Is the Realme Buds Air8 Pro worth the upgrade from the Xiaomi Redmi Buds 4 Pro?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the Xiaomi Redmi Buds 4 Pro to the Realme Buds Air8 Pro buys you 15.2 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in noise cancelling (6.0 to 8.4), calls (6.5 to 8.5) and value (8.0 to 9.2). On paper: battery life 9 h to 12 h, bluetooth 5.3 to 6.1 and battery incl. case 36 h to 50 h. Worth checking: case weight goes 39.5 g to 53 g. That costs $17 more, or about $1 per point of score - reasonable value for the jump. If your current pair is worn out or the gains line up with how you listen, this one is worth the money.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound7.58.4
- Noise cancelling6.08.4
- Battery7.57.2
- Calls6.58.5
- Value8.09.2
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Redmi Buds 4 Pro | Buds Air8 Pro | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 9 h | 12 h | |
| Codecs | LDAC | SBC, AAC, LHDC | |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 6.1 | |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IP55 | |
| Battery incl. case | 36 h | 50 h | |
| Driver size | 10 mm | 11 mm | |
| Microphones | 3 | 6 | |
| Case weight | 39.5 g | 53 g | |
| Quick charge | 5 min → 2 h | 10 min → 11 h |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Redmi Buds 4 Pro to Buds Air8 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.