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1MORE ColorBuds
The 1MORE ColorBuds looks like the product of a 1MORE and Skittles collab. Whereas most audio brands stick to neutral color palettes, the 1MORE deviates by dabbling with candy-like colors. The ColorBuds isn’t just eye candy though: it boasts substantive features that aren’t collectively found in wireless earbuds under $100.
Time to see if the 1MORE ColorBuds is as sweet as it appears.
Editor’s note: this 1MORE ColorBuds review was updated on February 9, 2022, to include a section on 1MORE ColorBuds 2 and to add microphone poll results.
Who should get the 1MORE ColorBuds?
- Fashion-conscious listeners should pick up the 1MORE ColorBuds, because these buds come in a variety of colorways including gold, pink, green, and black.
- Athletes should get these earbuds because they fit well and are IPX5-rated to withstand as much sweat you can throw at them.
- Anyone can enjoy these earphones. They come at a fair price and afford premium features like aptX and AAC support.
What’s it like to use the 1MORE ColorBuds?
No matter which color variant you choose, the earbud construction is the same: an all-plastic build with a rubberized exterior. This rubberized finish keeps the earbuds in place and is reminiscent of the Jabra Elite 75t series.
The plastic construction is more economical and lets 1MORE expand its budget for things like touch panels, automatic ear detection, and fast charging—all of which are supported by the ColorBuds. Granted, the touch controls, while a premium feature, don’t work especially well; during my review period, taps were often accidentally registered as I readjusted my hat.
Users can adjust the volume directly from the headset but this must be remapped in the 1MORE MUSIC app.
Whereas the earbuds are well thought out, the case feels like an afterthought. Its glossy finish cheapens the package and the hinge feels flimsy. The ColorBuds case doesn’t feel nearly as premium as the identically priced Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2. As with most charging cases, the ColorBuds case uses magnets to guide the earbuds in place. These magnets are unusually strong, and there were times when the earbuds were difficult to remove gingerly.
The 1MORE ColorBuds don’t offer an effortless experience akin to the Google Pixel Buds A-Series or Apple AirPods (3rd generation) on their respective operating systems. Instead, you must manually pair the headset through your smartphone’s Bluetooth menu. From then on out, the earbuds will automatically reconnect to the last used device.
Should you get the 1MORE MUSIC app?
Wireless earbuds and Bluetooth headphones alike rely on firmware updates for security patches, general fixes, and big upgrades like noise canceling. To access new features, you need to download the app. Otherwise, there are a few other features currently available. You can remap the controls like volume adjustment, playback settings, voice control, and toggle the touchpads but generally, it isn’t very useful. The app doesn’t even support EQ presets. If you’re experiencing Bluetooth pairing problems, which some ColorBuds users have reported, updating the firmware is always a good first step in troubleshooting, just don’t expect many frills with the 1MORE MUSIC app.
What Bluetooth codecs does 1MORE ColorBuds support?
The 1MORE ColorBuds operates via Bluetooth 5.0 and supports aptX and AAC, alongside the default SBC codec. aptX support is great for Android smartphones, because Android OS doesn’t properly encode the AAC Bluetooth codec across hardware. Instead, it prioritizes power efficiency over streaming quality. While this is good for battery life, it means that AAC performance is sub-optimal and may even perform worse than SBC on certain Android devices
Connection strength is very good within the 10-meter range, and the ColorBuds supports mono listening with either earbud. It can be a bit tricky to get the left earbud into mono mode: you must remove both earbuds from the case, and then return the right earbud to the case. If you only remove the left earbud, it won’t make the initial connection to your smartphone. To designate the right earbud as the desired mono receiver, you can simply remove only that earpiece.
Learn more: Understanding Bluetooth codecs
The 1MORE ColorBuds doesn’t support Bluetooth multipoint, so you can’t connect to two devices at once. Quick device switching is also absent, which means you must manually disconnect from one device before connecting to another. These are expected inconveniences for a product in this price bracket.
How long does the battery last?
The 1MORE ColorBuds lasts 5 hours, 54 minutes on a single charge, which nearly reaches 1MORE’s claimed six-hour battery life. We arrived at this measurement only after subjecting the earbuds to a constant 75dB(SPL) output until the battery depletion. 1MORE’s compact charging case provides an additional 16 hours of on-the-go playtime (approximately 2.67 full charge cycles). In total, you get nearly 22 hours of battery life from the ColorBuds and case combined.
You can fast charge the earbuds, just place them in the case for 15 minutes and you’re allegedly rewarded with two hours of listening—though in testing that claim seems very dubious. It takes 70 minutes to fully charge the earbuds, and 85 minutes to fully charge the case via USB-C. You also have the option of wireless charging, and speeds are limited by your specific Qi wireless pad.
Does the 1MORE ColorBuds block out noise?
Isolation is quite good for a pair of non-noise canceling earbuds, and midrange frequencies are quieted. This is clearly illustrated in the chart from 45Hz-1kHz, and is something many earbuds fail to do correctly. A proper seal will hush your surroundings but won’t mute them. The seal combined with the IP rating, and emphasis on the low end makes the ColorBuds a good candidate for workouts.
How does the 1MORE ColorBuds sound?
If you like loud bass, you’ll be a huge fan of the 1MORE ColorBuds’ frequency response. Sub-bass notes sound nearly twice as loud as mids, which gives your music that beloved oomph. This is great if you like your basslines extra loud, but comes at the expense of vocal clarity. See, the fundamental notes of the human vocal range fall somewhere between the upper-bass and low-midrange which are much quieter than the exaggerated sub-bass notes. You may feel that vocals are “missing,” when in reality it’s just harder for your brain to process all the noise at once.
Lows, mids, and highs
The song Beverly Blues by Opia sounds fun through the 1MORE ColorBuds, which accentuates its electro-pop beat. Sure, Cole Citrenbaum’s vocals are difficult to hear above the sub-bass synth, but that works for a song like Beverly Blues. Highs come through clearly during the break between the first verse and chorus at 0:26. Muted cymbal hits contrast the song’s swaggering beat, and it’s easy to discern even the quiet hits in concert with Citrenbaum’s even timbre. If you listen to a lot of electronic music or related genres, you’ll get plenty of mileage out of the 1MORE ColorBuds’ frequency response.
Related: How to read charts
Can you use the 1MORE ColorBuds for phone calls?
The ColorBuds‘ four-microphone array is fine, but won’t impress anyone. This kind of response is great for negating the proximity effect, when a speaker gets too close to the mic and causes bass notes to distort. Its execution swings too far and can make speakers with low voices sound particularly distant. 1MORE uses environmental noise canceling to reduce background noise. This works well indoors when blocking appliance hums but can’t handle wind when outside. Take a listen below:
1MORE ColorBuds microphone demo:
How does the microphone sound to you?
As of February 2022, 44.5% of readers have voted the mic as “okay” and 39.6% have rated it “good.”
1MORE ColorBuds 2 vs 1MORE ColorBuds: What’s the difference?
Since the original ColorBuds came out, 1MORE has updated the arsenal with the ColorBuds 2. It has quite a bit in common with the original, such as aptX support and still no Bluetooth multipoint. The main update is the inclusion of active noise cancellation (ANC) and a longer-lasting battery. Unfortunately, the ANC is nothing to write home about, barely making much of an impact on low-end environmental noise. Battery life, however, is 5 hours and 54 minutes with ANC turned on and around 8 hours with it off. This is an improvement over the original.
Also new is the companion app which seeks to find the best EQ preset for your tastes. This might have some utility for users with no understanding of where sounds live, but an actual equalizer would be more helpful. Meanwhile, the default frequency response of the 1MORE ColorBuds 2 notably under-emphasizes both highs and bass. You’re going to want that EQ unless you listening to a lot of podcasts and audiobooks. It appears the ColorBuds 2 has improved Bluetooth pairing, which is a key update. While not exactly Google Fast Pair, it seems to follow the usual pairing procedure without hitches.
At the time of writing, the original ColorBuds sell for $59 USD, which is a decent price, while the newer iteration goes for $79 USD. Is it worth it? If you really value ANC, look elsewhere, but for the longer battery life and headache-free pairing, maybe. Otherwise, grab the originals for less.
(ANC)
1MORE Stylish True Wireless vs 1MORE ColorBuds: Which should you buy?
The 1MORE Stylish True Wireless paved the way for the 1MORE ColorBuds, and both headsets put style first. For a while, 1MORE championed its signature O-hooks to create a secure fit, but dropped the hooks for a more refined look. Both have comfortable fits out of the box according to many users, which we all know can be tricky to get right, so in that way, 1MORE has found a solid formula for consumers. Unreliable connection quality plagues the original Stylish earbuds, but the ColorBuds doesn’t have that problem.
Both earbuds support aptX and AAC streaming for high-quality audio on any operating system, but the sound profiles are quite different. They echo one another by amplifying bass notes, however, the 1MORE Colorbuds has a more accurate frequency response. The ColorBuds’ midrange response is more pleasant than the quiet mids of the Stylish True Wireless. Isolation is better with the ColorBuds than the 1MORE Stylish. Listeners who want a cleaner sound should get the 1MORE ColorBuds.
Should you buy the 1MORE ColorBuds?
The 1MORE ColorBuds is a great pair of true wireless earbuds for listeners who want something that offers style and substance. If $59 USD is the hard limit for your budget, this is a great option with bearable compromises.
In typical 1MORE fashion, the ColorBuds serve as a high-value, affordable product. The company isn’t trying to compete with the likes of Apple or even Samsung with the ColorBuds. Instead, it targets the casual listener who wants something that’s attractive and functional. While the design may not be for everyone, the vibrant hues are a nice relief against the bland backdrop of audio products that usually come our way.
Editor’s note: this review was written using firmware version V0.21.0.
What should you get instead of the 1MORE ColorBuds?
Someone on the lookout for an AirPods lookalike won’t find it in the 1MORE lineup, and should instead turn their attention to the Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2. These stemmed earbuds seal to the ear and include a wireless charging case for just $99. Microphone quality is better than the ColorBuds, as is battery life. If you want to stay within the 1MORE brand and save a good chunk of change, consider the 1MORE PistonBuds instead. This costs less than $50 USD, and is a great pair of daily buds.
Samsung smartphone owners should splurge for the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus. You get more comprehensive onboard controls and a much better user experience. Android users are afforded direct Spotify access, and standalone battery life is leagues ahead of the competition.
Frequently asked questions about the 1MORE ColorBuds
Unlike the ColorBuds, which support aptX and AAC Bluetooth streaming, the 1MORE ComfoBuds 2 only supports SBC and AAC streaming. This means iPhone owners will enjoy reliable high-quality playback, but Android users may not (depending on the hardware). The ComfoBuds supports auto play/pause functionality, which you may disable from the 1MORE Music app. The ComfoBuds 2 battery life lasts nearly 7 hours, surpassing that of the ColorBuds. If you want a pair of AirPods lookalikes for around $50 USD, the ComfoBuds is a fine option.
The 1MORE ColorBuds is a great alternative to the 1MORE True Wireless ANC, if you don’t have any use for noise canceling earbuds. Much like the noise canceling model, the ColorBuds features fast charging and a rounded design. The cheaper 1MORE ColorBuds is more durable than the 1MORE True Wireless ANC: the former merits an IPX5 rating, while the latter isn’t IP rated. Both headset cases support Qi wireless charging and fast charging, and efficiency is identical for both.
If you only have $100 USD to spend, get the ColorBuds, but if you need affordable noise canceling consider the True Wireless ANC, or even the Panasonic RZ-S500W.