OnePlus Buds 4 Extreme Testing: Is it worth Rs. 6000?
I finally got the OnePlus Buds 4, and I reviewed them after heavy testing. How do these earbuds perform at the Rs. 6000 price point? Do they justify the upgrade to the OnePlus Buds 3? Or is there anything missing? Let’s talk about it and give a complete breakdown of its features, sound, ANC, and calling.
OnePlus Buds 4 Unboxing and First Impressions
First of all, let’s talk about unboxing. The box of the OnePlus Buds 4 comes in a typical OnePlus style—clean and premium. Open the box and you will find:
- Earbuds case with a shiny oval-shaped design
- Type-C charging cable (a little short, but works)
- Extra ear tips (small, medium, large) for perfect fit
- User manual and warranty card
The look of the case is premium, with metallic shine and OnePlus branding. It has a similar vibe to the OnePlus Buds Pro 3, but it is affordable for Rs. 6000.
The case is compact and fits easily in the pocket. Magnets keep the earbuds secure, but the hinge could have been a little stronger. Overall, the build quality is solid, and perfect for portability.
Design and Comfort
The design of the buds is sleek and aesthetic. With a shiny finish and ergonomic shape, these fit comfortably in the ears. Whether jogging, workout, or daily use, these do not slip. There is also IP55 water and dust resistance, so there is no tension in sweat or light rain.
The case has a reset button on the side and a Type-C port below. A small battery indicator LED is also given. In terms of comfort, I wore it continuously for 2-3 hours and did not have any discomfort.
Features That Stand Out
Sound and Bass Quality
The sound output is amazing with Dual Dynamic Drivers (11mm woofer + 6mm tweeter).
- LHDC codec support for Android phones, which gives high-resolution audio (iPhone users miss this)
- Vocals are crystal clear at 70-80% volume, there is no distortion
- Bass is heavy, especially for bass lovers. There is a thump feel with Bass Wave technology, but above 80% volume the bass can overshadow the vocals a bit
- Sound Master EQ lets you tweak settings (Balanced, Bass Boost, Serenity mode). Serenity mode is perfect for vocals and instrument separation
Sound leakage is a slight issue—at 60-70% volume the guy on the side can hear what is going on. Overall, sound quality 9.5/10!
Calling Performance
6-mic setup with AI noise cancellation. I tested it in normal and traffic conditions:
- Normal conditions: 90% background noise is cancelled. Clear vocals, no distortion
- In traffic: 85-90% noise cancellation, wind noise also does not come. Voice crisp and clear from both sides
For calling, these buds are absolutely solid. Rating: 8.5/10
Gaming Experience
- 47ms low latency is claimed, and it justifies on OnePlus phones
- It does not take time while playing BGMI
- A little latency can be felt on non-OnePlus phones
Gaming mode 9/10 for OnePlus users, 8/10 for others
ANC and Transparency Mode
- Adaptive ANC is quite powerful. On Max setting, 90-95% background noise gets cancelled, even in traffic
- Transparency mode gives natural sound, background activities are heard clearly without robotic feel
ANC and transparency are both top-notch. Rating: 9.5/10
Connectivity and AI Features
- Bluetooth 5.4 with Google Fast Pair and dual device pairing
- Instant Wake & Pair technology – The buds get connected as soon as the case is opened
- The catch of AI Translate feature: This only works on OnePlus phones with OxygenOS 15.0.1 or above. This option is not visible on non-OnePlus phones (like iPhone or older OnePlus models). This is a bit disappointing
Battery Life
- Buds: 6-9 hours playback (depends on ANC on/off and volume)
- Case: 3-4 full charges
- Fast charging: 10-15 minute charge gives 10-11 hours of backup
Battery life is solid for daily use
App Support
The HeyMelody app (on both Android and iOS) is quite customizable:
- Battery percentage (buds and case) is shown
- ANC modes (Auto, Low, Moderate, High) and Transparency toggle
- Touch controls can be customized (volume slider, track change, etc.)
- Golden Sound feature tests ear frequency for personalized audio
- Find My Earbuds and auto-pause (in-ear detection) also work smoothly
Price and Value
These buds are around ₹6000 on Amazon, with bank offers you can get it for ~₹5500. But is it worth it?
Pros: Awesome sound, heavy bass, solid ANC, great call quality, premium design, long battery life
Cons: AI Translate only on OnePlus phones, sound leakage at high volume, gaming latency slightly higher on non-OnePlus phones
If you use a OnePlus phone (OxygenOS 15.0.1+), then these buds are a solid deal at ₹5500-6000. For non-OnePlus users, options like Realme Buds Air 7 Pro have better compatibility.
Final Verdict
The OnePlus Buds 4 are a solid package—they impress in sound, ANC, and calling. If you’re in the OnePlus ecosystem, this is a no-brainer. For non-OnePlus users, there may be some compatibility issues.
Overall Ratings:
- Sound: 9.5/10
- Bass: 9.5/10
- Calling: 8.5/10
- Gaming: 9/10 (OnePlus phones), 8/10 (others)
- ANC: 9.5/10
