After a couple of affordable true wireless earbuds, OnePlus's latest headphones are wired ones with a 3.5mm connector launched under its Nord line.
OnePlus has recently focused on wireless earphones, but its latest pair of headphones will need an audio jack to work. OnePlus, like several other smartphone manufacturers, doesn't include a headphone jack in most of its smartphones, save for the entry-level models launched under its Nord line. The first OnePlus smartphone to launch without a headphone jack was the 2018 OnePlus 6T.
However, the audio jack returned to OnePlus smartphones with the launch of the Nord N10 5G and Nord N100 smartphones in 2020. Other OnePlus smartphones with an audio jack include the Nord N200 5G, Nord N20 5G and the newly-announced Nord N20 SE.
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OnePlus has quietly announced a new pair of earphones. Called the OnePlus Nord Wired Earphones, their design is similar to that of the Bullets Wireless Z2 headphones. However, these have a 3.5mm connector at the end. In addition, the earphones have an IPX4 water-resistant rating. Unfortunately, they come in only one color option–black–which is a bit disappointing since they will also look nice in blue, which is the Nord line's color.
In terms of features, the Nord Wired Earphones have 9.2mm drivers and a 0.42cc sound cavity which OnePlus says should translate into "bigger, bolder audio." They are also shown to have an in-line microphone and remote for controlling playback, calls, volume and the voice assistant. The remote will support the single, double and triple press, as well as a press and hold combination. In addition, there is also support for Magnetic Control, a feature that allows users to pause playback by clipping the earbuds together and resume playback by pulling them apart.
OnePlus says its new earphones provide the best experience when connected to OnePlus smartphones with a 3.5mm audio jack but will work with any device with a 3.5mm audio jack, including laptops and game consoles. While not stated, they should also work with devices that support USB-C audio. All users must do is plug the earphones into a 3.5mm USB-C audio connector and connect the USB-C end to their device.
Unlike some of its products that are limited to China, the Nord Wired Earphones have been announced in Europe and the U.K., where they are priced at €19.99 and £19.99, respectively. Sadly, just like the India-exclusive Nord Buds CE, they do not seem to be coming to North America as they are not listed on its Canada and U.S. websites. OnePlus ships the Nord Wired Earphones with three pairs of silicone ear tips in small, medium and large sizes.
Habeeb enjoys writing about the consumer technology space and has a keen interest in wearables, Android smartphones and tablets, and Chromebooks. When he's not writing, he's catching up on the latest TV shows and movies.