Alongside the 7 and 7 Pro smartphones, relame has also just launched the Buds Q in the Philippines, and it is the brand’s latest True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds. While it is not the first TWS buds from the brand (that distinction goes to the Buds Air), the Buds Q is realme’s first TWS earbuds with an in-ear design. This should mean that the Buds Q will offer better noise isolation, as well as more bass.
Right now though, the market is flooded with TWS earbuds from different brands and at varying price tags. So does the Buds Q have what it takes to stand out from the competition? Find out here in our realme Buds Q review!
Design and Fit
Before we get started with audio quality, let’s first take a look at the design. Unlike the Buds Air which is inspired by Apple’s AirPods, the Buds Q takes inspiration from TWS earphones like the Samsung Galaxy Buds. That’s not to say the Buds Q is just a rip-off of the Galaxy Buds though; its shape and look does differ a bit as it is designed by Jose Levy, a cooperated designer from Hermes.
Similar to the earbuds themselves, the Buds Q’s case does not exactly feel premium because of its light, all-plastic build. Though the Buds Q’s case does seem fairly rugged; you probably won’t have to worry about dropping it.
While the plastic build makes it far from premium, it does feel comfortable when in use--if you use the right eartip size that is. It’s a good thing that the realme Buds Q comes with two extra sets of eartips, one larger and one smaller than the default tips.
One thing to note though, if you’re not a fan of earbuds with in-ear designs, the Buds Q may not be comfortable for you. As someone who prefers in-ear earbuds though, the Buds Q was comfortable to use, even when listening to music for a couple of hours.
Sound Quality
Now for sound quality, arguably the most important thing that a pair of earphones must deliver on. In our review of the Buds Air, we found it to be pretty good, albeit a bit light on the bass given the open design. The realme Buds Q though are a pretty much the opposite.
If you listen mostly to bass-heavy music, the realme Buds Q will definitely satisfy thanks to its emphasis on the low end. For instance pop songs such as Blackpink’s Ice Cream and The Weeknd’s Blinding Lights sound pretty thumpy on these TWS buds. Hip hop tracks like Run The Jewels’ Legend Has it are also fun to listen to on the Buds Q. Basically, if you love listening to Pop, Hip Hop, EDM, these earbuds are for you.
On the flip-side, the bass is excessive for rock, acoustic, and other genres. For songs such as the Foo Fighters’ Everlong or Polkadot Stingray’s Jet, the bass bleeds into the mids, making for a slightly muddy sound. If, like me, you prefer a more neutral sound signature, I’d recommend using an equalizer to lessen some of the bass. Once you do, rock/acoustic tracks should sound much better.
Of course, these are based on my preferences. If you like a bass-heavy sound signature even with rock, the Buds Q is a good option.
Everyday Reliability
While the Buds Q’s sound quality may not be for everyone, realme’s new TWS buds are undoubtedly a reliable pair of earbuds for everyday use. For one, the Buds Q is easy to pair, especially if you use a realme device. Though if you use another Android phone, the Buds Q is still hassle-free to connect. Plus, the Buds Q’s connection to my phone was stable in my time with it.
Aside from good connectivity, the relame Buds Q also has a fairly responsive touch control system. Tapping either of the earbuds twice will pause whatever song you’re playing, while three taps will skip to the next track. Holding both earbuds for several seconds will also active the Buds Q’s game mode. This is a must for gaming as it cuts down audio latency.
For customization, the realme Buds Q can be configured via the realme Link app. With this app, you can modify the touch controls to your liking.
The Buds Q has a microUSB port for charging.
As for battery life, the earbuds can last for around 4 hours of continuous use; pretty good for a pair of TWS buds. With the charging case, you can expect around 18-20 hours of use in total. If you do need to charge it, the Buds Q takes around an hour to charge from 0 to 100%.
Final Geek Lifestyle Verdict
Overall, the realme Buds Q is a great pair of TWS earbuds thanks to its good design, great usability, and fun, bass-heavy sound signature. The only real weakness I can think off of the realme Buds Q is its sound, which can be a bit too bassy for some. Good thing it can be easily remedied with some equalizer tuning.
The best thing about the realme Buds Q though is its price. At only PHP 1,490, the Buds Q is one of the most affordable TWS earbuds that you can get right now. So if you’re looking for wireless earbuds on a budget, the Buds Q are well worth checking out.