A new report indicates that Microsoft is hard at work developing a pair of true wireless earbuds under the Surface lineup to rival the latest Apple AirPods.
The true wireless earbuds are codenamed Morrisson (likely after The Doors’ famous frontman) and are tipped to include both noise-cancellation and Microsoft’s voice assistant, Cortana.
- We pit the AirPods 2019 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds
- Like wireless earbuds but not Apple? Don't miss our Samsung Galaxy Buds review
- Of course, our favorite buds right now are the RHA TrueConnect
The source of these new rumors is Thurrott’s Brad Sams who spoke to multiple people familiar with Microsoft’s plans who say the primary motivation is to expand the Surface lineup of headphones from the over-ear Surface Headphones to a new in-ear model that could, in all likelihood, be called the Surface Buds.
Thurrott's sources weren't able to provide a release date for the headphones, but say that 2019 is definitely a possibility if the project isn't delayed.
The AirPod adversaries keep on coming
While Microsoft is the latest tech company in the spotlight for aping Apple's true wireless earbuds, others like Amazon and Libratone are also rumored to be working on a similar style of headphones.
In its defense, however, the transition from the over-ear Surface Headphones to an in-ear model makes more sense for Microsoft than it does for Amazon – a company that really hasn't done much work in the headphone space despite its recent investment in smart speakers like the Amazon Echo.
The counterpoint is that Microsoft's earlier audio hardware projects, like the Zune, have crashed and burned. So it may want to be careful before it dives headfirst back into the world of bitrates and Bluetooth codecs.
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
- Looking to cut the cord? Here are the best true wireless earbuds in 2019
Nick Pino is Managing Editor, TV and AV for TechRadar's sister site, Tom's Guide. Previously, he was the Senior Editor of Home Entertainment at TechRadar, covering TVs, headphones, speakers, video games, VR and streaming devices. He's also written for GamesRadar+, Official Xbox Magazine, PC Gamer and other outlets over the last decade, and he has a degree in computer science he's not using if anyone wants it.