ZDNET Highlights
- The OnePlus Buds 4 are now available for $90.
- They give flagship earbuds a run for their money with top-level ANC performance and a comfortable fit.
- Swipe gestures can be subtle, and the sleek case is easy to miss.
More Buying Choices
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oneplus buds 4 They sit below the Pro models in name, but they borrow some of its best features and pack them into a more affordable price tag. With a few upgrades over its 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 aren’t any downsides to the OnePlus Buds 4 other than one daily annoyance – but I’d happily accept that for top-notch ANC performance. I’ve been using them for the last 10 days, and that’s why I’m not discontinuing them anytime soon.
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Form factor trade-off
In terms of design, the OnePlus Buds 4 Nord are a mix of the Buds 3 Pro and the Buds 3 Pro. They reside in a shell case, which has a metal feel and matte finish. It doesn’t have the grippy, leather-like finish of the Buds 3 Pro, which makes it slippery. In fact, I’ve accidentally dropped it twice in my 10-day use, and I’ve had to deliberately be more careful taking it out of my pocket.
The earbuds themselves are lightweight and comfortable to wear. OnePlus has flattened the stem, a design element carried over from the Nord Buds lineup, which makes them feel heavier than before. However, this does not affect wearability. I have worn them for a long time without any problems. They fit me well and don’t fall off easily. I’ve worn these while running, on flights, traveling, and walking around the busy streets of New York. Not even once did they accidentally fall out of my ears.
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My above major irritation stems from this updated stem design. The earbuds’ control touch-sensitive area is placed on the exterior of their stem, so I had to adjust the fit whenever I tried to change the volume or perform any other action with swipe gestures.
To keep them in place, I have to hold them with my thumb and middle finger while swiping over the buds with my index finger. It’s less intuitive than the side controls, where I only use my thumb and index finger. Most people will get used to it eventually, but it’s something that has consistently bothered me.
OnePlus Buds 4 offer a complete set of controls without the need to choose, including volume adjustment, playback controls, smart assistant, ANC on/off and more. Like the OnePlus Buds Pro 3, you get all of these at once, 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 love the OnePlus Buds 4. They feature dual drivers including an 11mm woofer and 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 compared to 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 so loud (an improvement compared to the Buds 3). The mids are pleasant, but the lower mids can sound muddy due to increased low frequencies. I miss the brightness of the Buds 3 Pro’s high frequencies, but I’ll take that over the intense highs of the Buds 3.
Also: I compared the best Bose and Sony ANC headphones of 2025 – here’s how the latter wins
You can tune the OnePlus Buds 4 to your liking via the HeyMelody app iOS And AndroidYou can further boost the bass, turn on Game Mode to reduce latency, activate OnePlus 3D Audio for a spatial listening experience (without head tracking), and adjust controls,
The app also has a Golden Sound option, which generates a custom audio curve based on the results of a hearing test. It takes a few minutes to complete, and is a fun feature to try out, but I’d rely on custom tuning via the Master EQ.
ANC competes with rivals
OnePlus Buds 4 claim to reduce noise by 55dB and cover a frequency range of 5500MHz, which is better than the Buds Pro 3. You can adjust the ANC level to low, medium, or high options, but I left it on Auto to let the earbuds determine the optimal level. It works very well, certainly on par with their more expensive flagship siblings, drowning out both road noise and aircraft engine noise in a recent flight.
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Transparency mode is also quite good. When activated, I could clearly hear my surroundings through the buds sitting in my ears. There’s a new Adaptive mode that toggles ANC or transparency mode depending on ambient sound. I found it didn’t work as well as it should, and I prefer to have manual control over ANC.
ZDNET’s shopping advice
oneplus buds 4 These cost $129 but are available for $89 during Black Friday week. If you’re looking for a pair of earbuds with active noise canceling for around $100, they’re a great choice. They include flagship-level ANC and transparency performance, bass-heavy sound, tons of features, and a comfortable-to-wear design.
These are ultimately earbuds designed for individuals who want to block out road noise during their daily commute and commute.
update log
- This story was originally published on July 14, 2025, and was updated on December 24, 2025 with a thorough fact check and price change following recent promotions.
