First Thoughts
Having reviewed the 1MORE ColorBuds and thoroughly enjoyed them, I was expecting the ComfoBuds Pro True Wireless Headphones to give me a similar experience. However, these buds significantly outshined the ColorBuds which is extra impressive when you consider the price difference. The ComfoBuds Pro come at an incredibly economical price of just $95, a whole five bucks cheaper than their predecessor.
I wouldn’t call 1MORE extremely generous with their accessories, but they do a decent job. The ComfoBuds Pro come nested in a cardboard box with a socket for the carry case. There is also an instruction manual, a cute 1MORE sticker, a Type-C charging cable, three silicone eartip sizes and a carry case carrying pouch. Almost all of these accessories are typical of earbud packaging these days, but the company goes an extra mile with the sticker and the pouch. Prioritizing an extra layer of safety can never go wrong and the sticker is a nice, little gesture.
Design-wise, the ComfoBuds Pro’s carry case is quite generic. It hosts a USB-C port in the back and a battery-revealing LED light in the front. The case is made of matte plastic and is as lightweight as it can get. The earbuds feature a highly streamlined design. In this era where earbud manufacturers are in competition for the most polarizing design, the ComfoBuds Pro definitely win. The bud comes down in the shape of a long, slim stem. The stem hosts a talking mic at its bottom, at the same place where it hosts an LED light that alternates between blue and red. The bud’s upper body hosts a feedback mic to detect in-ear noise and a feedforward mic responsible for catching environmental noise when ANC is off.
Ergonomics
ComfoBuds Pro absolutely aced its ergonomics by featuring the narrowed down tip. The bud is easy to hold and navigate because of how much space it offers the user. The best part is that the space offered doesn’t come at the cost of the bud being bulky, such as in the Master & Dynamic’s MW07 Plus. 1MORE manages to keep it slim, light and subtle. I prefer controls in the form of buttons and switches because touch-enabled controls on tiny earbuds aren’t always convenient. I usually have to hold the earbud in my ear with one hand while tweaking controls with the other. However, on the ComfoBuds Pro, due to its long stick and balanced weight, the bud remains firmly affixed in my ear as I change controls on it.
Controls
Unlike the terrible pairing on the its predecessor, these earphones provide fast and easy pairing without any stutter or lag. I spotted the ComfoBuds Pro on my phone’s Bluetooth options as soon I took the buds out of the case, and they were connected and ready to go in less than 15 seconds.
Double tapping the earbud’s stem pauses and plays, while pinching it switches its between ANC and ambient mode. I learnt these actions in no more than five minutes due to the intuitive design. As mentioned above, because of the unusually long stem, it was easy to navigate between controls. Additionally, the well-designed interface didn’t lead to accidental taps. Every double-tap really did pause and play my music and every pinch led to a sharp beep followed by a change in sound mode. The tap responses were fast and accurate each time.
I especially like the ComfoBuds Pro’s Smart Playback feature which pauses my music as soon as I pull the buds out of my ears and resumes it when I put them back in. Additionally, I can listen from a single earbud at any time and I appreciate that. It’s annoying having to put both of them on when I’m not in the mood to. The only drawback of the controls is that there isn’t a volume control. While I liked how minimal the controls were, I believe volume is too important of a control to not be included.
Audio
The ComfoBuds Pro came through with their exceptionally big 13.4mm titanium composite drivers. I listened to one of my favorite artists, KSHMR, on these and genuinely enjoyed it. The sound is definitely loud, so the drivers clearly work their magic. There is some bass, but it’s not the most obvious element in the soundstage. The treble is clean and sharp. Every part of the soundstage is sufficiently clear and focused. I wouldn’t call the aural response on the ComfoBuds Pro out of this world. It doesn’t miss any areas, but it’s not outstanding either. It gives an adequate response considering its price point.
The ANC on the buds, though, is brilliant. There are two modes that are offered right out of the box: ANC Strong and Pass-Through Mode. To be able to enjoy the ANC Mild and the Wind Noise Resistant Mode, I had to download the 1MORE Music App. I didn’t feel much of a difference between the default sound modes and the ones on the app. However, the default modes truly impressed me. The sound of my typing, my sister’s conversation on the phone and the traffic outside was almost nonexistent. The ComfoBuds Pro claim QuietMax Active Noise Cancellation Technology of up to 40dB and it doesn’t seem like an exaggeration when you put them on. The ambient sound mode instantly emphasizes background noise and allows me to maintain a best of both world situation.
Final Thoughts
The ComfoBuds Pro gave me a good time. I found no major flaws in the buds and compared to their predecessors, I believe they’ve come a long way. With ANC on, I was able to use them for around five hours, which is a little less than what I prefer in terms of battery. They also feature an IPX4 water and sweat resistance which is less than the standard IPX5 that most earbuds these days offer. But all in all, considering these aren’t premium headphones that are highly priced, I’m satisfied with most of their features.
Is It Hardcore?
Definitely.
The 1MORE ComfoBuds Pro are, as their name suggests, ultra-comfortable earbuds that provide a unique oblique-angled fit and an ergonomically-shaped body. They also feature powerful ANC and a highly responsive touch pad. For just $95, they’re worth it.