ZDNET's key takeaways The OnePlus Buds 4 are available now for $99.
They give flagship earbuds a run for their money with top-notch ANC performance and a comfortable fit.
The swipe gestures can be finicky, and the slick case is easy to drop. $99 at Amazon
The OnePlus Buds 4 sit below the Pro model in name, but they borrow some of its best features and pack them into a more affordable price tag. With a handful of upgrades over their predecessor, the OnePlus Buds 4 feature a new dual DAC system, larger dual drivers, LHDC 5.0 and the same audio quality I've come to expect from the brand.
Also: I found budget wireless earbuds that I wouldn't mind ditching my AirPods for (and they're on sale)
There's not much to fault OnePlus Buds 4 apart from one annoyance that keeps coming back daily -- but I'd happily put up with it for the top-notch ANC performance. I've been using them for the past 10 days, and here's why I'm not putting them down any time soon.
Form factor tradeoffs
Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET
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.
Also: Samsung's Galaxy Buds 3 Pro made me reconsider my loyalty to AirPods - and they're $65 off
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