The OnePlus Buds Z2 bluetooth in-ears fall in terms of price between the first generation Buds Z and the more expensive OnePlus Buds Pro. You can read how the Buds Z2 of 100 euros work in practice in this OnePlus Buds Z2 review.
OnePlus Buds Z2
Price €99
Colour White black
Link bluetooth 5.2
Battery 40 mAh (earpiece), 520 mAh (charging case)
Weight 4.6 grams (earpiece), 42 grams (charging case)
Features microphone, touch control
Connection usb-c
Website www.oneplus.com
7 Score 70 
- Pros
- Price quality
- wearing comfort
- Negatives
- battery life
- Bass sound too heavy
As a brand, OnePlus is a bit like a burning float passing by in a carnival parade. The float is very loud as if a festive affair is going on, but a lot goes wrong in a subtle way. While OnePlus is trying to parade with a “Red Cable Club” loyalty card, a collaboration with camera brand Hasselblad for the smartphone camera and this new OnePlus Buds Z2, the brand is not having an easy time.
Also recently. That as yet inconclusive smartwatch and Hasselblad collaboration, for example, or the merger of OnePlus with the larger sister brand Oppo, which even led to a smartphone update having to be withdrawn.
For you as a consumer, this means that OnePlus is a brand where you have to do your homework well. Some products are insanely good, some products are better avoided. Fortunately, these OnePlus Buds Z2 do not fall into the latter category.
Bud family
The market for wireless earphones is lucrative, as the earphones need to be replaced quickly and smartphones increasingly come without an audio port. Many smartphone and audio brands are trying to get their share.
With regard to these wireless earphones, OnePlus has recovered nicely last year. For example, the brand released the OnePlus Buds Pro in 2021. These earphones left an excellent impression, but the price is a bit (too) high to really stand out among the manufacturers that have already earned their spurs in the audio field. This OnePlus Buds Z2 costs 99 euros, four tens more than the first generation Buds Z.
It is striking that the Buds Z2 has the same bluetooth 5.2 connection and 11mm driver as the Pro version. In terms of sound experience, the ears do not differ much from each other. But the difference is definitely audible. And visible, because the ears and oval-shaped charging box look a bit less luxurious than the Pro version. By the way, without looking too much into the design of AirPods; something that the first OnePlus ears and the ears of sister brand Oppo do suffer from.
OnePlus Buds Z2 in practice
The ears are very light and have interchangeable rubber tips, so you can adjust them to size. This makes the earbuds comfortable and insulates the ear canal for the best sound experience and noise reduction effect.
The sound experience is above average for its price range, but not for everyone. This is due to the adjustment of the ears, where bass has been given high priority and the highs and mids are somewhat drowned out.
It also masks a bit that these tones are a bit on the shrill side. Despite the fact that the bass sound can almost be felt, the other tones are always audible. That would sometimes be different with other earphones in lower price ranges, where usually heavy bass sound ensures that the other tones are no longer audible.
The noise reduction also works well above average for its price range. Not all sound is filtered, so you will always get some of your surroundings. But because the earphones insulate the ear canal well and remain there due to their light weight, a large part of the work has already been done. Here, the Buds Z2 differ from the Pro version. The latter made more of an impression with the sound filtering, but did cause a pressing feeling on the ears. That is not the case with this OnePlus Buds Z2.
Thanks to the built-in microphones, there is also a transparency mode, which allows ambient noise (such as traffic) to pass through. The microphones also ensure that you can have conversations, such as (video) calling. However, the Buds Z2 do not excel in this.
The sound experience is above average for its price range, but not for everyone.
battery life
The light weight of the earbuds ensures optimum wearing comfort. But not for a large battery. This means that the battery life is not very long, especially with the noise cancellation on. The battery lasts just over four hours. When the noise reduction is off, you can add an hour to that.
The charging box has a battery capacity to fully charge the earphones 6.5 times. You then charge this box via the USB-C port. Wireless charging is unfortunately not possible. The oval-shaped charging box has a nice size that is easy to put in a pocket for on the go. However, the lid feels a bit creaky.
HeyMelody
You configure the earphones via Oppo’s HeyMelody app. That may be a bit confusing, but something you will see more and more because the OnePlus brand is more integrated into the larger Oppo. This HeyMelody app is uncluttered and offers all the features you need, including firmware updates.
If you have a OnePlus smartphone, then the app is not necessary, you can configure your earphones from the bluetooth settings, choose a sound profile in the Dolby Atmos settings (unfortunately there is no regular equalizer) and you can finally go to the device data. for the search function. This ensures that the earphones give a sound signal when you have lost them.
Alternatives to the OnePlus Buds Z2
If you have about a hundred euros left for wireless earphones, there is a wide choice. Samsung, JBL, Sony, 1More and also Nothing (the new brand of Carl Pei, the former co-founder of OnePlus). All these brands offer excellent earphones, which set the bar high. Still, the Buds Z2 hold their own, making them an excellent choice.
However, if you are in for a slightly better sound adjustment, the Ear(1) earphones from Nothing are just a bit more balanced. The same applies to the Samsung Galaxy Buds2, which are now also available for a comparable price and also last longer on a full battery.
Conclusion: Buy OnePlus Buds Z2?
For a hundred euros, the OnePlus Buds Z2 gives you excellent ears, with a powerful sound and wonderful wearing comfort, so that in theory you can keep them in for a long time without experiencing any discomfort. Unfortunately, that will not happen quickly in practice, because the battery life is not impressive. The sound adjustment will not appeal to everyone, because the bass sound is considerably boosted.
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