Earbuds or headphones in the Gen Z era have become more than just a gadget for enjoying music. Thanks largely to the pandemic, they are now a staple in one’s work-life, whether you’re a remote worker, podcaster, or live-streamer. They are also exercise and fitness essentials to get in the zone. And lastly, they are even entertainment necessities for those urban commuters or frequent flyers to catch up on their latest Netflix shows to pass the time.
New features such as Bluetooth and noise cancellation have also made earphones more diverse and tech-heavy compared to previous generations. And with this upgrade comes a price, as there are now different models with corresponding price segments for target audiences.
But what if I told you that there’s a new budget-level earphone that just came out in the market that offers the same premium features that can be seen on higher-tier earphones?
Xiaomi (REDMI) has released its latest offering, the REDMI Buds 8 Lite earbuds, which check all the boxes of a modern-day earphone at a budget-friendly price.
So how does the REDMI Buds 8 Lite fare when stacked against the competition and its price tag? Let’s find out.
Design and build
Like most next-gen earphones, the REDMI Buds 8 Lite are wireless and come equipped with Bluetooth compatibility. It comes in your typical oval-shaped charging case/earbuds holder, which is lightweight, sleek, and compact. The earbuds come in designated left and right earpieces that fit snugly and securely around your ear canal. There are three sizes of rubber ear tips you can choose from, and I found that the large one fits my ear best. Its charging port is a Type-C charger, though it does not come with its own charging cable and power adapter. There is a touch-controlled multi-function button on the side of each earpiece. This allows for ease-of-use when making certain gestures, but more on that later. The earphones’ color that I got for testing is a matte style, which looks both modern and stylish.
Performance
The REDMI Buds 8 Lite definitely packs a punch when it comes to performance. It has a large dynamic driver with great sound quality. Or more specifically, a 12.4mm titanium-diaphragm driver which enables a powerful bass, exquisite treble, and an all-around enhanced experience. Along with this, it is equipped with SBC and AAC audio encoding, which ensures broad compatibility. AAC high-quality coding delivers rich detail and clarity.
So during my testing, I found that the REDMI Buds 8 Lite is rather exceptional if you’re an audiophile and music lover like me. I could feel the bass, whether it be from the drums or the bass guitar, and at times it was almost too much, bringing down the roof, since I tend to turn up the volume quite a bit. The quality and audio fidelity are also great, with the vocals and treble in particular. I could hear the vocals and guitar harmonies more clearly than I ever have before. So some lyrics that I used to know were actually different this time around. And by far my favorite part of the REDMI Buds 8 Lite’s audio experience is the drum cymbals, which allowed me to hear every hi-hat, ride, and crash cymbal in a 3D Spatial Audio form.
Taking things up a notch is the REDMI Buds 8 Lite’s enhanced noise-cancellation feature, which is a hybrid ANC, with up to 42dB wide frequency active noise cancellation. When I first tried it out, I could immediately feel the outside noise being drowned out, like I was wearing one of those headphones they give you when you take an MRI. It’s something that I’ve noticed even with just the more minute sounds like the sound of a loud AC at home or while doing some errands at the mall, that allows you to feel like you’re being sucked into your own spatial audio dimension.
Another standout feature that adds to the REDMI Buds 8 Lite’s arsenal is a free downloadable app called Xiaomi earbuds. This app allows you to further customize and enhance your listening experience thanks to its various EQ settings, and you can shift between noise-cancelling or transparency modes to properly adapt to your surroundings.
Through the app, you can also pick the specific actions and gesture preferences you want out of the multi-function button I mentioned earlier, giving you more control and ease of use. The app also has a feature that I’ve never seen before, that being a dual-connection mode, which allows the REDMI Buds 8 Lite to connect to two devices simultaneously. Lastly, the app has your back if you happen to lose an earbud or two with its find earphones feature, which will play an alarm so you can easily locate it.
One other thing that the REDMI Buds 8 Lite has going for it is its BT range, which is listed at 10 meters. I found this to be convenient, especially if, let’s say, you’re at the gym or basketball court, so you can get in the zone without worries.
And lastly, for all the urban commuters, remote workers, fitness buffs, and podcasters/live streamers out there, the REDMI Buds 8 Lite has your always-on-the-go lifestyle covered with its dual-microphone with AI noise reduction for clear calls. The earbud duct boasts a unique structural design that can handle 6m/s wind.
The only minor issue I had with the REDMI Buds 8 Lite is that I wish the multi-function button was a bit more responsive and consistent, and this could be because the shape of the earpiece and surface area of the side-button is very slim and contoured.
Battery and charging
As far as the battery and charging go, the REDMI Buds 8 Lite doesn’t let you down either. Its tech specs/battery capacity are listed as 45mAh (earbud) / 475mAh (charging case). It has up to 8 hours of battery life on a single charge and 36 hours combined with the charging case. I found the REDMI Buds 8 Lite’s earbuds and charging case to be quick, reliable, and consistent during my testing. You can easily check the earbuds’ battery through the Xiaomi app, and I found that even after extended hours of use, the battery never ran out on me.
Verdict
So coming in at an SRP of PHP 1,999 pesos, the REDMI Buds 8 Lite definitely lives up to its moniker of being the “ultimate budget-premium entry” earbuds, despite it being an oxymoron. When I was told that this is a budget-entry model, my expectations were set to a low bar because I’ve seen what high-end quality looks like in terms of features and design.
Not only did the REDMI Buds 8 Lite surpass those expectations, but it made me spend hours upon hours of tinkering with the EQ with the exact same songs just for the heck of it. And because I know that, whatever the mood, this thing has got me covered. But that’s me being a musician and music-lover for you. If you told me right off the bat that the REDMI Buds 8 Lite can be had for less than two thousand, I would have shrugged and thought you were joking. The REDMI Buds 8 Lite should be seriously considered for whatever target market or price segment, whether you’re a student, someone looking for an affordable bang-for-your-buck gift, or someone who’s just balling on a budget, the REDMI Buds 8 Lite has something for you.
