Gone are the days when active noise cancellation was the prerogative of top models. If you are not a music lover, you can take, for example, the new realme Buds Air 3: they cost a little more than $100, but they please not only ANC, but also a rich assortment of settings through the application.
The new realme Buds Air 3 headphone model could be one of the most affordable TWS solutions with active noise cancellation. Actually, ANC was also in the Buds Air 2, but the third generation became “better” in every way.
Design
Realme Buds Air 3 has practically retained the shape and features of the previous version. This is the same charging case with “legs” licked from all sides. The case, by the way, has become flatter – this will definitely appeal to those who are used to wearing headphones in their pockets. The blue version has a matte finish, which, unlike the glossy one, is almost not smudged with fingers.
On the front, there is still an LED showing the level of charge. On the right side there is a barely noticeable button for switching to connection mode.
The “legs” of the headphones have become a little shorter. They lie very confidently in their nests: even if you open the case, turn it over and shake it, the headphones will not fall out. True, it is not so easy to pull them out of their nests – especially in summer, with wet fingers.
Connection
Although realme Buds Air 3 works great without additional software, it still makes sense to download the realme Link app. It has a lot of settings. Firstly, you can reassign the logic of the buttons on the headphones – this is what is missing in budget models. Secondly, set up switching between modes. For example, exclude the standard and switch between ANC and transparency mode. And, of course, you can adjust the sound a little more precisely. True, there is no full-fledged equalizer, but there are 3 preset modes. Bass Boost+ is for electronic music lovers, Clear is for connoisseurs, and Balance is a one-size-fits-all option.
Separately, we note that Buds Air 3 can be connected to two devices at once. This is convenient, for example, if you often participate in video conferences from your laptop and receive calls from your smartphone.
You can experiment with personalized sound settings (they are set automatically, you just need to pass the test).
Sound quality
In general, the novelty sounds quite worthy: there are no noticeable distortions even at high volume, and low frequencies do not disappear. It is difficult to single out any accent or specifics – they obviously tried to please the widest possible audience.
Noise canceling is not to say that it provides complete silence. He copes well with the monotonous rumble of the streets, but almost does not cut off suddenly emerging sounds – for example, from a car that has left because of a turn. In any case, listening to music in the subway and land transport is much more pleasant with ANC turned on. Interestingly, the ears do not get tired. Not only are the headphones very light, but they still sit perfectly, and the delicate work of the noise reduction does not create significant excess pressure.
There is no support for LDAC and aptX here, which is not at all embarrassing given the price.
Battery
Despite the compact cases, realme Buds Air 3 last quite a long time without recharging. With noise canceling turned off, they required recharging in almost 5.5 hours. With the included, of course, they sit down much faster – in about 4 hours. As usual, the battery in the case is enough for 4-5 recharges.
Conclusion
TWS headphones for $100 should not delight or surprise. Rather, their task is to make them feel that the money was not spent in vain. In the case of realme Buds Air 3, this is true. A comfortable case, a good fit in the ears, a decent work of the noise reduction system, the ability to configure through the application – this is exactly what I would like to see in devices of this price category.