OnePlus Buds 4
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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The OnePlus Buds 4 are available now for $90.
- They give flagship earbuds a run for their money with top-notch ANC performance and a comfortable fit.
- The swipe gestures can be finicky, and the slick case is easy to drop.
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The OnePlus Buds 4<!–> sit below the Pro model in name, but they borrow some of its best features and pack them into a more affordable price tag. With a handful of upgrades over their predecessor, the OnePlus Buds 4 feature a new dual DAC system, larger dual drivers, LHDC 5.0 and the same audio quality I’ve come to expect from the brand.
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There’s not much to fault OnePlus Buds 4 apart from one annoyance that keeps coming back daily – but I’d happily put up with it for the top-notch ANC performance. I’ve been using them for the past 10 days, and here’s why I’m not putting them down any time soon.
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Form factor trade-offs
In terms of design, OnePlus Buds 4 are a mix of Nord Buds 3 Pro and Buds 3 Pro. They live in a shell case, which has a metal feel and matte finish. It doesn’t have a grippy, leather-like textured finish from the Buds 3 Pro, which makes it slippery. In fact, I’ve accidentally dropped it twice in my 10-day usage, and have had to consciously be more careful taking it out of my pocket.
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The earbuds themselves are light and comfortable to wear. OnePlus has flattened the stem, a design element taken from the Nord Buds lineup, which makes them feel bulkier than before. However, it doesn’t impact the wearability. I’ve worn them for extended periods without any issues. They fit me well and don’t fall off easily. I’ve worn them on runs, in flights, on commutes, and while walking around the busy streets of New York. They haven’t fallen out of my ears accidentally, even once.
My aforementioned major annoyance stems from this updated stem design. The earbuds’ control touch-sensitive area is placed on the outer part of their stem, so whenever I try to change the volume or perform any other action with the swipe gestures, I have to adjust the fit.
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To keep them in place, I need to hold them with my thumb and middle finger while swiping with my index finger on the buds. It is less intuitive than side controls, where I only use my thumb and index finger. Most people will eventually get used to it, but it’s something that has consistently bothered me.
The OnePlus Buds 4 offer a full suite of controls, without needing to pick from volume adjustment, playback control, smart assistant, ANC on/off, and more. Like the OnePlus Buds Pro 3, you get all of them simultaneously, thanks to support for multiple tap and swipe gestures. The Buds 4 are rated IP55 for dust and water resistance, so sweat or drizzle won’t be a problem.
It’s all about that bass
If you enjoy bass-forward audio, you’ll like the OnePlus Buds 4. They feature dual drivers, including 11mm woofers and a 6mm tweeter, for enhanced high-frequency performance. They also add a dual DAC system to power each driver individually. You get support for SBC, AAC, and LHDC 5.0 over Bluetooth 5.4.
By default, the OnePlus Buds 4 are tuned to be bass-heavy. The lower frequencies are boosted, while the highs are no longer piercingly high (an improvement over the Buds 3). The mids are pleasant, but the lower mids can sound muddy due to boosted low frequencies. I miss the brilliance in high frequencies from the Buds 3 Pro, but I’d take this over the Buds 3’s sharp highs.
Also: OnePlus’ Nord Buds 3 Pro are still my favorite budget earbuds in 2025 – and they’re on sale
You can tune the OnePlus Buds 4 to your liking through the HeyMelody app for iOS<!–> and Android. You can further boost bass, turn on Game Mode for reduced latency, activate OnePlus 3D Audio for a spatial listening experience (without head tracking), and adjust controls.
The app also features a Golden Sound option, which generates a custom audio curve based on the results of a hearing test. It takes a couple of minutes to complete, and it’s a fun feature to try, but I’d rely on custom tuning through Master EQ.
The ANC competes with rivals
The OnePlus Buds 4 claim to reduce noise by up to 55dB and cover a frequency range of 5500MHz, which is better than the Buds Pro 3. You can adjust the ANC level to Low, Moderate, or High options, but I left it on Auto to let the earbuds determine the optimal levels. It works very well, definitely on par with their more expensive flagship sibling, muffling both street noise and the plane engine on a recent flight.
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The transparency mode is also quite good. When activated, I could hear my surroundings quite clearly with the buds sitting in my ears. There’s a new adaptive mode that toggles ANC or transparency mode based on ambient sound. I found it didn’t quite work as well as it’s supposed to, and I prefer having manual control over the ANC.
ZDNET’s buying advice
The OnePlus Buds 4<!–> are priced at $129 but are available for $89 during Black Friday week. If you are looking for a pair of earbuds for active noise cancelation for around $100, they’re a great choice. They feature flagship-level ANC and transparency performance, paired with bass-heavy sound, a plethora of features, and a comfortable-to-wear design.
These are ultimately earbuds designed for individuals who want to block out their daily commute and street noise.
Update log
- This story was originally published on July 14, 2025, and was updated on November 26, 2025, with a thorough fact check and a change to the pricing in accordance with Black Friday.
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