Earbuds, earpods, earplugs or earphones – call them by any name, but they are all equally important for all of us. OnePlus has made an addition to their kitty of buds with the Buds Z and we take a look at how it fares.
CONTENTS
Inside the box, you get a pair of the Buds Z earbuds, three pairs of differently sized silicone ear tips (with one pair pre-installed on the buds), a capsule-shaped case, a Type C cable to charge the OnePlus Z case, and a user manual with a warranty card.
CONNECTIVITY
The Buds Z connects simply and seamlessly. As long as you have NFC on your smartphone, all you need to do is flip open the case and your device is ready to connect. The process takes just a few minutes.
AUDIO QUALITY
The most important feature for earphones is always audio. For me, the first check for a good device is easy connectivity, followed by its sound.
OnePlus has placed a 10 mm dynamic driver for a decent amount of bass in its earbuds, with added bass boost technology. You also get HD audio options, which are available in settings. The earbuds also support two Bluetooth codecs, the AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) and SBC (Smart Bitrate Control). OnePlus has also included 3D Stereo with Dolby Atmos support and panoramic sound for a futuristic surround sound experience. To enjoy the audio at its best, make sure you are listening to music or movies which have been recorded and optimized with Dolby Atmos.
However, while audio quality is great, call quality on the OnePlus Buds Z is not as good in comparison. You do get dual mics on each of the buds, which help to pick up your voice.
The earbuds also have automatic ear detection, which means that if you pull out one or both the buds, whatever you’re listening to pauses automatically. Bring the buds back into your ear and the audio will resume on its own. This is definitely a rare feature to find at this price point.
TOUCH
The OnePlus Buds Z come with a circular touchpad on each bud. You can double-tap on the touchpad to answer a call or to change the soundtrack. Google Assistant can also be used by double-tapping on the touchpads. However, the touch command features can be customized to your liking, with a different function for each bud too, by going to the Bluetooth settings on your phone.
BATTERY
These earbuds, together with the charging case, deliver up to a total of 20 hours of playback – this number is based on the 5 hours which you can get from the earbuds and an additional 15 hours after using the charging case. (The 20 hours of total battery life is valid while playing music with the volume set to 1/3, in AAC mode.)
VERDICT
Priced at Rs 2,999, the Buds Z are a great pick for many. They have a lot of features to boast about, at a price which can be cheaper than other premium earbuds. The only disappointments for buyers can be the fact that they don’t get full noise cancellation with the Buds Z, the buds are IP rated but not totally IP67 and IP68 compliant, and the bass audio is not the best. However, on the upside, it is a pair of light earbuds, which are convenient to use and available at a very competitive price.
