HP showcased its 'Voyager Free 60' and 'Voyager Free 60+' wireless work-focused earbuds at CES 2023. The earbuds were developed by HP following its acquisition of Poly last year, meaning these earbuds were designed by an experienced audio team.
The Voyager Free 60 comes with a charging case and a USB Bluetooth adapter that allows users to use the headset on laptops, computers, and other devices that don't natively support Bluetooth headsets. HP states that this feature is primarily for compatibility with conferencing applications, such as Zoom or Google Meet.
The more premium Voyager Free 60+ variety adds an additional adapter for 3.5mm analog audio from the usb-c-out port on the case. This then syncs with the earbuds to enable compatibility with analog audio jacks, such as on older mobile devices, or on an airplane's infotainment system. On top of this, the premium variant comes with an OLED touchscreen on the charging case, which can be used for viewing battery levels, controlling connected devices, and more.
The Voyager Free 60 is available for preorder for $299 USD, while the Free 60+ retails for a slightly larger $349 USD.
Wireless Hybrid Earbuds
The Voyager Free 60 and 60+ From HP Feature a Dedicated Bluetooth Adapter
Trend Themes
1. Wireless Audio Adapters - The inclusion of a dedicated USB Bluetooth adapter and a USB-C analog audio adapter in the Voyager Free 60+ earbuds creates the opportunity for developing more innovative wireless audio adapters.
2. Hybrid Audio Devices - The combination of wireless earbuds and dedicated adapters in the Voyager Free 60 and 60+ creates a disruptive opportunity for developing more hybrid audio devices that provide seamless connectivity across multiple platforms and devices.
3. Touchscreen Charging Cases - The Voyager Free 60+'s OLED touchscreen charging case provides a new innovation opportunity to develop more touchscreen charging cases with added functionality for controlling connected devices.
Industry Implications
1. Audio Technology - The growing market for wireless earbuds and the increasing demand for hybrid audio devices creates a burgeoning opportunity to develop new and improved audio technology.
2. Computer Hardware - Device compatibility issues between wireless earbuds and other devices creates a market opportunity for computer hardware manufacturers to develop more dedicated Bluetooth adapters that provide seamless compatibility between devices.
3. Consumer Electronics - The trend towards wireless and hybrid devices presents significant opportunities for consumer electronics companies to develop new and innovative products that meet these evolving demands.