OnePlus Nord Buds 3R Review: Budget King of 2025? Unboxing, Features, Sound Test & Verdict

Looking for a budget TWS with solid sound and long battery life? Read our complete OnePlus Nord Buds 3r review covering design, features, battery backup, sound performance, AI tools, and value for money. Find out if these are the best earphones under ₹1600 in 2025.

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1. Introduction – What Makes OnePlus Nord Buds 3R Special?

Let’s be honest — these days, whether you buy a new phone or not, you need a good pair of earbuds. And if you’re on a tight budget, that search can get tricky. Enter the OnePlus Nord Buds 3R, the latest addition to the Nord audio family.

The OnePlus Nord Buds 3R promises solid performance, strong battery life, and balanced sound quality, all at a very affordable price. Priced at just ₹1,599, these buds aim to deliver premium features without burning a hole in your pocket.

In this OnePlus Nord Buds 3r review, we’ll unbox them, test their design, check sound quality, analyze battery performance, and see if they truly live up to the hype.

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2. Unboxing – What’s Inside the Box?

Unboxing these buds is quick and straightforward — just the way budget products should be.

Inside the minimalist box, you get:

• The OnePlus Nord Buds 3R themselves
• A pair of extra ear tips (different sizes)
• User manual and quick start guide
• A OnePlus sticker (nice touch!)
• That’s it — no charging cable is included.

While it might feel a bit barebones, the packaging screams cost-effective simplicity. Considering the ₹1,599 price tag, it’s hard to complain. The buds come in Cosmic Orange and Deep Blue color options, with the blue one giving a subtle matte aesthetic that feels surprisingly premium for the price.

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3. Design & Build Quality – Minimal Yet Premium Feel

The Nord Buds 3R might be budget-friendly, but they don’t look cheap. The design is compact and clean, with chamfered edges on the case and a matte finish that avoids fingerprints and smudges.

The lid closes with a satisfying click, and the OnePlus branding at the front adds that minimalist OnePlus vibe. The LED indicator sits below the logo, showing the battery status (green when full, red when low).

At the bottom, you’ll find the USB Type-C charging port, which is now the standard even in entry-level TWS.

In-hand, the case feels solid — not flimsy or hollow like many budget earphones. The earbuds themselves are lightweight, with a matte texture that gives them a premium touch and prevents that glossy “cheap plastic” look.

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4. Comfort and Fit – Designed for Everyday Use

The first thing you notice after putting them on is comfort. The in-ear fit is snug, thanks to the soft silicone tips. You can easily wear them for 2-3 hours straight without any discomfort.

They don’t pop out easily while walking, commuting, or even during light workouts. However, if you’re planning to use them for running or intense gym sessions, you may need to adjust occasionally.

The IP55 rating means these buds are sweat and dust-resistant — good enough for daily wear and workouts.

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5. Features and Controls – Everything You Need in Budget

OnePlus didn’t cut corners when it came to features. The touch controls are responsive and customizable via the HeyMelody app or OnePlus settings if you’re using a OnePlus phone.

Here’s a quick breakdown of touch gestures:

• Single tap: Play/Pause
• Double tap: Next track / Answer call
• Triple tap: Previous track
• Long press: Switch between paired devices or trigger voice assistant

There’s also a camera shutter feature — double-tap when your phone’s camera is open, and it’ll click a picture with a 3-second timer.

For the price, these features are impressive. Even many mid-range buds skip camera integration.

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6. Battery Backup – Long Hours of Playback

One of the main selling features is the battery life.

• OnePlus claims that the buds by themselves can play music for up to 12 hours at 50% volume.
• The overall playback time with the charging case is up to 54 hours.
• During calls, you receive about seven hours from the buds and thirty hours with the case.

For this segment, that is enormous. Additionally, it supports quick charging, meaning that 8 hours of playback may be achieved with just 10 minutes of charging.

Therefore, you may plug it in for a few minutes and be ready for a whole workday if you are pressed for time or forgot to charge.

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7. Sound Quality – Big Driver, Big Sound

This is where things get interesting. The 12.4 mm titanium-coated drivers inside the OnePlus Nord Buds 3R are surprisingly powerful.

The sound profile is bass-rich yet balanced. You get deep low-end thumps without losing mid and treble clarity. Vocals sound clean, and the overall soundstage is quite open for this price range.

There’s no Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), but OnePlus compensates with AI noise reduction for calls. This helps suppress background noise during conversations — handy in traffic or crowded areas.

You can also tweak sound using Sound Master EQ, which offers three presets — Balanced, Bold, and Serenade. Each mode changes the tone slightly depending on your preference.

For the price, the audio performance is exceptional, and the 3D Audio mode (for OnePlus phones) adds an immersive experience for movies and games.

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8. AI Features and Connectivity

The buds come equipped with some smart features that punch above their price:

• AI Noise Reduction for calls
• AI-powered Live Translation – translates speech in real-time (works with supported apps)
• Voice Assistant Support – Google Assistant or Alexa via long press
• Find My Earbuds feature
• Fast Pair via Google Fast Pair technology

Bluetooth 5.3 ensures stable connectivity with low latency and minimal drops. Pairing is instant with OnePlus devices, and even with other Android phones, connection remains seamless.

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9. Gaming and Latency Performance

If you’re a casual gamer, these buds won’t disappoint.

Latency is around 90ms, which is decent for budget TWS. You can comfortably play BGMI, Call of Duty Mobile, or Asphalt 9 without noticeable delay in sound effects.

There’s no dedicated gaming mode, but the natural low latency combined with the 12.4 mm drivers delivers a solid experience for mobile gamers.

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10. Mic Test and Call Quality

Each earbud has two microphones — one at the top and one at the bottom. Together, they capture your voice clearly and reduce ambient noise.

During calls, the voice remains crisp and distortion-free, even outdoors. While it doesn’t match premium ANC earbuds, it definitely beats most other options under ₹2000.

If you’re a student, office worker, or someone who takes frequent calls, you’ll be satisfied with the mic quality.

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11. Water Resistance and Durability

The IP55 rating ensures decent protection from sweat, splashes, and light rain. You can easily use them during workouts, morning walks, or light drizzles.

However, avoid submerging them in water — they’re splash-resistant, not waterproof.

Durability-wise, the matte case doesn’t scratch easily, and the lid mechanism feels sturdy enough for long-term use.

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12. Comparison with Other TWS in the Same Price Range

Let’s compare the OnePlus Nord Buds 3R with other TWS under ₹2000:

Model	Driver Size	Battery Life	Special Feature	Price
OnePlus Nord Buds 3R	12.4 mm Titanium	54 hours total	AI Noise Reduction	₹1,599
Realme Buds T300	12.4 mm	40 hours	ANC (30dB)	₹1,999
boAt Airdopes 141	10 mm	42 hours	ASAP Charge	₹1,499
Noise Buds VS102	11 mm	50 hours	ENC	₹1,599

Despite lacking ANC, OnePlus Nord Buds 3R stands out for sound quality, fast charging, and overall reliability.

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13. Pros and Cons

Pros ✅

• Excellent sound for the price
• Huge 54-hour battery life
• Fast charging (8 hours playback in 10 mins)
• Comfortable matte design
• Dual-mic AI noise reduction
• Google Fast Pair and OnePlus integration
• IP55 water resistance

Cons ❌

• No ANC
• No wireless charging
• No app-based advanced EQ for non-OnePlus users
• No charging cable in the box

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14. Price and Availability in India

The OnePlus Nord Buds 3R are priced at ₹1,599 in India and are available on:

• Amazon India
• OnePlus Official Website
• Flipkart

They often go on sale during Amazon Great Indian Festival and Flipkart Big Billion Days, where you might get them even cheaper.

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15. Final Verdict – Should You Buy OnePlus Nord Buds 3R?

After testing all aspects, here’s the honest conclusion of this OnePlus Nord Buds 3r review:

For ₹1,599, these are one of the best budget TWS earbuds in India right now.

They don’t try to overpromise — no fake ANC, no gimmicky features — just solid basics:
✅ Great sound
✅ Excellent battery life
✅ Sturdy build
✅ Smart AI tools
✅ Fast charging

If you’re a student, office-goer, or casual music lover looking for a reliable daily-use TWS, the OnePlus Nord Buds 3R is a perfect pick.

Sure, it misses ANC, but the audio quality and comfort easily make up for it. You’re getting a trustworthy OnePlus product with years of brand reliability.

Verdict: 9/10 — Budget king for 2025!

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16. FAQs About OnePlus Nord Buds 3R

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17. External Links and References

• Official OnePlus Nord Buds 3R Product Page
• Amazon India – OnePlus Nord Buds 3R Listing
• Flipkart – OnePlus Nord Buds 3R Product Page
• OnePlus Community Forum Discussion on Nord Buds 3R

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Final Thoughts

If you’ve been searching for a budget-friendly pair of earbuds that combine premium design, great sound, and reliable battery, then the OnePlus Nord Buds 3R is a no-brainer.

It’s not just another cheap TWS — it’s OnePlus’ way of saying, “Good sound doesn’t have to be expensive.”

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