Xiaomi Buds 6 have arrived in the Czech Republic. They entice with lossless sound, improved ANC, and Apple Find My support

Xiaomi Buds 6 arrived on the Chinese market at the end of last year, and now, after several months of waiting, they are also available in the Czech Republic. The wireless earbuds with an open-ear design cost 2,699 CZK and, in addition to improved noise cancellation, also bring lossless sound, Harman tuning, and support for Apple Find My technology.

Open-ear design that only suits some

For the Buds 6, Xiaomi opted for a semi-open earbud design that doesn’t attempt to seal the ear canal with a silicone tip. The earbuds therefore rest in the outer ear, similar to classic Apple EarPods. The manufacturer has refined the ergonomics compared to its predecessor. The stems are 12 percent slimmer, the sound outlet is 11.3 percent thinner, and the contact area with the ear has increased by 8.8 percent, which is intended to make the pressure on the ear more even. Each earbud weighs only 4.4 g.

However, the comfort of the open-ear design is a double-edged sword. The earbuds don’t press on the ear canal, so ears don’t get fatigued during longer listening sessions. On the other hand, they don’t passively isolate noise, so ambient sound reaches the ear even with active noise cancellation enabled. People for whom this design historically didn’t stay in their ears or fell out should preferably try out the new product in a store before purchasing.

Lossless audio and Harman tuning

The main audio highlight is the 11mm dynamic driver with a triple magnetic circuit and a 24-karat gold-plated diaphragm. Xiaomi reports 40 percent higher sensitivity in bass and 30 percent in treble compared to the Buds 5 model. The frequency range covers 16 to 40 kHz, and the maximum amplitude reaches 0.5 mm, which the manufacturer presents as the basis for more dynamic bass reproduction.

The sound tuning was prepared by the Harman Golden Ear team. Buds 6 offer two preset profiles: Harman AudioEFX with a more analytical, cooler presentation and a greater emphasis on detail, and Harman Master mode with warmer, fuller bass. You can also choose from modes for vocal enhancement, treble enhancement, or set your own equalizer in the Xiaomi Earbuds app.

The headphones support the Qualcomm aptX Lossless codec with a transfer rate of up to 2.1 Mbps and 24-bit recording at 48 kHz sampling. However, to fully utilize lossless transmission, you need a compatible Xiaomi or POCO phone with Bluetooth LE Audio. Supported models include, for example, Xiaomi 17 Ultra, Xiaomi 17, Xiaomi 15 Ultra, Xiaomi 14 Ultra, POCO F7 Pro, or POCO F8 Ultra. On other phones, the headphones will fall back to the classic AAC codec.

ANC, calls, and durability

Active noise cancellation offers two intensity modes, Balanced and Deep, so the user can choose the level of noise reduction according to the situation. However, with an open-ear design, ANC will never achieve the effectiveness of in-ear headphones, which is important to remember. For calls, Xiaomi has implemented a triple microphone system with an AI algorithm designed to suppress ambient noise up to 95 dB and maintain voice clarity in winds up to 12 m/s.

The headphones have IP54 certification, so they can withstand sweat and rain. The case itself does not have this rating, but you can easily carry it in a backpack or pocket. The manufacturer states a battery life of six hours of playback on a single charge and a total of 35 hours with the charging case, with ANC off and volume at fifty percent. These values correspond to today’s standard in this price range.

Smart features often not found in competitors

The Buds 6 are the first Xiaomi headphones to integrate with both Apple Find My and Google Find Hub search networks. Using one of these services, you can locate a lost case via a global network of billions of devices, but not the earbuds themselves. Both services cannot function simultaneously; switching between them requires a factory reset.

Other practical features include AI subtitles for real-time translation, remote phone shutter activation, or built-in audio recording, which you can start by triple-tapping the case even with the lid closed. However, most of these features require a phone with HyperOS 2 or newer, so owners of other brands won’t have access to them. Google Fast Pair for quick pairing, audio sharing on two pairs of headphones, or simultaneous connection to two devices remain standard.

Price, colors, and who the Buds 6 are suitable for

Xiaomi Buds 6 are sold on the Czech market for 2,699 CZK in four colors: Graphite Black, Pearl White, Titan Gray, and Nebula Purple.

Buds 6 make sense for users of the Xiaomi ecosystem who want to benefit from lossless aptX Lossless transmission, AI subtitles, and HyperOS smart features. Similarly, they will be appreciated by listeners who historically prefer open-ear designs and enjoy longer listening sessions without the pressure of an in-ear tip. In their price category, they also receive solid sound tuning from Harman and support for finding via Find My and Find Hub.

Conversely, those for whom the open-ear design has never been comfortable should opt for classic in-ear models with better passive noise isolation. Also, people who primarily want headphones for sports or commuting by subway will find models elsewhere that fit more securely and block out more ambient noise. For them, the Buds 6 will be a compromise.

What do you think of the new Xiaomi Buds 6 and their open-ear design?

Sources: Xiaomi, PR