The Amazon Echo Buds (2nd Gen) are smaller and lighter than the originals and can now cancel twice as much ambient noise.
Amazon’s audio business has been on a roll this last year. First there was the new-and-improved Amazon Echo that took sound quality to a whole new level, and now there’s the Amazon Echo Buds (2nd Gen) that could do the same for the company’s flagship noise cancelling true wireless earbuds. To make those improvements Amazon made the new Amazon Echo Buds 2’s case even smaller (by around 40%), and has taken a serious look at both its noise-cancelling technology and overall audio performance. The result is true wireless earbuds that cancel even more ambient noise than before and sound better, too – plus they’re easier to carry around. There are a few other minor changes here – like the adoption of wireless charging via any wireless charging pad and vents to reduce pressure built up in the ear – as well as some changes to the setup process that will help you find the perfect fit with the included ear tips. There are some weaknesses here compared to the best true wireless earbuds from Sony, Sennheiser, and Bose (see: lackluster noise cancellation, bulging design and potentially breakable case), but if you’re looking for incredibly affordable, noise cancelling true wireless earbuds, these are probably your best bet. The Amazon Echo Buds (2nd Gen) launched in the US on May 13, 2021 for an introductory price of $100, around $30 less than the original Amazon Echo Buds. Eventually, however, that introductory price ended and you’re now looking at a $120 sticker price. They launched a few months later in the UK and Australia, and cost £109 / AU$169 in these regions. Wherever you buy the Echo Buds (2nd) Gen, it’ll cost you more to get the version with the wireless charging case ($139.99 / £129.99 / AU$199). How does that stack up against the competition? Well, even at $120, the Amazon Echo Buds (2nd Gen) are some of the cheapest noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds out there. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds cost $279 / £249 / AU$399, while our favorite models, the Sony WF-1000XM3, come in at $170 / £170 / AU$199. There are a few cheaper true wireless models out there that we recommend (see: the Lypertek PurePlay Z3) but in terms of big flagship earbuds with some level of active noise cancellation, the new Amazon Echo Buds 2 are among the cheapest options out there. The marquee feature of the new Amazon Echo Buds (2nd Gen) is their smaller size. The buds themselves are around 20% smaller than before, according to Amazon, while the case is around 40% smaller and looks radically different. Because of the reduction in size they’re lighter overall, and therefore a bit more comfortable to wear for longer periods of time. Another key improvement is the new laser-drilled vent inside the earbuds themselves that relieves pressure build up. It’s a design feature we first saw with the Powerbeats Pro a few years ago, and now it’s basically a staple of every major pair of true wireless earbuds. Despite being smaller and certainly more comfortable to wear, the Echo Buds do extend out of your ears a little – not enough to make them look awkward, but enough for them to rub up against a hood if you’re wearing one or up against the pillow when you’re lying down.
