A slight enchancment over its predecessor

The earbud market has grown stagnant over the previous few years, with most corporations producing buds which might be first rate sufficient, whatever the worth level. They often provide incremental modifications from one model to the following, and whereas I want I may say that is modified, it hasn’t. That is what is going on on with the OnePlus Buds 4.

The Buds 4 provide a number of new options and enhancements over their predecessors, the OnePlus Buds 3, however that is not likely a nasty factor; it is simply not thrilling. They handle to settle themselves as a great possibility for mid-tier buds for those who’re out there for them, so long as you are prepared to miss a number of issues — like a $30 worth hike.

Value, availability, and specs

The OnePlus Buds 4 can be found for $130 on OnePlus’s web site, however you may get them for $30 cheaper with a launch code till July 31, 2025. On the time of writing, you possibly can solely get them by means of OnePlus. They can even be out there at Greatest Purchase and Amazon within the US in early August. The buds can be found within the US and Canada, and are available Zen Inexperienced or Storm Grey, the colour I acquired for this overview.

What I like in regards to the OnePlus Buds 4

Minimalist design, first rate earbuds

Out of the field, the Buds 4 do not actually stand out, particularly the in Storm Grey coloration, which is extra typical of black {hardware}. It is minimalistic and glossy, if that is what you like, however in addition they are available a enjoyable Zen Inexperienced that has a bit extra persona.

The buds are rounded with a bar, with none main bells or whistles, so excellent if that is what you are into. The eartips have a extra distinctive form, being extra oval than spherical, and the earbuds include a number of sizing choices. I used to be shocked that I had to make use of a unique dimension for every ear, however as soon as all the things was all mentioned and accomplished, the buds settled in fairly snugly.

The general match was fairly nice! The Buds 4 have been barely noticeable throughout lengthy classes at my desk or walks across the neighborhood — they’re light-weight, so I typically overlook I had them in. They stayed put, and I by no means nervous that they could fall out. Even throughout weight-lifting classes, they did not budge. Moreover, because of the IP55 ranking, they withstood elemental abuse fairly nicely, particularly after I was caught in a short downpour.

What I actually appreciated in regards to the Buds 4 was the match choices. Via the Comfortable Melody app, I used to be in a position to carry out a noise-cancelling and match verify to make sure all the things was correctly positioned. I additionally did an ear take a look at to optimize the sound particularly for my ears utilizing the Golden Sound possibility. The app itself is easy, however I discovered I had a smoother expertise with the Nothing Headphone 1 and its corresponding app.

General, the app itself provided a variety of customization choices, from primary to extra superior tweaks. The OnePlus Buds 4 use faucets for many of the features, and sliding for quantity management. It is simple sufficient; single faucet for pause/play, double faucet to skip songs, triple faucet to return, although I did have hassle getting the only faucet to work in any respect — extra on that later.

You may as well select to set it up along with your AI assistant or use it as a translator in case you have a OnePlus cellphone. Together with the translator possibility, there are a number of extra unique options for OnePlus cellphone customers, resembling Regular Join, which allows a longer-range Bluetooth connection, and a Sport Mode possibility as nicely. The OnePlus Buds 4 characteristic twin connection, which is nice for switching forwards and backwards between my cellphone and laptop computer. Pairing was comparatively easy, which appears to be the usual nowadays.

Relating to sound, the Buds 4 provided a good sound profile. After tweaking the buds to search out that “golden” sound, the sound high quality was good, although I discovered myself tweaking it to get issues good. The buds have assist for SBC and AAC codecs, in addition to LHDC 5.0. My tunes sounded wonderful at decrease to mid volumes, however as I turned up the quantity, the sound was not almost as crisp.

Nonetheless, I had no hassle jamming out to totally different genres with a good sound profile, from the Beatles’ Yesterday to Zayde Wolf’s Gladiator and even a bit Toss a Coin to Your Witcher. The general sound did not blow me away, nevertheless it was nonetheless first rate sufficient for the worth. Moreover, if you wish to block out the world, the Buds 4 provide a number of ANC modes, permitting you to resolve how a lot you wish to hear.

As for calls, I had no hassle connecting and listening to anybody I referred to as, each on my laptop computer by way of Google Meet and on my Pixel 8 Professional. Additionally, the sound high quality was fairly good for watching movies, motion pictures, and different media. Lastly, the battery life is first rate however not extraordinary, lasting round 6 to six.5 hours with ANC enabled, and 11 hours with out it. And whereas the Buds 4 do have quick charging, it’s wired.

What I do not like in regards to the OnePlus Buds 4

Not a lot has modified for the reason that final mannequin

My expertise with the Buds 4 has been largely optimistic; nonetheless, they fell quick in a number of areas. Whereas the gesture controls are easy sufficient, they weren’t excellent. I discovered myself unintentionally skipping over songs with a single contact after I was making an attempt to pause the music, after which tapping furiously to return. The buds additionally appeared to disregard me after I did a single faucet, even after I tried each earbuds. So, whereas the management scheme is primary, really utilizing it’s irritating.

Like Taylor talked about in his earlier expertise with the Buds 3, the sound is completely first rate, nevertheless it does have points if you exceed a sure quantity. The sound is not as clear and full correctly, it doesn’t matter what I listened to. And despite the fact that I haven’t got a OnePlus cellphone, I did take a look at the buds on my gaming laptop computer. The sound really labored fairly nicely, nevertheless it managed to make Hades II’s soundtrack sound a bit underwhelming, which is against the law. (It is unimaginable.)

One other disadvantage is the ANC (stick with me). The ANC mode itself is nice; nonetheless, as a result of it has ranges, you must go into the Hey Melody app and modify the settings. When you set it to Excessive to start out, OnePlus boasts that these buds characteristic adaptive AI-driven noise cancellation and flexibility, which is excellent. Nonetheless, you must go in and set it to that mode. And if you wish to change it, you must return into the app and modify the settings.

By default, it is set to average ANC, which is first rate sufficient, however Adaptive mode was hit and miss, because the buds could not resolve whether or not to dam noise or let it in. Typically I might be mid-conversation and certainly one of my buds would randomly activate the ANC, whereas the opposite stayed passive. There are undoubtedly different earbuds that do it higher, just like the Nothing Ear (a). Additionally, the Buds 4 do not provide wi-fi charging, which is extra of a nice-to-have characteristic at this worth level. Nonetheless, at $30 greater than their predecessors, they in all probability ought to.

Do you have to purchase them?

A good mid-range possibility

If you are going to hit that mid-range possibility, there’s sure to be a number of areas of compromise. Whereas Buds 4 aren’t going toe-to-toe with the Pixel Buds Professional 2 or Sony’s WF-1000XM5, they don’t seem to be going to go away your checking account crying both. They provide good sound high quality, first rate battery life, and a minimalist model at an reasonably priced worth — although, that Zen Inexperienced is fairly wonderful. Other than the buggy controls and the necessity to overutilize the app, they’re fairly good contemplating the worth vary, however they’re priced the identical because the OnePlus Buds Professional 3.

General, the OnePlus Buds 4 do provide some first rate options for the $130 price ticket, and they’re fairly snug for long-term put on. So, in case you are out there for some first rate earbuds and do not wish to spend an excessive amount of, these might be the most effective match for you. And in case you have a OnePlus cellphone, you possibly can actually make the most of the additional options.