Hands-On with the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3
OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3 india launch Confirm 2025 The Bullets Wireless Z3 are OnePlus’ latest neckband-style wireless earbuds. At first glance, not much has changed — the design and core features remain largely the same as the previous model, the Bullets Wireless Z2, released back in 2022.
The Z3 introduces only a handful of updates over its predecessor. These include an upgraded Bluetooth version for better connectivity, slightly improved battery life, and a few software enhancements like 3D Audio and preset EQ options.
With a price tag of ₹1,699, the Bullets Wireless Z3 is clearly positioned as a budget-friendly option — ideal for users who are looking for a simple, no-frills audio device that covers the basics well. So, how does it actually perform in real-world use? Let’s take a closer look.
Look and Feel
The design of the Bullets Wireless Z3 is virtually unchanged from the Z2. It features the classic neckband style with a flexible band, chunky stalks, and slim cables that end in earbuds. The earbuds themselves have magnets on the back, allowing them to snap together and automatically power off when not in use.
All the physical controls are located on the left stalk, letting you easily manage playback, volume, and other functions. There’s also a USB-C charging port and a status LED on this side.
Considering the price, the build quality is solid, and the IP55 rating offers decent protection against dust and water splashes. The earbuds feel comfortable, thanks to the soft ear tips, which is impressive for a budget device.
One of the biggest advantages of neckband-style earphones is their convenience. You can wear them around your neck all day without worrying about pocket space. They’re always within reach when you want to use them and simply rest comfortably when you don’t. Plus, even if an earbud falls off, it won’t get lost easily. This makes them ideal for workouts, as long as you’re mindful not to snag the cables on gym equipment. And let’s not forget the tactile benefit of physical buttons for full control — something often missing from true wireless earbuds. It really makes you wonder why so many have switched to TWS when this style offers so much practicality.
User Experience and Features
The Bullets Wireless Z3 earbuds work with the HeyMelody app on both Android and iOS. If you’re using a OnePlus phone, you can access the same features directly through the Bluetooth settings without needing the app.
Unlike the Z2, which didn’t offer much in terms of app features, the Z3 brings a few useful additions. One of these is OnePlus’ 3D Audio, which creates a surround sound-like effect from regular stereo audio. It’s a neat option for some, though I personally prefer listening to music as it was originally mixed, so it’s not really for me — but it’s there if you want to try it out.
The Z3 also introduces EQ presets, though there’s no fully customizable equalizer. You do get an adjustable BassWave feature, which is a noticeable step up from the Z2’s lack of any app-based options. That said, it feels a bit unnecessary to lock EQ controls behind an app, especially since the feature is already included and unlocked on pricier models.
One convenient aspect is that the audio settings you choose are saved directly on the earbuds, so they carry over even when you switch devices, like connecting them to a PC.
Another new addition is the ability to update the earbuds’ firmware via the app, something the Z2 lacked. Whether OnePlus will actually release updates is another question.
Beyond that, the app doesn’t offer much more. There’s an Earbuds control menu that lists the functions assigned to the physical buttons, but you can’t customize these controls — which makes sense, since these are physical buttons, not touch or gesture controls. Plus, the Bullets Wireless Z3 don’t have many extra features to assign anyway.
Real-World Performance
Sound Clarity and Depth
Like its predecessor, the Bullets Wireless Z3 features a single 12.4mm dynamic driver and supports SBC and AAC codecs.
Right out of the box, the Z3 delivers the familiar OnePlus sound signature — which means a heavy emphasis on bass, especially on the so-called “Balanced” preset. The bass is actually quite overwhelming, making it suitable for some music genres but often distracting or muddy during videos or spoken word content.
Thankfully, the BassWave feature offers a helpful solution by letting you both increase and decrease the bass levels. Dropping the bass down to around -4 or -5 on the slider removes much of the excessive boom and lets the other elements of the sound come through more clearly.
The mid-range is reasonably good but clearly tuned to accommodate the heavy bass. It’s a bit forward to cut through the bass, but when you reduce the bass with BassWave, the lower mids can sound slightly honky or nasal.
Treble performance is fairly average — there’s decent presence in the upper mids and lower treble, but it lacks some sparkle and air in the higher frequencies. Still, since most modern music tends to be mastered on the brighter side, this shouldn’t pose much of a problem.
After adjusting the bass with the BassWave slider, I found the sound more enjoyable than I expected from an entry-level device like this. While the lack of a fully customizable EQ in the app is a downside, you can still get a satisfying audio experience by using third-party sound tuning apps.
Microphone
The Bullets Wireless Z3 deliver impressive microphone performance. Voices come through clearly with a natural tone and no obvious digital distortion when recorded in quiet environments. Even in noisy settings, the voice remains audible and understandable.
However, there is some persistent background noise—hissing and occasional popping—that can be distracting given how clean the voice sounds otherwise. This background noise tends to get worse as ambient noise increases.
If OnePlus can fix the popping sounds with a software update, the Bullets Wireless Z3 would be an excellent budget option for frequent callers.
Noise Cancellation
The Bullets Wireless Z3 do not feature active noise cancellation (ANC). Instead, the ear tips provide passive noise isolation, which can be sufficient when music is playing but won’t block out louder environments like trains, flights, or busy streets.
Without ANC, there’s also no transparency mode, which means you’ll often need to remove the earbuds to stay aware of your surroundings, such as when crossing streets or listening for announcements.
Latency
Latency performance on the Bullets Wireless Z3 is solid. They handle audio sync well across smartphones and PCs, even when paired with devices that typically don’t correct latency issues.
Connection
Connection stability is excellent, with no audio dropouts or unexpected disconnections on both smartphones and PCs.
Despite upgrading to Bluetooth 5.4, the earbuds lack multi-device pairing — a feature many users expect today. Additionally, they don’t have a quick-switch button command to toggle between paired devices, a feature that appeared on previous Bullets Wireless models.
Battery Life
One of the biggest improvements with the Bullets Wireless Z3 is battery life, increasing from 30 hours on the Z2 to 36 hours.
In our tests, the earbuds lasted an impressive 37 hours and 35 minutes on a continuous play, exceeding the official claim.
OnePlus also says a 10-minute quick charge provides up to 27 hours of playback, improved from 20 hours on the Z2. Our tests showed around 28 hours and 18 minutes on a quick charge, again beating the claim.
This means if you listen for a couple of hours daily, a full charge can easily last 2–3 weeks. Even a quick 10-minute top-up can keep you going for nearly two weeks.
While true wireless earbuds (TWS) might match or beat this total battery life when factoring in charging cases, their batteries tend to wear out faster due to frequent charging cycles. Neckband-style earbuds like these typically last for years since they don’t require constant recharging.
Conclusion
The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3 keep things simple — and that’s part of their appeal. If you’re familiar with neckband earbuds, you’ll find this model feels like an upgraded version of what OnePlus launched in 2022, with improved battery life and some minor tweaks.
Neckbands might feel outdated to some who prefer sleek, true wireless designs, but for those who work with their hands, want durable, comfortable earphones with physical buttons (even usable with gloves), and value long battery life without frequent charging, the Z3 fits the bill perfectly.
While the Z3 isn’t a major leap forward, it’s a solid, reliable option that excels in comfort, battery, microphone quality, and overall design. Hopefully, OnePlus will release an ANC version in the future. But if you don’t need ANC and appreciate the practicality of neckband earbuds, the Bullets Wireless Z3 are definitely worth considering.
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