Audio

The sleek wireless gaming headset, which can also be connected to Sony's PlayStation 4 and 5, the Nintendo Switch as well as Apple iOS devices, has hit its lowest price in 30 days on Amazon, which is where the Razer Barracuda can be now ordered for just US$119.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 FE may be on the way after all. Following reports of a cancellation earlier in the year, word on the grapevine now seems to indicate that the Galaxy S21 FE's successor is on the way, along with the bean-style Galaxy Buds2 Live.

Sony’s flagship Active Noise Canceling (ANC) headphones, the WH-1000XM5, can now be had at a cool 13% discount from Amazon. Out of a total of 3,485 reviews on the site, the headphones have an average rating of 4.5/5 with more than 75% five-star reviews. In other words, the WH-1000XM5 appear to be an excellent choice when it comes to high-end ANC cans.

Meizu has officially confirmed a launch window for its new, 20-series premium Android smartphone. It seems the flagship will not arrive alone, however – it will be joined by a new dedicated audio player. The OEM claims to have developed new in-house DAC technology for the upcoming M3 variant.

Sporting both active noise cancelation and an audio transparency mode like most competing products, the OnePlus Buds Z2 wireless earbuds come with a superior battery life of up to 38 hours (24 hours with ANC turned on). With a list price of US$99.99, the OnePlus Buds Z2 can be acquired now from Amazon for half the price.

The first details about a new Nothing product having surfaced online. To be sold under the sub-brand XO, Particles by XO will be another adventurous pair of TWS earbuds with ANC and high-fidelity audio options.

Bose has revealed that it is now an audio partner for Volvo in-car systems, starting with the new EX90. The new all-electric vehicle thus comes with a branded multi-speaker array optimized for its sports utility vehicle (SUV) design. It is rated to create a surround-sound effect that serves each seat with "accurate" bass and noise-dampening technology.

Skyworth has announced that the Clarus will be the first TV of the type that can be installed outdoors with Google's stock UI on its launch. It is also touted as ideal for its target setting thanks to its bright mini-LED-based display and ingress-resistant metallic housing. The upcoming outdoor TV should become available to pre-order in 2023.

OnePlus has now officially announced a launch date for its next premium smartphone. The OnePlus 11 will make its debut on February 7, and will be joined by a slew of new products as well, one of which will be the OnePlus Buds Pro 2.

Although the deal only applies to the Satin Silver finish and only for US-based customers, the 43% discount that pushes the Beats Solo3 wireless on-ear headphones from US$199.95 to US$114.95 should not be overlooked. Compatible with both Apple and Android devices, these wireless headphones provide up to 40 hours of battery life.

OPPO has announced some new special editions of existing products as well as its latest foldable Android smartphones today (December 15, 2022). They include the Watch 3 Pro Glacier Gray, a new SKU of the OEM's highest-end smartwatch optimized for skiing; the Golden Years Edition of the Enco X2 flagship TWS earbuds and a new artist's rendition of the OPPO Pad.

OPPO has revealed that its line of in-house chipsets has a new member as part of its ongoing Inno Day 2022 event. The MariSilicon Y is also its maker's first ever custom SoC for sound, designed with "industry-first" technology to achieve "ultra-high" transmission rates over Bluetooth. It is also rated to support lossless audio and integrates its own neural processing unit (NPU) for hundreds of billions of calculations per second.

Released as a cheaper alternative to the AirPods Pro, the US$150 Beats Studio Buds TWS ANC earbuds are now down to less than US$90 thanks to a 40% Amazon discount. Unfortunately for those who would like to get them in black, red, white, or gray, the only discounted color choice is Ocean Blue.

The premium pair of truly wireless earbuds has returned to its most intriguing price to date, because Amazon is currently selling both color variants of the Sony WF-1000XM4 for the steeply discounted Black Friday sale price, which is US$102 cheaper than the original MSRP.

iFi Audio has unveiled the Go Link, a miniature DAC that promises to reproduce high-quality audio for those operating on a budget. The iFi Audio is available for £59 and relies on the ESS Technology ES9219MQ DAC.

Bowers & Wilkins has introduced a new version of the Px8, its flagship pair of over-air headphones. Now offered in a McLaren Edition trim, the special edition over-ear headphones also have a 24-bit DSP, Bluetooth aptX Adaptive support and 40 mm carbon fibre drivers.

Dyson has confirmed the price and approximate launch date of its first over-ear headphones. While the company originally showcased the Dyson Zone's air purification qualities, it now appears to be an audio-first device instead.

The Phantom Black and white Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro TWS earbuds are now discounted on Amazon by no less than 50%. Thanks to this discount, the US$199.99 list price of this popular audio accessory is now down to just US$99.99. Sadly, the purple color choice is only 18% off, so its discounted price tag reads US$163.71.

Xiaomi has made a new Pro version of its Sound smart speaker official . It has upgraded to a new adjustable ambient lighting effect as well as a new "7-part" speaker system. The Sound Pro also supports NFC and the latest ecosystem support baked into MIUI 14 for easy pairing and control using a new 13-series flagship smartphone.

Xiaomi has laid claim to a debut for the advanced LHDC 5.0 codec in TWS earphones with its new Buds 4. They are also rated for "intelligent" active noise cancellation (ANC), Independent Spatial Audio and up to 30 hours of battery life. They are available to order from now, albeit in China only, at a lower starting price than their Pro counterparts.

The massive 60% deal currently live on Amazon brings the Philips H9505 over-ear hybrid ANC headphones down to US$99.99 from a US$249.99 list price. With the same 27-hour battery life regardless of ANC status, these headphones feature a rounded over-ear design and custom control via the Philips Headphones app.

Featuring 12 mm drivers tuned by AKG, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live TWS earbuds also come with active noise canceling, long battery life, and always-on voice assistance via Bixby. Currently discounted by up to 35% on Amazon (depending on the color), these earbuds can be acquired for less than US$100.

Audeze today announced its latest gaming headset, the Maxwell. The closed-back headset can be used wired or wirelessly (via Bluetooth 5.3) and features 90 mm planar magnetic drivers. The microphone is a detachable cardioid designed by Shure.

Sony has delivered a new firmware update for the WF-1000XM4 to tackle battery drain issues. Rolling out in Asia first, it seems that firmware V1.6.1 could actually reduce battery life for some WF-1000XM4 units, which may need servicing if certain conditions are met.

PINE64 is now selling the PineBuds Pro, its open-source and custom firmware-supporting TWS earbuds. Currently available for US$69.99, the PineBuds Pro features 6 mm drivers, six microphones and ANC technology that is said to outperform the equivalent in the Apple AirPods Pro 2.

Fully waterproof and with a battery life of up to 12 hours, the JBL Flip 4 Bluetooth speaker can also handle phone calls while providing noise and echo-canceling capabilities. JBL Connect+ allows linking up to 100 speakers for an enhanced auditory experience. The ongoing 37% price cut brings the JBL Flip 4 down to US$69.94.

Pantone has announced its choice for 2023's Color of the Year, and has partnered with Motorola to celebrate this decision with a new SKU of the Edge 30 Fusion finished in the "fearless" hue. Its unveiling also coincides with the launch of the Moto Buds 600 ANC, a new pair of TWS earbuds that will be bundled with the new special edition, albeit in a different Pantone color.

Xiaomi has already announced plans to debut new Android flagship smartphones, as well as new possibly matching peripherals, in early December 2022. Now, the OEM has indicated that the event is even bigger than that, as it will also introduce its latest "ecosystem" products. They include a new and potentially more powerful router as well as a new flagship for the Sound smart speaker range.

Xiaomi has announced a launch date for its new 13 series of Android flagship smartphones. Now, the OEM has also revealed that it will debut its latest TWS earbuds and smartwatch alongside the premium mobile devices. The Buds 4 and Watch S2 have been teased with a premium gloss and updated designs thus far.

Available for more than four years, the Hidizs AP80 lossless music player might be outdated for playing Bluetooth audio, but its ability to handle lossless audio and FM Radio stations keep it interesting in 2022. This Hi-Res Audio-certified compact piece of hardware is today 35% off on Amazon.

Introduced in 2019 as the successor of the T20 and T40 series, the Creative T100 desktop speakers come with a peak power of 80 W and multiple connectivity options, including Bluetooth 5.0, 3.5 mm AUX, and optical. The ongoing 55% discount offered by Amazon pushes the list price of US$177.85 down to a very attractive US$79.99.

While the Jabra Elite 7 Active TWS sports earbuds with adjustable ANC go as low as US$95.45 (47% discount, only for the Navy color), the less sporty Elite 7 Pro go down to US$119.99, after a 40% discount. Both feature Alexa integration, 6 mm custom speakers, customization and firmware updates via the Jabra Sound+ app, and more.

While the AirPods Max and AirPods Pro 2 have been heralded as offering excellent audio quality for their class, neither support high-definition Bluetooth audio codecs. Instead, both peak at 256 kbps over AAC, or SBC if you are not using an Apple product. Finally, an Apple engineer has commented on why the company has elected against supporting LDAC, aptX or equivalents.

Honor has introduced the Earbuds 3i, a new pair of TWS earbuds that support ANC and Bluetooth 5.2. Equipped with 10 mm drivers, the Honor Earbuds 3i also features touch controls and offers up to 10 hours of battery life.

The Sony WF-1000XM4 launched for US$279.99, but the premium earbuds can be picked up for as little as US$178 during this year’s Black Friday deals. Available at a discounted price in either colour, the WF-1000XM4 supports the high-resolution LDAC codec and lasts up to 8 hours between charges, among other features.

The impeccable Bose QuietComfort 45 noise-cancelling earphones have received an US$80 discount on Amazon and Best Buy, driving its price down to US$249 on both platforms.

Apple markets the latest AirPods Pro as delivering improved sound quality, long battery life and superior noise cancellation than the AirPods Pro 1. However, new independent tests have determined that Apple has made strides in reducing Bluetooth latency between generations, which should make the AirPods Pro 2 better suited for gaming than previous AirPods.

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 is available at a US$50 discount during Black Friday promotions. Only available in one colour, the AirPods Pro 2 are still full price when ordered from Apple directly.

Available in two separate versions, one for the Xbox console and the other for the Sony PlayStation/PC, the BeoPlay Portal wireless gaming headphones by Bang & Olufsen are not cheap. However, the US$499 list price has dropped lower than the US$300 threshold thanks to Amazon's ongoing discounts.

The usually fairly expensive Dolby Atmos soundbars from the reputable US audio brand have received a noteworthy "Black Week" discount, which brings the Sonos Arc and Sonos Beam down to a more reasonable price range.

Bose has outlined plans to upgrade its QuietComfort Earbuds II. Already billed as offering the world's best ANC, the QuietComfort Earbuds II will soon be capable of aptX Lossless, one of two new Qualcomm sound platforms.

1MORE has announced a 41% discount on its flagship EVO TWS earbuds as part of its Black Friday/Cyber Monday 2022 sale. The brand's SonoFlow "wireless audiophile" headphones are also 20% off, as are its latest Spatial Audio Aero earbuds, and ComfoBuds Mini. The ComfoBuds Pro may be the best deal for some shoppers, however.

VAVA's flagship Chroma laser projector had a substantial discount during its "Sneaky Black Friday" event earlier in November 2022. Now, however, this deal may seem less sweet in light of the brand's freshly-unveiled main event for the holiday sales season. It includes further reductions for the Chroma as well as its newer 4K sibling the Luma.

Realme has unveiled new TWS earbuds as well as Pro versions for the 10 series of Android smartphones today. The Buds Air 3S have wireless audio tech that is profoundly conventional by now - then again, it is packaged in an updated, potentially more ergonomic design with some degree of noise cancellation and Bluetooth 5.3 - all for the equivalent of ~US$28.

Thanks to a steeply discounted sale price of US$68, the Sony WH-CH710N have become a wallet-friendly pair of wireless headphones that is well-suited for hip hop fans who enjoy a bass-heavy but not particularly neutral sound profile.

After releasing the Nord Watch and Nord Buds, OnePlus has its sights set on two new non-smartphone products. According to word on the grapevine, the OnePlus Pad is in development, alongside the OnePlus Buds Pro 2.

Android Auto's latest public beta version is the first one to reflect the new updates as promised by Google at 1/0 2022. They include potentially helpful tweaks such as Maps that can skew toward the driver as well as enhanced Assistant integration and improved scaling to various in-car displays. Notification and status-bar control may also be more intuitive and less distracting in this new UI.

Apple has released numerous firmware updates for its various AirPods and Beats earbuds. As well as updating headphones too, Apple has issued a new update for the AirTags, which have now reached firmware version 2.0.24.