Short answer: the Etymotic ER3XR, though neither ranks well in its class. Both are rated 2.8/5 for sound quality (#1032 and #1053 of 1291 in-ear headphones), and the Etymotic ER3XR costs $149.99 against $167 for the OnePlus Buds Pro 3, with sound quality a draw, the lower price decides it. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 1291 in-ear headphones, so if sound quality matters, consider the Truthear Nova instead, ranked #2 at $169.99.
The case for the Etymotic ER3XR: At 22 ohms and 102 dB/mW it runs fine from a phone, and its single balanced armature design keeps things simple. The catch: In oratory1990’s measurement treble falls about 8.5 dB below target from 6 to 16 kHz, with a 13.1 dB dip near 11.9 kHz, so cymbals sound dull and fine detail fades.
The case for the OnePlus Buds Pro 3: These true wireless earbuds offer active noise cancelling, Bluetooth 5.4 with LHDC 5.0 and AAC support, and an IP55 rating for sweat and dust. Watch for: In two hobbyist measurements on squig.link it scores 58.9 for Harman preference, with sub-bass about 5 dB and bass about 4.2 dB above target, enough to make bass heavy and slightly boomy.
Buy the Etymotic ER3XR. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $17.01 less than the OnePlus Buds Pro 3.
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At 22 ohms and 102 dB/mW it runs fine from a phone, and its single balanced armature design keeps things simple.
Amazon $149.99 eBay
These true wireless earbuds offer active noise cancelling, Bluetooth 5.4 with LHDC 5.0 and AAC support, and an IP55 rating for sweat and dust.
Amazon $167.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Etymotic ER3XR | OnePlus Buds Pro 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.99 | $167.00 |
| Ranked | #1032 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #1053 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 59 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 59 (median of 2 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.48 dB standard deviation | 2.73 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.22 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.28 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 30 Hz (-6.1 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+3.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | True wireless |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature | - |
| Drivers | 1 x balanced armature | 1 x 11mm + 1 x 6mm |
| Impedance | 22 ohms | - |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB/mW | - |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 16kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Weight | - | 0 lbs (5.28 g) per earbud |
| Active Noise Cancelling | - | Yes |
| Battery Life | - | 10 hours (43 with case, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.4 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, LHDC 5.0 |
| IP Rating | - | IP55 |
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