Redmi Buds 4 Active Review: Quality audio on a budget

Xiaomi recently unveiled a new pair of true wireless earbuds in India. The Redmi Buds 4 Active are ultra-affordable true wireless earbuds that aim to deliver a feature-rich experience on a tight budget.

The Redmi Buds 4 Active price in India starts from Rs 1,399 in India. However, customers who purchase the Buds 4 Active before June 23 will be entitled to a discount of Rs 200. Moreover, the company is also offering a three-month Spotify Premium subscription free with the purchase of Xiaomi's latest affordable true wireless earbuds.

Design & Build

The Redmi Buds 4 Active feature a full plastic build, which make them incredible light, sitting at just 3.6 grams each with the case coming in at 41.2 grams. The lightweight design makes the buds comfortable to use over prolonged periods. The earbuds also come with replaceable silicone tips.

The earbuds have a standard stem design and sit securely in the ears. I did get a bit worried when using the touch controls but for the most part the fit was secure. The earbuds also feature an IPX4 rating for sweat resistance.

The case itself has a pebbled shaped design with a smooth Air White or Bass Black finish. It has a USB Type-C port and LED light at the bottom. Moreover, the hinge design does feel a little flimsy but the overall build quality of the Redmi Buds 4 Active are well-above average for their price.

The Redmi Buds 4 Active TWS earphones also feature touch controls that can be used to control functionality. You can double tap the buds to play or pause music and answer calls, while three taps can be used to skip to the next track or end calls. Additionally, the low latency mode can be toggled by press each earbud for 1.5 seconds simultaneously.

Software Features

The Redmi Buds 4 Active earbuds can be paired using the Xiaomi Earbuds apps, which is available on both Android and iOS. The app has very limited functionality and only allows you to check touch controls and switch to the 'low latency' mode for gaming.

In terms of connectivity, the Redmi Buds 4 Active support Bluetooth 5.3 for a stable connection up to 10 meters on any compatible device. The earbuds also feature a low-latency mode up to 60ms to sync the audio perfectly while gaming. The earphones also support the SBC audio format.

According to Xiaomi, the Redmi Buds 4 Active support Environmental Noise Cancellation, although much of the noise is suppressed through the shape of the buds and the ear tips. It does work to filter out some low frequency ambient sound. The earbuds also feature Google's Fast pair.

Audio Quality

For audio, the earbuds pack 12mm driver and support a frequency range of 20Hz-240KHz. The earbuds output clear audio with good bass, although it lacked that extra bit of thump, which understandable for earbuds at this price.

I did notice some distortion on maximum volume, so I'd recommend 60 to 70 percent for the best experience. The audio quality on calls was surprisingly good, while users on the other end could easily hear my voice coming through. The call quality on the Redmi Buds 4 Active were good outdoors and excellent indoors.

Battery

The Redmi Buds 4 Active pack a 34 mAh battery in each earbud and a 440 mAh cell in the case. Xiaomi claim that the buds can deliver up to five hours of battery life on a single charge, going up to 30 hours with the case.

During my usage, around 50 percent of the battery was drained after a two-hour long ride with the volume fluctuating between 60 and 70 precent. The Buds 4 Active also come with support for fast charging, delivering up to 90 minutes of playback on a 10-minute charge.

Verdict

Given the current price tag, the Redmi Buds 4 Active have a lot to offer. Xiaomi's latest ultra-affordable earbuds certainly punch above their price tag with solid audio quality, good battery life, fast charging, and a versatile set of features. The earbuds also offer a comfortable and secure fit.

However, there are a few caveats here with the app support and touch controls offering limited functionality. But the 'Pros' definitely outweigh the 'Cons' here with the Redmi Buds 4 Active offering arguably the best overall experience in the sub-2K earbuds segment.