When we look at the TWS earbuds available for under Rs 3000, there’s no doubt that the segment is quite crowded. While very few products offer a refined experience, what remains one of the key criteria for these products to be categorised as ‘refined’ is the sound. Of course, this aspect could also be very subjective. But then there are other features that tell you how competent and competitive a pair of earphones is. Into this space, Motorola has recently launched the Moto Buds 2, priced at Rs 2999. It comes with dual drivers, 55dB active noise cancellation, LDAC and LHDC audio support, multipoint connectivity, Spatial Audio, and up to 11 hours of playback on a single charge. I have been wearing the pair for a few weeks now, and I have some thoughts about it.
I won’t call the Moto Buds 2 flawless, but they do somewhat stand out in a segment where compromises are usually easy to spot. Here’s my full review.
The Moto Buds 2 deliver where it matters most. They offer warm, engaging sound, effective ANC, long battery life, and a comfortable fit, making them an excellent value at Rs 2999. While inconsistent touch controls, in-ear detection, and weaker Bluetooth stability keep them from feeling fully polished, they don’t overshadow an otherwise well-rounded experience.
Although TWS earphones with a stem and silicone earbuds are very common, not all of them offer a good fit. The Moto Buds 2 gladly do. These are light, and you stop thinking about them after a while. The angular edges of the stem make it easily tactual. I received the Pantone Carbon variant for review, which is dark blue-ish in colour with both matte and glossy accents. I prefer this clean and understated look over flashy designs.
As for the charging case, it is compact in size and can easily disappear into the coin pocket in jeans. The case has a dual-tone finish with a translucent lid and a white bottom. The lid feels slightly fragile and flimsy. In longer use, I will know how durable the case is.
On the durability front, you also get an IP54 rating, which can offer some peace of mind against drizzle or splashes.
After a smooth pairing process, you can access the essential features you come to expect from a TWS earbuds pair in the Moto Buds app. It has a simple interface, and you can access Noise Controls, Equaliser, Gaming Mode, Volume Boost, Hi-res mode, Gestures, In-ear detection, dual-connection, and a few more settings.
While it is good to have features, they can be unpredictable. For instance, you take out the Moto Buds 2 while washing your face, and you can still hear sound from the earbuds. The touch gesture area could have been bigger, or the recognition should be better, as most times, the earbuds weren’t recognising the taps. It isn’t a deal-breaker, but it can be mildly annoying when you’re trying to quickly skip a track or pause playback.
Connection stability is not the strongest. It gets spotty in certain areas where other earbuds work fine. The Bluetooth range is also shorter than expected, making the connection less reliable when you move away from the paired device.
Also Read: Realme Buds Air 8 Pro review: Expressive and easy to recommend
A key reason to consider the Moto Buds 2 is its sound if you like a warm, bass-forward tuning. In the Flat EQ preset with hi-res mode, you’d feel the bass emphasis in all tracks. The presentation is boomy in old school hip hop tracks like Good Times by Styles P or a new track like Lights On by Big Grams. The beats really slap in a song like I’m in Love by Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King and a new Tamil song, Verappa, from the movie Karuppu. The starting bass drops in Poo Padal from another Tamil movie, 29, also sound tastefully tight.
Even with the bass, other sound elements have enough clarity. You can hear instruments and the vocals with ample separation. The dual-driver setup clearly helps here. While the 11mm driver takes care of the lower end, vocals, and the highs sound clear and sharp, thanks to a 6mm driver. The sound was louder and better than the Realme Buds Air 8, which is one of the best-sounding earbuds in this range.
I argue that, besides how well an earphone sounds, it is also important how well it kills the ambient noise, as that determines your overall listening experience.
The Moto Buds 2 perform decently, but you can still make out what’s happening around. And if you want to really be aware of your surroundings, the Transparency mode is there to help. It is clearer than what the pricer Realme Buds Air 8 offers.
For a Rs 2,999 product, the overall noise cancellation experience feels genuinely useful. Background noises are also hushed during calls, and the call experience was alright. The voice was clear and audible for both parties on the call.
Motorola claims up to 11 hours of playback on the Moto Buds 2, but I was getting 8.5 hours only at 80 per cent volume. The total claimed runtime is 53 hours, by the way. So, just from the buds, you should get a workday’s worth of juice, and with the case, you could carry them for a weekend outing.
For charging, the brand says that in 10 minutes, you can get up to 3 hours of playtime. This could matter when you are in a hurry, and the buds’ charge is low.
On paper, the Moto Buds 2 are a great offering. And in reality, it meets the expectation to a great extent. You get a warm and attractive sound, effective ANC, a neat design and a comfortable fit. The Moto Buds 2 app is easy to use and packs all the essential features that are meant to enhance your experience.
However, some of these features, like wear detection and tap gestures, work inconsistently. Bluetooth stability isn’t as dependable as some rivals’. These aspects can be annoying, but they don’t degrade the overall experience.
Especially considering the sub-Rs 3000 price segment, the Motorola branding, and strong fundamentals offered by the product, the shortcomings are easier to overlook. If not for anything else, the sound output could appeal to the mainstream audience. So, if you are looking for a feature-rich pair of TWS earbuds that sound engaging, without spending a fortune, the Moto Buds 2 deserve a place near the top of your shortlist.
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