With more and more smartphone and laptop brands dropping the 3.5mm headphone jacks, it’s no wonder that audio devices have also become wireless. After all, it’s also more convenient this way vs listening to music or taking calls while constantly being on the move! However, one of the most common concerns that I’ve heard from friends is that affordable wireless earbuds usually have poor noise-cancelling features. To answer this problem, realme came up with the realme Buds T310 – the newest earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), 12.4mm Dynamic Bass Driver, and 360° Spatial Audio priced at only Php 1,499 (introductory price).

Manila Millennial tried it out before its official launch last Wednesday (August 28, 2024) together with the realme Watch S2 and here are my thoughts about it:

Full bass, superb sound quality

The realme Buds T310 boasts of an impressive sound quality, ensuring that every beat and note is delivered with clarity and balance. As someone who loves blasting party music to keep myself awake while doing extra work on a Friday night, I appreciate how full its bass is as well. The quality is made possible by its larger-sized 12.4mm Dynamic Bass Driver. According to realme’s specs sheet, the Buds T310 has N52 Magnets for improved sensitivity and powerful sound output and HTW Wire Coil for better sound quality and longer product life. I may not be an expert on the hardware part but my ears sure do pick up the good audio.

I’ve tried listening to different genres from the likes of Lorde, Florence & The Machine to Fall Out Boy and Paramore – which I know by heart, and I can say that it’s definitely immersive. You also get to reduce the outside noise when you need to focus, but I suggest that you only enable this feature when you’re not expecting anyone to talk to you or when you’re in a completely safe surrounding. Otherwise, you won’t hear anything externally! Same goes for people around you, they won’t be able to hear what you’re listening to.

Buds in, noisy world out

Another highlight of the realme Buds T310 is its 46dB Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation, allowing users to focus on what matters most, whether you’re working in a noisy cafe or a taking a call during rush hour. The ANC technology filters out background noise, ensuring that your calls are clear and your music remains uninterrupted. It also has 6 microphones for hybrid noise cancellation that reduces any interference for a clear audio experience. Smart algorithms and signal processing are also in effect so the earbuds can eliminate the surrounding noise. This is a leveled up version compared to its predecessor, the realme Buds T300, which was only at 30 dB.

Aside from taking calls and listening to music, the realme Buds T310 is also recommendable for watching movies or binge-watching your favorite action series. I specifically mentioned action because the earbuds are capable of processing and computing its own spatial-audio algorithm, creating a 360° surround-sound effect similar to a theater experience. So imagine a plane passing from left to right, the audio will also be mimicking the same direction for sound effects! However, this will also depend on what you’re watching. Sound effects that are not rendered for surround-sound viewing will have no effect.

It also has a dynamic sound algorithm which users can adjust to high, medium, or low frequency bands based on their liking and what the audio experience calls for. Settings can further be customized using the realme Link app.

Small body, big battery life

If you’ve been reading my blog, you’d know that I’m not a huge fan of TWS devices mainly because I don’t have the time to charge it every day (that or I usually forget to plug it in). That doesn’t seem like a problem with the realme Buds T310, though! With 480mAh (charging case) + 58mAh (each earbud) and up to 40 hours of playback time, these earbuds are built to last through even the busiest of days.

I’ve tried using it for my morning commute as early as 8AM, while working and taking calls during business hours, hitting the gym after work, and then keeping myself entertained during the ride back home, and watching Netflix before going to bed. That’s like a total of 16 hours!

You also won’t have to worry about constantly recharging your earbuds. The quick-charge feature ensures you can get back to your listening experience in no time as it only needs 10 minutes of charging via a USB Type-C cable to deliver up to 5 hours of playback time.

Seamless connectivity

With Bluetooth 5.4, it also offers a stable and fast connection, ensuring that you stay connected to your device without interruptions. I was pleasantly surprised to see an auto-connect request when I first turned on the Bluetooth of my smartphone, too! The touch controls make it easy to manage your music and calls, while the low-latency mode ensures a lag-free experience, especially during gaming or watching videos.

For gamers, I suggest that you enable Game Mode for a better audio experience, allowing 45ms low latency for a well-synced game. This technology is called Low Latency Binaural Simultaneous Transmission, also effective for video streaming and competitive gaming.

Comfort and fit

Its ergonomic shape fits snugly in the ears, making it ideal for extended wear. Personally, I still prefer the ones without rubber ear tips when I’m outdoors as I work mostly around dusty and furry environments. The rubber ear tips tend to attract fur and dust, which means you’ll have to constantly clean them after removing it from your ear. However, the realme Buds T310 has my heart when it comes to workout sessions because it doesn’t fall off easily no matter how much I move and sweat. It has its own pros and cons, depending on your lifestyle.

On the other hand, in terms of comfort, it does deliver what it promises. I even fall asleep with both buds in my ears during long travel times! The lightweight design also makes them easy to carry around, fitting effortlessly into your pocket or bag. As an aging millennial, there was also one instance when I forgot that it’s still plugged in my ears. The buds are that light at only 4.2 grams each! You can use it one earbud at a time for when you need to be more aware of your surroundings, by the way.

Price and Availability

The realme Buds T310 is now available in both online stores and physical kiosks in the Philippines for a Php 1,499 introductory promo price on TikTok Shop and Php 1,599 on Shopee and Lazada. After the promo period, it will return to its SRP of Php 1,999 so I suggest that you check it out now while it’s still discounted. Each box contains the charging case, earbuds, user manual with warranty card, and two extra pairs of rubber ear tips.

Whether you’re taking calls during work, jamming to your favorite tunes during a workout, or simply unwinding with a podcast, a reliable pair of earbuds like the realme Buds T310 would be worth considering.

---

For updates on our latest discoveries within (and outside) the Metro, don’t forget to follow Manila Millennial on Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram. Keep safe, everyone!