Vivo Buds review: gets the basics right
While Vivo is known for launching smartphones, from budget to ultra-premium, it also releases audio products every once in a while. With the Vivo Buds releasing almost two years after the Vivo TWS 3e in India, the brand is dipping its toes into the budget TWS segment. Priced at just Rs 1,999, the TWS earphones promise long battery life, clear calls, and reliable sound for everyday listening. So, how well do the Vivo Buds actually fare? Find out in this review.
Table of Contents
Design: takes the basic approach
The Vivo Buds come in two colourways, Nilgiri Green and Basalt Black, and we received the former for review. The Nilgiri Green’s charging case features a glossy plastic finish and has picked up noticeable scratches and marks over time from contact with surfaces like a table or from being carried in jeans or a bag. That said, since the Basalt Black variant flaunts a matte finish, such scratches could hopefully be minimised or at least become less visible to the naked eye.
On to the earbuds, they sport a traditional stem design with a nominal-sized shell that doesn’t dig into your ears, even when worn for hours on end. The buds are IP64-rated for protection against liquids such as sweat and water. For the price, the Vivo Buds don’t offer anything extraordinary, which is to be expected; however, keeping the case free of scratches or scuffs can be challenging over time, especially with the Nilgiri Green colourway.
Comfort and fit: ergonomic and secure
Weighing only 3.8g, the Vivo Buds deliver a comfortable, pressure-free fit thanks to their ergonomic shape and silicone tips. I easily wore them for several hours of streaming without any soreness. Without active noise cancellation, you get passive isolation, which blocks moderate ambient noise well enough, though loud sounds like traffic horns or metro announcements may still be audible.
Specifications and features: gets the basics right
Equipped with Bluetooth 6.1, the Vivo Buds offer seamless dual-device connectivity, letting you stay paired with two devices at once without losing the connection on either. Switching playback between my phone and laptop was smooth and immediate. For voice calls, built-in AI noise reduction automatically kicks in to suppress wind noise and background clatter. A dual-mic setup in each earbud isolates your voice, keeping calls consistently crisp and easy to hear even in noisy environments.
Adding a hint of fun and customisation, the battery pop-up menu that appears on the connected phone when you open the lid can be customised to different themes, especially pet themes. Users can even create their own themes by changing the font and background style. However, this is limited to just Vivo and iQOO smartphones.
On the hardware front, you get a full set of touch controls, such as double-tap, triple-tap, and touch-and-hold, to play and pause music, skip tracks, and take calls with a tap. In the vEarphones app, you can easily tweak these touch controls, along with other settings and options. The app is available for Android phones and iPhones, while Vivo and iQOO smartphone users can access all the functions via Bluetooth settings.
Then there’s low-latency gaming, which delivers up to 42ms latency exclusively on Vivo and iQOO smartphones. However, even by default, I didn’t notice significant audio delays or lags when playing games like Clash Royale. The character placement animation and audio stayed well synced throughout gameplay.
Sound experience: great balance of lows and mids
The Vivo Buds use a 10mm driver made from flexible PU and Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK), which Vivo claims helps reduce distortion while improving sensitivity and sound detail. Like most budget earphones, the buds are limited to AAC and SBC codecs.
As for the highs, they needed a bit of tweaking, especially when listening to EDM or rock music, to bring out the shrillness and thumping of the instruments. All the songs I listened to were sufficiently loud at around 60 to 70 percent volume.
Much like other TWS earbuds under Rs 2,000, such as the OPPO Enco Buds3 Pro and iQOO Buds, the Vivo Buds lack active noise cancellation (ANC). So you’ll have to rely on the dual mics in each bud and the buds’ passive isolation to block out external noise. If ANC is a top priority, shelling out a bit more for the CMF Buds Neo (review) gets you 35dB ANC.
Battery and charging: offers days’ worth of backup
Vivo claims the Vivo Buds can deliver up to 50 hours of total battery life with the charging case, while the earbuds can last up to 12 hours for music and 7 hours for calls on a single charge. During the review period, the charging case lasted about a week, with a couple of hours of daily use for commuting, watching OTT shows, YouTube videos, and listening to music on Spotify. Furthermore, Vivo states that a quick 10-minute charge allows the earbuds to output four hours of music playback.
Final verdict
At a retail price of Rs 1,999, the Vivo Buds are a great pick for daily listening, watching movies and shows, and taking calls. While you can’t expect ultra-high-end, soothing sound at this price, these earbuds still deliver a reliable experience in most aspects.
The case is lightweight and compact, making it easy to carry around and fit into small pockets, while the earbuds fit securely and can be worn for hours without causing fatigue. However, the charging case is notorious for easily picking up scratches even when handled with care. With almost perfect bass and vocal levels, the Vivo Buds offer a sound profile that works well for casual listening. In terms of battery life, the case lasts for days on a single charge, while features like dual-device connectivity, low-latency gaming, and pop-up menu customisation add to the appeal.
Editor’s rating: 8.6/10
Pros
- Lightweight design, easy portability.
- Comfortable for long wear with a secure fit.
- Well-tuned bass and vocals.
- Strong battery backup.
Cons
- Charging case picks up scratches and smudges easily.
- High frequencies may require manual tweaking.
- Lacks Active Noise Cancellation (ANC).
