TWS true wireless earphones - under $75
4.5 STARS - Solid battery life, strong ANC active noise cancelling, and impressive call quality: the 1more ComfoBuds Pro is an excellent affordable alternative to the Apple AirPods Pro.
1more ComfoBuds Pro specs:
Bluetooth 5.0 with AAC codec
IPX4 waterproof (light rain and dust resistant)
5,5 - 7,5 hours listening on a full charge (ANC on/off)
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 3 times
Comes with 3 sizes ear tips and USB-C cable
$70 - Buy on Amazon US, Amazon Germany, on other Amazon countries or AliExpress
Below this 1more ComfoBuds Pro review, you will find comparisons of the 1more ComfoBuds Pro vs Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro, Oppo W51, and Soundcore Life A2 NC.
Update August 2024: Due to increased competition with stronger ANC, multipoint connection and better outdoor call clarity, the overall score has been adjusted from 5 to 4.5 stars. Check out the new best $100 wireless earbuds here.
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Design, comfort and battery life
Earphone manufacturer 1more likes round shapes for their wireless earphones. After the 1more Stylish TWS, the 1more E1029BT were practically the most rounded half-in-ears you can get. The 1more ColorBuds consists of comfortable, compact round buds - and the 1more ComfoBuds Pro, too, has a nice-looking oval charging case.
While surprisingly bigger than the regular 1more ComfoBuds, the case of the Pro still feels light. You'll see the charging status with a single LED light on the front, and the USB-C port on the back has a red insert.
1more's white is just a bit more ‘creamy’ than AirPods-white
The earbuds have a red accent on the top as well, no matter if you're buying the white or black version. This accent is part of a little inlay in the rest of the stems. Along with the pointy lower end, there's enough design to separate the ComfoBuds Pro from AirPods Pro's - but they aren't the finest looking buds on the market.
The inside of the earbuds is small and round, and as the rubber ear-tips that come with it cling into your ears, the ComfoBuds Pro is worthy of its name: it's comfortable to wear for hours in a row while staying tight enough in your ears. The IPX4-waterproof rating should make them withstand light rain and dust as well. Unfortunately, as the earbuds stems can brush your cheek, you may hear them moving a bit while wearing them.
The best feature of the Pro is its battery life. A single charge of the earbuds lasts around 7,5 hours with ANC off and 5,5 hours with ANC on, and the case can recharge the buds 3,5 times before needing new power itself. Furthermore, recharging the buds for only 15 minutes grants you another 2 hours of listening time. The ComfoBuds Pro are very convenient for daily use.
Connectivity and controls
Whereas the previously released 1more ColorBuds suffered from slow and severe connection issues, the 1more ComfoBuds Pro has solid connectivity. The earbuds pair and connect quickly when you take them out of the case, and the Bluetooth connection holds strong up to ten meters away from your device, including in areas crowded with wireless signals.
The ComfoBuds Pro has touch controls on the lower part of the stem. The panel responds well to your input, although you can miss a touch because the stems are quite thin. The standard control scheme is minimal:
Tap L or R twice to play/ pause music
Tap L or R three times to activate voice assistant
Hold L or R to cycle between ANC, Ambient Mode, and ANC off
Happily, you can change the controls via the free 1more Music app. It lets you change the voice assistant for track controls (R to skip, L to return a song) or volume controls, for example. You can't add more control commands in the mix, but it's great to able to customize the controls in a convenient way.
Calling and watching movies
1more has nailed one of the aspects that seem important to AirPods Pro-buyers: its call quality is great.
In video calls like Zoom meetings, your voice is adequately loud and clear, and the subtle white noise underneath your voice isn't too annoying.
Yet, in regular phone calls the 1more fares even better. Your voice comes through loud and has a telephone-like clarity, no matter if you're calling indoor in a quiet area or outside in the crowd. Surrounded by a train, two accelerating scooters, and cyclists passing by simultaneously (!), all this noise is wonderfully reduced in the call. Wind noise an exception, however, and can battle your voice.
Watching videos is convenient, with near-flawless synchronization between audio and video on Android and iPhone, including the YouTube app. There is a noticeable delay in sound effects when playing games, as is the case on almost all wireless earphones.
App quality of 1more ComfoBuds Pro
The 1more ComfoBuds Pro enjoys support from the free 1more Music app for iPhone and Android. It's possible to use the app without creating an account or giving privacy-invading permissions from your phone, and the settings you change in the app are successfully remembered by the earbuds.
A special ANC-setting for walking or cycling in the wind
You can deactivate auto-pause when taking an earbud out
The app lets you improve the controls of the buds
There are several functions:
Check battery status of earbuds and case
Upgrade firmware
Read the manual
Switch between ANC off, strong ANC, mild ANC, Transparency mode, and a Wind Noise Reduction mode
Change the controls, including track and volume control options
Choose Auto-Pause option; automatically pause when taking an earbud out on/off, automatically return when you take an earbud in on/off
The two latter options are great features to have - they easily let you adjust the earbuds to your liking. You won't find equalizers in the app, however.
ANC Noise cancelling test of ComfoBuds Pro
Controls: You switch from ANC on to Transparency Mode, to ANC off by holding down one of the stems for two seconds. The different functions are confirmed by their own (rather fun) sequence of beeps - but even without these, you'll hear the difference.
ANC Active Noise Cancelling quality: Switch the ANC on and your surroundings are immediately, heavily silenced. As they're tested in a room with an open window near a highway and construction site, almost all sounds are filtered out. Clanks and crane movements disappear, the constant traffic hiss is reduced to a minimum, and only a train passing by comes through audible. Nearby sounds, like a tea kettle, chatter, and keyboard clicking, are reduced strongly in volume as well.
Even when you're not playing music, 1more's ANC can bring rest to your head. If you'd like it less aggressively, you can opt for a 'mild ANC' option from the app - but you can't activate this function from the earbuds directly.
Transparency Mode quality: By activating the Ambient/ Transparency Mode, you'll hear and be able to locate traffic around you and hear people speaking the moments you need it. Especially these sounds seem to be emphasized, and not all brighter sounds around you. It works well - even when you're playing music up to medium volumes. It's one of the best implementations on affordable earbuds so far.
Wind noise: The 1more ComfoBuds leaves out a fair amount of wind noise with ANC activated - although you'll still hear its brighter edge - but wind is still very present in the Transparency Mode - ruling the function less suitable for when you're running or cycling. Happily, it's also possible to switch out ANC to rule wind out entirely - or activate a mildly successful Wind Noise Reduction setting from the app.
Both ANC and Ambient Mode are downright usable and impressive on the 1more ComfoBuds Pro.
Also read: The best wireless ANC earbuds
Sound quality of ComfoBuds Pro: Natural
The ComfoBuds Pro is the next 1more to deliver a natural and balanced sound, suitable for everyday listening.
Unlike many other noise-cancelling earbuds, the ComfoBuds Pro doesn't have a strong emphasis on bass - but that doesn't mean the bass is weak. There's a nice mid-bass slam that gives modern genres like dance, pop, and electronic music, plenty of power, without becoming too thumpy. The 1more is a little shy in revealing the deepest darkest sub-bass tones - the ones you can feel as much as hear - but the lows do sound pleasantly deep.
Leave it to 1more to balance out the frequencies nicely. Above the bass, the lower mid-tones are elevated to provide music with warmth again without harming other aspects of the music. Drums, darker male vocals, darker guitar and piano play, and especially lower electronic tones sound full—darkness-infused songs from artists like London Grammar, Lorde, or Cigarettes After Sex sound great.
Vocals and upper-mid tones (for example, lighter piano play and trumpets) are boosted somewhat too. Both female and higher-pitched male vocals are forward and sound clear. They feel natural, not too edgy and not too smooth - one of 1more's specialties. But it's these higher frequencies that can take a bit of a hit on the highest volumes. Turn the ComfoBuds Pro up to active listening levels of 80%+ percent of the volume slider on iPhone or Android, and higher notes can appear a bit thin - on some rare occasions, even showing a slight hiss or crackle.
Another typical 1more characteristic is that the ComfoBuds Pro won't baffle you with detail. There's sweet air in the music, which is further emphasized when turning ANC on, but music doesn't come with a massive soundstage in which you can place every instrument precisely.
However, by avoiding extremes in the lows, mids, and highs, the 1more ComfoBuds Pro delivers a natural and balanced, friendly sound. You can't go wrong here.
1more ComfoBuds Pro comparisons
1more ComfoBuds Pro vs Soundcore Life A2 NC
At $70, the Life A2 NC is a direct noise-cancelling competitor from Soundcore. It's a sport-oriented design in both looks and sound. The A2 has a heavier-hitting bass and further extended upper-mids and highs than the 1more. Therefore, the Life A2 NC can sound more engaging, but also thinner, more metallic, harsher, more tiring. The equalizing options can't really save this Soundcore. The ComfoBuds is a more natural listen, while still maintaining enough mid-bass to be pleasurable for more uplifting music genres. The 1more has stronger noise-cancelling (reducing higher-pitched and sudden sounds better) and better call quality. Unless you need a high waterproof rating, the ComfoBuds Pro is the overall better choice.
No Soundcore Life A2 NC review (yet), check price on Amazon US, Amazon Germany or from other Amazon stores
1more ComfoBuds Pro vs Oppo Enco W51
Previously crowned the best ANC earbuds under $100 on Scarbir.com, the Oppo Enco W51 is now dethroned by the 1more. The ComfoBuds Pro delivers an hour longer battery life on a single charge with ANC on, and 3 hours more with ANC off. It brings even more clarity in phone and video calls. As there is more room between the in-ear part and the stem, the ComfoBuds has a snugger and more comfortable fit than the Oppo. The W51 has more extended upper-mids and a slightly warmer undertone, with a slightly looser bass. It presents its higher frequencies with a slight hiss underneath, however, which the 1more lacks. The Pro sounds more natural, balanced even, and has better controlled higher-pitched vocals.
Oppo Enco W51 review ($60)
ComfoBuds Pro vs Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro
Even though they're reselling at $130 instead of 1more's $80, the Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro is another big competitor to the ComfoBuds Pro. Its noise-canceling strength is very comparable, although the 1more reduces more darker sounds from your surroundings and the Soundcore brighter ones. 1more has a more efficient Transparency mode and call quality is slightly better for video calls. Both have day-long battery life without ANC and comprehensive app support. Yet, here the Liberty Air 2 Pro takes it up a notch with tons of sound equalizing options, giving you the possibility to reduce the out-of-the-box bass-boominess, open up the mids, and increase the soundstage. You can really setup the Soundcore sound to your desires. Still, the 1more makes midtones sound more natural. Controls and ease-of-use of the 1more ComfoBuds are also slightly better.
Verdict
Solid battery life, strong ANC active noise cancelling, and impressive call quality: the 1more ComfoBuds Pro is a genius affordable alternative to the Apple AirPods Pro - or any other pair of ANC earphones.
Update August 2024: Due to increased competition with stronger ANC, multipoint connection and better outdoor call clarity, the overall score has been adjusted from 5 to 4.5 stars. Check out the new best $100 wireless earbuds here.
4.5 stars - Great
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