Active Noise Cancelling
- Multiple ANC modes
- Dual Transparency modes
- Triple microphones for noise cancellation
ANC remains an unusual feature to appear in this price bracket, but as with the Redmi Buds 3 Pro, the new generation also comes with the technology onboard.
Out of the box you have two modes – transparent and noise cancelling. As you can imagine, the first uses the microphones to add some ambient sound from your surrounding environment into the sound. This means you should still be able to hear if someone is talking to you, even when music is playing. If you want to respond, simply take one of the buds out of your ear and the proximity sensor will automatically pause playback until you replace the bud once more.
The transparency mode is well-judged, letting in enough to let you monitor your surroundings, but not overwhelming the music you’re listening to with noise.
Switching to the ANC mode instantly brings a more closed-off sound, with the higher frequencies used by the transparency mode disappearing. This doesn’t affect the mix of the content you’re listening to, just removes the overtones of your environment. While Redmi states that you get up to 43db of noise cancellation, I’d say it’s more a case of taking the edge off the noise around you rather than blocking it completely.
Sitting in my living room, with one of my teenage daughters singing loudly in the room next door, I was able to enjoy an audiobook without really noticing the apparent audition for Broadway that was going on around me. Board a busy underground train or sit in a loud environment with banging and lots of people chatting, and the ANC struggles to keep out the din.
As I say, it does take the edge off, which is good, and at this price you can’t really expect any more than that. If you want more serious ANC on a budget, then check out the excellent Edifier Neobuds S, although they’ll cost you a bit more.
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