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It has been hinted at several times, and now the time has come – Amazon has introduced its own AirPods – they are called Echo Buds.
The Echo Buds are Amazon's attempt to compete with Apple's AirPods. Will the plan work? The Echo Buds feature noise cancellation technology developed by Bose and, as expected, are wireless. Amazon's new earbuds are compatible with iOS and Android and offer some of the basic functions of the AirPods - they can also control virtual assistants. This means that users can not only access Alexa with Amazon's Echo Buds but also activate Siri or Google's solution. As a result, however, Alexa will have more functions to offer - this includes, for example, navigation in the company's own organic supermarket chain Whole Foods Market.
Good sound at a low price
The absolute highlight is the noise cancellation - the Active Noise Cancellation technology developed by Bose was used here - it can be activated/deactivated by double-clicking if desired - a big advantage over the Apple AirPods. This is made possible by two microphones on the outside and one inside the plugs. In order to offer good audio quality, special components are used that were inspired by in-ear modules. The battery life of the new Echo Buds is said to be a full five hours - if the charging case is used, around 20 hours of runtime are possible.
Furthermore, Amazon's earbuds are IPX4 certified - which means they are protected against splashes of water and sweat. The new wonder earbuds from Amazon cost around 129 US dollars, making them cheaper than Apple's AirPods - they can currently only be pre-ordered in the USA. It is unknown when the accessories will be available in other countries. Delivery will start at the end of October. These are the new Echo models. (Image: Amazon)
