The market for TWS headphones is now saturated, with fierce competition among brands to offer the maximum specs at the lowest possible price. In this scenario, the Realme Buds Air 8 present themselves with a technical spec sheet that aims very high: dual drivers, active noise cancellation at 55dB, and AI-based features.
I decided to try them in these weeks, driven by curiosity to understand whether the jump from the previous model brings real advantages or if it was simply an incremental update, as often happens. In this review we will analyze whether the integrated hardware justifies the purchase or whether the compromises necessary to keep the price down limit the everyday experience.
Review Realme Buds Air8
Design, Materials, and Comfort
Handling the charging case of the Realme Buds Air 8 by hand, you immediately notice the work done on geometry and portability, but above all the refinement of the design. This is the result of the collaboration with industrial designer Naoto Fukasawa, who had already collaborated in the past with the company for the successful GT8 Pro, and again this year with the models of the new generation: here we find a compact case, with rounded edges and a mix of finishes.
The upper part has a matte and slightly rubberized coating that improves grip and gives a pleasant feel to the touch, contrasting with the rest of the glossy shell. However, what I noticed is that this plastic material tends to crack easily; carrying them in the same pocket as keys might not be a good idea if you want to keep them intact and scratch-free. However, to be honest, it must be said that even significantly more expensive headphones (and I think of my poor Apple AirPods), suffer from the same exact problems, even though they cost literally four times as much as these models.
The earbuds adopt a classic stem design and are surprisingly light; the in-ear ergonomics are well studied, because once inserted and the right size of the silicone tips, which I must say are well made, are chosen, they stay secure even during runs or gym workouts. I did not experience particular fatigue even after two or three hours of continuous use, a detail not to be underestimated for a pair of earbuds in this market segment. To complete the package there is IP55 certification, which guarantees dust, sweat and light rain resistance, an essential factor for outdoor use.
The front of the active noise cancellation
On the active noise cancellation front, the 55dB declared is not (surprisingly!) just marketing. During tests in noisy urban contexts and on public transport, the reduction of low-frequency sounds, such as the engine of an airplane or the hum of air conditioners still set to hot for these cold days, was almost total.
The adaptive mode handles the transition between environments well without having to manually intervene from the app. A less exciting note concerns the touch controls: the stem sensors are sometimes lazy and require a firm press or multiple taps to register input, which can be frustrating during physical activity, for example. Good news for gamers, given the 45ms latency in gaming mode is decidedly effective at reducing audio delay to imperceptible levels during mobile sessions.
Microphones and Call Quality
If the main use is calls or office use, the 6-microphone configuration (three per earbud) of the Realme Buds Air 8 offers convincing stability. In closed or office environments, the voice sounds natural and free from the metallic compression typical of many budget models; steady background noises are filtered without compromising speech clarity.
Outside, wind and street noise handling is also good: the algorithm manages to isolate the voice even in busy urban contexts, making conversations understandable without having to raise your voice too much. Although they do not reach the absolute isolation levels of premium models, they prove to be a reliable tool for quick calls or professional meetings on the go, without too many concerns about audio quality for those listening.
Smartphone App
The reference app is Realme Link, which proves to be a fairly rational hub and free of frills or distractions of any kind, thanks especially to its clean interface that allows you to manage with a few steps the equalization (there are four presets in addition to a manual EQ), the gaming mode and the intensity of the noise cancellation. An interesting addition is the support for multi-point connection up to three devices simultaneously, a function extremely convenient for those who constantly switch from smartphone to laptop or tablet without having to re-pair each time.
The real novelty element concerns the integration of some AI features: the Buds Air 8 allow access to Google Gemini and include a real-time translation system (Live Translator) that supports over 30 languages. While using a translator via earbuds may seem a niche feature, its implementation is easy to summon and can be useful while traveling. I should note a small technical limit: at the moment it is not possible to enable LHDC high-resolution audio and the 360° audio effect simultaneously, a software compromise that forces you to choose between maximum sound fidelity and the enveloping sound of spatial audio.
Price and Considerations
With a price around 50 euros on Amazon, the Realme Buds Air 8 sit in a highly competitive market segment, but they do so with an extra gear. Battery life is one of the pillars of this model: rapid charging is astonishing, with figures around 11 hours of listening with just 10 minutes of charging, in addition to a realistic real-world autonomy of around 40 hours.
These headphones represent the ideal choice for those seeking higher-quality audio thanks to the dual driver and a noise cancellation that is not just for show. Of course, you must accept a few compromises: the case tends to scratch if not treated with care and the touch controls could be more responsive. However, if your goal is to get the most out of the technical specs without doubling the budget, the Buds Air 8 are probably the best all-rounder package currently available. A recommended purchase for those who want technology updated to 2026 at a reasonable price.
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