Sonos Move 2 vs. Move: Everything doubled except the weight
An extra $50 makes a really big difference
An extra $50 makes a really big difference
Last year's earbuds learn some new tricks, but the experience is largely the same
It's been a very iterative year in tech. With few exceptions, big-ticket new releases in 2023, from phones to tablets to wearables to personal audio, have largely seemed like minor refinements to what we just got a year or two ago. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, available for preorder now, are a prime example of this trend: for the same $299 MSRP as 2022's QuietComfort Earbuds II, the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds offer all the same benefits (chiefly, outrageously effective ANC) with a handful of new features that probably won't matter to most people. They're not without faults, and they may not be terribly exciting coming from the last generation — but they're still great earbuds.
New Bose QuietComfort Headphones are here, but should you wait for the Ultra experience coming in a few weeks?
Bose has been making great-quality headphones for years now, and sets of their cans have been topping our best wireless headphones list for what seems like forever. So, when the company announced they were revamping their entire wireless headphones (and earbuds) lineup, naturally, the audio world's collective ears perked to hear what they had to say.
Experience pure listening nirvana with these over-the-ear headphones
There’s a good reason sound engineers use headphones to test audio. Whether you're in a gaming session or enjoying the finer details of a chamber orchestra track — over-the-ear headphones provide the best listening experience among various audio gear. Enveloping your ears fully, they create a sealed-in box of sound around your head, rich in quality and details. And with comfortable housing, you can easily wear them for hours at a time. Wired or wireless headphones are the go-to choice when audio quality and active noise cancelation (ANC) are prime concerns.
Galaxy Buds FE’s renders and key specs have leaked
There's no shortage of great wireless earbuds on the market. You can find quality options from Sony, Bose, and even Samsung. In particular, I was surprised by just how good the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is, offering excellent sound quality and impressive ANC in a sleek design. Recent rumors suggest Samsung is working on an FE edition of the Galaxy Buds, bringing the same sound quality to an even lower price point. Images of the earbuds popped up last week, confirming its existence. A new leak now gives us another look at Samsung's upcoming budget earphones and reveals their key specifications.
You likely know what hearing aids are, and you've probably seen a few of the best wireless earbuds out there. However, an emerging product category combines these two devices into one device called a hearable. These new products promise to bring some of the best qualities of hearing aids and in-ear headphones to consumers, along with the ability to stream and listen to audio like you would with your preferred Bluetooth codec. Let's dive into what makes them special.
Citing 'a recent legal decision,' Google has removed the ability to add its devices to multiple speaker groups at once
Early last year, as part of an ongoing and well documented legal feud with Sonos, Google had the choice to either change the way its smart speakers work or stop selling them in the US entirely. Unsurprisingly, it chose the former, resulting in changes to the way group volume controls function in Chromecast speaker groups. Now, citing "a recent legal decision," Google says that new Nest devices will only be able to be added to a single speaker group at any given time.
The MA10s aren't flawless, but they sound incredible for their low price
I didn't have high hopes when unboxing the bulky Baseus Bowie MA10 earbuds, because we've all had that experience: misplacing your favorite headphones and having to buy the cheapest earbuds you can find, which do in a pinch, but eventually get forgotten in a drawer. The MA10, typically found for under $30, are anything but that. They sound great, easily comparable to earbuds that would cost three times their price (or more). If you care more about how your earbuds sound than their connected app experience, or their touch controls, Baseus' earbuds give you solid, budget beats.
Find a suitable aural companion for your new Pixel
When you get a phone like the Google Pixel 7a, you want a pair of earbuds that can keep up, allowing you to get the most of that Taylor Swift playlist you have on repeat (and the odd episode of Criminal). Since many best wireless earbuds can get a little pricey, it’s hard to figure out what makes the best pairing for that Pixel phone.
The Galaxy Buds FE will undercut the Galaxy Buds 2, but not by much
About a month ago, we learned that Samsung has a new pair of earbuds in the works. Based on subsequent leaks, these new earbuds seem to be the Galaxy Buds FE, a new Fan Edition addition to Samsung's earbud lineup. Reliable leaker Roland Quandt has shared some additional info about the upcoming buds, and true to the FE name, it seems like they'll be competing in the midrange market.
A new Bose Immersive Audio feature enables device-agnostic head-tracking sound
Way back in February, a leak indicated that Bose was planning a new pair of high-end ANC headphones to replace its aging flagship Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, called the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones.
The earbuds could launch alongside the Galaxy S23 FE
In addition to making stellar smartphones, Samsung is also known for its extensive range of earbuds. We realized early on that the manufacturer wouldn't reveal any new Galaxy Buds products during its late July Unpacked event, which played host to the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the Galaxy Z Fold 5. However, a leak later disclosed the model number of a possible Galaxy Buds refresh, suggesting that the company may have a new pair of earbuds in the offing. A new leak is now giving us our first official look at the new Samsung earbuds.
Check out some of the best deals during the Discover Samsung event this week
The Discover Samsung event is back for another round of special discounts and savings this year, and this time it brings with it new deals on Samsung's latest and greatest tech. A week chock-full of offers on phones, tablets, earbuds, and even appliances, the Discover Samsung Fall Sale is the best chance you'll have to score savings on Samsung devices before Black Friday deals arrive in November.
Don’t be fooled by the price; these P20i earbuds pack a punch
Wireless earbuds are not just trendy these days, but instead they are must-haves for music-lovers and podcast aficionados. Earbuds are useful for so many occasions, from workouts to casual strolls through the city. Ones with built-in microphones allow you to take calls or hold Zoom meetings from your home office. If you’re looking for a new pair of earbuds without having to spend top dollar, check out the Anker Soundcore P20i, now down to $24 from its original retail price of $40.
An EU-mandated port update doesn't fix what's busted about AirPods on Android
Apple announced the new iPhone 15 series today, with a handful of updates for the company's annual slate of smartphones. If you missed this afternoon's keynote, changes include Apple's Dynamic Island display cutout making its way downstream to the base-model iPhone, a new titanium-alloy frame for the 15 Pro, and the usual suite of camera improvements and incremental horsepower bumps.
Looking for kid headphones? These picks provide essential features parents value, like volume limits, durability, and comfort
Finding the best headphones for kids is no small task. Truth be told, there is an abundance of sub-par gear out there marketed to children. While a lot of top brands are constantly improving their headphone tech, you don't always see the same innovation applied to kid-friendly options. But parents aren't terribly picky, right? What's important are essential features, like noise cancellation, volume limits, and durability. Wireless headphones with a wired option are also a helpful bonus. Will they offer the same audio fidelity as their grown-up counterparts? They come pretty darn close, and your kids will likely be more than satisfied with one of these solid picks.
Have an amazing sound experience no matter where you are with one of the best wireless headphones available right now
If you're reading this, you know how important it is to have the best wireless headphones for your music-listening experience. Sure, plenty of great options among the best wireless earbuds sound good, but there's something immersive about using over-ear headphones that you don't quite get with earbuds.
Futureproof your next pair of wireless headphones by getting one with USB-C charging
The best USB-C charging headphones may differ from typical wireless headphones or headsets in only one seemingly minor way. However, while USB-C charging capability may not change the sound quality, feel of the headphones, or most of the features included, it is actually helpful in a few ways. The most important benefit is that USB-C is quickly becoming the universal port of choice for everything from tablets and Chromebooks to just about every wireless peripheral of the last few years.
Great audio + great ANC + great battery life = great earbuds
Sony's high-end earbuds have been widely regarded as the best in the business for years. Its newest, the WF-1000XM5, live up to the legacy, building on the strengths of the previous-gen XM4 — excellent audio quality, top-notch ANC, and marathon battery life — with improvements like larger drivers that can push more bass and a smaller, more comfortable design. At a super-premium price point of $300, there's not much room for error. Thankfully, once again Sony stuck the landing: based on my time with them, the WF-1000XM5 are the best earbuds you can buy today.
Few premium headphones are better than these
Vying for the throne, Bose and Sony have been competing for a long time now. Back in 2019, the awesome Bose Noise Cancelling 700 headphones came out and set the standard for ANC, sound, and style. Ever since, Sony has tried to take the position away from Bose. And with the XM4s, they nearly did. Then in 2022, Sony's new WH-1000XM5 headphones came out, and they were absolutely stunning in their performance while being quite costly.
The next Samsung Galaxy Buds make their first appearance on a Korean website
Some of our beloved in-ear headphones from Samsung released in the past few years, such as the Galaxy Buds 2 and Buds 2 Pro, have a unique, rounded design. The earbuds almost became a fashion statement thanks to this design language, but they weren't the most practical. The lack of wing tips made them a bit of a loose fit, which some people found annoying. A new real-world image, on the other hand, suggests that Samsung may bring back the wing tips for the next generation of Galaxy Buds.