OnePlus Buds 3 alternatives in India: OPPO Enco Air3 Pro, CMF Buds Pro and more

• By Marcia Sekhose -
Published On: January 27, 2024

OnePlus launched a new pair of TWS at the OnePlus 12 launch event in India earlier this week. It's the OnePlus Buds 3 priced at Rs 5,499, and one it offers ANC, 3D audio, and up to 44 hours of battery life. If we look at OnePlus' audio portfolio, the Buds 3 are not only the latest but also second in terms of price and features. But it does compete with several contenders in the budget TWS category. 

OnePlus Buds 3 would be competing against wireless earbuds from brands like Realme, OPPO and even Samsung. We've rounded up its potential rivals and the list includes Realme Buds Air 5 Pro, OPPO Enco Air3 Pro, Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, CMF Buds Pro and JBL 235NC. 

Let's take a look at each product and see how they compete with the OnePlus Buds 3. 

Realme Buds Air 5 Pro specs, features

• The Realme Buds Air 5 Pro offers up to 50dB ANC, and LDAC codec to enhance audio immersion. 
• The TWS is equipped with six microphones, 11mm woofers and 6mm planar drivers. It's also IPX5 rated for water resistance. 
• It also comes with Hi-Res audio, 40ms low latency for gaming, dual device pairing, and 360-degree Spatial Audio effects.
• With the Realme Buds Air 5 Pro you get up to 40 hours of battery life.

The Realme Buds Air 5 Pro is one tough competitor against the OnePlus Buds 3. It's priced cheaper and also offers better noise cancellation on paper. The battery life is almost at par with the OnePlus Buds 3 as it's short by just four hours. So if you're looking for something that's priced a little less you can consider the Realme Buds 5 Pro. 

OPPO Enco Air3 Pro specs, features

• The OPPO Enco Air3 Pro offers 49dB ANC along with DNN Noise Cancellation for Calls, which filters out surrounding noise during calls.
• You can get up to seven hours of battery life on a single charge with the OPPO Enco Air3 Pro. With the charging case, it can be extended up to 30 hours.
• It's equipped with 12.4mm dynamic unit, and a diaphragm made of natural bamboo fiber for clear and crisp sound. The TWS also offers hi-def audio and has LDAC codec.
• The OPPO Enco Air3 Pro has IP55 rating for dust and water resistance. It also has touch controls, and can be connected with two devices at the same time. 

The OPPO Enco Air3 Pro is another cheaper alternative to the OnePlus Buds 3. It comes with the same ANC capability but a little less on the battery life. You also get a strong IP55 water and dust resistance like the OnePlus Buds 3. If the battery life doesn't concern you much then you can consider the OPPO Enco Air3 Pro. There's also a pretty green colour that you can pick up. 

CMF Buds Pro specs, features

• The CMF Buds Pro can deliver up to 45 dB of active noise cancellation. It also has an advanced Wind Noise Reduction algorithm that helps ensure minimal sound interference caused by wind.
• There's a 55mAh battery on each earbud, and you get up to 11 hours of battery life with ANC off. With the charging case you get a total of 39 hours on the CMF Buds Pro. 
• It's equipped with six microphones in total with clear voice technology. You also get an EQ to adjust the audio, and ultra bass technology on the CMF Buds Pro.
• The wireless earbuds are also IP54 rated for water and dust resistance. 

The CMF Buds Pro is a new contender in the budget TWS segment. It's a sub-brand by Nothing, and offers budget wearables and accessories. The CMF Buds Pro is the cheapest in the list with a price tag of Rs 2,999 but you get a decent set of specs. It may lack in terms of features but you're still getting a good package and at a much cheaper price. 

JBL Tune 235NC specs, features

• The JBL Tune 235NC is equipped with four microphones, and it offers ANC as well. It also has an ambient mode, and talk through so you can listen to your surroundings without having to remove the earbuds. 
• You get up to 40 hours of battery life with ANC turned off. With ANC on it should last for up to eight hours, and 24 hours with the case. 
• It's equipped with 6mm drivers, and comes with JBL's Pure Bass Sound for extra bass. 
• The JBL Tune 235NC is IPX4 rated for water resistance. 

The JBL Tune 235NC was launched at Rs 4,999 but you can get it for Rs 4,299 on Amazon. It's definitely priced lower than the OnePlus Buds 3 so you can consider it as a cheaper alternative. But you will miss out on some features like longer battery life, and stronger water resistance. 

Sony WF-C500 specs, features

• The Sony WF-C500 can last for up to 10 hours, and 20 hours longer with the charging case. It also has fast charging support that should give you one hour's juice in just 10 minutes. 
• The wireless earbuds come with IPX4 rating for water resistance. It also has buttons for actions like play, stop, skip and volume control. 
• The Sony TWS also has support for Google Assistant and Siri. It's equipped with DSEE that helps restore high frequency sounds lost in compression. 
• It's compact in size, and the earbuds have an ergonomic design so it fits comfortably.

The Sony WF-C500 wireless earbuds are priced at Rs 8,990 but you can get it for Rs 5,990 on Amazon. This makes the Sony TWS close in competition with the OnePlus Buds 3 in terms of pricing but it does lack key features including ANC. The Sony WF-C500 is worth mentioning though considering the premium quality and sound the brand offers.