Is the Xiaomi Redmi Buds 5 Pro worth the upgrade from the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C)?
Verdict
Downgrade
The Xiaomi Redmi Buds 5 Pro actually scores 16.0 points below the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C), so on aggregate review consensus this is a step backwards. The gains are concentrated in value (7.5 to 8.0). You do give up ground on noise cancelling (9.0 to 7.0) and sound (8.5 to 7.0). On paper: codecs SBC, AAC to SBC, AAC, LDAC, multipoint pairing and battery incl. case 30 h to 38 h. Worth checking: water resistance goes IP54 to Not rated. It is at least $69 cheaper, so the lower score comes with a saving. Only worth it if a specific feature above matters more to you than overall quality does.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound8.57.0
- Noise cancelling9.07.0
- Battery7.57.5
- Calls8.06.5
- Value7.58.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C) | Redmi Buds 5 Pro | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC | |
| Multipoint pairing | No | Yes | |
| Water resistance | IP54 | Not rated | |
| Battery incl. case | 30 h | 38 h | |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 | |
| Case weight | 50.8 g | 32.6 g | |
| Driver | dynamic | hybrid | |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 20 kHz | 20 Hz - 40 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C) to Redmi Buds 5 Pro". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across true wireless and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.