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As a well-known brand in the field of communications, you may anticipate Motorola to have a significant presence in the market for wireless earbuds. It has made some efforts to advance, but we haven’t noticed any couple that particularly stands out from the crowd. It all comes down to how well you can execute on the fundamental features that are necessary to make earbuds worthwhile to wear and listen to.
This was the challenge that Motorola faced with the Moto Buds-S ANC, which are not necessarily premium headphones but are priced at a level that allows them to compete with a wide variety of excellent options. The issue is that several essential building blocks aren’t functioning properly, and it’s not obvious what the corporation can do to fix it at this point. In the end, the results are not commensurate with the cost at all.
Motorola Moto Buds-S ANC Specifications
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Type | In-ear |
Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 |
Battery Life | Up to 8 hours (with ANC), up to 12 hours (without ANC), up to 20 hours (with charging case) |
Noise Cancellation | Active noise cancellation |
Water Resistance | IPX4 rating |
Voice Assistant Support | Google Assistant, Siri, Alexa |
Design and use

Both the buds and their charging case for the Moto Buds look like the AirPods. The buds are tall and thin, so they won’t take up too much space in your pocket or bag. The case and buds together weigh only 54 grammes, so you won’t have to worry about them weighing down your gear either.
There are some odd parts to the story, though. We think it’s a little easier to use if the USB port is on the back of the case instead of the bottom, but this isn’t a deal-breaker. Motorola put the wireless charging ring on the back of the case, so you have to lay the case on its back to charge it. You can buy this earbuds from its official website
Motorola Moto Buds-S ANC: Connection

Even though they look cool and have fairly impressive specs, the Moto Buds aren’t very good, and they’re also pretty expensive. They cost way too much for what you get in the end. Yes, their batteries are great, and they have some nice features like wireless charging and an IPX5 grade, but that’s about all they have going for them. They don’t make themselves stand out.
Motorola Moto Buds-S ANC: Sound quality
The sound quality of the Buds-S is a step in the right direction, with clear, enjoyable sound. It doesn’t sound like any part of the sound is hiding anything else. The bass, mids, and highs can all be heard clearly. As far as high-quality codecs go, the Buds-s only work with AAC, not aptX or LDAC. Even though the tracks don’t sound very open, you can still pick out individual instruments in most of them for a closer listen, even if it’s just barely possible.
Battery Life & Charging
Motorola says that the Buds-S ANC can work for up to six hours with ANC on. They can last longer than that, though, as long as you leave the volume at its usual level. That’s not likely to happen with the available fit, but if your ears are sensitive enough, you might get more than seven hours. The case has room for two more full charges and can be charged wirelessly, but not quickly. Everything needs about two hours to fully charge.
Final Words
Even though they look cool and have fairly impressive specs, the Moto Buds aren’t very good, and they’re also pretty expensive. They cost way too much for what you get in the end. Yes, their batteries are great, and they have some nice features like wireless charging and an IPX5 grade, but that’s about all they have going for them. They don’t make themselves stand out. If you like how these headphones look or are a fan of anything Motorola, you might find that they are worth it.
Motorola Moto Buds-S ANC review: The good and The bad
The Good
- Reliable touch controls
- Wireless charging
The Bad
- Fit is too loose
FAQS
With an IPX5 certification, you can move around easily and comfortably without worrying about damage. You can use them anywhere, no matter the weather.
With the buttons on your earbuds, you can change the volume, play music, make phone calls, and use the voice helper on your device.