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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-26 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
These two products share the "Bluetooth 5.3" label and almost nothing else. One is a pair of in-ear headphones; the other is a small box that adds Bluetooth to devices that don't have it. Comparing them only makes sense once you know which problem you're actually trying to solve, so let's break down what each one really does.
• Motast Earbuds — biggest strength: Long playback between charges, with a charging case that carries roughly 140 hours of total listening time and recharges over USB-C.
• Motast Earbuds — biggest trade-off: It's a pair of earbuds, not an audio source. It plays sound from your phone or other Bluetooth device, and it can't feed audio to a TV or a wired stereo.
• SOOMFON 5.3 — biggest strength: It turns non-Bluetooth gear (TV, PC, MP3 player, stereo) into a Bluetooth source and can stream to two headphones or speakers simultaneously.
• SOOMFON 5.3 — biggest trade-off: No microphone, no battery (it needs DC power), and it's not for instruments, karaoke, or smart speakers like Echo devices.
• Who Motast Earbuds is for: Anyone who wants wireless listening on the move — running, cycling, workouts, travel — with a long gap between charges.
• Who SOOMFON 5.3 is for: Anyone who wants to use their existing Bluetooth headphones with a TV, home stereo, or other wired audio device, especially two listeners at once.
The Motast I09 is built around stamina and durability. On a single charge the earbuds run about 6 hours, and the charging case is rated to top them up around 23 times, which adds up to roughly 140 hours of total playback. The case itself refills in about 1.5 hours via USB-C. That combination matters most to people who don't want to think about charging every day — a week of commutes, a long trip, or several workout sessions can pass before you reach for the cable. A dual LED display on the case shows the remaining power of both the earbuds and the case, so you're never guessing.
Sound and calls are handled by a dynamic driver with a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz frequency range, paired with DSR lossless HD rendering for stereo output, and CVC 8.0 noise cancelling for the microphone. In my read of the specs, this is a "get the job done well" configuration rather than an audiophile one: it should give you clear treble, usable bass, and intelligible calls. The touch controls cover the essentials — play/pause, track skipping, volume, call answer/end, and a triple-tap for your voice assistant — and pairing is quick, with the earbuds connecting to each other and to the last-used device as soon as you lift them out of the case.
The IP7 waterproof rating is the headline for active users. Rain, sweat, and splashes are the scenarios this rating targets, and the product is explicitly aimed at cycling, running, fitness, and hiking. If your earbuds usually die from moisture rather than from old age, this is the kind of build you want. Bluetooth 5.3 gives you a stable connection at up to 15 meters and broad device compatibility.
Who should skip it? If your goal is to get audio out of a TV or a wired stereo and into headphones, this isn't the tool — it's a receiver of Bluetooth audio, not a transmitter. And if you want a wired connection or a device with its own volume knob and screen, look elsewhere.
The SOOMFON 5.3 (model BT17) solves a completely different problem: it takes audio from a non-Bluetooth source and sends it wirelessly to Bluetooth headphones or speakers. It supports Optical, 3.5mm AUX, and RCA inputs, so it can sit between a TV, a PC, an MP3 player, or a home stereo and your existing wireless headphones. If you've ever wanted to watch TV late at night without waking anyone, this is the category of device that makes it possible.
The standout feature is dual connection. The transmitter can pair with two Bluetooth headsets or speakers at the same time, so two people can watch the same movie at their own volume — or one person can use headphones while another uses a Bluetooth soundbar. Once paired the first time, the connected devices reconnect automatically, which removes the fiddly setup ritual from your evening routine.
Range is generous: 10–30 meters in open space, or 10–20 meters with obstacles in the way. That's enough to make dinner or do chores while still hearing your show. The LCD status display shows what the unit is doing, and the built-in volume controls are a genuinely useful addition for headphones that don't have their own volume buttons, such as AirPods. It's a compact ABS unit measuring about 3.31" x 0.43" x 1.3", powered by DC rather than a battery, and the package includes an optical cable, an AUX cable, an AUX-to-RCA cable, and a USB-C power cable.
The limitations are stated plainly, and you should take them seriously. There's no microphone, so it can't be used for calls, karaoke, or instruments. Volume control isn't independent for the two connected devices — one shared level applies to both. It won't work as a transmitter for Echo/Alexa devices or hearing aids, and it's incompatible with anything that requires a PIN code to pair. If you're connecting over optical, you'll need to set your TV's audio output to PCM.
Who should skip it? Anyone who wants to listen to music from their phone while walking around. This device has no battery, no earbuds, and no microphone. It lives next to your TV or stereo, not in your pocket.
• Best for battery life → Motast Earbuds. Roughly 140 hours of total playback from the case, with a 6-hour single-charge runtime.
• Best for workouts and weather → Motast Earbuds. The IP7 waterproof rating is designed for sweat, rain, and splashes.
• Best for making a TV or stereo wireless → SOOMFON 5.3. It accepts Optical, AUX, and RCA and transmits to Bluetooth headphones or speakers.
• Best for two listeners at once → SOOMFON 5.3. Dual connection pairs two headsets or speakers simultaneously.
• Best for calls and voice assistants → Motast Earbuds. Built-in mic with CVC 8.0 noise cancelling and touch-activated voice assistant.
• Best for long-range freedom around the house → SOOMFON 5.3. Rated for 10–30 meters in open space.
• Best for travel and commuting → Motast Earbuds. In-ear, cord-free, and pocketable with its own charging case.
• Best for a fixed home audio setup → SOOMFON 5.3. DC-powered, sits by the TV, with an LCD readout and on-unit volume buttons.
My Verdict
In my opinion, these aren't really competitors — they're two different tools that happen to share a Bluetooth version number. If I had to pick one based on the most common need, I'd buy the Motast Earbuds. They're the complete, self-contained product: earbuds, mic, touch controls, a charging case with a long reserve, and a waterproof build that suits everyday life. I'd recommend the SOOMFON 5.3 only if your specific problem is getting audio out of a TV or wired stereo and into Bluetooth headphones — in that case it's the right answer and the Motast simply can't do the job at all. Decide which problem you have first; the choice then makes itself.
No. Motast Earbuds are true wireless in-ear headphones that receive audio from your phone. SOOMFON 5.3 is a Bluetooth transmitter that sends audio from a TV, PC, or stereo to Bluetooth headphones or speakers. They serve opposite directions of the same audio chain.
Yes, in principle. The SOOMFON transmits audio from a wired source to Bluetooth headphones, and the Motast earbuds are Bluetooth headphones — so you could use them together to listen to TV audio wirelessly. Just note the SOOMFON's volume control isn't independent for two connected devices.
Motast Earbuds, clearly. They're in-ear, cord-free, and rated IP7 for sweat and water resistance. The SOOMFON 5.3 has no battery and is meant to sit beside a TV or stereo, so it isn't a wearable at all.
It can, but the two are so different in purpose that specs should decide first. Check the current price on Amazon for each, then match the product to your actual need — earbuds for personal listening, a transmitter for your home setup.
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