Audio

The WH-CH720N has arrived, Sony's lightest pair of over-ear headphones released to date. The headphones also feature the same Integrated Processor V1 that handles active noise cancellation, as well as up to 35 hours of battery life with ANC enabled or 50 hours with ANC disabled.

With a list price of US$249.99, the Klipsch T5 II Sport PGA Edition TWS ANC earbuds come inside a rugged waterproof and dustproof case that features a built-in moisture removal system. The ongoing 60% discount brings them down to the lowest price in 30 days on Amazon, so those interested can get them for just US$99.

Ulefone has announced that it has a new 10.1-inch FHD+ tablet for sale. The Tab A8 aims for a high-end appearance with support for 4G/LTE as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, a slim metallic unibody and an unavoidably Xiaomi 13-esque camera hump - however, its internal specs knocks it down to a more affordable tier of the mobile device market. Then again, it has a headphone jack - just not normally where you'd expect to find one.

LG's mid-range soundbar comes with a wireless subwoofer and two rear speakers, which makes the Dolby Atmos-capable S75QR a decent 5.1.2 package considering its steeply discounted sale price of US$350 at Best Buy.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved OnePlus' latest TWS earbuds for sale in markets such as the US. The group may also have dispelled any remaining mystery surrounding the accessories and what they can offer on their launch. These specs are likely to include an upgrade to noise cancellation and Bluetooth 5.3 when compared to their predecessors

The Pixel Buds Pro will soon receive head tracking support, courtesy of a new firmware update. In the meantime, Google has readied the Pixel Buds app for the new functionality, which will work in tandem with Spatial Audio.

The Xiaomi Buds 4 arrived a few months ago in China. According to a renowned leaker, the Xiaomi Buds 4 could be on the verge of a global release. European pricing has leaked, as have colour options outside China.

The Sony WH-CH520 has leaked again, with a retailer showcasing product renders, specifications and pricing. While the WH-CH520 will be available for less than €100, the headphones will offer 50 hours of battery life, Bluetooth Multipoint connectivity and DSEE upscaling, among other features.

Sony is preparing to launch the WH-CH720N, a successor to last year's WH-CH710N. While the WH-CH720N retains its predecessor's 35 hours of battery life, Sony has made the newer model lighter with more padding to improve comfort. The Sony WH-CH720N offers Bluetooth 5.2 and Bluetooth Multipoint connectivity, among other features.

The Motorola Moto X40 is the world's only smartphone with a 156Hz display driven by the new flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. However, it is only officially available in China - for now. It is thought to take on different names for both the US and European markets, both of which have surfaced in the same potential pre-launch leak.

Since the HW-S800B and HW-Q600B audio systems from Samsung's 2022 lineup are slowly but surely approaching the end of their market cycle, both Dolby Atmos soundbars can now be purchased at significant discounts of up to 70% off their original MSRP.

A pair of forthcoming headphones have leaked online. Not only have official images of both leaked, but so have a few specifications and alleged European pricing.

Soon Apple will be forced to sell the AirPods Pro with a USB Type-C port like the iPhone 15 series, eschewing the evergreen Lightning connector. In the meantime, an engineer has modified the existing AirPods Pro charging case to support USB Type-C charging and is selling replacement parts or complete units.

Available in quite a few different colors, the Beats Studio 3 wireless ANC over-ear headphones have a list price of US$349.95. Amazon customers can get four of the seven versions for US$199.95, thanks to the ongoing 43% discount. The remaining color choices are also available for less than US$300.

Majority touts its new Tru Bio product as a particularly sustainable example of wireless earbuds as they (their case included) are made with "eco-biodegradable" materials. They are also rated to deliver quality audio via large drivers (also compostable) and hardware that supports up-to-date Bluetooth connectivity (less so). The Tru Bio buds have an estimated 30 hours of battery life and charge back up with USB type-C.

Philips has introduced the Fidelio L4 and Fidelio T2, over-headphones and earbuds, respectively. Both feature Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, as well as support for the Bluetooth LC3 codec, Bluetooth LE Audio and even Sony LDAC.

JBL is launching the Pulse 5 portable speaker in the US. The gadget, arriving on February 9, provides a 360° colored light show that you can sync to your music. The device has a 30 W sound system, and you can pair two units to create a stereo sound experience for up to 12 hours on a single charge.

Although listed with different prices for each color choice, the Skullcandy Indy Evo TWS earbuds are now down by up to 57% on Amazon. This discount applies to the grey version, which carries a US$29.99 discounted price tag. However, the cheapest color choice is green mint, available for US$29.13.

OnePlus has released the Buds 2 Pro in the UK, US and the Eurozone. Available for free with OnePlus 11 pre-orders in some countries, the Buds 2 Pro costs US$179.99 in the US and offer 48 dB of ANC and 6 hours of battery life with the feature enabled.

The 11R has just been unveiled as the latest OnePlus smartphone exclusive to India. It has been revealed as a way to get at the latest Android flagship look (albeit not all of the specs) at about 70% of the cost of a new 11. It is now joined in its R series by equally market-specific version of the OEM's new flagship TWS earbuds.

Amazon, Best Buy and Sonos are currently offering the Sonos Arc soundbar for US$799 in the US. The 11% off deal is the biggest price cut seen at either retailer in 2023 and since the Black Friday sale event. The speaker can produce a 3D sound experience with Dolby Atmos, and you can control the device with Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands.

EarFun asserts that its latest TWS earbuds are the world's first audio products of their type with a "highly efficient" LE-Audio Bluetooth architecture. An up-to-date Qualcomm chip that confers aptX Adaptive and QuietSmart 2.0 Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation on the Air Pro 3s, which also support one of the latest audio codecs in order to aim for pronounced bass.

The reasonably priced Dolby Atmos soundbar from JBL has hit one of its lowest prices to date as a reputable seller is now offering the Bar 5.0 at a steeply discounted sale price of US$249.

Marshall has released the Middleton, a portable Bluetooth speaker. The gadget can last for over 20 hours on a single charge, with a 20-minute recharge providing another two hours of life. The louder model has a quad-speaker system and features like Dynamic Loudness, True Stereophonic and Stack Mode.

Released in early March 2022, the Asus ROG Fusion II 500 gaming headset features the Hi-Res ESS 9280 Quad DAC that provides an impressive 130 dB SNR value, virtual 7.1 surround, and a noise-canceling AI beamforming microphone. The ongoing 28% discount takes the US$179.99 price down to US$129.99.

New renders of the Nothing Ear (2) have shown up online. The earbuds are, for the most part, identical to the Ear (1), save for a repositioned microphone and some internal parts moved around.

The Ace 2 will launch as the Chinese-market version of OnePlus' latest premium mid-range Android smartphone, to be available elsewhere as the 11R. Its launch event will also introduce a new pair of TWS earbuds of a similar name. The accessories look quite like the brand's existing mid-range audio options - however, they apparently upgrade to noise cancellation and Bluetooth 5.3.

With a list price of US$99.99, the Lenovo Legion H500 Pro 7.1 is a surround sound wired gaming headset described as "the ultimate tool for pro gamers" that features 50 mm drivers and a passive noise-canceling retractable microphone. It works with PCs, mobile devices, and consoles. The discounted price tag reads US$52.99.

Tronsmart has launched the Halo Series party speakers, with the Halo 100 model now available in European countries, including the UK and Italy. A second model, the Halo 110, comes with a microphone for karaoke and launches in February. The gadgets can last up to 18 hours on a single charge and come with built-in LEDs for lighting effects.

Bluetooth certification and FCC filings suggest that a new IKEA VAPPEBY Bluetooth speaker is in development. The gadget appears to be battery-powered and square-shaped, with a built-in handle and the same Spotify Tap playback feature seen on the VAPPEBY speaker lamp released last year.

Sony has just unleashed its latest Walkman ZX- and A-series audio players on the United States market. They consist of the NW-ZX707 and more affordable NW-A306, both of which are rated for extended battery life, relatively large displays and support for high-res audio. They also both support Android and are "fully" Wi-Fi compatible for potentially audiophile-grade streaming and downloading.

OnePlus has just announced that its fans will see more during its upcoming Cloud11 global launch event than previously expected. The company originally scheduled it in order to unveil the flagship 11 and matching Buds Pro 2, and now intends to debut further products alongside them. They seem to include the 11R that will be exclusive to India, as well as the OEM's first-gen tablet also headed to regions such as North America.

Sony's new Float Run is the OEM's most unique earphone product since the LinkBuds. However, unlike those TWS buds, this new gadget integrates earphones designed to stay just outside the user's ear canal during use. Their maker touts this new form-factor as made for runners, athletes or fitness enthusiasts, as it might eliminate discomfort, not to mention the dreaded risk of fall-out, while exercising.

We put these pricey AI-powered earbuds to the test in both Mandarin and English under a variety of scenarios. They're great for basic day-to-day conversations, but the automatic translations can be unreliable depending on your accent and topic.

ViewSonic has announced that it will unveil a new 5K display as a headline act at its Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) showcase. The massive, business-grade display can be written or drawn on as well as show 105 inches of visual content. It will be joined by even bigger LED displays, some of which have upgraded to flexible displays, and ultra-bright projectors at the conference.

ViewSonic's latest VG56V Series of monitors come with their own pop-up cameras for a new perspective on pro-grade remote conferencing. The OEM asserts that their new front-facing "docking" web-cams improve on user security as well as enhance how they present themselves during online meetings. The new displays also support USB type-C, DisplayPort and giga connectivity.

Apple's surprise launches this week keep coming, with the company having already introduced new MacBook Pro 14, MacBook Pro 16 and Mac mini models this week. The trio are now joined by the HomePod 2, which Apple claims offers 'breakthrough sound'. The HomePod 2 does not necessarily contain upgrades over the original HomePod across the board, though.

Samsung has released new updates for the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Galaxy Watch5 and Galaxy Watch5 Pro. Not yet available to the Galaxy Watch4 or Galaxy Watch4 Classic, the updates bring previously promised features, plus a new device diagnostics tool for the Galaxy Buds2 Pro and Galaxy Watch5 series.

Allegedly, the launch of a second-generation HomePod is imminent. According to a typically well-informed source, the revived HomePod will be available with hardware upgrades and a cheaper launch price.

Samsung has outlined new features headed to the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Galaxy Z Flip4 and Galaxy Z Fold4, plus the Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch5 series. The new features should start arriving early next week, with others due in February.

The FiiO M11S is now available to order. Equipped with a Snapdragon 660 chipset and a 5,300 mAh battery, the FiiO M11S supports high-fidelity Bluetooth and wired audio options, plus Apple AirPlay and DLNA technologies, among other features.

According to new reports, Apple has no plans to release a new generation of any AirPods model this year. Instead, the AirPods 4 and AirPods Max 2 will likely debut in late 2024, and could be joined by an all-new AirPods model—the AirPods SE, maybe—seemingly planned to arrive with an MSRP around US$99.

Sony has presented the NW-A306 globally. Equipped with a small display, the NW-A306 will be the cheaper alternative to the NW-ZX707 that the company also announced today. The Sony NW-A306 Walkman will be available later this month in Europe, Japan and the UK.

Sony has presented the NW-ZX707, a premium Walkman that offers up to 25 hours of battery life. The Sony NW-ZX707 will be available first in Japan and ships with Android 12, plus 64 GB of storage and a 720p display.

JLab is an accessory OEM that tends to equip its TWS earbud cases with in-built USB type-A cables for potentially increased convenience. This feature is found in the ANC and Sport ANC variants of the brand's Epic Air line, all of which mark the start of 2023 with discounts via a major retailer to help with those activity- or productivity-focused new year goals.

OnePlus has debuted its second-gen Buds Pro today (January 4, 2023) as TWS earbuds that step up to spatial audio and Dynaudio co-branding for the first time. They also have active noise cancellation (ANC) touted as significantly improved compared to that of their predecessors, not to mention Bluetooth 5.3 and up to 39 hours of battery life. However, it is possible that one might need to pair them with a new 11 flagship smartphone to get the best out of the new TWS earbuds.

IKEA has unveiled the SYMFONISK sound remote, gen 2, to use with the various products designed in partnership with Sonos. Plus, the gadget supports the broader Sonos Home Sound System. The controller features seven buttons, including two customizable pads which you can use to play your favourite playlists.

Apple has unveiled a new limited edition of the second-generation AirPods Pro in China, themed after the transition from the Year of the Tiger (2022) to that of the Rabbit (2023). The TWS earbuds' case come with an appropriately-themed engraving, which is also picked out on their retail box. They are available on the OEM's Store from now.

LG has announced that it will unveil its new 2023 range of TVs during its CES 2023 exhibition. However, it has revealed that it has prepared new soundbars as the "perfect match" for these upcoming big-screen devices. Their combination is touted to result in powerful new features such as a WOW Orchestra soundstage.