OnePlus’ Buds Pro rank highly in our list of TWS Bluetooth Earbuds that deliver value for money. OnePlus’ priciest buds brought quite a few premium features at an affordable sub Rs 15K price point. The Buds Pro 2 are the next chapter. These TWS buds debuted along with the OnePlus 11 at the brand’s first big India launch event of 2023 in February. The one big change is OnePlus’ partnership with Danish audio major Dynaudio. Does OnePlus’ second set of earbuds to wear the Pro suffix deliver on its promise and are these the best buds you can snag under Rs 15K?
That familiar minimalism
It’s tough to tell the Pro 2 apart from its predecessor. You get the same clean lines on the compact case that slips effortlessly into your slimmest pockets. The case weighs under 50 gm, while each of the earbuds weigh under 5g; featherlight. We are fans of the design language of the first OnePlus Pro buds and it’s the same with the 2023 edition. The case also has the Dynaudio branding etched under the OnePlus logo. We had checked out OPPO’s Enco X2 in July 2022 that also benefitted from the brand’s tie-up with Dynaudio and came away impressed. The earbuds follow the same stem design with touch sensors that we enjoyed using on the Buds Pro. There are no volume controls on the buds though.
Hitting the right notes
The first-gen buds punched above their weight in the sound quality department, the Buds 2 Pro gets a further boost with the Dynaudio partnership. It also comes with all the latest connectivity options including Bluetooth 5.3 with Fast Pair for Android, AAC and LHDC audio standards that make it 2023 proof and ready to talk to a slew of devices. I paired these buds with a Samsung smartphone and an iPhone via the Hey Melody App. You get multiple customisations and equaliser pre-sets (that have been developed with Dynaudio). You can also control the ANC levels with the App. Noise cancellation is good (I tried it out on a short flight) but not exceptional. It’s not in the same league as pricier earbuds like the AirPods Pro.
One of the improvements (over the first gen Buds Pro) is how OnePlus has tuned the lows. Sound quality is quite good for its asking price. I listened to a bunch of tracks – from lounge to rock, and these buds score even at low volumes. These buds also come with Spatial Audio (developed with Google), that was great while I was playing catch up on Fauda on Netflix.
Wrap up
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 are a great step-up from the first gen Pro buds from OnePlus. Battery life is solid – you should manage around 30 hours with the case. There are handy touches like wireless charging, while the design doesn’t deviate from its predecessor. These no-nonsense buds deliver on key fronts like their soundstage and are one of the best options at the sub Rs 15K price band.
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 come in Arbor Green and Obsidian Black and cost Rs 11,999
