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Apple’s AirPods Pro vs Amazon’s Echo Buds – Which Is Better?

Welcome to the AirPods Pro vs Amazon’s Echo Buds comparison!

TL; DR Version – Amazon’s Echo Buds retail for $129.99, around half the price of Apple’s new AirPods Pro. However, Apple’s AirPods Pro are the superior headphones in this context; they have better overall sound quality, active noise-cancellation, and longer-lasting battery life. If you want the best, go with Apple’s AirPods Pro. Want something cheaper, but still decent? Get the Amazon Echo Buds…


There’s no doubt that Apple’s AirPods rule the wireless earbud market. And Apple seems intent at keeping it that way with the release of its new AirPods Pro. Still, since Apple originally unveiled the line three years ago, the wireless earbud market has exploded with competitors.

Amazon is one of the latest tech giants to enter the sector, with the release of the Amazon Echo Earbuds. But just how do the Echo Buds match up with Apple’s latest AirPods Pro? Let’s find out.

Apple’s AirPods Pro vs Amazon’s Echo Buds

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Design

With the AirPods Pro, Apple really refined the design from the original AirPods. The long stem is gone in favor of a shorter, more compact design. The AirPods Pro also adds interchangeable tips so you can choose the best fit for your ears. The AirPods Pro comes with three of these tips: small, medium, and large.

The Amazon Echo Buds come in a more bulbous design that looks a bit bulky in the ear. However, some people say they love the design.

  • AirPods Pro – The AirPods Pro improves on the AirPods’ iconic design by having both a shorter stem and they also include three rubber tips to give users a better fit.
  • Echo Buds – The Echo Buds, on the other hand, features a less sleek design. They come in black and they also include a selection of three differently-sized ear tips so you can choose the right fit for your ear.

Winner? AirPods Pro – Their design still outshines the newer Echo Buds. They’re tiny works of art.

>>> Best Deal? Amazon – $249.99

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Audio & Connectivity

When it comes to the audio quality there’s no contest: the AirPods Pro are far superior. Why? Because the AirPods Pro features active noise cancellation (ANC) technology. This means the AirPods Pro will block out external noise so what you hear in your ear is the song.

The Echo Buds do feature Bose Active Noise Reduction technology, however, this is not ANC and does not sound anywhere near as good ANC. It’s better than nothing, but don’t expect AirPods Pro-level sounds.

  • AirPods Pro – The AirPods Pro includes dual beam-forming microphones, dual optical sensors, a motion-detecting accelerometer, and a speech-detecting accelerometer. They also connect over both Bluetooth and Apple’s H1 chip, which makes connecting them to an iPhone effortless. However, they have a MAJOR leg up on the Echo Buds because they support active noise cancellation (not just “reduction”).
  • Echo Buds – The Echo Buds also feature dual beam-forming microphones and an accelerometer, as well as connecting over Bluetooth too. But when it comes to audio quality they pale in comparison to the AirPods Pro because they only offer Bose Active Noise Reduction technology. To be clear, this is noise-isolating tech, not noise-canceling tech.

Winner? AirPods Pro – The AirPods Pro has active noise cancellation. Because of that, it’s not even a contest.

>>> Best Deal? Amazon – $249.99

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Battery & Charging

When it comes to the battery life of the actual buds per-use before they need to be recharged in their case, the Echo Buds will actually get you 30 minutes more use at 5 hours. The AirPods Pro gets you 4.5 hours. HOWEVER, as the AirPods Pro feature ANC, it’s no wonder they require more juice.

That being said, the battery case on the AirPods Pro will get you over 24 hours of charge. That’s a full four hours more than the batter case on the Echo Buds. Additionally, the AirPods Pro battery case features wireless charging while the Echo Buds do not.

  • AirPods Pro – The AirPods Pro gets you 4.5 hours of use when active noise cancellation is engaged. When active noise cancellation is turned off, you’ll get 5 hours of use. The AirPods Pro also comes with a wireless charging case as standard, which gets you over 24 hours of use.
  • Echo Buds – The Echo Buds get you 5 hours of use and their case gets you 20 hours in total. However, the Echo Buds do not have a wireless charging case option.

Winner? AirPods Pro – They include a wireless charging case that holds four additional hours of charge over the Echo Buds case.

>>> Best Deal? Amazon – $249.99

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Voice Assistant

If you use Apple products, you are probably going to want to stick with Siri, which is the voice assistant supported by the AirPods Pro. However, if you use Android devices, you’re going to be more used to Alexa, which is supported by the Echo Buds.

  • AirPods Pro – The AirPods Pro supports hands-free “Hey Siri” commands as well as giving you full access to all of Siri’s capabilities.
  • Echo Buds – The Echo Buds support hands-free Alexa commands. However, they also support Siri and Google Assistant via tap controls. These voice assistants aren’t built into the Buds, but if you have an iPhone or Pixel phone, you can use the Buds to interact with those assistants.

Winner? Echo Buds – Alexa is generally a better assistant than Siri anyway, but the Buds also support two more voice assistants too.

Cost

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Verdict?

If you want the very best sound quality, there’s no doubt about it, the AirPods Pro is the way to go. They also sport better design and include the wireless charging case as standard.

However, the AirPods Pro is almost twice as expensive as the Echo Buds ($129.99). The Echo Buds are a very attractive product considering their lower price point. The fact they also support third-party voice assistants and offer noise isolation is a nice touch too.

That makes them perfect for most people with Android phones. However, if you use an iPhone, Apple’s AirPods Pro is going to be the earbuds you want thanks to their deep integration into Apple’s ecosystem.

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Apple’s AirPods Pro vs Amazon’s Echo Buds: Full Specs

Here are the specs for the AirPod Pro:

  • Connectivity: Bluetooth, H1 chip
  • Wireless charging: Yes
  • Battery Life: 4.5 hours AirPod use, 24+ hours with charging case
  • Sensors: Dual beam-forming microphones, Dual optical sensors, Motion-detecting accelerometer, Speech-detecting accelerometer, Force sensor
  • Voice assistant support: Siri
  • Noise Cancellation: Yes
  • Sweat and water-resistant: Yes

And here are the specs for the Echo Buds:

  • Connectivity: Bluetooth
  • Wireless charging: No
  • Battery Life: 5 hours Echo Buds use, 20+ hours with charging case
  • Sensors: Dual beam-forming microphones, Accelerometer, proximity, touch
  • Voice assistant support: Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant
  • Noise Cancellation: No, but they have Bose Active Noise “Reduction” Technology
  • Sweat and water-resistant: Sweat yes, water, no.

And check out our Apple’s AirPods Pro vs Google’s Pixel Buds 2 here!

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Michael Grothaus

Michael Grothaus is an American author and journalist with a flair for exploring the intersection of technology, creativity, and digital culture. With a background in film, journalism, and creative writing, he brings a unique perspective to the world of mobile technology. His work has been featured in renowned publications like Fast Company, The Guardian, and Engadget. At KnowYourMobile, Michael leverages his extensive knowledge to guide readers through the complexities of mobile devices, helping them make informed choices in the fast-paced tech landscape.

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