TWS true wireless earphones - $25 - $50
4.5 STARS - In the highly competitive wireless earphone market, the $50 OnePlus Nord Buds may not look like anything special, but it surely sounds like it.
OnePlus Nord Buds specs and features:
Bluetooth 5.2 with AAC codec
IP55 waterproof (rain, sweat and dust proof)
7 hours listening on a single charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 4 times
Comes with 3 sets of ear tips, USB-C cable and English manual
$50 - Check latest price on Amazon US, other Amazon countries or AliExpress
Below this OnePlus Nord Buds review, you will find comparisons of the OnePlus Nord Buds vs Earfun Air Pro 2, Tranya T20, and Fiil T1 Lite.
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Design, comfort and battery life
OnePlus, wasn't that the price fighter of mobile phones? The OnePlus Nord Buds isn't that much of a steal: in today's $50 price range, its feature set is barebones without Active Noise Cancelling and a Transparancy mode.
The charging case is rather basic as well. It can charge the earbuds fully four times before requiring new power itself, which can only be provided via USB-C and not wirelessly. The case is too bulky to carry comfortably in a jeans pocket and it attracts fingerprints easily. Thanks to OnePlus’ simple font logo imprinted on the lid, it could easily be mistaken for a $20 offering. It's a big case for these earbuds.
The earbuds themselves are more distinctive, tying oval earpieces to round stems with a silver-shiny touch panel on the top. As almost always, this oval design is comfortable to wear for a few hours in a row. It's a natural form factor that fits easily and snug enough in most (medium-sized) ears.
They're IP55 waterproof to withstand rain and sweat, so it's easy to take these for a run or workout. Battery life is solid too, lasting up to 7 hours on a single charge.
Controls and connectivity
The OnePlus Nord Buds controls can be changed via the HeyMelody app for Android and iPhone (although iPhone support isn't there yet), and you probably will, as this is one of these buds with the same controls on both sides of the earbuds, but too little controls overall.
With one tap either left or right, you pause or play. Two taps = skip a song. Three? Return one. Via the app, it's possible to add (de)activating the Game Mode and/or the voice assistant on your earbuds, and change the setup of the track changing controls. Unfortunately, it's not possible to change volume from the earbuds. Happily, the touch panel is easy to locate and operate, and affirms your action with a lovely little click sound.
Connectivity is solid. The earbuds pair and connect quickly when you take them out of the case, and the Bluetooth signal stays strong for more than ten meters away from your device.
There's no automatic multipoint connection, but you can switch manually between two devices once you've connected the buds to two different devices and add the control option via the app. Listening on your laptop and getting a phone call? Tap the earbuds to switch towards the phone. It works… if you keep the function in mind at the very moment, that is. Automatic switching is rare, but it definitely works better than this.
Calls, movies and Games
The OnePlus Nord Buds are great for calls. The microphone puts your voice through loud and full, with also enough clarity. Even nearby noise is reduced wonderfully and barely audible in both phone and video calls. Entering a Zoom meeting while people are shoving all the furniture in the office behind you? You probably can. A combination of wind and noise can drag your voice with it somewhat - as it can on all wireless earbuds.
While watching videos on Android and iPhone goes perfectly in sync out of the box, you'll need the app first to update the earbuds and add a Gaming Mode.
When you activate this mode, there's still some delay in sound effects, but it's easy to enjoy a game like Call of Duty mobile - in which the earbuds even give you nice spatial details such as shots around you.
App support for OnePlus Nord Buds
The OnePlus Nord Buds enjoys support from the free HeyMelody app for Android and iPhone. This simple app provides useful extra features, like a Gaming Mode that comes with the first firmware upgrade. The iPhone version doesn't support the Nord Buds at the time of writing, but this will likely change soon.
Apart from updating the firmware, the app lets you take a tutorial for the standard controls, lets you see the battery life of both earbuds, (de)activate the gaming mode, change the controls (but not add volume controls), and select a sound equalizer.
The app is easy to understand
Next to the preset equalizers, you can make your own EQ
It's fun to play with the four preset equalizers or to create your own EQ, but apart from the bass-boosting, treble-reducing Bass EQ, the preset equalizers don't really add much. Bold gives upper-mids a metallic edge; Serenade intensifies Treble in an unnatural way. Still, the app is easy to operate and adds some useful functions.
Also read: The best wireless ANC earbuds
Sound quality of OnePlus Nord Buds: Airy
Wireless earbuds from Chinese phone makers like Xiaomi, Huawei, and Realme usually don't sound very impressive. The OnePlus Nord Buds is an exception.
The Nord Buds have a balanced-warm sound. The mid-bass isn't the fullest as bass-tones roll-off quickly, but there's a steady slam with a real quick pacing. No, really: the bass is fast enough to make easy-going songs uplifting. The sub-bass can rumble loosely underneath it, but multiple basslines can become muddy and even distort a bit when a song pushes it.
It's a shame OnePlus didn't entirely nail this part, as the rest of the sound is so good. Lower-mids are boosted to give drums sweet impact and darker electronic tones their full, flowing presence desired in dance genres, without overtaking the rest of the sound.
Furthermore, the Nord Buds have a very pleasant tonal balance. The sound has a subtle warm undertone that doesn't color the music too much, but it also surprises with a lovely airiness. Music feels quite wide around you, and different instruments and effects appear vividly from your left and right. Separation between instruments is good, while vocals have their logical center position. Vocals have a forward and natural presentation and set themselves subtly apart from instruments. They're devoid of sharpness or harshness. There's also enough space in the sound to give center mid-tones like guitars and piano play a good presence - a rare characteristic on cheaper wireless earbuds.
Lastly, the OnePlus Nord Buds can go very loud. When you go way up though, the sound can become thin and somewhat hollow - no surprise.
Especially if you're into blues, jazz, vocal, or acoustic music, the OnePlus Nord Buds is an exceptional choice under $50 with its balanced and airy sound.
OnePlus Nord Buds comparisons
OnePlus Nord Buds vs Earfun Air Pro 2
If you're attracted to the proposition of a tonally balanced sound with an airy vibe, and you don't mind to spend 20 or 30 dollars more, the Earfun Air Pro 2 is well worth considering as an alternative to the OnePlus Nord Buds. The OnePlus has even more air in the sound, but the Air Pro 2 is more suitable for dance and electronic genres as well, as lower-mids are further boosted and the bass comes with more thickness; its mid-bass has a stronger thump, and sub-bass is more on the foreground.
The Earfun doesn't have manual multipoint connection, but it does come with impressive Active Noise Cancelling that filters and reduces many sounds around you. It also has comparable, terrific phone and video call quality. Even with ANC on, its 6 hours battery life is close to OnePlus’ 7 hours, and while the Earfun doesn't have app support, it does give you all the controls straight from the earbuds - including volume.
Earfun Air Pro 2 review ($70)
OnePlus Nord Buds vs tranya T20
No matter which of the two sound modes you're activating from the earbuds itself - Normal or Bass Boost: the Tranya T20 is one of the most balanced sounding earbuds under $50 and a competitor to the OnePlus Nord Buds. The Tranya T20 doesn't score so well on phone and video calls and lacks manual multipoint connection, but it has more controls on the earbuds and its stemless design makes it easier to lie down with them. Again, the OnePlus sounds airier than its rival, placing the music wider around. Higher-pitched vocals get more room on the Nord Buds, while the T20 provides darker (male) vocals more body and presence. The same goes for lower-mids and mid-bass with Tranya's Bass Boost mode, giving music just that little extra, sweet fullness.
Tranya T20 review ($40)
OnePlus Nord Buds vs Fiil T1 Lite
As one of the new top recommendations for sound quality under $50, the OnePlus Nord Buds of course has to pit against the Scarbir.com-favourite Fiil T1 Lite. The Fiil performs best with the Bass EQ from the app, which takes the harshest slice of the highs and injects juicy lower-mids and bass. These, indeed, are fuller and more textured than on the OnePlus, not only providing a stronger mid-bass thump and sub-bass rumble, but also forwarding acoustic bass guitars and drums more. The Nord Buds has more air in the sound and feels wider than the Fiil, with more naturalness in mid-instruments and vocals. Higher-pitched singers are brought smoother and rounded on the OnePlus, while the Fill maintains its dynamics better on the highest volumes.
Fiil T1 Lite review ($40)
Verdict
The OnePlus Nord Buds may lack Active Noise Cancelling or a Transparency mode, but it's a strong all-rounder with an impressively balanced and airy sound on a budget.
4.5 stars - Great
Buy OnePlus Nord Buds:
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