Wireless headphones aren’t new, but Apple helped bring them into the public eye with the Airpods. It also opened the door for the competition from Google, Samsung, Bose, and even Amazon. When you want to compare wireless in-ear headphones at the top of the charts, the Echo Buds 2 vs Airpods Pro is a good place to start.
Both headphones not only sound great but can function with voice assistants to keep your life hands-free. There is a significant difference in pricing, style, and compatibility, however. We’re going to take a look at those areas and others while comparing these high-tech earbuds to help you decide which provides the best bang for your buck.
Echo Buds 2 vs Airpods Pro: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Echo Buds (2nd gen) | AirPods Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Style | In-ear headphone | In-ear headphone |
| Manufacturer | Amazon | Apple |
| Released | May 13, 2021 | October 30, 2019 |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Battery Life | 4-5 hours | 3.5-4.5 hours |
| Quick Charging Time | 2 hours in 15 minutes | 1 hour in 5 minutes |
| Charging Case Power | 15 hours | 18-24 hours of usage |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Microphones | 2 beamforming & 1 external | 2 beamforming & 1 external |
| Processor | Realtek RTL8763C | H1 Headphone Chip |
| Weight | 5.7 grams | 5.4 grams |
| Warranty | 1-year | 1-year |
| Price | $139.99 | $179.99 |
- Active Noise Cancellation
- Transparency mode for hearing and interacting with the world
- Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking
- Adaptive EQ automatically tunes the music to your ears
AirPods Pro vs Echo Buds 2: 5 Must-Know Facts
- Three AirPods variants exist with an entry-level model, the AirPods Pro, and the AirPods Max.
- Each of Amazon’s earbuds has a 5.7mm dynamic driver.
- AirPods have built-in accelerometers.
- The 2nd generation Echo Buds are 21% smaller than the previous edition.
- Hey Siri support was added to the 2nd generation AirPods.
Echo Buds 2 vs AirPods Pro: What’s the Difference?
Apple released the original AirPods in late 2016 after it was introduced alongside the iPhone 7 and the 2nd generation of the Apple Watch. It was a big event, and while other companies followed their lead with wireless earbuds, Amazon didn’t enter the space until 2019.
Apple is a few generations ahead of Amazon, and the ear buds have a completely different design. They resemble the classic EarPods, but without wires so they aren’t exactly streamlined. You can tell they are “there” whereas Amazon’s earbuds are far more discreet.
Looks are important to many consumers, although beauty is in the eye of the beholder. With that in mind, here’s how these wireless headphones stack up in key areas including audio quality, battery life, features, and price.
Audio Quality
The 2nd generation Echo Buds have excellent audio quality with active noise cancellation or ANC to keep you isolated from the outside world. The treble is clear and the bass is loud in the low and mid-range. The audio isn’t on par with something you’ll find from the Bose Sports earbuds, but they do pack a punch for the price.
Apple’s earbuds don’t have as much bass as the Echo Buds. They also have ANC like Amazon’s wireless in-ear headphones, but provide more balance across each range. These headphones provide a better sound profile for a wider range of music out of the box and spatial audio support is a nice touch if you’re using them with an iPhone or iPad.
Both sets of earbuds have dual external beamforming microphones along with an internal microphone. You won’t have any trouble hearing someone on a call with either set of earbuds but will get more clarity from the AirPods.
By most accounts, the AirPods Pro provides better audio quality overall compared to the Echo Buds which have more bass.
Battery Life & Charging Times
When you purchase wireless headphones or earbuds, you don’t want to run out of power halfway through a jog. Having a podcast cut out because the headphones only last a few hours isn’t ideal, but it’s not something you’ll need to worry about with these wireless earbuds.
According to Apple, the AirPods Pro gives users up to 4.5 hours of power per charge or 5 hours with ANC and transparency turned off. You’ll get 3.5 hours of talk time, so the mixed usage varies between 3.5 to 5 hours depending on usage.
The MagSafe Charging Case included with the AirPods Pro holds enough power for 24 hours of music or 18 hours of talk time. It can also charge up these earbuds with 1 hour of listening time from only 5 minutes of charging. Wireless charging pads are supported as well.
Echo Buds can go up to 5 hours per charge with ANC activated and hands-free Alexa for music or 6.5 hours with those features turned off. Amazon states you’ll get around 4 hours of talk time with a mixed usage rating anywhere from 5 to 6.5 hours.
Their charging case has 12 hours of power and provides 2 hours of juice to the earbuds on a 15-minute quick charge. You can also charge these headphones up with a power pad, but only if you choose the version with the wireless – not wired charging case.
On paper, the Echo Buds have an advantage with battery life, but real-world testing has shown Apple has a slight edge thanks to optimization. When you factor in the 24-hour battery life of the charging case, the AirPods Pro is the best option for battery life.
Features
Active noise cancellation is a feature you’ll find on the Echo Buds 2 and the AirPods Pro. You can use the earbuds to listen to podcasts and music or take calls leaving your hands free and both can function as a voice assistant.
Want to call someone to tell them about a new song you just listened to? You can do that with the Echo Buds by asking Alexa to place the call. If you want to mute the microphone, you can do that from within the Alexa app or ask the virtual assistant to play your favorite tunes. You don’t have to tap on the earbuds to change tracks – you simply have to ask.
You’ll find many of the same features on the AirPods, which use Siri as a virtual assistant. Siri allows you to make or take calls, but can also read important notifications through an Announce Notification feature. We’re also fans of Audio Sharing, and appreciate the engraving options from the official Apple site which adds a nice touch.
Users can customize commands for both sets of earbuds through the Alexa app or an iDevice. Apple’s Transparency mode keeps you alert to the world around you, while Amazon provides the same thing through pass-through controls. Features are a bit of a tossup, but something that may clear up once you consider compatibility.
Compatibility
We found that connectivity can be an issue with Echo buds 2 vs AirPods Pro, despite the fact both use Bluetooth 5.0. Like any wireless pair of headphones, Bluetooth enables these earbuds to connect to your smartphone, tablet, and other devices.
Whether you’re using an Android smartphone or an iPhone plays a significant impact on certain features.
The AirPods Pro is built around Apple’s platform, so you’ll get a seamless experience if intend to use them with an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch. It can sync up to those devices in seconds, and you’ll get the full range of features including spatial audio with dynamic head tracking.
If you want to get those features on an Android device, you’ll be in for a rude awakening. There is no Siri app, so you’ll need to own an iPhone or iPad to take full advantage of the features. That means you can’t use Siri on Android or use things like Find My AirPods.
Consumers that want to use Alexa with their iPhone or Android smartphone can do that with the Echo Buds as long as they download the Alexa app. It also gives you access to a custom EQ and allows you to sync to other Alexa-enabled devices while providing hands-free features.
Simply put, the Echo Buds provide more features and compatibility on multiple devices or platforms compared to the AirPods Pro.
Comfort
Earbuds can be challenging for people with sensitive ears as they can become painful with extended use. Making the earbuds lightweight with different-sized tips help, although comfort largely comes down to the end user – if the product has a sound design.
The weight difference is negligible with the Echo Buds 2 vs AirPods Pro and both come with a set of ear tips. With the AirPods, you’ll receive silicone ear tips in three different sizes. Amazon takes things a step further with four pairs of ear tips and two pairs of wing tips.
To ensure the perfect fit and a tight seal, users can go through the settings menu of their iPhone to take a fit test which helps them find the best fit for noise isolation. The Amazon Ear Tip test accomplishes the same thing through the Alexa app.
What’s comfortable for one user may not be for another, but Amazon wins this category. The wing tips are great for exercising when regular earbuds pop loose, and you can only take Apple’s “tip test” using an iPhone or iPad.
We feel that durability is even, considering both can handle being dropped on the ground and have an IPX4 rating against water splashes and sweat. The charging case for the AirPods Pro feels a little more pocket-friendly, however.
AirPods Pro vs Echo Buds 2 Pricing
If you are still on the fence about which set of earbuds is the right choice, pricing can quickly settle this debate. Apple has never been shy about putting a premium price tag on their products, so you’ll typically pay between $179-199 for the AirPods Pro depending on where you purchase them.
By comparison, the 2nd gen Echo Buds are priced at $139.99. That’s considerably cheaper for headphones that essentially do the same thing, and only have a minimal difference in audio quality. There is a cheaper version of the Echo Buds available as well with the same ear buds and a “wired” charging case for $119.99.
- DYNAMIC AUDIO AND ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION (ANC) - Premium speakers deliver crisp, balanced sound. Sealed in-ear design and ANC limit background noise.
- CUSTOMIZE YOUR AUDIO - Audio Personalization helps tune audio for your unique hearing preferences to enhance your enjoyment of music and more.
- COMPACT AND COMFORTABLE - Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation are small, light, and IPX4 sweat-resistant, with a secure, customizable fit that's made to move with you.
- HANDS-FREE ENTERTAINMENT - Works with the Alexa app to stream music, play podcasts, and read Audible audiobooks—just ask. Use your voice to make calls, set reminders, add items to your shopping...
- SEAMLESS SWITCHING — Connect to two devices at the same time and automatically move between devices with multipoint pairing. Move from a video call on your laptop to music on your phone without...
Echo Buds 2 vs AirPods Pro: Which One is Better?
While there is a difference in the price and appearance of these earbuds, which is the best choice depends on two things – your budget and whether you use an iPhone or Android smartphone.
The AirPods Pro are designed to work seamlessly with Apple products and are the best option if you already own an iPhone. Otherwise, you won’t get Siri and will lose some key features when using the Airpods Pro on an Android smartphone. If you own an iDevice, pick up a pair of AirPods Pros to go with it.
The Echo Buds can perform the same features, but with Alexa at the helm. They are cheaper and will work just as well on an iPhone as they will on the Galaxy S22 or Nothing Phone 1. They are an excellent all-around option regardless of the smartphone, tablet, or platform you plan to use them with.
The AirPods do have a more balanced sound, however, and better battery life overall – just keep the platform in mind along with the features. If you’re looking for earbuds that you can take into the pool, be sure to check out our list of these waterproof headphones.
NEXT UP…
- These Are the 6 Best Bose Noise-Canceling Headphones
- Echo Buds vs. Galaxy Buds: How Do They Compare?
- Can the Apple Watch Stream Music?
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com.
