you are correct for gen 1 - not the best reach and microphones for calls were not good in the beginning (from what I read) and after some updates, they became ok. I got the first gen 2 weeks ago and did update it first before using it. So not sure about the past.
disclaimer: we do not plan to use these things for more then music/podcast/youtube/audiobooks/netflix listening in the gym
have both(Gen 1 and Buds +) here now and with my Android devices it´s pretty good over the Gen 1
we have here a 800 square meter office room and I went from one end to the other with the Buds + in the ears and left my Samsung S10 back … no hick ups at all
with 4 Sonus Play 1 or 3 in the room, 2 wifi acces points and at least 8 other people with other wifi and bluetooth devices on the tables between me and and my phone so far away… not bad!
tried going further away and upstairs to a meeting room and lost connection / hick ups started … however there a fire proof walls out of concrete - so no problems at all for now
called my wife and left the phone 10 meter away on my table with the buds in my ears an closed a glass door behind me - she could not make up a huge difference in quality between phone on the ear and Buds + used for the call
I would say, they optimized the Buds + over the Gen 1 in a few points
the ambient sound option is way better
and you can tap now on the top(additional to the standard functions on the sides) part of the buds left and right to control the volume, which is a nice feature
so you can control volume and play/pause/next/last song + ambient sound on/off left and google assist or siri right
there is now (for android only) the Spotify long press option
I could be wrong but somehow the “dynamic” sound option on the first gen Buds is now similar to the “soft” option with Buds +
the Buds + are more detailed, cleaner and less warm vs Gen 1 (for me fine and hope for my wife as well)
… I do like it for now… will use it (exclusive for the gym) with my smartwatch spotify app - so I can also change volume on the watch or skip tracks … like with the Buds first Gen before. My wife did already use her Apple Watch for it with her iPhone and Buds Gen1, because auf the missing iOS app support with Gen1.
this is the pair for my wife and mine will arrive tomorrow
we already went with the Buds Gen1 to the gym where I had the left in my ear and she had the right, while I was carriyng the phone in my pocket - we had to stay quite close to ech other for no hickups
the same for Dual Bluetooth mode out of the phone, where I used the QCY T5 and my wife the Buds Gen 1 … you better get not more then 10-20 meters apart for a clean music signal in a gym where all others also use some bluetooth headphones
in future my wife will use her I phone and her buds + and I my Android phone and my buds+ - so no problems with reach awaited
