The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 Truly Wireless are the next generation of the OnePlus Buds Truly Wireless. With this update, the manufacturer has added some handy features that put them on par with competitor products like the Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless. Their companion app now offers a graphic EQ and presets so that you can customize them to your liking, and they have a spatial audio feature to create a more immersive sound. They also support multi-device pairing, LHDC codec for streaming Hi-Res audio as well as LC3 codec for high-quality audio with low bit-rate, and their ANC performs better overall than their predecessor.
Our Verdict
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 are satisfactory for neutral sound. Using their 'Balanced' EQ, they have a bass-heavy sound that adds punch and warmth to mixes. However, the extra bass muddies vocals and instruments and hollows out the mix. That said, if you prefer a different sound, their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets so you can finetune their sound. Unfortunately, their passive soundstage isn't very immersive due to their closed-back, in-ear design.
- EQ and presets available in companion app.
- Bad passive soundstage.
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 are good for commute and travel. These comfortable, lightweight, and well-built buds have an ANC system to help block out background noise. Although they have trouble cutting down the rumble of bus engines, they do a better job of blocking out passenger chit-chat. The buds are also very portable and last over six hours continuously.
- Comfortable, well-built design.
- ANC can block out mid-range noise like voices well.
- ANC struggles to block out bass-range noise like traffic.
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 are great for sports and fitness. These buds have a lightweight, comfortable fit and are certified IP55 for resistance against dust and direct water contact. That said, even though they're stable in-ear once you get a good fit, the buds can move around or pop out of your ears with jaw movements, which can be frustrating during intense workouts.
- IP55 rating.
- Comfortable, well-built design.
- Bad passive soundstage.
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 are decent for office use. These buds have a comfortable fit suitable for long shifts and last over six hours continuously. If you need to recharge them, their carrying case supplies an additional three charges if you need it. The buds also support multi-device pairing, meaning you can connect them to your smartphone and PC simultaneously, and if you work in a noisy environment, their ANC can block out chatty coworkers well. That said, their integrated mic does a disappointing job of capturing your voice clearly.
- Comfortable, well-built design.
- ANC can block out mid-range noise like voices well.
- Disappointing recording quality.
- Bad passive soundstage.
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 are Bluetooth-only headphones, and their latency is likely too high for gaming. That said, if you're a mobile gamer, they have a low-latency Game Mode, which can help lower audio lag on iOS devices. While it increases latency on Android (non-OnePlus) devices, the overall amount of latency is still low.
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 are wireless headphones, and you can't use them wired.
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 are just okay for phone calls. The integrated mic's recording quality is disappointing, and your voice sounds thin, dark, and unnatural, making it more difficult for others to hear you clearly. The mic does a better job of separating your voice from background noise, and your voice never gets lost amongst loud noises. The buds have ANC too, which helps block out a decent amount of background noise so you can focus on your call.
- Satisfactory noise handling.
- Disappointing recording quality.
Changelog
- Updated Jun 10, 2024: We've retested these earbuds with firmware update 186.186.101, but there have been no changes in their frequency response or noise isolation performance.
- Updated Apr 22, 2024: We've added a comparison between these buds and the OnePlus Buds 3 Truly Wireless in Noise Isolation.
- Updated Jun 16, 2023: We've corrected an error in the Wired text. These headphones can't be used wired.
- Updated May 03, 2023: Added a comparison to the Nothing Ear (2) Truly Wireless in the Recording Qualitybox.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 come in two color variations: 'Arbor Green' and 'Obsidian Black'. We tested the 'Obsidian Black' variant, and you can see our model's label here. If you come across another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the discussion section below, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 are the next generation of the OnePlus Buds Pro Truly Wireless. The manufacturer has improved their battery performance, and they now have a spatial audio feature, which helps create a more immersive experience. Their ANC also performs better than their predecessor overall, but it still falls short of their competitors like the Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless, especially when blocking out the low rumble of bus engines.
Check out our recommendations for the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds, the best wireless earbuds for Android, and the best sounding wireless earbuds.
In many ways, the OnePlus Buds 3 offer a comparable performance to their sibling, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2. Both buds are comfortable and well-built, support multi-device pairing, and support LHDC for higher-quality audio via Bluetooth. The third-gen model does offer a couple of additional benefits, though. They have a better noise isolation performance, particularly in the bass range, where you can find sounds like traffic. You can access different ANC modes and presets in the companion app. Their integrated mic also offers a better overall performance, and overall, they have a higher total battery life. That said, the Pro 2 model has a more neutral sound, which some users may prefer, and their carrying case supports wireless charging.
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 are the next generation of the OnePlus Buds Pro. While they're similarly comfortable and well-built, the second generation's ANC has a significantly better noise isolation performance, and the battery life has improved too. They're more customizable thanks to their companion app's graphic EQ, presets, and spatial audio support.
The Nothing Ear (2) are better earbuds than the OnePlus Buds Pro 2. They have a slight advantage in build quality, controls, and mic performance. However, the OnePlus can isolate you from more high-frequency noise, like a whiny PC fan, and has a longer battery life. Each device has better integration within their manufacturer's respective ecosystem, so you should consider the Nothing buds if you already own Nothing's phone, and likewise with the OnePlus buds.
The Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless have a slight edge over the OnePlus Buds Pro 2. The Sony are better built and have a better noise isolation performance, and their battery life is better. Conversely, the OnePlus are more comfortable and have a slightly better mic performance.
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