OnePlus Buds Pro 2 Review: Premium Earbuds That Tick All The Right Boxes

Audiophiles are going to love the new OnePlus Buds Pro 2! From the handy charging case that keeps the earbuds juiced up to the punchy sounds that deliver immersion in great quality, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 have something for all audio lovers.

On a personal level, I spend a major chunk of my days listening to music of various genres, from the cheeky disco-house pop of Beyonce?'s recent album to the rock-laced goodness of The 1975 - I want my pair of earbuds to be able to tackle each unique sound differently, and the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 get many of these variables right.

Co-created with Dynaudio, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 let you hear various frequencies in better quality, all thanks to dual drivers that are designed to provide an immersive experience. As someone who has been using OnePlus Buds Pro (first generation) for over a year, I have a lot of feelings about the OnePlus Buds Pro 2.

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Design

The design hasn't changed much! The new buds look just like their predecessor, from the charging case to the buds - nothing radical has happened. The only thing separating the last gen from this one is the subtle Dynaudio branding on the now slightly flatter case.

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Even with the same design, it appears that OnePlus has made some tweaks to ensure these buds stay in your ear during movement, something the first gen buds struggled with. Make sure you find the right fit, for which you can also perform a test on your OnePlus device or on the HeyMelody app on other phones.

Also read: OnePlus Buds Pro On A Jog: The Go-To Earbuds For Daily Workouts?

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The matte unibody design complemented by the relatively tiny size of the case make these buds ready to be used on the go! They're also very light - weighing 4.9 grams each and the case weighing 47 grams. In the ear, the buds don't take much space and the touch controls work like a breeze, but I suggest using the "triple squeeze" for the next song instead of to play the previous song - it's just faster!

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For adventurous users, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 are IP55 water resistant and have an IPX4 sweat-resistant case. Also, the new mesh inside the buds prevents the build-up of dirt, something that happened too frequently on the the first gen buds.

Sound

The OnePlus Buds Pro 2's dual drivers are supported by a 11mm woofer and a 6mm tweeter to handle different frequencies with ease. If you've used the previous generation, you'll easily notice how the entire experience is way more immersive - and the noise cancellation has improved staggeringly.

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Also read: OnePlus 11 5G Delivers Impressive Flagship Performance On A Budget

Enter, Dynaudio! The collaboration has brought to us three customised EQs - Bold, Serenade, and Bass - and the first one is my favourite. The audio is also clearer on these buds than the previous gen, supported by the LHDC Bluetooth engine that OnePlus rightly claims brings the audio experience closer to wired earbuds. And how could I forget Google's spatial audio support... on top of Dolby Atmos? It's easy to get lost in the music for hours, especially if you're listening on the right app.

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What's the noise cancellation like? On the max setting, you can drown out the world around you and get lost in your work, something I find of utmost importance. The adaptive noise cancellation feature can get rid of ambient noise up to 48dB and a 4 kHz maximum width. Noise cancellation settings include mild, moderate, max, and smart.

If you do a lot of walking and need to be alert, the transparency mode works as intended. With the previous gen, I had to keep taking my earbuds off while talking but OnePlus has made the transparency experience a lot better on this pair... but there's still room for improvement on that front.

Battery

Honestly, I'm very impressed. After over a month of usage, I can say that these buds are built to last. Fast-charging is an added bonus - both for your buds and for the case.

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I cannot get anything done without music - be it travelling, writing, reading, exercising - music needs to play all the time. So when the buds managed to last for about 5 hours on a single charge with ANC on, I was pleasantly surprised - for the previous gen buds would die out after 3 hours.

The case comes with a 525mAh battery that can charge your buds completely up to five times before running out. Essentially, if you're on a 3-4 day trip and have earbuds glued to your ears all the time, you will not face any issues - because the case also charges the buds quickly.

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My verdict

The ANC earbuds to watch out for! For ?11,999, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 offer a great listening experience across various genres at a much better price than other premium earbuds. I'm happy that OnePlus has addressed the many issues that plagued its 1st gen earbuds, including problems with lag and connectivity - all of which don't seem to exist on the updated pair. Even then, for the next gen, it'd be lovely to have volume controls on the buds itself!

Are you planning to buy the OnePlus Buds Pro 2? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.