Let me be upfront – this isn’t a sponsored review. I actually spent my own money on the Realme Buds Air 8 because I was genuinely curious about it.
The last variant, Realme Buds Air 7, was already the best in the ₹3000 price range. So when Realme announced the Air 8 with dual drivers and improved ANC, I had to test it myself. No brand deal, no free sample – just my honest experience after using these for several days.
And after all that testing? I think Realme might just control the entire budget earbuds market with this one.
Realme Buds Air 8 Specifications
| Drivers | 11mm Woofer + 6mm Tweeter (Dual) |
| ANC | Up to 55dB |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 |
| Codecs | LHDC 5.0, LDAC, AAC, SBC |
| Battery (Earbuds) | 62mAh each |
| Battery (Case) | 530mAh |
| Total Playback | Up to 58 hours |
| Fast Charging | 10 min = 11 hours |
| Latency | 45ms (Gaming Mode) |
| Water Resistance | IP55 |
| Multi-device | 3 devices |
| AI Features | Google Gemini, Live Translator |
Box Content
- Earbuds
- 2 x Eartips
- Paper Work
Design & Build Quality
First impressions matter, and the Realme Buds Air 8 nails it. Compared to the Realme Air 7 and Realme Air 6, this is a major upgrade in design and build.
Realme collaborated with Naoto Fukasawa, a renowned Japanese industrial designer, for these earbuds. You can see his influence in the clean geometric shape of the charging case. The three-part construction with rounded corners looks sophisticated – it doesn’t scream “budget” at all.
The case has both matte and glossy finishes, and honestly, the in-hand feel surprised me. There’s a textured finishing on top that I personally love – adds a classy touch without being flashy. It’s also compact enough to slip into your pocket easily.
Build quality feels solid and durable. Realme used bio-based organic silicone material which is eco-friendly and gives a nice soft-touch feel. For a ₹3,599 earbuds, you’re getting a design that looks and feels like it costs twice as much.
One thing I have to mention though – scratches can appear easily on this case. You’ll need to be careful with how you handle it. Maybe keep it in a separate pocket away from keys and coins. Not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing.
Design & Build Rating: 8/10
Comfort & Fit
The earbuds themselves look quite classy with a stem-style design. But looks aside, what matters is comfort – and these deliver.
I’ve used the Realme Buds Air 8 for 3-4 hour stretches without any discomfort. The in-ear fit is secure enough for gym workouts, morning walks, or your daily commute. Touch controls are responsive, and you can customize them through the Realme Link app.
The IP55 rating means light rain or sweat won’t damage them. I’ve worn these during workouts and they stayed in place without any issues.
Comfort & Fit Rating: 8/10
Sound Quality – Where It Truly Shines
Okay, this is my favorite part. If you’re reading this Realme Buds Air 8 review looking for sound quality insights, pay close attention – because this is what makes these earbuds special.
The Realme Buds Air 8 features an 11mm dynamic driver paired with a 6mm micro-plane tweeter. This dual driver setup is rare at this price point, and trust me, it makes a real difference.
Here’s the thing – the 11mm driver handles bass and mids, while the 6mm tweeter takes care of high frequencies. Each driver focuses on what it does best, and the result is cleaner audio with better separation. Most budget earbuds use a single driver that tries to do everything, and you can hear the compromise. Not here.
Let’s break down how it actually sounds.
Bass is where these earbuds flex hard. The bass doesn’t just sound good – you can feel it in your chest. It’s punchy, tight, and not muddy at all. If you’re a bass lover, you’ll be very happy. But what impressed me more is that despite the strong bass, it doesn’t overpower the mids and vocals. That’s the dual driver magic.
Mids and vocals are surprisingly clear for bass-oriented earbuds. Singers’ voices come through front and center with good detail. Instrument separation in the mid-range is also quite good. There’s slight blending in the low-mids on some tracks, but to get better clarity at this price, you’d have to look at wired IEMs.
Treble is handled beautifully by the 6mm tweeter. Female vocals sound crisp, flutes and high-pitched instruments come through smooth – never harsh or fatiguing even at higher volumes.
Soundstage and imaging are impressive for earbuds at this price. It’s noticeably wider than most competitors. In games like BGMI, you can identify enemy directions even in complex situations. Not IEM-level, but for TWS earbuds under ₹5000? Among the best.
The Realme Buds Air 8 also supports LHDC 5.0 codec with up to 96kHz sampling rate. What this means for you is more detail, better clarity, and smoother overall sound. Combined with dual drivers that can actually reproduce this high-quality data, you get an audio experience that punches way above its price.
Quick note – LHDC doesn’t work on all phones, especially iPhones. But even without it, the dual drivers ensure great sound quality. You’re only missing about 10-15% of the potential.
Overall sound signature is warm and energetic. Fun, enjoyable, and suits all music genres. Custom EQ in the app lets you tweak things if you want.
Sound Quality Rating: 9/10 – One of the best I’ve heard in this price range.
ANC Performance
The Realme Buds Air 8 features 55dB ANC – an upgrade from the 52dB on the Air 7. Numbers aside, how does it actually perform in real life?
I tested it in various environments. AC and fan noise gets blocked almost 90%. Traffic noise reduces significantly. Office chatter becomes much more manageable. For budget earbuds, this is impressive.
What I appreciate is that the automatic ANC mode actually works properly now. It adjusts based on your surroundings without you manually switching modes. Wind noise reduction also works well – great for outdoor use. There are 4 levels of ANC settings plus a transparency mode when you need to hear your surroundings.
ANC Rating: 8/10 – One of the best in this price range, no doubt.
Features & App
Connectivity is solid with Bluetooth 5.4 – stable connection, good range, no pairing issues. You can connect 3 devices simultaneously and switch between them seamlessly. Great for juggling phone, laptop, and tablet.
Google Fast Pair and Swift Pair make setup quick on Android and Windows. Wear detection pauses music when you remove the earbuds.
The AI features are interesting. The Realme Buds Air 8 comes with AI Voice Assistant 2.0 powered by Google Gemini. There’s AI Live Translator with real-time translation, Face-to-Face Translator supporting 30+ languages, and general AI queries. If you travel internationally, these could genuinely be useful.
The Realme Link app offers 4 preset EQ modes, custom equalizer, 360 audio mode, dynamic audio, LHDC toggle, gaming mode, ANC adjustment, and touch control customization. Pretty comprehensive.
One bug to note – LHDC and 360 audio can’t be enabled simultaneously. Software issue that Realme will likely fix in an update.
Features Rating: 8.5/10
Microphone & Call Quality
The Realme Buds Air 8 has 6 microphones – 3 in each earbud.
Indoor calls are crystal clear. Voice comes through nicely with virtually no background noise. Outdoor calls are where most budget earbuds struggle, but these handle it well. Background noise reduces significantly, and wind noise – usually a problem – is managed quite well.
For everyday calls and professional meetings, the microphone is reliable.
Microphone Rating: 7.5/10
Battery Life – Real Numbers
Let’s talk about what Realme promises versus what I actually got.
Company claims: Up to 14 hours from earbuds and 58 hours total with case (ANC off).
My real testing with LHDC on, ANC off, and 60-70% volume: Around 5-6 hours from earbuds and approximately 35 hours total with case.
The gap exists because LHDC uses more power than standard codecs, and my volume was higher than testing conditions. Turn LHDC off and you’ll get about 30% more battery. Turn ANC on and expect about 30% less.
Fast charging works great – 10 minutes gives you 11 hours of playback. That’s clutch when you’re rushing out.
Realme claims 80% battery health after 1000 charging cycles, which is roughly 3 years of daily use. Time will tell, but it’s a promising spec.
Battery Rating: 8/10 – Solid. You can’t expect much more from earbuds this size.
Gaming Performance
The Realme Buds Air 8 has a dedicated gaming mode with 45ms ultra-low latency. I tested it with BGMI and other mobile games.
Latency is not a problem. Technically, there’s always some delay with wireless earbuds, but it’s not noticeable during gameplay. The good imaging also helps – enemy footsteps and gunshots are directionally accurate.
For casual and competitive mobile gaming, these work great.
Gaming Rating: 8/10
Worth To Buy Realme Buds Air 8
After spending considerable time with the Realme Buds Air 8, I can say this confidently – it’s the best value for money earbuds you can buy in 2026.
The dual driver setup genuinely makes a difference. The 55dB ANC is among the best in budget. Battery life is excellent. Design is premium. Feature set is comprehensive.
At ₹3,599, you’re getting a package that rivals earbuds costing nearly double. The only real complaints are minor – case scratches easily and there’s a small app bug.
For anyone looking for the best earbuds under 5000, the Realme Buds Air 8 should be at the top of your list. You can buy it with your eyes closed.
Realme Buds Air 8 vs Competition
OnePlus Buds 4 & Realme Buds Air 7 is slightly better in sound, ANC, and build – but costs ₹2000 more. Realme delivers 90% of the experience at nearly half the price.
CMF Buds 2 Plus and Nord Buds 3 Pro – the Realme Buds Air 8 edges ahead of both slightly while being similarly priced.
If budget matters, Realme Buds Air 8 offers the best value.
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