OnePlus and Apple both sell flagship earbuds with the OnePlus Buds Pro and AirPods Pro, respectively — but which pair is the best overall buy? As it’s often the case with true wireless earbud comparisons, a lot of that answer is determined by where someone’s priorities lie. There are countless earbud options available today, and because of that, it’s often possible to find a pair of earbuds that meet all of the specific wants/needs of a shopper. However, the right pair of earbuds for one person may not be the best choice for someone else.

Apple first began its wireless earbud journey in 2016 when it launched the original AirPods. Although they were faced with some initial criticism, they’ve since become one of Apple’s most popular products. AirPods Pro debuted a few years later in 2019, offering improve features across the board for a bit more cash. OnePlus didn’t begin its earbud journey until 2020, with the Buds Pro announced in July 2021 and set to go on sale in September.

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Design-wise, the OnePlus Buds Pro and AirPods Pro have a lot in common. The earbuds’ shape is almost identical to each other, featuring a short stem, oval-like top, and customizable ear tips. Both are available in white, though the OnePlus Buds Pro also come in a discrete matte black. Where the design differs a bit is with the charging case. The AirPods Pro sit vertically in their case, whereas the Buds Pro lay down flat. Both cases can be charged using Qi wireless chargers, but when it comes to a wired connection, there’s another difference — a Lightning port is used for AirPods Pro and USB-C for OnePlus Buds Pro.

Features, Battery Life, And Software Comparisons

Looking past the aesthetics, the OnePlus Buds Pro match AirPods Pro in a big way by featuring active noise canceling. OnePlus says the Buds Pro can block up to 40dB of sound, with the earbuds also automatically adapting the intensity of their ANC based on the nearby noises. AirPods Pro “continuously adapt to the geometry of your ear” and have been touted as having some of the best noise-canceling performance on the market. AirPods Pro also go a step further by including Transparency Mode, enabling someone to hear their surroundings as if they weren’t wearing earbuds at all. This, unfortunately, is something the OnePlus Buds Pro lack.

On the sound quality side of things, the OnePlus Buds Pro and AirPods Pro are pretty evenly matched. Although Apple doesn’t mention the driver size for AirPods Pro, the Apple touts things like “powerful bass” and “incredibly clear sound.” OnePlus does something similar, hyping up the OnePlus Buds Pro as having “heart-pounding bass” and “rich treble” with their 11mm drivers. AirPods Pro and OnePlus Buds Pro both support Dolby Atmos for more immersive listening, but once again, Apple goes just one step further. When watching supported videos or listening to songs in Apple Music (on iOS 15), AirPods Pro pair Dolby Atmos with head tracking for a listening experience unlike any other.

Then there are all of the other comparisons. In regards to battery life, AirPods Pro tout up to 24 hours of listening time while the OnePlus Buds Pro get up to 38 hours. AirPods Pro use Bluetooth 5.0, OnePlus Buds Pro feature Bluetooth 5.2, AirPods Pro have an IPX4 water-resistance rating, and OnePlus Buds Pro feature an IP55 one. That all makes the $149 asking price for the OnePlus Buds Pro really compelling, especially when compared to the $249 MSRP of AirPods Pro. At the end of the day, however, which earbuds someone chooses will likely come down to the phone they’re using.  OnePlus Buds Pro work seamlessly with Android and iOS devices, whereas AirPods Pro are exclusively compatible with other Apple hardware — offering instant pairing, device switching, audio sharing, and more. Regardless if someone has a OnePlus phone, another Android device, or even an iPhone, the OnePlus Buds Pro are a really compelling package. They’re sleek, equipped with flagship features, and have a reasonable price for what they bring to the table. AirPods Pro are a much better fit for Apple users, and for iPhone fans that can’t justify their cost, they’ll be better off getting the $149 Beats Studio Buds.

Source: OnePlus

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About The Author


Joe Maring
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Joe has been actively writing and talking about consumer tech since 2012. His biggest passion lies with smartphones, but he’s happy to talk your ear off about just about anything with a CPU. He lives in Kalamazoo, MI with his wife, two cats, and pit bull/boxer mix.

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