OnePlus Buds Z Review: The Disappointing Successor
Retail price: $49.99
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When it comes to earbuds, I don’t think I ask for much. Easy connectivity, functional, durable and affordable are probably the biggest features I consider when reviewing a pair of earbuds. Very basic things. The OnePlus Buds Z advertises exactly that at a very economical price point of $50, but how do they perform in real life? Let’s take a look.
Look & Feel
Although I was a fan of the original OnePlus Buds, I personally felt that its $79 price was a little too high for what it offered. I was excited to see the OnePlus Buds Z offer a competitively priced package for less than the original. Out of the box, there are some noticeable differences from the first generation earbuds. The Buds Z are in an oval plastic case with the OnePlus logo stamped in grey on top. The back features a USB-C port while the front maintains its single LED indicator light. Although I have no qualms about the oval shaped charging case, I miss the more premium matte egg shaped feel of the original OnePlus Buds case.
The earbuds themselves have also evolved. The OnePlus Buds Z look and feel more comfortable, featuring a more defined and AirPod-like shape than its predecessor. OnePlus has also provided additional earbud silicone tips for those who prefer a more customized fit. It's clear that OnePlus listened to its audience here, as the original Buds received complaints for poor fit and lack of customization. For myself included, I feel the Buds Z fit more securely in my ears thanks to the silicone tip. In addition to the different sized silicone tips, the earbuds also come with a short USB-C to USB A charging cable.
Pairing Difficulties
In my previous review of the OnePlus Buds, I felt the connection was sometimes finicky when paired to multiple devices. It might just be me, but the OnePlus Buds Z was even more annoying in this sense. Almost on a daily basis, when paired to my PC, I would experience difficulties staying connected to my laptop while working. But when I had the Buds Z paired to my Android smartphone, they would remain connected with no problems. My only guess here is maybe connectivity is just better meant for a smartphone over say a Windows laptop. That’s frustrating as other earbuds from different brands I’ve reviewed handle this workflow much better. In any case, the Buds Z utilize Bluetooth 5.0 but be warned there may be connectivity issues depending on what device you are using.
The OnePlus Buds Z also feature an IP55 sweat and water resistance rating, which makes them great for workouts or rainy commutes. I’ve been able to workout with these earbuds and they’re snug in the ear and hold in place relatively comfortably through even some of the most intensive cardio workouts.
Battery Life
OnePlus advertises that 10 minutes of fast charging gives the Buds Z three hours of play time. Each earbud has a 40 mAh battery while the charging case has a 450 mAh capacity. On average, I am finding myself with about four hours of average play time. Although fast charging is available, I wish the battery life on the Buds Z was just a little better. It’s also important to note that there is no wireless charging on the OnePlus Buds Z.
Sound Quality
The OnePlus Buds Z have decent sound quality and I found the bass to be impressive considering the price point. Mids are strong and instrumentals come through vibrantly. When the Buds Z manage to pair successfully to my devices, it’s a pleasant media experience. Just like its predecessor, the Buds Z are truly wireless but do not offer active noise cancellation. This is a pro or con dependent on your use case.
Touch controls are limited but that isn’t surprising given the lowered price point of these earbuds. Double tapping on either bud allows you to forward to the next track. If you pair with a OnePlus smartphone, you can customize the double tap functions. Other bonus features included in the earbuds are capacitive in-ear detection, meaning music is automatically played or paused when you remove an earbud. You can also use either earbud by itself (a useful feature when one ear feels more strained than the other).
Final Thoughts
To be honest, it was difficult for me to look past the terrible connectivity experience I had with the OnePlus Buds Z. Despite a seemingly good package overall for $50, it is very challenging for me to recommend these earbuds. Nevertheless, I am glad to see OnePlus taking steps towards listening to its consumers and continually improving its products. If OnePlus can fix the connectivity issues and make it easier for non-OnePlus users to pair these earbuds to other devices, they have a competitively priced and well designed product for the audio space. Compared to the original OnePlus, the Buds Z are more affordable with an on-pair audio quality experience.
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Lida
Always the number cruncher, the former narrative journalist turned data scientist, can’t help but find herself bursting with excitement with each new generation of tech gadgets. After all, predicting future trends is Lida’s forte. Any gadget that survives Lida’s torturous, adult working woman itinerary of over 700 notifications a day deserves praise!