OnePlus Nord Buds 2r Review: Immersive Sound and Lightweight Design, with Pros and Cons
Hey, I’m Sourabh Raikwar, and I’m here to review the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r true wireless earbuds. In this comprehensive review, I’ll cover the design, sound quality, features, battery life, charging, box contents, and the pros and cons of these earbuds.
Before diving into the review, let’s go through some important specifications that are essential for this assessment:
Specifications:
- 38 hours of music playback
- 12.4 mm Titanium drivers
- Dolby Atmos
- Dirac Audio Tuner
- Quad Mics
- AI Clear Call Algorithm
- Fast Charge
- Voice Assistance
- Touch Controls
- Bluetooth v5.3
- HeyMelody App Support
OnePlus Nord Buds 2r Review
Availability
![OnePlus Nord Buds 2r True Wireless in Ear Earbuds with Mic, 12.4mm Drivers, Playback:Upto 38hr case,4-Mic Design, IP55 Rating [Deep Grey]](https://www.takemetechnically.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/oneplus-nord-buds-2r-64957ff3a766d.webp)
Box Contents:
Inside the box of the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r, you’ll find a pair of earbuds along with two additional pairs of ear tips (small and medium sizes), a manual document, a sticker, and a USB Type-C charging cable.
The box contains all the essentials, and the additional ear tips allow for a customized fit, ensuring a comfortable experience. However, it’s worth mentioning that the provided charging cable is quite short. Although you can use another cable, it’s not as efficient as the original one. It would be beneficial if OnePlus included a longer charging cable, as using the cable with a wall charger may compromise the safety of the TWS charging case.
Design:
The OnePlus Nord Buds 2r TWS earbuds come in a plastic bowl design with an IPX5 rating, but it’s important to note that this rating only applies to the earbuds and not the charging case. Therefore, it’s crucial to avoid exposing the charging case to water or water splashes.
The tube-shaped earbuds are ergonomic, making them easy to handle. They are lightweight, with each earbud weighing only 3.4 grams, ensuring they won’t feel heavy in your ears. However, this compact size can be a double-edged sword. When I first used them, one earbud accidentally fell out of my ear, and due to their small size, it can be challenging to locate a dropped earbud.
The charging case has a sleek matte black finish, giving it a premium look. However, the rough surface easily shows visible marks and smudges.
The rectangular charging case with rounded edges is comfortable to hold, and its weight of 40 grams falls within the lightweight category. On the downside, I found the build quality of the charging case’s opening and closing lid to be fragile, which might not withstand rough handling.
In terms of fit, the extra ear tips, combined with the earpieces’ passive noise cancellation design, ensure a good seal, blocking out external noise. The 48-gram charging case and the 3.5-gram weight of each earbud strike a good balance, categorizing them as lightweight. However, OnePlus seems to have compromised on the quality of the charging case’s lid, indicating a cost-cutting measure.
Features:
Let’s talk about the features of the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r. Firstly, it lacks in-ear detection, so you have to rely on manual touch controls to operate the earbuds. However, I noticed that accidentally touching the earbuds while inserting or removing them from my ears registered as input, which can be inconvenient.
The earbuds offer instant connection when taken out of the charging case, allowing for a seamless experience. You can customize these wireless earbuds using the HeyMelody app, which provides information about the battery percentage of the earbuds and the charging case. Additionally, the app offers audio customization through its customizer feature, including three available profiles. However, it lacks options for touch control or other settings. It’s important to note that the HeyMelody app is not compatible with iOS devices.
While the earbuds include a gaming mode, the 94ms low latency rate is suitable for video streaming but not ideal for gaming. It’s worth mentioning that the absence of Google Fast Pairing or in-ear detection may be a concern for some users. However, considering the price range, these omissions can be deemed acceptable. Additionally, the earbuds can be quickly paired with a smartphone using OnePlus Fast Pair, which is compatible with both OnePlus and other smartphone brands.
Pairing the earbuds with a mobile phone is straightforward. However, if you want to pair them with a laptop, you need to press and hold both earbuds inside the charging case for 4 seconds to enter pairing mode. Once in pairing mode, you can search for the earbuds on your laptop’s Bluetooth settings and connect them using these simple steps.
Here are the step-by-step instructions to pair the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r with a laptop:
- Open the charging case of the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r.
- Press and hold both earbuds inside the charging case for 4 seconds. This action will activate the pairing mode.
- On your laptop, navigate to the Bluetooth settings.
- Search for available devices in the Bluetooth settings of your laptop.
- Look for the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r in the list of available devices.
- Once you locate the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r, select them to initiate the pairing process.
- Follow any prompts or instructions on your laptop’s screen to complete the pairing process.
- Once the pairing is successful, you can use the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r with your laptop for a wireless audio experience.
Remember to keep the earbuds within the laptop’s Bluetooth range for optimal connectivity.
Calling:
The calling quality of the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r is impressive, thanks to the ENC (Environmental Noise Cancellation) feature, which performs well in various conditions, including noisy environments such as train horns.
You can use a single earbud for calling, but the other earbud must be placed back into the charging case. I recommend using the right earbud for calls since it serves as the primary earbud. When both earbuds are used simultaneously, the left earbud functions as a noise–canceling microphone, while the right earbud captures your voice. This implementation ensures proper ENC performance, along with passive noise cancellation that blocks out external noise. Considering the price range, the calling quality is satisfactory and justifies the purchase.
Music:
When it comes to music, the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r has limitations. They work effectively within the frequency range of up to 15,000 Hz. However, despite the advertised frequency response of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz on the official website, they fail to deliver beyond the 15,000 Hz range. Additionally, these earbuds lack Active Noise Cancellation (ANC).
On a positive note, the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r features ENC and PNC (Passive Noise Cancellation). The PNC works quite well, effectively blocking background noise when both earbuds are worn. The inclusion of Dolby Atmos and Dirac Audio Tuner enhances the audio experience, although it’s worth noting that your phone must support these features. While this audio enhancement feature is not exceptional, it functions well.
However, I experienced a slight audio-video lag while streaming content on platforms like MX Player or other OTT platforms. Enabling the gaming mode helps mitigate this issue. In terms of overall audio quality, the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r delivers good sound that is satisfactory for its price range.
Battery and Charging:
The OnePlus Nord Buds 2r provides a claimed total battery backup of 38 hours, and my experience confirms this claim. During my usage, these earbuds lasted for more than 35 hours with regular use. It’s important to note that the battery life depends on your usage patterns. Additionally, fast charging is supported, providing 100 minutes of backup with just 10 minutes of charging.
For calls, a single charge provides over 3 hours of battery backup, which is decent but not exceptional. If you make lengthy calls throughout the day, this might not be ideal for you. However, for listening to music or watching videos, a single charge can provide approximately 7 hours of battery backup. These figures are specific to the earbuds’ battery life.
Considering the battery backup, these true wireless earbuds can easily last for more than 1.5 days, making them a reliable choice within this price range.
OnePlus Nord Buds 2r Vs. OnePlus Nord Buds 2:
Let’s compare the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r with its predecessor, the OnePlus Nord Buds 2. There are some notable differences between the two models. The OnePlus Nord Buds 2 offers slightly better battery life with a 40-hour backup, compared to the 38-hour backup of the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r. However, in terms of sound technology, the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r includes Dolby Atmos and Dirac Audio Tuner, setting it apart from its predecessor.
Additionally, the latest model, the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r, features a rounded edges design, while the OnePlus Nord Buds 2 has sharper edges.
Pros:
- Lightweight TWS earbuds
- Fast charging capability
- Easy connectivity with smartphones, smartwatches, and PCs
- All the provided features work effectively
- Sound customization options
- Good for daily use
- Best for calling and music
- ENC is working amazingly and cancels the noise effectively
Cons:
- No ANC (Active Noise Cancellation)
- Limited frequency response up to 15,000Hz
- Potential discomfort when wearing for extended periods
- HeyMelody app only available for Android devices
- Limited customization options
- Fragile charging case lid
Final Words:
I recommend the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r for those who specifically value Dolby Atmos and Dirac Audio Tuner features. However, it’s important to consider that these earbuds might not have the most attractive design, and the build quality of the charging case is not optimal. Additionally, the lack of ANC is a notable drawback.
These earbuds are ideal for daily use, whether it’s for making calls, listening to music, or occasional gaming. Their design, effective features like ENC, and overall build quality justify their price.
If your budget is around 2k and you’re looking for a well-rounded pair of earbuds for daily use, the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r is the perfect choice. However, if your budget is around 1.5k, you may consider options from Oppo Enco Buds and realme TechLife Buds T100.
If you have any concerns or questions, feel free to leave a comment in the section below, and I will respond within 12 hours. If you found this article helpful and informative, I encourage you to share it on your social media platforms. Your support is greatly appreciated!
