When it comes to inexpensive wireless headphones, Xiaomi’s sweet name necessarily resonates with its excellent Redmi AirDots which dominates the entry level. There are, however, equally affordable alternatives, such as these Aukey EP-T21 Bluetooth headsets generally sold for around 30 euros. Find out with us if they are really worth it against the famous Chinese solution.
Aukey is more and more noticed in the market with its various wireless headphones more or less affordable compared to the competition. After having tested its Key Series EP-T10 considered as top of the range for the brand, we are now going to look at a model positioned a little lower in the catalog: the Aukey EP-T21.
Often on sale, Aukey’s Bluetooth headsets can easily be traded for less than $ 30. A price positioning that puts them in direct competition with the Redmi AirDots. But, is the price enough to recommend them against the very good inexpensive headphones from Xiaomi?
They are two aesthetically different products, but ultimately very similar in their use. Here is everything we can tell you before continuing with these lines.
An “ECOLOGICAL” Packaging :
As said before, the Aukey EP-T21 are inexpensive wireless headphones. Therefore, they come with the union minimum, namely two additional pairs of silicone tips and, of course, the headphones with their case. There is also a micro-USB cord for recharging, 15 cm. It’s not much, but it’s still better than Xiaomi, which absolutely does not provide it with its Redmi AirDots.
Everything is delivered in a simple cardboard box. It is indeed difficult to imagine such packaging finding its place on the shelves of a store, but the brand nevertheless has the merit of appearing “eco-responsible”. No extravagant colors to catch the eye, therefore, nor plastic, but a simple message “Go Green with Aukey” which will undoubtedly speak to many people in this context where ecology is at the heart of political debates.
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Black “AirPods” :
The Aukey EP-T21, however, does not hide its inspiration for the famous design of Apple AirPods. It is obviously not the same quality of materials nor the same color, but the resemblance is still there with this rod shape which protrudes from the ears. We like it or hate it, but they are comfortable everyday. However, we must admit that our preference is more towards the capsule design of Xiaomi’s Redmi AirDots, which is much more discreet.
Unlike Xiaomi’s solution, Aukey then offers two touch zones instead of the push buttons on its EP-T21. In the idea, it’s super cool to access this feature on such inexpensive wireless headphones, but it still has to work. Too random, it has almost never been possible to perform the desired command so much that it is not responsive. In addition, the dedicated area is not demarcated, which does not help the finger to find its bearings … Even worse, the music cuts out quite often when you remove / replace the earbuds. A real ordeal that mainly forces you to use your smartphone to manage music or calls. Pity.
The support with the different silicone tips is however quite good. Moving around a lot while running will not automatically cause them to fall to the ground, although they will need to be repositioned from time to time to avoid falling. The more athletic among you can be reassured by the resistance of these wireless headphones against splashes and sweat (IPX4 certification).
Where Are The Basses?
For the price often reduced thanks to the many promotions, the Aukey EP-T21 wireless headphones offer decent sound. It’s not amazing, but it’s more than enough to listen to your playlists on Spotify, Deezer, YouTube or Apple Music. They even have the merit of not saturating when the sound volume is at maximum.
However, there is something missing to make the sound experience truly enjoyable on a daily basis: bass. They are so absent that we clearly advise against listening to a piece with a lot of percussion, especially electronic music. On the contrary, the Redmi AirDots have good (even a little too?) Pronounced bass and you can directly feel the difference when you try both pairs of headphones to the same music.
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Good Call Quality :
Regarding telephone calls, the sound is correct and it is quite possible to hear the person you’re talking to in a noisy environment, even in the Parisian setting. Aukey’s inexpensive wireless headphones, on the other hand, do not carry noise cancellation features (CVC 6 or 8) during calls, but the brand relies on its MEMS microphones to ensure “surprisingly clear conversations for compact headphones “. Well, don’t go overboard too far either, but it definitely does the trick.
Classic And Efficient Pairing :
The Aukey EP-T21 are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible to improve the stability of the connection between the wireless headphones and the smartphone. To use them, you just have to go through the phone settings to connect them for the first time, then they will automatically reconnect each time you remove them from the box (provided that Bluetooth is activated on your device).
These wireless headphones also have the merit of offering a better connection than the Redmi AirDots. The problem with Xiaomi’s headphones is that one of the earbuds is subject to the other, which sometimes leads to disconnections or mute cuts. There are no such problems here and it is quite pleasant on a daily basis.
Great Autonomy For The Price :
If there is finally one area where the Aukey EP-T21 is really better than the Redmi AirDots, it is definitely in terms of battery life. The headphones are capable of offering 5 hours of non-stop listening, compared to less than 4 hours for their Chinese competitor. In addition, the case can charge the earbuds 4 times more, for a total of 25 hours. It is still 10 hours more than at Xiaomi.
On a daily basis, it is comfortable enough to last a whole day, where a recharging period will however occur during the lunch break to ensure the whole afternoon in music. If you need to charge the case, it takes about 2 hours via its microUSB port.
AUKEY EP-T21 Price And Availability :
Should You Buy Them?
The Aukey EP-T21 are indeed a good alternative to the Redmi AirDots for anyone who wants to have inexpensive wireless headphones more like Apple’s and, above all, with a good battery life.
However, they do not shine with their audio quality and it is not their good connection stability that will be a game-changer in the face of Xiaomi’s more affordable solution, especially since the famous Chinese manufacturer has and already refined its recipe with its new Redmi AirDots S.