We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-22 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want maximum battery life and a computer-friendly wireless setup, choose Sennheiser Sennehiser ACCENTUM; if you need a pocketable true-wireless earbud with adaptive noise cancellation, choose OnePlus Buds 4.
• Sennheiser Sennehiser ACCENTUM — biggest strength: up to 50 hours of playback with hybrid ANC on, plus an included BTD 600 dongle that gives PC and Mac users a cleaner wireless link and working on-headphone controls.
• Sennheiser Sennehiser ACCENTUM — biggest trade-off: it's an over-ear headphone at around 350 g, so it's bulkier to carry and more to pack than a tiny charging case.
• OnePlus Buds 4 — biggest strength: a compact in-ear design with 11 mm dynamic drivers, Bluetooth 5.4, LHDC 5.0 hi-res audio support, and Adaptive Mode that flips between ANC and Transparency automatically.
• OnePlus Buds 4 — biggest trade-off: battery figures are listed in minutes (530 minutes ≈ under 9 hours), and the 40 Hz low-end limit means it won't dig as deep as the Sennheiser's 20 Hz floor.
• Who each pick is for: Sennheiser Sennehiser ACCENTUM for desk-and-commute listeners who want one headphone to cover long days; OnePlus Buds 4 for people who want something that disappears into a pocket.
The ACCENTUM is an over-ear, around-ear headphone built around hybrid active noise cancellation and a Transparency Mode you can switch on when you need to hear the world again. It uses a dynamic driver rated from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz with 106 ohm impedance, and Sennheiser pairs that with a 5-band EQ and customizable sound modes, so you're not locked into one tuning. In my opinion, that EQ is the sleeper feature here — it's what turns a general-purpose headphone into something that suits your ears rather than the other way around.
The battery story is the headline. Sennheiser rates it at up to 50 hours with ANC running, and a 10-minute fast charge is quoted at 5 hours of playback, with a full charge taking about 3 hours. That combination is genuinely useful for people who resent charging rituals: you can leave it in a bag for a week, top it up before a flight, and not think about it again.
The other thing worth understanding is the included BTD 600 dongle. Plug it into a desktop or laptop — USB-A or USB-C, PC or Mac — and the headphone connects to the dongle rather than fighting with your computer's built-in Bluetooth. Sennheiser's pitch is high-definition audio, no audio/video sync problems, and your headphone's media and call controls still working. It also means the headphone stays paired to the dongle, so moving from desktop to laptop is simple. If you take a lot of video calls or watch video on a computer, that's a real quality-of-life difference over plain Bluetooth pairing.
Who should buy it: commuters, remote workers, and anyone who wants one pair of headphones to cover a full workday and an evening without hunting for a charger. The cushioned earcups and soft-touch, silicon-lined headband are designed to stay comfortable through long sessions, and the over-ear fit blocks some noise passively before ANC even kicks in.
Who should skip it: anyone who wants earbuds they can slip into a jeans pocket, and anyone who prefers an in-ear seal for the gym. At 350 g with a carrying case, this is a bag headphone, not a pocket one. It ships with the headphone, a USB-C cable, the dongle, and a USB-A to USB-C adapter.
The OnePlus Buds 4 is a true-wireless in-ear bud with 11 mm dynamic drivers, Bluetooth 5.4, and LHDC 5.0 support for hi-res audio. OnePlus describes the tuning as balanced and true-to-life, which is a sensible target for a bud that will spend most of its life playing podcasts, playlists, and game audio rather than reference material. The frequency range is listed from 40 Hz to 20,000 Hz, so expect clean mids and vocals with a low end that's present but not subterranean.
Noise cancellation is the pitch, and it's the flexible kind. You get active noise cancellation plus Adaptive Mode, which switches between ANC and Transparency on its own based on what's happening around you. That's the feature that makes these easy to live with: you don't have to remember to tap into Transparency mode when someone talks to you, and you don't have to remember to switch back when you walk onto a train.
Battery is where you need to read the spec sheet carefully. The charging case holds 530 mAh and the listed battery average life is 530 minutes — roughly under nine hours — with a full charge taking about 100 minutes over USB-C. That's a normal earbud rhythm: the case carries you through the day, and you top everything up in one sitting. It's nowhere near the Sennheiser's 50-hour figure, but it's also a fundamentally different product you charge differently.
The physical details matter too. The in-ear design uses silicone tips for a secure fit, which is what actually makes ANC work well — a good seal does a lot of the noise blocking before the electronics do. Bluetooth range is listed at 33 feet, the enclosure is plastic with silicone tips, and the color is Zen Green. The package includes the charging case, a cable, an eartip, and a manual.
Who should buy it: anyone who wants earbuds for the gym, running, walking, commuting, and gaming without carrying a case that's bigger than their phone. The Adaptive Mode is a strong fit for people who move between noisy and quiet environments all day.
Who should skip it: anyone who wants the deepest possible bass extension, anyone who dislikes silicone tips or the in-ear sensation, and anyone who wants a single charge to cover a multi-day trip. If you work at a desk all day, the no-jack, bud-only design also means there's no wired fallback.
• Best for battery life → Sennheiser Sennehiser ACCENTUM. Up to 50 hours with ANC on, versus roughly nine hours listed for the Buds 4.
• Best for fast top-ups → Sennheiser Sennehiser ACCENTUM. A 10-minute charge is rated for 5 hours of playback; the Buds 4 quote about 100 minutes for a full charge.
• Best for computer and video-call use → Sennheiser Sennehiser ACCENTUM. The BTD 600 dongle is designed to remove sync issues and keep your headphone controls working on PC and Mac.
• Best for portability → OnePlus Buds 4. In-ear buds at 49 g total with a pocket-sized Zen Green case beat a 350 g over-ear headphone for travel.
• Best for gym and workouts → OnePlus Buds 4. Silicone tips and an in-ear seal are the better match for movement.
• Best for sound customization → Sennheiser Sennehiser ACCENTUM. A 5-band EQ and selectable sound modes give you more control over the tuning.
• Best for hands-off noise control → OnePlus Buds 4. Adaptive Mode switches between ANC and Transparency automatically instead of you doing it manually.
• Best for low-end reach → Sennheiser Sennehiser ACCENTUM. Its 20 Hz floor goes a full octave lower than the Buds 4's 40 Hz.
• Best for newer Bluetooth → OnePlus Buds 4. Bluetooth 5.4 and LHDC 5.0 versus Bluetooth 5.2 on the ACCENTUM.
If I were buying for myself and had to pick one, I'd take the Sennheiser Sennehiser ACCENTUM. The 50-hour ANC battery, the fast-charge math, and the included dongle make it the more useful object across a whole day of work, calls, and commuting — and the over-ear comfort plus the 5-band EQ seal it for me. I'd only switch to the OnePlus Buds 4 if portability were my top priority and I wanted earbuds I could forget in a jacket pocket. Both are legitimate choices; they just solve different problems. Before either, check the current price on Amazon using the button on this page, since that's the one variable that can flip the decision.
FAQ
what is anc wireless headphones
what does anc mean on bluetooth headphones
On Bluetooth headphones, ANC means the headset actively cancels ambient sound so you can hear your audio at lower volumes. It's most effective on steady low-frequency noise like engine drone or air conditioning. Both products here include it — the ACCENTUM as hybrid ANC, the Buds 4 as active and adaptive ANC.
what is anc on bluetooth headphones
It's the same feature described a different way: a microphone-and-processing system inside the headphone that generates anti-noise to cancel what's around you. Practical difference between these two: the ACCENTUM lets you toggle ANC and Transparency yourself, while the Buds 4's Adaptive Mode decides for you.
what is the best anc headphones
In my opinion, "best" depends on your format. If you want long battery and computer-friendly connectivity, I'd point to the Sennheiser Sennehiser ACCENTUM at up to 50 hours with ANC. If you want compact in-ear buds with adaptive noise control, I'd point to the OnePlus Buds 4. Match the format to your day first, then compare specs.
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See also: Sony WH-CH720NL vs Sennheiser Sennehiser ACCENTUM, Sennheiser Accentum vs Puro Sound Labs BT, Sennheiser ACCENTUM vs JBL Tune 720BT