Redmi Buds 6 Review: Is It Superior to the Last Generation?

The Redmi Buds 6, the latest addition to Redmi’s lineup, has been launched in India at an affordable price of Rs 2,999. Building on the success of its predecessor, the Redmi Buds 5, this new offering retains the sleek design while incorporating notable upgrades. With features such as a compact build, impressive battery life, and enhanced acoustic performance, the Redmi Buds 6 caters to diverse user needs. In this review, we delve into its design, comfort, and functionality, highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses to help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.

Redmi Buds 6: Design and Fit

The Redmi Buds 6 charging case sports a mint box-shaped design with a matte finish on the top and bottom, complemented by glossy sides. Its hinge mechanism ensures smooth movement with a dampened, satisfying closure sound. On the front, a USB-C charging port and LED status indicator are neatly integrated, while a pairing button on the side blends seamlessly into the design but requires extra effort to press.

The earbuds feature a glossy strip on their outer edge and an AirPods Pro-inspired design on the inner side. Despite their plastic construction, they are lightweight and comfortable for extended use. The snug fit minimizes ear pressure, making them ideal for long hours of wear. Additionally, an IP54 rating provides dust and splash resistance, adding durability to their stylish design.

Redmi Buds 6: Connectivity and Control

The Redmi Buds 6 excels in connectivity and feature customization, powered by the Xiaomi Earbuds app. This app offers comprehensive control over the earbuds, including individual battery indicators for each earbud and the charging case. Users can toggle between Transparency and Noise Cancellation modes, customize touch controls, and select from four audio balance presets: Standard, Enhance Treble, Enhance Bass, and Enhance Voice. There is a spatial audio toggle for an immersive audio experience.

Advanced functionalities enhance user convenience. The earbuds support in-ear detection, which pauses playback when removed, dual connectivity for seamless switching between devices, and automatic call answering. Additionally, the ‘Find my Earphones’ feature allows users to emit a sound to locate misplaced earbuds or the case, adding an extra layer of practicality.

Connectivity is seamless with Bluetooth 5.4, offering a robust wireless range exceeding 10 meters. Pairing is effortless—simply open the charging case with Bluetooth activated on your device. The Redmi Buds 6 also delivers an immersive 360-degree surround sound experience, elevating audio for gaming, streaming, or music.

Redmi Buds 6: Performance

Audio Quality & Microphone

The Redmi Buds 6 features a dual-driver design comprising a 12.4mm titanium-coated dynamic driver for low and mid frequencies and a 5.5mm piezoelectric driver for high frequencies. This configuration delivers a balanced tuning that emphasizes mid-bass, providing a warm, thumping sound without becoming overbearing. Vocals are rich and full-bodied, with good timbre and clarity, avoiding the typical V-shaped tuning seen in many earbuds. However, the higher frequencies lack sparkle and air, which somewhat obscures fine details. Despite these shortcomings, the Redmi Buds 6 offers a broadly appealing sound profile that performs well across various genres and media.

The audio quality takes a hit when Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is enabled. The sound becomes compressed, with an artificial timbre and a reduced soundstage. Bass feels hollow, and the overall experience is less immersive compared to when ANC is disabled. Transparency mode fares better, allowing ambient sound to filter through naturally. Disabling all effects, including ANC, is recommended for optimal audio performance.

The microphone on these Buds performs admirably. Voice recordings are clear and natural, free from distortion, in quiet environments. In noisier settings, the microphone effectively isolates background noise, though occasional popping sounds may occur. Overall, the mic quality is reliable for calls and recordings.

Noise Cancellation & Latency

Noise cancellation on the Redmi Buds 6 is impressive for its price range. It effectively reduces low-frequency sounds like fan noise or air conditioners. However, high-frequency sounds, such as running water or machinery noise, are less attenuated. Comparatively, the Redmi Buds 6 holds its own against rivals like the Nord Buds 3 Pro, providing slightly better mid-frequency noise reduction. While not as effective as premium options like the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, the Redmi Buds 6 delivers commendable performance given their affordability.

Latency is a weak point for the Redmi Buds 6. Out of the box, the delay is noticeable, which can detract from gaming. Low-latency mode on Xiaomi phones significantly improves performance, but this feature is not accessible via the Xiaomi Earbuds app, leaving users with non-Xiaomi devices at a disadvantage.

Connectivity

The earbuds offer reliable Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity with no dropouts or pairing issues. Dual-device pairing is seamless, allowing users to switch between devices like a phone and a laptop effortlessly. This versatility enhances the overall user experience, especially for multitaskers.

Battery Life

It boasts exceptional battery life. Although the manufacturer claims up to 42 hours of playback, tests validated this performance under regular usage conditions. Even heavy users averaging 3–4 hours of daily use can go nearly two weeks without recharging.

A full charge for the case takes approximately 2 hours, which is relatively slow. However, the quick charge compensates for this minor drawback which allows the earbuds to play for approximately 4 hrs with 10 minutes of charging. The Flow LED battery indicator adds convenience by displaying the case’s remaining battery levels, while the Xiaomi Earbuds app or Redmi phone settings provide precise percentage monitoring for both the earbuds and the case.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

The Redmi Buds 6 stands out as an excellent value-for-money option at just Rs. 2,799. Its balanced audio quality, effective ANC, long battery life, and sleek design cater to a wide range of users. However, its ANC compromises sound quality, and the software experience could be smoother, which may deter users accustomed to high-end devices like AirPods.

For those prioritizing sound quality and battery life over ANC or occasional software quirks, it is a strong contender in its segment. Future updates addressing ANC performance and app usability could further elevate its appeal. Whether you’re a casual listener or someone seeking budget-friendly earbuds with versatile features, the Redmi Buds 6 delivers commendable performance for its price.

In conclusion, we can confidently say that the Redmi Buds 6 is an improvement over its predecessor, the Redmi Buds 5. The new model features a dual-driver design, which enhances sound quality. The audio signature is now more balanced, as opposed to the typical V-shaped sound signature found in most budget true wireless earbuds. Additionally, the active noise cancellation (ANC) has seen slight improvements compared to the previous generation, and the Redmi Buds 6 is also priced slightly lower than the Redmi Buds 5.

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