Motorola recently expanded its mobile phone range and introduced the Moto Buds+. While not their first foray into the TWS earbud market, this collaboration with Bose naturally sparked our interest. Upon unboxing, we found an elegant and stylish case housing a pair of equally stylish and discreet earbuds. Our initial testing revealed distinct strengths and areas for improvement, with Bose’s influence clearly evident.
First Impression of Moto Buds+
In essence, the Moto Buds+ are a straightforward pair of earbuds, offering a premium feel akin to bundled mobile phone accessories. They lack extravagant design elements or sophisticated hearing tests, functioning more as a reliable add-on rather than a groundbreaking innovation. They largely meet user expectations without necessarily exceeding them.
The controls are implemented via touch-sensitive areas on each earbud, offering a limited set of customizable actions: double-taps, triple-taps, and long presses. In-ear detection is present, and the “find my earbuds” feature emits a sound to aid in locating them nearby. The EQ provides surprisingly granular manual adjustment options alongside four preset profiles. In addition to these, there are four non-adjustable listening modes, completing the feature set.
Importantly, all functionalities operate as intended, suggesting Motorola prioritized simplicity in this area to focus development efforts elsewhere, notably on audio performance, which proves to be a significant strength.
What are Moto Buds+ good at?
Soundstage
The Buds+ exhibit strengths in several key areas, with soundstage being a prominent one. The “Sound By Bose” certification indicates Bose’s involvement in tuning the audio, resulting in an excellent soundstage. It delivers a clear and balanced audio profile suitable for various genres. The soundstage is intimate, highlighting subtle details in pieces such as No.3 Larghetto – ”Van Dieman´s Land, showcasing the intricacies of piano and cello. Furthermore, the Moto Buds+ effectively handle the powerful bass and percussive elements in tracks like Michael McCann – Watchtower.
Ambient Sound
Currently, the Sony WF-1000XM4 retain the benchmark for ambient sound performance. However, the Moto Buds+ offer a surprisingly close competitor. While many headphones offer ambient sound functionality, the execution often falls short. A common deficiency is the lack of sufficient high-frequency response to accurately represent the surrounding environment, an area where the Moto Buds+ perform commendably.
Call Headset
While common, reliable call headset functionality is often inconsistent. The Shokz Open Fit previously impressed us in this regard, and the Moto Buds+ now join that category. These earbuds effectively transmit the user’s voice clearly to the other party, minimizing the need for adjustments or resorting to the phone’s microphone.
What can Moto Buds+ develop and improve?
While no aspect is inherently flawed, certain omissions and shortcomings warrant attention. The absence of a single-tap control option limits the user’s ability to fully manage the earbuds’ functions. Furthermore, both earbuds must be worn for the ambient sound modes to activate. The case uses an LED to indicate battery status, but this only reflects the case’s charge level, requiring users to consult the app for the earbuds’ individual battery levels.
The earbuds exhibit some sensitivity to rapid pressure variations (e.g., from opening or closing doors on public transport), which may become distracting over time. While not the worst we have encountered, improvements could be made. Finally, the inability to adjust the levels of ambient sound or noise cancellation is a notable drawback, as the performance in these areas is merely adequate.
Overall, the existing features function acceptably, but several areas offer opportunities for enhancement.
Conclusion Moto Buds+
The Moto Buds+ excel within their defined feature set, positioning them as a competent mobile accessory, though not a standout product. Priced at 1,500 Swedish kronor, the cost is somewhat elevated, even considering the Bose certification. While the headphones deliver a good soundstage and essential functionalities, the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC, available for 500 kronor less, offer greater technical capabilities and an equally impressive soundstage.
In conclusion, the Moto Buds+ are a worthwhile addition if acquired as a complimentary item or at a discounted price, serving as a reliable secondary pair of earbuds. However, at full price, they may not represent the optimal primary earbud choice.
Motorola provided review samples for this evaluation. The provision of materials does not influence our editorial independence. Our reviews are conducted independently, prioritizing the interests of our readers and consumers.
