Echo Buds are Amazon's answer to AirPods
Amazon's long-rumored competitor to Apple's AirPods are real, and they're called Echo Buds, the company confirmed at its annual hardware event on Wednesday.
As you might expect, they're somewhat basic and unassuming wireless earbuds that offer hands-free Alexa access. Amazon's announcement emphasized sound quality, claiming each bud has two armature drivers inside to deliver clear audio.
Now for the bad news: They're $129.99. That contradicts previous reports that suggested Amazon would skew toward a cheaper price point. CNBC said they could cost less than $100 and would have significant fitness-tracking features.
You May Also Like
Instead, Amazon's announcement centered more around sound quality and noise cancellation. Amazon partnered with Bose for the noise reduction technology.
At $129.99, Echo Buds aren't much cheaper than AirPods. With a price differential of less than $50, it'll be fascinating to see how Amazon sells these to people. People who already make Alexa part of their daily lives and/or people who prefer Android to iOS might find something to like about them. They're available for preorder now and will ship in October.
Topics AirPods Alexa Amazon Amazon Echo
Alex Perry is a tech reporter at Mashable who primarily covers video games and consumer tech. Alex has spent most of the last decade reviewing games, smartphones, headphones, and laptops, and he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. He is also a Pisces, a cat lover, and a Kansas City sports fan. Alex can be found on Bluesky at yelix.bsky.social.
