I just tested the OnePlus Buds 4 — and they're equally impressive and disappointing

One of the more underrated wireless earbuds makers of the past three years has been OnePlus. Yes, the Android smartphone manufacturer. Several of the brand’s true wireless offerings have been well received by critics and consumers, mainly OnePlus users who’ve clamored for their own AirPods alternatives.

Models like the OnePlus Buds 3 proved that inexpensive buds could match the sonic prowess of the best wireless earbuds at a fraction of the cost. OnePlus felt an upgrade was due, so they launched the all-new Buds 4, which welcome some nifty enhancements to the series. We’re talking adaptive active noise cancellation, AI integration, and touch volume controls.

While the Buds 4 excel in trademark areas (e.g., battery life, sound), they’re inundated with flaws and kinks that undermine performance.

Read my full thoughts below.

OnePlus Buds 4: Specs

• Price: $129 / £94 / AU$196
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.4
• ANC: Yes
• Battery life (rated): 9 hours (ANC on), 11 hours (ANC off); 37 hours (charging case w/ ANC n); 45 hours (charging case w/ ANC off)
• Colors: Storm gray, zen green
• Codec support: SBC, AAC, LHDC
• Compatibility: iOS, Android
• Frequency response: 15Hz – 40kHz
• IP rating: IP55 (dust- and water-resistant)

OnePlus Buds 4 review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? The latest mid-range buds from OnePlus
• Who is it for? Android and OnePlus users on a sub-$130 budget
• What does it cost? $129
• What do we like? The expansive feature set, lengthy playtimes, and vibrant audio
• What don’t we like? The erratic sound quality in dual-device mode, terrible 3D audio, and underwhelming ANC

OnePlus Buds 4 review: Price and availability

The OnePlus Buds 4 sell for $129 / £94 / AU$196 and come in two colors: Storm Gray and Zen Green. You can purchase them directly on OnePlus’ website. These buds are less expensive than the popular $169 AirPods 4 with ANC, but are priced higher than bargain gems like the $119 Sony WF-C710N and $79 EarFun Air Pro 4.

OnePlus Buds 4 review: Design

• Not as fancy-looking as the previous iteration
• Dust- and water-resistant
• Acceptable fit and comfort

Aesthetically, the Buds 4 are a downgrade from the Buds 3. They essentially took the Nord Buds 3 Pro’s design and made it longer and slimmer. Ditching the aluminum stems for plastic takes away from the product’s semi-luxe appearance; the former produced a nice shimmer when exposed to light.

The color options are less appealing as well (metallic gray and splendid blue look way cooler). At least the buds are well protected. A solid exterior combined with IP55 certification prevents damage caused by dust and water splashing from low-pressure jets.

The charging case is less striking than the previous version. It retains the Nord Buds 3 Pro’s chic, pebble-shaped design with a pairing button on the side. I prefer the Buds 3’s rectangular case.

You can wear these buds for 3 hours straight before fatigue sets in. The silicone tips keep them stable when jogging or speedwalking. Two extra pairs of different-sized tips come bundled with the purchase. There’s also the earbud fit test in the companion app to optimize fit.

OnePlus Buds 4 review: Features

• Excellent feature set
• Some perks are reserved for OnePlus users
• Multi-platform companion app

All Android and iOS users can download the HeyMelody app to access select features: dual-device pairing, earbud fit test, Find My Earbuds, firmware updates, and most flagship audio modes (3D Audio, Game Mode, Golden Sound, Noise Control, Sound Master EQ).

Image 1 of 2

Those who own a current OnePlus device (smartphone or tablet) gain exclusives like AI Translate, control customization, and Hi-Res mode (LHDC). The Buds 4 would have greatly benefited from having all features available to all users, no matter the operating system.

OnePlus’ AI-powered translation features don’t top Google Translate, but what’s here is serviceable. Face-to-Face is fine for translating languages, so you can have fluid exchanges with foreigners. Live translation comes in handy if you want to dictate long-form dialogue for others to read and interpret on your OnePlus device.

OnePlus Buds 4 review: Controls

• Versatile control scheme
• Apparent lag when enabling functions
• Dependable digital assistance

The Buds 4 come loaded with functions. AI translation, call management, digital assistance, listening modes, playback, and volume are at your disposal. OnePlus even added a camera function to trigger the back camera on your OnePlus phone.

Lag is evident when applying tap inputs (there’s about a 2-second delay). Slide gestures demonstrate better accuracy for seamless volume adjustment. The camera control is spot-on. Wear detection immediately pauses playback when taking off the buds.

OnePlus’ powerful mic array makes voice commands a breeze to execute. I threw several long-winded inquiries at Google Gemini and the AI bot registered most correctly. Siri worked best when vocalizing standard commands.

OnePlus Buds review: Sound quality

• Warm and refined
• Multiple sound enhancement tools
• Awful spatial audio

Sound on the Buds 3 was engaging and nicely balanced. OnePlus tweaked its sound signature on the Buds 4 to deliver more detail and texture. An 11mm woofer and 6mm tweeter give these buds a lively sonic presence right out of the box.

The real reward comes in LHDC, which is automatically enabled on compatible Android smartphones. This Bluetooth codec creates 24-bit depth to enhance clarity and reveal nuance in recordings. Play a funky instrumental to hear what I’m talking about.

I had Soho’s “Hot Music” on repeat and observed arrangements that weren’t discernible on other similarly priced buds. The cymbals on the intro were so transparent, it sounded like two sets were being played simultaneously.

Instrumental layering was fantastic with each musician accurately positioned on the soundstage. The kick-drum pattern was also pleasantly emphasized.

Sabrina Carpenter’s “Taste” had the energetic bop one desires from a pop track with rock influences. The guitar riff was thumping. Other elements like the tinny hi-hat and upbeat drums blended well together.

Hip-Hop bangers like 50 Cent’s “Outta Control (Remix)” knocked hard, granted it was at the expense of minimizing highs. The monstrous bass drums had an infectious bounce that stimulated head nods. Dr. Dre’s high-pitched strings sounded clear, but they weren’t as crisp as I’ve heard on Sony’s mid-range models.

OnePlus equipped the Buds 4 with a variety of features to personalize sound. First up is Hi-Res Mode to toggle LHDC. Next up is the Master EQ with preprogrammed presets (Balanced, Serenade, Bass) and a BassWave slider to adjust bass levels.

Each of these settings are effective when matched with the right track; Bass increases the low end on rock songs and Serenade elevates vocals on ballads. Balanced yields the best results.

There’s also the option to manually create an EQ. I recommend the Golden Sound feature since it develops a sound profile tailored to your hearing. My profile was satisfying.

Lastly, there’s the 3D Audio mode, otherwise known as spatial audio. It remains the one feature OnePlus can’t get right. Everything sounds hollow and unconvincing.

OnePlus Buds 4 review: Noise canceling

• ANC doesn’t live up to its billing
• Terrific transparency mode
• Surprisingly great wind resistance

I expected much better noise cancellation from this fourquel. There are few positives. Most low-/mid-frequency noises are silenced, and the technology suppresses wind at a high level. High-frequency sounds are where ANC struggles mightily.

My toddler’s squeals were distracting when working privately in the bedroom. Emergency vehicle sirens and whistles startled me a few times. Even bird chirping interfered with listening sessions.

There are a few ANC modes to choose from. High “uses a real-time adaptive algorithm for the best noise cancellation effect.” I wasn’t convinced. The Moderate and Low modes are engineered to deal with “fairly noisy” and “quieter” places, respectively, and neither did much to eliminate unwanted sounds.

Auto ANC assesses your surroundings before selecting the best noise-canceling mode, though it always felt like High was the default.

Adaptive ANC is the way to go. It auto-adjusts noise cancellation based on your environment and strengthens low- and mid-frequency neutralization.

Transparency mode kept me on high alert. I could hear everything from chatty pedestrians to dogs barking to fire engine sirens from two blocks away. Vocal capture might be the buds’ unsung feature. Hearing my wife loudly and clearly from across the room as I blasted music at max volume was gratifying.

OnePlus Buds 4 review: Call quality and connectivity

• Adequate voice calling
• Wind resistance was consistent
• Dual device pairing causes audio issues

The Buds 4 are a quality calling headset. My wife said I sounded clear on calls, and my enunciation was on point. The three AI call noise cancellation mics put a muzzle on ambient noise. Wind resistance was impressive; no one complained about any harmful whooshing effects.

Bluetooth 5.4 performs well on Apple and Google-operated devices. Range extends up to 50 feet before dropout occurs. Android users have one-tap Google Fast Pair, while Apple users can pair the buds through the iOS/macOS Bluetooth settings.

Multipoint is where connectivity stumbles. Having the buds paired to two devices at the same time affects audio performance. When connected to my OnePlus 11 and MacBook Pro, the signals occasionally scrambled and audio output randomly changed to the secondary device for a few seconds before reverting to the primary device.

OnePlus Buds 4 review: Battery

• Almost double the playtime of any AirPods or Bose model
• Robust quick charging
• No wireless charging

A full charge equates to 9 hours of ANC use, which is nearly 2.5 hours more than the Buds 3. Turning off the feature extends listening time to 11 hours. High volume and special features (e.g., LHDC, spatial audio) decrease overall playtime by about 1 to 2 hours.

That’s still more than what most luxury buds generate per charge, including the AirPods Pro 2 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. I was fine with the three days of moderate use (3 hours daily) these buds provided. The non-wireless charging case supplies an additional 45 hours, depending how you use the buds.

According to the spec sheet, a 10-minute charge can net you up to 11 hours of playback. This is a bit of an exaggeration. My testing showed the buds power up to 60% on an 8-minute charge. Using the company’s power adapter should charge the buds faster.

OnePlus Buds 4 review: Verdict

There’s no doubt that brand enthusiasts will get the best true wireless experience from the OnePlus Buds 4. All other Android users should seek out superior and less expensive options. The same goes for iPhone owners.

It’s uncertain whether the buds’ performance troubles are solvable through firmware updates. Then again, it could have just been my test unit. Whatever the case may be, most of their pros and cons seem definitive, making this a questionable upgrade.

If your priorities are audio and battery life, then the Buds 4 will pair perfectly with your OnePlus 13 or OnePlus Pad 3. Everyone else can look at some of best noise-canceling earbuds to meet all other hallmarks (sound included).