Another week, another set of active-noise-cancelling (ANC) wireless earbuds. The latest buds vying to take a piece of the AirPods pie are the updated OnePlus Nord Buds 2. They add ANC and improved sound quality over their super-affordable predecessor.
Nord Buds made a splash with good sound quality at a bargain-basement price of $39 when they came out. Now Nord Buds 2 piles on more features and boosts quality at a still-low $59 price point.
OnePlus Nord Buds 2
The big improvements in OnePlus Nord Buds 2 are the addition of ANC — up to 25 decibels’ worth, the company said — and improvements to sound quality for music and calls.
OnePlus also makes higher-end wireless earbuds. OnePlus and the Nothing company, which came out with Nothing Ear (2) just a couple of weeks ago, are two companies with growing followings in the earbuds world.
The company noted artificial intelligence is in the mix with Nord Buds 2 through the BassWave algorithm to improve bass response without adding distortion. AI also figures in the dual-mic system to dampen background noise for clearer voice calls, One Plus said.
AAC codec and Dolby Atmos
Like the first Nord Buds, Nord Buds 2 use the AAC Bluetooth codec and work with Dolby Atmos. Equalizer presets let you tune the sound how you like it. And you can also customize the touch controls, OnePlus said.
The buds’ battery life runs up to seven hours on a charge, or 36 hours total (with ANC off) using the charging case. And 10 minutes of charging buys you 5 hours of battery life, the company noted.
OnePlus Nord Buds 2 carry a IP55 rating for water and dust resistance. They come in white or gray colors. They cost $59. They don’t appear to be on Amazon yet, but most OnePlus products do show up there.
Price: $59
Where to buy: OnePlus
