Marshall Minor IV earbuds review: Good sound, great battery but no ANC

Marshall, known for its premium audio with high-quality amplifiers and speakers, recently ventured into the true wireless stereo (TWS) market starting with the launch of Motif ANC and Minor III earbuds in 2021. Since then, Marshall has been expanding its TWS lineup, with most of its offerings competing with earbuds from the likes of Apple and Sony. The Marshall Minor IV is one of the latest additions to the Marshall TWS family.
Priced at Rs 11,999, the new Marshall Minor IV brings a lot to the table for those seeking a premium audio experience with an open-ear design. Featuring 12 mm drivers, an IPX4 rating for water resistance, USB Type-C charging, and battery life of up to 7 hours in the earbuds, and over 30 hours with the case, the Minor IV promise to offer the signature Marshall sound, a comfortable fit, and customisation options. Weighing just 7.39 grams, they’re designed for long usage.
However, specs alone cannot tell the whole story. I tested these earbuds for around 3 weeks, and while the Minor IV impressed me with some standout features, they also have their shortcomings. Let me detail one by one around where the Minor IV shines — and where it could improve, in this detailed India Today Tech review.
In a world where most of its competitors go for a more sleek and petite design for their earbuds, Marshall always chooses a more rugged aesthetic for its TWS, and you can see that design language translated on to the Minor IV as well. The earbuds come in a sole black variant with a Marshall logo in white. There is also a letterform ‘M’ on both the earbuds. The earbuds sport a clicky plastic build with a leather-like texture –– which only gives an impression of being leather from a distance, but the moment you touch it, you can immediately tell it’s a plastic body, and not a very premium one at that.
We had recently also reviewed the Marshall Motif II ANC, and similar to the Minor IV, with those earbuds too, we found the case featured what seems like low-quality plastic — even though, when it comes to price, the Motif II is on the premium side, with a price of around Rs 20,000. That build quality can also be seen on the Minor IV. You are also constantly reminded of the “plastic build” every time you flip the case open and shut. It makes a prominent “plastic-y” noise that I don’t love. On the flip side, while the build may not feel premium to touch, it does make the device lightweight. And if you can look beyond the touch and feel, it is worth appreciating that the earbuds are made using 90 per cent recycled plastic.
That said, the build quality is not a commentary on the Minor IV’s durability. During the test period, it has survived a lot of falls and some rough handling. As we write this review, the earbuds and its case are intact without any signs of damage.
Another thing: While I prefer gadgets in black, because you just can’t go wrong with the colour, I would have still liked to see more colour options. Because it is not as though Marshall is strictly committed to black. A few months ago, I reviewed the Marshall Middleton speaker, which featured a beautiful cream-white variant. Why not bring more colours to the TWS range as well?
As I mentioned, the Minor IV has an open-ear design, so the fit varies from user to user. I prefer silicone-tipped earbuds as they offer a better fit and are more comfortable for longer wear. But that’s more of a personal choice. For some, an open-ear design could be more comfortable.
For me, the Minor IV provided a decent fit, but they became uncomfortable over extended wear. I blame the rugged texture and the coarse plastic for that. However, as I pointed out before, it’s a personal choice, because for me other earbuds with open-ear design like the Apple AirPods aren’t comfortable either.
But an actual pain point of this device, especially considering its price point of Rs 12,000, is the lack of ANC. Neither do they offer effective passive noise isolation. The only way to block out noise is to listen to audio at a high volume. Notably, right now, the Apple AirPods 4 are the only open earbuds with ANC, so ANC isn’t commonly offered in this design.
In short, I really missed having an ANC, which really elevated your audio-listening experience. And given that several brands now offer really good ANC in earbuds even in the sub-Rs 10,000 segment, the absence of any noise cancellation or environmental noise reduction in the Minor IV was really off-putting.
If you’re looking for earbuds that offer balanced sound with plenty of customisation, the Marshall Minor IV will not disappoint you. I listened to a variety of music — Bollywood, pop, and bass-heavy tracks — and was impressed with the audio quality and overall experience the Minor IV delivered.
Being a fan of bass, I liked that I was able to customise the elements of the audio as per my liking. Instead of the typical 2-3 presets, there are 4-5 options available apart from the custom settings, allowing me to tailor the sound to match the genre I was listening to, and further enhancing my overall listening experience.
As for the sound, if not great, the Marshall Minor IV are pretty decent. While ANC, and fit (at least, for me) could have made the experience better, using the earbuds in a quiet place really brings out the audio quality. In fact, I was listening to the APT song by Rosé and Bruno Mars on repeat. I heard the song with different equaliser settings, and I truly enjoyed the experience. While a few song tracks felt slightly flat, the overall music quality was satisfying.
The audio quality was also impressive during calls. I experienced clear audio on both ends and minimal sound leakage, particularly in quieter environments.
So far in this review, I’ve highlighted some hits and misses of the Marshall Minor IV. But here is the best part about the earbuds: the battery.
As promised, the Minor IV delivers impressive battery life. During the review periods, I only needed to charge the earbuds every four days, using them for about 4-5 hours daily. Not having to worry about charging yet another device is a huge plus. It is also one the highlights of the Marshall Minor IV, for me.
The quick charging feature was also handy, with a Type-C port and support for wireless charging, making it easy and convenient to keep them powered up.
The Marshall Minor IV is a decent pair of earbuds, if not the best. In fact, they offer one of the best audio experiences in this price segment, and have an incredibly long battery life. The customisation options in the app further offers the freedom to personalise the listening experience. And the lightweight design is an added bonus.
However, if like me, you particularly find open-ear design uncomfortable, the Minor IV might not offer a great fit and could restrict the audio experience. The lack of ANC is a big drawback for those who prioritise noise cancellation. That said, if you’re looking for a well-sounding, lightweight, long-lasting pair of open design earbuds and don’t prioritise ANC, then the Marshall Minor IV is definitely worth considering.