WED, OCT 2
NimishAndAkriti
Just what CAN you get for a TWS in the range of Rs 2000? We mean, come on, that's the lower end of the TWS price segment, where bass generally reigns and clarity gets compromised. OnePlus has tried to deliver some value with its Nord Buds 3. You get them for Rs 2299 but often for under Rs 2,000. And you know what? They actually are rather nice, especially if you like a bit of bass.
In terms of design, the Nord Buds 3 are pretty much standard. You get an oval case made of plastic and buds with slightly curved stems. We got the white variant, and the buds and found that the case are both a little glossy and will pick up smudges. The buds are IP55 splash resistant, but the case is not. Good enough for the gym and a light drizzle. We love the fact that right and left are clearly marked!
The buds themselves are about 5 grams and the case is 46 grams, so the whole package is about 50 grams. Pretty easy to carry, and the buds themselves are comfortable and light enough to wear. You get a choice of three ear tip sizes. Medium worked fine for us. These are more ear fitters than head turners, and that suits us fine,
The Nord Buds 3 are easy to pair and use - just hit the button on the base of the case (hah, verse), and choose the device on your phone. The Buds work with OnePlus devices with no extra app needed. You will need to download the Hey Melody app to use them with other Android phones and the iPhone, and it works absolutely fine with them as well. Controlling them is basically a matter of taps and presses on the stems of the buds - and you can even customise them to increase and decrease volume.
The big question of course is: do they sound good enough? Well, for the price, they do. They have a slight bass accent by default, and you can turn it up to get heavier bass by using Bass Wave or the Bass setting on the app. You also get a Balanced mode, which is slightly V-shaped with bass and treble being highlighted and a Serenade mode, which is basically for those who want vocals up front and centre. In simple terms, these are super for gaming and watching shows, and for audio which has a lot of beats. Audiophiles will find the sound a little crowded and too bass-rich, but hey, for Rs 2299, these are darned good, and deliver a very mainstream sound!
They also have decent battery life - about 8 hours on the buds, and 35 hours with the case. And surprisingly handle calls very well indeed - in most cases, the people we spoke to did not realise we were using TWS to make calls. That's rare at this price point as is the option to connect to two devices simultaneously, and switch between them. The one drawback they have is ANC - it exists but is not very good. It will sort of lessen loud sounds but that's about it. But then, ANC at these prices is seldom good, so it ain't a deal breaker for us.
All in all, these are surprisingly good buds for Rs 2299. They get the basics right - good sound (slightly bass-ic, but we do not mind), good call handling, simple controls that work well, and decent battery life. Ignore the ANC and these are a great option for those of us who want TWS but do not want to splurge!