OnePlus Buds 4

The OnePlus Buds 4 are wireless earbuds with flagship-level adaptive ANC and a massive 45-hour battery life for around $109 USD. Sound quality is strong but bass-heavy, and connectivity is just average. If you want premium features without the premium price, these are a top pick.

Battery life is where these things absolutely crush it. We're talking 45 hours total with the case, and that puts the OnePlus Buds 4 in the 99th percentile for battery in our database. That's best-in-class territory. You could easily go a week or more between charges with moderate use. The case itself holds 45 hours, so you're rarely hunting for a power outlet.

ANC performance is also a standout. The adaptive noise cancellation hits the 97th percentile, which means it's among the best on the market right now. The 55dB reduction claim is bold, and while real-world numbers vary, these buds do a genuinely impressive job silencing subway rumble and office chatter. The transparency mode is solid too, letting you hear announcements without pulling an earbud out.

Sound quality is more of a mixed bag. The dual DACs and dual drivers give the Buds 4 a 92nd percentile sound score, which is strong. But that music score of 57.5 tells a different story. The hardware is capable, but the default tuning leans heavy on bass and can feel a bit bloated for genres like classical or acoustic. Golden Sound helps by creating a custom hearing profile, but it's not a magic fix. Call quality is solid thanks to the 3-mic setup with AI noise reduction, landing in the 87th percentile. Wind noise gets filtered well, and callers said we sounded clear even with background noise.

Against the Sony WF-1000XM6, the OnePlus Buds 4 actually hold their own on ANC and battery. Sony's tuning is more refined, especially in the mids and highs, but you're paying a serious premium for that polish. The Sony buds also have better connectivity and app support. If sound quality is your top priority, Sony wins. If you want great ANC and don't want to spend $300, OnePlus is the smarter buy.

The Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Generation are the obvious choice for iPhone users, and they do everything well. But the Buds 4 beat them on battery life and match them on ANC for less money. The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro are another strong competitor with better integration for Samsung phones. And the JLab JBuds Pods ANC are cheaper but feel noticeably less premium. The OnePlus Buds 4 carve out a nice niche: flagship features without the flagship tax.

At $109 USD, the OnePlus Buds 4 are aggressively priced against the Sony WF-1000XM6 and Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Generation, which typically cost two to three times more. You're getting flagship-level ANC and battery life for budget money. The trade-off is sound refinement and some ecosystem features. If you want the absolute best audio quality, the Technics EAH-AZ100 or Sony's latest will beat these. But for most people, the Buds 4 deliver 85% of the flagship experience at less than half the price. That's a compelling deal.

The OnePlus Buds 4 sit in that sweet spot where budget earbuds start flirting with flagship features. You get dual drivers, adaptive ANC, and Hi-Res LHDC 5.0 support for around $109 USD. That's aggressive pricing for a spec sheet that reads like something from a much pricier pair. OnePlus has been quietly building a solid audio lineup, and these are their most ambitious buds yet.

So are the OnePlus Buds 4 good for everyday listening? For most people, yes. The dual driver setup with an 11mm woofer and 6mm tweeter gives the sound real separation. Vocals stay crisp while bass hits without muddying everything else. And the adaptive ANC claims up to 55dB of noise reduction, which is a serious number for earbuds in this price range.

But there's a catch. The music score in our database lands at 57.5 out of 100, which is the weakest area for these buds. That's not terrible, but it suggests the tuning might not satisfy picky listeners. We'll dig into what that means below.

Skip the OnePlus Buds 4 if you're an audiophile who wants a neutral, reference-style sound signature. The bass-heavy tuning will annoy you. Also skip these if you need rock-solid connectivity in crowded areas, since the connectivity score is just average. iPhone users who want seamless ecosystem integration should look at the AirPods Pro 3rd Generation instead. And if you have smaller ears, the comfort score of 70th percentile suggests these might not fit everyone perfectly. For pure sound quality, the Technics EAH-AZ100 or Sony WF-1000XM6 are better picks, though they cost significantly more.

Should you buy the OnePlus Buds 4? If you want excellent ANC, marathon battery life, and solid sound for around $109 USD, yes. These are some of the best value earbuds we've tested this year. The adaptive ANC genuinely competes with buds costing twice as much, and the 45-hour battery life is a legitimate game changer for travelers and commuters.

But if you're an audiophile who obsesses over neutral sound signatures, these might frustrate you. The bass-heavy tuning and average connectivity hold them back from being truly great. For everyone else, the OnePlus Buds 4 are an easy recommendation. They're not perfect, but they're damn good for the price.