Mobile Audio Hub

KEF has revealed the LSX II Wireless Hi-Fi System that will launch on June 23rd. The device builds on the award-winning LSX speaker, with connectivity options including Apple AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast and an HDMI eARC port. Each speaker has a 100 W output, with a maximum combined volume of 102 dB.

New products from the IKEA and Swedish House Mafia partnership, a range named OBEGRÄNSAD, have been revealed at Milan Design Week. The latest items include an armchair, a desk built for music producers and a record player. The player will have multiple speaker connection options, plus a replaceable cartridge and needle.

Samsung will launch the Galaxy Z Fold4, Galaxy Z Flip4, and Galaxy Watch 5 at Unpacked this year. Contrary to previous rumors, however, the company's next-gen premium earbuds, the Galaxy Buds Pro 2, look set to miss out on that event.

Realme has unveiled the GT Neo 3 as Europe's first Android smartphone capable of charging at up to 150 watts (W), thanks to its new UltraDart technology. It has also brought its MediaTek Dimensity 8100 SoC with it to the region, as well as a check-patterned 3T sibling that is also to become available as a new Dragon Ball Z Edition.

With a solid 20% or US$200 discount compared to its regular MSRP, Sony's 5.1.2 soundbar with Dolby Atmos support constitutes a reasonable upgrade path for home theater enthusiasts who do not like to run cables for a traditional surround-sound system.

According to new reports, the next-generation pair of AirPods Pro will not feature substantial design changes. Purportedly, Apple will return to its much-loved stem design language, while swapping out IR sensors for skin-detect sensors from the AirPods 3. Apple Lossless support is also expected to make an appearance on the AirPods Pro 2, which Apple is rumoured to launch in the autumn.

Sony's new SRS-XE300 and SRS-XE200 wireless speakers are portable tower-style accessories not unlike many others in their market. However, their OEM asserts that they have an edge over this competition thanks to its new Line-Shape Diffuser. It is designed to push the new X-Series variants' sound out over a wider area in front of them.

Creative has presented the Zen Hybrid, a new pair of wireless headphones that retail for under US$100. The Zen Hybrid offers up to 37 hours of battery life, Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Creative's Super X-Fi technology. The Creative Zen Hybrid is orderable now in multiple markets, including the Eurozone, the US and the UK.

Razer has launched the Barracuda Pro as its latest THX-enhanced gaming headphones. The brand also asserts that it is also ideal for use outdoors, thanks to its design and specs. It is rated for hybrid active noise cancellation (ANC) and beam-forming dual mics for call quality. The Barracuda Pro has an estimated 40 hours of battery life per charge, but lacks a wired mode.

Sony's latest flagship TWS earbuds have been re-released in Japan as new special editions dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Kingdom Hearts. They can be ordered alongside one of the OEM's latest Walkmans, which has been given the same treatment. The 2 new SKUs can be ordered via an official store online.

Xiaomi, alongside the Redmi Note 11T series and Xiaomi Band 7, also launched the Redmi Buds 4 and Redmi Buds 4 Pro. Both earbuds offer IP54 ratings and "active noise reduction", with the Redmi Buds 4 starting at the equivalent of US$30.

Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy Buds Pro 2 alongside the Galaxy Z Fold4 and Galaxy Z Flip4 at Unpacked in August. New information has now also surfaced, revealing the premium earbuds' model number and case battery capacity.

T+A Elektroakustik has unveiled the Solitaire T, a premium pair of wireless headphones that have 42 mm drivers. Equipped with a Qualcomm QCC 5127 chip, the T+A Solitaire T supports Sony LDAC and Qualcomm aptX HD codecs, but AAC is missing for iOS devices.

Word on the grapevine now indicates that the upcoming Apple AirPods Pro 2 is likely to remain equipped with Lightning charging, instead of USB-C. In addition, production of the premium earbuds is set to begin shortly, with Apple to move most of its production to Vietnam.

OPPO has launched a new Air variant of its Android tablet today (May 23, 2022). It has debuted alongside new Enco R TWS earbuds. The former looks a lot like its Pad forebear, although it, like the Rs, is clearly pitched at a much lower tier than their respective predecessors.

Alongside the Xiaomi Band 7 and Redmi Note 11T series, Xiaomi will also launch new TWS earbuds on May 24 in China. The Redmi Buds 4 Pro are on the way, and they're set to land with better noise reduction and Bluetooth 5.3 support.

Infamous Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims to have been informed of a HomePod revival. Supposedly due later this year, the new HomePod may not feature many hardware design changes. A next-generation HomePod is expected to be smaller than the original model too, but larger than the HomePod mini.

Samsung has unleashed the Galaxy Buds2 in 2 limited-edition co-branded forms on its home market of South Korea. One is a Pokémon-themed bundle that could go with a matching Galaxy Z Flip3 from an earlier event, whereas the other is one for fans of soft drinks. They both largely entail a new carrying-case for the TWS accessories in question.

Although there are countless TWS earbuds available in the sub-US$50 area of the market, the Tronsmart Onyx Ace Pro is one of the few capable of bringing together Qualcomm aptX support and 13 mm drivers. Now available on Tronsmart's website, GeekBuying, and AliExpress, the Onyx Ace Pro will also hit Amazon next month.

OnePlus has introduced the Nord Buds in Europe, where the earbuds retail for €49. Available in two colours, the Nord Buds features 12.4 mm titanium drivers, up to 37 hours of battery life and support Bluetooth 5.2. The OnePlus Nord Buds are pre-orderable today from OnePlus directly.

Sony has introduced the LinkBuds S, available in three colours for US$199. While the LinkBuds S fall under the same series as the original LinkBuds, Sony's latest earbuds are much closer to the WF-1000XM4. The LinkBuds support ANC, Hi-Res Audio and the LDAC codec, among other features.

The unsuspecting twelve-year-old boy supposedly suffered permanent hearing damage when an extremely loud warning notification was played through his AirPods Pro, which is why Apple is now being sued for damages in California.

Astell&Kern has unveiled the KANN Max portable music player, the most compact model in the KANN series. The player has a Quad-DAC module and a variety of sound optimization features. LDAC and aptX HD are supported for high-quality wireless playback. Plus, you can wirelessly transfer files to the device, which has a 13-hour lifetime.

The KEF LS60 Wireless is an all-in-one speaker system celebrating the brand’s 60th anniversary. The dual speakers have a total output of 1,400 W with various technologies to enhance the sound. Plus, an HDMI eARC port enables a high-quality connection to your TV. You can now join a waitlist for the product, which is expected to launch this autumn.

Rumors about the Sonos Sub Mini have been corroborated by The Verge. Reports of a more affordable subwoofer from the brand began following an app update last year. The gadget will pair wirelessly with Sonos soundbars like the newly released Ray. It is still unclear when the device will launch and at what price.

More details about the Sony LinkBuds S have emerged, including its European pricing. In the meantime, Sony has teased a new hardware event, dubbed #NeverOff. The LinkBuds S will be available in three colours and are rumoured to offer Hi-Res Audio support.

At its annual I/O event, Google revealed the new Pixel Buds Pro. Available for preorder this July, take a look at what Google’s high-end headphones offer for US$199. Are the Pixel Buds Pro an innovative leap forward or simply AirPods Pro with a whimsical paint job? Listen up! It’s the latter.

The Sonos Ray home cinema soundbar is now available to pre-order. The gadget has many features, such as Speech Enhancement for clear dialogue. You can connect the device to your TV via an optical audio cable, and the soundbar is compatible with Stereo PCM, Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS Digital Surround formats.

Sony has introduced the WH-1000XM5, a long-awaited upgrade over the WH-1000XM4. With a new look and improved hardware, the WH-1000XM5 should be a decent upgrade over the WH-1000XM4, were it not for its US$50 higher price tag and its impractical design.

The Sonos Roam portable speaker has been released in three new colorways: Sunset (orange), Wave (blue) and Olive (green). The speaker has many features, including Trueplay tuning technology, to adapt the sound based on your surroundings and the content. The device is voice-enabled, making it compatible with the new Sonos Voice Control tool, out on June 1st.

Google has announced the Pixel Buds Pro, a premium answer to the Pixel Buds A-Series. Launching this summer for US$199, the Pixel Buds Pro will be available in four colours, all with ANC and Bluetooth multipoint. The Pixel Buds Pro should deliver decent battery life with ANC enabled too.

As promised, the 1MORE EVO TWS earbuds are now available with SGS-certified adaptive ANC, support for the LDAC codec that delivers an excellent level of acoustic detail, SoundID personalized sound, wireless charging for the case, and a battery life of up to 28 hours (20 hours with ANC enabled). The price tag reads US$169.99.

Nubert has released a new soundbar, the nuBoxx AS-225 max. The speaker has many features, like voice focus and Dolby decoder, to optimize the soundtrack for the content playing on your connected TV. You can connect to the soundbar in various ways, including via HMDI eARC and Bluetooth 5.0.

The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Plus can now be pre-ordered with a US$38 discount. The portable speaker has up to 20 hours of playback time and a PowerIQ feature that enables you to charge other devices from the gadget. Plus, PartyCast 2.0 allows you to connect up to 100 compatible speakers for a louder sound.

This fall will mark three years since the AirPods Pro launched back in late 2019. While early adopters of the premium wireless headphones are surely suffering from the downsides of aging batteries, a second-gen model of AirPods Pro is expected to debut later this year, according to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg. We take a deep dive into what users can expect from AirPods Pro 2.

According to reports, Apple is looking to bring new versions of the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max to market this summer. Reputedly, next-generation AirPods Pro will also come in new colourways, potentially building on the five that Apple offers with the current model.

Availability and pricing for the LinkBuds S have leaked. Reputedly, the earbuds will arrive less than a week after the WH-1000XM5 and will cost slightly more than the original LinkBuds. However, the LinkBuds S will also undercut the WF-1000XM4, while retaining ANC and the latter's design.

Sony has started teasing a new product, dubbed #YourWorldStartsHere. To be revealed on May 12, the products appears to be the WH-1000XM5, Sony's next premium pair of over-ear headphones. In the meantime, pricing has been revealed for the WH-1000XM5, as has availability going forwards for the WH-1000XM4. Purportedly, the WH-1000XM5 will be more expensive than the WH-1000XM4 too.

Marshall has revealed two new portable Bluetooth speakers, Willen and Emberton II. The latest gadgets are compatible with Stack Mode, which allows you to connect multiple speakers for amplified sound, and you can control the devices via an app. Willen is the smaller of the two gadgets, while Emberton II has True Stereophonic sound.

Porsche Design has revealed the Soundbar PDB90, which will be available to pre-order from June 1st. The surround sound speaker has Dolby Atmos and DTS:X technologies for an immersive 3D experience. The device has 16 drivers, including a built-in subwoofer, with preset modes to optimize the gadget’s output based on the content you are listening to or watching.

Hands-on photos with the WH-1000XM5 have leaked online, not long after marketing images appeared. While design changes extend to Sony's packaging, the WH-1000XM5 will in fact retain its predecessor's battery life.

A year after launching the mid-range Pixel Buds A, Google looks set to bring yet another TWS earbud device to the market. Supposedly, it will be branded as the Pixel Buds Pro and is coming soon—likely as a rival to the upcoming Galaxy Buds Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 2.

A team of researchers at MIT has developed a loudspeaker as thin as paper. The ultra-thin film can turn any surface into a loudspeaker, requiring little power to produce a high-quality sound. The researchers suggest many applications for the material, including wallpaper and smart devices with limited battery life.

The VAVA Chroma triple-laser projector became the most-funded product on Indiegogo in 2021. Now, it is available as a retail unit via its brand's own website. Alternatively, it will be available through Best Buy in some markets. The device is rated to throw an image of up to 150 inches for a "cinematic experience".

Realme has rounded its major Indian product event of today (April 28, 2022) with its latest smart TV. This new X Full HD variants boast Dolby Atmos-tuned stereo speakers and support Bluetooth 5 and 5GHz Wi-Fi and come in 2 sizes. They will join the ~US$300 price-bracket on their release to their first market.

Realme India has made the Pad Mini official today (April 29, 2022). The OEM has brought the Unisoc Tiger T616-powered, 8.7-inch HD+ display slate to its new market in both Wi-Fi only and 4G/LTE-enabled forms. It has landed alongside the Buds Air 3, Realme's latest TWS earbuds.

UGREEN has announced a new addition to the HiTune line of truly-wireless (TWS) earbuds. The T3s are placed on the more budget and AirPod-mimicking end of this spectrum - although they also feature active noise cancellation (ANC) for the first time. They also support the Bluetooth 5.2 standard and up to 24 hours of battery life.

The OnePlus Nord Buds have launched in India with a more original take on the typical AirPod-clone form-factor. They contain large "titanium" dynamic drivers, feature IP55 ingress-protection and have an estimated 30 hours of battery life. On the other hand, there is no active noise cancellation (ANC) or wireless charging here.