Realme’s audio range in India currently consists mainly of true wireless headphones, but the company has some interesting options out there, including wired and wireless headphones, and even speakers. mobile. The recently launched Realme Buds Wireless 2, which I’m reviewing here, is a wireless neckband-style headset that offers premium features at a very competitive price point. Best of all, this new headset promises sound quality to match high-end standards, while keeping the price point within the budget.
Valuation Rs. 2,299 in India, Realme Buds Wireless 2 be the successor Realme Buds Wireless Pro launching in late 2020. With active noise cancellation and support for the Bluetooth LDAC codec, the Buds Wireless 2 are one of the best-equipped wireless headphones you can buy for under Rs. 2,500 right now. Is it my top pick in this price segment? Find out in this review.
Realme Buds Wireless 2 is a Bluetooth headset, with a cable running from the neckband to the headset
ANC and LDAC support on Realme Buds Wireless 2
Neckband styling isn’t new to Realme, and neither is the idea of a full-fledged, feature-packed headset like this. The Realme Buds Wireless 2 is the successor to the Buds Wireless Pro, and shares the same placement and appeal; This is considered a headset for discerning users, thanks to active noise cancellation and support for the advanced Bluetooth codec LDAC.
When it comes to design, the Realme Buds Wireless 2 follows a tried and tested idea, both for Realme and the personal audio industry at large. The headphones feature a flexible neckband with modules on both ends and a cable that leads from there to the headset itself. I think these cables are probably a few centimeters too long; they frequently rub against my face with normal use, which is a bit annoying.
I got the black and gold variant – Realme’s signature color combination – but you can also get a plain gray variant. The color and style make the Buds Wireless 2 very similar to the Buds Wireless Pro, but with slight differences. For example, the outside of the headphones has an interesting reflective texture that makes them appear translucent, which is quite pleasing to the eye.
The Realme Buds Wireless 2 headphones have magnetic power controls – snapping the backs of the earbuds together magnetically turns them off and separates them to turn them on. There are also controls on the right side of the neckband for volume control, playback, answering calls, and transparency mode controls and active noise cancellation. Double-tapping the ANC button allows you to quickly swap between the two most recently paired source devices.
The headphones look good, with the design and texture mimicking the blur effect
Other key features of this headset include 88ms low latency mode, Bluetooth 5 support for Bluetooth codecs LDAC, AAC and SBC, and support for Google Fast Pair. The headphones feature 13.6mm dynamic drivers and are said to have been tuned in collaboration with popular electronic music duo The Chainsmokers.
The headphones are IPX5 rated for water resistance. It works with the excellent Realme Link app that allows for ANC control and transparency modes, game modes and equalizer settings. The box includes three pairs of silicone ear tips and a USB Type-C charging cable.
Battery life on the Realme Buds Wireless 2 is similar to that of the Buds Wireless Pro, but significantly below what the company claims is possible under very specific usage conditions. With the LDAC codec active, ANC active for a while, and at a moderate volume level, I was able to hear just over 9 hours on the headphones. This is quite impressive for a neckband style headset, even considering the features offered on the Realme Buds Wireless 2.
Good sound, active noise cancellation on Realme Buds Wireless 2
Advanced Bluetooth codec support helps determine how a pair of wireless headphones or headphones will sound, and Sony’s LDAC codec is considered by many to be the best available today. It is widely supported on Android devices and many audio manufacturers use it to good effect.
Realme itself has implemented LDAC on the Buds Wireless Pro, so it’s no surprise that the Buds Wireless 2 also received it. I used Realme Buds Wireless 2 with OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition for this review, with the LDAC codec working. I also listened to tracks on Apple Music, took calls, and used headphones while watching some videos on the device.
Realme has teamed up with electronic music duo The Chainsmokers for the Buds Wireless 2 and its bass-heavy signature shows the motivation behind this. The headphones are well-suited to electronic music, with tight bass and clean sound. Starting with The Chainsmokers’ Closer, bass is immediately apparent, clearly stronger than the rest of the frequency range.
The power control is magnetic – fastening the headphones together turns the headphones off, while separating them turns the headphones on
That said, there’s still a fair amount of detail, plenty of sparkle in the highs, and good response to vocals. In particular, Halsey’s vocals seem crisp, and can exert power through strong beats and low-range attacks. Through this track, the Realme Buds Wireless 2 offers a lot of detail while retaining a low-end biased sound.
Listen to the classic Fade Into Darkness (Albin Myers Remix) by Avicii with a fast tempo, the bass is more definitive and powerful. At no point did it feel awkward or awkward in relation to the rest of the response scope. Bass-loving listeners will love how tight and punchy the sound is on the Realme Buds Wireless 2, and the volume and drive are loud enough to drown out everything else in the background even with noise cancellation off. proactive. However, this aggressiveness in the bass can cause a bit of listener fatigue at high volumes.
Active noise cancellation on the Realme Buds Wireless 2 isn’t exceptional, but it makes enough of a difference to justify its presence as a feature. Notably, it did not affect the sound quality when operating, unlike on the Realme Buds Wireless Pro, and did slightly reduce the amount of ambient sound I could hear. While not as efficient as I would have liked, the ANC on the Buds Wireless 2 makes listening to music and video dialogue a bit easier.
There’s also ambient noise cancellation for better sound in calls, and call quality itself is pretty decent on the headset. Connection stability is not an issue for the most part at distances of up to about 3m between the headset and the smartphone. LDAC’s adaptive bitrate enables stable audio streaming without buffering issues.
Identify
Like many Realme products, the Buds Wireless 2 is value-driven and does a lot of things right. Impressive specs and features, app support, and exciting bass-generating sound make this the best pair of wireless headphones you can buy for less than Rs. 2,500 in India right now. Many may find the neckband style a bit dated and the battery life average, but the benefits outweigh the drawbacks here.
There aren’t many viable options in this segment right now, but you might as well consider OnePlus Bullets Wireless Zor more affordable models from brands like Dizo and Blaupunkt, or true wireless options like Realme Buds Q2. However, the Realme Buds Wireless 2 is well worth the investment, thanks to its active noise cancellation and good sound.
