1More ComfoBuds Pro Review: Affordably Awesome ANC
"Very effective ANC makes these buds a great AirPods Pro alternative."
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Very convenient
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Elegant design
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Good sound quality
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Very good ANC and transparency modes
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Good call quality
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Limited controls and adjustments
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No wireless charging
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No EQ adjustments
Earlier this year, 1More launched its $ 60 ComfoBuds, an affordable alternative to Apple's AirPods. Now the company is back with its $ 95 worth of ComfoBuds Pro, which – unsurprisingly given its name – is an attempt to appeal to potential AirPods Pro buyers. With a hybrid ANC system and a more secure fit, they're definitely a lot of boxes people look for in a new set of true wireless earbuds, but how do they stack up in terms of sound quality, battery life, and other key traits? Let's take a look at it.
What's in the box?
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1More has a habit of using non-recyclable materials for its cardboard boxes, such as locking magnets, plastic, and foam, and the ComfoBuds Pro are no exception, but there are fewer of these materials than with previous products, so it's at least a step in the right direction is the right direction from a sustainability perspective. In the packaging you will find the charging case, the earbuds, a total of four sizes of silicone earbuds, a USB-C charging cable, a carrying case with a drawstring and a surprise: two thick silicone rubber shells that can be attached to the charging case for additional protection, what we've never seen in a set of true wireless earbuds.
design
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The ComfoBuds Pro are available in glossy black or matte white and look very similar to the original ComfoBuds, but differ in one major physical difference: The Pro are equipped with silicone earplugs that form a seal around your ear canal, while the ComfoBuds simply sit in the Inner sitting auricle. The long and slender stems that narrow at the ends to a fine point aren't everyone's idea of a good design, but I think they look elegant and are a nice alternative to all of the existing stems and stemless designs we have offer I see these days.
The charging case is small and light and its rounded diamond shape sits comfortably in the pocket. The lid is easy to open and close, but feels a bit thin, which could explain 1More's decision to include the protective rubber shells. The hinge feels similarly sensitive and doesn't prevent the lid from accidentally closing in the open position – a minor point of contention.
The lack of wireless charging is an unfortunate omission, but at $ 95 we'll save 1More a little less time – tons of more expensive earbuds still don't have this handy feature.
While these rubber cups are a good idea on paper, they are a bit awkward to use. The supplied adhesive tape strips on the inside of the bowls hold them firmly to the bottom and to the lid of the housing. However, since there are no ribs or other grip points on the edges of the housing, the rubber shell can be easily pulled off the housing when you open the lid. It's also very easy for dirt and dust to get between the case and the rubber shell, which can eventually lead to small scratches.
One thing you don't have to worry about is sweat: with an IPX4 rating for water resistance (like the AirPods Pro), you can let them run if you want.
Convenience, control and connections
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The ComfoBuds Pro are indeed very comfortable. They are the same general shape as the AirPods Pro, but they use larger silicone earbuds and have a smaller body. If I compare them to several other in-ear canal earphones that I have on hand, they are the smallest overall size of them all. This results in an earbud design that most people find comfortable enough for all day.
Experimenting with the different sizes of earbuds will ensure a secure fit, as well as the best possible sound and ANC performance. You won't have a problem staying on a walk, but they may not be the best choice for high impact, intense activities.
The touch controls are easy to use and, for the most part, respond very well. Since the earbuds are so slim and (quite slippery on our black test unit), you'll need to be precise when typing as it's easy not to completely hit the small area of the earbud that responds to touch.
You can customize the controls in the 1More Music app, but you still have some tough decisions to make. There are only three gestures: touch and hold, double-tap, and triple-tap. There is no way to assign different functions to each earbud. In addition, touch and hold is dedicated to the ANC mode function. This means that for the two remaining gestures, you need to select: do you want to play / pause, volume up / down, skip tracks forward / backward, or voice assistant access? You can have any two, but that's it.
These earbuds are great music companions regardless of your favorite genre.
One way to cheat this a bit is to take advantage of the built-in wear sensors. These can be configured to pause and play automatically (when you remove and reinsert an earbud), just pause automatically, or do nothing. With auto pause and play selected, you can use this feature instead of assigning play / pause to either of your two available gestures. The sensors are triggered immediately and the ComfoBuds Pro can be removed and reinserted very easily thanks to these long handles.
You can use one earbud at a time, and the Bluetooth range is excellent. I was able to insert two full stories between the ComfoBuds Pro and my phone before the signal went out.
Sound quality
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The ComfoBuds Pro sound great. They don't quite offer the same level of performance as the AirPods Pro, but they come close enough that the 1Mores are a hell of a good deal if the Buds of Apple are your only point of comparison.
Her sound signature is a comfortable balance that moves very slightly towards the bottom. The soundstage is wide enough to get a good feeling of immersion, and the bass creates the depth you need to enjoy bass-heavy tracks. There's a little bit of mud in the midrange, and you don't want to turn the volume up too high – it can get tough when you're north of around 75% – but overall, these earbuds are great music companions no matter what your favorite genre, as long as you are You don't expect a critical listening experience.
The ComfoBuds Pro offer the best ANC you can find in a pair of true wireless earbuds under $ 100.
My only gripe is that 1More didn't include an EQ adjustment in the music app.
Noise cancellation and transparency
Last year, I tested the 1More True Wireless ANC, the company's first true wireless noise-canceling earbuds. I found the ANC feature to take work and it certainly doesn't meet the standards set by Sony, Apple, Bose, or Jabra.
The ComfoBuds Pro, on the other hand, are surprisingly good, especially for the price. The ANC not only significantly reduces outside noise, it is also adjustable and, in addition to the switch-off and transparency mode, also offers settings for strong, mild and wind reduction. It makes a little noise when you're not playing music, but anyway I'll put myself to the test and say the ComfoBuds Pro have the best ANC you can find in a sub-pair of $ 100 real wireless earbuds .
The only thing stopping them from being a slam dunk in this department is the three-mode switch that 1More imposes on you when using the touch-and-hold gesture: there's no way between that Jump to the ANC strength and transparency you have chosen without first having to go through the off position. If 1More can give us the option to remove the off position from this gesture, possibly in a future firmware release, this will be a huge improvement.
Speaking of transparency mode, it's very good too. Some earbuds with this feature prefer sounds that are further away, making your voice sound muffled. Not so with the ComfoBuds Pro – they open the whole world, and this is exactly how this function should work.
Battery life
1More claims that the ComfoBuds Pro has a battery life of six hours with the ANC switched on, two more charges for a total of 20 hours. Turning off ANC increases these numbers to eight and 28 hours, respectively. As far as I can see these numbers are pretty accurate. They don't stand out, but when you consider that you can get a 2 hour boost after just 15 minutes of charging with the quick charge feature, that's more than enough to get you through a full day of listening.
Call quality
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Like the ComfoBuds, the ComfoBuds Pro also have good call quality. Her voice comes through clear and surprisingly surprising. As with most true wireless earbuds, they occasionally have trouble blocking out background noise. However, as long as you're not trying to close a million dollar deal while standing next to a construction site, the ComfoBuds Pro are good for phone calls.
Our opinion
Good sound, good ANC, and great convenience – that's not bad for a set of true $ 95 wireless earbuds, and it should make the ComfoBuds Pro an attractive alternative to Apple's expensive AirPods Pro.
Is there a better alternative?
No – at least not at this price. The closest competitor to the ComfoBuds Pro is the $ 100 Earfun Air Pro, a great sounding set of true ANC wireless earbuds. The Earfun Air Pros aren't quite as comfortable as the ComfoBuds Pro, and their ANC / transparency features aren't as effective, but they have a long battery life and slightly higher water resistance.
How long will they last?
The 1More ComfoBuds Pro comes with a one-year guarantee. Despite their IPX4 rating for water resistance, the earbuds and charging case don't seem built to be rugged. To get the longest life out of them, you need to handle them carefully.
Should you buy it?
Yes. They may not sound quite as good as the AirPods Pro, but with very effective ANC, transparency, and call quality, and one of the most comfortable fits we've found, they are great value for a range of true wireless earbuds.
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