Redmi Buds 6 Play Full and Final Review: Almost Perfect Under Budget
Unboxing new tech always feels exciting, but the real test comes after months of everyday use.
I’ve been using the Redmi Buds 6 Play since March, from Nairobi commutes to long work sessions, and this long-term review breaks down the actual experience, including battery life, sound quality, comfort, and the frustrating connection issues that come with Xiaomi’s ultra-budget earbuds.
The real question is whether these earbuds actually deliver a flagship-level listening experience for the mid-range market, or if all those flashy features are just there to look good on paper.
After weeks of daily use, here’s what I found.
Design and Comfort: The 3.6g Advantage
The Redmi buds 6 play are one of the most comfortable earbuds I have used in a while. The rubber tips make it really comfortable to sit in your ears, even for long hours.
Comparing the comfort from my previous earbuds, the Redmi Buds 6 Active, which I honestly couldn’t wear for a long time before they started hurting my ears due to the lack of rubber ear tips, the Redmi Buds 6 Play are way more comfortable.
The total weight of the buds plus the case weighs 40.0g, which honestly feels heavy when holding them, and I love the slight heft it has; it makes the buds feel solid and premium.
The matte case is really durable, but it depends on how you handle it. For example, I rarely place it on rough surfaces, hence the entire case is as good as new. My case came in blue, and other colors include Pink. Black and White.
The Buds 6 Play are also IPx4 certified, which means that the earbuds are splash-proof and sweat-proof, making them ideal for use in the gym or light outdoor use.
I rarely work out, so I can’t say how well they handle intense gym sweat. That said, I’ve used them while walking in the rain multiple times, and they’ve held up without any issues.
Battery Life: Testing the 36-Hour Claim
The battery of these buds, plus the case, really surprised me. In my testing, I could go up to two weeks without needing to recharge them.
The case really held up quite well, but keep in mind, I don’t wear my buds for long hours. On a typical day, I could wear them for one hour, and the buds would still have enough charge left. Placing them in the case again meant that they will charge fully.
Xiaomi says a quick 10‑minute charge gives you up to three hours of playback, and from my experience, that claim holds up.
I once plugged in the case for just 15 minutes and managed to use the earbuds throughout the entire day.
The trick is in how you use them: I’d listen for about half an hour, pop them back in the case, and hours later they’d be ready for another session. Repeating that cycle kept them going without issue.
Audio Quality and the Xiaomi Earbuds App Ecosystem
The buds are surprisingly good when it comes to making calls. Xiaomi uses an AI noise algorithm to accurately differentiate between human noises and ambient noise.
I’ve used these buds in Zoom meetings, and the audio came through super crisp. The only drawback for me is that during calls, I can’t hear my own voice, which makes it hard to know if I’m speaking too loudly.
My solution has been to take out one earbud so I can hear myself clearly while still staying connected.
While listening to music, the bass is smooth, and with the right amount of volume, it can actually block the sound in the environment you are in.
There is a 5-level Equalizer mode, which you can use to tweak the sound and they include, balanced sound, enhanced treble, enhanced bass, enhanced voice, and boost volume and these trouble shootig options can be accessed from the Xiaomi Earbuds app.
I personally prefer enhanced treble as they give a balance of bass, mid, and highs.
There is also a low-latency feature that syncs your game audio and video for low latency. I have tested this with Call of Duty Mobile, and it works way better than my Redmi Buds 6 Active, which had hiccups during gameplay.
One feature I’ve come to really appreciate is the Find My function. If you misplace an earbud, you can trigger a sound to help locate it.
Just last week, I lost my left bud, and thanks to this feature, I found it tucked underneath my suitcase, a spot that would have taken me ages to check without the alert.
The Rough Edges: Issues Encountered with the Redmi Buds 6 Play
I once experienced a hiccup when I was trying to connect to the buds; the buds automatically disconnected themselves, and when attempting to reconnect, they couldn’t reconnect. I even tried restarting my phone, but nothing happened.
The good news is I tried Xiaomi’s troubleshooting options by pressing the tiny button on the case until it started blinking, and the buds reconnected with no issues.
The other issue is about the eartips. Xiaomi ships two extra pairs of rubber tips, but I found the default ones fitted in the buds did not sit in my ear quite comfortably.
I have to adjust them at the right angle so they can fit well in my ears and get the optimal sound, but I switched to the other two tips, and one of them fits well without any adjustments.
The other downside of the earbuds when listening to music is that they don’t have Active Noise Cancellation.
Conclusion
The Redmi Buds 6 Play are easily among the best budget earbuds you can get if you want solid sound quality, comfortable wear, and long battery life. At just KES 1,600, the case adds even more convenience by keeping them powered throughout the day.
One issue I’ve noticed is that the buds can occasionally disconnect, though reconnecting them is quick, and they work fine afterward.
Overall, if you’re shopping on a budget, I highly recommend the Redmi Buds 6 Play. Whether you’re listening to music, gaming, or making calls, these earbuds deliver reliable performance without breaking the bank.
