In terms of design, OnePlus Buds 4 are a mix of Nord Buds 3 Pro and Buds 3 Pro. They live in a shell case, which has a metal feel and matte finish. It doesn’t have a grippy, leather-like textured finish from the Buds 3 Pro, which makes it slippery. In fact, I’ve accidentally dropped it twice in my 10-day usage, and have had to consciously be more careful taking it out of my pocket.
The earbuds themselves are light and comfortable to wear. OnePlus has flattened the stem, a design element taken from the Nord Buds lineup, which makes them feel bulkier than before. However, it doesn’t impact the wearability. I’ve worn them for extended periods without any issues. They fit me well and don’t fall off easily. I’ve worn them on runs, in flights, on commutes, and while walking around the busy streets of New York. They haven’t fallen out of my ears accidentally, even once.
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My aforementioned major annoyance stems from this updated stem design. The earbuds’ control touch-sensitive area is placed on the outer part of their stem, so whenever I try to change the volume or perform any other action with the swipe gestures, I have to adjust the fit.
To keep them in place, I need to hold them with my thumb and middle finger while swiping with my index finger on the buds. It is less intuitive than side controls, where I only use my thumb and index finger. Most people will eventually get used to it, but it’s something that has consistently bothered me.
The OnePlus Buds 4 offer a full suite of controls, without needing to pick from volume adjustment, playback control, smart assistant, ANC on/off, and more. Like the OnePlus Buds Pro 3, you get all of them simultaneously, thanks to support for multiple tap and swipe gestures. The Buds 4 are rated IP55 for dust and water resistance, so sweat or drizzle won’t be a problem.
It’s all about that bass
The app also features a Golden Sound option, which generates a custom audio curve based on the results of a hearing test. It takes a couple of minutes to complete, and it’s a fun feature to try, but I’d rely on custom tuning through Master EQ.
The ANC competes with rivals
These are ultimately earbuds designed for individuals who want to block out their daily commute and street noise.
Update log
- This story was originally published on July 14, 2025, and was updated on December 24th, 2025, with a thorough fact check and a change to the pricing after recent promotions.