The iQOO Buds 1i adopt a true wireless, in-ear fit with no cables or neckband connecting the two earbuds. They carry an IP54 ingress protection rating, which means they are resistant to sweat but are not fully waterproof. Stereo speakers are present in the design, while features such as RGB lighting, UV light, wingtips, and a display are not included.
The iQOO Buds 1i use a 10 mm driver unit and cover a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Passive noise reduction is present to help limit ambient sound, though active noise cancellation is not supported. Audio enhancements such as spatial audio, Dolby Atmos, and Dirac Virtuo are absent, and the drivers do not use a neodymium magnet.
The iQOO Buds 1i offer 12 hours of battery life per charge, with the accompanying charging case extending the total to 38 hours. A full charge takes 1.5 hours, and the earbuds feature a rechargeable battery along with a battery level indicator. Wireless charging and solar power are not supported.
The iQOO Buds 1i connect wirelessly via Bluetooth 5.4, with a maximum range of 10 meters and an audio latency of 88 ms. Fast pairing is supported, and the AAC codec is available for audio transmission, though higher-end codecs such as LDAC, LDHC, aptX and its variants, and Bluetooth LE Audio are not included. USB Type-C is present for wired charging, while NFC pairing and Auracast are not supported.
The iQOO Buds 1i include a practical set of features, among them fast charging, a mute function, voice prompts, and a find device feature to help locate misplaced earbuds. They can be used as a headset for calls, and playback controls are handled through a control panel placed on a device rather than an in-line panel on a cable. A travel bag is included in the box. Ambient sound mode, in-ear detection, notification reading, a body temperature sensor, and a camera remote shutter are not available on these earbuds.
The iQOO Buds 1i are equipped with a noise-canceling microphone, which helps reduce unwanted background sound during calls and voice interactions.