Realme Buds Air 3 Review: A headset with better sound and ANC at a lower price

It was just over a year ago, when true wireless earphones were rarely seen in the affordable category. But for some time now, there have been many brands which have launched TWS models with essential features like active noise cancellation and app support. Some of the initially launched products in this segment like Realme Buds Air 2 were mediocre in terms of performance and capacity. But brands like Oppo and OnePlus have come a long way and set a benchmark by offering everything you expect from a TWS headset at a price under Rs 5000.

Realme has launched its latest true wireless headset. Buds Air 3 Has been launched. These are similar to Buds Air 2 but they seem to make up for some of the shortcomings that were left in the older model. It can be said that after their arrival the competition in the market has become more tough in which Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro And OnePlus Buds Z2 Also included. Are these the best TWS headsets under Rs 5000? We will find out in this review.

Compact and efficient design of Realme Buds Air 3

Realme Buds Air 3 are priced at Rs 3,999 in India and come in Starry Blue and Galaxy White colours. Recently, the company has also launched its Nitro Blue version, which has white racing stripes on it. The price of this variant is Rs 4,999.

A new product version usually means you’ll see some improvements. In terms of design, some useful changes have been made in Realme Buds Air 3. The earpieces and charging case are slightly smaller than the older model, even though they look and feel the same. These have a good in-canal fit, due to which noise isolation becomes better in active noise cancellation.

Like Buds Air 2, the stem in Realme Buds Air 3 is moduled separately from the main chamber of the earpiece. Their color is also different. My review unit stem was in silver color and earpieces were in white color. Like the old model, this time also ‘L’ and ‘R’ marks are not given on the earpiece. The earpieces have IPX5 rating for water resistance and weigh 4.2 grams each.

I liked the look of Realme Buds Air 3 a lot. Its compact design and comfortable fit worked great for me. The cell package also comes with a short charging cable and three pairs of silicone ear tips in different sizes to provide a customizable fit. The outer side of the stem is sensitive for touch controls. These can be customized through Realme Link app. The app is available on both Android and iOS platforms.

I found the performance of its touch control decent. However, on occasion, the triple tap gesture registered the double tap, or did not register at all. The touch sensitive area on the earpiece is very small and is not even shown. Perhaps that is why he was not able to read the input. Through these touch controls it’s possible to control playback, switch between ANC and hear-through modes, activate the default voice assistant on a paired device, and activate game mode directly from the earphones.

The color and finish of the charging case of Realme Buds Air 3 is the same as the earpiece. There is an indicator light on the front, a USB Type-C port at the bottom, and a Bluetooth pairing button on the right side. There is Realme logo on the top. The review unit sent to me had my name printed on the back of the case, but Realme has confirmed that it is not currently available to customers in India.

Like other wireless audio products of the company, Realme Link app has been provided to support the functions of Realme Buds Air 3. Through the app, users can switch between ANC and hear-through modes, activate game mode, and control other features like dual device connectivity. You can also customize the touch controls on the earpiece through the app.

Using the app, you can choose from three equalizer presets, or you can tune through a customized audio tuning process. I used the ‘Balanced’ sound preset. While the custom audio signature may suit some people, you may need to undergo a hearing test so that the tuning can be set specifically for you.

Realme Buds Air 3 have 10mm dynamic drivers and support SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs. For this, Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity has been provided. ANC is claimed to reduce sound by up to 42dB. Latency in low latency game mode is up to 88ms. It also has the feature of connecting two devices simultaneously.

Battery life was good in the wearable. It lasts for 4.5 hours on a single charge. You get three complete charging cycles in the charging case. The charging case is slightly smaller than the older model and gives more charging cycles.

Improvement found in ANC and sound of Realme Buds Air 3

The old model was average in terms of sound. Active noise cancellation was also very minor in it. A lot of improvement is seen in Realme Buds Air 3. Support for SBC and AAC Bluetooth codec means that it will provide the same music experience on Android and iOS devices. I used an iPhone for this review. I listened to Martin Solveig’s Intoxicated on this. The sound quality was much better than any other headset from Realme that I have reviewed.

Its sonic signature is tuned for strong bass, but the low points of the track sounded quite clean and tight. Whereas this is not found in other devices of this price range. The high points of the track were also comfortable and clean. The mid range was a bit low. The track felt quite clean, especially with its strong and fast beat.

The detail level in Childish Gambino’s Feels Like Summer was quite good. It is a down tempo and soothing track which sounds great at different volume levels. This is where the Realme Buds Air 3 have improved to deliver enjoyable and comfortable sound.

The sound of Realme Buds Air 3 feels quite comfortable in the ears. I did not feel any fatigue while listening to music. However, in terms of attack and drive sound, the earphones seemed to lag behind Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro and OnePlus Buds Z2.

Active noise cancellation in Realme Buds Air 3 was much better than its older model. This feature worked well even indoors. The hum sound of the AC was very less. At the same time, office noise and outdoor street noise were reduced a bit. This made listening comfortable but you will get better ANC performance in slightly more expensive options like OnePlus Buds Z2 or Nothing Ear 1.

Transparency mode seemed a bit over-amplified but I was obviously able to hear my surroundings better. I found it more convenient to rely on the automatic play and pause function while taking short calls while listening with one earpiece. Its connectivity is very good. The earpieces work great up to a distance of 4 meters. Multipoint connectivity also worked well. I was able to use these earphones for calls without any problem.

Verdict

Realme has a very good track record in terms of value for money products. Realme Buds Air 3 has taken this quality of the company forward. This time the sound quality and active noise cancellation has improved. Some useful features like multi-point connectivity are also provided in it. If you are looking for true wireless earphones under Rs 5000, then you can go for these.

Considering the price, the sound quality and ANC performance in Realme Buds Air 3 is quite good. However, the quality is inferior to Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro or OnePlus Buds Z2. Still, the overall experience makes this handset worth buying in this price range.