Faisal Ghaffar 
The 2nd Gen of Amazon Echo Buds is smaller in size as compared to the original and the charging case is also more conventional. In addition, they have also gotten an upgrade in terms of active noise cancellation rather than the Bose noise reduction that was offered in the first-generation. They were launched in 2021, but remain the company’s current model, as there is no mention of a third-generation at all.
Features and Design
The Buds 2 boast a circular design that makes them different from the original and they are also 21% smaller in size. Not only are they light, but you can also wear them comfortably. This is because of a new vent and the reduction in the ‘nozzle’, which is the part extending into your ear canal. You can find four sizes of silicone tips, along with two ‘wing tips’. This is for promoting better grip, which means they will not fall if you go running.
Each bud also has three mics that reduce background noise and help in hearing your voice. The touch-sensitive outer surface can be used for controlling playback. You can play and pause with a single tap, enable pass-through to hear your surroundings, skip tracks and end or answer calls with other combinations.
You can also enable and disable ANC by tapping and holding and each earbud can be assigned a different function. Alexa will work even if you are wearing a single bud. Another useful feature is wear detection, as it pauses whatever you are listening to when you remove a bud.
Audio Quality
The noise cancellation on the Echo Buds 2 is twice as good as the first and this seems to be true. You are not given ANC settings and can only turn it on and off. But, when you use it, you will find that it eliminates most of the background noise effectively. The sound quality has also been improved and you can use the EQ settings of the phone to make adjustments.
They work perfectly when you use them for listening to podcasts and watching videos. The processor is the same as used in the first generation, but audio has seen improvement.
Battery Life and Charging
Rather than a clamshell case, Amazon has opted for the flip-top charging case with the Echo Buds 2. The hinge does not have a spring, so it closes quickly. But, it comes with three LEDs that let you see the battery level of the case itself and also that of each earbud. The exact percentages can be checked in the Alexa app.
You can get 5 hours of playback when the Echo Buds are fully charged and the case can charge them twice before it needs to be charged itself. 15 minutes in the case will give you about 2 hours, which is same as Apple’s Airpods.
The Verdict
In terms of true wireless headphones, there are just too many options in the market. The second-generation of Echo Buds have a solid performance that justifies their price tag and are an excellent option if you want Alexa in your ears.
