The true wireless earphones or TWS earbuds as they are commonly called, are probably the most popular audio gear in India at the moment. Their sound quality and battery backup have improved in leaps and bounds over the years, and you get some real good options even in a modest budget of Rs 2,500. And that the Amazon and Flipkart online sales are in full swing, only improves the options further. After wading through dozens of options, we have shortlisted the top 5 TWS earbuds you should consider buying in this festive sale.
Best TWS earphones under Rs 2,500 in India
OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro
Price: Rs 2,399
If you are looking for a total package that sounds great and is packed with features, some of which are generally associated with a segment higher, the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro is the right choice. The Nord audio flagship, if I may call it that, delivers a loud and punchy sound output, and those who prefer some extra bass in their audio will love these earbuds. Further customisations are available through the built-in companion app on OnePlus and Oppo phones and using HeyMelody on other phones.
The goodness doesn’t end there as these buds also offer probably the best active noise cancellation (ANC) in this segment. And it’s not just the 49 dB number it flaunts but the ANC is indeed effective even in noisy places like public transport. In addition, you get wear detection sensors that pause the audio when you take one of the buds out of the ear and dual-pairing support that lets you sync these earbuds with two devices simultaneously.
Battery life is quite healthy at about 40 hours without ANC and over 20 hours with ANC enabled all the time. All things considered, the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro is a great buy at its current discounted price of Rs 2,399.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsRealme Buds T310
Price: Rs 1,699
A value for money product from Realme, the Buds T310 is a sleeper hit from the company and can rival some of its more expensive siblings too. It pretty much matches the Nord Buds 3 Pro feature for feature, barring wear detection sensors, and the same can be said about its audio quality. In fact, if you like your sound a little sharper, you may actually like these Realme buds better than the OnePlus. And of course, you can tweak the sound and controls and a few other things from the Realme Link app.
The Buds T310 also supports dual-pairing and offers 46 dB ANC. Though the number is a tad lower, it is almost as effective in suppressing ambient noise. Battery life is pretty good too and ranges between 22 to 35 hours depending on your use of ANC. Oh, and the design is unquestionably inspired by its way more expensive Apple counterpart, if that counts. All things considered, the Realme Buds T310 offers incredible value at its shockingly good selling price of Rs 1,699.
Soundcore R50I NC
Price: Rs 1,499
The Soundcore R50I NC is a hidden gem with a sub-1500 price tag. It also brings in a dash of colour with five shades to choose from and most of them quite pleasing to the eye. These tiny earbuds pack a punch when it comes to sound quality and are further backed by one of the best companion apps around to configure the product further. As the NC suffix in the model name indicates, these earbuds support hybrid noise cancellation up to 42 dB, which is quite effective.
The R50I NC can be paired with two devices simultaneously and the battery backup is very much in the same ballpark as the products above. It can last between 23 to 40 hours depending on your ANC usage. One interesting aspect of this product is its charging case that is smartly designed to double up as a phone stand. Such a simple but useful thing that makes you wonder why other brands haven’t thought of it yet. At Rs 1,499 (and further 8% off on certain colour variants), it is hard to go wrong with the Soundcore R50I NC.
JBL Wave Beam
Price: Rs 2,499
If you do not need every feature in the book and are looking for a lightweight and comfortable pair of earphones from a more premium and popular brand, the JBL Wave Beam is now available within this budget. The product delivers an energetic sound output and is a perfect fitness companion. The JBL Headphones app lets you tweak the sound further and configure the controls too among other things.
You do not get ANC here but the JBL Wave Beam does offer TalkThru and Ambient Aware features to have a quick chat with some around or be aware of your surroundings or critical announcements at airports or stations without taking the earbuds out of the ears. The overall battery backup is relatively modest but competent at close to 30 hours with the buds alone going on for over 7 hours on a full charge. Though not as feature-rich as the ones above, this JBL pair is worth its sale price.
Oppo Enco Buds3 Pro
Price: Rs 1,499
Last but by no means the least, we have something simple but effective, the Oppo Enco Buds3 Pro. If you do not care about ANC and are looking for a highly affordable pair of wireless earbuds with impressive sound, good call quality and great battery backup, this Oppo pair is a great buy. Further sound customisations are possible using the sound presets or a 6-band equaliser in the companion app (built into Oppo and OnePlus phones, HeyMelody for others).
The Oppo Enco Buds3 Pro boasts of a whopping 50 hours of battery backup on a full charge and a quick 10 minutes charging can yield 4 hours of playtime when in a hurry. This compact package looks good, sounds good, is comfortable to wear for long, offers good call quality, impressive battery backup with fast charging and can also be paired with two devices simultaneously. What more do you want for Rs 1,499?
Note: All the earphones in this list have either IP54 or IP55-rated ingress protection and can be worn during workouts or jogs without worrying about sweat damage.