Although the Nord is an ‘affordable’ product line from OnePlus, its products are by no means entry-level. recently launched OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G ,Review) is a good example of how the company’s starter products are still fairly well-equipped and capable, an approach that also applies to the product I’m reviewing here, the OnePlus Nord Buds 2. The successor to the original Nord Buds, this second generation version has been launched at the same price but with significant upgrades in feature set and performance.
Price of Rs. 2,999, the oneplus nord buds 2 Comes with the notable addition of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) as well as promises of improvements in sound quality, battery life and connectivity. Is this currently the best pair of true wireless earphones you can buy for less than Rs. 3,000? Know in this review.
The OnePlus Nord Buds 2 have a texture and pattern that initially looked like dust, but later I liked it
OnePlus Nord Buds 2 Design and Features
If you’re familiar with OnePlus’ product range, you’ll know that the Nord smartphones are priced significantly lower than the flagship No. series, with appropriately positioned hardware to go with it. The same philosophy applies to the Nord earphones, and the Nord Buds 2 aren’t quite as well-equipped as the more recently launched (and more expensive) ones. OnePlus Buds Pro 2,
In addition to ANC, the Nord Buds 2 have minor changes to the design of the 4.7g earpiece, and more noticeable changes to the look and feel of the 37.5g charging case. It’s still a unique and unconventional look for a pair of true wireless earphones, but the Nord Buds 2 remain light and comfortable with a snug in-canal fit that ensures a proper noise isolating seal.
The outer surface of the earpieces is a bit more even, thus making it a bit easier to operate the tap controls that are customizable via the app, and the earpieces are IP55 rated for dust and water resistance. The charging case has nice curved edges which make for a more pocketable shape and form. The USB Type-C port for charging is on the back with an easy-to-miss pairing button, while the indicator light is on the front.
The OnePlus Nord Buds 2 headset is available in two colors – white and gray – both of which feature an interesting speckled pattern on the earpieces and charging case. It initially looked like dust or a splatter of paint to me, but I eventually grew to love this design element. The sales package includes a total of three pairs of silicone ear tips and a USB Type-A to Type-C charging cable for the earphones.
OnePlus Nord Buds 2 apps and specifications
Unlike some other headsets from OnePlus and Oppo, whose detailed settings are baked into the Bluetooth menu on select smartphones, the OnePlus Nord Buds 2 opt for the old-fashioned approach of using a separate app. As is usually the case, it’s the HeyMelody app that lets you tweak the settings on the Nord Buds 2. It’s worth noting that only the Android version of the app detects the Nord Buds 2; The iOS version (at the time of publishing this review) does not work with this headset.
Settings specific to the OnePlus Nord Buds 2 within the app are fairly straightforward, covering only a handful of the features the headset offers. This includes switching between ANC and Transparency modes, choosing from a handful of equalizer presets, activating a ‘Basswave’ mode that boosts bass, a low-latency game mode, and customizing tap controls. You can also view separate battery levels for both the earpiece and charging case, and update firmware on the headset.
The touch controls are reasonably detailed, allowing you to set each earpiece to control playback, invoke the default voice assistant on your smartphone, or toggle game mode. The touch-and-hold function can only be used to cycle between ANC and transparency modes (or turn both off), while the long touch-and-hold function can be used to quickly switch between two paired devices. can be set for There’s no multipoint connectivity, but quick switching makes it easy enough to use the headset with two devices almost simultaneously.
The OnePlus Nord Buds 2 have an in-canal fit, which ensures proper noise isolation thanks to the ANC functionality
In terms of specifications, the OnePlus Nord Buds are pretty well set up for a headset under Rs 2. 3,000. Powering the earphones are 12.4mm dynamic drivers, with a frequency response range of 20-20,000Hz and a sensitivity rating of 111dB. There are two microphones in each earpiece for voice and ANC functionality.
For connectivity, the headset uses Bluetooth 5.3 with support for SBC and AAC codecs. OnePlus Fast Pair and Dolby Atmos Audio support on select OnePlus smartphones.
OnePlus Nord Buds 2 performance and battery life
While OnePlus’ Nord series of earphones have always been affordable in price, it has also been largely mediocre in terms of performance, lacking any strong points that help differentiate it from the competition. With the Nord Buds 2, OnePlus hopes to change things – not only thanks to the fact that there’s active noise cancellation on offer at this price, but also because of the marked improvement in sound quality – compared to the original Nord Buds .
The general characteristics of the sound are similar to the previous generation version; The OnePlus Nord Buds 2 have an impressive, aggressive and bass-heavy sound. However, the improved tuning now also ensures a decent level of detail, which is aided enough by active noise cancellation to deliver a better overall sound.
Beginning with Unpanman by BTS, the OnePlus Nord Buds 2 sounded aggressive from the outset, with the bass hitting hard and the resonance extending impressively far. While this was largely the theme of the original Nord Buds, the difference here is how the mid-range and high-end have managed to hold up equally well. The rhythm of this catchy K-pop track wasn’t lost in all that low-end drive, with the synth elements carrying through quite competently.
Switching to the faster and more rhythmic I Could Be The One by Avicii, the OnePlus Nord Buds 2 were able to keep pace with the track and all its nuances, the frequently changing tempo, the sound immersive and surprisingly even at high volume levels felt united with. , something that isn’t very common on affordable true wireless headsets. The bass is unquestionably the most prominent part of the sound, but it won’t distract you from the rest of the Nord Buds 2’s range.
Many true wireless earphones have a sensitivity rating of around 100dB, so the OnePlus Nord Buds 2’s 111dB level is certainly different. This is a loud pair of earphones, which will be especially useful for those who want to use a headset while out or traveling. Sound quality was optimal at around 60 percent volume levels or higher, but I found the earphones to be quite accommodative at softer and more comfortable levels as well.
The active noise cancellation on the OnePlus Nord Buds 2 is pretty basic and limited in its capabilities, as is usually the case with budget audio products. It doesn’t offer much noise reduction on its own, and the vacuum effect sounds a bit confusing, but it does help make it easier to hear music or dialogue in videos, even at moderate volumes.
In addition to active noise cancellation, the OnePlus Nord Buds 2 also benefit from better sound quality
As expected, there is no customization to the noise cancellation. There’s a transparency mode, but it’s not something I’ve used often because of the extreme amplification of sound from outside picked up by the microphone. It would tire out within a few seconds, and it was easy to pause the audio and take the earphones off if I needed to talk to someone or listen to something.
The OnePlus Nord Buds 2 have a battery capacity of 41mAh on the earpiece and 480mAh on the charging case. With the ANC turned on and the volume set to anywhere between 50 and 60 percent volume levels, I was able to get a little under five hours of mixed use on the earpiece, with the charging case adding up to a little over four full additional charges Was, for a total battery life of 25 hours per charge cycle.
Usefully, there’s also fast charging, with a 10-minute charge claimed to deliver around 5 hours of listening time on the earpieces (when the earpieces are in the case, and the case is being charged). Call quality on the OnePlus Nord Buds 2 is decent indoors, and passable outdoors for quick calls, while connectivity was stable at distances of up to 4m between the earphones and the source device.
Decision
The idea of true wireless earphones with active noise cancellation for less than Rs. 3,000 is unheard of, but not many brands have managed to get the concept right. With the Nord Buds 2, OnePlus has taken it to the fore, offering a pair of earphones that are largely true to the price. If popular and electronic styles aren’t your preference, you might find the bass a bit overpowering, but otherwise, this is an impressive true wireless headset for the price.
Alternatives from brands like Oppo and Realme may be worth considering, but the OnePlus Nord Buds 2 stand out as a more complete and satisfying pair of earphones that’s hard to beat for the price. The only notable shortcoming is the lack of app support on iOS, but it’s not one that takes away too much from the overall charm of these earphones.