baseus Launches ‘Inspire’ Audio Line Co-Developed with Bose
Throughout its decade-plus of existence, Shenzhen-headquartered Baseus is best known for making smartphone accessories, like portable power banks and phone chargers. But the company is now branching out to other consumer electronics products, and at the IFA tradeshow in Berlin this week, it has unveiled a new line of audio products named Inspire.
The Inspire line of products stand out from the sea of other wireless audio products by carrying official Sound by Bose branding – making thes products a joint advancement between Baseus and iconic audio brand Bose.
The inspire line consists of three earphones each covering a specific need. We have a standard in-ear active noise cancelation earbuds, the Inspire XP1; an open-ear, clip-on earbud dubbed the Inspire XC1; and an over-the-ear, premium headphone, the Inspire XH1. The three products share some strengths: they each have the industry-leading battery life for its class of product; and all three have audio fine-tuned by bose.
We’ll start with the “hero product,” the $149 Inspire XH1 over-the-ear headphones. I’ve been using these for the past few weeks on multiple flights and I can vouch that the battery life is indeed amazing. A 13-hour flight, with active noise cancelation (ANC) on only drained about 20%. That means I should easily be able to get close to 65 hours of ANC-enabled listen time on a single charge.
Baseus says with ANC on, the headphones can last over 100 hours, but I think that number doesn’t matter much, as most people wearing these will want to use ANC (or openness mode), and both are vrey good.
I’d describe the build and design of the XH1 as functional and business-like. From the thick foam headband and ear cushions, to the plasticky (but painted to look metallic) earcups and practical clicky buttons, the XH1 looks perfectly fine, but doesn’t bring anything new or unique to the design. They’re inoffensive looking, and will blend into the sea of over-the-ear headphones manufactured by Bose or Sony. They are fine, just not attention grabbing with a unique look the way Apple and Nothing’s headphones do, nor do they offer new-age touch controls like some headphones.
the XH1 are pleasant to wear, thanks to a flexible band, and the cups connected to a pivot that allows the cups to fold up and inwards (this allows it to sit around my neck easier than headphones that do not pivot as much, like the aforementioned headphones from Apple and Nothing.
The XH1 has five microphones and they offer excellent ANC and transparency mode. The former I’d say is as good as any of the very premium headphones on the market.
Baseus Enters the Flagship Audio Market with Inspire XP1 Earbuds and XC1 Open-ear Earclips
Baseus, known for its charging accessories, is expanding into the premium audio market with its new Inspire series. the lineup includes the XP1 earbuds and the XC1 open-ear earclips, both aiming to deliver high-quality sound at competitive prices.Inspire XP1 Earbuds
The Baseus Inspire XP1 earbuds offer LDAC support for high-resolution audio and boast impressive battery life. While comfortable and delivering great audio quality, the XP1 faces stiff competition in the crowded wireless earbud market. The reviewer notes having numerous comparable earbuds readily available. However, Baseus assures that a prototype unit was tested and the final retail version will address minor issues, specifically a sometiems unresponsive touch registration.
Inspire XC1 Open-Ear Earclips
Priced at $129, the Inspire XC1 represents a foray into the emerging open-ear audio category. These earclips deliver sound towards the ear canal without blocking it, allowing users to remain aware of their surroundings.This design, pioneered in 2023 by Bose and Huawei with similar products, offers a balance between a secure fit and comfort, weighing just 6g per bud.
The XC1 provides eight hours of playtime on a single charge and utilizes four built-in microphones for calls.Despite the open-ear design lacking Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) or transparency mode, the XC1 delivers surprisingly strong bass thanks to its dual-driver system – an 11mm driver and a woofer.Baseus claims these are the best-sounding open-ear earbuds currently available, a claim the reviewer doesn’t dispute.
Overall Impression
Baseus’ initial foray into flagship audio products appears promising, offering compelling features at attractive price points. The company, leveraging the profitability of its charger business, aims to broaden its product portfolio and establish itself as a key player in the audio market.
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