Buying a pair of truly wireless earbuds under Rs 4,000 should be fairly simple. There are plenty of options, and many now offer features that were once reserved for far more expensive models.
But that is also what makes choosing one so confusing.
Almost every pair promises active noise cancellation, large drivers, long battery life, low-latency gaming and a growing list of AI-powered features. Compare their specification sheets, and most of them begin to look almost identical.
The differences become apparent only after you have used the earbuds for a few days.
I used the OnePlus Nord Buds 4 as my primary earbuds for a week, testing them during work calls, music sessions, YouTube videos, films and gaming. The aim was simple: to find out whether they are worth their Rs 3,299 price.
On paper, the earbuds offer up to 52dB active noise cancellation, 12mm dynamic drivers, a six-microphone AI Clear Call system, gaming latency as low as 47ms and up to 54 hours of total battery life. OnePlus has also added several software-based features.
The title may have already given away the verdict, but specifications only tell part of the story. What matters more is how well these features work together in daily life.
Let us find out.
OnePlus Nord Buds 4 verdict
The OnePlus Nord Buds 4 may not outperform every rival in every technical category, but they deliver a polished and dependable everyday experience.
They are comfortable, sound enjoyable across different genres, offer effective noise cancellation and provide excellent battery life. The HeyMelody companion app also gives users plenty of control without becoming difficult to navigate.
The earbuds have a warm and relaxed sound rather than a highly detailed or analytical presentation. Listeners who enjoy picking out every small instrument or background element may want more clarity. However, this smoother tuning also makes the Nord Buds 4 easy to listen to for long periods.
At Rs 3,299, they offer a strong combination of comfort, performance and useful features, making them easy to recommend to most casual listeners.
OnePlus Nord Buds 4 design and comfort
Even the best-sounding earbuds can become inconvenient if their charging case is too bulky to carry around. Thankfully, the Nord Buds 4 come with a compact case that slips easily into a trouser or jacket pocket.
The case looks stylish and feels sturdy for the price. The hinge is firm, and the lid closes with a satisfying snap that gives it a slightly more premium feel.
My review unit came in teal, which looks fresh and different from the usual black and white options. However, the finish may begin to show scratches and signs of wear after prolonged use.
The earbuds use the familiar stem-style design. They are lightweight, fit securely and remain comfortable even during longer listening sessions.
The default ear tips worked well for me, but OnePlus also provides additional sizes in the box. Finding the right size is important because a proper seal improves comfort, bass response and the effectiveness of the noise cancellation.
The earbuds carry an IP55 rating, which makes them suitable for workouts, sweaty gym sessions and occasional exposure to light rain. They are not fully waterproof, though, so taking them for a swim would still be a bad idea.
OnePlus Nord Buds 4 sound quality
Like many affordable wireless earbuds, the OnePlus Nord Buds 4 have a bass-forward sound. The bass is energetic and easy to notice, but it does not constantly overpower the rest of the music.
Compared with the Realme Buds Air 8, the OnePlus earbuds deliver slightly more prominent bass. The Realme pair, however, sounds tighter and more controlled.
In Childish Gambino’s “Retro”, the Nord Buds 4 produce a strong sub-bass response that gives the track plenty of energy. The Realme Buds Air 8 handle the lower frequencies with slightly better control. A similar difference can be heard in the deep and atmospheric reverb of James Blake’s “Retrograde”.
The contrast becomes more noticeable in “Feel Good Inc.” by Gorillaz. The bass guitar sounds deeper and more clearly defined on the Realme Buds Air 8. Damon Albarn’s vocals also come through with greater clarity, and the rap sections are easier to follow.
Smaller background elements, including the track’s distinctive laughter effects, sound more open and noticeable on the Realme earbuds. On the Nord Buds 4, some of these details sit further back in the mix.
This does not mean that the OnePlus earbuds sound bad. Their presentation is smoother, warmer and more relaxed. In fact, many listeners may prefer this kind of tuning, especially during longer listening sessions.
The difference also becomes noticeable in the higher frequencies. The Realme Buds Air 8 sound cleaner and better controlled, while the Nord Buds 4 can become slightly sharp during the higher sections of “Dawn of the Iconoclast” by Dead Can Dance.
The opening drums and percussion in the same track also carry more weight and impact on the Realme earbuds. The Nord Buds 4 sound slightly lighter by comparison.
These differences are easier to notice when switching directly between the two pairs. On their own, however, the Nord Buds 4 still offer an enjoyable listening experience.
For casual listeners who move between pop, rock, electronic music, podcasts and film soundtracks, their warm and energetic sound should work well.
I conducted these sound tests using the default Balanced EQ preset with BassWave switched off.
BassWave can be activated through the HeyMelody app. It adds more emphasis to the lower frequencies and may appeal to listeners who enjoy heavier bass. However, the default tuning already provides a generous amount of low-end energy.
The app also includes several equaliser options, allowing users to adjust the sound according to their preferences. These settings cannot completely transform the basic character of the earbuds, but they offer enough flexibility for most listeners.
OnePlus Nord Buds 4 gaming performance
The Nord Buds 4 include a dedicated gaming mode that reduces wireless latency to as low as 47ms.
Once gaming mode is activated, the gap between an action on the screen and the accompanying sound becomes less noticeable. This is particularly useful in fast-paced shooting and racing games, where delayed footsteps, gunshots or engine sounds can affect the experience.
The response is still not as immediate as a pair of wired earphones, but it is good enough for casual mobile gaming.
I also did not notice any major audio-sync problems while watching YouTube videos or films during regular use.
OnePlus Nord Buds 4 ANC performance
The Nord Buds 4 offer active noise cancellation of up to 52dB. In everyday use, the ANC does a good job of reducing common background sounds.
It noticeably lowers the hum of air conditioners and ceiling fans, along with traffic noise, office conversations, keyboard clicks and household appliances such as vacuum cleaners.
It does not make the outside world completely silent. However, it reduces the noise enough to make music, podcasts and work calls easier to focus on without forcing you to raise the volume too much.
The Realme Buds Air 8 offer noise cancellation of up to 55dB and perform marginally better in a direct comparison. The difference is present, but it is small enough that most users may not notice it unless they switch between the two pairs in the same environment.
Among the available ANC settings, High mode provides the strongest noise reduction. Moderate mode is less aggressive and may feel more comfortable during longer listening sessions.
Strong ANC can create a sense of pressure for some users. Moderate mode is a useful alternative in such cases, particularly when the surroundings are already relatively quiet.
OnePlus Nord Buds 4 transparency mode
Transparency mode allows outside sounds to pass through the earbuds, letting you speak to someone or hear an announcement without taking them out.
Voices sound reasonably clear on the Nord Buds 4, although the surrounding audio still has a slightly processed character. You remain aware that you are hearing the environment through microphones rather than naturally through your ears.
The Realme Buds Air 8 perform better in this area. Their transparency mode sounds more natural and also offers a dedicated voice-enhancement setting.
Even so, the Nord Buds 4 work well enough for quick conversations, public transport announcements and situations where you need to remain aware of your surroundings.
OnePlus Nord Buds 4 call quality
Call quality is reliable for a pair of earbuds in this price range.
The six-microphone system captures speech clearly, while the AI-assisted noise reduction helps keep voices understandable in moderately noisy environments.
During indoor calls, my voice remained clear and consistent. The earbuds also performed reasonably well around traffic and background conversations, although louder and more unpredictable sounds occasionally made their way into the call.
For work calls, online meetings and regular phone conversations, the Nord Buds 4 are dependable enough for daily use.
OnePlus Nord Buds 4 battery life
Battery life is one of the biggest strengths of the OnePlus Nord Buds 4.
During my battery test, the earbuds lasted 11 hours and 12 minutes with ANC switched off, FLAC music playing continuously and the volume set to 80 per cent.
That is an impressive result for earbuds in this price range. During normal use, I was never able to completely drain them within a single working day.
OnePlus claims that the earbuds and charging case can deliver up to 54 hours of total playback with ANC switched off.
With ANC enabled and the volume set to 50 per cent, the earbuds are rated to last up to 6.5 hours. The combined battery life with the charging case is claimed to reach up to 27 hours.
Real-world battery life will naturally vary depending on the listening volume, audio format, ANC usage, call duration and features such as gaming mode.
Fast charging is another useful addition. After completing my battery test, I placed the earbuds back inside the case for a short period. By the time I checked them again, the battery had recovered to nearly 90 per cent.
According to OnePlus, the earbuds take approximately 55 minutes to charge fully. The charging case requires around another 30 minutes.
With this level of endurance, many users may only need to charge the case once or twice a week, depending on how heavily they use the earbuds.
OnePlus Nord Buds 4 software experience
Pairing the Nord Buds 4 is quick and straightforward. They support Google Fast Pair for Android devices and Microsoft Swift Pair for Windows computers.
Once connected, most of the settings can be controlled through the HeyMelody companion app.
The app has a clean and simple interface. Its home screen shows the remaining battery levels of the earbuds and case, while also providing quick access to noise-control modes, equaliser settings, gaming mode, dual-device connectivity and other features.
Another section lets users customise the touch controls for the left and right earbuds.
There are plenty of gesture options available. Actions can be assigned for music playback, volume adjustment, noise-control modes, voice assistants and other functions.
The earbuds also support Spotify Tap, which allows users to open Spotify and resume playback using a configured gesture.
Spotify is my primary music-streaming service, so I found the feature genuinely convenient. It removes a few steps when you want to quickly return to your music.
Touch gestures can also be used to activate an AI assistant. OnePlus has included an AI-powered translation feature as well.
These additions are not essential to the core experience, but they offer more flexibility and help the earbuds feel well-equipped for their price.
Dual-device connectivity
The Nord Buds 4 support dual-device connectivity, allowing them to remain connected to two devices at the same time.
This is particularly helpful for people who regularly switch between a smartphone and a laptop. You can listen to music on one device and answer a call from the other without manually disconnecting and reconnecting the earbuds.
Switching between devices was generally smooth during my testing. However, the response may occasionally vary depending on the devices and apps being used.
It is a practical feature for office users and anyone who works across multiple screens throughout the day.
Also read on Techzy: Realme Buds Air 8 Pro review: Expressive and easy to recommend
OnePlus Nord Buds 4: Should you buy them?
When judged purely through specifications and direct technical comparisons, the OnePlus Nord Buds 4 do not win in every category.
The Realme Buds Air 8 offer slightly better sound detail, stronger noise cancellation and a more natural transparency mode.
That does not make the Nord Buds 4 a poor choice.
My experience with them over the week was consistently comfortable and reliable. The earbuds are lightweight, the charging case is compact, the finish looks attractive and the battery life is excellent.
Call quality is dependable, the touch controls are highly customisable and the HeyMelody app offers plenty of useful features without becoming overwhelming.
The sound is also enjoyable across a wide range of genres. Its warm and relaxed character may not satisfy listeners who want maximum detail and clarity, but it works well for casual listening and long sessions.
The available EQ presets and bass controls also provide some room to adjust the sound.
Choosing between the Realme Buds Air 8 and OnePlus Nord Buds 4 will ultimately come down to the kind of listening experience you prefer.
Listeners who enjoy hearing every small layer and detail in a recording may prefer the Realme Buds Air 8. They also offer marginally stronger ANC and a more natural transparency mode.
The Nord Buds 4 are better suited to users who prefer a smoother, warmer and less demanding sound.
The differences between the two pairs are relatively small, and most casual listeners are unlikely to be disappointed with either option.
This brings us back to the question raised at the beginning of the review. When almost every pair of earbuds under Rs 4,000 promises similar features, the deciding factor is how well those features work together in everyday life.
The OnePlus Nord Buds 4 may not win every technical comparison, but they are comfortable, reliable, feature-rich and consistently enjoyable to use.
At Rs 3,299, they are a strong option for buyers looking for dependable wireless earbuds with a warm sound, effective ANC and excellent battery life.
