OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 Review: A subtle but powerful change!
OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 The price of these headphones in India is Rs 1,999, which is not very expensive, but still offers many good features and functions at this price. The company has launched them as a successor to the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z. They look similar to the older model, but come with some differences. Are these headsets the best neckband wireless headsets ever under Rs 2,000? Let’s find out in this review.
Big Drivers
The design looks familiar, just like the Bullets Wireless 2 and the Bullets Wireless Z before it. If you’ve used OnePlus headsets before, you’ll be able to recognise the brand thanks to the new model’s flexible neckband, the familiar shape of the earpieces, and the short cable that runs from the end of the neckband to the earpieces.
As mentioned earlier, there are some differences. For example, you will notice the lack of an in-line remote and microphone. The buttons for volume, playback, voice assistant activation, and pairing are now fitted on the left module of the neckband. The eartips are also slightly smaller. I found the fit and user experience to be very similar to the older model, including a comfortable fit, noise isolation level, which was quite good. It is rated IP55 for dust and water resistance.
The left module has a USB Type C port for charging on the inside, while the right module is left empty for the company logo. Like the older model, these can be turned on or off by separating or bringing together the earpieces, which are attached with magnets. Due to this, they can sometimes turn on accidentally, such as when kept in a purse or back-pack. A little pulling is required to separate them.
OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 has large 12.4mm dynamic drivers. For wireless connectivity, you get Bluetooth 5 in it, which supports SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs. They pair quickly with OnePlus 6T and later OnePlus smartphones. Bullets Wireless Z had a Quick Switch feature, which allowed quick switching between the two recently used devices, but it is no longer provided in Bullets Wireless Z2. In the sales package, you get three pairs of silicone eartips that come in different sizes. Along with this, a short charging cable is also available.
The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 also has a fast charging feature. It is claimed that it can take the battery level to 70 percent in ten minutes of charge. This much battery will be enough for about 20 hours of playback. I found that the earphones took 20 minutes to fully charge. This makes them the fastest charging earphones currently.
OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 is said to be able to give 30 hours of backup on a single charge but with me it was able to last for 20 hours continuously at 60 percent volume. This is still considered a good backup time. With fast charging, these prove to be even more useful.
More bass than before
The 12.4mm drivers in the wearable make a big difference. This has improved the sound quality. In particular, many changes have been seen in the sonic signature. The Bullets Wireless Z2 now offer a slightly more punchy sound, while the level of clarity and detail was also balanced, as the company introduced in the Bullets Wireless Z in 2020.
One big advantage of the larger drivers is the volume levels, as the sound gets loud enough at 50 percent volume. This means I rarely had to go up to 80 percent volume, which is within tolerance for many wireless headphones.
If you listen to them in an environment where there is a lot of noise, then they prove to be beneficial. With this, they also make up for the lack of active noise cancellation. This feature is available in Realme Buds Wireless 2 by spending a little more money. I did not have to turn the volume up too high indoors. But, outdoors it was easily giving a good sound experience by suppressing the outside sounds. I enjoyed listening to audiobooks and playing games through earphones while traveling.
I listened to Velvetine’s The Great Divide on this and the aggressive sonic signature of the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 was quite evident. The fast, punchy beats of the soundtrack sounded quite powerful. Interestingly, the bass felt deeper and grounded. However, it did cause some fatigue at higher volumes.
I also listened to Focus’ Hocus Pocus on it, which showed the device’s complete control over the bass. This showed how well the mid-range and highs were maintained on the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2. I really liked the level of detail. The elements of the track sounded quite crisp.
Connectivity on the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 was stable and reliable for me. It worked flawlessly up to a distance of 3 meters from the source device. The call quality was also quite good both indoors and outdoors. The neckband microphone worked well even in noisy environments.
Verdict
Wireless audio technology is constantly improving. This means that now even in the price range of 2 thousand or nearby, you can get a better sounding product, which was not possible till a few years ago. OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 offer good value for money at this price, but they do not impress as much in this segment as the original Bullets Wireless Z did in 2020. These are good earphones that offer some better features like fast charging, excellent battery life at this price. But, here the price will also depend on the customer’s thinking as to which offer he goes with.
Spend a little more and get the Realme Buds Wireless 2 which is a great headset. It has the LDAC Bluetooth codec and active noise cancellation. Still, if you are a OnePlus fan and are looking for something reliable, with good battery life, fast charging and powerful sound with bass, then you can go for the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2.
