Is the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 worth the upgrade from the OnePlus Buds 3?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the OnePlus Buds 3 to the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 buys you 11.6 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in noise cancelling (6.0 to 7.8), value (8.0 to 9.6) and battery (7.0 to 8.5). On paper: battery life 10 h to 11 h, bluetooth 5.3 to 5.4 and wireless charging. Worth checking: battery incl. case goes 44 h to 39 h and driver size goes 11 mm to 10 mm. The two sit at effectively the same price. If your current pair is worn out or the gains line up with how you listen, this one is worth the money.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound8.09.0
- Noise cancelling6.07.8
- Battery7.08.5
- Calls8.08.0
- Value8.09.6
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Buds 3 | Melomania A100 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 10 h | 11 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LHDC | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LDAC | |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.4 | |
| Water resistance | IP55 | IPX5 | |
| Battery incl. case | 44 h | 39 h | |
| Driver size | 11 mm | 10 mm | |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 1 | |
| Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
| ANC type | hybrid | adaptive | |
| Quick charge | 10 min → 7 h | 10 min → 3.2 h | |
| Driver | 2-driver hybrid | 10 mm dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 15 Hz - 40 kHz | 20 Hz - 20 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Buds 3 to Melomania A100". 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.