Audio

AGM has unveiled its latest mobile phone as the M8 Flip, a device that, unlike most of the OEM's devices with its 'threefold' rugged attributes, is capable of folding along a hinge. It has the edge on the average traditional clamshells with what might be the loudest speaker of its class, integrated into a round cover display.

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), Sony's arm that manages PlayStation, has acquired California-based headphone maker Audeze. With Audeze under its belt, SIE hopes to bring "Audeze’s expertise into the PlayStation ecosystem". Aside from announcing that Audeze will "operate independently", Sony has not revealed any other details, for instance the acquisition amount, regarding the deal.

Volkswagen has announced that the release of the ID.7 has begun in Europe, in the form of its Pro configuration to start off with. The variant is rated for up to ~386 miles of (WLTP) range and comes with an augmented reality (AR) head-up display and keyless entry as standard. The ID.7 Pro is also touted to come with a generous luggage volume and an "agile" turning circle.

Ozlo, a startup by three former Bose employees, has just announced the Sleepbuds, an updated version of Bose’ discontinued sleep-centric earphones, through a Kickstarter campaign. The device retains its old name and form factor, but adds significant new capabilities.

Sony has unveiled two new PlayStation-branded audio products, the Pulse Elite and Pulse Explore. The former is a headset with a retractable boom mic, and the latter is a pair of TWS earbuds. Both will support the company's new PlayStation Link audio technology.

Rode has announced its latest compact wireless mic system, the Wireless PRO, targeted at filmmakers broadcasters and content creators. It combines the best features from the Wireless GO II and ME systems while adding several more advanced ones.

OneOdio has made an addition to the growing list of alternatives to in-ear wireless audio with the new OpenRock S buds. The "open ear sports earphones" are backed to direct sound without leakage thanks to Open Air Conduction Technology, boosted with the "Patented TubeBass Technology" packed in with their large drivers. The OpenRock S are also rated for type-C charging and up to 60 hours of battery life.

Realme has set a date on which it will unleash the GT5 on the Android flagship smartphone market. They will be joined by a new addition to the Buds Air 5 series, slated to share their Pro siblings' "class-leading" active noise cancellation despite possibly starting for less. The new TWS earbuds are slated to become available in India as well as China soon.

Samsung has announced a second generation of its innovative The Freestyle projector, designed to throw a 1080p image of 30 to 100 inches in size anywhere in an automatic "Point and Play" manner. This new variant is shipped pre-loaded with a Hub full of gaming apps such as NVIDIA GeForce NOW, Amazon Luna, Twitch and Xbox Game Pass out of the box.

1MORE's flagship TWS accessories have fallen to a sub-US$100 price during the OEM's latest online sales event. The EVO earbuds are joined by the SonoFlow ANC headphones in this sale, and by the colorful ComfoBuds Mini. Most items on offer require a specific code for the maximum discount available.

Creative has announced a collaboration with XMEMS, a specialist in MEMS-based speakers, for its future TWS earphone lineup. The new tech could help Creative's products stand out from the competition in terms of sound quality, compactness and robustness.

Motorola's US website has unveiled its Summer 2023 sale, with up to US$500 off some of the OEM's latest smartphones. It also offers the chance to get a pair of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II for free with every purchase of the Motorola Edge Plus (2023) for a limited time. The smartphone boasts a 165Hz display driven by flagship internals.

The 3.1.2-channel LG soundbar has a peak output of 380 watts and a decent price-performance ratio considering that Amazon has cut the original list price of the Dolby Atmos system in half and is now selling the S75Q for a discounted US$296.

Two leakers have shared the first video of the Bose QuietComfort, the cheaper alternative to the QuietComfort Ultra. The seemingly official promotional video showcases the design of Bose's new over-ear headphones and a few important features.

The stylish silver color variant of the wireless Sony WH-1000XM4 is back on sale with its largest discount ever, which arguably turns the previous generation of these sought-after noise-cancelling headphones into a better deal than the noticeably more expensive successor.

Jabra is now tipped to update its Elite series of TWS earbuds with new flagship and Active variants. They have reportedly leaked as the 10 and 8 Active respectively, and may launch as Made for iPhone- (MFi) and Hey Google-certified devices. The higher-end models might get the better ANC specs, while the Actives may be touted as the "world's toughest earbuds" thanks to advanced ingress-protection ratings.

Astell&Kern has launched is latest audiophile-grade TWS earphones targeted at discerning listeners. The new buds feature a built-in 32-bit DAC and Knowles balanced armature drivers.

Bose will soon launch the QuietComfort Ultra, a pair of high-end over-ear headphones that will marginally undercut the Apple AirPods Max. Reportedly launching next month, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra has now been pictured in a series of hands-on photos that reveal a few new details about the forthcoming headphones.

According to various reports, Bose is lining up the release of two new pairs of premium Bluetooth headphones and not just one, as was previously suggested. Launching next month, the Bose QuietComfort and QuietComfort Ultra will replace the current QuietComfort 45, with Bose offering more advanced technologies in the Ultra than the regular QuietComfort.

Various sources have revealed details about the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, Bose's next flagship pair of wireless earbuds. Reputedly, Bose has packed many of the features of the forthcoming QuietComfort Ultra headphones into the earbuds, despite their diminutive size. Pricing, a release date and various specifications have leaked too.

Carl Pei has launched a new Nothing sub-brand that he is calling CMF by Nothing. The letters stand for "Color, Material, and Finish" with the first products set to launch later this year.

Sony has announced the latest beta software for the PS5 gaming console. Among the raft of new system software features it is currently testing are support for SSDs up to 8TB and the expansion of its Tempest 3D audio tech to devices with Dolby Atmos compatible speakers.

The gaming brand RedMagic has announced that the TWS earbuds made to go with its top-end 8S Pro smartphone have just gone global. The Cyberbuds DAO boast some of the most cutting-edge specs available, conferred by their "flagship Qualcomm Bluetooth 5.3 chipset" and audio platform. They include potentially ultra-low latency and support for the aptX codec as well as LHDC 5.0.

POCO's latest TWS earbuds have launched as the brand's first-gen Pods, which, as the name suggests, entails a close resemblance to certain Apple accessories. They come in completely different colors, however, and are rated to "fast charge" their "30-hour" battery via USB type-C. The Pods make compromises on their noise-cancelling technology and driver size to retail at well under US$50 in their new market of India.

Sony's alleged quest to make wireless earbuds that match the PlayStation 5 (PS5) may have reached a pivotal stage, which would be their approval for sale by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The US regulator has also given their "USB Transceiver" (no prizes for guessing why that is a thing) a pass for launch alongside them.

The Huawei Mate 50 is now thought to have a successor that might look much the same from the front. From the rear, however, the Mate 60 might drop the stove-top camera hump of yesteryear for an updated alternative. It is also thought to have a feature that is growing increasing rare among smartphones these days.

Sony has pushed the biggest update yet to the WH-1000XM5 following the release of the smaller WF-1000XM5. Rolling out as firmware version 2.0.2, the new update brings several major changes to the WH-1000XM5, including head tracking for a more immersive listening experience.

The high-end system from Samsung's 2022 soundbar lineup sports a full-fledged 9.1.2-channel setup with a dedicated wireless subwoofer, and the HW-Q910B also supports the all-important Dolby Atmos audio format and comes with up-firing speakers that create an immersive audio experience.

Wanbo's latest projector is in fact a re-boot of an earlier model that was designed to be as compact as possible while still offering an "HD" throw and in-built speakers. The "New" version of the T2 purports to have taken a step up in terms of brightness compared to its forebear, as well as to "much smarter" AI-powered auto-focus (AF). The new miniature gadget is now priced at under US$200.

Sony has now launched the WF-1000XM5, its latest pair of high-end earbuds. Available to order now, early reviews suggest the WF-1000XM5 is a worthy replacement for the ageing WF-1000XM4.

The standalone 5.0 soundbar from JBL comes with Virtual Dolby Atmos support thanks to its MultiBeam technology, and the budget-friendly audio system also features two HDMI ports for 4K passthrough and four radiators that are supposed to make up for the missing dedicated subwoofer that some competing products have to offer.

Sony is on the cusp of introducing the WF-1000XM5, the long-awaited successor to the WF-1000XM4. Full specifications for the upcoming earbuds have now surfaced online, thanks to another retailer leak.

Thanks to a 40% drop, the JBL Charge 4 waterproof portable Bluetooth speaker in Squad Camo finish is now down to the lowest price it had on Amazon in the last 30 days. With a list price of US$149.95, this venerable piece of hardware now goes for US$89.95. Most other colors are available for US$10 more.

Lenovo's latest Legion-brand product event has introduced a new version of the Y9000X laptop to the Chinese market. It has become a lighter and slimmer PC, if anything, in this generation, yet still boasts gaming credentials such as RTX 4000-series graphics to drive a 3.2K 165Hz display. It also boasts 140W charging for a 99.9kWh battery.

More renders of the Sony WF-1000XM5 have been leaked by a well-known source along with the supposed prices of the earbuds for the US and Europe markets. The WF-1000XM5 truly wireless headphones are shown off in both black and silver, with the images including the cases in both open and closed states.

Sony is on the verge of releasing the WF-1000XM5, its next-generation replacement for the WF-1000XM4. Although the company will not launch the WF-1000XM5 until next week, a European retailer has already listed the earbuds on its website, confirming its launch price in the process.

As the launch of the Sony WF-1000XM5 is drawing near, the brand's LinkBuds S gets a generous discount of 26% on Amazon. Thanks to it, the US$199.99 list price of the white and black versions go down to US$148, but the Earth Blue finish can be acquired for a not-so-wallet-friendly US$198.

Apple has introduced the Beats Studio Pro as its latest headphones. They are rated for "Class 1" Bluetooth - yet are also rated to support "lossless" audio thanks to its DAC for wired connections - which are done via USB type-C rather than Lightning. Beats has also thrown active noise cancellation (ANC) with a Transparency mode along with new 40mm drivers into these new cans.

Although not mentioned explicitly in Sony's teaser, it is almost certain that the WF-1000XM5 will launch next week. These earbuds should arrive with 8.4 mm drivers, three microphones, and improved real-time noise cancellation. Bluetooth 5.3, wireless charging, and multipoint connectivity are also expected.

The 5.1 soundbar from JBL comes with a wireless 10-inch subwoofer and MultiBeam technology, which is supposed to create an immersive Dolby Atmos surround stage despite the fact that the Bar 500 does not sport dedicated rear speakers.

Baseus claims that its latest Bowie-series wireless earphones come recommended by "Oscar-winning film composers" for their rich sound. They are also rated for powerful hybrid ("ANC + ENC") noise-cancellation specs and low-latency audio over their Bluetooth 5.3 connection. Despite these bragging rights, they have been priced at ~US$30 on their launch.

In addition to the high-end Dolby Atmos system from Bose, the much more affordable Bose Soundbar 300 has also dropped to its lowest price ever as Amazon has shaved 33 percent off the official list price as part of its ongoing Prime Day.

The high-end pair of noise-cancelling headphones has received its largest price cut to date as a reputable online shop is currently selling the popular Sony WH-1000XM4 for one third off the official MSRP, which results in an all-time low price that hasn't been seen since last year's Black Friday.

Sony touts the HT-AX7 as a revolution in the portable wireless home audio space. It is technically a modular kit, with 2 'satellite' sub-speakers that can detach from the main unit to create a "bubble" of "three-dimensional surround sound" around the user or users with 360 Spatial Sound Mapping technology. The HT-AX7 set is rated to last for up to 30 hours per charge, and is available to order from now.

Nothing has announced that its latest flagship TWS earbuds are now available in a second colorway (black). Carl Pei's tech OEM is selling these new SKUs already, albeit through its own webstore only at present. The product refresh has debuted alongside the latest software for Nothing audio products, which include an Advanced Equalizer for the Ear (2)s and noise reduction for the Ear (stick).

OnePlus has unleashed a more affordable alternative to the new Nord 3 mid-range smartphone - albeit in India only, making the CE 3 the only device in its class to launch with a "flagship-grade" Sony IMX890 main camera. It also boasts NFC, Bluetooth 5.2 and Dolby Atmos - however, a selling point of its affordable forebears has gone missing in this generation.

The official list price of Samsung's flagship soundbar for the 2023 model year has almost been cut in half as an online retailer is currently selling the Dolby Atmos system with a huge 11.1.4-channel setup for one of the lowest prices we've seen so far.

Apple is set to refresh its over-ear Beats headphone lineup, with the Beats Studio Pro allegedly due later this month. Rumoured to be priced at €399.99, the Beats Studio Pro will close the gap between the Beats Studio 3 and Apple AirPods Max with new 40 mm drivers, improved battery life and Apple Find My support, among other features.

Next-gen AirPods have been predicted to launch as anything from inaugural USB type-C accessories to in-ear thermometers. Now, a new leak has thrown another possible future feature into the mix. Apple's upcoming flagship wearables might also help detect hearing impairments as well as correct for them.