The Moto Buds+: A Comfortable And Powerful Audio Experience, With Some Minor Caveats
The Moto Buds+ were launched in India in May, offering a premium experience in the TWS earphone market. With a tagline of "Sound by Bose" and promising up to 38 hours of battery life, these earbuds set a high bar for themselves. But are they worth the hype? After spending a few weeks testing the Moto Buds+, I can confidently say they offer a compelling package, but with a few minor caveats.
Moto Buds+ Review: Design and Features
The Moto Buds+ present a sleek, modern aesthetic. With their curved in-ear design, rounded stems, and silicone ear tips, they provide a comfortable and secure fit. The ear tips come in three sizes (S, M, L), offering a good degree of customization to find the perfect fit for your ears. I found the medium size to be ideal for my ear shape.
The charging case is equally impressive, being both light and compact. It features a matte finish with the Motorola "M" logo and the “Sound by Bose” tagline prominently displayed. The USB Type-C charging port sits on the top side, while the bottom houses the LED indicator.
The compact dimensions of the case (59.87 x 48.97 x 24.84mm) and the overall weight of 42.8g (case and earphones combined) make it easy to carry around in your pockets or a bag. They are available in two stylish color options: Beach Sand and Forest Grey.
Moto Buds+ Review: App and Specifications
The Moto Buds+ leverage a dedicated companion app (currently only available for Android) to provide customization options and access to key features. While the app is still under development and an iOS version is on the horizon, its ease of use is commendable.
Upon pairing your Moto Buds+ with your smartphone, the app prompts you to download it. The app’s interface is straightforward and intuitive. It allows you to:
- Check the battery levels of both earbuds.
- Access noise control presets (Off, Transparency, Adaptive, and Active).
- Adjust the equaliser settings under the "Sound" section.
- Change latency modes for improved gaming performance.
- Configure the touch-control gestures for each earbud under the "Gestures" section. You can assign three different gestures (double-tap, triple-tap, and tap-and-hold) to each earbud.
- Activate or deactivate dual connectivity and in-ear detection features.
The Moto Buds+ app also includes a few standard preset equaliser options: Treble Boost, Bass Boost, Vocal Boost, and Flat. For those seeking more granular control, there’s also a manual customisable equaliser that allows you to fine-tune the sound to your liking.
Beyond the app, the Moto Buds+ are equipped with a range of features:
- Dual dynamic drivers: 11mm woofer and 6mm tweeter for a balanced sound experience.
- Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): Up to 46dB of noise cancellation with three presets – Transparency, Adaptive, and Noise Cancellation.
- Dolby Head Tracking technology: dynamically adjusts audio based on head movements for immersive sound.
- Hi-Res Audio certification: ensuring high-fidelity audio playback.
- Triple mic system: includes environmental noise cancellation for clear phone calls.
- IP54 rating: for dust and splash resistance.
- 42mAh battery in each earbud: Offers a combined playback time of up to 38 hours.
- 510mAh battery in the charging case: with IPX4 water resistance.
- Dual-device connection: allows for simultaneous pairing with two devices.
- Bluetooth 5.3: supports SBC, AAC, and LHDC codecs for excellent wireless connectivity.
Moto Buds+ Review: Performance and Battery Life
The Moto Buds+ provide a highly customizable and enjoyable listening experience. Let’s explore the various sound presets and their impact:
- Brilliant Treble: This mode accentuates the higher frequencies, making instruments like xylophones and marimbas stand out with a pleasant, almost "beaming" quality.
- Bass Boost: This preset delivers a powerful and satisfying bass response, enhancing the impact of bass-heavy genres like classic rock and electronic music.
- Vocal Boost: This mode showcases vocals with impressive clarity and brightness, perfect for enjoying the nuances of a singer’s performance.
Call quality is another area where the Moto Buds+ excel. Their triple microphone system with ENC features ensures crystal clear communication, minimizing background noise and providing a stable connection.
The noise-cancellation performance of the Moto Buds+ is respectable, effectively blocking out common indoor distractions like fan noise, TV sounds, and general chatter. The Adaptive mode does a decent job of attenuating occasional noises, albeit less thoroughly than the dedicated "Noise Cancellation" mode.
The dual-device connection further enhances the Moto Buds+’ practicality. I effortlessly paired them with my smartphone and laptop, switching seamlessly between the two devices without any noticeable hiccups. The support for the LHDC codec ensures high-quality audio transmission, while the low latency gaming mode provides a near lag-free experience during intensive gaming sessions.
The battery life of the Moto Buds+ is impressive. With all noise cancellation features turned off and the LHDC codec enabled, they deliver a total playback time of up to 38 hours. In a more realistic scenario (60% volume, ANC turned on), the total battery life drops to 30 hours.
Individually, each earbud offers up to 8 hours of playback with ANC off and 6 hours with ANC turned on. A quick 10-minute charge provides an additional 1.5 hours of listening time with ANC enabled. The charging case can fully charge both earbuds in about an hour using a USB Type-C cable and also supports wireless charging. I was able to fully charge the case wirelessly using a Qi-certified 15W charger in approximately 113 minutes.
Verdict: A Compelling Package but Not Without Flaws
The Moto Buds+ offer a compelling package for users seeking a comfortable and powerful audio experience. Their high-quality sound, extensive customization options, and impressive battery life make them a strong contender in the Rs. 10,000 price segment.
However, there are a few things to consider:
- Limited app support for iOS users: The Moto Buds companion app is currently Android-only. While an iOS version is promised, its absence might be a deal-breaker for some iPhone users.
- Competition: The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 (priced at Rs. 11,999) and the Nothing Ear (priced at Rs. 11,999) are worthy contenders in the same price range, offering features like active noise cancellation and long battery life.
Overall, the Moto Buds+ are a solid choice for anyone seeking high-quality TWS earbuds with a comfortable fit and a robust feature set. Their excellent sound, customization options, and impressive battery life make them a worthy investment. However, the lack of iOS app support and the competitive landscape might prompt you to consider alternative options before making your final decision.
