The new Echo Buds seem to have many of the same features as Apple’s AirPods Pro, including active noise cancellation, similar battery life, and water resistance. And they’re less than a hundred bucks.
Better Value Than the AirPods Pro?
I love my AirPods Pro, but their hefty price tag makes me wince every time I handle the fragile specks of plastic. And they’re non-replaceable battery means I’ll eventually have to replace the AirPods Pro entirely because the battery life will dwindle. As such, the new Echo Buds, creatively called the All-new Echo Buds (2nd Gen), are a tempting value proposition. The list price is $119.99, but they’re on sale at the moment for $99.99. That compares to a list price of $249.00 for the AirPods Pro, which is Apple’s top-of-the-line earbud at the moment. One area where the AirPods Pro have the Echo Buds beat is charging. The AirPods come with a wireless charging case, while you’ll have to pay an extra $20 for that option with the Echo Buds. Both models have a claimed battery life of around five hours.
Earbud Options Galore
If neither the Echo Buds nor the AirPods Pro float your boat, there are plenty of choices if you’re looking for earbuds with active noise cancelling. Take, for example, the $279 Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, which have received rave reviews for excellent noise cancelling and sound quality. The Bose model is rated at six hours of battery life, beating out both the AirPods Pro and the Echo Buds. However, they’re on the bulky side. There’s also the $300 Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2, which up the battery ante with a claimed seven hours of battery life. As you’d expect at this price point, the Sennheiser buds also have been praised for both sound quality and noise-cancelling ability. You might also want to consider Anker’s Soundcore Liberty Air Pro 2, which compete directly with the Echo Buds on price at $130. The Soundcore buds have solid noise-cancelling ability, and also come in a variety of colors for the fashion-conscious.
