- Moto Buds Bass feature unusually large 12.4mm dynamic drivers
- Up to 43 hours from earbuds and case, with ANC off
- Priced at just £49.99 (so around $65 or AU$100 where sold)
May the hi-res audio gods forgive me for saying this, but as TechRadar’s audio editor, I can become a little desensitized to the new headphones. There are so many little things around!
So when a spec sheet passes my desk, it makes me stop and say, “Wait, what size did you say for the drivers?” Twelve-point four? Are you sure?” I’ll tell you about it. And that’s before we even get to the lowest prices…
The set is called Moto Buds Bass, and as well as the very large 12.4mm driver that should really sit in my external ear canal in each ear, you also get a seemingly robust battery that will offer up to nine hours with the earbuds themselves and up to 43 hours including the case, although it’s important to note that these figures are shown with ANC turned off.
Oh yes, there’s also “dynamic active noise cancellation”, which Moto claims can eliminate up to 50dB of noise, as well as a Transparency mode to keep you connected to the outside world – you might need it for transport announcements, or even (shudder) people talking to you.
Moto Bass Buds: Key Specs, Colors and Price
As a contender for the best budget headphones I’ve seen in a while, Moto’s offering with its new Buds Bass is strong. The three colorways (“Dark Shadow,” “Blue Jewel,” or “Posy Green”) all look classy and while Moto hasn’t specified the exact Bluetooth codecs supported, seeing the high-resolution audio inclusion mentioned for this money is very spotty.
Is there anything else to know? A few things actually: Triple mics plus CrystalTalk AI and a wind noise-cancelling algorithm should help with voice calls when the weather doesn’t cooperate, but even though Moto says the design is “water-repellent,” you probably shouldn’t wear them in serious deluges since no IP rating is mentioned and Moto confirms they’re “not waterproof.”
Oh, and while Moto recommends using the Moto Buds app to pair, customize controls, customize noise-cancelling settings and more, it looks like you’ll need an Android device running Android 12 and up – so iPhone owners take note.
Their price is a happy surprise, even for a company known for its affordable handsets, especially considering that the open-style Moto Buds Loop, released in April (which feature sound tuning from Bose and even Swarovski crystals) are much more expensive.
The Moto Buds Bass are available now, priced £49.99 in the UK and €59.99 in the rest of Europe. Worldwide availability is unclear, but that would make them around $65 or AU$100.
How good are these high-res chops – and just how good is this bigger driver for the money? This is what I hope to discover. But I highly doubt that at this price they can expect a Black Friday discount, although if you need one, our early Black Friday deals live blog is the place to go.
The best wireless headphones for every budget
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