Since OnePlus has never launched Buds 2 true wireless earphones, the newly launched OnePlus Buds 3 appears as a completely new product line. Technically speaking, these headphones are closer to the Nord Buds Z2 in terms of features and price, so it can be said that these headphones are the spiritual successor of the Buds Z2. However, they are priced slightly lower than the top-end OnePlus Buds Pro 2 in the OnePlus audio range. OnePlus has launched its new Buds 3 truly wireless earbuds, which it claims offer premium features at a lower price. I have been using them for a few weeks now which is why I think they are a great choice for Rs. India has 5,499 people.
OnePlus Buds 3 review: Design and features
The design of the OnePlus Buds 3 case looks identical to the OnePlus Buds Pro 2. Picking it up, you’ll notice that it’s a bit thicker compared to the latter, thanks to the larger battery in the case. The case has a plastic finish and doesn’t feel as premium as the case for the Buds Pro 2, but that’s good since it also retails for half the price. Its thicker overall size also makes it easier to open the case when using the headphones, allowing me to confidently open and close it with one hand.
The earbuds are available in two finishes: Brilliant Blue and Metallic Grey. I received the Splendid Blue earbuds for review, and they have a nice chrome finish around the ear stems, with a blue plastic shell closer to the silicon tips. These chrome-plated stems are thicker than those on the Buds Pro 2 and also give it some grip (even if they do get dirty) so they don’t slip out of my hands when taking them out or putting them in the charging case . Just like the OnePlus Buds Pro 2, these earbuds are very comfortable to wear and I wore them for hours on end without any issues or discomfort.
The charging box weighs 40.8 grams, and each earbud weighs 4.8 grams, which is not heavy. In fact, they’re lighter than the OnePlus Buds Pro 2’s total weight (over 50 grams). Just like the OnePlus Buds Z2, the Buds 3 offer IP55 dust and water resistance. This means the buds can also withstand splashing or sweaty workouts. Included in the sales package are two additional sets of silicone ear tips and a short USB-C charging cable.
OnePlus Buds 3 review: Apps and specs
When connected to a OnePlus smartphone, all settings and customizations can be accessed under the phone’s Bluetooth settings Settings > Bluetooth > OnePlus Buds 3 > i > Earbuds Features. One can adjust the effect of active noise cancellation, adjust the equalizer, toggle 3D audio, and more importantly, adjust the earbud controls from here. Users can also find the headset and control the camera when connected to a OnePlus smartphone (not available on non-OnePlus devices).
For non-OnePlus smartphone and iPhone users, there is the HeyMelody app. It’s available for Android and iOS devices and offers tons of control and customization features. You get Noise Control (ANC), adjustable EQ, Golden Sound, and even OnePlus 3D Audio. One can even toggle dual connectivity and even view connected devices on the iPhone. For those who prefer low latency, there’s even the ability to toggle gaming mode and even upgrade the firmware using your iPhone, which is pretty impressive. The earbud controls are entirely under a separate section.
The touch controls that come with the OnePlus Buds 3 are completely new. They work very well, providing accurate feedback as your fingers run up or down the stem of the earbuds. While touch controls have been present on OnePlus headphones for a while, new swipe gestures let users change tracks or adjust volume.
What’s more, each earbud can be customized with swipe gestures, with one used to switch tracks and another to adjust the volume. For many people, this feature or gesture alone may seem like a reason to upgrade to this pair of true wireless earphones, since even the high-end Buds Pro 2 don’t let you adjust the volume controls through the earphones.
As for the specs, each earbud features a 10.4mm woofer and 6mm tweeter (dual driver) with a sensitivity of 110db and a frequency response ranging from 15Hz to 40,000Hz. There are 3 microphones on each earbud for noise cancellation in addition to calls. Each earbud is equipped with a 58mAH lithium-ion battery, while the charging case is equipped with a large-capacity 520mAh battery. The headset uses Bluetooth 5.3 and supports AAC, SBS and even LHDC 5.0 codecs.
OnePlus Buds 3 review: Performance and battery life
As expected from an audio product at this price point, the audio caters primarily to the bass-heavy crowd. However, this isn’t the usual muddy bass, but a rather clear and well-defined type, which is very enjoyable when listening to dance music or even watching movies, as it adds an extra thump without being overpowering. But all of this happens at the default Balanced EQ setting, which does exactly what it claims to do, retaining a bass-heavy sound for the “Bass” setting. As usual, the mids still take a bit of a hit, but most users won’t notice this. For those who do, the “Serenade” preset seems to solve this problem to an extent.
There is also a BassWave feature that I find very unique. Activating it in the settings not only increases the bass level, but also lowers or lowers it. However, using that feature only seems to make things worse (no matter where you go), so I’d rather turn it off.
As for the microphones, they do an excellent job of drowning out unwanted ambient sounds, making the caller’s voice sound loud and clear in a variety of settings. During my review period, I never heard a caller complain about my voice quality, which is impressive since I often hear callers complain when using the Buds Pro 2?
The active noise cancellation (ANC) technology works as expected, suppressing low-frequency noise well, but it doesn’t suppress mid- and high-frequency noise very well. Still, it’s quite capable considering its price point, and it gets the job done.
In terms of connectivity, the OnePlus Buds 3 perform quite well. I was able to hold conversations and listen to music in my apartment a few meters away (with a solid wall and door in between), and the connection seemed to have no interruptions or difficulties (provided I stuck to the lighter SBC/AAC codec). When playing games using the HeyMelody app on your iPhone or other Android devices, there’s a separate mode that prioritizes latency over audio quality.
As for battery life, using the AAC codec to play music continuously, at 50% volume and with ANC turned off, the headphones easily lasted 10 hours on a single charge. With ANC turned on, that number drops to around 6 hours. As expected, switching to the heavier LHDC further reduced playtime, bringing it down to just around 5 hours. In fact, the thick casing does have some benefits, allowing the headphones to be used up to 4 times on a single charge.
While the LHDC audio codec is available, it’s obvious to conclude that it would be wiser to stick with AAC for better battery life and ANC usage, as the advantages of LHDC are a bit gimmicky for these earbuds. They can only manage a minimum of 400kbps, but are not usable (in terms of stability and range) at the promised bitrates of 1Mbps or 1,000kbps.
I can’t accurately test the charging speed, but OnePlus claims that the Buds 3 true wireless earphones can provide up to 7 hours of combined use with 10 minutes of charging in the case, which sounds like enough, so I’ll trust them if.
judgment
At Rs. Priced at $5,499, the OnePlus Buds 3 truly wireless earbuds offer a ton of features carried over from the higher-end Buds Pro 2, in some ways almost making the latter redundant. Key among them are new swipe gestures with touch controls, which provide a convenient way to control volume and music playback experience without having to reach for your smartphone. While the addition of the LHDC codec is questionable, you still get capable ANC and excellent voice quality. A well-designed companion app offers most of the features of a OnePlus smartphone, even on non-OnePlus devices, ultimately making the OnePlus Buds 3 earphones a very compelling piece of audio kit at this price point.