Introduction
The OnePlus Nord Buds mark the entry of OnePlus into the audio market within the Nord series. These wireless earbuds offer an affordable option for consumers with a tight budget, starting at just $39. Although they lack some premium features such as active noise cancellation and wireless charging, OnePlus aims to provide a no-frills audio experience with a focus on essential functionality. In this article, we will explore the design, comfort, software, performance, and battery life of the OnePlus Nord Buds to determine how well they perform in their price range.
Design and Comfort
The OnePlus Nord Buds feature a contemporary design characterized by clean lines and geometric shapes. The charging case has a distinctive pill shape with flat sides and sharp edges. Its matte finish, minimal panel gaps, and tight tolerances contribute to an overall premium feel. The case's surface is well-crafted, with even the pairing button being almost invisible upon first glance.
The earbuds themselves continue the design language with a flat, pill-shaped stem. On the outer side, there is a concave, mirror-like area that serves as a capacitive touch surface for playback gestures. The stems are short, measuring around an inch in length.
OnePlus has moved away from sharp geometric edges for the inner ear portion of the earbuds, adopting a more organic design. The ear tips are oval-shaped, providing a comfortable fit for extended wear. Despite their small size and lightweight nature, they may be a bit fiddly to handle, especially for individuals with larger fingers.
Considering their affordable price, the build quality and finish of the earbuds and charging case are surprisingly good. Additionally, the Nord Buds have an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance, along with a nano-coating to prevent corrosion.
Software
The OnePlus Nord Buds are seamlessly integrated with OnePlus phones, as they automatically prompt a pairing dialog when the case is opened near a OnePlus device. This feature mirrors the convenience of AirPods' pairing process. OnePlus phone users can access additional customization options for the earbuds within the Bluetooth settings, although finding these options can be somewhat challenging, similar to the AirPods' settings.
For non-OnePlus Android phones and iOS devices, users need to download the Oppo HeyMelody app to access the same customization options available on OnePlus phones. However, as of the time of publishing, the iOS app had not been updated to support the Nord Buds.
The customization options for the Nord Buds are somewhat limited. Users can modify the touch sensors' behavior on the earbuds, such as single/double/triple tap actions for play/pause, previous or next track, and voice assistant. The gestures can also be disabled to prevent accidental touches. Another feature allows users to switch between the current and previously paired devices using a long touch and hold gesture. Unfortunately, there is no option to assign volume control to any of the gestures, necessitating adjustment from the connected phone.
The Nord Buds also offer a find my earbuds feature and firmware update capability. The earbuds come with the Sound Master EQ, which includes four presets—Balanced (Default), Bold, Serenade, and Bass. Additionally, users can create their own custom presets using a 6-band EQ. Any changes made to the presets or custom settings are saved on the earbuds and carry over to any newly paired device.
The earbuds support SBC and AAC codecs, with Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity. However, they do not support multi-device pairing. Instead, users can pair two devices separately and utilize the aforementioned option to switch between them quickly.
Notably, the OnePlus Nord Buds lack in-ear detection, meaning there is no automatic play/pause functionality when inserting or removing the earbuds from the ears.
Performance
Audio Quality
The audio quality of the OnePlus Nord Buds leans heavily towards a bass-forward sound signature with subdued upper mid-range and treble response. The bass is characterized by an exaggerated emphasis on the mid-bass and upper-bass regions, which tends to overpower the entire sound spectrum. While the quantity of bass is abundant, its quality is average, lacking precision and clarity.
The lower mid-range delivers a mellow and pleasing tonality but often gets overshadowed by the dominant bass response. The upper mid-range is truncated due to the dull high-end response of the earbuds. The treble performance is restrained and mushy, resulting in a cloudy presentation of vocals and instruments.
Fortunately, the Sound Master EQ presets can significantly improve the audio tuning. The "Bold" preset, in particular, rectifies the tonality to a considerable extent. It offers a slightly spicy top-end, a slightly recessed mid-range, and most importantly, reduces the overwhelming bass levels. For most users, selecting this preset provides an easy solution to enhance the overall sound quality of the earbuds.
The "Serenade" preset reduces the treble a bit compared to the "Bold" preset and accentuates the upper mid-range, resulting in a slightly nasal and honky sound. The Nord Buds' drivers tend to sound nasal and metallic in the upper mids, which becomes more noticeable with this preset. On the other hand, the "Bass" preset further intensifies the bass and slightly lowers the mids, making it less enjoyable to listen to compared to the default "Balanced" preset.
While the customization options allow users to create their own EQ presets, the limitations of the six-band EQ and the inherent characteristics of the earbuds' drivers prevent significant improvements beyond the default profile. Nonetheless, with careful tuning, it is possible to achieve a satisfactory audio experience that surpasses the out-of-the-box performance.
Microphone
Surprisingly, the OnePlus Nord Buds exhibit commendable microphone performance. In quiet environments, recorded voices sound full-bodied and natural, with minimal distractions from ambient noise reduction algorithms.
In noisier surroundings, the voice quality remains satisfactory to a certain extent. However, in extremely loud environments, the earbuds struggle to maintain clear voice intelligibility. Despite this limitation, the background noise levels are consistently kept low.
Latency
The Nord Buds demonstrate good latency performance when used for watching videos. Although there is a slight initial delay when starting a video, it quickly synchronizes and remains in sync throughout the viewing experience. The latency is acceptable for casual gaming, but for competitive multiplayer gaming, it is advisable to use wired earbuds to ensure optimal performance.
Connectivity
Throughout testing, the OnePlus Nord Buds exhibited reliable connectivity without unexpected disconnections or sound interruptions. The connection remained stable, providing a seamless user experience.
Noise Cancellation
It is important to note that the OnePlus Nord Buds do not feature active noise cancellation. However, the ear tips passively block a reasonable amount of ambient noise, allowing users to focus on the audio playback, except in very loud environments.
Battery Life
The OnePlus Nord Buds offer a claimed battery life of up to 7 hours on a full charge. During testing, they provided a runtime of 6 hours and 52 minutes, closely aligning with the manufacturer's claim.
Additionally, OnePlus asserts that a 10-minute charge from 0% battery can provide 5 hours of playtime. However, in practical testing, the achieved playtime after a 10-minute charge was only 2 hours and 57 minutes. While this is a reasonable duration, it falls short of the advertised figure.
Conclusion
The OnePlus Nord Buds present a compelling option for budget-conscious consumers seeking wireless earbuds. Their unique design, comfortable fit, satisfactory microphone performance, and decent battery life contribute to their appeal. Despite the default audio tuning, which heavily emphasizes bass and dampens the upper frequency range, the inclusion of Sound Master EQ presets allows users to achieve a more enjoyable listening experience. Considering their affordable price point, the OnePlus Nord Buds offer acceptable sound quality. The lack of in-ear detection is a notable drawback; however, if you are searching for affordable earbuds, the OnePlus Nord Buds remain a valid choice.
FAQs
1. Do the OnePlus Nord Buds support in-ear detection?
No, the OnePlus Nord Buds do not feature in-ear detection. They do not automatically pause or resume playback when inserted or removed from the ears.
2. What is the battery life of the OnePlus Nord Buds?
The OnePlus Nord Buds provide a claimed battery life of up to 7 hours on a full charge. However, during testing, they achieved approximately 6 hours and 52 minutes of playtime.
3. Can I customize the audio settings of the OnePlus Nord Buds?
Yes, the OnePlus Nord Buds offer customization options through the Sound Master EQ. You can choose from preset EQ profiles or create your own custom EQ settings using a 6-band equalizer. These settings can be saved on the earbuds and carried over to other devices when paired.
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