- Excellent sound quality
- Strong active noise cancellation
- Solid battery life
- Reliable connectivity with multipoint support
- Earbud design looks basic
- No wireless charging
- Transparency mode sounds slightly artificial
The Realme Buds Air 8 deliver impressive sound quality, strong noise cancellation, and reliable everyday performance at an affordable price. With comfortable design, solid battery life, and useful smart features, they punch above their class, making them one of the most compelling wireless earbuds options in the budget segment right now.
I’ll be honest — I wasn’t expecting to be this impressed.
When Realme announced the Buds Air 8, I assumed it would be another minor yearly refresh. Slight tweaks, maybe a battery bump, slightly better noise cancellation, and that would be it.
But after spending a few weeks using them daily — commuting, working, gaming, and even during workouts — these earbuds genuinely surprised me.
At roughly $50 in China right now, they land squarely in the affordable segment. Yet much of the experience feels closer to something that costs quite a bit more. They aren’t flawless, but they come dangerously close for the money.
Here’s how they hold up in real-world use.
Also See: Redmi Buds 8 Lite Review
Realme Buds Air 8 Specifications
| Driver Configuration | 11mm dynamic driver + 6mm tweeter (dual-driver setup) |
| Bluetooth Version | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Supported Codecs | LHDC 5.0, AAC, SBC |
| Active Noise Cancellation | Up to 55dB ANC with Transparency Mode |
| Microphones | Triple-mic AI noise reduction per side |
| Low Latency Mode | Gaming mode with ultra-low latency |
| Battery Capacity | 62mAh (each earbud), 530mAh charging case |
| Playback Time (ANC Off) | Up to 8 hours (around 30 hours total with case) |
| Playback Time (ANC On) | Around 6–6.5 hours per charge |
| Charging Port | USB Type-C |
| Wireless Charging | No |
| Water Resistance | IP55 dust and water resistance |
| Multipoint Connectivity | Yes, multi-device connection supported |
| Spatial Audio | Supported via Realme Link app |
| Companion App | Realme Link (Android & iOS) |
| Controls | Touch controls with in-ear detection |
| Available Colors | Purple, Gold, Grey |
A Case That Feels More Premium Than Expected
The first thing I noticed when I picked them up was the charging case. Realme changed the design compared to last year, and it’s a welcome move.
The case is flatter and more squared, making it easy to slip into a pocket without creating an awkward bulge. The front has a soft, fabric-like texture that almost feels velvet to the touch. It’s technically still plastic, but it doesn’t feel cheap in hand, which is often the case at this price.
Everything else is standard but well executed — LED status light, USB-C charging, strong magnets, and a pairing button hidden inside under the lid.
The earbuds themselves look familiar if you’ve seen previous Realme models. They won’t win design awards, and I wouldn’t call them stylish, but comfort matters more here. Once in the ear, they stay put. I’ve used them while running and during gym sessions, and they barely move.
You also get silicone tips in multiple sizes, so getting a good fit isn’t difficult. Add IP55 water resistance, and you don’t have to worry about sweat or light rain.
In short, maybe not beautiful, but practical and comfortable — which matters more in daily use.
Connectivity Is Surprisingly Good
Connectivity is where these earbuds quietly shine.
They use Bluetooth 5.4 and support the LHDC audio codec, which offers higher-quality audio — assuming your phone supports it. Most people will still use AAC, and even then, connection stability was excellent during my testing.
One feature I really appreciated is multipoint connectivity. Switching between laptop and phone without constant reconnecting is something you don’t fully appreciate until you have it.
Gaming mode also reduces latency noticeably. Watching videos or playing mobile games felt synchronized, without that annoying audio delay.
Overall, connectivity has been reliable enough that I rarely had to think about it — which is exactly what you want.
The App Actually Adds Useful Features
Using the Realme Link app gives you more control than you might expect.
You can customize touch controls, adjust noise cancellation levels, tweak EQ settings, enable gaming mode, and check battery levels for each earbud. There’s even a fit test to make sure you’re getting a proper seal.
Spatial audio is included too. Personally, I still prefer stereo mode since spatial effects can sound a bit artificial, but some users may enjoy the added sense of space.
There are also AI-based features like live translation, though in this Chinese version, options are limited. Once global versions roll out, these tools will likely become more practical.
Still, it’s nice seeing extra features included rather than stripped away.
Call Quality Is Solid for the Price
Call quality hasn’t changed dramatically compared to last year’s model, but that’s not a bad thing.
Voices come through clearly indoors, and background noise reduction works well in normal situations. Outdoors in heavy wind, performance drops a bit — something even expensive earbuds struggle with — but overall, calls and voice messages sound clear enough.
For daily conversations, they’re comfortably above average in this price category.
Noise Cancellation Is a Big Step Forward
One of the biggest improvements this year is active noise cancellation.
Realme claims up to 55 dB of noise reduction, and while marketing numbers should always be taken with caution, these earbuds genuinely block out a lot of background noise. Traffic, public transport hum, office chatter — all become far less intrusive.
What impressed me most is that ANC doesn’t create uncomfortable ear pressure. I’ve worn them for hours without fatigue.
Transparency mode works fine, though voices and ambient sounds feel slightly processed compared to premium earbuds. Still, it’s perfectly usable when you need awareness of your surroundings.
At this price, the ANC performance feels almost unfair to competitors.
Sound Quality Is the Real Highlight
If there’s one reason to consider these earbuds, it’s the sound.
Realme uses a dual-driver setup this time — a large dynamic driver combined with a tweeter — and the result is genuinely enjoyable audio.
Bass is punchy without becoming muddy, vocals are clear, and highs have enough sparkle without sounding harsh. Most importantly, the default tuning is good right out of the box. I didn’t feel the need to dive into EQ settings to fix anything.
Music feels lively and engaging, podcasts sound clear, and movies carry enough depth to stay immersive. For everyday listening, this is one of the better audio experiences I’ve heard around this price.
Of course, wired audiophile headphones still win for pure fidelity, but for wireless earbuds meant for daily life, these deliver more than expected.
Battery Life Holds Up in Real Life
Realme advertises up to eight hours of playback without noise cancellation and around thirty hours total with the case. As always, real-world results are a bit different.
With noise cancellation active and volume around the halfway mark, I typically got somewhere between six and seven hours per charge. Lower the volume slightly and they stretch a bit further.
That’s more than enough for daily commutes, work sessions, or long study hours. I rarely felt worried about battery life, and topping them up in the case quickly solves the problem anyway.
Wireless charging is missing, but honestly, at this price, that’s not a fair expectation.
Anything I Didn’t Like?
Very little, honestly.
The earbud design is a bit plain, transparency mode could sound more natural, and some smart features remain limited outside China for now.
But these are small trade-offs rather than major flaws.
Final Thoughts: So Close to Perfect
After using the Realme Buds Air 8 for a while, my conclusion is simple: Realme nailed the essentials.
Great sound, strong noise cancellation, reliable connectivity, comfortable fit, and battery life that easily lasts through a day — all without pushing the price too high.
Even if the global price climbs to around $70 or $80, they would still be competitive. At current pricing, they’re one of the easiest recommendations in the affordable earbud space.
Are they perfect? Not quite.
But for most people looking for feature-packed wireless earbuds without spending a fortune, the Realme Buds Air 8 come very, very close.
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.
