Belkin SoundForm Motion 2

Great for calls thanks to stellar mic quality and excellent battery life. Music playback, however, is disappointing with only SBC codec support. Comfort is a mixed bag. If you're a call-focused user on a budget, these are a solid pick; music lovers should steer clear.

Let's dig into the numbers because they tell an interesting split personality story. The mic and connectivity are where these earbuds shine. The mic scores in the 90th percentile of all true wireless earbuds we've tested, meaning it's among the best on the market for clear calls. In real-world use, that translates to your voice cutting through background noise like a hot knife through butter. The four-mic array and Belkin's noise-canceling algorithm really do deliver on the promise of 'in-person sound' for calls. Bluetooth 5.3 keeps a solid link up to 30 feet, and multipoint support means you can hop between your laptop and phone without missing a beat. For work calls, this is a standout.

Battery and build are also impressive. The 33-hour total playback time puts them in the top tier of battery performers, and the Qi charging case is a nice touch at this price. Build quality scores in the 91st percentile, meaning they feel more premium than the price suggests. However, that robust build doesn't translate to all-day comfort. Our data shows comfort is a weak spot, ranking near the bottom third. The sealed in-ear fit might work for some, but many find they get fatiguing after an hour. When it comes to audio performance, the story gets less rosy. Sound quality sits right at the 52nd percentile, which is about as middle-of-the-road as it gets. You'll get acceptable audio for YouTube videos and podcasts, but music lacks depth and clarity. ANC performance is a bit better, landing around the 80th percentile, so the active noise cancellation does a decent job hushing the low hum of a plane or train, just don't expect miracles.

If you're cross-shopping, the EarFun Air Pro 4+ is the elephant in the room. It frequently matches or undercuts the Belkin's price and delivers better sound with AAC support, an app, and a similarly strong ANC performance. However, the Belkin edges it out in mic quality and battery life. Then there's the Sony LinkBuds Fit, which costs more but brings a more refined audio experience and better comfort, though its call quality isn't as laser-focused as the Motion Gen 2. The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro are in a different league on sound and comfort, but you'll pay a premium for them. Basically, the Motion Gen 2 carves out a niche as a phone-call specialist with all-day stamina, but it's not the jack-of-all-trades that some competitors are.

Priced between $54 and $74 depending on the vendor, the Motion Gen 2 sits in a hyper-competitive bracket. It goes head-to-head with the EarFun Air Pro 4+, which often goes for around $60 and offers better sound and app support, but its call quality isn't quite as good. Meanwhile, the JBL Endurance Peak 4 costs a bit more and is more fitness-focused with ear hooks. For pure call quality, the Belkin is hard to beat at this price, especially when you factor in the wireless charging case that many rivals omit. But if music is even 30% of your use case, we'd say the EarFun is the better buy. The value is there for the right person, but it's a narrow target.

Belkin's SoundForm Motion Gen 2 earbuds are a curious case. They nail the stuff most budget buds fumble, like call quality and battery life, then trip over the one thing you'd think a pair of headphones should do well: music. With 12mm drivers, ANC, and a Qi charging case, these look great on paper for $54 to $74. And honestly, if you spend half your day on Zoom calls and the other half listening to podcasts, they might be exactly what you need. The four-mic setup and Environmental Noise Cancellation tech make your voice come through crisp, even in a noisy coffee shop. We've tested mics on pricier buds that don't perform this well.

But there's a catch, and it's a big one if you treat your playlists like a religion. The sound profile is serviceable at best. In our audio testing, the Motion Gen 2 landed smack in the middle of the pack, with a music score of just 38.7 out of 100. That's not a typo. For context, our database puts it behind most competitors at this price, including the EarFun Air Pro 4+. The 12mm drivers push out volume fine, but they lack the detail and punch that make music immersive. It's like listening to your favorite song through a slightly fuzzy radio. If Belkin had just licensed AAC or a higher-quality codec, this might be a different conversation, but as it stands, they only handle the basic SBC codec, which explains a lot.

So who are these for? Based on our scoring, they're a call-first, music-second kind of device. The best-use rating we calculated puts calls at 62.8, travel at 58.4, and fitness at 57.2. The IPX5 rating and snug (if not terribly comfortable) fit make them fine for a sweaty gym session. And the battery life is honestly absurd: nine hours in the buds plus another 24 in the case, with wireless charging. If you're a road warrior who needs all-day talk time and can forgive mediocre tunes, keep reading. Everyone else, we'll point you toward better options.

Music enthusiasts and comfort seekers should give the Motion Gen 2 a hard pass. The sound quality is just not there, with no support for high-quality codecs and a dull, flat signature that turns music into background noise. If you spend hours listening to albums or curated playlists, you'll be far happier with the EarFun Air Pro 4+ or even the older Belkin SoundForm models that had AAC. Comfort is another dealbreaker for some. The earbuds can become uncomfortable after an hour, so if you plan on all-day wear, these aren't it. Look at the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE or Sony LinkBuds Fit for a more ergonomic long-term experience.

If you live on phone calls, whether for work or catching up with family, the Belkin SoundForm Motion Gen 2 is a no-brainer at this price. The call clarity is simply exceptional, and the battery means you can basically forget to charge them for days. Get these if you need something for meetings, podcasts, and the occasional YouTube binge. But if your primary listening involves music, you should look elsewhere. The lack of higher-quality codecs and merely average sound profile will leave you wanting more. For a budget all-rounder that sounds better, the EarFun Air Pro 4+ gets our nod. The Belkin is a specialist, and for the call-centric crowd, it's a winner.