Redmi Earbuds 5: How affordable can TWS with ANC get?

The Redmi Earbuds 3 Pro are priced at Rs 2999, which is about half of what most big bands like Samsung, Sennheiser and Sony charge for their base level ANC TWS. And for that price, they actually bring a lot to the table - 12.4 mm titanium drivers (big for TWS), touch controls, multi-device connectivity, 10-hour battery life on the buds (38 hours with the case), IP54 splash resistance (ok for gyms and runs, nokay for pools and swims), and of course, DAT ANC.

The biggest USP of these TWS, in our book, is their ability to get rid of external noise via ANC, They come with 46 dB noise cancellation that Xiaomi claims "blocks out 99.5 per cent of background noise." Surprisingly at this price point, they have three levels of ANC - light, balanced and deep - and even come with three levels of transparency mode, letting you hear external sounds when needed. Honestly, this sort of ANC spec is not seen at this price.

The buds have a routine design, with bulbous buds and stems with metallic accents. They come in a square case with rounded corners, and are very light - 5 grams for each bud, and about 43 grams with the case. You get three colours - Fusion White, Fusion Black and Fusion Purple, The Fusion Purple with purple buds and a light green interior, are eye-catching, but in general terms, the Redmi Bud are more funky and plasticky, than premium in design.

Three levels of ANC and transparency mode, large drivers, and 10 hour battery life for under Rs 3,000 is pretty much a steal, and this is without even taking into consideration the "AI Voice enhancement" for voice calls. We would have viewed these claims with deep suspicion from any other brand, but this is Xiaomi - a brand with a penchant for great performance at crazy prices. So there is every chance that these could reset the benchmark for affordable ANC