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With a set of Alexa-enabled earbuds or headphones, Amazon’s voice assistant is with you wherever you go. In our testing, wearing a pair of cans with Alexa built-in proved to be really helpful for things like completing instant tasks and scheduling meetings ahead of time. Simply say “Alexa,” along with your command, and it’s done, whether you want to change the song or check the weather. Along with their voice control tech, the best Alexa headphones and buds are excellent for listening to music, streaming movies, and gaming too. Below, we picked the best Alexa-friendly pairs to buy right now, from wireless headsets to noise-cancelling headphones.
Alexa Headphones and Earbuds Buying Guide
Here’s what to know when searching for your new Alexa-controllable headset:
Mics: A microphone should now be a crucial part of your headset, not just for Alexa commands, but for phone and video calls, and gaming as well. Most new headphones and earbuds include built-in mics, but they’re not all created with the same attributes. For example, a superior microphone system inside will significantly reduce background noise, allowing your voice to come through loud and clear without getting jumbled and garbled. These don’t just pick up your voice through the clutter, they’ll actually isolate it too.
Noise-Cancelling Tech: This goes hand-in-hand with the mics, blocking out a noisy environment around you so you can hear your music – and so Alexa can hear you. Most sets have started including the three basic modes of noise-cancelling tech at the very least: active noise cancellation or some equivalent and hear-through modes. But now there are some added features on top of those too, like a one-touch mute or pause when you want to talk, and scanning the noisy surroundings you’re in automatically to adjust for the most efficient settings.
Control: Other than Alexa, touch control has become the go-to for most models. It’s sleek and can deliver what you need (though it may take some getting used to for different brands). If you’ve really got your eyes (and ears) set on a physical button, be sure to specifically seek that out, as they’re disappearing fast.
Charging: This gets better and faster with each generation, with some headsets now only needing 10 minutes for hours of playtime. Plus, they can last even longer in standby mode, often multiple days.
What Are the Best Headphones With Alexa?
From Sony to Sennheiser, here are the top headphones (and earbuds) with built-in Alexa assistance.
