Last August during the launch of the realme 11 Pro 5G series phones, the brand also unveiled its latest True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds with the realme Buds Air 5.
The realme Buds Air 5’s design is minimalistic, yet it packs an array of features, such as active noise cancellation, large audio drivers, ultra-low latency connectivity, and great battery life.
Let’s dive in and check the performance of the realme Buds Air 5.
Unboxing
The packaging of the realme Buds Air 5 comes in the brand’s simple trademark yellow-colored box. It is made of thick cardboard material in a matte finish except for the product image and product name on the front having a UV lamination effect.
In addition to the Buds Air 5 image, the other elements seen on the box are its key selling features, along with a sticker on the back that provides additional product details, certification marks, and company information.
When you open the box, you’ll find a separate compartment box made of plastic material. Removing this reveals the case right away, while underneath it, you’ll discover its accompanying accessories.
Everything out of the box, you’ll have the following contents:
- Realme Buds Air 5 unit
- Extra Silicone Earbud Tips
- USB Type-C Cable
- User Guide
The realme Buds Air 5 comes in two available colors Deep Sea Blue and our review unit in Arctic White.
Design – Charging Case
The charging case is well built made of durable polycarbonate plastic material and weighs only 45.5 grams with the earbuds included.
It comes in a compact pebble-shaped design with a smooth and glossy finish, it might be slippery and difficult to hold for certain individuals.
Total dimensions of the charging case measures at 68.1 x 50.8 x 23.8mm.
On the front, you have a realme logo and a single LED light indicator.
There is a USB-C charging port at the bottom along with a pairing button.
The case of the cover lid features a sturdy hinge that easily opens at a 105-degree angle, revealing the interior design in a sleek black color. It effortlessly snaps in place when you close it due to the strong magnets.
Design – Earbuds
realme opted for a long stem design for the Buds Air 5, it’s made of durable plastic in a smooth glossy finish and a thin silicone rubber material used for its ear tips.
The earbuds are lightweight with each bud weighing 4.4 grams and measures at 30.8 x 20 x 24mm.
The stem design fits comfortably in the ear canal even if you’re using it for long hours. There were moments when it loosened a bit, particularly during vigorous head movements. However, it still remains securely in your ear and won’t easily fall off.
You also get a set of extra ear tips to fit other different ear sizes.
Each bud is embedded with three built-in microphones, providing a total of six microphones to accurately pick up and enhance a person’s voice when you’re on a call.
Found at the end of the stem are the magnetic charging pins to securely charge the earbuds inside the charging case.
The buds have an IPX5 rating withstanding splashes of water, other liquid substances, and sweat if used during your intense workouts. realme does not recommend the device to be submerged in water.
Touch Control
The realme Buds Air 5 provides a responsive and accurate touch control feature that can be activated with a simple tap on the area just above the top of its stem.
You can do the following commands:
- Double Tap –Play / Pause music or Answer / Hang Up a call
- Triple Tap – Skip to the next song
- Long Press (2 seconds) – Switch on/off noise cancellation mode or reject a call
You can also customize the touch controls via the realme Link App under the button settings to allow voice assistant, game mode, previous track playback, switch devices, or turn it off.
I particularly love that the Buds Air 5 can assign the volume control to the triple-tap function, making it incredibly convenient to adjust audio levels without needing to reach for your device.
Noise Cancellation
Among the numerous earbuds I’ve tried and tested, the Buds Air 5 likely boasts the most extensive array of noise-cancellation features available on a device. While some earbuds offer only a basic active noise cancellation feature, the Buds Air 5 goes far beyond that.
Inserting the earbuds into my ears will trigger an immediate activation of the 50 dB active noise cancellation feature. I can feel the ambient sounds of my surroundings lowered in an instant.
If you want to turn on the transparency mode, you simply tap and hold on either side of the buds disabling the noise cancellation feature. This will allow you to hear your surroundings.
Another remarkable feature is the 6-Mic Call Noise Cancellation which enhances call quality. The six microphones are strategically placed on the buds to help reduce background noise or wind noise focusing more on the user’s voice. This produces crystal-clear conversations which makes the Buds Air 5 ideal for any type of calls or online meetings.
For an excellent listening experience, whether it’s music or videos, the 4000Hz Ultra-Wide Band Noise Cancellation provides an extensive range of noise reduction across a broad spectrum of frequencies. It effectively suppressed various types of unwanted sounds, from low rumbles to high-pitched disturbances.
The Smart Adaptive Noise Cancellation is an intelligent technology as the earbuds analyze the surrounding environment, adapt in real-time, and adjust noise-cancelling settings accordingly. It ensures that you stay immersed in your audio while staying aware of your surroundings, offering a personalized and safe listening experience for users.
I was pleasantly surprised by how well the earbuds reduced the noise of my surroundings as I traveled to an event and switched from the LRT to the MRT. Listening to my Spotify playlist sounds even better due to the noise-cancellation feature. After getting off my ride and walking to my destination, I have the option to activate the earbuds’ transparency mode, allowing me to hear my surroundings for safety.
Connectivity
The realme Buds Air 5 offers a hassle-free and efficient connection experience with Google Fast Pair. With the Google Fast Pair, it enables the earbuds to quickly and automatically pair with your compatible Android devices, as soon as you open the charging case. You will notice a large pop-up window on the screen letting you connect to the device.
For iPhone users, you need to follow the regular pairing procedure to connect the earbuds.
Thanks to the latest Bluetooth version 5.3, the Buds Air 5 provides a stable connectivity experience within a generous maximum range of 10 meters, allowing you to stay connected even when you’re on the move.
It has a super low latency of 45 ms to ensure users a near-perfect synchronization of audio heard if you’re watching video content or games being played on the device. This exceptionally low latency is an advantage for gaming enthusiasts that eliminates any noticeable delays in sound and provides a seamless, immersive, and more enjoyable gaming session.
I was so satisfied with the flawless connectivity, there was hardly any lag or delay with the audio.
Sound and Call Quality
When it comes to the sound quality of the Buds Air 5, it’s safe to say that it won’t disappoint, as it delivers an impressive audio experience.
It has a large 12.4mm mega tetanizing audio driver that comes with a titanium coating to produce richer, more details, especially in terms of bass for better audio immersion.
With an individual rear cavity design, I love how powerful the bass is on these earbuds which makes music, games, and movies sound more vibrant. The larger audio driver also enhances the clarity of vocals and mid-range frequencies.
I was amazed by the clarity of the bass and guitar riffs as it resonated while listening to The Smiths’ “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” on Spotify through these earbuds.
The Buds Air 5 truly excels in reproducing low frequencies, as I played Warren G’s “Regulate” I could distinctly hear the echoing deep bass notes, it’s a perfect device for such bass-heavy tracks like this.
The earbuds also support Dolby Atmos for stereo surround sound when connected to a compatible device that also supports Dolby Atmos.
Now, using the earbuds for calls, they perform really well, as the person on the other side can hear you clearly.
realme Link App
The realme Link app is a multifunctional companion for managing and enhancing realme devices including smartphones, smartwatches, and other connected accessories.
With the Buds Air 5 on the realme Link app, users can conveniently manage and customize some additional settings found on the device. You can even check the battery percentage of the earbuds or charging case.
There’s even an earbud fit test that plays music to ensure that your ear tips make a perfect seal with your ear canal.
You can also turn on the dynamic bass option, game mode, wind noise reduction, volume enhancer, and more.
Battery
Each earbud comes with a 43mAh battery, while the charging case is equipped with a 460mAh battery.
With the battery capacity of both the earbuds combined with the charging case, the realme Buds Air 5 allows users a total of 38 hours of usage on a single charge. For me that’s a lot of playback time, it provides users with an extended and uninterrupted audio experience. Whether you’re on the go, working out, watching videos, or simply enjoying your favorite playlist, the Buds Air 5 got you covered.
I’ve been using the Buds Air 5 daily for 2 to 3
hours, and I still have around 40 to 50 percent of the battery remaining.
The USB-C charging port supports fast charging with 10 minutes of charge time the earbuds can last for 7 hours of playback time (at 50% volume with ANC turned off).
It took us almost 1 hour to fully charge both earbuds in the charging case, and 2 hours to fully charge the case with the earbuds inside.
What We Like
- Compact and Lightweight
- Noise Cancellation Features
- Responsive Touch Control
- Impressive Sound Quality
- Super Low Latency
- Clear Calls
- Battery Life
- realme Link App
- Smart Wear Detection
- Google Fast Pair
- IPX5 Rating
- Price
What We Want
- Protective Case
- Seamless Device Switching
- Dual Device Connection
Conclusion
In general, the realme Buds Air 5 stands out as another excellent in-ear TWS headphone we’ve tested. It offers users a premium audio performance, great noise cancellation, intelligent touch control, and a long-lasting listening experience.
The earbuds would be far better if they had seamless device switching for a more convenient transition between paired devices. Currently, they require disconnection before connecting to another device, which could be improved on the next models.
The Buds Air 5 doesn’t support the dual-device connection feature which is found on the realme link app. It allows you to connect your earbuds with two different devices and seamlessly switch quickly between the two paired devices. Maybe realme can add this convenient feature to future software updates.
Priced at PHP3,499, the cost of the realme Buds Air 5 may seem slightly higher for some, but it’s a good investment for an audio device that can offer premium sound quality and a host of built-in features.
Whether you’re a music lover, a serious gamer, or someone who simply craves clear and powerful sound, the realme Buds Air 5 could be exactly what you’re looking for.
Full Specifications – realme Buds Air 5
Price: PHP 3,499 SRP
Colors: Deep Sea Blue and Arctic White
IP Rating: IPX5 (Earbuds Only)
Noise Reduction Function
- Active Noise Cancellation + Environment Noise Cancellation
- 50dB Active Noise Cancellation 2.0
- 4000Hz Ultra-Wide Band Noise Cancellation
- Smart Adaptive Noise Cancellation
Noise Reduction Depth: 50dB
Audio: 12.4mm Driver
Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20KHz
Microphones: 3pcs Per Side
Weight Earbuds: 4.4+0.2 grams
Weight Charging Case: 36.7 grams
Bluetooth Range: 10 meters
Bluetooth Version: 5.3
Supported Audio Format: AAC, SBC
Pairing Popup: Supported
Wear Testing: Supported
Bluetooth Transmission Protocol: A2DP, HFP, SPP, AVRCP
Call Function: 6-Mic Call Noise Cancellation
Bartery Type: Rechargeable Li-on Battery
Battery Capacity Case: 460mAh
Battery Capacity Earbuds: 43mAh
Charging Port: USB-C Port
Voice Assistant: Supported
Status Indicator: Pairing Mode: White Light Breathing / Restore Factory Settings: White Light, Green Light Flashing Alternately /Low Battery: Red Light Breathing
Open the Cover Without Charging: Battery level of the charging box is more than 20% the green light is always on for 3 seconds; Battery level of the charging box is less than 20% the red light is always on for 3 seconds
In The Box: Earbuds Unit, USB-C Charging Cable, Silicone Earbud Tips, Quick Start Guide
