Can budget-friendly earbuds truly deliver a premium listening experience? The Redmi Buds 6 tries to answer that with active noise cancellation, dual-driver audio, and smart features at a price that undercuts most mainstream wireless audio options.
We spent several days using the Redmi Buds 6 across various scenarios. Here’s what we think about it.
Design and Construction
The Redmi Buds 6 are surprisingly sleek and compact. Available in Cloud White, Coral Green, and Night Black, the earbuds come in a compact pebble-shaped case with a soft matte finish and a glossy accent logo. A small LED strip on the front acts as a battery indicator, pulsing during charging and blinking when the lid opens. The case is lightweight, pocketable, and resists smudges well.
Each earbud features a short stem and oval-shaped housing with a silicone tip. Despite the lightweight 4.5 g-per-earbud construction, the fit is secure and comfortable even during movement or long use. The included silicone tips come in different sizes and form a good passive seal, which helps the ANC function perform better.
Durability-wise, the buds have IP54 dust and water resistance, enough for casual workouts and light rain.
Audio Quality
The Redmi Buds 6 use a dual-driver setup combining a 12.4mm titanium-coated diaphragm and a 5.5mm ceramic piezoelectric unit. On paper, that’s an ambitious architecture for budget earbuds. In practice, it provides clean, spacious sound that handles most genres well.
The default “Standard” EQ is balanced, with slightly emphasized highs. Mids are clear and vocals are distinct, though a little thin on some tracks. Bass is tight but not overpowering—fans of EDM or hip-hop may want to activate the “Enhanced Bass” mode in the Xiaomi Earbuds app. The high frequencies shine, especially in acoustic and vocal-heavy tracks, and there’s minimal distortion even at louder volumes.
One standout feature is the built-in 360° surround sound mode. While it’s a software-based HRTF algorithm, it does widen the soundstage considerably. It works best for watching movies or playing games, but feels a bit artificial for music with complex layering. Thankfully, it’s optional.
Another strength is the inclusion of Sound ID personalization (only available on select Xiaomi/POCO/Redmi devices). This runs a short hearing test and adjusts the EQ curve to suit your ears. The result? Noticeably better tonal balance that subtly enhances instrument separation.
During calls, dual-mic AI noise reduction kicks in and performs reliably. Even under strong wind conditions (claimed to handle up to 9m/s), the caller’s voice remains clear, with minimal distortion or echo. Voice isolation works well in both indoor and outdoor scenarios, thanks to the AI algorithm detecting environmental noise.
The active noise cancellation claims to reach up to 49dB of suppression, which is ambitious. In practice, the earbuds significantly reduce low-frequency sounds—engine hums, air conditioning, and distant chatter—but struggle slightly with higher-pitched, sudden noises. That said, they’re still highly effective, especially when paired with a good seal from the silicone tips.
You can choose from three ANC modes (Deep, Balanced, and Light) and three transparency modes (Regular, Enhance Voice, and Ambient Sound) via the app. Transparency modes are effective for hearing announcements or talking to people without removing the earbuds. The Enhanced Voice mode boosts speech clarity slightly more than Ambient Sound but introduces a bit of background hiss.
Personalized noise cancellation also adapts based on how you’re wearing the buds—this feature works automatically and adjusts ANC levels in real time. Single-ear noise cancellation is also supported, which is rare at this price level.
Connectivity
The Redmi Buds 6 supports Bluetooth 5.3, offering stable connections up to 10 meters indoors with no noticeable latency for media playback. Pairing is quick, and the earbuds support Google Fast Pair for compatible Android devices. There’s also support for dual-device connectivity, allowing users to stay connected to two phones or a laptop and phone simultaneously. Switching between devices is seamless and doesn’t require re-pairing.
For those using supported Xiaomi and POCO devices, there’s an audio sharing feature allowing two sets of earbuds to connect to one phone simultaneously—useful for watching content or listening to music with someone else.
Touch controls on each earbud handle play/pause, ANC mode switching, and call management. The default gestures can be customized within the companion app. While gestures are responsive most of the time, they occasionally misfire when adjusting the earbuds during wear.
The companion Xiaomi Earbuds app unlocks most smart features. Here, users can toggle ANC modes, customize sound profiles, and update firmware. The UI is straightforward and functional, though limited if you’re using a non-Xiaomi smartphone.
Battery Life
Xiaomi promises up to 10 hours of playback on a single charge, with total battery life extending up to 42 hours with the charging case. In real-world usage, with ANC off and volume at 60%, we consistently got close to 9.5 hours—one of the longest runtimes in this price range.
With ANC on and 360° audio enabled, the battery life drops to around 6.5 hours. Still respectable, considering the power demands of noise cancellation and enhanced audio processing.
Fast charging is another strong point: a 10-minute charge yields roughly 4 hours of playback without ANC. This makes them convenient for quick top-ups before heading out. Charging the case from zero to full takes around 1.5 hours using a USB-C cable. There’s no wireless charging, but that’s acceptable given the price bracket.
The Rundown
The Redmi Buds 6 are a great match for listeners who want solid sound quality, extensive noise control features, and strong battery performance without spending a lot. They’re designed for everyday use—commutes, work calls, casual music sessions, and even light workouts. If you use a Xiaomi, Redmi, or POCO phone, you get added perks like Sound ID and audio sharing. But even outside that ecosystem, these earbuds deliver value for general Android and iOS users.
If you’re after budget-friendly earbuds with reliable ANC, long battery life, and a comfortable fit, these deserve a spot on your shortlist. The Redmi Buds 6 are available in Xiaomi Authorized stores, authorized dealers, and online for PHP 1,999.
Discover more from WalasTech
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
