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OnePlus Buds Pro 3
OnePlus is renowned for producing some of the best wireless earbuds at an affordable price. The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 are no different and beget superior sound quality, Bluetooth 5.4, and a feature-rich companion app. However, some notable pitfalls and omissions keep the earbuds from elevating above more premium brands. Discover how they stack against Apple, Sony, Jabra, and more in our OnePlus Buds Pro 3 review.
Editor’s note: this is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.
What I like about the OnePlus Buds Pro 3
The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 adorn a pressure-sensitive stemmed design with a heavier and larger profile than their predecessor. However, the updated 5.3g frame fits well and feels exceptionally comfortable. The buds ship in Midnight Opus (black) and Lunar Radiance (white) colorways and package XS, S, M, and L ear tips to secure a robust and cozy seal. Vents successfully alleviate pressure inside the ear canal, and the AirPods Pro-style aesthetic is eye-catching. The earbuds have an IP55-rated exterior that protects against sweaty workouts and dust.
Squeeze controls are a boon for those with long hair, and the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 deliver in spades. Control customization is easy in the HeyMelody companion app (iOS/Android,) with single, double, and triple-press functions. OnePlus phone owners can take photos by double-squeezing either earbud. Likewise, you can use the earbuds to record audio when filming videos on a OnePlus phone. The company’s Zen Mode Air feature can also be accessed quickly by assigning it to a triple-tap control. There are five downloadable options, with Summer Waves pre-installed with the app. Holding either earbud for one second activates noise canceling or transparency mode by default, and the buds support in-ear detection.
OnePlus's dual DACs deliver thumping bass and a clear high-end
OnePlus has swapped its predecessor’s flat rectangle case for a sleeker, top-loading case. This enjoys smooth edges and leather-textured front and back panels. It’s IPX4 protected, can be topped up by USB-C or wireless charging, and has a handy LED battery level indicator. Fast charging is supported and profits 13 hours of playtime from a 10-minute top-up. OnePlus claims the earbuds last 10 hours without ANC and the case delivers an additional 33 hours of listening time. The earbuds should also last up to six hours with ANC enabled, with the case boosting this to nearly 26 hours.
The company claims the earbuds enjoy up to 50dB of adaptive noise canceling. While we haven’t tested the earbuds yet, I found they are adept at dampening intrusive outside sounds. If ambient noise is bleeding into your mix you can conduct an earbud fit test in the app to improve isolation. OnePlus also offers its proprietary Golden Sound feature that runs a hearing test to tailor your audio. Movie and gaming fans can utilize native spatial audio with head tracking, and the HeyMelody app pairs with OHealth to conduct a neck vertebrae health check and monitor your posture in real-time. Those prone to losing their buds will also enjoy OnePlus’ Find My Earbuds function.
I enjoy the default sound of the OnePlus Buds Pro 3. The earbuds utilize a dual-DAC system to split output between the 11mm bass woofers and 6mm tweeters. The result is a sound that I find has ample bass and a clear high-end. For example, the kick drum in Calva Louise’s song ‘Under The Skin‘ cuts through the mix without overpowering the palm-muted guitar line, synth lead, or vocals. Those wanting to hone their sound have five EQ presets and a 6-band custom EQ in the HeyMelody app. There is also a BassWave slider for those who like their EQ profile but want to dial in some extra oomph.
The earbuds run Bluetooth version 5.4 and support the SBC, AAC, and LHDC 5.0 codecs — the last provides variable bitrates of up to 1Mbps and 24-bit/192kHz audio sampling. Those sporting multiple devices can use dual device connection (Bluetooth Multipoint) and Android owners can get set up easily with Google Fast Pair. Microphone performance is as expected for buds in this price range, with a good amount of background noise suppression while taking calls. However, the buds are not without their faults.
What I don’t like about the OnePlus Buds Pro 3
The black matte finish is sleek-looking but attracts fingerprints and grime remarkably easily. It is also difficult to distinguish between the earbuds and the charging case in darker environments. While the case has undergone a drastic cosmetic overhaul, it ships with a comedically short charging cable. This sports USB-C on one end and USB-A on the other. The earbud cable is effectively nullified given the case has a USB-C port and my OnePlus 9 Pro smartphone uses a USB-C charger. The case must also be placed counter-intuitively logo-side down when charging on a Qi Wireless mat.
OnePlus upped its game with its control customization. For example, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 use squeeze controls but do not benefit from onboard volume adjustments. The company corrected this with the Buds Pro 3. However, while volume sliders are welcome, they are situated awkwardly on the front of the stem. This makes it particularly hard to adjust while walking or exercising and often leads to random poking around the tragus. Similarly, the lack of single-tap customization hinders an otherwise rarely-rivalled level of control personalization.
The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 ship with a comedically short charging cable that many will struggle to justify.
Unlike premium earbuds like the Sony WF-1000XM5, the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 do not have speak-to-chat functionality. Consequently, the earbuds will not stop playing music automatically when you speak to a checkout clerk. This is a misstep considering the company has gone through the pains of developing its transparency mode. While we’re on the topic, the bud’s pass-through mode is middling and does just an okay job of making speech more intelligible.
It is worth noting that the OnePlus Bud Pro 3 have a quiet built-in volume ceiling by default. Should the earbuds sound quiet when paired to your smartphone, select the Device volume sync button in your Bluetooth settings menu. This should correct the problem, although I haven’t experienced this often with other earbuds until now.
Should you buy the OnePlus Buds Pro 3?
Those looking for earbuds with good sound quality without breaking the bank should consider the OnePlus Buds Pro 3. They come packed with many flagship features including spatial audio with head tracking, a robust IP55 rating, and the LHDC Bluetooth codec. Sure, the earbuds don’t have all the bells and whistles of more premium earbuds. But for ($199 at OnePlus) the Buds Pro 3 are a decent option.
What should you buy instead of the OnePlus Buds Pro 3?
iPhone owners seeking conversational awareness and fast pairing should grab the AirPods Pro 2 ($239 at Amazon.) Most people will enjoy the way the AirPods Pro 2 sound. They also integrate seamlessly with the Apple ecosystem and enjoy automatic device switching and the Hey Siri voice assistant.
Commuters should look no further than the Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 ($279.99 at Amazon) for best-in-class noise canceling. These earbuds attenuate ambient noise by an average of 85%. They also last over five hours on a single charge and wear an IP57 rating. This protects against omnidirectional water jets, dust, and small solid objects. However, given Jabra is winding down its earbuds category, future support is not guaranteed.
The Sony WF-1000XM5 ($298 at Amazon) are the reigning OS-agnostic champion for most people. With over 30dB of noise suppression across most low frequencies, eight hours of battery life, and the LDAC Bluetooth codec, these buds remain the cream of the crop. Unlike the OnePlus Buds Pro 3, the WF-1000XM5 support speak-to-chat functionality and hands-free Google Assistant. The charging case also begets an additional 16 hours of charge and the packaging includes a selection of foam ear tips.
Budget-conscious consumers should snatch the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro ($129.99 at Amazon.) These earbuds enjoy good sound quality, a comprehensive companion app, the LDAC Bluetooth codec, and excellent noise canceling at an affordable price.
OnePlus Buds Pro 3 review: FAQs
The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 are not waterproof. However, their IP55 rating will protect the earbuds from omnidirectional water jets. Just be mindful that IP ratings degrade over time with repeated use.
The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 do support wireless charging. According to the company, the earbuds take two and a half hours to charge wirelessly. Reverse wireless charging is also compatible with recent phones like the OnePlus 12.
Yes, they can. OnePlus’ comprehensive companion app, HeyMelody, works with iOS devices. Gamers and movie lovers using Android and iOS devices can enjoy spatial audio with head tracking and many other OS-agnostic features.
Yes, the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 are noise canceling earbuds.
Yes, the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 support Bluetooth Multipoint. OnePlus calls it Dual Device Connection.