Finally, a budget TWS with features common across Android and iOS! OnePlus Nord Buds 3, a successor of OnePlus Nord Buds 2R (Review), packs in greater features like the OnePlus Buds 3 (Review).
We have been using it for over a month, and here’s our OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Review! The biggest attraction is the Dual Bluetooth pairing and active switch, with HeyMelody app support for Android and iOS.
Up to 38 dB Active Noise Cancellation along with transparency mode. BassWave2 for better bass and thump production, and many more.
So, should you buy OnePlus Nord Buds 3? This review will help you. Why?
OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Review
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That said, let’s begin the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Review with Pros and Cons.
Pros & Cons
PROS
- Great built quality
- Matte design scheme
- Compact and lightweight form factor
- Great audio quality
- 3 EQ and can create a custom one
- Good battery backup + quick charge
- Comfortable for medium to large ears
- ANC is best around the 2000 Rs bracket
- Good Call quality
- Bluetooth 5.4, no latency witnessed
- Gaming is also good
CONS
- Some audio leak at full volume
- Not ideal for people with small ears
Built Quality (5/5)
If this is the first time you are investing around 2000 to 2500 INR on earbuds, then you would love it. Be it the case or the buds; Simply remarkable.
The overall build is plastic, but it feels very premium. We have Apple AirPods Pro 2 (Review), and these are on the same level.
You can open the lid with one finger, and the case closes with a satisfying click. The magnetic connections are strong, the buds don’t fall off even if you keep them upside down or even shake them.
Similarly, the buds are quite good too! There are no rough edges or flimsiness. The buds feel very premium and strong for many years of use.
As for protection, the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 offer an IP55 rating, which can take care of sweat and some water splashes or even rain. Trust me, water is the biggest enemy of the earbuds. So, OnePlus Nord Buds 3 can be your gym buddies!
While we are at it, the case and buds together are less than 50 grams, making Nord Buds 3 lightweight, and thanks to the design, the case is compact to carry around.
In terms of built quality, the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 feel the most premium Nord. Yes. even better than the Nord 3 Pro. Hence, 5/5 for built!
OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Looks (4/5)
OnePlus Nord Buds 3 can have a love or hate design. I am somewhat in between. Personally speaking, the case design is better, while the buds could have a slightly slimmer stem.
The case looks and feels like a pebble, with soft corners all around. Let’s first talk about the case. It’s matte, oval, with OnePlus branding in grey or black.
To be honest, it’s very inclusive, and someone who prefers simplicity would love these. The overall design is not very easy to guess.
Similarly, the buds have a matching matte design, while glossy panels are on the inside. The charging ports are silver, while many earbuds prefer gold. This was a nice move.
Overall, it’s good, but the steam is a little thick to my liking. So, to sum up, we would give OnePlus Nord Buds 3 a 4/5.
Grip & Comfort Test (4.5/5)
If you are looking for a comfortable media solution for your needs or a gym partner, then the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 is a clear recommendation.
The ear tips are comfortable and offer snug fitting. The buds are designed to seal the ear canal with the best grip.
I have worn these for many hours longer than other TWS in the past ( quite close to the Apple AirPods Pro 2) for about 5+ hours, and these are perfect. No pain or getting loose after long hours of use.
There are 3 pairs of earbud tips in the box, and you can find the perfect fit for you. Overall, the design is friendly to medium to large ears.
So, OnePlus Nord Buds 3 are very comfortable and can be worn for 5+ hours.
I work out a lot and really like the grip of these. The buds do not fall off during workouts like walking, jogging, cycling, or even weight lifting. OnePlus Nord Buds 3 are perfect for comfort and workout, hence 4.5/5.
OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Features (5/5)
OnePlus never fails to impress in terms of features. To begin with, OP Nord Buds 3 has everything that needs attention, like up to 32 dB Active Noise Cancellation, app support, and the latest Bluetooth 5.4!
With the HeyMelody app, you can pair your Android from ages and now finally your iOS device can take advantage of the free app on the Nord series!
With the app, you can customise the touch controls, enable/disable game mode, change predefined EQ, or create your creation!
Along with those, you can also control ANC (On, Off, Transparency) via the app itself. So, if you need a OnePlus audio gear with app support for Android and iOS, this is the best one!
Do you want your earbuds to pair quickly and auto switch between two drives? OnePlus got you covered with the OnePlus Nord Buds 3. It offers Dual Bluetooth pairing and Google Fast Pairing. This will allow you a quick connection and auto-switch between devices.
OnePlus’s BassWave 2 is a sweet spot, and nothing comes close in this price range other than the Realme T310 (Review soon). More about it in the Audio breakdown.
All the above and many features, along with battery backup of up to 43 hours, look like a bold claim. Here’s the battery backup breakdown!
For a price of 2200 Rs, OnePlus Nord Buds 3 is a feature-packed value-centric TWS option under 2500 Rs, and we would give it 5/5 in terms of features.
Audio Quality (4.5/5)
Over the last 5 years, I have used most of the OnePlus earbuds, and none have disappointed me. To me, OnePlus means an exceptional audio and media consumption experience.
But, yes, all the buds have different characteristics, and some might like or dislike them. For instance, OnePlus Nord Buds 3 are very good.
For starters, the bass is amazing. The subwoofer does a great job, and you will have thumping bass all around. The vocals are clean while listening to old music or podcasts. Impressive vocals.
Instruments and trebles are the USP. You will hear things for the first time in a song that you have been listening to for ages! Yes, no boasting here!
What about loudness? Yes, these buds go very loud and tend to leak audio at volume above 80%. Which is quite common for heavy-duty earbuds. Or earbuds with more than 10mm drivers.
So, during outdoors or public commutes, keep it below 80% volume. To sum up audio quality the best possible audio experience around the 2000 Rs price bracket. Hence, here’s 4.5/5 for OnePlus Nord Buds 3!
Mic Output (4/5)
OnePlus Nord Buds 3 is a good TWS with dual mics on each earbud. You can use these for calls or your next YouTube video (we tried that and liked the result).
Since my day involves calling as a priority, this is always by my side with transparency mode enabled!
Let’s talk about the call quality. The immediate thing you will notice is how clear and loud your voice will feel. Like you are very close to the microphone.
Second, the ENC helps to cut the ambient noise. It’s so capable that the ceiling fan noise disappears just like the AC fan noise.
When outdoors, it keeps your voice in focus even if there’s somebody in your proximity. With all these edits and Noise Cancellation, it does impact your vocals, which sound very processed.
Some like it, some don’t. Since my professional calls have no issues, based on that, I can recommend OnePlus Nord Buds 3 with 4/5 stars!
ANC Test + Transparency Test
We’ve tested most of the ANC earbuds under 2500 Rs, and this is by far the best one. The one that is quite similar is the Realme T310! Let’s talk about the 2 main modes: Noise Cancellation and Transparency.
As the name implies, Noise Cancellation does what it is designed for; it cuts ambient sound like wind, AC humming, low-frequency constant humming from factories or industries, bus engine noise, ceiling fan noise, etc. If you are a little hectic or near the main road, you will like these.
As far as people talking goes, you can sense they are speaking something and guess a little in context to what they are saying, but if you are occupied elsewhere, you can’t understand what they are talking.
What does it hide best? Low humming frequencies from factories, AC, the cooler, and the fan noise. It even cuts fan noise from computers!
So, where will it fail, or will you still hear? horns, birds chirping, and people talking in your proximity.
Is there scope for improvement? Yes, the ANC for voice and vocals could have been better. On the scale of 10, I would still give it 8. To improve on this, the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro takes the charge!
Transparency Mode
Let’s talk about Transparency. This is the best. It enhances what you are already hearing. This is the opposite of ANC.
The difference is quite noticeable when you play any media with Transparency and without it.
And how does it help exactly when outdoors? There are endless unwanted encounters when walking beside a road or in the park where kids are cycling or playing.
With Transparency mode, you can hear your music along with what’s happening in your proximity. This can save you from any mishap when some is calling you or a dog barking at you.
As a brother to you, when outdoors, keep the volume down and enable transparency mode to stay alert at all times.
To sum up ANC and Transparency mode, we are quite happy with the results, and on the scale of 1 to 10, we would give these 8. If you want better ANC performance, then you can check out the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro.
Battery Backup (4/5)
OnePlus Nord Buds 3 has pretty hefty claims of battery backup; up to 43 hours!
You should know that the buds have a pair of 12.4mm beefy audio drivers. Each has a battery size of 58 mAh (the highest we have ever tested), while the case has 440 mAh (which is quite standard; we’ve tested up to 800 mAh).
So, what to expect? Well, if you will use all the features like ANC or Transparency, 100% volume, calling, gaming, earbuds in the ear all the time, then do not expect more than 28 hours. In one go, these buds can last up to 8 hours.
If you are a moderate user who will use ANC when needed, volume as per liking (below 80%), calls, gaming, medium consumption, then these numbers will level up to 35+ hours!
Without ANC turned off, these buds go for a marathon for 42 hours (the highest battery backup we’ve experienced under 2500 Rs.) Without ANC, these buds can be used for 12 hours.
To be very honest, we could not wear these to test the claims (continuously), but witnessing battery backup of more than 9 days on non-ANC use, we are sure it can be achieved or even outlast.
We use a Motorola 20-watt charger while the case is locked with brand’s recommendation of 5-watt 1-amp charging. So, a completely drained case takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to fully charge.
Note: We also observed the buds and case getting a little hot while charging, hence it’s better to charge under a fan or in a cool area.
To sum up battery backup and charging, here’s 4.5/5!
Gaming (4.5/5)
If you are a casual gamer, you can confidently go with these. We played COD Mobile and other online multiplayer games, and the experience was good.
No major latency. We could easily asses the opponent’s position, and the bass-heavy sound signature made the experience more immersive. We tested these with iPhone 13, iPhone 16, Moto G84, Moto Edge 40,
Gaming-wise, it’s quite perfect, and somewhat pro users can also try these. I know you prefer the wired ones, but on the go, these can help. Therefore, for gaming, we give OnePlus Nord Buds 3 a 4.5/5.
Should You Buy OnePlus Nord Buds 3?
OnePlus Nord Buds 3 is a strong contender in the sub-2000 to 2500 Rs category. With the features on offer, the build, looks, ANC, transparency, audio quality, battery backup, and gaming, it nails everything.
To a point, it’s hard not to recommend, but like any product, it also has some cons, and you should know those.
The buds go very loud, and you will love every bass drop. The audio leak in a public space can be a little disturbing. To avoid unwanted attention, keep the volume below 80 to stay guccy!
Second, the call quality is highly processed as it filters out the ambient noise. Trust me, most people like it for professional use (like me). If you wish to transfer raw vocals or real voice, you can look for Realme T310.
The rest of everything is fine, and the overall user experience is quite great. I upgraded from OnePlus Nord Buds 2R to OnePlus Nord Buds 3! The detailed comparison is coming up soon.
You can use the link below to check the best deals on OnePlus Nord Buds on Amazon in.
Wrapping up!
There you go, guys! This was our OnePlus Nord Buds 3 review after a month of use. If you have any questions, you can drop a message on any of the social accounts below. We would love to help you out.
OnePlus Nord Buds 3 FAQ Section