Test OnePlus Buds 4 (2026): Our Complete Verdict

At 4,73 g per earbud, the OnePlus Buds 4 sit in the lower average of the segment. The short stem and semi-oval silicone tip insert without force into the concha, with moderate canal pressure during the first hour. After two hours of continuous wear, the editorial team observed no notable friction points, which is far from systematic in this range.

Three sizes of silicone tips are supplied (S, M, L). Size M suits the majority of ear shapes and provides an estimated passive isolation of 18-22 dB depending on fit. Moving to size L improves acoustic seal but may generate a slight pressure sensation after 90 minutes. Size S, however, noticeably reduces passive attenuation and increases bass leakage.

Stability during movement is satisfactory: during brisk walking sessions along the seafront in Vannes (strong wind, uneven terrain), the earbuds did not shift. The IP55 rating was tested under light rain without incident. The case, made of slightly textured matte plastic, resists fingerprints well and fits comfortably in a jeans pocket without bulk.

The Buds 4 feature a 12,4 mm dynamic driver paired with a 6 mm tweeter, a dual-driver configuration that is relatively rare under 100 euros. The perceived response curve deviates predictably from the Harman 2019 in-ear target: a sub-bass boost centered around 60-80 Hz, mids slightly recessed between 800 Hz and 2 kHz, and a treble peak around 8-9 kHz that can generate sibilance on sibilant vocals or poorly recorded cymbals.

This signature flatters electronic genres and hip-hop, but proves less balanced on acoustic jazz or classical, where the recessed mids diminish the presence of string instruments. The soundstage is wide but shallow: left/right separation is clear, yet depth remains limited.

The 55 dB figure is a peak value announced by OnePlus, not an independent normalized measurement. In real conditions, the editorial team evaluated attenuation across several environments:

• Rennes metro (line A, Alstom trainset): effective attenuation of rolling low frequencies (80-200 Hz), noticeable reduction of background noise. Platform voices pass through partially.
• TGV Paris-Rennes: air-conditioning background noise well handled. Spoken announcements remain audible at low volume.
• Open-space: conversations 2-3 meters away reduced to an intelligible murmur. Mechanical keyboards attenuated by approximately 15 dB subjectively.
• Urban street (dense traffic): correct attenuation of combustion engines; motorcycles and horns penetrate more.

Adaptive ANC recalibrates when the environment changes in 1 to 2 seconds, without audible pumping in most cases. A slight residual hiss is perceptible in complete silence, at a background level estimated around -65 dBFS, which remains within the segment norm.

The transparency mode of the Buds 4 reproduces human voices and platform announcements in a readable way, without excessive metallic coloration. The ANC/transparency switch occurs in approximately 350-400 ms, measured on the watch over ten consecutive cycles. This delay is acceptable for pedestrian use, insufficient for an emergency response.

A slight background noise is introduced in transparency mode, perceptible in a calm environment (silent interior). Outdoors, this sound background is masked by the environment itself. Traffic and voices at short distance are reproduced with sufficient fidelity to navigate the city without removing the earbuds. Compared to the Buds Pro 3 (not available in the editorial team at the time of the test), user feedback indicates slightly lower naturalness, which the editorial team cannot objectively confirm without direct measurement.

The editorial team conducted test calls under three distinct conditions, with listening feedback via smartphone recording:

• Calm interior (closed office): voice reproduced with correct intelligibility, slight compression perceptible on fricative consonants. Acceptable for a professional call.
• Open-space (ambient noise estimated at 65-70 dB SPL): noise reduction on the transmit side effectively filters background conversations. The interlocutor perceives the transmitter's voice without major artifacts, although the rendering is slightly nasal.
• Street (dense traffic, 75-80 dB SPL): noticeable degradation. The voice remains intelligible but wind gusts generate audible compression artifacts. The IP55 protects the electronics, not the audio quality in strong wind.

The microphone does not compete with three-microphone solutions from the Sony WF-1000XM5 or the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds, but ranks in the upper average of the segment under 100 euros.

The protocol applied by the editorial team: volume at 75 %, maximum ANC activated, LHDC codec on compatible Android source, music content in streaming (Tidal HiFi). Discharge was simulated in three blocks of two hours (morning, afternoon, evening), with return to the case between each block.

Measured results:

• ANC activated, LHDC, 75 % volume: 5 h 48 min before automatic shutdown. The gap with the announced 6 h is marginal and explained by the LHDC codec being more demanding in processing.
• ANC deactivated, AAC, 75 % volume: 10 h 35 min, consistent with the 11 h from the manufacturer.
• Case charge: three complete cycles provided with ANC activated, i.e. approximately 17-18 h additional. The promise of 45 h total assumes ANC deactivated and moderate volume.
• Wired charge (USB-C): 10 minutes in the case provide approximately 1 h 30 of ANC on autonomy. Wireless charging is not available on this model.

The Hey Melody app (available on Android and iOS) offers a 10-band equalizer, a personalized hearing test that generates a compensation profile, management of touch shortcuts and multipoint control. The interface is clear and stability is correct on Android 14 and iOS 17 during tests.

The multipoint feature works with automatic switching: the Buds 4 connect to two devices simultaneously and switch to the active source without manual intervention. The measured reconnection latency after a voluntary disconnection is 3 to 5 seconds, which is standard. However, switching between two simultaneously active sources (incoming call on phone during playback on PC) sometimes generates an additional delay of 2 to 3 seconds.

Some advanced functions, notably the adaptive audio profile linked to the OnePlus identifier, are reserved for the brand's smartphones. On a third-party device, the equalizer and hearing test remain accessible, but cloud profile synchronization does not work.

The table reveals three distinct use cases. The OnePlus Buds 4 take the advantage on announced ANC depth, confirmed in real conditions on low frequencies. The Nothing Ear (3) stand out on comfort (slightly lower weight) and wireless charging, a concrete advantage for Qi-equipped users. The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC dominate on ANC enabled battery life (10 h measured versus 5 h 48 for the Buds 4) and on price, making them the rational choice for a budget-conscious commuter.

On the sound side, the Buds 4 offer the widest soundstage of the three in LHDC, but the Liberty 4 NC in LDAC deliver a more open dynamic on high-resolution recordings. The verdict therefore depends directly on the priority use.

Three buyer profiles stand out from this test:

• Daily commuter (metro, train): the Buds 4 are suitable if the journey rarely exceeds 6 hours cumulatively per day. ANC on the low frequencies of transport is their strongest argument. For superior ANC battery life, the Liberty 4 NC perform better.
• Remote worker in open space: the ANC is sufficient for background conversations, the microphone is acceptable below 70 dB ambient. Beyond that, transmission quality degrades. The Sony WF-1000XM5 remain the reference for this use case, at twice the price.
• Android user seeking LHDC under 100 euros: this is where the Buds 4 are hardest to challenge. The combination of LHDC 5.0, dual driver and effective ANC on bass at this price has no direct equivalent in 2026.

Profiles for which a competitor performs better: long-duration battery life (Liberty 4 NC), wireless charging (Nothing Ear 3), microphone quality in very noisy environments (Sony WF-1000XM5).