Realme Buds Air7 Review: Raising the Bar for Budget Earbuds

I've always found Realme's TWS lineup to be pretty reliable - they've consistently managed to pack solid features and decent sound into budget-friendly earbuds. So when I got my hands on their latest Realme Buds Air7, which launched alongside the Realme P3 (first impressions) and P3 Ultra (first impressions) smartphones, I was genuinely curious. Would this be just another incremental upgrade, or had Realme actually managed to push the boundaries again?

Turns out, they did. After using the Buds Air 7 for the past three weeks, I can confidently say these aren't just good for the price. They're actually good, period.

PROS

• Great sound quality with LHDC support
• Effective ANC with multiple modes
• Long battery life
• Comfortable, secure fit
• Sleek, premium-looking design
• Dual-device connectivity

CONS

• Transparent case scratches easily
• Slight delay in touch controls

If you're someone who listens to music daily, takes frequent calls, or wants legit ANC without burning a hole in your wallet, this might be the budget TWS you've been waiting for.

First Impressions: Looks More Expensive Than It Is

Let's start with the design. I got the Lavender Purple version, and it looks really good. There's a transparent lid on the charging case that gives it that Nothing Ear kind of vibe. It's sleek, minimal, and a bit flashy in a good way. The matte base balances things out nicely.

Now, a quick heads-up: that transparent lid picks up scratches and smudges fast. After just a few days, my unit had visible marks. So if that bothers you, consider getting the White variant - it skips the transparent lid altogether.

The case feels well-built, has a solid snap when you close it, and the magnets inside are strong. Everything clicks into place nicely. No wobble, no rattle.

Fit and Comfort: No Issues Here

The earbuds themselves have a slimmer, flatter stem compared to the Buds Air 6. I found the fit to be super comfortable. They stayed in place during walks, workouts, and even a couple of runs. You get three sizes of silicone ear tips, and once I found the right size, they didn't budge.

They're also IP55 rated, so they're fine with sweat or light rain. Basically, perfect for everyday use.

Sound Quality: Honestly Surprised

This is where the Realme Buds Air7 really caught me off guard - in the best possible way. These earbuds come with large 12.4mm dynamic drivers, which already give them a physical advantage in pushing air for bass and overall depth. But what really sets them apart is their support for LHDC 5.0, a high-res audio codec you almost never see in this price range.

LHDC stands for Low Latency High Definition Codec, and it's kind of a big deal if you care about sound quality. It offers up to 1Mbps bitrate (that's way higher than AAC or SBC), and supports up to 24-bit/96kHz audio. You'll need a compatible Android phone running version 10 or above - and yes, LHDC needs to be enabled manually in the Realme Link app.

Once I switched LHDC on and queued up some tracks on Spotify Premium, the jump in quality was immediately noticeable. The soundstage felt more open, like the instruments had space to breathe. I could hear layers in the production that just felt compressed or flat on regular SBC or AAC earbuds.

I mostly listen to phonk, hip-hop, and electronic - and these buds handled all of it with ease. In Bass Boost mode, 808s hit hard without distorting, and kick drums had that satisfying thump. I also tried the "Pure Bass" and "Deep Bass" EQ presets - they're fun if you're into more aggressive low-end, but "Bass Boost" was the sweet spot for me.

Vocals came through clearly, and instrument separation was surprisingly precise for budget earbuds. The highs were crisp without sounding sharp, and while the mids could use a bit more warmth or presence, they were far from bad. If you're an audiophile, you'll probably still nitpick, but for the rest of us - it's kind of crazy how good these sound for the price.

And let's not forget the Spatial Audio feature. It works with stereo and multi-channel content (like YouTube and Netflix), and adds a subtle surround effect that's especially noticeable with cinematic soundtracks or live concert recordings. It's not full-on Dolby Atmos, but it's still immersive, especially with the right content.

If you're someone who mostly listens to compressed audio or streams from regular platforms, LHDC might be a game changer. And even if you don't have a phone that supports it, these buds still sound fantastic on SBC or AAC.

Honestly, Realme could've made just the sound quality the headline feature, and it would still be a win. But the fact that it's just one part of the whole package? Even better.

ANC and Call Quality: Better Than I Expected

Realme claims 52dB active noise cancellation, and while I don't have lab gear to test that, I can tell you this - it works. I used them while walking next to traffic and during my gym sessions, and the ANC definitely made a difference. It's not completely silent (my Sony WF-1000XM4 is better, but also much more expensive), but it cuts out a big chunk of background noise.

There are four modes for ANC: Max, Moderate, Mild, and Smart (which adjusts automatically based on your environment). Smart mode was my go-to, and it worked well.

There's also a Transparency Mode, which lets ambient sound in when you need to stay aware of your surroundings. It even kicks in automatically if you remove one earbud - a nice touch.

Call quality was solid, too. The triple mic setup handled wind and background noise surprisingly well. I had outdoor calls where my voice came through clearly, and even though traffic noise wasn't completely gone, it was very faint on the other end.

Touch Controls: Slight Delay, But Customizable

The touch controls are located on the front of the stem, and they're easy to access. But I did notice a slight delay between tapping and the action actually happening. Nothing major, but it takes a little getting used to.

You can customize gestures (double tap, triple tap, long press) through the Realme Link app. I mapped playback controls, ANC toggle, and voice assistant to mine. It's flexible, and once you find your setup, it's smooth.

There's also smart wear detection - remove a bud, music pauses; put it back in, music resumes. Plus, if you're only wearing one bud, the other switches to Transparency Mode automatically.

Battery Life: Nearly Two Weeks Between Charges

Realme claims up to 52 hours of total battery life with ANC turned off - and honestly, that checks out. I was using the buds for around 3 hours a day, sometimes with ANC on, sometimes off, and still went close to two full weeks without needing to recharge the case.

If you're someone who plans to keep ANC on all the time, you'll probably need to top up a bit sooner, but that's expected. With 62mAh in each bud and a 480mAh battery in the case, these easily hold up through long, busy days.

Charging happens via USB-C and takes around 90 minutes. There's no wireless charging, which is expected at this price.

Connectivity: Seamless Experience

Pairing is super quick, thanks to Google Fast Pair. Just flip open the lid near your phone, and boom - it connects. For other phones, press the button on the case for a few seconds, and you're good to go.
Bluetooth 5.4 ensures a strong connection, and latency is down to 45ms, which is great for gaming or watching videos. I didn't experience any lag or dropouts during my testing.

One of my favorite features was dual-device pairing. I had the buds connected to both my laptop and phone. When a call came in, it automatically switched to the phone, and once I ended the call, it switched back to the laptop. Smooth and super useful.

Final Verdict: Should You Buy the Realme Buds Air7?

At ₹3,299, the Realme Buds Air7 offers insane value. You're getting high-res audio, strong ANC, good call quality, solid battery life, and a premium design - all in a budget-friendly package.

Are they flawless? No. The touch controls could be more responsive, and the transparent case gets scratched easily. But those are tiny complaints compared to what you're actually getting.

So, should you buy them? If you're looking for true wireless earbuds with excellent sound, reliable ANC, and long battery at this price - absolutely. These are the best budget TWS I've used in a while.