Regardless of being the costliest audio product within the model's line, the OnePlus Buds Professional is sort of competitively priced, in comparison with true wi-fi earphones from manufacturers like Apple, Samsung and Sony. This has helped set it aside as a value-for-money choice that doesn't significantly lack a lot. Now, greater than 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 place that made the unique a real wi-fi headset that’s straightforward to suggest.
The value of 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 headphones have been additionally developed and tuned in collaboration with the Danish speaker producer Dynaudio, just like what we already noticed on the Oppo Enco X2 earlier this yr. Is that this one of the best mid-range wi-fi headset you should purchase proper now? Discover out on this evaluation.
The OnePlus Buds Professional 2 have pressure-sensitive controls on the stems, just like the primary technology earphones.
Design and options of OnePlus Buds Professional 2
The OnePlus Buds Professional 2 seems so much like its predecessor, with the earphones and charging case following the identical design and magnificence. The brand new headphones can be found in two colours – the acquainted matte black with shiny stems, and a brand new inexperienced to match the OnePlus 11 that launched with the OnePlus Buds Professional 2.
There are some refined design adjustments, equivalent to bigger exterior microphone grills, however the earphones and charging case are largely related in form and measurement to the unique Buds Professional. It stays a stupendous and cozy pair of true wi-fi earphones, with an understated and complicated aesthetic.
The headphones of the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 stay away from any model, whereas the charging case now has a Dynaudio brand engraved slightly below the OnePlus brand 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’s additionally assist for Qi wi-fi charging, as earlier than.
Helpfully, the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 earphones have pressure-sensitive controls on their stems, just like the unique iteration. That is rather more correct than primary contact controls. The headphones have a cushty in-canal match that ensures correct passive noise isolation. There may be IP55 mud and water resistance for the earphones, whereas the case is IPX4 water-resistant.
By way of options, the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 is sort of impressively geared up for a mid-range headset. There's multipoint connectivity for as much as two supply gadgets concurrently, customizable lively noise cancellation, Google Quick Pair, a 54ms low latency mode, and assist for Spatial Audio (which solely works 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, based on the corporate.
OnePlus Buds Professional 2 app and specs
As is the case with different wi-fi headphones from OnePlus, the Buds Professional 2 “app” expertise differs relying on the smartphone you pair the headphones with. All administration options are alleged to be “baked into” OxygenOS (and every other supported Android fork), so if you happen to're utilizing a supported OnePlus machine as your supply, the controls ought to seem within the system's Bluetooth settings panel.
If you don’t use a smartphone that helps this, it is possible for you to to regulate all of the 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 won’t be able to make use of it, and will probably be redirected to the Bluetooth settings as an alternative.
Much like the Oppo Enco X2, the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 was developed in collaboration with Danish speaker model Dynaudio.
It’s price noting right here that I used to be unable to entry these settings on my OnePlus 9 Professional (Assessment) throughout my evaluation of the OnePlus Buds Professional 2, making a lifeless finish that would not be resolved on the machine . Nonetheless, I hope that it will likely be activated on the software program degree earlier than the beginning of gross sales of this new headset, so I hope that this isn’t a long-term drawback.
By way of performance, the app (or Bluetooth menu settings) let you customise numerous features of the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 equivalent to playback controls, ANC and transparency modes, ANC depth ( Gentle, Average or Max settings), equalizer 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 within the headphones at any time), a “sport” mode for low-latency audio (as much as 54 ms), and ” Golden Sound”, which conducts a fast check to adapt the sound to the construction of your ear canal and listening to traits. It’s also possible to replace the firmware on the OnePlus Buds Professional 2.
The management customization on the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 can also be fairly detailed, with the flexibility to set separate management schemes for the left and proper earphones. You may management playback, choose ANC and transparency modes, invoke the default voice assistant and activate sport mode; sadly, the quantity can’t be managed on the headset.
By way of specs, the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 is effectively geared up. 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 Bluetooth codecs SBC, AAC and LHDC 4. A extra common LDAC assist may come by a firmware replace in some unspecified time in the future (because it did with the Oppo Enco X2), however as of now superior codec assist is restricted to LHDC.
OnePlus Buds Professional 2 efficiency and battery life
The OnePlus Buds Professional 2 seems and feels so much like its predecessor, however beneath the hood is a totally completely different product. That mentioned, there are some main similarities between the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 and the Oppo Enco X2, together with Dynaudio collaboration and Bluetooth codec assist. Curiously, this isn’t simply the identical product with a barely completely different design and branding; the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 has some distinctive options, and this adjustments the best way it impacts the sound.
All that is effectively helped by the LHDC Bluetooth codec, though the assist for it will depend on the smartphone you utilize. Most OnePlus and Oppo smartphones can use it, and in my view it’s 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 don’t low cost the potential for coming at a later level by a firmware replace. To this point, the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 takes the same method to that of Samsung with its true wi-fi headphones – one of the best sound high quality is just accessible if you’re within the “ecosystem”.
The OnePlus Buds Professional 2 have a dual-driver setup, with 11mm and 6mm drivers in every earpiece.
Entering into the specs, I used the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 with a OnePlus 9 Professional as the first supply machine for one of the best outcomes, but in addition used an iPhone 13 to check the efficiency with the extra common AAC codec and the App. There was a noticeable and really perceptible distinction within the sound, relying on the Bluetooth codec was used, so long as I heard good high quality audio (which was normally from Apple Music).
The twin-driver configuration is the defining issue within the sonic signature and total sound high quality of the OnePlus Buds Professional 2; in contrast to the Oppo Enco X2, the system right here focuses on decrease frequencies, slightly than the center 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 twin driver setup targeted firmly on the bass.
Mixed with the nuance and element that the Bluetooth LHDC codec permits for, it made for maybe probably the most enjoyable and highly effective sound I've heard on a pair of true wi-fi headphones. Listening to Mk.gee's Over Right here, the rumble and growl of the bass was tight and refined, feeling highly effective however by no means overwhelming. He made this ordinarily candy, mid-tempo monitor sound rather more enticing and pushed than I've heard earlier than, including taste and well-executed character.
Even with extra nuanced and fewer overtly aggressive tracks like In every single place by Fleetwood Mac, the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 introduced out plenty of element, whereas giving the bass a major increase in the suitable course. Driver separation actually counts right here, permitting the midrange and highs loads of room to breathe, even whereas the bass maintains its breathless assault. With the quantity turned up, it's an immersive listening expertise like nothing else on this value section.
The lively noise cancellation on the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 is fairly respectable for the Rs. value of 12,000, however you’re feeling a bit of contempt in all the pieces; The efficiency of this setting just isn’t truthful because the sound high quality is so clearly superior to the rest within the value section. That mentioned, it’s absolutely purposeful each indoors and outdoor, providing a noticeable discount in noise.
It's price mentioning right here that I may barely distinguish between the three completely different ANC modes, so customizing this function doesn't actually make a distinction in observe. Transparency mode works fairly effectively, however the synthetic amplification of ambient sounds will get tiresome after a degree, so it's ideally solely enabled when wanted.
Battery life on the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 is best than on its predecessor, with the headset working for round six hours per cost with the LHDC codec in operation and ANC enabled. The charging case added a bit of over three extra fees to the headphones, for a complete runtime of about 25 hours per cost cycle. Name high quality was usually respectable indoors, and purposeful for brief calls even in noisy outside environments.
Verdict
OnePlus and Oppo have used their joint sources to significantly improve their product capabilities within the true wi-fi audio section, and the OnePlus Buds Professional 2 is a wonderful instance of methods to develop an excellent product with its distinctive options, with out beginning over every time. . There are various apparent similarities between the Buds Professional 2 and the Oppo Enco X2, however OnePlus does sufficient to present its new headphones some character and brioches of their very own, particularly on the subject of the sonic signature of bass-friendly and the extent of element.
The Dynaudio collaboration is greater than only a branding train, and options like wi-fi charging and low latency mode assist too. The one disadvantage is the codec assist. LHDC isn't supported on too many gadgets past fashionable OnePlus and Oppo smartphones, making this a little bit of a 'walled backyard' – you want the suitable supply machine for one of the best sound high quality.
When you have the suitable supply machine, that is the funnest pair of true wi-fi headphones you can purchase for lower than Rs. 15,000 now, with sound high quality that realistically matches headphones costing twice as a lot. You actually can't go mistaken with the OnePlus Buds Professional 2.
