Realme offers a selection of economically priced audio devices. I immediately recommended their Realme Buds Air 6 Pro (review) in the Rs 4,500 price bracket. However, one area where they haven’t had much of an impact is headphones. I was therefore ecstatic to hear that the firm was introducing their new over-the-ear headphones. After a week of using them, what can I say? Find out more in this evaluation of the Realme TechLife Studio H1 by reading on.
What’s within the box?
There are only a few basic accessories included with the Realme TechLife Studio H1. The items you will receive are as follows:
1-Headphones: Realme TechLife Studio H1
2-USB Type C to C cable (exclusively for audio transmission)
3-USB Type A to Type C Charging Cable
4-Instructional guide
Realme TechLife Studio H1: Harmony of Form and Function
When it comes to the design, they already have a comparable appearance to headphones from a different brand. The earcups’ style is quite similar to that of Sony’s WH-XM5. The resemblances don’t stop there; the paint job also has an industrial feel, reminiscent of CMF by Nothing. I wouldn’t go too far into the possibility that these are simply rebranded versions of another headphone.
These are closed-back headphones with a robust plastic construction and vegan leather padding on the headband and earcups. Since memory foam is used for the cushioning, I truly like that it doesn’t adhere to my skin when I sweat, unlike other headphones in this price range.
The earcups may be rotated 90 degrees and are hinged. To make folding them to store in my bag when it’s raining outdoors easier, I wish Realme had extended the range of the hinge joint. Regarding precipitation, an IP rating for water and dust protection is not mentioned.
There are advantages and disadvantages to the increased size of the earcups. To put it another way, the larger size of the headphones fits my ears more comfortably when I’m wearing them. After using Anker’s Soundcore headphones for a time, I noticed that it didn’t seem constrictive or that my ears hurt.
Wearing the cups over your neck, though, can be a little awkward due to their size. I remember taking them off and holding them in my palms while walking home at one point. Given that fit varies from person to person, our experiences may not be identical.
The Realme TechLife H1 is not compatible with companion apps. Thus, the buttons located at the base of the right earcup provide direct access to all of the controls. In addition to an ANC button that you may use to activate LDAC and spatial audio, there is a USB-C port for charging and audio. And then there are the rockers with force and volume. You may grow into the configuration very readily, as I did in just one day, which makes it fairly convenient.
Realme TechLife Studio H1: High-quality audio and microphone
The audio quality of the TechLife Studio H1 is fairly well-tuned. Their sound signature is somewhat warm and has what appears to be a U-shaped curve. This indicates that the mids are somewhat recessed and the treble and bass are both raised. These headphones’ 40mm diaphragm performs admirably, and the LDAC compatibility that is supplied is the icing on the cake.
Listening to Blue Sweede’s “Hooked on a Feeling” made this clear. The instrumentals and background noise continued to overwhelm the voices. Although there isn’t much of a wide sound stage, recordings like Tushar Lall’s rendition of the “Interstellar theme song” have good instrument separation. As previously mentioned, there is a lot of bass and treble present, yet it sounds full-bodied. Thus, Realme H1 users who are sensitive to high frequencies won’t have any issues enjoying music.
The sub- and mid-bass is present in sufficient amounts, but the bass lacks the “oomph” that many bass lovers find appealing. I listened to a lot of bass-heavy music with these headphones, and the sound was well-balanced.
I can’t customize the EQ to my preferences, therefore it hurts that there isn’t a companion app. In order to achieve the clear vocal experience I adore for my Bollywood tracks, I purchased the Wavelet software to boost the recessed mids. While it did help a little, it’s difficult to push down the other two frequencies. I don’t mean to brag, but these are respectable choices that I can suggest to anyone looking for a well-rounded musical experience.
Whoa! I also tested their 360-degree Spatial Audio Effect, which is really a gimmick, much like other earbuds in this price range. Firstly, it’s not entirely clear if they’re turned on or off.There’s barely any change in the audio after the single “beep” sound. I experimented with a number of songs, episodes, videos, and movies, but I was unable to notice much, if any, change.
Realme TechLife Studio H1: Transparency and Noise Cancellation
There is 43dB of sound cancellation included with the Realme TechLife Studio H1. When compared to Realme’s own TWS, which has 50dB of ANC, this isn’t much. I had my doubts regarding these because of this. The majority of the sound cancels out as soon as you put on these headphones, though. Even at 30% volume and with ANC turned off, there is very little to no sound coming from outside.
The majority of ambient sound is blocked by the cushions’ decent seal. Nevertheless, you must click the designated button located at the bottom of the right ear cup, close to the USB-C port, in order to activate ANC. Activating it improves the experience. However, I believe it especially helps those who frequently listen to music at very low volumes and have delicate ears.
The transparency setting isn’t that great. Their problem is identical to that of the CMF Buds (review), in that there is no distinction between the two. I kept asking myself if I had transparency turned on, only to discover that it was already turned on. Furthermore, it didn’t improve my ability to hear my surroundings. I gave up trying to swap the modes and just put down the headphones for that reason.
Realme TechLife Studio H1: Battery Life and Connectivity
The TechLife Studio H1 has dual device connection, compatibility for Google Fast pair, and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity. The dual-device connection was a little sketchy, but the first two functioned rather well. I had to reconnect to the other device over and over. As a result, it was difficult to connect two devices at once. They didn’t always stay in touch with one other, although these moments were rare.
Realme says that its batteries have 70 hours of life, however after using them for a week, I am still only at 50%, so I am unable to evaluate their claims. I assume that it will take me one additional week to use them up to zero. This is amazing; I could definitely see myself traveling with these without having to worry about charging them.
Additionally, a USB-C to C adapter is included in the package so I can keep listening to music in the event that they do run out. Realme made a wise decision by including a USB-C cable rather than the standard aux one, as smartphones have completely eliminated the 3.5mm socket in recent years.
Conclusion: Is the Realme TechLife Studio H1 Worth Buying?
The Realme TechLife Studio H1s represent a commendable initial effort from the company, and if its release was merely an experiment to gauge consumer interest in their product line, then it was a successful endeavor. I enjoy these headphones a lot for a first-time purchase because, considering their Rs 4,999 pricing, they have a decent build quality and sound quality.
If it had included a companion app, there are a few things that could have been improved with an update. For this reason alone, I wouldn’t use them. It’s not easy to become familiar with all of its controls, and I don’t expect others to either.
Given that the company offers the Realme Link app for its TWS and other accessories, the situation is peculiar. Why then were they unable to include support for these headphones?
My daily experience would be hampered by these problems, which is too much to sacrifice for superb sound. Perhaps the third time is a charm?
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