55 decibels of active noise cancelling for under 70 euros, with a score from an independent test lab that matches AirPods Pro 3 selling for 249 euros. But the advertised 8 hours of battery life only applies with noise cancelling switched off: with ANC on, the same independent measurement drops to around 4.5 hours. Here is our full review of the Xiaomi Redmi Buds 8 Pro.
© Xiaomi, official photo used for editorial purposes
The Xiaomi Redmi Buds 8 Pro are in-ear earbuds selling for around 70 euros, with active noise cancelling rated up to 55 dB and Hi-Res Audio Wireless certified sound with LDAC support. An independent test lab gives them an ANC score equal to the AirPods Pro 3 at 249 euros, but measures real battery life at around 4.5 hours with noise cancelling on, far from the 8 hours Xiaomi advertises, a figure that only holds without ANC. Rated IP54 against sweat and splashes, but not fully waterproof, they are built first for all-round daily use rather than dedicated sport.
Launched at MWC 2026, the Redmi Buds 8 Pro replace the Buds 6 Pro (Xiaomi skipped generation 7) in the brand's affordable premium range. Priced under 70 to 80 euros depending on the retailer, they go straight after rivals like the OnePlus Buds 4 and the Earfun Air Pro 4+, pitching noise cancelling and audio quality usually reserved for models costing two to three times as much.
This is the first Xiaomi model to join the RunMorph review catalogue, a brand we had not covered until now despite its growing presence in the mainstream wireless earbuds market.
| Brand | Xiaomi (Redmi range) |
| Model | Redmi Buds 8 Pro |
| Type | Wireless in-ear earbuds |
| Weight | 5.3 g per earbud, 36.3 g for the case |
| Drivers | Triple coaxial drivers: 1 x 11 mm titanium diaphragm woofer + 2 x 6.7 mm ceramic tweeters |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LHDC, Hi-Res Audio Wireless certified |
| Noise cancelling | Active ANC up to 55 dB, bandwidth up to 5 kHz |
| Microphones | 3 mics per earbud, AI wind noise reduction up to 12 m/s |
| Claimed battery life | 8h (earbuds) / 33h (with case), ANC off |
| Measured battery life (ANC on) | Around 4.5 hours according to an independent test lab |
| Fast charging | 5 min = up to 2h of playback (ANC off) |
| Battery | 54 mAh per earbud, 480 mAh case, USB-C |
| Bluetooth | 5.4, dual-device multipoint, audio sharing, Google Fast Pair |
| Water resistance | IP54 (earbuds only, case not rated) |
| Colours | Black, White, Glacier Blue |
| List price | 69.99 to 79 euros depending on the market, often found between 45 and 65 euros |
© Xiaomi, official photo used for editorial purposes
Xiaomi claims up to 8 hours of playback on a single charge, but the manufacturer's own technical documentation spells out the conditions behind that number: noise cancelling off, AAC codec only, connected to a single device, volume at 50%. On Android phones that support LDAC, the app doesn't even let you switch back to the more efficient AAC.
An independent test lab that tested the product under realistic conditions (noise cancelling on the whole time, LDAC codec on Android) measured battery life at around 4.5 hours, and itself called it the product's weak spot, compared with direct rivals that go past 7 hours under the same conditions. The gap between the claim and the measurement isn't a defect in the unit tested. It comes from the test conditions chosen for the official spec sheet, which don't match how most runners actually use their earbuds, with noise cancelling on all the time.
We cross-checked three sources for this review: the product is very recent (launched in February 2026) but already widely covered.
The French review by Cmonavis (Jordan Le Goïc, rated 9/10, tested in March 2026) praises the aluminium case, the comfort and the very light weight, along with battery life it rates as excellent and confirmed Hi-Res certification. That positive verdict on battery life covers general use rather than the continuous ANC use measured separately above, so the two findings don't contradict each other once you factor that in.
The French sports comparison site Runnea, which lists the product in its database of running earbuds, highlights the 5.3 g per earbud as comfortable over long sessions, rates the fit as average, and considers the IP54 rating enough for sweat and splashes, though it is not full waterproofing.
An independent Dutch test lab specialising in wireless earbuds, which tested the product over several weeks, gives it an overall 5 out of 5 stars and scores its noise cancelling at 18 out of 20, the same score as the AirPods Pro 3 that cost more than three times as much, with an edge in how well the ANC holds up against wind. The same test flags the 4.5 hours of battery life with ANC as the product's main weakness, and notes the lack of wireless charging.
© Xiaomi, official photo used for editorial purposes
| Redmi Buds 8 Pro | AirPods Pro 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Official price | 69.99 to 79 euros | 249 euros |
| Noise cancelling (independent score) | 18/20 | 18/20 |
| Battery life with ANC (measured) | Around 4.5 hours | Between 8h28 and 8h42 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LHDC | SBC, AAC only |
| Water resistance | IP54 (earbuds) | IP57 (earbuds), IPX4 (case) |
| Wireless charging | No | Yes (MagSafe and Qi) |
The price gap, around 180 euros, is far bigger than the difference you'll notice in noise cancelling and sound. Where the AirPods Pro 3 pull ahead is real battery life with ANC on, better water resistance and wireless charging: three advantages that matter most for intensive daily training rather than occasional all-round use.
The Redmi Buds 8 Pro are aimed first at runners who want strong noise cancelling and high sound quality on a tight budget, for short runs or commutes, not at those looking for long battery life with ANC on continuously or a secure fit for technical ultra-trail.
The Xiaomi Redmi Buds 8 Pro deliver on sound and noise cancelling, two strengths confirmed by several independent tests at a level rarely seen at this price. The score is held back by real battery life with ANC on that falls well short of the figure pushed on the official spec sheet, and by a fit that stays general-purpose rather than built for intensive sport.
7.8/10: outstanding value for sound and ANC, as long as you accept real battery life with noise cancelling that is well below the number on the product page.