1More is a brand that if you follow our reviews you will have seen how we have followed the brand has grown from the Triple Driver In-Ear headphones I reviewed back in 2018 to the most recent Sonoflow overhead headphones we reviewed very recently.
In this review, we turn our attention towards the 1More Aero which currently costs £99 so they sit at a similar price point to the Lypertek PurePlay Z5, Edifier W240TN ANC and Cleer Arc.
First Impressions
The 1More Aero is designed very similar to that of the 1More ComfoBuds 2 in regards to the shape of the buds which are an alternative to that of the Apple Airpods and the 1More Areo continues with that teardrop design and is available in either black or white.
The key new feature of the aero model is spatial audio and also QuietMax ANC which offers up to 42dB of noise cancelling depth at a wider than normal range of 40Hz to 4000Hz which means they will block out more ambient noise. The areo also introduces smart loudness technology which provides a richer sound as well using Ai to automatically compensate for any missing details at both high and low frequencies allowing for a punchier sound.
Other Features include:
- Bluetooth 5.2 with AAC codec
- 10mm dynamic driver
- 5-7 hours of playback per charge (depending on ANC being On)
- Charging case with 3 full charges
- Wireless charging
- IPX5 rated
Unboxing
The Packaging still keeps that unique design that I love 1More for opening the box and you have some very cool drawings of the buds you then have the charging case in the centre of the box which also comes with the buds and a USB-C charging cable and some additional eartips in small and large so you get the right fit.
Image Credit: Digital Trends
What might please users is the fact all the packaging can be fully recyclable meaning you are not adding to landfill.
Design
When you remove the 1More Aero from the packaging you will notice the charging case first is made of plastic and the surface is a matt finish that seems to be fairly resistant to dirt. We have been using these as my main pair of buds for the last 2 weeks now and they still look new.
The case is opened by a flip-top design just like a portable make-up mirror my wife owns. Once you open the case the buds will automatically pair with your device. However, you will need to pair the old-fashioned way to start with but after that open, the case and they will automatically pair.
Moving to the design of the buds as mentioned place them next to a pair of 1More ComfoBuds 2 and they are nearly identical the key difference is the aero model uses a shallow in-ear design that is more stable to wear compared to the semi-in ear design of the ComfoBuds 2. This improvement in design will please those who want to use these for working out in the gym.
Controls
In terms of controls, you get the standard default touch controls that a series of short taps and longer taps provide the following:
- Play/Pause- Double Tap
- Call Answer/Hang Up – Double Tap
- Voice Control on phone – Triple Tap
- Adjust listening mode – Touch & hold
We found the touch controls to be very responsive and if you have previously used the Comfobuds 2 you will have no issue with the controls and can even customize the controls via the 1More app. You can also customise the buds so a double or triple tap on either bud can be set to do one of the following:
- Next Track
- Previous Track
- Volume Increase
- Volume decrease
- Play/Pause
- Voice control
Under the Bonnet
If you were to open up the buds you will find a 10mm driver along with a diamond-like carbon diaphragm perfect for the base and the highs and this helps to continue to provide the award-winning sound that Luca Bignardi has put his name against in order to provide you with the user with a well-rounded sounding pair of buds.
1More App
We mentioned the app allows you to adjust the EQ preset and 1More provides you with everything such as Hip-Hop, Pop & Bass booster and even a bass reducer. You have 12 presets in total I am sure you will find something you like. (More on the Sound later). The app also shows you the battery life in the case, and lets you switch on ANC with the 4 ANC options, Transparent mode, spatial audio, smart loudness, and firmware upgrade option.
Battery Life
The 1More Aero has made a few changes considering the comfobuds before them. The charging contacts of the buds are now on the stem and this is also what keeps the buds firmly in the case. The charging port is at the rear of the device and uses USB-C but these buds are also Qi compatible so wireless charging can be done when you are at the office or at home. The buds also allow for fast charging (Use the USB-C for fast charging). If you go for the fast charging option a 15-minute charge will provide the listener with 3 hours of playback.
Now the total battery life of the buds is 28 hours which is 7 hours in the buds and 3 additional charges. This is based on the fact you will have ANC off if you switch the buds on you will notice this will drop to 5 hours of playback with the additional charges. I found these charging stats to be very accurate and after a week of travelling to and from work I found I still had enough battery life to put on some chill-out music and try and recharge the battery.
Features
The 1More Aero come with 2 key features that make these buds stand apart from lots of the competition that is Spatial Audio and the QuietMax ANC. So let’s take a closer look at both features and if they are worth the effort that 1More put into these buds.
Spatial Audio
This is the first time 1More has included spatial audio something normally seen in Apple Airpods. 1More actually does spatial audio a little differently as they have a built-in gyroscope and head-tracking 3D audio processing algorithm. What this does is tracks your head’s posture in real time to create a spatial form and the fact it’s built into the buds means there is no front-end dependency.
You will need to switch on the spatial audio via the 1More music app but when you do there are no regrets the sound is instantly improved. The vertical sound is deepened, and vocals and instruments have improved separation. However, there is a slight delay when tracking your head movement you might notice a couple of seconds the position of vocals or instruments will be offset.
Personally, I would avoid using spatial audio if you’re just listening to music what this is better for is getting an immersive experience when watching a film or when playing a game on your phone this is where this feature will shine and you won’t be bothered by the slight offset if you moved your head to the audio coming into your ears.
ANC
1More provide the user QuiteMax ANC which can provide a depth of up to 42dB when the deepest noise cancellation mode is selected. The QuietMax noise caellation is something that 1More has used before in previous models but this time you are provided with a wider coverage of 40Hz to 4000Hz of noise cancelling cover. As well as 42dB of noise cancelling depth across a wide frequency spectrum.
The aero model also comes with five noise cancelling modes including transparency mode. This mode does a great job of allowing you to enjoy your music but at the same time if you’re waiting for a train you will hear the announcements without having to take the buds out of your ears. It does a good job of suppressing unwanted commuting noise and conversations around you. The ANC also has an anti-wind mode which will reduce a strong wind having an impact on your music.
Another feature when you consider the ANC is dynamic noise cancellation this automatically adjusts the amount of noise cancellation according to the external environmental noise around you. This can also be adjusted by the app but is a useful feature to have when looking to reduce unwanted noise.
Sound Quality
The most important aspect of any pair of buds is how they sound. The 1More Aero supports AAC & SBC codecs and is paired with Bluetooth 5.2. The buds come with a 10mm diamond-like dynamic driver which offers that Hi-Fi audio quality.
The 1More Aero seems to be designed to move towards the mid and low frequencies. The lows are sufficient and the softness and elasticity are good. When listening to a song like “Alice Merton Vertigo” you will notice the 1More aero model provides the centred vocals, the sense of distance is close and the brightness is not too high. Overall it’s a relatively mid-sound profile at the same time controlling the female voice.
When listening to something more classical the instruments are not very prominent the performance is very average but this can be improved via the 12 EQ presets available for the music you are listening to at that time.
The 1More app also provides you with an intelligent hearing function what this does is perform real-time compensation for hard-to-hear high-frequency and low-frequency details by detecting the characteristics of the user’s ear canal. What this means for the user is it provides a fuller sound.
Verdict
The 1More Aero offer a comfortable pair of buds ideal for long periods and comes with a large battery life and the sound is decent considering the price tag. The star of the show is the ANC on these earbuds with 4 different settings you will make unwanted noises around you a thing of the past.
The teardrop style earbuds are very comfortable and do not stand out from the crowd could they be improved I would say the controls could be looked at they are a little limited yes you can customise via the app but it’s still an area that needs to be reviewed.
The 1More Aero also comes with spatial audio which is found in Apple Airppods but 1More has adapted that technology and I expect spatial audio to be part of the next release from 1More. I found this feature to really improve the overall experience but more for gaming & watching a film point of view it tracks your head’s movement meaning when you play call of duty the gunfire feels even more immersive.
Overall if you are looking for an alternative to a pair of more expensive Apple Airpods the 1More Aero provides the user with a more budget-friendly option at only £99 which comes with a great design, Qi-compatible charging case and long battery life plus fast charging, quality sound and ANC that performs very well you will love these.
Product Rating:
Design: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Controls: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars
Battery Life: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Spatial Audio: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
ANC: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Sound Quality: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Value for Money: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Overall Rating: 4.4 out of 5.0 stars – 4.4 Stars
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