Amazon has announced its second-generation Echo Buds with a sleeker and lighter design along with improved sound quality. The company has used a vented design on the new Echo Buds to help reduce ear pressure.
Amazon says the new Echo Buds are 20% smaller and lighter than the previous generation earbuds making them more comfortable to wear. They are also IPX4 certified, making them splash-resistant.
Improved Sound Quality and Active Noise Cancellation
As a part of the sleeker design, Amazon has reduced the nozzle height and added vents to the earbuds to reduce ear pressure, which should help during an extended period of usage.
Amazon is bundling four ear tip sizes and two wing tip sizes so that you can find the most comfortable fit for your ears. There's also an Ear Tip Fit Test that you can take to ensure the Echo Buds have a proper seal.
The earbuds feature built-in Alexa, so you can trigger the digital assistant by simply saying the "Alexa" hotword.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) on the second-gen. Echo Buds is twice as effective as the first generation. You can turn on ANC on the new Echo Earbuds by simply saying "Alexa, turn on noise cancellation" or pressing and holding the touch area on either earbud. There's also a Passthrough Mode, which will allow you to listen to the ambient sound around you.
Amazon is also bringing the VIP Filter from the Echo Frames to the new Echo Buds later this year. The VIP Filter will let you select the notifications you want to hear, like incoming phone calls or text messages, and mute the rest. You will be able to hear a notification in real-time by simply double-tapping on either earbud.
The new Echo Buds is rated to offer up to five hours of music playback on a single charge with ANC switched on. This can be extended by another 1.5 hours by turning off ANC and hotword detection. The bundled carrying case can charge the earbuds twice fully to extend the total playback time to 15 hours.
The earbuds also support quick charge, with a 15-minute charge enough to provide two hours of music playback. The carrying case has LED lights in front of each earbud to show its battery status. The Echo Buds can be charged over USB-C or via a Qi wireless charger.
Amazon Echo Buds Price and Availability
The new Echo Buds will be available in Black and Glacier White colors. The earbuds are available for pre-order, with shipments expected to start to customers in the US in May.
The Echo Buds are available for $119.99 for the USB-C version, with the charging case variant supporting wireless charging priced at $139.99. You can buy the Echo Buds from Amazon.
For a limited time, Amazon will be offering a $20 discount on both these variants. Additionally, the company will also give eligible customers six months of Amazon Music Unlimited and Audible Plus subscription for free.
