OnePlus Buds 3

Pros

• Volume output 4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.7
  Plenty of loudness headroom; most reviewers note you rarely need to push past mid-volume.
• Multi-platform compatibility 4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 4.6
  Works across Android and iOS with the companion app, with most features available on both; a few features/behaviors can be device- or app-dependent.
• Water/sweat resistance rating 4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 7 reviews 4.5
  Buds carry an IP55 dust/water rating (good for sweat and rain, not submersion); case protection varies by reviewer/model notes.
• Instrument separation 4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.5
  Instrument separation is above average for the price, keeping vocals and percussion distinct even in busy mixes.
• Hinge durability 4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.5
  Charging case hinge is commonly described as sturdy with minimal wobble, contributing to an overall solid open/close feel.
• Weight comfort 4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.5
  Very lightweight earbuds that are easy to forget you are wearing.
• Noise cancellation adjustability 4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 6 reviews 4.5
  Multiple ANC levels (mild/moderate/max) plus smart/adaptive options are available in the app, giving decent control over how isolated you feel.
• Microphone noise reduction 4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.5
  Background-noise suppression is frequently praised (including in noisy streets), with generally good wind handling though not everyone finds wind reduction convincing.
• Audio-video sync accuracy 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 8 reviews 4.3
  Video lip-sync is generally solid; game/low-latency mode helps for gaming, with only minor delays reported in demanding titles.
• Multipoint connectivity reliability 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 8 reviews 4.3
  Multipoint/dual connections are a standout feature, generally switching smoothly between two devices; enabling it can reduce maximum codec bitrate.
• Android compatibility 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 4.3
  Pairs well with Android, including Google Fast Pair, and supports most features through HeyMelody; some advanced codec features work best on select phones.
• Comfort during long use 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 8 reviews 4.3
  Most reviewers find the buds comfortable and light for hours, though a few note they can feel slightly loose or require tip fiddling for active use.
• Design and Aesthetics 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 8 reviews 4.3
  Sleek stem design with attractive color options and a premium look for the price; glossy surfaces can attract fingerprints.
• Bluetooth connectivity stability 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 7 reviews 4.3
  Day-to-day Bluetooth is stable with good range, but very high LHDC bitrates can cause hiccups and some users report occasional app connection quirks.
• Voice assistant integration 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.3
  Voice assistant gestures work well for Google Assistant/Siri when enabled.
• Microphone quality for calls 4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 6 reviews 4.2
  Call quality is usually clear and loud with good intelligibility; a few note it is not the most natural, but still strong for the price.
• Sound quality 4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 11 reviews 4.2
  Across reviewers, sound is strong for a $100 set thanks to dual drivers and tuning tools, but the default signature leans v-shaped and can feel bass-forward rather than studio-neutral.
• Carry case quality 4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 7 reviews 4.1
  Case is compact and pocket-friendly with a status LED; materials feel premium to some but a bit plasticky to others, and it lacks wireless charging and sometimes weather sealing.
• Touch control responsiveness 4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 11 reviews 4.1
  Touch/swipe controls are usually responsive and low-latency, but some reviewers find the touch area subtle or mode switching a bit finicky.
• Build quality 4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 7 reviews 4.1
  Overall build feels good for the cost with a solid fit/finish, but the case is not the most rugged and can show fingerprints or feel light/plastic depending on expectations.
• Codec support 4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 7 reviews 4.1
  Supports SBC and AAC widely, plus LHDC 5.0 hi-res on compatible devices; advertised very high LHDC bitrates are not consistently usable in real-world conditions.
• App 4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 11 reviews 4.1
  HeyMelody app on Android/iOS unlocks ANC levels, EQ, control remapping, fit tests, Find My and firmware updates; generally feature-rich but occasional connection/UI confusion is reported.
• Bass performance 4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 10 reviews 4.0
  Bass is a highlight: deep, punchy and often very powerful, though some reviews call it overbearing; BassWave/EQ can rein it in or boost it further.
• Equalizer customization 4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 10 reviews 4.0
  Offers presets plus a 6-band EQ and BassWave-style bass control; effectiveness varies by reviewer, from powerful tuning to subtle changes.
• USB-C 4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 7 reviews 4.0
  USB-C port on the case for wired charging.
• Find My 4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.0
  App includes an audio-based Find My earbuds feature that helps locate misplaced buds.
• Included accessories 4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.0
  Typically includes three ear tip sizes, a USB charging cable and paperwork; some reviewers want an extra-large tip option.
• Software/setup simplicity 4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 9 reviews 4.0
  Setup is generally straightforward, especially with Fast Pair, but some users report slow pairing or needing the HeyMelody app to access key settings.
• Button control usability 4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 11 reviews 4.0
  Gestures are highly customizable (taps, press/hold, swipes), though defaults can be odd and precision is harder while moving.
• Battery 4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 11 reviews 4.0
  Typical battery is around 6.5–7 hours with ANC on and up to about 10 hours with ANC off; heavy features like LHDC and spatial can reduce real-world runtime.
• Charging 3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 9 reviews 3.9
  USB-C wired charging with fast-charge support, but no wireless charging; quick top-ups are a strong point.
• Soundstage width 3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 3.9
  Soundstage is typically moderate rather than huge; spatial/3D modes can make it feel wider but sometimes at the cost of naturalness.
• Midrange clarity 3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 8 reviews 3.8
  Mids are generally clear enough for vocals and guitars, but can sound slightly recessed on the default preset; Serenade/custom EQ helps bring midrange forward.
• Preset EQ profile quality 3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 7 reviews 3.8
  Presets are useful starting points, with Serenade often seen as the most balanced; some find the default Balanced still too v-shaped.
• Stability 3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 3.8
  Fit is generally secure for daily use, but can feel loose at first or get slippery with sweat during intense workouts; tip choice matters.
• Treble clarity 3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 9 reviews 3.7
  Treble is often described as crisp and airy with good detail, but a few reviewers find it muted by bass or sharp/sibilant at high volumes.
• Ear tip size options 3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 3.7
  Three tip sizes are usually included and seal well for many ears, though not everyone finds the perfect fit without experimentation.
• Maximum volume clarity 3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 3.7
  Holds together well at high volume with limited distortion, but some sibilance/harshness can appear when cranked.
• Active noise cancellation effectiveness 3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 11 reviews 3.7
  ANC is competitive for sub-$100 and strong on low-frequency noise for many, but several reviews still describe it as average or weaker than top alternatives, especially for voices/high frequencies.
• Frequency response accuracy 3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 7 reviews 3.6
  Default tuning is not reference-accurate (generally v-shaped); getting a more balanced response usually requires Serenade/Golden Sound or manual EQ.
• Cable quality 3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 3.5
  A USB-A to USB-C cable is included, but multiple reviews note it is short/basic.