Regardless of being the costliest audio product within the model’s lineup, the OnePlus Buds Professional is priced fairly competitively, in comparison with flagship true wi-fi earphones from manufacturers equivalent to Apple, Samsung, and Sony. This has helped set it aside as a value-for-money choice that does not significantly skimp on a lot. Now, properly over a yr after the launch of the primary OnePlus Buds Professional comes its successor. The OnePlus Buds Professional 2 brings small enhancements, however sticks to the positioning that made the unique an easy-to-recommend true wi-fi headset.
Priced at Rs. 11,999, the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 introduces a handful of technical enhancements, together with a dual-driver system, Bluetooth 5.3 for connectivity, and an prolonged frequency response vary. The brand new earphones have additionally been developed and tuned in collaboration with Danish loudspeaker maker Dynaudio, just like what we have already seen on the Oppo Enco X2 earlier this yr. Is that this the most effective mid-range true wi-fi headset you should purchase proper now? Discover out on this overview.
The OnePlus Buds Professional 2 has pressure-sensitive controls on the stems, just like the first-generation headset
OnePlus Buds Professional 2 design and options
The OnePlus Buds Professional 2 expectedly appears rather a lot like its predecessor, with the earpieces and charging case following the identical design cues and styling. The brand new earphones can be found in two colors – the acquainted matte black with shiny stems, and a brand new inexperienced to match the OnePlus 11 which launched together with the OnePlus Buds Professional 2.
There are some delicate adjustments within the design equivalent to bigger outer microphone grilles, however the earpieces and charging case are largely related in match and dimension to the unique Buds Professional. It stays a handsome and comfy pair of true wi-fi earphones, with an unostentatious and complex aesthetic.
The earpieces of the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 stay away from any branding, whereas the charging case now has a Dynaudio brand etched proper under the OnePlus brand on the lid, in addition to on the underside of the lid. The again of the charging case has the USB Sort-C port, and there may be additionally assist for Qi wi-fi charging, as earlier than.
Usefully, the earpieces of the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 have pressure-sensitive controls on their stems, just like the unique iteration. That is far more exact than primary contact controls. The earpieces have a snug in-canal match that ensures correct passive noise isolation. There’s IP55 mud and water resistance for the earpieces, whereas the case is IPX4 waterproof.
By way of options, the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 is pretty impressively geared up for a mid-range headset. There’s multi-point connectivity for as much as two supply gadgets concurrently, customisable energetic noise cancellation, Google Quick Pair, a 54ms low-latency mode, and assist for Spatial Audio (which works solely with the OnePlus 11 for now), along with the aforementioned Qi wi-fi charging. Every earpiece has three microphones, which work collectively for ANC and voice performance primarily based on AI algorithms, as per the corporate.
OnePlus Buds Professional 2 app and specs
As is the case with different wi-fi headsets from OnePlus, the Buds Professional 2’s ‘app’ expertise differs relying on the smartphone you pair the earphones with. All administration performance is meant to ‘baked’ into OxygenOS (and another supported Android forks), so for those who’re utilizing a assist OnePlus gadget as your supply, controls ought to seem within the system Bluetooth settings panel.
Should you aren’t utilizing a smartphone that helps this, you can tweak all settings for the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 by means of the HeyMelody app (out there on iOS and Android). Though you may set up this app even on a OnePlus smartphone, you will not be capable of use it, and shall be redirected to the Bluetooth settings as a substitute.
Just like the Oppo Enco X2, the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 has been developed in collaboration with Danish loudspeaker model Dynaudio
It is value mentioning right here that I wasn’t capable of entry these settings on my OnePlus 9 Professional (Evaluation) throughout my overview of the OnePlus Buds Professional 2, making a useless finish that could not be resolved on the gadget. Nevertheless, I do count on will probably be enabled on the software program stage previous to the graduation of gross sales of this new headset, so I hope this is not a long-term subject.
Coming to performance, the app (or Bluetooth menu settings) allow you to customise numerous facets of the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 equivalent to playback controls, ANC and transparency modes, the depth of ANC (Gentle, Reasonable, or Max settings), equaliser presets (co-created with Dynaudio) and customized EQ, and enabling or disabling multi-point connectivity, amongst different choices.
Notable additions embody a ‘white noise’ mode with 5 audio tracks (one could be saved on the headset at any time), a ‘sport’ mode for low-latency audio (as little as 54ms), and ‘Golden Sound’, which conducts a fast check to tailor sound to your ear canal construction and listening to traits. You may also replace the firmware on the OnePlus Buds Professional 2.
Management customisation on the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 is pretty detailed as properly, with the power to set separate management schemes for the left and proper earpieces. You’ll be able to management playback, choose ANC and transparency modes, invoke the default voice assistant, and activate sport mode; sadly, quantity cannot be managed on the headset.
By way of specs, the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 is well-equipped. There’s a dual-driver setup with 11mm and 6mm drivers in every earpiece, and a frequency response vary of 10-40,000Hz. For connectivity, the headset makes use of Bluetooth 5.3, with assist for the SBC, AAC, and LHDC 4 Bluetooth codecs. Extra common LDAC assist may come by means of a firmware replace sooner or later (because it did with the Oppo Enco X2), however as of now superior codec assist is proscribed to LHDC.
OnePlus Buds Professional 2 efficiency and battery life
The OnePlus Buds Professional 2 appears and feels rather a lot like its predecessor, however beneath the hood it is an entire completely different product altogether. That mentioned, there are some main similarities between the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 and the Oppo Enco X2, together with the Dynaudio collaboration and the Bluetooth codec assist. Curiously, this is not simply the identical product with a barely completely different design and branding; the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 has some distinctive traits, and this adjustments the approach that impacts the sound.
All of that is suitably helped alongside by the LHDC Bluetooth codec, though assist for it is dependent upon the smartphone you employ. Most OnePlus and Oppo smartphones can use it, and in my view it is largely on par with different fashionable superior codecs.
Assist for the extra common LDAC codec is sadly not current on the OnePlus Buds Professional 2, however I would not low cost the potential for it coming at a later level by means of a firmware replace. Till then, the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 takes an method just like that of Samsung with its true wi-fi earphones – the most effective sound high quality is simply accessible for those who’re inside the ‘ecosystem’.
The OnePlus Buds Professional 2 has a dual-driver setup, with 11mm and 6mm drivers in every earpiece
Entering into the specifics, I used the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 with a OnePlus 9 Professional as the first supply gadget for finest outcomes, but in addition used an iPhone 13 to check efficiency with the extra common AAC codec and the app. There was a notable and really perceivable distinction within the sound, relying on which Bluetooth codec was used, supplied I listened to good-quality audio (which was normally from Apple Music).
The twin-driver setup is the defining issue within the sonic signature and the general sound high quality of the OnePlus Buds Professional 2; not like on the Oppo Enco X2, the system right here focuses on decrease frequencies, quite than the mids and higher finish of the vary. This makes for an audibly extra punchy, aggressive, and energetic sound, with the separation that sometimes comes with a dual-driver setup targeted firmly on the bass.
When mixed with the nuance and element that the LHDC Bluetooth codec permits, it made for maybe essentially the most entertaining and highly effective sound I’ve heard on a pair of true wi-fi earphones. Listening to Over Right here by Mk.gee, the rumble and grunt of the bass was tight and refined, feeling highly effective but by no means extreme. It made this ordinarily mellow, mid-tempo monitor sound much more partaking and pushed than I’ve heard earlier than, including some well-executed flavour and character.
Even with extra nuanced and fewer overtly aggressive tracks equivalent to In all places by Fleetwood Mac, the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 introduced out loads of element, whereas giving the lows a big push in the proper course. The motive force separation really counted right here, permitting the mid vary and highs loads of room to breathe, even whereas the lows saved up their unflinching assault. With the amount turned up, it is an immersive listening expertise like nothing else on this value phase.
Energetic noise cancellation on the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 is respectable sufficient for the Rs. 12,000 price ticket, however feels a bit underwhelming on the entire; efficiency on this parameter simply does not match as much as how the sound high quality is so clearly superior to anything within the value phase. That mentioned, it is completely workable each indoors and open air, providing a noticeable discount in noise.
It is value mentioning right here that I may barely distinguish between the three completely different ANC modes, so the customisability of this function does not actually make any distinction in apply. Transparency mode works moderately properly, however the synthetic amplification of ambient sounds does get tiring after a degree, so it is ideally solely turned on when wanted.
Battery life on the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 is best than on its predecessor, with the earpieces working for round six hours per cost with the LHDC codec in operation and ANC turned on. The charging case added slightly over three extra expenses to the earpieces, for a complete runtime of round 25 hours per cost cycle. Name high quality was typically respectable indoors, and workable for brief calls even in noisy outside environments.
Verdict
OnePlus and Oppo have used their shared sources to significantly step up their product capabilities within the true wi-fi audio phase, and the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 is a wonderful instance of how one can develop an amazing product with its personal distinctive traits, with out beginning recent each time. There are some apparent similarities between the Buds Professional 2 and the Oppo Enco X2, however OnePlus does simply sufficient to present its new headset some character and panache of its personal, significantly in relation to the bass-friendly sonic signature and stage of element.
The Dynaudio collaboration is greater than only a branding train, and options equivalent to wi-fi charging and low-latency mode assist as properly. The one downside is codec assist. LHDC is not supported on too many gadgets past fashionable OnePlus and Oppo smartphones, making this a little bit of a ‘walled backyard’ conundrum – you will want the proper supply gadget for the most effective sound high quality.
Should you do have the proper supply gadget, that is essentially the most fun-sounding pair of true wi-fi earphones you should purchase for lower than Rs. 15,000 proper now, with sound high quality that realistically matches as much as headsets that price twice as a lot. You actually cannot go incorrect with the OnePlus Buds Professional 2.