Realme Buds T200 review

Have you ever reluctantly tried a budget gadget, expecting a compromise, only to be blindsided by how much fun it is? That’s the Realme Buds T200 experience in a nutshell. These tiny true wireless earbuds, priced at just Rs 1,999, are meant to be filler gear. The ones you throw in your bag, lend to a friend, or use as backups. But once you hit play, they turn from background extras into scene-stealers.

At a time when wireless earbuds are racing to pack in everything from spatial audio to adaptive noise cancellation, Realme has done something delightfully old-school, focusing on sound first.

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Sure, there’s ANC and LDAC support on the spec sheet, but that’s not what wins you over. It’s the way the Buds T200 make you forget how little they cost, and remind you why good tuning still matters more than gimmicks. Let’s dive deep into our Realme Buds T200 review.

Realme Buds T200: Build and design

Visually, the Realme Buds T200 aren’t trying to start any design revolutions. The charging case looks a bit like a squarer AirPods Pro clone (just in a different colour), with smooth edges, a front LED, and a USB-C port at the bottom.

It’s simple, unpretentious, and about as practical as it gets at this price. There’s no pairing button on the case, which feels like a small omission, but pairing is still easy enough once you learn the long-press dance on both earbuds. Plus, simply popping the case open brings up the pairing prompt on most Android devices.

The earbuds themselves are lightweight and comfortable, sitting snugly in your ears with soft, colour-matched silicone tips. There’s no auto-pause sensor, which might disappoint some, but that also means you can adjust them freely without triggering random play/pause commands.

If there’s one part of the design that deserves an eye-roll, it’s how deeply the buds sit inside the case. Pulling them out feels like trying to pick up a wet marble. Your fingers just slide off the glossy surface. It’s a small but recurring irritation that makes you wish Realme had spent a few extra hours on ergonomics.

Build quality is what you’d expect at this price; plasticky but not fragile. The case hinge is a bit finicky, and the glossy finish loves collecting scratches, but the IP55 water and dust resistance rating is a rare bonus in this category. You can jog, commute, or get caught in the rain without worry.

Realme also gets full points for colour variety. The Neon Green version is unapologetically loud (and surprisingly tasteful), while the Dreamy Purple, Mystic Black, and Snowy White options give you more muted choices. The contrasting interiors, especially the black-blue combo on our Mystic Black review unit, add a nice bit of personality that’s often missing in budget earbuds.

Realme Buds T200: Features

On paper, the Buds T200 read like they’re punching way above their weight. You get active noise cancellation, LDAC codec support (up to 32-bit/96kHz), dual-device connectivity, game mode, a six-band EQ, and even Spatial Audio. But, most of this hides behind a gatekeeper: the Realme Link app.

And that’s where the love story gets complicated. Realme forces you to log into the Realme Link app to unlock key features like LDAC. That means creating a Realme account, even if you’re already using a Realme phone.

Once you’re through the login wall, though, the app is genuinely decent. You get detailed audio customisation through a six-band EQ, four sound presets, and the option to toggle high-definition sound (LDAC).

There’s also a simplified “Dynamic Audio” mode for those intimidated by sliders, plus ANC controls, gesture customisation, dual-device pairing, and even “MindFlow Mode”, which has a library of ambient tracks meant to help you relax.

It’s a surprisingly rich ecosystem for Rs 1,999, and aside from the forced account creation, the app experience holds up well. You can even see the correct colour of your earbuds within the interface; a small but thoughtful touch that gives the whole thing a bit more polish.

Realme Buds T200: Sound quality, microphone, and ANC performance

This is where things get genuinely shocking. With 12.4mm dynamic drivers and LDAC support, the Buds T200 sound far better than you’d expect, not just for Rs 1,999, but for anything under Rs 5,000.

The sound signature is balanced, confident, and full of life. Bass has punch without bloat, just enough thump to anchor the rhythm without muddying the mids. Vocals come through clean and natural, with a warm timbre that makes both indie acoustic tracks and pop hits shine. Treble is crisp and airy, adding clarity and separation that you’d usually expect from pricier earbuds.

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Realme’s tuning team clearly knows what it’s doing. This isn’t the typical V-shaped sound signature that many budget earbuds rely on to fake excitement. It’s refined, mature, and enjoyable over long sessions. The soundstage feels open, instruments are well placed, and imaging is surprisingly precise.

There are moments when the treble veers into sharp territory, especially with bright electronic tracks, but a quick EQ tweak fixes that instantly. The mids could use a touch more presence, but for the price, you’d have to be actively nitpicking to complain.

Simply put, these are some of the best-tuned budget earbuds under Rs 2,000 you can buy today. They make you want to rediscover your playlists rather than just tolerate them.

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The microphones are decent for calls; clear indoors, less so outdoors. They handle ambient noise passably, though voices tend to soften when things get loud around you. For Teams or Google Meet calls or voice notes, they’ll do fine, but don’t expect studio-grade clarity.

Active noise cancellation is, unfortunately, the weak link. It exists, yes, but feels more like a polite suggestion than an actual barrier between you and the world. The Buds T200 struggle particularly with higher-frequency sounds. Office chatter, clinking cups, and keyboard clicks all sneak through easily.

The transparency mode, on the other hand, is muffled and a bit pointless. You’re better off removing one earbud when someone’s talking to you.

Latency, however, is solid. Realme claims a 45ms delay in Game Mode, and while that’s hard to measure exactly, the difference is noticeable. Even outside of Game Mode, videos stay mostly in sync, and audio lag isn’t a problem for casual gaming or binge-watching.

Connectivity stability is excellent; no dropouts, no stutters, and smooth switching between two paired devices.

Realme Buds T200: Battery life

Battery life depends heavily on how you use LDAC and ANC. With both enabled, you’re looking at roughly 4.5 hours of playback, which aligns closely with Realme’s claims. In testing, at LDAC’s highest bitrate (990kbps), the Buds T200 managed around 4 hours and 46 minutes.

For typical use with mixed playback, moderate volume, auto bitrate, you can expect 5–6 hours per charge, with the case offering several top-ups for a total of around 25 hours. The lack of wireless charging isn’t surprising at this price, and USB-C fast charging gives you a quick 10-minute boost for nearly 2 hours of playback.

It’s not endurance king territory, but it’s entirely reasonable for earbuds that cost less than a good meal out.

Unboxed Take: Should you buy the Realme Buds T200?

Realme has pulled off something rare with the Buds T200. They’ve made a pair of budget earbuds that sound genuinely premium. Not “premium for the price”, but premium, full stop. The tuning alone makes them worth recommending, even if you strip away all the headline features.

That said, they’re not flawless. The ANC is weak, the case design could use a rethink, and the Realme Link account requirement is unnecessarily invasive. But once you start listening, all of that fades into the background. The Buds T200 are fun, musical, and satisfyingly balanced; the kind of earbuds that make you forget about specs and just enjoy the music.

If you’re an audiophile on a shoestring budget or someone who just wants great sound without playing the brand premium game, these are the earbuds to beat. Skip them only if you absolutely need top-tier ANC or fancy sensors. For everyone else, the Realme Buds T200 are proof that good sound doesn’t have to cost good money. For that reason, we rate them a solid 4/5 points. 

For more such reviews, stay tuned to Unboxed by Croma, and drop a comment with your thoughts on the Realme Buds T200 below.