DT Next Tech | 5 cool TWS Bluetooth earbuds you can buy under Rs 3K

CHENNAI: Whether you’re constantly on calls or need to tune into your music playlist on your daily commute, TWS (True wireless) earbuds are an indispensable part of your everyday lifestyle. We pick five Bluetooth earbuds that don’t cut too many corners and deliver great bang for your buck:

CMF Buds 2: these budget earbuds from Nothing’s sub-brand CMF, debuted along with the CMF Phone 2 Pro. Elegantly designed with a choice of cool colourways (including a gorgeous light green), the Buds 2 are packed with 11mm PHI Drivers with Dirac Opteo resulting in an excellent soundstage with Hi-Fi sound. Active noise cancellation is another win with a 48 dB Hybrid ANC solution. They’re IP55-certified for water and dust resistance; just what you need for a morning run through a light drizzle. With 6 HD mics and wind noise reduction, they’re geared for voice calls on the go. Nothing claims a battery life of 55 hours that should work for most heavy duty users. (Rs 2,699)

OnePlus Nord Buds 3: at 4.2 gm (for each earbud), these buds are almost weightless, and comfortable to use for hours together. The Buds 3 gets a bass boost with OnePlus’ custom BassWave 2.0 algorithm that offers finer control for extra-deep bass. Gamers will dig the 94ms Low latency for lag-free gaming. These buds offer an effective noise cancellation solution with 32dB of ANC, while calls get a boost from the ‘AI Clear Calls algorithm’. OnePlus pegs the battery life at 43 hours (28 hours with ANC on), while a quick 10-minute charge delivers an additional 11 hours of playback. (Rs 2,699)

Redmi Buds 6: comes with a whole bunch of features at an aggressive price tag. It’s one of the only earbuds in the segment with dual drivers - 12.4 mm titanium drivers that combine with 5.5mm Micro Piezoelectric Drivers. The Buds 6 also offer a 360-degree surround sound for an immersive experience. You can choose from 5 custom sound profiles for a personalised listening experience. The other unique element is the LED charging animation for real time battery status check. A 49dB ANC solution shuts out external sounds when required, while the 42-hour battery life adds to its value for money proposition. (Rs 2,999)

Realme Buds Air 7: one of the best audio experiences under Rs 3K, these ear buds come with ‘Hi-Res’ Audio powered by 12.4mm deep bass drivers. The Air 7 also offers 360-degree spatial audio effect and 45ms super-low latency for smooth gameplay. They’re geared for the elements with an IP55 certification for dust and water resistance and come in a funky lavender purple. Calls are handled with a 6-mic solution backed with an AI noise-cancelling algorithm that filters background noise. Battery life is solid with a total playback of 52 hours and single playback (buds only) of 13 hours (Rs 2,999)

Boat Nirvana X TWS: a cool addition to Boat’s 2025 line-up, the Nirvana X are a perfect accessory for your music playlist. These buds come with dual drivers (16 mm) powered by Knowles. They feature a balanced armature driver and a dynamic driver for a superior audio performance. You can tweak the sound settings with Boat’s Hearables App. Multi-point connectivity allows you to flit between two devices effortlessly while the Quad mics with AN-ENx technology augment the call experience. Other highlights include 40 hours of playback and 60ms latency with Boat’s Beast Mode for those marathon gaming sessions. (Rs 2,999)

(Ashwin Rajagopalan is a lifestyle writer and consumer technology expert. Catch the latest digital and tech updates in this weekly column.)