Motorola Moto Buds+ review: brilliant budget wireless earbuds with Bose-tuned sound – but there's one big catch

Motorola Moto Buds+: Two-minute review

The recently released Motorola Moto Buds+ claim to offer excellent audio tuning and impressive active noise cancelling. Which perhaps isn't surprising given their sound was certified by Bose, whose earbuds are celebrated for their cutting-edge audio features. The price tag of $129.99 / £129.99 / AU$249 sounds enticing; however, there are some frustrating limitations. There’s a lack of app support for some devices, and it’s not possible to use the Dolby Atmos or Dolby Head Tracking features without a compatible Motorola smartphone. This seems like an odd choice, alienating a large portion of the market, especially as many iPhone models are capable of handling Dolby Atmos, but here we are.

As a result, a lot of the features that I’m going to mention in the full review are only accessible via the Moto Buds app, which, unfortunately, is only available on Google Play. It is not available on all Android devices either, as the app was incompatible with our FiiO M11S music player, which also uses Google Play. This means that some users won’t be able to make use of all of the features. The earbuds can pair with an iPhone, so you can still enjoy the impressive sound quality and most of the noise control modes via the touch controls, but that’s about it, sadly. 

The Motorola Moto Buds+ are equipped with a range of features that you’d find on offer from some of the best wireless earbuds, including wireless charging and multipoint connectivity. The noise control capabilities are mixed, but one mode in particular stood out. The modes available are Transparency, Noise Cancellation, and Adaptive. Adaptive mode can only be activated through the app, but you can cycle through the other two modes or turn noise control off by holding your finger on the earbud's touch control area for three seconds.

In terms of the Noise Cancellation mode, these earbuds could give some of the best noise-cancelling earbuds a run for their money. I tested this feature out on a flight to the Canary Islands without the app, and this particular mode was very impressive. When I took the earbuds out after listening to music for a while, I couldn’t believe how noisy the airplane cabin was; the Moto Buds+ cut that ambient noise out completely.

Another useful feature that is on by default is wear detection. Nine times out of ten, this feature worked well, pausing within a second of an earbud being removed and resuming playing almost instantly after putting the earbud back in. 

The design of these earbuds is pretty unobtrusive. I can’t speak for the Forest Gray color, but the Beach Sand color option is giving me pebble vibes. Despite photos on the Motorola website making the earbuds look slightly metallic, in reality, they have a rough matte finish. I wasn’t a fan of this texture at first, but it grew on me slowly. The touch controls worked well most of the time, but there were a few occasions where they misregistered gestures or there was no response at all.

Finally, but most importantly, I can confirm that you certainly get the sound quality you expect from these Bose-certified earbuds. With dynamic basslines, and delicate details from both vocals and instruments, they make for a wonderful listening experience.

Motorola Moto Buds+ review: Price & release date

• $129.99 / £129.99 / AU$249
• Available since April 2024

Released in April 2024, the Motorola Moto Buds+ earbuds are available to purchase directly from the Motorola website in the UK and the US, and the Australian website will redirect you to Lenovo (who happen to own the brand).

Given they’re packed with features such as Sound by Bose, Dolby Head Tracking, Active Noise Cancellation, and wireless charging for just $129.99 / £129.99 / AU$249, you could be forgiven for thinking these earbuds sound too good to be true.

Admittedly, they do have their pitfalls, such as the lack of app support for some devices, and the inability to use the Dolby Atmos or Dolby Head Tracking features without a compatible Motorola smartphone. This is disappointing, especially as many iPhone models are capable of handling Dolby Atmos. Nevertheless, if you have a compatible device, the Moto Buds+ are great value for the price, and, to be honest, even without the bells and whistles that the app has to offer, they’re pretty darn good as they are.

Motorola Moto Buds+ review: Specs

Motorola Moto Buds+ review: Features

• Customizable EQ and touch control settings
• Active Noise Cancellation up to 46 dB
• 3 microphones per earbud with Environmental Noise Cancellation

The Moto Buds app is attractive and intuitive. However, I was disappointed to discover that it is only available to download on Google Play. It isn’t available on Apple’s App Store or some Android devices, such as older smartphones and the FiiO M11S music player, for example, despite them having Google Play. The Motorola Moto Buds+ can connect to these devices via Bluetooth, but you won’t be able to access all of the features as most are only available on the app. 

The app has a lot of common features that you’d expect from earbuds in this price range. The in-ear detection feature is on by default, and it works well. It paused within a second of taking an earbud out and started playing nearly instantly when I put the earbud back in. The app shows you the battery level of each earbud and the case, which is always useful. There is also a Find My Earbuds feature, which plays a sound out of the left or right earbud to help you locate it if you’ve misplaced it. 

You are given the option to change the gestures of each earbud. As default, double tap is play/pause, triple tap on the right bud and you’ll skip to the next track, while tapping the left takes you back a track, and tapping and holding for three seconds switches between noise control modes. You can rearrange these gestures to suit, or change a gesture to control volume or activate your device's voice assistant instead. You can also select None if you do not want a particular gesture to toggle an action.

There are also four equalizer presets available to fine-tune your listening experience – Brilliant Treble, Bass Boost, Vocal Boost, and Flat, which is the default. If you wish to set the levels yourself, you can customize the equalization settings manually, too.

An interesting feature on the app that I hadn’t encountered before was the Fit Test, designed to ensure excellent audio quality and noise control by ensuring you’re wearing your earbuds correctly. When I had the earbuds in, they played a tune to determine if either bud needed adjusting. In my case the right side was fine, but it recommended adjusting the left or changing to another ear tip size.

The active noise cancellation in these earbuds is pretty good. You can set the level of noise cancellation on the app or by holding your finger on the touch area for three seconds. The only noise cancellation mode you can’t activate without the app is the Adaptive mode, but you can cycle between Transparency, Noise Cancellation, and Off modes via the touch controls. 

Adaptive mode was adequate, but I found myself choosing the Noise Cancellation mode every time as this offered the best noise cancelling by far. Unfortunately, I’m not a fan of the Moto Buds+ Transparency mode. While I could hear the sounds from the environment around me, every time I tried it out it sounded over-amplified, and there was audible hissing in the background, which was off-putting.

I tested Noise Cancellation out on a four-hour plane journey and it cut out cabin noise efficiently. So much so that it was a shock every time I turned it off or took an earbud out, as the ambient noise was so loud. I also tested it out while taking a train, walking along busy roads and through a bustling city center, and it worked a treat. 

The Moto Buds+ have a triple microphone system and Environmental Noise Cancellation to aid the various noise control features. The talk microphone proved reliable during testing, and my voice sounded crisp and clear when played back.

The Moto Buds+ are advertised as providing up to eight hours of continuous playtime. Upon testing with ANC switched off, the left bud lasted for six hours exactly, while the right bud soldiered on until a few minutes past seven hours. Motorola hasn’t given a figure for the battery life with ANC switched on, but I found that the earbuds' battery dropped by 20% in just under an hour while playing music at 50% volume.

On the subject of batteries, an additional feature I appreciate is that, along with the standard option of charging via USB-C, the Moto Buds+ case can be charged wirelessly. This is a feature that even the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Earbuds don’t have unless you want to spend an additional $50 on a case, despite those earbuds costing just shy of $300 in the first place. I’m pleased to report that the Moto Buds+ case charged quickly on my Anker 3-in-1 Cube charger.

• Features score: 3/5

Motorola Moto Buds+ review: Sound quality

• Great all-round performance
• Generous volume levels
• Delivers detailed sound

The Motorola Moto Buds+ are fantastic all-rounders, even when left on the default Flat EQ profile. They delivered an enjoyable listening experience for every track on our testing playlist, plus all the other music and podcasts I listen to regularly. The sound quality is both impressive and immersive, making these a new favorite for me.

The Moto Buds+ had impressive treble clarity when playing the song Young Blood by The Naked and Famous. As this song breaks down around the three-minute mark, it’s also clear that these earbuds had good control over lower-frequency sound too.

The track Clair de Lune by Kamasi Washington gave the Moto Buds+ another opportunity to showcase their ability to handle different levels. The bassline was clear but not overpowering. As a multitude of instruments build and layer over each other, these earbuds delivered a dynamic sound with loads of detail. Another song that confirms the Moto Buds+ abilities is I Want You by Moloko. The hit of percussion feels sudden and exciting. Once again, the earbuds deftly handle the many layers of instruments, synths, and vocals with precision, providing yet more intricate detail.

The vocal clarity in Rains Again by Solji was fantastic. I could hear wonderful detail in the vocals, and the high notes were handled well. Despite being in a similar range, the vocals, strings, and guitar complemented each other well. One slight disappointment with this track, however, is that the sound of rain at the beginning and end of the song sounded more like static, which is surprising considering the Moto Buds+’s ability to pick up so many other details.

Black Eye by Allie X gives further proof of how dynamic these earbuds are. The song starts with an explosion of electric energy, sinking into the deep bass of the drum machine effortlessly. Despite the Moto Buds+ focus on low frequencies, they were still able to pick out the delicate electronica in the background.

The volume level on offer is generous – when testing the battery life by playing our tracklist continuously at 50% volume I could easily hear the music when the buds were on my desk. Even when working in the office with noise cancellation switched off, I found I could listen to a podcast at 25% volume and not miss anything.

• Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Motorola Moto Buds+ review: Design

• Comfortable and secure fit
• Touch controls not always very responsive
• No IP rating

The Moto Buds+ are available in two different colors in the UK and Australia, Forest Gray and Beach Sand, while currently only Forest Gray is available in the US. I was provided with the Beach Sand color option. The case has a rough matte textured finish, with a shiny silver-colored hinge at the back above the USB-C charging port. There’s an indentation at the front of the base allowing you to get some purchase when opening the lid, and both the case and hinge feel sturdy and reliable.

There’s a circular button toward the front of the inside of the case that puts the earbuds into pairing mode; the small indicator light on the front of the case will flash blue when it’s activated. The case’s interior has a softer matte finish, as do the inner-ear sections of the earbuds. Conversely, the exterior sections and the posts have the same rough matte texture as the outside of the case. Admittedly, I wasn’t fond of this texture at first, but it has grown on me.

The earbuds themselves, including the silicone tips – which come in small, medium, and large – are the same color as the case, apart from the black feedforward microphone at the top of each post. There are three mics in each bud: the feedforward microphones I just mentioned; the feedback microphones, which sit in with the speaker and are used for the noise control modes; and the talk microphones that are located within the silver base of each earbud post. The touch controls, which sit towards the top of the outside of each earbud post, below the feedforward microphone, were somewhat responsive. But there were multiple occasions when they did not register my gestures correctly, if at all. 

The earbuds were lightweight and comfortable to wear straight out of the case. I usually need to change to a smaller tip size, but the medium size that was already on them fit perfectly well. As I have long hair that has a tendency to misbehave, I often find myself accidentally pulling earbuds out when trying to get it out of the way, but the Moto Buds+ stayed firmly in place.

As for durability, I had some initial concerns regarding the rough texture on the outside of the case, as it looked like it could be prone to showing scratches or dirt. However, it fared quite well after a few weeks of use, despite being transferred between bags and pockets and left out on desks, the case had only suffered a few minor scuffs that were barely visible unless caught in the right light. 

Motorola states that the Moto Buds+ have a water-repellent design, protecting against moderate water exposure such as accidental spills or light rain. There is no evidence of an IP rating though, which is disappointing – and unusual, as even budget earbuds such as the Speck Gemtones Play have an IPX5 rating.

• Design score: 3.5/5

Motorola Moto Buds+ review: Value

• Great quality sound and noise cancellation
• App and some features only compatible with certain devices
• No official water resistance rating

Unfortunately, the elephant in the room with these earbuds is the lack of app support for iOS users. Not all Android devices are a sure bet either, as the app wasn't available to install on our FiiO M11S music player or older devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S9. There is a workaround if your main device isn’t compatible with the Moto Buds app, but it would involve you having access to a compatible Android device to update your settings, which obviously wouldn’t work if you like to change EQ settings often.

However, if you have a compatible device then, all in all, these feel like a bit of a bargain considering the fantastic Bose-certified sound quality and noise cancelling on offer. Especially given they cost around $70 less than the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2, which don’t have wireless charging or the ability to connect to a second device, as the Moto Buds+ do. 

That being said, do you want to spend $129.99 / £129.99 / AU$249 on a pair of earbuds that don’t have an official water resistance rating? Motorola’s use of the vague marketing term “water-repellent design” does raise some questions, especially considering many of the best budget earbuds on the market have IP ratings. If you’re a particularly careful person then this may not pose a problem. However, if you’re a little on the clumsy side, like myself, or you plan to wear them rain or shine on your commute, this lack of official rating is worth considering before purchasing.

• Value score: 4/5

Should I buy the Motorola Moto Buds+?

Buy them if...

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Motorola Moto Buds+ review: Also consider

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 

They may not have wireless charging or multipoint connectivity, but they are rated as the top performers in the best noise-cancelling earbuds for a reason, not least their beautiful sound and best-in-class noise cancelling. Following a firmware update, they now offer a feature called Independent Single-Bud Use, meaning that you can remove an earbud and it will not pause playback on the one you’re still using. Check out our full Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 review here.

Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 

These earbuds deliver high-resolution audio without the bells and whistles. It’s clear to see what Cambridge has invested in here. The fact that you can get ten hours of battery life out of these buds, even with active noise cancellation on, really adds to the appeal here. Plus, if you happen to be a Matt Berry fan, you get the joy of hearing him announce the pairing status, ANC profile, etc. What more could you ask for? Read our audio expert's full Melomania M100 review here.

How I tested the Motorola Moto Buds+

• Tested the earbuds for a month
• Used them when commuting, at work, and at home
• Listened to music and podcasts on Tidal, Apple Music and Spotify

I wore the Moto Buds+ on weekdays, listening to music or podcasts on my walk to the train station, on the train, and when walking through a busy city center. I wore them in the office, for work calls and to listen to music while I tapped away on my keyboard. I also wore them on the weekends and during my time off, including on a four-hour plane journey.

I followed our usual testing protocols and tested the battery life of the earbuds with ANC switched off. Normally I would repeat the full test with ANC switched off, but these earbuds automatically turn off the ANC when they aren’t being worn, even with wear detection switched off. I can confirm, however, that the battery level decreased by 20% after just under an hour.

I used the Moto Buds+ with the following devices: Google Pixel 7a, Samsung Galaxy S22+, OnePlus Pad Go, iPhone 12 Pro, and a MacBook Air. I listened to a bunch of different music genres, from country to rock to indie pop to classical instrumentals, as well as the TechRadar testing playlist, of course.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed: June 2024