With the OnePlus Buds Pro, launched two years ago, OnePlus had provided a quality service. Clear and impressive sound, comfort and beautiful finish. Today the company returns with the continuation of the story, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2.
This time, OnePlus enlisted Danish audio company Dynaudio to pack in a pair of 11mm and 6mm drivers, which the company claims improve bass. It’s also one of the first wireless headphones to support Google’s version of Spatial Sound. With that, there’s an extra €30, bringing the Buds Pro 2 to €179 compared to the €149 of the first version.
Two years after the release of the OnePlus Buds Pro, what are the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 worth? More importantly, is their new price justified? Let’s take a closer look.
Advantages of OnePlus Buds Pro 2
- Premium aesthetics and feel.
- Quality of active noise reduction.
- Truly immersive spatial audio
- Long battery life with fast charging
Disadvantages of OnePlus Buds Pro 2
- Software issues and unstable connectivity
- Transparency mode is just fine
- Works best with a OnePlus phone
OnePlus Buds Pro 2 Specifications
-
Weight : headphones/4.9g, case/47.3g - Frequency response : 10Hz – 40KHz
- Drivers : 11 mm and 6 mm dynamic drivers
- Battery : up to 9 hours per charge, 39 hours total with case
- Connectivity : Bluetooth 5.3 LE Audio and Fast Pair
- Resistance : IP55
- Colors : Obsidian Black and Arbor Green
What aesthetics, what support?
When it comes to design, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 take the pragmatic “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach: the appearance is nearly identical to the original, and I’m not complaining about that. not. The glossy-stem matte black headphones we tested look and feel premium, and even the case looks more like a jewelry box than a typical charging box.
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 in black, in their case. June Wan/ZDNET
And while I’m usually picky about silicone tips, these have proven to be pleasantly comfortable. The silicone tips (available in small, medium and large sizes) are soft and even, and fit perfectly into the minimalist design of the headphones. Opting for the small tips, I was pleased to find that they stayed in my ear and didn’t require constant readjustment. I even found the Buds Pro 2 comfortable enough to wear them all day, from work to the gym, despite the sweat and pressure that builds up throughout the day.
My colleague June Wan also tested the same headphones, but with the medium and large tips. From what she told me, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 look just like the first generation model. They’re lightweight, the stem design holds the headphones in place without having to shove them into the ears, and the case is just as easy to store as the original. The only negative of the Buds Pro 2 is the matte treatment used by OnePlus this time around. The smooth case remains too slippery, and, left at the bottom of a backpack, its surface can be marked by micro-scratches.
What sound ?
I tested the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 with my iPhone using Oppo’s HeyMelody app. And June tested them with her OnePlus 11.
During the ordeal of Mario Kart music, these headphones did an excellent job of emphasizing the lively sounds of higher-pitched instruments like electric guitars, while still producing enough bass to keep the spirits high.
The HeyMelody app lets you adjust noise control and other gesture functions. June Wan/ZDNET
June had a similar experience listening to music from her OnePlus 11. Bass is clearly the strong point of the Buds Pro 2, and the headphones are tuned just enough to balance out the punchy effect. Another cool addition to the Buds Pro 2 is the in-app HeyMelody EQ, which now lets you adjust your own frequency levels for a more personalized listening experience. There are also presets you can choose from Bold, Serenade and, oddly enough, Bass.
June also tested the OnePlus Buds Pro 2’s Spatial Audio feature, designed for surround-sound movies or a more immersive music session, and it worked as expected: Instruments and vocals change position and distance adaptively when you turn your head, creating a more realistic sound. Obviously, you’ll have to dig through Spotify’s and Apple Music’s catalogs to find songs compatible with Spatial Sound before you can fully experience it.
June Wan/ZDNET
On the other hand, OnePlus’ transparent mode is not quite… transparent. On the contrary, it gives the impression that the external noises are under water. It’s more unsettling than helpful, and I ended up having to completely remove my earbuds to initiate or even hear a conversation.
Finally, we both experienced connectivity issues with the OnePlus Buds Pro 2, which leads us to believe that the device we received may have been faulty. For example, the left earbud would sometimes disconnect randomly, causing all form of playback to suddenly stop. Separately, there have been instances of a laptop or phone not pairing with the headphones, even though OnePlus advertises multi-device connectivity. Expect an update once we’ve tested a second pair of headphones.
Autonomy and load
Thankfully, OnePlus Buds Pro 2 charging and battery life aren’t as unstable. The case can be charged via USB-C or wirelessly and provides the headphones with up to 39 hours of battery life in total. As someone who enjoys battery life to the last possible second, I appreciate that the case features super fast charging, capable of adding 3 hours of playtime with just 10 minutes of charging. .
In terms of autonomy, therefore, I had no problem using the headphones day after day. They last the time it takes to go from the morning commute to the lunch break and then from the lunch break to the ride home, which is fantastic.
To conclude on the performance of the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 headphones
While the OnePlus Buds 2 Pro look and feel luxurious, I find it hard to recommend them due to the unconvincing transparency mode and connectivity issues, at least if that turns out to be a recurring issue. In fact, I can name five cheaper headphones that offer equivalent or even better sound quality and don’t have the same software issues.
So why buy the OnePlus Buds Pro 2? I would recommend these if you’re an Android user who can take advantage of the Spatial Audio feature, and want headphones that deliver great sound without needing to be pushed into your ears to secure. Otherwise, I advise you to opt for other alternatives allowing you to have more for your money.
Source: “ZDNet.com”