Earbuds that don't block your ears and play for 39 hours. Xiaomi slashed the price of the popular Buds 5 by a thousand crowns.

Earbuds that you don’t have to shove into your ear canal and yet can cancel noise. You can now buy Xiaomi Buds 5 with code ALZADNY40 for 1,489 Kč instead of 2,482 Kč. For this price, they offer 11mm drivers, ANC, and with the case, up to 39 hours of battery life – which is above average in the open-fit earbud category.

👍 Get them if you hate in-ear plugs and want long battery life for a reasonable price.
🤔 Hesitate if you can’t try them on – the 4.2 out of 5 rating is mainly pulled down by complaints about the fit in the ear, which is always a lottery with open-fit earbuds.
💰 Price: 1,489 Kč for earbuds with ANC and 39-hour battery life; an unboxed item is even available for 1,355 Kč.

Two drivers and a subwoofer tube

Xiaomi opted for an unusual solution here: an 11mm dynamic driver with a dual-magnet design and a so-called subwoofer tube, which aims to solve the most common problem with open-fit designs – missing bass. The frequency range of 16 to 40,000 Hz is impressive on paper and indicates support for high-resolution audio. Bluetooth 5.4 is the current version, and you can fine-tune the sound with an equalizer in the app.

However, the strongest argument is the battery life: 6.5 hours on a single charge and 39 hours with the case. This is a value that most competitors in this price range do not achieve – the usual standard is around 25 to 30 hours. The microphone features directional pickup with noise and echo cancellation, so it performs well for calls outdoors.

Why they only have 4.2 stars

A rating of 4.2 out of 5 from 66 customers is decent, but not excellent – and the reason is always the same for open-fit earbuds. While in-ear plugs adapt to the shape of the ear canal thanks to interchangeable tips, open-fit earbuds either stay in your ear or they don’t, and there’s nothing you can do about it. Some buyers are thrilled, others return them. If you’re unsure, take advantage of the option to return the goods within 14 days.

The second point stems from physics: ANC in an open-fit design will never be as effective as in in-ear plugs, which seal the ear canal. It will soften the rumble of the subway, but don’t expect silence. However, for 1,489 Kč, these are some of the best-equipped open-fit earbuds on the market – and if they fit your ear, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better deal.

Are you in the in-ear plug camp or the open-fit earbud camp? And do they even stay in your ears?