If imitation is The sincerest form of flattery: Apple’s AirPods Pro must feel pretty smug these days. Every year we see dozens of new earbuds that try to mimic Apple’s signature design, and even the latest revamped version of Samsung’s Galaxy Buds is joining the party.
Looks aside, most of the models that land on my desk aren’t trying to directly compete with the AirPods Pro’s high-end performance or iOS-like usability. Instead, earbuds like OnePlus’ new Nord Buds 3 Pro go in the opposite direction, far outperforming Apple’s best earbuds on price while still offering solid core performance and features.
There’s nothing quite like the original earbuds, especially if you want earbuds that can handle all things Apple. For those on a tighter budget, the latest Nord Buds Pro offer a comfortable fit, extras like multipoint connection and decent noise cancellation, and clear, powerful sound for under $100.
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The most notable feature of the Nord Buds 3 Pro may be their exorbitantly long and unmemorable name. No joke, I’ve had to look up the order of this word salad almost every time I type it.
Their design is reminiscent of the AirPods Pro and their many knockoffs, of course, 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, speckled charging cases. Both pairs have a budget-friendly style with large swaps of glossy plastic throughout, though the Nord Buds’ more compact stems make them marginally easier to handle and use.
Photography: Ryan Waniata
At 4.4 grams per earbud, they’re slightly heavier than the Air 4 Pro but nearly a full gram lighter than the AirPods Pro, which combines with their ergonomic design to make them disappear into your ears. Like many budget pairs, they only offer three sizes of ear tips, but the default pair worked well for me, providing a stable fit and several hours of comfort.
The earbuds offer a fast and stable connection via Bluetooth 5.4, and often paired with my iPhone before I even took it out of my pocket. Android users can easily pair them with a single tap using Google Fast Pair+. The multipoint connection is equally seamless, allowing the earbuds to be paired with a phone and laptop simultaneously for convenient switching between the two. To get started, simply hold down the button on the bottom of the case – no app required.
Before you proceed, you’ll need to download the OnePlus app (oddly named “Hey Melody”), as the Nord 3 Pro’s play/pause command is disabled by default. I’m assuming this is to prevent unwanted touches while you’re adjusting the earbuds, but it’s still a baffling default setting. The earbuds themselves offer sensors to automatically pause or play audio when you take them out—something that even my favorite budget earbuds, Soundcore’s Space A40 (8/10, WIRED Recommends), omit. You can easily assign play/pause control in the app, along with volume, ambient audio, and song skip commands for a well-rounded experience via touch sensors that are generally responsive.