Amazon has unveiled a number of new technology products under its Echo and Alexa branding, including a new high-end speaker system and a pair of wireless earbuds.
Alongside a number of exciting new products including an Alexa-powered microwave and an Alexa-powered smart glasses concept, Amazon showed off its HomePod and AirPods rivals.
The Echo Studio
The Echo Studio, for example, was engineered to “create premium sound with space, clarity, and depth,” with a 5.25-inch woofer and 330W of peak power produce deep and rich bass.
It is the most expensive Echo product to date, priced at $199, and offers similar technology and aesthetics to Apple’s HomePod, which was released a couple of years ago.
Amazon dominates in the smart speaker market with a 70% market share in the United States, despite fierce competition from Google.
Apple, on the other hand, has struggled to compete with its two technology rivals, and many have suggested the company should drop an affordable HomePod device under $100 to appease price-conscious consumers and lock them into the Apple ecosystem, rather than encouraging them to try Alexa or Google Assistant.
Amazon’s Echo Studio offers an immersive three-dimensional (3D) audio experience using Dolby Atmos and Sony’s 360 Reality Audio and will offer Native 3D music under its new Amazon Music HD subscription service, the company’s rival to TIDAL and Apple Music.
As with the HomePod, Amazon users can pair one or two Echo Studio devices to a Fire TV for audio playback and surround-sound support.
A Zigbee smart home hub can be used to control compatible smart devices, offering a great smart home experience to everyone.
Echo Buds
Amazon wasn’t done with its product announcements there, though.
The company showed off its Echo Buds product, a direct rival to AirPods.
The earbuds offer easy access to Alexa on the go and feature two outer microphones and one inner microphone that work together to reduce ambient noise, meaning Alexa can hear you wherever you’re at in the world.
Amazon says that its Echo Buds feature “two premium, balanced armature drivers in each earbud” and that they were inspired by in-ear monitors used by professional musicians.
The buds “deliver crisp, clear vocals and dynamic bass,” according to a statement from the firm, and feature Bose Active Noise Reduction Technology to help minimize the noise around you.
Unlike AirPods, which is a one-size-fits-all product, Echo Buds come with three different sized ear tips and wingtips for a secure fit you can wear throughout your day, and the product is IPX4-rated to withstand splashes, sweat, or light rain, offering up to five hours of music playback or four hours of call time on a single charge.
What’s more, the charging case holds an additional three charges, meaning users can enjoy charges—15 hours of music playback or 12 hours of call time on a single charge, and users will be able to access their phone’s native voice services, including Siri or Google Assistant, by tapping and holding their Echo Buds.
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