OnePlus Buds Z – Steven Harrington Edition Hands-on

OnePlus recently released a new model of their OnePlus Buds Z in collaboration with LA-based artist and designer Steven Harrington. The OnePlus Buds Z – Steven Harrington Edition is one of the most stylish TWS earbuds in the market aimed at users who are tired of the usual black and white colors. Check out our thoughts on the device below.

The OnePlus Buds Z is identical to the standard OnePlus Buds Z in terms of hardware specs. However, this one comes in two-tone purple and mint for the charging case and the buds themselves. To make them pop-out, the earbuds feature Steven Harrington’s “Cool Cat” visuals.

When it comes to materials, the OnePlus Buds Z – Steven Harrington Edition feels light, compact, yet solid. Both the case and the earbuds feature a matte finish that repels smudges.

The back of the case features the USB-C port for charging and the setup button.

On the front is the LED indicator to let you know of its battery level while charging and pairing status.

For the accessories, it comes with three silicone tips of different sizes and a red USB-C cable.

Pairing the OnePlus Buds Z is easy and straightforward. The earbuds are ready for pairing via Bluetooth 5.0 once you open the case. Since we’re using an iPhone, all we need to do is open our Bluetooth settings, then tap on the OnePlus Buds Z. If you own an OnePlus smartphone, it will automatically detect the earbuds the first time you open the case. No need to go inside Settings.

The OnePlus Buds Z only weighs 4.35g and is light in the ears. The housing is also molded in a shape to fill the concha of the outer ear. The result is a snug yet comfortable fit that doesn’t tire the ears. It’s also IP55-certified with hydrophobic nano-coating, meaning it can withstand sweat or drizzle.

For its features, the OnePlus Buds Z features wear detection, device switchover, and touch controls—just double-tap the left or right bud to play the next track. You can also use it to answer or hang-up a call. Two switch to a different device, just press and hold either bud for 3 seconds to return to the last connected device.

When it comes to audio quality, the OnePlus Buds Z sounds great for the price, thanks to the 10mm dynamic drivers. It’s loud, crisp, and doesn’t distort at high volumes. OnePlus said that it features Bass Boost for enhanced depth and detail, which is evident in the full and rich lows. It’s not exactly ‘booming,’ but they’re powerful enough to make bassy tracks sound more energetic.

When it comes to battery life, the OnePlus Buds Z packs a 40mAh battery per bud and 450mAh in the charging case. It boasts 5 hours of playback, which is good since most TWS earbuds provide 4 hours of playback on average. You can extend it up to 20 hours of playback with the help of the charging case. It also supports fast charging with the case, providing you with 3 hours of playback for a 10-minute charge.

The OnePlus Buds Z – Steven Harrington Edition is now available in the Philippines for PHP 2,990. There’s also the standard OnePlus Buds Z in white for PHP 2,590. Bot hare available at Digital Walker, HomeOffice.ph, and official OnePlus Shopee and Lazada stores. If you’re looking for cool-looking, good-sounding affordable TWS earbuds, make sure to check this one out.