Is the Xiaomi Redmi Buds 3 worth the upgrade from the OnePlus Buds Pro 4?
Verdict
Downgrade
The Xiaomi Redmi Buds 3 actually scores 24.1 points below the OnePlus Buds Pro 4, so on aggregate review consensus this is a step backwards. It loses ground on sound (8.5 to 5.5) and calls (7.5 to 5.0). On paper: driver size 11 mm to 12 mm. Worth checking: battery life goes 13 h to 5 h and active noise cancelling goes Yes to No. One caution: this steps down a line tier (Buds Pro 4 to Redmi Buds 3), and base models usually trade away tier features - check the codec and ANC rows above before trusting the score gap alone. It is at least $110 cheaper, so the lower score comes with a saving. Only worth it if a specific feature above matters more to you than overall quality does.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound8.55.5
- Battery8.56.5
- Calls7.55.0
- Value9.07.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Buds Pro 4 | Redmi Buds 3 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 13 h | 5 h | |
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | No | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LHDC | SBC, AAC, aptX | |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.2 | |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | No | |
| Water resistance | IP55 | IP54 | |
| Battery incl. case | 54 h | 20 h | |
| Driver size | 11 mm | 12 mm | |
| Microphones | 3 | 2 | |
| Wireless charging | Yes | No | |
| Quick charge | 10 min → 11 h | 10 min → 1.5 h | |
| Driver | 11 mm dynamic | 12 mm dynamic |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Buds Pro 4 to Redmi Buds 3". 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.