OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro review
OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro: Finally, a Budget Pair That Actually Sounds Good
OnePlus has developed a bit of a habit of releasing products with names that feel like a logic puzzle. The Nord Buds 4 Pro sit at the top of their ‘budget’ tier, but below the standard numbered series, and somewhere adjacent to the non-numbered Pro models. If you’re confused, don’t worry—most of us are. But beyond the branding chaos lies a pair of earbuds priced at roughly $42 (INR 3,999) that promise premium features like active noise cancellation, high-res audio, and AI-assisted calls.
Design and Daily Comfort
Visually, the Nord Buds 4 Pro case will look familiar to anyone who followed the older Pro series, though the lid now flips up from the top rather than opening horizontally. Available in Radiant Gray and Raven Black, the finish is a smooth matte that does a great job at hiding oily fingerprints.
However, the budget roots show through in the materials. While the matte texture on the buds themselves feels fine in the hand, it can feel a bit ‘plasticky’ once they’re tucked in your ears. This isn’t helped by the silicone tips, which feel a bit thin and struggle to create that rock-solid seal you’d find on more expensive sets. On the bright side, they are remarkably light. I wore them for hours without that typical ‘ear fatigue,’ and the IP55 rating means they’ll survive a sweaty gym session or a sudden rain shower—just don’t drop the case in a puddle, as that part isn’t waterproof.
Software and Customization
Control happens through the HeyMelody app, which is surprisingly robust for both Android and iOS. You get plenty of room to tinker, from remapping touch gestures to toggling a dedicated Game Mode for lower latency. There’s even a ‘Sound Space’ feature that plays ambient noise if you just need to zone out.
A quick tip for the audiophiles: The ‘Hi-Res’ mode is off by default. Even when you toggle it on, the earbuds usually stick to 24-bit/48kHz. If you want to push them to the advertised 900kbps (which OnePlus slightly rounds up to 1Mbps in their marketing), you’ll likely need to dive into your phone’s developer settings.
The Sound: A Breath of Fresh Air
I’ll be honest: I usually approach budget OnePlus audio with a healthy dose of skepticism. Historically, their tuning has felt a bit unrefined—as if they assumed the buyer only cared about ‘loud’ rather than ‘good.’ The Nord Buds 4 Pro actually broke that streak.
Yes, there is a lot of bass. It’s the kind of punchy, energetic low-end that catches you off guard in the best way. But unlike previous models, the bass doesn’t swallow the rest of the music. The mids are surprisingly mellow and clear, while the highs provide enough detail without becoming shrill or piercing. For the price, the imaging is impressive; you can actually place instruments in a 3D space rather than hearing a flat wall of sound.
ANC and Microphone Performance
The marketing team claims 55dB of noise cancellation, but the real-world experience is a bit more nuanced. The ANC offers three levels (Low, Moderate, and High). Oddly, the ‘High’ setting can sometimes feel less effective than ‘Moderate.’ It seems to shift noise into higher frequencies, which can result in a faint hiss in quiet environments. It only really finds its footing in truly loud places, like a crowded train or near a loud AC unit.
The microphones, however, are a highlight. In quiet rooms, your voice comes through crystal clear. In noisier spots, the background suppression works overtime to keep your voice the star of the show, even if the volume dips slightly to compensate for the noise around you.
Connectivity and Battery Life
During my testing using the LHDC codec at 24-bit/96kHz, I squeezed out about 6 hours of life with ANC on, and over 9 hours with it off. The case provides another three full charges, bringing your total time away from a wall outlet to roughly 30 hours.
One strange hurdle I noticed involves OnePlus’s own hardware. Surprisingly, many OnePlus phones struggle to maintain the highest LHDC bitrates, often capping out at 500kbps even at close range. If you’re using a device with strong Bluetooth stability, like a recent Nothing Phone or a flagship Pixel, you’ll likely get a more consistent high-res experience.
The Verdict
The Nord Buds 4 Pro are a solid win for anyone looking to spend less than $50. You’ll have to live with some cheaper-feeling plastic and ANC that requires a bit of manual fiddling to get right, but the audio quality punched way above its weight class. They are comfortable, reliable, and—most importantly—genuinely fun to listen to. If you want a pair of daily drivers that don’t break the bank, these should be near the top of your list.
