The true wireless stereo (TWS) market in India has been booming, and OnePlus has been consistent in offering stylish and performance-driven earbuds at affordable prices. The OnePlus Nord Buds 3r are the brand’s latest addition in the under-₹2,000 segment, designed to deliver long battery life, strong bass, and smart features that are usually seen in higher-priced earbuds. Let’s explore their design, sound quality, battery life, features, and whether they are worth your money.
1. Design and Comfort: Lightweight and Rugged
The OnePlus Nord Buds 3r come in a sleek, pill-shaped case with sharp edges, giving them a modern and stylish appearance. Unlike the glossy finish seen in many budget earbuds, the case uses a matte texture, making it resistant to fingerprints and scratches.
The earbuds themselves are lightweight and ergonomically shaped to fit snugly in your ears. They are supplied with three silicone ear tips (small, medium, and large), ensuring a secure fit for different ear sizes. Even during workouts, jogging, or long commutes, the buds stay firmly in place without discomfort.
Another standout feature is the IP55 rating, which makes the earbuds resistant to sweat, dust, and light splashes. This makes them ideal for gym use or outdoor activities. While the charging case does not have water resistance, the earbuds alone are rugged enough for daily use.
2. Audio Performance: Bass-Rich and Energetic
The Nord Buds 3r are powered by 12.4 mm titanium-coated dynamic drivers, which deliver a sound signature tuned heavily towards bass. If you enjoy EDM, hip-hop, Bollywood, or pop music, you’ll love the punch and depth these earbuds provide.
The mids and highs are decent, but at times the strong bass can overshadow vocals or fine instrumental details. Still, for most casual listeners and bass lovers, the sound experience is lively and immersive.
Using the HeyMelody app, you can customize sound profiles and tweak the equalizer to better match your listening preferences. While the default tuning is bass-heavy, the app helps you adjust the audio for a more balanced experience.
3. Battery Life: Truly Impressive
Battery life is where the OnePlus Nord Buds 3r shine the most. On a single charge, the earbuds last for up to 12 hours of continuous playback, while the charging case extends the total battery backup to around 54 hours.
Another big advantage is fast charging. Just a 10-minute charge gives you up to 8 hours of music playback, making them a great option for people always on the move. This feature alone puts the Nord Buds 3r ahead of many competitors in this price range.
4. Features and Connectivity
Despite being budget earbuds, the Nord Buds 3r come loaded with smart features that improve usability:
Bluetooth 5.4: Ensures strong and stable connectivity with minimal dropouts.
Game Mode: Reduces latency to around 47 ms, making them suitable for mobile gaming.
Dual-device pairing: Lets you connect to two devices simultaneously, such as your phone and laptop, and switch between them easily.
Google Fast Pair: Makes pairing with Android phones quick and effortless.
HeyMelody App Integration: Allows you to customize controls, sound profiles, and even add advanced gestures like camera shutter control.
Find My Earbuds: A handy feature to locate misplaced earbuds.
AI Translation: A unique feature that supports real-time translation in supported apps, making it useful for multilingual communication.
For control, the earbuds feature touch sensors, letting you play/pause music, adjust volume, answer/reject calls, or summon your voice assistant. All these controls can be customized within the app.
5. Call Quality: Clear and Reliable
The Nord Buds 3r come with a dual-microphone setup combined with environmental noise cancellation (ENC). This helps reduce background noise during calls. Indoors, the call clarity is excellent, and even outdoors in traffic or crowded areas, voices remain clear and understandable. While they may not match premium earbuds with advanced noise cancellation, they do a commendable job for their price.
6. What’s Missing?
No product is perfect, and the Nord Buds 3r have a few compromises:
No Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): At this price, some competitors have started offering basic ANC, which is missing here.
No in-ear detection: Music doesn’t pause automatically when you remove the earbuds.
Bass-heavy sound signature: While great for bass lovers, those who prefer balanced or vocal-centric audio might find them lacking.
These limitations are understandable given the price point, but it’s important to know them before buying.
7. Price and Availability
The OnePlus Nord Buds 3r are priced at around ₹1,799 in India, with promotional discounts sometimes dropping them to ₹1,499. They are available in multiple color options and can be purchased both online and offline through leading retail channels.
8. Specifications at a Glance
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Price | ₹1,599 – ₹1,799 (offers may lower it to ₹1,499) |
| Drivers | 12.4 mm titanium-coated dynamic drivers |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (earbuds), 54 hours (with case), 10-minute charge = 8 hours playback |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.4, AAC/SBC codec support, dual-device pairing, Game Mode |
| Water Resistance | IP55 (earbuds only) |
| Controls | Customizable touch controls via HeyMelody app |
| Smart Features | Google Fast Pair, AI Translation, Find My Earbuds, camera shutter control |
| Audio Profile | Bass-heavy, customizable EQ |
| Ideal For | Bass lovers, travelers, gamers, budget-conscious buyers |
9. Who Should Buy the OnePlus Nord Buds 3r?
These earbuds are perfect for:
Users who want long battery life without frequent charging.
Listeners who love bass-rich sound for energetic music genres.
Gamers who need low-latency performance.
People who want smart features like dual pairing and app customization at a budget price.
Fitness enthusiasts looking for IP55-rated rugged earbuds.
They may not be ideal for:
Audiophiles looking for balanced, detailed sound.
Users expecting active noise cancellation at this price.
Those who prioritize auto-pause features for convenience.
10. Final Verdict
The OnePlus Nord Buds 3r stand out as one of the best TWS earbuds in the budget segment. With marathon battery life, bass-driven audio, modern design, and smart features like AI Translation and dual-device pairing, they offer excellent value for money.
While they miss out on ANC and in-ear detection, these drawbacks are minor compared to the features they deliver under ₹2,000. If you’re a bass lover, frequent traveler, or someone who simply wants reliable earbuds with long-lasting performance, the Nord Buds 3r are a fantastic choice.
In short, these earbuds prove that you don’t need to spend a fortune to get quality wireless audio and premium-like features.