We continue down the road of open earbuds as we explore 1MORE’s Fit Wireless Open Earbuds S50, the company’s (current) open-air flagship product. A topic that has really picked up speed over the last so many months due to their growing popularity over bone conduction.
Recently, we covered 1MORE’s entry-level solution which offered a simple yet effective solution at a good price. It didn’t have all the bells and whistles, so if it left you yearning for more, this would be the model to possibly consider.
Like most of the company’s more reputable products, the S50 comes packed into an interesting box design that opens like a book. Revealing concept art on the inside surrounding the product and its design. With this one, the sketches covered both the buds and the case they come with.
The buds and charging case are immediately presented as you open the flap. Along with some basic quick steps in getting them paired and how to place them on your ears.
Of course, the company also provides detailed instructions so you know what the status LEDS, touch-sensitive controls, and accessories all include. Along with a USB-C charging cable so you only have to find a place to plug it into (wall adapter, computer, etc), some spare sort-of-tips, and a drawstring bag.
The bag isn’t really necessary so you likely won’t put anything into it outside of the accessories for storing. But it is always nice to have just in case. As for the sort-of-tips, there are similar to the tips you’d normally find on buds. They are silicone and you can choose between various sizes to find the one that matches best to your ears. Only instead of going into your ears, it simply helps direct sound to your ears while still hovering over them.
This is because open-air (or open-ear) buds project sound down and into your ears without having to be shoved into them. Allowing you to still hear your immediate environment as you traverse the city streets (or walk around at work). While they normally don’t come with any kind of silicone tips, these simply help bridge the gap a little so you can hear more frequencies in the mix (and also helps keeps them in place).
Now the case is something worth noting. The one that comes with the company’s entry-level model was pretty small in size and fits well in the pocket. But this one to be even smaller. You may assume, given the slightly larger battery life (up to 38 total hours of use using the case to keep them charged between uses), that this one may end up being a little bigger. Instead, it is about 2/3rds the size of the S30’s case. This one is also, like the other, very slick. Allowing it to easily slide in and out of your pocket.
The two earbuds fit nicely into the case and power off and on as you place them in or take them on. As you can see from the image, there really isn’t a lot of space for the electronics inside. Showing how far companies have come with built-in battery solutions. Little space is reserved for the battery and there isn’t a lot of weight at all.
When it comes to the functions of the case, there is a status LED on the front, a button inside to trigger pairing, and a USB-C port on the back for a nice fast charge. That last part being something the entry-level model lacks. Since you have to have a list of reasons to upgrade to this nicer model.
So not only does this case offer fast-charging, but it also offers wireless Qi charging as well. Which is kind of expected at its price point.
We found the buds to be more comfortable around the ears. This is always good to see since ear hooks seldomly feel good after long periods of listening. The entry-level model suffers from this a little, but the S50 provides a lot more comfort.
The buds are also just 10g in weight, each. So their weight won’t be causing any issues either periods of long use.
But what else separates them from the other model? What makes them a premium option in comparison? For one, they feature auto pause/resume when you remove them from your ears or place them back. This is thanks to small proximity sensors built in (seen in the above image — small, black, oval-shaped).
They are also feature an IPX7 waterproof rating. This doesn’t mean that they are bulletproof, but they should be able to survive a dip in the pool. Or, at least a swim in a lap pool. I wouldn’t strap them to a brick and sink them. At this rating, they can survive being submerged in up to 1 meter in water for 30 minutes.
Calls sound a bit better with these when comparing this to the other model. This model features four MEMS microphones that are used for both picking up your voice, as well as environmental noise cancelation. Or what the company is calling AI-powered deep neural network (DNN) that cleans up the call so it can focus on just voice.
When it comes to music and the range of this model, we expected that it might blow us away a little compared to the S30. However, it didn’t achieve anything close to “blowing us away”. It was just about as good as the S30 with a little extra in the highs. This could have a lot to do with limitations of open-air models. So a lot of the benefits of going with the S50 come from the additional features (which are a lot), and just a little more precision in the highs.
Like the S30, the range is mostly highs and mid-lows. Those highs are crisp and clear, while the mid-lows are noticeable (but won’t blow you away). You will absolutely want to download the 1MORE app so that you can change it over the bass boost for most tracks. The default EQ (“Studio”) is nice and crisp but just doesn’t have enough punch below that.
Speaking of the app, there are 12 preset EQs to choose from. You can enable low-latency, control Smart Playback (the auto pause/play using the proximity sensor), control what the default touch-controls are for double tap (default is play/pause) and triple tap (default is voice control).
The app also gives you a full reading of the battery life of the buds and case and you can use it to upgrade the firmware of everything. Along with the option for “soothing sounds” to help relax or fall asleep (assuming you can sleep with these on your ears).
Our Conclusion
So our final score reflects the current sale price of $99.99, which feels like a perfect place for this model. Their MSRP of $149.99 feels a little high (just a little). The audio is great for open-air/ear earbuds, but at $149 they are priced closely to bone conduction and others, making for slightly dangerous waters. The only thing keeping them afloat at that point is that they have better range than most bone conduction. However, on sale at the $99 range, it has both that and a more competitive price, making them a clear win between the two technologies.
That being said, the $149 wouldn’t bring the price down much. Maybe just 0.5 stars if anything. There are open-ear models out there at the same price and even higher. That’s not to say they are as good or better, as we haven’t heard them all. But there is definitely a presence at this higher price point. So it is worth keeping in mind when balancing things out.
This model (S50) features all the right upgrades when compared to the S30, making them the obvious choice between the two models for anyone looking for an all-around good open-ear choice that can be used just about anywhere. And making the S30 the obvious choice for anyone who just needs something affordable that they aren’t as worried about a little wear and tear and will only be used in simple/controlled situations.
We also wonder where 1MORE will go from here as they will clearly out due themselves with the next generation of these. This is just a prediction, but I think it is a fair one. Couldn’t say if multi-driver solutions will be possible for open-ear, but its one direction the company could take next.
Video:
Additional Images:
Specifications:
- Bluetooth: 5.3
- Playtime per charge
- Buds = 11hrs
- With Case = 38hrs
- Mic: 4x MEMS microphones
- ENC: AI-powered deep neural network (DNN) algorithm (aka, yes)
- Weight Per Bud: 10g
- Weather Resistance: IPX7
Co-Authors: Jeffrey B.
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