The OnePlus Buds 3 are the latest true wireless earbuds from the Chinese tech giant, aiming to deliver a premium audio experience with a focus on active noise cancellation (ANC) and a comfortable, stylish design. Let’s delve into their features and see if they live up to the hype.
Immersive Audio:
The Buds 3 boast 10.4mm woofers and 6mm tweeters for a dynamic soundstage. This dual-driver setup promises rich bass, clear mids, and crisp highs, catering to various musical genres. OnePlus also includes their “Audio ID 2.0” technology, which tailors the sound signature to your individual hearing preferences through a short listening test within the companion app. This personalization ensures you get the most out of your music.
Adaptive Noise Cancellation:
ANC is a key highlight of the Buds 3, and it does a commendable job of blocking out ambient noise. The earbuds utilize three microphones on each side to capture and neutralize surrounding sounds. OnePlus claims up to 40dB of noise cancellation, which effectively dampens traffic hum, chatter, and other low-frequency noises. The ANC also adapts to your environment, automatically adjusting its intensity for optimal noise reduction. While not the absolute best in the market, it provides a noticeable improvement over passive listening.
Design and Comfort:
The Buds 3 sport a sleek, minimalist design with a blend of metallic and matte finishes. They come in two color options, Splendid Blue and Metallic Gray, offering a touch of elegance. The earbuds are lightweight (4.8g each) and have an ergonomic design that ensures a snug fit in most ears. Three different sizes of ear tips are included for a personalized fit, enhancing comfort during extended listening sessions. The touch controls on the stems are responsive and allow for easy playback, volume adjustment, and ANC toggling.
Additional Features:
Battery Life: The Buds 3 offer up to 7 hours of playback on a single charge, with an additional 31 hours from the charging case. This translates to a total of 38 hours of listening time, which is decent but not best-in-class.
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 provides a stable and low-latency connection, ensuring seamless audio transmission.
Water Resistance: The Buds 3 boast an IP55 water resistance rating, making them splash and sweatproof, ideal for workouts or light rain.
OnePlus Integration:
The Buds 3 integrate seamlessly with OnePlus smartphones, offering features like quick pairing, low latency mode, and battery level indicators.
Overall Impressions:
The OnePlus Buds 3 offer a compelling package for audio enthusiasts seeking a balance between immersive sound, effective noise cancellation, and a comfortable, stylish design. The personalized audio experience and adaptive ANC are noteworthy features, while the battery life, though decent, could be improved. If you’re a OnePlus user looking for a well-rounded pair of true wireless earbuds, the Buds 3 are definitely worth considering. However, if absolute top-of-the-line noise cancellation or extended battery life are your priorities, you might want to explore other options in the market.
