Motorola’s latest midrange earbuds, the Moto Buds 2 Plus, aim to deliver high-quality sound at an affordable $150 price point. Compared to the regular Moto Buds 2, the Plus version adds Sound by Bose tuning, featuring 11mm dynamic drivers and 6mm micro-planar magnetic drivers. In other words, the Moto Buds 2 Plus have the hardware chops to sound as good as any of its competitors at this price point.
To realize the Moto Buds 2 Plus’s potential, you’ll need to tweak your software to match your listening preferences. Spatial audio is enabled out of the box, but extras like hi-res audio, gaming mode, and equalizers aren’t on by default. I adjusted these settings on the Moto Buds 2 Plus, and it improved everything from sound and call quality to the multi-device connections. Here’s how you can, too.
Enable hi-res audio mode
Bluetooth is often the audio-quality bottleneck for wireless headphones and earbuds. Still, there are ways to improve your sound quality without a cable within the constraints of Bluetooth. As such, the Moto Buds 2 Plus support Bluetooth 6 and the LHDC audio codec. LHDC stands for Low-Latency High-Definition Audio Codec, and it promises wireless playback at up to 1,000kbps.
By switching on the Moto Buds 2 Plus’ high-resolution audio mode, you can enjoy the 24-bit/96kHz max quality offered by the LHDC codec. To do so, open the Moto Buds app, tap Sound, then press the toggle next to Hi-Res Mode. Tap Continue to start hearing music through your Moto Buds 2 Plus at the highest possible quality.
Switch on gaming mode for low latency
LDHC is the saving grace of the Moto 2 Buds Plus, and the hi-res audio isn’t the only thing it offers. This codec also supports low-latency audio, which is ideal for gaming. Motorola’s Gaming mode is designed to minimize latency to improve your gameplay, prioritizing responsiveness over almost everything else. However, it doesn’t turn on automatically — you need to switch it on every time you want to use it.
To find it, open the Moto Buds app and tap Sound. Then switch the toggle next to Gaming mode to the on position. Remember that this low-latency audio mode automatically turns off when your earbuds disconnect from your device. Additionally, you can’t use hi-res audio and gaming mode simultaneously. It’s one or the other.
Play with the EQ to personalize your sound
There’s one more setting in the Sound page of the Moto Buds 2 Plus settings worth paying attention to: the equalizer. Motorola offers a customizable 10-band EQ that lets you fine-tune your earbuds’ sound to your liking. If you like more bass, go for that. If you prefer a more subtle bass and brighter highs, bump up the treble. You can find the EQ on the Sound page, and tapping Equalizer opens the interface.
There are four ready-to-go presets to choose from: Brilliant Treble, Bass Boost, Vocal Boost, and Flat. Or, you can build a Custom preset of your own. Simply grab the slider for one of the 10 bands and drag it up or down to adjust the gain for a specific frequency range. This gives your Moto Buds 2 Plus a personal sound you won’t get any other way.
Activate Crystal Talk for clearer calling
If you plan to use your Moto Buds 2 Plus for calling, it’s worth enabling the Crystal Talk feature. The toggle for this one is right on the homepage of the Moto Buds app, and flipping it on enables AI-powered noise cancellation for your calls. It amplifies your voice while blocking out unwanted environmental sounds, like wind. If you make calls in noisy environments, this setting is for you.
Share your audio with Dual connection
For those switching between devices often, the Moto Buds 2 Plus support connecting to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. At least one of those devices has to be an Android phone, and you can set up Dual connection in the Moto Buds app. Flip the toggle next to Dual connection in the Moto Buds app on your primary Bluetooth device. Then, hold down the button on the Moto Buds 2 Plus case to enter pairing mode.
Pair your earbuds to a second device, and the Moto Buds 2 Plus will automatically juggle the connections between both devices. The earbuds will automatically play and pause audio and switch between devices based on priority. If you’re listening to music on your laptop and a call comes through on your phone, the Moto Buds 2 Plus will switch to your earbuds to help you take the call.
It’s a convenient feature that helps you use multiple devices at once, saving you the hassle of pairing and unpairing manually.
At $150, the Moto Buds 2 Plus make a compelling case for being your next pair of midrange earbuds. They pack impressive software features for the price, all of which are found in the Moto Buds app. After you make the Moto Buds 2 Plus your own with settings and equalizers, you’ll notice the difference in quality.
Motorola
Moto Buds 2 Plus
Affordable Moto earbuds
The Motorola Moto Buds 2 Plus offer superior sound compared to the regular Moto Buds 2, with 11mm dynamic drivers and Bose tuning. They’re still accessible, with a sticker price of $150. You can often get them bundled with Motorola phones at no additional cost.