The Realme Buds Air 6 TWS earbuds were launched last month in a third colorway Royal Violet. They debuted back in May in the Flame Silver and Forest Green colors. The review unit available for this assessment is in this classic silver option. Other specs include 12.4mm drivers, LHDC audio codec support, and up to 50dB active noise cancellation. Along with the charging case, the TWS earphones can give a battery life of up to 40 hours straight without ANC. This review shall ascertain if these are indeed true claims.
The Realme Buds Air 6 follows a traditional in-ear design with a rounded stem. They include three sizes of silicone ear tips small, medium, and large. Of these, the medium would fit the best in general; however, it may not be comfortable to wear for a long time. Though they don't fall off physically, continuous usage can cause a considerable amount of discomfort and pain after a couple of hours.
These are stored in individual slots vertically in this case, where the charging connectors are located at the base of the stem. On the upper side of the stem are the touch control sensors. The earphones have a dual-tone finish with an IP55 rating against dust and water splashes.
The magnetic charging case has no IP rating and comes with a USB Type-C port at the bottom beside the pairing button. At the front, there's an indication LED light for connectivity. The pebble-shaped case is a familiar design, especially in recent TWS models like the Buds Air 6 Pro. Even though the design is, to some extent, a little common, it never seems to go out of style due to its practicality. The case itself weighs 46g and is easy to carry around in a pocket or bag with the earbuds. Note that the case does not have any IP rating against dust and water ingress.
The Realme Buds Air 6 comes compatible with the simple, easy-to-use Realme Link companion app. It shows the charging percentage of the earphones and that of the charging case. It also offers choices for ANC mode settings on, off, and transparency. EQ presets like Serenade, Original Sound, Pure Bass, and Deep Bass can be selected; it also provides an ability to make your own EQ setting with a six-band equalizer.
Other toggles in the Realme Link app allow you to enable Bass Boost and Volume Boost, or reduce latency with the Game Mode. Touch actions, including double-tap, triple-tap, and touch-and-hold, can also be managed in-app. In-ear detection can also be turned on or off. There's also a MindFlow mode within the app that provides users with 11 pre-saved mood sounds to meditate, concentrate, or even sleep.
The Realme Buds Air 6 comes with IP55-rated earphones, reportedly holding a capacity of 50dB ANC. They come equipped with 12.4mm drivers and six microphones. The TWS earbuds support Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity and AAC, SBC, and LHDC audio codecs. In addition, they also feature Google Fast Pair and 55ms low latency gaming mode. Each earphone comes with a 58mAh battery unit, while the charging case has a USB Type-C port and houses a 460mAh battery.
The Realme Buds Air 6 comes with quite capable ANC and has several modes Max, Moderate, and Mild. Besides these, there's also a Smart mode, wherein the level of ANC automatically changes depending on how much environmental noise the user is surrounded by. While this ANC does an excellent job at canceling out most domestic disturbances, very faint sounds like the humming of a fan are not completely attenuated. Some users may find it rather annoying that the voice assistant informs them about mode changes.
The sound quality is affected by the Max ANC mode. The 12.4mm driver in each earbud leaves a bass-heavy sound experience while the mid and highs do feel quite muddled. The maximum setting of ANC flattens the sound experience, but punchy basses offset this in louder tracks. More pronounced flatness shows up in slower songs like "Cola" by Arlo Parks or "Jungle" by Tash Sultana, but casual listening remains tolerable. Bass-heavy rock, pop, EDM tracks, and podcasts are fairly enjoyable. The low latency game mode works very well in games like BGMI or Call of Duty: Warzone.
On the connectivity front, similar to the Pro variant, the Realme Buds Air 6 doesn't bring dual device connectivity onboard. What's in store instead is Google Fast Pair, version 5.3 of Bluetooth, and support for SBC, AAC, and LHDC audio codecs. They pair pretty easily with almost all Bluetooth devices. With LHDC codec enabled, one needs to stay closer to the paired device for a stable connection.
The Realme Buds Air 6 has a six-microphone system that is far from giving the best calling experience, and the voices are slightly hoarse and dim as compared to other earphones with similar network support.
The real battery life of the Realme Buds Air 6 does come very close to the promised 40 hours. Without ANC and at 60 percent volume, using AAC, the case added up for a total runtime of 39 hours and 20 minutes. With LHDC turned on and ANC off, the buds on their own lasted about eight hours per charge; enable Max ANC, and that dropped to four hours.
Coming back to the price tag of Rs. 3,299, the Realme Buds Air 6 is a very good deal for TWS earbuds with decent ANC support and inspiring battery life. The earphones work well enough for spaced-out usage during the day, say while commuting or between college classes, but not for long sessions. In this age of frequent charging, which many people find a hassle, the close-to 40-hour battery life makes a big difference.
1. How effective is the active noise cancellation (ANC) on the Realme Buds Air 6?
The Realme Buds Air 6 offers up to 50dB ANC, with multiple modes including Max, Moderate, Mild, and Smart. While it effectively reduces most domestic noise, some faint sounds may still be audible. The ANC performance may also affect sound quality, particularly at the Max level.
2. What is the battery life of the Realme Buds Air 6?
The Realme Buds Air 6 provides up to 40 hours of total playback time with ANC off when used with the charging case. With ANC on and using the LHDC codec, the earphones can last approximately 4 to 8 hours on a single charge, depending on the mode and volume level.
3. How comfortable are the Realme Buds Air 6 for extended use?
The Realme Buds Air 6 features a traditional in-ear design with silicone ear tips available in three sizes. While they fit securely, prolonged use can cause discomfort and fatigue. The fit may not be ideal for everyone, especially for extended listening sessions.
4. Can the Realme Buds Air 6 connect to multiple devices simultaneously?
No, the Realme Buds Air 6 does not support dual-device connectivity. However, they offer seamless connections to a variety of Bluetooth-enabled devices, including smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
5. What codecs and features are supported by the Realme Buds Air 6?
The Realme Buds Air 6 supports Bluetooth 5.3 and various audio codecs including SBC, AAC, and LHDC. They also feature Google Fast Pair for quick connectivity and a 55ms low latency gaming mode for a better gaming experience.
6. How does the Realme Link app enhance the experience with the Realme Buds Air 6?
The Realme Link app allows users to manage ANC settings, adjust EQ presets, enable Game Mode, and customize touch controls. It also includes a MindFlow mode with pre-saved mood sounds for meditation and relaxation.
7. How does the call quality compare to other TWS earphones?
The call quality on the Realme Buds Air 6 is less impressive compared to some other TWS earphones. The six-mic system does not provide the clearest voice calls, with slight distortion and faint voice quality observed during calls.
8. What is the build quality of the Realme Buds Air 6 charging case?
The charging case is designed with a pebble shape and features a USB Type-C port. It does not have an IP rating for dust and splash resistance but is lightweight and portable, weighing 46g. The case includes a connectivity LED light and a pairing button.