OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro Review: Budget TWS with Punchy Bass & Strong ANC

Mind you, the OnePlus Buds 3 Pro are around Rs 11,000, whereas the new OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro are priced around Rs 3,999.

Much like the hype surrounding the release of 'Dhurandhar 2', these buds have some big shoes to fill. I've been testing them for nearly a month now, and here is a detailed breakdown of what makes these buds a solid choice and where they might fall just a bit short.

The Pricing:

Priced at Rs 3,999 (often available for Rs 3,799 with offers), the OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro feel like a genuine upgrade in the Nord series. While many budget buds promise the world on paper, these actually deliver on the core experience. If you are looking for the best new pair of earbuds in this segment, these are almost certainly it.

Rich and Reliable Sound and ANC:

The standout feature here is the sound profile. These buds come with 12mm titanium-coated drivers and also have LHDC 5.0 support. This makes the music sound rich, more so than almost any other buds that I've tested at this specific price point. While testing, the bass felt punchy without being muddy. It's like a warm feeling that offers engaging listen and I'm sure mainstream users will love this aspect of the OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro.

(Image courtesy: OnePlus)

Then comes the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) which the company claims is 55dB, and I could see the impact in real-world usage. It effectively hushes the hum of things like a fan, air conditioner, or general chatter in a metro. Even the suction effect is minimal, and the transparency mode feels more natural.

Battery Life & Gaming:

OnePlus claims up to 54 hours of total battery life, and the good news is that the 50+ hours claim is true. In mixed usage with ANC on and off, I could easily go a full week without reaching for the USB-C cable. Specifically, you get up to 13 hours on a single charge in AAC mode (ANC off), which drops to about 6 hours if you're pushing the high-res LHDC codec with ANC on, numbers that my testing verified almost to the minute. Even with the case, I was getting 26 to 29 hours of total playtime with ANC enabled, ensuring my Dhurandhar-style binge-watching sessions, which I do quite often, aren't interrupted by a battery low warning.

The OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro are a great choice for gamers as well. Much like the fast-paced action in Dhurandhar, there's Bluetooth 6.0 and dedicated low-latency mode to ensure virtually non-existent lag. Even during my sessions with games like BGMI or Call of Duty, sounds like gunfire are almost synced with the action on screen. Good job, OnePlus!

The Comparison:

Keeping in mind things like looks, features, and overall sound quality, the OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro beat the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro by a mile. But again, this one is priced at Rs 3,999, whereas the Nord Buds 3 Pro is around Rs 2,700 as of now. I even compared them with my older OnePlus Buds 3, which are still listed on the official OnePlus website for Rs 4,300 with offers, and found them a better choice. The OnePlus Buds 3 have a more premium finish along with a refined soundstage and better call clarity. However, the OnePlus Buds 3 are becoming harder to find, so the OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro is a more practical current option.

(Image courtesy: OnePlus)

Shortcomings to Note:

While these buds are very good, they aren't without flaws. The design is functional and comfortable, but it lacks the 'wow' factor or the metallic sheen found on the standard Buds 3 in my opinion. The bass and treble are fun but I can't say the same for 'mid-range' as it gets a bit recessed or soft. This means that the vocals do not pop as much in complex tracks. I also noticed that 55dB of ANC occasionally struggles in highly unpredictable, loud environments (like a very crowded metro station or streets). And for the call quality, it's clear but I sound a bit robotic to the other person on the call.

Last but not least, the OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro comes with an IP55 rating, so I had no problems using them during normal rains or in a dusty environment. Mind you, this rating applies only to the buds not the charging case, so I have to keep that tucked away when things get soggy.

(Image courtesy: OnePlus)

In The End:

Though not quite Dhurandhar, the OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro are a 'pretty solid' investment. You get flagship-adjacent features like slide volume controls, great battery life, and high-res audio to a sub-4k price bracket. In my opinion, you can buy the OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro if you want the best new earbuds under Rs 4,000, you play a lot of mobile games, or long battery life is your priority. And you can skip them if you can still find the OnePlus Buds 3 at a good price and don't mind an older model for better looks and more refined sound.

My Rating: 4/5

(Disclaimer: The author is an expert in the fields of consumer technology, auto, and lifestyle. Views shared here are personal.)

- ANI