Is the OnePlus Buds 4 worth the upgrade from the OnePlus Buds 3?
Verdict
Meaningful upgrade
The OnePlus Buds 4 scores 9.4 points above the OnePlus Buds 3. That's a real improvement, though not the kind you'd notice on every track. The gains are concentrated in noise cancelling (6.0 to 8.4), sound (8.0 to 8.8) and value (8.0 to 8.5). You do give up ground on battery (7.0 to 6.3). On paper: battery life 10 h to 11 h, bluetooth 5.3 to 5.4 and latency 94 ms to 47 ms. Worth checking: codecs goes SBC, AAC, LHDC to AAC, LHDC and microphones goes 6 to 3. That costs $17 more, or about $2 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.
- Sound8.08.8
- Noise cancelling6.08.4
- Battery7.06.3
- Calls8.08.0
- Value8.08.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Buds 3 | Buds 4 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 10 h | 11 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LHDC | AAC, LHDC | |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.4 | |
| Latency | 94 ms | 47 ms | |
| Microphones | 6 | 3 | |
| Case weight | 40.8 g | 50.6 g | |
| ANC type | hybrid | adaptive | |
| Quick charge | 10 min → 7 h | 10 min → 11 h |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Buds 3 to Buds 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.