Motorola unveiled its latest TWS – Moto Buds 2 Plus – early last month and given how well the first generation of these earphones was received, there is a lot of buzz and excitement around these new wireless earphones. To be blunt, the wireless earphones segment in India is packed with good options across every price bracket, making it increasingly difficult for brands to stand out. The Buds 2 Plus attempt to do exactly that with features such as ‘Sound by Bose’ tuning, active noise cancellation, long battery life, and app-based customisation. On paper, the package certainly looks promising, but as we all know, the specifications only tell a part of the story.
Is the ‘Sound by Bose’ tuning a game-changer? Do these new earbuds have the features and capabilities to dominate the sub-₹7,000 segment? Should you consider buying these new Motorola earbuds? After using the Moto Buds 2 Plus as my primary pair of earphones for several weeks, here are my thoughts.
Table of Contents
Minimalistic Design for Comfort
The first thing I noticed about the Moto Buds 2 Plus was just how comfortable they are to wear. Many earbuds start causing fatigue after a couple of hours, but that wasn’t the case here. Even during extended listening sessions, I rarely felt the need to take them out and give my ears a break.
The charging case also deserves praise. It is compact enough to slip into any pocket without creating an awkward bulge, making it convenient to carry throughout the day. Motorola has also placed a USB Type-C charging port at the bottom of the case, which feels like the obvious choice in 2026 but is still worth mentioning.
As for the earbuds themselves, the stems are relatively compact and lightweight. More importantly, they stay securely in place. Whether I was walking, running, or aggressively shaking my head purely to test the fit, the earbuds remained firmly seated in my ears. That level of stability is always welcome, especially for users who intend to use them during workouts or outdoor activities.
Overall, Motorola has done a commendable job with the design. The combination of long-term comfort, secure fit, and a pocket-friendly case makes these earphones easy to live with daily.
App Connectivity and Features
The Moto Buds app adds a healthy amount of functionality to the experience. Beyond firmware updates, it allows users to tweak various settings and customise the listening experience according to personal preference.
The app itself is intuitive to navigate and provides access to equaliser settings, ANC controls, touch customisation, and several other useful features. Thanks to Bluetooth 6.0 support, connectivity performance was also impressive throughout my testing period. Pairing was quick, device switching was smooth, and I rarely encountered any connection drops.
The only area that felt slightly inconsistent was the in-ear detection functionality. While it worked correctly most of the time, there were occasions when playback didn’t pause or resume as reliably as expected.
That aside, Motorola has delivered a well-rounded software experience that genuinely adds value rather than simply existing as a companion app. Unfortunately, the app is only available on the Google Play store and not on iOS.
Sound Quality
The Moto Buds 2 Plus come with dual (11mm + Balanced Armature) drivers and carry Sound by Bose branding, which naturally creates certain expectations regarding audio performance. Unfortunately, while the sound quality is perfectly decent, it never quite reaches the level I expected it to.
The easiest way to describe the experience is that the earbuds often feel like they stop just short of greatness. There is enough quality here to enjoy your music, but there is also a lingering feeling that the drivers are capable of more than what they’re delivering.
Bass performance is perhaps the most obvious example. Low frequencies are present and reasonably controlled, but they lack the punch and depth that bass-heavy tracks often demand. Listening to tracks such as ‘Blinding Lights’ by The Weeknd or ‘Starboy’ revealed decent rhythm, but the impact wasn’t as satisfying as it could have been.
The highs perform better. Tracks that rely on treble detail generally sound clean enough, and instruments such as cymbals and guitars retain a respectable amount of clarity. Songs like ‘Hotel California’ showcased this reasonably well, although there isn’t a huge amount of sparkle in the upper frequencies.
The mids are where things become slightly inconsistent. Vocal-focused tracks occasionally sound natural and engaging, but the performance isn’t always uniform across different genres. Listening to tracks such as Adele’s “Hello” or Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect,” vocals generally came through clearly, but there were moments when the presentation lacked the richness and consistency I’d expect at this price point.
Instrument separation is acceptable for casual listening, though more complex tracks can occasionally feel congested. Similarly, the soundstage isn’t particularly expansive, which limits the sense of immersion during live recordings and orchestral compositions.
To summarise the audio experience, the Moto Buds 2 Plus sound good, but the Sound by Bose branding doesn’t translate into the major refinement or leap in audio quality that some buyers may expect.
ANC and Other Features
The 55dB active noise cancellation offered by the Moto Buds 2 Plus performs reasonably well for everyday usage. It is effective enough to reduce background sounds during commutes, office work, or while sitting in a café. While it doesn’t completely isolate you from your surroundings, it does enough to improve the listening experience in noisy environments. Call quality was also dependable during my usage, with voices coming through clearly on both ends.
Battery Life
Battery life is one area where the Moto Buds 2 Plus genuinely deliver on their promises.
The earbuds consistently provided endurance that felt in line with Motorola’s claims (up to 40 hours with the charging case and 9 hours without the case), and comfortably managed to get through 3-4 days of moderate usage. More importantly, I rarely found myself worrying about battery levels, which is arguably the biggest compliment you can give a pair of wireless earphones.
For frequent travellers, daily commuters, or users who simply dislike charging multiple devices every day, the Moto Buds 2 Plus are easy to recommend. The combination of efficient battery management and reliable backup from the charging case makes them dependable companions for extended journeys.
Verdict
The Moto Buds 2 Plus are a decent pair of wireless earphones that get several fundamentals right. They are extremely comfortable to wear, stay securely in place, offer a compact and practical case design, and deliver battery life that comfortably lives up to expectations. Motorola has built on the foundation laid down by the first TWS in this series but the upgrades feel mostly incremental, rather than true game-changers.
That said, the sound quality leaves some room for improvement. While it is perfectly enjoyable for everyday listening, it doesn’t fully capitalise on the promise created by the Sound by Bose branding. Bass lacks impact, mids can be inconsistent, and the overall presentation occasionally feels like it’s holding back from reaching its full potential. Also, the companion app for the earbuds is only available on Android and not iOS.
If your priorities are comfort, stability, reliable connectivity, and excellent battery life, the Moto Buds 2 Plus are worth considering. However, listeners seeking a more refined or engaging audio experience may find themselves wanting a little more.
Editor’s rating: 7.5 / 10
Pros
- Comfortable and compact design
- Great battery life
- App customisation
- Decent ANC
Cons
- Sound quality could be better
- No app for iOS
