven’t tried these myself, but I did buy a pair of fake EarPods once. The audio quality was terrible. (Abacus is a unit of the South China Morning Post, which is owned by Alibaba.)
Various AirPods knockoffs are available on Taobao, Alibaba’s online shopping platform, for as little as US$28. I haven’t tried these myself, but I did buy a pair of fake EarPods once. The audio quality was terrible. (Abacus is a unit of the South China Morning Post, which is owned by Alibaba.)
Abacus /  Tech

Seven AirPods-style earbuds that cost less

Budget alternatives from Xiaomi, Huawei, Oppo... and Taobao

Topic |   Xiaomi
Karen Chiu
Karen Chiu

Updated: 8:44am, 20 Sep, 2019

Why you can trust SCMP
The AirDots (not to be confused with the AirPods, given the same white color) comes with a charging case. Xiaomi says the US$29 AirDots provide 4 hours of listening time per charge -- an hour short of the US$159 AirPods. (Picture: Xiaomi)
The AirDots (not to be confused with the AirPods, given the same white color) comes with a charging case. Xiaomi says the US$29 AirDots provide 4 hours of listening time per charge -- an hour short of the US$159 AirPods. (Picture: Xiaomi)
The AirDots connect via Bluetooth 5.0. If you own a Xiaomi smartphone, you can also tap the earbuds to bring up Xiaomi’s voice assistant, Xiao Ai. (Picture: Xiaomi)
The AirDots connect via Bluetooth 5.0. If you own a Xiaomi smartphone, you can also tap the earbuds to bring up Xiaomi’s voice assistant, Xiao Ai. (Picture: Xiaomi)
Huawei’s FreeBuds aren’t exactly free. But at US$115, they give you 3 hours of listening time on a single charge. They also come with silicone tips for better sound isolation and a more secure fit. (Picture: Huawei)
Huawei’s FreeBuds aren’t exactly free. But at US$115, they give you 3 hours of listening time on a single charge. They also come with silicone tips for better sound isolation and a more secure fit. (Picture: Huawei)
Weighing around 0.2 ounces, the FreeBuds are slightly heavier than the 0.14-ounce AirPods. And yes, it comes in black. (Picture: Huawei)
Weighing around 0.2 ounces, the FreeBuds are slightly heavier than the 0.14-ounce AirPods. And yes, it comes in black. (Picture: Huawei)
Named FlyPods, these AirPods lookalikes come from Huawei’s budget sub-brand Honor. The Pro version lets users unlock their phone through voice recognition. (Picture: Honor)
Named FlyPods, these AirPods lookalikes come from Huawei’s budget sub-brand Honor. The Pro version lets users unlock their phone through voice recognition. (Picture: Honor)
Honor’s FlyPods case can be charged wirelessly. Prices for the earbuds range from US$115 to US$144. (Picture: Honor)
Honor’s FlyPods case can be charged wirelessly. Prices for the earbuds range from US$115 to US$144. (Picture: Honor)
Oppo’s O-Free stand out from the crowd with their gradient color, similar to the company’s flagship Find X smartphone. (Picture: Oppo)
Oppo’s O-Free stand out from the crowd with their gradient color, similar to the company’s flagship Find X smartphone. (Picture: Oppo)
The US$100 O-Free is said to support real-time translation: When one person speaks to the phone in English, another person wearing the earbuds can hear the same words in Chinese. (Picture: Oppo)
The US$100 O-Free is said to support real-time translation: When one person speaks to the phone in English, another person wearing the earbuds can hear the same words in Chinese. (Picture: Oppo)
Like many other bluetooth earbuds, Meizu’s POP respond to touch controls to answer calls or bring up the voice assistant. (Picture: Meizu)
Like many other bluetooth earbuds, Meizu’s POP respond to touch controls to answer calls or bring up the voice assistant. (Picture: Meizu)
The Meizu POP case is compatible with Qi wireless charging. The earbuds cost only US$72 in China, charging pad excluded. (Picture: Meizu)
The Meizu POP case is compatible with Qi wireless charging. The earbuds cost only US$72 in China, charging pad excluded. (Picture: Meizu)
Mobvoi, a Beijing-based startup, raised US$2.8 million on Indiegogo to crowdfund the TicPods Free. Like Huawei’s FreeBuds, they also come with silicone tips. (Picture: Mobvoi)
Mobvoi, a Beijing-based startup, raised US$2.8 million on Indiegogo to crowdfund the TicPods Free. Like Huawei’s FreeBuds, they also come with silicone tips. (Picture: Mobvoi)
Also like the FreeBuds, The TicPods Free are also not free. But at US$128, they’re around US$30 cheaper than Apple’s AirPods. They are compatible with Amazon’s Alexa, Google’s Assistant, and Apple’s Siri. (Picture Mobvoi)
Also like the FreeBuds, The TicPods Free are also not free. But at US$128, they’re around US$30 cheaper than Apple’s AirPods. They are compatible with Amazon’s Alexa, Google’s Assistant, and Apple’s Siri. (Picture Mobvoi)
Various AirPods knockoffs are available on Taobao, Alibaba’s online shopping platform, for as little as US$28. I haven’t tried these myself, but I did buy a pair of fake EarPods once. The audio quality was terrible. (Abacus is a unit of the South China Morning Post, which is owned by Alibaba.)
Various AirPods knockoffs are available on Taobao, Alibaba’s online shopping platform, for as little as US$28. I haven’t tried these myself, but I did buy a pair of fake EarPods once. The audio quality was terrible. (Abacus is a unit of the South China Morning Post, which is owned by Alibaba.)
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