OnePlus unveiled its next-generation Pro Buds with the help of singer-songwriter Anuv Jain. The new model brings improved audio quality, stronger noise cancellation, and slightly better battery life.
OnePlus Buds Pro 3
The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 feature a dual driver setup with an 11mm woofer and a 6mm tweeter. What makes them different from the Pro 2 Buds is the new dual DAC system, a first in the series. One DAC feeds the woofer, the other is connected to the tweeter. Also, the woofer design now uses two magnets, which is another improvement over the Pro 2 Buds. Both the woofer and tweeter also have new diaphragms.
According to OnePlus, these changes result in powerful bass and crisp treble. The buds have been master-tuned by Danish loudspeaker maker Dynaudio.
The new Adaptive Noise Cancellation system automatically adjusts the level of cancellation. For example, when you leave a quiet office and walk onto a noisy street, the ANC system can dial down the cancellation to 50dB (compared to 48dB on the Pro 2).
OnePlus claims that Adaptive ANC can improve battery life, as an unnecessarily high ANC level drains the battery faster than a lower level without much practical difference. However, the improvement appears to be marginal. Each bud has a 58mAh battery and can last up to 10 hours with ANC off or 6 hours with Adaptive ANC on (compared to 60mAh, 9 hours and 6 hours on the older model).
The case houses a 566mAh battery, which brings total listening time to 43 hours without noise cancellation and 25.5 hours with Adaptive ANC. Charging is done via USB-C (which takes 70 minutes) or wirelessly (2 hours 30 minutes). If you go the wired route, 10 minutes of charging is enough for up to 13 hours of listening.
The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 have 3 mics and a voice pick up (VPU) bone sensor in each bud. They are IP55 rated for dust and water resistance (but not the case). The buds are available in two colours, Midnight Opus and Lunar Radiance.
Connectivity is handled by Bluetooth 5.4 with LHDC 5.0 and AAC codecs. Additionally, Google Fast Pair and Spatial Audio are supported. Note that the minimum latency is the same as before, 94ms.
OnePlus Buds Pro 3 are available in the US and Canada on oneplus.com at an MSRP of USD 180/CAD 270. For a limited time, the price is discounted by USD 30/CAD 40 and students can get an additional 15% off (offer ends September 20). The Pro 3 Buds will also be sold via Amazon in late September or early October.
Speaking of Europe, the new Buds are available in the UK for £200, although there is a temporary £20 discount. On the mainland, the price is €200 with a €20 discount. The Buds Pro 3 are listed as coming soon to India.
P.S. We’ve received a pair of OnePlus Buds Pro 3 for review, so stay tuned for a detailed report coming soon.
