Picking a good set of in-ears on a limited budget can be quite a challenge. OnePlus recently released the Nord Buds 3 Pro and we put them through their paces for a while.
OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro review
The OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro is the successor to the Nord Buds 2, yet a few changes have been made to the design. Not only do the earphones look slightly different but the case has also been given a different shape. Let's unpack the package. Besides the Nord Buds 3 Pro, we also find some paperwork and ear tips in different sizes. A Nord sticker and a USB-C charging cable are also not to be missed.
The box itself is made of plastic and so are the earphones, which makes them feel a bit cheaper but that shouldn't spoil the fun in this price range when the other features are good.
In use
How are the earphones in use, we can be positive about that in terms of sound. The music sounds well balanced and there is good reproduction of the bass. The earphones can be sufficiently loud in terms of volume and are pleasant to the ear.
Via the Bluetooth settings, you can access various functions of the earphones such as setting an audio reset. In these, you have three choices; Normal, serenade and bass. Personally, I found the normal balanced present to sound best with little exaggerated tones. You can also create your own preset with a 6-band equaliser, for example, to boost the highs a little bit more.
The noise reduction in the Nord Buds 3 Pro is good and manages to exclude outside noise well. There is also a transparent mode that allows you to actually amplify your ambient noise. Useful when you're hiking, for example.
In the settings you will also find an option for spatial sound, personally I think this is more of a gimmick than it really creates a nice sound. Leave this feature turned off if you don't like an echo chamber.
Operation and battery life
The earphones' controls are a bit disappointing. We have trouble skipping songs or pausing music. This is strange because we didn't have this before with earbuds from OnePlus. Whether it's because of the material or software-wise it can be fixed is the question.
In terms of battery life, we are satisfied for this price range. With noise reduction, it is around 6 hours and without it, you can listen to almost twice as much music. The case promises 44 hours of listening but you will probably only achieve that if you do not use noise reduction and listen at a normal and constant volume.
Review
The OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro have good and not-so-good points. In terms of sound, the in-ears score points but when it comes to handling, the earphones do leave something to be desired. The battery without ANC is top notch, enabled battery life is average. You can find the Nord Buds 3 Pro for a suggested retail price of 79 euros at OnePlus, Bol.com, Amazon and Coolblue.
OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro
