The much-awaited successor to Moto Buds is finally here. Unveiled at the MWC 2026 earlier this year, the Moto Buds 2 offer HiRes Audio via LDAC, Dynamic ANC up to 55dB, up to 53 hours of playback time, and IP54 resistance. Priced at Rs 2,999, these earbuds are a great deal on paper. At this price point, they go up against the budget TWS offerings from OnePlus, CMF, realme, and other tech and audio outfits. We used the TWS for a week to see how it fares against the heavy hitters in its segment. Here is our review of the Moto Buds 2.
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In This Article
Moto Buds 2 Review: Design
Box Contents
- Charging case with earbuds inside
- Extra eartips (S and L)
- User manual
The dual-tone colour scheme of the Moto Buds 2’s charging case lends it a unique flair among a sea of similar-looking TWS. There are 3 colour options on offer – Pantone Carbon, Pantone Grey Mist, and Pantone Violet Ice. The charging lid and inlay bring a splash of colour to the case. The former has a translucent shade, which further adds to the device’s appeal. The Motorola logo is positioned in a small circular indent on the main body. It tends to collect dirt and grime over time.
The pairing button, USB-C charging port, and LED notification light are positioned at the bottom of the case. The compact form factor of this case makes it easy to carry around inside pockets. It weighs just 42g, so you barely feel it while walking around. It is rated IPX2 for dust and water resistance. The matte finish on the lid offers a nice contrast to the glossy body. The hinge is strong and inspires confidence.
The wireless earbuds follow the traditional in-ear design language. The upper section that goes inside the ear has a glossy texture. The touch-sensitive areas are bordered and segmented. The earbuds are lightweight and ergonomic. We were able to wear them for multiple hours on end without feeling any considerable fatigue. Each earbud houses 3 microphones for calling and noise cancellation.
The IP54 rating makes the earbuds resistant to water splashes. They were able to withstand exposure to sweat during heavy workouts and long runs. However, the glossy texture makes them a bit slippery when things get sweaty.
Moto Buds 2 Review: Performance
The Moto Buds 2 use dual drivers (11mm dynamic + 6mm micro planar magnetic) to deliver their audio output. The earbuds support Bluetooth 6. Google Fast Pair makes the connection process seamless. There are 3 audio codecs on offer – AAC, SBC, and LDAC (HiRes).
The wide and warm soundstage of the Moto Buds 2 makes for enjoyable listening. The audio output is certainly bass-heavy, but that isn’t a bad thing unless you’re obsessed with neutrality. The pronounced low end doesn’t muddle the mids and highs. We streamed songs across different genres like rock, heavy metal, grunge, and pop, and were pleased by the inclusion of subtle background details that usually get lost in the output.
The Moto Buds companion app lets you choose from 4 equaliser presets – Brilliant Treble, Bass Boost, Vocal Boost, and Flat. You can even set up a customised profile based on your listening preferences. The earbuds also offer Spatial Audio, but it is only available on Motorola devices.
You can tune out up to 55dB of background noise by turning on Active Noise Cancellation. This feature works pretty well on this TWS, effectively nullifying ambient sounds emanating from ceiling fans, air conditioners, keystrokes, and general chatter. It works surprisingly well in outdoor conditions as well, blocking most of the engine and traffic noises. The adaptive mode adjusts the ANC level depending on your surroundings.
The Buds 2 work well on audio calls and virtual meetings. The 6-mic setup, along with Environmental Noise Cancellation, does a good job of extracting the speaker’s voice, suppressing the surrounding disturbances, and relaying it to the listener. The call quality takes a hit in noisy outdoor conditions, but that’s an issue you’ll face on every TWS in this segment.
If you’re a gamer, you’ll be pleased to know that the Moto Buds app has a dedicated gaming mode. Turning on this mode drops the latency of the earbuds to the point where there is no lag between the audio output and the gaming visuals. While we did not face any latency issues, we would have liked a bit more sharpness in the gaming audio output. On a brighter note, the Moto Buds app also gives you access to features like dual connection, volume boost, in-ear detection, ring my earbuds, fit test, and gesture customisation.
Each earbud is equipped with a 62mAh battery, while the charging case packs an additional 530mAh. Motorola claims that the earbuds offer 11 hours of playtime on a full charge, with the charging case taking the total battery life to 53 hours. These numbers are valid if you keep ANC turned off at all times and don’t go past the 60% volume level on SBC/AAC codecs. On mixed use (ANC + LDAC), we were still able to get multiple days of battery life out of this TWS. While we didn’t use the earbuds enough to exhaust them in one session, we were left with a 20% charge in the case at the end of the week.
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Verdict
The best thing about Moto Buds 2 is that it doesn’t make any tradeoffs to keep its price in check. You get the full array of features, including ANC, dual-connection, customisable equaliser, low-latency mode, LDAC support, and Spatial Audio (only for Motorola devices) under Rs 3,000. The soundstage is designed to cater to users who like their music with an extra dollop of bass. There are equaliser presets for more neutral sounds if a loud low-end isn’t your thing. The TWS does not break any new ground with its design, but its dual-tone colour scheme makes it stand out in its segment.
Pros
- Compact form factor
- Warm and rich audio output
- Effective ANC
- Good companion app
Cons
- Not meant for audiophiles looking for a neutral soundstage
