OnePlus Nord Buds 3r Review: Is Bass-Heavy Sound & Excellent Battery Life Enough?

Over the years, OnePlus has launched quite a few TWS earbuds (especially the affordable ones), and they’ve done quite well. The Nord Buds 2r (review), for instance, were launched in July 2023, and so far, they have been reviewed over 29,000 times on Amazon, with an average rating of 4.2 stars. That’s a successful budget TWS right there. But we’re here today to discuss its successor: the OnePlus Nord Buds 3r.

That’s right. OnePlus has returned to the affordable TWS market with the Nord Buds 3r. On paper, the product appears promising, boasting one of the highest playback times I’ve seen in the segment, intuitive touch-based playback controls, dynamic drivers tuned to deliver deep bass, and a refreshed (yet familiar) design. But the real question is: should you purchase the OnePlus Nord Buds 3r for under Rs. 2,000 or consider some other TWS earbuds? Let’s find out.

OnePlus Nord Buds 3r Review: Build Quality & Design

Both the earbuds and the charging case are made of plastic (with a matte finish), but while the former feels sturdy and durable, the charging case’s lid feels a tad flimsy (especially the top lid that’s connected to the hinge), but only when you try to move it in isolation. I found it easy to take out the magnets from the charging case, which contains magnets (and pretty strong ones, no less) to keep them in place.

The charging case features a USB-C port at the bottom; however, a charging cable is not included in the box (but you do get a sticker). Anyway, the earbuds carry an IP55 rating (and not the charging case), providing sufficient protection against dust particles, sweat, rain, and accidental tabletop splashes during day-to-day use. We received this Aura Blue color for the review, and it’s quite soothing on the eyes.

The Nord Buds 2r had a somewhat new design, featuring smaller, flatter stems, along with a pill-shaped charging case that slid easily into pockets. Its successor, the Nord Buds 3r, features a more traditional design, with longer stems (similar to those found on flagship earbuds like the AirPods and the Galaxy Buds 3), and a silicone eartip that fits snugly in your ear.

I found the Nord Buds 3r’s grip to be secure enough to use while sitting still. It held up well even while skipping and jumping jacks, but the sweat loosens up the grip a bit during the later stages of the workout. The earbuds and charging case weigh 4.5 and 38.6 grams, respectively; they don’t feel too heavy on the ears, and you can easily wear them for prolonged durations.

OnePlus Nord Buds 3r Review: Connectivity

Like the Enco Buds 3 Pro, the OnePlus Buds Nord 3r provides support for SBC and AAC (based on Bluetooth v5.4), so there’s nothing new there. The device also supports Bluetooth multipoint for dual-device switching (available as “Dual Connection” feature on the HeyMelody app on iOS) and Google Fast Pair (helped me pair the device with a mid-range OnePlus handset seamlessly).

There’s a dedicated low-latency mode, which reduces the transmission lag to 47ms (available as “Game Mode”). Although it may not be ideal for playing video games, casual sessions are still very much possible with the Nord Buds 3r.

OnePlus Nord Buds 3r Review: Controls

The Nord Buds 3r has one of the most extensive touch-based control options on a TWS that costs less than Rs. 2,000. It is the stem of the earbuds that features a pill-shaped capacitive zone (carved as an indentation). While the controls work as intended, I had a hard time remembering all the different patterns (see the attached screenshot below for reference).

You see? There are at least six touch patterns I had to remember to use the device. On the positive side, I got used to the controls in like three to four days. The HeyMelody app also lets you program the controls for each earbud (which makes using one earbud easier). For instance, you can make double-tapping the right earbud open the native voice assistant or activate the low-latency mode.

I did notice some random triggers (pausing the YouTube and Apple Music playback), but they aren’t that frequent.

OnePlus Nord Buds 3r Review: Sound & Call Quality

The Nord Buds 3r offer 12.4mm drivers with a titanium-coated diaphragm, tuned to deliver slightly elevated low-end frequencies, resulting in a bass-heavy sound signature that companies often prefer on mass-marketed TWS. While it may appeal to average users who simply want an enjoyable sound experience on the go, it doesn’t sound as pleasing to a reviewer’s ear.

The bass, while ample for bassheads, overshadows the upper mids slightly, making vocals and instrument bites sound less clear; the same applies to the treble or high frequencies. However, you can fix it (to a reasonable extent) using the six-band equalizer provided in the HeyMelody app. Simply lower the 62 Hz and 250 Hz frequencies to -2 or -1 dB to trim the mid-bass bloom, and boost the other ones in the range of 1 to 3 dB to enhance the vocal clarity and crispness.

I noticed that the earbuds didn’t respond as well to the equalizer as I had expected, but tweaking the frequencies certainly improved the overall clarity. The app also provides two preset equalizer options: Balanced (Default), Serenade, and Bass. The earbuds also support OnePlus 3D Audio for a 360-degree panoramic sound experience, but this feature is only compatible with a select number of OnePlus smartphones, so I was unable to test it.

While the earbuds don’t offer active noise cancellation like the more expensive models do, they feature better-than-average passive noise cancellation, allowing you to cut out some of the noise. Regarding call quality, the device features two microphones on each earbud, which perform very well in controlled conditions, such as indoors or on quiet streets. However, the moment there’s a wind draft or noise in the background, the earbuds pass them on to the other side of the call.

OnePlus Nord Buds 3r Review: Pairing & App

Pairing the Nord Buds 3r with my iPhone 16 wasn’t troublesome at all. I took out the earbuds, opened the lid, the earbuds went into pairing mode (accompanied by the flashing white light on the front of the charging case), showed up under “Available Devices” on my iPhone, and that was it. On a mid-range OnePlus device, the process was even faster, thanks to Google Fast Pair.

Since the Buds 3r don’t have a physical button on the case, you’ll have to press both earbuds for four seconds (accompanied by a countdown) before they enter pairing mode. Then, place them in the charging case and pair them with another device. If you own a OnePlus device, you won’t need to download the HeyMelody app to access the additional features, as they should be available in the Bluetooth settings menu.

However, other Android users (except Oppo) and iOS users should download the HeyMelody app (developed by Guangdong Heytap Technology Corp., Ltd.) to access all additional features, including the Sound Master EQ, Game Mode, Dual Connection, Find My earbuds (which plays a loud sound via the earbuds), earbud controls, and manual firmware update.

As mentioned earlier, the device offers some exclusive features to OnePlus smartphones, including OnePlus 3D Audio, AI Translation (available with OxygenOS 15.0.1 and above), and Tap 2 Take (available on OxygenOS 12 and above), which lets you initiate a three-second countdown on the connected smartphone to capture a hands-free picture.

OnePlus Nord Buds 3r Review: Battery Life

The Nord Buds 3r claim to last up to 54 hours on a single charge, which includes 12 hours from the buds and the rest from the charging case. During my testing, the earbuds easily lasted around 11 hours with volume levels between 40 and 60%.

I’ve been using the device for four days (averaging around two to three hours every day), and the charging case still has 50% battery. Hence, they should go pretty close to the claimed number in day-to-day usage, making their battery life comparable to several mainstream neckbands.

Regarding charging, the device supports fast charging via the USB-C port. A 10-minute charge provides approximately four hours of playback, and a full charge takes around 60 minutes.

Review Verdict: Should You Buy the OnePlus Nord Buds 3r?

Given that OnePlus is offering the Nord Buds 3r at a starting price of Rs. 1,599, the device becomes an easy recommendation for budget-conscious buyers. The earbuds check more boxes than its competitors, including solid overall build, punchy bass, decent connectivity, and excellent battery life (beating some entry-level neckbands for the price).

There are some drawbacks as well, such as the relatively flimsy top lid, the absence of a USB-C cable in the box, and poor equalizer response; however, these may not bother the product’s target audience: everyday users.

If your priority is to get a no-nonsense pair of earbuds for your day-to-day commute, casual listening sessions, or just a set of wireless headphones for watching movies or videos on YouTube, you can’t go wrong with the OnePlus Buds Nord 3r.

For Rs. 1,599, the Buds 3r are worth your money.

Smartprix ⭐ Rating: 8.2/10

• Design and Fit: 8/10
• Connectivity: 9/10
• Sound: 7.5/10
• Controls: 8/10
• App and Features: 8.5/10
• Microphones: 7.5/10
• Battery and Charging: 9/10

… First reviewed in September 2025 …