OnePlus Buds E513A

The OnePlus Buds 4 deliver flagship-level ANC and sound quality at a mid-range price, landing in the 97th and 95th percentiles respectively. Battery life is solid at around 24 hours total, and Bluetooth 5.4 with LHDC support is a nice touch for OnePlus owners. The main drawbacks are a cheap-feeling case, no wireless charging, and comfort issues for some users. At $108-114 or EUR 86-96, they're a strong value if you prioritize audio performance over build quality.

Let's talk about what these things do well, because there's a lot. The 11mm dynamic drivers deliver sound quality that lands in the 95th percentile of our database. That's not just good for the price, that's good, period. Bass is punchy and present, maybe a little too present for some folks out of the box, but the detail retrieval is there. LHDC 5.0 support means you're getting higher bitrate audio than standard AAC or SBC, assuming you're on a OnePlus phone that supports it. On other devices, you'll fall back to more standard codecs, which is a bit of a bummer but not a dealbreaker.

ANC is the other headline feature, and it's genuinely impressive. We're talking 97th percentile performance, which puts these earbuds in the same conversation as options costing twice as much. The adaptive mode does a solid job of switching between ANC and transparency based on your environment, though the transparency mode itself is a bit mediocre according to user feedback. Battery life is also strong, with the 530mAh case delivering around 24 hours total. Real-world reports suggest 9-12 hours of playback with ANC off, which is solid. Fast charging is a nice bonus when you're in a pinch.

The most obvious competitor is the Sony WF-C700N. Sony's earbuds are comfortable and well-built, with a more refined app experience. But the Buds 4 beat them on ANC performance and sound quality in our testing. The Sony's are the safer choice if you prioritize comfort and build quality, but the OnePlus earbuds deliver more impressive audio tech for the money.

The Nothing Ear (3) is another interesting comparison. Nothing's earbuds have a more distinctive design and a better transparency mode, but they typically cost more. The Soundcore P31i and EarFun Air Pro 4+ are both cheaper alternatives that offer decent ANC, but neither matches the Buds 4 on sound quality. If you're on a OnePlus phone, the Buds 4 are the obvious choice thanks to LHDC support and tighter integration. For everyone else, it comes down to whether you prioritize audio performance or build quality and comfort.

Here's where things get interesting. The Buds 4 are priced between $108 and $114 in the US, and EUR 86 to EUR 96 across European listings. That EUR 10 spread is worth paying attention to if you're shopping in Europe. The best deal we're seeing is at the lower end of that range, so it pays to shop around before you pull the trigger. Keep the amounts in EUR when comparing across ES, FR, and IT listings.

For what you're getting, the value proposition is strong. ANC at the 97th percentile and sound at the 95th percentile for under $120 is a genuinely good deal. The Sony WF-C700N sits in a similar price bracket but doesn't match the Buds 4 on ANC performance. The catch is that you're making some compromises, mainly the cheap-feeling case and the lack of wireless charging. If those things matter to you, the value equation shifts. But if you're buying these for the audio and noise cancellation, you're getting a lot of performance per dollar.

The OnePlus Buds 4 are the company's latest swing at the mid-range true wireless market, and on paper they're doing a lot of things right. You get 11mm dynamic drivers, LHDC 5.0 support, adaptive ANC, and Bluetooth 5.4, all wrapped in a package that sits comfortably under the $120 mark. That's a spec sheet that would have been reserved for flagships a couple years ago. OnePlus has always had a knack for cramming premium features into budget-friendly hardware, and the Buds 4 feel like a continuation of that playbook.

Who are these for? Honestly, if you own a OnePlus phone, the answer is pretty simple. These earbuds are built to play nice with OxygenOS, and some features like LHDC and AI translation are locked to OnePlus devices. But even if you're rocking a Pixel or a Galaxy, the core experience here, sound quality, ANC, battery life, is strong enough to stand on its own. The Zen Green colorway is a nice touch too, a little personality in a sea of white and black earbuds.

The interesting thing about the Buds 4 is the mismatch between specs and user sentiment. Our database puts the ANC at the 97th percentile and sound at the 95th, which is genuinely impressive for this price. But user sentiment sits at just the 51st percentile, dragged down by complaints about the cheap-feeling case and comfort issues. That's the story here: a pair of earbuds that nails the audio fundamentals but stumbles on the physical details that matter day to day.

If you're someone who treats earbuds as an all-day accessory, the comfort issues reported by a significant number of owners should give you pause. Ear pain after extended wear is a recurring theme, and that's not something you want to gamble on. The Sony WF-C700N is a safer bet for comfort-focused buyers, even if it doesn't match the Buds 4 on ANC performance.

You should also look elsewhere if build quality is a priority. The charging case is the weak link here, with multiple owners describing it as cheap and fragile. If you're hard on your gear or just appreciate a premium feel, the Nothing Ear (3) offers a more distinctive and better-built package. And if wireless charging is a must-have, these are an automatic pass, since OnePlus skipped that feature entirely.

If you're a OnePlus phone owner, this is an easy recommendation. The Buds 4 integrate seamlessly with OxygenOS, unlock LHDC for higher-quality audio, and deliver ANC that punches well above their price. The sound signature is fun and engaging, with bass that'll please most listeners. Just be prepared for a case that feels cheaper than the earbuds themselves.

For non-OnePlus users, the calculus is a bit different. You're still getting excellent sound and ANC, but you're leaving some features on the table. The comfort issues are also worth considering, especially if you plan to wear these for long stretches. If you can find them at the lower end of the EUR 86-96 range in Europe, they're a compelling buy. At the higher end, the Sony WF-C700N starts to look like a safer bet for comfort-focused buyers.