Amazon Echo with personal assistant Alexa has been a huge hit with customers around the world, and now, Apple has its own response: Apple AirPods with Siri.
According to a report by Seeking Alpha, Apple’s AirPods, its wireless headphones that were unveiled with the launch of the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus, is an innovative user interface that is controlled by Siri, Apple’s digital personal assistant.
“Apple leverages the fact that we are living in an increasingly mobile-centric world and introduces a product which, compared to the stationary concept of the Echo, better fits into the ecosystem of our multiple mobile devices accompanying us throughout the day,” Seeking Alpha wrote in the report. “AirPods increase the value of these products, unlocking new use cases, like turning a smartwatch into a highly portable and convenient music player or allowing for semi-private interactions with a virtual assistant while your smartphone is in your pocket.”
According to the report, if Amazon’s Echo is intriguing to some consumers, then being able to take it on the go in your ear with a connected mobile device has “truly mass market potential.” The report noted that, in addition to being mobile and offering consumers a lot of use cases, AirPods have other trimmings of a mass market technology product, such as they are easy to use and have a versatile user interface. The report pointed to the ability to pause a song on an Apple device by double-tapping either headphone or simply asking Siri. Removing the AirPods from a user’s ears also pauses the playback function.
While Apple is first out of the gate with the AirPods, it’s not the only technology company that is eyeing this market. Seeking Alpha pointed to competing devices from Samsung and Bragi, noting the current features of the AirPods are likely just the beginning.