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In April 2025, Motorola introduced the Moto Buds Loop – a pair of true wireless earbuds built in the increasingly popular open-ear format. What sets the Moto Buds Loop apart is, first and foremost, its distinctive design. The French Oak version, adorned with Swarovski crystals, makes a strong visual statement and could easily pass as a high-end accessory, especially when paired with formal wear.
Read also: Wireless earbuds reviews (TWS)
The other variant, finished in a dark green Trekking Green color, comes across as more versatile – and perhaps even slightly sporty. This is the version we received for testing. Let’s take a closer look at what the Moto Buds Loop have to offer beyond their design, who they might be a good fit for, and who might want to steer clear of this particular form factor.
I’ll also share my impressions of how these earbuds feel in daily use, especially in comparison to the Apple AirPods 3, which I’ve been using regularly for the past six months.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Positioning and price
The Moto Buds Loop are Motorola’s first true wireless earbuds in an open-ear format. The company positions them as a “design-focused” option for people with active lifestyles who aren’t afraid to stand out. At the same time, the earbuds aim to maintain a high level of comfort and sound quality.
As of this review, the Trekking Green version is priced at around €150, while the French Oak model with Swarovski crystals comes in at approximately €260.
Moto Buds Loop Specifications
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.x, Smart Connect (supports two devices)
- Battery life: ~8 hours (earbuds), up to 37 hours with case
- Charging: via USB-C
- Driver: 12 mm
- Sound: Sound by Bose
- Microphones: 2 microphones + AI CrystalTalk for noise cancellation
- Dimensions and weight: 51.5×64.8×27.8 mm, 51.6 g
- Water and dust protection: water-repellent coating
Package contents
The Moto Buds Loop arrived in a compact box. Inside, you’ll find the earbuds themselves, the charging case, and a small amount of documentation.
A USB Type-C charging cable isn’t included in the box, but given how common the standard is today, that’s unlikely to be an issue for most users.
Is the case easy to use?
The Moto Buds Loop case is made of matte plastic. It’s a practical choice – resistant to scratches and doesn’t attract fingerprints.
On the right side of the case, there’s a button that puts the earbuds into pairing mode for device synchronization.
The charging port is located on the bottom of the case.
The case opens easily with one hand and closes with a distinct, satisfying click.
What do the headphones look like?
In my opinion, the Moto Buds Loop have an interesting and attractive design. The Trekking Green color is versatile and should suit both men and women.
At the same time, the earbuds don’t come across as overly formal or too sporty. They’re suitable for work calls, city walks, jogging, or cycling. In all these scenarios, they fit in naturally and serve as a subtle attention grabber.
Putting on and taking off the Moto Buds Loop is quite easy. They slide smoothly over the ear, thanks to their matte plastic construction. Handling the earbuds is also straightforward, as the rubber-coated arcs provide a secure grip, preventing them from slipping out of your hands when placing them in or removing them from the case.
Each earbud has a single physical button for controls. The functions are fairly intuitive: a single press plays or pauses audio, a double press skips forward or backward between tracks, and a triple press adjusts the volume.
Pressing and holding either button for three seconds activates the voice assistant. The button functions can be customized through Motorola’s Moto Buds, app, which I’ll cover a bit later.
Are Moto Buds Loop suitable for sports?
It’s hard to speak for everyone. As with any open-ear headphones, I’d recommend trying them out in person before buying to see how they feel for you.
The Moto Buds Loop are fairly lightweight and barely noticeable during 2–3 hours of wear. On my relatively large ears, they fit securely and stay in place well. Neither running nor active head movements during work calls caused any shifting. The “drop-shaped” speaker component sits comfortably in my ear without causing any pressure points.
I can imagine that on smaller ears, the Moto Buds Loop might feel a bit loose. A helpful tip is to position the back part of the earbuds slightly lower, closer to the earlobe, rather than centered on the ear. This adjustment can improve the fit.
The earbuds have splash-resistant protection, making them suitable for workouts or walking in light rain. However, they are not designed for use in the shower or for submersion in water.
Software
For additional customization, you can use the official Moto Buds app, which is currently available only on Android.
The app allows you to:
- Update the headphone software
- Change the assignment of physical buttons
- Enable In-ear detection – the headphones will automatically pause playback if you remove one from your ear
- Customise the equaliser to suit your preferences
- Enable Game Mode to reduce signal transmission delay.
The app also adds a widget that displays the battery level of each earbud separately on your smartphone’s home screen.
To address a common question: yes, the Moto Buds Loop work fine with Apple smartphones. I didn’t notice any issues when using them with an iPhone 11. Button controls and gestures function properly. While the battery widget doesn’t show the case’s charge, it does display the earbuds’ battery levels. It would be helpful if Motorola eventually released a Moto Buds app for iOS as well.
During my use, I didn’t experience any connection problems.
Moto Buds Loop sound
Bose engineers contributed to the design, so under ideal conditions, the earbuds deliver detailed, lively, and rich sound for an open-ear format.
By ideal conditions, I mean a quiet room without strong background noise. In such an environment, you can genuinely enjoy tracks across various genres, with the 12mm drivers in these earbuds revealing their full potential. That said, some electronic music or hip-hop tracks may feel a bit lacking in deep bass.
As ambient noise increases, detail gradually diminishes and low frequencies become almost imperceptible. This pattern is common among similar open-ear models, as noted in reviews of earbuds like the Huawei Freeclip and Sanag S5 Pro.
That doesn’t mean the Moto Buds Loop are bad. In my view, Motorola’s engineers have extracted the maximum potential from this form factor. It’s just important for potential buyers to understand the specific trade-offs and what to expect when choosing an open-ear design.
The earbuds’ maximum volume is more than sufficient for listening to music at home or in the office. However, in windy outdoor conditions or on the subway, it sometimes feels like an extra one or two volume levels would be helpful.
The microphones on the Moto Buds Loop made a positive impression. Talking or recording voice messages while walking outside is comfortable. For the person on the other end, the sound may come across as slightly muffled but remains clear and free of excessive noise.
Battery life
The manufacturer states that the earbuds can last up to 8 hours on a single charge. Additionally, just 10 minutes of charging provides enough power for about 3 more hours of playback. The charging case adds up to 37 hours of extra battery life, and it takes around an hour to fully charge the case itself.
In practice, these figures hold up. I never experienced the Moto Buds Loop running out of battery during a day of use. You can comfortably listen to music for several hours, then place the earbuds in the case for 10–15 minutes to recharge before continuing.
Moto Buds Loop vs Apple Airpods 3: personal experience
I spend more than five hours a day wearing earbuds, so comfort and convenience are crucial for me. I listen to music while working and take part in meetings with colleagues, which sometimes last two to two and a half hours straight. In the evenings, I go for walks or bike rides while listening to podcasts and interviews. I also often make calls to friends while running errands, like visiting a store.
Additionally, I simply can’t use in-ear (vacuum) earbuds because they cause ear and head discomfort for me. That’s why I prefer open-ear designs.
Overall, it’s not entirely fair to directly compare the Moto Buds Loop and Apple AirPods 3 since they use different form factors.
The Moto Buds Loop are classic open-ear headphones – they don’t enter or block the ear canal, leaving the ear open to surrounding sounds. In contrast, the AirPods 3 are semi in-ear earbuds that partially seal the ear canal.
For me, both are equally interesting because they serve similar purposes: allowing you to stay aware of your surroundings while avoiding the sealed, “vacuum” feeling inside the ear.
One standout feature of the Moto Buds Loop is the case. Compared to the AirPods 3, Motorola’s case is more resistant to wear and tear and doesn’t require a protective cover to avoid scratches.
On the other hand, if you do want a protective case or a carabiner to attach the case to a backpack, finding accessories for the Moto Buds Loop can be a challenge since there are noticeably fewer options available.
Additionally, the Motorola earbuds feel more practical when handling them, thanks to the rubber coating on the arches that prevents slipping. In contrast, the AirPods have a glossy, slippery finish and have slipped out of my hands onto the pavement several times, which isn’t great for their durability over time.
Moto Buds Loop clearly score points for having physical buttons to control track changes. I find it much easier to press one of the two buttons, which are easy to locate by touch, compared to fiddling with the sometimes unpredictable force sensor controls on the AirPods. Honestly, after six months, I still haven’t gotten used to that control method.
When it comes to sound, the Moto Buds Loop perform better in “ideal” conditions, but the AirPods hold up a bit better outdoors since their sound is directed straight into the ear canal rather than playing nearby. I also prefer the microphone quality on the AirPods.
When it comes to appearance and the “wow” factor, Motorola clearly takes the lead. The unique design of the Moto Buds Loop has attracted attention from colleagues at the office and acquaintances on multiple occasions.
There’s no clear winner in this comparison – both headsets perform their roles well. That said, I personally lean toward the Moto Buds Loop.
Conclusions
Overall, the Moto Buds Loop leave a positive impression. They offer a stylish design and a satisfying user experience. They’re practical, have long battery life, and suit a variety of use cases.
If you already have an Android smartphone, the Moto Buds Loop are a logical addition to your ecosystem and shouldn’t disappoint. They also work well with iPhones without any issues.
Where to buy Moto Buds Loop
Scusa ma chi ha Iphone come fa ad aggiornarli se non esiste una app per IOS ?
Chiedi a qualcuno uno smartphone Android, installa l’applicazione, collega le cuffie, aggiorna: solo questa è possibile.