Amazon Echo Buds review
It doesn’t matter how much music your favorite streaming service has, if you can’t hear it, you won’t be able to enjoy it. Manufacturers know this and take advantage of the need, which is why there’s such a wide selection of headphones and earbuds available. Of all the options out there, which ones are designed to give the listener the best experience?
According says they have a high-tech option that’s “small, light, and comfortable,” and can “deliver crisp, balanced sound.” Amazon Echo Buds 2 claim to be “simple to set up and use” and offer hands-free operation with Alexa. They also have active noise cancellation and feature a passthrough mode for when you need to hear what’s going on around you.
We wanted to see if these claims were true and how well the Echo Buds 2 stacked up against the competition, so we tested a pair to find out. Here’s what we found.
How we tested Echo Buds
To test the Amazon Echo Earbuds 2nd Gen, we had an individual who has extensive experience using all types of headphones — from earbuds to large, over-ear gaming headphones — wear the device during everyday activities, while working from home and during their workout. This person paid particular attention to the fit and comfort level offered by Echo Buds. Over the course of the trial period, our tester explored the various features, such as the active noise cancellation and the passthrough mode. We also had our tester pair the Echo Buds with both Android and iOS devices, and verify the battery life as well as the charge time.
What are Echo Buds?
Amazon’s Echo Buds 2 are small earbuds that are designed to provide up to 5 hours of audio on a single charge. You get the maximum functionality and control when used with Alexa to stream music, podcasts and audiobooks — no tapping is required to navigate your playlists or adjust the volume. For the environmentally minded individual, the materials used in manufacturing include 21% post-consumer recycled plastics and 98% of the packaging is wood fiber-based materials from responsibly managed forests or recycled sources.
How to use Echo Buds
To use Amazon Echo Buds, all you need to do is pair them to your device and start listening. The following sections detail customizing the fit, pairing, controlling your playlist and charging them.
How to customize the fit of Echo Buds
We found Echo Buds to be comfortable enough for extended wear with no complaints. This is due to the fact that the earbuds come with three sizes of ear tips so you can choose the ones that provide a snug fit, which will also deliver the best sound. Additionally, the earbuds come with three sizes of wing tips, which are used to secure the device in your ear. The wing tips are labeled “L” and “R” and should be comfortably nestled beneath the ridge in your ear to hold them in place. This feature came in handy while working out — Echo Buds stayed in place even during a vigorous run.
How to pair Echo Buds
For greatest ease, it’s highly recommended that you pair Echo Buds through the Amazon Alexa app. We found the pairing process to be seamless and quick. After pairing, we tested the range and found it reached roughly 40 feet (through three walls).
To pair Echo Buds, follow these four steps:
Turn on your device’s Bluetooth.
Download and install the Alexa app.
Open the Alexa app and the Echo Buds case and wait for the blue LED to pulse.
Place the earbuds in your ear and follow the onscreen instructions to finish setting up your Echo Buds 2.
To pair your Echo Buds with other Bluetooth devices, you’ll need to hold the button on the charging case after opening. When the blue LED pulses, finish pairing Echo Buds through your device’s Bluetooth settings.
How to control Echo Buds
Amazon Echo Buds 2 are designed to be controlled through Alexa. To control your earbuds simply say “Alexa” followed by a command such as “Skip [this song].” The device also has limited gesture control: a long tap will toggle between active noise cancellation and passthrough mode, while a short tap will answer or end a call. Alternatively, you can reprogram your Echo Buds to perform other actions via the Alexa app.
How to charge Echo Buds
To charge your Echo Buds, simply put them in the charging case — you can get roughly 2 hours of battery life from a 15-minute charge. When the earbuds are fully charged, they offer up to 5 hours of battery life. To check the charge level of your earbuds, reference the app or simply ask “Alexa, what’s my battery level?” Alternatively, while the earbuds are charging, you can press the button on the case to find out how much charge is left: green means more than 40% charge is left, yellow means less than 40% charge is left and red means less than 5% charge is left.
To recharge the case, it must be plugged into a 5-watt (or higher) USB power adapter. A fully charged case can provide up to two additional Echo Buds charges. You can check the battery level by pressing the button on the case (without the earbuds inside): green means more than one full earbud charge is left, yellow means less than one full earbud charge is left and red means the case must be recharged.
Echo Buds features
Audio quality
The audio quality of Amazon Echo Buds 2 is comparable to the audio quality of its competitors. While it might not please a true audiofile, we had no complaints with listening to music, audiobooks or calls.
Active noise cancellation
While the active noise cancellation was adequate, it wasn’t impressive. It was possible to still have a room-volume conversation while wearing these earbuds in ANC mode and hear the other speaker, though they were quite muffled.
Passthrough mode
In passthrough mode, it sounded like Echo Buds magnified the sound before sending it through the earbuds. The feature worked as it was supposed to, but it didn’t produce the cleanest sound — it felt like you were listening to the world through headphones.
Touch control
We found control to be simple and intuitive, with the touch area being sensitive enough to be highly responsive. The one concern was whether adjusting the earbuds in the ear would trigger an unwanted action, but that never happened the whole time we used these earbuds.
Hands-free operation
Using hands-free operation via Alexa voice commands is the way to get the most out of Echo Buds. Instead of navigating to the app or configuring a way to get the control you desire by tapping, all you have to do is tell Alexa what you need and it’s done. Additionally, this device is compatible with iOS and Android, and supports access to Siri and Google Assistant.
Water resistance
Like other wireless earbuds, Echo Buds are designed to withstand the sweat generated from working out but will not endure precipitation, showers or being submerged.
Echo Buds vs. Airpods
If you truly want the best earbuds on the market, then you’ve probably considered Apple’s Airpods Pro. Airpods Pro have a superior transparent mode, and the adaptive EQ tends to provide better audio quality, but that’s subjective depending on the user’s tastes. However, the downside is Apple Airpods Pro cost nearly twice as much as Echo Buds. If you’re looking for value and budget is important, Echo Buds win out.
Echo Buds vs. Galaxy Buds
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Live also have a few advantages over Amazon’s Echo Buds. Galaxy Buds feature a sleeker design with more colorful options and a longer battery life. However, audio performance is comparable and the cost of Galaxy Buds Live may be a little higher, depending on the sale price. So, once again, if budget is important, Echo Buds 2 are the better option.
Echo Buds cost
Amazon Echo Buds 2 are available for $119.99 (or five monthly payments of $24) with a wired charging case or for $139.99 (or five monthly payments of $28), if you’d prefer a wireless charging case. Amazon Echo Buds 2 and other Amazon-owned electronics and personal tech are often available at a discount during Prime Day.
Where to buy Echo Buds
Amazon Echo Buds 2 are sold by Amazon.
Echo Buds pros
Amazon’s Echo Buds 2 are small, light and have a customizable fit that allows them to stay securely in your ear. They’re comfortable enough to be worn for several hours at a time and provide good audio. These earbuds reside at the lower end of the price scale for true wireless headphones and they feature active noise cancellation. Having Alexa on the go is a highly desirable feature, and the flat bottom of the case allows it to stand upright.
Echo Buds cons
There aren’t too many downsides to these affordable earbuds. The slight noise experienced in the passthrough mode can take a little getting used to. While the case for Echo Buds is solid with a seamless seal when closed, when the lid is open, it feels a little flimsy. The biggest issue some users have is that to get the most out of this product, you must give it full access to your device, which includes your contact list — otherwise, you can’t have Alexa call people.
Are Echo Buds worth it?
If audio quality is your top priority and budget isn’t a concern, Amazon Echo Buds might not be the best option for you. However, if you’re already a fan of Amazon products and regularly use Alexa, the answer is clear: this is your best choice for ease of integration and value, since Echo Buds incorporate features that are typically found in higher-priced models.
Allen Foster is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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