The Noise Buds Xero and the OnePlus Buds 3, the two most recent additions to the sub-Rs 5,000 price range, have caused the market for affordable TWS earbuds in India to explode! Indeed, the OnePlus Buds are priced at Rs 5,499, but the Noise Buds Xero can also be purchased for less than Rs 4,000. However, you can get one for Rs 4,499 with bank offers, so it’s a great deal.And if you have a budget of roughly Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 and a choice between two options that are only Rs 500 apart, which one should you choose?
Is it wiser to spend an additional 500 rupees and purchase the Buds 3 instead of the roughly Rs 4,000 Noise Buds Xero? View this article to learn more.
Noise Buds Xero vs. OnePlus Buds: Comparing Audio Performance
Since these are accessories for audio, let’s get right to the point and discuss which one sounds better first! 12.4mm drivers are part of the Noise Buds Xero’s hardware and feature set. Bluetooth 5.3 allows for 10m range connectivity. SBC and AAC codecs are supported, and adaptive ANC with a maximum gain of 50dB is offered.In contrast, the OnePlus Buds 3 feature a 10.4mm woofer and a 6mm tweeter with two drivers. Bluetooth 5.3 allows for 10m range connectivity. For those who own OnePlus devices that are higher end, like the OnePlus 12 or OnePlus Open, there is support for LHDC 5.0 codecs in addition to SBC and AAC codecs. A 49dB Adaptive ANC is also available.
How do they sound, then? First of all, I would say that the Noise Buds Xero are trebly in nature when I play music on YouTube Music at the highest quality, which is 256Kbps. On the Noise Buds Xero, every sound with a higher frequency sounds amazing, including female vocals and high-pitched instruments.
Conversely, the OnePlus Buds 3 sound better overall, in my opinion, and this is partly due to their improved bass output. Naturally, I was also able to use the LHDC 5.0 codec to get a more pristine and rich sound quality with the Buds 3. However, I believe the thumpy bass output of the Buds 3, which feels almost precisely tight and crisp, is what really tips the scales in favour of the Buds 3 over the Buds Xero. Even at loud volumes, I could hear clear, distortion-free bass from the OnePlus Buds 3 in a wide range of musical genres.
Therefore, even though a song like “Down” by Marian Hill sounds good on the Noise Buds Xero, I prefer the OnePlus Buds 3 due to their overall quality and their powerful, superior bass output. Bass enthusiasts will undoubtedly appreciate this device’s punchy low end!Regarding the ANC performance, both earbuds are quite good at blocking out interior noises and disturbances, such as kitchen and fan noises, considering their prices. Both fit the bill for that. Outside, however, the OnePlus Buds 3 outperform the Noise Xero by far when it comes to blocking out the loud, low-frequency rumbles of a busy street. However, given that these are inexpensive TWS earbuds, the ANC performance on both is mediocre at best.
Lastly, both devices perform admirably when it comes to taking calls, but the OnePlus Buds 3 slightly outperform the Noise Buds Xero thanks to improved software tuning. Thus, in terms of performance, the Noise Buds Xero are decent, but the OnePlus Buds 3 are superior if you’re willing to pay a little more. What about the other factors, though? Do the Buds 3’s features alone make them preferable to the Noise Xero? Now let’s discuss fit and design.
Noise Buds Xero vs. OnePlus Buds: Fit and design
Now, I believe there are fans of both earbud designs. The OnePlus Buds 3 maintain the tried-and-true design that we have grown accustomed to since the original OnePlus Buds Pro, while Noise Buds Xero opt for a pebble-like shape for the case with a type-C charging port on the side. Additionally, I thought the Buds 3’s hinge was more robust than the Xero’s case. Furthermore, the Buds 3’s closing thud sounds more comforting.
The earbuds themselves have glossy inserts on the stem, giving them both a striking appearance. Now, weighing 4.1g each, the Noise Buds Xero are theoretically lighter than the Buds 3 (each earbud), which weigh 4.8g. However, for some reason, the OnePlus Buds 3 felt lighter and more comfortable due to their slightly shorter stem. Don’t get me wrong, both earbuds fit comfortably in my ears and have rubber tips, but I personally think the OnePlus Buds 3 fit my ears better. In actuality, the Buds 3 stay in place, in contrast to the more expensive Buds Pro 2, which frequently comes loose after a while!
OnePlus Buds vs Noise Buds Xero: Controls
Going on to the features and controls, the OnePlus Buds 3 once again offer a comprehensive experience in this area. As you can see, you can install the Hey Melody app on your phone and use it to control the earbuds, adjust the EQs, update the software, and more. In fact, the controls for Buds 3 are integrated into OnePlus phones, so you won’t even need the Hey Melody app. As such, all of the extensive settings are contained in one location—the Hey Melody app—and you can adjust the touch and tap controls to your preference. Something that I found annoying is that you can’t do with the Noise Buds Xero!
OnePlus Buds vs Noise Buds Xero: Battery life
Each OnePlus Buds 3 bud contains a 58mAh cell, and the case of the device houses a 520mAh battery. Depending on your use-case scenario, OnePlus promises up to 44 hours of battery life with the case on a single charge. However, the company claims that the Noise Buds Xero can run on a single charge for up to 50 hours, even though I don’t have the official battery specifications.
With mixed use of ANC turned on and off, listening to music and watching videos, the Buds 3 easily last 5 to 6 hours on a single charge at about 60 to 70% volume, which I am pretty comfortable with. This is in terms of performance on a single charge. In a comparable situation, the Noise Buds Xero performed better in this regard and lasted me 6 to 7 hours on a single charge.