There was a time when ANC was exclusive to the higher-end TWS earbuds. But things have changed and this feature is easy to find and is wildly popular in the affordable TWS range. This brings us to the recently launched Redmi Buds 5A, which for Rs 1,499, has an impressive spec sheet. There’s ANC, Bluetooth 5.4 support, and an IPX4 rating – something that can put expensive options to shame. But, is this affordable option that good? Read on my Redmi Buds 5A review to find out.
Redmi Buds 5a
Rs 1,499
What Is Good?
- ANC is good
- Good sound quality
- Lightweight, comfortable fit
- Reliable battery life, charging speeds
- Value for money
What Is Bad?
- Mundane design
- Connectivity issues persist
- Bass performance is average
- The companion app doesn't have equaliser settings
Redmi Buds 5A Review: Design and Build
The Redmi Buds 5A brings in the classic in-ear design and comes packed in an oval-shaped charging case, which is pocketable and lightweight. The minimal design can be attractive but the build quality isn’t that great. That said, for its Rs 1,499 price tag, it’s passable. The earbuds come in black and white options and I got the former one. While carrying it around was easy, I mostly threw the case in my bag with other things and surprisingly, the case didn’t attract any scratches.
However, it can get smudges, so, using it with clean hands is advisable. There was another concern; the charging case needed to be opened and closed manually (there’s no magnetic effect) and this can be a hassle and not meant for one-hand usage. But the case keeps the earbuds secure and you can be rest assured that these won’t fall off.
The earbuds have a plastic build (much like the case) and glossy finish. The stem design of the earbuds further aids a comfortable fit. The earbuds stay intact inside my ears, without any issues. There are 3 ear tip sizes, so, you can choose the one that offers the most comfortable fit. The Redmi Buds 5A come with an IPX4 rating, so, it can stay safe from sweat and water droplets. Mind you, this is not meant to be submerged in water.
I am not accustomed to using touch controls on earbuds much but I did try getting used to them with the Redmi Buds 5A and the experience was good. The touch controls are not super smooth but does the job.
Redmi Buds 5A Review: Sound, Connectivity, and Hardware
Before I get started with the sound quality, I will touch upon the connectivity part, which was erratic. Google Fast Pair support isn’t helpful and connecting the earbuds with an Android phone was a task. Surprisingly, pairing the earbuds with an iPhone was much easier.
When you get earbuds this inexpensive, the expectations are set rather low. But I was amazed to see how good these are. The earbuds are pretty loud, even when you are listening to music at 50% volume levels. The sound quality is mostly balanced, which feels good for most music genres like Bollywood, Pop, Punjabi, and more.
| Technical Specifications | Redmi Buds 5A |
| Drivers | 12mm Dynamic Drivers |
| Microphones | NA |
| Bluetooth Codec | SBC |
| ANC | Up to 25dB (three levels) |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 |
| Low Latency Mode | Yes (60ms) |
While the 12.4mm dynamic drivers are expected to deliver deep bass, I mostly found bass somewhat flat. While listening to Gula by Deadmau5 I found the bass-driven segment was distorted, especially when the volume was high. It still is manageable in lower volumes and you can enjoy the thumping effect. High volume levels can feel slightly distorted.
Otherwise, the output is good. The vocals and instruments (especially the guitar sequences) are well distinguished. The earbuds handle treble well in most cases but high-pitched vocals can feel muffled. The Buds 5A only supports the SBC codec, which is understandable considering the price. Although, the similarly priced Realme Buds T110 supports both SBC and AAC codecs. Watching content with the earbuds on was also a good experience; the sound was loud and clear. I listened to various genres and here’s my observation in some songs.
| Songs | Remarks |
| Gula – Deadmau5 | The start feels clear and enjoyable but as the heavy bass drop approaches, you will feel distortion. |
| Thriller – Michael Jackson | The start feels engaging with the footsteps, howling, and thunder well captured; the sound stage is wide enough. There’s balance but bassy segments feel less powerful. |
| Baaja – Mohit Chauhan | The ethereal beginning of the song is well captured and as the song moves to higher notes, it feels a little chaotic at up to 90% volume. But 50% volume ensures an enjoyable experience. The various instruments like Dhol are clear and so are the vocals. |
| Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen | The several segments of the song, from the slow start to the extensive guitar sequence and even the piano, are clear and enjoyable. The chorus, however, can feel slightly distorted. |
| Lover – Diljit Dosanjh | The thumping effect in the beginning doesn’t feel distorted but you may find segments with distorted background music. |
Redmi Buds 5A Review: ANC and Mic Quality
This is the part I was most impressed with. I am more fond of using ANC-enabled earphones, especially when I write and the Redmi Buds 5A helped me to a great extent. Whether it was a faint noise from the next room or someone quarrelling on the streets, the noises were cancelled out significantly. You will still hear high-pitched sounds but even the expensive earphones won’t offer an escape from that. The best part is that there was no ‘eardrum pressure’ when ANC was enabled for a long time.
The mic quality is good too; the caller’s voice was clear and loud. There’s support for AI-backed ENC, which does a fair job of offering clear conversations when you’re in a crowded place.
Redmi Buds 5A Review: Companion app
The Redmi Buds 5A has the Xiaomi Earbuds companion app, which is available on Android and iOS. The app has an easy-to-use interface. It is also easy to pair as you will find the compatible earbud options.
The app shows the charging status of the earbuds and allows you to enable or disable ANC and transparency mode. It also has additional settings and an FAQ page.
While the app is pretty straightforward, it lacks equaliser settings, which would have helped personalise the music. This is something I hope Redmi adds in the future.
Redmi Buds 5A Review: Battery Life
The Redmi Buds 5A comes with a 440mAh battery for the case and a 34mAh battery for each earbud. It is said to offer up to 30 hours of battery life and comes close to this. I charged it once and used the earbuds for three to four hours and it ran for about four days. This was with a fair share of ANC enabled. The case took about an hour to charge and since it supports fast charging, even 10 minutes of charging helped fulfill a day’s usage.
Redmi Buds 5A Review: Verdict
The Redmi Buds 5A is another addition to the pool of earbuds we already have but this one feels quite wholesome at a mere price of Rs 1,499. These offer a good sound quality, topped with impressive ANC support. Plus, the earbuds have an acceptable battery life, which will be useful during daily office commutes, and the mic quality is good for clear calling sessions.
For the audiophiles, the Redmi Buds 5A won’t suffice for sure but anyone on a tight budget requiring a quality TWS will like the Redmi Buds 5A as a companion.
