Last year OnePlus Nord Buds was launched in Malaysia. We like it even though it looks cheap and doesn't have many flagship features. For those who cannot afford or want to spend more, TWS like Nord Buds offer what is needed well. With the launch of Nord Buds 2 what was good, what was bad, what was added and what was removed? This is a review for the OnePlus Nord Buds 2.
SPECIFICATION AND DESIGN
OnePlus Nord Buds
Type of in-ear earphones
12.4 mm Titanium Drivers
Microphone 4 microphones
ANC battery 5 hours/ 30 hours with pod
No ANC 7 hours / 36 hours with pod
USB-C charging port
Wireless charging None
CODEC AAC, SBC
All operating systems are supported
Virtual assistant support None
Control Pad Yes
IP55 waterproof capability
Sale Price RM 329
The earphones are of the bud type with a 12.4mm audio driver that has a diaphragm made of titanium. Larger driver size when compared to AiPods Gen 3 and Galaxy Buds2 which are sold at a more premium price. Each audio bud is also equipped with two microphones to carry out conversations and supports a noise cancellation system. No changes have been made compared to the original Nord Buds.
We're less fond of the Nord Buds' audio bud counterparts because they're boxy on the stem which makes them a little less comfortable to remove from the charging pod. On the catch side there is a round contact pad. This touchpad supports standard tap controls to pause/play music, skip forward and skip backward.
The pad is easily detected using the finger when the audio bud is placed in the ear. The only issue is that this pad is inconsistent. Sometimes a touch is detected well and sometimes one touch is detected as two. Because of this issue we just turn off the touch pad to avoid accidental touch,
The audio bud is of the standard design type with a silicone part inserted into the ear hole. We are quite comfortable with the given size of silicon but OnePlus provides two more pairs of silicon buds – one bigger and one smaller. Noise from the luad can still be heard if the noise cancellation system is not activated.
Nord Buds are from the basic class so there is no additional feature of a sensor that pauses the music as soon as it is removed from the ear and resumes it when detecting the ear. It also feels very plastic when compared to the finish on the AirPods, Sony Linkbuds and Buds Pro.
We feel the smooth plastic finish on the Nord Buds is the same as the one used on the Galaxy Buds2. Like the Buds2, the Nord Buds have the issue of being too slippery to be a little difficult to pull out of the charging pod. This is because the magnet used on the charging pod is quite strong. It can hold Nord Buds in the storage pod even upside down. Incidents of the audio buds easily falling out of the storage pods are difficult on the Nord Buds. Even if it falls, there is no need to worry because the Nord Buds audio buds pass the IP55 standard.
The charging pod is also made of shiny plastic material with a magnetic cover to prevent it from opening easily when stored in a bag. As we said above, the design of the Nord Buds 2 ear buds is the same as the Nord Buds but the charging pod is a different story.
The entire body is rounded which makes it more comfortable to be placed in a trouser pocket. It's still made of plastic but has a non-glossy finish that makes it harder for dirt to stick.
There are LED lights on the front for battery level and docking status. On the back is a USB-C charging port and a manual docking button. Charger is wired only with cable provided with purchase.
SOFTWARE
The Nord Buds 2 finally support Google Fast Air which was missing from last year's model. This simplifies the process of tethering it to a new device. Because it's a OnePlus product, better integration is on their outgoing smartphones.
For those who don't have a OnePlus device, download the HeyMelody app to control the various features on the Nord Buds in more detail. The app is needed to upgrade the firmware, change various touchpad settings, activate Game Mode and access the equalizer to change the sound tone of the Nord Buds. The setting to activate fast tethering exchange mode between two devices can also only be activated via HeyMelody.
One of our comments last year was that the noise cancellation mode on the original Buds couldn't be changed with it always on. On the Nord Buds there is finally a control to turn off or activate see-through mode. It's better to give control to users who may not want the world around them to be muted all the time while wearing these earphones.
AUDIO QUALITY
The audio quality is satisfactory for a pair of TWS priced at RM329. Nord Buds 2 targets those looking for TWS with strong bass and cochlear-shaking capabilities. If you want balance, this is not the TWS for you as the focus is entirely on bass. As a result the mids, vocals and instruments are overwhelmed by the bass.
In terms of sound changes, there are still similarities with the original Nord Buds, only the bass is now more pronounced. Only one audio driver is used on the Nord Buds 2 so it's not surprising that when listening to music with a lot of instruments there are parts of the instruments that are not very clear. High frequency devices for example are often hidden.
The staging is also a little backwards and not wide. This is an issue with the majority of TWS on the market right now because the tiny audio drivers are paired with ear buds that need to be plugged into the ear. If you want better audio, insert the Nord Buds 2 further into the ear hole. As a result, the ears become less after a long time of use.
There is a gaming mode that we feel does not provide any major changes because there is still a significant time gap especially games like PUBG Mobile and COD Mobile. The sound of gunshots lingers a few milliseconds after the trigger of the in-game gun is pulled.
Sound quality is not as good as AirPods Pro and Galaxy Buds2 Pro but better than Apple AirPods. In this situation losing to AirPods Pro and Galaxy Buds2 Pro is expected because the selling price of these two TWS is much more expensive. But beating AirPods is an achievement to be proud of.
Microphone
The microphone quality is also good. While attending several teleconference sessions, our voices could be heard clearly and did not sound disjointed. Phone calls can also be made clearly. There were no issues reported by those who received calls from us.
Battery
The earbud battery can last up to 5 hours with ANC and 7 hours without ANC. On average we got around 5-6 hours with ANC off. We turned off ANC because it was not very satisfying and more concerned with usage life. With the help of the charging pod, the usage life can reach 36 hours. We didn't have time to comment until more than a week. After five days we only had to charge it once. The time taken to recharge is around 2 hours.
In the box
Here's what you get with every device purchase in Malaysia.
1x OnePlus Nord Buds 2
1x USB-A to USB-C charging cable.
2x Install the silicone bud.
1x Sticker.
1x Manual.
Conclusion
OnePlus Nord Buds 2 is RM30 more expensive than last year's model. Improvements can only be seen in the charging pod, a longer lasting battery and a more satisfying bass quality. The rest is still the same as the original Nord Buds. Is it still worth buying?
We say yes because of the ability to turn off the noise canceling mode and finally there's the see-through mode. Fast Pair support has also finally arrived. Nice enough for those who have more than one Android device. OnePlus Nord Buds 2 is not the best TWS on the market right now but at RM329 it offers many useful features that can be seen on more expensive TWS.
Pro
Satisfying audio experience
Compact storage pod design.
Good battery life.
Application support on various operating systems.
IP55 waterproof.
Cons
Not comfortable to wear for a long time.
The touchpad is inconsistent.