Audio

OnePlus' first-ever TWS earbuds were AirPod clones, but did come with a gray variant at least. They have been out of stock in many countries for some time, however. The OEM has now revealed that they are back in its store now, however, and that they are US$20 off their regular price right now.

LG now has a few generations of its TONE FREE AirPod-clones under its belt. Now, it has announced a new one. These buds look much like the old, except that they support active noise-cancelling (ANC) this time. Their series' UVnano self-disinfecting technology is also still here.

After spending almost two decades on the market, the only portable media player sold by Apple that still carries the iPod name is the 7th generation Touch, which is much closer to an iPhone than to the original iPod. Once accounting for 40% of Apple's total revenue, the iPod is now only a shadow of its former self.

If you were hoping that Apple would release a successor to the AirPods Pro any time soon, then you are sorely mistaken. According to a new leak, the AirPods Pro 2 may not be arriving over a year. A rough price for the AirPods Pro 2 has been offered too, which is more encouraging.

Huawei's freshly-launched Mate 40 series has, as predicted through leaks, an extra-premium Porsche Design variant. It is accompanied by a similarly customized new smartwatch. This titanium-cased version of the Watch GT 2 has a new "iconic" watch-face, as well as continuous blood-oxygen tracking.

Huawei's major product launch of today (October 22, 2020) served to announce the Mate 40 phablet series and also several "companion" devices for it. They include the rumored FreeBuds Studio, the first ANC headphones from this line of audio products. In addition, a more compact version of the Sound X speaker made its debut.

DxOMark is practically a household name for independent groups that release scores for smartphone prowess in areas such as their screens and cameras. It has announced that its system to test the former has been re-designed to reflect user experience in real-world and laboratory settings. Its procedures for cameras are also now more rigorous than ever.

The C3X is an external home-security camera of the type that integrates AI so as to distinguish potentially dangerous moving objects such as people and cars in the vicinity from others such as animals. Its maker EZVIZ also claims it has extreme low-light capabilities and color night vision. It is now on sale in the UK for a price of about US$194.

OPPO has launched the latest addition to its Enco series of TWS earbuds. They are equipped with a dual-core chipset to control their active noise cancelling (ANC) features. The OEM also describes them as having been developed in partnership with the Danish sound specialist Dynaudio. These new Enco buds are Bluetooth 5.2 and have USB type C charging.

OPPO unveiled products new to this OEM during its October 19, 2020 Wisdom Life conference in China. They include its first-ever TVs, which run on a version of ColorOS developed specially for this new category. They have 4K panels, the highest-end of which is also QLED and has a 120Hz refresh rate.

Xiaomi has debuted the Mi Air 2 Pro, which may also become known as the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Pro in markets besides its initial Chinese region. These TWS earbuds boast a high-end matte finish and house specs such as active noise cancellation (ANC), 12mm drivers and wireless charging. They are available for pre-order for a price of close to $104.

Intel's latest Celeron 6305 and 6305E processors have a number of up-to-date features and specs that may make devices based on them particularly worthy of consideration. There may have a lower base clock here compared to its immediate forebear, but it also supports double the cache, as well as faster memory and graphics. And, of course, Thunderbolt 4 is here in these newer models.

TCL now sells its 4-series smart TVs in the US. These 4K Android devices support Google's Assistant and have Chromecast functionality. They are available in 50-, 55- and 75-inch variants, some of which are already on sale for 2020's Black Friday.

The Kokoon NightBuds are, like the Amazfit ZenBuds or Bose Sleepbuds II, designed to be worn in bed so as to help the user fall asleep. To this end, they measure just 5.4 millimeters in depth, although they are not TWS. They have launched via Kickstarter, where they have amassed nearly 15 times their goal.

Huawei has a premium pair of ANC headphones in the works called the FreeBuds Studio. To be unveiled on October 22 in two colours, the FreeBuds Studio will retail for in the region of €400 and will look to challenge the likes of the Sony WH-1000XM4, Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 and the Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless.

Last year, we posed the question to our readers about how they would feel if laptops begun shipping without integrated 3.5 mm audio jacks similar to most smartphones nowadays. Now, it appears that at least one laptop manufacturer is slowly but surely testing this out for themselves.

The AirPods Studio may not be arriving until December at the earliest, according to a new report. March 2021 is another likely candidate for the release window of Apple's over-ear headphones, which are rumoured to cost up to US$599. The AirTags are now slated to arrive next month alongside iOS 14.3, though.

Mobvoi, the OEM behind popular lines of smartwatch and AirPod-clone accessories, has announced discounts on some newer models of these wearables. They include the TicWatch Pro 2020, as well as the stainless steel-cased TicWatch C2+ and TicPods ANC. Most of these products are 30% off their regular prices.

OnePlus has launched the Buds Z, its no-frills pair of TWS earbuds. The company promises that the earbuds will deliver top-quality audio, water-resistance and a stable Bluetooth 5.0 connection for US$49.99. Google Assistant integration is included for that price, too.

The Beats by Dre brand has launched its latest pair of wireless earphones. Like the Powerbeats Pro before them, they are of the neckbud variety, but are also much cheaper this time. Nevertheless, they are rated for potentially superior audio quality and connectivity thanks to their Apple audio tech.

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.