Amazon today launched the second generation version of its Echo Buds. These are in-ear truly wireless earbuds with active noise cancelation. The new Echo Buds feature 20% smaller design compared to the previous generation model. The case now has a tall, slim profile compared to the short and wide case of the previous model. The earbuds are also smaller than before. They feature a shortened nozzle for improved comfort and new vents to equalize the pressure inside your ears. They come with four tip sizes and two wing tip sizes for optimal fit and the AirPods Pro-esque Ear Tip Fit Test feature in the app will help you decide if you have chosen the correct tip size.
The new Echo Buds also incorporate
custom-designed active noise cancelation. The previous generation model notably
featured Bose' active noise reduction technology, which Bose itself admitted to
being worse than its usual active noise cancelation technology found on its
other products. Amazon seems to have decided to cut the middleman entirely for
this version and designed its own tech, which claims to cancel twice as much
noise as the previous model by using microphones on the outside and inside the
earbuds.
The Echo Buds continue to have full
integration with Alexa and even let you control built-in features such as
enable noise cancelation or passthrough mode using your voice. Aside from that,
you can also do usual things such as playing music, setting timers and
reminders, check your calendar, or make calls using your voice. And if you
can't find your Echo Buds, you can use another Echo device to help you locate
them.
Arriving later this year, Echo Buds will
also receive a feature called VIP Filter. Carried over from the Echo Frames,
this feature lets you select the notification you want to hear and filters out
the rest. The selected notification will play in your ear with a double tap or
can be dismissed with a single tap. The Echo Buds claim to have 5-hours of
battery life with active noise cancelation, with the case offering two
additional full charges for a total of 15-hours. A 15-minute quick charge is
said to offer two hours of music playback. The case can be charged with a USB-C
cable or Qi-certified charger on the wireless charging mode.
The Echo Buds are priced at US$ 120 for the
standard model and US$ 140 for the wireless charging model. For a limited time,
Amazon will be selling them for US$ 100 and US$ 120, respectively. Customers in
select regions will also get six months of Amazon Music Unlimited and Audible
Plus for free. The Echo Buds will be available in two colors, Black or Glacier
White.
