Should You Buy the Redmi Buds 6 Play? My Honest Review

The Day My Earphones Died

A few months ago, my old pair of Bluetooth earphones that I bought in Taiwan decided to call it quits on me after one and a half years. There were no signs that they were going to fail. One day, everything was fine and the next morning when I wanted to listen to a couple of podcasts, the left earphone didn’t work anymore.

I tried putting them back in the case, resetting the connection etc. but it was clear that it wasn’t charging anymore and had died on me. No amount of charging, resetting, or wishful thinking could bring them back to life.

I use my earphones a lot, so I needed a replacement fast. The problem was finding a good pair that wouldn’t break the bank. I’d been burned before by cheap earphones that had terrible sound quality or died after a couple of months.

Why I Almost Bought Something More Expensive

My first instinct was to look at the premium brands like Google (Pixel Buds), Sennheiser, and Bose. But when I saw price tags in the $150-200 range, I had to pause. Sure, sound quality is really important, but did I really need to spend that much?

I started researching budget and mid-range options and the Redmi Buds 6 Play caught my eye. The specs looked pretty decent: 36-hour battery life, 10mm dynamic drivers, Bluetooth 5.4, and AI noise cancelling for calls.

It also cost a tenth of what premium brands were charging so it seemed like a reasonable risk to take. Also, the reviews were very positive, and I wanted to test out Xiaomi’s product as I’ve been hearing positive things about them in real life as well.

Unboxing: My First Impressions

The package arrived within 3 days from Amazon, which was a pleasant surprise. The box felt substantial, unlike those flimsy packages you sometimes get with budget electronics. Inside, everything was neatly organized with the earphones in their charging case, and a couple of spare ear tips in different sizes. One surprise was that it didn’t come with a USB-C charging cable, unlike my previous pair.

The charging case itself has a nice matte finish that doesn’t attract fingerprints. It is compact enough to slip into your pocket, but at the same time, feels solid. The earphones sit snugly in the case with that satisfying magnetic click when you place them in. In my opinion, it is these little details that contribute to an overall sense of quality.

The Sound Test: Exceeding My Expectations

Here’s where I was most nervous. I’d read the specs about the 10mm dynamic drivers and four EQ settings, but how would they actually sound? The first song I played was a bass-heavy track I know well, and I was genuinely impressed. The bass was present without being overwhelming, and the mids and highs came through clearly.

The four EQ settings – Balanced, Bass Boost, Treble Boost, and Voice make a noticeable difference. I found myself using Balanced for most music, Bass Boost for electronic tracks, and Voice for podcasts and calls. Being able to change the EQ settings via an app was pretty cool. Something you wouldn’t expect from a budget earphone.

For a sub $15 pair of earphones, the Redmi Buds 6 Play punch well above their weight. They’re not going to compete with $300 audiophile headphones, but for everyday listening, they deliver rich and detailed sound.

36 Hours of Battery? Let Me Put That to the Test

The battery life claim was one of the main selling points for me. My old earphones barely lasted a day with moderate use, so 36 hours seemed almost impossible. I decided to put this to the test straightaway.

With about 2-3 hours of daily use, I went nearly two weeks before needing to charge the case. The earphones themselves provide about 6-7 hours of continuous playback, and the case extends this significantly. Another very useful feature is quick charging. Ten minutes of charging really does give you about 3 hours of playback time, super useful when you forget to charge overnight!

The app allows you to check the battery levels of the earbuds so you don’t need to worry about guessing their battery charge levels and how long they will last.

Features I Didn’t Know I Needed

The AI noise cancelling for calls was something I didn’t think much about initially, but it’s become one of my favorite features. During work calls, people have commented that my voice sounds clearer than before. The technology does a good job of filtering out background noise without making your voice sound artificial.

Bluetooth 5.4 has been a huge upgrade from my old earphone’s Bluetooth 5.2. The pairing process is straightforward, and I haven’t experienced any drops or connection issues, even when moving to the other end of the house or office.

The touch controls took a bit of getting used to, but once you learn the patterns, they’re quite intuitive. Double-tap to play/pause, triple-tap to skip tracks, and long press to activate voice assistant or switch EQ modes. You can also change the controls in the app.

Three Weeks Later: The Honest Truth

After three weeks of daily use, I can honestly say these under $15 earphones have exceeded my expectations. The comfort level is excellent for extended wear, and I’ve never experienced ear fatigue even after several hours of use.

It is still pretty early but the build quality has held up well. There are no signs of wear, the charging case still closes securely, and the earphones maintain their snug fit. For a product in this price range, the durability seems promising, and I’ll update when they finally stop working. Hopefully, that day only comes in a few years.

What I Wish I’d Known Before Buying

If I could go back, there are a few things I would have researched more thoroughly. The earphones don’t have active noise cancellation for music – the AI noise cancelling only works for calls. This isn’t a dealbreaker, but it’s worth knowing if you’re specifically looking for ANC.

The Redmi Buds 6 Play do not come with a USB-C charging cable. To be fair, it was stated clearly on the product page, but I had assumed that it would come with one like my old pair of earphones did. In any case, you will need a basic USB-C to USB-C charging cable.

Also, while the touch controls are generally responsive, they can occasionally register accidental touches when adjusting the earphones in your ears. It’s a minor annoyance that you learn to work around.

Would I Buy Them Again?

Without hesitation, yes. The Redmi Buds 6 Play hit that sweet spot of price, performance, and features. The quality so far makes me forget that I had bought them as a budget option.

For anyone who needs good earphones without the premium price tag, these are definitely worth considering. They prove that you don’t always need to spend a fortune to get a quality product.