Yes there are still wired earphones in 2018. I reviewed a lot of wireless earbuds but sometimes it is good to go back to basics. Not depending on battery life or connectivity, just plug and play (if you have a 3.5mm jack). (Click here to buy a converter 3.5mm to USB-C)

Introduction & Specifications

Back to basic does not mean that the specifications are not good. The Xiaomi Piston for example has the same reach as the Meizu EP51. They may lack some features that I think are a must have in earphones, but they are super cheap as well. Both have benefits! Let’s first have a look at the specifications of the Xiaomi Piston.

General
Brand:	Xiaomi
Color:	Black, Blue, Pink, Purple, Silver
Function:	Answer Phone, Microphone
Language:	No
Material:	Aluminium Alloy, TPE
Model:	Piston Earphones Fresh Version
Type:	In-Ear

Product Details
Cable Length (m):	1.25m
Compatible With:	Android, iOS
Connectivity:	Wired
Frequency Response:	20Hz - 20KHz
Impedance:	32ohms
Input Power:	5mW
Plug Type:	3.5mm
Sensitivty:	98 dB (S.P.L at 1Khz)

Dimension & Weight
Package Size (L x W x H):	10.00 x 7.00 x 3.00 cm / 3.94 x 2.76 x 1.18 inches
Package Weight:	0.1000 kg
Product Weight:	0.0140 kg

Package Content
Package Content:	1 x Xiaomi Piston Earphones Fresh Version, 2 x Pair of Earbud Tips, 1x Manual

 

Unboxing

The box itself is really small. You have a logo of the earbuds on front and on the sides you have the specifications in English and Chinese. The specifications are in Chinese on the back as well.

Inside we find the Xiaomi Piston earbuds, a short manual in Chinese and 2 extra pair of ear tips to make it fit every ear.

Hardware & Design

The Xiaomi Piston earbuds are very light, which in this case is a big plus. You almost won’t notice them in your ear. I’ve used them several hours without any discomfort. If you have a long flight, long bus trip or just want to work with headphones on, buy the Xiaomi Piston. You won’t regret it.

It does have a cheap feeling over it, which in this case is a bit of a down side. Now the price is low, but I like a bit more premium feeling when I hold them.

Buy you pair of Xiaomi Piston here! Click Here To Buy!

 

The Button

There is only one button on the Xiaomi Piston. You can use it pause/play your music or answer, cancel or hang up your phone call. The feels a bit fragile but it clicks really easy. No need to press really hard on the button or press it multiple times before it works. It just clicks when you want to without any effort.

Do They Fit?

Like I said in the Meizu EP51 review, I may have easy ears since the Xiaomi Piston fit very good as well. In case they are not good for your ears, you have 2 extra sets of ear tips so you can find the best fitting pair for you.

Functions

There are limitied functions on the Xiaomi Piston earphones. You are for example unable to change the volume with the controller. It makes it extemly easy to control, but I rather see more option then just one button. At least you should be able to change the volume.

Call Handeling

You can answer or hang up a phone call by pressing the button once. There is no other action you can do with the Xiaomi Piston.

Music Handeling

For music you can pause or play your song by pressing the button once. Super simple to control, but it is just a little bit to limited.

Volume

Some people want to listen to music at max volume. The Xiaomi Piston is able to go really loud if you ask me, but the quality goes down a bit when you do that. Want to listen to music comfortably? Set the volume to 75%-80%. This is loud enough to block any outside sounds, but it won’t cause any damage to your ears.

Buy you pair of Xiaomi Piston here! Click Here To Buy!

 

Sound Quality

I like the quality of the Xiaomi Piston. It sounds the same as the Apple EarPods, which are way more expensive. Some earphones you have high pitches which will become annoying after some time of listing, but I do not have that issue with the Xiaomi Piston. It feels a bit more smooth and very comfortable to listen to for hours.

Call Quality

Calling with the Xiaomi Piston is very good. It may sound like you are in a small empty room, but it is way better then the wireless headset available. If you have to have a important converstation, go ahead and use the Xiaomi Piston. They will not notice something different or find it weird.

The microphone is on the controller, so if you wear a scarf make sure it is out in the open so the microhpone can catch your voice.

Conclusion

For this price, the Xiaomi Piston are a must have! Even if you have a better pair, these are your back up earbuds. The sound quality is good, the price is good, calling is no issue at all and they are very light weight. The only downside is that you are unable to change the volume with the contoller. Besides that, don’t hesitate, buy them as back up earbuds.

Don’t have a 3.5mm jack? Click here to buy a 3.5mm to USB-C converter.