If you’re hunting for high-quality earbuds that deliver exceptional sound without breaking the bank, the Realme Buds Air 7 Pro and Redmi Buds 6 Pro are tough to beat.
Having recently tested the brand-new Buds Air 7 Pro and spent a couple of months with the RedBuds 6 Pro, I’m here to break down every key difference.
If you’re deciding which pair to buy or considering an upgrade, this comparison will help you make the perfect choice with confidence.
Realme Buds Air 7 Pro vs. Redmi Buds 6 Pro: Specs
| Category | Realme Buds Air 7 Pro | Redmi Buds 6 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 | $79.99 (often found for ~$60) |
| Driver | 11mm + 6mm dual dynamic drivers | 11mm titanium-plated dynamic + 6.7mm piezo ceramic tweeter |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4, LHDC 5.0, AAC | Bluetooth 5.3, LDAC, AAC |
| Battery (Earbuds) | 62mAh per bud, ~5 hours (ANC on) | 54mAh per bud, ~5.5–6 hours (ANC on) |
| Battery (Case) | 530mAh, up to 26 hours total (ANC off) | 580mAh, up to 36 hours total (ANC off) |
| Charging | USB-C, no wireless charging | USB-C, no wireless charging |
| ANC | Up to 53dB | Up to 55dB |
| IP Rating | IP55 | IP54 |
| Weight (Earbuds + Case) | ~48g (estimated) | ~46g (estimated) |
| Colors | Starry Black, Aurora White | Black, White, Blue (varies by region) |
| Additional Features | Gemini AI (global version), Google Fast Pair, multipoint | Google Fast Pair, multipoint |
| App Support | Realme Link | Xiaomi Earbuds |
Realme Buds Air 7 Pro vs. Redmi Buds 6 Pro: What’s Unchanged?
Both earbuds share a lot of similarities, making them strong contenders in the sub-$100 category. Here’s what remains consistent:
Comfort and Fit: Both the Realme Buds Air 7 Pro and Redmi Buds 6 Pro are incredibly comfortable, even during long sessions like workouts or runs. They come with multiple silicone tip sizes for a secure fit, and neither bud feels like it’ll fall out during activity.
Controls: Both feature customizable touch controls via their respective apps (Realme Link and Xiaomi Earbuds). You can tweak gestures for playback, ANC modes, and more. They also have auto-pause/play sensors when you remove or insert the earbuds.
Connectivity Features: Both support Google Fast Pair for quick setup and multipoint connectivity, allowing seamless switching between two devices. Latency is impressively low on both, making them great for gaming or video streaming.
Microphone Quality: The mics on both earbuds are top-notch for the price, offering clear voice quality for calls and voice messages, with effective noise cancellation for background sounds.
App Functionality: The Realme Link and Xiaomi Earbuds apps are nearly identical in features, offering ANC customization, equalizer settings, and touch control configuration.
Realme Buds Air 7 Pro vs. Redmi Buds 6 Pro: Key Differences
So, what sets these earbuds apart? Let’s break down the main upgrades and differences to help you decide if the Realme Buds Air 7 Pro are worth the extra $20–30.
Design and Build Quality
The Realme Buds Air 7 Pro sport a slightly larger charging case with a premium leather-like finish that feels luxurious and resists smudges.
The Redmi Buds 6 Pro case, while well-built, uses glossy plastic (or matte in some color variants) that feels less premium and is more prone to fingerprints.
However, the Redmi case is slightly more compact, making it easier to slip into a pocket.
Both earbuds themselves are sleek and lightweight, with the Redmi Buds having a slight edge in aesthetic appeal due to their polished look.
In terms of durability, the Realme Buds edge out with an IP55 rating (dust and water resistance) compared to the Redmi’s IP54.
Both have handled sweat and light rain without issues, so the difference is minor.
Winner: Realme Buds Air 7 Pro for the premium case finish and slightly better IP rating.
Connectivity
The Realme Buds Air 7 Pro use Bluetooth 5.4 with LHDC 5.0 and AAC codecs, offering slightly better efficiency and lower latency compared to the Redmi Buds 6 Pro’s Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC and AAC.
In practice, the difference is negligible, as both deliver excellent audio quality and low latency for gaming or videos.
A significant advantage for the Realme Buds is Gemini AI integration (in the global version), enabling features like real-time AI translation.
The Redmi Buds lack this, but both earbuds support multipoint connectivity and Google Fast Pair for a seamless experience.
Winner: Realme Buds Air 7 Pro for Bluetooth 5.4 and Gemini AI.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
Both earbuds offer impressive ANC for their price. The Redmi Buds 6 Pro cancel up to 55dB of noise, slightly outperforming the Realme Buds Air 7 Pro’s 53dB.
In noisy environments like public transport or airplanes, the Redmi Buds do a marginally better job at blocking low-frequency sounds.
However, both apply noticeable ear pressure due to their aggressive ANC.
Both also feature a transparency mode that works flawlessly, letting you hear your surroundings without lag.
For ANC performance, the difference is small but noticeable in very loud settings.
Winner: Redmi Buds 6 Pro for slightly stronger ANC.
Sound Quality
Here’s where things get interesting. The Realme Buds Air 7 Pro feature 11mm + 6mm dual dynamic drivers, delivering a well-balanced sound profile out of the box.
Vocals are clear, mids are prominent, and bass is punchy without overwhelming the mix.
The Redmi Buds 6 Pro use an 11mm titanium-plated dynamic driver and a 6.7mm piezo ceramic tweeter, but their default tuning leans heavily on bass, which can muddy vocals and mids.
With equalizer tweaks in the Xiaomi Earbuds app (e.g., enabling “Treble Boost”), the Redmi Buds close the gap significantly, but the Realme Buds still sound slightly more refined, especially at high volumes where they resist distortion better.
Both support high-quality codecs (LHDC 5.0 for Realme, LDAC for Redmi), ensuring excellent audio fidelity.
Winner: Realme Buds Air 7 Pro for better out-of-the-box sound and less distortion at high volumes.
Battery Life
The Redmi Buds 6 Pro take the lead here. With 54mAh per bud and a 580mAh case, they deliver around 5.5–6 hours with ANC on and up to 36 hours total with the case (ANC off).
The Realme Buds Air 7 Pro, with 62mAh per bud and a 530mAh case, offer about 5 hours with ANC on and up to 26 hours total with the case (ANC off).
In real-world testing with ANC on and volume at ~50%, the Redmi Buds consistently lasted about 30 minutes longer per charge.
Neither supports wireless charging, which is a bummer at this price point.
Winner: Redmi Buds 6 Pro for slightly longer battery life.
Price & Availablity
The Redmi Buds 6 Pro launched at $79.99 but can now be found for ~$60, making them a stellar deal.
The Realme Buds Air 7 Pro, fresh on the market at $99.99, are pricier but may drop to ~$70 on platforms like AliExpress in time.
The $20–30 price gap is significant, especially since the performance differences are subtle.
Winner: Redmi Buds 6 Pro for better value at their current price.
Best Deals:
Realme Buds Air 7 Pro: View on AliExpress
Redmi Buds 6 Pro: View on AliExpress
Which Should You Buy?
If you already own the Redmi Buds 6 Pro, the Realme Buds Air 7 Pro offer enough improvements to consider an upgrade, especially if you value better sound quality, a premium case design, and Gemini AI features (global version).
The Realme Buds also have a slight edge in connectivity with Bluetooth 5.4 and a marginally better IP rating.
However, the Redmi Buds 6 Pro hold their own with longer battery life, stronger ANC, and a lower price point, making them the better value for budget-conscious buyers.
For new buyers, if your budget allows the extra $20–30, the Realme Buds Air 7 Pro are the slightly better choice for their refined audio and premium build.
But if you’re looking for the best bang for your buck, the Redmi Buds 6 Pro are hard to beat, especially at their discounted rate.
Both earbuds are fantastic, and your choice will depend on your priorities—premium features or cost savings.
Have you tried either of these earbuds? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, and if you have any questions, we’ll be happy to answer them!
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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.
