Home Wireless Earbuds Apple Airpods (3Rd Gen) Vs. Oneplus Buds Z2

Apple Airpods (3Rd Gen) Vs. Oneplus Buds Z2 Review

Last updated on Mar 30, 2024   8 minute read
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Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)

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Reasons why you might like the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)

Overall Score 7.3 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating of IPX4
  • Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)
  • Battery Life of 6 hours
  • Number Of Microphones of 6 only
VS
OnePlus Buds Z2

OnePlus Buds Z2

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Reasons why you might like the OnePlus Buds Z2

Overall Score 6.8 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating of IP55
  • Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)
  • Battery Life of 7 hours
  • Has Usb Type-C
  • Number Of Microphones of 6 only

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Apple Airpods (3Rd Gen) Vs. Oneplus Buds Z2 Review In Summary

Category Features Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) OnePlus Buds Z2
DESIGN ingress protection (ip) rating IPX4 IP55
weight 8.56g 9g
has no wires or cables ✓ ✓
sweat resistance ✓ ✓
has stereo speakers ✓ ✓
SOUND QUALITY has active noise cancellation (noise control) ✓ ✓
has passive noise reduction ✓ ✓
driver unit size 11mm 11mm
lowest frequency 10Hz 20Hz
highest frequency 20,000Hz 20,000Hz
POWER battery life 6hours 7hours
battery life of charging case 30hours 31hours
charge time 0.3hours 1.5hours
has wireless charging ✓ ✗
has a battery level indicator ✓ ✓
CONNECTIVITY has usb type-c ✗ ✓
bluetooth version v5 v5.2
maximum bluetooth range 10meters 10meters
has aac ✓ ✓
MICROPHONE number of microphones 6only 6only
has a noise-canceling microphone ✓ ✓
EXTRAS has in/on-ear detection ✓ ✓
has find earbuds feature ✓ ✓
supports fast charging ✓ ✓
multipoint count 2only ✗
has a mute function ✓ ✓
control panel placed on a device ✓ ✓
warranty period 1Years ✗
has voice prompts ✓ ✓
travel bag is included ✓ ✓
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Apple Airpods (3Rd Gen) Vs. Oneplus Buds Z2 Review In Detail

Design

Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) IPX4
OnePlus Buds Z2 IP55

IP ratings is the rank of protection given by an enclosure, against dust and water. In the format of IPXX, 'X' represents a number The first value represents protection against solids such as dust, followed by the one that refers to protection against liquids (water).

Scoring IPX4, the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s rating is read as, the first value of X denotes that no data available to specify a protection rating, and the second value of 4 means that they can withstand low pressure spray similar to that of a shower head when tilted at 180° for 10 minutes.

Compared to the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen), OnePlus Buds Z2 have a rating of IP55 meaning that ingress of dust is not totally prevented but dust does not enter in harmful quantities to interfere with the correct operation or impair safety and that of liquids is that, Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) has a lower liquid rating than OnePlus Buds Z2

Weight

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) 8.56g
OnePlus Buds Z2 9g

The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a weight of 8.56g . We prefer a lower weight better because lighter devices are easier to transport.

OnePlus Buds Z2, at 9g are heavier than the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) with a difference of 0.44g

Has No Wires Or Cables

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓
OnePlus Buds Z2 ✓

True wireless devices have no cables connecting any part of the device together, Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) are true wireless for this case since they don't have wires. This is a major distinction as some wireless earbuds have wires connecting the two earbuds .

OnePlus Buds Z2 also is true wireless because it doesn't have cables connecting the 2 earbuds together.

Sweat Resistance

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓
OnePlus Buds Z2 ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) are resistant to sweat

OnePlus Buds Z2's resistance to sweat makes both devices good for use during long-distance running, marathons, cardio sweat workouts , etc

Has Stereo Speakers

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓
OnePlus Buds Z2 ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have stereo speakers, what this means is that Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s speakers deliver sound from independent channels on both left and right sides, this creates a richer sound and a better listening experience.

Both OnePlus Buds Z2 and Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have stereo speakers

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Sound Quality

Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓
OnePlus Buds Z2 ✓

Active noise cancellation utilises advanced kind of tech to reduce unwanted ambient sounds. How it works, it listens to the sound pattern of incoming noise and then inverts the soundwaves to cancel it out. In simple terms, it's like taking +1 (noise) then adding -1 (inverted noise) giving 0 resulting in a reduced level of noise.

The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have Active Noise Cancellation allowing you to listen at lower volume levels, good for your ears as you don't have to crank up the earbuds volume to outcompete background sounds.

The OnePlus Buds Z2 too have Active Noise Cancellation which makes both earbuds ideal for flights and rush hour travels. The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) and OnePlus Buds Z2 work with different noise cancellation settings, pick the mode that you prefer for commute or that enhances your relaxation time.

Has Passive Noise Reduction

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓
OnePlus Buds Z2 ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) sit well in place, creating a sound seal that tones down your environment noise well as preventing the earbuds voice audio from leaking out .

Both of these devices have passive noise reduction which means that they limit ambient noise without using ANC to cancel it out.

Driver Unit Size

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) 11mm
OnePlus Buds Z2 11mm

The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a unit size of 11mm in diameter, the bigger the unit the more powerful, therefor producing better bass. A driver unit is basically a mini speaker that produces sound in the device, the unit size corellates with the sound produced by the earbuds.

OnePlus Buds Z2 driver unit is 11mm in diameter, making both OnePlus Buds Z2, and Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) similar in how loud their sound can get , a common assumption that driver units of a bigger size automatically produce better sound quality.

However, large drivers usually have difficulty producing high frequencies so yes, larger drivers are capable of generating louder sound, but this does not imply that they produce better quality sound.

Lowest Frequency

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) 10Hz
OnePlus Buds Z2 20Hz

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s lowest frequency is at 10Hz, low-frequency response inidcates how well a particular audio device produces low frequencies that can be heard, and if it makes any changes to the signal while at it.

OnePlus Buds Z2's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this implies that Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) make sound with a juicier bass than the OnePlus Buds Z2

Highest Frequency

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) 20,000Hz
OnePlus Buds Z2 20,000Hz

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, high-frequency response measures if and how well a particular audio component makes high recognizable frequencies and if it makes any adjustments to the signal on its way through.

OnePlus Buds Z2's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, this means that both devices generate equal treble

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Power

Battery Life

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) 6hours
OnePlus Buds Z2 7hours

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s battery life is 6 hours, these last longer than 5 hours of listening which is considered average for a single charge. A device's battery life is usually given by the manufacturer, and with more battery hours, you get to use it for longer and have to charge the device less often.

OnePlus Buds Z2's battery life is more than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) by 1 hours . Each time you recharge your device, they get a little less playing time. The effect is not noticeable at first, but over a few years, your wireless earbuds will no longer play for long like they used to.

Battery Life Of Charging Case

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) 30hours
OnePlus Buds Z2 31hours

The battery life of the charging case is given by the vendor, and Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s case is said to have a charge of 30 hours. A charging case with more battery hours enables you to recharge your earbuds on the go many times before having to recharge the case itself.

OnePlus Buds Z2's charging case has a battery life of 31 hours, more than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) by 1 hours

Charge Time

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) 0.3hours
OnePlus Buds Z2 1.5hours

It takes 0.3 hours to fully charge the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s battery. It is recommended to fully charge the battery before using the earbuds when they have been unused for long periods.

OnePlus Buds Z2 takes 1.5 hours to fully charge the battery, more than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) by 1.2 hours

Has Wireless Charging

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓
OnePlus Buds Z2 ✗

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen), the device supports wireless charging. To charge the earbuds, you simply put down on a supported charging pad.

Has A Battery Level Indicator

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓
OnePlus Buds Z2 ✓

The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a battery level indicator, an indicator alerts you when the device has a low battery. Its lights indicate the charging state of your earbuds and case.

OnePlus Buds Z2 too have a battery level indicator, charging indicators enable you to tell the charging state of your device, if charged fully, or having a low battery.

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Connectivity

Has Usb Type-C

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✗
OnePlus Buds Z2 ✓

The OnePlus Buds Z2 have USB TYPE-C, an industry-standard connector for transmitting both data and power through a single cable.

Bluetooth Version

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) v5
OnePlus Buds Z2 v5.2

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have Bluetooth version of 5, Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that enables data movement between devices placed in range, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves.

OnePlus Buds Z2 has a Bluetooth version of 5.2, newer than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) . Newer versions provide faster data transfers.

Maximum Bluetooth Range

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) 10meters
OnePlus Buds Z2 10meters

The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a 10meters distance to connect via Bluetooth.

OnePlus Buds Z2 have a maximum range of 10meters, equal to that of the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)

Has Aac

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓
OnePlus Buds Z2 ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) support AAC, a codec that is used for Bluetooth audio. It supports 24-bit audio at 250kbps. Because it uses psychoacoustic modeling, it provides better results than other codecs at a similar bit rate.

Since its the highest quality codec that any Bluetooth-supporting Apple product supports, the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) will work fine with your iPhone. If you are planning on using these with Android you need to pay even closer attention to codec support for if they only have AAC they won't provide the best audio quality possible, ensure that they also support aptX HD, LDAC, or LHDC as well.

The OnePlus Buds Z2 support AAC as well. Designed to be the successor of the MP3 format, AAC generally achieves higher sound quality than MP3 encoders at the same bit rate.

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Microphone

Number Of Microphones

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) 6only
OnePlus Buds Z2 6only

The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have 6 microphones.

OnePlus Buds Z2 microphones are 6, equal to that of the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) . More microphones record better sound quality and enable the device to filter out noise.

Has A Noise-Canceling Microphone

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓
OnePlus Buds Z2 ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a noise-canceling microphone, these microphones are intended to filter out background sounds from the earbuds' sound.

The OnePlus Buds Z2 too have a noise-canceling microphone. Especially useful in noisy environments.

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Extras

Has In/On-Ear Detection

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓
OnePlus Buds Z2 ✓

The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the device can detect when removed from your ears .

The OnePlus Buds Z2 too support in/on-ear detection, automatically pauses your music, or audiobook when you remove earbuds from your ears saving battery life.

Has Find Earbuds Feature

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓
OnePlus Buds Z2 ✓

If lost in a room, or can't easily find them in your bag, the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a find earbuds feature.

The OnePlus Buds Z2 also have the find earbuds feature. Simply use the earbuds app on your phone to play a sound from your earbuds to locate them.

Supports Fast Charging

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓
OnePlus Buds Z2 ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) support fast charging. Commonly, technologies like Qualcomm’s Quick Charge, are used to reduce the time it takes to charge a device.

Also the OnePlus Buds Z2 too support fast charging. This kind is similar to regular charging, only that the battery fills up much faster. Say, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery is charged to 50% in just 30 minutes.

Multipoint Count

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) 2only
OnePlus Buds Z2 ✗

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) support multipoint of 2 connections, the multipoint feature allows you connect to more than one Bluetooth device and switch between them. For example, you can switch calls from one device to another without manually disconnect and reconnect.

Has A Mute Function

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓
OnePlus Buds Z2 ✓

The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a mute function, they have the feature to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the device.

The OnePlus Buds Z2 also support the mute function. The mute function means that you are in position turn off the earbuds' microphone, but still hear the other party's voice.

Control Panel Placed On A Device

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓
OnePlus Buds Z2 ✓

The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen), so you can easily access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever functions are supported on the earbuds.

The OnePlus Buds Z2 too have a control panel on them.

Warranty Period

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) 1Years
OnePlus Buds Z2 ✗

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a warranty period of 1 Years, the period of time that warrant free repair and adjustment services in case of a malfunction occurring under normal use that has followed instruction manuals.

Has Voice Prompts

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓
OnePlus Buds Z2 ✓

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have voice prompts. With voice prompts, you receive information via audio messages, like if there is a problem with the connection.

OnePlus Buds Z2 too have voice prompts meaning the device notifies you if the battery is low, and you need to recharge the earbuds.

Travel Bag Is Included

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ✓
OnePlus Buds Z2 ✓

The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) come with their own special case. Carrying earphones without a case, or putting them in your pockets without a casing may easily put them at risk of getting damaged.

OnePlus Buds Z2 also have a case included, which is useful for safe transportation.

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