TWS true wireless earphones - under $50
FOUR STARS - The Realme Buds Air 3 Neo sounds better than previous affordable earbuds from the same brand, but it drops Active Noise Cancelling in return.
Realme Buds Air 3 Neo specs and features:
Bluetooth 5.2 with AAC codec
IPX5 waterproof (rain and sweat proof)
6,5 listening on a single charge
Charging case can recharge earpieces fully 4 times
Comes with 3 sets of ear tips, USB-C cable, English manual
$35 - Buy on AliExpress
Below this Realme Buds Air 3 Neo review, you will find comparisons of the Realme Buds Air 3 Neo vs Realme Buds Air 2, Realme Buds Air 2 Neo and Edifier X3s.
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Design, comfort and battery life
Few earbuds show its low price so clearly as the Realme Buds Air 3 Neo. The duotone blue case looks and feels like its made from cheap plastic, and you'll see the first fingerprints and scratches on the case as soon as you grasp the case out of its box. The transparant lid on top makes it look like a bit of a toy.
Conveniently, the case is thin enough to slide into any pocket and it does hold four full charges for the earbuds, before it can be recharged via USB-C on the bottom. A single LED-light shows the remaining case battery.
The earbuds have the same combination of convenience and cheap looks. Realme uses oval earpieces that are easy and comfortable to wear, but the shiny outside of the stem doesn't prevent the blue plastic on the inside and the blue rubber ear tips from an, again, almost toy-like appearance. The earbuds are IPX5 waterproof, making them suitable for running in the rain and sweating, and battery life is solid, as the earbuds deliver up to 6,5 hours on a single charge.
The positioning of these earbuds is weird, to say the least. The Buds Air 3 Neo is the successor to the Realme Buds Air 2 - a model with stems - and the Realme Buds Air 2 Neo - which doesn't have stems - so it's a question why this model has the addition Neo. Furthermore, unlike the previous models, the Buds Air 3 Neo doesn't have Active Noise Cancelling and Transparency modes. Realme took away the best and biggest feature of the predecessors - a very strange move.
Happily, the oval earpieces are more comfortable than before.
Controls and connectivity
As the Buds Air 3 Neo is barebones in features, you won't find controls for ANC or a Transparency mode straight on the earbuds.
Out of the box, you'll have a double-tap to play/pause and three taps to skip to the next track, on either earbud. By holding down the right earbud, you increase the volume. Decreasing volume is done by holding down the left bud. Even longer presses can let you enter pairing mode (5 seconds) or reset the earbuds (10 seconds). It all could have been a bit more useful. Happily, the touch panels respond quickly to your touch, and give audible feedback with light clicks.
With the Realme Link app-support on Android phones (iPhone support misses for now), you can change some controls. It lets you tie the previous track-function to the double-tap on the left earbud, and activate the gaming mode by holding down both earbuds at the same time. Way better.
Connectivity is good. The Bluetooth 5.2 connection keeps a strong signal up to 9-10 meters away from your device, and it's always possible to switch between listening to two earbuds or one while you're leaving the other bud in the case.
Calls, movies and Games
Taking a phone call turned out to be a huge challenge on the Realme Buds Air 2 Neo, while it was fine on the regular Buds Air 2. Happily, the newer model is more like the last. Your voice is thin and feels fragile, but it sounds loud and clear enough, and your voice even remains fairly audible when there's much noise around you. Noises itself are heavily reduced, with only the sharpest of their sounds still coming through. It makes both phone and video calls with these doable.
Watching videos is a breeze, with flawless audio-video synchronization in videos on both iPhone and Android. The gaming mode you can only activate on Android, is a blast too - synchronizing the sound effects in games like Call of Duty mobile very conveniently with the action you see on your screen. As the iOS-app doesn't support these earbuds yet, you'll still have a delay in sound effects on iPhones. Unfortunately, the gaming mode (de)activates with a non-distinct click instead of a voice prompt.
App Support of Realme Buds Air 3 Neo
As stated, only the Android-version of Realme Link supports the Realme Buds Air 3 Neo for now, and iPhone-users are left in the dark. That's a shame, because the app's features are essential to these earbuds:
Check the battery status of both earbuds independently
Choose from the standard equalizer, or the Bass Boost+ or Bright setting
Activate the Volume enhancer if your phone doesn't give enough volume out of itself
(De)activate the gaming mode
Change the controls on the earbuds
The app is very simple… and essential
You can change all the controls you want!
The only downside to the app is that you need to register with an e-mail address and quickly switch to your inbox for a confirmation code - well, apart from the lack of iPhone-support for now.
Also read: The best wireless earbuds under $50
Sound quality of Realme Buds Air 3 Neo
The sound of the Realme Buds Air 3 Neo is a step up from the previous Buds Air 2 and Buds Air 2 Neo's, which both sounded a bit harsh and restless. This time around, things are slightly more balanced.
First things first; these earbuds already sound quite balanced with the wrong size of ear tips. Definitely try the different sizes - the ones that lets in more bass, is the best fit.
The main thing that's improved over the predecessors, are the mid-tones. The center-mids have more presence than before on the Realme Buds Air 2 and Buds Air 2 Neo, where they didn't really play a noticeable role. Now, lower-mids are slightly boosted and more textured, and center-mids like guitars and piano play are more audible - yet still a bit laidback compared to the lower-mids and treble. Darker male vocals also have more body. It's ambitious to speak of a soundstage or instrument positioning, but there's good separation between vocals and instruments.
The bass has been tidied up too. Muddy on the older models, this bass is a straightforward performer. The mid-bass brings decent thumps, finding a balance between a light slap and a heavy pumping. It fires quick enough, but lacks the texture and depth to give dance, electronic pop, or hip-hop proper power in the lows. The sub-bass doesn't show itself very easily, but it capable of a slight if somewhat loose rumble.
At first glance, the treble seems to be improved also. Upper-mids and highs are better controlled now. On background or moderate listening volume, female and higher male are forward and are easy to listen to. Higher outbursts are cut off early enough, and the same goes for brighter instruments like violins or cymbals. Both these vocals and higher instruments aren't reproduced very naturally, but get plenty of breathing room.
Unfortunately, things get worse when you turn the music up. The Buds Air 3 Neo doesn't tame the treble enough to provide a comfortable listening experience on loud volume. While the treble wears more detail and separation than before, there's just a big deal of it, making vocals and upper-mids once again sound flat and splashy. It may work well for k-pop, but feels a a little off for many other genres. The Bass Boost+ setting from the Android app is worth checking out though: it improves the mid-bass quantity, and recesses other frequencies, with the exception of cymbals and claps.
The promised Dolby Atmos support? Well... if you notice anything... feel free to share it in the comments.
If you barely reach the highest levels on your phones volume bar, the Realme Buds Air 3 Neo is a decent option if you're looking for a balanced, less bass-heavy sound.
Realme Buds Air 3 Neo comparisons
Realme Buds Air 3 Neo vs Buds Air 2 Neo
The Realme Buds Air 2 Neo has good Active Noise Cancelling that is even usable for sidesleeping due to the stemless designs, a combination the Buds Air 3 Neo lacks. The newer model is tinier and more comfortable in your ears. The Buds Air 3 Neo also sounds more balanced, has clearer call quality, and battery life is around two hours longer on a single charge.
Realme Buds Air 3 Neo vs Realme Buds Air 2
The Realme Buds Air 2, which feels like the real predecessor due to the stem design, also has a decent Active Noise Cancelling and Transparency mode which, again, misses on the new model. The Buds Air 3 Neo puts through your voice thinner in calls, but more stable in challenging calling conditions. The Buds Air 3 Neo sound is more refined, with less shouty treble and a tighter bass.
Realme Buds Air 2 review ($40)
Realme Buds Air 3 Neo vs Edifier X3s
The Edifier X3s has a weaker gaming mode on Android, but better gaming performance on iPhone. It's more convenient to make a call with the X3s in easy circumstances, as your voice sounds fuller and less tinny, while the IPX waterproof rating and battery on these models are around the same. The Edifier sounds more energetic, with a stronger mid-bass thump, more forward and vibrant vocals and warmer undertone. The Realme is more balanced on moderate volume levels and brings out center-mids a bit better.
Edifier X3s review ($35)
Verdict
Without its solid Active Noise Cancelling, the Realme Buds Air 3 Neo isn't as special as its predecessors as the same affordable $35 price point. As comfort and the sound have improved, it's still worthy of your attention.
Four stars - Good
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I bought the Realme Buds Air 3 Neo myself to test and review. My reviews are 100% independent and non-commercial - read about it here.
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