OnePlus’ ability to make a great pair of wireless earbuds has once again come to the fore with its latest budget-priced offering. The first thing you notice when you start using the Nord Buds 3r is how comfortable they are – lightweight at about 4.5g each, and with a secure fit, even during intense head shaking, making them apt for exercises. They feature a nice squared-off, matte finish design similar to the more expensive OnePlus buds, which helps prevent scratches.
Design, comfort, and features for the long haul
A nice blend of performance and features, the Buds 3r offers a bass-heavy sound profile. This means audio with an amplified presence of low-frequency sounds, providing a thump and boom that is often felt physically. It also adds fullness and depth to audio. They feature dual microphones and an AI Clear Calls algorithm to filter out background noise for clear calls, even in busy areas.
I synced the Buds 3r to my Samsung phone and connectivity happened in an instant. The Bluetooth connection is solid and stable. Call quality is good and when streaming music or watching a movie on Netflix or Prime Video, the audio quality is top-notch. A transparency mode is also available to stay aware of your surroundings. However, there is absence of active noise cancelling.
Powerful bass and crystal-clear calls
The Buds 3r offer 54 hours of battery life and also support fast charging; a 10 minute fast charge will give you 8 hours of playback. I feel these wireless earbuds can be a good pick not because of their modest price tag alone; they stand out for comfort, ease of use, call & sound quality, and of course, battery life.
KEY FEATURES
12.4mm titanised drivers
3D spatial audio
2-mic all noise cancellation
54 hours of playtime
Estimated street price: Rs 1,599
