Realme Buds Air 6 Pro Review: Good ANC, Solid Sound

The Realme Buds Air 6 Pro are true wireless stereo (TWS) earphones that were recently launched in India alongside the Realme GT 6 ( review ). They offer up to 50 dB of active noise cancellation (ANC), dual-device connectivity, and support for 360-degree surround sound. The earphones have a battery life of up to 40 hours, including the charging case. The earphones are IP55-rated against dust and splashes, and are compatible with the Realme Link app. These TWS earphones also support AAC, SBC, and LDAC audio codecs. In this review, we’ll go over the pros and cons of these wearable audio devices in detail, so you can make an informed decision on whether you want to invest in them.

Realme Buds Air 6 Pro Design and Features: Compact, Refined, Smudge-proof

• Waterproof and dustproof – IP55 (buds)
• Colors – Silver Blue, Titanium Twilight
• Ports – USB Type-C

The Realme Buds Air 6 Pro feature an in-ear design with a rounded stem. The earphones come in the box with two extra pairs of silicone ear tips. The medium option works best for me, and the fit of the earphones is generally comfortable enough. I had no issues using them for long hours straight. The touch control sensors are placed on the top side of the stem, so it’s easier to adjust them using the lower parts.

Realme Buds Air 6 Pro provide a fairly comfortable fit

The Realme Buds Air 6 Pro charging case has a pebble shape and a glossy finish. The case is compact, lightweight, and easy to carry. But even with minimal handling and tinkering, smudges appear everywhere. The case also lacks an IP rating, unlike the IP55 earphones. The earphones are placed vertically in individual slots in the case.

Realme branding is visible on a slightly shiny panel on the Realme Buds Air 6 Pro’s transforming case. The bottom edge houses the USB Type-C charging port, while the pairing button is on the right.

Realme Buds Air 6 Pro Companion App and Specs: Pro Features

• Speaker – 11mm bass driver + 6mm micro-planar tweeter
• Companion App – Realme Link
• Gesture Control – Yes

The Realme Buds Air 6 Pro are compatible with the Realme Link app, a companion app shared by many of the brand’s devices. Once paired, when you tap on the Buds Air 6 Pro option in the app, the first thing you’ll see is the battery percentage. The three noise cancellation modes listed here also come with a wind noise reduction feature. Then, the EQ Mode setting will take you to a tab where you can choose between Serenade, Original Sound, Pure Bass, and Deep Bass. If you want, you can also manually adjust the setting by tapping on the Custom Equaliser option.

Users can also enjoy the Golden Sound feature, which uses a series of sound tests to find the best sound match for them. Toggles for surround sound, high-resolution audio (LDAC), and dynamic bass are placed just behind the sound effects. You can also toggle between dual-device connection, in-ear detection, auto answer, or game mode via the app. Touch controls, starting with double-tap, triple-tap, and touch and hold, can be managed and assigned to both earphones.

The Realme Link app has a simple and easy-to-use layout

Realme also offers a MindFlow mode that can be accessed via the app. These come with eleven pre-stored mood sounds, including Summer Seashore, Nighttime Camping, Meditation, and more. If you’re often looking for looping sounds to focus on or fall asleep to, this makes all the hassle of apps with ads disappear. After trying out a few of them, I found that the White Noise sound worked best for me.

The realme Buds Air 6 Pro, equipped with IP55-rated earphones, are said to offer up to 50 dB ANC. They feature 11 mm coaxial drivers, 6 mm micro tweeters, and three microphones. The TWS earphones support Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity and AAC, SBC, and LDAC audio codecs. The earphones have a 60 mAh battery each, while the charging case, equipped with a USB Type-C port, has a 460 mAh battery.

Realme Buds Air 6 Pro performance and battery life: largely on par

• ANC-50dB
• Battery – 60mAh (Bud), 460mAh (case)
• Bluetooth-v5.3

The ANC on the Realme Buds Air 6 Pro can be managed in three modes – Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off. Transparency mode lets you turn on some ambient noise, while Noise Cancellation mode drowns out almost all the distractions in the room. You can further adjust the level of noise cancellation based on your surroundings, or enable the “smart” option, which automatically adjusts the level of cancellation based on your surroundings. The earphones also have an in-ear detection feature that pauses the music when you take them out. Note that you can turn this feature off in the companion app if you want.

These headphones are definitely the best choice for a bass lover on a budget. With pre-set equalizer options like Pure Bass and Deep Bass, as well as a Dynamic Bass scale, the sound you experience is powerful and convincing. For a track like J-Hope’s Hangsang, the headphones deliver delicious bass thumps, even with ANC, without distorting the tone. When I turned on the Spatial Sound mode, it wasn’t hard to imagine myself in the middle of a Lollapalooza 2022 live performance of the track. However, even the highs and mids on these headphones are competent. This can be determined for tracks like Aretha Franklin’s Don’t Play That Song or Bjork’s The Boho Dance.

The earphones feature an in-ear design and a two-tone finish.

The Realme Buds Air 6 Pro lets you connect to two devices and supports Google Fast Pair along with Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity. Pairing is a fairly straightforward process – you open the earphones’ case near your Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, and the device will be automatically detected and you’ll get a direct prompt to pair. To connect to a second device, you need to press the button on the case for three seconds. The case will open near your device, and the earphones will appear on the second device. If you’re having trouble connecting to a second device, make sure the dual-connection switch in the Realme Link apps is turned on.

The only real downside to the otherwise smooth operation of the Realme Buds Air 6 Pro is the LDAC connectivity over distance. Sound quality? Flawless. But try leaving your phone on your desk to refill your coffee from the kitchen in the next room, and you might have to improvise parts of the podcast you were listening to. You can switch to AAC or just carry your phone with you personally at all times.

The performance of the 3-microphone system for calls using these headphones is satisfactory. While I never expect to sound like James Earl Jones on a call, the microphones of some TWS headphones in this price range are clearly questionable. There are no such problems here.

The battery life of the Realme Buds Air 6 Pro is reasonable for the price and also considering the features they offer. With the LDAC codec and ANC turned on at 60 percent volume, the earphones lasted for about six hours and 20 minutes on a single charge, which increased to almost an hour longer without ANC or Transparency mode. They also offered a playback time of almost seven hours with the AAC codec supported and with ANC turned on. Without ANC, at a constant 50 percent volume in AAC, the earphones lasted close to 10 hours on a single charge.

The earphone box contains silicone ear tips in two different sizes.

Realme Buds Air 6 Pro: Verdict

In short, the Realme Buds Air 6 Pro tick all the boxes — they deliver what they promise. The detailed sound experience of the TWS earphones is supported by dual drivers and is further enhanced with support for 360-degree surround sound. The powerful ANC support also works well without any uncomfortable pressure on the ears or any significant impact on the sound. If you’re looking for good TWS earphones priced around Rs 5,000, these, currently selling for Rs 4,999, are worth a look.

As an alternative, you can check out the Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro ( Review ) for a similar price of Rs 4,999 with almost identical features. If you have a slightly flexible budget, you can also check out the OnePlus Buds 3 ( Review ) which offers LDHC codec support and is priced at Rs 5,499 in India.