After two years of launching OnePlus Nord smartphones, OnePlus is expanding the Nord brand's reach into the audio space with the OnePlus Nord Buds. While OnePlus is primarily thought of as a smartphone company, its journey in the audio niche has been growing rapidly. The original OnePlus Buds debuted in July 2020 to fairly mixed results. In the years since then, OnePlus's earbud formula has only gotten better.
Last year gave us two excellent entries in the OnePlus Buds family. The $149 OnePlus Buds Pro launched in July 2021 as a direct competitor to Apple's AirPods Pro. With 11nm drivers, Dolby Atmos, 38-hour battery life, and Qi wireless charging, the Buds Pro remain some of the best wireless earbuds on the market. A few months later, OnePlus launched the OnePlus Buds Z2 as a more affordable $99 alternative.
But what if $99 is still too rich for your blood? That's where the new OnePlus Nord Buds come into play. Like OnePlus has done with its Nord smartphones over the years, the OnePlus Nord Buds aim to deliver a comparable OnePlus earbuds experience for considerably less than the company's mainline offerings. After announcing the Nord Buds in late April for the Chinese market, the earbuds are now widely available in the United States and Canada. The best part? They only cost $39 USD and $49 CAD in each country, respectively.
The Nord Buds Deliver All Of The Earbud Basics
Although the Nord Buds have to make some compromises to hit their $39 MSRP, the feature-set you get for a small amount of money is impressive. OnePlus equipped the Nord Buds with 12.4mm drivers that supposedly deliver "rich bass reproduction and razor-sharp treble." Those drivers also support Dolby Atmos audio, allowing users to hear supported songs in a 3D-like soundstage.
Like other OnePlus gadgets, the Nord Buds also check the right boxes in the battery department. OnePlus is promising 30 hours of total endurance between the earbuds and charging case. That's not quite as strong as the 38-hour battery life found on the Buds Pro and Buds Z2, but it's more than adequate for this price range. Furthermore, the OnePlus Buds Z2 support 'Flash Charge' that allows you to get five hours of audio playback after 10 minutes of charging. Combine that with an IP55 dust/water resistance rating, Bluetooth 5.2, and a compact design, and the end result is a surprisingly complete package.
Of course, there are some features you just can't get with earbuds this cheap. The OnePlus Nord Buds do not have noise cancellation or a transparency mode of any kind. There's also no in-ear detection, Google Fast Pair, or wireless charging. If you want a more robust listening experience, the Buds Pro and Buds Z2 remain better options. But if all you want is a basic earbud package that costs as little as possible, the OnePlus Nord Buds should prove an interesting option. The Nord Buds are set to go on sale from OnePlus's website and Amazon beginning May 19.
Source: OnePlus