If Amazon now has some experience in audio through its Echo speakers
and its Amazon Music streaming service, however, it lacked a string to its bow: wireless headphones. The oversight has now been repaired, thanks to the arrival of Echo Buds, TWS intras with ANC, and of course, access to Alexa voice assistant
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The Echo Buds aren’t that new. They have been marketed since 2019 on the American market. They must also face very fierce competition in the entry/mid-range sector.
Wireless intras designed to communicate with Alexa
It is in all discretion that Amazon has formalized the arrival in France of its first Bluetooth headphones, the Echo Buds. As their name suggests, they are intended to work with the voice assistant Alexa, like all devices in the Echo range.
The intras thus operate in hands-free mode. With a simple voice command, you can make a call to a loved one, but also add products to your shopping list, play music from Amazon Music, set a timer, etc. In short, the same functions as on an Echo speaker are now available through these headphones. It’s nothing revolutionary, but it’s still fun to get out of the usual Google Assistant and Siri, the main voice assistants on the current market.
Headphones that seem very classic in their approach
Apart from access to Alexa, the Echo Buds are rather classic. They have a rounded look, very sober. Inside each shell is a dynamic transducer. Point of hybrid architecture as on Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2, Amazon remains cautious. However, the American brand indicates that vents have been made in the shells to limit pressure in the ears.
It also seems that Amazon favors a semi-intra type approach, with tips that limit the sinking into the ear canal. There is also the choice between four sizes of tips and two different sizes of fins. The e-commerce giant intends to provide us with comfortable headphones. It remains to be seen in a future test whether the promise will be kept. For the moment, it should be noted that the Echo Buds are equipped with an IPX4 certification.
The controls are placed on the touch surfaces, which is also rather classic. A double-press allows you to manage the activation of the transparency mode while a long press activates the ANC. As often, it seems that it will be necessary to manage the volume directly from the smartphone. Moreover, Amazon does not specify the Bluetooth codecs supported by its Echo Buds intras. You will probably have to settle for SBC, the current standard codec.
Finally, autonomy may disappoint more than one. With the ANC activated, Amazon announces 5 hours of operation per headset. The case allows for two full recharges, for a total of 15 hours of operation. It’s a bit lightweight at the moment where most wireless headphones are used between 20 and 30 hours on average…
Price and availability
The Echo Buds are available for pre-order starting today, February 16. A special price is also charged for the launch: 79 euros instead of 119 for the wired charging box, and 99 euros instead of 139 for the model compatible with wireless charging. This promotional offer will last until February 23.
The first deliveries will take place on February 24, 2022, the day when prices will rise to their normal level. We will be sure to deliver a detailed test of the Echo Buds to you as soon as possible.
Source: Amazon press conference
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