So, I’ve been testing the new OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro for about a week now. And after putting it through my regular testing — music, calls, ANC, gaming, outdoor use — here’s my honest take. It’s a good earbuds with solid features and impressive battery. But the best under ₹4,000? No.
Let me be upfront – this isn’t a sponsored review. I bought and tested this unit myself.
The Nord Buds 4 Pro is priced between ₹3,700 to ₹3,900 in the Indian market. At this price, you’re already looking at the new Realme Buds Air 8, which comes with dual drivers and dual DAC — something the Nord Buds 4 Pro doesn’t have. And then there’s the CMF Buds Pro 2 and CMF Buds 2 Plus, both with similar specs at similar prices.
So on paper, the Nord Buds 4 Pro isn’t really a value pick. But real life experience matters more than spec sheets. Let me break it down. And yes, don’t miss the comparison section at the end!
Box Content
- Earbuds
- USB Type-C Cable
- 2x Eartips
| Driver | 12mm Titanium-Coated Dynamic Driver |
| ANC | Up to 55dB (TÜV Rheinland Certified) |
| ANC Modes | 3 Levels + Auto Adaptive AI Mode |
| Bluetooth | 6.0 (Latest) |
| Codecs | LHDC 5.0 / AAC / SBC |
| Hi-Res Audio | Yes (LHDC 5.0) |
| Battery (Earbuds, ANC Off) | ~13 Hours |
| Battery (Total, ANC Off) | ~54 Hours |
| Battery (Total, ANC On) | ~26 Hours |
| Fast Charging | 10 min = ~13 Hours Playback |
| Earbud Battery | 62mAh per Earbud |
| Case Battery | 530mAh |
| Microphones | 6 (3 per Earbud) |
| IP Rating | IP55 (Earbuds Only) |
| Weight | 4.4g per Earbud / 43g Case |
| Controls | Touch + Volume Swipe on Stem |
| Multi-Device | Dual (2 Devices) |
| Connectivity | Google Fast Pair / Windows Swift Pair |
| Spatial Audio | 3D Spatial Audio + Game Sound Mode |
| Gaming Mode | 45ms Low Latency |
| AI Translation | 4 Languages (OnePlus Phones Only) |
| Other Features | Spotify Tap / Wear Detection / Find My Earbuds / Earbuds Fit Test |
| Colors | Radiant Gray / Raven Black |
Design, Build & Comfort
Design and build wise, the new Nord Buds 4 Pro is actually quite nice. It’s compact, the overall build is solid, and compared to the previous Nord Buds 3 Pro, there’s a noticeable update. So don’t worry about durability — these aren’t the kind that’ll break easily.
The look is good too. Nothing groundbreaking, but the simple design gives a premium vibe. There’s a soft matte finishing on top that makes the in-hand experience really pleasant. And honestly? The in-hand feel is even better than the Realme Buds Air 8.
You get 2 color options — Radiant Gray and Raven Black. Both look decent but neither is particularly eye-catching. Compared to the Realme Air 8’s Naoto Fukasawa design with 3 color choices, or the CMF Pro 2 in 4 colors, OnePlus played it safe here. A bit too safe.
The earbuds are very lightweight at 4.4 grams each. Comfort is excellent — I wore them for 3-4 hour stretches without any discomfort. Walking, running, gym — they stay secure. The stem design is similar to the Nord Buds 3 and Realme Air 8, nothing new there.
IP55 rating means sweat, dust, and light rain protection. But the charging case has no water resistance — keep that in mind.
ANC Performance — 55dB, But How Good Is It Really?
The 55dB ANC is the prime feature here. You get 3 levels of ANC adjustment, plus an auto adaptive mode that actually works properly. I tested it in both indoor and outdoor environments.
Real life performance? It’s effective. Easily reduces AC noise, fan noise, and car engine noise by about 80%. That’s genuinely good for this price.
But here’s something many people are confused about — ANC can’t give you complete silence. It only reduces continuous sounds. Car horns, human voices, sudden noises — these still come through. That’s just how ANC technology works, and in this price range, you can’t expect top-tier performance anyway.
Now, the important context — the Realme Buds Air 8 also has 55dB ANC. Even the OnePlus Buds 4 and Realme Air 7 Pro offer 55dB. So the ANC here is good, but similar to other options in this segment. Nothing that sets it apart.
Transparency mode works fine too — does its job.
Features – Everything You Need
Features wise, nothing new here. But all the essential stuff is present.
You get 360 audio (3D mode), custom equalizer with 3 preset modes, hi-res on/off toggle, AI translate in the app, and a 45ms low latency gaming mode. I tested the gaming mode with BGMI — with Bluetooth 6.0 plus low latency, the delay is practically zero. For normal gaming, you won’t need separate wired earphones.
Other basics — earbuds control customization, dual connection on/off, find my buds, earbuds fit test, Google Fast Pair, Windows Swift Pair, and wear detection. All the features you’d expect in earbuds under ₹5,000 are covered here. Like the Realme Air 8 and CMF Buds Pro 2, nothing missing, nothing extra.
One new addition — Spotify Tap. Not available on Realme earbuds yet. If you use Spotify, this is useful.
And here’s the real advantage over the Realme Air 8 — volume swipe control. Slide on the stem to adjust volume without touching your phone. It’s better than tap controls, and once you get used to it, there’s no going back. This feature was definitely needed and the Realme Air 8 doesn’t have it.
Battery Life – Real World Numbers
Battery has improved compared to the previous variant. The battery size hasn’t increased much, but Bluetooth 6.0 helps with efficiency. Like the Realme Buds Air 8, you can count this among the best battery performers in this price range.
Here are my real-world numbers at 50% volume:
| Mode | Earbuds Only | Total with Case |
| ANC Off + LHDC Off | ~8.5 Hours | ~33 Hours |
| ANC Off + LHDC On | ~6-7 Hours | ~25-26 Hours |
| ANC On + LHDC On | ~4.5 Hours | ~18 Hours |
These numbers are genuinely impressive. Very few earbuds in this range can match this.
Fast charging is best-in-class — 10 minutes gives you about 13 hours of playback. That’s better than the Realme Air 8 (11 hours) and CMF Buds 2 Plus (8.5 hours) from the same 10-minute charge.
Microphone & Call Quality
The 6 microphone setup (3 per earbud) is a solid upgrade. I used it for both recording and phone calls.
Indoor calls — crystal clear. Voice is captured warm and natural. You don’t need to speak louder than normal.
Outdoor — decent performance. Background noise gets reduced well. Similar to the Realme Buds Air 8. Both are among the best for call quality in this price range.
Sound Quality – The Honest Part
Okay, this is where I need to be really honest. Because up to this point, the Nord Buds 4 Pro seems very promising. And it is. But sound quality is where it falls slightly behind the competition.
This time LHDC 5.0 hi-res audio is here. That’s fine. But honestly, every best-selling earbuds in this price range has that now. What should have been here — like the Realme Buds Air 8 — is a dual driver setup. If OnePlus had done that, this would probably be the best value earbuds under ₹5,000.
And I feel OnePlus needs to change their tuning approach now. Like the previous Nord Buds series, the tuning here is the same — bass heavy. No major change. The driver quality has improved, so the audio sounds warmer and the bass is more punchy and powerful. But the fundamental character hasn’t changed.
If you’re a true bass lover — you’ll love this tuning. The bass is punchy, you can feel it in your chest. EDM, hip-hop, Bollywood bass tracks sound fantastic.
But if you’re a music lover who listens to everything — you’ll feel the limitations. Because of the high bass, mid-range is average. Vocals don’t have enough detail. Complex tracks lose some clarity.
This isn’t a terrible problem. But it exists. And if there were dual drivers like in the Realme Buds Air 8, this probably wouldn’t be an issue. The Air 8 has an 11mm woofer + 6mm tweeter with dual DAC — the sound separation is clearly better there.
Treble and highs are decent though. Even at high volume, no fatigue.
One more thing — the Realme Air 8 has both LHDC 5.0 AND LDAC (4 codecs total). The Nord Buds 4 Pro only has LHDC 5.0, AAC, and SBC (3 codecs). So Realme gives you broader Hi-Res compatibility.
Overall — audio quality is good, but not the best. Better than Boat, Boult, Noise earbuds for sure. But not at the level of the Realme Buds Air 8 or CMF Buds Pro 2 for audio lovers. Bass lovers will be happy though.
There’s an equalizer in the app to tweak things. But dual drivers should have been here.
Comparison – OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro vs Realme Buds Air 8 vs CMF Buds Pro 2 vs CMF Buds 2 Plus
If you watched my full video review, you probably already know the verdict. But let me quickly break it down here.
In this price range, the Nord Buds 4 Pro has 3 main competitors — Realme Buds Air 8, CMF Buds Pro 2, and CMF Buds 2 Plus. Features wise, all three are almost identical to the Nord Buds 4 Pro. The real differences are in sound quality, value, and a few key specs.
Realme Buds Air 8 – The Overall Best
This is the most direct competitor, and honestly, it’s the better buy. The Realme Air 8 comes with a dual driver setup — 11mm woofer + 6mm tweeter — plus dual DAC processing. That’s something the Nord Buds 4 Pro simply doesn’t have. The result? Better sound separation, clearer vocals, and crisper treble on the Realme.
On top of that, the Air 8 supports 4 codecs — LHDC 5.0, LDAC, AAC, and SBC. The Nord Buds 4 Pro only has 3 — no LDAC. Battery is also better on the Realme at 58 hours vs 54 hours. And it supports triple device connection (3 devices) vs only dual on the OnePlus. The AI translator on Realme supports 30+ languages vs OnePlus’s 4 languages that only work on OnePlus phones.
And the price? The Realme Air 8 is ₹3,599. That’s ₹200 cheaper than the Nord Buds 4 Pro.
Where does the OnePlus win? Bluetooth 6.0 — no other earbuds at this price has it. Volume swipe control — Realme doesn’t have it. And fast charging — 10 minutes gives 13 hours vs Realme’s 11 hours. The TÜV certified ANC is also a trust factor.
But overall? Realme Buds Air 8 is the better value. No doubt about it.
CMF Buds Pro 2 – The Best Sound
If sound quality is your top priority, the CMF Buds Pro 2 is the one to beat. It has dual drivers — 11mm bass driver + 6mm planar tweeter — tuned by Dirac Opteo. Honestly, this gives the best sound quality in this entire comparison. Clear vocals, tight bass, crisp treble, good separation.
It also has a unique Smart Dial on the charging case — you can control volume and ANC without touching the earbuds. No other earbuds has this feature.
But there are trade-offs. Battery is the weakest here at 43 hours. Bluetooth 5.3 is older than the Nord Buds 4 Pro’s 6.0. And ANC is 50dB vs 55dB.
Verdict: Worth it if you prioritize sound quality above everything. But you sacrifice battery and newer Bluetooth.
CMF Buds 2 Plus – The Best Value
This one surprised me. The CMF Buds 2 Plus has a single driver like the Nord Buds 4 Pro — but the tuning is more balanced. Sound quality wise, it’s actually slightly better than the Nord Buds 4 Pro for the same single-driver category.
Battery is 61.5 hours — the best in this entire comparison by a big margin. The Nothing X app is the most polished companion app you’ll find at this price — EQ customization, Ultra Bass levels, ChatGPT integration.
ANC is 50dB — lower than the Nord Buds 4 Pro’s 55dB. Bluetooth is 5.4, not 6.0.
But the price? On sale, it goes down to ₹2,599. That’s almost half the price of the Nord Buds 4 Pro.
Verdict: At sale price, the CMF Buds 2 Plus offers insane value. If ANC isn’t your top priority, this is probably the smartest buy in this entire comparison.
Budget Alternative – Realme T200 & Oppo Enco Buds 3 Pro
One more thing — if you don’t really need strong ANC and can compromise a bit on features, the Realme T200 and Oppo Enco Buds 3 Pro are worth considering. Sound quality wise, they actually offer more value than the Nord Buds 4 Pro. And their price? Almost half. Something to think about.
Final Verdict – Should You Buy OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro?
Let me keep this simple.
The OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro is a good earbuds. Solid ANC, impressive battery, loaded features, Bluetooth 6.0, volume swipe control — it gets a lot right. For someone who loves heavy bass and uses a OnePlus phone, this is a perfectly fine purchase. You won’t regret it.
But is it the best under ₹4,000? No.
The problem is the competition. At the same price — or even less — you have the Realme Buds Air 8 with dual drivers, dual DAC, more codecs, better battery, triple device support, and a lower price tag. That’s hard to compete with using a single driver and bass-heavy tuning.
OnePlus could have made this the undisputed king by adding dual drivers. They didn’t. And that’s why it falls behind.
My recommendation:
Bass lovers — buy the OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro. The bass will make you happy. Eyes closed, no regrets.
Music lovers who listen to everything — get the Realme Buds Air 8 at ₹3,599. Better sound, better value, lower price.
Best sound quality seekers — the CMF Buds Pro 2 with Dirac Opteo dual drivers sounds the best in this range.
Budget-conscious buyers — the CMF Buds 2 Plus at ₹2,599 on sale is honestly the smartest buy. Almost half the price with better battery and decent sound.
Tight budget? — the Realme T200 or Oppo Enco Buds 3 Pro at half the price offer surprisingly good value in sound quality.
And yes, you can also check our complete list on geekman.in — just Google “best earbuds under 5000 geekman” or ask any AI tool. First link will be ours. It’ll help you make the right decision.
