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Amazon Pursues Apple’s AirPods With Echo Bud Wireless Headphones

Amazon Pursues Apple’s AirPods With Echo Bud Wireless Headphones

(Bloomberg) -- Amazon.com Inc. revealed its rival to Apple Inc.’s AirPods on Wednesday: Echo Buds headphones that work with the Alexa digital assistant. This is Amazon’s first wearable device, part of a broader effort to take Alexa beyond the home.

They go on sale this holiday season for $129 and can be preordered starting Wednesday. Apple’s AirPods cost $159 or $199, depending on what type of charging case they come with, according to Apple’s website.

The Echo Buds tap Bose Corp. technology for noise-cancellation, get five hours of battery life and come with a charging case like AirPods. In a demonstration, Amazon hardware chief Dave Limp showed Alexa capabilities such as seeing if something is in stock at a local Whole Foods store.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mark Gurman in San Francisco at mgurman1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jillian Ward at jward56@bloomberg.net, Alistair Barr

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