Realme Buds T300 Review: An Affordable TWS With Good ANC

India’s smart wearables market is experiencing rapid growth, with Chinese brands offering compelling products at competitive prices. A notable entry from Realme is the Realme Buds T300, launched on September 6, 2023. These True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds are priced attractively at Rs 2,299. They challenge their similarly priced competitors with robust features and surprising quality. Despite their budget-friendly tag, the Realme Buds T300 delivers performance that exceeds expectations, making them an excellent choice for consumers seeking quality and affordability. Let’s explore what makes the Realme Buds T300 a standout option in the bustling market of smart wearables.

Realme Buds T300 specification

• Driver Unit: 12.4 mm
• Noise Cancellation: Dual microphones for Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) up to 30 dB
• Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth 5.3 for stable and quick connectivity
• Audio Codecs Supported: SBC and AAC codecs
• Battery Capacity: 43mAh per bud and 460mAh in the charging case
• Battery Life: Up to 8 hours playback without ANC, 6 hours with ANC
• Charging: USB Type-C port with fast charging (10-minute charge for nearly 7 hours of playback without ANC)
• Water and Dust Resistance: IP55-rated
• App Support: Realme Link app for sound customization and control configuration, available on Android and iOS
• Additional Features: 360-degree Spatial Audio Effect, various touch controls, and no wear detection sensors
• Weight: 4.1 grams per bud, 41 grams for the case

Realme Buds T300 Design and Comfort

The Realme Buds T300 are designed with a keen eye for aesthetics and practicality. They are encased in sleek, matte-finish plastic that prominently features the Realme branding. The case has an aesthetically pleasing wooden-like brown interior. It is robust and capable of securely protecting the buds with minimal shift or movement during transport. Each earbud follows a stem-cell design, topped with soft rubber eartips. Realme includes two extra pairs of eartips to ensure a comfortable, tailored fit for different ear sizes.

Weighing just 4.1 grams each, these buds are surprisingly light, making them comfortable for prolonged use without causing ear fatigue. The case is also light, at about 41 grams, yet it feels sturdy enough to withstand everyday handling. Additionally, the Buds T300 boasts an IP55 rating for water and dust resistance. This means they can handle sweat during workouts or light splashes without any issues. The choice of right-sized silicone tips enhances the passive noise isolation, contributing further to the comfort and overall usability of the buds in various environments.

Realme Buds T300 Features

The Realme Buds T300 has many impressive features that set them apart in the budget TWS category. Each earbud houses a 12.4 mm dynamic driver with a titanized diaphragm engineered to deliver rich and robust sound quality. The Buds T300 includes dual microphones on each bud. They facilitate up to 30 decibels of ambient noise suppression, ideal for those prioritizing clear calls and effective noise cancellation.

Bluetooth 5.3 advances connectivity, ensuring a stable and quick pairing process supported by both SBC and AAC codecs. Although the buds do not feature wear-detection sensors, they compensate with the Realme Link app. This application, available on both Android and iOS, allows users to customize sound profiles, control settings, and adjust ANC modes—between ANC On, ANC Off, and Transparency Mode.

The Realme Buds T300 also supports a 360-degree Spatial Audio Effect. This feature adds an immersive element to the audio experience, though it may not always be transformative. While simplicity is key in operating these buds, the Realme Link app enriches user interaction by providing extensive customization, including gesture controls for playback and volume adjustments. This blend of essential and enhanced features makes the Realme Buds T300 a noteworthy contender in its price segment.

Performance

Users will first notice the robust volume output—a testament to their efficient sound delivery. With a stable wireless range of 10 meters, these earbuds maintain a reliable connection free from disruptions, ensuring a seamless audio experience.

Sound quality is primarily bass-heavy by default, making it particularly appealing to bass enthusiasts. However, the Realme Link app provides four sound presets—Clear Vocals, Nature Balance, Clear Bass, and Bass Boost—allowing users to tailor the audio to their preferences. “Clear Vocals,” as the name suggests, enhances vocal clarity and is well-suited for listening to training videos or podcasts. On the contrary, “Nature Balance” is not well-balanced and has a bass-heavy sound signature that often overpowers the mids. Of all these profiles, “Nature Balanced” is the best option. “Clear Bass” emphasizes bass, ignore bass boost as it is not good.

The app also features a 6-band equalizer to fine-tune audio profiles for a more personalized sound.

ANC performance is another standout feature. The Buds T300 can reduce ambient noise by up to 30 decibels, outperforming many competitors in its price range. This makes them particularly effective in noisy environments, like public transport, where they significantly reduce background chatter. The Transparency mode, while average, still serves its purpose by keeping users aware of their surroundings.

Battery Life

The battery performance of the Realme Buds T300 is a highlight, showcasing endurance that pushes the boundaries of budget wireless earbuds. Each earbud has a 43mAh battery, while the charging case holds a substantial 460mAh capacity. Realme’s claims of 6 hours of playback with ANC activated and 8 hours without are close to the real-world experience. Testing shows the buds last just over 5 hours with ANC and nearly 7.5 hours without it.

What sets the Buds T300 apart in its category is its longevity per charge and fast charging capability. A quick 10-minute charge can yield nearly 7 hours of playback without ANC, making these earbuds incredibly efficient for users on the go. The total battery life, with the charging case, ranges from 25 to 37 hours, depending on ANC usage, which means less frequent charging and more time enjoying your music or podcasts.

Users can easily recharge their buds with the convenience of USB-C charging, complementing such impressive battery stats and using the same cable used for many other devices. The Realme Buds T300 stand out as an excellent choice due to their combination of long-lasting battery life, fast charging, and user-friendly features like USB-C compatibility. They are ideal for anyone seeking reliable earbuds that won’t tether them to a charger.

Price

The Realme Buds T300 are attractively priced at Rs 2,099, positioning them as a highly affordable option in the competitive market of True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds. This pricing strategy not only makes the Buds T300 accessible to a broad audience but also challenges similarly priced products by offering superior features such as active noise cancellation and customizable sound settings. The combination of a low price point and high-performance features underscores Realme’s commitment to providing value. This makes these earbuds an enticing choice for consumers seeking quality audio solutions without a hefty price tag.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

Impressive Sound Customization: The Realme Buds T300 offers a range of sound profiles through the Realme Link app. It includes a 6-band equalizer for deeper customization, allowing users to shape their audio experience to their liking.

Effective ANC: The active noise cancellation feature, capable of reducing up to 30 dB of ambient noise, makes these buds a standout choice for users in noisy environments.

Comfortable Design: With their lightweight build and multiple eartip options, these buds are designed for long-term comfort and a secure fit.

Robust Battery Life: With up to 8 hours of playback without ANC and fast charging capabilities, these buds are ideal for extended listening sessions.

Water and Dust Resistance: An IP55 rating ensures that the buds can withstand sweat and splashes, making them suitable for exercise and outdoor activities.

Value for Money: Priced competitively, the T300 buds offer features and performance that often surpass more expensive alternatives.

Cons:

Basic Sound Profiles: The preset sound profiles could be better tuned, with some options like Bass Boost overwhelming other sound frequencies and not suitable for listening to music.

Average Transparency Mode: The transparency mode needs refinement to better focus on important sounds like conversations without amplifying all background noise.

Lack of Advanced Features: Wear detection sensors and dual-pairing support are absent, which are becoming common in similar-priced models.

FAQs

Conclusion

The Realme Buds T300 offers an impressive combination of features, performance, and value, making it a compelling choice in the budget TWS category. With robust noise cancellation, a comfortable fit, and customizable sound settings, these earbuds stand out as a versatile option for various users. Despite some shortcomings in sound profiles and the absence of certain advanced features, the Buds T300 excels where it matters most—sound quality, battery life, and user experience. For anyone looking for affordable, high-quality earbuds that deliver more than they promise, the Realme Buds T300 could be the perfect fit.

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