Odi Productions
In this article, I’m going to share my HONEST OnePlus Buds Pro 3 review for those who are wondering whether they are WORTH IT. I’ll also be comparing the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, Nothing Ear 3, Sony WF-1000XM5, and more!
I’m going to do my best to share whether these wireless earbuds are worth it, and ideally who these are perfect for. I’ve owned these for a while now and have quite a few thoughts.
I’ll be sharing my critical opinion with 10 years of experience as a professional music producer, audio engineer, and tech journalist.
Let’s dive right in!
OnePlus Buds Pro 3 Review in Short
The now-discontinued Sony WF-1000XM4 still has elite noise cancelling performance and is enjoyable to listen to due to its balanced sound profile. Only issues are its dated mic quality and taking a chance on Renewed or Used. Competes in the wireless noise cancelling earbuds class with the likes of Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Generation, Sony WF-1000XM6, AirPods Pro 2, Nothing Ear 3, Sony WF-1000XM5, and more!
Pros and Cons
- Very good sound quality
- Above average noise cancelling
- Good mic quality
- Appealing price point
- There’s better sound quality
- There’s better noise cancelling
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Comfort + Features
Comfort
On the exterior, the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 has a very similar cosmetic design to the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation and Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.
These include 4 pairs of silicone eartips, and they don’t feel uncomfortable as a whole.
I will say that the earbuds are a bit too round and you can feel them in the ear, whereas some earbuds like the newer AirPods Pro 3 are more form-fitting and ergonomic.
If for whatever reason the stock eartips aren’t to your liking, I’ve really enjoyed using these aftermarket ones I tested from SpinFit (note that this entire review is using the stock eartips):
The wireless earbuds that I find more comfortable and secure-fitting include:
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd and 1st Gen
- Apple AirPods Pro 3
- Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
- Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
Features
The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 was originally released in August 2024, so it has many modern wireless earbud features:
- IP55 water resistance rating (dust and water-jet resistant)
- LHDC 5.0 high-res codec support
- Built-in microphones for taking calls
- USB-C charging case
- Bluetooth 5.4
- Multi-point connection
- Adaptive Noise Cancelling
- Transparency Mode
- iOS and Android app support
The most notable feature for audiophiles is the LDAC high-res codec support.
Also, it’s nice that there is a native app offered for both iOS and Android users alike.
Microphone Quality
The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 has one of the better microphone quality for the wireless earbuds class.
I’d put the Buds Pro 3 at firmly above average for the class.
If you are seeking the absolute best mic quality, some slightly superior options would be the AirPods Pro 3, Sony WF-1000XM5, and Nothing Ear 3 (with its “Super Mic” feature).
Battery Life
- With ANC on: 6 hours of battery life on a single charge / 25.5 hours total with charging case
- With ANC off: 10 hours on a single charge / 43 hours total with charging case
- Fast Charge: 10 minutes = 5 hours of playback
This battery life is about average for the class, as most competitors are 6-8 hours on a single charge, and 24-30 hours with the charging case.
Comfort + Features Score: 8.5 out of 10
OnePlus Buds Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Performance
Similar to microphone quality, I found the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 to be above average for noise cancelling performance.
OnePlus claims “50dB” of noise cancelling, which is a relatively high figure.
There is a lot of competition here these days, and some other earbuds I find in the same tier would be the Nothing Ear 3, Technics AZ100, Status Pro X, and SoundPEATS H3.
Now, if you’re looking for the absolute best, I’d still recommend the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen, AirPods Pro 3, or Sony WF-1000XM5.
Noise Cancelling Score: 8.0 out of 10
Sound Quality
Although the OnePlus brand would be categorized more with the popular manufacturers like Samsung and Apple, the Buds Pro 3 was actually tuned by Dynaudio, and that gives me more audiophile vibes.
Let’s start with the high-res codec support of LHDC 5.0. In theory, this is arguably the highest resolution wireless codec. My only issue is that LHDC 5.0 is less widely accessible than high-res codecs like LDAC and aptX, and exclusive to phones from OnePlus, Nothing, OPPO, and Xiaomi.
Obviously, this is a OnePlus product so pairing it makes sense, but it just means a wide range of Apple and Android users won’t be able to get the full potential out.
With that out of the way, I still found the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 to sound quite good, and I could hear that Dynaudio tuning giving these a more audiophile sound upon first impression.
Aside from tuning by Dynaudio, the Buds Pro 3 feature a dual-driver and dual-DAC setup, with an 11mm woofer paired to a 6mm tweeter. The bass response is my favorite aspect of these, thanks to the dual-driver design and Dynaudio’s extensive hifi speaker experience that is no stranger to excellent bass.
Compared to the popular mainstream brands like AirPods Pro 2, Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, and Nothing Ear 3, I’m actually gravitating more towards the OnePlus Buds Pro 3.
I find them to be fairly competitive and on par with the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4, Sony WF-1000XM5, and newer AirPods Pro 3.
I do still put them below the superior audiophile options such as the Technics AZ100, Denon PerL Pro, Status Pro X, Bowers & Wilkins Pi8, Noble FoKus Rex5, and SoundPEATS H3 – all of which are some of the best wireless earbud listening experiences available today.
Sound Quality Score: 8.2 out of 10
Value
The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 retails at $179.99 USD, but is currently on sale for $129.99 at the time of this writing.
This price undercuts many of its competitors that average between $200 to $250 USD, such as the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, AirPods Pro 3, and Sony WF-1000XM5.
The Nothing Ear 3 can be found around the same price at retail, but I prefer the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 as a whole.
There is one value standout that may be even cheaper on average, and that is the SoundPEATS H3 at under $130.
Value Score: 8.5 out of 10
Overall Scoring Breakdown
Comfort + Features (15% of score): 8.5 / 10
Noise Cancelling (25% of score): 8.0 / 10
Sound Quality (50% of score): 8.2 / 10
Value (10% of score): 8.5 / 10
Total: 8.2 out of 10
Is the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 Worth it?
Honestly, the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 surprised me – in a very good way. Well, when I saw they were tuned by Dynaudio, I was a little less surprised.
The OnePlus exceeded my expectations in most categories, and although not the absolute best in any single one category, it performed very competitively across the board.
And at a very appealing price point that undercuts most of its competition by a good margin.
My only nitpick would be not offering a more accessible high-res codec like LDAC or aptX Adaptive instead of LHDC 5.0.
They still sound pretty good, regardless.
Lastly, if you’d like to save some money and keep supporting RecordingNOW.com’s 100% independent, unbiased reviews, do consider using some of our affiliate links below to shop and even just compare prices. We purchase all products we review with our own money to maintain the highest level of integrity, and your support goes into that plus a continuously improving site experience.
Order HERE for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE (Do NOT pay retail):
Disclosure: These affiliate links may provide a discount and in return, give us a commission in order to keep this website 100% independent to ensure honest unfiltered reviews 🙂
How We Tested and Our Methodology
RecordingNOW.com is a 100% independent publisher with over 10 years of experience testing and reviewing consumer electronics and headphones.
We currently purchase the products we test with our own money, and are not paid by any company or manufacturer to influence our opinions or decisions.
After purchasing the product, we conduct up to hundreds of hours of detailed hands-on testing in a controlled, acoustically-treated environment.
ODi Productions is our resident expert and author of this article, with 10 years of experience as a professional music producer, tech journalist, and audiophile.
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