OnePlus Buds 4 review: ANC works, bass stands out

OnePlus Bud 4

OnePlus has consistently demonstrated a knack for crafting gadgets that straddle the line between aspiration and accessibility. The OnePlus Buds series, in particular, has steadily evolved into a reliable name in India’s mid-range TWS segment. With the Buds 4, OnePlus seems to follow a familiar script — ANC, decent design, and value for money — while gently tweaking a few elements along the way. However, in a market saturated with options from Samsung, Apple and others in the same price bracket, doing “just enough” may no longer suffice. Over the past two weeks

OnePlus Bud 4

Comfort takes the driving seat

The Buds 4 aren’t trying to reinvent anything on the design front, and in many ways, that’s probably a conscious decision. They follow the same stem-style in-ear formula that’s worked for OnePlus in the past. The Zen Green unit I tested has a soft sheen that doesn’t scream for attention but still looks distinctive. At 4.73 grams per earbud, they’re very light and rarely felt fatiguing, even during 90-minute listening sessions. The silicone tips help achieve a snug fit — essential for both ANC and passive isolation — though I did notice a bit of ear fatigue during long conference calls, especially in warmer weather.

The charging case is compact and pocketable, weighing just 40 grams. It has a clamshell lid that shuts securely and a glossy finish that resists fingerprints better than most budget TWS cases. There’s a Type-C port at the bottom and a pairing button inside, which is easy to miss unless you’ve dealt with previous OnePlus buds. It’s a practical, no-nonsense design that focuses on comfort and usability over flair — and I think it works for the audience it’s targeting.

ANC performance that punches above its class

Where the Buds 4 truly surprised me was their Active Noise Cancellation. I usually don’t expect much from sub-Rs 6,000 ANC earbuds — most of them either overpromise or offer basic suppression of background hum. But the Buds 4 deliver. In a crowded gym with clanging weights, loud music, and chatty trainers, the High ANC mode silenced most of the chaos. Traffic noise, train announcements, and even household chatter during work hours were noticeably dampened.

OnePlus Buds 4

There’s support for multiple ANC levels — low, medium, high — and an Auto mode that adapts to ambient noise. The Transparency mode is handy for quick conversations or outdoor walks, though I did find the ambient passthrough sounding slightly processed at times. There’s also an Adaptive mode that automatically toggles between ANC and Transparency based on your surroundings, and while it worked, the transitions weren’t always smooth.

The only real annoyance in managing these modes was the HeyMelody app. While all the customisations are available there, the app often failed to detect the earbuds on the first try and required several retries to connect. For a company like OnePlus, which usually gets software right, this part felt undercooked.

Sound profile: Heavy bass, with some help from tuning

Audio tuning on the Buds 4 is unashamedly bass-heavy. Tracks like Malang or Genda Phool had deep, punchy low-ends that made workouts more immersive. If you lean toward electronic, Bollywood dance music, or hip-hop, you’ll likely enjoy the thump. But on gentler tracks like Kesariya or Raataan Lambiyan, I often felt the vocals fighting for space with the bass.

OnePlus Buds 4

That’s where OnePlus’ Golden Sound tuning came in handy. It’s a feature that runs a quick hearing test and creates a personalised profile based on your ear shape and listening sensitivity. After enabling this, the balance improved significantly — vocals felt more forward, and instruments had better separation in mid-heavy songs like Shayad or Tum Hi Ho. It doesn’t fully fix the default bass bias, but it gets much closer to a neutral listening experience.

The Buds 4 also supports Spatial Audio (3D Audio) for an immersive experience with compatible content, and there’s a BassWave toggle to boost the low end even further — though I found the default profile already bassy enough. Overall, the sound signature won’t please audiophiles, but it works well for casual, everyday listening — especially if you tweak it using the personalised profile.

Call quality and connectivity are good

Call quality was adequate in most conditions. Indoors, voices sounded clear with minimal compression, and background noise was well managed. Outdoors, in windy environments or during metro commutes, the mics struggled a bit, but still remained intelligible. It’s nothing groundbreaking but sufficient for occasional calls or video meetings.

In terms of connectivity, the Buds 4 use Bluetooth 5.3 and remained stable throughout testing. Whether I was moving between rooms or keeping my phone in a gym locker, the connection held up well. Latency while watching videos was negligible, and while gaming mode is present, this isn’t a pair built for competitive gaming — audio delay in fast-paced FPS titles was noticeable.

Battery life: Good enough, but not standout

Battery performance on the Buds 4 falls into the “just okay” category. With ANC turned off, I got around 10.5 to 11 hours per charge, which is solid. But with ANC on (which is how I used them 90% of the time), playback time dropped to around 6 hours — just enough for a workday with breaks in between. The case adds another 18 hours or so with ANC on, or closer to 34-35 hours without it.

OnePlus Buds 4

There’s no wireless charging here, but fast charging support is present. A quick 10-minute charge gave me roughly 2.5 hours of playback — useful if you’re in a rush. Still, battery life with ANC on could’ve been slightly better, especially since rivals like Realme and Oppo now push upwards of 30-35 hours of total ANC-on usage in this price band.

Verdict
At Rs 5,999, the OnePlus Buds 4 do a few things really well — the ANC is easily one of the best in this segment, the bass-forward sound suits popular music genres in India, and the lightweight design ensures all-day comfort. The personalised tuning via Golden Sound genuinely helps balance the audio experience, and the stable connectivity makes them dependable for daily use.

But there are trade-offs. The HeyMelody app still feels unreliable, especially when you want quick access to settings. The battery life with ANC on is average, and if you prefer a neutral sound signature or better treble clarity, you may need to look elsewhere or tweak the settings.

Ultimately, the Buds 4 don’t try to reinvent OnePlus’ TWS formula — they iterate on it. And in doing so, they deliver a dependable package, especially if noise cancellation and punchy sound are your top priorities. Just don’t expect a dramatic leap over the Buds 3 or a software experience that rivals more premium earbuds.