UPDATE: 1More reached out to let us know that a recent firmware update was released allowing users to customize the touch actions and include on board volume control! The lack of volume control was one of my biggest critiques in the original article and shows an excellent responsiveness to user feedback. Since this criticism is no longer valid, I have updated the score and removed the point from the con list. Kudos to 1More for rolling out such a meaningful update so quickly. Instructions on updating the firmware can be found here.
1More has been the headphone brand to watch for several years now, balancing affordable prices with outstanding quality in virtually every release. With the ColorBuds, we have its second major true wireless release at the $99 price point, following up on last year’s Stylish. The market is more crowded than ever before, so do these earbuds have what it takes to compete? Join us as we take a closer look and find out.
Specifications
- Current Price:
- Model? ESS6001T
- Speaker Impedance: 22 Ω
- Audio Format: aptX / AAC / SBC
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth Version: 5.0
- Bluetooth Protocol: HFP / A2DP / AVRCP
- Bluetooth Range: 10 m
- Playtime and Charging
- Call: 6 Hours Per Charge/22 Hours Total
- Music Playtime : 6 Hours Per Charge/22 Hours Total
- Earbud Battery Capacity (Single): 55 mAh
- Case Battery Capacity: 410 mAh
- Earbud Charging Time: 70 Mins
- Case Charging Time: 85 Mins
- Dimensions
- Single Earbud Weight: 4.1 g
- Earbud Dimensions? 27 × 21 × 20 mm
- Case Dimensions: 60 × 30 × 38 mm
- Case Weight: 32.1 g
- Gross Weight: 40.3 g
The first thing to know about the ColorBuds is that they’re an entirely separate product from last year’s Stylish. Given the identical price, it might be tempting to think of these as a direct successor and, in a way, they might become that should the Stylish disappear from the store, but as it stands now, these are separate products with separate designs and sound profiles.
As a fan of that headphone, I wasn’t sure how much the ColorBuds could really improve on the experience. The Stylish were criminally underrated, in my opinion, and offered some of the best sound available at the $99 price point. I need not have worried, the ColorBuds are an improvement in nearly every way: they’re smaller, more comfortable, and, believe it or not, sound better. And, of course, they’re available in more colors to better match your unique personality.
The ColorBuds, available in Black, Gold, Spearmint Green, or Sakura Pink, are some of the smallest true wireless earbuds I’ve used at 27 × 21 × 20mm each. I have medium-sized ears and they fit it just perfectly. Because of this, they no longer ship with (or need) an ear hook to keep them in place. They sit close to flush inside my ear and are held snugly by my concha. I never had to worry about them falling out by accident and because they seal so well, did a great job of blocking outside noise from distracting me.
There are no physical buttons to speak of. Instead, the face of each bud is touch-sensitive. If you’ve ever used touch earbuds before, the learning curve is gentle. Double-tap to pause and play, answer and end calls, and triple tap to draw up your virtual assistant. These controls are the one area the ColorBuds don’t advance the Stylish, however, as you’re still forced to pull out your device to control the volume or decline calls (Editors Note: see the update above, this feature has been made available through a firmware update available now). On the plus side, each bud now features an IR sensor to automatically pause when removed from your ear and resume when replaced which is great for quick conversations.
Getting set up is also ridiculously easy as they automatically enter pairing mode the first time they’re removed from the case. In literally two taps, I was connected and haven’t had to re-pair them once since.
The earbuds also feature a competitive six hour battery life per charge, which is extended to 22 hours with the charging case. They also support quick charge, so if you find yourself running short, 15 minutes in the case will provide two hours of additional battery life. These figures vary somewhat based on your listening volume, but were very close at 70% volume. If you can’t spare it, each earbud can also be used independently, which is perfect for enjoying podcasts and audiobooks while still hearing the world around you as I often do.
Since you’ll be using these with your smartphone more than anything else, I’m happy to report that the microphones do a good job of blocking out environmental noise so your voice comes through loud and clear. They’re even better than my Jabra Elite 75t Actives, which are currently twice the cost.
At this price, there are some sacrifices. The lack of volume control is one, but you also shouldn’t expect advanced features like active noise canceling or ambient sound passthrough. The latter may be a dealbreaker if you plan to use these while running, so I would have liked to have seen this included.
Enough beating around the bush. How do they sound?
Audio quality is where the ColorBuds lay their trump card on the table. They are simply some of the best sounding true wireless earbuds I’ve heard for music. Without any EQ whatsoever, they offer a rich low end with oodles of high-end clarity. I tend to listen to electronic chillstep or metal, and the ColorBuds didn’t miss a beat. No matter what I threw at them, it was as if they removed a veil, punching clarity up a notch. In particular, piano, synths, strings, and female vocalists rose to the top of the mix, indicating a middle-high and treble elevation. Sean Townsend’s Beyond the Fall of Beauty was absolutely beautiful, as if I was hearing it for the first time.
For gaming, the earbuds get the job done but don’t offer the expansive soundstage a good pair of over-ear, open-back headphones might deliver. I used them for mobile gaming and enjoyed them, but for PC I’d stick to music or enable Windows Sonic to fine-tune the experience they’re able to deliver.
Final Thoughts
1More’s ColorBuds deliver a great sound but not without some sacrifices. There really should be a way to control volume or reject calls using touch commands without having to pull out my phone. That said, I would be lying if I said they didn’t blow me away with the quality of the sound. And at the end of the day, that’s really what matters most. If you can live without onboard volume, these deliver the kind of audio other brands are demanding twice the cost for, while also being small and so comfortable you might forget you’re wearing them. In my book, that makes them a remarkable value.
