OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro review: Affordable and customisable earbuds

Familiar design, comfortable fit

The stem-like design enables a comfortable fit. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

Most TWS earphones tend to mimic AirPods in one way or the other, and the Nord Buds 3 Pro is no different. The stem-shaped earbuds and the pebble-shaped carry case aren’t something new that we haven’t seen before. The Starry Black variant of the Buds 3 Pro that I have tested looks both stylish and elegant at the same time, and its uniquely shaped stem also makes it easy to access touch control on these earbuds.

For someone who comes from the Galaxy Buds FE, I also liked the fact that there is a physical button on the carry case to pair the earbuds to a new device, and despite being budget earbuds, the build quality is very assuring, and I really like how solid the hinge on the case feels.

Again, unlike some earbuds, which happen to fall out fairly easily from the earbuds, the shape of the ear tips on the Buds 3 Pro ensures a snug fit, which is also important for active noise cancellation. I walked, jogged, and ran with the OnePlus Buds 3 Pro earbuds, and unlike most earbuds, I didn’t have to adjust them once.

Works with OnePlus, Android, and iPhone

The Nord Buds 3 Pro works best when paired with a OnePlus smartphone. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

As one can expect, the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro works really well when paired with a OnePlus smartphone, and can be customised without downloading any additional app. However, if you are pairing these with any other Android smartphone or an iPhone, you need to download the HeyMelody app for additional customisation. These are based on the latest Bluetooth 5.4, which offers extended range and a stable connection.

I did most of my testing of the Buds 3 Pro on the Nord 4 (review). From the seamless pairing process powered by Google FastPair to customisation, it was all a breeze. Similarly, I also tested these on the iPhone 15, which worked flawlessly, as these support Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) codec, and I could also customise the bass, audio, and ANC performance via the HeyMelody app. The only caveat of these earbuds is the absence of high-resolution codecs like LDAC or aptX.

Meant for Bass-heads

The earbuds offer several customisation features. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

The OnePlus Buds 3 Pro are tuned to impress bassheads, especially in the Bass mode, while the Serenade mode balances between being clear and bass-heavy. There is an option to choose the level of bass according to one’s preference. While -10 will entirely disable bass, level 10 will offer the extreme extent of bass on the earbuds. This was evident while listening to the tracks ‘Varaha Roopam’ from ‘Kantara’ and ‘Levitating’ by Dua Lipa. So far, I haven’t seen such a range even on the most premium offerings from high-end brands.

Outstanding noise cancellation

Most budget earbuds with noise cancellation I tested somehow failed to block complete noise, especially in crowded spaces like markets and buses. This is where the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro shines. When you set the noise cancellation to Max, it quite literally blocks everything. There are three different levels of ANC – Mild, Moderate, and Smart. I was more impressed by the ANC performance of these earbuds rather than the sound quality.

If you ever lose a OnePlus Buds 3 Pro, you can use the built-in Find My Earbud feature to locate it. Besides, the Buds 3 Pro can be paired to two devices at once, again, a feature that’s mostly found on more expensive earbuds. The Buds itself can last up to five hours per charge (with ANC), and the case can deliver an additional 15 hours of battery life, and can easily last all day without any issue.

A solid pair of budget earbuds

A budget pair of earbuds that offer excellent value for money. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

At Rs 3,299, the OnePlus Buds 3 Pro offers plenty of features to make one wonder if they should spend over four to five times as much for the pricier earbuds. While the Buds 3 Pro are excellent for any smartphone user, they are ideal for OnePlus users as they would be able to explore the whole range of features offered by the brand. This is certainly one of the best budget earphones of this year.