realme Buds Q2 Hands-on

realme will soon launch in the Philippines its latest TWS earphones, the realme Buds Q2, which is the successor to the Buds Q launched last year. It is a budget device but features a stylish design and powerful bass. Check out our initial thoughts about it below.

Like its predecessor, the realme Buds Q2 comes in a pebble-shaped charging case made of plastic. It is available in two colors, black and blue. The former looks generic, while the latter looks more youthful.

The case features an LED indicator on the front and a micro-USB port for charging at the back.

Open the case and you will find the rounded earphones, but instead of the letter R on the exterior like the realme Buds Q, it has a flat surface with a glossy finish and diamond pattern that shifts depending on the angle. realme calls the kaleidoscope lamination.

The earphones feature metal contacts for charging and pinholes for the microphone and Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC) for calls.

Like the case, the earphones feature a matte finish, shaped just right to fit the concha, and only weigh 4.1g so they’re very light on the ears. It is also IPX4 water-resistant, meaning it can withstand sweat. It’s not exactly premium but feels well-made for a budget device.

Pairing is pretty straightforward. Upon opening the case, the earphones are already ready for pairing using Bluetooth 5.0. All you need to do is open your smartphone’s Bluetooth settings and tap on the realms Buds Q2. An audio notification will also let you know if the pairing is successful.

If ever the earphones are not discoverable, just put it back in the case, open it up, then touch and hold the exterior surface of the earphones simultaneously for more than 3 seconds. Once paired, the realme Buds Q2 will instantly pair to your phone the next time you open the case.

As you have noticed, the realme Buds Q2 features touch controls:
• Double-tap: Play/Pause music; Answer/End call
• Triple-tap: Play next song
• Long press for 2 seconds: Reject call
• Press both earphones simultaneously for 2 seconds: Activate/deactivate Game Mode

The realme Buds Q2 also works with the realme Link app. From there you can customize the touch controls, as well as activate its features like Game Mode and Bass Boost. The former switches to a low latency at 88ms to sync and audio and video while playing games or watching movies, while the latter is to further enhance its bass performance.

In terms of audio quality, the realme Buds Q2 is loud, thanks to the 10mm dynamic drivers, and very bassy. It gets muddy in higher volumes, while the mids and highs are not as detailed and lush as we prefer, but if you’re the type who prefers Pop and Hip hop music, you’ll enjoy the energy delivered by the powerful bass, which what you’ll need if you’re out running or hitting the gym. It’s also good enough for watching action-packed movies.

When it comes to the battery, realms says that it can provide up to 5 hours of playback from a single charge, which is good. 10 minutes of charging, on the other hand, provides 120 minutes of playback. You can get up to 20 hours of playback with the help of the charging case.

The realme Buds Q2 is a good TWS for those who are looking for something that they can use for workouts and gaming. The company is yet to launch the SRP as of writing, but we can expect it to carry a very affordable price, just like its predecessor. A great option for those on a budget.