OnePlus Buds 4 Review: Solid Mid-Range Earbuds That Aim Higher

Edited By Ayaz FarooqiWritten By Ayaz FarooqiPublished: Sep 04, 2025, 20:32 IST | Updated: Sep 04, 2025, 20:32 IST

The onePlus Buds 4 offer dual-driver sound, decent Adaptive ANC, and strong batter life.y

OnePlus has been pushing its audio game for a while now. I remember when they first entered the TWS market it felt more like a “we should also make earbuds because everyone else is” move. But over the years, they’ve gotten sharper, bolder, and frankly, much more serious about making earbuds that can sit confidently next to the Samsungs and Apples. I’m talking about OnePlus’s premium earbuds here. Now, the brand has come up with their mid-range option: the OnePlus Buds 4. They’ve gone all out in making them look and feel like a near-flagship accessory. These aren’t just about delivering music to your ears, they’re about showing that OnePlus can nail the audio experience at a more affordable price. The big question, though, is this: have they done it? Here's what I feel.

At first glance, the OnePlus Buds 4 look sleek, familiar, and a little futuristic. OnePlus hasn’t abandoned its design language; instead, it’s refined it. The Buds 4 come in a glossy, pebble-shaped case that snaps shut with a satisfying click. You may find yourself opening and closing the case absentmindedly like it’s some kind of fidget toy. They’ve kept the case compact and the weight is on point too. At about 45 grams for the case and 4.7 grams per earbud, they’re light without feeling fragile. The build quality is premium through and through, with a matte finish on the buds themselves that resist fingerprints better than the glossy ones.

The color options are what you’d expect from OnePlus: Zen Green and Storm Gray. I’ve been using the ‘Zen Green’ model, which looks a bit trendy.

Start using the earbuds, and you’ll notice the ergonomics right away. These are designed for long sessions. The stems are slightly shorter than before, and the angle of the earpiece fits snugly. I wore them for a three-hour binge and didn’t feel like pulling them out midway. The problem with cheaper earbuds is that you usually want to give your ears a break after 30-40 minutes. This wasn’t the case here. The stems also feature touch-sensitive controls. Now, I’ve had a love-hate relationship with touch controls on earbuds. Sometimes they work beautifully, sometimes they just make you want to throw the buds across the room. On the Buds 4, I’m happy to report, the controls are responsive and customizable. They’re IP55 rated. Which means sweat, rain, and accidental splashes won’t bother them. I wouldn’t take them swimming, obviously, but for gym sessions and outdoor runs, you’re good.

Let’s get to the meat of it. How do the OnePlus Buds 4 sound? In one word: impressive. But let me not oversimplify. These earbuds come with 11mm + 6mm dynamic drivers, which OnePlus says are “dual-layer” diaphragms for stronger bass response and clearer mids. Marketing jargon aside, I tested them across genres. Bollywood soundtracks, heavy EDM, classical piano, and even some old-school Kishore Kumar tracks. The Buds 4 consistently delivered.

The bass is punchy but not overwhelming. The instruments come alive without drowning out the vocals. Switch to something bass-heavy and you feel that thump without it rattling your eardrums. It’s balanced in a way that feels good. The mids are where these earbuds shine. Vocals are crisp, podcasts sound natural, and dialogues in Netflix shows come across clearly even when there’s background music. The highs are also sharp, controlled, and clean. The soundstage is wider than I expected. Instruments don’t feel cramped. They occupy their own little zones around your head.

Now, about Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). The OnePlus Buds 4 boast up to 55dB of ANC. That’s a number on paper, but how does it feel in practice? Pretty solid. Sitting in a cafe with the usual clatter of cups and chatter, the Buds 4 reduced most of it to a distant murmur. It’s not Bose or Sony-level silence, but it’s good for the price. Good for flights, metros, and noisy offices. 

The ANC story doesn’t end there. There’s even an Adaptive Mode that intelligently balances noise-cancelling and ambient sound. So, instead of you constantly toggling between ANC and Transparency when someone taps you on the shoulder or calls your name, the Buds 4 sense the environment and adjust on their own. Transparency mode also works well.

Call quality is another area where OnePlus has worked well. Thanks to the three-mic system on each earbud, my calls sounded crisp to the person on the other end. Even in a busy street, they could hear me. That’s something you expect from a mid-range TWS.

The OnePlus Buds 4 support Dolby Atmos and LHDC 5.0 for high-res wireless audio, provided your phone supports it. Without LHDC, you’re still getting decent AAC support, so no complaints there. Gamers will appreciate the low-latency mode, which drops delay down to 55ms. Playing BGMI and COD Mobile, the audio was snappy, with gunfire and footsteps syncing well with the visuals. Not perfect, but good enough for casual to mid-core gaming.

The earbuds themselves deliver around 10 hours with ANC off, and about 5–6 hours with ANC on. With the case, you’re looking at up to 40+ hours total playback. That’s more than enough to get you through a few days of heavy use. In my week of testing, I only had to charge the case once. I’d use the buds for a couple of hours daily, mostly with ANC on, and they never dipped below 40% until the fourth day. That reliability is what makes these earbuds feel premium.

So, the OnePlus Buds 4 land in a sweet spot for mid-range earbuds. At Rs. 5,999, they offer dual-driver sound that feels fuller than many rivals, decent Adaptive ANC, and strong battery life. They’re lightweight, comfortable for long use. On the downside, ANC isn’t at the level of premium flagships. But the overall package is consistent. Nothing feels half-baked. They’re not trying to be the best earbuds ever, but rather reliable everyday companions that deliver more than you’d expect at this price. If you’re on Android and want solid value without breaking the bank, the Buds 4 are easy to recommend.