Redmi Buds 6 review: Balancing performance and price
Redmi Buds 6
Pros
- Comfortable fit
- Very affordable pricing
- Rich sound experience
- Good microphone quality
- Long battery life
Cons
- Noise cancellation could be better
- Enabling ANC can degrade sound quality
Redmi Buds 6: One minute review
The Redmi Buds 6 nail the basics. They’re lightweight, comfy, and last up to 10 hours on a charge, so you don’t have to worry about constant recharging. The sound is warm and bass-heavy, which makes music fun to listen to, and the mids come through nicely for vocals and instruments. The highs aren’t super detailed, but for the price, they sound pretty good—just keep ANC off if you want them at their best, because turning it on makes the audio feel a bit off.
The ANC does a decent job at blocking out low-frequency background noise like fans and traffic, but it won’t completely silence the world, especially higher-pitched sounds. Wind noise is also a weak spot. The touch controls are easy to use, and you can tweak them through the Xiaomi Earbuds app, which also lets you adjust ANC levels and sound settings. The microphones are solid for calls, keeping your voice clear even in noisy places.
If you’re after budget earbuds that get the job done, the Redmi Buds 6 are a solid pick. They’re not perfect—wind noise can be annoying, and ANC isn’t the best—but for less than $50, they offer good battery life, reliable sound, and a no-fuss experience. If you want stronger noise cancellation and richer sound, the Pro version might be worth the upgrade. But for everyday use, the standard Buds 6 hold up just fine.
Check Redmi Buds 6 price and availability on Xiaomi.
Redmi Buds 6 review: Design, hardware
The Redmi Buds 6 keep things simple and practical, with a lightweight design that’s easy to carry around. The charging case is compact and does its job well, though the plasticky build reminds you that these are budget-friendly earbuds.
That said, the case is sturdy enough for daily use, and the lid opens and closes smoothly. The magnets inside keep the buds secure, so they won’t go flying if you toss the case in your bag. Just don’t expect any extra protection—while the earbuds have an IP54 rating for dust and splash resistance, the case isn’t waterproof, so you’ll want to keep it dry.
The buds themselves fit comfortably without putting too much pressure on your ears, making them great for long listening sessions. You get a few different ear tip sizes in the box, and picking the right one makes a difference in both sound quality and noise isolation.
The touch controls are placed near the top of the stem and work well as this helps prevent accidental taps. That said, they do take some getting used to. You can customize the gesture controls through the Xiaomi Earbuds app, assigning different tap actions for different functions. The app runs smoothly on Android, though if you’re using a Xiaomi phone, you’ll get a slightly richer experience.
Overall, the Redmi Buds 6 don’t try to be fancy, but they nail the basics. They’re comfortable, easy to use, and built well enough for everyday life. If you’re after a no-fuss design that won’t weigh you down, these fit the bill.
Battery life
Battery life is a strong point of the Redmi Buds 6. You get up to 10 hours of playback on a single charge, which is pretty impressive for budget earbuds. Throw in the charging case, and you can go days without reaching for a charger. Whether you’re using them for work, long commutes, or just forgetting to charge them (which, let’s be real, happens to everyone), they’ll keep going. Plus, since they don’t have battery-hungry features like high-res audio codecs or crazy-powerful ANC, they hold up better than some pricier earbuds. Just a heads-up—if you leave ANC on all the time, you’ll burn through battery a little faster.
When it’s time to charge, it’s super easy. Unlike most headphones the USB-C port is right on the front of the case. There’s no wireless charging, but that’s expected at this price. A quick charge feature is handy if you’re in a rush—it gives you enough juice to get through a decent chunk of time without waiting forever.
A nice touch is the LED strip on the case. It lights up in steps to show how much battery is left, so you’re not stuck guessing. Even better, you can check the battery level just by tapping the pairing button or closing the case—no need to open an app. It’s a small detail, but super useful. Bottom line? The Redmi Buds 6 have battery life that won’t leave you hanging, and you don’t have to think about charging them all the time.
Redmi Buds 6 review: Technical specs comparison
Redmi Buds 6 are all about keeping things simple—good battery life, decent sound, and lightweight comfort. They get the job done without extra frills, making them a solid choice if you just want reliable earbuds without spending more. The ANC helps cut down some background noise, while the sound is tuned more for everyday listening rather than anything high-end.
Retailing for nearly double the price, the Pro version steps things up. It packs richer audio, thanks to triple drivers and Hi-Res Audio support. The ANC is also more powerful, handling background noise and wind better. The thing still keeps the long battery life, but with extras like head-tracking audio for a more immersive feel. If you care about better sound and stronger noise cancellation, the Pro is the way to go. But if you just want something simple that lasts all day, the regular Buds 6 do the trick.
Feature | Redmi Buds 6 | Redmi Buds 6 Pro |
|---|---|---|
Colors | Night Black, Cloud White, Coral Green | Space Black, Glacier White, Lavender Purple |
Earbud dimensions | 31.13 × 21.34 × 23.5 mm | 30.6 × 21.4 × 24.5 mm |
Charging case dimensions | 61.01 × 51.71 × 24.80 mm | 61.05 × 48.28 × 25.17 mm |
Weight (single earbud) | 5.0g | 5.2g |
Total weight | 43.2g | 46.5g |
Audio | Dual-driver, 360° audio, 4 EQ modes, 3 transparency modes | Triple drivers, Hi-Res Audio (LDAC), Head tracking audio |
Noise cancellation | Up to 49dB ANC, 9m/s wind reduction | Up to 55dB ANC, 12m/s wind reduction, AI call noise cancellation |
Battery (earbuds) | 54 mAh | 54 mAh |
Battery (case) | 475 mAh | 480 mAh |
Charging port | USB Type-C | USB Type-C |
Wireless connection | Bluetooth® 5.4 | Bluetooth® 5.3 |
Bluetooth protocols | Bluetooth® LE, HFP, A2DP, AVRCP | Bluetooth® LE, HFP, A2DP, AVRCP |
Communication range | 10m (open space, no obstacles) | 10m (open space, no obstacles) |
RRP | $49.99 / £34.99 | $89.99 / £64.99 |
Redmi Buds 6 review: How to use
There isn’t too much to write on how to use these headphones. It’s all standard stuff.
Just open the case, and they’ll turn on automatically. If it’s your first time using them, they’ll go into pairing mode—just find “Redmi Buds 6” in your Bluetooth settings and connect. If they’ve been paired before, they’ll reconnect on their own.
Need to pair them with a new device? Press and hold the button on the case until the LED starts blinking, then connect through Bluetooth. The button for pairing is on the right edge of the case. It’s surprisingly hard to notice at first glance and almost perfectly merges with the side finish. I paired the buds with multiple devices and never had a problem pairing. The connection is also stable.
The touch controls are straightforward and easy to use. You can stick with the default settings or jump into the Xiaomi Earbuds app to tweak things to your liking. Customize single, double, and triple taps to handle functions like volume control, skipping tracks, and play/pause. Another gesture you can use is long press – which lets you switch between noise cancellation and transparency mode.
The app gives you even more control over your listening experience. Transparency mode can be adjusted on a sliding scale from “Regular” to “Enhance ambient sound,” while ANC levels range from “Light” to “Deep.” There’s also an immersive sound option that adds a bit of spatial depth to the audio. If you like to fine-tune your sound, there are EQ presets to choose from: standard, enhance treble, enhance bass, and enhance voice. And you can switch Dual connection on or off.
Redmi Buds 6 review: Sound quality and noise protection
As far as sound quality, the Redmi Buds 6 deliver a surprisingly rich experience – particularly if you take into consideration their price. The sound has a bass-heavy profile that adds warmth and punch without overwhelming the mids. Vocals and instruments sound full-bodied, but the highs lack a bit of sparkle, which can make finer details less crisp. The dual-driver setup—featuring a 12.4mm dynamic driver for bass and mids and a 5.5mm piezoelectric driver for highs—does a decent job. It’s worth noting – with ANC turned off, the default tuning is enjoyable. But enabling noise cancellation alters the sound a bit, making it feel a bit artificial.
Active noise cancellation is okay for the price, handling low-frequency sounds like fans and engine hum very well. However, the same cannot be said for high-frequency noises. Wind noise is also an issue—the earbuds take longer than some competitors to adjust. And they only do a half-decent job at that.
Microphone performance is another strong point, producing clear and natural voice quality in quiet spaces and handling background noise well in louder environments. Occasionally, popping sounds can slip through, but overall, call quality is solid.
All in all – while the Buds 6 don’t offer premium sound or flawless ANC, they’re a great option for everyday use. The buds deliver good audio, decent noise cancellation, and strong battery life at a budget-friendly price.
Check Redmi Buds 6 price and availability on Xiaomi.
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