The OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro are a testament to how far budget-friendly audio technology has come. The Nord Buds 3 Pro offer a diverse feature set that rivals more expensive models, including active noise cancellation, multipoint connectivity, customisable EQ, and a robust app experience, all wrapped up in a stylish and comfortable design. The sound quality will appeal to bass lovers, however, audiophiles will be better served by last year’s OPPO Enco Air3 Pro.
OnePlus launched a plethora of new products at its Summer Launch Event in Milan, one of them being OnePlus’ latest entrant in the budget TWS category. Priced at a competitive ₹3,299, the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro brings an array of premium features such as Active Noise Cancellation, multipoint connectivity, customisable EQ, and others to the masses. The Nord Buds 3 Pro is essentially a rebranded OPPO Enco Air4 Pro minus the LHDC 5.0 codec support. I also suspect the sound tuning has been readjusted to better appeal to bass lovers. On paper, the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro seems to have knocked it out of the park thanks to its diverse feature-rich and affordable pricing. But how does it hold up in real life and our testing? Let’s find out in my detailed OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro review.
The OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro is unlike any other TWS OnePlus has ever designed. In fact, it bears a lot of resemblance to OPPO TWS earphones such as the OPPO Enco Air4 Pro (obviously), the OPPO Enco Air3 Pro (review) and the OPPO Enco X2 (review). Its pebble-shaped case features a distinctive dual-tone design. The Soft Jade colour variant showcases a turquoise lid with a metallic look, while the lower half has a pastel turquoise hue with subtle white specks.
The design is attention-grabbing, though those with a more subdued taste might prefer the Starry Black variant. The OnePlus logo is prominently displayed in the centre of the case, featuring a silver metallic sheen. The case also includes an LED indicator, a USB Type-C charging port, and a pairing button.
Compact and pocket-friendly, the case is also easy to open or close with one hand. Despite lacking metal components, the hinge feels sturdy. The magnets inside the case are remarkably strong, preventing the earbuds from falling out even if the case is dropped.
The earbuds themselves boast a sleek design with a mix of matte and glossy finishes, and their bulbous stems enhance grip. With an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance, the earbuds are durable, although the case lacks an IP rating. However, a major drawback is the touch controls’ reliability – they frequently register false taps, making them impractical for daily use.
OnePlus has packed the Nord Buds 3 Pro with a host of features, some that punch above its weight class. The most notable of these is Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). The ANC performance is impressive for the price, effectively reducing low-frequency noises like the hum of an airplane engine or air conditioner.
Another standout feature is multipoint connectivity, which allows the earbuds to be connected to two devices simultaneously. This is particularly useful for those who frequently switch between their phone and laptop, as it eliminates the need to manually disconnect and reconnect each time.
The buds are compatible with the HeyMelody app which is available on both Android and iOS phones. The app allows you to access premium features like customisable EQ and controls which add another layer of personalisation, allowing users to tweak the sound profile to their liking and assign specific functions to the touch controls. These settings can be adjusted through the HeyMelody app, which also provides other functions such as firmware updates, battery status information, and a Game Mode toggle.
The app also allows you to personalise Noise Cancellation levels by taking a small hearing test, but the difference wasn’t pronounced when I tried it out. You can also perform a quick Earbud Fit Test, use ‘Find my earbuds’ to locate the TWS if they’re misplaced, and activate multipoint connectivity. The Nord Buds 3 Pro has features that are usually present on earphones costing between ₹5-10K making them a no-brainer if your main concern is a diverse feature set.
Equipped with sizable 12.4 mm drivers with titanised diaphragms, the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro is geared for booming bass response. When it comes to sound quality, the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro deliver a bass-forward sound signature. The buds support the SBC and AAC audio codecs, but they lack support for high-quality codecs such as LHDC or LDAC, which is slightly disappointing.
The earbuds produce a rich, full-bodied sound with deep, thumping bass and crisp highs. The bass response is particularly noteworthy, offering a satisfying thump that enhances genres like hip-hop and EDM; bass lovers will be pleased with this sound signature. The mids do suffer from a small amount of auditory masking given the nature of the bass response, but it’s much more controlled than competitors from brands like Noise, boAt, and Boult Audio.
Audiophiles, however, will crave something more balanced. Thankfully, tweaking the EQ does make some difference to the bloated nature of the bass response. In its default setting, the frequency graph of the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro shows a significant sub-bass boost from 20 Hz-125 Hz. This gives bass-driven songs a little bit of extra oomph, making the bass front and centre in the mix.
You see a little dip from 250 Hz-500 Hz, which is why some vocals and instruments that lie in this range get a bit lost in the mix. The highs are boosted, which gives it a nice sparkle and the drop off is gradual and smooth too.
The soundstage is pretty narrow though, but that’s expected at this price range. Imaging, on the other hand, is fantastic, so instrument and vocal separation is top-notch for the price.
The microphone quality is equally impressive. The earbuds feature multiple microphones that work together to capture your voice clearly in indoor environments. This makes them an excellent choice for phone calls and virtual meetings when you’re at home or in the office. The microphones also perform decently in outdoor settings.
Battery life is a crucial consideration for any pair of wireless earbuds, and the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro doesn’t disappoint, at least, when it comes to battery longevity with ANC turned off. The earbuds themselves offer up to 12 hours of playback time on a single charge with ANC turned off, and around 5.5 hours with ANC enabled. I found these figures to be quite accurate during my testing. The battery life with ANC turned on is good, but I did expect a bit more from a OnePlus product.
The charging case provides an additional 22 hours of battery life, bringing the total to 44 hours without ANC and 20 hours with ANC. Charging the earbuds is quick and convenient. A 10-minute charge provides up to 11 hours of playback time (earbuds + case combined), making it easy to top up the battery when you’re in a hurry.
The OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro are a testament to how far budget-friendly audio technology has come. The Nord Buds 3 Pro offer a diverse feature set that rivals more expensive models, including active noise cancellation, multipoint connectivity, customisable EQ, and a robust app experience, all wrapped up in a stylish and comfortable design. The sound quality will appeal to bass lovers, however, audiophiles will be better served by last year’s OPPO Enco Air3 Pro.
There are also some minor drawbacks such as the lack of high-quality codecs and finicky touch controls, these are relatively minor issues that don’t detract significantly from the overall experience. For ₹3,299, the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro provide exceptional value for money, making them an excellent choice for anyone looking for high-quality true wireless earbuds on a budget.
