The audio brand 1More, we have been covering their products for a long period now and have never been disappointed with offerings such as the 1More open earbuds S70 or 1More Sonoflow, 1More Areo, to name a few of the offerings this brand has provided us over the years. 

The 1More Q21 have the following specs: 

  • Bluetooth 5.4
  • AAC & LDAC codec
  • IPX5 waterproof rating
  • 5 ½ hours of playtime
  • The charging case offers 4 full charges
  • Buds come with ANC, Transparency, and Multipoint connection
  • Comes with 3 sets of ear tips, but no charging cable is provided. 

 

 

Design/Comfort 

The 1More Q21 can be said to be the successor to the 1More Q20 budget models of the Chinese audio brand. The 1More Q21 is basic-looking but very capable, and the only exception here is the battery, which lasts 4 hours on a single charge with ANC on, which is lower than average. This increases to 5 ½ hours with ANC off. They are also IPX5, meaning they are resistant to rain and sweat, so ideal for gym workouts. 

Now, in terms of comfort, they are very comfortable to wear and thanks to their long-proven combination of diagonal earpieces paired with oval rubber tips on the end.  They’re snug enough in your ear to survive running or even a headshake. They look very similar to a pair of Apple Airpods. 

The charging case is basic, a matte finish and the case is pebble-shaped shaped meaning they will fit in your pocket with ease. Inside the case, the buds have magnets inside, meaning you can keep the buds secure in the case. The charging case is USB-C at the base of the charging case, but no charging cable is provided. However, with many products being USB-C, I’m sure you will have a cable to charge these earbuds. Also on the case is an LED which indicates the level of the battery, so green means 100% amber 20 to 80% and red under 20%.

Overall, the 1More Q21 TWS earbuds may look basic, and the battery life is a small issue, but simple design and a price tag under £30, you can’t ask for much.

Controls/Connectivity

When you get the buds out of the packaging, the Q21 has limited controls and can connect to multiple devices. This changes with the 1More app, not the “1More music app”. Something to say is that the 1More app is basic, especially on Android. Something I did like, and you have to hunt on the app, is the multipoint connection at the same time. 

You can switch automatically between devices, and when you get a phone call or you pause on one device and play on the other. The touch panels on the buds are located at the top of the buds and seem to respond well. The app also lets you charge the controls even though they are basic: 

  • Power On: Press & hold for 5 seconds. 
  • Entertainment mode (low latency) 
  • Play/ pause- double tap
  • Answer and end call- Double tap. 

The App also lets you do the following: 

  • Check the battery status of the earbuds and the case battery life.
  • Switch between ANC on/off, Transparency
  • Select from six sound EQ presets
  • Activate Gaming Mode
  • Activate LDAC codec ( Android only) 

Overall, the app could be improved as it’s a little clumsy, and, surprisingly, the multipoint connection feature is so hidden; however, it does give you useful extra controls and Bluetooth connection.  

ANC Quality

The ANC can be activated by holding the left or right earbud to activate the ANC, and twisting the earbuds gets a better seal, and you’ll be surprised how much noise the Q21 filters out even when you’re not listening to music. These budget earphones reduce the volume of all sounds from your surroundings. I noted that typing on your keyboard is dampened using these earbuds. 

The ANC is adaptive and sometimes needs a moment to become stronger. It could take a minute before it’s countered and ruled out, a constant background noise of men working nearby, well. The ANC also handles wind noise well, you do hear a reduced wind noise when on the move and when you’re on the move. When the function is switched on, the sounds are dark and natural, instead of disturbing and metallic. 

 Moving on to Transparency mode is good too, really emphasising the higher sounds of traffic around you when you’re playing music. With some twisting and adapting, the ANC of the 1More Q21 surpasses that of the Redmi Buds 6 or SoundPEATS T3 Pro.

Sound Quality

The 1More Q21 sound quality showcases that the mid-bass gives off quick thumps. They feel quite deep and are controlled. This is an engaging and impactful bass. The Sub Bass is controlled and deep, and listening to “Alice Merton -No Roots”, the basslines are separated well, even in these bass-heavy tracks. 

Lower mid tones, like darker electronic tones like lower make vocals somewhat boosted. Treble doesn’t play a big role in the 1More Q21 presentation. Violin in more classical tracks isn’t as textured as that cello. Highs roll off before they become harsh or peaky. This means the vocals, while prominent, sound warm and smooth. The most remarkable part of the Q21 sound is that it sounds rather spacious. Musical details come from your left and right, and sound feels bigger than most competitors.  This is caused by laidback centre mid-tones allowing piano play rather than recessed. This space leaves a sense of air in the sound.

The inclusion of five other sound EQ presets dont do much for the music, apart from you can inject some more bass. Last but not least, the LDAC Codec can activate on Android phones, and this provides a clean and tightens the sound up a little. It’s worth checking out, but it does reduce the battery and multipoint connection. 

Overall, with the Q21, they sound warm, spacious and boosted by engaging bass. 

Phone calls

The 1More Q21 offers a feature that these budget earbuds have under control. The built-in microphones pick up your voice clearly and naturally. Background sounds are reduced well, up to the point they are left out of the call. They also don’t disturb your voice. 

There are some sounds when you’re on the move, but even in these circumstances, your voice remains stable. Overall, the 1More Q21 performs above average for phone calls. 

Verdict

The 1More Q21 is a treat of a budget earphone. Combining good sound, clear calls and a strong ANC. The battery life is below average, and the fact that you are not provided a USB-C charging cable was a little disappointing, but that’s the only negative I could find.

Product Rating    

Design: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars

Comfort: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars

Audio Quality: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0

Battery life: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars

Value for Money: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0

 

Overall ranking: 4.2 out of 5.0 stars – 4.2 stars