OnePlus Buds Pro 3 review

The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 retain the sleek design and $179.99 price of their excellent predecessors but benefit from a revamped dual-driver setup and a more pocketable charging case. Otherwise, they offer a cross-platform software experience with top-notch active noise cancellation (ANC) and an adjustable EQ for the price. We have some minor nitpicks about their slightly inconsistent fit and low transparency mode, but the Buds Pro 3 are still a decent choice for noise cancellation under $200. That said, they lack the Editors’ Choice-winning JBL Live Beam 3 earphones, which offer equally compelling audio, better codec support, and a touch-screen charging case for $199.95.

Design: Reliable controls and a compact case

The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 retains the stem-style design of the previous version, with a two-tone glossy finish. They are available in Lunar Radiance (Cream) or Midnight Opus (Black). I tested the former version, which stands out in a sea of ​​mostly black or white options. The earpieces aren’t quite as small as the $249.99 Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, and their shape doesn’t necessarily make for a perfect fit. They tend to dislodge from time to time during testing, especially during heavy movements like running. The four sets of different sizes in the box should at least help you achieve a decent level of in-ear stability

Internally, dual 11mm and 6mm drivers provide a 10Hz-40kHz frequency range. The earphones support Bluetooth 5.4, AAC, LHDC 5.0, and SBC codecs, Google Fast Pair with at least OnePlus phones running Android 11, and multipoint connection to any device. I appreciate the high-resolution LHDC option, though it’s not as common as LDAC, which you get with the JBL Live Beam 3. For reference, both the OnePlus 12 and 12R offer LHDC.

The Buds Pro 3 use a combination of squeeze and swipe controls that work well. By default, a single squeeze on either side handles playback, a double squeeze takes you to the next track, a triple squeeze takes you to the previous track, and a slide gesture sets the volume level. There’s also a squeeze-and-hold control to switch between ANC, Transparency and Off – though by default, it only switches between ANC and Transparency mode. You can customize the controls through your device settings or the HeyMelody app, depending on your phone. For example, you can set swipe gestures to manage track navigation, assign independent controls to each earpiece, and add the ability to activate your device’s voice assistant or add different modes (Game, Zen) to the mix.

An IP55 rating means the earbuds are moderately resistant to dust and can withstand minor water jets. For example, a sweaty gym workout or running in adverse conditions won’t pose a problem. You’ll get the same rating with the JBL Live Beam 3, though the IP68-rated Jabra Elite 8 Gen 2 earphones are more durable.

Although the charging case is not weatherproof, it is more convenient to carry than before. It opens from the top and magnets hold the earpieces firmly in place. There’s a USB-C port on the bottom for charging via the included (but short) USB-A-to-USB-C cable, or you can opt for wireless charging. Curiously, you have to put the case face down to use the latter feature. The case doesn’t offer anything fancy like a touch screen (JBL Live Beam 3) or the ability to transmit audio from a source via a USB-C or 3.5mm connection (Jabra Elite 8 Gen 2).

With ANC on, OnePlus says the earbuds last up to 6 hours per charge and an additional 19 hours from the case. These estimates are good, although many options (including the JBL Live Beam 3) accept the 8- and 25-hour marks here. With ANC off, the earbuds get a respectable 10 hours of battery life, while the case provides an additional 33 hours. The company claims that 10 minutes of charging will give you 5 hours of listening time.

Software: Compatible across most platforms

Your software experience varies depending on the type of phone you use. The earbuds work seamlessly with OnePlus devices, where you can access controls and settings directly from the Bluetooth menu. For example, you can switch between noise cancellation and transparency modes, as well as tweak the on-ear controls. You can enable and manage multipoint connections An audio-based Find My Earbuds feature helps you locate a lost earpiece Finally, you can choose between five EQ presets and use a bass slider to boost or cut low-frequency response. A custom EQ option provides six bands between 62Hz and 16kHz, though the JBL Live Beam 3 and $149 Nothing Ear offer more flexibility.

Several more are available. The Golden Sound feature, for example, tunes audio to the shape of your ear canal, while an earbud fit test ensures you’re using the right eartip. You can also enable spatial audio and use the Zen Mode Air feature, which plays relaxing sounds like white noise. Last but not least is a neck health feature that uses the earbuds to track your posture and offer suggestions on how to improve it.

If you don’t have a OnePlus device, you can still access all these features through the HeyMelody app (available for iOS and Android). The main omissions are the Neck Health and Zen Mode Air features, though you’ll lose support for high-resolution audio via the HeyMelody app. Phones that support LHDC should theoretically still allow LHDC connection with the Buds Pro 3.

Noise Cancellation: Better than most

With the OnePlus Buds Pro 3, you can set the ANC level manually or rely on an automatic setting that adapts to your surroundings. Both modes are impressive. The earbuds did a great job of cutting out both the low rumble of the plane’s engines and the high-frequency white noise. On a bus, they effectively dampened the low hum of the engine and the high scraping sound of doors opening and closing. They also succeeded in reducing the amount of background chatter in a busy cafe. They did best against lower frequencies in this last scenario but did well against higher frequencies. Overall, they’re just as good as the $249 AirPods Pro in this regard, though I noticed a bit more background hiss with the OnePlus. The JBL Live Beam 3 earphones are a step behind here.

I’m not nearly a fan of the transparency mode. It’s adequate for conversation but doesn’t reproduce audio faithfully, especially at higher frequencies. AirPods Pro is much better in this regard.

Sound Quality: Detailed all around

The Buds Pro 3 offer better sound than I expected at this price range, although the Nothing Ear Buds push the boundaries in audio quality for the price. The spatial audio feature is perfectly fine. It’s not as immersive as the Dolby Atmos mix in Apple Music with AirPods, but it’s no worse than other simulated spatial audio implementations. It supports both static and head-tracked spatial modes.

On The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the Buds Pro 3 produced rich and deep audio that never sounded overly muddy. You hear plenty of bass, though still plenty of room for crisp percussion. you will get a little More clarity than the Nothing Ears, but the Buds Pro 3 still deliver great high-end response.

Bill Callahan’s “Drover” sounds equally good. Percussion and string noise are clearly present on this track but do not detract from the deep richness of the lead vocals. Meanwhile, the kick drum never comes across as obtrusive.

Bass response is well tuned overall. Kendrick Lamar’s “Loyalty” benefits from a solid clarity on the percussion, while the vocals have a beautiful melody. Sub-bass frequencies are fully audible, and deep bass tones bring plenty of rumble.

The earbuds perform well on orchestral tracks, such as John Adams’ opening scene Another is the Gospel according to Mary. The strings are rich and clear, while the vocals shine through.

The microphone array works fine but isn’t outstanding. I can clearly hear my voice from a recording on my iPhone, though the mids are a bit forward. Some Bluetooth artifacts are also audible. Despite these flaws, the earbuds should work well enough for calls.

Verdict: Very competitive for the price

OnePlus Buds 3 Pro offers excellent audio quality, top-notch ANC and a full range of features on all mobile devices (with some OnePlus-exclusive exceptions). We’re also fans of their sleek charging case and intuitive on-ear controls. We wish they fit a bit more securely and that the transparency mode and mics had slightly better clarity, but they’re still a great value at $179.99. The JBL Live Beam 3 earphones offer better battery life, a more widely available high-resolution codec, and competitive all-round performance just slightly higher, so they hold our Editors’ Choice award at this price. If you want to spend less, we like the Nothing Ear earbuds for their superior sound quality and better fit.

About Christian de Luper

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Christian De Loper is a consumer technology reporter based in sunny Santa Cruz, California. Christian has reported on technology for over 10 years, with bylines in many major technology publications. Christian has a bachelor’s degree in music technology and lives at home with his wife, daughter, and cat. Despite being an Australian who now lives in Santa Cruz, Christian has only surfed once—and not well.

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