The OnePlus Buds Professional 2 look good and include loads of options, together with our introduction to Google’s head monitoring spatial audio resolution, however on the subject of sound, whether or not you should purchase them isn’t simple. OnePlus’ new flagship buds function a superb match, good connectivity, a long-lasting battery life, and two drivers per bud. However seldom do I discover myself utilizing a pair of earbuds and noticing massive variations in sound high quality relying on the supply. The spatial audio and ANC additionally aren’t fairly as much as snuff in comparison with the competitors, which doesn’t bode properly for the buds’ new, larger value level.
OnePlus Buds Professional 2 function a stunning design that matches properly in my ears
The OnePlus Buds Professional 2 carry ahead the identical design because the first-gen product, with nearly unnoticeably tiny changes to the scale. They’re light-weight, and due to the flat case design, match properly alongside my pockets in my pocket. You additionally get the identical IP55 water resistance ranking for the earbuds and IPX4 ranking for the case, making them your excellent fitness center associate.
I’ve no hesitation in saying that the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 are probably the most comfy pair of stem-design earbuds I’ve worn prior to now 12 months. That listing consists of the unique AirPods Professional, Huawei FreeBuds Professional 2, Oppo Enco X2 and extra. The OnePlus flagship earbuds are one of the best suited to my ears. In my 14 days of utilization, the earbuds haven’t fallen out even as soon as. I’m not a fitness center particular person, however throughout my exercises at dwelling and my night strolls, the Buds Professional 2 have stayed inside my ears at the same time as I jogged.
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If you end up struggling for a match, OnePlus gives three otherwise sized different silicone ear ideas within the field with the buds. I didn’t have to alter them myself, as a result of the out-of-the-box match was one of the best for me. I’d have most well-liked a set of froth eartips for extra consolation, however that’s me being choosy, as foam eartips aren’t the usual (but).
OnePlus Buds Professional 2 connectivity and controls
The OnePlus Buds Professional 2 can connect with each iOS and Android units utilizing Bluetooth 5.3. In case you are utilizing a OnePlus cellphone operating OxygenOS 12 or above, the earbuds controls might be discovered inside the working system. Everybody else can obtain Oppo’s HeyMelody app to customise controls and the equalizer, although Android customers can alternately use the OnePlus Buds app as an alternative. Notably, some options, like spatial audio, aren’t accessible on iOS. That’s as a result of these are literally the primary earbuds to function Google’s personal head monitoring spatial audio resolution. However as you’ll discover out later, it’s not one thing that you simply’ll miss.
I used the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 with the OnePlus 11 and iPhone 14 Professional Max. I’m extraordinarily grateful for the presence of twin connectivity on these buds, which allowed me to attach them to each my units concurrently and swap between them with no hiccups. As quickly as I pressed the play button on both of the telephones, the Buds Professional 2 related seamlessly and began taking part in inside a second. Nonetheless, the function isn’t activated by default. You need to go to the settings to allow it, which might be finished on each iOS and Android.
Connecting the Buds Professional 2 to the OnePlus 11 was a easy process, as Google Quick Pair meant I acquired a pop up on my cellphone as quickly as I opened the case. Alternatively, connecting to the iPhone required me to press the Bluetooth pairing button contained in the case, which was admittedly nonetheless a simple course of.
Like my Huawei FreeBuds Professional 2 and Oppo Enco X2 earbuds, the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 function squeeze controls. This implies you’ll want to press or maintain the stem to regulate the music playback and ANC. I had no issues finding the controls. 9 out of ten instances, I used to be in a position to squeeze the stem and the earbuds reacted. That one day out of ten it didn’t work was due to a unfastened match.
In contrast to another newer earbuds, although, the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 don’t assist swipe gestures on the stem, so you’ll be able to’t management the amount from the earbuds. This can be a massive miss for me, personally. I like adjusting quantity from my earbuds, because it permits me to not contact my cellphone for something. In case you’re questioning, the app doesn’t allow you to assign quantity controls to any of the squeeze gestures, both. It comes as a shock to me, as a result of the Oppo Enco X2, made by OnePlus’ guardian firm, helps the swipe gesture for quantity management alongside the squeeze controls.
HeyMelody is an effective companion app
In case you are utilizing the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 with a non-OxygenOS 12 (or above) system, you’ll be able to obtain the HeyMelody app to configure controls and make use of assorted different options. This time round, you additionally get equalizer controls, which have been lacking from the unique Buds Professional.
Inside the app, you get entry to extra options like a match take a look at, Recreation Mode and Golden Sound mode. I didn’t discover that the match take a look at helped me in any manner, however that may be as a result of I bought fortunate and didn’t need to fiddle with the ear tricks to get the consolation proper.
When you’re a gamer, you’ll most likely be higher off with gaming-first buds just like the Anker Soundcore VR P10, however the Recreation Mode supposedly drops latency right down to lows of 54ms to supply a greater gaming expertise.
The “Golden Sound” mode is designed to tune the sound primarily based in your listening to and internal ear construction (extra on this later).
OnePlus can also be engaged on a function that may inform you about your posture utilizing the earbuds. However it’s nonetheless a piece in progress, and the corporate hasn’t given an availability date for it. All it mentioned is that the function will likely be rolled out “this 12 months.”
OnePlus Buds Professional 2 Sound Completely different Based mostly On Your Gadget
The OnePlus Buds Professional 2 function an 11mm and 6mm driver, co-created with Dynaudio, in every bud. These assist SBC, AAC, and the LHDC 4.0 lossless codecs. I paired the buds with the OnePlus 11 and the iPhone 14 Professional Max for my testing and used Spotify and Apple Music to hearken to songs. I additionally examined Netflix, Amazon Prime, and YouTube for video media consumption. The ensuing sound expertise was a bit hit-and-miss.
Listening to music on the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 whereas related to the iPhone, I seen they ship a extra balanced sound than after I used the OnePlus 11. My guess is that the earbuds are probably confined to the SBC codec on iPhone. With that codec, you get a robust bass, clear vocals and ample highs with a large soundstage.
I switched to Apple Music to examine if I may discover a distinction with lossless music–I couldn’t. Sure, Apple Music can’t switch excessive bitrates through bluetooth, however in the event you hearken to the identical track on Spotify and Apple Music lossless, you’ll get a way more livelier sound utilizing the Oppo Enco X2. There was no such distinction to be seen within the OnePlus Buds Professional 2.
Alternatively, connecting the earbuds to the OnePlus 11 and listening to music through Spotify (on all maxed-out settings, similar as on the iPhone), I seen a V-shaped sound. Which means it had excessive bass and treble responses however crushed the mids. I additionally downloaded a number of high-res audio information to the OnePlus 11 however couldn’t discover any distinction between them and streaming by means of Spotify.
When you hearken to acoustic music with an iPhone because the supply, it’s going to sound higher than when listening to the identical songs on the OnePlus 11. When related to the latter, I seen that the mids have been a bit crushed when in comparison with the iPhone.
I turned on the Golden Sound mode function to see if it made a distinction to my listening expertise. Personally, I didn’t discover it to be helpful, because it artificially boosted the bass and treble to provide me extra V-shaped sound, which additional crushed the mids. It may very well be helpful in some bassy songs, however general, I’m not a fan of this function.
General, the vocals sounded higher than on the Nothing Ear 1, however the Oppo Enco X2 nonetheless provide higher sound in the identical value vary. The OnePlus Buds Professional 2 provide extra bass than the AirPods Professional on the iPhone, however the vocals are much less clear.
It’s potential that I may resolve this concern by diving into developer settings to alter the OnePlus’ bluetooth codec, however out of the field, the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 sound finest when not paired to their sister cellphone. Moreover, I didn’t have to take such steps with different earbuds.
Coming to spatial audio, the OnePlus Buds Professional 2’s Google-based resolution gives two totally different settings, mounted and head monitoring. I examined the function on the OnePlus 11. On YouTube, you do discover the spatial audio impact, nevertheless it’s not as efficient as Apple’s. It may well additionally completely mute an earbud in the event you occur to maneuver the cellphone within the different route, which feels odd in my expertise. Spatial audio in music, in the meantime, isn’t one thing that’s appreciated by all due to the best way it alters the bass and tone of every track.
OnePlus Buds Professional 2 ANC isn’t one of the best
The OnePlus Buds Professional 2 noise cancellation isn’t something to boast about. In my expertise, it wasn’t very efficient. You’ll be able to inform the distinction between when the ANC is turned on versus when it’s off, however I’ve skilled higher ANC on different earbuds in the identical value vary.
I wore the Buds Professional 2 on flights and on every day commutes through taxi or metro. They failed to dam out the buzzing sound of the airplane or the ambient visitors noise within the cab, which is half the explanation to get ANC earbuds. I discovered the transparency mode provided good efficiency, although. I may hearken to the pilot communicate clearly throughout take off, and had a relentless visitors buzz round me whereas strolling within the metropolis.
The OnePlus Buds Professional 2 ANC is way much less efficient than the ANC on the AirPods Professional, Sony LinkBuds S, Oppo Enco X2 or the Galaxy Buds Professional. I’d choose any of these 4 if my precedence was to go along with a pair of earbuds that supply ANC expertise. I additionally skilled listener fatigue after maintaining the ANC on for greater than 75 minutes straight–one thing that I haven’t skilled on any of the 4 rivals talked about right here.
There is no such thing as a Samsung or Sony-like function that pauses music as quickly as you communicate to let you’ve got a dialog with somebody whereas the earbuds are on. The function is usually present in dearer earbuds, however as a frequent Galaxy Buds 2 Professional person, I missed it on the OnePlus Buds Professional 2.
OnePlus Buds Professional 2 are lengthy lasting
The OnePlus Buds Professional 2 use a 520mAh case battery, which OnePlus claims ship a battery lifetime of 25 hours with ANC on and 39 hours with it off. The earbuds’ 60mAh battery supposedly lasts as much as 9 hours with ANC off. The case additionally gives a quick cost function that’s touted to supply three hours of listening time from a ten minute cost.
In my expertise, the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 function a superb battery life. There are occasions after I’m working by means of the night time and different earbuds quit after about 5 hours of steady utilization, however I may use the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 with ANC on at round 60% quantity for at the least six hours on a single cost. There wasn’t a single event the place I needed I had a greater battery life on these.
OnePlus Buds Professional 2 value and availability
The OnePlus Buds Professional will likely be accessible beginning on February 16 for $179 within the US. You’ll be able to already pre-order the system now in Arbor Inexperienced or Obsidian Black colour choices. You’ll have the ability to buy the earbuds from OnePlus’s personal retailer and thru Amazon.
Not Value $30 Extra
In case your precedence is to purchase a pair of earbuds with a modern design, lengthy battery life, and comfy match, even when it solely sounds common, the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 are the best way to go. But when your priorities are above-average sound and ANC efficiency, you must look elsewhere. When you choose V-shaped sound (excessive bass and treble response with okay vocals), you’ll be able to go along with the Buds Professional 2, however that’s not everybody.
The $30 value improve over the unique OnePlus Buds Professional doesn’t translate to a greater out-of-the-box expertise. You’ll be able to clearly now tune them to your preferences with the equalizer, however that’s probably the most noticeable change. If you’d like good sound high quality and a robust ANC expertise alongside the strains of the unique OnePlus Buds Professional value, you must take a look at the Sony LinkBuds S for $150. They aren’t as long-lasting or comfy because the OnePlus Buds Professional 2, at the least for me, however they’re sturdy performers. The superb Sony WF-1000XM4 are additionally accessible under $200 now, and needs to be your go-to alternative for the value if you could find them.
