TWS true wireless earphones - $25 to $50
FOUR STARS - With solid Active Noise Cancelling and great sound, the Redmi Buds 6 takes the logical place between the more expensive Redmi Buds 6 Pro and the cheaper Redmi Buds 6 Lite - but it's not perfect.
Bluetooth 5.4 with AAC codec
IP54 waterproof rating (water and dust proof)
7 - 10 hours playtime on a single charge (ANC on/ off)
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 4 times
Has: ANC, Transparency, app support, multipoint connection, spatial audio
Doesn't have: wireless charging
Comes with 3 sets of ear tips, USB-C cable, English manual
$40 to $40 - See price on Amazon or AliExpress
In this review:
In and underneath this Redmi Buds 6 review, you will find comparisons of the Redmi Buds 6 vs Redmi Buds 6 Pro, Redmi Buds 6 Lite, and QCY MeloBuds Pro.
All reviews on Scarbir.com are unsponsored and honest. Happy with your purchase and or/ do you want to support my reviews? Support me via PayPal or:
Design, comfort and battery life
Sitting in between the $20 Redmi 6 budget line-up and the $70 Redmi Buds 6 Pro, the regular $40 Redmi Buds 6 plays its part.
Like the Pro-model, the Redmi Buds 6 has excellent battery life. It can reach up to 7 hours of playtime with Active Noise Cancelling turned on, having connected the earbuds to two devices at the same time.
Without ANC, you should be able to get up to 10 hours of playtime in one go.
It recharges super quickly too: a 10 minute recharge in the case, provides up to 3 hours of new playtime with ANC on.
Charging can only be done via USB-C. The Redmi Buds 6 doesn't support wireless charging.
The earbuds of the Redmi Buds 6 are as standard as they come. Available in black, white or teal, the slightly off-coloured middle part of the stem is the only ‘design’ feature to be found here.
Happily, their shape follows a proven model. The diagonal earpieces are easy to put in your ears and stay in snugly and comfortably for hours on end - even though you can feel the earbuds sitting in your ears.
Thanks to the IP54 waterproof rating, the earbuds will survive sweat, rain, and dust - making it possible to work out with these.
The charging case is less convincing. Despite its compact enough size and the convenient LED light on the front that indicates the remaining battery life by its length, it scratches extremely easily.
In black, the charging case looks like completely worn out after only throwing in a jeans pocket with your keys for one day.
It also has a bit of a sharp edge to the lid.
The Redmi Buds 6 looks and feels cheap, but its battery life and comfort make up for it.
Controls, connectivity and app support
The Redmi Buds 6 has the same app support as the other models in the lineup, with features that are sometimes close to the Pro model.
The Redmi Buds 6 controls easily, by tapping the top part of the stems.
You can customise the controls fully in the Xiaomi Earbuds app. By giving you all the options for single, double, triple taps and holding down the stems, you can find a control scheme you like - including volume controls.
Changing the volume is done by tapping the stems, not sliding them like on the Pro model. It's less fancy, but it works just as well.
By holding down the top of the stem for a short while, you change between Active Noise Cancelling (‘dunk’) and Transparency mode (‘pu-dink’). The sounds are logical.
Music automatically pauses when you take an earbud out, and resumes once you put it back in again. Unless you don't want it - you can turn it off.
The overall Bluetooth connection is strong, with a stable and reliable wireless connection between your device and the earbuds.
The Redmi Buds 6 should support multipoint connection, so you can connect to two devices at the same time.
How to activate multipoint connection on the Redmi Buds 6: activate the function from the Xiaomi Earbuds app first. Then place the earbuds in the case and hold the button on the case on the right until the LED light on the case blinks. Then connect the new device via the Bluetooth list, then the previous one. You're now connected to both devices.
It can sometimes take a while before the Redmi passes through sound from the device you've selected. Happily, switching is as easy as pushing the play button on your other device most of the times.
The app is easy to understand
Great control options to change all the touch commands
The free Xiaomi Earbuds app for iPhone and Android phones (check the availability in your country) gives the Redmi Buds 6 a handful of useful additional features:
Update the firmware
Check the battery percentage of the L and R earbud
(De)activate Noise cancellation and choose how strong the ANC should be manually
(De)activate dual-device multipoint connection
(De)activate automatically picking up calls
(De)activate in-ear detection/ auto-pause music
Check your ear fit
Change the controls
Choose between four default equalizers or create your own
(De)activate Dimensional audio, which tempts to place the music more ‘around’ you
Find your earphones by playing loud alarms on them
The Redmi Buds 6 controls easily, offers plenty of useful features via the app and has convenient multipoint connectivity.
Phone and video calls
Just like the Pro-model, the Redmi Buds 6 isn't the best choice for phone calls and video conferencing.
In easy circumstances, like a quiet office space, you sound loud and full.
Surrounding noise is left out of calls well; sounds of passing traffic, sudden sounds like door slams, and conversations are barely audible or totally inaudible on the line. Great.
The call quality dips when you start moving. Walking around can heavily fluctuate the volume of your voice, and walking in even a tiny bit of wind, drowns it.
The Redmi Buds 6 can only be used safely for indoor calls in one place.
Video and games playback
The Redmi Buds 6 is a solid choice for videos and playing games.
The Redmi Buds 6 has no trouble playing videos on iPhones or Android phones.
These earbuds don't have a specific gaming mode; but the sound effects in a challenging mobile game like Call of Duty mobile synchronize fairly well with the action on your screen. The sound is impactful, but it's hard to hear where gunshots are coming from.
ANC quality of the Redmi Buds 6
The Redmi Buds 6 has solid Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) performance, that falls precisely in between the more expensive Redmi Buds 6 Pro and cheaper Redmi Buds 6 Lite.
As always, the ANC is most capable in reducing constant sounds. Darker electronic humming and distant traffic are softened (heavily) in volume.
Especially lower frequencies are filtered well. Higher sounds are more audible still. For example, you will still hear the higher edge of your typing on a keyboard. The brighter tones of a radio playing in the background also come through.
Sudden sounds aren't handled so well. Voices, door slams and loud, accelerating vehicles break through the ANC barrier when you're not playing any music.
Wind noise is audible, but it's not too loud and separated well enough from the music.
ANC on the Redmi Buds 6 Pro is noticeably stronger; ANC on the cheaper Redmi Buds 6 Lite is weaker. Redmi carefully walked the middle ground here.
The Transparency mode isn't strong enough to let you clearly hear conversations or traffic noise when you're listening to music.
Sound quality of Redmi Buds 6: Crowd pleaser
The Redmi Buds 6 is the warmest sounding pair of earbuds from the Xiaomi family. It's bound to please many listeners.
The Redmi Buds 6 sounds warmer and a bit darker than all earphones I've tested from Xiaomi and Redmi before.
That includes the other models in the 6-lineup, like the Redmi Buds 6 Pro and the budget line consisting of Redmi Buds 6 Play, Redmi Buds 6 Lite and Redmi Buds 6 Active.
The Buds 6 has boosted lower mid-tones, emphasising darker electronic tones, low (male) voices, and lower instruments. This gives the music warmth and sometimes, on lower volumes, even a dark vibe.
The bass is the biggest crowd pleaser of the ensemble. The mid-bass can thump without pumping too heavy in your ears. Bass strikes feel quite full and last a tiny bit longer than they can. It's not tight, but it's not messy either.
The same goes for the sub-bass; the darkest tones you can feel as much as hear. The sub can provide a bit of thumping, but it shows a round instead of a very stabby, articulated performance in James Blake's test track Limit to Your Love.
It shows a warm tonality in the higher frequencies too. Vocals feel weighty and grounded instead of light and bright. Instruments from the mids, like guitars and piano play, also have a warm underlining and tend more towards the lower tones than to the higher ones.
The Buds 6 restricts higher vocals to prevent them from becoming harsh or peaky. Other higher tones and instruments are toned down as well.
Unlike other earbuds from the brand, I found the Enhanced treble equalizer from the app a good setting to improve the music. It gives higher (female) vocals more forwardness, and violins and trumpets as well as higher electronic tones get more space to breathe - while still playing it safe.
While instruments are separated well from each other and certain details seem to come from your sides, the Redmi Buds 6 doesn't have the terrific instrument placement, execution of center-mids and sense of stage as the Redmi Buds 6 Pro.
The Dimensional audio setting from the app doesn't compensate for that; it can give the music a more immersive around-you feeling, but feels a bit too artificial.
Especially with the enhanced treble equalizer, the Redmi Buds 6 offers a pleasant sound for all kind of music genres and all kind of listeners - combining a friendly bass, warm presentation, a decent sense of detail, and engaging vocals.
—> These are the best sounding wireless earbuds from $25 to $100
Has this review helped or inspired you?
Redmi Buds 6 comparisons
Redmi Buds 6 vs Redmi Buds 6 Pro
The Redmi Buds 6 Pro costs around 30 to 40 dollars more than the regular Redmi Buds 6. That extra money doesn't give you much clearer calls or better battery life, but the Pro could still be worth the higher price.
The 6 Pro has stronger Active Noise Cancelling that filters more constant sounds and reduces sudden sounds better.
Its case doesn't scratch as easily and the earbuds look sleeker and more expensive. They also let in swipe controls to change the volume, which feels more ‘premium’ somehow.
The biggest difference is the sound quality. Like the Buds 6, the Buds 6 Pro has a warm underlining, but especially on active listening volumes, it shows more articulation and detail, and a bit more brightness too. Center-mids like guitars and piano play are more natural, it's easier to grab details such as breath gasps and positioning is on a higher level too, even making it possible to precisely place instruments around you in higher quality recordings.
$70 to $90 - See price on Amazon or AliExpress
Redmi Buds 6 vs Redmi Buds 6 Lite
In the same Redmi Buds 6-lineup, Xiaomi also offers the Active Noise Cancelling-inclusive Redmi Buds 6 Lite. Are they a better deal, at only $20?
You'll lose some privileges on the cheaper Redmi Buds 6 Lite. You'll lose the multipoint connection, and the battery ‘only’ lasts 5 instead of 7 hours per charge on the regular Redmi Buds 6.
But surprisingly, the Buds 6 Lite's ANC reduces low-level electronic humming and distant traffic better. It's also more consistent in phone call clarity.
When there are louder sounds around you, however, the ANC of the regular Buds 6 counters those better.
When it comes to sound, the Redmi Buds 6 Lite has an airier and more lively treble. For this reason, it can also sound a bit harsher on higher volumes. The regular Buds 6 has more comfortable treble, and voices and instruments like drums feel more impactful, ‘snappier’ on the regular Buds 6 too.
$20 to $25 - See price on Amazon US, your Amazon country or AliExpress
Redmi Buds 6 vs QCY MeloBuds Pro
If you're in the market for ANC earbuds under $50, don't overlook the QCY MeloBuds Pro as an alternative to the Redmi Buds 6.
The QCY MeloBuds Pro offers around the same 7 hours playtime on a single charge, but the QCY has stronger ANC, and handles phone calls in a much clearer and reliable way - even when there's a bit of wind noise.
When it comes to sound, the QCY has more focus on treble. Vocals sounds clearer, and higher instruments are more forward and have a bit more air around them. Precisely this part of the music can get a little harsh on the highest volumes, however.
The Redmi has a safer approach. It has stronger lower mid-tones, a warmer tonality and a thicker mid-bass. It controls its dynamics better on higher volumes.
$45 - See price on Amazon US, your Amazon country or AliExpress
Verdict: Redmi Buds 6
The Redmi Buds 6 fills in a completely logical position in the market, right between the surprisingly good Redmi Buds 6 Lite and Play and the more expensive Redmi Buds 6 Pro.
Possibly because it has to reside in between the other models, it's an earphone without super powers. Its battery life is highly usable, but its call quality isn't very convincing. Its Active Noise Cancelling is good, but not great. And its sound is definitely pleasant, but not as special as the Pro.
The Redmi Buds 6 is a good earphone for many people - no more, no less.
4 stars - Good
Buy Redmi Buds 6/ Check lowest price
Buy on your Amazon country
Buy on AliExpress
I bought the Redmi Buds 6 myself to test and review myself. My reviews are 100% independent and non-commercial - read about it here.
The links on this page are affiliate links. Buying via one of this links supports me in reviewing more earphones. Was this review helpful to you? Please consider supporting me:
Also read:
Leaderboard: All rated wireless earphones
