Creative Outlier Air and Gold vs OnePlus Buds Pro 4: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the OnePlus Buds Pro 4 comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 84. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Score breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Specifications
| Spec | Creative Outlier Air and Gold | OnePlus Buds Pro 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $80 | $130 |
| HearWiki score | 72 / 100 · Good | 84 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2019 | 2026 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | 5.6mm graphene | dual drivers; 11mm woofer + 6mm tweeter |
| Driver size | 5.6 mm | 11 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 1 |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-20kHz | 10Hz-40kHz |
| Impedance | 16 Ω | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.4 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.0 | - |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX | SBC, AAC, LHDC 5.0 |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Latency | - | 47 ms |
| Wireless range | 10 m | 10 m |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 10 h | 13 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | - | 7 h |
| Battery incl. case | 30 h | 45 h |
| Full charge time | - | 70 min |
| Quick charge | - | 10 min = 11 hours playback |
| Wireless charging | No | Yes |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | No | Yes |
| ANC type | none | adaptive |
| Transparency mode | No | Yes |
| Companion app | No | Yes |
| Custom EQ | No | Yes |
| Wear detection | No | Yes |
| Controls | touch | touch |
| Voice assistant | Siri, Google Assistant | yes |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 10 g | 4.73 g |
| Case weight | 54 g | 50.62 g |
| Water resistance | IPX5 | IP55 |
| USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Model code | - | OnePlus Buds 4 |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 2 | 3 |
| Call noise reduction | cVc 8.0 | - |
What reviewers said
Creative Outlier Air and Gold
The Creative Outlier Air and Gold are true wireless earbuds that stand out for their impressive battery life, offering up to 14 hours on a single charge in the Gold model. They deliver a balanced, versatile sound with strong codec support including aptX and AAC, plus IPX5 water resistance for workouts. However, their touch controls can feel awkward, and the Bluetooth connection may drop or stutter during walks, which holds them back from being top-tier options.
- Pro:Exceptional battery life, especially the Gold's 14-hour single charge
- Pro:Balanced and versatile sound signature
- Pro:Good codec support with aptX, AAC, and SBC
- Con:Touch controls can be uncomfortable or finicky
- Con:Bluetooth connection can be unstable when walking
- Con:No active noise cancellation or transparency mode
OnePlus Buds Pro 4
The OnePlus Buds Pro 4 are a well-rounded pair of true wireless earbuds that deliver impressive audio, adaptive noise cancellation, and strong battery life for their price. They're particularly suited for active lifestyles thanks to their IP55 rating and secure fit, with a feature set that includes multipoint, wireless charging, and customizable EQ. Overall, they offer excellent value and perform above their price point across most key areas.
- Pro:Rich dual-driver sound with LHDC support
- Pro:Effective adaptive ANC and transparency mode
- Pro:Long battery life with wireless charging case
- Con:Touch controls may require a learning curve
- Con:No official mention of wear detection
- Con:Slightly bulky case compared to rivals
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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