Is the Xiaomi Redmi Buds 5 Pro worth the upgrade from the Xiaomi Redmi Buds 8 Pro?
Verdict
Downgrade
The Xiaomi Redmi Buds 5 Pro actually scores 6.5 points below the Xiaomi Redmi Buds 8 Pro, so on aggregate review consensus this is a step backwards. The gains are concentrated in battery (5.5 to 7.0). You do give up ground on calls (7.6 to 5.9) and value (9.3 to 8.1). On paper: battery incl. case 35 h to 38 h and wear detection. Worth checking: bluetooth goes 5.4 to 5.3 and water resistance goes IP54 to Not rated. It is at least $14 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.
- Sound8.08.0
- Noise cancelling8.07.6
- Battery5.57.0
- Calls7.65.9
- Value9.38.1
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Redmi Buds 8 Pro | Redmi Buds 5 Pro | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3, LHDC | SBC, AAC, LDAC | |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.3 | |
| Water resistance | IP54 | Not rated | |
| Battery incl. case | 35 h | 38 h | |
| Drivers per side | 3 | 2 | |
| Wear detection | No | Yes | |
| Driver | 3× 11 mm driver | 2-driver hybrid |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Redmi Buds 8 Pro 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.