The Moto Buds Loop don’t look or behave like any earbuds you’ve worn. Clipped gently to your ear like jewelry, they deliver near-ear audio without sealing off your surroundings. It’s a bold form factor backed by serious features: 12mm Bose-tuned drivers, spatial audio, an all-day battery, and smart productivity features with Moto AI.
We tested the Swarovski crystal version—flashy and not our usual style—but we were sold immediately after our first test run. These are some of the most comfortable, freeing headphones we’ve used.
Design and Function
They’re sleek, stylish, and unlike anything else in your audio drawer. The clip-on design feels more like a fashion accessory than a gadget. The flexible loop wraps around the ear with zero pressure, and once they’re on, you forget they’re there. They never shift, never fall out, and don’t block the world around you.
Adjusting them to feel and sound best is easy and no-fuss. Our experience has been once they’re in place you never have to adjust them again. The buds are reversible, so it doesn’t matter which one goes in which ear. They figure it out once you start using them. There’s a single button control on each bud, which we wish was easier to work with, but it’s still better than the average touch interface.
They look a bit like a cartilage earring, especially with the Swarovski crystals going all the way around the loop. It certainly leans into the aesthetic. Whether or not the bling is for you, the wearability is universal. There’s also a more toned down Trekking Green model, sans bling.
Battery
You get 8 hours per charge, and 37 total with the case. A 10-minute quick charge nets around 3 hours of use. The case is compact, pocketable, and straightforward. The buds can charge in either slot, just like they work in either ear. They charge with USB-C and there’s no wireless charging.
Sound
There’s no reason these should sound this good. Open-ear designs usually suffer from weak bass and tinny playback, but these deliver a rich, surprisingly full sound profile. The 12mm Bose-tuned drivers pull off an impressive balancing act, especially for vocals and midrange detail. They hold up for music, calls, and video meetings alike.
Of course, with no seal and no noise cancellation, you’re exposed to your surroundings. These aren’t for the subway or loud cafes, but they shine at home, on walks, or anywhere you want to stay aware while still enjoying audio.
In quiet environments they sound about as good as most premium in-ear headphones; though it’s hard to get head thumping bass if that’s what you’re after. The Android app has a few different audio profiles to boost bass, treble, or voices, and you can play around with a custom equalizer. This is an appreciated feature and shows you what these buds are really capable of.
The microphone for voice calls is pretty solid, though we had some localized issues of our voice cutting out or clipping. The background noise reduction is good and voices come in loud and clear.
App and Connectivity
The biggest drawback with the Moto Buds Loop is the lack of an iOS app. They pair instantly with any Bluetooth device, including iPhones, and we’ve had zero issues using them daily. But at this price, missing out on customization and updates hurts.
On Android, the Moto Buds app unlocks firmware updates, EQ settings, and button customization. On select Motorola phones, it also adds spatial audio and Moto AI features like smart switching and contextual commands. Without a Motorola phone, it’s a basic app.
iPhone users aren’t missing much day-to-day, but firmware updates and EQ controls are always welcome. Thankfully the defaults are solid out-of-the-box. We weren’t able to enable spatial audio or AI features in our testing.
Thankfully, core features like Bluetooth multipoint and automatic ear detection work well across platforms. Being connected to two devices at once makes them ideal for work—seamlessly jumping from Zoom on your laptop to calls on your phone.
Final Thoughts
There’s nothing else quite like the Moto Buds Loop. They’re not trying to do everything, and they’re not built for loud environments—but for what they are, they’re brilliant.
Whether you’re pacing through Zoom calls, walking the neighborhood, or just leaving them on in silence for incoming calls, these buds keep you connected without shutting the world out. The sound is better than it has any right to be. The fit is effortless. The vibe is bold.
At $299, you’ll need to buy into the open ear concept, and if you’re on iPhone then the missing app support is a tough pill to swallow. There’s a non-crystal Trekking Green model in Europe that’s significantly less expensive (€149.99), which we’d be all over if and when it hits the States. Fashion and function rarely come cheap, but the Moto Buds Loop might be the rare case where it’s worth it.
