The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite might have grabbed more attention, but OnePlus also officially launched the OnePlus Nord Buds 2 at its recent ‘Larger than Life’ event. And in the best OnePlus tradition, the Nord Buds 2 come with some very impressive features including ANC and large 12.4mm drivers at a surprisingly affordable price of Rs 2,999. 


But while that may make the new Nord Buds 2 attractive audio propositions in their segment, it does not mean that they do not face competition. 
                                                                                                   
There are a number of very good wireless earbuds, priced around Rs 3,000 from a variety of brands. These five TWS in particular can give the latest totally wireless ear buddies from the Never-Settling brand a run for their money.


Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro: Budget ANC Challengers


Price: Rs 3,499


Perhaps the biggest challengers to the Nord Buds 2 come from OnePlus' partner, Oppo. In many ways, the Enco Air 2 Pro mirror the Nord Buds 2. 


You get 12.4mm drivers here as well and there is ANC on board too. There is also IP54 dust and water resistance, making them handy enough for workouts. However, in terms of design, the Enco Air 2 Pro are very different from the Nord Buds 2. 


They come in an oval case with rounded edges — what Oppo refers to as a Refractive Bubble Design — although the buds themselves look like standard TWS with prominent stems. Their audio signature is also different from the Nord Buds, tending to be a bit more balanced, although you can up the bass from Oppo's Live Sound option. 


Call handling is very good and battery life on the buds is seven hours, which is again very similar to that of the Nord Buds 2, and 28 hours with their case, which is very good but well below the 37 hours on the Nord Buds 2. A very good option for those wanting a different design (the Nord Buds 2 case can be clunky) with ANC and a slightly more balanced sound. 


JBL Wave 200: For Those Who Seek Good Bass


Price: Rs 2,999


JBL has a packed portfolio of TWS at different price points and its Wave 200 are definitely among the best options for anyone wanting great sound without wires on a tight budget. 


The Wave 200 come with 8 mm drivers and JBL's typical deep bass audio signature, which delivers plenty of bass but without muddying up other frequencies. The buds are surprisingly compact and well-designed and come with an IPX2 rating, making them good to go for gym sessions and even the odd splash. 


You get four colour options (a rarity in this segment) and good-ish battery life - five hours on the buds and twenty hours with the case. Call handling is handy enough, although the small size of the buds can make using the touch controls on them a bit of a task (you will get used to it by and by, though). 


No ANC, but a good fit and very good, bass-accented sound make these viable Nord Buds 2 challengers. 


Jabra Elite 2: The Call And Audio Experts 


Price: Rs 3,999


If you are ready to stretch your budget a little, then these are perhaps the best TWS in their segments in terms of sheer audio and call quality. No, you do not get ANC on them, but their snug fit keeps a lot of noise out. 


You get connectivity with multiple devices and its button-based UI is a whole lot better than the tap, touch and press interfaces that plague many TWS. 


Their 6mm drivers might be less than half the size of those on the Nord Buds 2, but their audio quality is markedly superior in terms of clarity. These are also among the best TWS in the segment in terms of making and receiving calls. 


The design is typical Jabra — predictable but effective — and you get a very decent 7 hours of battery life on the buds and a reasonable 21 with the case. IP55 dust and water resistance make them good gym buddies. 


OnePlus Nord Buds CE: The Budget Favourites


Price: Rs 2,299


If you are looking for just very good audio and call quality on a tight budget, these remain our favourite TWS by some distance. Yes, they do not come with ANC and their on-ear design means that some external sound will leak in, but on the flip side, they pack in massive 13.4mm drivers and amazingly clear sound, with just a hint of bass (you can tweak it from the app if you wish). 


At 3.5 grams for each bud and just 33 grams for the case, they are incredibly lightweight and a much easier fit in pockets than the Nord Buds 2. 


The ace up their sleeve is their call quality which comes close to what we have seen from the likes of Jabra and actually matches the Nord Buds 2. The small size does mean battery life is lower at just about four hours for the buds and twenty hours with the case, but you do get fast charging support.


An IPX4 rating means you can use them in the gym. Phenomenal value for money if you are not obsessed with ANC.


Skullcandy Dime 2: Bass-ic Sound, Funky Looks 


Price: Rs 2,700 


These are the perfect TWS for those folks who want sound with style in their TWS. Skullcandy has a reputation of turning on both style and bass when it comes to its audio products and the Dime 2 reflect this. 


You can go for the plain black version if you want but we would recommend the green and blue or the dark grey and blue combination. Even the case is designed very differently and is surprisingly compact too, making these buds totally stand out from the staid TWS crowd.  


There is no ANC, but the buds fit snugly, and their 6 mm drivers deliver sound that will delight bass lovers with its rumble and thump. Call quality could have been better and that light case means that battery life is light too (12 hours with the case, 3.5 hours on the buds), but you get IPX4 water resistance, and Skullcandy's Tile technology will ensure that you never lose these. 


Terrific for bassheads who want TWS that look cool.


(Note: The prices mentioned in the article have been taken from different online and offline retailers at the time of writing and are subject to change)