The Nord Buds, which is just a fraction of the Nord smartphone, have just launched an affordable'''' wireless headset, which provides the basics in a competitive price. However, the OnePlus Nord Buds CE is now offering a more affordable true wireless headset, which includes an increasingly less common outer-ear accessory that some prefer. The OnePlus Nord Buds CE is priced at Rs. 1,899 (MRP of Rs. 2,699) in India, and is the company''s most affordable true wireless headset yet.
The OnePlus Nord Buds CE, which is similar to the Nord CE range of smartphones that are even more affordable than the standard Nord lineup, is a beginner-level product, but promises a fair amount despite its low price. App support, ultra low-latency mode, and a lightweight design with the outer-ear lining, which is more comfortable for some than the more common in-canal fit.
The outer-ear fit isn''t as versatile as it used to, but there are still some options such as the OnePlus Nord Buds CE that offer it.
OnePlus Nord Buds CE design and features
The outer-ear version of true wireless headphones is now much less popular than it was even a few years ago, but a few businesses continue to offer options with this fit. The OnePlus Nord Buds CE features this outer-ear option, which is a significant improvement from the slightly more expensive OnePlus Nord Buds.
There isn''t really any passive noise isolation on the Nord Buds CE, but some potential purchasers may consider it a good thing. Moreover, the fit is always a bit loose, and the earpieces tend to move around a bit with even the slightest touch, particularly when using touch controls. This technique also allows the sound to be quite ruffle.
The OnePlus Nord Buds CE have a single-mould design with long stems for microphones and battery charging contact points. The touch-sensitive area is at the top of the stems, and it is particularly sensitive to touch gestures. I had to deactivate the single-tap gesture because it caused a lot of unexpected commands even when doing something as simple as adjusting the fit.
Fortunately, the touch controls allow you to set up single-, double-, or triple-tap gestures to control various functions, such as playback, invoking the default voice assistant on your smartphone, or activating the 94ms low-latency game mode. The earpieces weigh just 3.5g each and are IPX4 rated for water resistance, while the charging case weighs about 33g.
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The charging case is pebble-shaped and compact enough to store easily in your pocket. The bottom has a USB Type-C port for charging, and there is an indicator light just above the OnePlus logo and below the lid. There is no active noise cancellation, but there is AI noise cancellation for improved voicecalls.
OnePlus Nord Buds CE app and specifications
The Nord Buds CE is only supported by the HeyMelody app on Android, but iOS users aren''t required to have app support.
I used the earphones with a OnePlus smartphone, which enabled me to quickly pair and link the headphones to my smartphone. I then had to go into the Bluetooth menu for the headphones and tap Earbud functions'' to find the final results for the Nord Buds CE.
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The system''s Bluetooth settings will allow you to customize your OnePlus smartphone.
These include a Sound Master EQ with four equaliser presets for sound customization, a controls group for the left and right earpieces, an adjustable mode to use the camera shutter button remotely, and firmware updates. There are also viewing the battery levels for the earpieces and charging case through this menu.
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The OnePlus Nord Buds CE has 13.4mm dynamic drivers, with a rated sensitivity of 128dB and a frequency response range of 20 to 20-20Hz. There is also Bluetooth 5.2, which includes support for the SBC and AAC codecs.
Performance and battery life for OnePlus Nord Buds CE
The OnePlus Nord Buds CE''s sound quality is quite heavily influenced by the fit; even the slightest changes in the way you put the headphones into your ears can significantly alter the sound quality; this is common on all ears with this adjustment, but it feels particularly noticeable on the Nord Buds CE. Nevertheless, over the course of my review, I found the right fit for a good combination of comfort and sound quality.
The Nord Buds CE was equally comfortable with iOS and Android devices, although for my review I used a OnePlus smartphone as the primary device to ensure easy access to customisation features. Despite the fact that the headphones were fairly loud, even a volume level of 60 percent was more than enough for indoor listening.
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The OnePlus Nord Buds CE charging case has a USB Type-C quick charging.
The open, liber-flowing feel of the outer-ear lug made me stay comfortable while keeping a ear open on my head, without significantly affecting the listening experience that many earphone buyers specifically desire, for use outdoors. I also found that the Balanced''s equaliser preset was ideal for pretty much any listening.
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The Great Divide by Velvetine''s introduction was fun to listen to, with the OnePlus Nord Buds CE offering a lot of aggression and aggressive, while maintaining a reasonable amount of detail for a budget headset. Interestingly, twisting the earpieces inwards significantly bumped up the drive and rumble in the lows, and bass enthusiasts might think that flexibility is unintended.
Though the lows were often shrill, the sound was generally pleasant with most tracks at moderate volumes. I found the mid-range to be surprisingly capable and clean, and the earphones resulted in excellent soundstage and detail levels in this varied sample-based track.
I was able to use the headphones at distances of up to 4m between the earspieces and the smartphone, although the fact that someone I frequently speak to sounded a bit different and strange.
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The earpieces are powered by 27mAh batteries and the charging case has a 300mAh battery. I was able to use the headphones for four hours on a single charge, and the charging case added additional three charges for a total run time of 16 hours per charge cycle, which is acceptable for a headset in this price range. On the OnePlus Nord Buds CE, a 10-minute charge said to offer 81 minutes of listening on the headphones.
Like with its smartphones, OnePlus'' approach to the affordable true wireless headphones segment is a sensible one that has seen several worthwhile items. The most affordable headset in this list is the company''s most affordable, and it might be particularly tempting to anyone who own a OnePlus smartphone.
The outer-ear acuity and the somewhat odd sound as a result of the fit are worth noting on the OnePlus Nord Buds CE. However, options such as the Realme Buds Air 3 Neo with a suitable in-canal fit and better passivenoise isolation may be worthwhile considering instead. However, if you do get the OnePlus Nord Buds CE, the overall experience should largely be pleasant.