After Amazon and Echo Buds, Huawei and Freebuds or Samsung and Galaxy Buds, it’s Microsoft’s turn to enter the wireless headphone market. With Gorgeous Earbuds, Microsoft will try to nibble on the market share of Apple’s AirPods, which currently have a 50.2% market share.
Microsoft unveils Surface Earbuds, wireless earbuds that look like hearing aids
Surface Earbuds are completely wireless and connect via Bluetooth to your smartphone or computer. Not surprisingly, Headphones are compatible with Android and iOS. Pairing the headphones consists of simply opening the box next to the terminal. Like AirPods, the earphones come with a charging case that increases their autonomy. Microsoft promises up to 24 hours of battery life on a single charge of the storage case. Without the support of the case, the autonomy of the headphones does not exceed 8 hours.
Like the Pixel Buds that Google launched in 2017, the Earbuds are equipped with a real-time translation system. Thanks to artificial intelligence and two integrated microphones, the headset can translate the sentences spoken by the user. Microsoft is proud Translate up to 60 different languages in real time. The translation can then be used directly in one of the Office suite applications. Integration of software such as Word, Excel and Powerpoint is also one of EarBuds’ strengths. Pixel Buds, on the other hand, can translate speech in real time, making it possible to overcome the language barrier. In this respect, Microsoft therefore goes a little less than its rival Google.
Microsoft has also equipped its wireless earbuds with: multi-touch zones. These controls especially make it possible to launch Spotify, answer a call with a gesture, or switch from one song to another without having to take your smartphone out of your pocket. That’s not all. Surface Earbuds continue to benefit from the integration of the Office suite. So it’s possible Controlling the scrolling of a Powerpoint presentation as you do with the remote control. Obviously, it’s possible to summon Cortana with a single keystroke.
Finally, Surface Earbuds only sin on one point: design. Microsoft chose a circular design closer to the hearing aid (far from sexy) than the revolutionary hi-tech headset. Shame.
Release date and price
Microsoft will launch the Surface Earbuds in the US by the end of this year. Earphones will be sold more expensive than AirPods priced at $249. For now, the company has not mentioned the launch in Europe. We will tell you more as soon as possible.
