OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro Review: Affordable Earbuds That Get the Basics Right

The budget true wireless earbuds market has become brutally competitive. Features that once belonged exclusively to premium earbuds — active noise cancellation (ANC), spatial audio, multipoint connectivity, high-resolution codecs, and customizable sound profiles — are now available in products costing under Rs 5,000. That shift has created enormous pressure on brands to deliver more for less.

Into that crowded category steps the OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro, a pair of earbuds positioned as OnePlus’ most premium offering in its affordable Nord audio lineup. Priced at Rs 3,999 in India, the earbuds attempt to strike a difficult balance: premium-style features without premium pricing.

After weeks of reviews from multiple publications and hands-on impressions, one thing becomes clear — the Nord Buds 4 Pro are not revolutionary earbuds. Instead, they are a carefully tuned, practical, everyday audio product that focuses on comfort, balanced sound, and reliability, while accepting a few compromises to hit their aggressive price point.

A Familiar Design With Practical Improvements

OnePlus has taken a restrained approach to the design language of the Nord Buds 4 Pro. The earbuds are available in Raven Black and Radiant Gray finishes, both leaning toward minimalism instead of flashy aesthetics. The charging case adopts a more structured, boxy shape compared to earlier Nord Buds, while still remaining compact enough for daily carry.

Several reviewers highlighted the practicality of the case design. The matte finish helps resist fingerprints, the hinge feels sturdy, and the earbuds themselves are lightweight enough for extended listening sessions. At just 4.4g per earbud and 43g for the case, the product remains portable without feeling flimsy.

Comfort appears to be one of the strongest aspects of the Nord Buds 4 Pro. Users reported being able to wear them for hours during work sessions, walks, workouts, and streaming without experiencing significant ear fatigue. The in-ear design and short stem help maintain a secure fit, while the IP55 rating offers resistance against dust and splashes during exercise.

That said, not everything about the physical experience is perfect.

Some reviewers criticized the included silicone ear tips, describing them as plasticky and less premium than competitors. Others pointed out that the charging case can become slippery and prone to scratches. These are relatively minor complaints at this price point, but they reinforce the idea that OnePlus prioritized core functionality over premium materials.

Sound Quality Is the Real Surprise

If there is one area where the Nord Buds 4 Pro consistently impressed reviewers, it is audio tuning.

The earbuds use 12mm titanium-coated dynamic drivers and support SBC, AAC, and LHDC codecs over Bluetooth 6.0. OnePlus claims the drivers deliver 100 percent more power than those found in the previous Nord Buds 3 Pro.

On paper, those specifications sound typical for the category. In practice, reviewers found the audio far more refined than expected.

Unlike many affordable earbuds that chase exaggerated bass-heavy tuning, the Nord Buds 4 Pro aim for a more controlled and balanced presentation. Multiple reviews praised the mellow mids, restrained highs, and unexpectedly sophisticated sound signature. Vocals remain clear, instruments are separated effectively, and the overall tuning avoids the harsh peaks and muddy lows commonly associated with cheaper earbuds.

Bass is still prominent — in fact, some reviewers described it as “the elephant in the room” — but importantly, it rarely overwhelms the rest of the frequency range. Instead of bleeding into vocals or muddying instrument separation, the bass remains largely isolated and controlled.

Another strength is imaging and spatial performance. Even without enabling Spatial Audio, the earbuds create a sense of depth and directional positioning that makes tracks feel more immersive. For users who prefer stronger low-end emphasis, the HeyMelody companion app offers customizable EQ presets and BassWave adjustments.

This refined sound signature represents an important shift for OnePlus’ affordable audio lineup. Historically, OnePlus earbuds were often criticized for aggressive or crude tuning. The Nord Buds 4 Pro appear to move away from that approach and toward a more mature listening experience.

ANC Performance: Good Hardware, Imperfect Tuning

OnePlus heavily markets the Nord Buds 4 Pro’s ANC capabilities, claiming up to 55dB noise reduction across a 5000Hz range. The company also says the system is 200 percent better than the previous generation.

In real-world testing, however, the ANC performance received mixed reactions.

The earbuds include four ANC modes: Low, Moderate, High, and Auto. While the lower settings provide relatively stable cancellation, the High preset dynamically changes its intensity depending on surrounding noise levels. According to reviewers, this behavior can sometimes produce inconsistent results.

In moderately noisy environments, the High mode occasionally introduces noticeable high-frequency noise while suppressing lower frequencies. Ironically, that can make the High setting feel less effective than the Moderate preset in some situations. Only in extremely loud environments does the High mode fully activate its stronger cancellation behavior.

Despite those inconsistencies, ANC performance remains respectable for the price segment. Everyday sounds such as office chatter, metro rumble, and traffic noise are reduced effectively enough for commuting and casual listening.

Transparency mode, meanwhile, appears functional but underwhelming. Several reviewers noted that ambient sound passthrough lacks naturalness and sometimes forces users to remove the earbuds during conversations or public announcements.

Software Features Add Unexpected Flexibility

OnePlus includes a surprisingly feature-rich software experience for budget earbuds.

Through the HeyMelody app on Android, iOS, and Mac, users can customize ANC levels, touch gestures, EQ presets, and audio cues. Additional features include:

• Spotify Tap shortcuts
• Ambient “Sound Space” modes
• Low-latency Game Mode
• Spatial Audio
• Hi-Res audio mode
• Wear detection
• Multipoint connectivity

The earbuds also support LHDC high-resolution audio at up to 24-bit/96kHz and 900kbps — though reviewers noted this falls short of the advertised 1Mbps bitrate. Enabling the highest quality mode additionally requires manual activation through Android developer settings.

Not all software experiences are flawless, however.

Some reviewers encountered inconsistent touch gesture responses and unreliable wear detection. In certain situations, playback failed to pause automatically after removing the earbuds.

Still, the sheer number of customization options at this price remains impressive and helps the Nord Buds 4 Pro compete with more expensive rivals.

Battery Life Holds Up Well in Daily Use

Battery performance is another area where the Nord Buds 4 Pro perform strongly.

OnePlus claims:

• Up to 13 hours playback without ANC
• Around 7 hours with ANC enabled using AAC
• Approximately 54 total hours including the charging case

Real-world testing produced solid results.

At higher-quality LHDC settings with ANC disabled, reviewers achieved over 9 hours of playback. With ANC enabled, usage dropped to slightly above 6 hours, still respectable for the category. The charging case adds roughly three additional full charges, bringing total usage close to 30 hours or more depending on settings.

Fast charging also performs well. Several users noted they could quickly top up the earbuds within minutes and comfortably use them across multiple days without worrying about battery anxiety.

The Bigger Picture: What OnePlus Is Trying to Achieve

The Nord Buds 4 Pro reveal an interesting shift in the broader wireless audio market.

A few years ago, consumers had to spend significantly more for features like ANC, spatial audio, and high-resolution codecs. Today, brands like OnePlus, Realme, Oppo, and Nothing are aggressively pushing those capabilities into the budget category.

Instead of chasing gimmicks, OnePlus appears focused on delivering a dependable all-rounder. The Nord Buds 4 Pro may not dominate every category individually, but they perform consistently across comfort, sound, battery life, connectivity, and everyday usability.

That approach matters because many buyers in this segment prioritize reliability over experimentation. Most users simply want earbuds that:

• sound good,
• fit comfortably,
• last long enough,
• and work reliably during calls, streaming, commuting, and workouts.

The Nord Buds 4 Pro largely accomplish those goals.

Final Verdict

The OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro are not flawless earbuds. The ANC tuning needs refinement, transparency mode could be stronger, and the included ear tips feel cheaper than they should. Some software quirks also remain unresolved.

Yet despite those shortcomings, the overall package is surprisingly compelling.

The standout feature is unquestionably the sound quality. OnePlus has delivered a more mature, restrained, and enjoyable tuning profile than many expected from a sub-Rs 4,000 product. Add in strong comfort, reliable battery life, customizable software features, and decent connectivity, and the Nord Buds 4 Pro become an easy recommendation for budget-conscious buyers.

In a market flooded with feature-heavy but inconsistent wireless earbuds, the Nord Buds 4 Pro succeed by doing the fundamentals exceptionally well.