AirPods Pro 2 vs OnePlus Buds 3: Which noise-canceling earbuds win?
OnePlus Buds 3
Upgrades in ANC, call quality, and connectivity place the OnePlus Buds 3 among the category’s top performers. They have a more refined design than their predecessor, and the crisp, full-bodied sonics these buds produce will surely satisfy bargain audiophiles.
For
Refined audio with well-controlled bass
Excellent feature set
Powerfully adaptive ANC
Responsive touch controls
Superior call quality
Against
Lower battery life than advertised
OnePlus 3D Audio isn’t as effective as competitors
Apple AirPods Pro 2
Recently updated with stronger IP protection and USB-C charging, the AirPods Pro 2 remain the most highly functional option for Apple users. Rich, well-balanced sound with immersive spatial audio results in top performance, while adaptive ANC and customization features personalize listening in ways never before experienced.
For
Superb noise cancellation and spatial audio
Unrivaled ecosystem integration
Sold with Lighting or USB-C charging
Against
Lower call quality than past AirPods
Battery life is still substandard
Poor Android compatibility
2024 already looks like shaping up to be a big year for the best wireless earbuds with this primetime matchup between the Apple AirPods Pro 2 versus the OnePlus Buds 3. Serving as flagship add-ons for their respective mobile devices, the OnePlus 12 and iPhone 15, each pair of wireless earbuds boast heavyweight features and platform-centric functionality in a portable-friendly design.
Active noise cancelation, Bluetooth 5.3, one-tap pairing, quick charging, spatial audio, and several sound-calibrating features are just some of the perks made available on Apple and OnePlus’ latest releases. They’re also different in many ways, from battery management to voice calling, to packaging and pricing.
Both are considered some of the best wireless earbuds money can buy. As for the superior choice, well, that’s what we’re going to find out. Our OnePlus Buds 3 and AirPods Pro 2 comparison breaks it all down.
AirPods Pro 2 vs OnePlus Buds 3: Specs compared
AirPods Pro 2 vs OnePlus Buds 3: Price & availability
The AirPods Pro 2 originally released for $249, though the buds can often be found discounted to $199 and we have seen them drop as low as $169. This applies to both Lightning and USB-C versions. Meanwhile, the OnePlus Buds 3 hit store shelves with a $99 MSRP, which is a huge markdown from the original Buds Pro ($149) and Buds Pro 2 ($179).
Both models are smart investments when factoring in price and performance. They’re also more affordable than luxury staples such as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds ($299) and Sony WF-1000XM5 ($299).
Choosing between them is more a matter of platform, as the AirPods Pro 2 are fully integrated with all iOS/macOS devices, while the Buds 3 offer similar connectivity with OnePlus and third-party Android devices.
Winner: Tie
OnePlus Buds 3 vs AirPods Pro 2: Design
The Buds 3 are the more attractive and sturdier selection. OnePlus outfitted each bud with an all-aluminum stem, larger mic grille, plastic sound port, slim touch panel, and silicone ear tip. Two striking colorways with soft matte finishes provide a stylish appearance. These buds come with IP55 dust/water resistance, and the compact charging case is covered in IPX4 sweat/water-resistant coating.
The AirPods Pro 2 don’t look much different than the original. Notable changes include indented volume controls and skin-detect sensors that were introduced on the AirPods 3. Apple’s MagSafe charging case now comes with a built-in lanyard loop and speaker that supports the Find My feature. The all-new AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C welcome IP54 dust-proofing and water resistance and the Lightning version comes IPX4-rated. Where the AirPods Pro 2 lose cool points is their mediocre plastic construction and lack of color options.
Comfort and fit are equally pleasant.
Winner: OnePlus Buds 3
AirPods Pro 2 vs OnePlus Buds 3: Controls
Previous entries in OnePlus’ true wireless series took a page out of the AirPods Pro’s playbook by implementing force sensors on the stems. The Buds 3 ditch this input method in favor of standard touch controls that are highly responsive and support multiple functions for seamless operation. Wear detection is spot-on for auto-pausing content when removing the buds. Google Assistant and Siri perform well, thanks to an intelligible mic array that demonstrates great speech recognition.
The AirPods Pro 2 bear a more practical and functional control scheme, highlighted by Apple’s exceptional haptic sensors that register single/multi-press and long-press gestures, plus volume sensors that raise/lower sound via swipe gestures. “Hey Siri” voice activation operates flawlessly, instantly turning on when speaking the wake-word phrase and executing voice commands without a hitch. Google Assistant is not compatible with the AirPods Pro 2, but you can get the feature working on Android devices through third-party apps.
Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2
AirPods Pro 2 vs OnePlus Buds 3: Sound quality
I preferred the Buds 3 for standard music listening. Their audio design consists of stronger specs, including Bluetooth 5.3 with LHDC 5.0, dual driver units (6mm tweeter + 10.4mm woofer), Hi-Res Audio certification, and multiple listening modes. Sound Master EQ is viable for adjusting frequencies to your liking and hosts three well-engineered presets (Balanced, Serenade, Bass), along with a BassWave setting to increase/decrease bass response.
Golden Sound creates a sound profile based on your hearing. OnePlus users also have the option to enable backend features like Dolby Atmos on their smartphone. Music sounds vibrant with LHDC streaming content at a high bitrate (up to 900kbps) for faster streaming and greater clarity. OnePlus 3D Audio is a decent spatial audio format that produces more expansive sound, but the results sound less natural.
Apple’s Personalized Spatial Audio makes the AirPods Pro 2 the better 3D audio buds. Music and movies sound livelier. The iPhone’s TrueDepth camera can scan your ears to create a personalized sound profile that accurately places effects and voices on songs and movies. A low-distortion driver and custom amplifier create richer bass and clearer frequency response when listening to Apple Music tracks. There are also hidden iOS features designed to enhance sound quality: Headphone Accommodations tunes audio balance/range/brightness and Headphone Audio Customization can tailor audio to your hearing.
Overall, Apple delivers a better audio package.
Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2
AirPods Pro 2 vs OnePlus Buds 3: Active noise canceling performance
Adaptive ANC on the Buds 3 is some of the strongest in the category. Four modes are available that block out incidental sounds at different levels. The Max setting is best for daily noise reduction and eliminates many external sounds across the frequency spectrum. Only a handful of high-frequency sounds (e.g., bird chirping, sirens) make their way onto the soundstage, but they aren’t distracting. Transparency mode comes in handy for increasing situational awareness.
Apple’s noise cancelation is just as effective against unwanted noises and supports multiple ambient-listening modes. Adaptive Transparency keeps listeners aware of their surroundings, while reducing harsh environmental noise at the same time. Conversation Boost emphasizes vocals during chats and Live Listen can transform your iPhone into a live mic that picks up noises and sends them to the AirPods. Conversation Awareness and Personalized Volume were recent additions introduced in an iOS update that automatically lower volume when detecting someone’s voice and adjust sound based on noise levels around you, respectively.
Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2
OnePlus Buds 3 vs AirPods Pro 2: Call quality
The Buds 3 are one of the best headphones with a mic for voice and video calls. OnePlus’ mic array produces loud and crisp voice calls. ANC minimizes background noise and wind interference (whooshing effects sound less harsh). The AirPods Pro 2 are a sufficient calling headset for voice and FaceTime chats. Unfortunately, they don’t cancel out external sounds as good as the original model does, nor do they share same noise cancellation or wind resistance on calls.
Winner: OnePlus Buds 3
AirPods Pro 2 vs OnePlus Buds 3: Connectivity
We have yet to test a pair of wireless buds that surpass the AirPods connectivity. Apple’s H2 processor is such a dynamic component that instantly pairs the AirPods Pro 2 with iOS/macOS devices. Furthermore, it’s designed for efficient battery usage, smarter noise neutralization, stronger sound, and other software perks (e.g., automatic switching, audio sharing, “Hey Siri” voice activation). Here are 10 AirPods Pro 2 hidden features you should be using that are also powered by the H2 chip.
It's unknown what chipset the Buds 3 run on. All we know is that the buds operate fast and support multiple wireless features, from one-tap Fast Pairing (Google/OnePlus) to multipoint technology for pairing to two devices simultaneously. They’re also compatible with iOS/macOS, providing greater platform support than the AirPods Pro 2.
Winner: OnePlus Buds 3
OnePlus Buds 3 vs AirPods Pro 2: Battery life
Playtimes are decent on these two competitors. The AirPods Pro get you between 5.5 to 7 hours per charge and the Buds Pro 2 pulling between 6.5 to 10 hours per charge. Battery capacity is larger on OnePlus’ USB-C-powered charging case (44 hours), but Apple’s MagSafe charging case (30 hours) supports more charging solutions: Lightning, USB-C, MagSafe, and Apple Watch charger. Quick charging seems equal based on specs. The AirPods Pro 2 generate 1 hour on a 5-minute charge and the Buds 3 muster up 2 hours on a 10-minute charge. Where the AirPods Pro 2 have their rival beat is power management. Apple’s buds squeeze every drop of juice from the battery when employing special features. Playtimes on the Buds Pro 2 drop by 2 hours after enabling battery-draining features like ANC, LHDC, and spatial audio.
Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2
AirPods Pro 2 vs OnePlus Buds 3: Verdict
This could have easily been a draw, but the AirPods Pro 2 win this battle based on their more polished presentation. Apple’s control scheme is more intuitive, spatial audio sounds more immersive, and battery management remains elite. ANC and sound quality are solid. Recent updates to both the design (USB-C compatibility) and software (e.g., Adaptive Audio, Personalized Volume) have also extended the product’s shelf life for another 2 to 3 years, or until the long-rumored AirPods Pro 3 make their debut.
OnePlus put their all into creating the Buds 3 and it shows. The significant improvements in call quality and noise cancellation alone rank them No.1 on our best cheap wireless earbuds list. Sleek design changes, stronger connectivity, and a plethora of sound-enhancing features add to their value, which is unbeatable at $99.
Either choice makes for an excellent investment, but the AirPods Pro 2 bring more reliable performance to the table.
