Infinix Debuts AI Earbuds with Live Translation, Crowdfunded via Indiegogo

 Infinix, a leading Chinese smartphone brand, launched its first AI-powered wireless earbuds, the Infinix AI Buds, on Indiegogo on May 12, 2025, introducing real-time translation capabilities to revolutionize audio accessories. The crowdfunding campaign, targeting $500,000, marks Infinix’s expansion into Nigeria’s $2 billion consumer electronics market, leveraging its 15% smartphone market share.

The AI Buds feature a proprietary neural processing chip enabling translation across 40 languages, including Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo, with 95% accuracy and a 0.2-second latency. Powered by a custom AI model, the earbuds support voice-activated controls, noise cancellation up to 45 decibels, and 30-hour battery life with wireless charging. The translation function, ideal for multilingual settings, uses cloud-based machine learning, requiring a 5G or Wi-Fi connection, aligning with Nigeria’s 31.3% 4G adoption rate. Priced at $99 for early backers, the earbuds integrate with Infinix’s XOS platform, enhancing compatibility with its Zero and Note series phones.

The Indiegogo campaign, running until July 2025, offers perks like limited-edition colors and a companion app for customizing audio profiles. Infinix aims to ship 10,000 units by October, manufactured in Shenzhen, China, with plans for a Lagos assembly plant by 2027, creating 500 jobs. The launch taps Nigeria’s 70 million smartphone users, where 60% prioritize audio accessories, per 2024 market data. Competitors like Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 offer similar translation via iOS integration, but Infinix’s lower price targets budget-conscious consumers.

Challenges include Nigeria’s 25% import duties on electronics, inflating costs, and 43.7% broadband penetration limiting cloud functionality. Infinix is partnering with MTN and Airtel to bundle data plans, boosting accessibility. The earbuds’ environmental impact, with non-recyclable lithium batteries, has drawn scrutiny, prompting Infinix to commit to a 2026 recycling program. The launch positions Infinix as a tech innovator, with analysts predicting 100,000 units sold by 2026, provided crowdfunding goals are met and local production scales.