If imitation The sincerest form of flattery: Apple’s AirPods Pro must be feeling pretty conceited these days. Every year we see dozens of new earbuds that try to emulate Apple’s distinctive design, and even Samsung’s latest iteration of the Galaxy Buds is in on the act.
Looks aside, most models that cross my desk don’t try to directly compete with the high-end performance or straightforward iOS usability of the AirPods Pro. Instead, earbuds like OnePlus’ new Nord Buds 3 Pro take the opposite approach: They significantly undercut Apple’s top earbuds in terms of price, but still offer solid base performance and features.
There’s nothing better than the real thing, especially if you want earbuds that work with all Apple devices. For those on a tighter budget, the latest Nord Buds Pro offer a comfortable fit, extras like multipoint connectivity and decent noise cancellation, and clear, punchy sound for well under $100.
Familiar form
The most striking feature of the Nord Buds 3 Pro is probably its exorbitantly long yet unmemorable name. No joke, I had to look up the order of this word salad almost every time I wrote it.
Their design is obviously reminiscent of the AirPods Pro and their many imitators, but it’s particularly similar to a pair I recently reviewed from Soundpeats, the Air4 Pro (7/10, WIRED recommends), right down to their rounded and speckled charging cases. Both pairs have a budget-friendly vibe with large chunks of glossy plastic, though the Nord Buds’ more compact stems make them marginally easier to handle and carry.
Photo: Ryan Waniata
At 4.4 grams per tip, they’re a little heavier than the Air4 Pro, but still almost a gram lighter than the AirPods Pro, which combined with their ergonomic design means they disappear in your ears. Like many budget earbuds, only three tip sizes are available, but the standard pair worked well for me, providing a stable fit and several hours of comfort.
The earbuds offer a fast and stable device connection via Bluetooth 5.4, often pairing with my iPhone before I’ve even taken it out of my pocket. Android users can easily pair with just one touch using Google Fast Pair+. Multipoint connection works similarly seamlessly, allowing you to pair the earbuds with a phone and a laptop simultaneously and conveniently switch between the two. To start, just press and hold the button on the bottom of the case, no app required.
You’ll want to download the OnePlus app (oddly called “Hey Melody”) before you go too far, as the Nord 3 Pro’s play/pause command is disabled by default. I assume this is to prevent unwanted tapping when adjusting the earbuds, but it’s still a confusing default setting. The earbuds have sensors to automatically pause or play audio when you pull one out, something even my favorite budget earbuds, Soundcore’s Space A40 (8/10, WIRED pick), don’t have. You can easily assign play/pause controls in the app, along with commands for volume, ambient sound, and song skipping for a well-rounded experience via generally responsive touch sensors.
