Xiaomi Redmi Buds 8 Pro – Cheap headphones that are good for most things

Redmi is Xiaomi’s budget brand, and with Redmi Buds they make headphones that often give really good value for money. Redmi Buds 8 Pro is the latest model. As a Pro model, it is at the top end of the budget segment, with a price just below the thousand mark. But then you also get a lot for the money.

It can be difficult to determine the characteristics of headphones on paper today. Even cheaper models than this now have active noise reduction, and support for hi-res audio isn’t a guarantee of GOOD sound. However, the Redmi buds 8 Pro is more than just good on paper.

The case itself is smaller than average, and with its round shapes it fits well in the pocket. The design itself in general is not much to say about. The choice of materials feels like the most obvious savings and the headphones are made of plastic, which doesn’t feel particularly luxurious. But the rubber pads have an oval shape and I have no problem finding a pair that fits well over time and closes tightly so that the noise reduction works.

Good noise reduction

The noise reduction is really good for the price tag. When I first test it, I find that it is mainly good at picking up lower frequencies, like the dull hum of a bus. But when I go into the accompanying app and turn on “smart cancellation”, the noise reduction is improved and the sound from the bus ventilation is also reduced. In the app, I can also add background sounds such as windchimes or birdsong to the noise reduction. Not while I’m listening to something then, but maybe good for those who are afraid of flying or just want to relax on a long trip.

The music sound is also good, definitely better than budget class. If you have an Android mobile phone, you can improve it further by turning on high-resolution sound with LDAC. The difference is noticeable, but it is for better and for worse. The good thing is, of course, that you can easily hear the difference in better music sound, but the downside is that it draws more power from both the headset and mobile, but perhaps worse that the range is very poor. It can be enough that the body is between me and the phone for the playback to start stuttering, and when I’m out walking with the phone in my pocket, the headphones sometimes lose sync with each other. Without LDAC these issues go away, but I still can’t leave the phone in the next room without playback stuttering.

Totally okay call sound

The sound during phone calls is rarely as good as when you speak directly on the phone, but for a pair of headphones, the sound is above average regardless of the price tag you are talking about. The headset is able to filter out background noise, but the more noise there is, the more the conversation sound is affected, and when we get to car traffic, it starts to be difficult to hear what I’m saying even though the person I’m talking to can’t hear the cars.

The headset is controlled by pressing and swiping the stick, and I have no problems with accidental presses or no response when pressed. Double-pressing starts and stops playback, and long-pressing switches between noise reduction and hear-through, where ambient sounds are let in via the microphones. The interrogation isn’t the best I’ve heard but it works okay.

Battery life on the headset is also good and I find I need to recharge the case less often than normal. It is thus a headset without particularly many weaknesses despite the price. To get even better sound or noise reduction, expect to pay twice as much. Simply a good buy.