ONE PUS BUDS 3 PRO

The OnePlus Buds 3 Pro is the latest addition to OnePlus’s lineup of true wireless earbuds, designed to deliver a premium audio experience with cutting-edge features. Building on the success of its predecessors, the Buds 3 Pro aims to cater to audiophiles, fitness enthusiasts, and everyday users alike. With a focus on sound quality, active noise cancellation (ANC), battery life, and seamless connectivity, the OnePlus Buds 3 Pro is a strong contender in the competitive true wireless earbuds market. This review will delve into every aspect of the earbuds, from design and comfort to performance and features.

Design and Build Quality

The OnePlus Buds 3 Pro features a sleek and modern design that aligns with OnePlus’s minimalist aesthetic. The earbuds have a compact, in-ear design with a stem that houses the microphones and touch controls. The stem is slightly shorter than previous models, giving the Buds 3 Pro a more refined look. The earbuds are available in multiple color options, including classic black, white, and a unique gradient finish that adds a touch of sophistication.

The charging case is equally stylish, with a matte finish that resists fingerprints and scratches. It is lightweight and pocket-friendly, making it easy to carry around. The case features a USB-C charging port and supports wireless charging, adding to its convenience.

OnePlus has paid attention to ergonomics, ensuring that the Buds 3 Pro fit comfortably in the ear. The earbuds come with multiple ear tip sizes (S, M, L) to accommodate different ear shapes, providing a secure fit for extended listening sessions. The IP55 rating for dust and water resistance makes them suitable for workouts and outdoor use, offering peace of mind against sweat and light rain.

Sound Quality

The OnePlus Buds 3 Pro shines in the audio department, delivering a rich and immersive listening experience. The earbuds are equipped with custom-tuned dynamic drivers that produce clear highs, detailed mids, and deep, punchy bass. OnePlus has collaborated with audio experts to fine-tune the sound signature, ensuring a balanced and natural audio output.

The Buds 3 Pro supports high-resolution audio codecs like LDAC and AAC, allowing for superior sound quality over Bluetooth. Whether you’re listening to music, watching movies, or gaming, the earbuds provide exceptional clarity and depth. The soundstage is wide, creating a sense of space and separation between instruments and vocals.

OnePlus has also introduced a new “Audio ID” feature, which uses a hearing test to customize the sound profile based on your unique hearing capabilities. This personalized audio experience ensures that you hear every detail exactly as it was intended.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)

The OnePlus Buds 3 Pro boasts advanced hybrid active noise cancellation technology, which combines feedforward and feedback microphones to block out external noise effectively. The ANC can reduce ambient noise by up to 40dB, making it ideal for use in noisy environments like airplanes, trains, or busy offices.

The earbuds offer multiple ANC modes, including:

1. Max ANC: For maximum noise reduction in extremely loud environments.
2. Adaptive ANC: Automatically adjusts the level of noise cancellation based on your surroundings.
3. Transparency Mode: Allows you to hear ambient sounds, such as announcements or conversations, without removing the earbuds.

The ANC performance is impressive, with the Buds 3 Pro effectively canceling out low-frequency noises like engine rumbles and high-frequency noises like chatter. The adaptive ANC mode is particularly useful, as it intelligently balances noise cancellation and battery life.

Battery Life

Battery life is a standout feature of the OnePlus Buds 3 Pro. The earbuds offer up to 10 hours of playback on a single charge with ANC turned off, and up to 7 hours with ANC enabled. The charging case provides an additional 34 hours of battery life, bringing the total playback time to an impressive 44 hours.

The earbuds support fast charging, with just 10 minutes of charging providing up to 10 hours of playback. Wireless charging is also supported, allowing you to charge the case using a Qi-compatible wireless charger.

Connectivity and Controls

The OnePlus Buds 3 Pro uses Bluetooth 5.3 for seamless and stable connectivity. The earbuds support multi-point connectivity, allowing you to connect to two devices simultaneously. This feature is particularly useful for users who switch between a smartphone and a laptop or tablet.

The touch controls on the earbuds are intuitive and responsive. You can play/pause music, skip tracks, adjust volume, answer calls, and activate ANC or transparency mode with simple taps and swipes. The controls are customizable via the OnePlus Audio Lab app, allowing you to tailor the earbuds to your preferences.

The Buds 3 Pro also features low-latency gaming mode, which reduces audio lag to as low as 94ms. This makes the earbuds ideal for mobile gaming, where synchronization between audio and visuals is crucial.

Call Quality

The OnePlus Buds 3 Pro excels in call quality, thanks to its advanced microphone array and noise reduction algorithms. Each earbud is equipped with three microphones that work together to isolate your voice and reduce background noise. Whether you’re in a quiet room or a noisy street, your voice will come through clearly to the person on the other end of the call.

The earbuds also support wind noise reduction, ensuring that your voice remains clear even in windy conditions. This makes the Buds 3 Pro a reliable choice for phone calls and video conferences.

Companion App and Customization

The OnePlus Audio Lab app enhances the functionality of the Buds 3 Pro by providing a range of customization options. Through the app, you can:

• Adjust the equalizer settings to fine-tune the sound profile.
• Customize the touch controls for each earbud.
• Enable or disable ANC modes and adjust their intensity.
• Update the firmware to ensure optimal performance.
• Access the Audio ID feature for personalized sound.

The app is user-friendly and adds significant value to the overall experience of using the Buds 3 Pro.

Comparison with Competitors

The OnePlus Buds 3 Pro competes with other premium true wireless earbuds like the Apple AirPods Pro, Sony WF-1000XM5, and Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. Here’s how it stacks up:

• Sound Quality: The Buds 3 Pro offers a balanced sound signature that rivals the Sony WF-1000XM5 and surpasses the AirPods Pro in terms of bass response.
• ANC: While the Sony WF-1000XM5 has slightly better noise cancellation, the Buds 3 Pro’s adaptive ANC is more versatile and user-friendly.
• Battery Life: The Buds 3 Pro outperforms both the AirPods Pro and Galaxy Buds 2 Pro in terms of battery life.
• Price: The Buds 3 Pro is more affordable than its competitors, making it an excellent value-for-money option.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Excellent sound quality with customizable audio profiles.
• Effective hybrid ANC with multiple modes.
• Long battery life with fast and wireless charging.
• Comfortable and secure fit with IP55 rating.
• Intuitive touch controls and companion app.
• Affordable compared to competitors.

Cons:

• The design, while stylish, may not stand out compared to other premium earbuds.
• The companion app is not as feature-rich as Sony’s or Samsung’s offerings.

Conclusion

The OnePlus Buds 3 Pro is a well-rounded pair of true wireless earbuds that delivers exceptional sound quality, effective noise cancellation, and long battery life. Its comfortable fit, intuitive controls, and affordable price make it a compelling choice for anyone in the market for premium earbuds. While it may not have the brand recognition of Apple or Sony, the Buds 3 Pro more than holds its own in terms of performance and features. Whether you’re a music lover, a frequent traveler, or a mobile gamer, the OnePlus Buds 3 Pro is a worthy investment.