Amazon Echo Buds (2nd Gen)

Amazon has made a number of improvements to the new Amazon Echo Buds, including a reduction in size and weight as well as bolstering its noise cancellation technology. The Amazon Echo Buds (2nd Gen) might not be able to compete with the top-tier noise-cancelling earbuds from Sony and Sennheiser even after all the new improvements, but they’re a significant improvement upon the previous generation.

The Amazon Echo Buds 2 grants you many features and stronger performance for a lower price than the original.

If you don’t have an inherent resistance towards Amazon products (and some people certainly do), the 2021 Echo Buds strike a balance of features that’s downright impressive at their selling price. They’re a considerable upgrade from the first-gen earbuds in comfort with improved noise cancellation to boot — even if it’s not close to best in class. You can do better if you’re willing to spend upwards of $50 to $70 more. If you don’t want to go that high, the Echo Buds won’t disappoint.

Amazon went back to the lab for its second iteration of Echo Buds and came out with a really solid pair of noise-cancelling earbuds that will go easy on your wallet.

Amazon’s second-gen Echo Buds are improved in nearly every way. A new design makes the smaller buds more comfortable to wear for long periods of time and the sound quality is noticeably better. Conveniences like optional wireless charging, Sidetone for calls and new Alexa skills make these earbuds an attractive option for anyone who has bought into Amazon’s ecosystem. Plus, the company managed to make a better product without raising the price, which is always a nice surprise.

I found that actually made me use Alexa more, because it felt more conversational and less like I was interacting with an appliance. On the flip side, though, if you’re not an Alexa user then there’s better ANC out there – albeit often at a slight price premium – and the Echo Buds are solid, not outstanding, when it comes to music playback.

The second-generation Echo Buds improve upon Amazon's original true wireless earphones with a smaller, lighter design and active noise cancellation.