Xiaomi released the fourth model in the series of wireless earbuds Redmi Buds 4. The new earbuds are called Redmi Buds 4 Active.
We already have videos about Redmi Buds 4, Redmi Buds 4 Pro and Redmi Buds 4 Lite on our channel Tech Brothers.
Despite the word Active in the name of the new earbuds, they don’t have Active noise cancellation. In fact, Redmi Buds 4 Active are ultra-budget earbuds for only $17 just like the Redmi Buds 4 Lite. However, they have a different design.
You know, Redmi Buds 4 and Redmi Buds 4 Pro are more expensive, so I think it makes sense to compare the new Redmi Buds 4 Active with only the Redmi Buds 4 Lite.
Okay, let’s start the review of the new Xiaomi wireless earbuds.
Xiaomi Redmi Buds 4 Active - Global Version - Aliexpress
$17.79
Unboxing
You know, I am surprised that Redmi Buds 4 Active was immediately released in a global market, not just in China. Usually, the global versions of most Xiaomi products come out only a couple of months after the release in China.
The box also includes silicone ear tips, and a charging case with the earbuds inside.
Design
As I said before, I will compare the Redmi Buds 4 Active with the Redmi Buds 4 Lite in this article. They are very different in design.
First, they have different charging cases. To be honest, I like the Redmi Buds 4 Active case more, because it looks like the most expensive model in the series – the Redmi Buds 4 Pro.
By the way, Redmi Buds 4 Active is only available in black, while the Redmi Buds 4 Lite has a wide range of colors, including black, white, orange, and green.
The new Xiaomi Redmi Buds 4 Active earbuds have IPX4 water resistance, which is better than the IP54 rating of the Redmi Buds 4 Lite.
I think that’s all about the design, and we can move on to the control functions of the new earbuds.
Control Functions
I forgot to tell you that Redmi Buds 4 Active has touch control panels.
First, you need to connect the earbuds to your smartphone. If you have a Xiaomi smartphone, then it is very easy and convenient to do it with a popup window. On other smartphones, like iPhone, you have to go to the Bluetooth menu and manually select the device.
A triple tap on the right earbud switches to the next track, and triple tap on the left earbud switches to the previous track.
Xiaomi Redmi Buds 4 Active also supports low latency mode. You need to press and hold both earbuds at the same time.
We will test a low latency or game mode a little later, but now I want to show you a companion app on smartphone.
Xiaomi Earbuds
Yes, Redmi Buds 4 Active supports a mobile app.
I don’t remember the previous earbuds from Redmi Buds 4 series having an app on the mobile device.
In the app, we can see the connected earbuds, battery level of the left and right earbuds, as well as charging case.
Then, we have additional settings, such as low latency mode, and rename earphones.
I said before that the previous Xiaomi earbuds didn’t support the app, but you can actually add them too. There is Redmi Buds 4 Pro, Redmi Buds 4, and some others. However, I don’t see Redmi Buds 4 Lite in the list, so they probably do not support the app.
You know, there are very few functions in the app. There is no equalizer or even the ability to change the controls. I hope that new functions will be added later.
Latency Test
OK, now, let’s test the latency of Redmi Buds 4 Active.
First, I am going to play a game with low latency mode turned off, and then I will turn it on.
As you can see, the latency is much lower in a low latency mode, so it is better to turn it on when you are playing games.
Microphone Quality
Now I want to check the microphone quality.
Xiaomi Redmi Buds 4 Active has a noise cancellation for calls, so we will test the quality of the microphone in a quiet room and in a noisy room.
What’s up, guys! I am testing a microphone of the Xiaomi Redmi Buds 4 Active. I am in a quiet room, so you shouldn’t hear any noise. Now I’m going to turn on the street noise simulation on the TV.
Can you hear me well? Has the sound quality changed? One, two, three, one, two, three.
Sound Quality
Despite the fact that Redmi Buds 4 Active and Redmi Buds 4 Lite are very different in design, they have similar specifications, such as Bluetooth 5.3 support and 12mm dynamic driver.
The main feature in the sound of Redmi Buds 4 Active is the bass. It is very deep and powerful. At the same time, it does not overlap the middle and high frequencies. The sound is very balanced.
Battery
When it comes to the battery, the charging case of the new Xiaomi earbuds has a capacity of 440mAh. It is bigger than the case of Redmi Buds 4 Lite, so the total battery life of Redmi Buds 4 Active is longer – up to 28 hours.
By the way, the new Xiaomi wireless earbuds support fast charging. 10 minutes of charging provides 110 minutes of music listening.
Conclusion
So, while Redmi Buds 4 Lite and Redmi Buds 4 Active cost the same, they have many differences.
To be honest, I liked the new Redmi Buds 4 Active better, because they have silicone ear tips and improved water resistance, so the earbuds are better suited for sports.
However, the sound quality of Redmi Buds 4 Active and Redmi Buds 4 Lite is about the same. In any case, the sound is very good for earphones under $20.
Xiaomi Redmi Buds 4 Active - Global Version - Aliexpress
$17.79
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