These are OnePlus’ high-end wireless headphones. They have active noise cancellation, the Dynaudio seal of quality, and a design that will make you fall in love.
I like to come across products that take risks with a different design in a market category where it seems that all devices are the same.
When you hold the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 in your hand for the first time, there’s a microsecond during which you come to doubt what exactly it is that has fallen into your possession. But don’t worry, I can confirm that these are OnePlus’ wireless headphones.
In fact, these are the successors to the Buds Pro 2 that were already quite popular in the newsroom back in the day. These Buds Pro 3 were presented at the end of August.
I’ve been testing them thoroughly, and in this Buds Pro 3 review I’m going to tell you everything you need to know about this manufacturer’s wireless earbuds.
OnePlus Buds Pro 3 review, analysis, test, and opinion:
- OnePlus Buds Pro 3 features and technical sheet
- The most unique design I’ve ever seen in a wireless earbud
- The most hidden app ever
- One of the best wireless headphones I’ve tried for audio quality
- Many hours of autonomy that will depend on the use you make of noise cancellation
- Verdict: They’re the wireless headphones I’ll recommend when someone puts an emphasis on sound quality.
OnePlus Buds Pro 3 features and technical sheet
| Guy | In-ear (earbuds) |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | Earbuds: 33.6 x 21.15 x 25 mmCase: 64.7 x 52.45 x 25.75 mm |
| Weight | Earbud: 5.28 gramsCase: 50.57 grams |
| Microphone | 3 microphones + VPU (Voice Pickup Bone Sensor) |
| Drivers | 11mm dynamic driver6 mm flat driver |
| Water resistance | IP55 |
| Connections / Codecs | Bluetooth 5.4LHDC 5.0 / AAC / SBCSPP, HFP, A2DP, AVRCP |
| Load | Full Wired Charge: 70 minutesFull wireless charge: 2 hours and 30 minutes |
| Battery and autonomy | Headphones only: up to 10 hoursEarbuds + case: up to 43 hours |
| Extras | 94ms latency (optional)Google Fast Pair50 dB noise reduction |
The most unique design I’ve ever seen in a wireless earbud
Luxury and elegance are the two words that best define the sensations conveyed by the design of OnePlus’ headphones, Buds Pro 3.
This is a case with a plastic finish that mimics leather both front and back, while the sides have a gray plastic finish that mimics metal.
The same goes for the earbuds, which have an even brighter metallic color than the case but, in reality, are made of plastic.
This does not mean that, just because they are made of plastic (like the vast majority of this type of headphones), they transmit a feeling of poor quality; rather, it is the opposite. I have to tell you that they give a feeling of very good finishes in the hand.
I especially liked the case; it is very different from what you usually see on the market. With permission from the Nothing Ear (a), of course.
On the back of the case, you can see the inscription Co-created with Dynaudio, a prestigious audio company that has participated in the configuration of the sound of these headphones.
The most hidden app ever
I have to admit that I must have spent 10 or 15 minutes looking for the official OnePlus headphones app (it’s the first time I’ve tried some of this brand).
I first tried different combinations in the Google Play store (“oneplus buds,” “oneplus buds,” “oneplus buds earbuds”), but none of them gave results; I also tried to install the OnePlus Buds app via APK, but of course, it turns out that it only works with OnePlus phones.
Until I finally came to HeyMelody, which with this name totally unrelated to the manufacturer turns out to be the official OnePlus headphone application for mobiles from other manufacturers (both Android and iOS).
The headphones are compatible with Fast Pair, so all you have to do is open the box so that, if your phone is compatible with this technology, a pop-up window will automatically appear asking you if you want to pair them.
From HeyMelody, you can see the charge level of the earbuds and the case, as well as control the noise cancellation, equalizer, dual connection (they are compatible with up to 2 devices connected at the same time), or the touch controls of each earbud.
About the latter, the touch control of the headphones, I have to say that I particularly did not like it.
I prefer the touch control that the headphones have on their external surface, and not this system of clamping the headphones, which has caused me an annoying sensation when I rub my beard every now and then with my fingers every time I was going to perform some action.
One of the best wireless headphones I’ve tried for audio quality
If there’s one reason why I’d recommend buying the Buds Pro 3 over their design or battery, it’s the audio quality.
I don’t know if it’s Dynaudio’s hand, the choice of components, or a combination of both, but believe me when I tell you that they sound fabulous.
The headphones feature two diaphragms designed by Dynaudio, with 11mm woofers (dual-magnet dynamic diaphragm) and 6mm tweeters (flat diaphragm).
In addition, each earbud comes with a dual DAC that controls each of these diaphragms separately.
The Buds Pro 3 have a very good level of audio quality, with a detail between the bass and treble that creates an experience of the highest level.
For the more discerning, they support the LHDC 5.0 audio codec with a bitrate of 1 Mbps and 24-bit/192 kHz audio support. They work with Bluetooth 5.4.
I also have good words about noise cancellation, which, in addition to being active, is adaptive and can be set to isolate you more or less (up to 50 dB), plus it has a transparency mode to let you hear the sound of the environment.
Finally, we must highlight the three microphones with a bone sensor for voice pickup that ensure that you are heard perfectly, even in noisy environments, when holding a phone call or making an audio recording.
Many hours of autonomy that will depend on the use you make of noise cancellation
The Buds Pro 3 are made to last for hours on end during music playback. I can assure you that the 10 hours of playback without noise cancellation or AAC/LHDC, as well as the 5 hours with noise cancellation and LHDC, that the brand promises are not far from reality.
The total autonomy, depending on whether you use noise cancellation and AAC and LHDC technologies, is between 21.5 and 43 hours. In other words, you can spend up to two whole days listening to music without having to charge them.
They have wireless charging, so you can use both a charging base and a compatible mobile phone to charge their battery.
Regarding wired charging, OnePlus offers up to 13 hours of music playback (without noise cancellation or AAC/LHDC) with just 10 minutes of charging.
Verdict: They’re the wireless headphones I’ll recommend when someone puts an emphasis on sound quality
You can find dozens of models of wireless headphones on the market, more than ₹11,388 that cost models such as the Sony WF-1000XM5. Now, like this design, you will see few.
In addition to being special for their design, I consider that the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 also stands out for how careful their audio section is.
They sound much better than the vast majority of wireless headphones I’ve tried so far; they’re high-end without a doubt, and they also have noise cancellation that isolates you wonderfully in noisy environments.
