That being said, these headphones do have a few new features. They now have a OnePlus companion app and a second app for users without a OnePlus phone, both of which offer “OnePlus Audio ID,” a listening test that optimizes the sound profile based on your individual listening abilities. The OnePlus Buds Pro use Bluetooth 5.2 with SBC, AAC, and LHDC codec support. While SBC and AAC are standard on most wireless earbuds, LHDC (Low Latency High-Definition Codec) is much more novel. With a maximum bit rate of 900kbps and a maximum sample rate of 96kHz, LHDC data transfer rates are up to three times higher than SBC and AAC. Active noise cancellation (ANC) is relatively weak on the OnePlus Buds Pro. The intelligent noise cancellation mode is not very useful, and most listeners will probably only ever use the “maximum noise cancellation” setting. With the Max setting enabled, you will notice a slight reduction in ambient noise from a train or air conditioning. These noises are between 100 and 1000 Hz, and the OnePlus Buds Pro reduce the volume in this frequency range by 25%. The passive isolation provided by the silicone earbuds cannot quite match that of other earphones. Even if the earbuds fit well, only some high-frequency sounds are blocked. These are not the right earbuds for frequent flyers who want to block out noise in the cabin. Any amount of isolation and ANC is always better than none, as it prevents masking from ambient noise. Not only does this improve sound quality, but it also reduces the likelihood that you’ll have to turn up the volume to block out those sounds, protecting you from noise-induced hearing loss. Still, the OnePlus Buds Pro are inferior to most competitors when it comes to noise cancellation. The frequency response of the OnePlus Buds Pro closely follows our house curve with pleasantly boosted bass and treble. Since there is no custom EQ in the companion app, you cannot easily adjust the sound of the OnePlus Buds Pro. At best, you can change the EQ settings in the streaming service of your choice, although those settings will carry over to other devices you play music on.
