Is the OnePlus Buds 4 worth the upgrade from the OnePlus Buds Z?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the OnePlus Buds Z to the OnePlus Buds 4 buys you 19.9 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in sound (6.0 to 8.8), calls (6.0 to 8.0) and value (7.5 to 8.5). On paper: battery life 5 h to 11 h, active noise cancelling and bluetooth 5.0 to 5.4. Worth checking: weight goes 4.3 g to 9.5 g and case weight goes 40 g to 50.6 g. That costs $65 more, or about $3 per point of score - reasonable value for the jump. 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.
- Sound6.08.8
- Battery6.56.3
- Calls6.08.0
- Value7.58.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Buds Z | Buds 4 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 5 h | 11 h | |
| Active noise cancelling | No | Yes | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | AAC, LHDC | |
| Weight | 4.3 g | 9.5 g | |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.4 | |
| Multipoint pairing | No | Yes | |
| Battery incl. case | 20 h | 45 h | |
| Driver size | 10 mm | 11 mm | |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 | |
| Microphones | 2 | 3 | |
| Case weight | 40 g | 50.6 g | |
| Transparency mode | No | Yes | |
| Companion app | No | Yes | |
| Custom EQ | No | Yes | |
| ANC type | none | adaptive | |
| Quick charge | 10 min → 3 h | 10 min → 11 h | |
| Driver | 10 mm dynamic | 2-driver hybrid | |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 20 kHz | 15 Hz - 40 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Buds Z 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.