The 1More ComfoBuds Mini are one in all two new reasonably priced noise-cancelling earbuds launched by the San Diego-based audio model. They be part of the PistonPro Buds within the swamped low-cost wi-fi earbuds class and mix 7mm dynamic drivers, lively noise cancellation (ANC), SoundID help, and wi-fi charging right into a teeny design.
Specs alone ought to have you interested in these micro-in-ears, together with the $99 MSRP.
1MORE COMFOBUDS MINI SPECS
Value: $99
Colours: Black; White
Battery life (rated): 5 hours (ANC on); 6 hours (ANC off); 20 hours (charging case with ANC on); 24 hours (charging case with ANC off)
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2
Water resistance: Sure (IPX5 rated)
Dimension: 0.6 x 0.59 x 0.51 inches (per bud); 2.2 x 1.9 x 0.9 inches (charging case)
Weight: 0.13 ounces (per bud); 1.23 ounces (charging case)
These buds do ship on the noise cancelling and sonic fronts. Additionally they include options that not many fashions in the identical value vary supply. On the identical time, they undergo from the identical points as earlier 1More releases (inferior name high quality, poor controls) and someway have extra bugs of their system.
Learn on for the complete breakdown to see when you can stay with the bugs.
1More ComfoBuds Mini evaluation: Availability and value
You should purchase the 1More ComfoBuds Mini for $99 at Amazon (opens in new tab) or immediately from 1More (opens in new tab). Accessible colours embody Mica White and Obsidian Black. Contained in the field are a charging case, USB-C charging cable, three units of various sized ideas, and a consumer information.
These are one in all many new fashions getting into a budget noise-cancelling earbuds market and face stiff competitors from some well-known opponents. The Edifier NeoBuds Professional ($99) are our present favourite, which produce top-notch ANC and sound, adopted by the well-rounded Anker Liberty Air 2 Professional ($79). For top-of-the-line efficiency, think about splurging on elite choices just like the AirPods Professional ($249) or Sony WF-1000XM4 ($279).
You’ll want to bookmark our headphone offers web page for the newest gross sales.
1More ComfoBuds Mini evaluation: Design and luxury
I’m not exaggerating after I say that these are probably the smallest oval wi-fi earbuds on the market. That’s excellent news for many who need to commute and listen to music in a discrete trend. They’re barely bigger than a jellybean and smaller than different circular-shaped buds just like the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2. Construct high quality is on level and the all-plastic exterior with IPX5 certification will get you stronger sweat/water resistance than the AirPods Professional (IPX4).
Extra interesting is the egg-shaped charging case that resembles the Google Pixel Buds A-Sequence case, solely it’s a bit thicker and wider. That doesn’t take away from its good-looking look. A matte end, plus understated particulars just like the flush pairing button on the best and tiny LED on the entrance, add to its attraction. You may slide the case into denim pockets and never fear about an unflattering bulge. It additionally feels premium and durable.
Carrying the buds for just a few hours day by day felt cozy. The cavity rested proper on the concha and didn’t apply undesirable stress just like the ColorBuds 2. It wasn’t till the four-hour mark the place fatigue began to set in.
Sadly, the compact design makes these buds really feel free on the ear. The quick sound port and silicone ideas don’t type a decent, safe match. I needed to readjust them each different block throughout runs, and I feared dropping them down a sewer grate when crossing the road.
1More ComfoBuds Mini evaluation: Controls and digital assistant
1More provides you a full suite of media controls, together with playback, name administration, quantity, digital help, and listening mode activation. These might be personalized within the companion app and assigned to both the double or triple-tap enter.
Not one of the above means something if the controls don’t work, and so they don’t work on the ComfoBuds Mini. Contact accuracy is off, failing to acknowledge faucet gesture virtually 80 % of the time. If by probability they do acknowledge enter, supposed instructions received’t execute till about 30 seconds later. Get a bit overzealous with makes an attempt and the buds will play and pause randomly over the course of an hour. On-ear detection for auto-pause/play didn’t work in any respect.
I had hoped the digital assistant operate would ease my ache. It didn’t. Both there was hassle activating it or the mics couldn’t decide up vocals properly. The truth that Siri struggled to know “open Apple Music” due to poor mic intelligence says all of it. Google Assistant was simply as unreliable for voice instructions.
1More ComfoBuds Mini evaluation: Audio high quality
The sound signature is impartial proper out of the field. Nonetheless, turning ANC on provides it a punchier resonance by growing the bass ranges. Relying in your desire in frequency output, this might both be a constructive or adverse. There’s additionally the choice to create your personal sound profile by means of SoundID – an app that adjusts the EQ primarily based in your private listening to.
DJ Honda’s “Travellin’ Man (feat. Mos Def)” sounded extra pure by means of my SoundID profile. The snare drums remained impactful, and the flute play was serene, whereas switching to 1More’s default profile dropped the standard of those sounds, whereas including minor bloat to the low finish.
Questioning if this may happen on extra boomy tracks, I performed Inexperienced Day’s “Longview” and was shocked to listen to the long-lasting bass riff and smashing drums stay constant between the 2 profiles. Vocals took a really small hit when enabling 1More’s profile, however there was nonetheless sufficient readability to listen to and sing alongside to lyrics.
From there, it was off to instrumental recordings. Jazz tracks like Lee Konitz’s “Foolin’ Myself” rewarded me with excellent instrument separation, permitting me to listen to each musical device as they blended superbly with each other for a melodic hear. The double bass was tight and never overly aggressive on both profile. Particulars just like the regular cymbals additionally sounded distinctive.
Bear in mind that not each ANC setting enhances sound high quality. That leads us to the following part.
1More ComfoBuds Mini evaluation: Lively noise cancellation
ANC on the ComfoBuds Mini is modest for the value. Don’t count on it to outperform elite mid-rangers just like the Beats Studio Buds. As a substitute, be glad with its low and mid-frequency neutralization, in addition to the efficient ambient listening mode.
Three ANC settings can be found: Gentle, Sturdy, and Wind Resistant (WNR). The latter two drastically have an effect on sound high quality and severely bloat up the midrange on songs. Additionally they don’t cancel out a lot noise. Sturdy is the extra reliable choice and minimizes noises throughout the frequency vary as finest as attainable.
Utilizing the characteristic in the home supplied some quiet time throughout work hours. Not one of the loud kitchen chatter or tumbling noises from the laundry room distracted me. Neither did the digital toys in my child boy’s playpen. His cries have been a distinct story, coming in loud and barely muffled. Doorbells and whistles had the identical impact. ANC carried out equally outdoors, placing a muzzle on barista chatter at Starbucks and development work from afar, however nonetheless fighting excessive frequency sounds (e.g., ambulance sirens, chicken chirping).
Clear Mode was helpful for growing my consciousness of environment. I may hear automobiles coming from up the block, which supplied a way of safety when strolling the child. With the ability to talk clearly with the missus with out eradicating the buds was additionally nice.
1More ComfoBuds Mini evaluation: App and particular options
Not many sub-$100 wi-fi earbuds include a companion app, however 1More is blissful to present ComfoBuds Mini homeowners this perk through the 1More Music app. There are a good variety of options to personalize the buds, together with the aforementioned ANC/Clear modes, SoundID help, and management customization.
Let me warn you that the app is ridiculously buggy and can discourage you from even utilizing it.
The primary you’ll encounter is on the homepage – Soothing Sounds – a soundscape mode with 16 profiles that masks the ambient noise round you with nature sounds. It’s buggy, both experiencing “connection points” or freezing; the loading icon spins till you force-close the app. Sleep Detection is a characteristic you’ll discover within the Experimental Options tab on the backend and is tied to Soothing Sounds. It’s stated to robotically place the buds in sleep mode when inactive for 40 minutes. There was no approach to take a look at it since Soothing Sounds by no means labored.
A pop-up window may also be enabled to show the Comfobuds Mini’s battery life in an overlay when paired to your Android gadget. The Sensible Burn-in characteristic has additionally returned, letting customers play audio (often static noise) for a number of hours to interrupt the buds in and supposedly enhance audio. Some folks imagine within the course of and others imagine it’s a fable. Discover out for your self.
Battery stage indicators for each buds and the charging case, firmware updates, and a visible information spherical out the app.
1More ComfoBuds Mini evaluation: Battery life and charging case
1More charges ANC playtime at 5 hours. This is identical because the NeoBuds Professional, and barely increased than the AirPods Professional (4.5 hours), however decrease than the Liberty Air 2 Professional (6 hours) and WF-1000XM4 (8 hours). It ought to suffice for two to three days of average use. Turning off ANC extends battery life to six hours. Excessive quantity and different particular options lower these playtimes by 45 minutes to 1 hour.
The charging case holds as much as 24 hours when absolutely charged, which is the trade common time for charging circumstances (thank the AirPods). If 4 additional fees aren’t sufficient, understand that a 10-minute fast cost can generate 1.5 hours of listening time.
Wi-fi charging was additionally added to the spec sheet. You’ll must be cautious when leaving the case on a Qi-enabled pad as a result of it overheats after about half-hour of charging.
1More ComfoBuds Mini evaluation: Name high quality and connectivity
Muffled and tinny are the 2 adjectives that finest describe the ComfoBuds Mini’s name high quality. The mics picked up plenty of exterior noise and the whisking impact produced by wind sounded terrible. I believed taking my conversations indoors would enhance issues, however little or no modified; vocals have been barely much less tinny. Voice and video calls sounded higher on the ComfoBuds 2.
Bluetooth 5.2 was one other characteristic plagued with bugs. Connections with acknowledged units weren’t at all times established, even when confirmed within the Bluetooth settings. If the buds did pair appropriately, then lag grew to become a priority throughout Spotify streaming classes. Songs randomly paused or took a number of seconds to play.
Google Quick Pair and multipoint expertise (pair to 2 units concurrently) are MIA.
Regardless of the connectivity troubles, the ComfoBuds Mini someway managed to attain as much as 70 ft of wi-fi vary. Most wi-fi earbuds get you a great 35 ft, and these buds virtually double that.
1More ComfoBuds Mini evaluation: Verdict
With so many 1More fashions already combating for positioning within the underneath $100 vary, the ComfoBuds Mini do not current a compelling case. To get first rate ANC and stable sound that may be personalized by means of SoundID expertise is spectacular. The miniature and sturdy design for each the buds and charging case can be enticing.
Sure flaws like finicky controls and weak name high quality are widespread on fashions with low costs. However what I can’t recover from are the numerous bugs that hinder total efficiency. If a software program replace may patch up these issues, then the ComfoBuds Mini is perhaps well worth the gamble. Even then, your cash is best spent on extra dependable buds just like the NeoBuds Professional.
