Whenever OnePlus introduces a new feature to its audio lineup, we pay close attention. This time, OnePlus added a volume slider along with other amazing features. In this OnePlus Buds 3 Review, you will learn about many things, and most importantly, whether you should buy or ignore them.
After using the OnePlus Z (Review), OnePlus Nord Buds (Review), and OnePlus Nord Buds 2R (Review) it was about time to try the slightly premium OnePlus TWS earbuds.
Before starting the review, welcome to PadhKeDekho where we bring reviews and comparisons after 1 month of testing.
This allows users like you, to get the insights that help in decision-making. Since we don’t do brand collaborations, everything here is 100% real user experience.
With that said, let’s bring the OnePlus Buds 3 Review. Here are quick links to Pros and cons, Built Quality, Looks, Comfort Test, Features, Audio quality, Mic Output, Active Noise Cancellation + Transparency, Battery Backup, Gaming and Verdict!
OnePlus Buds 3 Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Good built quality | Only 2 color options |
| Looks like Pro | Slightly bigger case |
| 2 distinctive color options | Hi-Res audio is not supported on iOS devices |
| Good ANC + Transparency | |
| Amazing audio quality | |
| Bass-centric sound signature | |
| In-ear detection feature | |
| Great mic quality | |
| Dual Active Bluetooth pairing | |
| App support for Android & iOS | |
| Good battery backup & quick charging |
Built Quality (9.5/10)
This is our 4th OnePlus TWS and never have we experienced inferior or bad quality products. OnePlus does a great job be it any price segment you look at. We have budget-centric OnePlus Nord Buds 2R (Review) even though they are steller built quality.
We can confidently say the same for the OnePlus Buds 3.
The heart lies in the case of any TWS. The case is not very compact but the quality is good. There are no hard plastic or squeaky panels. The hinge is also strong but the magnetic pull is not very strong.
You can open the lid and even take the buds with one hand. I prefer earbuds like this. The Apple AirPods 2 (Review) & the Apple AirPods Pro 2 (Review) are also quite similar.
On the same note, the buds are top class too! You will see similarities with the OnePlus Buds Pro. The in-ear design and the superior quality of the ear tips make the experience plush. There are no rough edges and overall wearing is pleasant.
So for built quality, OnePlus makes great devices and this one is no different either. Hence 9.5/10 for the OnePlus Buds 3!
Looks (9/10)
All the other OnePlus TWS tested had a slightly bigger form factor like a Gulab Jamun! Whereas this one is different. OnePlus Buds 3 are compact and have rounded edges and sharp lines in the front. This year “More straight lines than curves” is the design language.
We went with the blue color. It also comes in Black as well as Green color you can check those too! The case offers a matte design language while the buds are mostly chrome.
The buds are like the OnePlus Buds Pro thanks to the chrome treatment and a hint of the color you will pick. Since we went with Blue you can see how amazing they look. OP Buds 3 are good-looking and does feel like a premium audio gear.
Note: Chrome is very prone to scratches so be a little careful while handing the earbuds.
Wel really likes the overall design of OnePlus Buds 3 hence we would give it 9/10.
Are OnePlus Buds 3 Comfortable? (9.5/10)
We have a variety of people here with different ear sizes; small to large ears. And frankly speaking, this is ideal for medium to large ears or anyone who can wear earbuds with silicone ear tips.
There are 3 pairs of adjustments given, so do try all of these before sticking to one!
For medium to large ears, you will love these. The fitting is snug. The buds stay put while running or gymming. These are by far the best OnePlus buds for workouts.
The design is very comfortable you can wear these for long hours. I tested for 6 hours on the go, and guess what perfect experience.
You can wear these for even longer, just turn on the transparency or ANC mode (Explained below).
So for comfort, the OnePlus Buds 3 gets a solid 9.5/10.
What Are The Features of The OnePlus Buds 3?
OnePlus Buds 3 offersa plethora of features and with HeyMelody app support on Android and iOS makes the experience amazing! Here are some of the USP’s.
#1 HeyMelody App Support
Thankfully this OnePlus Buds 3 supports the HeyMelody app on both Android and iOS. This will allow you to change your EQ settings, create one as per your liking, and enable gaming mode. customizing media controls, update your earbuds firmware, and most importantly, find your earbuds!
#2 ANC + Transparancy
Per the paper specs, the OnePlus Buds 3 offers up to 49 dB noise cancellation and transparency mode. The best part is that each earbud has 3 mics. Which might give in better transparency and calling?
Yes, the ANC output is great so far the best, we can confidently say. The feedback stays the same for the mic output too. The price you are paying is justified in terms of ANC and mic output.
Here’s the Mic output and ANC + Transparency test.
#3 Sliding Volume Control
Unlike a few earbuds that offer touch controls for volume, OnePlus has given a more convenient touch slider. You will get the hands-on immediately. We can count earbuds with volume controls and let’s appreciate brands that go to those heights to make it achievable.
Finally, you can control the volume be it listening to music, watching movies, or even during calls. You do not need to take your phone out.
#4 Dual Device Pairing
With the OnePlus Buds 3 you can connect your ear buds to two devices at the same time. This is such a relief. Let me explain!
Let’s say you are connected to a laptop and a smartphone. While the media is playing on the laptop and the phone receives a call you can press a button and accept the call and the media will pause automatically.
Pairing devices is very easy. For the first connection just open the case and check your Bluetooth devices you will see the OnePlus 3 there.
For the second device, you will need to reopen the case and press and hold the button for a few seconds until the LED turns white. Pair the second device.
Now both devices are connected and are paired. You don’t need to switch between, it does it automatically when a call comes or media source changes.
#5 Battery Backup + Fast Charging
OnePlus Buds 3 features up to 44 hours of playback overall. As far as battery mAh goes, the case offers 520 mAh while the buds have 58 mAh each. The buds are capable of going for as long as 10 hours (claimed).
As far as charging goes, 10 minutes of quick charge enables earbuds to go for 2 hours. And if you charge the buds with the case for 10 minutes, the buds can go as long as 7 hours (claimed).
So what are the real-world figures? Here’s the battery section!
#6 3D Audio
Via the HeyMelody app, you can enable 3D Audio and you must enable it. It changes the overall listing experience especially when you are listening to live recordings or live media.
The biggest change you will notice is that the audio is coming from all sides instead of left and right. The overall balance keeps switching and it’s a thrilling experience.
if this is the first time you will be listening to 3D audio. Keep your eyes open and avoid watching reels especially horror and thrilling content!
#7 In-Ear Detection
My frequent audio gadget is an Apple AirPods Pro 2 (Review) and seeing in-ear detection on OP3 was a different feeling. I paid so much and OnePlus nailed it at a lower price!
I was curios about the integration and once again OnePlus did a good job on such a price. Sure it’s not instant like with Apple devices but a point mili-second difference doesn’t hurt!
If you don’t know, taking the buds out of the ears will pause the media, and putting it back will resume it. It’s such a relief and very easy to get accustomed!
One Plus Buds 3 Audio Quality (9.5/10)
We have been testing and using OnePlus earbuds for the last four years, starting with the OnePlus Buds Z and moving on to the OnePlus Nord Buds 2R.
None had any audio quality issues, audio disturbances, or uneven audio. Did the OnePlus Buds 3 sound the same? No! It’s better. Here’s more.
OnePlus Buds 3 powers 10.4mm woofer and 6mm twitter. This dual-driver configuration produces incredible results.
It’s a must-have recommendation for people who are bassheads. The low end is clean and full of thump. The vocals are great too. You would love watching videos or podcasts wearing these.
That 6mm driver for twitter makes the treble stand out. That’s a smart move from OnePlus to add twitter. First, it does not stress the audio driver to produce all the 3 major frequencies. It helps in distortion-free music and full detail in audio output.
Icing on the cake is the audio customizations via the HeyMelody app on both Android and iOS. You can choose between the pre-defined EQs or create one as per your need.
If you don’t find the results to your liking, you can test the Golden Sound via the HeyMelody app. This test monitors your hearing capabilities and based on that adds fillers and makes changes to the present EQ.
TBH, the first time I did that test, the result blew away my mind. There was music all around!
Another aspect to test for earbuds is the loudness. And OP Buds 3 can go very loud. Even at max volume, there’s no audio distortion or uneven audio balance between the buds.
So to sum up audio quality, We would give the OnePlus Buds 3 a 9.5/10.
OnePlus Buds 3 Mic Quality (9/10)
The mics are incredible. Be it indoors or outdoors, the call quality is crisp and satisfactory overall experience. If you are looking for earbuds with great call quality under 5000 Rs then OnePlus Buds 3 is a strong contender.
Most buds struggle to fetch your voice. OnePlus mic are very responsive. Even if you are speaking slowly the mics capture it and the voice will be in complete focus irrespective of the place (indoor or outdoor).
OnePlus has given 3 mics to each earbud making it achieve amazing mic quality. Your voice will sound very real like from a smartphone and less background noise and the other person will not complain about you using inferior earbuds for calling.
My daily driver was the OnePlus Nord Buds 2R and seems like I have found the upgrade!
So, for calling or mic quality we would give the OnePlus Buds 3 a 9/10.
ANC + Transparency Test (9.5/10)
OnePlus Buds 3 offers 49 dB Smart Adaptive Noise Cancellation. Are these just big words and numbers? No! You will feel the difference if you are upgrading from earbuds in the 2000-3000 price range.
Via the HeyMelody app, you can change between the ANC options like low, medium, high, and smart. And the results change drastically.
The high mode removes the background noise by about 90%. If somebody is in your proximity then only you can hear them. TVs, metro announcements, Potiticials E-rickshaw branding, becomes non-existing!
You can certainly play around the ANC Settings and find your best spot. For me though, The high mode does the work.
Similarly, the transparency mode works great. It uses the 3 mics on each earbud! When you are outdoors you must stay aware of the surrounds hence enable the transparency mode. It hampers the music a little but keeps you aware of your surroundings.
The ANC + transparency mode of the OnePlus Buds 3 gets 9.5/10.
Battery Backup + Charging (9/10)
In the features above, we talked about the claimed figures and charging support. Let’s talk about the real use case scenario.
In terms of battery backup, we are quite satisfied keeping in mind the features on offer. Let’s talk numbers.
If you are a normal user who doesn’t care about ANC or 3D sound, just connect and use them you can expect anywhere around 8 to 10 hours on a single use depending upon the volume. Which is very impressive.
With transparency mode enabled and the same listening preferences, the buds can go for about 7 to 8 hours on a single use.
The biggest impact is made when the volume is full and ANC is enabled. In this mode, you can expect anything between 4 to 6 hours of juice on a single use. This is because of the various modes like low, medium, high, and custom ANC options.
As I said, the buds deliver great battery backup. Coming to the charging, the case supports fast charging and with a 20-watt charger takes 1.30 mins. We also tried the OnePlus Dash charger and it was done in under an hour!
So for charging and battery backup, we would give the OnePlus Buds 3 a 9/10.
OnePlus Buds 3 Gaming Review (8/10)
If you are buying these for pro-level gaming then there are better alternatives like Realme Air 6 Pro hands down. Does this mean these are bad? No! If you have a recent OnePlus device you will have an amazing experience.
Whereas on other Android or iOS devices, you will need to enable gaming mode via the HeyMelody app. Even then there’s some latency here and there.
We have tried many fast pase shooters and overall gaming was good. It was not very good but not bad either.
We can give the OnePlus Buds 3 a satisfactory 8/10.
Should You Buy OnePlus Buds 3?
OnePlus Buds 3 is a slightly premium device and it is not only in terms of price. The features it has, the quality on offer, app support, volume slider, Google Past pairing and so much more!
OnePlus Buds 3 is a flagship killer for sure. Everything from built quality to looks, audio quality, mic output, and in-ear detection, everything works well.
We loved the audio quality. Slightly bass-heavy out of the box but can be tuned, increased, or decreased depending upon the needs via the HeyMelody app.
Another thing to love is the top-class ANC on offer. Transparency is good too. The Mics are quite a game-changer on these.
Other than the gaming experience, we don’t have anything major to tell you as a con!
Wrapping up!
There you have it guys! This is a OnePlus Buds 3 review after 2 months of use. If you have any questions or queries, please ping us on any of the social accounts below. We would love to help you choose a better product!
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OnePlus Buds 3 FAQ
Q: Does OnePlus Buds 3 Stays Connected on Both Devices?
A: Yes, OnePlus Buds 3 stays actively connected on both devices.
Q: Does OnePlus Buds 3 support the HeyMelody app?
A: Yes, OnePlus Buds 3 support HeyMelody app on Android as well as iOS.
Q: Does OnePlus Buds 3 Have Dedicated Gaming Mode?
A: Yes, OnePlus Buds 3 have Dedicated gaming mode which is also activated via the HeyMelody app.