Latest news with #BulletsWirelessZ3
India Today
3 days ago
- India Today
OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3 review: Deep bass and outstanding battery life make these earphones a steal deal
Walk into any store looking for good earphones and chances are the salesperson will show you a bunch of True Wireless (TWS) earbuds, or maybe even a pair of over-ear headphones. The once-popular wired and semi-wired Bluetooth earphones have quietly slipped into the background. However, they are not forgotten. There are still users who love to go the old-school way, those who appreciate the reliability of wired or neckband-style earphones. They don't want to constantly worry about misplacing tiny earbuds or their limited battery for these users, OnePlus, while actively expanding its audio portfolio with TWS options across various price points, still makes and refreshes its neckband options. It has recently launched the Bullets Wireless Z3 in India. Coming after a near three-year-long hiatus, the sequel to the Bullets Wireless Z2 s brings in some significant upgrades in audio quality, battery life and, a few tweaks in design. But most importantly, the pricing is now more affordable, down from Rs 1,999 for Z2 to Rs 1,699 for the we will be talking more about the features and how they perform in the real world, but before that, here's a quick glance at what the Z3 earphones bring to the table. For starters, you get 12.4mm dynamic drivers, support for Bluetooth 5.4 and Google Fast Pair, and IP55 splash resistance—ideal for active users. The 220mAh battery boasts an impressive 36 hours of playback, at least on paper, and a 10-minute charge gives you up to 27 hours of listening. Audio codec support includes both AAC and SBC, setting the stage for a solid wireless experience on a Bullets Wireless Z3 look and feeladvertisement The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3 keep things simple on the design front. In fact, they look almost identical to their predecessor—the original Z and Z2. That said, there are some subtle refinements: the control buttons now have a matte finish, and the wires connecting the earbuds have a slight texture to them. The neckband feels lightweight weighing 26 grams and is comfortable enough to wear all the past few days, I have used the Z3 as my primary earphones during commutes, work calls, and while doing chores around the house. Not once did they feel cumbersome or slip out of my ears. That is also one of the biggest advantage of neckbands—you just wear them and forget they are even there. For this review I used the Mambo Black variant, which has a clean, all black look with some red accents on the buttons. If you like a bit of colour, the Samba Red option is also available and adds a nice bit of flair. Still, I do wish OnePlus had introduced some fresh design elements instead of sticking so closely to the same old let's talk about controls. Both the Z2 and Z3 follow the same three-button layout: volume up, volume down, and a multifunction button for play/pause and pairing. It is a familiar setup, but I honestly miss the original Bullets Wireless design, where the volume controls were placed along the wire and the power/Bluetooth controls were located on the neckband itself. That older layout felt more intuitive and easier to operate—especially during workouts or while walking or buds attach to each other magnetically and allow for quick auto power on/off, which is convenient. The magnets are decent and pause music when snapped together. However, while the magnetic control seems to be the best way right now for a quick pause or power off, it is not ideal for clumsy hands or bumpy rides. I noticed that during commutes or while doing chores, a slight tug or jostle would separate the buds. This ends up waking the earphones and reconnecting them to the phone which could drain the battery unknowingly. Now this problem is not unique to the Z3—I have experienced the same issue with the Z2 and even the original Bullets Wireless Z. It is more of a general limitation with magnet-based controls. Having a dedicated power switch could be more Bullets Wireless Z3 soundNow, coming to the sound. As mentioned earlier, the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3 offer a snug fit, and while there is no active noise cancellation, the passive noise isolation is surprisingly impressive. During commutes or while working in a moderately noisy environment, the earphones helped me in reducing most ambient noises to a level that didn't interfere with my listening terms of music playback, the Z3 deliver a sound signature that leans slightly towards bass but still tries to maintain balance. By balanced, I mean that no frequency feels aggressively boosted or overly recessed. The bass has definitely improved compared to previous generations, offering a decent thump in most tracks. It is not overpowering, but it gives a low-end presence that many budget earphones struggle with. advertisementHowever, while the bass is impressive, the overall sound stage could be better. While listening to tracks with layered vocals or intricate instrumentation—like Rihanna's Umbrella, Ed Sheeran's Sapphire, Bollywood hits like Ilahi, Oh Ho Ho Ho by Sukhbir, or even fast-paced K-pop like BTS's Mic Drop or ON, —there is a noticeable muddiness in the mids and vocals. The clarity drops a bit when multiple elements are playing at once, making the overall audio feel flat and a little to be fair, at under Rs 2,000, I was not expecting premium-grade sound. And for casual listening—be it lo-fi, podcasts, or chart-toppers—the overall sound quality is decent. The Z3 manage to offer clear sound and enjoyable playback, if you keep aside the technicalities of the audio has also included AI-powered call noise cancellation, which cuts down on noise to offer clear and stable audio quality during calls. During my use, I faced no issues with Bluetooth pairing or stability. Whether taking calls on the move or switching between music and voice assistants, everything worked smoothly without noticeable said, it is worth noting that the earphones do not support simultaneous multi-device connectivity. While not exactly a dealbreaker at this price point, it is something to keep in mind if you frequently switch between, say, a laptop and phone. You will need to manually disconnect from one device before connecting to Bullets Wireless Z3 batteryNow let's talk about the battery. This is also one of the biggest upgrades in the Z3 compared to the Z2. OnePlus claims the Bullets Wireless Z3 can deliver up to 36 hours of playback at around 50 per cent volume—and in my experience, that is pretty accurate. With a daily usage of about 4 to 5 hours, a single full charge easily lasted me through an entire workweek without needing a also impressive is the fast-charging support. Just 10 minutes of charging gave me roughly 35 percent battery, which was more than enough to get through a full day of use. Should you buy the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3?If you're looking for a reliable pair of earphones with really good battery performance under Rs 2,000, the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3 should be high on your list. The bass is punchy and satisfying—definitely a step up from past iterations—and while the overall soundstage is not the most refined, it is more than good enough for everyday listening. The sound remains enjoyable and clear for most life is a major highlight with the convenience of fast charging. The design is functional rather than flashy, and while the buttons could have been more intuitive, these are minor quirks in an otherwise solid package. All things considered, the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3 stand as one of the best earphones you can buy under Rs 2,000 particularly if you are eying neckband-style ones.- Ends
Deccan Herald
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Deccan Herald
OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3 review: Value-for-money neckband earphones
Bullets Wireless Z3 is a perfect entertainment companion for travelling and workouts at the gym. And, most importantly, it excels in battery life. OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3. DH Photo/KVN Rohit OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3. DH Photo/KVN Rohit
GSM Arena
22-06-2025
- GSM Arena
OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3 review
The Bullets Wireless Z3 are the latest neckband-style earbuds from OnePlus. This product has remained fundamentally unchanged for several years now and is very similar to its immediate predecessor, the Bullets Wireless Z2 from 2022. The Bullets Wireless Z3 only makes minor improvements over the Z2. You get newer generation Bluetooth connectivity along with improved battery life. There are also a few software additions in the form of 3D Audio and EQ presets. Priced at INR 1,699, the Bullets Wireless Z3 is a basic entry-level product for someone with a small budget and few but specific requirements. Let's see how it performs. Design The Bullets Wireless Z3 design is identical to that of the Z2. It's a neckband style with a flexible band, chunky stalks, and thin cables that terminate in earbuds. The earbuds have magnets on their backs that let them attach to one another and power down. On the left stalk are all the physical controls, which handle playback, volume, and other duties. There's also a USB-C port here for charging as well as a status LED. The build quality is good for the price and the IP55 rating should ensure some protection from the elements. The earbuds are also quite comfortable and feature plush ear tips despite the low price. The convenience of neckband-style earphones cannot be understated. You can have them hang around your neck all day without having to take up space in your pockets. They are always there when you need them and can just hang back when you don't. You don't have to worry about losing them even if one accidentally falls off, making them great for workouts as long as you ensure you don't snag them in some gym equipment. And finally, you have the convenience of a full set of physical buttons to control all features. Makes you wonder why we left all of this convenience in favor of TWS earbuds. Software and features The Bullets Wireless Z3 are compatible with the HeyMelody app for Android and iOS devices. When paired with a OnePlus device, the same features are available within the Bluetooth settings. Compared to the Z2, which genuinely had nothing going on within the app, the Z3 have a few options available. For starters, you get the OnePlus 3D Audio feature, which simulates a surround sound effect from stereo audio. I'm not fond of such features and prefer to listen to things as they were mastered so this isn't my cup of tea but it's there if you like it. Settings The Bullets Wireless Z3 also get an EQ option but only includes presets with no custom equalizer aside from the adjustable BassWave feature. This is a big upgrade over the Z2, which, once again, literally offered no features within the app, but it's still needless gatekeeping as there is no cost associated with enabling the EQ as the feature is already present in the app and unlocked for more expensive products. The audio settings you pick are saved on the earbuds and are applied even when used with other devices, such as a PC. Finally, you can also update the firmware on the Z3, which was also not possible on the Z2. Whether you'll get any updates for this product is a different matter altogether. Audio settings Aside from that, there isn't much to do in this app. There is an Earbuds control menu that shows all the functions assigned to the physical buttons but you can't customize anything, which makes sense since these are actual buttons and not just gestures. Not to mention, the Bullets Wireless Z3 don't really have a lot of features that aren't already assigned to the buttons. Performance Audio quality As with the previous generation model, the Bullets Wireless Z3 have a single 12.4mm dynamic driver with SBC and AAC support. Out of the box, the Bullets Wireless Z3 have the typical OnePlus tuning featuring comical amounts of bass on the ironically named Balanced preset. It's just too much and while it can be okay with music it really gets annoying with any kind of video or spoken word content. Fortunately, the BassWave feature does some wonders here as it not only lets you turn up the bass to heretical levels but also turns it down. Setting the slider to -4 or -5 gets rid of a lot of the bloat that haunts the default tuning and lets you appreciate the rest of the sound. The mid-range on these earbuds is decent but it is obviously tuned for the high amounts of bass. It's a bit forward so that it does not get drowned out by the large amounts of bass but the downside of that is that when you do turn the bass down with the BassWave slider, the mid-range ends up being a bit honky in the lower mids. The treble performance on these is unexceptional. There is a decent presence in the upper mids and lower treble range but it lacks some of the sparkle and air in the top notes. Still, considering most popular music is mastered to be bright, this shouldn't be an issue. Once I set the BassWave slider to an appropriate level, I found myself enjoying the sound quite a bit more than I expected to from such an entry-level product. While it is unfortunate that there isn't a custom EQ available within the app, you should be able to get a pretty good sound out of these earbuds if you download a third-party sound tuning app. Microphone The Bullets Wireless Z3 have very good microphone performance. Voices sounded excellent with a natural timbre and lacking any noticeable digital artifacts when recorded in a quiet environment. The sound quality surprisingly holds up even in noisy environments as the voice is still perfectly audible. The only issue with the microphone performance is the persistent background noise. There is hiss and occasional popping going on in the background, which can be distracting at times considering how pristine the rest of the sound is. This noise just gets worse when there is more ambient noise. If OnePlus can get rid of the popping noise with an update then the Bullets Wireless Z3 would be a fantastic option for frequent callers on a budget. Noise cancellation The Bullets Wireless Z3 do not feature active noise cancellation. The ear tips will passively block some sound, which in some cases is adequate once you have something playing. But it won't be enough if you find yourself on a train, flight, or other noisy outdoor environments. The other downside of not having ANC is also not getting a transparency mode. If you like to be more situationally aware when walking down a street or waiting for an announcement, then you will often find yourself pulling out these earbuds to hear your surroundings better. Latency The Bullets Wireless Z3 have good latency performance. This was true on a smart device while going through different audio apps but also when paired with a PC, which typically does not do latency correction. Connection The Bullets Wireless Z3 had great connection performance, with no audio dropouts or disconnections when paired with a smartphone or PC. However, despite the move to Bluetooth 5.4, the Bullets Wireless Z3 do not offer multi-device pairing, which is a shame. These earbuds also don't seem to have the button command to quickly switch between the current and the previously paired device that older Bullets Wireless products had. Battery life The major improvement that the Bullets Wireless Z3 bring over their predecessor is the battery life, which has gone from 30 hours to 36 hours. In our testing, the Bullets Wireless Z3 played for an impressive 37 hours and 35 minutes non-stop, which is a good bit over the claimed figure. OnePlus also claims a 10-minute charge will give you 27 hours of battery life, which is up from 20 hours on the Z2. In our testing, the Bullets Wireless Z3 played for 28 hours and 18 minutes, which once again surpasses the claimed figure. What this means is that even if you use your earbuds for, say, a couple of hours every day, you can get 2-3 weeks of battery life from a single full charge. And if you only had time for a quick 10-minute charge, you can still go almost two weeks without charging. You can probably match or even surpass that figure with a pair of TWS earbuds when you add up the charge within the case. But TWS earbud batteries also go through accelerated aging due to the constant charge-discharge cycles they are put through. Meanwhile, even a regularly used pair of neckband earphones will go through several years before the battery gives up the ghost because of how rarely you have to charge them. Conclusion The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3 is about as simple as a wireless audio product gets. You probably already have one somewhere that looks and works similar to this one. OnePlus isn't reinventing the wheel here; in fact, it's the same wheel it launched in 2022 but with deeper tread to last longer. I know the neckband style is a bit passé for people these days who prefer form over function. But if you are someone who works with their hands all day and wants something that doesn't need to be mollycoddled, is comfortable and well-built, has actual physical buttons that can even be used with gloves on, lasts ages without having to be put in their tiny receptacles every few hours, and stretches your hard-earned money for several years without dying a premature death, then this is still the product category for you. The Bullets Wireless Z3 aren't a big upgrade that one would expect after all these years but it's still a reasonably competent product with a good design, comfort, and audio quality while excelling in battery life and microphone performance. Hopefully, there will be an ANC model coming in the future but if you can live without ANC and have an appreciation for the neckband life then you can't go wrong with this one.
India.com
20-06-2025
- Business
- India.com
OnePlus Unveils Bullets Wireless Z3 Neckband with 27-Hour Playback in 10-Minute Charge
New Delhi – OnePlus has officially launched the Bullets Wireless Z3, a next-generation wireless neckband aimed at delivering immersive audio, ultra-fast charging, and smart calling features at an affordable price of ₹1,699. The Z3 promises to be an ideal daily companion, combining long battery life with AI-enhanced communication and deep bass performance. The neckband stands out with its impressive battery capabilities — offering up to 27 hours of playback with just a 10-minute charge, while a full charge delivers up to 36 hours of music playback and 21 hours of talk time. It is powered by 12.4mm dynamic bass drivers and a proprietary BassWave™ algorithm, designed to deliver punchy low-end sound without compromising vocal clarity. Commenting on the launch, Robin Liu, CEO of OnePlus India, said, 'Our vision is to build an interconnected ecosystem, and the Bullets Wireless Z3 reflects our commitment to delivering high-quality audio products. With this launch, OnePlus continues to lead the Indian neckband market in the ₹1.5K+ segment, as per IDC Q1 2025.' The Z3 introduces 3D Spatial Audio for a more immersive experience, placing users in the center of a 360-degree sound environment. To enhance voice clarity on calls, it features AI Noise Cancellation with ENC, filtering out ambient sounds for clearer conversations—even in noisy outdoor settings. Additional features include Bluetooth 5.4, Google Fast Pair, magnetic earbuds for auto power control, and IP55 water and dust resistance, making it ideal for workouts and everyday use. The Voice Assistant Shortcut also allows hands-free control over calls, music, and reminders. Available in two colorways – Mambo Midnight (black) and Samba Sunset (red) – the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3 offers both style and function. Sales begin on June 24 at 12 PM across Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, and major offline retailers like Croma, Reliance Digital, Vijay Sales, and Bajaj Electronics.
GSM Arena
20-06-2025
- GSM Arena
OnePlus launches Bullets Wireless Z3 wireless neckband in India
OnePlus has announced its newest audio product, the Bullets Wireless Z3. These are being launched in the Indian market and are priced at just INR 1,699, which is approximately $20. They will be available for purchase starting June 24, 2025, at 12 PM on Flipkart, Myntra, OnePlus Experience Stores, as well as Croma, Reliance, Vijay Sales, Bajaj Electronics and other retail chains. The Z3 are a modest upgrade over the Z2 from 2022. You get an updated chipset, which bumps up the Bluetooth version from 5.0 to 5.4. It also improves battery life from 30 hours total playtime to an impressive 36 hours of playtime despite the battery being the same size. The new model also promises 27 hours of continuous playback after a 10-minute charge, up from 20 hours on the Z2. The Z3 also comes in a new orange color, which replaces the blue from the Z2. On the software side, the Z3 gets OnePlus's BassWave feature as well as 3D Spatial Audio. Aside from that, the two models seem identical on paper, which means having the same 12.4mm dynamic driver, SBC and AAC support, 220mAh battery, magnetic clasping mechanism for power off, and IP55 rating for dust and water resistance. We are currently working on our full review for the Bullets Wireless Z3, which should be out shortly.
