Is OnePlus Buds Z2 worth buying? OnePlus Buds Z2 Pros & Cons

The OnePlus Buds Z2 is selling like a hot cake in other countries, but in the Indian market, some users are praising it, and some are having mixed feelings about it.

Many users have claimed it as one of the best TWS under 5000, but some are opposing them.

So what’s the truth? Is OnePlus Buds Z2 worth buying?

Here are the things we have liked and disliked about the OnePlus Buds Z2.

OnePlus Buds Z2 Specifications

First, Let’s have a look at what OnePlus Buds Z2 has to offer.

The specifications of the OnePlus Buds Z2 seem promising, at least on paper.

But, how does it perform in real life? Let’s find out.

Things we have liked about the OnePlus Buds Z2

There are a lot of things that we really enjoyed while using the OnePlus Z2 TWS. Let’s start with the things that we liked.

Design

Design is very subjective, and we admit that the Buds Z2 looks similar to its predecessor, Buds Z.

Despite having an older design, we actually liked it because the earbuds fit comfortably in the ears.

Long music sessions won’t cause any fatigue as the earbuds are designed to fit securely in the ears.

The grip of earbuds is strong, and you don’t need to be worried about the earbuds falling off the ears.

What’s even better is the HeyMelody App that helps you know if the earbuds are fitted right in your ears.

If not, then you can swap the ear tips with others to get the right fit.

The design of the carrying case is also followed by its predecessor. There is no change in it. Its size is small enough to fit in the watch pocket of your jeans.

Talking about the build quality, it’s satisfactory but not impressive. The TWS feels good to hold but slightly lacks the premium feel given by the competitors.

The same goes for the carrying case.

You can also check these best TWS earbuds under 5000.

Battery Life

The original OnePlus Z had decent battery life. It was not phenomenal, but right on par with other TWS of the segment.

The battery life on buds Z2 has improved significantly.

Although the battery capacity on the Z2 earbuds is the same as the buds Z, which is 40 mAH, it somehow managed to perform better.

Note that the Buds Z2 comes with ANC, so the battery life varies depending on whether the ANC is turned ON or OFF.

Here is what we have got from the Buds Z2 when putting the volume at 60% (as 60% is more than enough for most users).

• 4 hours 30 minutes with ANC ON (Company claims: 5 hours)
• 5+ hours with ANC OFF (Company claims: 7 hours)
• Combined playback with ANC ON: 21 hours (Company claims 27 hours)
• Combined playback with ANC OFF: ~30 hours (Company claims 38 hours)
• ~3 hours on phone calls

Further increasing or decreasing volume might change the overall battery life slightly.

Don’t forget that the earbuds come with fast charging. 10 mins of charge give around 1.5 hours of music playback on earbuds.

So we are satisfied with the battery life. 

Connectivity

Thanks to Bluetooth 5.2, the Buds Z2 never faced any disconnection problems, at least in our case.

Going beyond the Bluetooth range will eventually disconnect the buds from the smartphone, but still, you can roam within the 10-12 meters range.

We also appreciate the dual connectivity. No, this TWS can’t be connected to two devices at a time, but it gives you nearly the same functionality.

How?

Once connected to two devices, taping and holding on to either earbud for two seconds will pair the earbud to the last connected device.

It comes in handy when you have a phone and a laptop and want to switch between them without connecting the Buds manually.

Furthermore, the Buds Z2 comes with Google Fast Pair technology.

This technology uses the phone’s location to automatically discover nearby Bluetooth accessories and then connect with a simple tap. It even shows a picture of the product, just like Apple AirPods.

All these connectivity features make the whole experience effortless. You don’t need to take extra steps to connect the TWS.

Sound Quality

Three types of audience are there in the audio world.

1. Those who prefer only vocals with treble and don’t care about the bass.
2. Those who prefer the balanced sound with decent bass and clear vocals.
3. The last ones are the bass heads who simply can’t live with heavy bass.

So the OnePlus Buds Z2 is suitable for which type of audience?

In our use, we have found that the Buds Z2 is best suitable for those who sit right in the middle of the second and third types of audience.

Now you must have an idea of what we are trying to say.

The Buds Z2 is heavy on the bass, making it a treat for bass heads.

At the same time, the vocals and treble don’t get muffled or don’t seem to be compressed by the bass.

Yes, the bass slightly lacks that punch, but the overall sound comes out to be very enjoyable.

What’s even better is Dolby Atmos support, which enhances the audio quality to a great extent if your phone also has the support for the same.

So, we did like the overall sound quality, but it’s true that people who don’t prefer bass or want a balanced sound quality might end up disliking the Buds Z2.

ANC

ANC is the most highlighted feature of the Buds Z2, but we have mixed feelings about it.

Why? Is it so bad, or doesn’t work?

To be honest, it works, but not as efficiently as advertised. We had very high hopes for the ANC as it was claimed to go as low as 40 dB.

40 dB noise is equivalent to sitting in a silent library with no noise.

After turning on the ANC on Buds Z2, we still were hearing slight fan noise and those low-frequency noises here and there.

Does it affect the music-listening experience?

Well, it doesn’t affect the audio significantly. Most of the users won’t even notice it. Hence, you will find users praising the ANC on OnePlus Buds Z2.

We also praise it but don’t expect it to perform similarly to high-end TWS like Airpods Pro.

The Buds Z2 ANC is as good as 50-55% ANC of Airpods Pro, which is quite good.

So overall, we like the ANC on OnePlus Buds Z2. It does a pretty good job for the price but isn’t as good as the flagship TWS.

Call quality & Other Features

Three mics have been on each earbud of Buds z2, and out of those mics, one is primarily for reducing the wind noise.

So, does it work?

Yes, it does, but not perfectly. In a windy environment, it reduces the wind noise to a great extent, but the person on the other end can still hear the noise.

Talking about the actual call quality, it’s good but not impressive. Other people can see a difference when you make a call using the Buds Z2.

But to be honest, no TWS is meant for clear call quality, no matter how expensive it is. The Buds Z2 does the job decently.

Other features that we did enjoy using are:

• The auto pause feature works well when either earbud is taken out of the ear. Putting it back resumes the audio.
• IP55 rating ensures that we can use the earbuds in the rain.
• The touch controls work excellently, and we can customize them according to our liking.
• Fast charging for earbuds comes in handy at times.
• The Find my Buds feature is helpful to find the lost earbud. 

These are the main features that we have liked using in daily life. If these features are enough for you, then go and buy the OnePlus Buds Z2.

Things we haven’t liked about the OnePlus Buds Z2

There is a lot to like about the Buds Z2, but there is another side, too.

Note that these things aren’t the ones we hated. We were just expecting slightly better in these regards.

Features for OnePlus Phone’s only

It is something that we simply didn’t like about the OnePlus Z2.

The Buds Z2 is good for gaming, but why is the 94 ms low latency reserved for some dedicated OnePlus smartphones?

These buds work perfectly with OnePlus phones, but non-OnePlus users need to install the HeyMelody app, which is laggy.

Also, some features don’t work properly on a non-OnePlus phone.

Are these compromises a deal-breaker?

Not entirely, but some users might get irritated for sure. If you are paying the full amount, then there is no point in partiality.

Price

Is OnePlus Buds Z2 overpriced? Yes, it’s slightly overpriced.

• It would have been an excellent TWS if the price could have been Rs 4000.
• For Rs 4500, it could have been a good deal.
• At the current price of Rs 4999, it ended up being a decent deal.

These are our assumptions, considering the competition is getting stiffer.

You aren’t wasting your money even if you buy Z2 at its current price. It’s a very solid offering from OnePlus.

But the thing is, a slightly lesser price could have attracted more users who are also considering other TWS for around 4k – 4.5k.

OnePlus Buds Z2 Pros and Cons

No TWS is perfect, as every TWS has some good and bad going for it. The Buds Z2 is no different. Here are some OnePlus Buds Z2 pros and cons that we have noticed.

Pros and Cons

Good build quality
Comfortable design
Excellent choice for bass lovers
Clear vocals and treble
ANC works fine
Sounds get too loud
Good battery life
Decent call quality
IPX rating for both TWS and carrying case

Some features work with OnePlus phones only
Price could have been slightly lesser to make it a more appealing deal
A slippery surface may lead to accidental drops

OnePlus Buds Z2 Alternative

The OnePlus Buds Z2 is surely a great TWS under Rs 5000 that produces very detailed and enjoyable sound quality.

But still, if you are looking for alternatives, here are some options we recommend.

• JBL Tune 130NC: It offers the JBL signature sound with deep and clear bass, neat vocals, and great treble. The overall sound quality is really impressive, as expected from JBL. (Check JBL Tune 130NC here)

These two are currently the best alternatives to the OnePlus Buds Z2.

Final Verdict

Despite having some cons, is the OnePlus Buds Z2 worth buying?

Yes, it is definitely worth buying the OnePlus Z2, especially if you are a bass lover.

There are many things going in favor of the Buds Z2, making it one of the best TWS under 5000.

Just note the aforementioned cons because these might become a deal-breaker for some users.

If these cons don’t matter to you, then go and buy the OnePlus Z2 as it is a good investment.

Do you want to take the home audio system to the next level without spending much? Check these Great Tower Speakers under 3000.

So, should you buy the OnePlus Buds Z2? We are sure you know the answer now.

If you still have any doubts, then feel free to ask us in the comments.

Do you agree or disagree with the points mentioned above? Do share your thoughts.