Realme Buds Air 8 Review — Best Budget TWS Under ₹4,000 with Refined ANC
The Quick Verdict The Realme Buds Air 8 is the successor to the Buds Air 7, bringing refined 52dB AN...
Earbuds Under ₹5000
Realme Buds Air 8
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★
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3.75/5
Battery Life: 62mAh each
Driver Size: 12.4mm Titanium-Plated Dynamic Driver
Noise Cancellation: Up to 52dB Smart ANC, AI-backed Adaptive ANC
Bluetooth: 5.4
Water Resistance: IP55 (earbuds only)
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Earbud Specifications
Earbuds Under ₹5000Battery Life
62mAh each
Driver Size
12.4mm Titanium-Plated Dynamic Driver
Noise Cancellation
Up to 52dB Smart ANC, AI-backed Adaptive ANC
Bluetooth
5.4
Water Resistance
IP55 (earbuds only)
Audio Codec
LHDC 5.0, AAC, SBC
Case Battery
480mAh
Weight
~4.5g per earbud
Microphone
6 mics (3 per bud), AI Call Noise Reduction 2.0
Low Latency
45ms Super Low Latency
Type
In-Ear TWS
Connectivity
Wireless
Noise Cancel
Yes (Up to 52dB Smart ANC, AI-backed Adaptive ANC)
Best For
You want the latest Realme TWS, You value improved call quality, You want refined ANC, You're a Realme user, You want LHDC, You take frequent outdoor calls
Our Review
The Quick Verdict
The Realme Buds Air 8 is the successor to the Buds Air 7, bringing refined 52dB ANC, improved sound tuning, and a more polished overall experience to the sub-₹4,000 segment. It addresses some of the Buds Air 7's shortcomings with better call quality, improved app integration, and more reliable connectivity. The 52dB ANC remains effective, the 12.4mm drivers deliver punchy sound, and the battery life is solid. However, the improvements are incremental rather than revolutionary, and the rapid release cycle means the Buds Air 8 may itself be overshadowed soon. For Realme users who want the latest and greatest under ₹4,000, it's a solid choice. For value hunters, the Buds Air 7 at ₹2,999 offers nearly identical performance for less.
Bottom Line
The Realme Buds Air 8 is a solid, refined upgrade to the Buds Air 7 with better call quality and smoother ANC. However, the improvements are incremental, and the ₹1,000 premium over the Buds Air 7 is hard to justify. For Realme users who want the absolute latest, it's a good choice. For value hunters, the Buds Air 7 at ₹2,999 offers nearly identical performance, or the OnePlus Nord Buds 4 at ₹3,299 offers better Bluetooth 6.1 and longer battery.
Rating: 3.75/5
Pros
- + Refined 52dB ANC — Improved wind noise handling and more responsive adaptive system.
- + Improved Call Quality — AI Call Noise Reduction 2.0 delivers clearer calls with better voice isolation.
- + LHDC 5.0 + Hi-Res Audio — Rich, detailed sound that rivals ₹5,000+ earbuds.
- + 12.4mm Titanium-Plated Drivers — Punchy bass and clear treble ideal for Indian music preferences.
- + 52-Hour Total Battery Life — Solid endurance with 10 min fast charge = 10 hours.
- + 45ms Gaming Latency — Competitive-grade latency for mobile gaming.
- + Polished Realme Link App — Improved EQ customization and reliable firmware updates.
Cons
- − Incremental Upgrade Over Buds Air 7 — Marginal improvements for ₹1,000 more.
- − No Wireless Charging — Still absent at ₹3,999.
- − IP55 Earbuds Only — Case still lacks water resistance.
- − Rapid Release Cycle Fatigue — Aggressive schedule creates confusion and erodes confidence.
- − Higher Price Than Buds Air 7 — ₹1,000 more for marginal improvements.
- − Build Quality Good, Not Premium — Plastic construction lacks premium feel of competitors.
Verdict
The Realme Buds Air 8 is a solid, refined upgrade to the Buds Air 7 with better call quality and smoother ANC. However, the improvements are incremental, and the ₹1,000 premium over the Buds Air 7 is hard to justify. For Realme users who want the absolute latest, it's a good choice. For value hunters, the Buds Air 7 at ₹2,999 offers nearly identical performance, or the OnePlus Nord Buds 4 at ₹3,299 offers better Bluetooth 6.1 and longer battery.
7.5
Overall
Score
Score
Spec Comparison
Side-by-side vs alternatives| Spec | ★ Realme Buds Air 8 | OPPO Enco Air 5 Pro | Realme Buds Air 7 Pro | OnePlus Buds 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Battery Life
|
62mAh each | 50 Hours | 50 Hours | 62mAh each |
|
Driver Size
|
12.4mm Titanium-Plated Dynamic Driver | 12.4mm | 12.4mm | 11mm Woofer + 6mm Tweeter (Coaxial Dual-Driver) |
|
Noise Cancellation
|
Up to 52dB Smart ANC, AI-backed Adaptive ANC | 55dB Hybrid ANC | 55dB Hybrid ANC | Up to 55dB Real-Time Adaptive ANC, 800 adjustments/sec, 5,500Hz range |
|
Bluetooth
|
5.4 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.4 |
|
Water Resistance
|
IP55 (earbuds only) | IP55 | IP55 | IP55 |
|
Audio Codec
|
LHDC 5.0, AAC, SBC | SBC, AAC, LHDC 5.0 | SBC, AAC, LHDC 5.0 | LHDC 5.0, AAC, SBC |
|
Case Battery
|
480mAh | ~54 hours total (ANC off), ~29 hours (ANC on) | ~48 hours total | 530mAh |
|
Weight
|
~4.5g per earbud | ~4.4g per bud, ~43g case | 53g (with case) | 4.73g per earbud, 49.02g total |
|
Microphone
|
6 mics (3 per bud), AI Call Noise Reduction 2.0 | Yes | Yes | 3 mics per side (6 total), 3-mic AI Call Noise Cancellation |
|
Low Latency
|
45ms Super Low Latency | 47ms | 45ms | 47ms |
|
Type
|
In-Ear TWS | In-Ear TWS | In-Ear TWS | In-Ear TWS |
|
Connectivity
|
Wireless | Wireless | Wireless | Wireless |
|
Noise Cancel
|
Yes (Up to 52dB Smart ANC, AI-backed Adaptive ANC) | Yes (55dB Hybrid ANC) | Yes (55dB Hybrid ANC) | Yes (Up to 55dB Real-Time Adaptive ANC, 800 adjustments/sec, 5,500Hz range) |
|
Best For
|
You want the latest Realme TWS, You value improved call quality, You want refined ANC, You're a Realme user, You want LHDC, You take frequent outdoor calls | Premium Build | Aluminum Build | You want flagship ANC under ₹6,000, You're an audiophile wanting dual drivers, You're a competitive gamer, You want LHDC 5.0, You're a OnePlus user, You want Golden Sound |
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