Realme Buds Air 8 Pro is a new product we all waited for and an update to the famous 7 Pro. Did the new earbuds become a good follow-up to the series and beat the sound quality of the Realme Buds Air 7 Pro? You will find all answers in this review. Spoiler, many things about this model make me prefer to wait on buying them for now. So I suggest you read the whole review to make a smart choice. Or, in simple words, MyChooz.
You can buy the 8 Pro earbuds even before the main launch from unofficial sellers and resellers. At the time of this review, you can buy the earbuds on AliExpress for about $70-80. Here is a trusted Ali store where I ordered the Realme Buds Air 8 Pro: Link to the store, coupons, and promo codes.
And of course, subscribe to the channel, this is your best support. My name is Vladimir Papazov, and here I talk about new earbuds worth checking out, good sound, and tech. But most importantly, I only suggest what is truly MyChooz, meaning what I would buy myself without marketing talk. If this idea matches what you like, I will be happy to see you on the channel.
The Realme Buds Air 8 Pro could be a NEW budget reference for wireless earbuds under $100. The new product looks and acts like the also new and cheaper Realme Buds Air 8 model (review link here).
Buy smart:
- Realme store promo code -$5: CDUA05. MyChooz promo code – $8: AEUA08
- Ali does not let you use coins for this item.
- Next sale – June 16 – June 25
Buy Realme Buds Air 8 Pro
After my first tests, it became clear why Realme is waiting to release them. The company did not fix the software problems with the earbuds in time. For example, the LHDC codec disconnects when you only use the official app. So, honestly, I am ready to ignore these problems. Since there is demand for a review, and the earbuds are not out officially yet, I will put off all these problems until the release. And after the release, if they do not fix them, I will tell the company directly without any issues.
Sound
Drivers. Inside, we have an 11mm dynamic driver and a 6mm planar driver, just like in the 6 Pro and 7 Pro. The full specs are not known yet before the launch, and we can only rely on leaked marketing materials on AliExpress and tests of the earbuds themselves.
Bluetooth codec. The main Bluetooth codec is LHDC 5.0 — 24 bit/192 kHz, with a bitrate of 1000 Kbps. I tested it using this codec. An important point is that I used the Bluetooth Codec Changer app to switch the codec, because when I tried to pick a codec in the app, it kept disconnecting.
It supports LHDC 3.0 with a quality limit of 24 bit/48 kHz and 500 Kbps. In the settings, you can choose 900 Kbps, but then the earbuds freeze, and you need to connect them to your phone again. With LHDC 5.0, the limit is also 500 Kbps; if it is more, there is no sound. The sound quality with AAC got better, and the drop in quality is less compared to the 7 Pro. Also, with LHDC, the sound cuts out after 1 minute and 50 seconds of playback. There are no problems with the basic codecs.
Sound review
Test settings
Audio codec: LHDC / AAC
Sound source: OnePlus 11 (Android) and iPhone 15 Pro (iOS).
Music source: streaming Deezer HiFi in FLAC (1411 kbps) format.
Sound review – default: no EQ, sound effects, or other settings.
Earbuds software version: 1.1.0.85 – latest firmware.
Tests are performed with a OnePlus 11 phone (Android) and iPhone 14 Pro (iOS), via streaming Deezer HiFi (about this subscription) in FLAC (1411 кбит/c) format.
My playlist – for testing earbuds:
- Michael Jackson – P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing). Pop-funk.
✅ Checking low-end and natural timbre – the timbre of the main bass synth should sound natural and be audible. The bass here is powerful, but shouldn’t overpower other frequency ranges.
✅ Checking detail retrieval and soundstage width – background vocals and percussion in the right channel should be clearly audible.
✅ Checking highs and natural treble timbre – the cymbals in this track should sound soft and natural, without grain. The drums in this song are recorded and mixed simply wonderfully (Jonathan Moffett – drum virtuoso). - Oasis – Don’t Go Away. Alternative rock, Brit Pop.
✅ Natural timbre check – the acoustic guitar sound should be natural.
✅ Low-end check – the kick drum, toms, and snare are quite recessed in this track, and with poor bass, drum fills will simply be inaudible.
✅ Mids check – Liam’s voice should sound open and not get congested; this track has a lot of live instruments that can easily overpower the mids and vocals, adding muddiness or a closed-in feel to the voice.
✅ Highs and natural timbre check – at the end of the song, there’s my favorite instrumental break with acoustic guitar and tambourine; they should be distinct from each other and sound natural, without grain or artificial timbre. - Twenty One Pilots – Backslide. Hip-Hop, Alternative Pop.
✅ Detail retrieval check. In this track, Tyler (as always) did a lot of background vocals with and without effects; they should be clearly separated from each other and audible.
✅ Soundstage width check – The shaker that appears and disappears, flowing from channel to channel, perfectly demonstrates the soundstage width. Same for the background vocals, which are well-separated across the channels. - Adele – Rolling in the Deep. Pop, Soul, Blues.
✅ Mids and vocal check – Adele’s voice here should be distinct, with a sense of presence, without veiled sound or muddiness. - Eagles – Hotel California (Live on MTV, 1994). Rock, country-rock. God bless whoever recorded and mixed this live performance.
✅ Soundstage width check – crowd sounds, background effects, instrument placement.
✅ Highs check – 2 shakers in the left and right channels should be clearly audible and not sound artificial.
More tracks I use for testing:
- Modern Talking – You’re My Heart, You’re My Soul. Europop.
Vocals shouldn’t be masked by the bassline, and the shaker should sound natural, without grain. - Eminem – Ass Like That. Hip-hop and Rap.
The heavy bassline shouldn’t overpower the vocals. Secondary ethnic instruments and backing vocals should be audible. - Bob Marley – Could You Be Loved. Reggae.
Cymbals shouldn’t have grain, vocals and backing vocals shouldn’t be masked by the lows, and the bassline should be clearly distinguishable. - Disturbed – Stricken. Alternative Metal and Heavy Metal.
The distorted guitar shouldn’t overpower the drums and vocals.
Cymbals shouldn’t get lost in the overall mix. - System of a Down – Radio/Video. Alternative Metal and Nu Metal.
The shaker should sound natural, without grain. The distorted guitar shouldn’t overpower the drums and Serj’s and Daron’s vocals.
The score is given according to our “Scores 3.0” methodology.
Sound — 50% of the score:
- Frequency balance in sound — how harmoniously the earbuds reproduce lows, mids, and highs.
- Soundstage — the ability of earbuds to create a sense of 3D volume and space in music.
- Detail retrieval or resolution — the ability of earbuds to convey the smallest nuances of sound with high precision.
- Naturalness or timbre balance — this is preserving the natural sound of instruments, sounds, and vocals.
Features and design — 50% of the score:
- Microphone quality.
- Active noise cancellation (ANC) and transparency mode.
- Battery life, controls, app, and other features.
- Build quality: wear comfort, durability, and design + available colors.
- Learn more about how, how we test and rate earbuds.
Frequency balance is the distribution of sound energy across the entire audible range (20 Hz – 20 kHz). It’s not about the sum of ranges, but the right ratio where lows, mids, and highs complement each other without conflicting or masking key elements.
Ideal balance: bass provides a solid foundation, mids deliver clarity and vocal presence, and highs add sparkle and detail.
Frequency imbalance occurs when one or two of the three main ranges are excessively emphasized or, conversely, recessed compared to the others.
Low frequencies, or bass (20 Hz – 250 Hz), are the foundation of music, giving sound its depth, weight, and rhythmic base.
Ideal balance delivers clean, powerful, and well-controlled sound.
Excess bass leads to muddy, boomy sound that masks vocals and quickly causes fatigue, making the overall mix indistinct. Insufficient bass makes music thin, weak, and hollow, stripping it of warmth and rhythmic foundation, resulting in a harsh feel in mids and highs.
Midrange frequencies, or mids (250 Hz – 4 kHz), form the core of most musical elements and are the key range for perceiving melodies, vocals, and instruments.
Excess mids, particularly in the upper range, make the sound harsh, nagging, and quickly fatiguing; the mix can sound shouty or “boxy.” Insufficient mids result in an empty, recessed sound where vocals and main instruments lose their presence and seem distant, stripping the music of energy and overall clarity.
. 7.5 This is where the problems start. The 8 Pro mids sound quite muddy. This is true no matter what track you play. I would not say the mids sound bad. But a fabric barrier seems to be between you and the singer. The singer sounds like they are behind it. The 7 Pro does not have this issue. The 8 Pro loses by 1 point here. If you do not compare it to the 7 Pro, you might not notice big mid issues. But when you compare, the muddiness appears. It shows up as soon as the vocals start. This is very clear in my favorite song. That song is Oasis – Dont Go Away.
High frequencies, or treble (4 kHz – 20 kHz), are responsible for brightness, sparkle, detail, and the sense of “air” in a musical mix. This range helps distinguish the finest details such as string overtones, cymbal shimmer, and sibilant sounds in vocals.
Optimal balance makes music lively, clean, and open.
Excess leads to harshness, causes sibilance (overly loud “s” and “sh” sounds), and makes cymbals unpleasantly “grainy” or metallic, quickly fatiguing the ears. Insufficient treble makes the entire mix dull, muffled, and “closed” (veiled). The sound loses its detail and openness — like listening through a thick filter, stripping the music of clarity.
Detail describes how clearly and distinctly the finest sounds in a mix are heard: reverb, overtones, quiet instruments, texture, and subtle percussive sounds (such as light hi-hat taps).
Ideal detail means all subtle sounds are audible, like at a live performance.
Lack of detail: the sound is dull, muffled, and “veiled,” as if passing through a layer of fabric. The musical picture lacks depth, instruments sound flat, and fine nuances are lost.
Excess: the sound becomes unnaturally sharp, aggressive, and “glassy.” It may manifest as excessive highlighting of sibilants and background noise. Such sound quickly causes fatigue. This is often the result of an overemphasis on frequencies above 6 kHz.
Naturalness is the degree of authenticity and realism in sound reproduction. It indicates how accurately voices and musical instruments are reproduced.
Best naturalness: the sound is clean, warm, and lively, without artificial coloration or unwanted artifacts.
Excess: too many distracting sounds — breaths, mechanical noises, rustling, etc.
Lack of naturalness: the sound feels artificial, colored, or plastic. Timbre recognition is lost (instruments don’t sound like they do in real life), becoming flat and fatiguing due to improper equalization or excessive compression.
Soundstage, or stage, is the perceived three-dimensional space where instruments and vocals of a musical composition are positioned. It’s the virtual sound space created by sound engineers during mixing. The stage includes width (left-to-right positioning), depth (sense of distance), and height (sense of instruments above or below the horizontal plane).
The best soundstage makes music spacious, realistic, and allows you to pinpoint every element in space: left or right, closer or farther, above or below your head.
Insufficient stage leads to a monolithic sound — as if everything comes from a single point. It’s hard to identify each instrument’s position in space. Excessive stage creates a feeling of instruments and vocals being too distant, and the musical composition loses its cohesion.
Sound verdict
The overall sound score is calculated using the formula:
Frequency Balance + Detail + Stage + Naturalness / 4 = overall sound score.
. 8.25 Realme Buds Air 8 Pro are good earbuds. This is true if you look at them alone. Do not compare them to the Realme Buds Air line. I liked the sound. The 8 Pro sounds worse than the 7 Pro. It scores 0.67 points lower out of 10. This is if you see it as a follow-up model. I tested the latest firmware 1.1.0.85. I used the LHDC 5.0 codec. The 8 Pro is worse in 4 out of 6 areas. Two areas are equal. The main drops are in mids, detail, and soundstage. Each drops by 1 point. Highs lack 0.5 points in quantity. Bass and natural timbre are equal to the 7 Pro.The sound difference is big. This is true when you compare them side by side. If you listen to the 8 Pro alone, the sound is great. You will enjoy it. No big flaws appear. But if you start comparing, it is clear. The 7 Pro is better in the first 10 seconds. If I put both models on a table, I would pick the 7 Pro. I would not hesitate. The soundstage is wider. Vocals are closer and clearer. There is more detail. The 7 Pro feels like a new model. The 8 Pro feels like last year’s model.
But you should remember the following:
- I bought the model before its official release, and it is still a raw product.
- You can already hear in the sound that you should not expect a big improvement in sound quality, even if firmware updates fix some things, and the model will not beat the 7 Pro in sound.
- If sound is important to you, get the 7 Pro, and there is no use to upgrade to the 8 Pro.
- I expect that the sound will change after the release and new firmware updates, so follow the updates, and I invite you to the Realme Buds Air 8 Pro HUB, which is a thread with discussion and reviews about the model, where you can share your experience with the model, give your rating, or leave your review, which will be helpful and interesting to others, and when the official release happens, I will update the sound rating, so add the hub to your bookmarks and follow the updates.
In the end, the Realme Buds Air 8 Pro enters the silver league for sound, getting its deserved rating of 8.25 out of 10, which is a great score, and you can see where the Realme Buds Air 8 Pro earbuds landed in the TOP 100 best earbuds from MyChooz, but just because of the unbalanced 7 Pro model with a sound rating of 8.88, expectations for the 8 Pro were too high, and it is logical that we expect an improvement, not a downgrade, in the next generation.
What genres are the Realme Buds Air 8 Pro best for? The earbuds are versatile and handle any genre well, but they are a little worse with instrumental music.
Sound in games – This is how we rate sound quality in games. We check how much the sound pulls you into the game.
. 7.5 It is nice and dynamic, and it is comfortable to play.More details.
Sound improvements
Sound with EQ – this is the sound rating after improvement, often with EQ tuning. For each model, we try to find a setting with the best sound output and without complicated steps for the user.
. 8.5 I recommend the golden sound profile and EQ/dynamic audio.More details.
Sound with AAC – sound rating with the basic Bluetooth codec and without sound tuning.
. 8 The drop is about 10-15%.More about codecs.
The sound source needs are minimal. You will get pleasant, engaging sound with sources on the Snapdragon and MediaTek mobile platforms. On Snapdragon, you get 10-15% more volume headroom, and the lows and highs are stronger.
Software update. A firmware update 1.1.0.85 is available right after you connect. I do not recommend updating, or you will lose sound quality, like what happened with the 7 Pro.
The volume of Realme Buds Air 8 Pro is not comfortable to listen to at 80%, 60-70% is best. On Snapdragon sources, you get about 10-15% more volume headroom compared to MediaTek. If you do not have enough volume, here is how to increase it.
Comparison with Competitors
We compare the model range: Realme Buds Air 8 Pro vs Realme Buds Air 8 vs Realme Buds Air 7 Pro. I have already said everything about the 7 Pro, the sound and build quality are better, and the features are better in the 8 Pro. When comparing with the regular 8, their mids are MORE clear and nice than in the 8 Pro, which surprised me a bit. And overall, the regular 8’s level is even a bit better than the 8 Pro, between the 2 models for sound, I would stick with the regular 8. They have something in between the 8 Pro and 7 in terms of sound level. And their design is without gloss. Though the 8 loses a bit in features.
More detailsRealme Buds Air 8 Pro vs Realme Buds Air 8
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and treble response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – treble, high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with ANC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and treble response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – treble, high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with ANC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
Realme Buds Air 8 are worse in all sound aspects, more so in the highs and detail retrieval. The difference is clearly noticeable when you compare them with the LHDC codec. When the 8 Pro uses AAC, the gap is smaller.
Active noise cancellation is about 30% worse. But transparency mode is about 25% better in the Air 8, only for hearing your surroundings. The controls are the same, and the app does not have a gold sound profile. The signal stability is better in the 8 Pro.
Both models have the same build quality. Only the Air 8 does not have a glossy finish, and the charging case with the earbuds gets less dirty.
MyChooz – Realme Buds Air 8 Pro.
Realme Buds Air 8 Pro vs Realme Buds Air 7 Pro
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and treble response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – treble, high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with ANC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and treble response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – treble, high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with ANC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
The Realme Buds Air 7 Pro has less bass, the mids are further away, and there is less detail retrieval. Here, we should note that the 7 Pro with global firmware version 1.1.0.83 has less detail retrieval. For other aspects, the sound is similar. Only in the 7 Pro are the highs less clear. The headroom is smaller. If 80% is enough for the 7 Pro, then 80% is too much for the 8 Pro.
Active noise cancellation and transparency mode did not change. It even feels like the active noise cancellation in the 8 Pro got worse by a couple of percent. The controls did not change at all. The earbuds’ battery life grew by 1 hour with basic codecs.
The fit is more comfortable in the Air 8 Pro.
MyChooz – The Realme Buds Air 7 Pro is still better with the working LHDC codec.
We compare them with competitors at this price: Realme Buds Air 8 Pro vs OnePlus Buds 4. The OnePlus Buds 4 sound better, the mids are clearer, the highs are more detailed and nicer, and the soundstage is wider. For features, they are equal. The OnePlus has a nicer build quality.
More detailsRealme Buds Air 8 Pro vs OnePlus Buds 4
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and treble response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – treble, high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with ANC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and treble response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – treble, high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with ANC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
In the OnePlus Buds 4, the mids are cleaner, the bass is not as full, but it is deeper. There is less emphasis on the highs. Detail retrieval is similar, and the Air 8 Pro can potentially beat the OnePlus a little at maximum bitrate. If you compare them with the AAC codec, the 8 Pro is better in most aspects, especially with more details and higher volume. Also, the 8 Pro is not picky about the source, while the sound on the OnePlus Buds 4 drops a lot with MediaTek devices.
MyChooz – Realme Buds Air 8 Pro.
We compare them with reference models: Realme Buds Air 8 Pro vs HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 pro vs Technics EAH-AZ100 vs Noble Audio Fokus REX5. To sum up, all models sound better. The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 is a little worse in highs and natural timbre, the soundstage is just as narrow, but otherwise, vocals are closer and cleaner, bass is better, and detail retrieval is better. Samsung, Technics, and Noble are all much better than the 8 Pro in sound.
Features
Microphone — the quality rating of speech transmission. We test the microphone in 2 main usage scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment — recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment — recording outside near a 6-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 9.50 In quiet conditions: 9 In noisy conditions: 10 The microphone is better than the 7 Pro. It works great in noisy places.Microphone — the quality rating of speech transmission. We test the microphone in 2 main usage scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment — recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment — recording outside near a 6-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 8.50 In quiet conditions: 9.5 In noisy conditions: 10
Noise cancellation is the ability of earbuds to reduce external noise (traffic, street buzz, office) using microphones and signal processing, so you hear music or speech better at normal volume. Quality ANC noticeably reduces low-frequency hum (engines, air conditioners), barely creates ear pressure, and minimally distorts sound; weak ANC only removes part of the noise or creates an unpleasant “vacuum” effect and artifacts.
. 8 ANC is 1 point better out of 10 than the 7 Pro. The regular 8 is also better than the 7. Outside, near a road, or on the subway, ANC adds comfort. You can listen to music or talk better. In an office, it suppresses light background noise. This includes PC and laptop fans. You feel slight pressure on your eardrums. There is also a minimal white noise. You can choose 3 intensity modes in the app.Transparency mode is a feature where earbuds use microphones to “mix in” surrounding sounds so you can hear voices, announcements, and nearby movement without removing the earbuds. A good mode makes external sound natural and clear (without excessive noise and echo), while a poor one turns it into a flat, metallic, or overly quiet background.
. 7.8 It is the same as the 7 Pro. It boosts your surroundings. For the first 3-5 seconds, it works like top models. You hear everything around you. Your own voice does not echo in your head. After 5 seconds, you feel muffled. Your own voice echoes in your head. This seems to be a strange adaptive feature. You cannot turn it off.
Battery life is the actual working time of earbuds and case on a single charge during typical volume and scenarios (music, video, calls), not just the numbers from advertising. Good battery life lets you comfortably get through a day or more without a charger and doesn’t drop significantly with ANC and high-quality codecs enabled; poor battery life requires frequent recharging and noticeably decreases at higher volume.
. 9 They promise up to 12 hours for the earbuds. They promise 50 hours with the charging case. This is with the AAC codec. In our tests, the earbuds lasted 11.5 hours. They lasted 48 hours with the charging case. There is no fast charging. There is no wireless charging.More details.
Controls — how conveniently and predictably the earbuds respond to taps and gestures: pause, volume, track switching, mode changes, and voice assistant activation. Good controls don’t require “dialing in,” work consistently, and don’t cause accidental taps; poor controls miss commands, lag, or simply ignore gestures.
. 8 You get touch controls. Each earbud has three actions: double-tap, triple-tap, and press and hold. You can also swipe to change volume. The controls are responsive. They activate about one second after you touch them. This delay is a bit annoying. You get light haptic feedback and a sound cue. You can change these actions in the app.More details.
App — the brand’s companion application for adjusting sound, controls, noise cancellation, firmware updates, and additional features. A good app runs smoothly, has a clear layout, and offers real customization options; a poor one glitches, has limited functionality, or feels like a checkbox formality.
. 8 You can download the Realme Link app. Get it from official stores for Android or for iOS. I tested the global version of the earbuds. They connected right away to the global app version 5.3.307.3702. This app version is from 15.04.26. I did not need to change my region. The app is easy to use. It has helpful features. These include LHDC 3.0-5.0 codec support. You also get a translator and a voice assistant. There is a Golden Sound Profile, Spatial Audio, and an EQ. But it has some downsides. You need to log in again sometimes. It forces you to register. It also constantly asks you to update the firmware.More details.
Connection stability is the ability of earbuds to maintain a steady Bluetooth signal without dropouts, delays, or artifacts in typical conditions (street, public transport, apartment with a router). Good stability means the audio doesn’t “crumble” when you turn your head and doesn’t disconnect in crowded places; poor stability shows up as frequent dropouts, stuttering, audio-video desync, and reconnection issues.
. 10 Within 10 meters, the signal does not drop. This is with AAC and SBC codecs. Bluetooth version 6.1.Important features and sensors:
- Multipoint – yes, for 3 devices.
- Auto-pause when you remove earbuds – yes.
- Google Fast Pair support – yes.
- Swift Pair support for Windows – yes.
Functions verdict
Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 8.72 ANC suppresses light background noise. Transparency mode works like top models at first. But it gets much worse after 5 seconds. In our tests, battery life was 11.5 hours. It was 48 hours with the charging case. Controls are touch-based. Each earbud has 3 actions. You can also swipe to change volume. The app has sound and control settings. These include dynamic audio and a golden sound profile.Build quality
Comfort is how the earbuds feel during extended wear: ear pressure, fit, weight, and ventilation. A comfortable model doesn’t chafe, squeeze the ear canal or head, and doesn’t cause fatigue even after a couple of hours; an uncomfortable one quickly reminds you of itself through pain, heat, or a “plugged” feeling in the ears.
. 8 The earbuds are comfortable and light. They do not press with the stock ear tips. After a couple of hours, I felt slight discomfort. This is mostly because the ear tip sits in your ear canal. The case size is 59.9 x 48.1 x 24.5 mm. The 7 Pro case is 61.9 x 48.8 x 24.6 mm. It is easy to keep in an outer jacket pocket.Durability is how well the earbuds and case withstand daily use: plastic and hinge quality, moisture protection, ear tip wear, and reliability of connectors and buttons. High durability means nothing wobbles, peels, or creaks after a year or two; low durability means cracks, play, hinge noise, or contact issues appear within just a couple of months.
. 7.5 Dust and water resistance is IP55. This means limited dust and water jet resistance from any direction. The plastic case feels like silk. The surface is smooth and nice to touch. But the glossy insert looks out of place. The finish is a fingerprint magnet. It gets dirty fast, just like the earbuds. I think matte plastic would be better than glossy.
Design is the appearance and thoughtfulness of form: how the earbuds look in your ears, how versatile they are with different styles, and whether they look “cheap.” Good design combines a clean appearance, ergonomic shape, and practical details (non-marking plastic, well-designed case); poor design catches on clothing, quickly gets scratched, and looks out of place.
. 8.5 Realme Buds Air 8 Pro are available in black and white. The case and earbuds look like the Air 8’s smaller version. Japanese industrial designer Naoto Fukasawa made the 8th-gen design. The designer’s signature is under the lid. I liked the look. But many online critics have bad design reviews. The 7 Pro is metal. It looks more practical and nicer. The 7 Pro case got zero visible scratches in a year.
Build verdict
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.00 The build is comfortable. The basic ear tips fit well. I felt no discomfort after a couple of hours. The build has no flaws. The materials look and feel good. Only the fingerprint magnet glossy finish spoils it. They made a mirror-like surface. It gets smudged just by thinking about it. You have to wipe it every time. I liked how the earbuds and case look. You can choose white or black.Summary
Realme Buds Air 8 Pro, is it MyChooz or not? Yes, friends, it is MyChooz, even though this is not a final product yet and it is still a bit rough. It has functional improvements that look better compared to the 7 Pro, with an improved microphone and improved active noise cancellation. Transparency mode, controls, and the app are almost the same, but you get 1 to 1.5 more hours of battery life. They added Bluetooth 6.1 and triple multipoint, and live and synced translation, plus a voice assistant, are also here. The earbuds’ build quality is smaller, with the same comfort, and the charging case is now glossy instead of metal, but it is also a bit smaller.
The sound did not reach the 7 Pro’s level, and we gave it -0.67 points out of 10. The sound has a bit more muddiness in the mids, fewer details, and most importantly, a smaller soundstage, but it has the same good bass, and a bit less highs. Is the sound downgrade a big deal? No, it is not a big deal, because the overall sound quality of the 8 Pro is something 95% of earbuds under $100 can only dream of. It is just that the 7 Pro still has an unbalanced sound, with a very high standard that is hard to beat, even within its own product line.
The main question is, should you upgrade from the 7 Pro to the 8 Pro?
If sound quality is important to you, then I do not recommend it yet. Stay with the 7 Pro (or buy them if you have a different model) because they are still the best sound under $250. After that, only the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are better, which are a perfect choice if your budget is $250. For the 8 Pro, at least wait for the official release from the maker, wait for the release firmware, and watch for updates on the 8 Pro hub on the website. The rating will be changed, and the data will be updated.
What I can tell you right away is that you should not expect any big jump in sound quality, and the most we can get is a sound close to the 7 Pro’s level. In that case, the 8 Pro will be a better choice than the 7 Pro, thanks to its improved features. Also, for some people, the new build quality will be better.
Here are the main reasons not to buy them: the LHDC codec does not work well in the app without issues yet, and the glossy finish on the charging case and earbuds gets dirty fast. I liked the previous metal design more.
But if your phone does not have the LHDC codec, then you can safely buy the 8 Pro for an iPhone or another phone even now. With AAC, there is a sound difference, but it is only 0.25 out of 10 in favor of the 7 Pro. If your phone supports the LHDC codec, then you should wait for the official release and for them to fix the codec issue, and hopefully, fix the sound. I want to remind you that the 7 Pro’s sound got worse with firmware updates.
Buy Realme Buds Air 8 Pro
And we are waiting for the 9 Pro, if that model comes out. This is because news came out that Oppo is merging Realme and OnePlus into one division, but keeping the brand names.
What are the alternatives?
- Under $50 — Realme Buds Air 8. This is an affordable alternative with a small drop in sound quality.
- Under $70 — Realme Buds Air 7 Pro. It has even better sound, but no voice assistant or triple multipoint, and it has less playback time.
- Under $70 — OnePlus Buds 4. It has bass-heavy sound and similar sound quality.
How to use Realme Buds Air 8 Pro. For street, gaming, and calls – yes. For sports – with some limits. For audiophiles – yes.
Please write what you think about the new Realme Buds Air 8 Pro, because I would love to chat with you in the comments. Have great sound, and I will see you on MyChooz, bye!
- Top-tier and engaging sound
- Live and real-time translation, voice assistant
- Connect to three devices at once
- LHDC codec does not work
- Glossy finish gets dirty fast
Realme Buds Air 8 Pro – Specs:
- Release date — no presentation yet.
- Price at launch — unofficially $80.
- Build: in-ear, wireless earbuds.
- Drivers: 11+ 6 mm, dynamic + planar tweeter.
- Codecs: LHDC 5.0, LHDC 3.0 SBC, AAC.
- Bluetooth: 6.1
- Active noise cancellation: up to -55 dB.
- Transparency mode: yes.
- Controls: touch.
- Battery life: up to 12 hours with AAC and up to 50 hours with the charging case.
- App: realme link.
- Extra features: live and simultaneous translation.
- Protection: IP55.
- Materials: plastic.
- Weight of earbud and charging case: no data.
- Size of earbud and charging case: no data.
- Microphone: 6 pieces, 3 on each earbud.
What’s in the box
- Earbuds
- Charging case
- Ear tips (S, M, L)
- Safety instructions and warranty
- User manual
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Popular Questions:
Realme Buds Air 8 Pro – how to connect wireless earbuds?
1. Turn on Bluetooth on your device — like your phone or tablet.
2. Open the charging case lid and press and hold the button. Keep holding the button until the light on the charging case starts to blink.
3. Go to the Bluetooth menu and choose “Add new device.”
4. Wait for the earbuds to show up in the list and confirm the connection.
