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Tag: wireless earbuds

  • Galaxy Buds 3 FE Review: Samsung’s ‘Fan Edition” Wireless Earbuds Are Just Enough

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    If you’re a Samsung fan and you see “FE” branding, you probably think a few things. The first thing that comes to mind is probably, “I’m saving some money.” For those not fluent in Samsung lingo, FE, which is actually short for “Fan Edition,” is the equivalent of SE in Apple-speak, meaning it’s a more budget-friendly alternative to the flagship-level gadgets. But it’s not just savings you want when you’re seeking something FE-branded—you want quality, too. Maybe you’re not expecting every bell and whistle in the wheelhouse, but you want a lot of it.

    I want a lot of the good stuff, too, and I don’t want to pay for it, which is why when I got my hands on Samsung’s recently released Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE, my expectations were elevated. And at $150, they might be even more elevated than usual. It’s not that $150 is too much money in the world of wireless earbuds, it’s that there are a ton of competitors in that range, and a lot of them punch above their weight class—the OnePlus Buds 4, Nothing’s Ear, and Google’s Pixel Buds 2a, for example.

    So, the next logical question is how do the Galaxy Buds 3 FE hold up against competition, and if we already know there are compromises built in, what exactly are they? On that front, I’ve got good news and bad. Let’s start with the good stuff.

    Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE

    Samsung’s newest Galaxy Buds 3 FE wireless earbuds sound good but lag in some key departments.

    Pros


    • Good sound

    • Same blade design as Buds 3 Pro

    Cons


    • ANC is middling at best

    • Not as feature-rich as competing buds

    • Blade design looks nice but isn’t great to touch

    FE price with flagship sound

    © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

    I won’t mince words; I really like how the Galaxy Buds 3 FE sound. For wireless earbuds in this price range, they sound (at the risk of hyperbole) shockingly good. They don’t have as much bass as some competitors like OnePlus and its recent pair, the OnePlus Buds 4, but I personally don’t mind that at all—I don’t key in on bass when it comes to wireless earbuds. I’m more likely to appreciate buds that mitigate distortion, and I would describe the Galaxy Buds 3 FE as pleasantly unmuddled.

    See Galaxy Buds3 FE at Amazon

    See Galaxy Buds3 FE at Samsung

    I find that, despite being less bassy, the Galaxy Buds 3 FE have a really natural soundstage, with clear mids and highs, which make vocals feel audible and present, and accompanying music distinct. I tested the Galaxy Buds 3 FE back-to-back against the OnePlus Buds 4, listening to the new Gorillaz single, “The Happy Dictator,” and the experience was kind of jarring, but I think I prefer Samsung’s audio tuning. I could hear vocals upfront, background vocals felt artfully tucked away, arpeggiated synths occupied their own rightful space in the mid and high range, and I didn’t detect much distortion even with the volume turned almost all the way up. If you emphasize bass, you’ll most likely disagree with me, but the Galaxy Buds 3 FE are my preference.

    What’s the FE catch?

    Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Fe 5
    © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

    So, there’s the highlight—the sound. But what about the stuff you may not like? For me, it’s the active noise cancellation (ANC). As much as I like listening with the Galaxy Buds 3 FE when I’m in a relatively quiet environment, I find that the appeal withers slightly in the cacophony of New York City living. One of the biggest tests you can put a pair of ANC wireless earbuds through is New York’s subway system—a gauntlet that I send almost every pair of wireless earbuds and headphones through—and in this case, I would say the Galaxy Buds 3 FE barely pass the test. When a train arrives, I basically can’t hear what I’m listening to, and even while I’m riding the subway, I’m still getting a decent amount of ambient noise from my environment.

    I don’t think that it’s a passive noise cancellation issue—the default eartips feel comfortable—but even if it were, the Galaxy Buds 3 FE also only come with two tip sizes, which is notably less than other similarly priced competitors, which offer between three and five sizes. I’ll give Samsung a little slack here if just because the last pair of ANC wireless earbuds that I tested are Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), which cost $300 and are designed specifically to cancel the heck out of all the noise around you. They’re the best at noise cancelling of any wireless earbuds I’ve put in my ears. But still, I was expecting more from Samsung, especially when I had no such complaints about the OnePlus Buds 4.

    While the Galaxy Buds 3 FE are fine for mild instances of noise cancellation—they’re mostly fine on the sidewalk in New York when I’m walking place to place—they’re not the wireless earbuds I would spring for on an airplane or during a loud New York City subway commute.

    Things that are fine with the Galaxy Buds 3 FE

    Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Fe 2
    © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

    You’ve got the good and the not-so-good, but what about the in-between? There are levels to this stuff, after all. I think the best encapsulation of things that are just fine in these wireless earbuds is the squeeze and touch controls. They’re not the best I’ve ever used, but they’re very okay. Interestingly, Samsung includes two types of controls on the Galaxy Buds 3 FE. To adjust volume, you swipe up or down on the buds, while skipping tracks, pause/play, and turning ANC on and off are done through squeezing. Like any squeeze controls, you’ll have to adjust to the sensitivity at first, but once you do, they work fine for the most part.

    I say “the most part” because I do find—because the Galaxy Buds 3 FE are so light—that squeezing them does jostle them in my ear a bit. They’re not flying out mid-commute or anything, but squeezing does feel marginally more tenuous than on other pairs of wireless earbuds. Adding to that tenuousness, I think, is Samsung’s “blade” design, which is borrowed from its flagship Galaxy Buds 3 Pro for this version of the FE. My complaint doesn’t have anything to do with how the blade design copies AirPods—I actually like the look of the Galaxy Buds 3 FE—but one thing I don’t like is how it feels on my fingers.

    Because of the way the buds are situated when they’re in your ears, the edge of the blade faces forward, which means when you go to squeeze, you may actually be squeezing a sharp angle, which (while not the biggest problem in the world) just doesn’t feel altogether right. I’d much rather squeeze a flat surface (a flatter stem with a bigger surface area). It’s a small tactile detail in the scheme of things, but as long as we’re getting nerdy about this stuff, it’s worth mentioning.

    Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Fe 1
    © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

    Though I don’t love the feel of the blade design, I do actually like the look. They’re plain in the scheme of things, but I find them kind of elegant. I also like how they appear when they’re in my ears, though the blade is a decent length and can sometimes end up sticking out if I don’t properly put them in my ears. Haters will say that the blade design is just an AirPods ripoff, and congrats, haters, you’re right. That being said, AirPods look nice (if a little boring), in my opinion, and I think that Samsung does a good job of putting a little twist on the Apple minimalism.

    In keeping with the theme of the section, the battery life of the Galaxy Buds 3 FE is also just okay. The buds are rated for 6 hours of battery life while ANC is activated and 8.5 hours when it’s turned off, and with my usage, those estimates seem accurate. With the charging case, the total hours of battery is up to 24 hours with ANC on and up to 30 hours with it off. That’s about the same battery you’d get with most wireless earbuds in this price range, give or take a half hour or so. Sorry folks, if the longest battery life is a priority, you’ll just have to spend more money on wireless earbuds.

    Feature-wise, the Galaxy Buds 3 FE are decently equipped but not brimming. You get adaptive ANC, 360 audio (Samsung’s version of spatial audio), transparency mode, and you can choose EQ presets in the Galaxy Wearable app, but there’s no personalized tuning test like there is on the OnePlus Buds 4 or Nothing Ear. That last one is a bit of a bummer since personalized EQ can dramatically change the sound quality in my experience.

    Feature-rich or not, the Galaxy Buds 3 FE are still nice-sounding buds at a fairly affordable price. I think Samsung has room to improve in the ANC department, though, and if you’re looking for the most of anything, going FE just isn’t the way. But if you like Samsung’s Galaxy products and you’re more focused on quality sound over anything else, these might be your pick without costing too much.

    See Galaxy Buds3 FE at Amazon

    See Galaxy Buds3 FE at Samsung

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    James Pero

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  • Our favorite budget wireless earbuds are back on sale for $45

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    The Anker Soundcore Space A40 wireless earbuds are back on sale for a record-low price of $45 a 44 percent discount. These earbuds remain our top pick for best budget wireless earbuds.

    The most significant feature on the A40 earbuds is the inclusion of active noise cancellation (ANC), which is almost unheard of at this price point. It’s not the most sophisticated ANC, but it does sufficiently reduce constant rumbling background noise like on a plane. The built-in mic that’s used for transparency mode and phone calls is a bit subpar, especially when used in noisy areas.

    Soundcore

    Our top budget for the best wireless earbuds is back to a record low price.

    $45 at Amazon

    These are budget-friendly, so while they can’t be expected to compete on audio quality with flagship headphones that cost hundreds of dollars, the sound is still impressive given their low cost. The sound profile is warm, with a strong upper-bass, while some of the higher frequencies lose finer details. For those wanting to fine-tune the sound on the A40s, the earbuds can be paired with the Soundcore app, which includes an EQ.

    The small, round earpieces help make the A40s comfortable to wear for extended periods, and the charging case extends the already solid 10-hour battery life by another 50 or so hours. The Anker Soundcore Space A40 wireless earbuds are already one of the best value options on the market, and this sale makes them even more appealing.

    Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

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    Andre Revilla

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  • AirPods Pro 3 Hands-On: All the Upgrades Seem to Check Out (So Far)

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    Whereas the Apple Watch SE 3, Series 11, and Watch Ultra 3 are pretty much internal spec bumps compared to the previous generations of those respective smartwatches, the AirPods Pro 3 wireless earbuds are actually reengineered inside and out, but you’ll have to look closely to spot the changes. The charging case also ditches its physical pairing button.

    After Tuesday’s “Awe Dropping” Apple Event, where Tim Cook and company announced the remarkably thin iPhone Air, feature-stuffed iPhone 17 Pros, and the aforementioned trio of Apple Watches, I had some personal time to experience the AirPods Pro 3. These are the replacements for the AirPods Pro 2 introduced in 2022 (and then upgraded with USB-C in 2023). So we’re talking about a new version for Apple’s three-year-old wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation (ANC).

    You can read all the techie detail about how Apple reengineered the drivers and acoustics and all that stuff here or on Apple’s product page. We also wrote up a helpful comparison on how the AirPods Pro 3 compare to the AirPods Pro 2. What neither can tell you is what it’s like to wear the AirPods Pro 3 in your ears and try out the new Live Translation feature and the built-in heart rate sensor. That’s my job, so let’s get to it.

    © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

    As with my other hands-on, these are merely first impressions. I had about 45 minutes to try the AirPods Pro 3 out. At first glance, the AirPods Pro 3 in their charging case don’t look new at all. There were rumors that the case would get smaller, but the case is about the same size as the one for AirPods Pro 2. Flipping the case over to the back, you’ll notice there’s no more pairing button. Apple removed it and replaced it with an invisible touch-sensitive one on the front. Press and hold it for two seconds to put the AirPods Pro 3 into pairing mode, and then press and hold longer to do a factory reset. The charging light LED is still present.

    Apple Event iPhone Apple Watch AirPods 05
    © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

    The AirPods Pro 3 earbuds themselves are subtly different and designed for better comfort. First, there’s now an extra size for eartips in the box—XXS—for a total of five. Second, the bowl of the buds is more compact. And third, the eartips fit tighter to the buds. Together, these changes all help situate each bud deeper and more snug inside of your ears. One side effect is that the stems seem to stick out more. I immediately noticed this for some reason. I don’t know; I’m very sensitive to how things stuck inside my ears look. Needless to say, the AirPods Pro 3 fit very comfortably in my ears, and although I’ve never had problems with the AirPods Pro 2 buds falling out, I did shake my head, and the AirPods Pro 3 buds felt quite secure.

    Sound-wise, Apple says it’s improved the quality, especially with active noise cancellation performance. I listened to a few songs on Apple Music, including some recent favorites on repeat, like “Dive” by Olivia Dean and “Euphoria” by Keshi, and they sounded very clear with clean and deep bass, and crisp vocals. Apple had four HomePods simulating various environmental noises, like the hum of an airplane and a noisy street. I immediately noticed the stronger ANC in reducing the background noise. Apple says that it’s increased ANC by 2x on AirPods Pro 3 compared to AirPods Pro 2, and by 4x compared to AirPods Pro and AirPods 4 with ANC. That’s impressive, and I look forward to testing how the ANC holds up in the real world. Simulations, after all, aren’t always representative of real life.

    Live Translation Demo

    Apple Event iPhone Apple Watch AirPods 02
    © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

    Now let’s talk about the live translation and heart rate sensor because, as our senior reporter James Pero said, AirPods Pro 3 is clearly Apple dipping its toes into transforming the wireless earbuds into much more than a gadget for listening to music.

    In a demo, Apple had a person on hand to speak Portuguese while the AirPods Pro 3 in my ears translated what he was saying into English. Live Translation is activated by using a Siri shortcut (Apple mapped it to an Action button on an iPhone 17 Pro demo unit) or by pressing and holding the stems of both AirPods Pro 3 buds. ANC kicks into gear to isolate the speaker’s voice, and then the translation begins. You can also pull open your paired iPhone to see the transcribed translations within the Translate app. Now, I don’t speak Portuguese, and neither did any of the other media in my hands-on group, so I can’t say with what accuracy the translations were. But I do have experience using the Translate app on iPhone for Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, and French translations. It’s good, but not as accurate as Google Translate, especially for tonal languages like Mandarin. I will say that the live translations were nearly instant; the buds do use beamforming tech to home in on the voice of a person who’s directly in front of you, and some languages may require a few more seconds to get the correct context for a translation, but it seemed to work.

    The fine print for AirPods Pro 3 (if you’re getting them for Sept. 19) is that the Live Translation feature is launching in beta and is limited to five languages (English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish) at first. Apple says Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Mandarin Chinese (simplified) will be available by the end of the year.

    On the bright side, Live Translation is not exclusive to the AirPods Pro 3. The feature is also coming to AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 with ANC—the requirements being wireless earbuds with an H2 chip and ANC.

    Heart Rate Tracking Demo

    Apple Event iPhone Apple Watch AirPods 01
    © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

    Now, let’s talk about the heart rate sensor. This is not the same tech that Beats uses in its Powerbeats Pro 2 fitness buds, but Apple’s own sensor is based on tech from over a decade’s worth of learnings from the Apple Watch’s heart rate sensor. Ripped from Apple’s own press release, AirPods Pro 3 uses a “custom photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor that shines invisible infrared light pulsed at 256 times per second to measure light absorption in blood flow.”

    I got a brief look at how the heart rate sensor integrates with the Fitness app for workouts. Worth noting, my heart rate in the video below is quite high from having little sleep, getting up at 5 a.m., and hopping in an Uber, and then Caltrain, and then Uber again to get to Apple Park. Oh, and then running around Apple Park for several hours, being extremely caffeinated from too many espresso shots, and Cupertino being extremely warm. That being said, I can’t say how accurate the heart rate sensor in the AirPods Pro 3 is compared to an Apple Watch. I’ll have to compare that when I get a pair of the ANC buds in for review.

    At $249, the AirPods Pro 3 seem to be a worthwhile upgrade over the AirPods Pro 2 if everything like the 2x ANC checks out. And if they’re anything like the AirPods Pro 2, Apple will likely support them with new features for several years. I’ll have more to share when I review them soon, but I’m not seeing any steps backward for now.

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    Raymond Wong

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  • Nothing’s New Wireless Earbuds Have a ‘Talk’ Button, and I Need to Know What That Means

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    Buttons are in right now—at least if you’re a designer at Nothing, they are. On its Headphone 1 (the first pair of Nothing-made over-ear headphones), there are all sorts of doodads. A paddle for track selection; a tic-tac-shaped wheel/button for volume and ANC; a pairing button (okay, this one is boring, but still, it’s a button). Even on its recently released Phone 3, there’s a button on the back of the phone for doing really useful stuff with its “Glyph Matrix,” like… playing spin the bottle. No matter what the use case is, Nothing is clearly intent on bringing back tactile input, and it looks like the upcoming Ear 3 wireless earbuds are in on that trend, too.

    There’s a lot to unpack in this picture of Nothing’s Ear 3, but the main thing that jumps out is a big, obvious “Talk” button on the side of the charging case. It begs some obvious questions, such as, what the hell does that mean? I wish I knew, but I do enjoy the mystery right now. Maybe it’s a way to activate a voice assistant on your phone? Maybe it initiates a call? Maybe there’s a little bug in there that really needs some 1-on-1 convo right now, and only you can help? Hard to say, but obviously, Nothing has some plans for its next pair of wireless earbuds, and it’s not all about just listening to tunes.

    There are more buttons on the side of the case, too, in case you weren’t already in full-on tactile overload. What those buttons do is also anyone’s guess, but I do hope they’re at least a little more fine-tuned than those on the Headphone 1. No shade to more buttons (I like buttons), but I’d prefer the execution to be a little more precise.

    Outside of the button-fest, there’s also a big design shift gen-over-gen, which I wrote about when Nothing dropped its first teaser. Now that we’ve got the full picture, I’m willing to say this: it looks pretty cool! I do think it definitely strays away from Nothing’s transparent aesthetic, but I’m fine with that as long as the buds still have a distinct vibe. Instead of a clean white aesthetic, it looks like Nothing is going for a smooth, metallic silver plastic on the charging case and also a dash of that same silver stuff on the earbuds. I won’t really know how I feel until I lay eyes on them in person, but the shift looks promising and also unifies the design of the Ear 3 and Headphone 1.

    Despite having no clue what any of these buttons do, I’m just glad that Nothing has been in the lab figuring new stuff out. The Ear and the Ear A were nice wireless earbuds, but outside of looks, they didn’t move the needle much (okay, they were the first with a ChatGPT integration, but that’s about it). Maybe a “Talk” button won’t either, but I always give Nothing credit for trying. Get weird with it; why not!

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    James Pero

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  • These Odd-Looking Earbuds Rival the Best From Apple, Sony, and Bose

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    The Pro X, like the Between 3ANC before them, use multiple drivers: a dynamic unit for the lowest frequencies paired with a dual set of Knowles balanced armatures for the upper-mids and highs. Just like in a tower speaker that has a woofer, a midrange, and a tweeter, multi-driver earbuds divide and conquer by sending specific frequencies to a driver that’s been tuned to handle them.

    Out of the box, the earbuds are set to Status Signature—the Pro X’s default tuning. It’s a nicely balanced EQ that boosts neither highs nor lows, yet still possesses a warm tone. There’s effortless detail in the midrange, and the highs have excellent clarity. Bass is tightly controlled; even when pushing the Pro X to 95% volume, Billie Eilish’s bass-tastic “bad guy” sounded perfect, with no discernible distortion.

    Switching to the Knowles Preferred preset gives a big bump to the upper mids and highs to show off what those balanced armatures can do. Normally, this kind of tuning doesn’t do it for me, but on the Pro X, I was impressed by how enjoyable it was. If you’ve found yourself drawn to Bose’s high-energy sound signature in the past, this preset gets you very close.

    If you can’t find your favorite balance from among the five available presets, you can roll your own. In fact, one of the best features is creating custom EQ presets by starting with an existing one. I goosed Status Signature’s low-end just a tad, and got exactly the mix I wanted. On that note, I have to give Status props for its app; it’s super clean and very easy to use.

    The soundstage isn’t especially wide—I’d place its extremities about 3-6 inches outside my head—but it’s got excellent precision. Individual elements stand out from each other so clearly that you can mentally point at the various musicians playing in front of you. A jazz classic like Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five” benefits a lot from the Pro X’s clear separation of sounds, letting you appreciate each instrument in its own space.

    I did most of my listening on an iPhone 16, but it’s worth noting that the Pro X support Sony’s high-quality LDAC Bluetooth codec. If you’re on Android, make sure you’ve got it enabled for an even smoother, more refined performance.

    Against the Crowd

    Photograph: Simon Cohen

    I swapped the Pro X with Sony’s WF-1000XM5, Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 4, and Technics’ EAH-Z100. The Status Pro X more than held their own on sound quality. I personally still prefer the XM5’s sound signature thanks to its more resonant bass response, but that’s more about my taste than any shortcomings of the Pro X—they’re excellent.

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    Simon Cohen

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  • These Wireless Earbuds Have a Screen, ChatGPT, and a Cute Robot Face—but They Sound Terrible

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    I like wireless earbuds because I love music. It’s very straightforward; music exists, and I want to listen to it, and wireless earbuds are the thing that gets me to the thing I love. Problem solved. You can’t see it, but I’m smugly dusting my hands right now like a mathematician at a chalkboard. There’s a symbiosis between the buds and me. A simplicity. A supply and demand so fundamental that in the gadget world, it feels like a law of nature.

    But, as much as I love wireless audio, there are some reasons for loving buds that I have never thought of before. For instance, productivity. It has never once occurred to me that wireless earbuds can turn me into some kind of capitalist brain machine, as much as employers would love that. Or using them to “remember everything” and/or “know everything.” I personally like it when they make fun sounds, but I guess becoming some kind of omnipotent techno-deity would be sick, too. I have also never thought to use them as a tool to record every conversation I ever have without telling anyone, either—probably because I ain’t a NARC. But this is the age of AI, and maybe I’m just not thinking big enough; maybe I need to expand my mind; maybe it’s time to optimize my future, maaaan.

    Oso AI Earbuds

    These ChatGPT-equipped wireless earbuds are fine for transcription but nothing else.

    Pros

    • They transcribe calls and live events
    • Mic catches a wide array
    • Fun on-case screen!

    Cons

    • Awful for listening to music
    • Mired by paywalls
    • Loose-fitting earbud design
    • Too expensive for the faults

    To help open me up to the possibilities of wireless earbuds in the era of AI, I shoved a pair from a brand called Oso in my ears. These $170 AI wireless earbuds were crowdfunded through Kickstarter and promise big things. Marketing highlights include “revolutionizing productivity, one conversation at a time,” and “remember everything, know everything.” And here I was just trying to have a news roundup podcast serenely explain to me how messed up the world is!

    © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

    To pave the way toward a more productive self, Oso AI Earbuds have zeroed in on using ChatGPT via the cloud to power a few capabilities. Chief among them seems to be transcription. Indeed, with a companion app, you can use your Oso AI Earbuds to listen to your surroundings and then have that conversation, or presentation, or YouTube video transcribed by AI in the cloud. There’s nothing groundbreaking about AI transcription, but I guess putting it in wireless earbuds is a newish approach? I used Oso’s wireless earbuds to record some stuff while I was at a press briefing, and it worked fairly well, despite the fact that the presenters were not native English speakers and the volume of their mics wasn’t ideal. You can also use it to record virtual meetings and calls.

    I took a call with the Oso AI Earbuds and used them to transcribe part of it, and while the transcription worked just fine, the experience for the person on the other end was not ideal. According to the person I called, these wireless earbuds pick up a lot of ambient noise—she was able to hear someone moving glasses in Gizmodo’s communal kitchen, an elevator beep, and someone having a phone call about 20 feet away from me. On one hand, it’s good that these wireless earbuds can pick up so much, since it means they won’t miss a word when you’re recording, but for the person on the other end, the experience can be ridiculously distracting. It’s especially strange considering the wireless earbuds are advertised as having “dual beamforming mics with ENC.” That’s not a typo for ANC; ENC stands for “environmental noise cancellation.” I’m not sure which environmental noise the Oso AI Earbuds are cancelling, but they certainly weren’t interested in tackling ambient noise in my office.

    Oso Ai Earbuds.
    The Oso AI Earbuds have a screen for showing an AI assistant’s “face” and the time. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

    Another pillar of the Oso AI Earbuds is being able to use them as a voice assistant powered by ChatGPT. Again, this isn’t a novel idea; Nothing’s wireless earbuds were the first to advertise a ChatGPT integration last year. I tested that feature out, and while I could see its potential usefulness in theory, I wasn’t wholly impressed with actually using it for real-life stuff like figuring out where to eat or what the Knicks’ score is. I was looking forward to testing out if there was any difference between testing ChatGPT out last year and now, but unfortunately, Oso’s AI Earbuds had other plans.

    Since iPhones don’t play nice with anything that doesn’t come freshly baked out of Foxconn with an Apple logo on it, Oso’s app offers a Siri shortcut that is supposed to act as a workaround for activating the buds’ voice assistant, which has (comically, I may add) been dubbed “Judy.” I added my Judy shortcut to Siri in iOS just like the app asked, but when I tried to activate it by uttering “Siri, Judy,” like the shortcut is designed to do, I was met with a notification that I have not paid for “Laxis Pro,” which is a premium version of the app that powers the AI wireless earbuds. I’m not sure if that’s a bug or not, but if it’s not, I suppose no one ever said reaching productivity god status came without a price—in this case, a literal one in USD.

    There are a bunch of other weird things about these wireless earbuds that are both fun and totally useless, and they’re maybe my favorite part of Oso. For one, the case has a display on it, and that screen has a silly-looking robot face. It grabbed my attention and the wonder of other Gizmodo staff right away, because (duh) cute robot assistant. Unfortunately, I’m still unsure what the purpose of that face is outside of just looking cute. There are also some other features on the screen that let you control aspects of the buds or audio playback, like skipping tracks, play-pause, and preset EQ adjustments for “rock,” or “pop” etc… There’s also a timer, a volume slider, and a screen that shows the date and time. All of those can be swiped through Tinder-style. Nothing about this experience is necessary or really that useful, but I love it anyway. These are the types of strange form factors you can only get in a crowdfunded device, and even if they’re impractical, it breaks the monotony of AirPods dupes.

    Oso Ai Earbuds.
    © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

    As long as we’re talking about hardware, it’s worth touching on some stuff I definitely don’t like. One of those things is the wireless earbuds themselves, which don’t have ear tips, but just a bud that is meant to nest in your outer ear (think AirPods 4). That design is intentional since it allows you to hear your surroundings with the wireless earbuds in and makes them more comfortable during longer periods of use, but it also just kind of sucks. I never feel like the Oso AI Earbuds are fully secure in my ears, and I know I’m not alone in feeling that way with earbuds sans tips. That design also has a ripple effect on the worst part of these buds: the sound.

    These are not wireless earbuds you should listen to music on. The sound is flat and not super loud, which is a problem given the ambient noise bleed I described above. No amount of preset EQ can fix that, either. Music playback, while built into the experience via the case with touch controls and preset EQ is clearly an afterthought here, and if you’re looking to get a pair of wireless earbuds that can work for AI transcription and double as your daily driver for music, you will be very disappointed. That’s a bummer on any pair of wireless earbuds, but especially so when you consider the $170 price tag.

    Oh, and battery life is middling. Oso rates the wireless earbuds for 6 hours of playback, which would be fine until you realize that most earbuds at this price have 6 hours of battery with ANC. These wireless earbuds, as a matter of record, do not have ANC. If you can stand listening to Oso AI Earbuds for extended periods, the case holds 21 hours of battery.

    Oso Ai Earbuds.
    © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

    Maybe I’m expecting too much from a pair of crowdfunded wireless earbuds, but I was promised (at the very least) a useful tool for productivity. And maybe recording everything all the time, pissing people off that I’m calling off with ambient noise bleed, dealing with unexpected paywalls, praying that my wireless earbuds don’t fall out of my ears on the subway platform, trying to figure out whether the face on my earbuds case is mad at me, and failing to use a voice assistant named Judy are getting me closer to the ultimate cog in the productivity machine, and I just can’t see it yet. Or maybe the simplest explanation is best. Maybe wireless earbuds don’t have to help me transcend—maybe they shouldn’t. Maybe it’s okay that they just do what they’ve always done: connect to my phone and play some really good fucking music.

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    James Pero

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  • The best wireless earbuds for 2025

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    Finding the best wireless earbuds can make a huge difference in how you experience music, podcasts, calls and even daily commutes. Whether you’re tuning out distractions on the train or taking work calls on the go, today’s wireless earbuds pack impressive audio quality and convenience into tiny, pocket-friendly forms. Many now offer excellent noise cancellation, smart ambient noise modes for staying aware of your surroundings and reliable noise isolation to help keep you focused — all without the hassle of wires.

    There’s a wide range of options available, from budget-friendly picks to premium models with advanced features like multi-device pairing, wireless charging cases and multiple mics for crystal-clear calls. No matter your price point, there’s a pair out there that can deliver great sound, comfort and functionality to match your needs.

    Table of contents

    Best wireless earbuds of 2025

    Sony

    Read our full Sony WF-1000XM5 review

    Max battery life: 8 hours, up to 24 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IPX4 | Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes | Included charging case: Yes | Waterproof: Yes (IPX4) | Driver size: 8.4mm

    With the WF-1000XM5 flagship earbuds, Sony improves its already formidable mix of great sound, effective ANC and handy features. These earbuds are undoubtedly the company’s best and most comfortable design of its 1000X models so far, which was one of the few remaining riddles Sony needed to solve. Sony still manages to pack in more features than anyone else too, including trademark ones like adaptive sound and Speak-to-Chat. Add in upgraded drivers, new chips, eight hours of battery life and significant improvements to sound quality and these are Sony’s best earbuds yet. But all of the advancements come at a cost: these are also Sony’s most expensive set of wireless earbuds in the 1000X lineup.

    Pros

    • Excellent sound quality
    • Improved design
    • More comfortable fit
    • Loads of handy features
    Cons

    • More expensive
    • No battery life improvement
    • Head tracking is Android only
    • Some features still need fine-tuning

    $213 at Amazon

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    Photo by Billy Steele / Engadget

    Read our full Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) review

    Max battery life: 6 hours, up to 30 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IPX4 | Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes | Included charging case: Yes | Waterproof: Yes (IPX4) | Driver size: Not specified

    Apple’s second-generation AirPods Pro are a huge improvement over the previous models. These buds have improved sound quality and active noise cancellation, while maintaining all of the conveniences that make AirPods the best earbud option for iPhone, iOS and Mac. When we reviewed them, we found the most impressive feature to be transparency mode, which is more natural sounding than any other earbuds by a mile. You can leave these in during a conversation and it’s like you’re not even wearing them. Of course, fast pairing, hands-free Siri, spatial audio, good battery life, and now, a USB-C charging case that can also power up wirelessly will also come in handy.

    Pros

    • Improved sound
    • Stellar transparency mode
    • Solid ANC
    • Seamless switching between Apple devices
    Cons

    • Same design
    • New touch gesture takes practice
    • Average battery life
    • Personalized Spatial Audio results vary

    $170 at Target

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    Photo by Billy Steele / Engadget

    Read our full Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review

    Max battery life: 8 hours, up to 30 hours with charging case (ANC on) | Water resistance: IP54 | Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes | Included charging case: Yes | Waterproof: Yes (IPX4 for earbuds, IPX2 for case) | Driver size: 11mm

    The Pixel Buds Pro 2 may be Google’s priciest earbuds, but they’re also its best. A complete redesign resulted in significantly smaller earbuds that fit more comfortably and securely. The company has also packed in a Tensor chip for the first time to handle audio and ANC signal processing. As you might expect, these earbuds offer a hands-free channel to Gemini AI, although they’re not required to use the voice assistant.

    Google also revised the acoustics and drivers on the Pixel Buds Pro 2, delivering ample low-end tone when it’s needed. There are plenty of handy features too, like Conversation Detection, Hearing Wellness and Find My Device. Spatial Audio is available at launch this time, but you can only use it with compatible video streaming apps.

    Pros

    • Tiny, comfy design
    • Punchy bass, full mids, crisp highs
    • Slightly longer battery life than predecessor
    Cons

    • Price went up again
    • Spatial audio is limited to video apps
    • Smaller touch panel requires precision

    $229 at Amazon

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    Samsung

    Read our full Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro review

    Max battery life: 6 hours, up to 26 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IP57 | Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes | Included charging case: Yes | Waterproof: Yes (IP68) | Driver size: Dual drivers (woofer and tweeter); specific sizes not disclosed

    The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro borrow heavily from Apple’s AirPods Pro in both looks and features, and build upon the foundation of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. However, Samsung did well to make things like Adaptive ANC and voice commands work well. Some features like Voice Detect could still use some fine tuning, but there’s a lot to like here beyond the basic functionality.

    The truly surprising thing about the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is the sound quality. There is some thick, boomy bass when you need it with plenty of crisp detail to complement it. This model really shines when you pair it with a Samsung device to unlock 24-bit HiFi streaming. There’s also a natural-sounding transparency mode that keeps you from feeling shouty during calls.

    Pros

    • Great sound quality
    • Loads of handy features
    • Comfy fit
    • Natural ambient sound
    Cons

    • Battery life is shorter than some rivals
    • The best features require a recent Samsung device
    • Copycat design
    • Blade lights are a gimmick

    $250 at Amazon

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    Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

    Max battery life: 10 hours, up to 50 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IPX4 | Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes | Included charging case: Yes | Waterproof: Not specified | Driver size: Not specified

    The Anker Soundcore Space A40 offer the kind of features you’d expect from wireless earbuds that cost twice as much: ANC, multi-device pairing, wireless charging, IPX4 water resistance, a transparency mode, eight to ten hours of battery life and LDAC support. When we tested them, we found their warm sound to be pleasing right out of the box, but Anker’s companion app makes it easy to customize the EQ curve if needed. And while their ANC isn’t quite as effective at reducing background noise as our top picks, it’s still effective for a noisy office or long flight. For $80 or so, this is a superb value. – Jeff Dunn, Senior Commerce Writer

    Pros

    • Affordable
    • Good battery life
    • Multipoint connectivity
    • Transparency Mode
    Cons

    • ANC isn’t as strong as competitors

    $59 at Amazon

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    Billy Steele for Engadget

    Max battery life: 6 hours | Water resistance: IPX4 | Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes | Included charging case: Yes | Waterproof: Yes (IPX4) | Driver size: Not specified

    Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen) review

    Bose’s Immersive Audio feature may be the headline grabber on its QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, but these also come with the company’s stellar noise-canceling abilities. This model is especially adept at battling airplane noise during a flight, a task I typically rely on over-ear headphones for. The second-gen QC Ultra Earbuds are effective with human voices too, blocking that distraction better than much of the competition. But with any kind of constant roar, and many irregular sounds, these earbuds will serve you well. Plus, Bose’s CustomTune tool analyzes the shape of your ears and personalizes both sound and ANC.

    While the QC Ultra Earbuds offer the best pure noise-blocking performance on this list, the extra audio features mean they have less battery life than the rest of our picks. It lasts six hours with ANC on and Immersive Audio off, but turn on the latter and that number dips to four hours. And although Bose’s take on spatial audio yields mixed results at times, the stock tuning is an improvement over the company’s last flagship model. Thanks to small tuning tweaks, the overall sound profile is more balanced on the second-gen version as well.

    Pros

    • Stronger ANC filters out more distractions
    • Enhanced call quality
    Cons

    • Battery life isn’t improved
    • Bulky design is unchanged

    $299 at Bose

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    Bose

    Read our full Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) review

    Max battery life: 8.5 hours, up to 31.5 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IPX4 | Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes | Included charging case: Yes | Waterproof: Yes (IPX4) | Driver size: Not specified

    Before now, you had to pay around $300 if you wanted Bose-quality ANC on a set of earbuds. With the new QuietComfort Earbuds, the company packs in a lot of its best features for less money. You’ll get effective ANC, good sound quality, and features like voice controls.

    The earbuds are smaller than typical Bose fare, which means they’re more comfortable and fit better. You’ll also enjoy well over eight hours of battery life with ANC on and an IPX4 rating that will be good enough for workouts. And if the product page is to be trusted, you can also look forward to Bose’s unique spatial audio (Immersive Audio) coming soon.

    Pros

    • Great sound quality
    • Effective ANC
    • Lots of handy features
    • Dependable battery life
    Cons

    • No Immersive Audio (yet)
    • Audio and ANC sacrifices compared to the QC Ultra Earbuds
    • No CustomTune feature
    • Poor call quality

    $149 at Adorama

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    Billy Steele for Engadget

    Read our full Noble Audio FoKus Rex5 review

    Max battery life: 5 hours (ANC on), up to 45 hours with charging case | Water resistance: N/A | Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes | Included charging case: Yes | Waterproof: Not specified | Driver size: Not specified

    If you want the best sound quality, you’ll have to pay for it. The FoKus Rex5 are an eyewatering $449, and easily the most expensive wireless earbuds I’ve tested. However, Noble Audio’s five-driver setup is more robust than the competition where one or two drivers is typically the norm.

    There’s a level of pristine detail and sonic separation I haven’t heard on other earbuds. For example, characteristics of the guitars, including the individual nuances of multiple players on a track, contribute to a wider soundstage and more immersion than you’ll encounter elsewhere. These are far from a complete package in terms of features, but the audio prowess is unmatched.

    Pros

    • Detailed, immersive sound
    • Custom audio profiles are saved on the buds
    • Comfortable fit
    Cons

    • Very expensive
    • Just one color and it’s not for everyone
    • Subpar ANC performance

    $449 at Amazon

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    Billy Steele for Engadget

    Read our full Technics AZ100 review

    Max battery life: 12 hours, up to 29 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IPX4 | Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes | Included charging case: Yes | Waterproof: Yes (IPX4) | Driver size: 10mm

    For a long while Bowers & Wilkins was my pick for best overall sound quality. But, as Dylan sang, “the times they are a-changin’.”

    Technics borrowed magnetic fluid driver tech from its in-ear monitors (IEMs) to improve the sound quality on the AZ100. The result is deeper, more immersive bass that’s complemented by detailed highs and ample mid-range tone.

    There are also a lot of features on the AZ100, including multipoint Bluetooth for up to three devices. Sony’s LDAC codec is also supported, as are Dolby Atmos and Dolby’s dynamic head tracking.

    Pros

    • Excellent sound quality
    • Tons of options in the app
    • Small size means comfy fit
    • Three-device multipoint Bluetooth
    Cons

    • ANC lags behind the best
    • None of today’s “smart” features
    • Spatial audio doesn’t improve default tuning

    $288 at Amazon

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    Photo by Billy Steele / Engadget

    Read our full Beats Fit Pro review

    Max battery life: 6 hours, up to 24 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IPX4 | Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes | Included charging case: Yes | Waterproof: Yes (IPX4) | Driver size: Not specified

    Most of the best AirPods features in a set of workout earbuds? That’s the Beats Fit Pro. Thanks to Apple’s H1 chip, these buds offer one-touch quick pairing, hands-free Siri and Find My tools. They’ll also allow you to use Audio Sharing with an Apple device and another set of AirPods or Beats wireless headphones for tandem listening or viewing. Balanced and punchy bass will keep the energy up during workouts while good noise cancellation, an IPX4 rating and comfy silicone ear tips make these a solid option outside of the gym too. And there’s plenty of support for Android devices, so these aren’t just a good buy for iOS users either.

    Pros

    • Comfortable design
    • Good ANC
    • H1 chip offers quick pairing and switching between Apple devices
    • Plenty of Android support
    Cons

    • Call quality could be better

    $160 at Target

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    Sony

    Max battery life: 6 hours, up to 20 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IPX4 | Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes | Included charging case: Yes | Waterproof: Yes (IPX4) | Driver size: Not specified

    One of the biggest surprises last year wasn’t Sony’s unique open-wear LinkBuds, it was the more mainstream follow-up. With the LinkBuds S, the company debuted a more traditionally designed pair of earbuds akin to its premium WF-1000XM4, only this model is much smaller and lighter which leads to a much more comfy fit. These tiny wireless earbuds muster some punch when it comes to sound quality too and support for high-res listening (LDAC and DSEE Extreme) are both onboard. Capable ANC lends a hand with environmental noise and transparency mode can keep you tuned in when needed. What’s more, handy Speak-to-Chat is here and Adaptive Sound Control can automatically change settings based on activity or location. That’s a lot of premium features at a mid-range price.

    Pros

    • Comfortable design
    • Good sound quality
    • Speak-to-Chat
    • Adaptive Sound Control

    $158 at Amazon

    What to look for in the best wireless earbuds

    When it comes to shopping for earphones, the first thing to consider is design or wear style. Do you prefer a semi-open fit like AirPods or do you want something that completely closes off your ears? If you’re shopping for earbuds with active noise cancellation, you’ll want the latter, but a case can be made for the former if you want to wear them all day or frequent places where you need to be tuned in to the ambient sounds. The overall shape of earbuds can determine whether you get a comfortable fit, so can the size and weight, so you’ll want to consider all that before deciding. And remember: audio companies aren’t perfect, so despite lots of research, the earbud shape they decided on may not fit you well. Don’t be afraid to return ill-fitting earbuds for something that’s more comfortable.

    As wireless earbuds have become the norm, they’re now more reliable for basic things like consistent Bluetooth connectivity. Companies are still in a race to pack as much as they can into increasingly smaller designs. This typically means a longer list of features on the more premium sets of earbuds with basic functionality on the cheapest models. Carefully consider what you can’t live without when selecting your next earbuds, and make sure key items like automatic pausing and multipoint connectivity are on the spec sheet. You’ll also want to investigate the volume and touch controls as you’ll often have to sacrifice access to something else to make that adjustment via on-board taps or swipes. Some earbuds even offer app settings to tweak the audio profiles or firmware updates to improve performance over time.

    For those in the Apple ecosystem, features like auto-pairing with devices, especially with AirPods Pro 2, can be an added advantage, while Android users may want to look for models that offer similar cross-device functionality.

    When it comes to battery life, the average set of earbuds lasts about five hours on a single charge. You can find sets that last longer, but this is likely enough to get you through a work day if you’re docking the buds during lunch or the occasional meeting. You’ll want to check on how many extra charges are available via the case and if it supports wireless charging.

    Companies will also make lofty claims about call quality on wireless earbuds. Despite lots of promises, the reality is most earbuds still leave you sounding like you’re on speakerphone. There are some sets that deliver, but don’t get your hopes up unless reviews confirm the claims.

    Sound can be subjective, so we recommend trying before you buy if at all possible. This is especially true if you’re an audiophile. We understand this isn’t easy when most of us do a lot of shopping online, but trying on a set of earbuds and listening to them for a few minutes can save you from an expensive case of buyer’s remorse. If a store doesn’t allow a quick demo, most retailers have return policies that will let you take earbuds back you don’t like. Of course, you have to be willing to temporarily part with funds in order to do this.

    We also recommend paying attention to things like Spatial Audio, Dolby Atmos, 360 Reality Audio and other immersive formats. Not all earbuds support them, so you’ll want to make sure a perspective pair does if that sort of thing excites you, especially if you plan to use them for playback of high-quality audio.

    How we test wireless earbuds

    The primary way we test earbuds is to wear them as much as possible. We prefer to do this over a one- to two-week period, but sometimes embargoes don’t allow it. During this time, we listen to a mix of music and podcasts, while also using the earbuds to take both voice and video calls. Since battery life for earbuds is typically less than a full day, we drain the battery with looping music and the volume set at a comfortable level (usually around 75 percent).

    To judge audio quality, we listen to a range of genres, noting any differences in the sound profile across the styles. We also test at both low and high volumes to check for consistency in the tuning. To assess call quality, we’ll record audio samples with the earbuds’ microphones as well as have third parties call us.

    When it comes to features, we do a thorough review of companion apps, testing each feature as we work through the software. Any holdovers from previous models are double checked for improvements or regression. If the earbuds we’re testing are an updated version of a previous model, we’ll spend time getting reacquainted with the older buds. Ditto for the closest competition for each new set of earbuds that we review.

    Other wireless Bluetooth earbuds we tested

    Sony WF-C710N

    The WF-C710N is a set of compact and comfy earbuds that offer several of Sony’s best features. While the ANC performance is above average for this price ($120), sound quality isn’t as good as the company’s slightly more expensive options. Battery life fell below stated figures and call performance isn’t good enough to use these buds for work.

    Beats Powerbeats Pro 2

    The newest version of the Powerbeats Pro have an improved, comfortable design, balanced bass and new H2 chips and a heart rate sensor inside. But heart rate support is currently limited on iOS, and there’s a possibility those capabilities make it onto the next AirPods Pro models.

    Samsung Galaxy Buds 3

    The Galaxy Buds 3 combine ANC with an open-type design, which renders the noise-blocking abilities of the earbuds mostly useless. Still, there’s great low-end tone with ample bass when a track demands it. There are also lots of handy features, most of which require a Samsung phone. But at this price, there are better options from Google, Beats and Sony

    Sennheiser Momentum Sport

    I really like the overall shape of the Momentum Sport earbuds. They’re more comfortable than the Momentum True Wireless 4 and fit in my ears better. What’s more, the body temperature and heart rate sensors work well, sending those stats to a variety of apps. However, that sport-tracking feature works best with Polar’s app and devices, so there’s that consideration. Also, the audio quality and ANC performance isn’t as good as the MTW4, and these earbuds are pricey.

    Beats Solo Buds

    There’s a lot to like about the Solo Buds for $80. For me, the primary perk is they’re very comfortable to wear for long periods of time thanks to some thoughtful design considerations. You only get the basics here in terms of features and, as expected, the overall sound quality isn’t as good as the pricier models in the Beats lineup. You will get 18 hours of battery life though, since the company nixed the battery in the case and beefed up the listening time in the buds themselves.

    Bose Ultra Open Earbuds

    Bose created something very unique for this set of earbuds that allows you to stay in-tune with the world while listening to audio content. The clip-on design is very comfortable, but sound quality suffers due to the open-type fit, especially when it comes to bass and spatial audio.

    Audio-Technica ATH-TWX7

    These stick buds have a compact design that’s comfortable to wear and the warm sound profile is great at times. However, overall audio performance is inconsistent and there’s no automatic pausing.

    Master & Dynamic MW09

    Retooled audio, better ambient sound mode and reliable multipoint Bluetooth are the best things the MW09 has to offer. They’re expensive though, and you can find better ANC performance elsewhere.

    Wireless earbud FAQs

    What is considered good battery life for true wireless earbuds?

    Most wireless earbuds will last five hours on a single charge, at the least. You can find some pairs that have even better battery life, lasting between six and eight hours before they need more juice. All of the best wireless earbuds come with a charging case, which will provide additional hours of battery life — but you’ll have to return each bud to the case in order to charge them up.

    Is sound quality better on headphones or earbuds?

    Comparing sound quality on earbuds and headphones is a bit like comparing apples and oranges. There are a lot of variables to consider and the differences in components make a direct comparison difficult. Personally, I prefer the audio quality from over-ear headphones, but I can tell you the sound from earbuds like Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 3 is also outstanding.

    Which wireless earbuds have the longest battery life?

    With new models coming out all the time, tracking the hours of battery life for each this can be difficult to keep tabs on. The longest-lasting earbuds we’ve reviewed are Audio-Technica’s ATH-CKS5TW. The company states they last 15 hours, but the app was still showing 40 percent at that mark during our tests. The only downside is these earbuds debuted in 2019 and both technology and features have improved since. In terms of current models, Master & Dynamic’s MW08 offers 12 hours of use on a charge with ANC off (10 with ANC on) and JBL has multiple options with 10-hour batteries.

    What wireless earbuds are waterproof?

    There are plenty of options these days when it comes to increased water resistance. To determine the level of protection, you’ll want to look for an IP (ingress protection) rating. The first number indicates intrusion protection from things like dust. The second number is the level of moisture protection and you’ll want to make sure that figure is 7 or higher. At this water-resistance rating, earbuds can withstand full immersion for up to 30 minutes in depths up to one meter (3.28 feet). If either of the IP numbers is an X, that means it doesn’t have any special protection. For example, a pair of wireless earbuds that are IPX7 wouldn’t be built to avoid dust intrusion, but they would be ok if you dropped them in shallow water.

    Which earbuds stay in ears the best?

    A secure fit can vary wildly from person to person. All of our ears are different, so audio companies are designing their products to fit the most people they can with a single shape. This is why AirPods will easily fall out for some but stay put for others. Design touches like wing tips or fins typically come on fitness models and those elements can help keep things in place. You’ll likely just have to try earbuds on, and if they don’t fit well return them.

    What wireless earbuds work with PS5?

    PlayStation 5 doesn’t support Bluetooth audio without an adapter or dongle. Even Sony’s own gaming headsets come with a transmitter that connects to the console. There are universal options that allow you to use any headphones, headset or earbuds with a PS5. Once you have one, plug it into a USB port on the console and pair your earbuds with it.

    Recent updates

    May 2025: Updated to ensure top picks and buying advice remain accurate.

    March 2025: Updated the top pick for the best sounding wireless earbuds – runner up.

    January 2025: Updated the top pick for best sounding wireless earbuds.

    July 2024: Updated our list to include the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.

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    Billy Steele

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  • The best iPhone accessories for 2025

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    Peak Design’s iPhone tripod is a solid, well-designed aluminum frame that folds into a credit card-sized shape. You’re paying a premium for the build design and quality, with a tiny hex key even built into the tripod legs for tightening them, if needed.

    With a solid micro-ball head, you can adjust the angle of your iPhone while it’s in tripod mode. Better still, it can firmly attach, magnetically, to the phone in both vertical and horizontal orientations. This makes it an excellent stand for your phone even when you’re not trying to shoot video or photos.

    You also don’t need to shell out for a Peak Design case to ensure it works, although it does feel more solidly connected if you do. Any MagSafe iPhone locks onto the peripheral, maintaining a solid hold on this mobile tripod whether in use or folded away.

    There are plenty of more affordable MagSafe phone stands, such as Moft’s Snap-On Stand and Wallet, which props up your iPhone while holding a few credit cards, Anker’s MagGo phone grip, and the now-ubiquitous PopSockets. While MagSafe accessories like these are convenient, they won’t be as sturdy as something securely snapped onto your smartphone or a smartphone case. All of the MagSafe stands, wallets, chargers, and other accessories I’ve tried eventually fell off if I applied enough force. However, there’s no sticky residue or the need to use a specific case with Peak Design’s tripod. — Mat Smith, UK Bureau Chief

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    Valentina Palladino

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  • Technics EAH-AZ100 Review: Wireless Earbuds That Sound So Next Level I’m Ruined

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    Hi-fi audio is a funny thing. Someone could say the words “high fidelity” until you’re both blue in the face, but it’s hard to understand unless you hear it for yourself. I mean, how high is high, anyway? Great audio is as high as your frame of reference is, and if you’re like most people and you’re used to sticking AirPods in your ears and calling it a day, then that’s your baseline. But not everyone is so easily wooed by Apple’s ecosystem, and for those baptized in the expensive waters of hi-fi audio, the ceiling is damn near cathedral-length. With that extra headroom, however, comes an even loftier hit to your wallet. But how good can Panasonic’s $299 Technics EAH-AZ100 wireless earbuds that cost more than Apple’s ubiquitous white buds really sound?

    I got a chance to test out the EAH-AZ100, and at the risk of spoiling the surprise here, I can tell you that they sound pretty freaking next level. At the core of that great sound are proprietary magnetic fluid drivers, which are as cool in theory as they are in practice. I wouldn’t usually bother to get into the nitty-gritty of how drivers work, but in this case I think it’s worth explaining to make you appreciate these buds’ uniqueness.

    Technics EAH-AZ100

    The Technics EAH-AZ100 are costly wireless earbuds that are worth every penny.

    Pros


    • Incredible, nuanced sound

    • Great battery life with ANC on

    • Comfortable

    • Full-featured

    Cons


    • ANC is solid but not great

    • Not the sleekest-looking buds

    When it comes to sound quality, mitigating distortion is the name of the game. Distortion happens in a number of ways, but usually distorted sound emanates from some kind of deficiency in the driver. That deficiency can be the result of materials, design, and other factors, but Panasonic’s magnetic fluid drivers focus on one thing in particular, which is stability, so to speak. While most wireless earbud drivers will vibrate in random directions while pumping out sound, causing distortion along the way, the EAH-AZ100’s drivers are immersed in an oil-like substance with magnetic particles that prevent unwanted movement and the dreaded distortion that happens. The results? I’m not going to lie, they’re impressive.

    ©

    I listened to almost the entirety of one of my favorite rock albums of the past five years (Geese’s “3D Country”), and it felt like hearing some of those songs for the first time. Distorted guitars are perfectly crunchy, bass and low end are natural-sounding and don’t feel oversimulated, and vocals are clear, crisp, and nuanced. I switched genres and listened to hip-hop (Milo’s song, “Tiptoe”), and the same held true. In fact, across all the genres I tested these wireless earbuds on—indie rock, folk, hip-hop, and electronic—they sounded great. Even though I was listening to compressed audio files on Spotify, it felt like I was one step closer to hearing songs like those artists intended when they entered the studio. I also happened to be testing Bose’s second-gen QuietComfort Ultra wireless earbuds at the same time and can say confidently that the Technics EAH-AZ100 win in the clarity department and by a noticeable margin.

    See EAH-AZ100 at Amazon

    Another major selling point for the EAH-AZ100 is very long battery life. Panasonic advertises 10 hours of juice on these earbuds outside the case with active noise cancellation (ANC) on. That’s an impressive number when looking at the rest of the field, especially wireless earbuds that cost half the price and typically get between 6 and 6.5 hours of ANC playback. Fortunately, I was able to put that lofty battery claim to the test since I had a long flight from New York to Arizona (with a layover) and can also say confidently that these buds have the longevity that’s advertised.

    I used the EAH-AZ100s all day on and off and didn’t have to charge the wireless earbuds once, which is a perk that can’t be overstated when you’re trying to block out noise from crying babies on a flight. With the case, you get 18 hours of total battery life according to Panasonic, and on that front I’ll have to take their word since I still haven’t had to charge these things since I started testing. Either way, 10 hours is a lot of juice for wireless earbuds with ANC on and helps justify the $299 price tag. Another big point for Panasonic here.

    Technics Eah Az100 5
    © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

    Speaking of being on a flight, I also put the EAH-AZ100 to the test when it comes to ANC. With crying babies nearby, I relied on the EAH-AZ100 to help safeguard my sanity, and they performed… admirably. These aren’t going to win any medals from me on the ANC front (Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra earbuds still take the cake here), but they held their own when it comes to noise cancellation, especially when tested against a boss as scary as the in-flight baby scream. If you’re looking for ANC as elite as the sound and battery life, you may be a little let down, though.

    If you’re going to be wearing wireless earbuds for a long time (like 10 hours), another thing you may want to know is how they feel in your ears, and fortunately, they feel pretty damn comfy. A lot of times, wearing wireless earbuds (especially on a plane where pressure is a big factor) will get to me after a while, but I found the EAH-AZ100 to be more tolerable than most for long periods. If you don’t find them to be a good fit, Panasonic also includes four other eartip sizes in the box (XS, S, ML, L), but I just used the pre-installed eartips, and they fit my ears well.

    There are some things about these wireless earbuds that I won’t be writing home about, but that doesn’t mean they’re bad in any way, just not as excellent as the sound or the battery life. One of those things is the touch controls, which work just okay. A quirk you should be aware of is that the case does not have a pairing button, so in order to pair the buds to a device, you have to take them out, put them in your ears, and then hold down on the outsides of each with your finger to initiate a Bluetooth connection. There’s nothing wrong with that per se, but I prefer a button, which is simple and universal and not something you have to figure out by reading a manual on an airplane.

    Another thing I’m not particularly compelled by is the design. I like the smooth metal the buds and case are made out of, but the look doesn’t do much for me. That being said, the shape (bulb-like) is likely a product of the use of a magnetic fluid driver, which is incredible at conveying clear hi-fi sound, so I can’t complain too much there. Substance over style is a choice I’m okay with. Like other wireless earbuds, there’s also a companion app for controlling ANC levels, switching modes, spatial audio, and custom EQ, which are all things I would expect from a premium-priced pair of earbuds since competitors that are half the cost also have those things. The EAH-AZ100 have an ambient mode, which works fine, though Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra is still nicer in my opinion.

    Technics Eah Az100 4
    © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

    Ultimately, those are all just icing-on-the-cake-type categories, though. If you’re going to buy wireless earbuds like this, it’s because you want them to sound really, really, really freaking good, and to that end, Panasonic absolutely nails it. These are some of the best-sounding wireless earbuds I’ve ever shoved into my ears, and it’s not too often that I feel spoiled on that front, nor is it often that I can say a pair of earbuds sounds better than over-ear headphones of a similar price. If you’re looking for a pair of wireless earbuds that focus hard on that important stuff (sound, battery life, and comfort) and still deliver dutifully on the rest (ANC, features, and controls), then I can say with confidence that the Technics EAH-AZ100 could be the pick for you.

    See EAH-AZ100 at Amazon

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    James Pero

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  • Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 Review: The Only Earbuds You Want on an Airplane

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    How much do you value quiet? I’m not trying to get profound here—this is a gadget review, not a self-help seminar—but it’s a question worth asking. Personally, I find quiet to be pretty important. Nothing says loving myself like putting on a pair of earbuds and telling the entirety of New York City to kindly, f**k off. And for that peace of mind, you have a lot of earbuds at your disposal. Any pair worth its weight in plastic will have the option for ANC nowadays. But just because they all have it doesn’t mean every pair of ANC buds is created equal. To the contrary, my friends, there are levels to this shit.

    If you’re like Bose and you put “quiet” in the name of your earbuds, one should expect a high degree of noise cancellation—even more so for a gen-2 product. And folks, I’m here to tell you (not quietly) that’s exactly what the $299 Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen) bring to the table.

    I tested these puppies in some of the worst conditions you can imagine (the chaotic NYC subway), and I can say, without a doubt, if I want to block the maximum amount of noise with earbuds, these will be the ones I reach for. Bose doesn’t provide exact dB numbers on how much cancellation its newest QuietComfort Ultra earbuds block out, but anecdotally it feels like a lot.

    Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2

    Bose’s second-gen QuietComfort Ultra 2 earbuds still have class-leading ANC.

    Pros

    • Amazing ANC
    • Cool design
    • Sensitive touch controls

    Cons

    • Sound is good but not mind-blowing
    • Middling battery life
    • Heavy Bose premium

    The noise cancelation

    On the subway, I felt extremely insulated from train noise and voices, which is incredible if you’re trying to zone out on your commute to work or avoid any unwanted conversations. I also tested them at a busy coffee shop with lots of chatter and music playing, and they blocked out all of that racket adeptly when I started playing music.

    Even when I wasn’t playing music, just sitting with the earbuds in my ears, it silenced most of the ambient noise. These might be the only earbuds I want on my next flight. Bose says it went back to the lab and adjusted its ActiveSense technology, which enables adaptive ANC in the QuietComfort Ultra 2 to make transitions in noise-cancellation levels “smoother.”

    While I haven’t had a chance to use the QuietComfort Ultra gen-1, I can say that I didn’t find the second-gen version to be choppy in their ANC adjustments when I had adaptive ANC activated.

    © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

    Transparency mode

    If you actually do want to hear something, the QuietComfort Ultra 2 also have excellent transparency. By tapping and holding the side of the right earbud, you can switch from “Quiet” to “Aware” mode, which turns off ANC and allows you to hear your surroundings.

    I wouldn’t normally do this, for politeness’ sake, but I tested Bose’s second-gen QuietComfort Ultra buds’ transparency mode by having some conversations with them in, including an exchange at a pharmacy. Even with my ears plugged up, I didn’t miss a beat. I still hate having my ears blocked when I talk to people, since I can hear my voice reverberate in my own head (yuck), but if you need to have a conversation quickly and don’t want to pop the buds out, you can at least hear other people easily.

    Another highlight you might notice while switching between modes is that the touch controls on the outside of the buds are very sensitive. That might be annoying in some cases, like if you accidentally brush your bud while fixing your hair or taking off a hat, but I actually think this is a perk.

    I’ve used a lot of underwhelming touch controls in my day, and these are not among them. Personally, I’d rather have touch controls be oversensitive than under. I’d prefer to have a few accidental miscues than have to aggressively tap on the buds to get them to do what I want. The good news is, if you disagree, you can now turn off the touch controls completely in the Bose app to avoid the miscues altogether.

    Bose Quietcomfort Gen2 3
    © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

    The sound

    Sound-wise, the QuietComfort Ultra hold their own. It was hard switching between the QuietComfort Ultra 2 and the Technics EAH-AZ100 that I happened to be testing at the same time, since the latter are some of the best-sounding earbuds I’ve ever used, but I still think these earbuds will appease most sound-wise. I listened to the same record that I used for testing the aforementioned Technics buds (Geese’s “3D Country”), and while they didn’t have the same dynamic range or clarity as the Technics, they kept pace with other “Pro” earbuds I’ve used in the past, like Google’s Pixel Buds Pro.

    Mids and highs were represented satisfactorily. I would say they even manage to push the envelope in the bass department, which was a lot bassier, for lack of a better word, than I was expecting. If you don’t like the out-of-the-box tuning, you can switch things up in the Bose app with custom and preset EQ.

    The design

    One thing that may be divisive among the general public is the look of the buds. They’re chunky, I’m not going to lie, but I like the design, especially in the white color that I got the buds in, which reminds me of a muted PlayStation 1.

    Despite how big the buds are, I didn’t find the weight to be annoying, and Bose did a good job with balancing the size with making them look sleek, mixing the matte-ish plastic of the case with a shiny, smooth plastic on the buds. There’s a smooth metal strip along the stem with some Bose branding. Just like the SoundLink Plus, Bose’s newest Bluetooth speaker that I also recently tested, I find the QuietComfort Ultra 2 to be an appealing blend of minimalism and creativity.

    Bose Quietcomfort Gen2 4
    © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

    The features

    Feature-wise, these buds are stacked. If you want 3D audio, you can switch the buds to “Immersion” mode which which tracks audio to your head movements, there’s an ear tip fit test in the Bose app, custom EQ, and one cool feature in this generation is that you can now see the case’s battery levels in your app, so you know when you need to charge it up. I say once again, you need to stop sleeping on your earbuds’ companion app—there’s a lot there to love.

    Speaking of battery, Bose says the QuietComfort Ultra 2 get up to 6 hours of battery with ANC on, but that figure drops (naturally) to 4 hours if you have Immersive audio activated. That case holds 24 hours of juice, so about three full charges. That’s not the best battery life in the world, but it’s average.

    The fact is, Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra 2 do one thing really well, and that’s block out noise. In some cases, only having one great feature could be considered a flaw, especially for earbuds that cost $299, but ANC is one of the main reasons why people buy wireless earbuds in the first place, so Bose seems to have focused its energy in the right direction.

    While these earbuds aren’t giving you the same level of hi-fi sounds as some other similarly priced earbuds on the market, they reward you in dividends when your neighbor is having a raucous party, once again.

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    James Pero

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  • The Soundpeats Capsule3 Pro+ Solid State Earbuds Are Amazing

    The Soundpeats Capsule3 Pro+ Solid State Earbuds Are Amazing

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    If you’re willing to spend more than $100, great headphones abound. Once Apple breached the wireless earbud dam with its initial AirPod model, excellent-sounding buds with noise-canceling, great mics, and high-fidelity sound have flooded the market. Put a list of name brands on a board, throw a dart, and buy the pair it makes that’s closest to $150. You’ll probably find something that’s reasonably good.

    That’s why I’m so impressed with a new pair of headphones from relative newcomer Soundpeats, the Capsule3 Pro+. The name might be a mouthful, but for $90 retail, these earbuds offer adaptive noise canceling and high-resolution audio via a pair of drivers, including one dynamic piston for bass and one groundbreaking solid-state driver for everything else.

    The combination of a tried and true AirPods-style design and modern technology inside the buds makes them my favorite cheap earbuds right now, and possibly of all time. I have never heard a pair that sounds this good for this cheap. The Soundpeats Capsule3 Pro+ wipe the floor with most—not just many—more expensive models.

    Standard Looks

    Elon Musk would call these “Dark AirPods Pro,” and he’d be frustratingly right. A black AirPods Pro imitation case is perfectly paired with two black-and-gold AirPods Pro imitation headphones, right down to the little gold hinge on the back of the buds’ case. (It’s silver on the Apple model it imitates.)

    Photograph: Parker Hall

    The benefit of such blatant design reproduction is that the buds are sleek and comfortable in my ears, just like the version that’s “designed in California.” The black colorway actually makes them more discreet in public.

    I didn’t have any trouble getting a good seal in my ears, thanks to three sizes of included silicone eartips. Anyone with any experience fitting AirPods or other earbuds in their ears should have similar luck.

    Setup and pairing are as instant as you can expect of any modern earbuds. I just scrolled to find them on my Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s Bluetooth menu and they immediately connected.

    Amazing Audio

    The real belle of the ball is inside these otherwise bland buds. A dynamic driver works alongside a solid state xMEMS driver and Sony’s LDAC high-resolution audio codec to create some of the most lifelike audio I’ve heard from a pair of earbuds, and easily the best sound I’ve ever heard this side of $100.

    Solid-state drivers don’t have the same range of physical motion as piston-like dynamic drivers, like the ones you’re used to seeing in speakers. That means the phase and speed at which the solid-state drivers can respond is superior, which in turn gets you huge separation between instruments and the ability to really hear each sound when you focus on it. xMEMs drivers can react faster across the frequency spectrum, so you get essentially the clearest possible view into what the artist wanted you to hear.

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    Parker Hall

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  • Sony’s New Linkbuds Open Have More Bass and Better Battery

    Sony’s New Linkbuds Open Have More Bass and Better Battery

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    Even after I got the fit right, I noticed a darker, fuzzier sound signature than what I experienced in the original pair. This seems to be by design, as one of the main complaints before was a lack of bass, something with which nearly all open earbuds struggle. The new buds add some more punch down low, but it comes at the cost of clarity and presence in the midrange and treble.

    Luckily, Sony’s Sound Connect app provides a capable EQ, and after some tinkering with the Excitement preset, including lowering the Clear Bass feature and raising the midrange a notch or two, I was able to squeeze out more crispness in instrumental attacks for everything from snares and guitars to vocals and horns. I still never got things as clear or vibrant as Bose’s pair, but at $100 less, that’s not all that surprising, and I think Sony gets the win for bass.

    Open Season

    You’re not really buying open earbuds for their sound quality, especially if you’re a picky audiophile like me. They’re much more about melding the vibes of your two realities: blasting podcasts or your favorite ‘80s playlist while keeping in touch with the world (and other humans). WIRED editor Adrienne So loves open earbuds for the gym or other public places where she feels more assured no one is sneaking up on her.

    They’re also great for situations where regular buds simply don’t cut it. Like my beloved Bose Frames or the Ray-Ban Meta audio sunglasses, the Linkbuds are great for staying safe while cruising on your bike or ebike on a crisp fall day, where the wind shear would naturally overwhelm the tiny microphones in traditional buds using transparency mode.

    I was also genuinely amazed at how well the Linkbuds Open suppressed exterior sounds during calls. On a recent chat with my mom, I could barely hear my own voice as I rolled the dumpsters in from the street, but she hardly noticed the bellowing of the plastic tires covering my voice–and she always lets me know when I’m too loud.

    If I could only afford one pair, I’d still choose more rounded earbuds that can snuff out or let in the ambient world with noise canceling or transparency mode respectively, like Apple’s excellent AirPods Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends). I’d also consider the cheaper original Linkbuds, though the battery life is more limiting. Otherwise, if you’re looking for a pair that keeps you naturally present in virtually any scenario, and you don’t mind all the chaos that comes with it, the Linkbuds Open are a solid new option in this still-evolving segment.

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    Ryan Waniata

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  • We Staged a Debate to Test the Bluetooth Earrings Kamala Harris Didn’t Wear

    We Staged a Debate to Test the Bluetooth Earrings Kamala Harris Didn’t Wear

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    Just a few weeks ago, certain people in a particular corner of the internet decided they had cracked the reason Kamala Harris was doing so much better than Donald Trump in the presidential debate. Not that she was better prepared, nor that she was a better debater. No, she must be wearing a Bluetooth earpiece, carefully disguised as a pair of pearl earrings. Obviously.

    As it turns out, earbuds like this really do exist. The Nova H1 audio earrings put forward by the conspiracy theorists do bear a decent resemblance to the earrings Kamala was wearing on the night. Of course hers were, in fact, from Tiffany & Co. and not from a Kickstarter campaign from 2021, but the concept piqued our interest all the same.

    Could this so-called audio jewelry be the perfect crossover product for anyone who wants to make calls or listen to music, without a bulky pair of headphones or earbuds hanging out of their ear? We slapped them on our ears for a week to find out.

    Stylish … to a Point

    When I receive them, first impressions are promising. The Nova H1 arrive in what feels a bit like a jewelry box, a stylish detail we’re sure is no accident. Pull the inner packaging toward you, like a drawer, to slide the outer cover away, and the headphones appear against a rather striking yellow backdrop, the pearlescent square charging case adorned with Nova’s branding.

    The case is plasticky though, and the earrings sit on an equally plasticky panel that rises up to present them to you as you open the lid. That’s a nice touch, but it all looks cheap and doesn’t feel in keeping with the premium look the Nova H1 is trying to present.

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    The earrings themselves are not exactly subtle, either. The pearl, to my surprise, is actually a real freshwater pearl connected to your choice of clip-on or stud earring, but delicate it ain’t. Still, when clipped onto your ear they do at least look like jewelry—more costume jewelry than fine jewelry (our British readers may appreciate a Pat Butcher reference here), but they don’t look out of place. I have the silver ones to test, but there is also a gold option that will set you back a little more (more on that shortly.)

    The clip-on version I’m testing offers exactly the right clamp force to be secure without causing any discomfort, which is indeed impressive. I could genuinely forget I was wearing them, meaning they can simply be worn as earrings, while being ready to jump into audio action whenever you need them.

    That’s helped by the fact they will go into a dormant mode when they don’t detect any playback, and offer up to six hours in active use. That means you can pretty much get a full day’s wear out of them, plus the case offers three full charges.

    Can You Hear Me?

    When you take them out of their case, they jump into pairing mode automatically. My phone finds them without issue, and within seconds they’re paired.

    I immediately head to a playlist in Tidal and get to listening. It quickly becomes clear that audio quality is not a reason to buy these headphones—so much so that it’s almost impossible to critically evaluate the sound at all.

    Bass is weak, and music has a somewhere-in-the-distance quality, almost as if someone has the radio on across the office. It’s a unique experience, not unpleasant by any stretch but not at all as engaging as the sound quality you’ll get from something like the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds.

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    Verity Burns

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  • Google’s Pixel Buds Pro 2 Are Better AirPods Pro for Android

    Google’s Pixel Buds Pro 2 Are Better AirPods Pro for Android

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    Switch between your computer and cell phone, and the headphones are smart enough to know it. You can answer a call on your phone while also connected to your computer, which is super helpful for multitaskers.

    One thing I find underwhelming, as I have with all voice assistants so far, is the Gemini integration. You press the buds to ask every question to standard Gemini, including follow-ups, which is very annoying if you have multiple questions at once. Google has also integrated a wake phrase (“Hey Google, let’s talk”) to open its Gemini Live conversational AI.

    The prompt opens Gemini Live, and you can ask it anything you can think to ask an AI for—from restaurant reviews to a good workout schedule based on your current day’s activities. You can even interrupt it if you think it’s missing your point, and it will follow context.

    I’d rather use this functionality in the Gemini Live app on my phone, so I don’t have to speak them out loud, but if you are hard of sight or simply hate typing, the wake word and Gemini Live might be more impressive to you. I’d note that as long as you have the Gemini app, you can open Gemini Live and use it with any other pair of headphones. You don’t need Pixel Buds Pro 2 to use Gemini Live, it’s just to have the wake word.

    I would trade these features in a heartbeat for the myriad hearing assistance tools Apple is adding to its AirPods Pro via a software update. After all, almost any headphones with Android can connect to Gemini Live. If you’re looking for a pair of buds that might also help you hear a little better, those are still what I would choose.

    As far as a pair of headphones that do everything else you’d ask of them in all contexts, there are very few earbuds I can recommend as highly as the new Pixel Buds Pro 2. They have excellent noise canceling, work great on calls, and have long enough battery life to last an entire workday. I can see why Google raised the price by $30 over the last pair, and they’re worth the extra cash. These are probably the best high-end earbuds for Android that exist right now.

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    Parker Hall

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  • OnePlus’ Nord Buds 3 Pro Serve Up Satisfactory Sound on a Budget

    OnePlus’ Nord Buds 3 Pro Serve Up Satisfactory Sound on a Budget

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    If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Apple’s AirPods Pro must be feeling pretty bigheaded these days. Every year we see dozens of new earbuds aiming to model Apple’s distinctive design, with even the latest revamp of Samsung’s Galaxy Buds joining the party.

    Looks aside, most models that come across my desk don’t attempt to directly compete with the AirPods Pro’s high-end performance or breezy iOS usability. Instead, buds like OnePlus’s new Nord Buds 3 Pro go the other way, heavily undercutting Apple’s top buds on price while offering solid baseline performance and features.

    There’s nothing like the real thing, especially if you want earbuds that cater to all things Apple. For those on a tighter budget, the latest Nord Buds Pro serve up a comfy fit, extras like multipoint connection and decent noise canceling, and clear, punchy sound for well under $100.

    Familiar Form

    The Nord Buds 3 Pro’s most stand-out trait may be their exorbitantly long yet unmemorable name. No joke, I’ve had to look up the order of this word salad nearly every time I write it.

    Their design recalls the AirPods Pro and their many knockoffs, of course, but it’s particularly similar to a pair I recently reviewed from Soundpeats, the Air4 Pro (7/10, WIRED Recommends), right down to their rounded and speckled charging cases. Both pairs have a budget flair with large swaps of shiny plastic throughout, though the Nord Buds’ more compact stems make them marginally easier to wield and wear.

    Photograph: Ryan Waniata

    Their weight of 4.4 grams per bud is slightly heavier than the Air4 Pro, but still nearly a gram lighter than the AirPods Pro, which combines with their ergonomic design to do a disappearing act in your ears. Like a lot of budget pairs, they only provide three ear tip sizes, but the default pair worked fine for me, providing a stable fit and multiple hours of comfort.

    The buds offer snappy and stable device connection over Bluetooth 5.4, often pairing with my iPhone before I pulled it out of my pocket, and Android users get easy one-touch initial pairing with Google Fast Pair+. Multipoint connection is similarly seamless, letting you pair the buds to a phone and a laptop simultaneously to conveniently swap between the two. To initiate, simply hold down the button on the case’s bottom, no app required.

    You will want to download the OnePlus app (bizarrely named “Hey Melody”) before getting too far along because the Nord 3 Pro’s play/pause command is turned off by default. I assume this is to prevent unwanted taps while adjusting the buds, but it’s still a baffling default setting. The buds do offer sensors to automatically pause or play audio when you pull one out, something even my favorite budget buds, Soundcore’s Space A40 (8/10, WIRED Recommends), omit. You can easily assign the play/pause control in the app, alongside volume, ambient audio, and song skip commands for a well-rounded experience via generally responsive touch sensors.

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    Ryan Waniata

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  • Samsung’s Galaxy Buds3 Are Like Cybertruck AirPods

    Samsung’s Galaxy Buds3 Are Like Cybertruck AirPods

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    I used to love Samsung’s wireless earbuds. They came in all types of magical shapes and sizes, with designs that genuinely seemed to embrace the new frontier that totally portable listening devices offered. Why on earth the brand shifted course and began imitating Apple (badly) for its third generation of wireless buds, I honestly can’t say.

    The new Galaxy Buds3 look (and mostly act) like a Cybertruck version of standard AirPods, rather than an updated version of the Buds2 that I gave a 9/10, WIRED Recommends badge a few years ago. They cost more than the AirPods, are even less comfortable, and sound worse.

    What’s particularly baffling isn’t that Samsung is bobbing for Apple’s designs, it’s that it had perfectly excellent earbuds to begin with. The Galaxy Buds3 sound worse than their predecessors, work worse than their predecessors, and cost more than their predecessors. They aren’t very good at all, even when compared to AirPods (which also aren’t very good).

    Back in the Box

    It gets embarrassing as soon as you start unboxing them: The case is a rip-off of the rounded rectangular thing you get with the AirPods Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends), but with a clear plastic top that makes it look and feel cheaper. The case works fine, with wireless and USB-C charging so you can place them on a mat by your door so you don’t forget them when you head out.

    The buds themselves look as though AirPods took a flight to Austin, Texas, with nearly identical rounded plastic upper ear tips that transform into silver triangles as you go toward the tip of the elephant trunk. (They also come in white, where they look so much like Apple’s product that you probably would mistake them if you saw someone wearing them.) There is a bright red accent on the right earbud (and inside the case) to tell you which bud is which, which is admittedly a nice addition over Apple’s drab white nothingness, but otherwise these look like Cybertrucked AirPods in every sense of the word.

    Photograph: Parker Hall

    They’re larger and more cumbersome to insert than standard AirPods, especially thanks to said triangular design: Gripping a triangle to adjust an ear tip is significantly harder than gripping a rounded cylinder, which makes putting them in and out of your ears a test of dexterity.

    Same goes for the controls, which use the same squeeze and swipe controls that AirPods offer, except the shape of the buds means I always messed up the way they were sitting in my ears whenever I wanted to adjust volume or change tracks. What happened to the simple touch controls and shockingly comfortable design of the Buds2?

    On the Go

    The main feature Samsung is touting for these new buds is that they have AI onboard, so you can use voice controls to change songs, adjust volume, answer calls, and even do real-time translation. The voice controls work fine, but Samsung’s AI-based translation isn’t great; I asked my wife, who is fluent in Spanish (the most likely language to be used for this here in the United States), to speak a few sentences, and the app missed all context and translated poorly. Stick to Google Translate.

    The app is full of all sorts of other unhelpful features too. The headphones will, for some reason, remind you if your neck has been bent over for too long. If you’re bent over for so long you’re getting neck pain, I’m not sure a pair of headphones cheerfully chirping at you will solve the problem.

    Then there is the active noise canceling: Because the headphones have such a poor seal, it’s like putting an air conditioner next to an open window. Sure, the ANC does what it can to remove outside noise, but without a physical barrier (like ear tips) to seal out the world (or place it through some sort of venting like Apple does with the AirPods Pro and Samsung used to do with the older Galaxy Buds), its abilities are limited. All this to say: You won’t get silence wearing these buds, even with ANC cranked and your music blasting along with it.

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    Parker Hall

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  • Everything Samsung Announced at Galaxy Unpacked in Paris

    Everything Samsung Announced at Galaxy Unpacked in Paris

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    It’s IP68 and 10 ATM water resistant, so you can use it while in the shower or doing the dishes. It pairs with any Android phone through the Samsung Health app, but it won’t work with iPhones. You do not need a subscription to access the full suite of features; all of the available features are included with the purchase. It also works with Samsung Find, so you can easily locate it if it’s misplaced. It has a charging case that works exactly like the case for your wireless earbuds. Samsung claims the Galaxy Ring can last seven days on a single charge, matching the battery life of the Oura Ring.

    The ring covers many health-tracking features you’d expect from a smartwatch, including sleep tracking, cycle tracking, high or low heart rate alerts, and auto-workout detection. Samsung has talked up its use of artificial intelligence on the Ring, using smart algorithms to monitor sleep patterns, snoring, and heart and respiratory rate to help you get more robust information about your sleep.

    More important is a feature called Energy Score, also available in the new Galaxy Watches. Much like Fitbit’s Daily Readiness or Garmin’s Body Battery, it looks at your data and then recommends how ready you are to take on the day based on factors like sleep quality and your recent activity levels. You’ll also get “wellness tips” throughout the day to keep you on your health goals. If you use both the Galaxy Ring and the new Galaxy Watch series simultaneously, some sensors may turn off in the watch to conserve its battery life, which is something I haven’t seen before.

    Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

    The Ring does not provide haptic feedback, but you can perform some rudimentary gesture controls with your fingers for a few tasks, like dismissing an alarm or starting a video recording on your phone. These “Double Pinch Gestures” are also available on the Galaxy Watch7 series.

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    Julian Chokkattu

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  • Nothing’s CMF Devices Prove Yet Again Cheap Doesn’t Have to Mean Boring

    Nothing’s CMF Devices Prove Yet Again Cheap Doesn’t Have to Mean Boring

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    This does not run Google’s Wear OS platform, so you won’t be able to access a wealth of apps as on other smartwatches. CMF hasn’t provided details on the operating system, but it works similarly to Wear OS smartwatches and is very snappy. It supports iPhone and Android, so anyone can use it. You pair it with your phone via the CMF Watch app. Battery life is impressive—CMF claims 11 days with typical use, and that seems likely. After a day, I was left with 90 percent.

    You can swap the bands and bezel of the CMF Watch Pro 2.

    Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

    You can get notifications, and swipe through tiles to see details like the weather and step count. The watch can track sleep, heart rate, cycle tracking, blood oxygen saturation, and more than 100 workouts (with auto-workout detection), plus there’s built-in GPS. From my very limited time with the device, its results seem to be fairly accurate, though I’ll need to do more testing. All of this can sync with Google’s Health Connect, Apple Health, or Strava.

    CMF Buds Pro 2

    CMF Earbuds by Nothing

    Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

    CMF Case by Nothing

    Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

    Finally, there’s the CMF Buds Pro 2, a pair of AirPods-esque wireless earbuds with a fun case design. The round part on the exterior of the case is called the Smart Dial, which you can brilliantly rotate to adjust the volume without having to fiddle with the earbuds or pull out your phone. You can even push this button to control the noise cancellation, activate a voice assistant, or mute the microphone (all of this is customizable in the Nothing X app. There are still touch controls on the earbuds if you prefer to use them instead).

    The earbuds have dual drivers and support active noise cancellation and transparency mode, and there are three mics to power all of this. CMF claims 6 hours of battery life and 25 hours if you juice them back up with the 460-mAh battery in the case. There’s no wireless charging for the case, but you can recharge it via USB-C.

    All of these devices are available for purchase now.

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    Julian Chokkattu

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  • The Beats Solo Buds Have Great Battery Life but Lack Key Features

    The Beats Solo Buds Have Great Battery Life but Lack Key Features

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    That’s not to say the Solo Buds sound bad. They certainly lean toward the brighter side in the treble and midrange, but their sound is accessible and never got excessively sharp in my testing. The dynamics feel rather flat, but there’s some decent detail here, and they wholly avoid the kind of muddled lower register common in so many budget options. You’ll find clear delineation of each register across a wide range of tracks and genres.

    They also support Spatial Audio with supported videos and music on services like Apple Music and Amazon Music Unlimited, though they don’t offer the same head-tracking common with such features, designed to virtually anchor the listening position around you.

    I took several calls with the Solo Buds with no complaints on either end. Beats says the buds employ a noise learning algorithm with “advanced logic” that targets your voice and suppresses “external unwanted noises.” While I wasn’t able to test them in especially windy conditions, I tried a call under the bathroom fan. The caller said my voice sounded a bit like a speakerphone call, but the fan noise wasn’t audible.

    Minimal Extras

    Finding the Solo Buds to be somewhere around the “just fine” level for sound quality isn’t uncommon at their price, but it does make their distinct lack of other features tougher to square. Unlike so many new options at this price (and even well below), you won’t get any noise canceling to buffer annoyances or even transparency mode to keep you aware of your surroundings.

    Photograph: Ryan Waniata

    Also missing here are plenty of now-standard Apple offerings, like sensors to pause the sound when you pull a bud out, “Hey Siri” voice assistant summoning, or auto-switching to seamlessly swap between iCloud devices. They offer a few handy Apple exclusives, including Find My support to keep track of them, audio sharing, and one-touch pairing, popping up on your iPhone automatically when you first open them.

    Like other Beats buds, the Solo can switch hit for Android gear, with some handy tricks like auto-swapping between Google-connected cloud devices, as well as the same one-touch pairing and Find My Device features you’ll get on iOS. The Beats Android app provides some basic settings adjustments and firmware updates.

    It’s not nothing, but it’s a rather short list when you look at the litany of extras Soundcore offers in the A40 or the even better outfitted Liberty 4 NC (8/10, WIRED Recommends), with everything from noise canceling and transparency mode to multi-band EQ control and multipoint Bluetooth pairing. Even granting the possibility of a sound upgrade for those who can find a better fit than I did, the Solo Buds are a tough sell with so many loaded budget options out there, and countless more on the way.

    If you’re after ecosystem-agnostic buds nestled in the cutest little case in the galaxy, the Solo Buds fit the bill at a modest price that’s sure to see a swift drop. Otherwise, you’ll get more for your money elsewhere.

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    Ryan Waniata

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  • Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 4 Boast Brilliant Sound in a Familiar Package

    Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 4 Boast Brilliant Sound in a Familiar Package

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    How much is great sound worth to you? Sennheiser’s top wireless earbuds ask that question in more ways than one. The previous version, the True Wireless 3, was praised by reviewers, but some users raised issues like battery drain and connection glitches. The Momentum True Wireless 4 set out to address these complaints with an all-new battery system among “over a dozen major upgrades,” according to Sennheiser.

    Within this context, the two earbud dropouts I experienced in my first few days of testing the MTW4 stood out more than the usual new bud jitters. Especially since the latest pair sports the exact same exterior design as the MTW3, which is, in 2024, looking downright chunky compared to the competition. Size aside, a firmware update seems to have fixed those connection woes, and I’ve experienced no other dropouts over multiple days of testing.

    One thing that’s never been in question with Sennheiser is sound quality. Even given their superb sonic pedigree, the Momentum 4 caught me off guard with their clarity, their sensitivity, and the sheer sweetness and delicacy with which they render every tone. They pair that with competitive noise canceling and a solid app. The result is a package that’s worthy of a little faith—especially for those who put great sound first.

    Not-So-Spyware

    If you’re at all familiar with Sennheiser’s long-running Momentum line, you’ll be feeling dé​jà vu with the fourth-gen version. The buds arrive nestled in what looks like the same boxy case from the original 2019 Momentum. It feels downright massive when compared to cases from Apple, Sony, and others. Still, you have to admire Sennheiser’s style, cloaking it with sleek fabric straight out of the James Bond Corduroy Collection.

    The buds have morphed over time, but Sennheiser made no exterior changes from 2022’s MTW3 to maintain their “timeless aesthetic.” They certainly look premium with their angled, smoked-chrome housings but, timeless or not, I would have appreciated some ergonomic updates.

    The buds barely wedge into my medium-size ears with the default band that flexes around the main housing, but swapping it for the smaller of two spares made them stable and relatively comfy for a few hours at a clip. They still feel bulgy and somewhat invasive, and at 6 grams per side, they don’t quite pull the disappearing trick of Apple’s AirPods Pro (9/10, WIRED Recommends) or other favorites. Four ear tip sizes let you further customize the fit, but those with smaller ears may want to try before you buy.

    Plenty of Goodies

    Photograph: Ryan Waniata

    Beneath their enameled shells, the MTW4 have undergone a relatively thorough makeover, from their new battery system (and firmware to optimize it) to support for the latest Bluetooth 5.4 protocol and a new low-latency mode for gaming. They’ve also now got dust protection, with an IP54 rating.

    The battery is arguably the most important upgrade, which includes a new provider to ensure improved reliability. Playback is rated at a respectable 7.5 hours per charge, and 30 hours total with the charging case. This matched my testing, with the buds keeping pace at around seven to eight hours per charge with noise canceling on.

    Call quality has been upgraded, with AI optimization designed to offer advanced clarity via the buds’ new Qualcomm Snapdragon chip. I didn’t notice anything special on my end, but I also never received major complaints from others, even while talking outdoors.

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    Ryan Waniata

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