The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 are fresh off the factory, and have launched just today. While we don’t typically see discounts on newly released products, OnePlus is one of the few that make some exceptions. The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 actually hit the shelves with a $30 discount on day one. This brings the price down to $150.

Get the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 for just $150

This offer is available straight from OnePlus’ website. The discount applies to both color variants: Midnight Opus and Lunar Radiance, otherwise known as black and white.

OnePlus is known for offering good-value earbuds at a lower price than most of its competitors. Such is the case with the OnePlus Buds Pro 3. These earbuds deliver a dual-driver design, as each earbud has an 11mm woofer, a 6mm tweeter, and two DACs per unit. They are also tuned by the famous music studio Dynaudio.

The case is small, with a lovely matte finish that makes it feel more premium than the price would suggest. It looks and feels much like leather, which also gives it a touch of elegance. OnePlus has added gesture controls, allowing you to swipe and tap on the earbud stems to control audio playback.

The battery life is excellent, at about 43 hours, counting the charge in the case. You’ll also get cool features like Google Fast Pair, dual device connection, wireless charging, and an IP55 rating for water resistance. These even come with spatial audio and noise canceling that is upgraded.

Want in on this sale? You should probably sign up sooner rather than later. The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 earbuds are brand-new, which makes us think this may be a launch offer that will disappear in due time.

Of course, if you want other options, we have a list of the best wireless earbuds you can buy right now. There are plenty of alternatives there!

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OnePlus’s earbuds have occupied a key spot in the hearts of Android fans. OnePlus has a few options across price points, and they are good value earbuds that pair well with your Android flagship. After launching the OnePlus Buds 3 earlier in the year, the company is now launching the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 as the latest product in its Pro-tier earbud lineup.

The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 has a dual-driver design, with an 11mm woofer and a 6mm tweeter in each earbud. OnePlus has also added two DACs (BES2700ZP) per earbud, focusing individually on the woofer and tweeter. The Buds Pro 3 also feature Dynaudio branding on the case and the earbud, reminding you that the earbuds are tuned by the famous music studio.

The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 also features up to 50dB of active noise cancelation alongside an Adaptive mode that automatically adjusts the noise cancelation level. The company also claims better performance in canceling out voices.

Another highlight of the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 is the new design. OnePlus had been reusing the same design on its past earbuds for some generations. The new Buds Pro 3 changes it up completely with a new case design that houses the earbuds in a vertical position, much like AirPods. However, the CMF (Color Material Finish) on the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 is superior to the AirPods Pro 2, making OnePlus’s earbuds feel more premium than their price tag.

The OnePlus Buds Pro 3’s plastic case has a great matte finish for the holding surface, a leather-like finish for the front and back surfaces, and a glossy finish on the inside.

The earbuds themselves do not change much in shape, though they also have a matte finish on the head and a glossy finish on the stem.

More importantly, the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 now let you swipe on the stem to control the volume and tap to control playback. OnePlus has also switched to Google’s Spatial Audio technology, opening up compatibility with the wider Android ecosystem.

With their case, these earbuds promise up to 43 hours of total listening time. They also support Google Fast Pair, dual device connection, Bluetooth 5.4, and wireless charging and have an IP55 rating. Interestingly, these also support new neck health features to help you not slouch for extended periods of time.

OnePlus Buds Pro 3 pricing and availability

The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 comes in Midnight Opus (black) and Lunar Radiance (cream) colors. The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 costs $179.99 / £199 / €199 / Rs. 11,999 and can be purchased through OnePlus’s website and other retail partners.

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We’re likely just a few weeks away from Apple’s next media event. On September 10, the Cupertino firm is expected to reveal the iPhone 16 lineup, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 3. That may not be all, however. During the same keynote, the iPhone maker could also debut three new AirPods models, including the highly anticipated AirPods 4.

According to the latest Bloomberg Power On newsletter, Apple is still on track to release two AirPods 4 variants this fall. The entry-level edition will likely replace the AirPods 2 as an affordable option, while the higher-end model could be the AirPods 3’s substitute. It’s currently unclear if the cheaper version will be dubbed AirPods SE, AirPods 4 Lite, or something completely different.

In terms of functionality, the higher-end AirPods 4 model is expected to feature active noise cancelation, which is currently exclusive to the Pro and Max editions. Otherwise, both AirPods 4 variants will likely drop the Lightning port and adopt USB-C for charging.

Speaking of USB-C, the AirPods Max 2 could also make an appearance during the same event. Though, beyond switching to the universal charging port and generic enhancements, the premium headphones are expected to remain largely the same.

Otherwise, those anticipating the AirPods Pro 3 will likely have to wait till next year, as we’re only expecting the AirPods Max 2 and two AirPods 4 variants this time around.

Two years have passed since the Pixel Buds Pro first hit store shelves. Launched at Google I/O 2022, they were the first in Google’s buds lineup to offer high-end features like active noise canceling. But with a launch price of $199, the Pixel Buds Pro didn’t outshine the competition and lacked some features that were almost considered industry standard by 2022.

Fast forward to today, however, and the Pixel Buds Pro have become some of the most well-rounded true wireless earbuds on the market. And I’m not referring to the fact that you can often find them on sale for less than $140. No, I’m referring to the many, many firmware updates that have completely transformed them since their release.

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The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 leaked in a big way a few days ago, as renders and specs were posted online. Now, a veteran source has revealed apparent pricing information for the new wireless earbuds.

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What’s the best Zelda game? (Wrong answers only.) Chances are, either Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom are right up there at the top of your list, and why wouldn’t they be? The open-world action-adventure games have emerged as landmark Switch titles, earning themselves legions of loyal fans. If you’re the sort of gamers who likes broadcasting your fandom, Nintendo’s got some new Zelda-themed earbuds to check out.

Let’s rip this bandage off early: Nintendo is not making these wireless Bluetooth earbuds available everywhere. Nintendo UK announced their availability there and in Ireland, but just like all the rest of the themed wireless earbuds up for sale abroad, you can’t get these from the Nintendo Store in the US. Why not? Your guess is as good as ours, but it’s worth remembering that the Switch’s relationship with Bluetooth has been shaky at best, with initial support taking over four years to arrive following the console’s launch.

If you’re lucky enough to be in the UK, you can order these Zelda earbuds in white, black or green — although that green option looks like it’s already out of stock. All three sell for about £35 (~$45), the same you’d pay for Nintendo’s similarly branded Mario, Pokémon, Splatoon, or Animal Crossing earbuds. This isn’t the first time Nintendo has sold Zelda earbuds, and a slightly less ornate black colorway has been available for a couple years. Compared to that, the two-toned look of the new white and green options particularly pops. It might have been interesting to see the manufacturer really lean into the Zelda connection — elf-ear earbuds do exist, after all — but something like that’s only going to resonate with really select fans.

Will you be importing a pair? Hoping you can find one of your next trip to England? Or just get content living without Zelda-enhanced earbuds in your life?

(The correct answer was A Link to the Past Randomizer, BTW.)

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Samsung’s mobile division (MX) seems to be in hot water for aping Apple’s design language with the new Galaxy Buds 3 series and Galaxy Watch Ultra. In addition to facing flak from fans, Samsung MX has reportedly drawn the ire of Samsung Electronics’ Chairman Jay Y. Lee.

As per a recent report from Korean media outlet AjuNews (via SamMobile), Lee recently ordered Samsung MX to reevaluate its plans and took strict action against some executives, including the division’s President TM Roh.

Insiders familiar with the developments have revealed that Lee “stepped in after the controversy over Apple’s design plagiarism and quality issues surrounding the Buds 3 series and Galaxy Watch 7 released last month. The internal atmosphere is currently very bad.”

In case you’re not in the loop, the entire controversy stems from Samsung’s design choices for the new Galaxy Buds 3, Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, and Galaxy Watch Ultra. These devices bear an uncanny resemblance to Apple’s AirPods, AirPods Pro, and the Apple Watch Ultra.

With the new earbuds, Samsung has moved away from its iconic bean-shaped design and opted for an AirPods-like design with stems. The charging case is also nearly identical, and Samsung has even implemented pinch and swipe gestures similar to the AirPods.

On the other hand, the Galaxy Watch Ultra’s boxy and chunky design with orange accents makes it look a lot like the Apple Watch Ultra. The orange quick button on the side and the strap choices also resemble Apple’s top-end smartwatch.

On top of the copied designs, Samsung also faced quality control issues with the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. The company was forced to suspend sales when early buyers reported various issues with the earbuds, including fragile ear tips that were prone to tearing. This seems to have been another cause for concern for the group’s chairman.

These developments could force Samsung MX to reevaluate its recent choices and do better with upcoming products. However, we’ll probably have to wait a while to see how things unfold as the next major Galaxy launch is still a few months away.

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The Made by Google 2024 event is right around the corner, and we’re expecting to see Google unveil the Pixel 9 series, including the Pixel 9 Pro Fold (previously presumed to be called the Pixel Fold 2). While Google has confirmed the name and design of the phones, and the event has been confirmed for August 13, 2024, it seems that customers will have to wait a while before they can get their hands on the phone, especially with the new foldable.

A leak by Android Headlines claims that the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL will be available for pre-order right after the launch keynote ends, so about 2 pm ET on August 13. Companies usually have about a week or so between pre-orders and open sales, and similarly, Google is expected to begin open sales on August 22.

The shipping dates for the other devices get a bit interesting. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is said to go on sale on September 4, giving us more than half a month between the official launch and device availability. And if you were looking to get your hands on the Pixel Buds Pro 2, those are expected to go on sale on September 26, about a month and a half after the announcement. The leak does not cover shipping dates for the Pixel Watch 3.

Google is holding its Made by Google event earlier this year, which will likely put pressure on many different launch timelines. A wild leak also suggested that the Pixel 9 series could launch with Android 14 instead of Android 15, so it appears that Google is hurrying up quite a bit to get its products out. Google usually launches new Pixels and the new Android version in October, so an August launch is two months too early. We expect these timelines to smoothen out in the coming years as the rest of Google grows accustomed to an August launch.

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The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 leaked in a big way a few days ago, as renders and specs were posted online. Now, a veteran source has revealed apparent pricing information for the new wireless earbuds.

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What’s the best Zelda game? (Wrong answers only.) Chances are, either Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom are right up there at the top of your list, and why wouldn’t they be? The open-world action-adventure games have emerged as landmark Switch titles, earning themselves legions of loyal fans. If you’re the sort of gamers who likes broadcasting your fandom, Nintendo’s got some new Zelda-themed earbuds to check out.

Let’s rip this bandage off early: Nintendo is not making these wireless Bluetooth earbuds available everywhere. Nintendo UK announced their availability there and in Ireland, but just like all the rest of the themed wireless earbuds up for sale abroad, you can’t get these from the Nintendo Store in the US. Why not? Your guess is as good as ours, but it’s worth remembering that the Switch’s relationship with Bluetooth has been shaky at best, with initial support taking over four years to arrive following the console’s launch.

If you’re lucky enough to be in the UK, you can order these Zelda earbuds in white, black or green — although that green option looks like it’s already out of stock. All three sell for about £35 (~$45), the same you’d pay for Nintendo’s similarly branded Mario, Pokémon, Splatoon, or Animal Crossing earbuds. This isn’t the first time Nintendo has sold Zelda earbuds, and a slightly less ornate black colorway has been available for a couple years. Compared to that, the two-toned look of the new white and green options particularly pops. It might have been interesting to see the manufacturer really lean into the Zelda connection — elf-ear earbuds do exist, after all — but something like that’s only going to resonate with really select fans.

Will you be importing a pair? Hoping you can find one of your next trip to England? Or just get content living without Zelda-enhanced earbuds in your life?

(The correct answer was A Link to the Past Randomizer, BTW.)

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Samsung’s mobile division (MX) seems to be in hot water for aping Apple’s design language with the new Galaxy Buds 3 series and Galaxy Watch Ultra. In addition to facing flak from fans, Samsung MX has reportedly drawn the ire of Samsung Electronics’ Chairman Jay Y. Lee.

As per a recent report from Korean media outlet AjuNews (via SamMobile), Lee recently ordered Samsung MX to reevaluate its plans and took strict action against some executives, including the division’s President TM Roh.

Insiders familiar with the developments have revealed that Lee “stepped in after the controversy over Apple’s design plagiarism and quality issues surrounding the Buds 3 series and Galaxy Watch 7 released last month. The internal atmosphere is currently very bad.”

In case you’re not in the loop, the entire controversy stems from Samsung’s design choices for the new Galaxy Buds 3, Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, and Galaxy Watch Ultra. These devices bear an uncanny resemblance to Apple’s AirPods, AirPods Pro, and the Apple Watch Ultra.

With the new earbuds, Samsung has moved away from its iconic bean-shaped design and opted for an AirPods-like design with stems. The charging case is also nearly identical, and Samsung has even implemented pinch and swipe gestures similar to the AirPods.

On the other hand, the Galaxy Watch Ultra’s boxy and chunky design with orange accents makes it look a lot like the Apple Watch Ultra. The orange quick button on the side and the strap choices also resemble Apple’s top-end smartwatch.

On top of the copied designs, Samsung also faced quality control issues with the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. The company was forced to suspend sales when early buyers reported various issues with the earbuds, including fragile ear tips that were prone to tearing. This seems to have been another cause for concern for the group’s chairman.

These developments could force Samsung MX to reevaluate its recent choices and do better with upcoming products. However, we’ll probably have to wait a while to see how things unfold as the next major Galaxy launch is still a few months away.

When shopping for cheap true wireless earbuds, you are bound to be met with an avalanche of options, plenty of which are duds, with subpar audio, overkill bass, and bare-bones features. These products often use gibberish brand names meant to trick you into thinking you're making a good choice. While there's a wide price range when it comes to the best wireless earbuds out there, the premium options on that list reach $300.

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The Made by Google 2024 event is right around the corner, and we’re expecting to see Google unveil the Pixel 9 series, including the Pixel 9 Pro Fold (previously presumed to be called the Pixel Fold 2). While Google has confirmed the name and design of the phones, and the event has been confirmed for August 13, 2024, it seems that customers will have to wait a while before they can get their hands on the phone, especially with the new foldable.

A leak by Android Headlines claims that the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL will be available for pre-order right after the launch keynote ends, so about 2 pm ET on August 13. Companies usually have about a week or so between pre-orders and open sales, and similarly, Google is expected to begin open sales on August 22.

The shipping dates for the other devices get a bit interesting. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is said to go on sale on September 4, giving us more than half a month between the official launch and device availability. And if you were looking to get your hands on the Pixel Buds Pro 2, those are expected to go on sale on September 26, about a month and a half after the announcement. The leak does not cover shipping dates for the Pixel Watch 3.

Google is holding its Made by Google event earlier this year, which will likely put pressure on many different launch timelines. A wild leak also suggested that the Pixel 9 series could launch with Android 14 instead of Android 15, so it appears that Google is hurrying up quite a bit to get its products out. Google usually launches new Pixels and the new Android version in October, so an August launch is two months too early. We expect these timelines to smoothen out in the coming years as the rest of Google grows accustomed to an August launch.

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Only weeks ago, OnePlus held its Summer Launch Event, during which it unveiled four new products. Before the event, it was thought that one of the announcements would be for the OnePlus Buds Pro 3, but the company launched the Nord Buds 3 Pro instead. If you were disappointed by the OnePlus Buds Pro 3’s absence, then this new wireless earbuds leak is for you.

The folks over at Smartprix have divulged a slew of new information and images for the OnePlus Buds Pro 3. According to the outlet, the flagship earbuds will come in two colors: Midnight Opus (black) and Lunar Radiance (gold).

We can see from the images that the case appears to have a leather texture in the front, with a pairing button on the side. The earbuds seem to mimic the case’s style with a glossy stem and matte finish for the earbuds and ear tips. Additionally, the case has a USB-C port on the bottom and the earbuds have an engraved L and R for easy identification.

Speaking of the case, its dimensions are 6.5 x 5.2 x 2.6cm with a weight of 61 grams. Together with the case, earbuds are said to last up to 43 hours, which is a four-hour increase compared to the current generation. Additionally, you’ll get five hours of playback after just 10 minutes of charging. Other notable specs include an IP55 rating and Bluetooth 5.4.

In regards to sound, the earbuds reportedly come with a dual driver setup that features an 11mm woofer and 6mm tweeter. These buds have a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) and support an LHDC 5.0 audio codec with 24-bit/192 kHz audio. Meanwhile, these earbuds are said to have a slight improvement in noise cancelation, moving up to 50db from 49db. Finally, OnePlus has fit in a Dynaudio EQ, which will provide EQ presets tuned for specific music genres.

The last part of the leak mentions dual connection support. This means the earbuds will be able to connect with two different devices at the same time.

The outlet predicts that the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 will cost around ₹12,000 in India. Converted in US currency, this would be about $143. It’s important to note that the price in India could be different than the price that will be listed in the US. For comparison, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 launched at $179 in the US.

Remember when the Google Pixel 7 cost $599? Or when you could grab a Galaxy Z Flip for under $1,000? As a tech reviewer, I’m painfully aware of how prices have changed in the last few years — and it hasn’t been a change for the better. Recently, though, we’ve seen a rise in smaller brands and spin-offs trying to offer maximum value at a minimal price. I am, of course, referring to Nothing and, by extension, its spin-off CMF by Nothing.

CMF’s plan is ambitious — peg its debut smartphone at $200 and surround it with accessories that cost less than half of that — but can it work? How much value can you get from an entire ecosystem that costs less than a Google Pixel 8a? Well, let’s find out.

The Buds Pro 2 are a no-brainer

I know you’d probably expect me to start at the top and work my way down through the CMF ecosystem, but for reasons that will eventually become clear, I’m going to do the opposite. Instead of starting with CMF’s debut Phone 1, which should be the star of the show, I’d rather kick things off with the supporting cast — a group that I actually think is much better than its lead. Up first in this impressive yet affordable group is the CMF Buds Pro 2.

Now, I’ll admit that I’m not always caught up on the latest developments in earbuds — I usually wear bone-conduction headphones while running for my safety — but I’ve been thoroughly impressed during my time with CMF’s Buds Pro 2. They’re a massive change from my last pair of budget buds, which was Google’s original Pixel Buds A-Series. Those earbuds came without noise canceling, a reliable IP rating against water or dust, and sat in a simple, shallow charging case that never felt very secure. Sure, I liked their simple controls and appreciated having Google Assistant in my ear by default, but they never punched above their $100 billing.

If there's one CMF product you should definitely buy, it's the Buds Pro 2.

The CMF Buds Pro 2, on the other hand, exceed their $60 price tag in just about every way. For less than the price of a new PlayStation 5 title, you get noise canceling, a workout-ready IP55 rating, and perhaps the best earbud case I’ve used in a long time. At the very least, the case’s customizable Smart Dial makes for an incredibly addicting fidget toy. And yes, I realize that some of my excitement comes from not having used budget-friendly earbuds in a while, but my colleagues at Sound Guys tend to agree — and they know a thing or two about audio.

Anyway, I’ll readily admit that I mostly worry about two things when it comes to earbuds: comfort and a good seal. The CMF Buds Pro 2, with their AirPods Pro-like design and soft ear tips, check both boxes. I find that I can keep the Buds Pro 2 in for a few hours at a time without reaching to adjust them — at least until my Spotify daylist switches or I convince myself that my cats are up to no good. When I’m done, the earbuds pop nicely back into their charging case with the help of some surprisingly strong magnets, ensuring that I can line them up easier than Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.

Of course, you will need the Nothing X app to customize the controls on your Smart Dial and the individual earbuds, but it also lets you tweak your equalizer and noise control (canceling) preferences, so I’d call it a valuable addition. I’ve also noticed that a few of the CMF Buds Pro 2 tap controls work better than others — fast forward works every time, even when I don’t want it to, while play and pause are hit or miss. I’m sure CMF can drill down its controls with a future update, though, so it’s not nearly enough of a problem to outweigh the remarkable value.

I’d recommend the Watch Pro 2, too

Moving on, I’m a little bit pickier with my smartwatches than I am with earbuds, typically preferring to keep a powerful Garmin or Coros GPS watch on my wrist. However, when the CMF Watch Pro 2 showed up, I was happy to try out a modular wearable, strapping it to my less-favored right wrist. And, at just $10 more than the Buds Pro 2, I was curious if anything would impress me about the seemingly simple watch.

Once again, the answer turned out to be yes. I might not be as impressed as I was by the Buds Pro 2 — after all, I have very high standards for the watch on my wrist — but it remains hard to argue against what you’re getting for just $70. CMF’s controls are simple and Coros-like, with a single button in the form of a rotating crown that, yes, actually serves a purpose (looking at you, Samsung and OnePlus). A press of the button from the watch face opens up a menu of options to scroll through, while a swipe left or right runs you through a set of widgets, all bearing Nothing’s signature dotted design language.

$70 for a watch with 11 days of battery life seems like a pretty good deal to me.

This brings me to my first issue — CMF’s mostly square widgets don’t feel like they’re optimized for the Watch Pro 2’s round AMOLED panel. Instead of giving each widget its own display, the Watch Pro 2 pairs them up, cramming the weather in with your Apple Watch-like tracking rings and shoving your recent calls, dialer, and contacts all onto one screen together. The shape of the widgets makes it feel like they were designed for a square display, while their size, even when combined, leaves plenty of space around the edges of the panel. And yet, the button-based menu, which uses the rotating crown, takes up the entire display and scrolls nicely with a rounded effect along the edge.

But, if you can live with the slightly unorthodox menus and widgets, the CMF Watch Pro 2 has much to offer. Its battery life is excellent — it claims 11 days of regular use or nine days of heavy use, and I’ve only had to charge it once since the watch arrived about two weeks ago.

Other touches, like the IP68 rating, 120 sport modes, and five auto-detectable activities, make the Watch Pro 2 sound like it should be an athlete’s dream and one of the best smartwatches for the money. It might turn out to be, but I can’t trust it with a few of my adventures. The few default bands I’ve used are made of a very plasticky faux leather material, which I can’t help thinking would become incredibly slippery during sweaty summer runs.

CMF’s interchangeable metal bezels are an interesting idea, too, allowing you to spice up your watch for several different occasions, but they seem like a nightmare for a frequent climber like me. They’re easy to twist on and off, only taking about a millimeter of travel, but I’ve already had a few times when the bezel hasn’t fully locked into place and come tumbling off in my living room. If you were, say, climbing in a gym and happened to smack your wrist against a hold, I could see it knocking the bezel loose or even damaging the metal itself. Have the same thing happen outside, and you might never see that bezel again.

And yet, I know that most people won’t go smacking their wrists into rocks or sweating their way through faux leather bands. For most people, their biggest headache will be the small, square widgets, while the long-lasting battery life, 80 watch faces at launch, and 24/7 health tracking will be more than worth the $70 price tag. This leaves us with one more piece of the CMF puzzle…

Reaching for the CMF Phone 1 isn’t quite so simple

And finally, we have what should be the star of the show — the CMF Phone 1. I find myself saying it should be the star rather than it is the star for one fundamental reason: The CMF Phone 1 doesn’t work in the US. It follows in the footsteps of Nothing’s Phone 2a, which was launched earlier in the year and arrived as part of a developer’s program without the proper band support for any of T-Mobile, Verizon, or AT&T. As such, I can’t recommend it to most people I know to cap off their less-than-a-Pixel-8a spending spree.

But, while it’s a no-go for the Americans I know, there’s a lot to like about this $200-equivalent phone in the rest of the world, and that’s without even considering the interchangeable accessories. CMF’s 6.67-inch AMOLED panel is vibrant, its 120Hz refresh rate is smooth, and I can’t help but like the dot-matrix design of Nothing OS (yes, the CMF Phone 1 uses its parent company’s flavor of Android). The Phone 1’s 33W wired charging is a nice touch, too, out-pacing what Samsung and Motorola offer for their similarly priced devices.

The CMF Phone 1 would be a great value... if it worked in the US.

And, although you probably shouldn’t buy a phone for the accessories that it comes with, CMF’s modular options are worth mentioning. This is the first time I’ve ever had a phone case come with a screwdriver, and I actually dig the setup. It’s a strange feeling to remove four screws and a twist-off button to change the parts on your phone, but it feels very industrial — not to mention the fact that there’s no way a phone case is coming off after it’s been screwed in. CMF’s other accessories are equally secure, with the card case and stand slotting into the small wheel in the bottom corner. It feels like a new take on an Erector set, which I did not expect in 2024.

However, several situations highlight the CMF Phone 1’s budget limitations. The phone is predominantly made of plastic, and its interchangeable nature means the plastic on the back panel is pretty flimsy. It’s meant to be easy to swap in and out, but this mostly results in a device with soft buttons and a little bit too much give to its back. CMF will only bring two full Android updates to its debut device, followed by a third year of security patches — it’s not the worst update commitment at this price point, but that’s hardly a ringing endorsement. I also personally can’t stand Nothing’s notification chimes and ringtones — to me, they sound like R2-D2 being crushed by a trash compactor.

Again, though, none of this matters when buying the CMF Phone 1, at least not in the US. For most of us, the phone simply won’t work due to having the wrong set of bands for our major carriers. As such, it’s tough to recommend the CMF Phone 1 as the last piece of an affordable ecosystem. You’ll get excellent value out of the CMF Buds Pro 2 and a solid (if not the most athletic) experience from the CMF Watch Pro 2, but you might have to wait a little bit longer before trying out a modular phone for yourself.

If you’re still interested, you can check out all three CMF by Nothing launches below.

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Samsung’s Unpacked event is a few weeks away, but the leak train continues to steam ahead. Now, European pricing for the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, Galaxy Watch 7, and Galaxy Watch Ultra may have been revealed.

YTechB reported that a European retailer has listed the aforementioned gadgets on its website, along with pricing. The news outlet shared screenshots too (seen below), but didn’t specify the retailer. The outlet also claimed that these prices were slightly discounted compared to the full recommended prices. Either way, you’ll want to take this report with some caution.

The retailer apparently lists the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro at €313.49 (~$335), which would be a steep increase over the Buds 2 Pro‘s €240 (~$257) launch price. Expect to find it in Silver and White colors.

Meanwhile, the 40mm Galaxy Watch 7 BT is reportedly listed at €314.49 (~$336) while the 44mm model costs €344.99 (~$369). The watches are apparently available in Cream, Green, and Silver color schemes. There’s no word on pricing for the cellular models.

Fancy buying the Galaxy Watch Ultra? The unnamed retailer is listing it for €688.99 (~$737), with the outlet claiming that it’s available in Titanium Gray, Titanium Silver, and Titanium White.

Device pricing can undoubtedly change between now and the Unpacked launch event. It’s also worth noting that European prices tend to be more expensive than US prices, so a direct conversion isn’t necessarily indicative of US price tags.

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Samsung’s highly anticipated summer Unpacked event could be announced any day now, with a tentative date set for July 10. As the countdown continues, new information about the products expected to debut is emerging, including the next generation of Samsung’s wireless earbuds.

Recent leaks suggest that the Galaxy Buds 3 might feature a design reminiscent of Apple’s AirPods, and now we have our first glimpse of these new earbuds. X/Twitter user @Teqhnikacross spotted what looks like the official product images of the Galaxy Buds 3 on Coupang, an e-commerce site in South Korea. These images give us a preview of the sleek new design of Samsung’s earbuds, and we’re here for it. (h/t: Sammobile)

First things first, the images showcase the Galaxy Buds 3 in a polished grey color variant, which looks absolutely slick. The charging case has undergone a redesign, transitioning from a horizontal to a vertical layout, with a transparent lid that adds a futuristic touch to the design.

The earbuds themselves look stunning. They appear to sport a wider earbud section and a rectangular stem, which makes them look much less like the Airpods or the OnePlus Buds Pro 2. Even though the two Buds 3 models might look similar to one another, word on the street is that the Pro version could have ‘blade lights’ running down the stems to set them apart from the standard Galaxy Buds 3.

In terms of specifications, the Galaxy Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro are rumored to share several features, including active noise cancelation (ANC), an IP57 rating for dust and water resistance, and ultra-high-quality sound (24bit/96kHz).

For me, this is the best look Samsung has come up with for its earbuds so far. Let’s hope they sound just as good as they look.

If you've been shopping around for a new pair of earbuds, you'll know things can get pretty pricey if you're looking to buy some of the best wireless earbuds on the market. Naturally, not everyone wants to spend over $200, but finding that sweet spot between quality and price can be difficult, especially when there are so many different choices available.

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Last month, we reported that Samsung’s forthcoming Galaxy Buds may offer a significantly different design than previous generations. Now, a new leaked image lends further credence to this. According to a pixelated leak from reliable tipster Evan Blass (h/t: Asian Geek Squad), the Galaxy Buds 3 may drop its “bud” design in favor of an AirPods-like stalk.

We can’t glean many fine details from the image, but what is apparent is the rumored “blade lights” bar at the foot of the stalk and the silver colorway. Have a look at the render below.

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Today, I learned that on this planet, not in a parallel universe, a mythical creature roams among us. From afar (and even upon closer inspection), it looks just like any pair of wired Lightning earbuds for iPhones. However, concealed deeply within it is a dark secret that only remote villagers know of. It appears that some companies have been selling knockoff wired iPhone earbuds that need Bluetooth to function. You’ve read that right.

A crazy experience — I lost my earbuds in a remote town in Chile, so tried buying a new pair at the airport before flying out. But the new wired, iPhone, lightning-cable headphones didn’t work. Strange.

The most essential part of my workout is music. Unfortunately, I work out at night after my kid goes to bed, so I cant play any music out loud. Headphones get too hot while Im exercising, so I dont like to wear them if I can help it, which means my only music option is earbuds and a great workout app. Lucky for me, there are a lot of earbuds out there to choose from, but there are only a few models that I know of that offer integrated heart-rate monitoring, so I jumped at the chance to review the Sennheiser Momentum Sport earbuds.

Lots of the deals we see every day are kinda meh, but this is one of those discounts that had us double-checking it was legit. Woot is currently offering the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro for just $119.99 — a 48% markdown and easily the best price we’ve ever tracked.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro for $119.99 ($110 off)

Realme Buds Air6 are joining the company’s growing portfolio of accessories. The wireless earbuds have launched in China and are currently available at CNY 269, ...

The post Realme Buds Air6 Launch As Affordable Wireless Earbuds With Large Driver and Strong ANC appeared first on Gizchina.com.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS-hrVpzCJg

This is my Google ecosystem: phone, watch, headphones, audio, Chromecast. If I told you that you could get it all for under $1,000, I think a lot of people would be interested.

Let me clarify right off the bat: Clearly, this isn’t possible if you focus on buying the latest and greatest Google hardware. When I thought about this challenge, I didn’t aim it for the biggest tech enthusiasts who want a Pixel 8 Pro or maybe even a Pixel tablet; they are just too expensive and would take up my entire $1,000 envelop and more! I wanted to maximize my budget and get as much as possible for as little money. However, I also didn’t want to go and get something like a Google Pixel 5 because that phone is too old now and nearing the end of its support.

So, I gave myself a couple of caveats for this challenge:

1. The stuff that I buy had to be supported for at least another two years.
2. I couldn’t compromise on getting the latest and greatest from Google in terms of features.

To try and get all of this for under that $1,000 budget, secondhand had to be my best friend. So eBay, Amazon renewed, and other retail options, depending on where you live. I focused on the US market and eBay.

The phone: Pixel 7a

Let’s start at the heart of any ecosystem that we’ll use every single day, and that is the phone. When you think about a budget phone from Google, your first thoughts turn to the Pixel 7a, the cheapest available phone at the moment. This is actually a really good starting point for our ecosystem. It’s only around one year old and with that latest Feature drop, it brings brand new features like Circle to Search to the 7a. The phone has a really good 6.1-inch display with a 90Hz refresh rate, so it feels like you aren’t massively missing out on Google’s best features and hardware.

I did think about getting a cheap secondhand Pixel 8 or Pixel 7 Pro, but again, I had to get as much for as little as possible. The Pixel 7a gave me more wiggle room with the rest of my budget. Plus, it has a really slick always-on display and some decent cameras, including a 64MP main and a 13MP ultrawide, that stack up really well against the Pixel 7 and Pixel 8.

There are a few compromises with the Pixel 7a to keep in mind: the battery isn’t the best in the world, and the bezels are a little bit thick for 2024. But these are compromises that I can live with.

Going through eBay, I found a used Pixel 7a in excellent condition for about $250, so I went with it. Phone secured; what’s next?

Earbuds and smartwatch: Pixel Buds Pro and Pixel Watch

Well, I needed to get some Bluetooth earbuds, too. For a budget ecosystem, I had two choices: the Pixel Buds A or the Pixel Buds Pro. The noise cancelation is a no-brainer requirement to me, so Pixel Buds Pro it is, even if the Buds A are cheaper. Plus, all around, the Buds Pro provide a much better experience, and we want a good experience despite our $1,000 budget.

If you’ve never used the Buds Pro before, I’ll tell you they are fantastic. They’re comfortable, the active noise cancelation is really good, the battery lasts up to 11 hours of listening, and they’ve got wireless charging. The Pixel Buds A don’t have that wireless charging and they only last about five hours of listening time.

Overall, I just had to indulge and go Pro here, and thankfully, I didn’t have to break the bank to do it. I resigned myself to getting secondhand earbuds and decided to give them a thorough clean and buy new ear tips to avoid the previous owner’s ear gunk. A used pair of Pixel Buds Pro costs anywhere between $70 and $130 on eBay, so I bagged mine for $100.

But there’s another requirement I needed to elevate that ecosystem a little bit more, and that is a watch. You might think, “Oh, maybe I don’t need a Pixel Watch for that budget,” and yeah, it is something you could live without. But once I got the watch, I really realized how much it tied me into Google’s ecosystem. I could unlock my phone, see Google Maps navigation, and use Google Wallet without getting my phone out. It became so convenient and once I used it for a bit, I just felt like I couldn’t go back.

Again, I had a couple of options here. I could go with something like the Fitbit Sense 2, but I knew the best option was just a Pixel Watch. There aren’t loads of differences between the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2. They’re both the same size and, essentially, the same design as well. A lot of the features that you get on the Watch 2 were recently added to the first-generation Pixel Watch. I wouldn’t be missing out on too much; things like skin temperature sensing, and stress notifications don’t stand out massively as big compromises to me.

Once I got the Pixel Watch, I really realized how much it tied me into Google's ecosystem.

The price difference would be the biggest roadblock to getting that Pixel Watch 2 because there’s about a $100 difference between the secondhand Watch 1 and 2. And obviously, if money weren’t an issue, then I’d get the Pixel Watch 2. But I do want to stretch my budget as much as possible. So, let’s get a Pixel Watch 1 instead. A secondhand unit goes from around $100 to $150. I got mine for $125.

Now I have a Pixel 7a for $250, Pixel Buds Pro for $100, and a first-gen Pixel Watch for $125, which leaves me with $575 of my budget. And I could just stop there; that is actually a really good introduction to the Google ecosystem. But when you start to add smart home devices, that’s when the entire experience is elevated a step or two. I wanted to get things like Nest speakers and a Chromecast for under that $1,000 budget.

A smart Google home: Chromecast, Nest Audio, Nest Hub

The Chromecast has improved significantly over the past couple of years. Again, I had two options: an HD version and a 4K version. However, one of my biggest caveats at the start of this challenge was to future-proof everything for the next couple of years, so I had to exclude the Chromecast HD from the equation. Plus, 4K is probably your best friend here.

I feel like the Chromecast 4K is so underrated as well. Some people might have a smart TV and think, “Well, I don’t need a Chromecast.” But smart TVs are really frustrating: You need to switch between apps constantly, they’re slow, and really just not intelligent at all. With the Chromecast interface, it’s just all in one place and it easily integrates with all of your devices, including the Pixel 7a that I got. You can even use your Pixel phone as a remote. So this is where I could clearly see the ecosystem start to come together.

The Chromecast 4K had to be the first product where I actually picked up a brand new unit rather than secondhand. Just look at the prices; when a new Chromecast is $59, there’s not a huge amount of savings to get with secondhand units. At least not enough to justify dealing with a used unit. A new one with the full warranty is a better deal. So I treated myself and went brand new with the Chromecast 4K from the Google store at $59.

The next thing I had to look at are Nest speakers. Again, a few options presented themselves: the second-generation Nest Mini, second-generation Nest Hub, and Nest Audio. You can pick up Nest Minis for a ridiculously low price on eBay, but I had to remember that they’ve been around since 2019. And while they’re still getting updates five years down the line, I don’t think they’re futureproof enough. On top of that, the sound isn’t actually that great. So my best bet was that Nest Audio.

The Nest Audio came out in 2020, a year later than the second-generation Nest Mini. It sounds infinitely better, and even though it costs a little bit more secondhand, it wouldn’t blow past my remaining budget. If you get more than one Nest Audio, the sound quality is even more elevated, as you can create a stereo pair for a more immersive listening experience.

Going through eBay, secondhand Nest Audio units range in price a bit. But I found a listing where I could get them for $50 each. Given the affordable price, I went with two so I could actually have that stereo pair.

Nest and Chromecast aren't essential to the Pixel lifestyle, but they add a little something extra.

With a decent budget left, I decided to treat myself to something else and take my Pixel and Google experience to the next level. I went for a Nest Hub, and I love it. It sits on my bedside table and lets me also see what Google Assistant is trying to babble on about. Weather, smart Google Home controls, watching YouTube, and seeing Google Photos at a glance; all of these are things the Nest Hub 2nd Generation is capable of while tying more of my Google ecosystem together. Plus, it doesn’t cost a huge amount of money.

If you go through eBay, you’ll see that these are really well-priced as secondhand units at about $70 to $80. And if you search well enough, you can find one for around $70, like the one I got. And yes, the Nest Hub did come out a couple of years ago, but it’s still very much getting software updates and should continue to, at least for the next couple of years.

A full Google ecosystem for just over $700!

Let’s go through what I got. I have a $250 Google Pixel 7a, a $100 pair of Pixel Buds Pro, the first-generation Pixel Watch for $125, a new $59 Chromecast 4K, two Nest Audios for $100 total, and a Nest Hub 2nd Generation for $70. If you add all this together, my intro into the Google ecosystem cost me just over $700 — $704, to be exact. And besides going for secondhand units, I’m getting a really good experience as a first dabble into Google’s ecosystem and not making any huge compromises.

In fact, I could go on and keep adding to this if I wanted to spend all of my $1,000 budget. Maybe buy a secondhand Pixel Tablet, a Nest Doorbell, or switch to a more powerful Google Pixel. But I think I’m good with my current setup, and I’ve got a decent amount of change left for future upgrades or items!

I really enjoyed this challenge because I didn’t think I’d be able to stretch my budget this much and get as many pillars for my Google experience as I did. What do you think of my choices for this Google ecosystem challenge? Would you make similar compromises and choices? Would you skip some of these items or would you indulge in something extra?

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Nothing is all-in on smartphones now, with the recent Nothing Phone 2a earning strong marks from reviewers. However, the company started just a few years ago as an audio brand with the well-received Nothing Ear 1 earbuds. Since then, it’s launched a few other sets of earbuds, but today it’s revamping its naming system while simultaneously launching two new audio products: Nothing Ear and Nothing Ear A.

As you can see, the revamped earbud naming system includes removing numbers from the names. Nothing told us it is doing this to make customers feel less pressured to upgrade every time there’s a new release. Instead, you’d buy a set of Nothing earbuds now and then buy a new set in the same line sometime later when you feel an upgrade might be necessary (or, of course, opt for a more/less expensive model).

Nothing didn’t say anything about this new naming scheme also applying to its other products, including smartphones. Considering the Nothing Phone 2a dropped just a few months ago, we will assume that numbers will continue to be a part of its smartphone portfolio.

In addition to the new hardware, Nothing also announced deeper ChatGPT integration within these earbuds. On Nothing OS 2.5.5, with the ChatGPT app installed, you can set a pinch shortcut to start a conversation with ChatGPT.

Now, let’s break down what you get with the Nothing Ear and the Nothing Ear A.

Nothing Ear

First up, we have the premium model: Nothing Ear. While one might think these would be the Nothing Ear 3, the company isn’t going to call them that due to the previously mentioned abandonment of numbers.

Besides, these are more like Nothing 2.5 rather than a full numerical upgrade. They look incredibly similar to Nothing Ear 2, right down to the case design and available colorways (transparent black or white).

There are some differences, though, which I’ll list out for you here:

• Active Noise Cancelation (ANC) is now up to 45dB, a good bump over the 40dB limit of Ear 2.
• Battery life is allegedly better, with Nothing claiming 5.2 hours of power for Ear with ANC active, compared to four hours of juice under the same conditions for Ear 2.
• The earbuds now support LDAC as well as LHDC, which means they’re compatible with high-quality audio on more phones.
• Unfortunately, the driver shrunk a bit. Nothing Ear have 11mm custom drivers, while Ear 2 had 11.6mm custom drivers. This is probably not a big enough difference for people to notice, though.

Other than these three points, Nothing Ear are basically the same as Nothing Ear 2. Therefore, if you already own Nothing Ear 2, there’s not much reason to upgrade.

If you don’t already own Nothing Ear 2 (or don’t care about Nothing’s ambitions to stop you from upgrading yearly), these will set you back $149 / €149 / £129 — the same pricing as Ear 2. Pre-orders are open now at Nothing.tech and general sales begin on April 22, 2024.

Do note that Nothing confirmed Ear will replace Ear 2. When the company sells through its stock of Ear 2, it will not make more. If, for some reason, you’d rather have Ear 2 over these new models, you’d better grab them quickly.

Nothing Ear A

While Nothing Ear are an obvious iterative upgrade to Nothing Ear 2, Nothing Ear A are a bit trickier to peg. One would assume these would be the spiritual successors to Nothing’s previous budget-minded earbuds (Nothing Ear Stick), but these feel more like a slightly upgraded version of the original Nothing Ear 1.

Right off the bat, Nothing Ear A are in-ear earbuds, as opposed to Nothing Ear Stick, which simply rested in your ear canal, like Apple’s entry-tier AirPods. This allows them to support ANC, something that wasn’t possible with Ear Stick.

Nothing Ear A also have a brand new case design that’s unlike anything the company has done before. It’s smaller and curvier than the Ear/Ear 1/Ear 2 cases and nothing like the tube case for Ear Stick. There’s also a new colorway on offer: yellow. This is a fun choice for folks bored of the usual black/white colors Nothing offers.

As for specs, you’ll find a lot of crossovers here from Nothing Ear, including 11mm drivers, 45dB ANC, a triple-mic setup, LDAC support (but no LHDC), etc. There are a few significant differences, though:

• Unlike Nothing Ear, the Nothing Ear A case does not support wireless charging.
• Battery life is nominally better with Nothing Ear A. According to Nothing, Ear A get 5.5 hours of use with ANC on, about 0.3 hours better than Nothing Ear.
• The diaphragms of Nothing Ear are made of a premium ceramic material, while Nothing Ear A get PMI + TPU diaphragms, which is not as premium.

In other words, it’s easiest to think of Nothing Ear A as a cheaper version of Nothing Ear rather than a sequel to any other Nothing earbuds.

Speaking of being cheaper, Nothing Ear A will set you back $99 / €99 / £99. Like the Nothing Ear, you can pre-order them today from Nothing.tech and general sales begin on April 22, 2024. Also, these will become the only other earbuds Nothing offers outside of Nothing Ear. In other words, if you want Nothing Ear Stick or Nothing Ear 1, you should buy them soon, as they will no longer be in production.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS-hrVpzCJg

This is my Google ecosystem: phone, watch, headphones, audio, Chromecast. If I told you that you could get it all for under $1,000, I think a lot of people would be interested.

Let me clarify right off the bat: Clearly, this isn’t possible if you focus on buying the latest and greatest Google hardware. When I thought about this challenge, I didn’t aim it for the biggest tech enthusiasts who want a Pixel 8 Pro or maybe even a Pixel tablet; they are just too expensive and would take up my entire $1,000 envelop and more! I wanted to maximize my budget and get as much as possible for as little money. However, I also didn’t want to go and get something like a Google Pixel 5 because that phone is too old now and nearing the end of its support.

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Nothing is all-in on smartphones now, with the recent Nothing Phone 2a earning strong marks from reviewers. However, the company started just a few years ago as an audio brand with the well-received Nothing Ear 1 earbuds. Since then, it’s launched a few other sets of earbuds, but today it’s revamping its naming system while simultaneously launching two new audio products: Nothing Ear and Nothing Ear A.

As you can see, the revamped earbud naming system includes removing numbers from the names. Nothing told us it is doing this to make customers feel less pressured to upgrade every time there’s a new release. Instead, you’d buy a set of Nothing earbuds now and then buy a new set in the same line sometime later when you feel an upgrade might be necessary (or, of course, opt for a more/less expensive model).

Nothing didn’t say anything about this new naming scheme also applying to its other products, including smartphones. Considering the Nothing Phone 2a dropped just a few months ago, we will assume that numbers will continue to be a part of its smartphone portfolio.

In addition to the new hardware, Nothing also announced deeper ChatGPT integration within these earbuds. On Nothing OS 2.5.5, with the ChatGPT app installed, you can set a pinch shortcut to start a conversation with ChatGPT.

Now, let’s break down what you get with the Nothing Ear and the Nothing Ear A.

Nothing Ear

First up, we have the premium model: Nothing Ear. While one might think these would be the Nothing Ear 3, the company isn’t going to call them that due to the previously mentioned abandonment of numbers.

Besides, these are more like Nothing 2.5 rather than a full numerical upgrade. They look incredibly similar to Nothing Ear 2, right down to the case design and available colorways (transparent black or white).

There are some differences, though, which I’ll list out for you here:

• Active Noise Cancelation (ANC) is now up to 45dB, a good bump over the 40dB limit of Ear 2.
• Battery life is allegedly better, with Nothing claiming 5.2 hours of power for Ear with ANC active, compared to four hours of juice under the same conditions for Ear 2.
• The earbuds now support LDAC as well as LHDC, which means they’re compatible with high-quality audio on more phones.
• Unfortunately, the driver shrunk a bit. Nothing Ear have 11mm custom drivers, while Ear 2 had 11.6mm custom drivers. This is probably not a big enough difference for people to notice, though.

Other than these three points, Nothing Ear are basically the same as Nothing Ear 2. Therefore, if you already own Nothing Ear 2, there’s not much reason to upgrade.

If you don’t already own Nothing Ear 2 (or don’t care about Nothing’s ambitions to stop you from upgrading yearly), these will set you back $149 / €149 / £129 — the same pricing as Ear 2. Pre-orders are open now at Nothing.tech and general sales begin on April 22, 2024.

Do note that Nothing confirmed Ear will replace Ear 2. When the company sells through its stock of Ear 2, it will not make more. If, for some reason, you’d rather have Ear 2 over these new models, you’d better grab them quickly.

Nothing Ear A

While Nothing Ear are an obvious iterative upgrade to Nothing Ear 2, Nothing Ear A are a bit trickier to peg. One would assume these would be the spiritual successors to Nothing’s previous budget-minded earbuds (Nothing Ear Stick), but these feel more like a slightly upgraded version of the original Nothing Ear 1.

Right off the bat, Nothing Ear A are in-ear earbuds, as opposed to Nothing Ear Stick, which simply rested in your ear canal, like Apple’s entry-tier AirPods. This allows them to support ANC, something that wasn’t possible with Ear Stick.

Nothing Ear A also have a brand new case design that’s unlike anything the company has done before. It’s smaller and curvier than the Ear/Ear 1/Ear 2 cases and nothing like the tube case for Ear Stick. There’s also a new colorway on offer: yellow. This is a fun choice for folks bored of the usual black/white colors Nothing offers.

As for specs, you’ll find a lot of crossovers here from Nothing Ear, including 11mm drivers, 45dB ANC, a triple-mic setup, LDAC support (but no LHDC), etc. There are a few significant differences, though:

• Unlike Nothing Ear, the Nothing Ear A case does not support wireless charging.
• Battery life is nominally better with Nothing Ear A. According to Nothing, Ear A get 5.5 hours of use with ANC on, about 0.3 hours better than Nothing Ear.
• The diaphragms of Nothing Ear are made of a premium ceramic material, while Nothing Ear A get PMI + TPU diaphragms, which is not as premium.

In other words, it’s easiest to think of Nothing Ear A as a cheaper version of Nothing Ear rather than a sequel to any other Nothing earbuds.

Speaking of being cheaper, Nothing Ear A will set you back $99 / €99 / £99. Like the Nothing Ear, you can pre-order them today from Nothing.tech and general sales begin on April 22, 2024. Also, these will become the only other earbuds Nothing offers outside of Nothing Ear. In other words, if you want Nothing Ear Stick or Nothing Ear 1, you should buy them soon, as they will no longer be in production.

The Playdate is an unusual and ambitious handheld game console. The $199 console has a 1-bit display and a set of simple controls that includes a hand crank. Instead of enabling support for existing games, the folks behind the Playdate partnered with indie game developers to create a bunch of new games for the console, […]

The post Lilbits: Playdate’s growing game catalog, Zotac’s ZBOX PRO eGPU, and Framework’s firmware woes appeared first on Liliputing.

Investing in a good pair of headphones or earbuds can make a big difference in your daily routine. Whether you're commuting to work, doing household chores, or working out, listening to your favorite music, audiobooks, or podcasts can make these tasks more enjoyable. With the right headphones, you can take your audio experience to the next level and enrich your life.

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Samsung has a very successful lineup of Galaxy Buds, and we usually see a new release every year. But unlike its Galaxy smartphones that have a predictable schedule, Galaxy Buds earbuds can have extended development cycles and different release windows. We’re expecting to see Samsung’s next Galaxy Buds earbuds launch this year, and the company could surprise us with not one but two earbud releases.

According to a report from Galaxyclub, Samsung is working on a regular Galaxy Buds 3 and a Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. These have been spotted through development firmware and carry model numbers SM-R530 and SM-R630.

More information on the earbuds is not currently available, but we can make some reasonable assumptions. Samsung usually launches new earbuds alongside its flagship releases, which include the Galaxy S series at the beginning of the year or the Galaxy foldables launched in Q3. Since Samsung did not release any new earbuds alongside the Galaxy S24 series, we can reasonably expect them to launch these new earbuds alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6, with a presumed launch window of August 2024.

Further, with a new regular and Pro variant, we can also reasonably expect Samsung to sunset its older earbuds. So these new earbuds could succeed the Galaxy Buds 2 and Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, and that then gives us an anchor for price. The Galaxy Buds 2 launched for $150, while the Buds 2 Pro launched for $230. It would be wise to account in some margin for inflation and new tech, though.

To quote our sister site and audio experts, SoundGuys, “At $129, the Edifier NeoBuds Pro 2 are a steal.” Today’s record price drop on Amazon to just $99.98 makes the wireless earbuds an even more tempting prospect, although it’s hard to say what’s better than a steal.

Edifier NeoBuds Pro 2 for $99.98 ($30 off)

At this point in the year, new wireless Bluetooth earbuds are arriving at a constant pace. This means even more options are worth considering, with most of them offering features like active noise cancelation (ANC), great sound and solid battery life in increasingly comfortable packages. As the new models pile up, sorting through the noise can be a chore, but we’re constantly testing and reviewing to provide the best buying advice. This guide breaks down our current top picks, and lays out some things you should compare before choosing which pair of wireless earbuds is right for you.

What to look for in wireless earbuds

When it comes to shopping for earbuds, 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 controls as you’ll often have to sacrifice access to something else to make that adjustment via on-board taps or swipes.

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. We understand this isn’t easy at a time when we’re doing most of our 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.

How we test wireless Bluetooth 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

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.

Beats Studio Buds +

Updates to sound, ANC and battery life top the spec sheet here, and the new clear color option has some throwback energy I love. But there are some basic features missing, and Beats doesn’t come close to Apple’s natural audio quality in transparency mode.

JBL Tour Pro 2

These earbuds are feature-packed, including a touchscreen “smart case.” They aren’t the most consistent in terms of overall performance though, and I’m not convinced that case provides a lot of utility just yet.

Pending reviews

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4

Sennheiser’s latest impressed us during a brief hands-on at CES and they’re due to arrive March 1. Consistently great audio quality and improved ANC are part of the appeal here, as is ANC being less of a drain on battery life.

FAQs

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.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-wireless-earbuds-120058222.html?src=rss

© Photo by Billy Steele/Engadget

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