You might’ve blinked and missed them thanks to all the hype around the new Nord 5 and Nord CE5, but the OnePlus Buds 4 quietly launched alongside—and trust me, they’re not here to be the sidekicks. In fact, I’d argue they’re worthy of a little spotlight of their own. So let’s give them one, shall we? But not without some competition. Enter: the Realme Buds Air 7 Pro, another fresh drop that’s just itching for a face-off. So yeah, we’re doing this.
Audio Quality
Let’s start with the most important thing when it comes to any kind of audio gear—how they actually sound. And right off the bat, here’s the deal: neither of these are aiming to please hardcore audiophiles. They’re both tuned for a bass-heavy experience, and that’s perfectly fine for everyday listeners who want their music to thump.
What surprised me, though, is that despite all that bass, the mids and highs actually shine through. Fire up something like Arctic Monkeys’ Do I Wanna Know or even French Montana’s Unforgettable, and you’ll hear that punchy low-end, but you’re not losing detail in vocals or instruments. That said, I personally vibed with the OnePlus Buds 4 a bit more. There’s just something richer and more full-bodied about the way Adele’s Skyfall sounded. Still, Realme held its own pretty well with tracks like Moth to a Flame by The Weeknd or Mary on a Cross by Ghost.
On the technical front, both have the same driver setup—11mm and 6mm coaxial dual drivers with dual DACs—which helps explain the similarity in output. And if you’re someone who likes to tweak your EQ, you can do that via Realme Link or HeyMelody apps. I found myself dialing the bass down just a notch and bumping the treble ever so slightly on both. There’s also a “Golden Sound” feature that does a mini ear scan to customise the sound signature for your ears. Kinda fun, though not a game-changer.
And yes, both claim to support spatial or 3D audio—but don’t expect AirPods Pro levels of immersion. Honestly, it felt more like a marketing checkbox than an actual feature you’ll use regularly. Same goes for the low-latency gaming modes. Realme says 45ms, OnePlus says 47ms. I didn’t notice a massive difference, but if you’re a hardcore mobile gamer, it’s nice to have.
Active noise cancellation is decent on both. OnePlus says it can block up to 55dB and Realme comes in slightly lower at 53dB. Both do adaptive noise cancelling, and it works well in noisy cafés or during commutes. I did experience a bit of fatigue while using the OnePlus buds for longer sessions, while the Realme stayed comfy. But as always, fit can vary from ear to ear.
Transparency mode is... okay. It works, but the audio feels a bit tinny and robotic on both. For casual conversations, it’ll get the job done, but don’t expect to feel like you’re not wearing earbuds.
Call quality? Actually solid. Voices come through crisp and clean, and background noise is kept to a minimum. You also get some AI translation gimmicks on both, which sounds futuristic but let’s be real—most of us are never going to use it beyond the first try.
Connectivity
Connectivity’s on point. Both use Bluetooth 5.4 and support all the usual suspects: AAC, SBC, and LHDC 5.0. Pairing was smooth on both Android and iPhone, though they’re still not as slick as Google Fast Pair. You also get Dual Device Connection, so switching between your laptop and phone is seamless. Range held strong too—I had no dropouts even with walls in between.
Touch controls work fine, but Realme edges out slightly with quicker response. OnePlus has a smaller touch surface, so if your taps are off, it might not register. Honestly, I wish both brands went with pinch controls like Apple—it just feels way more natural and precise.
Design
Design is where things get fun. Realme went all-in with a jewelry box-style case that uses faux leather. It looks fancy, feels premium, and stands out in a crowd. OnePlus took a completely different route with a puck-shaped case that’s sleek, clean, and ridiculously pocketable. You flip it open one-handed like a fidget toy, and it’s super satisfying.
The buds themselves follow that same pattern. Realme’s are flashy with a gold dual-tone finish, while OnePlus keeps it minimal and clean. I personally liked the look of the Buds 4 better, but Realme’s buds gave me a snugger fit. Both come with multiple silicone tips, and both are IP55-rated, so sweat and rain won’t ruin your day.
Battery
Now battery life—this is another area where they’re evenly matched. Realme claims 48 hours of playback, OnePlus says 45. That’s with ANC off and volume at 50%. In real use, with ANC on, LHDC enabled, and volume around 60%, both easily lasted about a week with 4–5 hours of daily listening. Charging is fast too—10 minutes gave me around 5–6 hours on both.
Verdict
So, final verdict? If you want style, slightly better controls, and comfort, Realme is a solid bet. But if audio quality is your priority, the OnePlus Buds 4 just have a little more depth and richness to them.
Both punch above their price tag—but for me, the Buds 4 are the ones I’ll keep in my pocket.
