After the OnePlus Nord 2T, OnePlus continues to reconnect with its first love, namely quality products accessible to the greatest number, by offering a pair of wireless headphones for less than 50 €. A way also for the Chinese firm to make a breakthrough in the entry-level market for wireless headphones, but is it really a success?
OnePlus repeats the strategy used for its smartphones with its wireless headphones. After having offered mid-range (OnePlus Z2 at €99) and mid-range (OnePlus Buds Pro at €149) models, it now offers a very accessible model, at less than 50 euros. Great news for customers with a limited wallet.
Obviously, with such an accessible product, do not expect anything revolutionary. It is rather necessary to make a cross on several functionalities, in particular the active noise reduction. The experience offered by the OnePlus Nord Buds is indeed quite rudimentary, with several strong points all the same.
Easy to manipulate
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OnePlus’ entry-level true wireless arrives in an atypical case. A kind of compact rectangular parallelepiped that fits perfectly in a handbag. On the other hand, in the pocket, it will not be the same case. However, it remains easy to handle, in particular thanks to its opening system. Soft to the touch, the plastic case with a matte finish seems quite robust.
OnePlus is also trying a different approach with its headphones compared to the competition. The Nord Buds indeed sport an atypical design with a fairly discreet stem centered towards the front of the face. We are actually far from the “buds” as we are used to seeing them.
Featuring matte and glossy finishes, the headphones are IP55 certified. They are therefore resistant to water splashes, sweat and dust and can therefore be used during occasional physical activity.especially since they hold quite well in place – the semi-in-ear format obviously helps.
Generally, the OnePlus Nord Buds are comfortable to wear, even for an extended period of time. You almost forget you’re wearing them.
An audio experience for less than 50 euros
As for the sound performance of the headphones, we notice quite quickly that we are dealing with entry-level devices. The sound experience offered by the Nord Buds is indeed far from stunning. The rendering is quite inaccurate, the sound is quite serious and the bass tends to cover most percussion and vocals. An aspect that could however appeal to some, especially those who appreciate electronic or dance music.
Fortunately, the application allows you to correct certain faults by playing with the equalizer, but it won’t work miracles. However, the experience is not catastrophic. If you are not very demanding in sound quality, the Nord Buds will undoubtedly manage to make you have a good time, whether listening to music or watching a movie, thanks to compatibility with the Dolby Atmos system. which offers immersion.
In reality, given their size and price, the Nord Buds are quite convincing when it comes to listening to music or movies.
Means on appeal
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On the other hand, the experience is less convincing during a phone call. Despite their double microphone on each microphone, the Nord Buds do not indeed manage to offer an interesting call quality. The sound from the microphone lacks clarity and the noise isolation gives a muffled rendering of the voice. We will rather tend to put them away to answer a call, so that our interlocutor understands us.
Sufficient autonomy
The Chinese manufacturer promises a duration of 7 hours per charge and up to 30 additional hours thanks to the case. A promise that turned out to be fair enough. In the end, the Nords Buds hold up easily during trips, for example, but to listen to your music all day, you will have to go through the case box.
The good news is that they are fast charging compatible. Recharged for 10 minutes, they can last for 5 hours of listening.
Limited possibilities
With a product at less than 50 euros, it is difficult to be demanding in terms of control. The Nord Buds offer the minimum via its tactile surfaces present on each earphone. Nevertheless, they remain responsive and reliable for controlling the music and navigating between tracks. For the rest, in particular to manage the volume, it will be necessary to go through the smartphone and the HeyMelody application.
Conclusion
OnePlus is making quite a respectable inroad into the entry-level wireless earphone market. The Nord Buds indeed offer a decent experience for a product under 50 euros. Obviously, at this price, the sound performance is far from exemplary, but for the less observant, these headphones will be more than enough. You actually get used to it pretty quickly. The particularly pleasant wearing definitely helps. It is in the quality of the microphone that the big flaw of the OnePlus Nord Buds is found. The voice is muffled and lacks clarity. In terms of battery life (7 hours), they play the game. At less than 50 euros, the headphones therefore offer a completely correct sound solution, all without frills.
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