OnePlus Buds Pro review: Shockingly good for the price

Our Verdict

With a superb blueprint, bully sound and incredible charging tech, the OnePlus Buds Pro hits near every mark. Only its weak ANC playtime stands between it and a perfect score.

For

Rich, well-balanced audio
Powerful ANC
Handsome, luxe design
Ridiculously powerful charging technology
Unique audio features

Against

Poor ANC playtime
Some features are unreleased or exclusive to OnePlus devices

Tom'southward Guide Verdict

With a superb design, great sound and incredible charging tech, the OnePlus Buds Pro hits nearly every marking. But its weak ANC playtime stands betwixt information technology and a perfect score.

Pros

+
Rich, well-balanced sound
+
Powerful ANC
+
Handsome, luxe design
+
Ridiculously powerful charging technology
+
Unique audio features

Cons

-
Poor ANC playtime
-
Some features are unreleased or exclusive to OnePlus devices

OnePlus Buds Pro specs

Cost: $149

Colors:Glossy White, Matte Black

Battery life (rated): v hours (ANC on), 7 hours (ANC off), 28 hours (with charging case and ANC on), 38 hours (with charging example and ANC off)

Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.ii

Processor: N/A

Size: i.25 ten 0.9 inches (per bud), two.three x 1.9 x 0.9 inches (charging case)

Weight: 0.fifteen ounces (per bud), ane.83 ounces (charging example)

The OnePlus Buds Pro is to wireless earbuds what the OnePlus 9 is to smartphones: namely an excellent device that challenges and in some ways even beats the best alternatives from Apple tree and Samsung. Make no fault, the OnePlus Buds Pro is not here just to make up the numbers.

While most people know OnePlus for its widely acclaimed, affordable, and premium-built Android smartphones, information technology launched its kickoff wireless earbuds, the OnePlus Buds, to notable fanfare last year. But the noise-cancelling OnePlus Buds Pro is a much more ambitious projection.

Equipped with adaptive active dissonance cancellation (ANC), personalized audio, signature Warp Charge engineering science, and a swankier design than its predecessor, it matches the high-finish functioning and quality of the make's flagship smartphones. Platform neutrality also means you can savor a similar user feel no matter whether yous're on iOS or Android. Merely be informed that OnePlus smartphone users gain access to a few extras.

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Are these buds perfect? Shut, but no cigar. The low ANC playtime and exclusive features tied to OnePlus devices are legitimate complaints. However, read our full OnePlus Buds Pro review to see why these drawbacks are forgivable in the grand scheme of things.

Annotation: We weren't provided a OnePlus smartphone for our review, then all expert feedback is based on our experiences with Android and iOS/macOS devices.

OnePlus Buds Pro (Glossy White) at OnePlus for $149.99
OnePlus Buds Pro (Matte Black) at OnePlus for $149.99

OnePlus Buds Pro review: Cost and availability

Y'all tin purchase the OnePlus Buds Pro for $149 directly from OnePlus. It is sold in two colors: Glossy White and Matte Black. Bundled with the purchase are a wireless charging case, USB-C charging case, and three different sizes of eartips.

This is the aforementioned MSRP as 2 of the market's most popular wireless ANC earbuds, the Beats Studio Buds and Samsung Galaxy Buds ii. It is also listed lower than category leaders such equally the $249 Apple AirPods Pro and $279 Sony WF-1000XM4, while priced college than the hot newcomers such as the $99 Cipher Ear (1).

For all of the latest wireless earbuds sales, bookmark our best headphones deals folio.

OnePlus Buds Pro review: Pattern and comfort

Information technology's all in the details and the OnePlus Buds Pro has been given a fancier facelift compared to the original OnePlus Buds. The first major change you'll see is the sleeker and slimmer profile. These buds come with a dual-tone terminate that consists of matte plastic on the upper half and aluminum plating on the stems. Gone are the oval touch panels and in their place are force sensors, similar the AirPods Pro.

Structure is superior, feeling more durable and premium than both the original Buds and the AirPods Pro. This version also comes with a higher IPX rating (IP55) for enhanced sweat and h2o resistance.

The charging instance is IPX4-rated to sustain sweat and h2o, too. This is huge, because not many wireless earbuds offering this. The instance has a dainty weight to it, stiff magnets that go on the hat shut tightly, and it displays the buds beautifully when opened.

Each bud is lightweight (0.15 ounces) and won't weigh down your ears. I enjoyed moderate condolement for several hours throughout the twenty-four hour period over the course of a week. There was small-scale soreness around the concha after nigh 5 hours of uninterrupted listening, but nix painful.

If the AirPods Pro showed us anything, it's that installed ear tips make all the difference with fit on long-stalk earbuds. OnePlus took note and followed Apple'south pb, packaging the Buds Pro with iii silicone tip sizes to suit dissimilar ear shapes for proper stabilization. Adjusting the buds will allow the tips to form a tight seal that keeps them from slipping out.

OnePlus developed an Earbud Fit Test to help users determine the best ear tip size for optimal fit, and it'south pretty accurate. During testing, I had 1 bud improperly installed to come across whether the feature would determine a "perfect fit," something several other fit tests accept been guilty of, but this examination defenseless the mistake and suggested adjustment for better dissonance cancellation.

OnePlus Buds Pro review: Controls and digital banana

A strength sensor is placed near the bottom of each stem that registers squeeze and hold gestures to enable functions. Information technology'southward impressive and just as responsive as Apple's control system, producing nifty tactile feedback with every press. The control scheme is practically identical to that of the AirPods and consists of the following gestures: play/pause (single squeeze), adjacent track (double squeeze), previous track/digital banana (triple squeeze), and listening mode activation (squeeze and hold).

In that location is i extra gesture you tin can initiate to plow on the buds' soundscape manner: long touch and hold. The clarification is a flake misleading, since it implies leaving your finger on the force sensor for several seconds, simply you lot must clasp and agree for several seconds to activate the mode.

On-ear detection is hither for automatic playback direction. Taking off one bud will auto-pause and placing it back on will auto-play. The Buds Pro has reliable motion detection to execute these functions accurately.

Siri, Google Assistant, and Bixby are all compatible with the Buds Pro and can be set as your native digital banana, depending on your device. The mics demonstrate splendid speech recognition and option up verbal inquiries with precision, while each AI bot responds to voice commands as quickly as they receive them.

OnePlus Buds Pro review: Sound quality

The sound profile on these buds is mostly warm, with an emphasis on bass and vocals, though higher sounds are present, culminating in well-counterbalanced audio with substantial frequency range. I tested several music genres and videos and was by and large satisfied with what came out of the 11mm dynamic drivers.

The bassline on DMX'southward "10 Gon' Give It to Ya" knocked hard, while the late rapper's growly, yet crisp sounding vocals complemented the intense production. Other models, like the AirPods Pro, tone downwards the cymbals and marching-band horns, but the Buds Pro gave them room to shine. These same sentiments were shared when diggings Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," where the crashing how-do-you-do-hats remained consistent over the energetic electric guitar strums and pounding drums.

Switching over to more melodic selections, I played Jazz classics like Yusef Lateef's "Dear Theme From Spartacus" and was shocked by how striking the loftier finish sounded. The whistle play had a vibrancy to it that proliferated the record's intimate vibes, while the steady hullo-hats blended smoothly over the double bass and piano notes.

Instead of personalizing audio through an EQ or presets, OnePlus has Sound ID, a test that creates an audio profile based on your hearing characteristics. You'll need to take the test in a completely silent setting to gain the best results and it takes several minutes to consummate, but once done, it presents yous with a diagram that maps out the hearing on each bud, based on frequency preference. The feature improved audio slightly, boosting the low end a smidge, but I still preferred the default signature.

What virtually OnePlus' depression latency Fnatic Way to boost gaming functioning? Well, it's sectional to OnePlus devices, which, again, this reviewer wasn't provided. Fnatic Manner will rebrand every bit Pro Gaming Mode when the upcoming Oxygen Bone 12 update is available.

Regarding LHDC, the audio codec with Hello-Res Audio certification for better sound quality compared to AAC and aptX, it won't be available until the finish of the yr via an over-the-air update on OnePlus nine series devices. It's also been confirmed that the feature will not exist supported on OnePlus Nord devices, including the new OnePlus Nord two, as of at present.

OnePlus Buds Pro review: Active noise counterfoil

The Buds Pro has 3 mics in each bud to filter noise levels almost up to 40dB. There are also 3 ANC settings: Noise Cancellation, Smart, and Max Noise Cancellation. Each mode is benign in specific settings, though Max is the way to get if you lot want the best dissonance neutralization. The applied science won't acme that of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds or Sony WF-1000XM4, only it edges out the AirPods Pro.

During office hours, Max was magnificent at blocking out household disturbances, from loud TVs to talkative relatives to unexpected deliveries. I generally appreciated how well the mode handled rumbling noises from our washing machine. Taking the buds outside was mostly delightful, muffling pedestrians, landscaping tools, and any fracas coming from the barge on the Intracoastal Waterway right across from our house. Noise Counterfoil worked well for the aforementioned scenarios, though some external sounds were more perceptible.

These buds also kept loftier-frequency sounds to a minimum, although several could still be heard from afar; the occasional ambulance siren or something like a whistling tea kettle will grab your attending. I heard my babe child crying in his nursery from ane room away, and while information technology wasn't distracting enough to break my concentration with music on, it was tough to get through videos.

The Smart setting left much to exist desired. This is designed to arrange to your current environment and automatically tweak the ANC algorithm for optimal racket cancellation, just I never got the sense that information technology did this. Only those with detailed hearing may observe any comeback in performance.

Want to increase the awareness of your surroundings? Turn on Transparency Fashion to pipe in ambient noises, most of which audio distinctive enough to identify. This mode comes most in handy when y'all're stopping for brief chats with co-workers or want to convey coffee orders to a barista without removing the buds.

So at that place is Zen Style Air to calm listeners past producing white racket that masks the distractions effectually them. Competitors similar Bowers & Wilkins and Jabra already accept this, and I prefer either over this version. Some of the sound profiles aren't reproduced well, plus they only last for 10 seconds before restarting, which is annoying and disrupts your focus. Something else I discovered is that the fashion pauses whenever your smartphone screen times out.

OnePlus Buds Pro review: App and special features

OnePlus did a standup task of balancing its truthful wireless experience across all platforms. Those with an iOS or Android device can download the HeyMelody app for extended functionality, while OnePlus users can download the OnePlus Buds app in the Google Play shop.

Unfortunately, the company keeps two of its extra features exclusive for OnePlus smartphone users: Fnatic Mode/Pro Gaming Way, and Fast Pair. The latter is discussed further in the review.

Besides those, everything else is at your disposal, including Audio ID, ANC settings, control customization, Earbud Fit Exam, and Zen Mode Air. Firmware updates are bachelor, too. It's a off-white amount, though opposing apps like Sony Headphones Connect and JBL Headphones have bigger characteristic sets; an EQ with presets would have been nice.

OnePlus Buds Pro review: Battery life and charging example

The Buds Pro simply offers a max of five hours ANC playback, which is really 4-4.5 hours when factoring in book and special features. This is almost the same equally the AirPods Pro (iv.5 hours) and well-nigh half that of the WF-1000XM4 (8 hours); await ii days of moderate listening (2 hours daily) at most. Users can extend the listening fourth dimension to 7 hours when turning off the feature.

Where OnePlus sort of makes up for this is in its insanely powerful charging technology. The Buds Pro comes with Warp Charge to generate x hours of use on a 10-infinitesimal charge. Bear in mind that this is for the earbuds and charging case combined. This will secure you 2 full charges in ten minutes. When placing the buds in the example, I saw bombardment levels increment from 20% to 60% in 5 minutes. The case itself holds between 28 to 38 hours, depending on how you use the buds.

Wireless charging likewise comes part of the bundle.

OnePlus Buds Pro review: Call quality and connectivity

As a calling headset, the OnePlus Buds Pro is in a higher place boilerplate. My best experiences came indoors, where several callers reported on how loud and clear I sounded, along with minor cutout and muffling. Taking calls exterior was so-then. OnePlus claims that the buds are "calibrated for current of air and noise reduction," and though they do a formidable job of blocking out interference, my married woman mentioned that noises were very aural whenever I spoke. Muffling and cutout likewise increased when outdoors.

Bluetooth five.2 operates the buds. Range is lengthy, so you tin enjoy 40 feet of wireless listening. Those with a OnePlus 6 (or college) tin can take reward of Fast Pair for instantaneous pairing. Others with an Android phone or iPhone will exist able to pair apace to devices as well.

OnePlus Buds Pro review: Verdict

The OnePlus Buds Pro is a must-own for the entire OnePlus customs and a solid pickup for iPhone/Android users that desire highly functional wireless ANC earbuds at a reasonable cost.

Audio is warmly resonant, thanks to tight bass and crisp vocals, forth with vibrant highs for full-bodied sound. ANC is effective plenty to tame most ambient noises and handles dawdling and rumbling amend than the AirPods Pro; its adaptive capabilities could use some refinement. The upgraded design is superb, from the prime aesthetics to the innovative controls. Then there'due south the charging technology on these beauties that no i can rival.

Had information technology non been for the dismal bombardment life and exclusive features (e.g., gaming fashion, Fast Pair), this pair of buds could have perhaps earned a perfect score. Nonetheless, the Buds Pro is a remarkable ANC debut from the mobile creator that has earned its spot among the true wireless elite.

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A lifestyle journalist with an analogousness for consumer products, Alex has over a decade of experience and has worked with pop publications such as Complex, Thrillist, Men's Wellness, Gear Patrol, AskMen, and Hoop Magazine. He currently focuses on audio, reviewing the most coveted headphones in the market for both Tom'southward Guide and Laptop Mag.