Amid the fading popularity of wired earphones and the rise of truly wireless earbuds, a new form factor is gaining traction. While open-ear earbuds have been around for a while, major manufacturers are only now starting to embrace their advantages. Joining the trend, Motorola has introduced its first open-ear earbuds the Moto Buds Loop.
Developed in collaboration with Bose, the Moto Buds Loop rest just outside the ear canal and wrap around the ear bone toward the back, giving them a sleek, almost cyborg-like appearance. Each bud resembles a tiny headphone on its own.
Bose is no newcomer to open-ear audio, with its own offering in the Bose Ultra Open. Similarly, Motorola has an established relationship with Bose, having previously collaborated on tuning its standard TWS earbuds. The new Moto Buds Loop feature 12mm drivers tuned by Bose, and come equipped with dual microphones and AI-powered noise cancellation for clearer audio.
Motorola claims the earbuds deliver up to 8 hours of playback on a single charge, with the total extending to 37 hours when using the charging case. They’ll be available in two colors — Trekking Green and French Oak with Swarovski crystals. While there’s no official IP rating, Motorola describes them as “water repellent.” The Moto Buds Loop are set to launch sometime this summer.
That said, companies like Nothing and Sony have also entered the open-ear earbuds space, with Nothing’s Ear (open) standing out as one of the most compelling attempts to bring this form factor into the mainstream. Still, open-ear earbuds remain a relatively niche category.
What do you think about Motorola’s new Moto Buds Loop? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
