25 Sep
Blog

1More ColorBuds 2 Review: Upping The Ante With ANC

1 More ColorBuds 2 real wireless earbuds.

1More ColorBuds 2 Review: Up The Upside Down With ANC

RRP $ 80.00

"A great set of buds is now even better with ANC and at a lower price."

advantages

  • Very convenient

  • Great sound with SoundID personalization

  • Good call quality

  • Good ANC

  • Wireless charging

disadvantage

  • Limited control

  • No EQ settings

  • Mediocre transparency mode

1More wired and wireless earbuds usually offer great sound at low prices. For a while, it was one of the few brands that did this reliably and offered an excellent alternative to Apple's iconic but expensive true wireless earbuds. But now there are tons of cheap, high quality options from companies like Wyze, JLab, Soundcore, EarFun, and Skullcandy. Even Jabra is now making a bunch of buds for well under $ 100, which means 1More needs to find new ways to stand out from the crowd.

The new ColorBuds 2 are an attempt to do that, with an attractive price point ($ 80) and several in-demand features like Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), wireless charging, and personalized sound profiles. Do these new buds go far enough? Let's check them out.

What's in the box?

1Additional scope of delivery of the ColorBuds 2 True Wireless Earbuds.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

It was good to see that 1More has gotten better with its packaging lately. While there are no magnetic closures on the box and no foam inside, there is still some plastic to deal with. Inside you will find the earbuds, their charging case, a USB-A to USB-C charging cable and silicone earbuds in four sizes (the medium-sized ones are pre-installed).

draft

1 More ColorBuds 2 real wireless earbuds.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

It's pretty hard to tell the difference between the ColorBuds 2 and the original ColorBuds. It's nice to see that 1More kept the same size and shape for the earbuds and charging case – we really appreciated the originals, so why fix what isn't broken?

The rounded contours and egg-shaped case feel smooth, and our black review unit has a nice satin finish that sets it apart from a sea of ​​glossy white and matte black products. The buds are easy to pull out of the case, and the magnets are just strong enough to lock them back in securely and hold them in place.

The touch controls can be fussy, but the ColorBuds 2 are responsive.

In keeping with the theme of consistency, the ColorBuds 2 adhere to the IPX5 water resistance of the original, which should offer sufficient protection against sweat or occasional splashing water. In fact, the biggest change cannot be seen at all: the egg-shaped charging case now supports Qi wireless charging.

Comfort, controls and connections

1 More ColorBuds 2 real wireless earphones in close-up.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The rounded shape of the ColorBuds 2 is not just for the look. In addition, it is very comfortable to wear. Unlike stem-based headphones or earplugs with large main bodies (ahem, Sony WF-1000XM4), nothing prevents the ColorBuds from sliding as far into your ear as you need to, balancing a good seal with avoiding it finding unwanted pressure.

The touch controls can be fussy, but the ColorBuds 2 are responsive. The large surface area helps ensure contact, but the shape of the case also makes it easy to grip the earbuds without accidentally triggering these controls.

I'm no longer a skeptic – SoundID works on the ColorBuds 2.

Unfortunately, 1More is a bit stingy when it comes to control gestures. You get a double tap and a triple tap on each earbud as well as a long squeeze gesture. That sounds enough until you get into the 1More Music app and find that you have some tough decisions to make. The long press is not customizable – it always controls switching between ANC and transparency mode – and the other two gestures cannot be set for each earbud. You have to choose from control groups: play / pause, skip tracks, volume and voice control. Select any two. I don't see why 1More ruined the single tap idea, but I've seen this on other true wireless earbuds. As strange as it is, it's not a problem unique to the ColorBuds.

1More music app.

1More music app.

On the flip side, you get in-ear detection with customizable auto-pause – when you pull out an earbud you can choose to pause and resume the music when you put the earbud back in, just pause, or do nothing at all.

Pairing the headphones is easy on both Android and iOS. Just open the bluetooth control panel, then open the charging case and select the ColorBuds when they appear in the list of available devices. Once paired, it's a reliable connection that also extends a good distance – I was able to place 9m between them and my Pixel 5 even with two walls in the way. This is significantly better than our experience with the original ColorBuds, but maybe that's because of an upgrade from Bluetooth 5.0 to 5.2.

Sound quality

1More music app.

1More music app.

Out of the box, the ColorBuds 2 have a pleasant, balanced sound signature with a lot of deep bass, clear mids and high frequencies. You also have the option of improving the acoustics by setting up a SoundID profile.

SoundID, developed by Sonarworks, combines the specific acoustic properties of a set of earphones like the ColorBuds with your personal hearing. It does this by walking you through a short series of A / B comparisons, indicating your preference for one of two different sounds (or none if you can't tell the difference). Once the test is complete, SoundID will use your settings to adjust the ColorBuds' EQ.

I've tried the SoundID system on other products like the Beats Solo 3 and wasn't very impressed with the results, but that was an app-based version of SoundID that delivered customized sound to otherwise normal headphones. For the ColorBuds 2, 1More put the SoundID tweaks into the earbuds themselves, and I think it makes a huge difference.

Enabling ANC can make all the difference in whether or not you are listening to your podcasts with ease.

For me, turning on SoundID not only improved the overall sound quality, it also expanded the soundstage and created better stereo imaging. I'm not quite at the point where I think all headphones and earphones should have SoundID, but I'm no longer a skeptic – it works with the ColorBuds 2.

Unfortunately, 1More has effectively outsourced EQ control to SoundID. If you don't like the factory sound signature, all you can do is set up SoundID and hope you prefer the results – there is no other way to adjust the EQ manually or through presets.

It's also worth noting that the ColorBuds 2 support both aptX and aptX Adaptive, two of Qualcomm's Bluetooth codecs that can deliver higher quality audio than SBC or AAC. The catch is, your phone has to support them. Unfortunately, iPhones don't support Qualcomm codecs, and support for aptX Adaptive is still limited to a handful of Android models.

Noise cancellation and transparency

1 More ColorBuds 2 real wireless earbuds.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Considering their price of under $ 100, the ColorBuds 2 have very good noise cancellation. It's not the kind of cone-shaped noise you get from something like the AirPods Pro or the Bose QuietComfort earbuds, but it's just as good and maybe even slightly better than other earbuds in the same price range as the Soundcore Life P3 and the Earfun Air Pro.

Noises like the roar of a loud fan aren't eliminated, but are greatly reduced, and in a noisy environment like a gym with ambient music and the noises of treadmills, turning on ANC can make all the difference in whether or not you're listening to your podcasts with ease.

The transparency mode, on the other hand, is weak. Compared to ANC mode, you will definitely hear more of your surroundings, but your voice will still be quite muffled.

Switching between the two modes is easy – a long press on one of the earbuds is enough.

Battery life

The battery life of the ColorBuds 2 is six hours for the earphones when the ANC is switched on and a total of 18 hours when you include the charging case. This goes up to eight and 24 hours if you stay in transparency mode (which counts as "ANC off"). When listening at 50% volume, these numbers are spot on.

It's not the kind of massive endurance we've seen in some earbuds (with up to 15 hours on a charge), but it will still get you through a full day of listening, which is really all most people need . If you run out of juice, a quick charge option gives you two additional hours of running time with just 15 minutes in the charging case.

Call quality

Man wearing 1More ColorBuds 2 true wireless earbuds.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Telephoning with the ColorBuds 2 is generally good. In quiet places, your voice comes through very clearly and with almost no compression. If it gets a little louder, that may change as the earbuds try to cancel out certain noises, which can cause wobbling and distortion. Unless you're trying to hold a business meeting next to an active construction site, you should be getting perfectly acceptable calls.

Our opinion

With a compact and comfortable design, good sound quality and ANC that greatly reduces unwanted noise, this is it 1More ColorBuds 2 are very good value considering the price is under $ 100.

Is there a better alternative?

You'll have to spend a lot more to get a set of earbuds that beats the ColorBuds 2, but there are still some great alternatives for the same price:

  • Soundcore Life P3, $ 80: Longer battery life, adjustable EQ, more control options, but no in-ear detection.
  • Earfun Air Pro, $ 80: longer battery life, better sound quality out of the box, better transparency mode, but no controls or EQ adjustment, and no wireless charging.

How long will they last?

With an IPX5 rating, they shouldn't have a problem with moisture and rain, and the ColorBuds 2 appear to be well built using high quality materials. I suspect they will last as long or longer than other earbuds at this price point. The company supports its products with a one-year guarantee.

Should you buy it?

Yes, especially if you are looking for a very comfortable set of earbuds that sound great and offer decent noise cancellation.

Editor's recommendations



28 Aug
Blog

1More Colorbuds Review: Vibrant Colors, Detailed Sound

1More coloruds

"The Colorbuds combine great design with solid properties and exceptional sound."

  • Light design

  • IPX5 weatherproof

  • Valuable sound quality

  • Solid codec support

  • Mediocre Bluetooth range

  • Functional but limited control

When 1More released Colorbuds in July, the audio company said the vibrant, new, true wireless earbuds aim to "bring fashion and audio together." With color options like Midnight Black, Twilight Gold, Sakura Pink or Spearmint Green, it has nailed an end to that combination straight out of the gate.

The other end, of course, requires a little more research. As much as the eye-catching hues of the $ 100 worth of 1More Colorbuds may speak for you, knowing exactly what you're getting into in terms of audio with these tiny, affordable earbuds is just as important.

Out of the box

The Colorbuds and their charging case are waiting to greet you as soon as you open the box. They are kept in the light color you want. I chose Spearmint Green and to be honest, these buds are way more "Spearmint" than "Green". My significant other said it looked like I had mini easter eggs in my ears. I don't know if this is the look 1More is going for, but I didn't mind.

1More colorudsNick Woodard / Digital Trends

There are three additional pairs of earplugs in the box, a USB-C charging cable, a quick start guide, a warranty card and, to my pleasant surprise, a sticker. It's mostly standard material that comes with a pair of real wireless earbuds, but the sticker was a nice added touch.

Here's the deal with setting up the Colorbuds: it's not difficult, but you have to follow the directions. There are small strips of plastic that must be removed from each bud and then put back into the case to activate them. Don't make the mistake of forgetting a strip, then using standard bluetooth pairing and taking a walk straight away to find that mono sound is stuck with a bud not yet on. Trust me it's a minor but insane inconvenience.

The Colorbuds have Bluetooth 5 technology, which normally allows an automatic cycle in terms of range and connectivity. But for some reason the Colorbuds don't seem to have the range I enjoyed using other buds with the technology. I couldn't get to the other end of my house without my audio noticeably dropping out, while I could go into my yard without other products falling out. Maybe it's just my special pair, but they didn't have the range I expected from Bluetooth 5 earbuds and headphones.

design

Aside from the Apple AirPods, which weigh 4 grams each, the Colorbuds have a simple size advantage over many more expensive products. They are 4.1 grams per bud and therefore significantly lighter than heavyweights in the industry such as Google Pixel Buds 2, Samsung Galaxy Buds + and Amazon Echo Buds.

1More colorudsNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The case is comparatively more compact and weighs 40 grams compared to the 40 gram housing of the AirPods. Run out the numbers and it equates to earbuds that feel extremely light in your ears with a sleek case that won't be a factor in your pocket. The earbuds themselves have what 1More calls "optimized ergonomic design," and since the marketing sounds like it sounds, I kind of have to agree with that. They fit flush in your ear and make you feel safe, yet comfortable.

They fit flush in your ear and make you feel safe, yet comfortable.

There are no physical buttons on the Colorbuds, just touch controls on each bud. When I first played with them, I was so ready to write about the Colorbuds being another pair of true wireless earbuds to avoid volume controls that seem so obvious and harmful when unavailable. Then I downloaded the 1More Music app and was mostly relieved that the touch controls are programmable and can include volume commands.

The remaining problem here, from my point of view, is that in the current configuration of the Colorbuds there is really only room for two different controls. There is no single control here, only double and triple control. If you can set four different commands (play / pause, track forward or backward, volume up or down, and voice assistant) you will have to choose two and lose the rest. I chose to track forward / backward and volume up / down but can't say I didn't miss asking Alexa for help.

properties

The earphones most comparable to the Colorbuds in terms of features and price are possibly just one of their close relatives, the 1More Stylish. A couple of important things to remember before I go any further: The Stylish first hit the market when the standards for true wireless earbuds were very different from what they are today. While the Stylish originally retailed for $ 100, you can now find it cheaper for $ 20 than the newer $ 100 Colorbuds.

1More colorudsNick Woodard / Digital Trends

Let's talk about the battery life: The Stylish offers a playback time of 6.5 hours with one battery charge and a total of 24 hours of battery life with the charging case, as well as a quick charge option that gives you 2 hours of time after 15 minutes in the case. In comparison, the Colorbuds are slightly worse at 6 hours per charge and 22 hours with the case. That's better than the roughly 5 hours found in the Pixel Buds or AirPods, but at a time when earbuds like the Samsung Galaxy Buds + and Sony WF-SP800N can dive into double-digit playback times and the best of options, not considered great will hit there at least 8 hours per charge. At this price, I give the Colorbuds a pass for the battery life. Note, however, that there are better options.

I'm a fan of the IPX5 weather resistance of the Colorbuds, which outperforms the Pixel Buds 2 (IPX4) and products like the Apple AirPods and Sony WF-1000XM3 with no weather resistance. It offers the Colorbuds solid protection against water and sweat, making them an effective training option. They may not be the budget true wireless product I would choose for athletic activities – that would probably be the Anker Soundcore Spirit X2, which despite its unconventional ear hook design has IP67 weather resistance and nine hours of battery life – but they are in a pinch suitable .

I'm a fan of the Colorbuds' IPX5 weather resistance.

This section wouldn't be complete without mentioning the auto-pause feature built into the Colorbuds, which pauses the audio when you remove a bud and resumes the tunes when you put it back in. We have already seen this feature on many earphones. But it's also a feature that has been strangely omitted from a growing number of products. It's a welcome surprise to have it in this price range.

Audio quality

From true wireless earbuds like the Stylish to wired buds like the 1More Dual Driver ANC Pro, 1More's track record of developing valuable sound is nearly flawless. The formula for success is no secret either: most of these products have powerful drivers, excellent codec support and professional tuning.

1More colorudsNick Woodard / Digital Trends

I think with the Colorbuds, it's safe to add another (pun!) Pair of wearables to this list. You're on the 1More checklist with a balanced full-range anchor at the center of the sound, support for the aptX / AAC / SBC codecs, and voting from a Grammy-winning sound engineer. The result: you sound great.

To be more specific (and more specific), they sound great for their price. For $ 100, the Colorbuds give you a more than adequate level of clarity, good low end, and solid stereo separation. With these earbuds, it just feels like an all-rounder, a master of nothing, which is honestly a win for the cost. I couldn't peck and wish these buds moved through frequencies more fluidly instead of sometimes blurring them, but that hardly seems fair for buds of this stature and price. The Colorbuds shouldn't be up to the Sony or Sennheiser standard, but they certainly meet the expectations we have of 1More hearing aids.

The Colorbuds shouldn't be up to the Sony or Sennheiser standard, but they certainly meet the expectations we have of 1More hearing aids.

The company has also touted the call quality of the Colorbuds, which have four microphones and built-in noise-canceling technology. As is the new norm, I couldn't test these earbuds out under the excitement of a daily commute, but for the environments I found myself in, from a quiet home office to the sidewalk of a busy street, the Colorbuds were amazingly efficient at holding both of them My conversations end clearly.

Our opinion

The 1More Colorbuds' battery life is worse than their older cousin, and there are some built-in control limitations. But those are small prices for great design, solid overall features, and exceptional sound in the latest version of 1More.

Are there any better alternatives?

If ear hook designs don't turn you off, the $ 80 Anker Soundcore Spirit X2 has better features for $ 20 less. Plus, the older 1More Stylish has similar features for a reasonable discount. But the Colorbuds have a design and features that make them more attractive than some much more expensive competitors.

How long will they last?

The Colorbuds have a one-year guarantee and an IPX5 rating for weather protection. I would be more concerned about losing a bud on the couch than damaging it.

Should you buy it?

Yes. For $ 100, the design, features, and sound of the 1More Colorbuds all match the bright colors they're dressed in. They are meant to be fun and fun for the budget conscious, and that is exactly what they are.

Editor's recommendations