Finding a reliable pair of wireless earbuds under Rs. 2,000 in Kathmandu's electronics shops can be overwhelming, with dozens of options making identical claims about ANC, punchy bass, and long battery life. Among the crowd, the Redmi Buds 5A has gained significant attention alongside popular budget alternatives like the Ultima Boom 141. Priced at NPR 1,999, we put these earbuds to the test over a week of daily use to see if they truly deliver.
Design and Build Quality
The charging case features a compact, flat design with a matte body and a stylish glossy strip across it, making it easy to slip into any pocket. A minor quirk is that the branding is located on the back while the front remains completely plain, which can lead to trying to open it from the wrong side initially. Inside, the glossy earbud stems snap securely into magnetic slots to prevent rattling inside a bag. Keep in mind that Xiaomi does not include a USB-C charging cable in the box, so you will need to provide your own.
The package includes two ear tip sizes. Using the smaller size ensured a comfortable fit during long work sessions, and the IPX4 splash resistance offered peace of mind during light rain. However, users with smaller ears may experience a looser seal, which lets in more environmental noise, so testing both included tip sizes is recommended.
Connectivity and Controls
Pairing is virtually instant. Android users benefit from Google Fast Pair, which pops up a quick connection prompt on screen as soon as the lid is opened. The main drawback on the connectivity side is the lack of multi-point pairing, meaning switching between a laptop and a phone requires manually disconnecting and reconnecting each time.
Touch gestures work consistently and trigger an audible confirmation chime. Single tapping controls play/pause, double tapping skips to the next track, triple tapping manages calls and gaming mode, while a long press cycles between ANC, Transparency, and Off modes. Unfortunately, there is no gesture to return to a previous track, forcing you to use your phone or laptop screen to replay a song.
Audio Performance
Sound quality is remarkably balanced and clean for this price point. Tracks like Starboy by The Weeknd sound rich right from the opening notes, while vocal-heavy songs such as Adele's Easy on Me and Iktara from Wake Up Sid highlight its impressive clarity in acoustic elements and softer vocals. While bass can feel a bit light at lower volumes, increasing the sound level slightly resolves the issue. Overall, with its neutral audio tuning and reliable call quality, the Redmi Buds 5A stands out as one of the strongest budget TWS options available under NPR 2,000.
