Is the OnePlus Buds Pro 4 worth the upgrade from the Apple AirPods 3?
Verdict
Meaningful upgrade
The OnePlus Buds Pro 4 scores 8.0 points above the Apple AirPods 3. That's a real improvement, though not the kind you'd notice on every track. The gains are concentrated in value (7.0 to 9.0), battery (7.0 to 8.5) and sound (7.5 to 8.5). You do give up ground on calls (8.0 to 7.5). On paper: battery life 6 h to 13 h, active noise cancelling and codecs SBC, AAC to SBC, AAC, LHDC 5.0. Worth checking: drivers per side goes 2 to 1 and case weight goes 37.91 g to 50.62 g. That costs $46 more, or about $6 per point of score - reasonable value for the jump. Worth doing if you're replacing anyway; harder to justify as a pure upgrade if what you have still works.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound7.58.5
- Battery7.08.5
- Calls8.07.5
- Value7.09.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | AirPods 3 | Buds Pro 4 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 6 h | 13 h | |
| Active noise cancelling | No | Yes | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LHDC 5.0 | |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.4 | |
| Multipoint pairing | No | Yes | |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IP55 | |
| Battery incl. case | 30 h | 45 h | |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 1 | |
| Case weight | 37.91 g | 50.62 g | |
| Transparency mode | No | Yes | |
| Companion app | No | Yes | |
| USB-C | No | Yes | |
| ANC type | none | adaptive | |
| Controls | both | touch | |
| Driver | dynamic | dual drivers; 11mm woofer + 6mm tweeter | |
| Frequency response | 0Hz-0kHz | 10Hz-40kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "AirPods 3 to Buds Pro 4". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across true wireless and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.