Highlight
- OnePlus Nord Buds 4 has been launched in India with sales scheduled to start from June 29th at 12 PM.
- Nord Buds 4 are priced at ₹3099 as part of a special limited-time launch offer.
- The newly launched buds are available in Stellar Black and Astral Teal colour options.
So, are the new OnePlus Nord Buds 4 worth upgrading to? Well, we have managed to spend some time with the newly launched earbuds and here’s our hands-on review to help you decide.
OnePlus Nord Buds 4 – Key Features
- 12mm Titanium-Coated Dynamic Drivers
- Up to 52 dB Real-Time ANC
- 6 Microphones Setup with 3 Mics on Each Bud
- Bluetooth v6.1
- AAC, SBC Codec Support
- 530mAh Battery with Up to 54 Hours Battery Life
- AI Translate
- Voice Assistant
- IP55 Rated
- Dual Device Connection
- Fast Pair – Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair
OnePlus Nord Buds 4 – Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| ● Compact and lightweight design
● Comfortable and secure fit ● Loud and crisp sound ● Effective ANC ● Good call quality with AI-powered ENC and six microphones ● Excellent battery life |
● Charging case has no IP rating
● Mid-range audio could be more detailed |
OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Unboxing Video
Design and Build Quality
The latest OnePlus Nord Buds 4 come in a compact square-shaped charging case. It is the perfect size and is easy to carry in your pocket without adding much bulk. The case features a clean, minimal design with the OnePlus logo on the front and a small LED indicator positioned below it to show the charging status. Around the back, you’ll find the USB Type-C charging port.
We had received the Astral Teal colour earbuds for this review and it stands out. The matte finish is good at avoiding fingerprint marks and the colour is complemented by tiny speckles giving the finish a unique look.
The earbuds themselves are made of plastic with a matte finish that matches the case. The material is not premium but the build feels solid and durable enough for regular use.
The earbuds fit securely and sit comfortably in the ears. We didn’t feel any discomfort even during long listening sessions both indoors and outdoors. The earbuds are rated IP55 for dust and water resistance, which offers protection against sweat and light rain. You can be worry free during workouts and outdoor use. However, it’s worth noting that the charging case does not carry an official IP rating.
Calling and Music Experience
Just like the predecessor, the new OnePlus Nord Buds 4 use a 12mm titanized dynamic driver. These decently deliver an enjoyable listening experience for everyday use. The sound feels loud and crisp with a signature audio that leans towards bass. If you enjoy punchy low-end, it has BassWave Enhancement algorithm to boost the bass further without having to rely solely on the equalizer.
The highs are clear enough to bring out vocals and instruments, while the mid-range performance is decent. We did feel at times that it could have been slightly richer for a more balanced sound.
OnePlus offers three preset EQ modes, Balanced, Serenade, and Bass. These suit different listening preferences and in case none of these match your taste, you can create a custom EQ profile through the companion Hey Melody app.
The optical wear detection sensor is another useful addition and it automatically pauses playback when you remove an earbud and resumes it once you wear it again. During our use, the feature worked every time and added convenience to the music listing experience.
OnePlus Nord Buds 4 offer Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) of up to 52dB across a wide 5,000Hz frequency range. Users can choose between Mild, Moderate, and High ANC modes depending on their surroundings. In our real world usage, the ANC was effective in reducing ambient sounds such as office chatter, air conditioners, and traffic noise. It definitely helps in making it easier to focus on your music or podcasts when your are outdoors or in a crowded place. The Transparency mode is also useful and allows outside sounds to pass through naturally.
Call quality is strong for the price segment. Earbuds use three ENC microphones each along with an AI-powered noise reduction algorithm to suppress background noise during calls. Whether you’re walking on a busy road or dealing with moderate wind, the earbuds do a good job of minimising traffic and wind noise. In our tests, voice remains clear to the person on the other end.
Gamers will appreciate the low-latency mode, which brings latency down to 47ms. This helps reduce audio delay while gaming and gaming feels a lot more responsive.
Connectivity and Control Experience
The Nord Buds 4 offer stable connectivity across Android and iOS devices. For connectivity, there is Bluetooth 6.1 with both AAC and SBC audio codecs. The earbuds also support Google’s Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair feature on compatible smartphones, which makes the initial connection quicker.
We found pairing especially seamless with OnePlus smartphones. All you have to do is simply enable Bluetooth on your OnePlus phone and open the charging case near the device. If you’re using any other brand smartphone or another device, even then the pairing process is just as simple. You can open the lid of the charging case with buds placed inside, press and hold the setup button for around two seconds and select OnePlus Nord Buds 4 from the list of available devices.
It has dual-device connectivity, so you can keep earbuds connected to two devices simultaneously.
When it comes to controls, OnePlus offers a good level of customisation. Those using other Android phones or an iPhone can access the same options through the HeyMelody app. The app allows to remap gestures and tweak various earbud settings according to their preferences.
Battery and Charging
Nord Buds 4 pack a 62mAh battery in each earbud and we managed to get between 9 to 10 hours of playback on a single charge with ANC turned off. If you use ANC, the battery life drops quite a bit though. However, you can still get around 5 to 6 hours easily with ANC, which should be decent back up for commuting hours outdoors and casual listening.
The charging case comes with a 530mAh battery and extends the total claimed playback time to up to 54 hours with ANC disabled. With noise cancellation enabled, the combined battery life is rated at up to 27 hours. During everyday mindful use, the earbuds can comfortably last for days before you need to recharge the case.
Verdict – Should You Buy OnePlus Nord Buds 4?
OnePlus Nord Buds 4 has a good balance between features, performance, and battery life that makes them a solid option in the budget TWS segment. They offer a comfortable fit, loud audio with punchy bass, effective ANC, good call quality and excellent battery backup. However, the mid-range audio could be more detailed and the charging case misses out on an IP rating. But we do feel that these are minor compromises considering everything else on offer.
All in all, if you’re looking for a pair of wireless earbuds that deliver dependable everyday performance, we will easily recommend OnePlus Nord Buds 4 as they definitely offer good value for money.
