1/5
OnePlus has launched the Nord Buds 2 in India. Follow-up to last year’s Nord Buds, the second-gen version notably adds active noise cancellation (ANC) to the list of features. The design, though familiar, is sleeker. The price has gone up slightly but the Nord Buds 2 still cost less than Rs 3,000, which keeping all things into perspective seems great value, at least on paper.
2/5
The Nord Buds 2 have the same styling as their predecessor but they are a bit more compact which is always a nice thing to have. Both the buds and charging case are lighter: 4.7g, 37.5g versus 4.82g, 41.7g. The design, even though it’s a do-over from last year looks fresh and nothing like anything in the market today. You get IP55 dust and splash resistance and USB C charging. A single button placed on the back is used for pairing/reset.
3/5
Despite the more compact chassis, the Nord Buds 2 retain their predecessor’s 12.4mm dynamic drivers. Much like before, special emphasis is on bass, though OnePlus gives you a fair bit of customisation which is in-house on OnePlus devices and through Oppo’s HeyMelody app. Non-OnePlus users will require the app for accessing controls and firmware updates. Like the Nord Buds, the second-gen version also gets 2 microphones on each earbud.
4/5
The most exciting feature, though, is the addition of ANC which you can use to silence background noise and have a more immersive audio experience. Getting ANC right is hard, but OnePlus has done well, considering the price point that we’re dealing with. You also get a transparency mode for when you want to stay aware of your surroundings, too. The Nord Buds 2, additionally, support Dolby Atmos playback but you don’t get spatial audio like the Buds Pro 2, which is understandable because these cater to a whole different price tier and audience.
5/5
Battery life is also getting an update as the Nord Buds 2 are rated to deliver up to 36 hours (with the case combined) with ANC off (versus 30 hours in the Nord Buds). The Nord Buds 2, more specifically are rated for 5 hours with ANC on (27 hours with case) and 7 hours with ANC off. (Photos credit: Saurabh Singh/Financial Express)