Preface:
I bought these not for the intention of daily driving, but as a pair of simple TV listening headphones that my father can use with our Fire TV Cube, so as not to distract my mother who is usually reading peacefully in the living room. His current pair of earbuds, are the powerbeats pro, but they have a few disadvantages, like their lightning charging port, the rubber eartip that rarely stays attached to the bud, or their lack of multipoint bluetooth.
These seemed to fit the bill in terms of simplicity, and I was glad to get them for him. Intentionally, I decided to wear them for a day or two just to get the hang of them, so I could help out my father later when problems inevitably showed up.
Case:
This is one area which needs desperate improvement. The case is nearly perfect, save for the indent which is supposed to allow one's finger to hook on the lip of the lid to open it. It's not deep enough, and the hinge has a bit of flex in it, meaning that when it's closed and I'm pressing down hard to get some purchase on the lid, I'll wind up pushing the lid backwards, making the lip created by the indent disappear. This is severely irritating, and I'll likely put a trimming of grip-tape on the lid just to make it easier to open.
Outside of my qualms with opening it, the case has a matte but pretty finish, a little lightweight, and I can hear the earbuds rattle around inside when I shake it.
Sound Quality:
Flipping amazing. I compared these to my 2nd Gen Echo Buds (2021), and the bass is deeper, but the mids and trebles are not washed out in comparison. The sound is tightly controlled, rich and lovely to listen to, moreso than my 2021 buds which seem almost tinny in comparison. Even without sealing on my ear, I can hear everything, and whilst it might not sound the way the recording studio made it, it certainly sounds pleasant to my ears.
Fit:
Irritating to say the least... I do not like the silicone sleeve, so I took it off, but it seems Amazon is going in a particularly stupid direction here. The first-gen buds had a loop for the wingtip, which was difficult to get aligned properly but wasn't nearly as complex as the veritable harness that you have to slide on the 2nd gen buds. Now we have a sock of silicone, made of sticky, un-sliding silicone. Of course, the instructions say not to use the fingernail tip, but the thought is definitely there as I press and pull with my fingers all day to try and get the unmoving sleeve off. I got rid of them for a better fit, but not after a few requisite tries putting them on and pulling them off, to gauge how they felt on.
The sleeve irritation aside, they fit well, much easier on the ears than the 2nd gen ones, even when I did get the sizing right. They don't go into one's ear canal, so there's a lot less pressure on that part of my ear, and it actually makes the listening experience surprisingly more enjoyable.
Battery:
Pretty good, the battery lasts fairly long... The sticker says 5 hours, but my intermittent usage says a bit longer. Amazon says you can push it farther if you disable Alexa handsfree, which I just might in favor of the long-press gesture since single/double/triple-tap take care of the rest of my desired media control maneuvers.
Charging:
It's a USB-C port. It seems to charge in less than an hour from fully dead when plugged in. I really wish they sold an upgraded version with wireless charging like they did for the 2021 buds, since they will otherwise turn into landfill the moment the USB-C port dies, which is thankfully less likely than the micro-USB only 2019 buds.
Connectivity/Smarts:
They connect just fine, although I get less Alexa info on the buds. My 2nd gen buds not only tell me when they connect or disconnect from a device, but I get an Alexa response telling me *what* device I am connected to (ex: "Connected to phone, connected to computer..."). These just play accompanying sounds that indicate they've connected to.... something.
Outside of that, the rest of the smarts work perfectly fine, albeit missing the workout tracking feature. I feel that was mostly because of Amazon recently giving the Halo devices the Axe recently, which makes me sad since I really liked my Halo View.
Microphones:
They're serviceable, but nothing outstanding... This is mostly because the Bluetooth profile/protocol used for bidirectional audio is of significantly lower bitrate than the one used for one-way audio. I cannot tell the difference between these and my 2nd gen Echo buds.
Conclusion:
This puts me in an awkward position, because I really like the fit, sound, and battery of these new earbuds, but they're supposed to go to my father, and I already have a pair of 2nd gen Echo buds, which have the wireless charging and ANC that I also desire.
In a perfect world, I would like to have an around-the-house pair of buds, wireless charging since they're frequently used, very nice sound, a lightweight battery, perhaps deliberately avoided noise isolation (eg: sound passes right through), and very comfortable. I would also have a pair of travel buds, with huge batteries, strong ANC for planes and trains, and an easy price so I don't have to worry too much about loosing them.
So far, I have 2 pairs of buds, neither of which fit neatly into my preferred categories, but that's ok. I've placed an order for a second pair, for myself, since these are still going to be given to my father - I really don't want to give up on that sound quality, and that lazy fit for lazing about the house.
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Sustainability features
This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.
Carbon impact
Carbon emissions from the lifecycle of this product were reduced compared to similar products or previous models.
As certified by
Reducing CO2 The Reducing CO2 label applies to products certified by the Carbon Trust, that are lowering their carbon emissions year after year for the full lifecycle of the product. The Carbon Trust was formed in 2001 and introduced the world’s first carbon label in 2007. It produces its certifications to global leading and independently verified standards. The Carbon Trust has a mission to accelerate the move to a sustainable, low carbon economy.
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Echo Buds No end in sound
Rich, balanced sound, crisp audio, and up to 20 hours of battery life will keep you locked in for whatever audio experience you crave.
True wireless earbuds. High quality sound. Facts.
Grab sound by the ear with sweat resistant, Bluetooth 5.2 earbuds featuring 12mm drivers, 2 mics and a voice detection accelerometer for crystal clear communication. Hear all of your music, podcast, audiobook, phone call, or whatever you choose to listen to, untethered. Embrace the power of wireless listening with Dual Connect. Enjoy music or make calls with just your left ear, right ear, or both buds at the same time.
Bring on the battery life
A long-lasting battery lets you keep going while out on-the-go.
5 hrs
Up to 5 hours of music playback.
20 total hrs
Up to 20 total hours with the charging case.
2 hrs
Up to 2 hours with a 15-minute quick charge.
Seamless switching
Move from a video call on your laptop to music on your phone without skipping a beat. Multipoint pairing lets you move freely between two connected devices like your phone, laptop, smart speaker, or tablet.
You can also use voice to manage connections. Try saying “Alexa, connect to Fire TV” or “Alexa, disconnect from my Echo Show.”
Take Alexa with you
Ask Alexa to play a song, make a call, set a reminder, get directions, and more.
Semi-in-ear design with Audio Personalization
The new Echo Buds are semi-in-ear earbuds that are designed to rest in your ear without the use of eartips. This design helps reduce but not eliminate outside noise so you can stay connected to your surroundings.
With Audio Personalization, you can optimize your sound. Tune audio for your unique hearing preferences to enhance your enjoyment of music, movies, and more.
Set it up in the Alexa app.
Make them yours
Tap controls
Create customized tap controls to skip a song, mute, or answer a call.
Personalize your listening experience
Connect music accounts like Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Sirius XM, Audible, and podcasts in the Alexa app.
Enable and disable features
Use the Alexa app to manage features like Find My to locate your Echo Buds and VIP Filter to select the messages and notifications you want to hear.
Plays well with others
Echo Buds + Fire TV
Enjoy your favorite TV series with rich sound and easy pairing. Automatically pair Echo Buds with compatible Fire TV devices. Simply turn your Fire TV on, put your buds in, and connect instantly.
Echo Buds + Echo
Seamlessly move your music, podcasts, and radio from your Echo Buds to any compatible Alexa-enabled device to continue listening exactly where you left off.
![Privacy Icon''](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/G/01/kindle/XPL/964823/test/Desktop-privacy-icon-left-aligned-blk.png"){kind=icon}
Designed to protect your privacy
Built with multiple layers of privacy protections and controls, including the ability to mute the mics with the Alexa app. You also have control over your voice recordings. You can view, hear, or delete them at any time. Learn more about Alexa privacy.
Simple to set up and use
Step 1
Open the Alexa app on your phone.
Step 2
Open the case and wait for a blue light to illuminate. Tap the pop-up notification in the app to finish setup.
Step 3
For a more snug fit, Echo Buds will ship with pre-installed, removable silicone earbud covers. No need to remove for charging.
Designed for Sustainability
We make our devices more sustainable—from how we build them to how customers use and retire them. Figures are for Echo Buds not including any other versions or any bundled accessories or devices. We update the carbon footprint when we discover new information that changes the estimated carbon footprint of a device by more than 5%.
Carbon Footprint
Materials
Plastic in case made from 56% post-consumer recycled plastic
Packaging
100% recyclable (shipping packaging not included)
Energy
We invest in renewable energy equivalent to this device's electricity usage
Technical Details
Echo Buds
|
Semi-in-ear design |
Echo Buds are designed to gently rest in your ear with a barely there feeling instead of the fully wedged-in feeling of sealed buds with ear tips. The semi-in-ear design keeps you aware of your surroundings unlike earbuds with rubber eartips that seal your ear canal. No seal allows for unobstructed air flow and cooling ventilation for your ear canal. |
|
Size |
Earbud: 33.9 x 19.1 x 17.7 mm; Case: 23.4 x 51 x 51 mm Amazon engineered Echo Buds & Charging Case to hold up against everyday life. The Echo Buds meet rigorous internal testing requirements such as accidental drops from ear height, sweat testing, IPX2 water resistance, and impact testing. The Charging Case has passed durability requirements such as multiple drops from waist height, impact testing, hinge cycling and over-extension, and scratch testing. |
|
Weight |
Earbud: 5.0g; Case: 36.0g. Actual size and weight may vary by manufacturing process. |
|
Device compatibility |
Echo Buds use a wifi or mobile data connection and the Alexa app for connectivity and other features. Carrier charges may apply. Please consult your carrier for information on any fees and limitations that apply to your plan. Alexa voice control is supported on Android 8.0, iOS 14, and Fire OS 7 or greater. However, please note that these smartphones are not compatible with Echo Buds for Alexa voice control. |
|
Bluetooth connectivity |
Bluetooth 5.2 Hands-Free Profile (HFP) support for calling, Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) support for audio streaming, Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) for voice control of media sessions, Serial Port Profile for Bluetooth connectivity to Android phones and iPod Accessory Protocol for Bluetooth connectivity to iPhones. |
|
Speakers/microphones |
12mm Driver + 2 mics + 1 Voice Accelerometer per earbud |
|
Processor |
SOC: Qualcomm S5 (QCC5171) Bluetooth System on Chip with integrated Audio Codec Case MCU: ST Micro (STM32G0B1CEU6N) |
|
Accessibility features |
The Alexa app and Alexa-enabled products include several features for customers with accessibility needs related to vision, hearing, mobility, and speech. Learn more about Alexa Accessibility. |
|
Warranty and service |
1-year limited warranty and service included. Optional 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year extended warranties will be available for U.S. customers and sold separately. Use of Echo Buds is subject to these terms. |
|
Included in the box |
Echo Buds, charging case, 2 pairs of silicone earbud covers and Quick Start Guide. |
|
Privacy features |
Wake word technology, streaming indicator, mute button in the Alexa app, the ability to view and delete your voice recordings, and more. Visit the Alexa Privacy Hub to explore how Alexa and Echo devices are designed to protect your privacy. |
|
Battery and power |
Up to 5 hours music playback on a single charge with Hands-Free Alexa. Up to 6 hours music playback on a single charge without Hands-Free Alexa. Up to 20 hours total with the charging case. Up to 2 hours music playback time with 15-minute quick charge. Up to 4 hours call time on a single charge. Up to 16 hours call time with the charging case. Actual battery life will vary depending on device settings, features utilized, environment, manufacturing variability, and other factors. Testing was conducted by Amazon in a lab environment with preproduction Echo Buds and charging case and a prerelease version of the Alexa app on both iPhone and Android phones. Learn more about Amazon’s battery life testing here. |
|
IPX rating (water resistance) |
IPX2 (earbuds only). Learn more about our test. |
Sustainability features
This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.
Carbon impact
Carbon emissions from the lifecycle of this product were reduced compared to similar products or previous models.
As certified by
Reducing CO2 The Reducing CO2 label applies to products certified by the Carbon Trust, that are lowering their carbon emissions year after year for the full lifecycle of the product. The Carbon Trust was formed in 2001 and introduced the world’s first carbon label in 2007. It produces its certifications to global leading and independently verified standards. The Carbon Trust has a mission to accelerate the move to a sustainable, low carbon economy.
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Echo Buds Review and Unboxing! Watch before you buy!
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BEFORE YOU BUY....honest review!
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Beribes Bluetooth Headphones vs Echo Buds 2023 Comparison
JUST A DAD
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High quality sound. Yes please. Echo Buds are da bomb
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Instant information in your ear. Love love love these
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Amazon Echo Buds 2023 Unboxing And First Impressions
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Reviews with images
Blows out it's market segment.
Preface:I bought these not for the intention of daily driving, but as a pair of simple TV listening headphones that my father can use with our Fire TV Cube, so as not to distract my mother who is usually reading peacefully in the living room. His current pair of earbuds, are the powerbeats pro, but they have a few disadvantages, like their lightning charging port, the rubber eartip that rarely stays attached to the bud, or their lack of multipoint bluetooth.These seemed to fit the bill in terms of simplicity, and I was glad to get them for him. Intentionally, I decided to wear them for a day or two just to get the hang of them, so I could help out my father later when problems inevitably showed up.Case:This is one area which needs desperate improvement. The case is nearly perfect, save for the indent which is supposed to allow one's finger to hook on the lip of the lid to open it. It's not deep enough, and the hinge has a bit of flex in it, meaning that when it's closed and I'm pressing down hard to get some purchase on the lid, I'll wind up pushing the lid backwards, making the lip created by the indent disappear. This is severely irritating, and I'll likely put a trimming of grip-tape on the lid just to make it easier to open.Outside of my qualms with opening it, the case has a matte but pretty finish, a little lightweight, and I can hear the earbuds rattle around inside when I shake it.Sound Quality:Flipping amazing. I compared these to my 2nd Gen Echo Buds (2021), and the bass is deeper, but the mids and trebles are not washed out in comparison. The sound is tightly controlled, rich and lovely to listen to, moreso than my 2021 buds which seem almost tinny in comparison. Even without sealing on my ear, I can hear everything, and whilst it might not sound the way the recording studio made it, it certainly sounds pleasant to my ears.Fit:Irritating to say the least... I do not like the silicone sleeve, so I took it off, but it seems Amazon is going in a particularly stupid direction here. The first-gen buds had a loop for the wingtip, which was difficult to get aligned properly but wasn't nearly as complex as the veritable harness that you have to slide on the 2nd gen buds. Now we have a sock of silicone, made of sticky, un-sliding silicone. Of course, the instructions say not to use the fingernail tip, but the thought is definitely there as I press and pull with my fingers all day to try and get the unmoving sleeve off. I got rid of them for a better fit, but not after a few requisite tries putting them on and pulling them off, to gauge how they felt on.The sleeve irritation aside, they fit well, much easier on the ears than the 2nd gen ones, even when I did get the sizing right. They don't go into one's ear canal, so there's a lot less pressure on that part of my ear, and it actually makes the listening experience surprisingly more enjoyable.Battery:Pretty good, the battery lasts fairly long... The sticker says 5 hours, but my intermittent usage says a bit longer. Amazon says you can push it farther if you disable Alexa handsfree, which I just might in favor of the long-press gesture since single/double/triple-tap take care of the rest of my desired media control maneuvers.Charging:It's a USB-C port. It seems to charge in less than an hour from fully dead when plugged in. I really wish they sold an upgraded version with wireless charging like they did for the 2021 buds, since they will otherwise turn into landfill the moment the USB-C port dies, which is thankfully less likely than the micro-USB only 2019 buds.Connectivity/Smarts:They connect just fine, although I get less Alexa info on the buds. My 2nd gen buds not only tell me when they connect or disconnect from a device, but I get an Alexa response telling me *what* device I am connected to (ex: "Connected to phone, connected to computer..."). These just play accompanying sounds that indicate they've connected to.... something.Outside of that, the rest of the smarts work perfectly fine, albeit missing the workout tracking feature. I feel that was mostly because of Amazon recently giving the Halo devices the Axe recently, which makes me sad since I really liked my Halo View.Microphones:They're serviceable, but nothing outstanding... This is mostly because the Bluetooth profile/protocol used for bidirectional audio is of significantly lower bitrate than the one used for one-way audio. I cannot tell the difference between these and my 2nd gen Echo buds.Conclusion:This puts me in an awkward position, because I really like the fit, sound, and battery of these new earbuds, but they're supposed to go to my father, and I already have a pair of 2nd gen Echo buds, which have the wireless charging and ANC that I also desire.In a perfect world, I would like to have an around-the-house pair of buds, wireless charging since they're frequently used, very nice sound, a lightweight battery, perhaps deliberately avoided noise isolation (eg: sound passes right through), and very comfortable. I would also have a pair of travel buds, with huge batteries, strong ANC for planes and trains, and an easy price so I don't have to worry too much about loosing them.So far, I have 2 pairs of buds, neither of which fit neatly into my preferred categories, but that's ok. I've placed an order for a second pair, for myself, since these are still going to be given to my father - I really don't want to give up on that sound quality, and that lazy fit for lazing about the house.
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2023
Color: BlackConfiguration: Device OnlyVerified Purchase
Preface:
I bought these not for the intention of daily driving, but as a pair of simple TV listening headphones that my father can use with our Fire TV Cube, so as not to distract my mother who is usually reading peacefully in the living room. His current pair of earbuds, are the powerbeats pro, but they have a few disadvantages, like their lightning charging port, the rubber eartip that rarely stays attached to the bud, or their lack of multipoint bluetooth.
These seemed to fit the bill in terms of simplicity, and I was glad to get them for him. Intentionally, I decided to wear them for a day or two just to get the hang of them, so I could help out my father later when problems inevitably showed up.
Case:
This is one area which needs desperate improvement. The case is nearly perfect, save for the indent which is supposed to allow one's finger to hook on the lip of the lid to open it. It's not deep enough, and the hinge has a bit of flex in it, meaning that when it's closed and I'm pressing down hard to get some purchase on the lid, I'll wind up pushing the lid backwards, making the lip created by the indent disappear. This is severely irritating, and I'll likely put a trimming of grip-tape on the lid just to make it easier to open.
Outside of my qualms with opening it, the case has a matte but pretty finish, a little lightweight, and I can hear the earbuds rattle around inside when I shake it.
Sound Quality:
Flipping amazing. I compared these to my 2nd Gen Echo Buds (2021), and the bass is deeper, but the mids and trebles are not washed out in comparison. The sound is tightly controlled, rich and lovely to listen to, moreso than my 2021 buds which seem almost tinny in comparison. Even without sealing on my ear, I can hear everything, and whilst it might not sound the way the recording studio made it, it certainly sounds pleasant to my ears.
Fit:
Irritating to say the least... I do not like the silicone sleeve, so I took it off, but it seems Amazon is going in a particularly stupid direction here. The first-gen buds had a loop for the wingtip, which was difficult to get aligned properly but wasn't nearly as complex as the veritable harness that you have to slide on the 2nd gen buds. Now we have a sock of silicone, made of sticky, un-sliding silicone. Of course, the instructions say not to use the fingernail tip, but the thought is definitely there as I press and pull with my fingers all day to try and get the unmoving sleeve off. I got rid of them for a better fit, but not after a few requisite tries putting them on and pulling them off, to gauge how they felt on.
The sleeve irritation aside, they fit well, much easier on the ears than the 2nd gen ones, even when I did get the sizing right. They don't go into one's ear canal, so there's a lot less pressure on that part of my ear, and it actually makes the listening experience surprisingly more enjoyable.
Battery:
Pretty good, the battery lasts fairly long... The sticker says 5 hours, but my intermittent usage says a bit longer. Amazon says you can push it farther if you disable Alexa handsfree, which I just might in favor of the long-press gesture since single/double/triple-tap take care of the rest of my desired media control maneuvers.
Charging:
It's a USB-C port. It seems to charge in less than an hour from fully dead when plugged in. I really wish they sold an upgraded version with wireless charging like they did for the 2021 buds, since they will otherwise turn into landfill the moment the USB-C port dies, which is thankfully less likely than the micro-USB only 2019 buds.
Connectivity/Smarts:
They connect just fine, although I get less Alexa info on the buds. My 2nd gen buds not only tell me when they connect or disconnect from a device, but I get an Alexa response telling me *what* device I am connected to (ex: "Connected to phone, connected to computer..."). These just play accompanying sounds that indicate they've connected to.... something.
Outside of that, the rest of the smarts work perfectly fine, albeit missing the workout tracking feature. I feel that was mostly because of Amazon recently giving the Halo devices the Axe recently, which makes me sad since I really liked my Halo View.
Microphones:
They're serviceable, but nothing outstanding... This is mostly because the Bluetooth profile/protocol used for bidirectional audio is of significantly lower bitrate than the one used for one-way audio. I cannot tell the difference between these and my 2nd gen Echo buds.
Conclusion:
This puts me in an awkward position, because I really like the fit, sound, and battery of these new earbuds, but they're supposed to go to my father, and I already have a pair of 2nd gen Echo buds, which have the wireless charging and ANC that I also desire.
In a perfect world, I would like to have an around-the-house pair of buds, wireless charging since they're frequently used, very nice sound, a lightweight battery, perhaps deliberately avoided noise isolation (eg: sound passes right through), and very comfortable. I would also have a pair of travel buds, with huge batteries, strong ANC for planes and trains, and an easy price so I don't have to worry too much about loosing them.
So far, I have 2 pairs of buds, neither of which fit neatly into my preferred categories, but that's ok. I've placed an order for a second pair, for myself, since these are still going to be given to my father - I really don't want to give up on that sound quality, and that lazy fit for lazing about the house.
I bought these not for the intention of daily driving, but as a pair of simple TV listening headphones that my father can use with our Fire TV Cube, so as not to distract my mother who is usually reading peacefully in the living room. His current pair of earbuds, are the powerbeats pro, but they have a few disadvantages, like their lightning charging port, the rubber eartip that rarely stays attached to the bud, or their lack of multipoint bluetooth.
These seemed to fit the bill in terms of simplicity, and I was glad to get them for him. Intentionally, I decided to wear them for a day or two just to get the hang of them, so I could help out my father later when problems inevitably showed up.
Case:
This is one area which needs desperate improvement. The case is nearly perfect, save for the indent which is supposed to allow one's finger to hook on the lip of the lid to open it. It's not deep enough, and the hinge has a bit of flex in it, meaning that when it's closed and I'm pressing down hard to get some purchase on the lid, I'll wind up pushing the lid backwards, making the lip created by the indent disappear. This is severely irritating, and I'll likely put a trimming of grip-tape on the lid just to make it easier to open.
Outside of my qualms with opening it, the case has a matte but pretty finish, a little lightweight, and I can hear the earbuds rattle around inside when I shake it.
Sound Quality:
Flipping amazing. I compared these to my 2nd Gen Echo Buds (2021), and the bass is deeper, but the mids and trebles are not washed out in comparison. The sound is tightly controlled, rich and lovely to listen to, moreso than my 2021 buds which seem almost tinny in comparison. Even without sealing on my ear, I can hear everything, and whilst it might not sound the way the recording studio made it, it certainly sounds pleasant to my ears.
Fit:
Irritating to say the least... I do not like the silicone sleeve, so I took it off, but it seems Amazon is going in a particularly stupid direction here. The first-gen buds had a loop for the wingtip, which was difficult to get aligned properly but wasn't nearly as complex as the veritable harness that you have to slide on the 2nd gen buds. Now we have a sock of silicone, made of sticky, un-sliding silicone. Of course, the instructions say not to use the fingernail tip, but the thought is definitely there as I press and pull with my fingers all day to try and get the unmoving sleeve off. I got rid of them for a better fit, but not after a few requisite tries putting them on and pulling them off, to gauge how they felt on.
The sleeve irritation aside, they fit well, much easier on the ears than the 2nd gen ones, even when I did get the sizing right. They don't go into one's ear canal, so there's a lot less pressure on that part of my ear, and it actually makes the listening experience surprisingly more enjoyable.
Battery:
Pretty good, the battery lasts fairly long... The sticker says 5 hours, but my intermittent usage says a bit longer. Amazon says you can push it farther if you disable Alexa handsfree, which I just might in favor of the long-press gesture since single/double/triple-tap take care of the rest of my desired media control maneuvers.
Charging:
It's a USB-C port. It seems to charge in less than an hour from fully dead when plugged in. I really wish they sold an upgraded version with wireless charging like they did for the 2021 buds, since they will otherwise turn into landfill the moment the USB-C port dies, which is thankfully less likely than the micro-USB only 2019 buds.
Connectivity/Smarts:
They connect just fine, although I get less Alexa info on the buds. My 2nd gen buds not only tell me when they connect or disconnect from a device, but I get an Alexa response telling me *what* device I am connected to (ex: "Connected to phone, connected to computer..."). These just play accompanying sounds that indicate they've connected to.... something.
Outside of that, the rest of the smarts work perfectly fine, albeit missing the workout tracking feature. I feel that was mostly because of Amazon recently giving the Halo devices the Axe recently, which makes me sad since I really liked my Halo View.
Microphones:
They're serviceable, but nothing outstanding... This is mostly because the Bluetooth profile/protocol used for bidirectional audio is of significantly lower bitrate than the one used for one-way audio. I cannot tell the difference between these and my 2nd gen Echo buds.
Conclusion:
This puts me in an awkward position, because I really like the fit, sound, and battery of these new earbuds, but they're supposed to go to my father, and I already have a pair of 2nd gen Echo buds, which have the wireless charging and ANC that I also desire.
In a perfect world, I would like to have an around-the-house pair of buds, wireless charging since they're frequently used, very nice sound, a lightweight battery, perhaps deliberately avoided noise isolation (eg: sound passes right through), and very comfortable. I would also have a pair of travel buds, with huge batteries, strong ANC for planes and trains, and an easy price so I don't have to worry too much about loosing them.
So far, I have 2 pairs of buds, neither of which fit neatly into my preferred categories, but that's ok. I've placed an order for a second pair, for myself, since these are still going to be given to my father - I really don't want to give up on that sound quality, and that lazy fit for lazing about the house.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2023
Color: BlackConfiguration: Device OnlyVerified Purchase
