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The Realme Buds Q2 are now official in the Philippines. Say hello to the successors to Realme‘s first-gen budget buds.

They’re surprisingly more affordable than what arrived before them, with improved latency, Environmental Noise Cancellation, and a more attractive design to boot. And all that while offering most of the same specs as before.

How much are the Realme Buds Q2?

In the Philippines, Realme’s bargain-basement earphones cost P1,290 (around $27 converted), or P200 ($4) less than the original Buds Q at launch. They’ll be available starting May 21 at Realme’s brand store on Shopee with a limited-time discount of P400 ($8) off the suggested retail price. Offline, the buds will be offered at select retailers from May 22.

In case you’re eyeing the Buds Q2 as your first wireless earbuds, we’ve made a rundown of their key selling points below to help you make an informed decision.

Video: Realme Buds Q2 Philippine launch, in case you missed the livestream. The program started at the 12:55 mark

1. Quick and easy pairing

Despite being entry-level earphones, the Realme Buds Q2 promise fast and convenient pairing over Bluetooth 5.0 and the Realme Link app, which you can download for free from the Google Play Store. However, Realme says the Buds Q2 are not supported in the app at the moment.

Once paired, these buds will auto-connect to your device as soon as you pick them up within a 10-meter range. Operation is easy, thanks to the capacitive touchpads on the earpads. They’re pretty responsive and can recognize multiple gestures, including the ability to enter or exit Gaming mode with a long press on both sides.

2. Low-latency gaming

Latency or delay has been improved from the previous model, allowing for a better experience when gaming or watching a movie or series. Enabling Gaming mode drops latency to just 88ms, versus 119ms on the Realme Buds Q.

That feature is particularly important for all wireless earbuds that use a Bluetooth connection, especially since audio lag can sometimes get in the way of immersion. While we can still hear a bit of delay after activating Gaming mode, it’s actually better than a lot of pricier earphones we’ve tested recently.

3. 10mm Bass Boost Drivers

These earphones pack 10mm large dynamic drivers with a polymer-composite diaphragm and have been tuned for punchier lows using Realme’s new Bass Boost+ enhancement solution.

We gave the buds a spin, and found the audio quality to be better than average for the price. Audiophiles probably won’t be impressed with the way they sound, but for workouts and casual listening, the Buds Q2 should be more than adequate.

4. ‘All about endurance’

Realme claims the Buds Q2 are “all about endurance.” The earphones with the charging case are rated for a total of 20 hours of battery life, or about 10 movies or 400 tracks, with each bud lasting 5 hours on a full charge. They’re equipped with fast charging as well, and can provide up to 120 minutes of playback in 10 minutes plugged in.

5. Noise cancellation for cheap

Impressively, the Realme Buds Q2 come with a so-called Environmental Noise Cancellation or ENC feature for clearer voice chats. It only works for calls, though, unlike active noise cancellation or ANC. Still, it’s better than nothing considering the price. The silicone ear tips also provide a natural seal to block out background sound.

Realme Buds Q2 key specs

• Bean-shape design
• 10mm Dynamic Bass Boost drivers
• Passive noise cancellation
• 88ms low latency (in Gaming mode)
• microUSB charging port
• 400mAh battery (case) with 20-hour battery life (earbuds with case; 5 hours per bud)
• Color option: Black, blue

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