When OnePlus introduced the Nord in 2020, it was the company’s first smartphone outside of its core range, and was priced considerably lower than its main number-series models. The Nord smartphone range has grown considerably since then, and has now been extended to include audio products. Among the company’s many recent launches is the OnePlus Nord Buds true wireless headset.
Priced officially at Rs. 2,999, but available for Rs. 2,799 at the time of this review, the OnePlus Nord Buds is the company’s most affordable true wireless headset right now. As with Nord-branded smartphones, this too is an affordable and more basic true wireless headset compared to the better equipped OnePlus Buds Z2 and OnePlus Buds Pro. There are no fancy features such as active noise cancellation, but this pair of true wireless earphones promises good sound and long battery life. Is this the best true wireless headset under Rs. 3,000 that you can buy right now? Find out in this review.
Interesting new design, fast charging on the OnePlus Nord Buds
OnePlus’ design language for its true wireless earphones has been fairly consistent thus far, featuring curves around the earpieces; rounded, slim stems; and charging cases devoid of sharp lines. The OnePlus Nord Buds goes in a completely different direction with notably larger stems on the earpieces, and large, distinct touch areas for controls. The charging case is also boxier, with sharp edges and flat surfaces for the bottom and top.
Available in two colours, Black Slate and White Marble, the OnePlus Nord Buds is quite unique-looking, with the mirror-like touch-sensitive areas on each earpiece grabbing the most attention. The earphones have an in-canal fit, customisable using replaceable silicone ear tips in different sizes. Although the earpieces have a glossy finish, they look neat, and the white unit I had didn’t attract much grime or dust.
Three pairs of ear tips of different sizes are included in the box, along with a short USB Type-A to Type-C charging cable. The earpieces are IP55 rated for dust and water resistance. The charging case has a large OnePlus logo on the top while the USB Type-C port for charging and the pairing button are at the back. There’s a single LED indicator on the front. I found the shape and size of the case a made it a little inconvenient to keep comfortably in my pocket.
Touch controls on the OnePlus Nord Buds are fairly convenient and easy to use, thanks to the large, tactile touch-sensitive areas on the earpieces. These are customisable through the HeyMelody app, and it’s possible to control playback, invoke the default voice assistant on your smartphone, and quickly switch between the last two paired devices, all with touch gestures. The app also shows the battery levels of the earpieces and charging case, and lets you switch between four equaliser presets and update the firmware on the earphones.
