Realme unveils Buds Air8 Pro TWS earphones and Watch S5 ahead of 16T launch

Realme is expanding its mid‑range ecosystem with two fresh devices that will hit stores a week after the company’s flagship Realme 16T debut. The Buds Air8 Pro true‑wireless earphones and the Watch S5 smartwatch arrive together, promising a tighter integration of audio, health tracking and AI features for consumers who already own a Realme phone.

Buds Air8 Pro – Audio performance meets AI

The Air8 Pro will be sold in Master White and Master Black, each earbud housing a dual‑driver stack (11 mm dynamic + 6 mm balanced armature) and a dual‑DAC architecture. This combination is designed to deliver a more detailed mid‑range while preserving punchy bass, a setup usually reserved for higher‑priced models.

Key specs:

• 55 dB “Ultra Depth” ANC – uses two external microphones per earbud plus an internal feed‑forward mic to cancel a wide frequency range.
• AI Call Noise Cancellation – three mics per side feed a real‑time AI model that isolates the speaker’s voice from background chatter.
• Hi‑Res Audio (Wireless) and LHDC support – enables lossless streaming up to 900 kbps when paired with a compatible Realme phone or any LHDC‑capable source.
• 3D Spatial Audio – renders positional cues for supported platforms such as YouTube and Netflix.
• IP55 rating – protects against sweat and light rain, making them suitable for workouts.
• Gaming Mode – 45 ms latency for competitive play.
• Battery life – 12 h playback without ANC, 6 h with ANC; the charging case adds another 24 h.
• Realme Next AI translation – can translate speech in over 30 languages on‑device.

The inclusion of dual DACs is noteworthy because it lets the earbuds handle both high‑resolution audio and active noise cancellation without overloading a single chip. In practice, users should see clearer highs and a more stable ANC performance compared with single‑chip TWS solutions.

Watch S5 – A bright, feature‑rich wearable

The Watch S5 follows Realme’s design language of sleek, low‑profile wearables. It ships in Sand White and Rock Grey, each featuring a 1.43‑inch circular AMOLED panel that peaks at 1,500 nits and runs at 60 Hz. The high brightness ensures readability in direct sunlight, while the 60 Hz refresh rate makes animations feel fluid.

Key specs:

• Three physical side buttons – dedicated shortcuts for workout start, music control and AI assistant activation.
• High‑Gloss Ceramic Texture on the back for a premium feel and reduced skin irritation.
• Dimensions: 11.8 mm thick, 32 g weight – thin enough for all‑day wear.
• Health sensors: heart‑rate, SpO₂, stress monitoring, sleep analysis, women’s health tracking, and ambient noise measurement.
• Sports support: 110 indoor and outdoor modes, including swimming and hiking.
• Connectivity: GPS with 5‑GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS), 5 ATM water resistance, wet‑hand touch support.
• Battery: up to 20 days of typical use, thanks to a low‑power chipset and the ability to turn off the always‑on display.
• Software: Realme UI Wear, AI assistant integration, call handling via Bluetooth, and OTA updates.

The watch’s 5‑GNSS capability improves location accuracy in dense urban environments, a feature that many competitors in the same price bracket lack. Combined with the AI assistant, users can trigger commands like “Start a run” or “Check my stress level” without touching the screen.

Ecosystem context – Lock‑in without compromise

Realme’s strategy mirrors that of other Chinese manufacturers: create a cohesive set of devices that share software services and AI models. The Buds Air8 Pro’s Next AI translation and AI call cleaning rely on the same on‑device inference engine that powers the Watch S5’s stress detection. This shared AI stack means firmware updates improve both devices simultaneously, reinforcing brand loyalty.

For Android users, especially those with Realme phones, the integration is seamless: the earbuds automatically switch between devices using Bluetooth 5.3, and the watch can display call notifications from the phone, control media playback on the Buds, and sync health data to Realme’s cloud dashboard. While the ecosystem is still Android‑centric, the devices support standard Bluetooth profiles, so iOS users can still pair them, albeit without the full AI‑driven features.

Pricing and availability are expected to be announced next Thursday, with pre‑orders likely opening shortly after. Early leaks suggest a price point around ₹7,999 for the Buds Air8 Pro and ₹9,999 for the Watch S5, positioning them competitively against the Xiaomi Redmi Buds 3 Pro and the Amazfit GTR series.

What this means for consumers

• Audio enthusiasts get a relatively affordable entry into high‑resolution wireless sound, plus AI‑driven call clarity.
• Fitness fans receive a lightweight smartwatch with robust health tracking and a bright screen that won’t wash out in daylight.
• Realme owners gain tighter integration across devices, encouraging them to stay within the brand’s ecosystem rather than mixing and matching from other manufacturers.

Overall, the Buds Air8 Pro and Watch S5 showcase Realme’s commitment to delivering premium‑grade features at mid‑range prices, a formula that has helped the brand capture a growing share of the Indian and Southeast Asian markets.