Review of the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro: Well-balanced Sound on a Budget

The Nord series from OnePlus is well-known for its inexpensive TWS along with its mid-range and low-cost devices. I often see people sporting Nord earphones on my way to and from work. I was excited to test the latest version of these wireless earbuds because of this, and now that I've had a week to use them, I'm prepared to share my impressions in my review of the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro.

Contents of the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro Box

Here's a brief overview of everything that comes with the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro package.

• The OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro with charging case
• Pair of small and large ear tips
• User Manual
• A single sticker
• USB A to C charging cable

Build with Design and Quality

Historically, the Nord Buds have opted for a somewhat simple style. It's small enough to slip in your pants pocket or backpack without being too ostentatious. The Buds 3 Pro is consistent with this custom. They are packaged in a oval-shaped case that is more boxy on the sides than the Realme Buds Air 6 (review).

The casing itself features a dual-tone finish (dual-tone), with a basic black top and a matte texture. While white splashes give the bottom a starry night appearance. With the OnePlus logo on the front and a USB-C connector and pairing button at the bottom, it's well-made and lightweight. This hinge is rather strong; unlike other buds in or beneath this section, it doesn't wiggle.

The buds are within the case when you open it, and they have also undergone redesign. They resemble Oppo Enco blooms in appearance. A long stem resembling a teardrop has replaced the flat one. For touch controls, it has a indent. Overall, I'm happy with how the buds fit in my ears since I didn't have any pain even after wearing them for more than four hours.

These buds do, however, give the impression that I am wearing a pair of TWS that cost Rs. 3,300. Although they cost the same, the Realme Buds Air 6 feel better overall and are denser and more compact. That's a major factor in why I thought their pricing would be lower than it is.

Connectivity of the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro:

Now let's concentrate on these earphones' wireless feature. These buds are an improvement over the Nord Buds 2 in that they support Google Fast Pair and Bluetooth 5.4. Unfortunately, there isn't any Microsoft SwiftPair support available here. Regarding connectivity, it was robust, and I saw no drops in my use over the week.

This OnePlus also came with dual device pairing, which has grown to be my favorite feature. I was able to connect the buds to both my main phone and my laptop at the same time because of this. I've tried different buds previously, but for some reason, I've liked this one more than the others. This could be as a result of how simple and fast the matching process is.

Mic Quality and Sound

The 12.4 mm drivers that the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro come with support SBC and AAC codecs. This year, Realme and now OnePlus earbuds seem to be in style. They seem to have taken the criticism to heart, as they have adjusted their earbuds to sound more harmonious rather than mostly bass-heavy.

This model lacks the bass-heavy character of the Nord Buds 2. I would describe the sound quality as more balanced. Without overpowering the other, the bass, treble, and vocals all have a place in the sound signature. I was able to locate the bass where it belonged and the treble where it was required. They may also be very loud without distorting the sound.

Nevertheless, the sound didn't seem clean and there wasn't enough information. It like viewing a 480p YouTube video. It lacks that clarity, even if it appears good. Additionally, there is a small sound gap between the instruments. Even while the built-in bass should be enough, you may use the companion app to increase it if you so want.

Here are some extra features, such as OnePlus 3D audio, which is spatial audio. To put it simply, it's bad, and if it didn't exist, they wouldn't care. If you're not a fan of the standard settings, you may also tweak the Sound Master EQ to create a custom profile. All things considered, the Buds 3 Pro provide decent sound quality that should meet your daily listening requirements.

For calls and noise cancellation, each earbud has three microphones. Regarding the microphone quality, I would say it is decent. Regardless of whether I was speaking through terrible traffic in Noida or making my way back home in a packed metro, the person on the other end never had any concerns about my voice. I think the quality of the microphone is about on par with the Realme Buds Air 6.

Transparency Mode and Noise Cancellation

I wasn't happy with the ANC in the Nord Buds 2 when I tried it out last year. Here, I had anticipated something similar, but OnePlus disproved my theory. One of my favorite features of these buds is their maximum 49 dB noise suppression capability. The majority of ambient noise, including the thundering sound of the metro train on tracks, was successfully muffled by it.

Unlike with the Buds Air 6, this noise reduction also doesn't seem harsh or abrasive. You don't sense that your ear suddenly become empty. If you activate ANC, the change is gradual. To be honest, the noise cancellation is unquestionably on par with buds that cost more than this.

I'm pleased to say that, similar to ANC, this place handles the transparency mode well. The surrounding voices, particularly those of other individuals, were quite audible. With these buds on transparency mode, I could have a conversation while a music was playing at 50% volume. That's how excellent it is. Even so, you can think that your own voice sounds fake when you speak.

Touch Controls for the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro

You can use a wide range of motions to control touch controls. Once you get the hang of these controls, you very much won't need to take your phone out of your pocket. Here are the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro's default gesture and touch control settings.

With the removal of the flat stem, OnePlus has adopted the Realme strategy and is now providing tiny indents at the top of every stem. This is the touch control area where your fingertips go. It is almost always correct, but if you have sausage fingers like I do, you may sometimes find it difficult to detect such encounters.

Life of Battery and Charging

A 58 mAh battery and a 440 mAh charging case are included with each bud. What does it mean in terms of hours? These buds held up well throughout the day as I used them on my lengthy explorations of Delhi. Even with the ANC turned on, I was able to get around 6.5 hours of battery life with these.

I performed a lot of jams, recorded videos to show my mother the stunning surroundings, and went back to singing at that period. There shouldn't be any issues, in my opinion, about the battery division. Thus, they should spend 20 hours on the case and 6 hours with ANC. I charged them when I got home, and it took around an hour and ten minutes to fill them completely.

OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro: Experience with Companion App

You won't need to install any companion apps if you link these buds with a OnePlus smartphone (Realme, please take notes). From the earbuds' Bluetooth settings page, you may access all of the controls. Additionally, OnePlus users may benefit from unique features such as using the buds as a camera shutter. and an audio channel switch that, when you remove the earbuds, plays music from the phone's speaker.

However, you'll need to download the Hey Melody app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store if you're not a member of the Red Cable Club. Hey Melody provides a simple matching process. A well-designed UI displaying the bud's battery life, several noise modes, and other options will appear after it has been linked. No elaborate animations or sign-in are present. Just a basic software with settings and menus that are easy to read. For this reason, along from the Nothing X app, it is among the finest companion applications.

As you may have seen, I have discussed the buds from the viewpoint of regular users, bringing them up as needed. They are built for them, which explains why. An audiophile or a tech enthusiast would not be seen wearing them.

People looking for a solid and dependable pair of TWS that they don't have to bother about are catered to by the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro. You would suggest this set of headphones to your parents, siblings, or other relatives who are searching for an affordable choice.