Update: July 28, 2020 at 2:23 PM ET: The OnePlus Buds are on sale! You can check them out at the link below on OnePlus.com for $79. Be sure to also read our full OnePlus Buds review to learn more about the company’s first true wireless earbuds.
Smartphone manufacturers are catching on to the trend that they can grab extra cash by accompanying their handsets with proprietary headsets. Today’s flash in the pan: the OnePlus Buds. Listeners are afforded a pair of uncanny valley Apple AirPods for a hair less than $80. Whimsy and portability aren’t enough to compensate for the lack of functionality beyond the OnePlus ecosystem, though. Let’s see how these earbuds work, and compare them to the competition.
Who should get the OnePlus Buds?
- OnePlus smartphone owners reap the long-term benefits of using the OnePlus Buds, as only OnePlus smartphones may transfer firmware updates to the earbuds. Granted, all Android 6 phones and later may take advantage of fast pairing.
- Budget listeners unafraid of compromise will find things to love about these true wireless earbuds, namely the price and Warp Charge capabilities of the case. The earbuds are IPX4-rated, which makes them a smart option for anyone who lives in an unpredictable climate.
Using the OnePlus Buds
Every true wireless affair starts at the charging case, and the OnePlus Buds’ first impression is great. A matte finish coats the case, washing it with a more premium feel than the plastic suggests. The backside of the case hardly differentiates itself from that of the Apple AirPods, right down to the metal-reinforced hinge. It does, however, come in a wider variety of colors than any of Apple’s products. You get your pick of White, Nord Blue, and Gray. On the front of the case, a centered LED lies below the lid’s seam to indicate battery levels and when the headset enters pairing mode.
Related: Best true wireless earbuds under $100
OnePlus’ team made sure to channel the Bullets Wireless Z and Apple AirPods in its totally wireless headset. The stemmed, semi-open design is good for remaining aware of your surroundings but is a disservice to comfort and audio reproduction.
I was only able to wear the OnePlus Buds for 30 minutes at a time, and if I moved too much (e.g., rock climbing or skateboarding), the earbuds shook loose. On the few occasions the buds stayed in beyond the 30-minute mark, it wasn’t soon after that I removed them to reduce outer ear pain. What’s uncomfortable to me, though, may be perfectly comfortable for you.
Each earbud is decked out with sensors that enable automatic ear detection, so when you remove either earbud, playback pauses. When you reinsert the bud or buds, media playback resumes. The auto-resume functionality was very useful and a rare feature in such an affordable headset. While this is great, it’s also the only way non-OnePlus smartphone owners can pause or play their music directly from the headset. The touch panels don’t allow you to manually control media playback (save for skipping songs), unless you have access to over-the-air (OTA) updates.
The OnePlus Buds require a OnePlus smartphone for updates
A OnePlus representative explained to me that the OnePlus Buds may only be updated via OnePlus smartphone, and only the OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 8 series phones are to receive Dolby Atmos support through the headset. This functionality will be available on July 30, for the OnePlus 6 series; July 29, for the OnePlus 7 series; and July 27, for the OnePlus 8 series via OTA update. At a glance this seems suspect, but is simply explained away by the fact that older OnePlus handsets don’t support Dolby Atmos.
Onboard controls are limited
The CD-inspired touch panels offer a handful of controls, but the menu isn’t nearly as comprehensive as what we’ve seen from the likes of cheaper options such as the JLab GO Air. You’re afforded the bare minimum when it comes to onboard controls:
- To alternate between the current and last-used device, hold either touch panel for three seconds.
- To reject a call, hold either touch panel for five seconds.
- To answer or end a call, double-tap either touch panel.
- To skip a track, double-tap either touch panel.
The double-tap function will be customizable after the immediate OTA update released at the end of the month. Listeners will then be able to access their virtual assistant (e.g., Google Assistant), skip a song or play the previous song, play/pause media, and answer or end a call.
Again, non-OnePlus smartphone owners are limited to the bulleted list of immutable controls. I rely heavily on hands-free controls when biking around the city, or exercising in general, and found the inability to play the previous track or pause my music without removing the buds ridiculous.
Gamers and video streamers can take advantage of Fnatic Mode
OnePlus’ Game Space app allows users to enable Fnatic Mode, which reduces audio-visual lag to 103ms. While this can’t compete with the latency times of radio-frequency adapters found in gaming headsets, it’s very good for Bluetooth technology. Here are the steps you need to take in order to watch YouTube videos, stream Spotify, and play all your favorite games.
- Open the Game Space app.
- Tap the “+� in the top-right corner of the screen, and check the apps you want added to Game Space.
- Reveal the notification card that reads, “Gaming mode is on.�
- To enable Fnatic Mode, tap the first slider; a notification will appear informing you of how this mode will affect your phone’s performance.
- You may now select from the apps you’ve added and experience low-latency streaming.
Your OnePlus smartphone will then know that these apps are designated for Game Space, and will notify you that “Gaming mode is on� when you open them from your phone’s app drawer or home screen. From there, you may enable Fnatic Mode by pulling down the notification shade and selecting the Android System card. From there, tap Fnatic Mode for low-latency streaming.
Do the earbuds stay connected?
Our OnePlus Buds review units were unable to maintain a connection. I tested both OnePlus Buds headsets with a myriad of devices, including a OnePlus 7 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S10e, MacBook Pro, and HP Omen computer. Several connection drops occurred with each device, though there were fewer issues when using the earbuds with a OnePlus phone. This was frustrating, but the headset immediately reconnected to the device and resumed playback. Connection issues are easily remedied through firmware updates, but non-OnePlus smartphone users are stuck with this dubious connection quality.
The connection was unstable across devices, even with a OnePlus 7 Pro.
Bluetooth 5.0 firmware affords a standard 10m range, and Bluetooth multipoint isn’t supported. In order to switch between the current and previously used device, you must tap-and-hold either touch panel for three seconds. AAC is the only high-quality Bluetooth codec supported by the buds. This was disappointing because the OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2 and Bullets Wireless both support aptX streaming. AAC’s performance is volatile across Android depending on which device is used, so some Android phones may need to be forced into SBC streaming.
Again, the lack of aptX support is a bummer but, frankly, isn’t devastating. Sound quality has much more to do with audio engineering and having a good fit that blocks out environmental noise than Bluetooth codec support alone. The earphones’ semi-open fit severely degrades your ability to perceive clear audio, so the sound quality benefits of aptX support would be null.
Related: Best APTX bluetooth headphones
How long does the battery last?
SoundGuys’ OnePlus Buds review yielded a battery life of 6 hours, 12 minutes before the buds needed to be recharged. This falls short of the listed 7-hour playtime, but most listeners will get a bit closer to that mark by listening at quieter volumes: SoundGuys tests all audio products at a constant 75dB output. Using the earbuds for calls is more demanding, and taking calls alone leaves you with 41% less battery life from the headset compared to just streaming music.
When the batteries are drained, all you need to do is pop the buds back into the case for 10 minutes. Doing so supplies you with 100 minutes of listening. The case also supports Warp Charge: 10 minutes of charging via USB-C affords 10 hours of battery life, which is insanely good. It takes 80 minutes to complete a full charge cycle for the earbuds and case altogether.
Sound quality isn’t great because isolation is very poor
Dirac Audio Tuner support enables a bass-heavy frequency response from the 13.4mm dynamic drivers. The amplified bass is immediately noticeable with any song, and isn’t shy about rendering vocals unclear. Casual listeners may not be bothered by this; in fact, this kind of emphasis is preferred for exercising, but accurate audio reproduction isn’t happening with these buds.
This emphatic emphasis is necessary because the earbuds don’t seal to the ear, so you run into an issue called auditory masking. This is when a loud sound (e.g., traffic) makes it hard to perceive a relatively quiet one (e.g., your music).
We experience auditory masking regularly: background noise greatly affects our brains’ abilities to process low-frequency notes, which Dirac knows, so it amplified the bass as a combative measure. The sacrifice to this sort of sound signature is that when you’re in optimal listening conditions, like your home, bass notes sound too loud and make it hard to hear detail from your music. Nearly all harmonic resonances were lost when listening with the OnePlus Buds in favor of a more engaging, generally palatable sound signature.
Again, passive isolation is poor because the earbuds lack distinguished nozzles and ear tips. Your building’s A/C unit, cubicle neighbors’ conversations, and general foot traffic will always be audible. While this isn’t great for auditory fidelity, the benefit is safety: you’re always aware with this kind of earbud design. More comfortable, safety-oriented earbuds exist though, making these a hard sell for non-OnePlus fans.
Editor’s note: To get an even more comprehensive breakdown of the sound quality, read SoundGuys’ OnePlus Buds review.
Can I use the OnePlus Buds for phone calls?
Yes, the OnePlus Buds microphone system is one of its best assets: each bud houses three microphones and uses ambient noise reduction technology. All of this is to say the mics are very good at relaying accurate and clear audio, while filtering out environmental noise. The headset performed well in my apartment as my roommate watched TV, and outside during a moderately windy day.
OnePlus Buds microphone demo:
OnePlus Buds vs OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z
The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z and OnePlus Buds represent OnePlus’ attempt to take the budget audio world by storm. This makes sense seeing how the earbuds are accompanying the OnePlus Nord’s release, a relatively affordable phone with a solid feature set. Both headsets are water-resistant, though the Bullets Wireless Z are more durable (IP55 vs IPX4). What’s more, standalone battery life is better with the neckbuds as it can house larger battery cells. Controls are also more comprehensive and intuitive with the Bullets Wireless Z than with the OnePlus Buds.
Listeners who value sound quality and battery life should strongly consider the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z over the true wireless buds, because the former has ear tips that physically prevent outside noise from degrading sound quality. On the other hand, listeners who want to remain ever aware of their surroundings and appreciate the ultimate convenience that true wireless earbuds afford should get the OnePlus Buds.
Should you buy the OnePlus Buds?
OnePlus smartphone owners may leap at the chance to grab a pair of the OnePlus Buds, and for good reason: these are a solid pair of budget earbuds that play very well within the OnePlus ecosystem. While the engineering and design team has every right to feel proud of the case and efficient charging, these features don’t make up for the poor connection quality and fit.
Also read: The full list of OnePlus Nord specs
It seems OnePlus didn’t care to serve the Android community at large, because of how it limited updates to its proprietary handsets — on top of missing aptX support. OnePlus isn’t alone in relegating certain features to its own smartphones; this strategy is ripped right from Apple and Huawei’s playbooks. Just because OnePlus didn’t start the trend doesn’t exonerate it from wrongdoing.
Die-hard OnePlus fans who find semi-open earbuds comfortable will enjoy the OnePlus Buds for their immediate auto-play and pause functionality. If you can’t wait to get your ears on these buds, go right ahead and register for email notifications on the earbuds which go on sale July 27 for $79 USD. For most of us, however, there are more fitting options abound.
Affordable alternatives to the OnePlus Buds
Readers in search of a more versatile pair of headphones with a $100 budget have a wide array of options at their disposal, and we’re highlighting a pick from Mobvoi and a pick from Anker SoundCore.
Get the Mobvoi TicPods 2 if you like the semi-open fit
Listeners who want a pair of earbuds that keep them aware at all times should really read up on the Mobvoi TicPods 2 and Mobvoi TicPods 2 Pro, both of which feature a stick-shaped build and ambient noise-cancelling microphones. The standard TicPods 2 microphones aren’t quite as advanced as OnePlus’, because each earbud houses just a single microphone.
Mobvoi’s TicPods 2 have a more tame bass response, so you can enjoy a great collection of music without losing too much detail to auditory masking. What’s more, the Mobvoi companion app is available on all mobile devices, so every buyer has access to updates that may extend the lifetime of their headset.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 are a great pair of AirPods lookalikes
Anker SoundCore knows how to work the budget crowd, and its Liberty Air 2 true wireless earbuds improve upon the already great Liberty Air. These earbuds feature one of the best microphone systems around, and the ear tips allow for a more comfortable, secure fit for exercise and general movement. They also block background noise and promote optimal sound reproduction, so you can really feel that amplified bass response.
Listeners who want a more tempered bass response can tone it down via the SoundCore app, which, like Mobvoi’s, is available across devices. You can create a custom EQ or select from over 20 presets. No matter what, you’re still able to stream via AAC or aptX with a selected EQ, which is a rare feature. Battery life is good: the earbuds last just over 7 hours on a single charge, and the fast charging happens to be slightly more efficient for the earbuds than it is with OnePlus’ buds.
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