OnePlus Buds Z Review | Best Bang for Buck TWS in 2021?

OnePlus Buds Z Review: Is it a good choice for your money?

OnePlus has unveiled the OnePlus Buds Z as an aim to enter the affordable markets. We at Tecgag are here to find out if it really does with our OnePlus Buds Z Review.

If we look a couple of months ago, we've seen a bunch of truly good TWS earbuds under the price point of Rs 5,000. Oppo’s Enco W31 and W51 have impressed a ton of users. The OnePlus Buds Z also managed to carve its way to popularity without the usual hype. However, if your budget falls below Rs 3,000, the options are mostly disappointing. At Rs 2,999, you get Realme Buds Air Neo, the Buds Air Q, Redmi EarBuds S, a couple of variants from Noise, and others from dozens of local brands.

The audio quality is far from ideal. Fortunately, That’s not the case here with the OnePlus Buds Z. It is built better than anything in its price range and, after using it for a couple of months, I can definitely vouch for it. Surely, there are some compromises. But what are they? Let us find it out in the video. You’re reading the OnePlus Buds Z Review. Let's get started!

OnePlus Buds Z Review

Aiming to penetrate the affordable market, OnePlus has launched the OnePlus Buds Z. This is the company's second latest set of wireless earbuds, known as the OnePlus Buds Z. The newly premium model is the OnePlus Buds Pro!

Design

The OnePlus Buds Z is essentially derived from the OnePlus Buds with the aim of making it more affordable and accessible. To do so, they skimped on the Noise Cancellation. The concentric circles on the touch control patch are still present which has come a long way since the OnePlus Wireless. As compared to the other TWS earbuds, the touch controls on the OnePlus Buds Z work as intended without any false registers. 

The silicone ear tips add a layer of sealing, which makes up for added comfort during extensive use. As for the OnePlus Buds Z Review, the build quality of the buds is great. But, I do wish that the Buds came in Black color for added stealth.

The Buds Z is rated IP55, which allows you to use it during workouts and rain.

Build

There is an LED light for battery status which glows green, red, and white. While at the rear, there’s a USB-C port alongside a pairing key. The design is such that you can store it in your pocket or use a cover to hang it over your jeans.

The build is decent for the price in a toe to toe with the competition. But, the hinge of the case could have been made with metal. It feels good, but I hope it stays that way and passes the test of time.

Sound

As I thought, the Buds Z just sounds like OnePlus. I mean it sounds like the OnePlus Bullets Wireless but better and improved which is a good sign. It has reasonably neutral audio tuning, with a substantial emphasis on bass. Speaking about bass, the bass is present with a decent thump but it is not overpowering. It can be felt when needed and then it disappears. If you are a bass head then this won’t be a choice for you. The audio and vocal clarity is very clear to my taste.

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The OnePlus Buds Z only supports the AAC codec which means it sounds nice on the iPhones. On Android phones, it lacks the higher-res AptX codec or even LDAC, which might be a bummer for the audiophiles. The Noise isolation is decent with silicone ear tips. There’s Bluetooth 5.0 onboard for connectivity which helps to get a good connection.

In my experience during the OnePlus Buds Z Review, the clarity was really very good. The sound stage was wide. It picks up everything around including intricate backgrounds. You might discover some hidden details which you didn’t discover before. As I said, the bass is adequate when it is needed. It comes and goes and it stays for a while when you’re looking for it.

The OnePlus Buds Z sounds clean and rich. If you’re a bass lover you’ll wish it had more bass. I’m not one, so I really like the clarity and clean sound that these Buds produced.

Battery

OnePlus claims up to 20 hours of battery life on a single charge including the case which seems a livable claim. Other than that, each bud lasts around 3 hours during continuous usage which is decent. 

OnePlus claims you can charge it for 10 minutes to get 3 hours of playback as well. Whereas getting a full charge takes a long time which is understandable for battery health. As long as you can stay away from charging the better it is for battery health. 

During our OnePlus Buds Z Review, the earbuds lasted around 3.5-4 hours continuously. The battery percentage is shown on the phone as well. If the battery runs low the indicator on the case turns red to indicate the same.

OnePlus Buds Z issues

The OnePlus Buds Z impresses in most sections. But, there are some caveats. OnePlus users can customize the controls on the Buds Z from the Bluetooth settings while other Android users need to get the HeyMelody app which is available on Google Play Store. For iPhone users, there’s no app as of now which means they will be left devoid of any firmware updates or customization options.

The most uncomfortable thing regarding the controls is that it only allows for a single tap and a 3-second tap. There is no option to set up any actions for double-tap or triple tap. I really wished OnePlus had added support for the same but even after 6 months, it has not been added which is sad to see.

Conclusion

After spending 6 months with the OnePlus Buds Z, I am highly impressed with what OnePlus has offered unlike their mobile division these days. I still can’t wrap my mind around the fact that the Buds Z costs only Rs 2,999 which is a bargain considering how good the product is. During the deal, you can get it for an even lower price. 

The Enco’s are surely superior for sound. But with the OnePlus Buds Z, you get a complete overall balanced package for sound, battery, and convenience. For someone who is new to the world of TWS, it adds needed features such as long-lasting battery life and comfort. 

Thus, this was our OnePlus Buds Z Review. Until and unless you are an audiophile, the OnePlus Buds Z is a practical choice for most users. Else, you can shell out a bit more money for superior audio experience on the Enco’s and lose some other features.

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