OnePlus has built the Nord Buds 4 line around a simple idea: give people the basics without making them feel shortchanged. The Nord Buds 4 push that formula harder than before, with up to 52dB active noise cancellation, spatial audio, Bluetooth 6.1, AI-powered features, and battery life that looks far more expensive than the asking price.
After several days with the Astral Teal version for music, calls, videos, gaming, and commuting, the conclusion is pretty straightforward: these are budget earbuds trying to act like midrange ones. They are not flawless, but they land well above the usual entry-level compromise.
OnePlus Nord Buds 4 design and Astral Teal finish
The Astral Teal finish is the more distinctive of the two color options. It has a soft matte texture and a muted green tone that gives the buds a polished first impression, though that shine seems to soften after around 10 days of regular use. The Stellar Black version may prove better at hiding wear, which is a small but practical win if you do not want your earbuds to look tired before the battery does.
The case is compact enough to disappear into a jeans pocket, and each earbud weighs just 4.3g. That matters more than marketing fluff does, because light earbuds are the difference between ”I forgot I was wearing these” and constant fiddling.
Comfort and fit are still the Nord Buds’ strongest card
OnePlus has not messed with a winning formula here. The buds stayed comfortable for a couple of hours at a time, with no pressure or fatigue, and the fit remained secure whether indoors or on a walk outside. That’s the sort of everyday reliability cheaper earbuds often get wrong, especially when brands spend more time bragging about specs than making the shape work.
The IP55 rating is the practical finishing touch. Sweat and light drizzle should not be a problem, which makes the Nord Buds 4 a more believable daily companion than many budget rivals that are technically ”portable” but not especially forgiving.
OnePlus Nord Buds 4 features and specs
What makes the Nord Buds 4 interesting is not that they exist, but what they bring down to this price bracket. Up to 52dB ANC, spatial audio, Bluetooth 6.1, AI features, and strong battery life are the kind of headline items that used to belong to pricier models. OnePlus is clearly trying to pressure rivals by packing in extras first and asking questions later.
- Up to 52dB active noise cancellation
- Spatial audio
- Bluetooth 6.1
- AI-powered features
- 4.3g weight per earbud
- IP55 rating
That combination makes the Nord Buds 4 feel less like a stripped-down bargain and more like a warning shot to other budget audio brands. The real question now is whether competitors respond with better tuning, better app support, or just more spec-sheet gymnastics.