Redmi Buds 5A Review: Solid performance at reasonable price

Redmi Buds 5A Review: Priced at just Rs 1,499, the Redmi Buds 5A can be considered one of the best contenders in this price segment. At first glance, there aren't any major flaws that make these buds a deal-breaker. On the contrary, it's quite surprising how good they actually are.

The sound, the loudness, the bass, the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), the gesture control, and the juice on this device—almost everything was very decent considering that Xiaomi priced these buds at just Rs 1,499.

However, talking about the gremlins, the only issue I encountered was the sound clarity and a niggle while I was on a call, but more on that later. Let's now dive deeper, talking about the Redmi Buds 5A—

Redmi Buds 5A Review: Loud and bassy, but could be more clear

At this price, it is quite rare to have such a device that is this loud. While listening to a song or watching a video, I heard everything loud but it left me seeking more clarity. Yet, at this price, it was fairly decent compared to other products on the market. Additionally, the 12 mm dynamic bass driver really compensates for the clarity, and personally, I will take a better bass over a little more clarity. Coming to the microphone, the call clarity was good, and I heard everything loud and clear from the person on the other side. However, while I was talking, the words felt a little damp for that other person, but they were clear enough to make do with whatever I was saying.

Redmi Buds 5A Review: Solid Build, Minimalist Design

The earbuds look like any other such product you will get on the market and have a minimalistic design around them. Ergonomically, the buds have a firm fit, and even while bobbing my head to my favourite song, they were holding tight. The case is very compact and has a matte finish to it, which feels good while holding it. The buds come in two colour variants— Timeless White, and Bass Black. The earbuds also come with an IPX4 rating and can thus be used during intense workouts and also in light rain. The company could have added a different texture to the touch regions of the Buds 5A for ease, but it isn't such a big deal.

Redmi Buds 5A Review: Shut the surrounding noise or be transparent

The buds come with a 25 dB ANC, and one can really feel the ambient noise lowered to an extent. While travelling through Delhi Metro, the buds significantly lowered the surrounding noise, and at this price, the noise cancellation is really good. The transparent mode, on the other hand, serves the purpose quite well. However, one will find the option to turn off both modes with the app.

Redmi Buds 5A Review: Battery and Charging

Straight out of the box, I had been using these buds for almost two hours for over a week and still had 30–40 per cent juice left. The company claims that the device can last for up to 30 hours of battery backup on a single charge, and with fast charging, it is expected that with a 10-minute charge, one can get approximately 90 minutes of playback.

Redmi Buds 5A Review: Bluetooth v5.4 and Google Fast Pair

It is a breeze to pair the buds with my Android device, as it comes with Google Fast Pair. After pairing it for the first time, I just have to open the lid of the case and it gets connected swiftly to my smartphone. With the latest Bluetooth v5.4, the device always had a strong and stable connection. There was hardly any lag between the audio and the video, or even while playing games.

Redmi Buds 5A Review: Touch Controls

Redmi really worked its way up with the touch control, and it was much more efficient in the Buds 5A compared to the Buds 5. The response was very quick, and the transition from one song to another was very smooth. The same can be said while picking up or ending a call.

Redmi Buds 5A Review: Final Verdict

Honestly, this device has passed all my expectations, and at this price point, it is a very strong contender in this crowded market. If one can overlook the niggles, which aren't anything major for such a device, at this price, the Redmi Buds 5A can be one of the best earbuds for you.