Audio

Apple announced the new Homepod Mini, a tiny smart speaker. The device features a single high-range driver and two subwoofers, as well as plenty of software smarts. Key features include Apple's trademark ecosystem integration, including Intercom, a new tool that allows people to send voice messages from the speaker to multiple other Apple devices.

The next Apple Special Event is scheduled for today (October 13, 2020) - the same day on which Evan Blass has decided to leak high-quality renders of the products thought to be involved in all their new colors. They comprise all 4 variants of the iPhone 12 series as well as the alleged new HomePod Mini.

Puro Sound Labs makes personal audio products that, as it asserts, provide a high-end listening experience while protecting the user's aural health. It is known for its PuroGamer headset, and has also just launched the PuroPro active noise cancelling (ANC) "adult" headphones. It has also released UK and US pricing for Amazon's 2020 Prime Day sale.

The OPPO A53s is a phone freshly added on Amazon.de. It seems to have the exact same specs as the A53, which is powered by the new Snapdragon 460 SoC and has a 90Hz 6.5-inch HD+ display. It can be pre-ordered with free TWS earbuds from this OEM prior to its release date of October 13, 2020.

Rumour has it Apple will not announce AirTags next week, nor its rumoured AirPods Studio over-ear headphones. The AirTags may be delayed until March 2021 too, while the AirPods Studio could cost up to US$599. It is bad news for those hoping for 120 Hz displays on the iPhone 12 series, also.

French premium audio brand Devialet has revealed its first set of true wireless (TWS) earphones. The Devialet brings several unique features to its Gemini earphones that it hopes will catch the eye of audiophiles who demand more from their listening experience.

Razer wowed the tech world when it showed the Tomahawk PC case off at CES 2020. It is made of all-tempered-glass panels and SPCC steel reinforcements, and also boasts inbuilt cable management. The OEM has finally launched the mini-ITX variant of this case, alongside new accessories that include a new gaming chair, audio equipment and Sneki Snek in plushie form.

Google's latest Pixel-series flagship had been released for pre-orders in France, Germany, Ireland and the UK until October 15, 2020. However, this option is now no longer actionable in either of these countries. Similarly, if you are in these nations and want a 4a (5G), you have to join a wait-list.

A new research report has concluded that the market for wireless headphones worldwide will accrue a value of approximately US$42.1 billion over the next 6 years. This growth may be based on the demand for products that connect users to their smartphones, tablets or TVs, as well as using them while working out or consuming content.

The OnePlus Buds Z have not announced by OnePlus, but photos of the upcoming earbuds have been included in an APK. Interestingly, the design of the forthcoming earbuds differs significantly from the current OnePlus Buds.

Nokia has added updated models to its range of smart TVs sold through Flipkart in India. They include 2 new 43-inch units as well as the 2 new 32- and 50-inch sizes hinted at in an earlier leak. This new series has speakers tuned by Onkyo, a "Pronto Focal" AI engine and up to 4K/UHD resolutions.

Dell is currently launching its latest UltraSharp monitors for home-office and prosumer use. The OEM also now unveils the SB521A, touted as the "world's lightest and slimmest soundbar". This accessory can snap onto a monitor from its own brand with its top-mounted magnets, thus immediately adding 3.6W RMS audio power to the display in question.

Remote-working products reign supreme at present; however, Dell has prepared its new Meeting Space Solutions against the come-back of the real-life boardroom. They are bundles tailored to in-person conference settings of different sizes and conformations, and also adapt to the software preferred by the business client in question: Microsoft Teams or Zoom.

As the launch date of the upcoming AirPods Studio and HomePod Mini is drawing near, Apple is taking the final steps needed to maximize the success of its next-gen products. In a quiet move, the Cupertino-based giant removed all non-Apple audio gear — including brands like BOSE and Sonos — from its retail and online stores.

Google’s Pixel 5 differs from the Pixel 4 series in a number of ways, one of which is that it is missing the large top bezel of its predecessor. The new top bezel is much thinner, but this is not just because the Soli radar chip and facial recognition have been removed -- it is also because Google has hidden the front speaker of the Pixel 5 behind its display.

Nokia started selling its Android-powered TVs in the Indian market earlier in 2020. Now, its website is building hype for two new models for this series, one of which may be more wallet-friendly than its predecessors. They are to launch in October 6, 2020, and may feature a different audio partner for their speakers this time.

OnePlus launched its first pair of TWS earbuds alongside the 8 series of flagship smartphones in July 2020. Now, the OEM has confirmed that their next generation will debut when the 8T launches on October 14, 2020. They are to have the IP55 ingress protection rating, and are rumored to cost less than than their predecessors.

Ultimate Ears has launched the UE Fits, a set of true wireless earbuds that promise the “perfect fit.” The new buds use a polymer that it calls Lightform to mold to the unique shape of a user’s ears in under 60 seconds.

Schenker is pitching the XMG DJ 15 at those who might move around a lot with their laptop, yet need all the I/O they can get - live entertainers included. It packs a host of ports, dual 3.5mm headphone jacks for audio and mics or S/PDIF optical outputs included. It also offers an up to tenth-gen Core i7 processor and 32GB of RAM.

Lenovo is clearly aiming its new 27-inch monitor at professionals who work off-site. Besides its ThinkVision branding and esthetics, it boasts a new, 1080p webcam with a privacy shutter, an integrated noise-cancelling mic and a speaker. There is also a streamlined USB type C interface with 90W charging and eye-health certifications for its 2K display.

Details on the inaugural digital event RazerCon have been unveiled. This 2020 conference will provide mixed-reality (MR) showcases of new products from the event's host, as well as partners including NVIDIA, Intel and Western Digital. There will also be appearances by gaming celebrities during the live-streamed show, as well as a virtual concert featuring artists such as Deadmau5.

Amazon has made the latest generations of its Echo, Echo Dot and Echo Show smart speakers official. The latter still has an in-built screen; however, this one can swivel around on its base so as to keep a user in the "eyeline" of its 13MP camera. The Echo Dot also now has multiple variants. These new smart speakers are available to pre-order from now.

RollingSquare has launched the HYPHEN 2 truly wireless (TWS) earbuds on Indiegogo. They are touted as having internals and advantages that set them apart from other products in their category. These include a slight departure from the AirPod-clone form factor, a different type of battery and a new type of noise isolation that is apparently as good as active noise cancelling (ANC) with fewer downsides.

Bose is trying its hand at marrying its audio expertise with improving sleep with the just-launched Sleepbuds II. The new model addresses the battery life concerns with the original model and also comes with the promise of improved sleep.

Rumour has it that Apple will utilise the U1 chip in the AirPods Studio, its first set of AirPods-branded over-ear headphones. Reputedly set to launch for US$349, the AirPods will be highly customisable and have so far been spotted in two colours.

D-Link has announced the DCS-8302LH Full HD Outdoor Wi-Fi Camera. Despite one part of its name, the OEM asserts it is sleek and sophisticated to have inside the house as well. It also packs features such as IR for night vision, AI to help avoid unnecessary user alerts and "next-gen" IPv6/WPA3 support.

Turtle Beach has announced that the latest in its Stealth series of headsets for PlayStation or Xbox are available to purchase from today (September 20, 2020). These new variants of the "best sellers" in the wireless audio category for gamers boast features such as flip-to-mute mics, 50mm drivers and reinforced headbands.

Google has indicated that it will launch new smart home products alongside the Pixels 5 and 4a (5G) at these smartphones' launch at the end of September. However, a leaks site may have spoiled any surprise left in conjunction with these devices. WinFuture purports to confirm that they will be a fresh take on the Nest speaker and Chromecast, and to have genuine product images of both.

Vecnos is a spin-off from Ricoh that is dedicated to making compact lifestyle cameras. It has finally unveiled its first 360-degree camera in full. The IQUI fits its 4 proprietary lenses and their controls into a laser-pointer form-factor. It can take 3840x1920 video at 30fps, and has its own app to send these shots to a smartphone.

A photo of the AirPods Studio has leaked online, sparking debate about Apple's rumoured US$349 over-ear headphones. The headphones feature an industrial design, but apparently multiple versions are in development. No 3.5 mm headphone jack will be present on the AirPods Studio, which should come as no surprise considering Apple's dislike of the port.

JAM Audio has launched the Travel ANC wireless headphones. The OEM claims that they are rated for up to 24 hours of battery life, or 18 with active noise-cancelling (ANC) on. Their design also allows for folding up or folding flat

HP has announced new additions to its gaming accessory lineup. The Omen Blast and Omen Frequency Wireless are designed to offer maximal comfort during extended gaming sessions while offering clear 7.1-channel surround. The Omen Blast comes with a 24-bit DAC while the Omen Frequency Wireless aims to offer low-latency high-fidelity audio thanks to Warp Wireless tech.

The gaming headset maker ROCCAT has collaborated with its new parent, Turtle Beach, on its new Elo series. It comes in cross-platform stereo, USB and wireless varieties, all of which are rated for 7.1 surround sound. The Elos also have their brand's AIMO lighting system and self-regulating metal headbands.

The Pixel 5 - not to mention the 5G variant of the 4a - have been anticipated for quite some time. Now, Google has finally confirmed a date for the launch of these new smartphones. This event will also see the debut of the latest Nest speaker and Chromecast device.

US Customs has embarrassed itself and OnePlus in issuing a press release claiming to have seized US$398,000 worth of “counterfeit Apple AirPod Earbuds.” It was only when a tweet was posted showing examples from the purported hall that it became clear to observers that they were merely OnePlus Buds.

Huawei has also launched its latest hearables at its ongoing Developer Conference. The FreeBuds Pro have the AirPod form-factor; however, it is also claimed that they have "intelligent dynamic noise cancellation" and active noise cancelling features. The FreeLace Pro neckbuds also have supposedly best-in-class performance in this right, as well as a battery life of up to 24 hours.

Bose has unleashed two sets of TWS earbuds called the QuietComfort and Sport Earbuds. With one billed as offering the most effective noise cancellation ever and the other as having amazing sound with 'unmovable design', Bose is gunning for competitors like Sony and Sennheiser.

The Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 may have an unusual name, but they offer incredible value for money. Priced at under £100, the Melomania 1 offers unrivalled audio quality and battery life while remaining impressively compact.

Sony finally got around to releasing the WH-1000XM4 last month, its premium set of over-ear headphones. Since we were such fans of previous generations, we thought we would take the fourth-generation units for a spin to see what Sony has changed in the last two years.

Mobvoi has replaced the TicPods 2 Pro, which it announced in January. The new earbuds, called the TicPods 2 Pro Plus, feature some minor improvements and are priced at US$139.99.

Microsoft has just introduced the concept of the Xbox Series S. Now, it has gone into greater detail on its upcoming, all-new digital-only console. The product also gets an AMD Zen 2-based CPU and an RDNA GPU, albeit not exactly the same as the one that will come in the Series X. The latter is rated for 4 TFLOPS' worth of performance, whereas the X is not.

1More launched its first pair of true-wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds with active noise cancellation (ANC) in late 2019. Now, it has revealed that the same accessories have attained a certification from the audio authority THX. This is attributed to the brand's QuietMax technology and hybrid ANC techniques.

The new Redmi SonicBass Wireless Earphones are accessories of the 'neckbud' variety alluded to in a leak earlier in 2020. Now, the brand has finally launched them in their first market, Nepal. They will cost the equivalent of about US$17 in this country on their imminent release.

Realme has made a successful foray into the true-wireless (TWS) earbud market recently. Then again, none of its products have have the sought-after spec of active noise cancelling (ANC). A new leak suggests it is coming in a new set soon, and that their launch will take place in India.

Realme rose to be a top 5 hearable (or audio wearables with a smart component) brand in research on the Indian sector of this market during the first quarter of 2020 (1Q2020). Now, a new Counterpoint Research report on the same space for 2Q2020 has found the OEM has taken the No.1 spot in its TWS earbud sub-sector. Its success is based on the increasing affordability of the devices in question.

Skullcandy has announced the latest addition to the Crusher series of personal audio products. The Evo headphones are equipped with Haptic Bass, which reinforces this range with physical feedback. They also offer the option of building an Audiododo personalized audio profile, which may tailor the headphones' sound delivery to each individual user.

TCL has launched its second-gen AiPQ Engine at IFA 2020. It is a platform rated to enhance this OEM's big-screen TVs, particularly those made with mini-LED or quantum-dot LED (QLED). The Engine allows for "real-time audiovisual optimization" based on the content to be reproduced. It is rated to distinguish between different types of AV media thanks to its machine-learned features.