Losing one headphone from a TWS suite is a common problem faced by owners of popular appliances. When Redmi AirDots or Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic fall out of their ears, many users panic, believing that they will have to buy a new full kit for full cost. However, modern market realities and brand loyalty policies allow to solve this problem in a more economical way.
Complicating matters, traditional electronics retailers rarely sell individual headsets, and you can't just walk into a store at home and ask for a left or right earphone from a storefront, but there are several proven ways to address the issue, ranging from going to authorized centers to finding donors at specialized sites.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how to buy one Xiaomi headphone, what are the official replacement channels and what to look for when buying a used device. We will also discuss the technical nuances of pairing a new module with an old case, since this process requires strict adherence to the sequence of actions for the correct operation of the stereo mode.
Official replacement through service centers
The most reliable, though not always the fastest, way to solve a problem is to contact an authorized service center (ASC). Xiaomi has a well-developed service network, and in many cases they can offer a replacement for a lost component. However, it is important to understand that this is not a purchase in the classical sense, but rather a paid service to restore completeness.
First, you need to find the nearest service center on the manufacturer's official website, and you will need to provide the case itself and the preserved earpiece, and specialists will diagnose and check for compatible parts in stock, and often popular models like the Redmi AirDots 2 or Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic are available.
The cost of this replacement can vary. It comes from the price of the headphone itself and the cost of the workman. In some cases, if the device is under warranty and the loss occurred due to a manufacturing defect (although the loss is not usually considered a warranty case), the conditions may be milder.
⚠️ Warning: Do not try to disassemble the case yourself or open fillings before contacting the service. This can be a reason for denial of service or increase the cost of work.
The official way is good because you get a warranty for a replacement item, and the service technicians can immediately reset and synchronize, which will save you from technical difficulties. If you value your time and want to be sure of the authenticity of the component, this option is a priority.
Search for donors on marketplaces and bulletin boards
The alternative to official service is the recycled market, and thousands of users also lose their headphones, leaving behind second ones that become useless without a pair, and it's these "simmering" devices that become donors for those looking for where to buy one earpiece, and platforms like Avito, Yula, or social media groups are full of these offerings.
When searching on bulletin boards, it is critical to pay attention to the exact model. Even within the same series, for example AirDots, there are different revisions (S, 2, 3, Pro) that may be incompatible with each other at the connection protocol level.
Pricing in the secondary market is highly dependent on the condition of the lot. One earphone can cost from 30% to 60% of the price of a new set. Below is an approximate table of the cost of single headphones of various popular models at the moment:
| Model | Average price per 1 pc. (ruble) | Market availability | Difficulty pairing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi AirDots Basic | 400 - 700 | High. | Low. |
| Xiaomi Mi True 2 Basic | 600 - 900 | Average. | Medium |
| Xiaomi Buds 3 | 1500 - 2200 | Low. | Tall. |
| Redmi Buds 4 Pro | 2000 - 2800 | Low. | Tall. |
When buying from hand, always check the microphone and speaker before paying. Ask the seller to send a short video with a demonstration of the sound or connection to the phone. This will save you from buying a malfunctioning device that is technically “one earbud” but does not work.
💡
When buying a used headphone, be sure to check the year of release. Models of different years may have different versions of the Bluetooth protocol, which will make them incompatible.
Chinese venues and international shops
Global marketplaces like AliExpress offer another solution, where you can find sellers who specialize in selling original electronics parts or just selling out the leftovers from disassembled kits, and search by the exact model article on the original box.
The advantage of this method is that you can find rare models that have already been discontinued in your area, but there are also significant risks: delivery can take from two weeks to a month, and if you receive an incompatible product, the process of refunding money will be long and difficult, and there is a possibility of encountering cheap copies that are issued as the original.
When ordering from abroad, pay attention to the seller's rating and the presence of photos of the real product. The key point is the description of compatibility. If the product card does not clearly indicate that the earphone is suitable for soldering or pairing with your case, it is better to refrain from buying.
⚠️ Warning: When buying on AliExpress, carefully read the reviews with the photo. Often customers write that the resulting headphone does not want to connect with the old case.
Use search filters by delivery country to make a successful purchase, sometimes logistics centers are in your country, which speeds up the process, and it’s also worth tracking sales, as the price of single headphones can drop significantly during periods of global promotions.
How to distinguish the original from the copy in appearance?
Technical nuances of pairing a new headphone
Just buying and inserting a new headphone into a case is not enough. To make the system work in stereo mode, you need to perform a full reset and repairing procedure. Without this step, the devices will work independently of each other, and you will hear sound in only one channel or mono mode.
The reset process usually involves holding the touch zones on both headphones at the same time. For different Xiaomi and Redmi models, the algorithm may differ. For example, for AirDots, you need to remove both headphones from the case, press and hold the touch panels for about 20 seconds until the indicators flash red several times.
After reset, remove the old Bluetooth device on your smartphone, then place both headphones (old and new) in the case, close the lid, wait 10 seconds and open again. The headphones should find each other, as the flashing of the indicators signals signals, only then you can connect them to the phone.
☑️ Checklist for pairing
If automatic pairing does not occur, manual initiation may be required via the Xiaomi Earbuds or Mi Wear app. In some cases, especially with models of different generations, synchronization is not possible in principle due to differences in chips.
Compatibility of models and firmware versions
Compatibility is the most critical issue. Buying one Xiaomi earphone from an inappropriate model is throwing away money. Even if the devices look identical, their internal stuffing can be drastically different. For example, AirDots S earphones won’t work in tandem with the regular AirDots of the first version.
So, you have to pay special attention to firmware, because if you buy a new headphone, it might have a more recent version of the software than the old one, and in the ideal scenario, when paired, they'll upgrade to the general version, but sometimes there's a version conflict that leads to sound dissynchronization.
To check compatibility, check the codes of the models. The code is usually printed in small print on the inside of the leg or the headphone bowl, and comparing these codes with the codes on the official website or in the databases of forums will help to avoid error.
💡
The compatibility of headphones is determined not only by the model, but also by the revision of the board. Buying an earphone of the same model, but released two years later, may not guarantee the work.
Economic feasibility of the purchase
Before looking for a replacement, it is worth assessing the financial side of the issue. Often the price of one original headphone in the service or from dealers reaches 50-70% of the cost of a new full set, in such cases it is more rational to buy a new headset, and leave the old case and the surviving earpiece as spare parts or sell them separately.
On the other hand, if we are talking about flagship models like Xiaomi Buds Pro, where the cost of the kit is high, buying one module for 30-40% of the price becomes quite justified. It also makes sense to look for a replacement if you are used to the old kit and it sits perfectly in your ear, which is not always the case with new equipment.
Remember to consider the time. Searching, waiting for delivery, trying to set up all take time. If you can afford to buy a new kit right away, it will save you nerves and waiting hours.