- Affordable
- Comfortable fit, IP54 rating
- Customizable app features
- Solid call quality
- Weak ANC
- Bulky case
The Redmi Buds 7S, priced around $40, offer a comfortable fit, IP54 rating, and Bluetooth 5.4 with a feature-rich app for customization. Sound is clear but bass-light, and ANC is weak. With 6.5 hours of battery life (32 with case), they’re a solid budget pick despite minor flaws.
Recently, I decided to test the new Redmi Buds 7S, so I ordered a pair through AliExpress since they’re currently only available in China.
After a week of use, I’m sharing my experience to help you decide if these earbuds are worth grabbing.
They cost me around $40, though prices may vary depending on your region.
Let’s dive into my review.
Redmi Buds 7S Specifications
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| Design | Semi-in-ear, Clear Snow White, Light Lake Green, Midnight Black |
| Drivers | 12.4mm dynamic, 5.5mm piezoelectric tweeters |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.4, AAC/SBC codecs, multipoint |
| ANC | Adaptive ANC (Deep/Balanced modes) |
| Water Resistance | IP54 |
| Battery Life | 6.5h (ANC off), 32h with case |
| Charging | USB-C, no wireless charging |
| App | Xiaomi Earbuds (iOS/Android) |
| Features | Touch controls, 10-band EQ, in-ear detection |
| Price | Around $40 |
Design and Build: Stylish but Not Perfect
The Redmi Buds 7S come in three color options: Clear Snow White, Light Lake Green, and Midnight Black. I opted for the white version, which looks sleek and modern.
The charging case is medium-sized with a faux-leather lid that gives it a premium vibe, reminiscent of older Samsung Galaxy phone backs.
The sides are glossy, while the back is matte, creating a nice contrast. However, the inner edges of the lid feel slightly rough and could use more polish—something that stands out at this price point.
The case features a large LED strip on the front that displays the battery level, a handy touch for quick checks.
There’s also a pairing button on the side, which is straightforward to use.
The earbuds themselves are crafted from high-quality plastic with smooth, well-finished edges, ensuring no irritation during long listening sessions.
Comfort is a strong point here; the Buds 7S fit snugly and stay put without causing fatigue, even after hours of use.
One downside? The case is bulkier than competitors like the Huawei Freebuds 2 SE or Oppo Enco Air3, making it less pocket-friendly.
Additionally, while the Buds 7S boast an IP54 rating for water and sweat resistance, there’s no official ingress protection for full water submersion, so keep them away from pools or heavy rain.
Connectivity and App Support: Feature-Rich with a Catch
The Redmi Buds 7S use Bluetooth 5.4, ensuring a stable connection with support for AAC and SBC codecs.
However, there’s a quirk for non-Chinese market users: these earbuds are primarily designed for China, so you’ll need to switch the Xiaomi Earbuds app to the mainland China region to unlock full functionality.
Without this tweak, you’re limited to basic Bluetooth pairing through your phone’s settings, which skips the app’s robust features.
Once connected, the app (available for iOS and Android) is a game-changer. It offers a 10-band equalizer for custom sound profiles, preset options for enhanced voice, treble, bass, or volume, and even an adaptive sound mode that aims for an immersive experience.
You can also tweak touch controls for play/pause, track navigation, volume, voice assistant, and ANC toggling.
Other perks include in-ear detection, auto-pause/play, and the ability to locate your earbuds with a loud alarm.
An important feature is the dual-device multipoint connectivity, letting you pair the Buds 7S with two devices simultaneously.
However, the switching can be overly sensitive, sometimes jumping to the secondary device without prompting.
This is a minor annoyance, but one Xiaomi hasn’t ironed out from the previous Redmi Buds 6 lineup.
Sound Quality: Airy but Lacking Depth
The Redmi Buds 7S pack 12.4mm dynamic drivers paired with 5.5mm micro piezoelectric drivers, aiming for clear, loud, and full sound with solid bass.
Out of the box, the sound leans heavily on mids and treble, delivering crisp guitars, pianos, and vocals with a spacious, airy quality. Acoustic and classical tracks shine, with details popping from left and right, creating an immersive soundstage.
However, the bass is where things falter. While there’s a decent mid-bass punch, the low end lacks weight and depth, making it feel shallow compared to competitors like the Redmi Buds 6 Active or SoundPEATS Air5 Lite.
Pushing the earbuds deeper into your ears can temporarily boost the bass, but the semi-open design means it’s tough to maintain that fit.
At higher volumes (which kick in around mid-level on your phone), the treble can get harsh, making extended listening less comfortable.
The app’s equalizer helps, but even the bass-heavy presets don’t fully balance the sound.
If you’re a bass-head or love thumping electronic tracks, these earbuds might leave you wanting.
For casual listeners who enjoy vocal-driven or acoustic genres, the sound is pleasant enough, especially for the price.
Active Noise Cancellation: Don’t Get Your Hopes Up
Xiaomi markets the Redmi Buds 7S with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), offering Deep and Balanced modes.
Unfortunately, the ANC is underwhelming due to the half-in-ear design, which lacks the seal provided by silicone tips. It slightly reduces constant background noises like fridge hums or air conditioning, but it’s far from effective for bustling environments.
For comparison, Apple’s AirPods 4 are among the few half-in-ears that nail ANC, and the Buds 7S don’t come close.
By default, ANC is on, which significantly cuts battery life. Turning it off is the way to go unless you’re in a mildly noisy setting where the slight noise reduction might help you focus on your music.
For most users, the ANC feels more like a marketing checkbox than a practical feature.
Call Quality and Media Playback: Solid but Not Stellar
For phone calls, the Redmi Buds 7S perform admirably. Your voice comes through clear and natural, with decent volume.
Background noises like traffic or conversations are effectively muted, though windy conditions can make your voice sound thinner. Indoors, there’s minimal wind noise, making these earbuds a reliable choice for calls.
Video playback is seamless, with no noticeable lag. For gaming, the Buds 7S offer decent audio-visual sync, but there’s a slight delay in fast-paced titles like Call of Duty Mobile.
Spatial audio is limited, so don’t expect precise directional cues for footsteps or effects. Gunshots and explosions also lack the punch you’d want in action-heavy games, reflecting the earbuds’ bass shortcomings.
Battery Life: Respectable for the Price
Xiaomi claims the Buds 7S deliver 6.5 hours of playtime on a single charge, with the case providing up to 32 hours total.
In my testing, these numbers hold up as long as ANC is off. With ANC enabled, expect around 4 hours per charge.
The case can recharge the earbuds fully four times, and a 10-minute charge yields about 10 minutes of playback—not the fastest, but sufficient for quick top-ups.
The LED battery indicator and app’s 5% increment display make it easy to track power levels.
Note that wireless charging isn’t supported, so you’ll need to use the included USB-C cable.
Verdict: Worth the Price?
At the price, the Redmi Buds 7S are a compelling budget option. They offer a comfortable fit, solid build quality, and a feature-packed app with customizable controls and sound settings. Multipoint connectivity and decent call quality are bonuses, and the IP54 rating adds durability for workouts or light rain.
However, the lackluster ANC, shallow bass, and overly sensitive device switching hold them back from greatness.
If you’re after affordable earbuds for casual listening and don’t need booming bass or top-tier noise cancellation, the Buds 7S are a solid pick.
For bass lovers or those needing robust ANC, you might want to look elsewhere or spend a bit more, such as the OnePlus Buds 4 or Realme Buds Air 7 Pro.
Nick, the Co-founder of Earbuds Arena, is a seasoned freelance tech journalist with over ten years of experience covering wearables, apps, headphones, and gadgets. When he’s not immersed in the tech world, you’ll likely find him unwinding with video games, going for a run, or enjoying a game of soccer on the field.
