The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 are OnePlus’ third-generation premium wireless earphones, priced at Rs 11,999. These earphones feature adaptive active noise cancellation, the LHDC codec for Hi-Res wireless audio, spatial audio, multipoint connectivity for simultaneous connections with two devices, and support for both wireless and wired charging.
On paper, the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 appear to be an incremental upgrade over their predecessor, but OnePlus has claimed improvements across a number of aspects, from design and audio quality to call performance and battery life.
Design
The OnePlus Buds Pro 3, both case and earbuds, look nothing like their predecessor – and for the better. The case, which is now pebble-shaped, features vegan leather on the front and back for a premium feel and improved ergonomics. Available in Midnight Opus and Lunar Radiance (review unit), the case has a shiny gold OnePlus logo, adding a touch of elegance to its generic design.
As for the earbuds, they have a glossy finish on the stems and a matte texture on the stems. The earbuds have “R” and “L” cutouts for clear identification between the right and left earbuds. It is easy to take them out of the case, but the glossy texture on the stems is slippery and leads to accidental drops. However, the earbuds are lightweight and modestly sized to offer a comfortable fit in the ear canal. Also, the in-ear design with soft ear cushions offers a secure fit.
Characteristics
The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 are feature-packed wireless earbuds. Key features include:
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Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation: Automatically adjusts noise blocking intensity based on ambient noise levels, with manual settings for maximum, moderate, and mild. -
Master Sound Equalizer: That’s for the sound profiles, co-designed in partnership with Danish audio brand Dynaudio. There are a total of five preset equalizers to choose from and an option to create a custom one, if the presets don’t match your tastes. The preset options include Balanced, which is set as the default and works well in most scenarios; Bold, which enhances instrument details; Serenade, which is tuned for vocals; Bass, which adds more texture to low frequencies for an enhanced thumping effect; and Dynaudio Featured, which is said to replicate the sound of Dynaudio speakers. In addition to these sound profiles, there’s an option to enable OnePlus’ BassWave technology, which enhances bass without compromising detail in other bands. -
Golden sound: It is a tool to adjust the sound signature based on your hearing profile. To do this, the headphones perform a test of about three minutes to scan the structure of the ear canal and the hearing characteristics. -
Spatial audio: It uses Google Spatial Audio technology to deliver spacious sound, even if the soundtrack only supports stereo output natively. More importantly, it supports head tracking. -
Game mode: Reduces transmission latency, but works best only with OnePlus smartphones. -
Double connection: It can be paired with two devices including Android and iOS. -
Headphone Fit Test: Helps you find the right ear tip for the best experience. -
Quick Google Pair: Android devices recognize the headphones in pairing mode and allow quick connection. -
Hi-Res audio: It supports the LHDC codec for high-resolution audio streaming, in addition to the more commonly used SBC and AAC codecs. It is important to note that LHDC is not a widely available codec on Android devices.
Companion App
Most of the OnePlus Buds Pro 3’s core features are available even on non-OnePlus devices via the companion app called “Hey Melody.” This app is available on the Play Store for Android and the App Store for iPhone. That said, it’s to OnePlus’ credit that it doesn’t tie the earbuds’ core features to its ecosystem.
Audio and calls
The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 offer a balanced sound profile with clear bass and treble, complemented by optimal loudness. As mentioned above, there are five sound profiles available and you might find the right audio setting among them to suit your listening preferences. If not, there is an option to create a custom one. In my case, the default (Balanced) sound profile worked well in most cases and I occasionally switched to the Bass sound profile.
The spatial audio feature improves the audio experience by widening the soundstage and supports head tracking. Importantly, it works across all audio streaming platforms and even with audio files recorded natively in stereo.
While the earbuds work well overall, call quality is decent but not exceptional; the microphones sometimes struggle to filter out ambient noise in loud environments.
Battery
The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 offer a modest battery life of around four hours with active noise cancellation enabled in Smart Mode. Battery life increases significantly with active noise cancellation disabled and at lower volume levels. With the case, the earbuds provide enough battery life for at least a week of use with a couple of hours of daily use. Charging is fast, taking around 40 minutes, although wireless charging is slower. This feature is still a useful addition, especially for devices that support wireless power sharing.
Verdict
The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 are feature-packed wireless earbuds that offer a compelling combination of performance and versatility. Designed primarily for Android devices, they also work effectively with iPhones thanks to the companion app. If you’re looking for premium wireless earbuds that offer durability and adaptability to different devices, the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 are a solid choice.
First published: August 26, 2024 | 1:44 PM IS
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