OnePlus/ZDNET
You don’t have to shell out the big bucks for studio-grade audio. Plenty of top-notch headphones and earbuds cost less than $200, and the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 is a key example. And thanks to a new Back to College sales event on OnePlus’ website, this pair of earbuds is currently on sale for $150, a $30 discount. This deal applies to all three color options: Midnight Opus (black), Lunar Radiance (white), and Sapphire Blue. With purchase, you’ll also receive a charging case, a Type-C charging cable, a user manual, and four pairs of eartips ranging from extra small to large.
The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 are a solid pair of earbuds, well-earning their flagship status. They have a similar design and appearance to the previous generation, the OnePlus Pro 2, but introduce several internal upgrades. They have the same set of drivers, consisting of a 6mm tweeter and an 11mm woofer. However, this pair has been custom-engineered with Dynaudio for high-quality audio. Christian de Looper, a contributor for our sister site PCMag, pointed out that the earbuds send out deeper bass and clearer highs than the Pro 2.
PCMag: OnePlus Buds Pro 3 review
Another notable change is the charging case. Instead of the big, bulky box seen with the Pro 2, this model has a slimmer, more egg-shaped case that measures 64.70 x 52.45 x 25.75mm and weighs a little over 50g. Many of the lauded features from the older model return with the Pro 3, such as the powerful active noise cancelling, spatial audio, and a Transparency mode to let users hear the world around them.
The OnePlus Pro 3 also introduces a few new tricks. For example, the newer earbuds can last up to 43 hours on a single charge with the case instead of 39 hours. It also supports Bluetooth 5.4 for fast wireless connectivity and AI Translation, which enables translation in real time, but only when used with select OnePlus phones, such as the OnePlus 13.
How I rated this deal
$30 off a $180 purchase is a decent discount. That’s about 16%. As per ZDNET’s rating system, I have to grant this promotion a score of 2/5. I’ve seen better in the past, but I’m not the type to look a gift horse in the mouth. I recommend this for anyone looking for a good pair of earbuds that won’t break the bank.
As per OnePlus, this offer will end on September 21, 2025.
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