Mobile Audio Hub

Flipkart has officially revealed that the new Nokia ultrabook to debut soon is called the Purebook X14. It has an FHD IPS screen with Dolby Vision and a 10th-gen Core i5 processor. It has a single 8 GB RAM/512 GB SSD SKU, set to sell at a premium price on its eventual launch.

Carl Pei announced a decision to leave OnePlus, a smartphone OEM he helped set up, earlier in 2020. Now, he has reportedly attracted US$7 million in capital for his new business from various private investors. It is also apparently now hiring for positions in two cities.

The Outlier Air V2 may be Creative's best TWS earbuds yet. Retailing for US$79.99, the earbuds offer a more refined experience than the Outlier Gold without any real compromises. The switch away from the awkward buttons of the Outlier Gold to touch controls is certainly an improvement, but it comes with some drawbacks, too.

Bomaker is not what could be called a household name in the home-theater projector market; nevertheless, it has made some attention-grabbing claims for its product freshly put up for crowdfunding. They include the ability to throw a 200-inch 4K screen up onto a wall just 31 inches away from this device.

Google's Pixel 2 and 2 XL had been included in the Android 11 beta program, and has also been cut in to the latest security patch issued directly from its Mountain View-based OEM. However, after 3 years of being on the market, this update is also its final official OTA. Owners of these devices now have a few options going forward, upgrading included.

Apple has launched a new pair of over-the-ear headphones called the AirPods Max. It features active noise cancellation (ANC), 40nm Neodymium drivers, Apple's in-house H1 chip, and provides up to 20 hours of battery life. It is available for pre-order now and will start shipping on December 14 for US$549.

DOOGEE claims that its latest rugged phone, the S59 Pro, has a battery capacity of no less than 10,050mAh. This power-pack apparently allows it to last for 18 hours' worth of gaming or video playback, 50 hours of audio playback or up to 768 hours on standby. Then again, with a MediaTek Helio P22 SoC, it could indeed last this long.

Razer has unveiled a new version a Pro version of its Hammerhead True Wireless earbuds. The Hammerhead True Wireless Pro has a redesigned charging case and silicone ear tips, unlike the original model. The new earbuds support advanced hybrid ANC and 60 ms Bluetooth audio latency, according to Razer. The Hammerhead True Wireless Pro retails for US$199.99.

An earlier tip dropped a strong hint that the successors to the Galaxy Buds Live TWS earbuds would be called the Buds Pro. Now, their certification with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) all but confirms this state of affairs. Meanwhile, another prominent leaker has posted the first renders for these potential accessories.

Cambridge Audio's second crack at TWS earbuds is here, and the company has packed in plenty of features despite their compact size. The Melomania Touch has up to 50 hours battery life, Qualcomm aptX support, touch controls, a transparency mode and a High Performance Audio Mode that apparently offers 'hi-fi grade amplification technology'.

Xiaomi is preparing to release new Bluetooth wireless earphones in the near future, which may either be called the Redmi True Buds 2 Pro or the more familiar and concise Redmi AirDots 3. The audio device has been spotted receiving its Bluetooth certification. The Redmi AirDots 2 were launched in July 2020 at just 79 yuan (US$12) in China.

Samsung is rumored to have a new member of its Galaxy Buds series to launch alongside the S21 smartphones in January 2021. Now, a recent certification has revealed that they may be revealed as the "Pros" of their line at this event. This may be due to the inclusion of ANC in this generation.

Apple is running a gift card giveaway Black Friday through Cyber Monday. Qualifying purchases will see the buyer rewarded with a card worth from US$25/£20/€25 up to US$150/£120/€150. The deal includes many major Apple products such as the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE, the iPad Pro, Beats headphones, and even the premium MacBook Pro 16.

The start-up Olive Union has put its latest product up for crowdfunding on Indiegogo. On first glance, they are a particularly chunky take on the AirPod-clone TWS earbud. This may be because they apparently pack an "FDA-registered" hearing aid in with typical Bluetooth and audio components. They, for example, purport to exclude background noise to isolate human voices.

HTC might be planning a return to the smart mobile market with new TWS earbuds. These products have been spotted on the database of the Taiwanese regulator NCC ahead of their launch. This leak indicates that these new accessories have a Sony-clone look and can use Bluetooth 5.0.

The new UGREEN HiTune product, namely the T1 TWS, comes with a total of four mics (two dedicated for noise canceling), low-latency McSync technology, Superbass mode for improved performance in the lower range of the audio spectrum, as well as a playback time of five hours, all for a regular price of US$35.99.

Nebula is a brand that has seen success on crowdfunding websites for its portable, compact projectors. Now, it is back with a more conventional launch for its new Cosmos and Cosmos Max products. They are rated for 1080p and 4K resolutions respectively, run Android 9.0 for TV and support HDR-10 with static or active contrast ratios.

Turtle Beach asserts that its Stealth 600 and 700 headsets have been top sellers in their markets for a few years running now. New data from the research group NPD indicates that this trend has been upheld by their latest generation, released in September 2020. Their Xbox-compatible variants were the first- and second-best selling units for the following month.

The gaming phone brand RedMagic will release its latest TWS earbuds, the CyberPods, globally in November 2020. These accessories' design is an original take on the AirPod-clone form-factor that might complement its maker's flagship devices. They are not ANC, but claim extreme low latency and a Gamer Mode instead.

With its "organic glass" body and in-built candle-effect lighting, the LSPX-S2 speaker has been designed to be enjoyed for its looks at as much as its sound. Then again, Sony claims its audio is also effective thanks to its "Advanced Vertical Drive Technology". It is now available on Amazon.com or select retailers throughout the US.

The Samsung Galaxy M12 may be an interesting budget phone on its launch, especially if it comes with the 7,000mAh battery apparently destined for it. A new leak purports to show what it looks like from all angles, including an Infinity-V display and square module for its quad rear cameras.

It is a poorly-kept secret that Apple is working on a new pair of over-ear headphones, supposedly the first to bear its AirPods branding. The so-called AirPods Studio has now appeared in a beta of iOS 14.3, offering a hint at its design.

The new Apple iPhone 12 has been tested for its audio quality by DxOMark and has scored relatively well to give it a high position in the site’s audio chart. However, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro’s place at the top of the table has not been threatened, regardless of Apple’s improvements over the iPhone 11’s audio playback and recording.

Skullcandy has updated its wireless headphones and earbuds with active noise-cancelling (ANC) variants. Both of these new audio products also have an Ambient mode for environmental awareness and in-built Tile technology to avoid their loss. For those uninterested in ANC (and its price), however, the Hesh headphones also have a new Evo variant.

With a suggested price of just 30 Euros, the new Sharkoon RUSH ER30 USB gaming headset comes with a rich and attractive set of features and technical specs that includes RGB illumination, 50 mm drivers, a generous cable with gold-plated connectors that measures no less than 2,2 meters, as well as two sets of ear pads.

The noted smartphone camera ranking specialist DxOMark has moved into rating wireless speakers and has now published a couple of charts showing the devices that have impressed the most. Topping the Essential chart is the Amazon Echo Studio speaker while the Advanced chart for more-expensive speakers is headed by the Harman Kardon Citation 200.

Xiaomi has pitched its latest version of its 2020 14-inch laptop at students in need of new remote learning hardware. It has many specs in common with its pre-existing vanilla and Horizon siblings, although it has a 10th-gen Core i3 CPU and an in-built webcam this time. At INR 34,999 (~US$473), it is also now the cheapest Mi Notebook 14 available in India.

The first pictures of the AirPods 3 have leaked, revealing that Apple has moved away from the current design and towards the design of the AirPods Pro. Apple is expected to announce the AirPods 3 in the first half of 2021.

Today, (November 5, 2020) Google has released the 5G variant of the Pixel 4a for pre-orders in Germany, France, the UK and Ireland. As with its flagship sibling, the 5, they come with an offer of free Bose wireless headphones with each order (while stocks last). The same phone is also now live in Taiwan and Australia.

If you own a pair of AirPods Pro that produce crackling or static sounds, then Apple will replace them for free. The replacement program also applies to units where active noise cancellation is not working as expected. Apparently, a design flaw is the reason why some of these issues have been occurring.

The Nokia Essential True Wireless Earphones E3500 is HMD Global's latest pair of TWS earbuds. Priced at €89.90, the earbuds come with noise reduction, aptX support and up to 25 hours of battery life.

Introduced as a new part of the SmartThings app, SmartThings Find is now available for all Samsung users worldwide. This is a new way to locate a range of select Galaxy smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and earbuds at once thanks to the Bluetooth Low Energy and ultra-wideband technologies.

Razer's freshly-announced Hallowe'en 2020 sale is good news for those in need of an older mobile gaming controller from this brand. There is also up to 23% off Black Widow keyboards and Mamba mice. Certain Blade laptops are US$100 less their usual price-tags.

Creative Technology has launched a new pair of its Outlier Air earbuds, the V2. The new model builds on the Outlier Air and Outlier Gold by adding touch controls, while retaining the stellar battery life and sound quality of its predecessors. The Outlier Air V2 is available to order in the UK now and will launch in the US on November 5.

Apple has plenty of audio hardware in the works, Mark Gurman and Debby Wu of Bloomberg have revealed. A new pair of AirPods are on the agenda, as are a second-generation pair of AirPods Pro and the AirPods Studio.

OnePlus' first-ever TWS earbuds were AirPod clones, but did come with a gray variant at least. They have been out of stock in many countries for some time, however. The OEM has now revealed that they are back in its store now, however, and that they are US$20 off their regular price right now.

LG now has a few generations of its TONE FREE AirPod-clones under its belt. Now, it has announced a new one. These buds look much like the old, except that they support active noise-cancelling (ANC) this time. Their series' UVnano self-disinfecting technology is also still here.

After spending almost two decades on the market, the only portable media player sold by Apple that still carries the iPod name is the 7th generation Touch, which is much closer to an iPhone than to the original iPod. Once accounting for 40% of Apple's total revenue, the iPod is now only a shadow of its former self.

If you were hoping that Apple would release a successor to the AirPods Pro any time soon, then you are sorely mistaken. According to a new leak, the AirPods Pro 2 may not be arriving over a year. A rough price for the AirPods Pro 2 has been offered too, which is more encouraging.

Huawei's freshly-launched Mate 40 series has, as predicted through leaks, an extra-premium Porsche Design variant. It is accompanied by a similarly customized new smartwatch. This titanium-cased version of the Watch GT 2 has a new "iconic" watch-face, as well as continuous blood-oxygen tracking.

Huawei's major product launch of today (October 22, 2020) served to announce the Mate 40 phablet series and also several "companion" devices for it. They include the rumored FreeBuds Studio, the first ANC headphones from this line of audio products. In addition, a more compact version of the Sound X speaker made its debut.

DxOMark is practically a household name for independent groups that release scores for smartphone prowess in areas such as their screens and cameras. It has announced that its system to test the former has been re-designed to reflect user experience in real-world and laboratory settings. Its procedures for cameras are also now more rigorous than ever.

The C3X is an external home-security camera of the type that integrates AI so as to distinguish potentially dangerous moving objects such as people and cars in the vicinity from others such as animals. Its maker EZVIZ also claims it has extreme low-light capabilities and color night vision. It is now on sale in the UK for a price of about US$194.