Surface Earbuds: Microsoft Delays AirPods Competitor To Spring 2020

Microsoft announced a slew of new products in the Surface line earlier this year. One of these is a pair of truly wireless headphones dubbed the Surface Earbuds, which was originally slated for release later this year. Now, the Redmond giant has announced that it is delaying the release of the anticipated audio accessory until Spring next year.

Microsoft's Chief Product Officer Panos Panay took to Twitter yesterday to announce that the company decided to launch the Surface Earbuds at a later date because it wants to get things done right.

“ Product-making is about the relentless pursuit to get all the details right, which takes time…sometimes more than we planned on,” Panay said in the tweet. “To ensure we deliver the best possible experience for you, our fans & customers, Surface Earbuds will now launch worldwide in Spring 2020.”

Some fans don't like the fact that the Surface Earbuds are delayed, but some fans actually liked and appreciated Microsoft's decision to spend more time perfecting the device, saying things along the lines of “good things take time,” “it's going to be worth the wait,” and “take as long as needed to ensure they are perfect as can be.”

Microsoft will indeed need a lot of time to ensure the device works perfectly according to plan. This is because the Surface Earbuds are more than just an audio accessory meant to play music and be used for hands-free communication.

The Verge gave an excellent preview as to the Surface Earbuds' features. Here's a quick look at what it offers.

It comes in a unique design

The Surface Earbuds don't look anything like the AirPods, AirPods Pro or even the acclaimed Sony WF-1000XM3. It has a flat, circular surface that acts as a touchpad which can be used to play and skip tracks or control volume levels, for example.

It doesn't shut out or cancel ambient noise

The $250 Surface Earbuds don't come with noise cancellation features. It was designed to let ambient noise in so that users will be aware of their surroundings.

It is designed for productivity

It might be pricey, but it's worth noting that Microsoft didn't design the Surface Earbuds for music alone. The device is designed for productivity and has some useful features that can't be found in other like devices in the market.

Microsoft's Surface Earbuds aren't the usual audio accessory, and the Redmond giant wants it that way. Stay tuned for more updates as they come.