Xiaomi AirDots 2 (Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2) Review

Xiaomi is at it again with another set of its insanely popular and cheap True Wireless Earbuds. I am a big fan of Xiaomi’s TWS earbuds and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2 also known as Redmi AirDots 2. These Earbuds were released in 2020 and they succeed the basic Redmi AirDots. Now, brace up for a lot of confusion when comes to the way Xiaomi brands its products.

I’ve bought and reviewed the Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earbuds – Basic (Redmi AirDots), the Redmi AirDots S (Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earbuds – Basic S), and now these AirDots 2 (Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2).For this review, we’ll stick to the shorter and less confusing AirDots brands. There seems to be absolutely no difference between AirDots S (TWSEJ05LS) announced on June 14, 2020, and these newer AirDots 2 (TWSEJ061LS). What’s clear is that both are improved versions of the original AirDots.

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Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2 = Global Version

Redmi Airdots 2 = China version

The AirDots 2 are not any different in design and specification from the original Redmi AirDots. They are light-weight quality earbuds measuring only 4.1g per earbud with built-in microphones for taking calls and connecting to the Google voice assistant. The AirDots retain the multi-function button on both earbuds which you can use to answer/end calls, control media playback, and wake the Google Voice assistant. They feature a Bluetooth 5.0 chip set and 7.2mm dynamic driver providing both stereo and mono modes.

What We Liked

  • Very affordable price point.
  • Good battery life.
  • Good enough sound quality.

What We Didn’t Like

  • Unclear and confusing branding.
  • Hard to press multi-function buttons.
  • Low-quality microphone.
  • No voice controls.

AirDots 2 Specifications

Name: Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2 (Redmi Airdots 2)
Model: TWSEJ061LS
Dimension: 26.65 x 16.4 x 21.6 mm
Net weight: 4.1g (per earbud)
Bluetooth: 5.0
Range: 10m without obstacles
Bluetooth profiles: HFP/A2DP/HSP/AVRCP
Battery capacity: 43mAh (per Earbud)
Charging time: 1.5 hours
Battery life: 4 hrs (earbuds only), 12 hrs with Case

Charging Case Specs

Charging time: 2 hrs
Battery capacity: 300 mAh
Battery Type: Lithium-ion
Dimension: 62 x 40 x 27.2 mm

Turning the Earbuds On/Off

When you remove the earbuds from their charging case, they are automatically turned on and when you put them back in, they are turned off. However, you can manually turn them off (and on) when they are out of their charging case.

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To turn on the AirDots 2 when removed from the case, press and hold the multi-function button for 1 second until the indicator light turns white.

To turn then off, press and hold the multi-function button for 5 seconds until the indicator light turns red.

Bluetooth Pairing

airdots 2

To pair the AirDots 2 with your phone, all you have to do is remove both earbuds from the charging case simultaneously, and wait for the earbuds to automatically turn on. The indicator lights turn white and then alternates between fast-blinking white and red colors, meaning the earbuds are connecting with each other. Wait until the indicator light on the left or right earbud slowly blinks white. Now your earbuds are ready to pair with your phone. The Earbud will appear as “Mi True Wireless EBs Basic 2” in Bluetooth settings.

Once the earbuds are paired with your device, that’s it. Next time you take them out of the charging case, they’ll automatically pair with the last device they connected to.

Single and Dual Earbud Mode: When both earbuds are connected successfully, they are in dual-earbud mode. You can, however, use one earbud at a time if you like. To do this, place one of the earbuds back into the charging case and close its lid. The other earbud will automatically enter the Single-Earbud mode. When you remove the other earbud from the charging case, Dual-earbud mode will be restored automatically.

Sound Quality

airdots 2

The AirDots 2 are powered by a 7.2mm dynamic driver which is about half what you’ll find in the Apple AirPods. You’ll be surprised by the sound quality coming out of these budget earbuds though. They are slightly more bass-heavy compared to other earbuds I have reviewed in their category.

AirDots 2 Tips and Tricks

  • Answer/End Calls: Gently press the multi-function button to answer/end calls.
  • Reject Call: Press and hold the button for 1 second to reject a call
  • Play/Pause Music: Press the multi-function button to play/pause music while using the earbuds.
  • Voice Assistant: Double press the Multi-function button while using the earbuds.
  • Game Mode: Activate game mode by triple-pressing the multi-function button.
  • Switch between earbuds and device: During a call, press and hold the multi-function button for 1-second to switch between earbuds and your phone.
  • Mute/Unmute: Double press the multi-function button during an ongoing call.
  • Reset Earbuds: Remove the Earbuds from the charging case and make sure they’re turned off. Press and hold the multi-function buttons on both earbuds for about 15 seconds until the indicator light alternately blinks red and white three times. Release the buttons and place the earbuds back in the charging case.

AirDots vs AirDots 2: What’s Different

The major difference between the Redmi AirDots and AirDots 2 is the pairing process. The newer Airdots pair with your phone at once as a single unit as opposed to the previous ones where the left or right earbud first paired and then connected to the other.

airdots 2

Another difference is the “Game mode” with the AirDots 2. Game mode brings low-latency connectivity between your phone and the earbuds when you’re playing games. It can be activated by triple-pressing the multi-function button.

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Price and Where to Buy

These AirDots 2 are available for $20.99 on Amazon.com and $25 on GearBest. The China version of the AirDots 2 cost $14.89 on Aliexpress.

Should You Buy It

Yes, you should. The AirDots 2 add dual-earbud pairing and Game mode plus Bluetooth 5.0. However, don’t be confused by the branding. You’ll find the same product branded as Mi Wireless Earbuds Basic 2 depending on where you buy it.

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