Regardless of being the most costly 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 comparable to Apple, Samsung, and Sony. This has helped set it aside as a value-for-money choice that does not notably 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 buy proper now? Discover out on this evaluation.
The OnePlus Buds Professional 2 has pressure-sensitive controls on the stems, just like the first-generation headset
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OnePlus Buds Professional 2 design and options
The OnePlus Buds Professional 2 expectedly seems so much 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 modifications within the design comparable 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 complicated aesthetic.
The earpieces of the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 stay away from any branding, whereas the charging case now has a Dynaudio emblem etched proper beneath the OnePlus emblem on the lid, in addition to on the underside of the lid. The again of the charging case has the USB Kind-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 rather more exact than primary contact controls. The earpieces have a cushty in-canal match that ensures correct passive noise isolation. There may be 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 may be 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 based mostly 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 in case you’re utilizing a assist OnePlus system as your supply, controls ought to seem within the system Bluetooth settings panel.
If you happen to aren’t utilizing a smartphone that helps this, you can tweak all settings for the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 by the HeyMelody app (out there on iOS and Android). Though you may set up this app even on a OnePlus smartphone, you will not have the ability to use it, and shall be redirected to the Bluetooth settings as a substitute.
Much like the Oppo Enco X2, the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 has been developed in collaboration with Danish loudspeaker model Dynaudio
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It is value mentioning right here that I wasn’t capable of entry these settings on my OnePlus 9 Professional (Evaluate) throughout my evaluation of the OnePlus Buds Professional 2, making a useless finish that could not be resolved on the system. Nevertheless, I do count on it will likely be enabled on the software program degree previous to the graduation of gross sales of this new headset, so I hope this is not a long-term problem.
Coming to performance, the app (or Bluetooth menu settings) allow you to customise numerous points of the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 comparable to playback controls, ANC and transparency modes, the depth of ANC (Gentle, Average, 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 can even replace the firmware on the OnePlus Buds Professional 2.
Management customisation on the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 is pretty detailed as properly, with the flexibility 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 might come by 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 seems and feels so much like its predecessor, however below the hood it is an entire totally different product altogether. That stated, 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. Apparently, this is not simply the identical product with a barely totally different design and branding; the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 has some distinctive traits, and this modifications the means that impacts the sound.
All of that is suitably helped alongside by the LHDC Bluetooth codec, though assist for it will depend on the smartphone you utilize. Most OnePlus and Oppo smartphones can use it, and in my view it is largely on par with different trendy 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 of it coming at a later level by a firmware replace. Till then, the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 takes an strategy just like that of Samsung with its true wi-fi earphones – the most effective sound high quality is simply accessible in case you’re throughout the ‘ecosystem’.
The OnePlus Buds Professional 2 has a dual-driver setup, with 11mm and 6mm drivers in every earpiece
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Stepping into the specifics, I used the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 with a OnePlus 9 Professional as the first supply system for greatest 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, offered I listened to good-quality audio (which was often 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, relatively than the mids and higher finish of the vary. This makes for an audibly extra punchy, aggressive, and energetic sound, with the separation that usually 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 observe 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 comparable to All over the place by Fleetwood Mac, the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 introduced out loads of element, whereas giving the lows a major push in the suitable route. The driving force separation really counted right here, permitting the mid vary and highs loads of room to breathe, even whereas the lows stored up their unflinching assault. With the quantity 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 first rate sufficient for the Rs. 12,000 price ticket, however feels a bit underwhelming on the entire; efficiency on this parameter simply would not match as much as how the sound high quality is so clearly superior to anything within the value phase. That stated, it is completely workable each indoors and outside, providing a noticeable discount in noise.
It is value mentioning right here that I might barely distinguish between the three totally different ANC modes, so the customisability of this function would not actually make any distinction in apply. Transparency mode works fairly properly, however the synthetic amplification of ambient sounds does get tiring after some extent, so it is ideally solely turned on when wanted.
Battery life on the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 is healthier 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 a bit of over three extra expenses to the earpieces, for a complete runtime of round 25 hours per cost cycle. Name high quality was usually first rate indoors, and workable for brief calls even in noisy out of doors 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 superb instance of the right way to develop a fantastic product with its personal distinctive traits, with out beginning contemporary each time. There are some apparent similarities between the Buds Professional 2 and the Oppo Enco X2, however OnePlus does simply sufficient to offer its new headset some character and panache of its personal, notably in the case of the bass-friendly sonic signature and degree of element.
The Dynaudio collaboration is greater than only a branding train, and options comparable to wi-fi charging and low-latency mode assist as properly. The one disadvantage is codec assist. LHDC is not supported on too many gadgets past trendy OnePlus and Oppo smartphones, making this a little bit of a ‘walled backyard’ conundrum – you will want the suitable supply system for the most effective sound high quality.
If you happen to do have the suitable supply system, that is essentially the most fun-sounding pair of true wi-fi earphones you should buy for lower than Rs. 15,000 proper now, with sound high quality that realistically matches as much as headsets that value twice as a lot. You actually cannot go fallacious with the OnePlus Buds Professional 2.
