Verdict :
The OnePlus Nord Buds 3 achieves a fantastic blend of price and functionality. Priced at ₹2,299, it offers decent ANC, excellent battery life, and premium features. The addition of volume controls and dual-device connectivity elevates the product over its predecessor, the Nord Buds 2. While the microphone quality is subpar, and some users may find the vocal sound to be lacking in clarity, the overall performance is outstanding, especially at the price range.
Less than a month after the launch of the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro (review), its more cheap brother, the OnePlus Nord Buds 3, has entered India’s competitive TWS market. The Nord Buds 3 is priced ₹1,000 lesser than its Pro sibling and offers outstanding features like Active Noise Cancellation, multipoint connectivity, and IP55 dust and water resistance. Interestingly, the Nord Buds 3 keeps the majority of the capabilities found in the Pro model, with the only difference being the level of noise cancellation (32 dB versus 49 dB). Is the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 too amazing to pass up? Does it even make sense to choose the Pro version anymore? In our OnePlus Nord Buds 3 review, we will answer these and other questions.
OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Review: Build, Design, and Fit
Following in the footsteps of its more costly sibling, the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 has a tiny pebble-shaped case with a glossy finish in the Melodic White I received for evaluation. You can also go with the Harmonic Gray variation, which looks more upmarket in my opinion. The design of the white edition is a little uninspired for my tastes, and the shiny case is prone to fingerprints, smudges, and scratches.
The front of the cover features the OnePlus logo and a modest LED indicator for pairing and battery status. At the bottom, you’ll discover a USB-C charging port and a handy pairing button. Its tiny, pocket-friendly shape allows it to be easily handled with one hand. Inside, the earphones are securely fastened and clearly marked with R and L indicators, making them easy to distinguish.
The earbuds provide a secure and pleasant fit that should be enough for most users. With S, M, and L ear tips supplied, you can select the size that best fits your ears. The earbuds and charging case have a glossy appearance. The stem features a slightly bulbous form at the end, which makes them easier to remove from your ears. However, the touch controls might be improved, as they frequently detect unintentional taps. On the plus side, the IP55 classification provides enough protection from water splashes and dust.
OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Review: Features
The OnePlus Nord Buds 3 provide excellent value for money, with a plethora of functions available at a low price.
The earbuds enable Fast Pair for Android devices, which streamlines the first pairing procedure. If you have a OnePlus device, you will have even faster communication, with the earbuds available for pairing as soon as you open the case. Dual-device pairing is an additional connectivity function that allows the earbuds to connect to two devices simultaneously. This means you can listen to music on your laptop while also taking phone conversations, and the earphones will seamlessly transition between the two devices.
The OnePlus Nord Buds 3 also have touch-sensitive screens on both earphones for configurable controls. By default, single tap controls play/pause, double press skips tracks, and triple tap launches your choice voice assistant, such as Google Assistant or Alexa. You also have volume control support, which is a big plus. The option to customize these movements via the HeyMelody app is what truly distinguishes the Nord Buds 3. The app also allows you to access EQ settings to tailor the sound profile to your preferences. The software has preset sound modes such as Balanced, Serenade, Bass, and a Custom EQ option that allows you to manually change frequencies.
The HeyMelody app allows you to select ANC modes, run an earbud fit test, monitor battery levels, execute firmware updates, and much more. It is incredibly feature-rich and easy to use.
Another notable feature is the 32dB Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) capability. Although the inexpensive price of ₹2,299 includes ANC assistance, it only works for low, steady sounds such as air conditioners or airplanes. When you add human voices, it doesn’t do a good job of eliminating them. So, the ANC works well, but it cannot compete with more expensive earbuds. There’s also a Transparency Mode, which sounds rather fake.
Finally, the earphones are IP55 rated for dust and water resistance, so while they cannot be submerged in water, they should withstand splashes of water. Overall, the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 impresses with its extensive feature set, particularly the helpful HeyMelody app integration and customization options. The one element I disliked about these buds was the lack of in-ear sensing.
How’s the sound quality?
The OnePlus Nord Buds 3 were developed with a significant emphasis on bass, which becomes clear as soon as you start playing bass-heavy tunes. The earbuds’ 12.4 mm titanium-coated dynamic drivers produce deep lows, particularly in hip-hop, EDM, and pop genres. While some will love its bass-forward sound signature, it is a little too bloated to accurately represent the material being played. Furthermore, if you enable OnePlus’ BassWave algorithm, it becomes much more boomy.
The mid-range performance is balanced on its own, however it leans slightly warmer due to the bass focus. They may be swamped by the robust bass response, especially when listening to tunes where the bass and vocals overlap. However, the earphones still function well for podcasts, audiobooks, and tunes that have more vocalists and instrumentation.
The Nord Buds 3’s high frequencies, or treble, are adequate but not particularly impressive. Treble-focused instruments such as cymbals, strings, and computerized high-pitched sounds are present, although they may feel recessed or less detailed than the bass. The sound frequency graph shows the overemphasis of the bass response, which generates a lot of auditory masking, especially in the mids. However, bass enthusiasts will appreciate the auditory response, but it is not for audiophiles or purists.
The microphone on these earbuds works well indoors, but they struggle when used in a noisy outdoor area because they do not adequately block out distracting sounds. OnePlus needs to improve the microphone quality of next affordable TWS, as it is currently subpar.
OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Review: Battery Life
One of the OnePlus Nord Buds 3’s best features is their long battery life. Each earbud’s 58mAh battery allows for up to 12 hours of listening without ANC and 8 hours with it. Our tests validated 7 hours and 15 minutes of usage with ANC turned on and at 60% volume, indicating that the claim is almost accurate.
For phone calls, the battery lasts roughly 5 hours, owing to the energy requirements of call noise reduction. The charging case’s 440mAh capacity increases total playback time to 43 hours without ANC and 28 hours with ANC enabled. The TÜV Rheinland Battery Health certification confirms that after 1,000 charging cycles, the battery retains at least 80% of its capacity.
Furthermore, quick charging allows for 11 hours of playback with only a 10-minute charge when ANC is turned off, which is a huge advantage for consumers on the road.
Should you buy it?
The OnePlus Nord Buds 3 achieves a fantastic blend of price and functionality. Priced at ₹2,299, it offers decent ANC, excellent battery life, and premium features. The addition of volume controls and dual-device connectivity elevates the product over its predecessor, the Nord Buds 2. While the microphone quality is subpar, and some users may find the vocal sound to be lacking in clarity, the overall performance is outstanding, especially at the price range. If you’re a budget-conscious consumer wanting for bass-heavy audio with long battery life, the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 should be at the top of your selection.
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