Amazon Announces 2nd-Generation Echo Buds

The new second-generation version of Amazon’s Echo Buds earbuds is smaller and lighter than its predecessor and offers better sound.

“The all-new Echo Buds are better in so many ways—a smaller design, a more comfortable fit, Active Noise Cancellation technology, a new color and wireless charging option, and high-performance drivers for dynamic audio,” Amazon senior vice president Tom Taylor writes in the announcement post. “It’s never been easier for customers to bring Alexa with them throughout their day—whether at home, walking the neighborhood, or commuting to work, all they have to do is ask to play music or podcasts, call to check in on a loved one, add an item to their to-do list, and so much more.”

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday — and get free copies of Paul Thurrott's Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides (normally $9.99) as a special welcome gift!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Amazon says that the new Echo Buds are 20 percent smaller, lighter, and IPX4-rated to withstand splashes, sweat, or light rain. The nozzle offers better comfort with a shorter nozzle and new built-in vents reduce ear pressure during use. They come with four ear tip sizes and two wing tip sizes to ensure a proper seal, and the new Active Noise Cancellation feature cancels twice as much noise compared to the first generation, Amazon claims.

Echo Buds offer up to five hours of music playback per charge with Active Noise Cancellation enabled and the supplied compact case provides two additional charges for a total of up to 15 hours of music playback. A 15-minute quick charge will give you up to two hours of music playback, according to Amazon.

The new Echo Buds normally cost $119.99, but they are available for preorder starting today for just $99.99 for a limited time and will ship May 13, Amazon says.

Tagged with

Share post

Please check our Community Guidelines before commenting

Conversation 12 comments

  • crunchyfrog

    14 April, 2021 - 10:49 am

    <p>If anyone has used the first generation I would be curious to hear their thoughts. Often first gen buds are lackluster and the second or third gen are pretty decent.</p>

    • MyDogFreddie

      14 April, 2021 - 2:05 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#623002"><em>In reply to crunchyfrog:</em></a></blockquote><blockquote>I bought the Gen1 Echo earbuds when they went on sale for $85 last year. I use them every day &amp; feel I'm getting my money's worth. That said, I use them primarily for their Bluetooth capability and haven't tried &amp; am not much interested in the Alexa-related features. Integration with Audible is excellent &amp; appreciated, however, and for simply listening to music or having telephone conversations, they've been good for the price paid.</blockquote><p><br></p>

  • ghostrider

    14 April, 2021 - 11:59 am

    <p>Ok, I get that Amazon are a huge company and they made a wave with their smart speakers (originally designed so people could easily buy stuff from them), but is anyone really buying into this Amazon 'ecosystem' thing? They don't really have a mobile presence, and many of their smart ideas have fallen flat. Their Ring doorbells are a privacy nightmare and their Echo media streamers are lacklustre. People buy into the Apple ecosystem, or the Google ecosystem, but Amazon? It seems odd to release 2nd gen 'Buds' when I'm not aware of a single person who actually bought the first gen ones!</p>

    • j5

      Premium Member
      14 April, 2021 - 11:31 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#623012">In reply to ghostrider:</a></em></blockquote><p>I'm a tech person but I'm not an audiophile. We have Amazon Echos in our home and we all love them! My kids constantly use them for music in their rooms, alarms, reminders, and ask Alexa questions to help with their home (measurements, geography, definitions, math questions). My wife and I use them for music, cooking alarms, reminders, and at dinner will as it silly questions or jokes as a silly family bonding thing.</p><p>I use the Alexa app all the time to manage the speakers and it works fine.</p><p><br></p><p>I think most norm people love them because they do what they're suppose to do, plain and simple. But audiophiles go with Sonos or something else. </p>

      • Cardch

        15 April, 2021 - 3:01 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#623107">In reply to j5:</a></em></blockquote><blockquote>Audiophiles do not go with Sonos!</blockquote><p><br></p>

    • christianwilson

      Premium Member
      15 April, 2021 - 1:21 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#623012">In reply to ghostrider:</a></em></blockquote><p>Buying into the ecosystem as far as buying Amazon products? Sure, I have bought into the Amazon ecosystem over the years. </p><p><br></p><p>We don't use Siri on our phones for much, but around the house we use Alexa all the time for calling up music, information, building our grocery list, alarm clocks, some light home automation, and more. I agree that Echo speakers are not top of the line audio, but sound good enough and easy enough for the average person. My book library is on Kindle and with Audible in that ecosystem, Amazon provides a great digital reading experience. I have an Echo Auto in the car that has extended Alexa functionality where I need it. We were also a heavy Fire TV household, though we recently migrated to Chromecast with Google TV.</p><p><br></p><p>Amazon does try a lot of ideas and yes, many do fail to catch on, but I appreciate their effort because there are clear signs that they learn from these experiments. If you look closely, you can usually see where a product failed in sales, but some features become successful in other products.</p><p><br></p><p>I'm not trying to defend my purchasing decisions over the years (I sometimes make terrible ones), and certainly not trying to defend a billion-dollar company (that's Amazon's job), but I do think Amazon has quietly built a successful ecosystem over time.</p>

  • IanYates82

    Premium Member
    14 April, 2021 - 6:11 pm

    <p>Seems a lot like the galaxy buds I got with my S21 earlier in the year. </p>

  • Cardch

    15 April, 2021 - 3:07 am

    <p>I get it, I really do, but I find it so depressing when companies release a vNext product and as part of the hype they totally trash the previous generation. They always make it sound like 'what idiot bought that pile of &amp;^%$, this is so much better'. Well, I did, your customer but now you make me feel like a total bozo for doing so. Who knew they were actually utter garbage. </p>

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      15 April, 2021 - 9:15 am

      Yeah, that is the weirdest part of marketing to me as well. It’s especially noticeable at Apple announcements.

    • MoopMeep

      15 April, 2021 - 9:39 am

      <blockquote><a href="#623133"><em>In reply to Cardch:</em></a></blockquote><p>I always feel like that with past windows releases. If the last release was so great, why are you changing the UI so much?</p><p>(2009)Windows 7 is the best…. (2012)you know what, windows 7 sucks, windows 8 is better….. (2015)you know what windows 8 sucks too, windows 10 is the best……</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

    • naro

      Premium Member
      18 April, 2021 - 12:08 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#623133">In reply to Cardch:</a></em></blockquote><p>seems pretty normal. Technology has gotten smaller, used less power and been twice as fast every 18 months for the past 30 years. It's not really marketing, just facts lol. Why not say them? Every time you buy is the best time to buy….that's why I dont buy the extended warranty on electronics….because when it eventually breaks (usually my fault) I don't want a replacement of what I bought I want the new hotness! </p><p><br></p><p>I tend to take good care and hold onto my stuff for a long time, so an accident could leave me happier that I now suddenly need to buy something newer, small, faster, lighter, more battery life. Ever 2-3 years is a good time frame for me :-)</p>

  • clive rennie

    15 April, 2021 - 10:42 am

    <p>I got one of the first buds on pre release had it for about 2 weeks then returned them they were bulky case was huge sound was ok Amazon did send me a second pair maybe because of my review of them same problem but with overtime firmware updates i kept them have pre ordered the V2 edition ones seems some issues have been fixed so we'll see.</p>

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Thurrott © 2024 Thurrott LLC