The OnePlus Buds Pro 4 could make a compelling alternative to flagship brands

There’s no denying that Sony, Apple, and Samsung dominate the earbuds market. However, those willing to stray off the beaten track can find similar features for a fraction of the price. I tested the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 and was impressed by their decent sound quality, strong noise canceling, and comfortable fit. While they don’t have all the bells and whistles of their flagship rivals, they retail for significantly less than the competition. With so much to love about the current Buds Pro 3, it is little wonder that fans are excited about the updated OnePlus Buds Pro 4.

Unfortunately, OnePlus has not made an official announcement about its next-gen earbuds. While we wait for details, here are all the improvements I want to see when the OnePluds Buds Pro 4 come to fruition.

Conversational Awareness

Perhaps I’m in the minority, but I find it immensely awkward when a stranger asks me for directions on the metro and I end up fumbling around with my earbuds to reply. Thankfully, many earbud brands now include smart features to mitigate such embarrassing interactions. For example, some Sony earbuds use the aptly named Speak-To-Chat feature, which automatically pauses your music when you start speaking. Samsung and Apple provide respective services called Conversation Mode and Conversation Awareness.

Unfortunately, the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 do not have intelligent voice-detection features. Instead, you must squeeze the stem once to pause your music, and squeeze and hold to activate transparency mode. However, when I try fiddling around with the earbuds to do this in real-time, the person I’m replying to often assumes I can’t hear them. In truth, I end up frustrating myself and taking the earbuds out entirely in these circumstances. The OnePlus Buds Pro 4 could resolve this issue by supporting a Conversational Awareness feature.

Improved transparency mode

Active noise canceling (ANC) is vital for blocking out intrusive environmental sounds. That said, I’ve been using transparency mode a lot lately. For example, I often pause my music and enable transparency mode before crossing busy streets in central London. This helps me listen out for hybrid and electric cars that emit very little noise. It is also handy for listening out for cyclists and for hearing announcements when approaching metro stations.

The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 have excellent noise canceling. For example, they make distracting sounds from engines, passing chatter, and building works sound significantly quieter. However, the earbuds’ transparency mode feature sounds mediocre compared to the competition. For example, Apple’s new Powerbeats Pro 2 deliver realistic-sounding audio transparency that sounds virtually the same as not wearing the earbuds. Conversely, the OnePlus Buds Pro 3’s passthrough mode does less well at making speech intelligible. The OnePlus Buds Pro 4 would benefit from a better-sounding transparency mode than their predecessor.

A longer USB-C charging cable

Headphone charging ports have undergone huge changes in recent years. For example, all small consumer electronic devices sold in the EU since December 28, 2024, must support USB-C charging. This has forced Apple’s hand to replace its proprietary Lightning ports on the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Max with USB-C. Wireless charging is also commonplace nowadays, with many earbud cases able to charge on top of Qi wireless charging pads.

The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 ship with an IPX4-rated USB-C charging case that can be boosted wirelessly. Doing so requires the case to be placed logo-side down on a compatible charging mat. Frustratingly, though, is that those who prefer topping up with wires must use the comedically short USB-C to USB-A cable inside the packaging. While this is theoretically usable with older chargers, it is not practical and does not work with newer chargers such as the one that shipped with my OnePlus 9 Pro smartphone. The OnePlus Buds Pro 4 should include a longer USB-C to USB-C charging cable at launch.

Improved volume controls

Most people prefer controlling their audio directly from their earbuds and headphones. This minimizes the need to fumble around with companion apps or phone settings to execute common earbud functions. Some earbuds, like the Sony WF-1000XM5, benefit from a list of handy controls. For example, single, double, triple, or quadruple tapping the WF-1000XM5 can activate ANC, play/pause music, skip songs, adjust volume, or gain Quick Access. Downloading Sony’s Headphones Connect app allows full control customizations.

Similarly, downloading OnePlus’s HeyMelody app is vital for customizing the Buds Pro 3’s controls. The only snag is that you cannot adjust the parameters for single-tap functions. Nevertheless, you’d be forgiven for thinking that OnePlus vastly improved the controls of the Buds Pro 3. For example, their predecessor did not feature a volume slider. Unfortunately, the one on the Buds Pro 3 is located in an awkward position along the front of the earbuds’ stems. This makes it difficult to adjust the volume while on the move and often leads to random poking around the ear. The OnePlus Buds Pro 4 must have a new volume control system to appease workout enthusiasts.

A revamped design

When it comes to earbuds, one size does not fit all. Each of our ears has a unique shape and size, and that’s before considering people’s unique tastes and design preferences. For example, many athletes prefer earbuds like the wing-tipped Beats Fit Pro. Over-ear or bone-conduction headphones are best for those who lament objects in their ear. Many enjoy stemmed designs, such as the AirPods Pro 2, while others prioritize stemless builds like the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live.

While I am partial to a sleek-looking gloss finish, the Buds Pro 3 attract grime like there’s no tomorrow. Something as simple as retrieving the buds from the charging case renders fingerprints and skin oils unavoidable. The black matte housing at the top of the buds is aesthetically pleasing, but it shows up lint and other debris remarkably easily. I also find that the included black ear tips detail skin oils from the ear more prominently than competitive brands. The OnePlus Buds Pro 4 should ship in more colorways with a less glossy exterior than their predecessor.

Will there be a OnePlus Buds Pro 4?

OnePlus remains invested in its earbuds category. For example, the company recently released the OnePlus Buds 4 on July 8, 2025. According to OnePlus, these cancel up to 55dB of noise, run Bluetooth 5.4 with the LHDC codec, and last up to six hours with ANC enabled. They are also competitively priced, launching for $129.99.

There have been no official details about OnePlus’s flagship earbuds, and rumors are sparse at the time of writing. However, we can gauge an approximate launch date from the company’s previous release schedule.

• OnePlus Buds Pro — September 1, 2021
• OnePlus Buds Pro 2 — February 7, 2023
• OnePlus Buds Pro 3 — August 20, 2024

For example, the original OnePlus Buds Pro launched on September 1, 2021. The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 followed one year and five months later, on February 7, 2023. The company’s latest Buds Pro 3 launched one year and six months later on August 20, 2024. Given that OnePlus refreshes its Pro-series earbuds approximately every 18 months, we can expect the Buds Pro 4 to materialize in Spring 2026.

Should you wait for the OnePlus Buds Pro 4?

The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 are a compelling alternative to more expensive high-end brands. Those willing to stray off the beaten track can purchase them from major retailers such as Amazon. Given that the Buds Pro 4 are roughly one year away, I recommend purchasing the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 instead of waiting for their successor.

Grabbing the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 ($199 at OnePlus) awards a comfortable listening experience, an IP55-resistant build, and up to six hours of ANC-enabled listening time per charge. The case can be topped up on a compatible wireless mat, and the buds yield 13 hours of playback time from a 10-minute fast charge. Their noise cancellation is excellent, and the earbuds deliver pleasing sound quality with ample bass. Downloading the HeyMelody companion app unlocks many of the earbuds’ best features. For example, you can tweak your sound with the built-in 6-band custom EQ or chill out to five Zen Mode Air ambient tracks. The earbuds support spatial audio with head tracking, in-ear detection, and Bluetooth multipoint. Connections are made wirelessly over Bluetooth 5.4, and compatible smartphones can use the high-res LHDC codec. There are pitfalls, but the comparatively cheap price tag sweetens the deal.

Bargain hunters wanting the best price-to-feature ratio should snatch the EarFun Air Pro 4 ($89.99 at Amazon). Unlike the OnePlus Buds Pro 3, these earbuds connect via Bluetooth 5.4 over the SBC, AAC, LDAC, and aptX Lossless codecs. The last is more widely supported on Android smartphones than the LHDC codec. It also delivers up to 1200kbps, 24-bit/ 96kHz audio sampling. The buds support Google Fast Pair and Bluetooth multipoint, and the case can be charged wirelessly atop a Qi charging mat. The earbuds’ battery life lasts nearly nine hours, and the case provides extra charge cycles for 41 hours of playback time. Noise canceling attenuates external noises by an average of 75%, and the earbuds’ frequency response closely follows our target preference curve. Downloading the EarFun Audio app unlocks ambient sound modes, low-latency gaming mode, Find headphones, 30 EQ presets, and a 10-band custom EQ.

Those wanting some of the best active noise canceling capabilities should grab the Sony WF-1000XM5 ($298 at Amazon). With an ideal fit, these earbuds attenuate up to 50dB of noise above 1kHz. They also enjoy excellent sound quality, with an overall ranking of 4.9 in our MDAQS testing. With ANC enabled, users can expect the earbuds to last roughly nine hours and 32 minutes on a single charge. The WF-XM5 also have industry-leading microphone quality for taking calls on the go. Tinkerers will also appreciate the large number of customizations and flagship features stored within the Sony Sound Connect. These include Sony 360 Reality Audio, Speak-To-Chat, and Sony’s DSEE Extreme upscaling feature.

There is no better alternative for your iPhone than the AirPods Pro 2 ($189.99 at Amazon). While significantly more expensive than the OnePlus Buds Pro 3, the AirPods Pro 2 integrate seamlessly with iOS devices. For example, the earbuds will be recognized automatically by any source device associated with your iCloud account once paired. This includes Apple’s Find My app and automatic switching between Apple devices. The AirPods Pro 2 are considered the industry blueprint in terms of design and comfort. They also ship with XS ear tips to help those with smaller ears achieve a robust seal. The earbuds’ exterior and charging case are IPX4-rated, and the battery life lasts nearly six hours. Models sold after September 22, 2023, support USB-C charging. This is in addition to MagSafe, Wireless, and Apple Watch-compatible charging.

OnePlus Buds Pro 4 FAQs