Redmi’s First Over-Ear Headphone: Headphone Neo Lands in Nepal

Globally, Xiaomi has its hands on everything: smartphones, home appliances, security devices, kitchen appliances, you name it. But one area where Xiaomi has never really had a foot in is the headphone market. Well, that changes now with the new Redmi Headphone Neo.

Now, there is a wide range of in-ear wired and TWS earphones from Xiaomi, no arguing that. But here I am specifically talking about headphones, the kind that sit firmly on or over your ears. And just like that, the Redmi Headphone Neo sits firmly in the budget category. Let’s see what it has to offer.

What is the price of Redmi Headphone Neo in Nepal?

The Redmi Headphone Neo price in Nepal is Rs. 12,999. It is now available for purchase via Xiaomi authorized stores nationwide.

It is not entirely clear why Xiaomi took this long to make a serious move into the headphone market. To be fair, Xiaomi did sell over-ear headphones a few years back. But those were short-lived and never really made an impact. So for all practical purposes, the Redmi Headphone Neo feels like Xiaomi’s first real attempt at the over-ear headphone space.

Xiaomi’s strategy has always been simple: pack in as much value as possible, keep the price low, and make a few quiet compromises along the way. It worked for smartphones, it worked for earphones, and now they are bringing that same formula to headphones. Whether it works here is the real question.

And with budget headphones from CMF and Soundcore already dominating the segment, it is better late than never for Xiaomi to walk in and bring something genuinely compelling to the table.

Redmi Headphone Neo Overview

The first thought I had when I looked at the Headphone Neo was how clean it looked. It does not look like a copy of any flagship model either, which, as we know, is something Xiaomi loves to do. But the Neo is genuinely unique with its minimalistic design, and that is something I really appreciate.

The oval over-ear cups also look comfortable, though we will have to wait for the final verdict on that. Given that over-ear cups are generally comfortable, I just hope the tip of my ear does not touch the inner driver housing, which can cause discomfort and is always the deal breaker for me on budget headphones.

And speaking of budget, the cushion material matters a lot for over-ear headphones. Sadly, being a budget device, the cushioning is likely Polyurethane leather with open-cell foam filling, which is not breathable and can crack or flake over time. So long listening sessions could get uncomfortable and sweaty.

But, after a long session, if you want to rock that headphone-on-shoulder look, the cups can rotate on their axis, so it sits comfortably around your neck. However, the Neo does not fold, which is a bummer for portability, but at this price, that’s expecting too much.

Globally, the Headphone Neo comes in three colors: Obsidian Black, Sand White, and Mist Blue. However, only the first two are available in Nepal.

There are three buttons in total: power, volume up/down, and play/pause, along with a USB Type-C port, all located on the left ear cup. They sit pretty low on the cup, so you may not even notice them at first glance, which only adds to that minimal look.

ALSO READ: CMF Headphone Pro Price in Nepal (May 2026 Updated)

The Headphone Neo features a 40mm titanium-coated dynamic driver, which is the same driver found on the much more expensive Nothing Headphone (a), but now the same driver is available at a significantly lower price— classic Redmi.

The downside is that it only supports SBC and AAC codecs, no LDAC. Understandable for the price. Redmi has claimed the Neo is Hi-Res Audio certified for wired listening, but that is not particularly impressive given that any decent wired connection can achieve that.

On the ANC front, the Headphone Neo delivers ANC with up to 42dB of noise cancellation, which is genuinely impressive at this price. For audio input, there is a three-mic setup, though Redmi has not specifically mentioned noise-cancelling mics. So while your voice should come through clearly, the background noise probably will too.

The battery is where the Neo fumbles slightly. The 500mAh unit claims up to 72 hours of playback with ANC off. Redmi has not officially mentioned playback time with ANC on, but based on the battery capacity, a realistic estimate would be somewhere around 35 to 45 hours, though that is speculation. As for charging, it takes about 120 minutes to go from zero to full.

ALSO READ: CMF Buds Pro 2 Price in Nepal (May 2026 Updated)

ALSO READ: CMF Headphone Pro Price in Nepal (May 2026 Updated)

While the Headphone Neo is Xiaomi’s first entry into the budget headphone market, it already has one clear competitor, the CMF Headphone Pro, which costs just Rs. 1,000 more than the Neo.

And for that Rs. 1,000 extra, the CMF gives you LDAC, longer battery life, and that satisfying Energy Slider for physical bass and treble control. But the Neo fights back with a cleaner, minimalistic design, slightly stronger 42dB ANC, and the same titanium-coated driver found on the much pricier Nothing Headphone (a), which gives it a potential edge in audio quality.

What are your thoughts on the Redmi Headphone Neo? Let us know in the comments below!