For more than three weeks, we have been using the recently released OnePlus Nord Bud 3 Pro. Active noise cancellation (ANC), an IP55 water and dust-resistant rating, an AirPods-like design, and many more features are included in the TWS earbuds. The TWS earphones cost less than Rs 3,500. Are these TWS worth the price? To read the full review of the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro, scroll down.
In This Article
OnePlus Nord Bud 3 Pro Review: Design
Let’s begin by assessing its physical characteristics. The OnePlus Nord Bud 3 Pro has a different look this time around. Forget the older design; it’s shaped like a pebble. The smaller shape of the casing has made it more compact, which fits well in the pocket and is comfortable to carry in the hand.
Although the device comes in a variety of colours, we have the green colour variant. Even though the earphones’ housing is made of plastic, it is sturdy enough to endure accidental falls.
It has a two-tone design. The bottom portion has a semi-matt, stone-like surface, while the top lid has a shimmering finish. The casing is not at all slippery, in contrast to those from other companies, which is a plus even though we didn’t particularly enjoy the design.
Because sweaty palms are a common side effect of working out, and glossy devices are more likely to slip, the manufacturer gave this rough surface careful thought. Furthermore, there is no smudging or fingerprint attraction on the charging case. The company’s logo is located in the centre, and when the lid is opened an LED light beneath it lights up.
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A USB-C port at the bottom powers the charging case. A USB-C cable from OnePlus is included in the package. There is also a pairing button right next to the port.
The lid is not too tight, and it opens effortlessly with one hand. It contains the earbuds, snugly nestled into their designated left and right slots. The casing has magnets inside to secure the earbuds in place.
R and L are inscribed on the tiny stems that support the buds. Both the stem and the part that goes into the ear of the buds are finished differently: the former is matte, while the latter is glossy. The earbuds appear to be any other pair of earphones, however, upon closer inspection, you will notice that they have a tapered shape. While the bottom has a little wider shape, the top has a somewhat narrower profile. Thus, it appears that the design is new and fresh.
We occasionally experienced some discomfort even with the incredibly light and comfy earbuds. The earbud’s fit and comfort level is a little tight for resting, so if you use them for an extended amount of time, you can get pain and irritation in your ears. This is not the product for you if you like to listen to music while you fall asleep. A few more sets of interchangeable silicone ear tips are included in the box.
The IP55 water and dust resistance rating of the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro helps to shield them from low-pressure water sprays and dust coming from all directions. Thus, you can use them whenever you’d like—while exercising outside in the rain or at the gym.
OnePlus Nord Bud 3 Pro Review: Performance
We’ve been listening to a wide range of music genres, categories, videos, and podcasts with the OnePlus Nord Bud 3 Pro for almost a month, and they sound amazing regardless of what you’re listening to. A 12.4-mm titanized diaphragm with BassWave 2.0 is housed inside the earbuds. Up to 49 dB of hybrid active noise suppression is offered by the TWS.
The Buds 3 Pro’s Smart Noise Cancellation adjusts the type and intensity of noise reduction in response to ambient noise, according to the device’s manufacturer. The OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro uses the powerful triple stereo microphone system on each side of the earbuds to detect and analyse ambient noises in real-time. Whether you’re in a busy busy street, a peaceful study space or a subway, Smart Noise Cancellation automatically chooses the best setting for your surroundings.
Three ANC levels are available for these earphones: Mild (15 dB), Moderate (25 dB), and Max (49 dB), which carefully balance usability and ANC efficacy.
Although wearing the earphones for extended periods of time may not be very pleasant, the passive noise cancellation is good. You will notice some sound filtration as soon as you put them on.
To see if they fell off, we shook our heads. While it is true that they can come off, please make sure you get the correct size silicone tips as this will have a big impact on how they fit and, eventually, sound.
Let’s discuss the quality of the call. During the testing, we made a lot of calls and discovered that the call quality was generally decent. It boasts a triple stereo microphone setup that functions rather well for calls and active noise cancellation. Although there is a tiny change in sound quality, it is not really noticeable. When on a call, it does provide a fantastic sound experience.
In case you didn’t know, the Nord Series TWS features a lot of bass. This is also the same.
Though balanced by default, the sound signature still leans somewhat towards a bass-heavy sound characteristic. Along with a master EQ, the audio device also has an adjustable Sound Master Equaliser that allows for precise EQ tweaking for an entirely unique sound. Additionally, the company has added two decibels to the overall bass level. Balanced, serenade, and bass are its three preset modes.
Good instrument separation is also present. In our opinion, the audio quality is excellent overall. If you don’t like bass, you can adjust the level using your own custom equaliser. The bass is pretty good. Additionally, we noticed that there is a minor muffling of the audio—that is, the vocals—once it shifts to extreme bass.
The balanced sound signature is the better choice otherwise, albeit it is not a huge deal. If you are an audiophile, you may notice that.
Moving on, we are truly taken aback by the ANC’s excellence at this point. The Nord Buds 3 Pro has the best ANC we have tested in this price range, eliminating all background noise.
The TWS offers up to 49 dB of hybrid active noise cancellation. With the use of two analogues and one digital microphone, it can eliminate background noise that has been recorded both inside and outside the earbuds. These earphones offer three degrees of ANC: Mild (15 dB), Moderate (25 dB), and Max (49 dB).
Because passive noise cancellation is already so excellent, passive + ANC is likely the finest ANC available in this price range since it eliminates noise. It was excellent as soon as you put these earbuds on. The sounds of the surroundings, such as the fan running, are filtered out. Everything is carefully filtered; even noise from moving metro trains is heavily filtered. This indicates that it’s among the better noise-cancelling options in this price range.
Bluetooth codecs that are supported are AAC and SBC. The Bluetooth 5.4 version allows for a range of about 10 metres. Both dual connections and Google Fast Pair are supported. In addition, TWS offers in-ear detection, which means that the music will stop when you take it out of your ear and resume when you put it back in.
You can also download the HeyMelody app, which is compatible. This app is required if you are not using a OnePlus phone and are using an iPhone or Android phone. You may download it from both the Apple Store and the Play Store.
It offers a noise-cancelling feature and displays the battery %. It comes with an OFF and Transparency mode, but you may also tailor the noise cancellation. The Smart, Max, Moderate, and Mild selections are yours to choose.
Next, we have Bass, Serenade, and Balanced under the Sound Master Equaliser. There’s also a dynamic bass increase if you want even more bass. You can opt for a deeper bass if that’s what you desire. After that, you can add your custom equaliser.
The game mode comes next, and while it’s perfectly OK if you’re a serious gamer, we recommend wired headphones. Not the greatest options for gaming, but they’re still good.
Moreover, you can use the dual connection to link two devices simultaneously. There are therefore many controls, including touch controls. The touch response is accurate and flawless, and the tap functionality is excellent. We had no problems of any kind.
Let’s now discuss battery life. Now, OnePlus states that these earphones, with the ANC turned on, can play music for about 5.5 hours on a single charge. We got almost five hours of music listening with ANC turned on throughout our testing.
These days, volume has a major influence on battery life. You might get less endurance if you are playing the music at its highest volume. However, you only receive about 20 hours with the case. You may get up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge if you are not utilising ANC, and the case and earphones have a combined 22 hours of battery life.
Verdict
In this price range, you won’t find an ANC that sounds better. All things considered, we think the sound quality is fairly decent. The only thing to remember is that these are tailored for bass. On the other hand, despite being tuned for bass, the vocal quality and the excellent instrument separation remain intact. As a result, OnePlus did a respectable job creating the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro’s sonic identity.
OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro Price: Rs 3,299
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OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro Pros:
- Lightweight
- Excellent ANC
- Good vocals, bass and instrument separation
OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro :
- Tuned for Bass
- Felt uncomfortable when worn for a long duration
