The Nord Buds 4 Pro may not possess the luxurious touch of the AirPods Pro, yet their battery life was sufficient for me to make a switch.
OnePlus might be experiencing a rocky phase currently, but the brand continues to roll out new products. The Nord series has always intrigued me, particularly of late, as it resonates more with the original OnePlus ethos of providing exceptional features at reasonable prices.
So when the company reached out to see if I would review their new Nord Buds Pro 4, I was truly interested. To be frank, I’ve been relying on the AirPods Pro 3 as my main earbuds. Beyond the ecosystem advantages, I appreciate the ability to monitor workouts using the AirPods Pro 3 without needing a smartwatch.
However, one aspect that has consistently annoyed me is the battery longevity. Thus, when OnePlus asserted that the Nord Buds Pro 4 could offer up to 54 hours of battery life, it immediately piqued my interest.
Honestly, this is precisely where these earbuds excel. They may not contest in terms of premium materials, but they certainly shine where it counts. The battery life alone is astonishing for the price. After using them for the past few days, I genuinely believe these are among the simplest recommendations in the budget earbuds market at present.
The battery life of the Nord Buds 4 Pro is truly exceptional
You will seldom hear me commend a pair of earbuds’ battery life to this degree, but I’m doing so here because it truly warrants it.
I’ve been using the Nord Buds 4 Pro for just over a week now, and they’re still thriving, with around 40% remaining in the case and the earbuds themselves still at 100%. Keep in mind that I’ve been using them daily for roughly two hours, primarily in high ANC mode, paired with my Galaxy S26 Ultra.
During this time, I would have had to recharge my AirPods Pro 3 at least once, but the Nord Buds 4 Pro seem to refuse to deplete. While it may appear minor, the annoyance of extracting your earbuds only to discover they’re dead is very genuine.
These earbuds made me realize just how lagging behind other earbuds are in this aspect, even some flagship models.
Additionally, you get excellent ANC and future-ready Bluetooth 6.0 support
Two additional areas where the Nord Buds 4 Pro clearly outshine other wireless earbuds in this price bracket are Bluetooth 6.0 compatibility and ANC capabilities. The Nord Buds 4 Pro feature Bluetooth 6.0, which translates to lower latency and improved battery efficiency (a point I’ve discussed sufficiently).
You also receive LHDC 5.0 codec support, enabling high-resolution audio streaming at low latency with compatible devices. I’ve paired the Nord Buds 4 Pro with both the Galaxy S26 Ultra and the OnePlus 15, and the LHDC 5.0 support significantly enhanced my movie watching and content streaming experience.
With Bluetooth 6.0, OnePlus touts up to 55 dB of ANC on the Nord Buds 4 Pro, and based on my experience, it has performed quite well, especially given the price. The highest ANC setting can feel somewhat aggressive at times, almost inducing that slight suction or pressure sensation in the ears. However, for scenarios like commuting on trains or airplanes where there’s persistent background noise, the ANC performs excellently and fulfills its purpose.
The Nord Buds 4 Pro bring flagship features at a significantly reduced price
With a price tag of just Rs. 3,999 (~$43), the OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro not only undercut the majority of earbuds in this price bracket but even some in the flagship category. Yes, they lack the same premium construction as pricier alternatives, but the essential experience they offer is remarkable for the cost.
Availability might be the primary constraint holding these earbuds back at present, as they are currently available only in India. That being said, last year’s Nord Buds Pro 3 eventually became accessible in other markets, including the U.S., so it wouldn’t be surprising to witness OnePlus expand distribution later this year.
There are still a few aspects I would like OnePlus to enhance, particularly the bass-heavy sound profile, which I’m not fully keen on. I had to adjust the EQ in the earbuds’ companion app to mitigate it, but aside from that, these excel in delivering the core experience.