It has been rumored for a bit of time now that Amazon was planning to launch truly wireless headphones, and the rumors have panned out.
During an event today in Seattle, Washington, Amazon has unveiled (via The Verge)Â a series of new Echo-branded pieces of hardware, including a primary HomePod competitor. And now, at the same event, we’ve got our first look at the Echo Buds — truly wireless headphones. This is Amazon’s first foray into this specific market, and one that’s already dominated by Apple’s AirPods.
Amazon’s Echo Buds are truly wireless, which means there are no cables at all. They feature Amazon’s digital assistant, Alexa, on board, and feature Bose audio technology to boost noise reduction.
Each earbud is equipped with a pair of balanced armature drivers. You can tap on each of the earbuds to access specific controls, including the ability to toggle the noise reduction feature. Tap-and-hold will access your phone’s digital assistant (either Siri or Google Assistant). But you can also say the “Alexa” wake word to reach Amazon’s own digital assistant.
Amazon says the Echo Buds will last for five hours on a single charge, with up to 20 hours of battery life in total with the charging case.
The Echo Buds cost $129, and they will ship in time for the holidays this year. Pre-orders start today.