$46 OnePlus Buds Z TWS earphones debut alongside Nord Gray Ash color

Just as the original OnePlus Buds TWS headset was unveiled alongside the Nord, today’s event pairs the new Buds Z with a special edition of the Nord. The buds have a special edition of their own too, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

The OnePlus Buds Z are a more affordable version of the OnePlus Buds. They feature 10mm dynamic drivers and 20 hour battery life, compared to 13.4mm drivers and 30 hours of the original model. That aside, the Z keep most of the features of the original Buds and even bring some upgrades.

The OnePlus Buds Z have a new design with rubber tips • They are sweat and rain resistant (IP55)

You still get 3D stereo powered by Dolby Atmos for a more immersive experience, plus Bass Boost for deeper sound. There’s no active noise cancellation on either model for listening to music, though they do feature in-call noise reduction.

The Buds Z are more suitable for exercise – while the originals have an all-plastic exterior, the Z come with interchangeable ear tips that ensure a comfortable, secure fit. Better yet, these are rated IP55, so they are rain and sweat proof (the Z only IPX4 rating, which keeps them safe from splashing water).

The Quick Switch function on the new buds allows you to connect to two different devices and switch between them with a double tap. They also support Quick Pair, so your phone will prompt you to connect as soon as you open the case. The buds are smart enough to automatically pause playback when you take them out.

The Bluetooth 5.0 connection of the new buds enables low latency operation, as low as 103 ms. When they need to charge, you can pop them in their charging case and after 10 minutes they'll be ready to play for 3 hours straight.

The OnePlus Buds Z will be available on OnePlus.com and Amazon.com starting on November 2. The vanilla version costs $46/CA$70/€60 and comes only in White. This price is significantly lower than what the original OnePlus Buds cost, $80/CA$110.

The Steven Harrington special edition will be available soon (exclusively on OnePlus.com) and that one will be USD 60 / CAD 85. These set themselves apart with the “polished seashell” pattern that adorns them. That name undersells the work of the psychedelic pop artist.

OnePlus Buds Z Steven Harrington Edition

Speaking of special editions, OnePlus introduced the Gray Ash color version of the OnePlus Nord. Here is the new color alongside the original colors:

OnePlus Nord: Gray Ash special edition • Gray Onyx • Blue Marble

It will be available in Europe tomorrow and in India on October 16, the prices are the same as the 12/256 GB version of the Nord (as the Ash edition isn't available in other storage configurations). That is €500 or INR 30,000.