Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless in-Ear Review
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless earbuds deliver on sound and build, but their painfully short battery life makes them hard to recommend over newer competitors.
The 30-Second Version
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless earbuds offer fantastic microphone quality and a premium build, but are held back by very short battery life and occasional connectivity glitches. At $180, they're a tough sell against newer rivals with better endurance. Best for users who prioritize call clarity above all else.
Overview
If you're looking at true wireless earbuds around $180, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless is a name you'll see pop up. They're Sennheiser's flagship in-ears, and they bring the brand's famous audio pedigree into a compact, wireless package. You get active noise cancellation, a compact charging case, and touch controls for music and calls. They're rated surprisingly well for gaming in our database, but their weakest area is travel, which is a bit of a red flag for a premium wireless product.
Performance
Let's talk about what these buds do well. The sound quality lands in the 79th percentile, which is solid but not class-leading. Where they really shine is in the mic and build quality. The microphone performance is in the 96th percentile, so your voice will sound crystal clear on calls. The build quality is in the 89th percentile, and that premium feel is something buyers consistently notice. The ANC is also strong at the 87th percentile, meaning it does a great job blocking out consistent background noise. The elephant in the room is battery life, which sits at a dismal 20th percentile. The 4-hour earbud life (12 with the case) is a real limitation, especially compared to competitors that offer 8+ hours on a single charge.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Excellent microphone quality for clear calls 88th
- Premium, durable build and feel 85th
- Strong active noise cancellation performance 83th
- Comfortable fit for most ears 81th
- Reliable Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity
Cons
- Very poor battery life per charge (only ~4 hours)
- Connectivity issues reported when removing from case
- Battery degradation over time is a common complaint
- Pricey for the feature set compared to newer rivals
- App and pairing process can be finicky
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Form Factor | True Wireless |
| Wearing Style | Rounded tip |
| Ear Tips | l |
| Weight | 0.1 kg / 0.2 lbs |
Audio
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 23 |
| Sensitivity | 95 |
| Codecs | Lightweight, Microphone Included, wireless |
Noise Control
| ANC | Yes |
Connectivity
| Wireless | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 5 |
| Wired Connector | Bluetooth |
Earbud Battery
| Battery Life | 12 |
| Charge Time | 4 |
Microphone
| Microphone | Yes |
| NC Mic | Yes |
Features
| Touch Controls | Yes |
| Water Resistance | Water-Resistant |
Value & Pricing
At $180, these are in a tough spot. You're paying for the Sennheiser name and that top-tier mic and build quality. But the battery life is a major compromise at this price. There are newer earbuds from Sony, Technics, and even Google's Pixel Buds Pro that offer similar or better ANC and sound, with much longer battery life, often for a similar or lower price. The value here is really only for someone who prioritizes call quality and physical durability above all else.
vs Competition
This is a competitive field. The Sony WF-1000XM5 is the ANC king, with arguably better sound and much better battery life, though it's often more expensive. The Google Pixel Buds Pro is a strong Android-centric alternative with great integration, solid ANC, and better battery. The Nothing Ear (a) offers a compelling budget-friendly option with good sound and a unique design, though its build and mic aren't as robust. The Sennheiser's main advantages over these are its stellar microphone and that undeniable Sennheiser build. But if battery life or seamless connectivity are your top concerns, the competition has moved ahead.
| Spec | Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless in-Ear | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Bose QuietComfort Ultra True Wireless | Technics EAH-AZ80 Technics EAH-AZ80 Noise-Canceling True Wireless | Sony WF-1000XM6 Sony WF-1000XM6 True Wireless Noise-Canceling | Jabra Evolve2 Jabra Evolve2 Buds USB-C MS Earbuds with USB-C | Apple AirPods Apple - AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation - |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | True Wireless | In-Ear | In-Ear | In-Ear | In-Ear | in-ear |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Wireless | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Battery Life Hours | 12 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 5 |
| Case Battery Hours | - | 18 | 16 | 12 | 25 | 25 |
| Water Resistance | Water-Resistant | IPX4 | IPX4 | IPX4 | IP57 | Water-Resistant |
| Multipoint | - | true | true | true | true | true |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Anc | Mic | Build | Sound | Battery | Comfort | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless in-Ear | 82.6 | 87.8 | 81.3 | 80 | 38.5 | 69.2 | 84.8 | 43.8 |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds QuietComfort Ultra True Wireless Noise-Canceling Earbuds 2nd Gen Compare | 96.1 | 87.8 | 91.2 | 99.2 | 68.9 | 93.2 | 98.5 | 93 |
| Technics EAH-AZ80 Noise-Canceling True Wireless In-Ear Compare | 82.6 | 99.9 | 91.2 | 98.4 | 68.9 | 93.2 | 98.5 | 93 |
| Sony WF-1000XM6 True Wireless Noise-Canceling Compare | 82.6 | 87.8 | 91.2 | 99.1 | 91.4 | 69.2 | 98.5 | 97.2 |
| Jabra Evolve2 Evolve2 Buds Compare | 82.6 | 98.9 | 99.3 | 87.9 | 94.1 | 93.2 | 97.2 | 98.1 |
| Apple AirPods Noise-Canceling Compare | 96.1 | 87.8 | 81.3 | 91.8 | 90.8 | 93.2 | 97.7 | 98.4 |
Common Questions
Q: Are the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless good for phone calls?
Yes, absolutely. They have one of the best microphones we've tested, landing in the 96th percentile for mic quality, so your voice will sound very clear on the other end.
Q: How is the battery life on the Sennheiser Momentum earbuds?
It's their biggest weakness. You'll get about 4 hours of listening per charge, which is quite low, and the case holds about two extra charges for a total of 12 hours.
Q: Do the Sennheiser Momentum earbuds have good noise cancellation?
The ANC is quite good, scoring in the 87th percentile. It's effective for blocking out constant noises like airplane engines or office chatter.
Q: How do these compare to Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds?
The Sony's generally have better battery life, more consistent connectivity, and slightly better ANC. The Sennheiser fights back with a better built-in microphone and a more compact case.
Who Should Skip This
Skip these if you're a frequent traveler or need all-day battery. The 4-hour life won't get you through a long flight or a full workday without a recharge. Also, if you value hassle-free connectivity, the reported pairing issues are a dealbreaker. For travelers, look at the Sony WF-1000XM5. For all-day users, check out options from Anker Soundcore that offer much longer playtime.
Verdict
Should you buy the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless? It's a cautious 'maybe' for a very specific buyer. If you need the absolute best microphone in a wireless earbud for work calls, and you value a tank-like build over everything else, these could be worth it. But for almost everyone else, the deal-breaking battery life and sporadic connectivity issues are hard to overlook at this price. We'd recommend looking at the more modern competition first unless you find these at a significant discount.