The P5k price range for TWS earbuds is becoming trickier with more brands offering a lot of great-sounding earbuds for much less.
The Redmi Buds 4 Pro is one such example.
You get a Hi-Res Audio certified sound; LDAC support; dual-driver, built-in immersive sound; 43dB active noise cancellation with transparency modes; up to 36 hours of battery life (with charging case) an IP54 water-resistance rating and dual device smart connectivity all at a price of P3,999.
Is it too good to be true, or has Redmi pushed the boundaries yet again to deliver great sound at an even better price?
Here is what we think of the #RedmiBuds4Pro:
WHAT’S IN THE BOX? The Redmi Buds 4 Pro comes in a white square box with the render of the device and branding in front. There is also the Hi-Res certification logo at the bottom corner. A list of highlight features can be found on opposite sides while printed on the bottom are various certifications and logos.
Included in the package are the Redmi Buds 4 Pro unit which is inside the charging case; Type-C charging cable, user manual; and 2 extra pairs of eartips (M size pre-installed).
Redmi Buds 4 Pro Specs:
DESIGN AND BUILD:
The Redmi Buds 4 Pro is available in Moon White and Midnight Black and comes in a fairly standard pebble-shaped case. On front is an LED light indicator and you’ll find the Redmi branding on the back of the case. On the bottom is the USB-C charging port and pairing/reset button. Most manufacturers have adopted this pebble-shaped case design because its rounded edges make it very nice to hold and it can easily slip into any pocket with ease.
The matte finish makes it less prone to fingerprint and smudges and hopefully is also resistant to scratches. The magnet click sounds quite satisfying letting you know that the lid is securely closed and your buds won’t easily fall out.
The buds have the usual pea-shaped design with angled nozzles that provides a more secure fit. The stems also function as touch controls.
Its key differentiating factor from other earbuds is the chrome strip that runs down the side of the stems. They make the touch sensors more visible and also make the buds more premium. They do not work as slide controls though it does support gestures.
By default, you can Double tap either earbuds to Play/Pause, Triple tap either earphone to play next song, and press and hold to turn on noise cancellation. Download the Xiaomi Earbuds app to reassign more functions such as volume adjustment, play previous song and activate voice assistant.
The app also can also show you the exact battery level of each bud, choose audio effects (enhance treble, base, balanced, voice) turn on immersive sound for watching movies. Go to additional settings and you can turn on/off in-ear detection, dual connection, and automatically take calls. There is also an ear tip fit test to help you find which ear tips provide the most comfortable fit and best acoustic.
While I’m not usually a fan of these “stem” designs, I do find the fit of the Redmi Buds 4 Pro to be quite snug and comfortable and I could wear them for hours without having to constantly adjust them when moving about or doing some physical activity.
The Redmi Buds 4 Pro has a quick pairing feature when setting them up with another Xiaomi device. Just open the case and it will automatically be detected with a visual cue appearing on your phone to confirm pairing and show you the current battery levels as well. For pairing other android devices just press the pairing button to make the buds appear on the Bluetooth pairing menu.
MAIN FEATURES:
One feature we don’t usually see in other earbuds at this price point is multipoint connectivity. The Redmi Buds 4 Pro offers dual-connectivity meaning you can connect the earbuds to 2 different devices meaning you can easily switch devices.
Another cool feature that’s also usually reserved for pricier models is wear-detection. The earbuds in-ear sensors will detect when you take one out of your ears and automatically stop playback.You can still use one earbud at a time as playback will resume when you put one of the buds back in the charging case.
The 43dB active noise cancellation on the Redmi Buds 4 Pro is one of the better ones we’ve tried. There are 3 different ANC modes: standard, transparency mode and voice enhancement mode. These buds can really reduce outside noise well and works best with things such as electric fans, air conditioners and car engines. I’ve been using it the past few days during the storm and I could barely hear the heavy downpour. Transparency mode also works well letting you hear your surroundings clearly and it sounds very natural.
Other noteworthy features include 360° Stereo Sound for a more immersive movie-watching experience, and IP54 Dust and water-resistance so you can wear it during intense workouts and or when you are jogging even when there’s a light drizzle.
Designed for convenience, one single charge of Redmi Buds 4 Pro supports up to 9 hours of continuous usage, and when paired with the charging case, provides up to 36 hours of total usage. I was able to watch 3 full movies or almost 6 hours on a single charge. The case charges via USB-C which takes about two hours to fully charge. With this notable battery life, Redmi Buds 4 Pro will have you covered on a long-haul flight or when working 9 to 5.
The mics on those tiny buds do a great job for taking and making calls via the Redmi Buds 4 Pro. The microphone quality is clear and there’s not too much compression in the sound. The mics also do a pretty good job of muting outside noise even in busier environments should you really need to take a call when you are say in the MRT or waiting for your ride.
Gaming performance is excellent as well and I encountered no sync issues or delay when playing games or when watching movies.
SOUND QUALITY:
The Redmi Buds 4 Pro is the first to have a 10mm+6mm dual driver system and Hi-Res Audio Wireless, that delivers premium sound quality together with powerful hardware and software capabilities. The earbuds support advanced LDAC1 audio codec, enabling users to enjoy higher-quality wireless audio via Bluetooth.
Again it’s rare for a sub P5k TWS earbuds to have a dual driver setup. Dual-driver earphones are specially designed for enhanced audio output. These types of earphones come with two separate speakers on each earpiece. One of them handles high and mid frequencies while the other takes care of bass. This combination helps in a richer audio output making any kind of music sound better.
I listened to my Queen album and the difference is really quite noticeable. It was as if Freddy Mercury was just beside me with the band playing inside my room. It truly delivers a fuller overall audio quality balancing the lows, mids, and highs.
Switching over to my Spotify playlists, the Redmi Buds 4 Pro exudes a warm, balanced sound. Everything sounds clear and distinct with crisp. There’s still plenty of bass to satisfy bassheads but it isn’t as overpowering to cause some muddiness. Vocals are also quite clear and distinct without being too dominant over the instruments.
Final Word
With all its neat features, plus a couple of useful extras (dual connect and wear detection) the Redmi Buds 4 Pro is one of the best buds in the market for a very attractive price of Php3,999. You get a pair of TWS earbuds that are capable of wireless HiFi audio, and delivers clean and crisp sound with just enough bass to get you moving.
I also loved that you can turn it up loud without fear of sharpness and has a sound that you can listen to for prolonged periods and be engaged without getting fatigued. Definitely the kind of sound you want.
The Redmi Buds 4 Pro is priced at Php 3,999 and are available online and at authorized Xiaomi stores nationwide.
RATING: 8 OUT OF 10
#RedmiBuds4Pro #TheSoundYouWant
