Skip to main content

1More’s ColorBuds 2 boast way more features and a lower price

We know from experience that 1More has a proven track record for delivering premium audio products at affordable prices, and its latest true wireless earbuds, the $80 ColorBuds 2, appear to be no exception. Packed with active noise cancellation (ANC), transparency mode, and wireless charging, you can buy them today in black, white, and gold. And 1More is offering a $10 discount for orders received before October 5 if you use the code “COLORBUDS2.”

They’re the most recent set of true wireless earbuds from smaller brands that manage to include a huge array of features for well less than $100, putting pressure on more established brands like Jabra, whose recently released Elite 3 also cost $80.

1More ColorBuds 2 in gold.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

In addition to being 1More’s most affordable set of ANC earbuds (beating the $100 ComfoBuds Pro by $20), the ColorBuds 2 are also the company’s first Bluetooth earbuds to incorporate Sonarworks’ SoundID technology — something 1More announced at CES 2020. SoundID attempts to optimize the sound quality of headphones and earbuds by digitally adjusting the EQ based on an individual’s hearing. Since everyone hears sound a little differently, SoundID takes you through a series of A/B sound comparisons that, in theory, should create a custom listening profile. By combining this profile with its knowledge of the specific acoustic properties of a set of headphones (like the ColorBuds 2), Sonarworks claims it can deliver a much-improved level of audio quality.

Recommended Videos

The ColorBuds 2 are also equipped with an impressive array of Bluetooth codecs, including SBC, AAC, aptX, and aptX Adaptive. When connected to a compatible phone, aptX codecs can deliver higher-quality audio than SBC or AAC.

Battery life for the ColorBuds 2 when ANC is turned on is a claimed six hours for the earbuds and a total of 18 hours when you include the charging case. That goes up to eight and 24 hours when you turn ANC off. While those total times may not be especially noteworthy, the individual earbud times are still quite good when you compare them to a product like Apple’s AirPods Pro (4.5 hours with ANC, 24 hours total).

You can use each earbud independently, and an IPX5 rating should mean that the ColorBuds2 will have no problem surviving even the sweatiest of workouts — just don’t immerse them in water when you’re cleaning them.

When 1More released the first-gen ColorBuds in 2020, we were impressed by their sound quality and design, but noted that their controls and Bluetooth 5.0 range weren’t as good as we expected. While 1More doesn’t appear to have made big strides in these areas (though the ColorBuds 2 use Bluetooth 5.2 instead of 5.0), given all of the other new features and a lower starting price, it’s looking like the sequel will be considerably better than the original.

We’ll let you know if that turns out to be the case when we publish our review.

Simon Cohen
Simon Cohen is a contributing editor to Digital Trends' Audio/Video section, where he obsesses over the latest wireless…
1More’s new wired earbuds pack five drivers and planar tech for $170
1More Penta Driver P50 wired in-ear earbuds.

The new wired earbuds from 1More appear to be a technical tour de force. The Penta Driver P50 use five drivers per earbud and feature detachable MMCX connections. That's what you might expect to find in a set of high-end in-ear monitors (IEMs), not a set of $170 wired earbuds, and yet that's what the Penta Driver will cost when they go on sale in mid-September.

Multi-driver wired earbuds (and increasingly wireless earbuds) aren't that unusual. The existing Triple Driver and Quad Driver earbuds from 1More are a testament to that. However, inside the Penta Driver is multi-driver combination I don't think we've ever seen before: a diamond-like carbon (DLC) dynamic driver has been layered with four "planar diaphragm" drivers.

Read more
Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Apple AirPods Pro 2 close-up.

The recently-released second-generation Apple AirPods Pro are a huge step up from the first-generation AirPods Pro, offering improved noise cancellation, better sound quality, battery, and a personalized listening experience, among other upgrades. But are these new features good enough to give other earbuds a run for their money?
To find out, we look at the biggest differences between the AirPods Pro 2 and popular rival earbuds, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. They're both similarly priced and share several features, making them seem like tough competitors. But are they? We'll find out. 

While you're here, also check out our breakdown of the Apple AirPods Pro vs. Sony WF-1000XM4.
Further AirPods Pro 2 reading

Read more
1More’s Evo ANC earbuds do wireless hi-res audio for $170
1More Evo wireless earbuds in white.

The latest noise-canceling wireless earbuds from 1More combine the size and shape of its popular ColorBuds 2 with wireless hi-res audio. The 1More Evo will sell for $170 when ordering begins on May 10, 2022. They will come in black and white colors, and the company is offering $30 off if you order between May 10 and June 8.

To deliver on the promise of wireless hi-res audio, the Evo use Sony's LDAC Bluetooth codec, which can handle 24-bit audio using lossy compression as long as you have a compatible smartphone or computer. That's a trait they share with the more more expensive Sony WF-1000XM4 and the Technics EAH-AZ60, making the 1More Evo one of the most affordable ways to get LDAC capability in a set of earbuds. Unfortunately, that leaves out anyone using Apple's phones or tablets as iOS and iPad OS do not support LDAC.

Read more