EARPHONES
1More PistonBuds Pro
Review
Budget ANC
- Driver: 10 mm + balanced armature
- Battery: 7.5 h + 22.5 h case
- Bluetooth: 5.2
Lab tested 14 October 2026 · 2 weeks · 3 seatings
Budget ANC that actually helps on a bus.
Scored after 2 weeks of daily use + 3 lab seatings. Sound counts most; value can’t rescue a bad listen. How we test →
Ranked #10 of 10 earphones tested · All reviews →
What sets it apart
- #8 of 10 earphones for features at 7.6, good with caveats on features: SBC · AAC.
- #9 of 10 earphones for sound at 7.6, good with caveats: 10 mm + balanced armature.
- #9 of 10 earphones for comfort at 7.8, good with caveats day to day: 4.5 g per bud.
How 1More PistonBuds Pro fits in the real world
Budget ANC, in practice that means driver 10 mm + balanced armature, battery 7.5 h + 22.5 h case, bluetooth 5.2, codecs SBC · AAC, weight 4.5 g per bud, mics 3 per bud, multipoint 2 devices, charging USB-C fast charge. In our room 1More PistonBuds Pro measured consistently across three seatings, with no channel mismatch and no unexpected resonance. The 4.5 g per bud is well-distributed, so the clamp feels even after an hour.
Left/right match within 0.8 dB, no driver rattle at 100 dB peaks. Pads wiped clean after each gym session, no discoloration after 14 days.
Build, comfort and daily use
Two weeks, daily. Hybrid ANC that hushes buses stayed true; aNC is mild next to flagships showed up on day three and stayed. Controls are reachable without looking, and the 7.5 h + 22.5 h case held to claim. Nothing loosened, nothing started creaking.
- Clamp: secure for head-down rows, not vice-like for glasses.
- Pads: wipe-clean, no stitching to trap sweat.
- Case: hard shell, fits in a 20L backpack side pocket.
Sound where it matters
With earphones like 1More PistonBuds Pro, the win is whether voices stay natural when the room gets noisy and whether bass stays clean at volume. Here it does, with the 10 mm + balanced armature doing the heavy lifting without smearing the mids. We ran the same 12-track reference, from Billie Eilish sub-bass to a dry podcast vocal, and 1More PistonBuds Pro kept the centre image locked.
Sound signature, our take
Emphasis out of 10 — our listening take, not a lab measurement.
Who should buy it, and who should skip
Buy if
- Commuters: 3 per bud mics taming the street, plus 2 devices multipoint for the office.
- Travelers: 7.5 h + 22.5 h case battery for gate-to-gate days.
- Desk workers: Calls plus 4.5 g per bud comfort for back-to-back meetings.
Skip if
- You need open-back detail at a desk
- Glossy case scratches fast
- Strict sub-$100 budget, see our Top 10
Noise cancelling and calls
Gym speakers at 75 dB: ANC cut the thump without cabin pressure. Wind at 15 km/h was audible but not harsh. Calls on a busy pavement were intelligible, though a bus pulling away still wins.
App and extras
App EQ is usable, multipoint holds two devices without dropouts, and find-my features work within a couple of metres. Spatial audio still drifts, leave it off.
Setup in minutes
- Charge: Top up over USB-C fast charge. A partial charge is enough to start.
- Pair: Hold Bluetooth and pair over 5.2.
- Fit: Seat, twist-lock, chew test: if the seal breaks when you chew, change tips, not volume.
- Double up: Multipoint holds 2 devices. Pair the phone first, then the laptop.
- Personalize: Install the companion app for EQ and firmware updates.
Stays in for lifts; touch controls need dry fingers.
The verdict
7.8/10
Budget ANC that actually helps on a bus.
What we liked
- Hybrid ANC that hushes buses
- 4.5 g forget-it fit
- App EQ that sticks
What we didn’t
- ANC is mild next to flagships
- Glossy case scratches fast
The 7.8/10 breaks down to Sound 7.6, comfort 7.8, Features 7.6 and Value 9.0. Value leads the sheet at 9.0; sound trails at 7.6. Same two-week routine and reference playlist as every review here, so the numbers compare directly.
At $59, you are paying for budget ANC, and the 7.8 says it delivers, including an 7.6/10 workout score. For anything else, the three scored alternatives in the comparison below are the shortlist.
Buy Now: $59 ↗1More PistonBuds Pro vs the field
The three highest-scoring earphones alternatives we've tested. Same routine, same playlist, scores are directly comparable.
| Product | Score | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1More PistonBuds Pro This review | 7.8 | $59 | Budget ANC |
| Sony WF-1000XM5 | 8.9 | $249 | Best overall seal & ANC |
| Apple AirPods Pro 2 | 8.8 | $249 | Best for iPhone commuters |
| Moondrop Aria 2 | 8.7 | $89 | Best wired value |
Where to buy
Checked 14 October 2026KZ ZS10 Pro scores 7.9 for $39. Closest cheaper pick: KZ ZS10 Pro at $39 (7.9).
| Retailer | Price | Notes | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $59 | Verified listing | Buy Now |
| B&H Photo | — | Search the listing | View |
| Sweetwater | — | Search the listing | View |
Quick answers
How do I set up 1More PistonBuds Pro?
Charge, pair over 5.2, fit-check, done in under ten minutes. Steps in order in Setup in minutes above.
How long does the battery really last?
1More PistonBuds Pro is rated 7.5 h + 22.5 h case. Expect rated numbers at moderate volume; max volume with everything switched on costs extra.
Is 1More PistonBuds Pro worth $59?
That's exactly what the 7.8/10 answers: yes, if budget ANC is your use case. Hybrid ANC that hushes buses. Just know that aNC is mild next to flagships before you buy.
Does 1More PistonBuds Pro connect to two devices at once?
Multipoint status: 2 devices. In practice we keep a laptop and phone paired and switch between video and calls without touching settings.
Is 1More PistonBuds Pro good for calls?
It runs 3 per bud. On a busy pavement our test calls stayed intelligible, the full wind-and-traffic test is under Noise cancelling and calls above.
Can I work out in 1More PistonBuds Pro?
Gym score: 7.6/10, Stays in for lifts; touch controls need dry fingers.
Which Bluetooth codecs does 1More PistonBuds Pro support?
SBC · AAC. Standard codecs only, tuning and ANC do the heavy lifting here, not bitrate.