In the market for low true wireless earbuds, the Nord Buds 2r offers value. The OnePlus earbuds are a good choice if you're searching for low-cost wireless earphones.
When it comes to design, there is no significant difference between the OnePlus Nord Buds 2 and the OnePlus Nord Buds 2R. In my review of the Nord Buds 2, I described its Thunder Gray as "a miniature trunk mask wrapped in colors inspired by cosmic elements." While the design language is the same, the essence, or the feel of having something that will stand the test of time, was clearly missing when I picked up the Nord Buds 2R. It felt feather-light, and the short-stemmed buds felt papery and ultra-light to the touch. It comes in Triple Blue and Deep Gray color options.
The stems of the earbuds are designed for their purpose, and they come with three extra pairs of buds. I used the medium sized buds, they fit me well and provided good noise cancellation and sound quality. Additional pairs of earbuds offer some sort of customization for listeners.
The earbuds have three additional pairs of buds in addition to stems that are made specifically for them. I wore the medium-sized headphones since they were comfortable for me and offered adequate noise cancellation and sound quality. Additional earbud sets let users customize their listening experience.
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Features and app
The Nord Buds 2R support Google Fast Pairing, which allows supported devices to find and connect to the earphones in no time. So, pairing the earbuds with a supported smartphone for the first time is a straightforward process. However, putting the earbuds back on pairing mode for connection with other devices is a tedious process. To do this, you have to long press the touch area on the right earbud. Unfortunately, the earbuds don't always respond to long-presses. Since there's no multi-point connectivity, you'll need to try to get it back into pairing mode each time you connect it to a different device.
Multi-device connectivity is a challenge, but the earphones are easy to use. This is mainly due to the complementary smartphone app called Hey Melody, which lets you switch between pre-set equalizers, change touch controls, find the earbuds, and update their firmware. The app is necessary on non-OnePlus smartphones as these functions are built-in to the earbuds Bluetooth menu on OnePlus smartphones.
Calling experience, battery life, and durability
I used the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r for a variety of tasks beyond listening to music and streaming content. My calls and extended Zoom sessions put the earbuds to the test. The device comes with an AI noise cancellation algorithm that filters ambient noise and enhances human voices.
Besides, Dual microphones and the AI Clear Call Algorithm ensured that I had an all-clear calling experience. I found these features to work great at blocking out background noise during calls, ensuring crystal-clear conversations for those like me who always end up in noisy environments.
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OnePlus claims a battery life of up to 38 hours of playback with the charging case. During my usage, I enjoyed full days of calls, music, and streaming content without worrying about running out of battery. Moreover, each earbud delivers up to eight hours of audio playback. I found this to be particularly impressive and well-suited for long journeys.
My day also includes brisk walk sessions that last for nearly 1.5 hours, and I sweat a lot. At first, I was apprehensive about whether the Nord Buds 2r would endure my rigorous stomping across the park. Thankfully, the earbuds are IP55 water and sweat-resistant, which makes them a great device for sweaty gym sessions or rainy days.
Verdict
The OnePlus Nord Buds 2R are a tempting purchase at Rs 2,199. These earbuds have an attractive design, excellent sound quality, and a long battery life. Although the bass can be a little overwhelming for people who don't like popular or electronic music, it becomes a big plus if you do. You'll struggle to find better earbuds than these if you're seeking bass-heavy TWS headphones in this price range. The OnePlus Nord Buds 2R can also be your go-to earbuds if you own a OnePlus or compatible Oppo smartphone.
Editor’s rating: 4 / 5
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