Microsoft puts Cortana in your ear with Surface Headphones
Microsoft's Surface lineup has taken an unexpected turn. The company just teased an upcoming "Surface Headphones," product, a reveal that came as a surprise during a press event for the company's new lineup of Surface devices.
The Surface Headphones mark a first for the company. To date, Microsoft has never made a Surface-branded audio product.
The tech-infused headphones are a bit like Microsoft's answer to Apple's AirPods or Google's PixelBuds in that they come with Cortana built-right in and are optimized for Surface devices (though they'll pair with any bluetooth device). But unlike those companies' earbuds, the Surface Headphones are over-ear, noise canceling headphones.
The headphones look a bit bulkier than other over-ear cans, but there's a lot packed into them, according to Microsoft. In addition to Cortana, they're equipped with four beam-forming mics and four noice-canceling mics, and support 13 levels of noise cancellation.
You can control volume levels and noise cancellation via on-ear dials, so you can adjust the sound precisely to your environment.
Microsoft didn't reveal many details about the headphones at its event, only but the company shared a bit more with CNET, who got an early look at them ahead of the Surface event. Microsoft told the publication the headphones charge via USB-C and will get up to 15 hours of battery life in bluetooth and 50 hours in "wired mode."
In addition to the on-ear volume dials, you'll also be able to adjust the sound via a smartphone app.
Put all that together and the Surface Headphones sound like an intriguing product, though one that will have a hard time competing with Apple's Beats, Bose, and other competitors, which have been making noise-cancelling headphones for years. So it's not surprising, then, that Microsoft is reportedly planning a limited release for the Surface Headphones.
The Surface Headphones will go on sale at Microsoft Stores in the U.S. later this fall for $350, according to CNET.
Karissa was Mashable's Senior Tech Reporter, and is based in San Francisco. She covers social media platforms, Silicon Valley, and the many ways technology is changing our lives. Her work has also appeared in Wired, Macworld, Popular Mechanics, and The Wirecutter. In her free time, she enjoys snowboarding and watching too many cat videos on Instagram. Follow her on Twitter @karissabe.
