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OnePlus Nord Buds 3r Review | Really 2r Upgrade?

OnePlus is a strong name in the true wireless earbuds niche, and it’s quite evident with OnePlus Nord Buds 3 (Review) and OnePlus Nord Buds 2R (Review). In this OnePlus Nord Buds 3r review, we will heavily put it against these two!

Their not-so-recent entry-level model, OnePlus Nord Buds 3r, makes high claims with a price tag under 2000 Rs. But is it good? Here’s the OnePlus Nord Buds 3R Review.

We have been using it for over a month, and it is almost as good. It does everything well except one!

OnePlus Nord Buds 3r review
OnePlus Nord Buds 3r review

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Thanks for being a patron. Let’s begin the OnePlus Nord Buds 3r Review with pros and cons.

OnePlus Nord Buds 3r Pros and Cons

PROS

  • Great built quality
  • Comfortable for all ears type
  • Comes with volume controls
  • Dual Bluetooth pairing (Auto switch)
  • Dedicated gaming mode
  • HeyMelody support on Android & iOS
  • Amazing battery backup

CONS

  • Misses on Active Noise Cancellation

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Who Should Buy OnePlus Nord Buds 3r?

If you are looking for an all-around earbud under 2,000 Rs with a great audio signature, best-in-class features, gaming mode, Dual Bluetooth connection with auto switch, etc.

Also, the earbuds support the HeyMelody app on Android as well as iOS. Through which you can create custom EQs as well as select one from the presets!

All this, with battery backup for more than 1.5 weeks! Yes, if used moderately at 60-80% volume you can extract even 2 weeks of battery backup!

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Who Should Avoid Getting OnePlus Nord Buds 3r?

If you are looking for earbuds with ANC, then this is not the one for you. You can go with the Realme Buds T310 (our review) or the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 (our review) for that.

And you are someone looking for compact earbuds case, then this is not the one for you.

Built Quality (5/5)

OnePlus Nord Buds 3R Blue color
OnePlus Nord Buds 3R Blue color

Just like OnePlus Nord Buds 2R (Review) & OnePlus Nord Buds 3 (Review), OnePlus Nord Buds 3R is on point. Premium and durable build. No flimsy panels. No rough edges. Smooth all round. Similarly, the buds are similar. Soft design with precision cut.

The hinge of the case is top quality too. One hand operations are approved and the buds do not fall down even upside down.

OnePlus Nord Buds 2r VS OnePlus Nord Buds Built Quality
OnePlus Nord Buds 2r VS OnePlus Nord Buds Built Quality

Next to the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r and Nord 3, the OnePlus Nord Buds 3r stands in between. Which makes it better than 2r. So, in terms of design, OnePlus Nord Buds 3R has done a phenomenal job, hence 5/5.

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Looks (5/5)

OnePlus Nord Buds 3r Blue color review
OnePlus Nord Buds 3r Blue color review

As summer is approaching, we went with Blue. Unlike the Nord Buds 2r and 3, 3r has a very different design language. It has a square box and carved edges near the OnePlus logo. Which makes it very different from the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r as well as the OnePlus Nord Buds 3.

The overall case has a matte theme only the OnePlus logo is done in gloss. Since, I am a fan of matte color scheme it gets full 5/5 for that!

Similarly, the buds are all matte, with similar-colored ear tips.

Which OnePlus earbud looks good?
Which OnePlus earbud looks good?

Unlike the OnePlus Nord Buds 3, which has some glossy inside, 3R is all matte. In terms of design, OnePlus Nord Buds 3r and Nord Buds 3 “share” the design, while the 2r had a wider but thinner profile. So in terms of looks, I would give these a 5/5.

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OnePlus Nord Buds 3r Features

#1 HeyMelody app support: Unlike 2R, 3R supports the HeyMelody app on Android and iOS devices. So, you can customise EQ, activate gaming mode, or even update the earbuds.

#2 Volume controls: Yes, Nord Buds 3R have volume controls on the buds. Which is unique and adds more convenience

#3 Dual Bluetooth Connection: Unlike 2R, which only had 1 active Bluetooth device. 3R can be paired and stay actively connected with 2 devices. Along with the auto switch.

#4 Custom EQ & Pre-defined EQs: OnePlus Nord Buds 2R had 3 presets of EQ. Similarly, 3R also has 3 presets, but there are 6 empty slots for custom EQ as you like.

#5 Up to 54 Hours Playback: OnePlus Nord Buds 3 3R has the strongest battery backup from the entire lineup. Since there’s no ANC, you can expect a great battery. The brand claims about 55 hours of overall playback. Here’s the battery backup section.

#6 Titanised Audio driver: Both OnePlus Nord 2R and 3R share the same 12.3 mm audio drivers, but the type of material makes a difference. Here’s the audio breakup.

#7 Dual Mic: 2R and 3R have a similar mic setup. So, is there any difference in mic output? Yes, with better AI tuning, 3R does better. Here’s the mic review.

#8 Serious Gaming Mode: OnePlus Nord Buds 3r comes with up to 45ms low latency, which seems very low on paper. We did the test, here’s the gaming experience.

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Comfort (4.5/5) & Grip (4.5/5)

earbuds for all ear types under 2000 rs
earbuds for all ear types under 2000 rs

OnePlus Nord Buds 3r are good for all ear types. My niece prefers compact earbuds and 3r suits her better. If you are planning to gift these to a teen, 3R makes more sense.

For medium to large ears, you would need to change the default ear tips to slightly bigger ones. The default ear tips are perfect for people with small ears. You will be provided with 2 two extra pairs of ear tips in the box.

You can confidently wear these earbuds for long hours. I have personally tested these for 5+ straight, and they were fine.

OnePlus Nord Buds 2R Review
OnePlus Nord Buds 2R earbuds design

To be honest, none of the buds (Nord buds 2r and 3r) fall during workouts even with sweat; hence, for grip, I would give both a 4.5/5.

Note: If you are more into workouts and the gym, you can prefer the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 (our review) or Realme Buds T310 (our review) because of better grip and noise cancellation.

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OnePlus Nord Buds 3r Audio Quality (4.5/5)

Does oneplus nord buds 3r sound good
Does oneplus nord buds 3r sound good

With the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r and OnePlus 3r, the audio driver size is still 12.4mm. Surprisingly, OnePlus Nord Buds 3 also have the audio driver! The audio drivers on the 3r are titanised, and it does bring a different tone.

Nord Buds 3r feels more detailed and focuses on vocals and trebles. With quality bass.

Out of the box, the 2r will feel bass-heavy, but the moment you tune the eq’s or select a pre-defined one on Buds 3r it takes the lead. Whereas, 2r only has pre-defined EQs without any scope of creating one.

As far as audio quality goes, the OnePlus Nord Buds 3R feel more polished and detailed in everything, making it better than the 2r.

Bass is more or less the same, which is quite boomy and perfect for bass heads. As far as loudness goes, both are quite similar and there is hardly any difference in that aspect.

I would go with the OnePlus Nord Buds 3R. Simply because of better detail and more customization controls on Android & iOS devices.

By spending a little more, you can opt for the OnePlus Nord Buds 3, the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro, which offers more customisation, or the Realme Buds T310 (our review) with better tuning options. 3D audio as well as spatial audio.

Oneplus Nord Buds 3 VS OnePlus Nord Buds 2R Which one Sounds Better
which oneplus earbud sounds better?
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Mic Quality (4/5)

OnePlus 2r as well 3r offer dual mics on each earbud and AI integration to cut the ambient noise. While it does work to restrict background noise, the result is decent on both. While 3R takes a little edge as the AI does a more serious work here.

When indoors, the earbuds will not magically remove all the ambient noise of television or utensils being washed! The AI fine-tunes the output to keep your voice in focus between the ambient noise. Hence, the person on the call will understand what you are saying.

Similarly, outdoors, the mic will pick up your voice even if you are in a closed area like a Metro or a bus. Recently, I was near a temple, and bhajan kirtan was played on a loudspeaker, and it surprisingly made the call unnoticeable.

The other person will know that you are in Metro or somewhere, but will find the ambiance quite tuned. On any given day, OnePlus Nord Buds 3r is better than the output of OnePlus Nord Buds 2R.

But if you put the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 in the picture, it takes the lead away! So the best call quality will be with OnePlus Nord Buds 3, followed by 3r, then 2r.

Note: If you are buying earbuds mainly for calling, then pick the Realme Buds T310 (our review); it’s about the same price as the OnePlus Nord Buds 3R. Or pick the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 (our review).

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Battery Backup

tws with great battery backup under 2000 rs
tws with great battery backup under 2000 rs

OnePlus Nord Buds 3r are the most power efficent earbuds. OnePlus claims 55 hours overall. And it’s about (almost double) next to OnePlus Nord Buds 3, which is a few hundred RS more. While the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r claim up to 38 hours.

Since there’s no Active Noise Cancellation, it actually drains the battery quickly. Lack of it makes the battery go on and on.

Well, they are not wrong in saying up to 55 hours of play time! I had only 2 moments to charge this in a month, and that’s all because of the impressive battery backup.

That too on an extreme use case involving 100% volume, dual-connected devices, calling, gaming, and I lasted with a whole 1.5 weeks!

And you can go even longer if you can drop the volume to 60 to 80%! I am hoping it will cross 2 weeks. I am currently testing it further and will update here.

And when the battery is low you have two options. The earbuds support quick charge which can get you juice for 2+ hours with just 10 mins of charge.

And the case gets fully charged under 1 hour 20 mins. I use a 15 watt Moto charger and the results are this.

So for battery backup and charging, I would give OnePlus Nord Buds 3R a solid 5/5!

Gaming Performance (4.5/5)

I am really impressed with the gaming experience on 3r. As per the paper spec, OnePlus Nord buds 3R is more serious with up to 47ms low latency. While the 2R and the Nord Buds 3 are close to 90ms!

Let’s talk about real numbers. I have played games like NFS No Limits, COD Mobile, and there was no lag to experience. The smartphones used are iPhone 13, iPhone 16, and Moto G96. None of them behaved differently.

Since the earbuds have 3 predefined EQs and you can create EQ as you like, you can tune the output as per your liking.

The left and right balance is very good. Enemy footsteps can easily be monitored, hence the gaming experience is very good. Just make sure to enable the gaming mode; otherwise, the delay is quite noticeable.

Hence, for gaming, I would give OnePlus Nord Buds 3R a 4.5/5.

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Wrapping up!

So after 1 month of daily use (indoor and outdoor), we are quite happy with the OnePlus Nord Buds 3r and can happily recommend them to our readers.

It handles everything quite nicely and makes day-to-day use with 2 Bluetooth devices make it a seamless experience. The only thing that it lacks is the Active Noise Cancellation, which they have kept reserved for the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 and the 3 Pro.

There you have it, folks! This is the OnePlus Nord Buds 3r review after 1 month of testing. If you have any queries, feel free to ping us on the socials mentioned below. We would love to help with your tech questions!

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