5 reasons to buy OnePlus Buds 3 instead of AirPods Pro 2

Main points

• OnePlus Buds 3 offer impressive active noise cancellation at a lower cost than Apple’s AirPods Pro
• OnePlus Buds 3 features intuitive touch controls for added comfort.
• The OnePlus Buds 3 have a great design and a gorgeous blue color that breaks up the monotony of AirPods.

Apple’s AirPods are undoubtedly iconic, ushering in the era of wireless headphones as an everyday accessory and audio essential. As wireless earbuds become more mainstream, more and more companies are following the earbud standard set by Apple with more features, spatial audio, impressive ANC, and “cut-off” short-stem designs.

I’m officially out of Apple’s walled garden because they’re comfortable, high quality, and only $100.

Even after testing multiple pairs of earbuds, myself and other sound snobs rarely deviate from AirPods as the mainstay. However, after reviewing OnePlus’ third in-ear pair, the OnePlus Buds 3, I’m officially out of Apple’s walled garden because they offer comfort, quality, and only cost $100. In fact, I found three things in my testing that made me prefer the OnePlus Buds 3 to Apple’s flagship headphones. However, AirPods still win in some areas.

The OnePlus Buds 3 may have ditched the “Pro” moniker retained by their predecessors, but these budget earphones are surprisingly luxurious. Additionally, the headphones are available in bright blue or space gray, a refreshing departure from the classic white or black. In addition to being a staple in the Apple ecosystem, Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 are comfortable, pocketable, and sound great. However, this comes at a high cost. That said, the OnePlus Buds 3 are not only a great choice, but an excellent pair of headphones in their own right that deserve recognition — and maybe $100 more to spend.

1 You wish ANC had the budget

OnePlus wins for its powerful and obvious cancellation feature

Perhaps the most popular spec that comes with every new earbud version or gets upgraded with every iteration is ANC (active noise cancellation). However, this usually comes with a price tag. For $100, the OnePlus Buds 3 managed to get me completely immersed in my audio, barely aware of my New York City surroundings. When I listen to songs like Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me,” I’m so focused on the electric guitar solo that I miss the barista calling my name and wait at my favorite coffee shop too long.

I even connected the OnePlus Buds 3 to my Galaxy Z Flip 4 and the AirPods to my iPhone, and to be honest, I found it hard to distinguish the noise-canceling capabilities. In terms of overall sound quality, the OnePlus Buds 3 sound a little bit spiky, but there’s no doubt that they excel at being quiet.

While the AirPods Pro 2 cost $250, the OnePlus Buds 3 are $150 less at just $100, which is a great entry-level tag for premium features.

Transparency mode is also impressive, apparently allowing me to stay in tune with my surroundings – especially at lower volumes – while still having Sabrina Carpenter’s latest single Espresso as my accompanying soundtrack.

2 Easier touch controls

OnePlus revamped the backbone, making it less clunky and more intuitive

AirPods Pro 2 introduce one of my favorite features: touch controls on the stem. However, they do require a little pressure to fully respond and function optimally when you use your index finger behind the stem and press your index finger firmly into the stem turf. However, the OnePlus’ controls are a little more responsive, but not overly so. Plus, the controls aren’t on the stem, but on the bud bulb, which makes control less awkward – especially when I’m on the go.

3 Better fit

OnePlus headphones are more stable and comfortable for longer wear

Like the AirPods, the OnePlus Buds 3 feature soft silicone ear tips that fit snugly in your ears. With round bulbs instead of flat ones, the OnePlus Buds 3 aren’t bulky but fit perfectly in my ears, thus reducing the build-up of pressure I often experience when using AirPods. Additionally, the earbuds seem to fit better in my ears, which keeps them more stable when I’m running or working up a sweat.

4 you want a more interesting style

The blue matches my Lululemon pouch perfectly

Arguably, AirPods are iconic in part because of their sleek all-white design, from the early generation of Apple’s wired earphones all the way up to the latest AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C. While this is a genius marketing strategy from Apple, for a headphone fanatic like me, this consistency may also be redundant. The OnePlus Buds come in metallic gray, which is a nice neutral color that goes easily with any outfit, but is bolder than Apple’s all-white color. Plus, the brilliant blue I have is exactly what its name suggests – brilliant. They’re fun enough to add some color and grit, but the metal stems make them very subtle and keep people’s heads from turning when they’re within earshot. In short, they are great without making me feel like I stand out.

5 Longer battery life

The OnePlus Buds 3 battery lasts for days (literally)

OnePlus says the Buds 3 can play for 44 hours in the charging case with ANC turned off, but I don’t think that’s correct. I think there’s more to it. I’ve been using the OnePlus Buds 3 as my primary in-ear headphones for a week without charging.

Even when switching between ANC and transparency modes, battery life was good enough to last me a 60-minute round-trip walk each day, in which I made phone calls, listened to podcasts, and listened to Taylor Swift songs on a loop. It only takes about a week (sometimes a little longer) before I get a low battery notification, and even then I still have a 15-30 minute grace period to really get the most out of my battery. While my AirPods Pro 2 have great battery life, my OnePlus Buds 3 win at over a week’s worth of battery life.