Realme Buds 2 review: Cool design, good audio output at just Rs 599

Realme Buds 2 review: NICK JONES, Obin and Oxhox are some never-heard-before brands that appear when you search for earphones under Rs 1,000 on Flipkart. Yes, the search also shows products from more reliable brands like Boat and Mi but options remain few. This suggests that there is a desperate need for more quality products at this price point and Chinese smartphone manufacturer Realme tried to change the game with the launch of Realme Buds 2 - a successor to last year's Realme Buds. The new audio device was launched alongside the Realme 5 series in India last month and aims to deliver a better audio output at highly affordable price. 

The Realme Buds 2 went on open sale starting September 11. For those who are unaware, the company has priced them at just Rs 599. The earphones are available on Realme.com and while their price might attract you, the question remains - Is the performance equally impressive? Well, we got the Realme Buds 2 delivered a few days back and here is what we think of them.

Realme Buds 2 looks

The Realme Buds 2 come with some improvements in design and built quality over their predecessor. The new variant sports a 'dual tangle-free design' with a braided jacket. This time Realme has used Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) cables which make the buds feel more durable. Realme has gone with the usual yellow and black colour combination and it gives the earphones a really nice finish. 

Both the casings come with magnets at the back that help them stay together when not in use, But, you can't control the music using these. However, Realme has introduced that feature with its latest launch of Realme Buds wireless, unveiled during the Realme XT launch on Friday. That device has been priced at Rs 1,799.

The buds also sport an adjustable cable strap with the Realme branding. This helps you keep the earphones organised.

Overall, the Realme Buds 2 are traditional earphones that use 3.5mm audio socket interface for connectivity. And, in case you are using a smartphone that has ditched the jack (as I am), then you will need a Type-C to 3.5mm connector. The design is simple with good colour combination and magnets ensure that the wires don't tangle. 

Realme Buds 2 features

On Realme Buds 2, the company has gone for a 11.2mm bass boost driver with a multi-layer composite diaphragm. I primarily used the device to play music by connecting it with Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ and the Realme X. The buds produced good sound quality with both the smartphones. 

I started the testing with 'Senorita' by Shawn Mendes and Camilla Cabela and later moved on to other tracks like 'Sunflower' from Spider-Man: Into the Verse and 'Red Right Hand' by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. I was really impressed by the sound quality which is great for a product priced so aggressively. The Realme Buds 2 produce clear sound quality even at higher volume levels and is loud as well. 

WATCH Realme X review -

Over the last few months, I have been using the Sony WI-C600N which is far more expensive and premium audio device. So, obviosuly, I could feel the difference in the audio quality and you would too, if you have been using a superior headset. But, to be fair with Realme, you won't get too many better options than Realme Buds 2 at this price point. 

At just Rs 599, they also offer good passive noise-canceling. 

Even though I didn't get to use the buds to watch a movie or series, I played a few trailers on YouTube starting with 'Bad Boys for Life' and 'The Sky is Pink'. The buds responded well even with videos and offered good sound isolation. They also feel very comfortable in ear even if you use them for long periods. 

Realme Buds 2: Worth your money?

You should not even be asking that question. The Realme Buds 2 look stylish, deliver good audio output and its the price that changes the game. At Rs 599, Realme Buds 2 don't have too many worthy competitors in the market. The only issue here is that they still come with a wire. And, as more and more brands are ditching the 3.5 mm jack and moving towards a wireless experience, it comes down to personal preference.

In fact, Realme itself has launched a wireless audio device as I mentioned earlier. Despite all the challenges, Realme Buds 2 emerge as one of the best options in this range.