Audio

Xiaomi has started selling the Smart Speaker IR Control in India, where it costs INR 4,999 (~US$63). Featuring a 1.5-inch driver, the Smart Speaker IR Control also offers Google Assistant and Google Chromecast support, among other features.

OPPO has made the Indian versions of its latest premium mid-range Android smartphones, the Reno8 and Reno8 Pro, official today (July 18, 2022). They have been introduced alongside the Air version of the OEM's first-gen tablet, as well as its new Enco X2 flagship TWS earbuds. They will be available imminently via channels such as Flipkart.

Realme has announced a date in July 2022 for its next multi-device Indian-market launch, strongly hinting at the arrival of the Pad X 5G as a headline moment. However, the OEM is also now teasing a completely new product to debut alongside it: its first ever monitor. It may emerge alongside some additional peripherals and a new wearable.

Samsung has offered up more hints about what wearables it plans to release in the next few months. Potentially as an Easter Egg for Samsung fans, the appearance of both the Galaxy Watch5 and Galaxy Buds2 Pro in the Galaxy Wearable app predates their release by well over a month.

EZVIZ has released its Prime Day deals on its residential surveillance accessories for 2022. It includes some of the latest color night vision cameras from the brand, as well as pan-tilt indoor and FHD floodlight-equipped models. They are available at discounts of up to 42% at the moment.

Anker's Nebula brand has put its flagship Cosmos 4K laser projector with Android TV up for sale for Amazon's ongoing 2022 Prime Day event. For those looking for something more portable, the ultra-thin Wemax Go Advanced is also part of its OEM's campaign. There are also offers from LG and ViewSonic on various up-to-4K models.

The Nokia 5710 XpressAudio has set out to put the "feature" in feature phone, as it doubles as a charging case for its very own pair of TWS earbuds. It also packs 4G/LTE connectivity (with VoLTE), expandable memory and FM radio into its classic button-toting design.

Sony has launched three new models from its X-Series in the US: the SRS-XG300, SRS-XE300 and SRS-XE200. The portable Bluetooth speakers, with features like Ambient Noise Sensing, are designed for outdoor use. The gadgets have long-lasting batteries, with the XG300 capable of 25 hours of playback time.

Beyerdynamic has introduced the Free Byrd, its first pair of TWS earbuds. With ANC, Transparency Mode and up to 11 hours of battery life, the Beyerdynamic Free Byrd contains plenty of features for its US$249 price tag. Beyerdynamic is offering the Free Byrd earbuds in multiple markets, not just the US.

The design of the Galaxy Buds2 Pro has leaked, a month before the earbuds' anticipated launch. Rumoured to be unveiled alongside the Galaxy Watch5 series and next-generation Galaxy Z foldable smartphones, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro will feature an updated design and should launch in at least three colours.

ViewSonic is no stranger to making enterprise-grade LED displays of up to 216 inches in size for a standalone, plug-and-play installation experience. However, it claims to have outdone itself in this respect with the latest addition to its All-in-One Direct View series. It boasts the OEM's latest Chip-on-Board form of LED packaging, rated to make the resulting massive 4K panel brighter, finer and more durable than ever before.

Baseus' latest personal audio product has launched as the Bowie H1s, headphones with a slightly Apple AirPods Max-like build and hybrid active noise cancellation (ANC). They are rated for an extremely long battery life (under certain conditions), Bluetooth 5.2 and an in-house low-latency mode. They are available via AliExpress from now.

The Redmi Buds 4 and 4 Pro are Xiaomi's latest TWS earbuds with Bluetooth 5.2 and IP54 ingress-protection. According to a new leak, they may also have an international launch in the near future. A reportedly premature Amazon listing allegedly reveals how much they might cost in at least 1 market.

ASUS has presented the Cetra True Wireless Pro with a wireless and wired design. Launching later this year, the Cetra True Wireless Pro supports Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound and aptX Adaptive, plus an ESS 9280 Quad-DAC if you use its bundled adapter. The ASUS Cetra True Wireless Pro will arrive with active noise cancellation (ANC) too, among other features.

The latest set of alleged AirPods Pro 2 renders arrived with claims that these upcoming flagship TWS earbuds would become increasingly powerful health-trackers as well. However, a well-known tech correspondent purports to debunk these claims. Then again, 2022's Apple Watch is apparently in a better position to launch with the new features in question.

Nothing is preparing to refresh the Ear (1), soon to also be offered as the Ear (1) Stick. With a different charging case and the same price tag, it remains to be seen how Nothing will distinguish the Ear (1) from the Ear (1) Stick.

Nura's latest offerings are already shaping up to be a crowdfunding hit thanks to claims that these new Pro accessories are the world's first wireless earbuds to ship with support for lossless audio over Bluetooth. They will do so thanks to Qualcomm's latest aptX technology, rated for "CD-quality" sound and a high bit-rate.

Porsche Design has presented the PDH80, a pair of over-ear headphones that feature ANC, a touch control panel and up to 75 hours of battery life. With an aluminium and leather build, the Porsche Design PDH80 has a premium design that competitors like the Sony WH-1000XM5 cannot match.

LG's latest S-series soundbars go up to 9.1.5-channel sound with auto low latency mode (ALLM) and variable refresh rate (VRR) over HDMI 2.1. The line also boasts a world-first central up-firing speaker design for potentially increased aural realism and clarity. They also now have pricing and availability for the United States market.

The design of next-generation AirPods Pro earbuds and their associated charging case has emerged online. With minor visual changes between the AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2, Apple is expected to bring plenty of internal improvements, plus USB Type-C charging.

OnePlus has indicated that it will add a new member to its Y series of TVs via Amazon.in soon. The Y1S Pro will ship with a 50-inch 4K screen on its release. It is also rated for HDR decoding, Dolby Audio and the latest in-house ecosystem features for homes containing other devices from the same brand.

Apple could soon bring a higher resolution Bluetooth codec to the AirPods 3, AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. Code within a beta firmware suggests as much, which would bring the AirPods 3, AirPods Pro and AirPods Max closer to the feature sets of their competitors. Adopting a higher resolution codec could also improve battery life on these devices.

Huawei is now linked to the imminent launch of second-gen FreeBuds Pro that might improve on their forebears with improved active noise cancellation (ANC). Furthermore, they are projected to become the first of their line to debut with the OEM's new high-end audio partner's branding, as well as a new dual driver system and new color options.

Sony INZONE H9, H7, and H3 gaming headset press renderings and alleged unit prices have leaked. It appears Sony has prepared three dedicated INZONE gaming headsets for those with different budgets, with the top-end INZONE H9 offering wireless connection and active noise-cancelling feature. The Sony INZONE headsets are reminiscent in design of the more-expensive WH-1000XM5 headphones.

Soundcore touts the new Sport X10 TWS earbuds as the latest, most ideal personal audio companions when getting through workout after workout. This is because they are rated for increased sweat resistance with additional in-house tech as well as IPX7 ingress-protection. They also have ear-hooks capable of swinging around on a hinge for a more compact case.

EarFun has launched the UBOOM L portable Bluetooth speaker. The device is waterproof with an IP67 rating and up to 16 hours of playback time. The gadget has many features, including Stereo Pairing and voice assistant compatibility. Various settings optimize the sound output for your environment, and JumboBass technology enhances lower frequencies.

Hisense today launched a new music player, the Touch Lite. Armed with an octa-core Qualcomm processor and 4 GB of RAM, and a 5.84-inch E Ink display, the Touch Lite runs on Android. Essentially, it operates as a standard Android handheld with a monochrome E Ink screen.

ViewSonic has launched the X1 and X2 as its latest home cinema-ready projectors. They are both FHD; however, the OEM asserts that they will be as bright and clear as possible while sparing the environment thanks to newer, cleaner LEDs. They also both have in-built Harmon Kardon-branded speakers, although the X2 stands out with a shorter throw.

NOMVDIC has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo for the X300 projector. The device can throw images measuring up to 100-in across with up to 350 ANSI lm brightness. Custom-built Harman Kardon speakers provide an immersive sound experience, and you can stream content to the gadget via a smart device.

Audio companies Dolby and Dirac have partnered on an in-car vehicle experience. Dirac algorithms optimize the sound for the speaker and vehicle layouts, while Dolby Atmos brings 3D audio. The technology will be used first in the NIO ET7, which will be available in Europe later this year.

Three new Bluetooth home speakers have been unveiled by Marshall: Acton III, Stanmore III and Woburn III. The devices have an improved soundstage with tools to optimize the output automatically. Each gadget in the range has a different size and speaker system, with the largest, Woburn III, delivering up to 100.5 dB at 1 m (~3.3 ft).

Sennheiser has offered a few hints about the Momentum 4 Wireless, a successor to the ageing Momentum 3 Wireless. The Momentum 4 Wireless will be available from August 2022 with up to 60 hours of battery life and 42 mm drivers. Sennheiser has overhauled the design of its premium headphones too, among other changes.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 2 will debut soon as a rival to the upcoming Apple AirPods Pro 2 and Google Pixel Buds Pro. A new leak has now revealed information on when the premium earbuds can be expected, as well as what colorways they will arrive in.

In addition to the generous battery life of up to 10 hours, the new HyperX MIX come with both 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth connectivity for increased device compatibility. A USB-C adapter is also included, so gamers can enjoy these earbuds with their smartphones and tablets, but also with their laptops and desktop PCs.

Sony touts its new XAV-AX6000 and XAV-AX4000 in-car AV receivers as the most seamless and intuitive installations of their series yet. The iDatalink Maestro-compatible stereo replacements can display Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on their ~7-inch screens, with full smartphone-linked voice controls that are wireless this time to boot. They also support USB type-C, as well as 3-pre out for nearly any speaker configurations.

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.