1MORE True Wireless ANC review

Stylish, functional noise canceling earbuds don’t come cheap—typically—but the 1MORE True Wireless ANC is an exception. It includes a wireless charging case and earbuds outfitted with comfortable oval ear tips. These earphones are in high demand, let’s see if 1MORE’s earphones are too good to be true or just right.

Editor’s note: this 1MORE True Wireless ANC review was updated on March 23, 2022, to include updated pricing, update formatting, and information about testing. 

Who should get the 1MORE True Wireless ANC?

• Casual commuters should get these earbuds for their fine noise canceling properties. They won’t nullify the roar of a plane engine but hush some train car chatter and foot traffic. Plus, they have a passthrough mode to keep you alert.
• General consumers may want this headset because it’s a jack of all trades. Aside from hybrid ANC, you’re afforded a dust-resistant build, wireless charging case, and comfortable pair of earbuds that can be worn all day without notable discomfort.

What’s it like to use the 1MORE True Wireless ANC In-Ear?

1MORE’s first noise canceling true wireless earbuds resemble the 1MORE True Wireless Stylish. This year’s headset retains the same O-hook mechanism and angled nozzles for securing a proper fit in the ear while introducing advanced features. The metal charging case can be topped up with the included USB-C cable or via a wireless charger.

Start here: What makes a good set of in-ears?

The ANC earbuds feature a dust-proof stainless steel mesh sandwiched between the housing’s internals and plastic outer shell. Build quality is markedly improved over the economical True Wireless Stylish, but water resistance still isn’t featured with these earbuds. If you plan to exercise in them, do so with caution.

Each earbud houses an infrared sensor, which automatically detects when the buds are inserted and removed from your ears. Playback automatically pauses when you remove them but doesn’t automatically resume when re-inserted. For that, you have to rely on the touch controls. The controls are comprehensive, but it’s easy to accidentally toggle between listening modes when adjusting the fit.

You can assemble a custom fit with an array of ear tips, and the oblong silicone sleeve fits well to the natural shape of the ear canal. Unfortunately, the left default sleeve tore at the seam, so be careful when switching things out as the material isn’t very durable.

Is the 1MORE Music app useful?

Unlike competitors, 1MORE doesn’t push its free app onto listeners by brandishing the box with Google Play and App Store logos. This is for good reason: the app doesn’t do much of anything. Its greatest value lies in the firmware update access; otherwise, it offers no benefit beyond what listeners can control directly from the earbuds (e.g., ANC intensity selection).

How do you connect the earbuds?

1MORE shelled out for Qualcomm TrueWireless Stereo Plus, which operates differently from standard true wireless connections. Rather than designating one earbud as the primary receiver and the other as the secondary, TrueWireless Stereo Plus separately and simultaneously connects to both earbuds. This reduces latency and improves connection strength and stability. The only caveat is you need to remain within the standard 10-meter wireless range.

The earbuds support both aptX and AAC high-quality Bluetooth codecs, meaning iOS and Android users alike benefit from CD-like quality audio. To fully benefit from the codec support, make sure the earbuds create a cogent seal as external noise can mask the sound of your music. The other benefit of aptX and AAC support is latency reduction, which is great news for mobile Netflix viewers and such.

How is the battery life on the 1MORE True Wireless ANC?

We recorded 3 hours, 31 minutes of listening with noise canceling on high before the batteries were depleted. While it falls short of the specified five-hour battery life (ANC on), the earbuds are always charging in the case. Generally, standalone battery life should be a non-issue, save for cross-country flights. The earbuds support fast charging: 15 minutes in the case provides two hours of listening, and said case supplies an extra two and a half charge cycles before requiring two hours to top back up.

Does the 1MORE True Wireless ANC have good noise canceling?

Noise canceling performance is middle-of-the-road compared to premium alternatives like the Sony WF-1000XM4 and Apple AirPods Pro. Low-frequency attenuation is minimal and reduces those frequencies just enough to make a perceptible difference. Upper bass sounds are half as loud as they sound without ANC, which is enough to take the edge off of distant traffic. High-frequency noise is effectively blocked out due to passive isolation; ANC technology can’t effectively reduce frequencies above 1kHz.

Related: 1MORE Dual Driver ANC Pro review

The 1MORE True Wireless ANC uses a feedback and feedforward microphone system to mitigate both outside noise and in-ear noises (resonances that occur up and down our ear canals). These microphones then send the information to an integrated digital signal processor (DSP) to produce a natural quieting of ambient noise.

How does the 1MORE True Wireless ANC sound?

It’s important to note that even though these buds are THX certified, it doesn’t mean they have the best sound quality. It just means that the 1MORE True Wireless ANC met certain standards to earn its certification. When people say that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, the same can be said for pretty much any audio product. Don’t judge a pair of earbuds purely by its marketing labels.

Related: 1MORE ColorBuds review

The 1MORE True Wireless ANC relies on a dynamic driver paired with a balanced armature driver in each earbud. This division of labor results in less harmonic distortion compared to similarly priced single-driver counterparts. As depicted by the frequency response chart above, low notes are boosted, but it isn’t as emphatic as the 1MORE Stylish.

If your music library is comprised of female vocalists and acoustic tunes, you may not appreciate how the sound signature makes bass notes sound twice as loud as the aforementioned sounds. 1MORE follows a formulaic approach to sound quality with these earphones: amplify the lows and highs. This gives more oomph to music while maintaining a false sense of clarity by way of treble emphasis.

Lows, mids, and highs

Remember Sports’ song Up from Below, is a great example of the 1MORE True Wireless ANC In-Ear’s strengths and weaknesses. The song opens with a quick electric guitar riff before exploding into instrumental din backing Carmen Perry’s bare vocals. Masking is immediately apparent when listening to Up from Below as the first line of the song, “I found your sign in the sky last night…,” is hard to discern over the right-channel guitar power chords and left-channel drum hits. The cymbal crashes are more audible than they should be, a consequence of the 1.5-5kHz boost.

While audio purists find this kind of sound signature unappealing, the fact remains that it’s popular among general consumers: we as a collective generally want more bass.

How good is the microphone on the 1MORE True Wireless ANC?

The microphone array renders low fundamental frequencies two to four times quieter than their midrange counterparts. This can make baritone voices sound “off” to the person on the other line, but most people, women in particular, should sound relatively true to form. Of course, we spend all day discussing performance, or you can listen to the voice sample below.

1MORE True Wireless ANC microphone demo:

As of April 2, 2021, 208 readers have rated the above mic sample as somewhere between “okay” and “good.” This is a pretty typical result for true wireless earbuds, and what you should expect to get out of any products of this type.

Should you buy the 1MORE True Wireless ANC?

The 1MORE True Wireless ANC In-Ear is a solid choice, if you can find it. The earphones frequently go out of stock on Amazon and on the official 1MORE website, further reinforcing that these buds are rightfully popular for wireless earbuds under $100.

You should click out of this review knowing that 1MORE True Wireless ANC does not have the best ANC; instead, what it offers is a comprehensive feature set and attractive design at a reasonable price. To that end, if you want to get the biggest bargain, you can nab the 1MORE True Wireless ANC for around $40 USD through the Amazon renewed program.

Editor’s note: this 1MORE True Wireless ANC review was written while using firmware v0.3.23.

What should you get instead of the 1MORE True Wireless ANC?

Listeners who don’t feel active noise canceling is necessary should turn their attention to the Shure AONIC Free. Shure’s earphones have the best passive isolation we’ve tested when it comes to true wireless earphones and it costs less than most ANC alternatives. The Google Pixel Buds A-Series is another fine pick that’s packed to the gills with software features and hardware. Or, if you want to stay below a $100 USD budget, consider the Nothing Ear 1, a pair of stemmed true wireless earbuds with ANC.

Apple AirPods Pro vs 1MORE True Wireless ANC

Apple’s AirPods Pro is the talk of the town when it comes to this class of earbud, and for good reason: the company paved the way for true wireless popularity with the original AirPods. Seeing how the AirPods Pro costs significantly more than 1MORE’s unit, it makes sense that noise canceling is more effective.

However, other features like connectivity and comfort are similar. The latter is highly subjective after certain base requirements are met, and the former is taken care of by Apple’s H1 chip or Qualcomm TrueWireless Stereo Plus. Connection stability is remarkable with either pair of earbuds; however, iPhone users will benefit more from the proprietary hardware as device switching is made simple and hands-free Siri access is made available.

While both units have a built-in DSP, Apple’s does a bit more by adjusting audio reproduction when an improper seal forms and allowing for a basic earbud fit test. That said, it’s neat that 1MORE includes a DSP at all, and makes me excited to see how much further the future of sub-$200 totally wireless earbuds has to offer.

Sony WF-1000XM4 vs 1MORE True Wireless ANC

Sony is king of the castle when it comes to noise canceling consumer audio products, and the Sony WF-1000XM4 is a hard product to beat. While the 1MORE True Wireless ANC can’t outperform the Sony earbuds on ANC alone, there are some advantages. For one, the dust-proof design is something that may seem frivolous without sweat resistance but is something I seek in workout earphones as I often listen to music when rock climbing.

Additionally, 1MORE went out of its way to get aptX and AAC Bluetooth codec support while the Sony earbuds support just AAC. Alternatively, Sony uses DSEE Extreme processing to upscale compressed audio files. If you’re a big wireless charging proponent, you’ll favor 1MORE for Sony’s case lacks wireless charging.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro vs 1MORE True Wireless ANC

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro earbuds integrate very effective noise canceling technology into a small package. These IPX7 earphones are among the most versatile around, as you can use them during a commute, at the gym, or in the office. The oblong ear tips are comfortable for hours-long listening sessions, and Samsung gives you plenty of control over the headset in the Galaxy Wearable app.

If you have a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, these are the noise canceling earbuds to get.

1MORE True Wireless ANC vs Jabra Elite 85t

The Jabra Elite 85t feature very effective noise canceling technology that effectively blocks out background noise, so long as you get a proper fit. It’s unusually easy to find a good pair of ear tips from the provisions because the tips feature an oblong, rather than circular, shape. This design is much more comfortable for long-term wear because this causes less friction against the outer ear canal.

The Jabra Elite series earbuds are more durable than 1MORE’s buds, which is great news for serious athletes. Bass notes aren’t quite as amplified with Jabra’s earbuds, which makes them a more versatile pair of buds from the jump. You can also equalize the sound in the proprietary mobile app.

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