Launching alongside OnePlus’ latest flagship smartphone, the Bullets Wireless 2 Bluetooth headphones bring about significantly improved battery life and higher quality audio at a slightly more expensive price tag of $US99 ($143). Despite the price hike and a few quirks with the fit, the Bullets still offer incredible bang for your buck.
Design wise, the new unit looks almost identical to its predecessor, which is a good thing as the neckband design is well-balanced, making the headset suitable for both casual wear and while working out. The neckband doesn't bounce around making it a good option for running as well and the microphone is smartly positioned so it is unlikely to rub against a collar and interfere with calls.
The Bullets Wireless 2 can switch between two connected source devices with the tap of a button.
Sadly, OnePlus has eliminated the ear hooks of the original which means finding the right fit for your ears might be more of a challenge. If you don't normally struggle with in-ear buds then you will be fine, but I found the three pairs of included silicon tips were too big for my ear canals to get a comfortable fit and establish a good seal.
I ended up getting around the issue by using the tips and ear hooks included with the original Bullets Wireless on the new headset which worked fine. In typical OnePlus style, there's no official IP rating but they should be fine with sweat and rain.
Like the original Bullets Wireless earphones the back of each earbud is magnetic, allowing you to clip them together around your neck to prevent them getting in the way when you're not using them, and will seamlessly pause your music and turn off the headphones. Pulling them apart again will automatically turn on the headphones and, if you own a OnePlus smartphone, will auto-resume playback.
When you’re not wearing them, the buds magnet together so you can keep them around your neck.
The three button inline remote is as straightforward as ever with a double tap of the play/pause button for next track and a triple press for previous track, while holding down the button will bring up Google Assistant. There’s also a button on the neckband, of which a quick double-tap switches between your two last-paired devices automatically. This is a new feature for the Bullets Wireless 2 that’s handy if you want to use these earphones with a phone and a laptop.
The original Bullets Wireless only had a single dynamic driver but they sounded fantastic for the money. The new model has been upgraded to a triple driver array with two balanced armatures by Knowles and a dynamic driver — for deep bass — in each ear.
The improvement in sound quality was immediately apparent with a cleaner and clearer upper-mid and lower treble detail complemented by a slightly punchier bass frequency. It's a balanced sound signature that doesn't emphasise the bass as much as other consumer headphones, but what's there is tight and controlled.
The OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2.
The Bullets Wireless 2 support Bluetooth 5.0 for a more solid wireless connection between the headset and source device and there's also support for aptxHD for higher quality Bluetooth audio streaming.
It's worth noting that while most Android smartphones support AptxHD, Samsung's Galaxy S10 does not and in that case you will be bumped down to regular old Aptx which is a lower bitrate codec. It would've been great if OnePlus managed to incorporate support for LDAC, but its omission is understandable given the budget price point.
Another big improvement with the Bullets Wireless is the battery life which has been almost doubled to 14 hours of playback. I listen to music a little louder than OnePlus' advertised testing volume but I still managed to get to 12 hours before needing to recharge. Charging the earbuds is rarely a hassle thanks to the incredible 'Warp Charge' technology that gives you 10 hours of playback from just a ten minute charge. Charging is done via the onboard USB-C port and there's no support for wireless charging.
While the balanced sound signature won't please bass heads, the Bullets Wireless 2 trounces other sub-$US99 Bluetooth earbuds in most areas, making it a compelling purchase for even those who don't own a OnePlus handset.
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