OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z review - Affordable battery behemoth - Android

Wireless earphones are so commonplace we hardly give them a second thought. Now that headphone jacks are a rare bird, smartphone manufacturers across the board want a branded pair in their portfolios. OnePlus first launched the Wireless Bullets back in 2018 and updated them in the OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2 in 2019. This year, OnePlus is getting into the affordable headphones game with the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z.

When we reviewed last year’s OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2, we found the sound quality to be excellent and the quick-charging function to be particularly useful.

Can the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z set a similar benchmark in the affordable headset segment? Let’s find out in the Android Authority OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z review.

OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z review: How’s the design?

What you make of the design of the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z really comes down to your opinion on neckband-style earphones. I’m not the biggest fan, but there are certain advantages to being able to hang your earphones around your neck when you are not using them. And hey, you don’t have to worry about losing an earbud either.

The design is, for the most part, identical to the second-generation OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2 with a few compromises on materials. The Wireless Z exchanges all the metal bits from the OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2 for plastic. This isn’t a huge compromise given the difference in pricing.

The design accents from last year’s model have been toned down a bit, though it can still be difficult to tell the two apart from a distance. This goes doubly so if you’re sporting the black variant. The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z also come in a blue and oatmeal colorway.

The construction of the Bullets Wireless Z is fairly straightforward. A rubber band wraps around the back of your neck and two plastic stalks form the ends. The right side includes a power button that doubles up for pairing and switching between two paired devices. The USB-C charging port is also located here.

The buttons on the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z are a bit fiddly, but the construction and quality of the cables is excellent.

An in-line remote is included in on the left. I found the buttons a bit too fiddly to use, just like on the OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2. This is one area where the company would have done well to make improvements.

OnePlus did an excellent job with the earbuds themselves. The earphones fit perfectly in my ear canals. The selection of included silicone tips is top notch, as is the quality of the cabling.

Additionally, the earphones are magnetic and the headset automatically switches off when you snap the pair together. Very convenient.

The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z are IP55 rated, so you can take them for a run without worrying about sweat or rain.

Finally, the earphones are water resistant. The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z are IP55 rated, so you can take them out for a run without worrying about sweat or a bit of rain.

Unlike last year’s model, OnePlus is not including a carrying case with the Wireless Z.

How do they sound?

The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z might look like the higher-end Bullets Wireless 2, but there are substantial differences in the audio stack. The Bullets Wireless Z employs a single 9.2mm driver, compared to the two drivers of the Wireless 2. This has an obvious impact on sound reproduction.

The overall sound signature of the Bullets Wireless Z can be defined as laid-back, by which I mean warm, unexciting and non-fatiguing. These are the type of earphones you’d keep