OnePlus Buds 4 Review: Premium Noise Cancellation at a Budget-Friendly Price

Explore how OnePlus Buds 4 delivers flagship-level noise cancellation and sound quality without breaking the bank.

If you’re familiar with OnePlus’s knack for balancing quality and affordability, the OnePlus Buds 4 won’t surprise you. Though they don’t wear the Nord badge, their release alongside affordable smartphones hints at the price point — an accessible $70 (roughly converted from 5,200 rubles). But don’t let the modest price fool you; these earbuds pack a punch with features that rival pricier models.

Adaptive noise cancellation, spatial sound, and high-resolution Bluetooth streaming combine to make the Buds 4 a solid contender in their class. Sure, fierce competition like the Cambridge Melomania A100 and Nothing Ear exist, but after weeks of testing, I can confidently say these buds deserve a spot on your radar—especially if you’re hunting for budget-friendly active noise cancellation.

Design and Build: Back to Basics

Subtle Storm Grey finish with matte texture and refined metallic contacts.

If you don’t pick the eye-catching Zen Green, the OnePlus Buds 4 won’t scream for attention. My Storm Grey pair is understated—no flashy logos, just a smooth matte finish with metallic charging contacts at the stem’s base and tactile touch surfaces. It’s a humble look but one that works.

Why mess with a design that fits so well? These bulbous earbuds nestle comfortably in your ears, and the silicone tips provide a snug seal—once you find the perfect size (three sizes included, thankfully). They're not quite the best for hardcore workouts, despite their IP55 rating against sweat and rain, but for everyday wear, they excel. Plus, at just 4.7 grams each, they’re marvelously light—far more comfortable for long listening sessions than some bulkier competitors like the Bose QC Ultra 2.

The pebble-shaped charging case, sans vegan leather trim unlike their Pro siblings, fits comfortably in a pocket. Its snap-shut lid clicks satisfyingly, and the earbuds naturally rest in the right position, so you won’t fumble when charging or storing them.

Compact pebble-shaped charging case and earbuds designed for easy handling.

Features and Battery Life: Power Meets Practicality

Touch controls on the Buds 4 allow for volume adjustment, track skipping with double taps, and cycling through active noise cancellation modes by holding your finger on the earbud. However, the single-tap play/pause feature was disabled on my test unit by default. When enabled, its sensitivity made it hard to distinguish between taps and swipes—definitely a minor annoyance that sometimes made me reach for my phone instead.

Call quality was about what you'd expect in this price range—serviceable, but wind noise can still creep in during outdoor chats.

Bluetooth 5.4 supports LHDC for 24-bit sound, which is a welcome step up. Sadly, there's no support for optX or LDAC codecs, which some devices favor more. Battery life is decent but not exceptional: with ANC on and LHDC streaming, you get around 5.5 hours of playback per charge, extending to 22 hours with the case. Switching to AAC or SBC codecs bumps playback closer to six hours. Without ANC, you’re looking at nearly double those numbers—but honestly, most of the time I wanted ANC active.

Charging is quick—10 minutes in the case gave me hours of playback—which is a nice consolation for the absence of wireless charging, a feature increasingly common in budget models nowadays.

User Interface: Simple Yet Effective

Using a OnePlus phone or tablet? Great news—you don’t need to download anything extra. You can tweak the Buds 4’s settings right from your Android's settings menu. Everyone else will want to grab the HeyMelody app, which serves both OnePlus and Oppo earbuds.

The UI is straightforward. Noise cancellation and equalizer settings are easy to reach, just below the battery indicator. Without a Dynaudio logo, it seems like OnePlus handled tuning solo. Although the EQ presets aren't as varied as on the Buds 3 Pro, they’re subtle enough that I stuck mostly with the default.

The “Golden Sound” hearing test is a neat touch, helping you personalize EQ settings by detecting frequency sensitivities—handy if, like me, one ear hears highs a little differently than the other.

3D Audio expands the soundstage but increases volume and occasionally sharpens highs, so I left it off most of the time, sticking to crisp stereo. However, some tracks really benefit from the immersive effect.

Other handy features include:

• Dual-device connection
• “Find Earbuds” mode that emits a high-pitched sound until you locate the missing bud
• In-ear detection that pauses playback when you remove an earbud, working reliably without false triggers

Sound Quality and Noise Cancellation: Punching Above Their Weight

Here’s the big takeaway: the OnePlus Buds 4 prove you don’t have to empty your wallet for solid noise cancellation. They offer three levels of ANC plus an automatic mode that adapts based on surrounding noise. Transparency mode is well-tuned too, letting in just enough ambient sound so you stay aware without overload—particularly useful in bustling train stations or noisy streets with announcements.

While audiobooks reveal a faint background hiss, music playback keeps that noise almost invisible. The top ANC setting excels at muffling traffic, wind, and low-frequency rumbles—seriously impressive for a budget model. Want even deeper silence? You’ll have to dig into pricier options.

Sound-wise, the Buds 4 pack dual drivers in each earbud (an 11mm bass driver and a 6mm treble driver, same as the Buds Pro 3), delivering energetic V-shaped sound. Bass is plentiful and usually tight, while highs are clear but slightly less spacious than some peers—especially if you turn off spatial settings.

The default BassWave feature dynamically boosts lows but sometimes clashed with certain tracks, so I preferred turning it off to keep mids clearer. While the Buds 4 can’t quite match the tonal richness, control, or soundstage of premium true wireless earbuds, for their price, they really hold their own.

Final Verdict: Balanced, Affordable, and Worth Considering

The OnePlus Buds 4 are a versatile pair of earbuds delivering impressive value. They blend powerful sound, effective noise cancellation, and high-quality codecs with spatial audio—all without demanding a premium price.

If battery life or absolute ANC efficiency are your top priorities, there are stronger budget picks out there. Alternatively, if you crave the most precise audio tuning, some competitors might edge them out.

That said, those alternatives often come with their own compromises or higher cost. Aside from occasional finicky touch controls, the Buds 4 stand tall against rivals in core areas. For many listeners, these earbuds are a seriously tempting option.

OnePlus Buds 4 Technical Specifications

OnePlus Buds 4 are a vivid reminder that you no longer need to spend a fortune to get quality noise cancellation.

— Tech Enthusiast

FAQ

• How long do OnePlus Buds 4 last on a single charge?
  They provide about 5.5 hours with noise cancellation active using LHDC codec, extending to 11 hours without ANC.
• Do they support wireless charging?
  No, the Buds 4 charge via USB-C in their case, but wireless charging is not included.
• Can I customize the sound profile?
  Yes, through the HeyMelody app or directly via OnePlus device settings, including an equalizer and personalized sound adjustments.
• Is the noise cancellation effective?
  Yes, with three ANC levels plus an adaptive mode, the Buds 4 perform very well for their price range.
• Are the earbuds comfortable for extended wear?
  Definitely. They are lightweight (4.7 grams each) with three sizes of silicone tips to ensure a secure, comfortable fit.

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