Redmi over-ear headphones now cost only a thousand. They boast noise cancellation and good battery life

On a train, tram, or in an open-plan office, headphones that dampen ambient noise at least a little are useful. Redmi Headphones Neo can do this and are now available in their first promotion. And it’s a good one. They can be purchased on Alza for 999 Kč instead of 1,599 Kč, even without a discount code. For less than a thousand, you get active noise cancellation, 40mm drivers, and up to 72 hours of battery life.

Quick summary:
✅ Makes sense for commuting, office, and long journeys, where you’ll appreciate ANC and long battery life (up to 72 hours without ANC).
⚠️ Consider if you’ll miss a cable in the package and the LDAC codec; Hi-Res audio only works via cable.
💡 For 999 Kč, they are the cheapest on Alza since the end of June, according to HlídačShopů price tracker.

Active Noise Cancellation and up to 72 Hours of Battery Life

The main draw is active noise cancellation. Xiaomi states that it dampens ambient noise by up to 42 dB. You can choose one of three levels, or let the headphones adapt themselves to the surroundings in adaptive mode. For calls, there are three microphones with AI noise cancellation, and according to the manufacturer, they can even handle wind up to 5 m/s.

Sound is handled by 40mm dynamic drivers with a titanium diaphragm, in which Xiaomi promises more pronounced bass. Those with different tastes can switch between four equalizer presets in the Xiaomi Earbuds app, or tune the sound themselves.

Battery life of up to 72 hours applies with ANC off; with noise cancellation on, expect slightly less. Even so, this is a figure that will last you many days with an hour of daily commuting. If the battery does run out, ten minutes of charging is enough for five hours of listening, according to the manufacturer. Furthermore, the headphones can connect to two devices simultaneously, so you can listen from your laptop and answer a call from your phone without “re-pairing”.

The headphones weigh 263 grams. Xiaomi promises protein leather earcups with soft foam and a telescopic headband with multiple adjustment levels.

Hi-Res Only via Cable and Almost Nothing in the Box

The Hi-Res Audio certification on the box sounds appealing, but according to Xiaomi, it only applies to wired playback via USB-C (USB Audio function). Wirelessly, according to Alza’s specifications, the headphones support SBC and AAC codecs; LDAC for higher quality from Android is missing. Anyone who wants Hi-Res listening must have a USB-C cable with data transfer and a device that can send audio via USB.

However, you won’t find a cable in the package. According to Alza and the manufacturer’s official website, the box only contains the headphones themselves and a manual; even a charging adapter is missing. Most people have a USB-C cable at home, but it’s still good to be aware of this.

Who Will Benefit and Who Should Look Elsewhere

For 999 Kč, Redmi Headphones Neo make the most sense for students and people who commute daily by public transport or train and want to dampen noise without spending a lot. They also perform well in the office, where you’ll appreciate the connection to two devices. They can also be appealing as secondary travel headphones, where you won’t regret it as much if they get scratched in your backpack.

Conversely, anyone who listens wirelessly in high quality from Android and cares about LDAC should consider a different model. The same applies to anyone who wants Hi-Res audio without a cable.

Would you buy ANC headphones for less than a thousand?