HMD's Amped Buds Give Your Phone Last-Mile Battery Boost

At MWC 2025 in Barcelona, HMD has unveiled its latest innovation: a pair of wireless earbuds that also functions as a mini power bank for your phone. Known as the HMD Amped Buds, these earbuds come with a distinctive hinge on the earpiece and a variety of audio features.

The charging case boasts an elegant design with an aluminum alloy exterior and a colorful matte finish. Weighing in at a mere 80 grams (2.82 ounces), the case provides IPX4-rated splash resistance and is packed with a 1,600mAh battery.

According to HMD, the case has enough energy to deliver an additional 20% battery charge wirelessly to an iPhone 16 Pro, and can enhance the charge by up to 24% when connected via a USB-C cable.

James Robinson shared insights on HMD Amped Buds:

“…earbuds that do more than just sound amazing. Their sleek, ultra-thin charging case is also a backup battery—so when your phone is running low, just snap it on for extra power. No cables, no stress—just a quick battery boost… pic.twitter.com/GFk34KYXsR

— HMD (@HMDdevices) March 2, 2025

The charging case, compatible with Qi2 technology, magnetically attaches to smartphones, including those with MagSafe support. HMD assures that the Amped Buds’ case will work seamlessly with protective cases that feature a magnetic ring and can charge nearly any smartphone that supports wireless charging capabilities.

This isn’t the first time a concept like this has been executed. Several lesser-known brands previously released wireless earbuds with charging cases that act as power banks. Notably, Nokia had a similar feature with its wireless earbuds integrated into one of its feature phones, while Huawei also delivered earbuds housed within a smartwatch.

Returning to the HMD Amped Buds, these wireless earbuds come with an IP54 rating and feature a flexible hinge design to ensure a comfortable fit. Sound is delivered through 10mm drivers, and users can customize the equalizer using a dedicated app available for both Android and iOS platforms.

The earbuds also employ hybrid Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) and Environmental Noise Cancelling (ENC) technologies, utilizing a triple-microphone array on each side. On the connectivity front, they support Google Fast Pair and can connect to multiple devices simultaneously, accommodating up to two at one time.

The Amped Buds offer a listening duration of up to 4 hours with hybrid ANC activated, while standard use can extend up to 8 hours on a full charge. When fully charged, the case provides a total listening time of up to 95 hours.

This innovative approach by HMD aims to provide a convenient source of backup power for smartphones as the day winds down. The Amped Buds are scheduled for release in April, retailing at €199, although details regarding their availability in the U.S. have yet to be announced.

It’s important to note that the concept of wireless power transfer between a phone and earbuds case isn’t particularly new. For years, many users have charged their earbuds by placing them on top of compatible smartphones supporting reverse wireless charging. Other manufacturers like Xiaomi and Nothing have also adopted this feature, while Apple seems to lag behind despite being a pioneer in this space and having the necessary technology ready for its devices.