I’ve used both the OnePlus Buds 4 and the Redmi Buds 6 Pro extensively, and in this article, I’ll break down which one is the right choice for you.
While the OnePlus Buds 4 has a higher price tag—roughly a $50 gap compared to the Redmi Buds 6 Pro—this difference could sway your decision, depending on your priorities.
So, let’s dive into the comparison to see how these earbuds stack up in terms of sound quality, features, performance, and value for money.
Design & Comfort
The OnePlus Buds 4 keep it clean and minimalist with a rounded, stem-style design. The Storm Gray color is sleek but a bit bland—think generic black earbuds. Switch to Zen Green, though, and you’ve got some serious personality. At 4.9g each, they’re crazy light, and the oval eartips (with multiple sizes) let me mix and match for each ear, which was a game-changer. After using the Hey Melody app’s fit test, they felt like nothing during long work sessions or jogs in the rain, thanks to the IP55 rating. The case (65.4 x 52.4 x 25.3 mm, 39.97g) is a tad bulky but still slips into a pocket.
The Redmi Buds 6 Pro stick to the Buds 5 Pro’s blueprint, with a diagonal earpiece and oval eartips that sit snugly. They’re a bit heavier at 5.2g each but stay comfy for hours. The white version looks a little plain, but the black/gray model’s metallic sheen feels high-end. The case (61.05 x 48.28 x 25.17 mm, 36.1g) is slimmer, shrugs off scratches, and has a clever button that shows battery life via an LED. With an IP54 rating, they’re solid for runs, though you might feel a slight thud while jogging.
Edge: The OnePlus Buds 4 nudge ahead with lighter weight and better water resistance, but the Redmi’s slimmer case and premium-looking black/gray finish keep it close. Zen Green tips the style scales for OnePlus.
Sound Quality
The OnePlus Buds 4 bring an 11mm woofer and 6mm tweeter, with LHDC 5.0, AAC, and SBC codecs. After tweaking with the Hey Melody app’s Golden Sound, I got a crisp, balanced profile that made everything from the Beatles’ Yesterday to Zayde Wolf’s Gladiator sound fantastic. The bass is punchy, mids are clear, and treble sparkles without getting harsh. Even at higher volumes, the sound stays clean, and spatial audio with head tracking adds a nice immersive touch for movies or games. For $130, these deliver a premium listening experience.
The Redmi Buds 6 Pro pack an 11mm bass driver with a titanium diaphragm and a 6.7mm piezoelectric tweeter, supporting LDAC, AAC, and SBC. They’re no slouch, with a lively sound that brings a solid mid-bass kick and deep sub-bass—James Blake’s Limit to Your Love hits hard. Mids are full, and treble is smooth, but it’s not as refined as the OnePlus, especially at higher volumes where clarity dips slightly. The Xiaomi Earbuds app offers four EQ presets to tweak things, and the Immersive Sound feature adds a surround effect, though it’s less polished than the OnePlus’s spatial audio. Still, for $80, it’s a fun listen.
Edge: The OnePlus Buds 4 take the crown for sound quality. They’re crisper, more balanced, and hold up better at high volumes, making them the go-to for audiophiles. The Redmi Buds 6 Pro are still a blast for the price.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
Noise cancellation can make or break your focus. The OnePlus Buds 4 offer adaptive AI-driven ANC up to 50dB, with High, Moderate, and Low modes. Out of the box, it’s set to Moderate, which handles casual noise like office chatter but needs the Hey Melody app to crank up to High for serious blocking. It does a solid job with traffic and background hums, but the adaptive tech can be wonky—one bud might switch modes mid-chat. Transparency mode lets in enough sound to stay aware, but it’s not as seamless as top-tier rivals.
The Redmi Buds 6 Pro step up with up to 55dB ANC and a 4kHz ultra-wide frequency range, offering Deep, Balanced, and Light modes via the Xiaomi Earbuds app. Deep mode is a beast, muting everything from AC hums to street noise with ease. It’s not perfect with nearby voices, but it’s noticeably better than the OnePlus at keeping distractions out. Transparency mode focuses on mid-frequencies, letting you hear conversations clearly without high-pitched traffic noise. Wind noise is handled well, though faintly audible.
Edge: The Redmi Buds 6 Pro edge out slightly with stronger, more consistent ANC and better default performance. The OnePlus Buds 4 are close but need more app tweaks to match.
Call Quality
Clear calls are a must, whether you’re on Zoom or chatting on the go. The OnePlus Buds 4 use three mics per side, delivering natural-sounding audio in quiet settings—Google Meet on my laptop and calls on my Pixel 8 Pro were crystal clear. Background noise like chatter or doors slamming gets filtered out decently. On the move, wind and street sounds sneak in, but it’s still solid. The catch? Controls are frustrating—single taps for pause/play often don’t register, which is a hassle mid-call.
The Redmi Buds 6 Pro also use three AI-powered mics, shining in quiet environments with a warm, natural voice tone. They block out traffic and sudden noises well during calls. But when walking, the mics struggle—my voice flipped between light and full, and indoors, I sometimes got weird wind-like noise. In actual wind, my voice dipped to barely audible. For videos and games like Call of Duty Mobile, they’re great, with minimal lag and solid spatial details.
Edge: The OnePlus Buds 4 pull ahead for better call clarity on the move, despite their clunky controls. The Redmi Buds 6 Pro are strong in quiet settings but falter when you’re out and about.
Battery Life
Battery life keeps your tunes going. The OnePlus Buds 4 offer 6 to 6.5 hours per charge with ANC on, up to 11 hours with ANC off, and 45 hours total with the case. Fast charging is a standout—10 minutes gives you 11 hours (ANC off), perfect for quick top-ups. No wireless charging at $130 feels like a miss, though, especially compared to cheaper predecessors.
The Redmi Buds 6 Pro give you about 7 hours with ANC on and 36 hours with the case. A 10-minute charge nets 2 to 3 hours, which is handy but not as impressive as the OnePlus. The case’s LED battery indicator is a nice touch, recharging the buds three times via USB-C. No wireless charging here either, but at $80, it’s less of a dealbreaker.
Edge: The OnePlus Buds 4 win with longer total battery life and faster charging, though the Redmi’s 7 hours per charge with ANC on is great for daily use.
OnePlus Buds 4 vs Redmi Buds 6 Pro: Specs Comparison
| Specification | OnePlus Buds 4 | Redmi Buds 6 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Wired/Wireless | Wireless | Wireless |
| Battery Life | Up to 45 hours with case (ANC off), 11 hours per earbud (AAC) | Up to 36 hours with case, 9.5 hours per earbud |
| Noise Cancellation | Yes, up to 50dB adaptive noise cancellation | Yes, up to 55dB with Deep, Balanced, and Light modes, 4kHz ultra-wide frequency |
| Microphones | 3 mics per side | 3 mics per side with AI noise reduction, resists 12m/s wind noise |
| IP Rating | IP55 | IP54 |
| Supported Codecs | LHDC 5.0, AAC, SBC | LDAC, AAC, SBC |
| Charging | Wired, Fast Charging (10 mins for 11 hours) | Wired, Fast Charging (5 mins for 2 hours) |
| Driver Size | 11mm woofer + 6mm tweeter | 11mm bass driver with titanium diaphragm + 6.7mm dual piezoelectric ceramic tweeter |
| Dimensions (Earbuds) | 33 x 20.6 x 24.2 mm | 30.6 x 21.4 x 24.5 mm |
| Dimensions (Case) | 65.4 x 52.4 x 25.3 mm | 61.05 x 48.28 x 25.17 mm |
| Weight (Earbuds) | ~4.9g each | 5.2g each |
| Weight (Case) | 39.97g | 36.1g |
| Price | $129.99 | ~$80 |
| Spatial Audio | Yes, with head tracking | Yes, with head tracking |
| Multipoint Support | Dual-Point connectivity | Dual device smart connection |
| Companion App | HeyMelody app with EQ presets, fit test, and controls | Xiaomi Earbuds app with 4 EQ settings, ANC customization |
| Bluetooth Version | Bluetooth 5.4 | Bluetooth 5.3 Low Energy |
| Additional Features | Google Fast Pair, touch controls with slide gestures | Google Fast Pair, touch controls, dual transparency modes (Enhance Voice, Enhance Ambient Sound) |
Which Should You Buy?
The OnePlus Buds 4 ($129.99) are a premium mid-range pick with stellar sound quality, a lightweight fit, and killer fast charging. If you’ve got a OnePlus phone, extras like Steady Connect and Game Mode sweeten the deal. But the finicky controls and slightly weaker ANC make the $50 premium over the Redmi a tough sell.
The Redmi Buds 6 Pro ($80) are a budget superstar, with top-notch ANC and lively sound that punches above their price. The slim case and smooth controls are big wins, but call quality on the move and overeager multipoint switching can annoy.
Buy the OnePlus Buds 4 if: You want crisp, balanced sound, long battery life, and reliable calls, especially with a OnePlus phone.
Buy the Redmi Buds 6 Pro if: You need the best ANC on a budget and don’t mind sacrificing some sound refinement for $50 less.
For me, the OnePlus Buds 4 take the win if sound quality is your top priority, but the Redmi Buds 6 Pro are hard to beat for value and noise cancellation. That $50 gap might just tip the scales depending on your budget.
Best Deals:
OnePlus Buds 4: View on AliExpress
Redmi Buds 6 Pro: View on AliExpress
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Nick, the Co-founder of Earbuds Arena, is a seasoned freelance tech journalist with over ten years of experience covering wearables, apps, headphones, and gadgets. When he’s not immersed in the tech world, you’ll likely find him unwinding with video games, going for a run, or enjoying a game of soccer on the field.
