Audio brand 1More have just released the Evo model and this is on the back of releasing the ComfoBuds Mini. The 1More Evo land at the £159.99 via Amazon.
First Impressions
1More has considered all the improvements they needed to make from previous models and has taken the Evo to the next level. They have added hi-res audio certification via SBC, AAC & LDAC codec which will be suitable on certain android devices. They also come with Bluetooth 5.2, an IPX5 rating to provide them with a pair of TWS that will even have the likes of Apple & Samsung looking over their shoulders.
The 1More Evo looks very similar to the Colourbuds 2 in terms of that teardrop-shaped panel for the touch controls and that matte plastic drum build. They come in two colours: white with a rose gold trim or black with a rose gold trim.
When unboxing 1More has come back with that design they are so well known for with the hand drawings on the inside of the box.
Inside the box, you get a USB-C charging cable, a User guide, 1More sticker and 5 pairs of silicone ear tips that will help the user to find a comfortable fit that will also provide a decent level of passive noise cancellation.
The buds also come with a pill-shaped charging case that will fit in your pocket with ease. The only negative is the case is a bit of a fingerprint magnet. The case comes with 20 hours of charge and the buds provide 8 hours of playback with the ANC off. This reduces a little when ANC is switched on.
In regards to the features front the 1More Evo come with wear detection, ANC, Multipoint pairing and the 1More music app that will allow you to customise the touch controls, Switch ANC levels- strong, mild & wind noise resistance and adaptive mode.
There is also a transparency mode and a voice enhancement mode that boosts vocal frequencies so you can hear around you. The 1More app also has a soothing sound feature that helps the user to go to sleep. Last but not least the SoundID replaces the EQ and offers different variations of a track and uses pre-set audio profiles.
Design
The 1More Evo as mentioned in terms of design 1More got the idea from the ColorBuds2 before the Evo but upgrade that design with ceramic touch panels with rose gold trim around them.
1More Evo (Left) Vs 1More Colourbuds 2 (right) are very similar in design
1More also state the use of ceramic helps the earbuds maintain a stronger wireless connection. In testing the wireless connection never once dropped but am unsure the ceramic material was the reason why. The buds also come with an IPX4 rating so they can handle you getting sweaty in the gym or if you get caught in the rain the buds will not be affected.
The buds also come with a charging case that is Qi-compatible perfect for wireless charging. The case is a pill-shaped case made from anodized aluminium alloy that comes in either black or white and is scratch resistant. In this review, we got sent the black version.
The case feels nice in your hand and the flip-open lid stays closed due to the magnetic lid that keeps the buds in the case and survived the shake test. The case comes with a LED at the front of the case which indicates the charge level available via a traffic light system. You also get LED on the buds which also indicate the charge level as well as showing you when they are in pairing mode.
Comfort & Controls
The 1More Evo are very comfortable to wear mainly due to the ergonomic design and the eartips provided. You get given five different sizes to select from so most consumers will be catered for and the buds as a result will stay in your ears for longer.
Moving onto the controls the 1More Evo has touch controls that are easy to use and in testing come across as fairly accurate. However, the issue is when you tap there is no audible sound to indicate you have tapped correctly. The issue with the controls is there are not enough combinations for all the features available which means you need to download the 1More app and then you can customize the touch controls you want.
The touch controls are limited for example if you select volume controls you won’t be able to control skipping or going back a track. The same can be said if you want to use your voice assistant and also have play/pause you will have to sacrifice both volume and track controls. This is a major factor I feel that might put people off buying them as it provides a limited system.
Connectivity
The 1More Evo uses the most up to date Bluetooth 5.2 which offers a reliable connection and pairing is a walk in the park and will automatically start pairing then select the 1More Evo under the available devices list. If you are an Android user then the Evo connect even more quickly due to Google Fast Pair.
1More also allow for multipoint compatibility allowing you to connect to two devices simultaneously which is fantastic for those who want to multitask. If you want to use the multipoint features you need to activate them via the 1More app.
Sound Quality
1More is known for quality sound quality and that trend continues with the Evo, They are made of one 10mm dynamic and one balanced armature driver in each earbud and this really does help provide some fantastic results. The Evo provides excellent separation and clarity and the soundstage isn’t the deepest when listening to the two-channel stereo. What you do get is a wide, precise and airy presentation and this can be said when listening to something like Alice Murton – No Roots.
When listening to something like Time by Hans Zimmer the bass response is tight and you can really feel the deep bass notes and percussion from the track to make the listen fully connect with this track. For Andriod users, you can even improve the sound quality even more as you can switch on the “Priority on sound quality” in the 1More app. This unlocks that LDAC codec which in the right conditions will add even more detail to the Evo performance. The only negative the LDAC codec does eat the battery life so just consider that when using this feature.
1More App
The 1More Evo misses out on the standard EQ settings allowing you to customise your listening experience. What you have instead is the SoundID feature that runs a hearing test to create a personalized listening profile once your profile has been updated to the earbuds.
You can even toggle the soundID feature on or off. In testing the SoundID option does offer a slight enhancement from the default setting. I expect most consumers will like this change so keep it on.
ANC/Transparency mode
When considering 1More products I have reviewed the ANC has slowly been improved and the EVO is its best effort to date. 1More claim you can get a 42-decibel reduction of unwanted noise and it does a good solid job. It’s not better than something like a pair of Apple Airpods Pro but when you consider the price points of both you don’t expect the Evo to be better. What 1More has also done is the use of an adaptive mode that automatically responds to changes in the environment and adjusts the ANC accordingly.
In addition to all of that, you also get three levels of ANC first seen in the Comfobuds Mini and that is:
- Strong – Offers up to 42dB of noise cancellation depth.
- Mild- Keeps a delicate balance between reducing the ambient and in-ear pressure perfect for listening in the office.
- Adaptive ANC: Feel your favourite beats, not the whistling wind. The microphones will detect the wind noise that enters the earbuds and automatically suppresses it to provide clear music enjoyment or calls. Suitable for the beach, outdoors and on windy days.
- Anti Wind- The Microphones will detect the wind noise that enters the earbuds and automatically suppresses it to provide clear music enjoyment or calls.
Each level of ANC was effective when tested you won’t have any complaints when trying out the 4 different levels.
Transparency Mode
The Transparency mode or what some readers might know better as ambient mode offers outside noise into the buds so you are aware of your surroundings. This is also paired with the voice enhancement option that helps isolate higher frequencies of voices from background noise. If you want to access these options you need to do a long press on the left bud but you will have to go through all the ANC options first which is a little annoying.
Call Quality
The 1more Evo also allow you to take and make calls I found in testing the Evo worked very well even in loud environments the Evo uses its noise reduction so when on a call the person you speaking to won’t hear any of that unwanted sound and can just hear you. Perfect for making calls when walking down a busy road.
Unfortunately, there is no sidetone for the calls like you have with other buds in this price range or even previous 1More buds. The other slight negative is if you are listening to music in transparency mode this mode will still be active when on a call meaning the noise reduction does not really happen and my only advice is to take calls in less noisy environments.
Battery life
1More as always impressed me with the battery life of the products and the Evo is a mixed bag. 1More claim you get 8 hours of charge in the buds and an additional 28 hours from the charging case giving you a total of 36 hours if ANC is off. When you use ANC this will decrease as expected to 5 hours in the buds and 20 hours from the case giving you a total of 25 hours in total. It’s not the best battery offering on the market that falls to the likes of Sony but not the worst either very middle of the road.
If you decide to use the LDAC codec when listening to music this will further impact the battery life so keep that in mind.
When it’s time to fully charge them that takes 2 hours but 1More also offer a quick charge option so taking a 15-minute charge will give you an additional 4 hours of playback that will get you out of any battery issues you might experience especially when using the LDAC codec. I also found the fact the 1More Evo allow for wireless charging another reason why I would buy these as they allow me to charge anywhere from home to the office and even if I have popped into McDonald’s and they have wireless chargers in the restaurants.
Verdict
The 1More Evo offer a pair of buds that are stacked with features to help you get the best audio experience possible. I really like the wear detection even if it is a little slow to activate when I say slow I mean it takes a few seconds to kick in.
The touch controls are nice and responsive but the limitations on what the controls can do might put some consumers off buying these. If you can set the right configuration you will have no trouble with these but do expect to have to use your phone for certain commands.
In terms of audio quality, the buds come with that 10mm dynamic driver paired with a balanced armature driver in each bud that provides some excellent audio quality. You get some excellent high-end clarity, especially when listening to something like Prince – Purple rain.
As mentioned the soundstage is wide and the use of stereo separation aids in creating a sense of depth when listening to rock music. The mid-range and treble frequencies were enhanced and the lows were boosted to a skull rattling thump. The 1More also comes with ANC and does a good job of keeping outside noise to a minimum. The pass-through and voice enhancement transparency modes also do a good job of reducing environmental sound.
In terms of what 1More could improve on the EVO the only real thing, I feel needs updating is the touch controls I feel they are very limited and would like a greater level of control. An example of buds with better touch controls that 1More could look to for inspiration has to be Jabra or Lypertek.
Overall the 1More Evo are an excellent pair of TWS if you can get past the limited touch controls. The audio quality is the best 1More has produced and the battery life offers a solid number of hours of playback and is Qi-compatible. I feel the cost of the buds at £159 with the features provided does offer value for money.
It’s solely down to do you want a quality audio experience and effective noise cancellation over touch controls that provide limited functionality. These are a fantastic pair of earbuds and well-done 1More but still room for improvement.
Product Rating:
Design: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Touch Controls: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars
Sound Quality: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
ANC: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Battery Life: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Value For Money: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Overall Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
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