You can use the new Nord phone with wired headphones if you want to, but many have gone wireless. The OnePlus Nord Buds 2 is for them, at least for those on a tight budget. Unlike the originals, these feature Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and can reduce background noise by 25dB. This does affect battery life, the buds can last up to 5 hours with ANC on (and the expected 7 hours with ANC off).
The good news is that the buds support
fast charging and need 10 minutes for 5 hours of listening time – note that
this number is with noise cancellation off. The case can deliver a total of 27
or 36 hours of listening time, depending on ANC status.
Like their predecessors, these buds have
12.4mm drivers and support Dolby Atmos audio. There is also a Dirac Tuner and a
Sound Master Equalizer on board (these are accessible via the HeyMelody app).
The connectivity is upgraded to Bluetooth 5.3 but the basics are the same with
fast Pair support and a 94ms gaming mode. The buds rely on the AAC codec for
music.
The buds are rated IP55 for dust and water
resistance, so they can shrug off rain and sweat. Their design is the same as
on the originals with short stems that house the touch controls. The Nord Buds
2 come in Lightning White and Thunder Grey and OnePlus has included emoji
stickers in the retail package, so you can customize their look.
The Nord Buds 2 can be yours for € 70/£ 70
and are available immediately. In India the buds will launch on April 11 with a
₹ 3,000 price tag.
