OnePlus has so far made a clear line between its truly wireless earphones that are expensive and those that are inexpensive. The Nord and Z series, which included devices like the OnePlus Nord Buds 2 and Buds Z2, catered to the lower price range, while the OnePlus Pro 2 and Buds Pro before it covered the premium market. The OnePlus Buds 3 are a pair of premium-looking TWS earbuds that are half the price of the Buds 2 Pro, and the firm decided to throw this balance off with their release. We’re not whining, though! Good OnePlus Buds 3 are available. Excellent.
Rating: 8 / 10
Connectivity, comfort, and design
Because you’re getting a quality design for half the price, it’s fantastic that the OnePlus Buds 3 borrows some design ideas from its Pro sibling. The case’s rectangular form and matte finish are reminiscent of the Buds Pro 2 design. It feels smooth to the touch and doesn’t exhibit a noticeable pocket bulge. It is simple to open a case this slick because of the large slit. The earphones are flat within the case, and a button for Bluetooth connecting is located in the center.
Because of their small weight and supple silicone tips, the earbuds are easy to wear in your ears for extended periods. Additionally, they have an IP55 rating for water and dust resistance, so even the rare drop of rain or perspiration when working out won’t harm them.
Dual Connection, Google Fast Pair, and Bluetooth 5.3 are all supported by the OnePlus Buds 3. The latter smoothly flips between two gadgets, such as a laptop and a phone. I had no trouble connecting to the internet or moving between linked devices during the review time. When game mode is engaged, the earphones’ excellent low latency performance can be even better.
Comparing the sound quality with the Enco Air3 Pro
My favorite headphones for traveling are the OnePlus Buds 3, which I like using for music listening. Two dynamic drivers—a 10.4 mm woofer and a 6 mm tweeter—are housed in each earphone. The earphones are compatible with AAC, LHDC, and SBC audio codecs. Although LHDC produces high-resolution audio, you should be aware that its support isn’t as extensive as that of LDAC.
The earbuds have a bass-forward sound by default when set to Balanced, but the good news is that the bass rarely drowns out the voices or other instruments. For instance, I listened to The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Go Robot. In this song, Flea lays down a bassline so heavy that, on standard headphones, it can drown out Chad’s vocals.
The OnePlus Buds 3 provides clear vocals and strong bass response, making them suitable for genres like hip-hop and rock. When listening to Acoustic tracks by Sufjan Stevens, such as Chicago (Demo), the earbuds come alive. On the other hand, I’ve found that listening to pop music has been somewhat hit or miss for me. Pop songs like Justin Timberlake’s “What Goes Around Comes Around” had a V-shaped sound signature that I enjoyed, but pitchier tracks like “Shivers” by Ed Sheeran made my ears ring.
This is my assessment of the Buds 3’s sound across a range of genres:
Ratings by genre
Rock: 4.5 Hip-Hop: 4.5
Sound system4/5 Pop3.5 out of 5
The OPPO Enco Air3 Pro is the primary competitor of the OnePlus Buds 3. After testing both sets, I discovered that the OnePlus earbuds’ dual drivers produce a richer, more bass-forward sound than the Enco Air3 Pro’s single driver. Nevertheless, the Enco Air3 Pro produces perfectly balanced, crystal-clear sound with a somewhat broader soundstage that lets instruments shine. Additionally, it supports LDAC, increasing its compatibility with a wider range of phones.
ANC and microphone caliber
Up to 49dB of Active Noise Cancellation is provided by the OnePlus Buds 3, matching or exceeding the performance of rival earbuds in this price range. The ANC quality is excellent in and of itself, successfully attenuating harsh ambient noises when traveling in a crowded space or on public transportation. Even if you’re not paying attention, you can still hear the occasional tapping of keyboards at the office or the announcement of a station arriving when riding the metro.
The Buds 3’s ANC was marginally superior to the OPPO Enco Air3 Pro’s, in my opinion, mostly because of their superior sealing.
In terms of microphone quality, the Enco Air3 Pro is not as clear as the OnePlus Buds 3, at least while speaking inside.
Battery life
There is an excellent battery life with the OnePlus Buds 3. The earphones (with the case) can easily last a week to ten days on around two to three hours of listening time per day, even if I wasn’t able to test how long each earpiece can survive on a single charge. Up to 44 hours of playback seems about accurate, according to OnePlus’s claims. Naturally, employing ANC or not will have an impact on how long the battery lasts.
Again, it seems reasonable that OnePlus claims you can get up to 7 hours of audio playback on a 10-minute charge. Using the 100W charger included with the OnePlus 12R, it took about 1 hour and 35 minutes to fully charge the case and earbuds with 10 percent battery remaining.
Verdict
Right now, the OnePlus Buds 3 are without a doubt my favorite earphones. While I’m commuting, I frequently pick them over my original AirPods Pro. The Buds 3 TWS earbuds hit many marks that justify purchasing them for less than Rs 6,000. The earphones and the case have a high-end appearance and feel, and the swiping gesture is an added convenience. Compared to the Enco Air3 Pro, the earbuds provide a better bass response and a more thrilling sound. The battery life is great, however the ANC is mediocre. All things considered, for this price range, the OnePlus Buds 3 is the most comprehensive package available.
The OnePlus Buds 3’s bass-heavy sound may be too much for some people, but they may adjust the EQ to suit their tastes. Those who prefer to listen to rock, acoustic, and hip-hop music might do best with the Buds 3. The Enco Air3 Pro may be something to think about if you’re searching for a more versatile profile that works well with all genres.
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