Written by: Anushka Verma
Published: November 28, 2025
The true wireless earbuds market is a battlefield, with brands constantly vying for consumer attention through a mix of aggressive pricing and innovative features. In this highly competitive landscape, it’s a rare feat for a product to not just meet expectations but to decisively exceed them. The Realme Buds Air 7, the latest entrant in Realme’s popular Buds Air series, aims to do exactly that. Positioned firmly in the budget-to-mid-range segment, it arrives with a claim that is as bold as it is ambitious: to deliver a premium audio experience, complete with high-grade Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and marathon battery life, without the associated premium price tag. After an extensive period of testing, it becomes clear that the Realme Buds Air 7 isn’t just a minor upgrade; it is a statement—a declaration that high-fidelity sound and advanced features are no longer the exclusive domain of high-end products. This in-depth review will dissect every facet of the Realme Buds Air 7, from its acoustic engineering and noise-cancelling prowess to its real-world battery performance and design ergonomics, to determine if it truly is the new king of the budget TWS hill.
Unboxing and First Impressions: A Glimpse into Realme’s Refined Aesthetic
The unboxing experience of the Realme Buds Air 7 sets the tone for what’s to come. The packaging is sleek and modern, adhering to Realme’s signature yellow colour scheme. Inside the box, you are greeted with:
- The Realme Buds Air 7 charging case.
- The earbuds themselves, snugly fitted within the case.
- A short but high-quality USB Type-C charging cable.
- Two additional pairs of silicone ear tips (S and L sizes, with the M size pre-attached to the earbuds).
- Essential documentation, including a user manual and warranty card.
The charging case is immediately notable. It boasts a compact, pebble-like design that feels incredibly comfortable and secure in the palm of your hand. The matte finish, available in sophisticated colour options like Ivory Gold, Lavender Purple, and Moss Green, not only looks premium but also does an excellent job of resisting fingerprints and smudges. The lid opens and closes with a satisfying magnetic snap, assuring you of its build quality. The earbuds continue this theme of refined design, featuring a stem-style silhouette that is both contemporary and functional. They are remarkably lightweight, promising comfort for extended listening sessions.
Acoustic Engineering: A Deep Dive into Sound Quality
At the heart of any audio device is its sound performance, and this is where the Realme Buds Air 7 makes its first powerful impression. Realme has equipped these earbuds with a custom 12.4mm Dynamic Deep Bass Driver. The use of a brass diaphragm is a significant choice, as this material is known for its rigidity and ability to produce cleaner, more controlled bass frequencies with reduced distortion, even at higher volumes.
Sound Signature and Performance:
The sound profile of the Buds Air 7 can be best described as balanced with a slight, enjoyable emphasis on the low-end. The bass is not just present; it is articulate and punchy. It provides a solid foundation for genres like hip-hop, EDM, and pop without ever bleeding into the mids and overwhelming the vocals. The mid-range is clear and detailed, allowing vocals and instruments to shine through with natural warmth and presence. High frequencies are crisp and well-extended, offering a good amount of sparkle without becoming sibilant or harsh, which is a common pitfall for budget earbuds.
The support for advanced audio codecs is a major win. While the ubiquitous SBC is present, the inclusion of AAC for Apple users and, more importantly, the LHDC 5.0 codec for compatible Android devices is a game-changer. LHDC allows for high-resolution audio streaming at significantly higher bitrates, preserving more of the original audio data from the source. This, combined with its Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification, means that when you feed it a high-quality track, the Buds Air 7 reciprocates with a rich, detailed, and immersive listening experience that is seldom found in this price bracket.
Furthermore, the 360-degree Spatial Audio support adds another layer of immersion. When enabled through compatible content on supported apps, it creates a captivating, theatre-like surround sound experience, making movies and music videos feel more expansive and engaging.
Conquering the Clamour: The 52dB ANC and Call Quality
The headline feature of the Realme Buds Air 7 is, without a doubt, its Active Noise Cancellation. Realme claims a staggering 52dB of noise reduction, a figure that, on paper, competes with earbuds costing twice or even three times as much. In practical use, the performance is genuinely impressive.
The ANC effectively drowns out a vast spectrum of low-frequency ambient sounds. The constant rumble of an aeroplane cabin, the hum of an air conditioner, or the drone of a city bus are reduced to a faint whisper. It also does a commendable job with mid-frequency noises like office chatter or the clatter of a coffee shop, allowing you to focus on your music, podcast, or work without constant distraction. The ANC can be cycled through different modes—Transparency Mode, Noise Cancellation On, and Noise Cancellation Off—via a dedicated touch control or through the companion Realme Link app.
Complementing the stellar ANC is a six-microphone system. Three microphones on each earbud work in tandem with an AI-powered noise cancellation algorithm specifically tuned for voice calls. This system isolates your speech from wind noise and background clamour, ensuring that your voice comes through crystal clear on the other end of a call, even if you are in a noisy market street or a windy park. For anyone who relies on their earbuds for professional or frequent personal calls, this is an invaluable feature.
Endurance and Charging: A Battery That Truly Lasts
Battery life is another area where the Realme Buds Air 7 excels, effectively eliminating range anxiety for the average user. The numbers speak for themselves:
- Earbuds Battery: 62mAh each
- Charging Case Battery: 480mAh
Realme’s official figures state up to 13 hours of playback from the earbuds alone with ANC off and at 50% volume. In real-world testing with a mix of music streaming and calls, with ANC activated intermittently and volume hovering around 60-70%, achieving 8-9 hours of continuous use is entirely feasible. This is an excellent result. When you factor in the additional charges provided by the case, the total battery life skyrockets to an advertised 52 hours. This translates to over a week of typical use for most people without needing to hunt for a charging cable.
Perhaps even more impressive is the fast-charging capability. The promise of 10 minutes of charging delivering 10 hours of playback is not just a marketing gimmick. A quick, frantic charge while you get ready to head out is genuinely enough to power you through a long commute or even a full workday. The convenience this offers cannot be overstated. The case charges via a modern USB-C port, and support for wireless charging, while not officially highlighted, would have been a welcome addition, though its absence is understandable at this price point.
Gaming, Connectivity, and Daily Usability
For gamers, latency—the delay between an action on screen and the corresponding sound in your ears—can be the difference between victory and defeat. The Realme Buds Air 7 features a dedicated Low-Latency Mode, which Realme claims brings the latency down to a mere 45ms. In practice, this makes a noticeable difference. While hardcore competitive gamers might still prefer dedicated gaming headsets, for casual and even most mainstream mobile gaming, the audio is perfectly in sync with the visuals, with no discernible lag during gunfights, racing games, or rhythm actions.
On the connectivity front, the Buds Air 7 supports Bluetooth 5.3, ensuring a stable, energy-efficient connection with a wide range. A standout feature is the multi-device connectivity. This allows the earbuds to be paired with two devices—such as your laptop and your smartphone—simultaneously. You can be listening to music from your laptop and seamlessly take an incoming call on your phone without the need to manually disconnect and reconnect. It’s a productivity-focused feature that enhances the overall user experience significantly.
The touch controls on the earbud stems are responsive and customizable through the Realme Link app. Functions like play/pause, track skipping, ANC mode cycling, and voice assistant activation are all at your fingertips. The app also provides a handy battery level indicator for both the case and the earbuds and allows for firmware updates to ensure your earbuds stay current with the latest features and optimizations.
Realme Buds Air 7: Complete Technical Specifications Table
For a quick, at-a-glance overview, here is a detailed breakdown of all the key specifications:
| Feature Category | Specification Details |
|---|---|
| Model Name | Realme Buds Air 7 |
| Driver Unit | 12.4mm Dynamic Deep Bass Drivers (Brass Diaphragm) |
| Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) | Yes, up to 52dB |
| Audio Codecs | LHDC 5.0, AAC, SBC |
| Certification | Hi-Res Audio Wireless |
| Microphones | 6-Microphone Array with AI ENC (Environmental Noise Cancellation) for calls |
| Battery (Earbuds) | 62mAh (each) |
| Battery (Case) | 480mAh |
| Playback Time (Earbuds Only) | Up to 13 hours (ANC Off, 50% Volume) |
| Total Playback Time (with Case) | Up to 52 hours (ANC Off, 50% Volume) |
| Fast Charging | 10 minutes of charging for up to 10 hours of playback |
| Gaming Mode | Yes, Low-Latency Mode (45ms claimed) |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Multi-Device Pairing | Yes, Dual-Device Connectivity |
| Charging Port | USB Type-C |
| Spatial Audio | Yes, 360-degree Spatial Audio Support |
| Colour Options | Ivory Gold, Lavender Purple, Moss Green |
| Official Launch Price | ₹3,299 |
| Effective Price with Offers | Starting from ₹2,799 |
Final Verdict: A Benchmark Product in the Budget Arena
The Realme Buds Air 7 is a masterclass in delivering value. It is a product that understands its target audience perfectly and delivers on every single promise. It doesn’t just tick boxes; it excels in the areas that matter most to consumers: sound quality, noise cancellation, and battery life.
The 12.4mm drivers produce a rich, balanced, and powerful sound that will satisfy all but the most critical audiophiles. The 52dB ANC is a genuine technological marvel for the price, offering a sanctuary of silence in a noisy world. The battery life is nothing short of phenomenal, and the fast-charging support is the cherry on top that adds a layer of everyday convenience.
When you factor in the thoughtful additions like multi-device connectivity, a low-latency gaming mode, and a comfortable, well-built design, the overall package becomes incredibly compelling. Priced at an official MRP of ₹3,299 and available for as low as ₹2,799 with introductory offers, the Realme Buds Air 7 doesn’t just compete; it dominates. It successfully blurs the line between the budget and premium segments, forcing its competitors to reevaluate their own offerings.
Whether you are a music lover seeking an immersive auditory experience, a frequent traveller in need of quiet, a professional requiring reliable call quality, or a gamer looking for synced audio, the Realme Buds Air 7 is, without reservation, one of the most highly recommended true wireless earbuds on the market today. It sets a new benchmark for what we can expect from a budget TWS, making the act of spending more feel increasingly unnecessary.
