QCY MeloBuds Pro vs Realme Buds Air8 Pro: which should you buy?

On aggregated review scores the Realme Buds Air8 Pro comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 84. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.

Our pick: Realme Buds Air8 Pro - Outstanding overall at around $74.

True Wireless

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

Realme Buds Air8 Pro leads on 5 of 7 measures.

QCY MeloBuds Pro
Realme Buds Air8 Pro

HearWiki score

Sound

7.2

8.4

Noise cancelling

7.6

8.4

Battery

7.5

7.2

Calls

7.5

8.5

Value

8.0

9.2

Price (USD)

$50

$74

Generation & platform

The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?

New platform

Realme Buds Air8 Pro (2026) against QCY MeloBuds Pro (2024). The Realme Buds Air8 Pro is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 6.1 against 5.3 and ANC type Adaptive against Hybrid.

MeloBuds Pro2024
Buds Air8 Pro20262 yr newer

What differsMeloBuds ProBuds Air8 Pro

Bluetooth: 5.3; 6.1
ANC type: Hybrid; Adaptive
Wireless charging: Yes; No
Water resistance: IPX5; IP55

Level on: Top codec, Multipoint pairing, USB-C, Wear detection, Custom EQ, Companion app.

Specifications

MeloBuds ProBuds Air8 Pro

Type: True Wireless; True Wireless
Price (USD): $50; $74
HearWiki score: 79; 84
Released: 2024; 2026
Availability: Still sold new; Sold new
Driver: 12 mm dynamic; 2-driver hybrid
Driver type: dynamic; hybrid
Driver size: 12 mm; 11 mm
Drivers per side: 1; 2
Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz; 20 Hz - 20 kHz
Impedance: 32 Ω; -
Sensitivity: 102 dB/mW; -
Bluetooth: 5.3; 6.1
Codecs: SBC, AAC, LDAC; SBC, AAC, LHDC
Multipoint pairing: Yes; Yes
Latency: 80 ms; 45 ms
Wireless range: 10 m; -
Battery life: 8.5 h; 12 h
Battery life (ANC on): 7.5 h; -
Battery incl. case: 34 h; 50 h
Full charge time: 90 min; 120 min
Quick charge: 10 min → 1 h; 10 min → 11 h
Wireless charging: Yes; No
Active noise cancelling: Yes; Yes
ANC type: hybrid; adaptive
Transparency mode: Yes; -
Companion app: Yes; Yes
Custom EQ: Yes; Yes
Wear detection: Yes; Yes
Controls: touch; touch
Weight: 8 g; 4.8 g
Case weight: 40 g; 53 g
Water resistance: IPX5; IP55
Foldable: No; -
Detachable cable: No; -
USB-C: Yes; Yes
Microphones: 6; 6
Call noise reduction: Yes; Yes
Call NR technology: AI ENC; AI ENC

Specification comparison of QCY MeloBuds Pro vs Realme Buds Air8 Pro
Spec	QCY MeloBuds Pro	Realme Buds Air8 Pro
Type	True Wireless	True Wireless
Price (USD)	$50	$74
HearWiki score	79 / 100 Great	84 / 100 Outstanding
Released	2024	2026
Audio
Driver	12 mm dynamic	2-driver hybrid
Driver type	dynamic	hybrid
Driver size	12 mm	11 mm
Drivers per side	1	2
Frequency response	20 Hz - 20 kHz	20 Hz - 20 kHz
Impedance	32 Ω	-
Sensitivity	102 dB/mW	-
Wireless
Bluetooth	5.3	6.1
Codecs	SBC, AAC, LDAC	SBC, AAC, LHDC
Multipoint pairing	Yes	Yes
Latency	80 ms	45 ms
Wireless range	10 m	-
Battery
Battery life	8.5 h	12 h
Battery life (ANC on)	7.5 h	-
Battery incl. case	34 h	50 h
Full charge time	90 min	120 min
Quick charge	10 min → 1 h	10 min → 11 h
Wireless charging	Yes	No
Features
Active noise cancelling	Yes	Yes
ANC type	hybrid	adaptive
Transparency mode	Yes	-
Companion app	Yes	Yes
Custom EQ	Yes	Yes
Wear detection	Yes	Yes
Controls	touch	touch
Design
Weight	8 g	4.8 g
Case weight	40 g	53 g
Water resistance	IPX5	IP55
Foldable	No	-
Detachable cable	No	-
USB-C	Yes	Yes
Calls
Microphones	6	6
Call noise reduction	Yes	Yes
Call NR technology	AI ENC	AI ENC

What reviewers said

QCY MeloBuds Pro

The QCY MeloBuds Pro deliver a compelling budget-friendly true wireless experience, combining robust active noise cancellation with a lively 12mm driver sound. They offer a strong feature set for the price, including LDAC support, wireless charging, and multipoint connectivity, all wrapped in a comfortable, IPX5-rated design. While they won't satisfy audiophiles, they excel as an everyday option for calls, commutes, and casual listening.

Pro:Effective hybrid ANC for the price
Pro:Rich, clear sound with LDAC support
Pro:Comfortable fit with secure IPX5 protection

Con:Firmware updates can be a hassle
Con:ANC performance trails pricier premium models
Con:Touch controls may require some adjustment

Realme Buds Air8 Pro

The Realme Buds Air8 Pro are feature-rich wireless earbuds that deliver strong adaptive noise cancellation, clear call quality, and a versatile hybrid driver setup for under $100. They offer a long 12-hour battery per charge, Bluetooth 6.1 with triple-device multipoint, and IP55 water resistance, making them a solid everyday choice. Sound tuning requires some adjustment to get the best performance, but the overall package is impressive for the price.

Pro:Strong adaptive ANC and usable transparency mode
Pro:Long 12-hour battery life with 50 hours total via case
Pro:Triple-device multipoint connectivity

Con:Sound tuning needs effort to optimize
Con:No wireless charging support
Con:Battery life per charge may vary depending on usage

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

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