The Realme Buds Wireless 5c represents a significant leap forward in neckband earbuds, offering a compelling blend of comfort, performance, and features at an incredibly attractive price point. This in-depth review dives into every aspect of the 5c, comparing it to its predecessors – the Realme Buds Wireless 2 and 3 – to highlight its advancements. We'll explore its comfortable and durable design, impressive 40-hour battery life with fast charging capabilities, and the effectiveness of its hybrid active noise cancellation.Beyond battery and comfort, we'll delve into the audio quality, examining the performance of the 13.6mm dynamic bass boost driver and the impact of Sony LDAC high-res audio support. We'll also assess the call quality, the low-latency gaming mode, and the functionality of the Realme Link app. Ultimately, this review aims to determine whether the Realme Buds Wireless 5c justifies its price and secures its place as a top contender in the competitive neckband earphone market.
Pros And Cons
- Good overall quality
- Improved battery life (40 hours)
- Lightweight and comfortable to wear
- 45ms ultra-low latency
- 50dB hybrid noise cancellation
- IP55 dust and water resistance
- Good sound quality with customizable equalizer
- Improved 3D sound compared to previous versions
- Fast charging (10 minutes for 12 hours of playback)
- Active noise cancellation didn't make a significant difference during a call test.
- Slight audio distortion noted during a call test in noisy environments.
- Purple color option considered dull by the reviewer.
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Design and Build Quality
The Realme Buds Wireless 5c boasts a lightweight and comfortable neckband design, making it ideal for extended wear. The earbuds themselves are snug and secure, even during workouts. While slightly bulkier than its predecessors (Realme Buds Wireless 2 and 3), the improved battery life justifies the added size. The neckband's construction feels durable and high-quality, with a comfortable fit that didn't cause discomfort even during prolonged use.
Compared to the Realme Buds Wireless 2, which had a thinner and lighter build, the 5c features a slightly more substantial design. The Realme Buds Wireless 3 sits somewhere in between in terms of size and weight. The cable on the 5c is slightly thicker than the rubber cable of the Buds Wireless 2 and the braided cable of the Buds Wireless 3, offering a more premium feel.
Key Features and Specifications
The Realme Buds Wireless 5c offers a compelling set of features, including Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), Sony LDAC high-res audio, and a long battery life of up to 40 hours. The 13.6mm dynamic bass boost driver delivers powerful audio, while the IP55 rating ensures dust and water resistance. The ultra-low latency mode (45ms) is optimized for gaming, and the device also offers features like a 360° spatial audio effect.
Compared to the Realme Buds Wireless 2 (with 10-minute charge for 12 hours playback) and Realme Buds Wireless 3 (22 hours playback), the 5c's 40-hour battery life is significantly improved. While the 3 offers ANC, the 5c boasts improved hybrid noise cancellation up to 50dB. The inclusion of ultra-low latency gaming mode is a notable upgrade.
Call Quality and Noise Cancellation
The call quality on the Realme Buds Wireless 5c is impressive, with clear audio transmission and minimal background noise. The active noise cancellation effectively reduces ambient sounds, making it suitable for calls in noisy environments. Testing in various environments showed effective noise reduction, particularly when ANC was engaged. Even with the ANC on, the call quality remained surprisingly crisp and clear.
A call test confirmed that the audio was clear and easily audible for both the caller and the recipient. The active noise cancellation performed exceptionally well in blocking out background noise, including the sound of running water, resulting in a superior call experience compared to previous models.
Realme Link App and Customization
The Realme Link app provides extensive customization options for the Buds Wireless 5c, including equalizer settings, noise cancellation level adjustment, and gaming mode. The app is user-friendly and straightforward, making it easy to personalize the listening experience. Users can adjust the noise cancellation to their preference, selecting from multiple levels such as Max, Moderate, Mid, and Mild.
The app allows users to fully customize their sound experience, including adjusting the equalizer to suit their preferences. It also offers the option to switch to a gaming mode for reduced latency. The app seamlessly connects to the earbuds and provides real-time battery life updates.
Gaming Performance and Latency
The Realme Buds Wireless 5c's ultra-low latency mode effectively minimizes audio delay, making it suitable for gaming. While a slight delay may still be noticeable compared to wired earphones, the improvement over previous models is significant. The 45ms latency is impressive and ensures smooth audio syncing during gameplay.
In a gaming test, the latency was minimal and didn't significantly impact gameplay. While a wired connection would still provide a marginally better response time, the difference with the 5c is negligible for most users. The gaming mode noticeably improves latency, resulting in a much more responsive audio experience.
Charging and Battery Life
The Realme Buds Wireless 5c boasts an impressive 40-hour battery life, significantly exceeding its predecessors. The fast charging feature provides up to 12 hours of playback with just a 10-minute charge. Using a 33W charger speeds up the charging process significantly.
The charging process is simple and efficient. The charging case uses a USB-C port, and supports fast charging. The battery indicator on the charging case and through the app provides clear visibility of the current charging status and remaining battery life.
Conclusion
The Realme Buds Wireless 5c delivers a significant upgrade over its predecessors with improved battery life, enhanced noise cancellation, and ultra-low latency gaming mode. The comfortable design, user-friendly app, and extensive customization options further enhance the user experience. While the purple color might not appeal to everyone, the overall sound quality, call quality, and features make it a worthy contender in the neckband earphone market. This product is highly recommended to buyers with a focus on superior audio performance, long battery life and effective noise cancellation.
At a price point of $17.99, the Realme Buds Wireless 5c offers exceptional value for money, making it a strong competitor against other neckband earphones in the market. Its strengths lie in its long battery life, excellent ANC, and low latency gaming mode. Despite a minor issue with the purple color, the overall value and performance of this device makes it a highly recommended purchase.