The realme Buds Air 3 is the latest iteration of the company's popular wireless earbuds line. From the looks of it, it's a refined version of the Buds Air 2 with new earbuds design, better-than-ever ANC, and app support. The Buds Air 3 also features a 10-mm Dynamic Bass Boost Driver which could definitely outpace its competition in this segment.
realme Buds Air 3 Review
If you're looking for a best-budget ANC earbuds, you might be in the right page. Join us in this review and know if the realme Buds Air 3 will be your next earbuds.
Pros
- Above average sound quality
- Balanced Soundstage
- Capable ANC with transparency mode
- Robust app support (realme Link) w/ customizations
- Longer battery life
- Functional fit and design
Cons
- Hit and miss touch function
- Codec stuck in SBC and AAC
- Case can easily be scratched
What's in the Box?
We have the familiar white box which highlights the TWS' main features at its bottom side. To name a few, these include the 42dB Active Noise Cancellation feature, 30-hour total playback, customized audio tuning, 10mm Dynamic Bass Boost driver, dual device connectivity, and 88ms low latency.
Opening the box, we will be greeted by the realme Buds Air 3 that's wrapped in plastic. Under the paper divider, we have some paperworks, extra ear tips, and the USB-C cable.
Design, Fit
The realme Buds Air 3 features a similarly-shaped case from the previous iteration of this TWS earbuds. Our Galaxy White unit features a case with glossy exterior; this is in contrast to the matte finish of the Dark Blue variant.
On top is a cropped lid; it has the realme logo that's sealed with a see-through plastic covering. This makes the case smaller compared to previous iterations of the earbuds.
There's a subtle side button on the right side of the case. Aside from the button, you will also find the USB Type C port and the LED notification. The case also rejects smudges and fingerprints.
The lid of the case snaps securely while holding the earbuds upright with its magnets. It's quite small compared to Buds Air cases before it; this could also mean that you can just slip it easily in your pocket. However, you should be very careful in mixing it with other items due to the fact that the case can easily be scratched.
The earbuds now come with shorter stem which facilitates smaller footprint and lighter weight. In turn, the earbuds instantly offer excellent fit in the ears. There's never a time that it fell off on the ears, even when I'm doing high-intensity or high-agility workouts.
The earbuds features IPX5 waterproofing; this means that it is splash-proof and you'll have no worry taking them to the shower.
Features, Controls
The realme Buds Air 3 connects with your smartphones and other devices thru Bluetooth v5.2; this gives the earbuds the ability to connect with two devices at the same time. The Buds Air 3 also uses SBC and AAC audio codec which is quite an interesting mix.
You'll also get Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes. Both features work well in their intended use. The ANC successfully blocks noise most especially in lower registers, while the Transparency mode uses one of the two microphones to allow users to hear ambient sounds. The latter is very useful especially when you're using the earbuds in a public setting, allowing you to hear your surroundings while playing audio at the same time.
The realme Buds Air 3 is not capable of wireless charging. Some compatible phones will allow to use Dolby Atmos profiles like Movie, Gaming, Music, and Smart Mode. The in-ear detection is also on-point; this is a very convenient TWS earbuds feature which allows you to pause the media you're consuming once the earphones are taken out of your ears.
Moreover, the earbuds support touch controls. Though I still prefer taptic or button control implementation, the touch controls are quite good. They're not sensitive enough to catch accidental taps yet they do most of the intended controls with mostly no delays. You can use the realme link app to customize double tap and triple tap functions.
Sound Quality, Software
Describing how the realme Buds Air 3 sounds is quite easy - it has a balanced soundstage. Its bass is very effective in giving the much needed registers without drowning other audio aspects. The mids and highs are very pronounced in different scenarios that we've used these earbuds - listening to music, consuming podcasts, playing MOBA games, taking calls, and more. I could say that the realme Buds Air 3 could easily trump other TWS earbuds in its league - its sound quality is above average.
Bluetooth connectivity is also stable even when connected in two devices at the same time; in my case, its the laptop and my realme 9i. You can also choose among three sound profiles - the Balanced, Bright, and BassBoost+. I tend to gravitate more towards the Balanced Profile. The Bright profile gives more clarity to the vocals, while the BassBoost+ amps your bass at the expense of other sound registers.
You can find these sound profiles in the realme Link app which has improved a lot in a short amount of time. It supports both Android and iOS platforms; and with the realme Buds Air 3, the app is rich in customization and features like the Customized Audio Tuning, Volume Enhancer, Game Mode, Wind Noise Reduction, and a wide range of customization and controls.
Battery Life
On paper, the realme Buds Air 3 packs 43 mAh battery on each bud and 460 mAh capacity on the case; realme markets the Buds Air 3 to have a 30-hour combined battery life when the ANC feature is OFF and 22-hour battery life when ANC is activated. In my usage, I consistently get the same numbers.
Moreover, you can get an ample amount of usage in just a short amount of charging time; a 10-minute of wired charging session will give you up to 100 minutes of playtime. Plus, you can also charge the Buds Air 3 wirelessly using any Qi compatible charging pad.
Verdict: Should You Buy The realme Buds Air 3
The realme Buds Air 3 solidifies the company's position in the TWS earbuds segment. At the price of Php 3,990, this earbuds brings a handful of niceties on the table - 10mm dynamic driver, capable active noise cancellation, solid app customization support, longer battery life, functional design and fit. Above all, the realme Buds Air 3's sound quality is superior to TWS earbuds in its segment.
With regards to the question in our title, it could be one of the best-budget earbuds. Plus, I find this device very easy to recommend.
realme Buds Air 3 Specs
- 10-mm sound driver
- Bluetooth v5.2
- AAC, SBC Codec
- Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
- Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC)
- IPX5 (earbuds only)
- 30-hour battery life
- Starry Blue, Galaxy White
- Php 3,990
