OnePlus Nord Buds 2r Review: Simplistic value-for-money earbuds

When I was first intimated about the launch of the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r and its pricing, I was a bit concerned. The pricing is extremely close to its older sibling (₹2,199 vs ₹2,999) and it was bound to drop features to lower the price. Thankfully, OnePlus hasn’t dropped too many features – ANC being the only one of note – so the ₹900 price difference seems justified. In the budget TWS segment, a ₹900 difference is substantial. Additionally, the ANC on the older Nord Buds 2 isn’t path-breaking. So, the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r is actually an excellent offering at this price that offers good bang for your buck.

OnePlus has been on a roll with its audio device portfolio. The company launched its premium TWS offering – the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 (review) – and a few budget options including the much-awaited OnePlus Nord Buds 2 (review) this year. All of these were pretty well-received by reviewers as well as consumers. Enter the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r, the younger sibling of the popular OnePlus Nord Buds 2 that sacrifice a feature or two in favour of a more affordable price tag. The OnePlus Nord Buds 2r is priced competitively at ₹2,199 and misses out on Active Noise Cancellation which you get on the OnePlus Nord Buds 2. Do note that the Nord Buds 2 are just priced at just ₹900 more. So, are the Nord Buds 2r good enough to justify missing out on ANC for a few hundred bucks? Let’s find out that and more in my detailed review.

OnePlus Nord Buds 2r Review: Design and Fit

The OnePlus Nord Buds 2r’s design is very reminiscent of the OnePlus Nord Buds 2. The charging case, in particular, is strikingly similar when it comes to shape and size. The earbuds are available in two colourways – Deep Grey and Triple Blue. We got the former for review and it looks pretty ‘Plain Jane’, but still classy in a minimalist sort of way. 

There’s some subtle OnePlus branding on the top of the case and a USB-C charging port on the back. You also get an LED indicator on the front that lets you know the pairing and charging status. Upon opening the case, you see both buds tucked into their slots marked L and R, which is pretty convenient (and not always a given).

The earbuds, however, have some new design flourishes. For instance, the edges are far more rounded than the OnePlus Nord Buds 2 and the OG Nord Buds. It gives them a far better, streamlined look. The touch panels on the back of each bud are indicated with a subtle circular indent. The earphones are also extremely lightweight at just 4.3 g each.

Being lightweight, these are comfortable to wear for long periods of time, but the fit can to be improved. No matter which ear tip I tried, I couldn’t get a tight and secure seal which led to inadequate passive isolation and the trouble of having to readjust the buds every few minutes. Your experience could differ, so we suggest you try these out at a store to see if you can find a perfect fit.

Especially since these could make for really solid gym or fitness earbuds with their IP55 dust and water resistance. Overall, I like the understated look but wish the fit was a bit more reassuring.

OnePlus Nord Buds 2r Review: Features

At ₹2,199, the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r is naturally not the most feature-laden pair of TWS earphones in the market. In a sense, they are overshadowed by the Nord Buds 2 that launched a couple of months ago since those came with ANC – an all-important feature that many desire. 

The buds do come packing app support though – OnePlus users can leverage this in their system’s settings while other Android users need to download the HeyMelody app. Sadly, these buds are not supported on the iOS version of the HeyMelody app. So, iPhone users, you would be missing out on some vital customisation opportunities.

Credit: HeyMelody (Google Play Store)

The HeyMelody app isn’t packed with features, but the ones it does have are well-implemented. There’s basic stuff like checking the battery status of your earbuds and performing firmware updates. You’ve also got the ability to customise your earbud controls – a much-appreciated feature at this price point.

You can customise the single tap, double tap, triple tap, and long press actions on both buds according to your preferences. However, single tap only cycles between ‘Play/Pause’ and ‘None’, which is a wasted opportunity. Yet again, we have no volume controls similar to the OnePlus Nord Buds 2. This is disappointing since users would have to pull their devices out every time they wanted to tweak the volume levels. 

The app also lets you customise your sound with an inbuilt 6-band EQ – which is fantastic since sometimes even premium earphones only have a 3-4 band EQ. There are also three EQ presets – Balanced (turned on by default), Bass, and Bold. We found the Balanced EQ preset to be the best among all. You can also toggle on and off Game Mode via the app which drops the latency down to 94 ms. 

The buds are powered by the latest Bluetooth v5.3 and I found the connectivity to be fantastic. The range is great as well and it even permeates a wall or two with ease. OnePlus users get Fast Pairing which grants them near-instantaneous pairing with their phone. There’s also Mono mode support where you can use a single earbud independently while the other is charging in the case. Works like a charm.

As we said, a few features but well-implemented. The only major drawback is no app support on iOS, which means iPhone users cannot tweak the EQ, customise controls, or turn on Game Mode. 

OnePlus Nord Buds 2r Review: Performance

Packing 12.4 mm titanised diaphragm drivers, the OnePlus Buds 2r serves up some booming bass response. Select OnePlus phones (7/7Pro/7T/7T Pro/8/8Pro/8T/9/9Pro/9R/9RT/10 Pro/11/11R) support Dolby Atmos sound. It’s a shame that OnePlus didn’t allow for Dolby Atmos support across all devices with compatibility which some budget TWS do have. I reviewed these earphones with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra as the source device, so I couldn’t test out Dolby content with these buds. The buds support the SBC and AAC codecs.

That aside, the buds have a bass-biased sound signature that is slightly similar to the Nord Buds 2. The bass response on the Nord Buds 2 is very slightly more pronounced in the sub-bass area than that of the Nord Buds 2r but the end result is pretty similar. The bass response is loud and impactful; pop, EDM, hip-hop and Bollywood dance tracks pack a punch but there is a bit of muddiness that shrouds the details in the mids.

Due to this vocals can get a bit lost in the mix. In the song Escapsim. by RAYE & 079 Shake, the vocals lack detail and timbre in the pre-chorus. The highs are weak in the mix – they lacks character and depth but that’s common at this price. There’s some distortion in the audio when you push the volume levels above 80 per cent, so we suggest keeping it under that.

These earbuds are ones that bass-lovers will enjoy; audiophiles, not so much. OnePlus knows its audience though, and understands that most prefer a bass-heavy sound signature – so, for that, it’s perfectly serviceable. The bass is not extra muddy, and the vocals, while muted, don’t sound muffled.

The Nord Buds 2r feature dual microphones with AI noise cancellation. The mics are pretty decent; the user’s voice is clear on calls but the microphones aren’t able to effectively minimise ambient noise in calls.

OnePlus Nord Buds 2r Review: Battery life

I was impressed by the battery life of the OnePlus Nord Buds 2 and it’s no different with the Buds 2r. While the Nord Buds 2 is capable of 36 hours of total battery life without ANC turned on, the Nord Buds 2r goes a step further with a whopping 38 hours of total playback time, according to OnePlus. The buds alone have a playback time of 8 hours on a single charge, which is excellent as well.

In our tests, the buds lasted 7 hours and 42 minutes on a single charge, which is close to OnePlus’ estimate. The case provides 4 additional full charges with some juice left to spare. OnePlus strangely didn’t mention fast charging, but in my experience, the buds charged about as fast as the Nord Buds 2. So, a quick 5-minute charge provides almost an hour of playtime on the earbuds.

OnePlus Nord Buds 2r Review: Verdict

When I was first intimated about the launch of the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r and its pricing, I was a bit concerned. The pricing is extremely close to its older sibling (₹2,199 vs ₹2,999) and it was bound to drop features to lower the price. Thankfully, OnePlus hasn’t dropped too many features – ANC being the only one of note – so the ₹900 price difference seems justified. In the budget TWS segment, a ₹900 difference is substantial. Additionally, the ANC on the older Nord Buds 2 isn’t path-breaking. So, the OnePlus Nord Buds 2r is actually an excellent offering at this price that offers good bang for your buck. You get customisable controls and EQ, impressive battery life, and decent bass-forward sound which many will love. However, there are some misses – volume controls, lacking app support for iOS, and slightly inadequate fit which may stray users away from these.

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Instagram Threads download link goes live: Could this threaten Twitter

Instagram Threads is launching on July 6, 2023, at 7:30 PM IST. It is a text-based micro-blogging website like Twitter. Can it leverage Meta's social media and advertising experience to take on Twitter? Very likely and perhaps enough to leave a dent in Twitter’s business.

Threads: What we know so far

Meta has listed Threads on Apple App Store. The page shows the Threads launch date to be July 6, 2023. You can tap on the Get It button to ensure you are notified when the app finally releases. 

You can download Threads from Apple App Store (https://ift.tt/oYtNuWU) and Google Play Store (https://ift.tt/Rgcyv3O).

pic.twitter.com/eEsjDckHqj

— Alex Heath (@alexeheath) July 4, 2023

In select locations, if you search for Threads on Instagram, you will be presented with a spinning ticket icon. This shows the launch date and time along with the Threads.net website link. This is presumably the web interface of the app.

Also Read: Instagram allows downloading Reels now but you may not be able to use it

As per the Threads’ app store listing, we know that:

1. You can use your Instagram account for using Threads. This is just speculation but someday, Meta could bring all of its apps under one umbrella to form a Super app.

2. You can find and follow your Instagram followers within this app. One of the downsides of Twitter alternatives like Blue Sky is that you may not find personal and brand accounts on them. The brands may hesitate to start an account on a new social platform from scratch. That won’t be a problem on Threads because of its association with Instagram.

3. You can follow other creators you like and “discuss everything from the topics you care about today to what’ll be trending tomorrow”.

All your Threads are belong to us https://t.co/FfrIcUng5O pic.twitter.com/V7xbMOfINt

— jack (@jack) July 4, 2023

4. Threads will be collecting a bunch of data linked to you. Jack Dorsey and Elon Musk have already criticised this. However, we suppose as long as Threads manage to offer a better convenient environment, people shouldn’t have a problem.

Also Read: WhatsApp conversations will be more personal and engaging thanks to this new update

5. The underlying foundation of Threads is expected to be ActivityPub, which powers Mastadon, Blue Sky and other decentralized Twitter competitors. If it functions in the truest sense, then users will have full control over the content they have posted, and how it circulates (without the interference of ad algorithms. Moreover, Thread users should be able to communicate with other decentralized social media apps/platforms. We are not sure whether Threads be fully decentralized and if it will have these features.

Let’s see.

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Nothing Phone 2s design similarities to the Phone 1 is a good thing: Fight me

Nothing Phone 2 design has been revealed in an MKBHD Dope Tech video first. Then, now the company has also disclosed some press renders. Most of the online reaction to this has been a criticism of how similar it looks to its predecessor. But, I say, it’s a good thing. 

Let’s check the similarities I am talking about first and follow it up with why that’s a good decision by Nothing.

Nothing Phone 2 and Phone 1: Very similar yet different

Nothing Phone 2 ditches the black colour for a new Grey variant. This looks different enough to start discourse online. There is still the white edition. 

The light patterns also see a change on the Phone 2. This is because of the way the LEDs are arranged on the new Glyph Interface. There are 3 times the LED zones as compared to the Phone 1’s setup.

Also Read: Nothing, just 5 Nothing Phone 2 details officially confirmed so far

The company also changes some of the use cases of this LED show: 

The different LED zones can light up thematically to tell you the volume levels and timer status.  

Even third-party apps like Zomato and Uber will show the delivery and cab status respectively through these LED strips.

One of the standalone LED strips on the top right corner can be mapped to one “Essential App” notification. 

The back of the device also appears to be slightly rounded perhaps for better ergonomics. 

Other than this, the two devices look very similar. They both have flat edges, a not-so-different Glyph setup, and a punch-hole display up front. 

Nothing Phone 2: Why the similar design though? Nothing phone 2 by u/rchavez1990 in NothingTech

With the Nothing Phone 1, the company which was new in the market introduced a design that shared some semblance to iPhone (the most popular smartphone in the market) but also had the whole Glyph interface screaming an unprecedented and bold look.

Nothing managed to imprint the Phone 1’s design in the minds of the masses. And when so many people know the predecessor’s design so well, it won’t be smart of Nothing to change the design of their new device. 

Also Read: Nothing Phone 1 review

Even Apple adopts this strategy. In one of his interviews at the time of the iPhone 4s release, senior Apple designer Jony Ive said, "When you think about your iPhone, it’s probably the object that you use most in your life. It’s the product that you have with you all the time. With this unique relationship people have with their iPhone, we take changing it really seriously. We don’t to just want to make a new phone. We want to make a much better phone. iPhone 5 is the result of this approach."

Also, even with all the R&D effort it takes to bring a new design, they may not be able to reproduce the same level of excitement and recall value.

On the other hand, sticking to the same design ensures less cost for the company and it can allocate those costs and efforts towards other areas of smartphone development and promotion.

A new era. Where iconic design meets premium performance. A product of meticulous engineering and obsessive attention to detail. Our proudest design story so far. Come to the bright side. Meet Phone (2) on 11 July, 16:00 BST. pic.twitter.com/ckgmAXCawi

— Nothing (@nothing) July 4, 2023

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Motorola Razr 40 vs Razr 40 Ultra differences are more than meets the eye

Motorola Razr series has two phones namely the Razr 40 and the Razr 40 Ultra. The latter is the higher-end model. But, let’s compare them to see how much of a difference the Ultra offers over the vanilla model. 

Motorola Razr 40 vs Razr 40 Ultra comparison

Let’s start with the obvious: The design

1. The cover screen is larger on the Ultra. It is a Gorilla Glass Victus. The regular Razr 40 has a horizontal domino-shaped screen engulfed by plastic. Even with more glass on it, the Ultra manages to stay lighter at 184 grams while the Razr 40 weighs 188 grams. It is slimmer too. 

2. One of the reasons for the heavier build may be the bigger 4200mAh battery inside the Razr 40 while the Ultra has a 3800mAh battery. 

Also Read: Motorola Razr 40 Ultra lets Android embrace the folding design with unique software features

3. Another key internal, the processor is better or more powerful on the Ultra. It has got a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset whereas the Razr 40 brings Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chip. The accompanying memory support is also inferior on the vanilla model. It is just LPDDR4x RAM and UFS 2.2 storage whilst the Ultra rocks LPDDR5 and UFS 3.1 configuration.

4. Camera-wise, on paper, the Razr 40 has a lead with a 64MP main camera, 13MP ultrawide camera with 120-degree wider field of view. Meanwhile, the Ultra sports a smaller 12MP primary camera and a 13MP ultrawide shooter with 108-degree FoV.

The Razr 40 Ultra lets you shoot at 4K60 while the Razr 40 offers 4K30 support only.

5. Last but, definitely not the least: the differences in their screens. The Ultra has got a 3.6-inch outer display while the Razr 40 sports a 1.5-inch cover screen. The latter is also less bright at 1000 nits and doesn’t boast the 144Hz high refresh rate on its external display like the Ultra.

Also Read: Motorola Edge 40 Review: An impressive mid-range phone with undeniable panache

It does however offer a 144Hz refresh rate on the main screen while the Ultra gives 165Hz here.

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iQOO Neo 7 Pro launches with a dedicated gaming chip: Heres what it does

iQOO Neo 7 Pro is the brand’s new gaming-centric smartphone that’s finally here after a lot of hype and tease. One of the highlights of the device is its dual-chip design. The company has been teasing it way before the launch day and now that it’s here. We know this comprises a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor and the other one is a dedicated gaming chip. Here’s how it empowers the Neo 7 Pro:

Independent Gaming Chip on the iQOO Neo 7 Pro: Use

This co-processor is there to enhance the frame rates in games. The company claims the Independent Gaming Chip (IGC) can bring about an increase in frame rates of up to 90 or 120 FPS. Say, a game supports 90Hz FPS, then with this IGC, it can get up to 120 frames per second. 

This process is backed by reduced power consumption by the GPU and heat dissipation by the largest-ever liquid cooling chamber on an iQOO phone.

Also Read: iQOO Z7 Review: Playing it safe

Here are the rest of the details:

iQOO Neo 7 Pro features

1. iQOO Neo 7 Pro flaunts a 6.78-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, 10-bit colours, and up to 1500 nits brightness.

2. Unlock with an in-screen fingerprint scanner, and you will be able to interact with Android 13-based Funtouch OS 13. This is laid on top of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen SoC. You get up to 12GB LPDDR5 RAM with 256GB (UFS 3.1) storage.

3. iQOO Neo 7 has got a 50MP main camera (with OIS), an 8MP ultrawide camera, and a 2MP macro camera. On the front, there is a 16MP snapper.

Also Read: Vivo X90 Pro Review: If Zeiss ever made a phone, this would be it

4. The phone is powered by a 5000mAh battery with 120W fast charging. 

5. You also get stereo speakers, 5G, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and USB-C port.

iQOO Neo 7 Pro pricing and availability

iQOO Neo 7 Pro is available in India in Dark Storm (glass back) and Fearless Flame (vegan leather back) colours. The price starts at ₹34,999 for the 8+ 128GB variant and ₹37,999 for the 12+ 256GB model.

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Nokia 110 4G takes on JioBharat with UPI payment and other features

HMD Global has launched the Nokia 110 4G and Nokia 110 2G. The former’s launch is interesting in particular as it comes a day after Jio announced the JioBharat 4G phone. Both these phones bring 4G internet and the associated benefits to the masses; to a large portion of the country that’s still comfortable using a feature phone. Here are the features of the Nokia 110 4G that are worth paying attention to.

Nokia 110 4G features

1. Thanks to 4G support, you can make HD calls. You can use the mobile data to surf the web on the Opera browser. 

2. Nokia 110 4G comes with preloaded games like Racing Attack, Nitro Racing, Arrow Master, Doodle Jump, Crossy Road, Tetris, Air Strike, Ludo & Friend, Snake, and Football Cup.

3. You get both FM Radio and MP3 Player (via micro-SD card) for listening to music. The storage is also reportedly more on this compared to the 2021 model.

Also Read: Five attractive features of the new Jio Bharat phone, apart from price

4. Nokia 110 4G supports Scan & Pay UPI payment mode for digital transactions. 

5. Rest, it also ships with a 1020mAh battery, a built-in torch, an auto-call recorder, Bluetooth 5.3 micro-USB port, and a camera.

The phone weighs 84 grams and can be picked in Midnight Blue and Arctic Purple colours. 

Also Read: Jio Bharat Phone: New 4G-enabled feature phone from Reliance for Rs 999

Nokia 110 4G price and features

You can buy the Nokia 110 4G at ₹2,499 from Amazon, the official Nokia website, and retail stores. The 2G model, meanwhile, is up for grabs at ₹1,699 through the same outlets. 

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Jio Bharat Phone: New 4G-enabled feature phone from Reliance for Rs 999

In another ambitious move, Reliance has introduced the Jio Bharat phone with a vision to connect over 250 million existing feature phone users to the internet. Priced at Rs 999, this 4G-enabled smart feature phone offers low-cost data plans, bundled with unlimited calls.

The Jio Bharat phone, coming in red and blue variants, looks like a regular feature phone but boasts a range of smart features. With this phone, users can make UPI payments through the JioPay app, watch movies and TV shows on Jio Cinema, and enjoy over 8 crore songs on the JioSaavn app. However, Jio hasn’t yet disclosed the operating system the phone runs on, leaving users to wonder if apps like WhatsApp can be installed.

For the Jio Bharat phone there are exclusive new Jio Bharat plans starting at Rs 123 for 28 days. This affordable recharge plan includes unlimited voice calls and 0.5 GB of data per day. For those who prefer an annual plan, Jio Bharat offers one at Rs 1,234, also providing 0.5 GB/day and unlimited voice calls.

Other brands, starting with Karbonn, will adopt the Jio Bharat platform to launch their own versions of Jio Bharat phones. The goal of this initiative is to bridge the digital divide by providing more 4G-enabled feature phones to the Indian market.

To assess the response to the product, beta trials for the first 1 million Jio Bharat phones will begin from July 7th, 2023, across 6,500 tehsils in India. The ultimate aim of this initiative is to upgrade existing 2G feature phone users, and provide them with affordable and accessible 4G services.

Also read: JioPhone 5G leaks: Could this be the phone that bridges our digital divide?

Two distinct models of the Jio Bharat phone will be released, one of which has been co-created with the Indian manufacturer Karbonn and called the Jio Bharat K1 Karbonn. This model sports a mix of red and black, with an old-school T9 keyboard, flashlight, and a rear camera, the specifications of which are yet to be disclosed.

The second iteration of the Jio Bharat phone, dubbed Jio Bharat V2, will be available in blue, reflecting the brand color of the company. This version features a rectangular camera design, a headphone jack, and seemingly offers the same suite of services as the Jio Bharat K1 Karbonn.

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