Besides your favorite headset, you definitely need quality earbuds for making calls and listening to music on the go. But if you’ve already invested a few hundred dollars in your headphones, you might be less inclined to pay the same price for a pair of headphones, right?
Luckily, you don’t need to shell out more than $300 to get great-sounding, functional headphones. And if you’re not really a fan of AirPods, are on a budget, or are eyeing one of OnePlus’ latest smartphones, you might want to take a look at the new ones. OnePlus Buds 3.
The main takeaways from the OnePlus Buds 3 earbuds
- The OnePlus Buds 3 are the company’s latest high-end in-ears, and they currently cost €90.
- Access to a high-quality Bluetooth audio codec differentiates these headphones from other products in the same price range.
- You will not benefit from high-resolution sound if you do not have a compatible OnePlus or Oppo smartphone (or some other devices from brands such as Xiaomi or Redmi, Motorola, etc.)
The best audio with certain smartphones only
The OnePlus Buds 3 arrive just a year after the release of the OnePlus Buds Pro 2. They actually have better features while being cheaper than their predecessors. And by the way, have you already noticed the difference in name?
The latest models do not include “Pro” functions like wireless charging, but are improved in terms of noise reduction, battery life and stability of the Bluetooth multipoint connection.
The OnePlus Buds 3 feature the LHDC audio codec, which supports high-resolution audio playback over a Bluetooth connection. With this codec, you can listen at up to 900 kilobits per second, a bit depth of up to 24 bits, and a sample rate of up to 96 kHz.
If those numbers and letters don’t mean anything to you, that’s great, but read on. All this technical mumbo-jumbo means that the OnePlus Buds 3 sound absolutely fantastic, and their potential is fully realized when paired with a OnePlus smartphone.
The latest OnePlus phones support this codec, which is not the case with devices from Samsung, Apple or Google.
These latest smartphones each feature a proprietary Bluetooth codec that provides higher quality sound, but it doesn’t reach the same level as LHDC.
Fortunately, this isn’t the biggest problem, as the OnePlus Buds 3 reproduce great sound when paired with a smartphone from another brand.
These headphones can muffle nearby conversation noises
It’s true, I committed the major sin while testing them: I used them with an iPhone! The OnePlus Buds 3’s 10.4mm woofer boosts the bass, while the 6mm tweeters maintain the clarity and vibrancy of high frequencies.
When I listened to Pressure by The 1975, I could clearly hear the singer’s vocal harmonies, and the OnePlus Buds 3 reproduced the smooth bassline and groovy guitar riffs beautifully.
OnePlus Buds 3 can reduce extraneous noise by up to 49 dB. So with ANC turned on, you won’t hear noises like typing on a keyboard, a distant TV, or chatter in a house.
These headphones from OnePlus can muffle the sounds of nearby conversations or the honking of car horns passing your window, but you’ll still hear some of it. Not bad anyway for a pair of headphones for less than 100 euros.
Greater autonomy than more high-end models
With ANC turned off, you’ll be able to run the earphones for 10 hours and an additional 34 hours when the case is fully charged – that’s very impressive. This autonomy is superior to what headphones from Sony, Apple and Bose do.
However, the transparency mode of these headphones is of lower quality, because a hum is perceptible: undoubtedly the external microphones are working overtime to make you better hear what is around you.
Jada Jones/ZDnet
On the other hand, these headphones are ideal for phone calls, as no caller complained about the lack of clarity of my voice. Many software features add interest to these OnePlus Buds 3. For example, you can take a hearing test so that the earbuds can assess the structure of your ear canal and determine which EQ settings work best.
After my hearing test, the application suggested an increase in mid-range frequencies to make listening more pleasant, a suggestion that I approved. However, you can still change the six-band equalizer settings in the HeyMelody app.
If you want headphones that can take you to the office or the gym, the OnePlus Buds 3 are perfect. The silicone tips provide good sound insulation and limit slipping in the ear. Their IP55 rating makes them rugged enough for sweaty workouts.
Design-wise, the OnePlus Buds 3 feature chrome finishes on the earbud stems, with matte accents on the tips and charging case. The headphones are sleek and lightweight, making them an ideal addition to everyday gear.
Purchasing advice for OnePlus Buds 3 headphones
The OnePlus Buds 3 pack just about every feature you could want in a pair of earbuds. For their affordable price, you get adequate noise reduction, excellent audio quality, and all-day comfort.
But to get the most out of these headphones, you need to have a compatible smartphone.
So there are OnePlus and Oppo (which has withdrawn from France) but other brands also offer devices compatible with LHDC. Otherwise, these headphones have no other limitations, and the price is worth it.