OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Review

OnePlus Nord Buds 3 | Review
OnePlus launched the OnePlus Buds 3 on September 17, 2024, as the successor to the OnePlus Nord Buds 2. The OnePlus Nord Buds 3 launched at a price of ₹2,099, placing it in a segment with fierce competition from multiple brands, including boAt, realme, and OPPO, which dominate the market.

Let us dive into them, deeper.

The Specs:
Colourways:
Harmonic Gray
Melodic White
Chromatic Blue

Size:
Dimensions:
Earbuds: 29.99mm*20.30mm*23.87mm
Charging Case: 66.06mm*51.24mm*24.83mm

Weight:
Earbuds: 4.2g
Charging Case & earbuds: 46.2g

Audio:
12.4mm dynamic driver
Driver Sensitivity: 112dB±3dB

Frequency Response:
20 Hz-20,000 Hz

Microphones:
4 (2 per earbud)

Battery:
Capacity:
Per earbud: 58 mAh
Charging case: 440 mAh

Claimed battery life:
ANC on: 8 hours (earbuds) / 28 hours (with charging case)
ANC off: 12 hours (earbuds) / 43 hours (with charging case)

Charging:
Charging (ANC off, 50% volume, AAC)
Earbuds + Case: 10 mins for 11 hours
Earbud: 10 mins for 4 hours

Wired Charging Time:
Earbuds: About 60 mins
Earbuds + Case: About 80 mins.

ANC: up to 32dB

Water & Sweat Resistance: IP55

Bluetooth 5.4
Codecs: AAC, SBC

Design

The OnePlus Nord Buds 3 comes in 3 colourways, and I got the Chromatic Blue. The colour has a matte finish on the case. The earbuds have a dual-tone finish, with the side with touch controls matte and the side with ear tips glossy.

Build and Comfort:

The build quality of the case and hinge is pretty solid. The earbuds are lightweight, so they are comfortable even for longer sessions. They do not fall from the case that easily, and they do not fall from the ears, at least for me. The colour is also good and feels premium.

Companion App/ Controls:

The Buds can be connected via Bluetooth to Android and Apple Devices. To control the Buds and settings and update the framework, one can install the HeyMelody app on their device, available for Android and iPhone. 

If you own a OnePlus or OPPO phone, you do not need to install the app; all the functionality is backed up in your device’s Bluetooth settings.

They support Google Fast Pair.

The controls offered on the HeyMelody App are the ANC controls, Game mode, touch controls and Equalizer.

On OnePlus/OPPO devices, the same is found in the Bluetooth settings.

The EQ is fairly basic but very useful. We will get to that in the audio and sound section.

The software is good and usable. It is basic, but it works. One More thing is that the Bass Wave is just not useful.

The Sound Signature:

The Soundstage of the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 is fine, It is dark and full of bass.

Performance:

Audio Quality:

The OnePlus Nord Buds 3 features a 12.4mm dynamic driver, but the overwhelming bass overshadows other elements like instruments and vocals. OnePlus should consider improving its audio engineering or adopting the tuning of OPPO Enco.

The excessive V-shaped sound profile makes the audio experience subpar. While V-shaped IEMs exist, they don’t overpower to this extent. Comparing TWS with IEMs isn’t ideal, but in this case, it’s warranted.

Using Wavelet to EQ the sound significantly improves it. Bass reduction addresses the main issue, and further EQ adjustments can enhance the overall sound quality. The hardware is capable of delivering a balanced and good sound.

I prefer Neckbands, Headphones, and IEMs like the Truthear Gate, which sounds fantastic. My first experience with TWS was disappointing due to the bass.

Once the bass is managed, the Nord Buds 3 sounds decent without additional EQ. Vocals and instrument separation are fine, and with some EQ tweaks, they can sound good. The main challenge is controlling the bass; everything else is satisfactory.

On ANC, it is good, it cuts the outside noise without affecting the Audio Quality much.

As for the mic quality, it is decent. I did not have issues on calls so yes, it is good.

Final Verdict:

A possibly perfect TWS, but ruined by its tuning. 

They are lightweight, and comfortable for long usage too. The case is also built well and feels durable. The Tuning is a miss, bass is way too much. Call quality is good, no issues there. I found the mic quality to be decent, with no issues.