Amazon Echo Buds vs. Apple Airpods: Sound Quality, Price & Features

Apple AirPods Pro

Check Price

(photo from amazon.com)

Price and Design

The Apple AirPods Pro is priced at $197 on Amazon. This is much pricier compared to the Echo Buds. In terms of design, the AirPods Pro is 5.4 grams for each earbud. It has a tail-like nub which offers a bit of anchorage. With swappable ear tips, it can fit into a variety of ear sizes. The case is a bit slimmer compared to the Echo Buds and offers two charging options -- with a lightning cable or a wireless charger.

Sound Quality

When it comes to sound quality, the AirPods Pro has a more rounded and balanced sound profile without needing any adjustments. The highlight of this new Apple product is its noise-canceling feature, which wasn't available when the AirPods line was first released. It uses proprietary technology, which gives you a more isolating feel from the rest of the world. It is better by a few points compared to the Echo Buds, but it doesn't fare too far from the latter. It has a Transparency mode, which allows users to still hear their surroundings. This is especially useful for jogging on the street. If used for phone calls, this model's mic produces a slightly crisper voice, reducing environmental noise.

Features

With noise-canceling on, the AirPods Pro lasted about five hours on average in real-life tests. If you are not an iOS user, it might be good to note that the Apple AirPods Pro has limited capabilities when paired with an Android phone. You won't be able to take advantage of its features paired with Siri or customize the controls on the stem. With Siri connected to the AirPods Pro, Siri can read out messages for you and perform other basic Siri functions. It is a bit behind on this smart assistant feature. It is also water-resistant with a rating of IPX4, being able to withstand sweat and a few droplets. This water-resistant coating, however, tends to wear out with usage and is only applied on the AirPods, not on the charging case. Lastly, connectivity is much smoother as it is equipped with an H1 chip that makes connecting the earbuds to your phone more seamless.

Echo Buds (2nd Gen)

Check Price

(photo from amazon.com)

Price and Design

The Echo Buds (2nd Gen) is about $77 cheaper than the AirPods Pro at $119.99. Each earbud is a bit heavier at 7.8 grams. Ergonomically, the Echo Buds have wingtips that help secure the earbuds into the ears, holding out against falling while you're working out. The charging options are a bit limited, only offering compatibility with micro USB.

Sound Quality

If you like feeling the bass while listening to music, you might find that this option is more suitable for you. However, the overpowering base might slightly affect the mids and trebles, as well as the lows. This is the default setting on the Echo Buds, but this can easily be adjusted with the equalizer on the Alexa app. For the price range, the Echo Buds come pretty close to the sound quality given by the Apple product above. Echo Buds uses active noise reduction from Bose. This technology does not make your listening sessions completely soundproof but it is nearly as good as the AirPods Pro, with only a bit of white hissing noise. Overall, the difference between the two is not as noticeable during everyday use.

Features

Starting off with the battery life, the Echo Buds outperforms the Airpods Pro by a couple more minutes at around five hours and 20 minutes in real-life tests. That's 5-6 more songs on a single charge! The good thing is that the Echo Buds does not discriminate between Android and iOS users. It works well with both Siri and Alexa. But with Alexa, the Echo Buds really shine. With Alexa Skills, your workouts can be taken to the next level. The voice assistant offers a variety of fitness features like starting a new workout with voice commands. It can track pace, distance and even calories burned! Like the AirPods Pro, the Echo Buds is also rated IPX4 in terms of water resistance.

The Verdict

It really is a personal preference, but we've already equipped you with the knowledge regarding the features in which each stands out. If you're on a tight budget, we say go for the Echo Buds as it really does not lag far behind the pricier AirPods Pro. If you still can't decide between the two, take a look at these alternatives we have for you.

1. Apple AirPods with Charging Case (Wired)

Check Price

(photo from amazon.com)

If you're a true Apple fan, but don't want to splurge on the AirPods Pro, the Apple AirPods might be what you're looking for. Minus the noise-canceling feature of the AirPods Pro, it also provides good sound quality. The design is a bit different without the extra controls on the stem of the AirPods Pro, a slightly stubbier appearance and uncushioned ear tips. This variant can last up to five hours with an additional 19-hour life on the charging case.

2. Apple AirPods with Wireless Charging Case

Check Price

(photo from amazon.com)

If you don't want to miss out on the wonders of wireless charging, the Apple AirPods with Wireless Charging Case is another good option. You have to pay a bit more for the extra feature but the wireless experience can be life changing.

3. Apple AirPods Max

Check Price

(photo from amazon.com)

The latest addition to the AirPods family is the Apple AirPods Max. These aren't earbuds, they're wireless headphones. This is perfect for those who really want an immersive listening experience with an Apple-designed dynamic driver that provides high-fidelity audio. Just like the AirPods Pro, this one has outstanding noise cancellation and additional features like spatial audio and dynamic head tracking.