People often ask me for the best truly wireless earbuds recommendation under Rs 5,000. To be frank, the sub-Rs 5,000 TWS space is one of the most competitive segments right now, where brands are actively trying to bring premium features down to mass-market pricing. OnePlus, for instance, has several options in this price range, and now, the company has launched yet another addition to the list, for Rs 3,999, or Rs 3,799 if you count in the introductory offer, the OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro. On paper, the new Buds 4 Pro tries to tick almost every box, including 55dB ANC, LHDC support, spatial audio, and Bluetooth 6.0. That, my friend, is an enticing bouquet of specs and features, but also something that can be found in its rivals like the Realme Buds Air 8.
In this review of the OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro, you can find my experience with the earbuds in everyday use, and in the process, it may also help you decide whether it’s worth buying for the asking price.
OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro: Quick verdict
The OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro offers a balanced, feature-rich experience under Rs 5,000. It gets the basics right with good sound, reliable call quality, strong battery life, and useful features like ANC and dual-device connectivity. While the Realme Buds Air 8 sounds more aggressive and offers stronger ANC, the OnePlus is more comfortable for long listening. It is a safe, well-rounded choice for everyday use.
Design and comfort
The OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro has a rounded rectangular case, almost pebble-like, with OnePlus branding and an LED indicator on the front. There’s nothing on the back. But on the base, you get a USB-C port and a pairing/reset button. Our grey coloured review unit looks sober. I am sure the black one also shares the understated look.
The case is small, comfortable to hold and doesn’t bulge much from my jeans pocket. With the buds inside, they weigh around 43 grams.
The earbuds themselves are only 4.4 grams, and along with the small stem and silicone ear tips, they stay put in my ears. I am usually wary of wearing earbuds on the move, but I didn’t have that worry with these. They can be comfortably worn for hours at a stretch. For a week or so, they are constantly in my ear while working, commuting on the metro and at home. They weren’t loosening during light workouts, too.
Speaking of workouts, the IP55 rating means the Nord Buds 4 Pro can take some sweat, light splashes while washing your face and even some dust and rain outside.
The stem’s narrow dimple and the sliding gesture to volume control are a great touch.
Overall, there is nothing fancy about the design. It looks sober and is functional, which is what matters.
Connectivity and controls
The OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro carry audio via Bluetooth 6.0, and the connection has been stable. You can easily pair them with Google Fast Pair, and I had no difficulty pairing them with an iPhone and a MacBook Air. Thanks to dual-device connectivity, you can listen to two devices at the same time, and this worked reliably between my Android phone and MacBook.
The company claims low latency up to 47ms, and enabling Game Mode in the HeyMelody app, I faced no latency issues while casual gaming and video streaming.
On non OnePlus and Oppo phones, the HeyMelody app is where you can find and change ANC, Transparency mode, dual connection, OnePlus 3D Audio, EQ profiles, Spotify Tap, touch controls, AI Translate, upgrade firmware, and track earbuds if lost or misplaced. The interface is straightforward. So, I had no problem navigating.
As for navigating the earbuds’ functions, the app offers ample choices. You get to tweak controls for single tap, double tap, triple tap, slide on, and touch-&-hold on both sides. As already mentioned, the sliding on the dimple to lower/raise volume works fine.
All good here.
OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro: Sound quality
At the core of the OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro is a 12mm dynamic driver, which is relatively large for this category. Its rival, the Realme Buds Air 8, comes with a dual driver setup, consisting of dedicated drivers for bass and treble.
Also Read: Noise Master Buds 2 review: Do they stand out in a competitive market?
It has an elevated bass tuning with punchy, warm low end, ample rumble, and, in fact, there’s bass presence almost every time. But you can still make out vocals and instruments. Don’t expect too much detail in the high notes. But, overall, it is a safe, fun, and engaging sound.
In comparison, the Realme Buds Air 8 is more expressive and impactful with more open soundstage and clearer instruments in a track like Sultans of the Swing by Dire Straits, and tighter and more controlled bass output in Main Aur Tu from Dhurandhar 2. Vocals of Arijit Singh in Phir Se, also from Dhurandhar 2, sound closer, more textured and a bit processed. In November by Max Richter, the Realme renders high-frequency details with better clarity and sharpness, giving the track a more atmospheric feel.
The OnePlus delivers these notes too, but they do not feel as defined or as close. It feels softer and more balanced.
There is support for LHDC 5.0 codec-based high-resolution sound, provided you have a compatible phone. We tried it on the OnePlus 15R, which supports this. In practice, the difference is slightly noticeable, even with high-quality local files like FLAC. It doesn’t make a night-and-day difference if you stream via platforms like Spotify.
There is also EQ support, which lets you tweak the sound profile. You can choose between the given presets or create your own custom EQ. There wasn’t a major difference between the Balanced and Serenade profiles to my ears. The Bass presets work.
The Nord Buds 4 Pro includes spatial audio support, too, which is called OnePlus 3D Audio. It creates a wider soundstage that feels engaging to use.
Overall, sound quality is tuned for mainstream users. It is engaging, slightly bass-heavy, and works well across genres.
Active noise cancellation and calls
OnePlus claims up to 55dB noise cancellation on the Nord Buds 4 Pro, which is among the highest numbers in this price range.
In everyday use, the noise cancellation does a good job of reducing common ambient sounds like conversations, construction noise, a running fan, or even an open tap. The Realme Buds Air 8 felt slightly more aggressive, but some may find that overbearing. The OnePlus implementation is more agreeable.
Now, among the ANC settings, the Moderate mode works best in most situations. The High mode uses real-time adaptive cancellation, which adjusts based on your surroundings. This can be useful, but in constantly changing environments, it may feel a little annoying. Some users may still prefer this dynamic approach.
Transparency mode also does its job well and does not sound artificial, which can be an issue on some earbuds. That said, it does not amplify ambient sound as clearly as higher-end options.
The OnePlus earbuds are very useful for calls. Thanks to the beamforming mics and noise reduction algorithm at work, the call quality is clear and audible, even outdoors.
Battery life and charging
The company claims up to 13 hours on the OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro (with AAC and ANC off at 80% volume). One of the earbuds died around the 13-hour mark, and the other lasted an hour more. While there is some inconsistency between them, I will still take it. Moreover, with the case, you can expect to get a total of around 54 hours of runtime.
With ANC on, you can expect lower numbers, but still enough to last a full day of mixed use.
Charging time is around 60 minutes for the earbuds and 90 minutes for the full case. There is fast charging support, and the claim is up to 13 hours of playback with just 10-minutes of refuel. These are impressive figures.
Should you buy OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro?
The OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro is a value-heavy pair of earbuds that offers a bit of everything. It doesn’t particularly stand out, especially with the Realme Buds Air 8 also competing in the same space. But it is trying to be good at everything that matters, and mostly succeeds. That makes the Nord Buds 4 Pro an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a well-balanced TWS under Rs 5,000.
The Nord Buds 4 Pro gets the basics right. The sound is engaging without being messy, call quality is dependable, design is simple and comfortable, the Hey Melody app interface is user-friendly, and battery life is more than sufficient for daily use.
The ANC is very strong, but doesn’t feel as aggressive as the Realme pair. That works in the Nord Buds’ favour as it feels less fatiguing, especially for long listening. The same applies to the sound signature. Realme Buds Air 8 may be more dramatic and exciting, but OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro is easier to listen to for longer periods, which makes it the safer pick for most users.
Other features like Transparency mode, LHDC support, OnePlus 3D Audio, adaptive features, in-ear detection, and dual-device connectivity offer good utility and make the overall package feel more complete.
So, you shall consider the OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro if you want a fuss-free, feature-rich pair of earbuds that work well across music, calls and everyday use. However, you can skip it if you are chasing the most aggressive value for money or a more exciting sound signature.
Either way, there’s not much to complain about at Rs 4,000. The OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro are quite well-balanced in its segment.
Keep reading Digit.in for similar stories.
Also Read: OnePlus Nord Buds 3r review: Affordable TWS buds that don’t compromise on quality
OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro Key Specs, Price and Launch Date
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| Market Status: | Launched |
Key Specifications
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G. S. Vasan
G.S. Vasan is the chief copy editor at Digit, where he leads coverage of TVs and audio. His work spans reviews, news, features, and maintaining key content pages. Before joining Digit, he worked with publications like Smartprix and 91mobiles, bringing over six years of experience in tech journalism. His articles reflect both his expertise and passion for technology. View Full Profile
