The new Echo Buds completely abandoned the active noise cancellation function and adopted a semi-open design, similar to the ordinary AirPods.
The previous generation of $139.99 (currently about RMB 980) Echo Buds is now called “Active Noise Cancellation Echo Buds” to distinguish between the two, and the regular version of the Echo Buds is only $49.99 (currently about RMB 350).
The previous generation of Echo Buds had an in-ear design with silicone earbuds that fit securely and ensure active noise cancellation. The new Echo Buds ditch the silicone tips altogether for a semi-in-ear design, which has the advantage of being more comfortable while still allowing ambient sounds to be heard naturally. Like the AirPods, the new generation of Echo Buds has no ANC and is designed to hang out of the ear.
The new Echo Buds feature a 12mm driver that gives you up to 6 hours of music playback with advanced features turned off (5 hours with wake on), and a total of 20 hours with the charging case. Fast charging takes up to 2 hours, wireless charging is not supported (the previous generation of Echo Buds offered wireless charging for an additional $20), and Amazon doesn’t even provide the USB-C cable needed for charging.
The new Echo Buds are now available for pre-order on Amazon for “launch day delivery” on June 7.
