Despite a well-established budget TWS segment, wireless neckbands still enjoy a lot of popularity in India. The primary driver behind the success of neckbands is their reliable form factor. While wireless earbuds are prone to dislodgement, neckbands stay put around the neck. As far as the audio quality goes, a good neckband still outperforms most entry-level wireless earbuds. OnePlus’s ‘Bullets’ series commands a significant neckband market share. The latest iteration in the series, Bullets Z3, is currently priced at Rs 1,699. We used it for a week to find out how it stacks up against budget TWS products. Here’s our in-depth review of the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3.
Read Also: Pixel 6a Users In India Can Get Their Battery Issue Fixed For Free: Details
In This Article
OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3 Review: Design
Here’s what you get inside the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3’s retail package:
- Neckband
- Extra silicone eartips (S & L)
- User guide and warranty card
The design of the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3 is identical to its predecessor, Z3. It has an all-plastic body, but the build quality is premium. The plastic band is elastic and pliable. It has a soft matte finish and does not itch against the neck when worn for multiple hours. The two plastic stems also have a matte finish. The left stem houses the volume rocker keys with a multi-function button placed in the middle. There is a small LED indicator up top and a USB Type-C port for charging on the side. This port does not have a lid, something we found quite odd. The right stem is engraved with the OnePlus lettering and logo. It is completely buttonless.
The earbuds follow the traditional in-ear design language. There are two things about these earbuds that make them a clear winner in our book. The first is their compact size. This makes them incredibly comfortable to wear for multiple hours on end. The ear fatigue is minimal, and they do not cause any abrasion to the inner walls of the ear. Secondly, the inner panel of the earbuds have a matte finish. This ensures that the buds don’t slide out in sweaty conditions. Most entry-level truly wireless earbuds are completely glossy, so it is nice to see OnePlus offer something more useful.
A good fit in sweaty conditions is necessary if you intend to wear the neckband while working out. The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3 passes this test with flying colours. Furthermore, the neckband is rated IP55 for dust and water resistance. We wore it while hiking and running, and were pleased to see that its performance remained unfazed even after exposure to sweat.
OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3 Review: Performance
Two 12.4mm dynamic drivers generate the audio output on the Bullets Wireless Z3. The neckband is equipped with Bluetooth 5.4. Pairing it to a smartphone is easy with Google Fast Pair onboard. Long-pressing the multi-function button puts the neckband into pairing mode. There is no dedicated on/off button or switch. The earbuds shut down after locking with each other magnetically.
The soundstage of the Bullets Z3 neckband is vast and expansive. While the low-range frequencies get a lot of space, they don’t cloud over the mid and the highs. The bass is delicious and makes the listening experience more enjoyable. We played genres like classic rock, pop, and heavy metal while using this neckband, and it handled all of them very well. We were happy with the intensity of the audio output, too. Even at high volume levels, the output was composed and free of distortion.
There are 5 equaliser profiles to choose from – Balanced (Default), Serenade, Bass, and Bold. Additionally, you can use the ‘BassWave’ function to adjust the intensity of the bass output on each profile. There is no option to create a customised equaliser profile. There is OnePlus 3D Audio onboard, but you need to play compatible media to fully feel its effect. These features can be accessed natively on a OnePlus smartphone, but you will need to install the HeyMelody app to use them on other devices.
The calling experience offered by the Bullets Wireless Z3 neckband is superior to most entry-level earbuds. In indoor conditions, the lone microphone on the right stem does a great job of picking up the voice of the speaker and curbing the background noise. In noisy outdoor conditions, the AI Call Noise Cancellation tech does a good job of extracting the voice of the speaker from the surrounding noise and relaying it to the listener.
The 220mAh battery pack on this neckband puts up a versatile performance. If you don’t go past the 50% volume mark, you can get a solid 36-hour battery life. We got 30 hours of battery life from the neckband with the volume level between 80-100% at all times. A quick 10-minute charge can power the neckband for 27 hours, which is simply amazing.
There are a couple of absent features on the Bullets Wireless Z3 that keep it from being the perfect neckband. A dedicated gaming mode is perhaps the biggest omission. While playing FPS titles like Call of Duty Mobile and BGMI, some latency creeps into the gameplay. The other missing feature is Active Noise Cancellation, but the good news is that OnePlus will likely launch an ANC version of this neckband in the coming months.
Read Also: Top 10 smartphones under Rs 40,000 (July 2025)
Verdict
After using the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3 for a week, we can safely say that it is still one of the best neckbands in its segment. Its audio output is superior to most of its TWS peers. The soundstage is expansive and vibrant. If you’re strictly concerned with the quality of the sound, the Bullets Z3 is a no-brainer purchase. But that’s not all. The call quality produced by this neckband in outdoor conditions is equally impressive. What seals the deal for us is the 36-hour battery life and quick charge support. While ANC and low-latency mode are significant misses, the affordable price tag of Rs 1,699 makes up for them.
OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3: Pros
- Comfortable fit
- Good sound quality
- Quick charging support
OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3: Cons
- No ANC
- No low-latency mode
