Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs OnePlus Buds Pro 3 Comparison

Compare Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs OnePlus Buds Pro 3 side by side: specs, ratings, pros and cons, and which one fits your room best.

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Editor's pick
OnePlus Buds Pro 3 product image
OnePlus Buds Pro 3
Launch price $179.99

At a Glance

Apple AirPods Pro 3

Join every call from an iPhone, iPad or Mac? The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are noise-cancelling earbuds with the H2 chip, foam-infused ear tips in five sizes, heart-rate sensing and hearing health features, and up to 8 hours of listening with ANC.

Best For
Apple device households
Launch Price
—
Dust/Water Rating
IP57
Bluetooth Codecs
AAC, SBC
Noise Cancelling
Adaptive ANC
ANC Reduction
—
Mics per Bud
3
Battery (Buds)
8 h
Battery (With Case)
24 h
Multipoint
Automatic switching between Apple devices
OnePlus Buds Pro 3

On Android and want premium earbud features without flagship pricing? The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 are noise-cancelling earbuds with an 11 mm woofer and 6 mm tweeter per bud, adaptive ANC up to 50 dB, LHDC 5.0 hi-res audio and up to 43 hours of battery with the case.

Best For
Android users who want hi-res audio
Launch Price
$179.99
Dust/Water Rating
IP55
Bluetooth Codecs
SBC, AAC, LHDC 5.0
Noise Cancelling
Adaptive ANC, up to 50 dB
ANC Reduction
50 dB
Mics per Bud
3
Battery (Buds)
6 h
Battery (With Case)
25.5 (ANC on), 43 (ANC off)
Multipoint
Yes (dual connection)

Review Scores Compared

How we score

Expert Score

  • Apple AirPods Pro 38.0/10
  • OnePlus Buds Pro 38.8/10 Leads

Voice & Call Noise Isolation

  • Apple AirPods Pro 37.8/10
  • OnePlus Buds Pro 39.3/10 Leads

ANC & Transparency

  • Apple AirPods Pro 39.5/10
  • OnePlus Buds Pro 39.6/10 Leads

Battery & Case Charging

  • Apple AirPods Pro 39.5/10 Leads
  • OnePlus Buds Pro 37.6/10

Fit, Stability & Portability

  • Apple AirPods Pro 38.3/10
  • OnePlus Buds Pro 38.9/10 Leads

Connectivity & UC Integration

  • Apple AirPods Pro 35.4/10
  • OnePlus Buds Pro 37.1/10 Leads

Sound & Audio Quality

  • Apple AirPods Pro 37.1/10
  • OnePlus Buds Pro 39.5/10 Leads

Editorial Reviews Comparison

Voice & Call Noise Isolation

  • Apple AirPods Pro 37.8/10
  • OnePlus Buds Pro 39.3/10Leader

Apple AirPods Pro 3

Each bud has beamforming outer microphones, an inward-facing mic and a speech-detecting accelerometer. On Apple devices, Voice Isolation helps reduce background noise on calls. For call-heavy days, a boom-mic model like the Jabra Evolve2 75 places a mic closer to the mouth. On Windows the buds fall back to the standard Bluetooth headset profile.

OnePlus Buds Pro 3

Three microphones per bud handle calls, with AI noise reduction to separate your voice from background noise. For laptop meetings they work as standard Bluetooth headsets. A business earbud with a dongle remains better for daily Teams use. Colleagues on Teams or Zoom will hear you clearly from a quiet room, but in a busy cafe the voice processing can clip the ends of words.

ANC & Transparency

  • Apple AirPods Pro 39.5/10
  • OnePlus Buds Pro 39.6/10Leader

Apple AirPods Pro 3

Apple claims the ANC is up to twice as effective as on AirPods Pro 2. The new foam-infused tips seal better, and that improves passive isolation before any processing begins. On a busy commute the cancellation is among the best in earbuds, reducing engine rumble and voices to a low background.

OnePlus Buds Pro 3

OnePlus rates adaptive ANC at up to 50 dB, with a transparency mode for hearing your surroundings. Cancellation is strong on public transport and in offices, competing with more expensive flagships against low-frequency noise. Voices and sudden sounds get through a little more than with Bose. Adaptive mode adjusts strength to your environment, which helps battery life in quieter spaces.

Battery & Case Charging

  • Apple AirPods Pro 39.5/10Leader
  • OnePlus Buds Pro 37.6/10

Apple AirPods Pro 3

Apple quotes up to 8 hours of listening with ANC on, 10 hours in Transparency using the Hearing Aid feature, and up to 24 hours in total with the case. Heart-rate sensing during workouts reduces this to 6.5 hours. Five minutes in the case gives around an hour of listening.

OnePlus Buds Pro 3

OnePlus quotes up to 43 hours total with the case using AAC and ANC off, or 25.5 hours with ANC on. That covers several days of commuting before charging the case. LHDC with ANC drops total time to about 21.5 hours. The case supports USB-C and wireless charging, and fast charging gives hours of playback from a short top-up.

Fit, Stability & Portability

  • Apple AirPods Pro 38.3/10
  • OnePlus Buds Pro 38.9/10Leader

Apple AirPods Pro 3

Each bud weighs 5.55 g, and Apple includes silicone tips in five sizes, from XXS to L. The bud shape is slightly smaller than before, and the stems carry touch controls. For a full working day the fit is secure and light, and the extra-small tips make them practical for people who found the previous model too big.

OnePlus Buds Pro 3

The stem design is larger than some rivals, but the buds sit securely. OnePlus includes several tip sizes, and the buds are water resistant for sweat and rain. The stems are easy to grip for removing and adjusting, and touch controls on the stem respond reliably. Smaller ears may find the stems press against the tragus after a couple of hours, so try each tip size before deciding.

Connectivity & UC Integration

  • Apple AirPods Pro 35.4/10
  • OnePlus Buds Pro 37.1/10Leader

Apple AirPods Pro 3

The buds use Bluetooth 5.3. With an iPhone, iPad and Mac on the same Apple Account, they switch automatically to the device you are using, which works like multipoint inside Apple's ecosystem. Apple's AirPods user guide covers Live Translation, Find My with a speaker in the case, and head gestures for answering calls.

OnePlus Buds Pro 3

Bluetooth 5.4 supports dual connection to two devices at once and Google Fast Pair on Android. Dual connection keeps the buds linked to a phone and laptop, so calls switch automatically. The HeyMelody app adds EQ and settings on non-OnePlus phones. On OnePlus phones, controls are built into the system settings, which makes setup faster than on other devices.

Sound & Audio Quality

  • Apple AirPods Pro 37.1/10
  • OnePlus Buds Pro 39.5/10Leader

Apple AirPods Pro 3

Apple uses its H2 chip and Adaptive EQ, which measures the sound in your ear and adjusts the tuning to match your fit. Spatial Audio with head tracking is supported on Apple devices. The sound is clean and well balanced, with more bass depth than the previous Pro and clear vocals.

OnePlus Buds Pro 3

Each bud combines an 11 mm woofer and a 6 mm tweeter. LHDC 5.0 supports up to 24-bit / 192 kHz at 1 Mbps on compatible phones, with AAC and SBC for others. The two-way design gives deep, controlled bass and clear treble, with Dynaudio tuning that avoids harshness. Detail is strong for the price, and the EQ in the app lets you fine-tune the balance.

Why Apple AirPods Pro 3 Beats OnePlus Buds Pro 3 (and Vice Versa)

Why Apple AirPods Pro 3 beats OnePlus Buds Pro 3

  • Better battery & case charging: 9.5 vs 7.6 out of 10
  • Case Weight: 43.99 g vs 50.62 g
  • Water Resistance: Dust, sweat, and water resistant (IP57) vs IP55
  • Battery (Buds): 8 h vs 6 h

Why OnePlus Buds Pro 3 beats Apple AirPods Pro 3

  • Better sound & audio quality: 9.5 vs 7.1 out of 10
  • Better connectivity & uc integration: 7.1 vs 5.4 out of 10
  • Better voice & call noise isolation: 9.3 vs 7.8 out of 10
  • Better fit, stability & portability: 8.9 vs 8.3 out of 10
  • Bud Weight: 5.29 g vs 5.55 g
  • Driver Type: Dual dynamic (woofer and tweeter) vs Apple custom dynamic driver

Review-score leads of 0.5+ points out of 10 first, then specs where only one comes out ahead.

Full Specifications

General

Apple AirPods Pro 3OnePlus Buds Pro 3
Best ForApple device householdsAndroid users who want hi-res audio
Fit TypeTrue wireless in-earTrue wireless in-ear (stem)
Release Year20252024
Launch Price—$179.99
Case Weight43.99 g Better50.62 g
Water ResistanceDust, sweat, and water resistant (IP57) BetterIP55
ColorsWhiteMidnight Opus, Lunar Radiance, Sapphire Blue
Bud StyleStem—
Case Water RatingIP57—
Materials40% recycled content, including 100% recycled aluminum in the hinge and 65% recycled plastic in the case—
Sensitivity—97 ± 3 dB at 1 kHz
Lossless Audio—Hi-res up to 24-bit / 192 kHz (LHDC 5.0)
Head TrackingYes—
Hearing Health FeaturesHearing Test, Hearing Aid feature, Hearing Protection—
Microphone SetupBeamforming outer mics, inward-facing mic, speech-detecting accelerometerThree per bud
Charging PortUSB-CUSB-C
Charging Time—1.17 h
Case Battery—566 mAh
Bud Battery—58 mAh
Wireless Range—10 m
Google Fast Pair—Yes
Bluetooth Profiles—SPP, HFP, A2DP, AVRCP
ControlsTouch control on stemsTouch on stem
Companion AppBuilt into iOS, iPadOS and macOS settingsHeyMelody (non-OnePlus phones)
Wear DetectionYes—
Voice AssistantSiri—
Custom ControlsYes (swipe volume on the stem)Yes
Find My / LocateYes (case speaker)—
Head GesturesYes—
In the BoxAirPods Pro 3, MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C), silicone ear tips (five sizes), documentationEarbuds, charging case, USB-C cable, ear tips (XS/S/M/L, M pre-installed)
Warranty1-year Apple limited warranty—
Model NumberAirPods Pro 3Buds Pro 3
OS CompatibilityiOS, iPadOS, macOS; basic Bluetooth on Windows and AndroidAndroid, iOS
Works WithAny app via Bluetooth—

Voice & Call Noise Isolation

Apple AirPods Pro 37.8/10OnePlus Buds Pro 39.3/10 Better
Mics per Bud33
Microphones66
Bone-Conduction SensorNoYes Better
Call Noise ReductionVoice Isolation (Apple devices)AI noise reduction Better

ANC & Transparency

Apple AirPods Pro 39.5/10OnePlus Buds Pro 39.6/10 Better
Noise CancellingAdaptive ANCAdaptive ANC, up to 50 dB
Adaptive ANCYesYes
ANC Reduction—50 dB
Transparency ModeYes (Adaptive Audio)Yes
Active Noise CancellingYesYes

Battery & Case Charging

Apple AirPods Pro 39.5/10 BetterOnePlus Buds Pro 37.6/10
Call Time—4 h
Battery (Buds)8 h Better6 h
Battery (With Case)24 h25.5 (ANC on), 43 (ANC off) Better
Wireless ChargingYes (MagSafe, Qi, Apple Watch charger)Yes
Fast ChargingYes (5 min = about 1 h)—
Battery (Buds, ANC Off)—10 h

Fit, Stability & Portability

Apple AirPods Pro 38.3/10OnePlus Buds Pro 38.9/10 Better
Bud Weight5.55 g5.29 g Better
Ear Tip SizesFive sizes (XXS, XS, S, M, L)XS, S, M, L (M pre-installed)
Dust/Water RatingIP57IP55
Ear Hooks / WingsNo—
Case Dimensions62.2 x 47.2 x 21.8 mm64.70 x 52.45 x 25.75 mm

Connectivity & UC Integration

Apple AirPods Pro 35.4/10OnePlus Buds Pro 37.1/10 Better
USB DongleNoNo
MultipointAutomatic switching between Apple devicesYes (dual connection)
Bluetooth Version5.35.4 Better

Sound & Audio Quality

Apple AirPods Pro 37.1/10OnePlus Buds Pro 39.5/10 Better
Bluetooth CodecsAAC, SBCSBC, AAC, LHDC 5.0 Better
Driver Size—11 + 6
Driver TypeApple custom dynamic driverDual dynamic (woofer and tweeter) Better
Custom EQAdaptive EQYes
Frequency Response—10 Hz - 40 kHz
Spatial AudioYes—

Takeaways

  • Our pick: OnePlus Buds Pro 3, with the highest spec-based rating (4.4/5).
  • Choose Apple AirPods Pro 3 for apple device households.
  • Choose OnePlus Buds Pro 3 for android users who want hi-res audio.

Pros and Cons

Apple AirPods Pro 3

PROS

  • Adaptive ANC and transparency
  • H2-class processing
  • Automatic Apple device switching
  • USB-C charging case

CONS

  • No UC USB dongle for Windows PCs
  • Not Teams-certified like Jabra/Poly UC buds
  • Windows users get a weaker call story

OnePlus Buds Pro 3

PROS

  • Dual drivers tuned with Dynaudio
  • Strong 50 dB adaptive ANC
  • LHDC 5.0 hi-res support
  • Long total battery life

CONS

  • Best codecs need OnePlus or compatible phones
  • Stem design is large
  • Call quality is average outdoors

Similar Comparisons

Quick Verdict

  • Apple AirPods Pro 3 8.0Leads in Battery & Case Charging
  • OnePlus Buds Pro 3 8.8Best overallLeads in Voice & Call Noise Isolation, ANC & Transparency, Fit, Stability & Portability