Almost every premium feature you might expect from a set of TWS buds in 2024 is available with Realme's most recent flagship wireless earbuds. The two drivers, up to 50dB active noise cancellation (ANC), and LDAC compatibility for high-bitrate streaming are features of the Buds Air6 Pro.

An IP55 certification, 360 spatial audio, dual device pairing, and these features combine to make for an excellent set of earbuds. Together with the buds, everything is housed in a stylish casing that should provide you with up to 40 hours of playback.

But are the Buds Air6 Pro worth the €89/$100 price tag, and how do they compare to their main rivals?

Design

It will be difficult to identify any significant design distinctions between the Buds Air6 Pro and Air5 Pro. The buds and case have the same size and proportions as previously, however there are two additional color choices.

Realme refers to the liquid metal hue on our evaluation unit as Titanium Twilight. It's a little pocket mirror that you can carry with you everywhere you go, but it also has a mirror-like gloss that quickly smudges.

The case's oval form makes it appropriate for various small pockets inside your backpack, jacket, or other clothing items. It is small enough to fit in the coin pocket of my jeans.

The Buds Air6 Pro's stems are likewise made of gleaming titanium, but the part that goes into your ears is a sleek dark grey hue that resembles Audi's "Nardo Grey" color choice.

When it comes to wireless earbuds, lightness is usually a plus, especially if you intend to wear them for extended periods. This is true for both the buds and their case. According to Realme, the combined weight of the buds and case is 47 grams, with each earbud weighing only 4.5 grams.

Together with a fantastic in-ear fit, the buds have a lightweight profile. Even during runs and gym sessions, I have been using the Buds Air6 Pro with the default size M silicone tips, and I have not had any discomfort or unintentional falls. In my case, the curved top half of the buds allows for a comfortable fit, but if you get the chance, you should always attempt to test them out first.

Touch controls and three microphones are also included in each earphone. Additionally, the buds are IP55-certified against dust and water splashes. A USB-C cable and new silicone ear tips in small and large sizes are included in the retail packaging.

Features and companion app

The Realme Buds Air6 Pro has two drivers: a 6mm planar tweeter and an 11mm dynamic bass driver. The benefit of using two drivers is that the tweeters concentrate on upper-range frequencies, leaving the 11mm woofers to handle the low and mid frequencies. This should produce a sound output with greater detail.

Along with the high-bitrate LDAC version, you receive compatibility for the traditional SBC and AAC codecs on compatible streaming services like Tidal HiFi, Amazon Music Unlimited, and Deezer Premium.

The Google Fast Pair feature, low latency mode (55 ms), dual device pairing, and Bluetooth 5.3 pairing are all supported by the Buds Air6 Pro.

A specialized noise-canceling chip and active noise cancelation (ANC) with a maximum 50dB rating at 4,000Hz frequency are also included. Call noise cancellation, which tries to minimize background noise and provide the best speech pickup during calls, is used in tandem with the ANC. To assist with calls in windy conditions, Realme also integrated its de-wind technology.

After a quick five-minute hearing test, the Realme Link app provides a customized sound profile and bespoke audio algorithm based on your hearing. Along with four noise cancelation profiles, a six-band equalization to adjust sound output, and the ability to store custom presets, the app also offers settings for the ANC strength. A bass booster slider and eleven white noise patterns in MindFlow mode are also included.

Realme's 360 Spatial Audio completes the excellent feature set of the Buds Air6 Pro by simulating a surround sound experience on compatible material. Unfortunately, volume controls cannot be included in the touch controls, however, you can remap the double and triple taps as well as touch-to-hold motions on each earpiece.

When you take out any of the two earbuds from your ears, the Buds Air6 Pro's in-ear recognition feature pauses media and resumes playback when you put them back in.

Performance and Sound quality

Right out of the box, the Buds Air6 Pro provides vibrant sound with a sharp treble and robust bass. With the EQ function in the Realme Link app, you may adjust the frequency response to your liking.

Realme's Dynamic Bass Boost function, which automatically adds bass using a specialized algorithm, should be just up your alley if you enjoy your music with a little more oomph.

The Buds Air6 Pro provided roomy sound with sufficient clarity and excellent separation between the various sound frequencies once it was tuned to our satisfaction. The singers and instruments sounded perfectly in the midrange, and the upper treble was also perfectly adjusted. These buds also have a powerful sound.

The function of linking two devices almost perfectly operates. The pairing happened very immediately, and the bond was strong. The inability to instantly switch between audio sources on my phone and laptop, as well as the need to manually start media on one device after pausing it on the other, are not related to the earbuds themselves.

While listening to music on my laptop, incoming calls would transfer to my phone with ease. This is a fantastic comfort feature that isn't usually a given, even with more costly earbuds. We put the Buds Air6 Pro to the test using a MacBook Pro 14 and iPhone 15 Pro. Connectivity remained great throughout the review period, and I did not experience any disconnections even when I was further away from my audio source.

The Buds Air6 Pro's ANC is excellent at canceling out most background noise. That's probably because each earphones have six microphones dispersed throughout, and they fit my unique ear shape well.

Transparency mode, as is often the case, did not impress as it was accompanied by an odd-sounding hissing noise that also affected the naturalness of the voices.

I did miss the volume knobs on the actual earbuds, but the touch controls were functional. Additionally, rather than needing to touch the upper parts of the buds, I would like it if the stems were touch-sensitive.

With the Buds Air6 Pro, call quality is excellent. People reported hearing me clearly in every situation, including on busy streets where cars were passing by. When I took out or replaced the buds in my ears, the in-ear detection functioned as predicted, stopping and starting media.

Battery life

When the ANC is turned off, the Realme Buds Air6 Pro is rated for 10 hours of battery life; with the case, that amount of time is increased to 40 hours. During our use, the buds with ANC on lasted up to 7 hours, and the case provided four more 0–100% charges. It takes around two hours to fully recharge both the USB-C charging case and the buds

Verdict

High-end features including twin drivers, LDAC compatibility, and superior ANC are brought by the Realme Buds Air6 Pro. Rich sound and a price tag of around €90/$100 are paired with them. That pricing point is a little high given that the Buds Air6 Pro and Realme's Buds Air5 Pro are equal in every way, and the CMF Buds 2 Pro is a rival with 30% less beginning cost and virtually identical features.

With its excellent in-ear fit, dual device pairing, and adjustable EQ that allows you to customize them to your preferences, the Buds Air6 Pro checks a lot of boxes. While there are now some discounts available, the Buds Air6 Pro is still a wonderful option for anyone seeking earbuds with a high-end design, an extensive feature set, and a respectable battery life.