TWS true wireless earphones - under $50
4.5 STARS - Great comfort even for in bed, different sound settings... and impressive ANC active noise-cancelling and Transparency modes. The Realme Buds Air 2 Neo are wonderful little cheap ANC earbuds.
Realme Buds Air 2 Neo specs:
Bluetooth 5.2 with AAC codec
IPX5 waterproof (rain and sweat proof)
4,5 - 6 hours listening on a full charge (ANC on/off)
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 4 times
Comes with 3 sizes ear tips, USB-C cable, English manual
$30-$40 - Buy on Amazon US, Amazon Germany, other Amazon stores or AliExpress
Below this Realme Buds Air 2 Neo review, you will find comparisons of the Realme Buds Air 2 Neo vs Realme Buds, Tozo NC2, Edifier X3, and Mpow Mbit S.
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Design, comfort and battery life
The Realme Buds Air 2 Neo has nearly the same shape and size charging case as the original Realme Buds. It's made from cheap matte black plastic that scratches easily, and there's a single LED light on the front to indicate the remaining case battery life. It gets new power via the USB-C port on the back.
The earpieces have the same design as the original Realme Buds as well - and that's terrific news. These provide excellent comfort for earphones with rubber ear-tips. That's because of the inside of the earbuds, which has an oval shape which is thicker underneath than at the top. Twist the buds in a bit, and they stay in your ears perfectly tight and snug while still providing a relaxed and comfortable fit.
While they haven't been reviewed on Scarbir.com, the original Realme Buds were ideal for in-bed use and sleeping - and the Air 2 Neo is just as comfortable when lying on a cushion or wearing under a helmet. The IPX5 waterproof rating makes them resist rain and sweat too.
The battery life is decent - reaching up to 4,5 hours playtime on a single charge with ANC on, and up to 6 hours with the function switched off. Need a recharge? Ten minutes of recharging will grant you another 2+ hours of listening time. On top of that, the battery will last noticeably longer when you're playing music on low volume levels - which seals the deal, really: the Realme Buds Air 2 Neo is a great choice for sleeping and in-bed use.
Connectivity and controls
The Realme Buds Air 2 Neo control scheme makes it even more suitable for sleeping and under-helmet use, as you can't accidentally initiate a command with a single tap. The standard control scheme is limited:
Tap L or R twice to play/pause music
Tap L or R three times to skip a song
Hold L and R 2 seconds to switch between ANC and Transparency mode
Happily, Android users get extra control options with the free Realme Link app. You can then change the double-tap actions, triple-tap actions on either earbud and add a control for long touch on either bud. These features aren't available on iPhone at the moment, sadly.
As switching the ANC functions requires you to touch both earbuds simultaneously, it's a bit hard to switch ANC modes when you're cycling or working out. Unfortunately, even with the app, it's impossible to change the volume without reaching for your phone.
Unlike the original Realme Buds, connectivity on the Realme Buds Air 2 Neo is good. There's a stable Bluetooth connection up to 9-10 meters away from your device, and pairing and connecting are done right after you open the lid from the case. You can also switch seamlessly between listening to two earbuds to listening to one while charging the other - and back again.
iPhone users should count half a star less due to no app support
Calling and watching movies
Watching videos with the Realme Buds Air 2 Neo works well on both Android and iPhone. There's proper synchronization between audio and video, including the challenging YouTube app.
The Realme Buds Air 2 Neo boasts a Game mode from the app to increase the speed of sound effects in games. It works well, yet even without it, the earbuds already perform above average.
Unfortunately, calling is the weak spot of the Air 2 Neo. While your voice comes with typical telephone-like clarity and tinniness, it only sounds loud enough in quiet indoor spaces. Outside and in more crowded spaces, every sound is a treat to your voice, resulting in lots of crackles on the line. Surprisingly, your voice is soft but isn't too compressed in video calls, making them average for calls like Microsoft Teams and Zoom meetings.
App support of Realme Buds Air 2 Neo
The Realme Buds Air 2 Neo has better app support than many more expensive wireless earbuds. However, the Realme Link app currently only supports the earphones on Android - it fails to connect to the iPhone app.
The app requires you to set up a Realme account but doesn't ask for too many privacy-invading permissions. Once you're in, the app likely serves you in your own language or English and shows many functions on a single screen. App functions:
Update the firmware
Check the battery life of the individual earbuds
Switch between ANC on, ANC off, and Transparency mode
Add the ANC off function to the ANC controls on the earbuds (recommended to ban wind noise while moving!)
Select Dynamic, Bass Boost or Bright sound equalizer
Select Volume boost to increase the maximum volume
Activate low-latency gaming mode
Activate auto-answering incoming calls
Change controls on the earbuds
The app is clean and easy to operate
The app lets you add extra controls
With the control options, you can select functions for the double-tap, triple-tap, long-press of either of the buds and long-pressing both buds. It isn't an option to add volume controls to the earbuds, but you can add 'return a song', 'activate Gaming mode' and 'Activate voice-assistant' to the controls.
To have this functionality on a low-budget earbud - it's insane, really.
Noise cancelling test of Realme Buds Air 2 Neo
The best feature of this $30 wireless earphone? The Realme Buds Air 2 Neo actually has useful ANC active noise-cancelling! It's one of the first earbuds without a stem design to offer the function this well - especially in this price range.
Operation: You switch between ANC on and Transparency with a long-press on both earbuds. With the Android app, you can also add the ANC off in the cycle. An English voice prompt introduces every function.
Active Noise Cancelling quality: The Realme Buds Air 2 Neo has ANC on by default, and once you twist the earbuds in, a lot of surrounding noises are immediately silenced. Background traffic - including trains passing by - disappear. The humming of an air conditioning is heavily reduced. And just sitting next to a dishwasher running its program, only some of the brightest water noises remain audible. A radio or television program playing on moderate volume? You'll still hear the brighter, louder noises - but darker tones are heavily dampened. Only irregular, closeby sound effects like people chatter and keyboard clicks, come through clearly - yet the Realme Buds Air 2 Neo also reduces these...
... And this is the performance without playing any music. Play music even on the lowest volume, and your surroundings may be quiet altogether. The ANC performance is downright impressive for the price.
Transparency Mode quality: Hold both earbuds for two seconds, and an English voice prompt will guide you to the Transparent Mode that immediately lets in noises from your surroundings. You'll hear darker and brighter sound effects around you again, without the metallic edge some previous Transparency/ Ambient modes used to have. The effect works convincing when you're playing music on low to even moderate volume levels.
Wind noise reduction: Unfortunately, both the ANC and the Transparency mode let in a fair amount of wind noise, which can sound sharp when you're walking, running, or cycling in the wind. This makes the Realme ANC less convincing for outdoor use. If you have the app, you can add the ANC off-setting in the controls. It will eliminate the wind noise.
Also read: The best wireless ANC earbuds
Sound quality of Realme Buds Air 2 Neo
The sound quality may not be Realme Buds Air 2 Neo's biggest asset, but there's plenty to enjoy for many listeners.
The Air 2 Neo has a steady mid-bass slam that bloats slightly, meaning the bass tones drag on somewhat. Technically, the bass doesn't kick very hard, it doesn't fire very quickly, and doesn't show the deepest sub-bass rumblings, but it covers the basics: there's always a thump that's powerful enough to carry modern music genres such as dance, pop, and hip-hop.
Along with the bass tones, the lower mids are emphasized a bit. Darker electronic tones and drums further ensure a full sound. In the higher notes, both male and female vocals sound slightly more prominent than instruments surrounding them, but not by much. Both voices and brighter instruments don't dive far into treble territories and are often smoothed out. But… not always. In songs pushing them already themselves, higher vocals can sound too peaky or bright.
Between the lows and the highs, the center mid-tones keep calm. Piano play and guitars are a bit recessed, especially in more crowded musical pieces. It's ambitious to speak of a soundstage and precise instrument placement, too - even though sound effects come from your left and right.
Once again, Android users have more options. Select the Bass Boost+ equalizer from the free app, and the vocals drown in the lower-mids that gain even more weight, with the mid-bass revved up to a big, bloaty, thumping machine. Not the best tweak. The Bright equalizer is a nice addition, however. This setting keeps the standard sound signature but pushes the vocals more forward and extends the highs more. Treble plays a bigger role in the sound, and both vocals and instruments sound clearer, of course touching the sharp higher notes easier in songs pushing them already.
Whether you listen to the standard signature or choose an equalizer: the Realme Buds Air 2 serves a mostly inoffensive, smooth sound.
Realme Buds Air 2 Neo comparisons
Realme Buds Air 2 Neo vs Tozo NC2
If you're looking for the cheapest ANC earbuds, the Tozo NC2 is another solid option. The NC2 has a quicker and stronger mid-bass thump, which is easier to feel. Both earbuds have a comparable warm sound, although vocals enjoy a bit more emphasis on the Tozo and appear thinner in direct comparison. The Tozo has more air in the sound; the Realme sounds smoother and cleaner. The Buds Air 2 also provides stronger ANC noise-cancelling, a more effective and natural Transparency mode, and better comfort.
Tozo NC2 ANC review ($50)
Realme Buds Air 2 Neo vs Realme Buds
The Realme Buds Air 2 Neo is a logical evolution over the original Realme Buds, with USB-C charging instead of micro-USB, better connection strength and stability, and the addition of app support. The case and earbuds look and feel the same, but the Air 2 Neo wins on technique. Its ANC and Transparency mode are impressive, while the original Buds lack these functions. The new version sounds slightly fuller, yet more balanced between the frequencies, too. It's not just a newer version of the same comfortable, bed-proof earbuds - it's a huge step up.
No original Realme Buds review on Scarbir.com ($25)
Realme Buds Air 2 Neo vs Mpow Mbit S
The Mpow Mbit S is another great option for the same small price, but you won't find ANC, a Transparency mode, app support, or a Game mode on this Mpow. It beats the Realme with a shower-proof waterproof level, though. Both buds are comfortable to wear for hours, but the Realme are more sleep-proof. The Air 2 Neo has a more balanced sound, especially as the Clear equalizer adds more clarity and forwardness to vocals. The Mpow has a fuller but also bit mushier mid-bass, and even thicker lower-mids. As the Mpow bass can blast on higher volumes, it may provide a more uplifting experience for dance and hip-hop genres - but the Realme is a better all-rounder.
Mpow Mbit S full review ($30)
Realme Buds Air 2 Neo vs Edifier X3
With a delightful small case, 6 hours battery life, and clear calls, the Edifier X3 is another excellent choice at the 25 dollars mark. Feature-wise, the Realme outclasses it with its gaming mode, ANC, Transparency Mode, and app-support. If those aren't important to you, you may still opt for the Edifier in the sound department. The X3 has a more pronounced mid-bass and a warmer undertone; it also sounds more open, with increased clarity in the upper-mids and more engaging vocals. The Realme with standard equalizer has a flatter, more neutral sound.
Edifier X3 full review ($25)
Verdict
Brilliant comfort, Android app support with different sound settings... and even impressive ANC active noise-cancelling and Transparency modes.
Even though its call quality may not be top of the line and the sound isn't the most refined, the Realme Buds Air 2 Neo are wonderful cheap wireless ANC earbuds.
4.5 stars - Great
Buy Realme Buds Air 2 Neo
I bought the Realme Buds Air 2 Neo to test and review myself. My reviews are 100% independent and non-commercial. I test and review all audio products equally honest - read about it here.
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