Wireless neckbands can divide family and friends. There is always one or two family members who come out in favour of neckbands. As a category, we have seen it reach its peak and whatever new options that get introduced have incremental upgrades. Personally, I have never been a fan of neckbands but my wife continues to buy one every few years. She says there is nothing that comes close to wireless neckbands during a run in the park. Yup, she (always) has the final word.

When OnePlus sent the Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC for review, I wondered if it would offer anything new. It does — a substantial improvement across the board. Not that I would change my views on the concept of a neckband but there is obviously a customer base for it.

Design and functions

Anything dangling around my neck sends an albatross down my spine. Yes, I messed up one of the best idioms in the English language but over the years I haven’t liked the feel of the neckband. OnePlus, on the other hand, has used excellent materials to make this device. It’s comfortable and doesn’t irritate the skin at all. Perhaps the convenience a neckband offers when it comes to taking calls and its fit appeal to many users. Needless to say, OnePlus has thrown in IP55 rating because fitness enthusiasts seem to love this form factor. Drizzle and sweat can easily be handled by this one.

In terms of design, there is nothing new to be said because all the controls are on one side and there is a button to help switch between devices. For example, you are using a tablet and a phone call comes in, you can easily switch to your phone to take the call. The buttons are well placed, coming with good tactile feedback.

The earbuds attach to each other because of the magnets in them. When you want to pair it with your phone, pull them apart and a card will show up on your phone. Having Google Fast Pair support ensures easy connectivity. The buds attach via a magnet for a reason. When you take off the buds, they attach magnetically and pause the music or video that’s playing. Truly, a helpful feature. When you put the buds back into the ears, it doesn’t resume music but the buds are ready for use.

Top-of-the-line ANC

To get the most out of the buds, you can download the HeyMelody app. If you are using any OnePlus or Oppo phone, all the features are baked into the software, otherwise, things can be controlled via the app, which makes it a versatile proposition.

The HeyMelody app easily lets you switch between transparency and ANC. There is also an earbud fit test as well as EQ settings. The ANC mode is worth talking about. It comes with 45dB Hybrid Noise Cancellation. What the company has done differently is offer feedforward and feedback noise cancellation mics and a wide 3,500 Hz frequency to capture more sound. Expect all loud noises to be killed to a large extent and if you use this during a plane journey, the humming of the engine would almost disappear. Given the pricing, the ANC on this device has no competition.

The HeyMelody app adds value to the neckband

Equally impressive is the microphone quality. There are three mics for clearer calls. Don’t miss a word during calls and meetings, and AI call noise cancellation adapts to your environment to block out background noise.

The buds offer a good fit

Let’s talk about the sound. Preference is given to bass, which is not a bad thing. Most people will use this during exercising and the occasion calls for pump-it-up music. I am not going to listen to the Blue Danube or Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue on this neckband. It will be more like Deena Abdelwahed’s Jbal Rrsas or James Holden’s Imagine This Is a High Dimensional Space of All Possibilities (quite a mouthful). You can always make subtle changes in the EQ in the app. The sound is consistent as long as you stick to certain genres. The 12.4mm dynamic drivers truly pack a punch.

Should you buy it?

As I mentioned, there is a crowd for this kind of product. OnePlus has spared no effort to come up with this neckband, which offers around 20 hours of playback with ANC on (28 hours with ANC off). I usually listen to music at 60 per cent volume, so 20 hours is perfect. And there is fast-charging. If you’re seeking a blend of performance and design, OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC has your back.

At a glance

Device: OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC

Price: Rs 2,299

High notes

• Good build

• Excellent ANC

• Top quality microphone

Muffled note

• HeyMelody app appears simple; needs an upgrade

Pictures: The Telegraph