OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro review

Pebble designs have become a standard in the TWS space, and most designs are predictably plain. However, OnePlus adopted the standard pebble and transformed it into a work of art with a two-tone case design. The lower main body of the case has a matte finish with fine white mosaic-like patterns scattered around, probably inspired by the Nordic night sky. The device is available in two finishes Starry Black and Soft Jade. The case is easy to open with one hand and the lid offers a snappy closure. The front bears golden OnePlus lettering along with a status LED, and at the base, you will find a pairing button beside the USB Type-C port. We received the Soft Jade version, and it’s a refreshing colour you wouldn’t mind flaunting.

Coming to the buds, it’s again far from the usual straight affair, but positively. The long stem has a waterdrop shape with a wider and rounded end. And if there are kids around, they may spot one of their favourite Pokemons staring at them with glistening round eyes, hollow nostrils and a wide mouth. And adults will find the convenience of a firm grip. There’s a glossy flat touchpad at the top and the rest follows the norm.

The buds sport an IP55 splash and dust resistance rating, which means they can withstand water jets and rain, and the device will probably remain scratch and smudge-free with the matte finish.

The Nord Buds 3 Pro punches way above its weight when it comes to features, and from here on, the ‘pro’ designation starts to make sense. At the core is a large 12.4mm titanized composite (titanium-coated TPU) diaphragm, which we believe, is the same they use for the Oppo Enco series as well. This driver helps the builds to deliver a wider dynamic range with enhanced bass and clearer vocals. On the practical side, the audio predictably leans towards bass and OnePlus boosts this with their BassWave 2.0 enhancement algorithm for the ultimate bass for those who need it. However, the device doesn’t compromise on other frequencies and you get a lot of volume to play around using the companion app.

The Buds 3 Pro uses Google Fast Pair to make pairing a breeze with your Google-connected Android devices via Bluetooth 5.4. If paired with a compatible OnePlus phone or tablet, it lets you customise ANC and equaliser without a separate app. With other devices, you can use HeyMelody app to access the full set of features. We found the HeyMelody app not detecting the earbuds on Android devices after connecting once via Google Fast Pair, but strangely enough, it detected the device on an iPhone and offered full control. The device supports dual connection, which can be activated from the app. You get 3D audio support on OnePlus devices.

The buds offer a tight fit, ensuring that it doesn’t slip off while on a run or workout, in addition to cutting off external noise to a great extent. For anything more, you can choose between Noise Cancellation, Off, and Transparency modes, and the app offers four modes for noise cancellation. Apart from Mild (15 dB), Moderate (25 dB) and Max (49 dB) levels, it offers a Smart mode that analyses background noise and switches between the three hybrid ANC modes intelligently. The Max mode was found to introduce a feeble hum at times, though not at a disturbing level.

The HeyMelody app offers an earbud fit test and personalised noise cancellation in addition to the customisation of controls. It provides three preset EQ modes—Balanced, Serenade, and Bass. For those who want finer controls to bring out the best in these buds, you get a 6-band custom equaliser with the option to create up to three custom profiles. The Nord Buds 3 Pro uses a wind cancellation algorithm for clear speech, and we could get our voice clearly across during calls.

Now, what makes the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro less of a ‘pro’ might be the absence of support for high-res audio. The buds support AAC and SBC codecs only. OnePlus claims a battery life of up to 12 hours for the buds and 44 hours combined with the case. Even if it drains faster with higher volume and strong ANC, a 10-minute charge will get you 11 hours of playback according to OnePlus.

The OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro is one of the best-sounding earbuds we have seen under ₹5000, and it’s designed to impress a bass enthusiast, while not forgetting about the mids and highs either. The companion app offers extensive customisation modes and the custom EQ is certainly a plus. We can easily recommend this to anyone looking for a pair of affordable earbuds.