Marshall Group Marshall Motif II True Wireless Active Review

The Marshall Motif II A.N.C. has a best-in-class microphone and cool looks, but mediocre music sound and poor battery life hold it back. It scores a 57.1/100 overall. Only worth it if you love the style and take a lot of calls.

The Marshall Motif II A.N.C. earbuds are a style-first proposition with a surprisingly good microphone. They look and feel premium, built from 70% recycled plastic, and their signature rock-and-roll aesthetic is a welcome break from the sea of white plastic buds. But our data shows a classic case of style over substance: while they excel in call quality and build, their core audio performance for music lands in a disappointing 47th percentile.

Let's start with the good. The microphone is genuinely excellent, sitting in the 96th percentile. If you take a lot of calls, these are a top-tier choice. The active noise cancellation is also solid, ranking in the 87th percentile, and the build quality feels premium. Now, the bad. The sound signature for music is just okay—it's clear but lacks the depth and punch you'd expect at this price. The real kicker is the battery life, which lands in the 16th percentile. You get about 6 hours per charge with ANC on, which is well below average for modern wireless earbuds.

At a street price between $169 and $220, the Motif II A.N.C. is a tough sell. You're paying a premium for the Marshall brand and its distinct look. While the mic and build are fantastic, the underwhelming music performance and short battery life are significant drawbacks at this price point. There are simply better all-rounders for the money if sound is your priority.

Stacked up, the Motif II struggles. The Sony WF-1000XM5 crushes it in both sound quality and noise cancellation, though it costs more. The Anker Soundcore P3i offers similar ANC performance and much better battery life for half the price, though it lacks the premium build. The Nothing Ear (a) provides a more balanced sound profile and better value. If you absolutely love the Marshall style and need a great mic, these make sense. For everyone else, the competition offers more for your cash.

Skip these if you're a music lover first and foremost. The sound profile is just average, and for around $200, you can get earbuds that sound significantly better. Also, avoid them if you need all-day battery life without frequent charges—the 6-hour bud life won't cut it for long trips.

Buy the Marshall Motif II A.N.C. if your top priority is taking crystal-clear calls and you're willing to sacrifice some musical fidelity and battery life for that iconic rock-and-roll look. They're a statement piece that works well for the office or commute. But if you're an audiophile or need all-day battery, you should keep looking.