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Echo Buds review: Alexa smarts packed into a mediocre AirPods rival
By the time Amazon got around to announcing its Alexa-powered earbuds in September, the rumors had already been swirling for months. They were hardly a surprise. The online retail giant has a solid track record of keeping upcoming products under lock and key, but word of these voice-controlled true wireless earbuds first surfaced way back in April. Now that they're here, the Echo Buds ($129.99) are poised to take on Apple's AirPods with hands-free Alexa, touch controls, Bose's active noise reduction and more.
Apple's $249 AirPods Pro pack noise cancellation and hands-free Siri
After months of rumors, Apple didn't wait until its next event to reveal the new version of its AirPods. Officially called AirPods Pro, the new model offers active noise cancellation and hands-free access to Siri for $249. The biggest change in terms of design is the addition of silicone ear tips that offer a better seal. This is essential for noise-cancelling earbuds, and it's also a tweak that was tipped in an iOS 13 beta.
Master & Dynamic's MW07 Go is a $199 AirPod alternative
Apple wasn't first to produce true wireless earbuds, but the company's AirPods sit atop the sales charts. In order to compete in terms of cost, companies have introduced more affordable options at $200 or less. At $199 and $159, AirPods are cheaper than the best Sony, Sennheiser and many others offer. Today, Master & Dynamic takes aim at Apple with a $199 set of earbuds that offer its trademark sound quality for $100 less than its first true wireless model.
Master & Dynamic's MW07 Plus are much-improved true wireless earbuds
Master & Dynamic has a stellar reputation for great-sounding headphones, and its set of first true wireless earbuds, the MW07, was no exception. Despite that audio quality and several more handy features, the MW07 suffered from a couple key issues. First, they only lasted 3.5 hours on a charge. Even a year ago, that figure was quite low. Second, the Bluetooth range was noticeably worse than much of the competition. For 2019, M&D went back to the drawing board and developed two new models, but the MW07 Plus ($299) is the direct successor to the MW07. And most importantly, it fixed both of those issues that plagued the first version.
The new true wireless Pixel Buds are always listening
To say that Google's Pixel Buds were "maligned" is putting it lightly. We even said that, compared to the competition (most notably Apple's AirPods), they felt unfinished. But Google is giving it another go, with a truly wireless pair. The new Pixel Buds (no number differentiator here) don't look terribly different from the originals, but this time there's no cable connecting the two. And they have a nice two tone finish that matches the colors of the new Pixel phones. Google claims it's also improved the fit. A number of reviewers complained that the originals weren't terribly comfortable to wear over long periods of time. But the fit here has supposedly been reengineered and they sit flush with your ear, instead of sticking out like some sort of high-tech costume jewelry (or a Q-Tip broken in half).
Apple's excellent Powerbeats Pro are $50 off
Apple's Powerbeats Pro are one of our favorite true-wireless earbuds, and for a limited time, they're on sale for $50 off ($199). That's a great deal considering that they're the best-sounding Beats headphones yet, and they're near the top end of the true wireless spectrum price-wise.
Amazon's Echo Buds are an Alexa-powered answer to Apple's Airpods
Apple has proven that combining true wireless earbuds with always-on access to a virtual assistant can be a reliable recipe for success. Its Airpods continue to be the best selling option, even as the true wireless scene really starts to take off. So, it's no surprise then that Amazon is looking to cash in. Its Echo Buds don't look terribly different from the competition. (They've got a bit of a Bragi vibe going on.) But they do allow you to talk to Alexa without touching a button -- basically it's an Echo you shove in your ears. One thing the Echo Buds definitely have over their Apple competitors though, is noise cancellation. Airpods have none, whereas Amazon has partnered with Bose to borrow its active noise reduction tech. And while Bose isn't king of the hill anymore when it comes to noise cancellation it's still pretty dang good (not to mention a pioneer in the field). It doesn't seem like Amazon sacrificed too much on sound quality either... at least on paper. (Again, the final judgement will have to wait for when we get to test them on our own terms.) Inside each bud is a pair of balanced armature drivers, which should deliver pretty solid bass. The five hours of battery life isn't exactly earth-shattering, but the charging case brings the total runtime up to 20 hours before you need to plug in again. Echo Buds are available to preorder today for $130. Update 9/25/2019 3:10PM ET: This article originally used the term "active noise cancellation" (ANC). It has been updated to reflect the terminology used by Amazon, "active noise reduction." It's unclear currently if this is purely for marketing reasons, or if there is a functional difference between Bose's ANC and what is found in the Echo Buds. Follow all the latest news from Amazon's 2019 hardware event here!
Now is the time to buy true wireless earbuds
Almost four years ago, Bragi burst on the scene with what seemed a crazy idea: true wireless earbuds that also had on-board storage, activity tracking, heart rate monitoring and more. It was an ambitious effort, and it wasn't without flaws. Bragi and many other companies took a while to work out the issues, like reception, that made the early versions unreliable. Within months, though, tech giants began introducing their own take on the emerging tech with options like Samsung's Gear IconX.
Audio-Technica's $99 true wireless earbuds sound amazing
Audio-Technica is no stranger to the true wireless game, and at IFA this week, the company debuted two new models. For me, the $99 ATH-CK3TW is the more compelling of the two, mostly because it's great to see one of the audio giants introduce a set that won't break the bank. Audio-Technica's other new model, the ATH-CKS5TW, is also affordable at $149. However, I was most curious to see what the company could accomplish for under $100. As it turns out, the ATH-CK3TW is a really great-sounding pair that I can't wait to spend more time with.
Jabra's Elite 75t true wireless earbuds are smaller and last longer
I haven't been shy about my affinity for Jabra's Elite 65t. They're solid all-around true wireless earbuds and they cost significantly less than a lot of the competition. Do they sound as good as some of those $300 units from the likes of Sony and Sennheiser? No, but they're reliable and the audio is good enough when you consider the $170 price tag. Over a year and a half after the Elite 65t debuted at CES, Jabra's follow-up is ready: the Elite 75t.
Plantronics' new headphone lineup includes three true wireless options
Plantronics may not be a name that immediately comes to mind when you're shopping for new headphones, but it should be one you consider. Even though the company rebranded as Poly after acquiring Polycom, products still bear the Plantronics name. And like it did last year, the company is debuting a full slate of new headphones in early September. That lineup includes true wireless and sport models that are all under $200.
Klipsch T5 True Wireless review: Great-sounding, but flawed earbuds
Klipsch has been making high quality audio gear since 1946, mostly catering to the audiophile and HiFi crowd. It makes plenty of speakers, soundbars and headphones for casual listeners too, and back at CES, the company debuted its first true wireless earbuds. At $199, the T5 True Wireless offer most of what you need in a pair of true wireless earbuds -- including a pretty cool Zippo-like charging case. But,they're far from perfect, and a few of their flaws could be deal breakers for you, even if they do cost $100 less than much of the competition.
Sony WF-1000XM3 review: Simply the best true wireless earbuds
Sony is no stranger to the true wireless-earbud craze. The company introduced the WF-1000X almost two years ago and followed with the WF-SP700N in 2018. However, even with that experience, Sony hasn't really seemed to hit its stride. There are always issues holding the products back from making the leap. Sony has perfected its over-ear noise-canceling headphones, the WH-1000XM3, and now it's leveraging some of that technology to improve its true wireless buds. Enter the $230 WF-1000XM3, Sony's best true-wireless product and a new contender for the top spot overall.
Powerbeats Pro review: The best-sounding Beats headphones yet
Despite being a hugely popular headphone brand, Beats has had one glaring hole in its wireless headphone lineup: true wireless earbuds. Thanks to a hint in iOS code, the Powerbeats Pro weren't exactly a well-kept secret, and as expected, they carry the latest Apple tech that's also found inside version 2.0 of the AirPods. At $249.95, the Powerbeats Pro is near the top end of the true wireless spectrum price-wise, and its over-the-ear hook design isn't for everyone. However, the combination of features and sound quality makes quite the impression.
Skullcandy's take on Apple's AirPods will only cost you $80
If I've learned anything in the time since Apple's original AirPods debuted, it's that there are a lot of people who don't mind wearing earbuds that extend down from their ears. Apple is currently on version 2.0, and today Skullcandy revealed its take on the polarizing design. With the Indy, Skullcandy managed to pack a lot of features in an $80 package, including a handy charging case.
Amazon is working on an Alexa-powered AirPods competitor
Apple's new AirPods give you hands-free access to Siri, and it sounds like Amazon is working on something similar for Alexa. Bloomberg reports the online retail giant is working on its own true wireless earbuds that will also be its first Alexa wearable. Details are scarce for now, but Bloomberg's sources say although the Amazon version will be similar to AirPods in terms of both general design and features, the company is aiming to offer better audio quality than Apple. Sound quality has been a key criticism of both models of AirPods.
The Powerbeats Pro are Beats' first true wireless earbuds
Reports may have tipped Apple's hand last week, but it was really only a matter of time before the company made a true wireless option that carried the Beats name. And thanks to a hint in iOS code, we knew they'd look very similar to their corded, but still wireless, predecessor. There was little left to announce, and today, Beats officially revealed the Powerbeats Pro: the previously rumored pair of $250 (£220) true wireless earbuds.
Samsung Galaxy Buds review: A waste of good design
Apple has the AirPods for the iPhone, and now Samsung has a true wireless headphone made specifically for its Galaxy lineup. The Galaxy Buds offer a lot of the same features as most other true wireless earbuds: charging case, on-board controls, audio transparency, easy access to virtual assistants and more. There's one major caveat though: Unless you own one of Samsung's recent Galaxy handsets or an Android device, key features on the $130 Galaxy Buds won't be available to you.
