OnePlus just launched the Nord Buds 4 in India, priced at Rs. 3,299 (roughly $35), and the specs are turning heads. This is a budget pair of earbuds that quietly surpasses the Nord Buds 3 Pro, a higher-tier product that launched at $80 in the US just a year ago. That kind of leapfrogging does not happen often in consumer electronics.

The Nord Buds 4 go on sale in India on June 29, coming in Stellar Black and Astral Teal. OnePlus has not confirmed a US launch date, but the timing makes sense for a refresh. The Nord Buds 3 Pro have been the entry point for budget OnePlus audio in the US since June 2024, and that lineup is overdue for new blood.

Why does this matter? Because the US OnePlus audio lineup, which currently includes the Buds 4, Buds Pro 3, and Nord Buds 3 Pro, has a gap at the affordable end. If the Nord Buds 4 make it stateside, they could fill that gap with meaningfully better hardware than what they would replace.

The spec comparison between the Nord Buds 4 and the Nord Buds 3 Pro is what makes this story interesting. The newer, cheaper buds win on almost every major metric:

• ANC: Up to 52dB on the Nord Buds 4, vs. 49dB on the 3 Pro
• Microphones: Six on the Buds 4, four on the 3 Pro
• Total battery life: 54 hours (ANC off) vs. 44 hours
• Earbud battery: 62mAh vs. 58mAh
• Charging case battery: 530mAh vs. 440mAh
• Bluetooth: 6.1 on the Buds 4, 5.4 on the 3 Pro

The one area where the Nord Buds 4 fall slightly short on paper is driver size. They use 12mm Titanium-coated dynamic drivers, compared to the 12.4mm drivers in the 3 Pro. Whether that difference shows up in actual sound quality is a question for a proper review, but the gap is small.

Bluetooth 6.1 is worth highlighting here. It is a newer standard that promises better connection stability and range. The Nord Buds 4 also support Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair, meaning they connect automatically when you open the case near a Windows PC. That kind of cross-platform convenience is usually reserved for pricier options.

Both pairs share the same IP55 rating, so sweat and light splashes are not a concern for either. The Nord Buds 4 also bring 3D Spatial Audio and Game Sound Spatial Audio tracking, features that previously lived in higher-tier products. Gaming Mode drops audio latency to 47ms when paired with a OnePlus phone, which is competitive for wireless earbuds in this price range. AI Translate and AI Assistant support are also on board for compatible devices.

For context, the Nord Buds 3 Pro launched at $80 in the US, though they regularly drop to around $50. In India, the discounted price of the 3 Pro is now Rs. 3,099, which is actually slightly cheaper than the new Nord Buds 4 launch price. That pricing overlap in India is a little awkward for OnePlus, but it reflects how quickly specs move at the budget end of the market.

Whether the Nord Buds 4 or the reportedly upcoming Nord Buds 4 Pro make it to the US, OnePlus needs to update its affordable audio options. The 3 Pro have held that slot for over a year, and a $35 product that beats them on most specs is a compelling argument for a refresh.