In an audio market increasingly dominated by True Wireless (TWS) earbuds, the humble neckband continues to hold its ground, championed by users who prioritize battery life, convenience, and value. OnePlus, a brand that has built a reputation for delivering premium experiences at competitive prices, has been a significant player in this space. Their latest offering, the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3, arrives as a successor to the popular Z2, aiming to refine the formula that has made this series a go-to for many. This review delves deep into the Z3, exploring its heritage, its place in today’s market, and whether it lives up to the expectations set by its predecessors.
A Legacy of Wireless Audio: The OnePlus Bullets Story
The journey of the OnePlus Bullets series is a reflection of the brand’s own evolution. It began in 2018 with the first OnePlus Bullets Wireless. A year later, the Bullets Wireless 2 marked a significant leap forward. The year 2020 was pivotal with the introduction of the Bullets Wireless Z, a strategic move to capture the budget-friendly segment, which was followed by a “Bass Edition” and the Bullets Wireless Z2 in 2022. The Bullets Wireless Z3 is the latest chapter in this story, born from a lineage of products that have consistently prioritized user-centric features and value.
Market Positioning: Finding its Niche
The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3 enters a crowded but well-defined market. Priced at ₹1,699, it squarely targets the budget-conscious consumer in India who still prefers the neckband form factor. It competes with products from brands like Realme and CMF. OnePlus positions the Z3 as a reliable, no-fuss audio companion for daily use, whether for commuting, working out, or taking calls. The key selling points are its powerful bass, long battery life, fast charging, and good call quality, all offered at a highly competitive price. It consciously forgoes premium features like Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) to maintain its affordability, a feature found in its sibling, the Z2 ANC.
Box Contents
The unboxing experience is straightforward. Inside the package, you will find:
- The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3 neckband earphones
- Extra silicone ear tips
- User guide
Notably, a USB Type-C charging cable is not included in the box. OnePlus likely assumes that most users will have a compatible cable from their smartphone, a decision that helps in keeping the cost down but might be an inconvenience for some.
Design and Build: Familiar and Functional
The design of the Z3 is a case of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” It retains the lightweight, comfortable neckband design of its predecessors. Weighing just 26g, it’s easy to forget you’re wearing it, even for extended periods.
The construction is primarily plastic, and the cable is a standard, non-braided wire. While it may not have the premium feel of a braided cable, it’s a practical choice. The look is so similar to the Z2 that there are no major visual upgrades. The earphones come in several colors, including Midnight, Samba, and Sunset. For durability against the elements, the Z3 boasts an IP55 rating for water and sweat resistance, as listed on its official product page.
The Listening Experience: A Tale of Two Sound Signatures
The audio performance of the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3 is where its character truly reveals itself. Powered by large 12.4mm dynamic drivers, the sound is tuned for a specific audience: bass lovers.
The Power of Bass: The low-end frequency response is undeniably the star of the show. The bass is described as “amazing”. The companion app’s “BassWave” feature further boosts this, making the bass even more prominent. For those who enjoy a bass-heavy sound, the Z3 is more than capable.
Loudness over Clarity: The Z3 can get very loud. However, this focus on loudness comes at the expense of clarity, especially when compared to the Z2 ANC. At full volume, the Z3 can sound less refined, while the Z2 ANC maintains clarity in vocals and highs without distortion. As one user noted, “Z3 seems to be concentrating on loudness, but not on clarity.”
A Clear Divide: A direct comparison with the Z2 ANC reveals this trade-off clearly. While the Z3 can easily beat the Z2 ANC in sheer bass output, the Z2 ANC provides a more balanced and detailed listening experience with crisp vocals and clear highs. The addition of 3D spatial audio is a new feature not present in the Z2.
Call Quality: Crystal Clear Conversations
One of the most significant and impressive upgrades in the Z3 is its call quality. It performs exceptionally well, even in challenging environments. During a test call while driving at around 30 kmph with car noise, the person on the other end could not tell the caller was outdoors, only realizing it after a horn was heard. The earphones do an excellent job of minimizing wind noise, ensuring that your voice remains clear and audible. This makes the Z3 a highly reliable choice for anyone who takes a lot of calls on the go.
Power for Days: Battery and Charging
Battery performance has always been a hallmark of the Bullets Wireless Z series, and the Z3 takes it to a new level. It is equipped with a 220mAh battery that delivers up to 36 hours of music playback at 50% volume.
The fast-charging capability is, in a word, “crazy”. A mere 10-minute charge provides up to 27 hours of playback time (at 50% volume). This is an incredibly convenient feature that practically eliminates battery anxiety. You can plug it in for a few minutes while you have some tea, and come back to a device that feels fully charged again.
Performance and Connectivity
The Z3 uses the latest Bluetooth 5.4 for a stable and efficient connection with a range of up to 10 meters. It also supports Google Fast Pair, which makes the initial setup with Android devices nearly instantaneous. The supported audio codecs are SBC and AAC.
The physical controls are located on the neckband and are intuitive. There are buttons for volume up and down, and a multi-functional button in the middle that handles play/pause with a single press, skips to the next track with a double press, goes to the previous track with a triple press, and enters pairing mode with a press and hold.
Conclusion
The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3 will definitely inspire confidence in users who need a reliable audio workhorse. The design will feel familiar, the battery life will make you feel content, and there will be a clear difference in your call quality when upgrading from inferior devices. But it is definitely not an audiophile-grade product. Do tune your expectations before approaching for a purchase. It’s a worthy upgrade for Z2 users, but not for those who already own the Z2 ANC.
Pricing and availability
The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3 is priced at Rs. 1699. It is available from OnePlus.in, Amazon.in, Flipkart, Myntra, OnePlus Experience Stores, and major offline retail outlets.
Pros
- Excellent call quality, even in noisy environments
- Incredibly fast charging is very convenient
- Fantastic battery life
- Powerful, bass-heavy sound signature
Cons
- Sound quality favors loudness over clarity
- Build quality is standard; no braided cable
- Not an audio upgrade over the Z2 ANC