Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 will have better battery, Bluetooth 5

By Nick Woodard April 30, 2020

As if there wasn’t enough headphones news right now, Microsoft may be close to launching its second-generation Surface Headphones.

Thanks to a Bluetooth SIG listing that was first caught by 911 Mobiles, a new version of Microsoft’s over-ear headphones is in the works. The Surface Headphones 2 will have 20 hours of battery life, Bluetooth 5.0 technology built-in, and support for audio codecs like aptX.

There aren’t a ton of other details available in the listing. The design description of the product notes that dial buttons will be able to choose between three different noise cancellation settings and voice assistant integration with the tap of a dial. Beyond that, we don’t know a lot about these new headphones.

The information we currently have, however, is a sign that Microsoft is moving in the right direction. In our review of the original Microsoft Surface Headphones, we had issues with poor battery life from the cans, as well as a lack of aptX support. We found them to be easy to use, but their features left a lot to be desired.

It seems like Microsoft may have listened, at least to an extent. An estimated 20 hours of battery life is better, though it doesn’t compete with the Sony WH-1000XM3 in terms of playback time. We also found the accompanying app to be incredibly flawed, so here’s hoping Microsoft reworked that aspect of the ensemble, too.

We don’t know the price of the second edition Surface Headphones, or when they’ll be set to launch. As soon as we find out, we’ll be sure to update you.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

As an A/V Staff Writer at Digital Trends, Nick Woodard covers topics that include 4K HDR TVs, headphones…

Mobile

Microsoft Surface Duo reportedly getting Android 12L despite missing Android 11

Surface Duo 2 on a textured background.

Microsoft has failed on its promise to deliver the Android 11 update to its first Surface Duo foldable before the end of 2021. The update was already over a year late, with Android 12 launching in October 2021 to Pixels and other Android phones. Now, a report from the Microsoft-focused tech blog Windows Central claims that Microsoft will deliver the Android 11 update soon, with an Android 12L update following shortly in lieu of Android 12 sometime in 2022.

The Surface Duo launched with Android 10 in 2020, with Microsoft promising to deliver two years of updates. While other, more mainstream Android phone and tablet companies have pushed out Android 11 and even Android 12 to larger fleets of devices, the company has yet to deliver a single major update to the original Duo. It did launch Duo 2 in 2021 with Android 11, but none of the most useful improvements have trickled down to the original Duo yet.

Computing

Tom Brady smashed a Microsoft Surface. The NFL warned him not to do it again

Tom Brady smashing a Surface.

From common error codes or issues with Zoom, there might be times when you're fed up with your computer and want to physically break it, but Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Tom Brady might have taken that feeling a little too seriously.

The star quarterback recently smashed a Microsoft Surface tablet midgame (and physically separated the display of the device before chucking it at the floor,) and the NFL has now warned him not to do it again.

Computing

Microsoft takes on Chromebooks with $249 Surface Laptop SE and Windows 11 SE

surface laptop se windows 11 take on chromebooks 1

Microsoft has announced a new version of Windows 11 and an ultra-cheap Surface device, both of which are aimed at taking back the classroom from the domain of Chromebooks.

Windows 11 SE is a slimmed-down version of Windows that makes it simpler and easier to use, and it's paired with the $249 Surface Laptop SE. Microsoft thinks that these two in combination will create an optimized learning platform for children.