I have spent the last week testing the new Realme Buds T500 Pro and decided to see if these new Buds can truly stand out in the highly competitive budget audio segment in India. At a price point of ₹2,799, the T500 Buds have a large number of competitors to deal with, and consumer expectations are high in most categories. Realme, being a Chinese consumer electronics manufacturer, has a reputation for providing high-value budget accessories for their smartphones. The Buds T500 Pro have active noise cancellation and high-resolution audio, which is something the competitors do not provide. I spent my time testing the yellow color variant, which is called Lemon Cola, and is most likely the most portable festive design I have seen in a long time.
Key Takeaways:
- High-quality sound via 12.4mm titanium-plated drivers and LHDC 5.0 support.
- Powerful 50dB active noise cancellation with AI adaptive tuning.
- Exceptional battery endurance offering up to 56 hours of total playback.
- Triple-device connection support via the latest Bluetooth 6.1 technology.
- Fast charging capability providing 10 hours of music in just 10 minutes.
- IP55 rating for reliable protection against dust and water splashes.
Design and Build Quality
What stands out the most about the Realme Buds T500 Pro is the design of the case itself. Realme has dubbed it a candy box design, so it is understandable that it does not look like a lot of the other generic pebble shaped cases. The case is also very compact, making it easy to store in the tiny pocket of my jeans. The yellow finish is matte which is a positive as it does not show fingerprints or scratches. The case is also very sturdy, as the magnets that keep the earbuds in place are very strong, making it unlikely that they will fall out.
The earbuds have a traditional in-ear stem appearance. Each earbud weighs a mere 4.5 grams which is very helpful for long listening sessions. I used them on a four-hour train ride and didn’t experience any ear fatigue. The earbud’s fit is very secure and Realme includes three sizes of silicone ear tips in the package. I used the medium sized tips, and they created a good seal which is most effective for the active noise canceling to work. Realme offers the earbuds in Yellow along with Orange, Mint, and Chocolate. If you want something more colorful than typical black and white the other color options are a good choice.
Audio Performance and Driver Technology
The Realme Buds T500 Pro features impressive audio quality thanks to its drivers. They use 12.4mm titanium-plated dynamic drivers. In True Wireless Stereo, larger drivers usually mean better bass response, and that is definitely the case here. The bass is deep and punchy without being muddy. It does not overpower the vocals which remain forward and clear. The tuning is well-balanced considering that the the Indian audience typically prefers a bass-heavy sound signature. I listened to various genres including classic rock and Bollywood.
These earbuds come with support for LHDC 5.0. This is a low-latency high-definition audio codec that means it can stream high-resolution audio with low latency. Considering it requires a compatible smartphone; it is still worth it considering high fidelity music streaming services. These earbuds also have the Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification which means it can reproduce frequencies audio up to 40kHz which translates to better clarity and that ’airy’ quality. Having this level of audio tech for earbuds under the three thousand rupees price mark is astounding.
Active Noise Cancellation and Call Quality
Realme has provided the T500 Pro with 50dB AI-powered active noise cancellation or ANC. This technology uses internal and external microphones to sample the noise of the environment and create an opposing noise signal that reduces the noise. In my tests, the ANC was very good at removing the continuous drone of my ceiling fan and the low noise of the cars that drove by my office. It does not compare with the more expensive flagship earbuds, but for me, it is definitely the best out of all the products in the relevant price range.
The earbuds also have a 6 that employs AI DNN noise reduction for calls. DNN, or Deep Neural Network, is a subset of AI that has been trained to identify human voices as opposed to non-vocal sounds. I was speaking over the phone while in a busy market, and the caller was able to hear me clearly. They also noted the background noise was subdued. Such noise reduction makes these earbuds a good option for office calls or phone calls in the open.
Smart Features and App Support
I used the Realme Link app in order to obtain the most functionality from the Realme Buds T500 Pro. Using this app, We may customize our touch controls, select from various eq adjustments, and enable/disable noise cancellation. A distinctive feature would be MindFlow Mode. MindFlow Mode incorporates different ambient soundscapes, such as forest rain and white noise, which assist the user in focusing or relaxing. I used this feature while working late at night and found it to be very useful.
The earbuds have a separate Game Mode, which is a huge plus. It brings latency down to 45ms, which is quite impressive for Bluetooth earphones. While playing fast-paced games, I didn’t experience any delay between the sound and the action that was happening on screen. Another great function is the ability to connect to three devices simultaneously. Most cheap earbuds only offer one or two device connections, but these can stay linked to my phone, my laptop, and my tablet all at the same time. It was super easy to switch between devices and I didn’t have to deal with any annoying re-pairing.
Battery and Charging Speed
The Realme Buds T500 Pro has excellent battery life. Realme claims that with the case, the Buds have a playback time of 56 hours with ANC off. In my real-life experience, with ANC on about 50% of the time, I was able to go almost an entire week without charging the case. Without the Advanced Noise Cancellation, the Buds lasted 13.5 hours, which is much better than the 6 to 8 hours expected in this category.
Charging is also very fast. There is a USB Type-C port on the bottom of the case. A quick 10-minute charge gave me around 10 hours of playback time. This is a lifesaver when you realize your earbuds are low on battery just before heading out.
Key Product Specifications
- Driver Size: 12.4mm Titanium-plated Dynamic Driver
- Noise Cancellation: 50dB AI Active Noise Cancellation
- Bluetooth Version: 6.1
- Audio Codecs: SBC, AAC, LHDC 5.0
- Battery Life: 56 Hours total with Case (ANC Off), 13.5 Hours per Earbud (ANC Off)
- ANC On Battery: 33 Hours total with Case, 8 Hours per Earbud
- Charging Time: 2 hours for Case, 1 hour for Earbuds
- Fast Charge: 10 minutes for 10 hours of playback
- Water Resistance: IP55 Rating
- Connectivity: Triple-device connection support
- Latency: 45ms Low Latency Game Mode
- Weight: 4.5g per earbud
- Color Options: Lemon Cola (Yellow), Orange Mint, Chocolate
Verdict
The Realme Buds T500 Pro represent a strong value proposition for Indian consumers looking for feature-rich TWS earbuds without breaking the bank. At ₹2,799, they offer a combination of long battery life, high-quality audio, and effective noise cancellation that is hard to ignore. The yellow color variant adds a fun and youthful vibe to the product, making it a good choice for students and young professionals.
While there are many options in the market, the inclusion of Bluetooth 6.1 and triple-device pairing gives these earbuds a modern edge. They perform well across various metrics including sound clarity, microphone performance, and comfort. If you want a pair of earbuds that can handle daily commutes, long work calls, and gaming sessions while lasting for days on a single charge, the Realme Buds T500 Pro are a very safe bet. They provide a balanced experience and show that you do not have to spend a fortune to get premium features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the price of Realme Buds T500 Pro in India?
A1: The official price of the Realme Buds T500 Pro in India is ₹2,799. However, during sale events, you can often find them at an effective price of ₹2,599 with various bank offers and coupons.
Q2: Does the Realme Buds T500 Pro support active noise cancellation?
A2: Yes, these earbuds feature 50dB AI-powered active noise cancellation. They also offer a transparency mode that allows you to hear your surroundings without taking the earbuds out.
Q3: How long does the battery last on the Realme Buds T500 Pro?
A3: The total battery life is up to 56 hours with the charging case when ANC is turned off. On a single charge, the earbuds provide about 13.5 hours of playback. With ANC turned on, the total life is around 33 hours.
Q4: Are the Realme Buds T500 Pro waterproof?
A4: They come with an IP55 rating. This means they are resistant to dust and can handle low-pressure water jets or sweat, making them suitable for workouts and light rain.
