at a glance
expert rating
pros
- comfortable to wear for long hours
- Seamless integration with OnePlus phones
- Zen Mode Air provides soothing meditation sounds
Shortcoming
- thin bass response
- Limited support for iPhone as well as other Android phones
our decision
The OnePlus Buds Pro are comfortable for all-day listening and offer a seamless experience for OnePlus phone owners, but non-OnePlus users should look elsewhere.
value when reviewed
$149.99
Today’s best prices: OnePlus Buds Pro
$123.99
$149.99
One reason for the massive success of Apple’s AirPods is their tight integration with the iOS software that powers the iPhone. Android phone maker OnePlus has attempted a similar feat with its noise-canceling OnePlus Buds Pro, and they’ve largely succeeded.
Designed to work seamlessly with OnePlus devices, the OnePlus Buds Pro offer many of the same features you’ll find on the AirPods and Google’s Pixel earbuds, including ANC and transparency modes, as well as an earbud fit test and ” Find My” functionality is also included. And thanks to a third-party app, the OnePlus Buds Pro Desire Work surprisingly well with iPhone and non-OnePlus Android phones, even if the experience isn’t quite as seamless.
But while the OnePlus Buds Pro are comfortable enough to wear all day, their sound is a bit tinny compared to the best earbuds in OnePlus’ $150-ish price range, and they pale when stacked up against the costlier AirPods Pro and Pixel Buds Pro. Let’s go ,
This review Part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage best noise canceling headphones,
Are OnePlus Buds Pro water resistant?
Available in Glossy White, Matte Black or Radiant Silver, each OnePlus Buds Pro earbud weighs just 0.15 ounces.
Even though they’re small, the Buds Pro are easy to get in and out of your ear thanks to their short AirPod-style stems, while IP55 dust and water resistance make the buds great for working out.
Like a phone designed to work, the OnePlus earbuds are reasonably priced and exceptionally reliable.
Three sizes of silicone eartips and a USB-C charging cable are included with the earbuds and case.
The Bluetooth 5.2-enabled OnePlus Buds Pro earbuds offer a frequency response from 20Hz-20,000Hz with their 11mm dynamic drivers (one in each bud). SBC, AAC, and high-resolution LHDC3 codecs are supported, but Qualcomm’s aptX high-res codec is not supported.
The smaller OnePlus Buds Pro are easy to spot thanks to their AirPods-style stem.
James Barber / Foundry
How long is the battery life of the OnePlus Buds Pro?
The compact, roughly two-ounce charging case supports both Qi wireless and USB-C wired charging. Expect 5 hours of playback with noise cancellation on and 7 hours with ANC off.
A fully charged case will give you up to 38 hours of playtime (or 28 hours with ANC on). A 10-minute “warp charge” will give you 10 hours of playback with the charging case and earbuds combined.
How do you connect OnePlus Buds Pro earbuds to OnePlus phone?
The best use case for the OnePlus Pro earbuds is with a OnePlus phone. Open the case near your unlocked OnePlus device and you’ll be prompted to connect. All controls for the earbuds are located in the phone’s Bluetooth settings and can be accessed by tapping “Earbud functions”.
You get a screen that shows the battery level for each earbud, along with ANC On, ANC Off, and Transparency settings. With ANC enabled, you can choose between “Faint,” “Extreme” and “Smart” modes. Smart mode adapts the level of noise cancellation to your environment and was by far the most effective option during my testing.
Users can adjust the EQ through the “Sound Master” settings, which include Balanced, Bold, Serenade, Bass. There is also a custom option that allows users to adjust settings as per their liking and save multiple profiles for future use.
The OnePlus Buds Pro offer a range of features when used with OnePlus devices including ANC, transparency and EQ settings.
James Barber / Foundry
Do OnePlus Buds Pro earbuds offer earbud fit test?
There’s an earbud fit test followed by a OnePlus Audio ID test, which then optimizes the sound to match your hearing levels. I heard almost all of the beeps during testing, but I still found the setting better to hear than the default setting.
You can turn on in-ear detection, which pauses playback when you remove the earbud, and set up dual connection, which lets the buds pair with two devices at the same time.
There’s also a “Find my earbuds” option that will play a sound on a missing earbud.
Do OnePlus Buds Pro Have Touch Controls?
You can tweak the earbud touch controls for two options. A triple squeeze skips to the previous track or calls up your phone’s voice assistant. You can assign one gesture to the left earbud and the other to the right earbud, or make both earbuds perform the same function. A squeeze and hold switches between noise control modes. The default is Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off, but you have the option to disable any one option if you prefer.
It’s an impressive list of functions, one that rivals what Apple’s AirPods Pro, Google’s Pixel Buds Pro, and Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro offer. OnePlus adds a unique feature with the Zen Mode Air, which selects white noise or noticeable background sounds when you hold down the stem of either earbud for three seconds.
Can you use the OnePlus Buds Pro with an iPhone or Android phone?
If you don’t use a OnePlus phone, you can still use the OnePlus Pro earbuds with any other Android phone or iPhone. You’ll need to use the device’s Bluetooth settings to make a basic connection (like you have to with every other third-party headphone on the market), but then you can take advantage of some of the features with the Hemelody app for iPhone or iPad. Android.
HeyMelody is an app for headphone makers who don’t want to build their own apps, and it works remarkably well for these earbuds. The home screen shows the battery level for each earbud and case, and it allows you to change the noise control mode.
You can give earbud fit test and OnePlus Audio ID hearing test for audio enhancement. You’ve also got access to Zen Mode Air and all of its background sounds. You can make similar adjustments to the touch controls through the HeyMelody app.
Will you No get has access to the EQ settings. You also can’t switch between soundscapes created by OnePlus or customize your own.
While they will pair with iPhones, the OnePlus Buds Pro will work best with OnePlus devices.
James Barber / Foundry
How is the sound of the OnePlus Pro earbuds?
margo price’s 2023 album Rogue finds the singer songwriter straying away from the hardcore country that made him famous and toward a late ’60s psychedelic rock sound that’s heavy on roller-rink organ. The OnePlus Pro earbuds do a good job with their vocals and effects-heavy guitars and keyboards, but the kick drum and bass guitar sound a bit tinny compared to what you’d hear with the AirPods Pro 2 or the Pixel Buds Pro.
Of course, both the Apple and Google earbuds are far more expensive than the OnePlus Pro Buds. A better point of comparison might be the Soundcore Liberty 4, which sell for a similar price to the OnePlus earbuds.
The Liberty 4S offers a wide soundstage and rich bass. However, the OnePlus Pro earbuds are comfortable to wear for long periods of time, something that sets them apart from the AirPods Pro and Pixel Buds Pro. They’re a solid choice for long days at your desk.
Should you buy the OnePlus Buds Pro earbuds?
If you have a OnePlus phone, the OnePlus Buds Pro offer a better user experience in everything from the initial pairing process to their daily use. Like a phone designed to work, the OnePlus earbuds are reasonably priced and exceptionally reliable.
If you use another Android phone or iPhone, OnePlus would certainly like to have you as a customer, but you’d probably be better off with a pair of Google, Samsung, or Apple earbuds that ship with your particular phone. provide tight integration.
Meanwhile, bargain hunters will be able to find earbuds in the same price range that offer better sound for the price.
