Redmi Buds 6 Play vs. Redmi Buds 6 Active
Xiaomi sells a ton of budget earbuds, and picking the right one can really be a headache for you. Over the past 6 months, I have been using the Redmi Buds 6 Active, which were my first true wireless earbuds.
The Buds 6 Active were good, and they still hold on welluite well, but wearing them for long could hurt my ears since they didn’t have rubber tips, and the passive noise reduction was not that impressive, and they didn’t connect to my Windows laptop via Bluetooth. They go for around $19.33 or €16.86
So I decided to go for the Redmi Buds 6 Play since I had better noise reduction while listening to music, and the battery lasts longer. I picked them up at the store for $12.37 or €10.79.
The bottom line, go for the Redmi Buds 6 Play for secure in-fit and longer battery life and better sound quality, choose the active for a comfortable half-in-ear design and larger bass drivers.
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Design, Fit, and Comfort: Bean vs. Stem
The Redmi Buds 6 Play have a bean-shaped in-ear design which really fits well in my ears without falling even when I am running. It comes with two extra pairs of rubber ear tips in different sizes, if you find the default ones do not fit you well.
The buds 6 Active, on the other hand, have a half-in-ear “stem” design which is similar to that of the standard AirPods, and this is actually beneficial to those who hate the pressure of Silicone eartips.
Both the buds 6 Active and the Buds 6 Play feature an IPX4 rating against water splashes from any direction, which makes them suitable for sweat resistance and light rain.
A few weeks back, I accidentally dropped my Buds 6 Active in water while I was washing my clothes, and I thought that was the end of it, but after cleaning them, they actually worked without losing the sound quality. I don’t recommend this, but just so you know, they will survive in case they fall in water.
Sound Quality & Driver Size
Both of these buds lack ANC; however, I found the noise reduction on the Buds 6 Play to be so good that I am actually hearing new things that I didn’t hear in my music before.
On the other hand, the Buds 6's active noise cancellation isn’t that good; I could hear when someone was talking to me, even when the volume was high.
When making calls again, the Buds 6 Play did a really nice job on reducing noise; the Buds 6 Active also did a great job, but the Buds 6 Play takes the win here.
Since these two buds are from Xiaomi, you get the same five levels of EQ mode using the dedicated Xiaomi app, which include Enhanced sound, Enhance treble, Enhance bass, Enhance voice, and Boost volume. I think the enhanced treble is really good only on the Buds 6 Play.
Using the Enhance Treble on the Buds 6 Active, the sound is actually really bad; use Enhance bass instead for a more balanced sound quality.
One thing I noticed with the Buds 6 Play is that they can muffle your ears since they create Airtight passive seals in the ear canal, and this happens if you boost the volume up high.
Battery Life: Which Lasts Longer?
On paper, the Buds 6 Play claim up to 36 hours of battery life, Xiaomi claims 7.5 hours on a single charge and 36 hours when paired with a charging case, and so far, the battery life has held up really well. I can’t complain.
The Buds 6 Active, on the other hand, have slightly less battery life on paper, coming at 30 hours with up to 6 hours of music on a single charge and 30 hours when used with a charging case.
On the charging front, I haven’t actually measured how long they take to charge from 0-100%, I just leave them charging for 30 min+ and unplug. The next time, I will charge the case after one and a half or two weeks; the battery life is that good.
They both charge via USB-C; however, you don’t get the charger inside the box. I use my phone's charger to charge both buds.
On the Buds 6 Play, Xiaomi claims 10 minute charge will give you up to 3 hours of music time. I am yet to put that to the test in my full review.
On the other hand, the buds are 6 active, a 10-minute charge will give you 1 hour of playback time, which is actually very true, and it could be even more than an hour.
Connectivity and App Support
Both buds come with bluetooth 5.4, only the buds 6 Active support 90ms ultra-low latency. However, while connecting the Buds 6 Active doesn’t support the low latency setting on the Xiaomi Earbuds app, which syncs game audio and video for low latency experience. These feature only works with the Redmi Buds 6 Play.
Both earbuds support Google Fast Pair, whereby you simply open the cover, and it connects automatically, and it’s remarkably fast to connect. I have been switching between these two, and I didn’t have to dig into the bluetooth settings to connect again.
Final Verdict: Which Xiaomi Earbuds Win?
Buy the Xiaomi Buds 6 Play if you want passive Noise isolation, better sound quality, longer battery life, and a discreet fit. You should try experimenting with the different ear tips that come with the Buds 6 Play to get the one that fits in your ears well.
Buy the Redmi Buds 6 Active if you prefer a half-in-ear fit that doesn’t plug your ears, stronger bass output, and better call quality in windy environments. However, please keep in mind that wearing the Buds 6 Active for a long time might actually hurt your ears since they don't have rubber tips for cushioning.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do the Redmi Buds 6 Play or Active have ANC? No, only AI noise reduction for calls
Can I use these earbuds with an iPhone? Yes, via Bluetooth, though app features may vary
Are they good for working out? Yes, thanks to the IPX4 rating
