Xiaomi has unveiled its latest product in the wireless earbuds segment, Redmi Buds 6. The Redmi Buds 6 comes at a price of Rs 2,799. The price tag positions Redmi Buds 6 as affordable yet high-performance earbuds for consumers. Improved noise cancellation, dual driver design, and quad microphone array make this a new, exciting entry in the budget category.
Let’s explore the design, software, and features of Redmi Buds 6 in this detailed review.
Redmi Buds 6's design closely follows its predecessor's, with only slight updates. The charging case, in shape like a mint box, is matte-coated on top and bottom and glossy on the sides. It has a great smooth movement to open or close, with a satisfactory dampened sound on closure.
On the front, the USB-C charging port and a status LED that lights up sequentially to indicate the battery level. The pairing button on the right side is hard to spot initially, as it blends into the case's design and requires a bit of force to press. Unfortunately, this could have been more user-friendly.
These Xiaomi wireless earbuds adopt a glossy strip on the outward-facing edge, while the overall design, especially the inner side, is quite similar to the AirPods Pro. Despite their plastic construction, the Redmi Buds 6 provide a comfortable fit with minimal pressure on the ear. Thus allowing for hours of use without discomfort. They come with an IP54 rating for dust and splash resistance.
The Redmi Buds 6 supports the Xiaomi Earbuds app, which is available for both Android and iOS. The app offers control over audio effects, gestures, and ANC. Moreover, a user can fine-tune the ANC according to their preferences.
The Xiaomi Earbuds app is not without drawbacks, though. The Spotify banner overlaid is inescapable and cannot be turned off. The process of updating the firmware requires signing in with a Xiaomi account. Moreover, on Android, it goes fullscreen and hides the status bar, and the ANC buttons within the app are poorly aligned.
Users with a Xiaomi phone do not need the app since the audio options are already integrated into the Bluetooth settings. However, this won’t work if the iPhone's Xiaomi Sound effects aren’t enabled. The personalized audio within the app provides a sound profile based on a user’s choice. However, in tests, the results seemed uneven and unusable.
The Redmi Buds 6 uses a dual-driver design that combines a 12.4mm titanium-coated dynamic driver for low and mid frequencies. It also sports a 5.5mm piezoelectric driver for high frequencies. The device uses Bluetooth 5.4 and has SBC and AAC codecs.
The performance of audio without ANC is significantly balanced with a forward mid-bass, and the overall sound is warm without being too loud. The mid-range is rich, which guarantees full-bodied vocals with good timbre.
However, the turn-on of ANC greatly affects audio quality. The sound becomes compressed and narrows down a bit, making it boxed in. The hollow is noticed in the bass, and ANC detracts from the overall experience of the audio. The tests conducted using the ANC-off mode sounded better because of their clarity and being so natural.
The microphone performance of the Redmi Buds 6 was quite commendable. In silent environments, voices were pretty clear and natural. In noisy settings, they isolated background noises very effectively. However, there were instances of the popping sound coming through that might be an issue for some.
For Active Noise Cancellation, the Redmi Buds 6 are suitable for their price. While the ANC is quite effective at reducing general noise, it allows through some high-frequency sounds, such as running water and specific machinery. The earbuds do okay in extremely noisy environments, such as during air travel. They are good at mid-range noise but leave high-frequency sounds audible, which is better than with premium options like the Google Pixel Buds Pro.
Transparency Mode has another feature that enables users to listen to their environment. Three modes are available for this feature: Voice Mode, Balanced Mode, and Ambient Sound Mode. Among them, the Ambient Sound Mode is relatively more efficient in allowing sounds of the outside environment to seep through. However, in the Balanced Mode, it is a bit muffled.
The Redmi Buds 6 suffers from high latency, especially when not paired with Xiaomi phones. While the low-latency mode on Xiaomi devices helps, this feature isn’t available for non-Xiaomi users. Thus limiting the appeal of the earbuds to those who own a Xiaomi phone.
Connectivity-wise, the Redmi Buds 6 does well. Pairing is effortless, and the earbuds also support dual-device pairing, allowing users to connect two devices simultaneously. There is smooth switching between devices, and sound control can be managed through the app even if the sound comes from a different device.
A critical feature of the Redmi Buds 6 is their battery life. When using ANC is turned off, the earbuds manage up to 10 hours of playback, with ANC enabled, close to 6.5 hours. The earbuds also support quick charging, where a 10-minute charge offers up to 4 hours of playtime.
In testing, the Redmi Buds 6 lasted 10 hours and 28 minutes with ANC off, just above the claimed battery life. The quick charge feature was also effective, providing 3 hours and 56 minutes of playback after a 10-minute charge.
Retailing at just Rs. 2,799, the Redmi Buds 6 delivers an outstanding value for money. These earbuds offer excellent audio quality, good performance on ANC, impressive microphone clarity, and a long battery life. However, the performance of ANC can degrade the audio quality, and the software experience could be better. Thus, for users more accustomed to the smooth software of Airpods, the Redmi Buds 6 is not a good option.
For users who don’t prioritize ANC or are okay with occasional software quirks, the Redmi Buds 6 is a top contender in their price bracket. However, for those who value ANC as a critical feature,Xiaomi must address its impact on audio performance in future updates. All things considered, the Redmi Buds 6 is a strong option for anyone seeking affordable yet functional wireless earbuds.