OnePlus Buds Pro 3 review
OnePlus has a potential hit on its hands with the OnePlus Buds Pro 3. The Buds Pro 3 offers a compelling package of stylish design, excellent sound quality, and a robust feature set and is well worth its price tag. The faux leather texture adds a touch of class, and the redesigned case feels premium. Sonically, the Buds Pro 3 impress with their powerful bass, clear highs, and good instrument separation, though the mid-range could use a bit more refinement.
The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 is the latest addition to the brand’s growing lineup of true wireless earbuds. Known for offering high-end features at competitive prices, OnePlus has pushed the envelope further with this new offering. The Buds Pro 3 not only flaunts a redesigned aesthetic but also promises significant improvements in sound quality and Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). However, the competition is fierce in a market crowded with formidable contenders like the OPPO Enco X2 (review), Nothing Ear (2024) (review), and Moto Buds+ (review).
The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 are aimed at audiophiles and everyday users alike. They offer a mix of high-fidelity sound, intelligent features, and extended battery life. While OnePlus has always been good at delivering quality hardware, the question remains: have they managed to improve their audio experience alongside the design makeover? In this review, we’ll break down the OnePlus Buds Pro 3’s build, features, performance, and more to help you decide if these earbuds are worth your hard-earned money.
The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 takes a new approach with its design, departing from the suitcase-like case of its predecessor in favour of a pebble-shaped case. This change aligns the Buds Pro 3 with its sister company OPPO’s TWS earphones, offering a more ergonomic and compact form factor. What really sets the design apart, though, is the faux leather texture that adorns the front and back of the case. This not only enhances the look but also adds a tactile element that makes the Buds Pro 3 feel more premium.
It’s important to note that the faux leather is actually plastic and not actual leather or vegan leather. While the material choice might not scream luxury, it’s a step in the right direction for those looking for something a little more stylish in their everyday tech.
The case also features a metallic-look circumference with a matte finish, adding to the sleek and minimalist aesthetic OnePlus is known for. Available in two colours—Midnight Opus and Lunar Radiance—the Buds Pro 3 case sports an LED indicator at the bottom for charging status, along with a discreet pairing button on the side.
However, the case is on the heavier side, even more so than the Sony WF-1000XM4, which could be a drawback for those who prefer something lightweight and pocketable. The earbuds themselves follow a matte and glossy finish combination, which exudes a premium vibe. The fit is excellent, providing a secure and comfortable experience, though the pressure controls could offer a bit more tactile feedback.
OnePlus has packed the Buds Pro 3 with an array of features that cater to both casual listeners and audiophiles. Nearly every modern feature you’d expect from a TWS in 2024 is present, ensuring that the Buds Pro 3 remain competitive in a crowded market. The companion app, HeyMelody, available on both Android and iOS, provides a hub for these features, allowing users to customise their experience to a significant degree.
One of the standout features is the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), which is impressive for the price point. OnePlus has significantly improved the ANC quality over previous iterations, even outperforming competitors like the Nothing Ear (2024) and the OPPO Enco X2. Human voices and ambient sounds are effectively silenced, making these buds ideal for noisy environments. Users can choose between manual ANC settings or engage Adaptive ANC, which automatically adjusts the level of noise cancellation based on the surrounding environment.
Another noteworthy feature is the inclusion of a 6-band equaliser, allowing users to tweak the sound profile to their liking. Additionally, there’s a BassWave slider that enhances the bass response, although cranking it up too high can lead to muddiness in the sound. Spatial Audio is another prominent feature, with OnePlus switching to Google’s Spatial Audio technology. While Spatial Audio with Head Tracking can introduce some distortion, the Fixed setting doesn’t face the same issue, and offers a wide soundstage, making for a more immersive listening experience.
The Buds Pro 3 also comes equipped with other modern features like Multipoint or Dual Connection, which lets you connect the earbuds to two devices simultaneously. There’s also an Earbud Fit Test to ensure the perfect fit for optimal sound quality. Google Fast Pair, wireless charging, and on-ear detection round out the extensive feature set, making the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 one of the most feature-rich TWS earbuds on the market today.
The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 doesn’t just boast a design overhaul; the internal hardware has seen a significant upgrade as well. Like its predecessor, the Buds Pro 3 is tuned by Dynaudio and features dual drivers—an 11mm woofer and a 6mm tweeter in each earbud. However, this time around, OnePlus has enhanced the drivers and added two Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs) per earbud. This dual DAC setup allows for better instrument separation, as one DAC handles the tweeter while the other focuses on the woofer, resulting in a more balanced and dynamic audio experience.
The sound signature of the Buds Pro 3 leans towards a V-shape, with prominent lows and sparkly highs. The bass is full-bodied, delivering a punchy and energetic performance, while the highs remain clear and detailed. However, the mid-range—specifically the 250-500 Hz range—experiences a slight dip, leading to some auditory masking in the mids. This means that male vocals and instruments that fall within this range might sound a bit recessed, especially compared to competitors like the OPPO Enco X2, which offers a more refined mid-range performance.
Despite this minor shortcoming, the overall sound quality is impressive, especially for the price. The bass attack is strong, and the upper mids provide excellent clarity, making the Buds Pro 3 suitable for a wide range of music genres. The soundstage is decent for in-ear headphones but gets a noticeable boost with Spatial Audio enabled. Additionally, the imaging and instrument separation are top-notch, allowing for a detailed and immersive listening experience.
When it comes to call quality, the Buds Pro 3 is no slouch. Equipped with three microphones per earbud, along with a Bone Conducting Voice Pickup Sensor and an AI algorithm, these earbuds deliver clear and crisp call quality even in noisy environments. Whether you’re in a bustling cafe or taking a call on the go, your voice comes through loud and clear, making it a great choice for those who need reliable call performance.
Battery life is another area where the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 shines. According to OnePlus, the earbuds can deliver up to 10 hours of playtime on a single charge with ANC turned off and AAC codec active. The charging case provides an additional 33 hours of battery life, bringing the total to an impressive 43 hours of playback time. With ANC enabled, the battery life drops to 6 hours for the earbuds and 25.5 hours total with the case.
In real-world testing, the Buds Pro 3 lived up to OnePlus’ claims, delivering around 6.2 hours of playtime with ANC on and AAC active. Additionally, the earbuds support fast charging, which gives you 10 hours of playback time with just a 10-minute charge. Wireless charging is also available, which is quite convenient.
OnePlus has a potential hit on its hands with the OnePlus Buds Pro 3. The Buds Pro 3 offers a compelling package of stylish design, excellent sound quality, and a robust feature set and is well worth its price tag. The faux leather texture adds a touch of class, and the redesigned case feels premium. Sonically, the Buds Pro 3 impress with their powerful bass, clear highs, and good instrument separation, though the mid-range could use a bit more refinement.
With effective ANC, extensive app-based customisations, and solid battery life, the Buds Pro 3 proves to be a strong contender in the TWS market. While there are minor quirks, such as the weight of the case and some distortion with Spatial Audio head-tracking, these don’t detract from the overall experience too much. These buds easily secure the Digit seal of approval. So, if you’re in the market for feature-packed earbuds with great sound, the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 should definitely be on your radar.
