Audio

The incredible popularity of Apple's AirPods has apparently led to an increase in the number of counterfeit headphones that are making their way from Asia to markets around the world. The United States Customs and Border Protection Agency is not just clamping down on the import of fake headphones, it has also released an interesting statistic regarding their confiscations.

Mobvoi's latest product is a dedicated voice recorder pitched at a professional market. The OEM asserts that it is enhanced with "dual-mic" noise-cancelling for clarity in voice-capture during meetings. It is also equipped with a neural network for automatic transcript summary generation based on intelligently-chosen keywords.

Yamaha claims to have drawn on decades of experience with enhancing 2-channel audio at the home-theater level to develop 3D Sound Field for its new YH-L700A headphones. It focuses on adapting to the wearer's head movements to keep sound immersion constant. The OEM also claims the new wired/wireless cans' has uniquely acute active noise cancellation (ANC) thanks to advanced mic placements.

Renowned tech evangelist Robert Scoble has posted a tweet claiming that Apple’s long-awaited Apple Glass AR headset is due to make its first appearance at WWDC 2022. It will be joined by a new iPod that is said to be integral to the new AR experience.

Edifier asserts that its NeoBuds Pro are a world first, in that they are TWS earbuds with active noise cancellation (ANC) and an official Hi-Res certification for sound quality and immersion. The new accessories also have an exceptionally broad frequency range and have IP54 ingress protection.

Carl Pei's new start-up, Nothing, will finally put a product to its name later in July 2021. It has just let the starting price for this product, a pair of TWS earbuds called ear (1), slip prior to this event. Meanwhile, its founder might have divulged its lack of interest in making other devices such as smartphones in the future.

It is thought that Samsung will introduce new TWS earbuds called the Galaxy Buds2 alongside other products such as the Galaxy Z Fold3 later in 2021. These accessories have been painted as mid-tier devices due to their rumored lack of active noise cancellation. However, according to new evidence posted by a reliable leaker, this spec might be coming to the earphones after all.

Sony has launched its latest set of speakers, but they aren’t what you might expect. Its new SRS-NB10 is a wearable stereo speaker that sits on a user’s shoulders that have been targeted at the work from home market, but are also useful around the home more generally.

Dizo is Realme's first spin-off under its new TechLife smart product ecosystem. This branding has been spotted on 2 new feature phones, rumored to be called the Star 500 and 300. With removable batteries to power their tiny screens, super-compact form-factors and dual-band 2G connectivity, they are likely to emerge as mobile phones of the extreme budget category.

LG's TONE FREE accessories stand out in the TWS earbud market with their "UVnano" charging case, rated to kill up to 99.9% of all in-ear bacteria while they charge. Their latest generation also re-introduce a Meridian Audio collaboration for sound clarity, active noise cancellation (ANC) and an AirPod-like design.

Sony has revealed an Xperia 1 III pre-order bundle that offers the premium smartphone along with a set of in-ear or over-ear XM3 headphones depending on the market. Along with that, it appears prospective buyers in the US might be able to get to choose a frosted purple Sony Xperia 1 III after all.

Xiaomi has launched its newest "extra-pro" laptop in China. The 15.6-inch Mi Notebook X Pro has an OLED display of a 3.5K (3456 x 2160) resolution, driven by Intel 11th-gen Core i5 or i7 processors and up to 4GB RTX 3050 Ti GPUs. Xiaomi has packed all of this into a CNC-machined chassis that starts at 7,999 yuan (~US$1,240).

Samsung's next TWS earbuds are predicted to launch as the Galaxy Buds2. Now, a new leak may reveal their starting price ahead of their launch. The new alleged detail might put them squarely in the middle tier of their market.

Carl Pei's latest tech start-up Nothing has just set a date for the launch of its first-ever product. The ear (1) TWS earphones are now set to debut on July 27, 2021. The new OEM asserts that they will offer a "pure sound experience", although it has yet to drop any hints as to their pricing.

Lenovo has unveiled the premium Yoga Tab 13 at MWC 2021; now, it is time for its 11-inch counterpart to take the same stage. This device has many design features in common with the higher-end slate, although its 2K display is 15:9 rather than 16:10. On the other hand, this one has a Wi-Fi only option for the more budget-conscious consumer.

Samsung is now touted to add a new color to its TWS earbud spectrum at the ongoing Mobile World Congress of 2021, according to an "exclusive" 91Mobiles leak. The blog claims that the "Galaxy Buds2" will be available in a relatively unique green finish: an update that might have been made in order to distract from the lack of any further upgrades in the upcoming wearables.

Honor has already confirmed that the Magic sub-brand will be updated with a flagship Android phone soon. A new leak suggests that the OEM also has a foldable phablet and clamshell in the works that will also launch under this name, not to mention new laptops, a router and accessories that might include a stylus.

The Lenovo Go series of remote-work-focused accessories is expanding at MWC 2021 to include new and arguably thoughtful peripherals for those who have come to rely on PCs such as ultrabooks in professional capacities. They include new wireless mice, one of which is of the upright variety, and a handy cable-free numberpad. The OEM has also launched audio equipment under this new sub-brand.

Carl Pei's latest start-up Nothing has announced that it will release its first products, the "innovative" ear (1) TWS earbuds, in the summer of 2021. Now, it has also revealed that it has secured a partnership with the high-end department store Selfridges to do so via this chain's flagship London store in the UK.

OnePlus' co-founder Carl Pei has followed the launch of his new start-up Nothing with an announcement for that of its inaugural product, the ear (1) true-wireless stereo (TWS) devices, in June 2021. However, it seems the buds will now fail to make this vague deadline and will debut later in the same year instead.

Apple has released an alternative to its popular AirPods Pro, this time under its Beats brand. The Beats Studio Buds is not only cheaper than the AirPods Pro, but it also has a USB Type-C port on its charging case. The Beats Studio Buds features ANC too and even has longer battery life than the AirPods Pro.

Apple's next personal audio devices are projected to come from the Beats brand and to be called the Studio Buds. The prolific leaker Jon Prosser now asserts that these TWS earbuds will cost no more than US$150 and may launch very soon. They will apparently do so in the black, white or red SKUs hinted at in earlier renders.

Sony may have teased the design and innovation of a future Xperia 1 IV smartphone in recent adverts for its WF-1000XM4 headphones. In at least three promo clips, users of the new noise-cancelling headphones can be seen accessing a smartphone that looks like a Sony Xperia 1 III from the rear but something else from the front.

Razer has launched the new Opus X headphones via its own website. These new wireless accessories have emerged as a new mid-range variant of their series, compared to the original Opus cans. They support active noise cancellation (ANC) and a low-latency connection, yet lack the THX certification of their predecessors, not to mention a 3.5mm port for a wired mode.

Sony has added to the colour options in which it already sold the WH-1000XM4. From the middle of this month, the company will begin selling its latest over-ear headphones in Midnight Blue, which also has gold accents. The Midnight Blue model will not be a limited edition and is US$100 cheaper than the limited Silent White version.

Apple's 'other' personal audio brand, Beats, is projected to release its next product, a pair of TWS earphones, soon. Now, a new leak indicates that they have picked up NCC clearance for sale in Taiwan, suggesting they are not too far from launch at this stage. The new tip seems to confirm their updated design, as well as that of their charging case.

The Schenker Vision 14 is a new entrant into the ~14-inch, 16:10 display thin-and-light laptop market. This fresh option has magnesium alloy in its construction, as well as Tiger Lake CPUs and 3K/90Hz panels in some configurations. It can support up to 64GB of RAM, Thunderbolt 4, and has 2 slots for M.2 2280 SSDs.

Razer has launched its latest Hammerhead True Wireless earbuds. The new Hammerhead TWS X earbuds are targeted at mobile gamers and feature the latest connectivity for quick pairing and low latency.

Sony has lifted the lid on the WF-1000XM4, the follow-up to 2019's WF-1000XM3. The WF-1000XM4 contains many innovations, including LDAC support, a new V1 SoC and a charging case that supports Qi wireless charging. The WF-1000XM4 is a pricier option than the WF-1000XM3 was at launch, though.

Apple has rolled out its eagerly anticipated lossless and spatial audio tiers to Apple Music. The server-end update brings lossless 16-bit CD-quality to Apple Music for the first time along with spatial audio with some tracks also reaching hi-resolution 24-bit levels.

Have you ever wanted to carry your HomePod Mini around with its audio still playing in the process? Now you might be able to, should Mission Accessories get its new Kickstarter campaign funded. It claims that its new Battery Base converts the little Apple smart speaker into a portable audio accessory. It is rated for up to 9 hours of use between charges, which it does via USB type-C.

Google has formally launched its latest TWS earbuds, albeit as effectively cut-down versions of its original Pixel Buds for $100 less than their original price. Therefore, the new A variants' design is much unchanged from their predecessors. They also retain features such as noise reduction and touch controls, but lose others, wireless charging included.

Huawei describes its latest FreeBuds 4 as high-sound-quality TWS earbuds with active noise cancellation (ANC). They are also pitched as particularly comfortable earphones, due to their light build and design. They are rated for up to 22 hours of battery life, counting their wireless-charging-enabled case.

The replacement for the WF-1000XM3 is edging closer to release. Sony has finally alluded to when it will be announcing the WF-1000XM4, but a Slovakian retailer has already revealed how much the TWS earbuds will cost in Europe.

The Redmi AirDots 3 Pro have just launched on the Chinese market as its brand's latest ANC TWS earbuds; now, they seem poised to hit the global market, albeit under a different name - possibly even a different brand. They have been registered with the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) with not 1 but 2 alter egos, suggesting that they might be destined for different regions under one or both of them.

Apple's Podcasts app will soon spawn a new wave of titles, to be published by new partner brands such as the Washington Post and Sony Music and also by independent creators. These new streams will require monthly or yearly fees, for which bonus or early-access content, as well as an ad-free experience, are thrown in. The new subscriptions are to be available in 170 countries from May 2021.

According to a report, Apple is considering refreshing the AirPods Max, as it did with the iPhone 12 mini. A new model is not forthcoming though, for one reason or another.

A new Bloomberg report purports to spill the latest on the next generation of Apple's signature TWS earbuds and their availability. It asserts that the third generation of the base models will be out some time in 2021. The next Pro variants, on the other hand, will be the first to bring a new design to their series, although fans may have to wait until 2022 to see it.

Sony is yet to launch the WF-1000XM4, but a launch commercial detailing the upcoming earbuds has already leaked. A potential launch date has been revealed too, which would put the WF-1000XM4 just over two weeks away from being announced.

Samsung is rumored to launch next-gen wearables called the Galaxy Buds 2 at its next product event. Now, the OEM has submitted a pair of TWS earbuds that might match up with this leak with the FCC. They look a lot like their immediate predecessors and support Bluetooth Low Energy (LE).

The Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is a new Samsung tablet that definitely falls into the budget category. Despite this, it has both Wi-Fi and 4G/LTE-enabled variants. It will be available in certain European markets from June 2021 with an 8.7-inch HD+ TFT display, a 5,100mAh battery and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

ROCCAT has introduced its new Syn Pro Air as its latest high-end gaming headset. It combines a range of potential advantages of its maker's association with Turtle Beach in its build, including a TruSpeak flip-up mic, the Superhuman Hearing sound setting and ProSpecs ear-cushions. The Syn Pro Air also supports Stellar Wireless connectivity and the AIMO RGB system.

The Enco Free series are the more affordable of OPPO's TWS earbuds; nevertheless, the latest generation boasts active noise cancellation (ANC) for just under US$100. They also feature an IP54 ingress-protection, up to 30 hours of the future and input from the OEM's high-end audio partner Dynaudio.

All the details of Sony’s eagerly awaited WF-1000XM4 earbuds have leaked. The new earbuds are Sony’s answer to the Apple AirPods Pro among other competitors and bring many of the features fans of the WF-1000XM3 have been hoping for including LDAC support.

Redmi's new AirDots 3 Pro are rated for a kind of noise-cancelling that apparently adapts to the ambient condition by themselves, using AI. The Bluetooth 5.2 accessories are rated for up to 28 hours of play-time with their new case, which is also capable of wireless charging. They start for under US$50 in China at present, although this price might increase after their initial promotional window.

Carl Pei's new start-up Nothing is slated to launch its inaugural product, a pair of TWS earbuds, at some point in June 2021. This event now seems closer than ever with a new leak. It consists of an alleged BIS certification for the company's first device

Apple left many fans, in particular AirPods Max owners, baffled when it launched Apple Music’s new lossless tier without support for any of its headphones. The folks at 9to5Mac have created a concept product called the iPod Max to pair with the AirPods Max to deliver pristine lossless audio quality.

According to reports, Apple will be announcing a new iPod Touch in a few months. Renders show that Apple has tweaked the iPod Touch's looks too, giving making it resemble an iPhone SE with the iPhone 12's design language.

The SOUNDFORM Connect is a new Belkin audio adapter designed to bring any powered speaker with a 3.5mm or optical input into an Apple-heavy smart home set-up. The user can then control it via AirPlay 2 on their iPhone, iPad or TV. Therefore, a traditional speaker can become as responsive to voice-control and automation as shiny new high-tech models.

Unihertz has announced the Titan Pocket, the OEM's latest in its line of QWERTY smartphones. With a display of just 3.1 inches in diagonal length, it is the most compact member of its series yet. Nevertheless, it runs Android 11, has NFC, Bluetooth, an infrared (IR) port and a campaign on Kickstarter that has already smashed its funding goal.