Marshall Minor IV

The Marshall Minor IV nails sound quality, comfort, and battery life, with connectivity that's among the best we've seen. But call quality is weak and there's no ANC. Worth buying if you find them near the USD 100 mark and mostly care about music.

The 12mm dynamic driver delivers the Marshall signature sound, which means punchy mids and a warm low end that flatters rock, indie, and anything with guitars. Sound quality sits at the 77th percentile, so it's well above average without being best-in-class. Battery life is also a highlight at the 77th percentile, with 7 hours from the buds and 30 from the case. A quick 15-minute charge gets you 3 hours, which is genuinely useful. Connectivity is the real star here, ranking in the 96th percentile thanks to Bluetooth 5.3 and multipoint support. But the mic performance is a letdown at the 54th percentile, and the ANC score is just 30th percentile, which makes sense because these don't actually have active noise cancellation. The IPX4 rating means they'll survive a sweaty workout, but don't drop them in the pool.

Against the competition, the Minor IV occupies an interesting middle ground. The Nothing Buds 2 and JLab JBuds Pods ANC both offer active noise cancellation at similar or lower prices, which the Marshall lacks entirely. The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro and Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Generation are in a different league for call quality and ANC, but they also cost significantly more. The Technics EAH-AZ100 is a strong all-rounder that beats the Marshall on most fronts. Where the Minor IV wins is on pure style and that Marshall sound signature, which is genuinely distinctive. If you want the rock-and-roll aesthetic and don't care about ANC, these are a solid pick. If you need noise cancellation or take a lot of calls, look elsewhere.

Pricing is all over the place depending on where you shop. In the US, listings range from USD 100 to USD 160, which is a USD 60 spread for the exact same earbuds. That's a big enough gap that you should absolutely shop around before pulling the trigger. In Europe, prices run from EUR 92 to EUR 129, a EUR 37 difference. The cheapest US listing at USD 100 feels like a fair deal for what you get, especially given the sound quality and battery life. At USD 160, you're creeping into territory where you can find earbuds with actual ANC and better call quality. The value proposition really depends on finding a good price.

The Marshall Minor IV is a pair of true wireless earbuds that leans hard into the brand's rock-and-roll heritage. You get a 12mm dynamic driver, Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint, and a claimed 30 hours of total battery life. The angled stem design is meant to keep them locked in place, and they carry an IPX4 rating for sweat and light rain.

Our database puts the total score at 65.5 out of 100, which is solid but not spectacular. The standout numbers are connectivity at the 96th percentile and comfort at the 94th. The weak spot is calls, landing at 49.8 out of 100. So if you mostly want these for music and podcasts, they make a strong case. If you live on phone calls, keep reading.

Skip these if you take a lot of phone calls or need active noise cancellation. The mic performance is mediocre and there's no ANC at all, so frequent flyers and office workers on back-to-back calls will be frustrated. Also, if you have smaller ears or struggle with hard plastic earbuds, the fit might not work for you despite the high comfort score. And if you're paying full price at USD 160, you can get more features elsewhere for the same money.

The Marshall Minor IV is for people who prioritize sound character and comfort over features like ANC and call quality. If you love the Marshall look and mostly listen to music while commuting or working, these will make you happy. The battery life is genuinely good, and the fit is one of the best in its class. But if you're on the phone all day or want to block out airplane noise, these aren't the right tool. Buy them for the sound and the style, not for the mic.