The Redmi Buds 6 Lite and the Realme Buds Air 6 are among the affordable wireless earbuds that caught the attention of many buyers.
They both have strong selling points like built-in active noise cancellation, long battery life, and customizable use.
However, the big question is: Now you are wondering, which one is the better choice? Ready to dive in and compare to help you decide what’s right for you?
Table of Contents
Design and Build Quality
The design of both, Redmi Buds 6 Lite and Realme Buds Air 6 are compact, offering comfortable fit and good for long use.
Redmi Buds 6 Lite gets a very simple and light plastic build, whereas the Realme Buds Air 6 feels slightly premium and sturdy in hand.
Regardless, both are well-designed so as to store the earbuds securely. Despite all that, the Realme Buds Air 6 just edges out slightly in terms of comfort and overall material quality.
Bluetooth Connectivity
Both earbuds support Bluetooth 5.3, so they always keep a strong and fast connection with no delays.
Both models pair seamlessly and remain connected well within a standard range. Neither model has real issues with lag, even when gaming.
But the Realme Buds Air 6 comes with a dedicated game mode—latency further reduced—and very slightly edges out when it comes to quick response time.
Performance of noise cancellation
The differences are numerous, but one of the big ones is the active noise cancellation (ANC) capability.
The Redmi Buds 6 Lite offers 40dB ANC that thwarts the noise outside well and gives a good audition experience in quieter places.
Meanwhile, the Realme Buds Air 6 comes with 50dB ANC and can isolate more noise more effectively, it even offers greater audio immersion in noisy environments.
In terms of superiority in noise cancellation, Realme Buds Air 6 wins it all.
Sound Quality
For the money, both models come with 12.4mm drivers that sound great. For a balanced audio profile, with decent bass and quite clear mids, Redmi Buds 6 Lite is adequate. It offers distortion free sound at maximum volume and can be reliable for use on daily bases.
However, the Realme Buds Air 6 does better than its rival with richer bass along with a slightly louder output and more sound customization effects via app.
Realme Buds Air 6’s overall listening experience feels more dynamic, hence this is for the audiophiles.
Microphone Performance
That said, the microphone quality is otherwise quite good; both earbuds transmit clear audio in most environments and are suitable to use for calls.
As for calls, the Realme Buds Air 6 did a slightly better job of blocking out noise during testing, making it a better option for people whose jobs entail making calls in super noisy environments.
They provide the App Compatibility and Features which are required by developers.
The Redmi Buds 6 Lite connects to the Xiaomi AirBuds app where you get control of noise cancelation modes, transparency mode, and some basic touch controls. The app is easy enough, but lacking advanced customization features.
Unlike Realme Buds Q 2 vs Realme Buds Q2s, you don’t get a Realme Link app for the cheapest pair. The Realme Buds Air 6 works with the Realme Link app for more customization.
You can fine tune sound effects, enable gaming mode and adjust ANC behaviour. Apart from this, the Realme Buds Air 6 also includes an in ear detection sensor which stops playing music when the earbuds are taken out but on the Redmi Buds 6 Lite, we don’t get that functionality!
Battery Life
Each earbud offers great battery life, but both can play back up to 7 hours on a single charge.
With the charging case the total battery life for both models comes to approximately 30 hours.
Battery Life is almost the same while the Realme Buds Air 6 charges slightly faster for ‘on the go’ users.
Redmi Buds 6 Lite vs Realme Buds Air 6: Specs Comparison
| Feature | Redmi Buds 6 Lite | Realme Buds Air 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Driver Size | 12.4mm titanium-diaphragm driver | 12.4mm dynamic driver |
| Active Noise Cancellation | Up to 40dB ANC | Up to 50dB ANC |
| Microphone | Dual-mic with AI noise reduction for clear calls | Six-mic array with AI noise reduction for clearer calls |
| Bluetooth Version | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Audio Codecs Supported | AAC | SBC, AAC, LHDC 5.0 |
| Battery Life | Up to 7 hours (earbuds), 38 hours total with charging case | Up to 6 hours (earbuds), 40 hours total with charging case |
| Fast Charging | 10 minutes charge for 2 hours playback | 10 minutes charge for 7 hours playback |
| Low Latency Mode | Not specified | 55ms super low latency mode |
| Water Resistance | IP54 dust and splash resistance (earbuds only) | IP55 water and dust resistance (earbuds only) |
| Companion App | Xiaomi Earbuds app for EQ adjustments and ANC levels | Realme Link app for EQ presets, ANC modes, touch control customization, and MindFlow mode |
| Special Features | Quick pairing with Android devices, Four EQ modes | Hi-Res Audio certification, LHDC 5.0, In-ear detection sensor, Google Fast Pair |
| Weight | Single earbud: 4.2g, Total with case: 47g | Single earbud: 4.57g, Total with case: 46g |
| Price | Approximately £15 | Approximately Rs. 3,299 |
Final Verdict: Which Should You Buy?
Looking for an affordable option with pretty good sound quality and noise isolation, the Redmi Buds 6 Lite is a great bet. For a fraction of the price,e it offers a well rounded performance.
But if you’re willing to splurge more, and are okay with cheap rubbish that sounds decent and features noise cancelling, then Realme Buds Air 6 definitely gets to take that crown.
If you are on a budget, the Redmi Buds 6 Lite is a great value all things considered. Even then, if you are someone who pays a lot of importance to the performance of voice assistants, costing a bit extra for Realme Buds Air 6 is worth it.
Best Deals:
Redmi Buds 6 Lite: View on AliExpress
Realme Buds 6 Lite: View on AliExpress
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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.
