True Wireless
OnePlus Buds 4
83Great
$120
Full review dataOnePlus Buds 4 vs OnePlus Buds Z: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the OnePlus Buds 4 comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 83. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: OnePlus Buds 4 - Great overall at around $115.
True Wireless
OnePlus Buds Z
64Average
$50
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
OnePlus Buds 4 leads on 5 of 7 measures.
- OnePlus Buds 4
- OnePlus Buds Z
HearWiki score
83
64
Sound
8.8
6.0
Noise cancelling
8.4
-
Battery
6.3
6.5
Calls
8.0
6.0
Value
8.5
7.5
Price (USD)
$120
$50
Generation & platform
The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?
New platform
OnePlus Buds 4 (2025) against OnePlus Buds Z (2020). The OnePlus Buds 4 is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 5.4 against 5.0, Top codec LHDC against AAC and ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds Multipoint pairing, Transparency mode, Custom EQ and Companion app.
- Buds 420255 yr newer
- Buds Z2020
What differsBuds 4Buds Z
- Bluetooth
- 5.4
- 5.0
- Top codec
- LHDC
- AAC
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- No
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- No
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- No
- Companion app
- Yes
- No
Platform
Everyday features
Level on: USB-C, Water resistance.
Specifications
Buds 4Buds Z
- Type
- True Wireless
- True Wireless
- Price (USD)
- $120
- $50
- HearWiki score
- 83
- 64
- Released
- 2025
- 2020
- Availability
- Sold new
- Discontinued
- Driver
- 2-driver hybrid
- 10 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- hybrid
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 11 mm
- 10 mm
- Drivers per side
- 2
- 1
- Frequency response
- 15 Hz - 40 kHz
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- Impedance
- 18 Ω
- -
- Sensitivity
- 96.5 dB/mW
- 97 dB/mW
- Bluetooth
- 5.4
- 5.0
- Codecs
- AAC, LHDC
- SBC, AAC
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- No
- Latency
- 47 ms
- -
- Wireless range
- 10 m
- 10 m
- Battery life
- 11 h
- 5 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 6 h
- -
- Battery incl. case
- 45 h
- 20 h
- Full charge time
- 10 min
- -
- Quick charge
- 10 min → 11 h
- 10 min → 3 h
- Wireless charging
- No
- No
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- No
- ANC type
- adaptive
- none
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- No
- Companion app
- Yes
- No
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- No
- Wear detection
- No
- No
- Controls
- touch
- touch
- Voice assistant
- Yes
- -
- Weight
- 9.5 g
- 4.3 g
- Case weight
- 50.6 g
- 40 g
- Water resistance
- IP55
- IP55
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Model code
- OnePlus Buds 4
- -
- Microphones
- 3
- 2
- Call noise reduction
- Yes
- -
What reviewers said
OnePlus Buds 4
The OnePlus Buds 4 deliver a well-rounded true wireless experience with adaptive noise cancellation, a hybrid dual-driver setup, and support for high-resolution audio codecs like LDAC and LHDC. They offer solid call quality, a comfortable fit, and a versatile feature set that makes them a strong contender in the mid-range earbud market, despite some trade-offs in battery life and charging convenience. Their overall performance and smart ANC make them a compelling choice for everyday use.
- Pro:Adaptive noise cancellation that adjusts to surroundings
- Pro:Rich, detailed sound with hybrid drivers and LDAC support
- Pro:Clear phone call quality with six microphones
- Con:Battery life per charge is modest at around 5-6 hours
- Con:No wireless charging support
- Con:Touch controls may require some getting used to
OnePlus Buds Z
The OnePlus Buds Z are an affordable pair of true wireless earbuds that deliver a decent, bass-leaning sound for the price. They offer a straightforward feature set with IP55 water resistance, touch controls, and a comfortable fit, making them a practical choice for budget-minded listeners. However, their battery life is average, and they lack extras like ANC, app support, or multi-device pairing.
- Pro:Good value for the price
- Pro:Comfortable and secure fit
- Pro:IP55 water and sweat resistance
- Con:Average battery life
- Con:No active noise cancellation
- Con:Limited touch control customization
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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