Realme Buds Air6 Pro: In-Depth Review Realme’s latest flagship wireless earbuds, the Buds Air6 Pro, deliver nearly every premium feature you could expect from TWS earbuds in 2024. These earbuds come equipped with dual drivers, active noise cancellation (ANC) up to 50dB, and LDAC support for high-bitrate streaming.
Adding dual device pairing, 360-degree spatial audio, and an IP55 rating, the Buds Air6 Pro are poised to be an exceptional choice for earbuds. They come housed in a sleek case, providing up to 40 hours of combined playtime with the earbuds.But how do the Buds Air6 Pro compare to their main competitors, and is the €89/$100 price tag justified?
Design
When it comes to design, the Buds Air6 Pro closely resemble their predecessors, the Buds Air5 Pro. The case and earbuds maintain the same dimensions and size, though there are now two new color options available.
Our review unit is in a color Realme refers to as Titanium Twilight, which features a mirror-like finish. While this finish can easily attract smudges, it also doubles as a handy pocket mirror for on-the-go touch-ups.
The case is compact enough to fit into the coin pocket of jeans and has an oval shape that fits conveniently into small pockets within bags, jackets, or other clothing.
The Buds Air6 Pro feature stems with a shiny titanium finish, while the ear tips themselves sport a sleek dark grey hue reminiscent of Audi’s “Nardo Grey.”
Both the earbuds and their case are notably lightweight, which is ideal for extended use. Realme states that the combined weight of the buds and case is 47 grams, with each earbud weighing just 4.5 grams.
This light profile contributes to a comfortable in-ear fit. Using the default size M silicone tips, I experienced no discomfort or accidental falls, even during runs and gym sessions. The design, with its curved top halves, ensures a snug and secure fit. However, if possible, it’s always best to try them on beforehand to ensure they suit your personal comfort.
Realme Buds Air6 Pro: Features, Build, and Sound Quality
Each earbud is equipped with three microphones and touch controls, and is IP55-rated for water and dust resistance. The retail package includes a USB-C cable and replacement silicone ear tips in small and large sizes.
Features and Companion App Realme Buds Air6 Pro
The Realme Buds Air6 Pro utilize a dual-driver setup, featuring 11mm dynamic bass drivers and 6mm planar tweeters. This configuration allows the 11mm woofers to handle low and mid frequencies, while the tweeters manage higher range frequencies, resulting in a more detailed and balanced sound output.
The Realme Buds Air6 Pro support a range of audio codecs, including the legacy SBC and AAC, as well as the high-bitrate LDAC codec for enhanced streaming quality on platforms like Tidal HiFi, Amazon Music Unlimited, and Deezer Premium.
These earbuds pair via Bluetooth 5.3 and offer dual device pairing, Google Fast Pair, and a 55ms low latency mode for a seamless and responsive listening experience.
Realme Buds Air6 Pro: Active Noise Cancellation and App Features
The Realme Buds Air6 Pro are equipped with active noise cancellation (ANC) rated at up to 50dB and a frequency range of 4,000Hz, powered by a dedicated noise-canceling chip. The ANC system is complemented by call noise cancellation technology, designed to reduce background noise during calls and enhance voice clarity. Additionally, Realme’s de-wind technology helps improve call quality in windy conditions.
The Realme Link app provides a personalized audio experience with a custom sound profile based on a brief five-minute hearing test. The app also allows you to adjust ANC intensity with four different noise-canceling profiles, fine-tune sound with a six-band EQ, and save your custom presets. Features include a bass booster slider and MindFlow mode, which offers eleven white noise options for a tailored listening experience.
Realme Buds Air6 Pro: 360 Spatial Audio, Touch Controls, and Sound Performance
Realme’s 360 Spatial Audio feature simulates a surround sound experience for supported content, enhancing the already impressive capabilities of the Buds Air6 Pro. While the touch controls on each earbud can be customized for double taps, triple taps, and touch-to-hold gestures, it’s worth noting that volume control is not an option, which is a bit of a drawback.
The Buds Air6 Pro include in-ear detection, which automatically pauses media when you remove either earbud and resumes playback when you put them back in.
Performance and Sound Quality Realme Buds Air6 Pro
Out of the box, the Buds Air6 Pro deliver lively sound with bright treble and robust bass. The Realme Link app’s EQ tool allows you to adjust the frequency response to suit your preferences.
For those who enjoy enhanced bass, the Dynamic Bass Boost feature uses a dedicated algorithm to automatically amplify low frequencies.
Once adjusted to personal preferences, the Buds Air6 Pro provide a spacious soundstage with detailed separation between different frequencies. Mids are well-balanced, with vocals and instruments clearly defined, and high treble frequencies are well-tuned. Additionally, these earbuds can achieve high volume levels without compromising sound quality.
Realme Buds Air6 Pro: Dual Device Pairing and Connectivity Performance
The dual device pairing feature on the Buds Air6 Pro performs almost flawlessly. The connection is stable and pairing happens quickly. However, there is a slight delay when switching between audio sources, such as from a laptop to a phone, and you may need to manually pause media on one device and resume it on the other. This delay is not due to the earbuds but rather a limitation of the switching process itself.
Incoming calls seamlessly transfer to my phone while listening to music on my laptop, a valuable feature not always present even in more expensive earbuds. Throughout the review period, I tested the Buds Air6 Pro with an iPhone 15 Pro and a MacBook Pro 14. The connectivity remained strong, with no disconnections even when I moved further away from the audio source.
Realme Buds Air6 Pro: ANC Performance, Call Quality, and Battery Life
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Transparency Mode
The ANC on the Buds Air6 Pro is impressive, effectively blocking out a significant amount of background noise. This performance is likely due to both the excellent fit for my ear shape and the six microphones distributed across the earbuds.
However, the Transparency mode did not meet expectations, as it produced a hissing sound and made voices seem unnatural.
Touch Controls and Call Quality Realme Buds Air6 Pro
The touch controls are functional, though the absence of volume controls on the earbuds was a drawback. I also found the touch-sensitive areas on the top halves of the buds less convenient compared to having touch-sensitive stems.
Call quality is excellent with the Buds Air6 Pro. My voice was consistently clear during calls, even in noisy environments like busy streets with passing traffic. The in-ear detection feature worked reliably, pausing and resuming media as I removed or reintegrated the earbuds.
Battery Life Realme Buds Air6 Pro
The Realme Buds Air6 Pro are rated for 10 hours of battery life with ANC off, while the case extends total battery life to 40 hours. In practice, we achieved up to 7 hours of usage with ANC on and four full charges from the case. A complete recharge of both the earbuds and the USB-C charging case takes approximately two hours.
Verdict Realme Buds Air6 Pro
The Realme Buds Air6 Pro offer high-end features such as dual drivers, LDAC support, and effective ANC, all for just under €90/$100. While the price is somewhat steep compared to the Buds Air5 Pro, which matches the Air6 Pro in most aspects, competitors like the CMF Buds 2 Pro offer similar specs at about 30% less.
Overall, the Buds Air6 Pro deliver a premium design, rich feature set, and solid battery life. While they may not represent the best value at their current price, occasional discounts make them a strong recommendation for those seeking high-quality earbuds with a comprehensive feature set.
