Earlier this year, Redmi introduced the Redmi Buds 5, a set of budget-friendly TWS earphones designed for budget-conscious consumers. Recently, the company unveiled its successor, the Redmi Buds 6, which have officially launched in India. These new earbuds were released alongside the Redmi Note 14 series and boast some impressive features for their price, such as dual drivers, 42 hours of playback time, and 49 dB of active noise cancellation. However, the question remains: can these earbuds stand out in a fiercely competitive market? Let’s explore this through a review.
Redmi Buds 6 Price & Availability
Redmi Buds 6 is priced at Rs. 2799 and will be available in Titan White, Ivy Green, and Spectre Black shades. It will go on sale from 13th December at 12 noon via Mi.com, Xiaomi Retail, and Amazon.
Pros
- Compact & lightweight design
- Good sound quality
- Effective ANC
- Long battery life
Cons
- The case & buds are dust and smudge magnet
- Loudness isn’t adequate
- No IP Rating for the case
Redmi Buds 6 Review: Design & Fit
Redmi Buds 6 are presented in standard white packaging that showcases an image of the earbuds within their case, along with the name of the true wireless stereo (TWS) product. Xiaomi offers the Redmi Buds 6 in three color options: Titan White, Ivy Green, and Spectre Black. For this review, I have the black variant.
The charging case of the Redmi Buds 6 boasts a compact and stylish design, making it easy to carry in your pocket. The case is also lightweight at 43 grams, with each earbud tipping the scale 5.2 grams. The case features a combination of glossy and frosted finishes, enhancing its overall aesthetic appeal.
Functionally, it includes an LED charging indicator on the front and a Type-C port for convenient charging. On the left side, there is a button for manual pairing, while the top of the lid showcases the Redmi logo in gold. The earbuds are securely housed within the case, which closes with a satisfying click and has a pleasant tactile feel.
Now, let’s discuss the design and fit of the earbuds. The Redmi Buds 6 features a sleek all-black touch bar on the rear, which allows users to play or pause music, answer calls, adjust volume levels, and perform other functions. Since each bud weighs just 5.2 grams, it remains comfortable for extended wear. Additionally, they come with two additional pairs of ear tips to accommodate different ear sizes.
The primary concern is that both the earbuds and the charging case tend to accumulate dust and smudges quite easily. This has necessitated frequent cleaning with a cloth before use. Even when placed indoors on my dresser, the case became dirty and marked. For individuals who prefer their devices to remain clean, this is quite disappointing.
Also, while the earbuds are IP54-rated for dust and splash resistance, the case does not get this rating, which is also a downer.
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Redmi Buds 6 Review: Connectivity, Control & Features
Redmi Buds 6 are compatible with the Xiaomi Earbuds app, which can be installed for free from the Google Play Store. This app provides individual battery level indicators for each earbud and the charging case, allowing you to monitor when it’s time to recharge the device.
Additionally, users can switch between Transparency and Noise Cancellation mode from the app itself. Users can customize touch controls by setting specific gestures and can choose from four audio balance settings: Standard, Enhance Treble, Enhance Bass, and Enhance Voice.
Other functionalities include in-ear detection, dual connectivity, and automatic call answering, all of which can be managed through the app. Furthermore, the Xiaomi app features a ‘Find my Earphones’ function, enabling users to emit a sound to locate lost earbuds or the charging case.
The Buds feature Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, providing a wireless range exceeding 10 meters. To connect the buds to your smartphone, simply activate the Bluetooth on your device and open the charging case. Additionally, they offer 360-degree surround sound for an enhanced audio experience.
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Redmi Buds 6 Review: Sound & ANC
Xiaomi has designed the Redmi Buds 6 with dual drivers (12.4mm and 5.5mm) to enhance sound quality. This driver configuration significantly improves the bass in pop music and provides a well-balanced audio experience even for slower, reverb-heavy tracks. The separation between the primary melody and background music is distinct, creating a harmonious listening experience.
Instruments such as violins and pianos are rendered with depth, while the singer’s vocals remain clear and prominent. Tracks like ‘Tum se’ from TBMAUJ and ‘Raanjhan’ from Do Patti showcase a well-defined audio distinction between the artists’ voices, enriching the vocal character. The earbuds also support AAC and SBC codecs.
The sound quality is satisfactory; however, I encountered a significant problem with the volume levels of the earbuds. At a 50% volume setting, the audio seemed quite low, while at 80%, it provided an adequate listening experience for music. Even when I increased the volume to 100%, the loudness remained relatively moderate. I hope future updates will address this concern.
Let us now discuss Active Noise Cancellation, a standout feature of the Redmi Buds 6. These earbuds provide noise cancellation of up to 49dB. Their noise reduction performance is commendable, offering three distinct modes: balanced, deep, and light. When ANC is disabled, the earbuds effectively adapt to their environment; whether in a bustling market or a serene park, my music experience remained uninterrupted. In indoor settings, the light noise reduction mode effectively diminished background sounds such as fans and keyboard clicks.
While outdoors, I preferred the deep noise reduction mode, which successfully muffled the sounds of truck and car horns, although some noise still managed to seep through occasionally. The balanced mode is ideal for locations like parks, where a quiet listening experience is desired while still maintaining awareness of the surroundings, especially at moderate noise levels. Overall, the performance of the ANC feature is quite satisfactory.
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Redmi Buds 6 Review: Battery Life and Charging
The charging case of the Redmi Buds 6 is equipped with a 475mAh battery, which is said to provide up to 42 hours of playback on a single charge. This claim proved to be nearly accurate, as I could snag in over 40 hours of playback time with the earbuds when active noise cancellation (ANC) was turned off. I found that I did not need to recharge the case for nearly three days.
Each earbud contains a 54mAh battery, delivering approximately 8 to 9 hours of playback on a single charge. The overall playback duration of both the earbuds and the case was quite impressive.
A 10-minute fast charge provides over 3.5 hours of playback time, which is quite satisfactory. Redmi has also introduced an innovative method for monitoring battery levels through the closed case. The Redmi Buds 6 features a Flow LED Battery indicator located on the front of the case. This indicator functions as a breathing light, allowing users to easily assess the charging status.
When the battery level drops below 25%, a single light bar will flash, whereas all four bars will flash when the battery exceeds 75%. This design enables users to quickly gauge the charge level of the case at a glance.
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Review Verdict: Should You Buy the Redmi Buds 6?
Smartprix Rating: 8/10
Design and Build: 8/10
Connectivity, Control & Features: 8/10
Sound & ANC: 8/10
Battery Life & Charging: 8/10
Redmi Buds 6 offer an affordable audio solution equipped with valuable features such as up to 49dB active noise cancellation, an impressive 42 hours of playback time, a compact and portable design, and dual drivers for enhanced sound quality. While there are minor drawbacks, including the tendency for the case and earbuds to collect dust, insufficient loudness, and the absence of an IP rating for the case, these earbuds remain a viable option for consumers seeking budget-friendly true wireless earbuds with satisfactory performance under Rs. 3,000.
First reviewed in December 2024.
