All posts tagged: wireless earbuds

Why Apple Might Put Cameras Into Its Next AirPods

Why Apple Might Put Cameras Into Its Next AirPods

Published by skeptic

If you were to ding Apple’s privacy credentials in one move, you could do worse than to launch AirPods with cameras. Whether or not they come to market, all of Apple’s existing ubiquitous earbuds would become a question mark for everyone in their vicinity: Are they recording me right now? According to Bloomberg’s well-sourced Mark Gurman, Apple has designed camera-equipped AirPods to allow Siri “to see” the wearer’s surroundings. They’re in the late stages of testing with Apple employees as part of an “AI device push.” However, a source who asked to remain anonymous because they are not authorized to speak publicly about the matter tells WIRED that Apple will likely delay the camera AirPods. While the hardware is ready, Siri’s visual intelligence is not up to par. Apple executives are also worried that the company is introducing a significant privacy risk with earbuds’ cameras without compelling use cases. Apple did not immediately respond to WIRED’s request for comment. That brings us to the main question: What advantages would Apple be seeking by adding cameras …

Cearvol’s Wave Design Fights Off Hearing Loss and Aging Stigma

Cearvol’s Wave Design Fights Off Hearing Loss and Aging Stigma

Published by skeptic

Alas, enhancing ambient audio just isn’t the Wave Lite’s forte. Across all of its modes and various settings, I was only able to achieve a moderate improvement to my hearing. As noted, while the units can get very loud – while keeping hiss to a minimum even at higher volume levels – it’s the quality of the audio that’s a miss here. Voices regularly sounded tinny and thin during my testing, while sharper staccato sounds like keyboard clacks and footsteps could be overpowering. And instead of filtering out low-level background as I would have preferred, the Wave Lites instead boosted the audio on that considerably. Lastly, the app has a system to let you dial down the volume of your own voice, and while this works to a degree, I needed my own voice tempered even more than what was offered on the highest setting. Ultimately, my hearing experience was often better with the Wave Lite hearing aids in than with them out, but I found conversations and movie-watching were not measurably improved no matter …

Best Noise-Canceling Earbuds: Bose, Sony, Apple, and More

Best Noise-Canceling Earbuds: Bose, Sony, Apple, and More

Published by skeptic

Here at WIRED, my colleagues and I test all headphones, including noise-canceling headphones, the way you use them. We wear them over multiple weeks to test their comfort, battery life, and the convenience and accessibility of their onboard controls. We listen to random tunes, podcasts, and videos, but also curated playlists full of music we’ve heard dozens of times. For me, that means samples from the Beatles, Radiohead, Fleetwood Mac, Beck, Nickel Creek, Snarky Puppy, Frank Sinatra, Depeche Mode, Anderson .Paak, and many more. Each of us has our own list, but the common factor is an array of genres to confirm how they work for all types of listeners. Whenever possible we take time to test lossless or high-resolution sound codecs with supported devices, and I use Spotify Lossless as my main streaming source. For testing noise canceling, my colleague Parker Hall and I both take the earbuds out into the world, testing them for sounds from lawnmowers, vacuums, construction sites, traffic, and other local sounds, including their transparency and noise-canceling modes. Because we’re …

Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro Review: AirPods Pro for Android

Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro Review: AirPods Pro for Android

Published by skeptic

The cube-shaped charging case is where you get some real differentiation, stepping back from the Apple-esque rectangular design of 2024’s Buds3 Pro to forge its own path. The transparent lid could easily come off as cheap, but feels hearty instead, as does the matte base that offers both wireless and USB-C charging. Popping the top auto-pairs the buds to your Samsung phone (you’ll need to locate them in the Bluetooth settings for other devices), and placing them in your ears prompts a cool, futuristic tone. The fit is fantastically light at just 5.1 grams per bud, letting me wear them for hours of listening over multiple days with no discomfort. IP57 dust and water resistance make them sport and weather friendly (excluding the case). Beneath the housings are two separate drivers per side, including a newly crafted “woofer” for deeper bass and a specialized tweeter for sharp-cut details in the high end (where strings and cymbals shine). The Buds4 Pro’s battery rating of six hours of playback with active noise canceling (seven hours without) is …

Sony WF-1000XM6 Review: My New Favorite Earbuds

Sony WF-1000XM6 Review: My New Favorite Earbuds

Published by skeptic

The small black buds (they also come in a silvery tan) have two microphones visible on the outer shell, simple Sony logos on the side, and a pair of memory-foam eartips in four sizes. A word to the wise on fit: Once you figure out which size of eartips you want (I stuck with the factory-installed Medium, because I have freakishly average ears), you actually have to twist and compress the foam before you put the earbuds in. This is a key component of why these specific earbuds feel so natural to me, and a huge reason why the noise canceling is so good. Full noise canceling is impossible due to sound physics, but the nerds at Sony and Bose (and even Apple) have gotten pretty damn close. Adding foam is a good way to cut outside noise passively, with ANC software able to work less hard on top of better passive isolation. The more you can actually remove the outside world from a listener’s world physically, like with foam earplugs, the better you can …

What Is That Mysterious Metallic Device US Chief Design Officer Joe Gebbia Is Using?

What Is That Mysterious Metallic Device US Chief Design Officer Joe Gebbia Is Using?

Published by skeptic

Joe Gebbia, cofounder of Airbnb and the US Chief Design Officer appointed by Trump, was spotted in San Francisco today using a mysterious metallic device. In a social media post on X viewed over 500,000 times, a man who looks like Gebbia sits with an espresso at a coffee shop. He’s wearing metallic buds that bisect his ears, with a matching clamshell-shaped disc in front of him on the counter. After the video was posted Monday morning, social media users were quick to suggest that this could be some kind of prototype from OpenAI’s upcoming line of hardware devices designed in partnership with famed Apple designer Jony Ive. An OpenAI spokesperson declined to comment on the potential Gebbia video after WIRED reached out. Gebbia also did not respond to a request for comment. The device Gebbia appears to be wearing looks quite similar to the hardware seen in a fake OpenAI ad that was widely circulated on Reddit and social media in February. That video from last month seemingly showed Pillion actor Alexander Skarsgård interacting …

Best AirPods (2026): Which Apple Headphones Should You Buy?

Best AirPods (2026): Which Apple Headphones Should You Buy?

Published by skeptic

If you’ve never used AirPods before, or it’s been awhile since you upgraded, I’m here to help! Here are some answers to general questions, from what kind of features you can expect to how to clean your buds. Do AirPods work with Android? Yes, you can use AirPods with non-Apple devices, since they use the standard Bluetooth protocol. But you’ll lose out on features like Siri integration, device switching, and the ability to customize shortcuts or adjust software features. In contrast, Beats headphones offer a mix of Apple-friendly features and Android features, including a dedicated Android app and features like one-touch pairing. Can you buy a single AirPod? Yes! If you lose an AirPod, you can buy a replacement for the right or left AirPod through Apple. AppleCare+ doesn’t cover lost or stolen AirPods, so it will cost you. You can use Apple’s “Get an Estimate” tool to calculate the possible cost. The same applies if you lose the Charging Case. Your replacements will be new versions. Why is only one AirPod working? If you …

Best Wireless Headphones (2026): I Compare Bose, Apple, Sony and More

Best Wireless Headphones (2026): I Compare Bose, Apple, Sony and More

Published by skeptic

Other Wireless Headphones We’ve Tested Wireless headphones are the default these days, and there are roughly 1 gazillion of them (and counting). We do our best to test them all, but not everything we test can make the big list. Here are some other good options worth trying. Sony Linkbuds Clip for $230: Sony’s new clip-on open earbuds are solid performers at a premium price. While I found their call quality subpar, they provide clear and accessible audio playback, good controls, and features like a 10-band EQ and audio presets to tailor your experience. Their full price is a tall ask for earbuds you can’t use in loud environments, but they’re otherwise a good addition to this rapidly growing segment. JBL Tour One M3 Smart TX for $350-450: JBL’s Tour One M3 headphones are its best yet, offering a brilliant mix of comfort, style, convenience, and an almost overwhelming number of features. The latest is the Smart Tx transmitter, which acts as a handheld controller but also lets you connect to wired audio sources and …

Soundcore Aerofit 2 Pro Review: Open Earbuds With ANC?

Soundcore Aerofit 2 Pro Review: Open Earbuds With ANC?

Published by skeptic

They do sound good in open mode. When they’re not covering your ear canals, the Aerofit 2 Pro rank among the best open earbuds in their price class, with an airy sound signature that naturally focuses on the upper registers. While no open earbuds I’ve tried accentuate bass as well as regular buds, the Aerofit 2 Pro have more resonance down low than most, accompanied by splashes of keen instrumental detail and clear stereo separation. Wandering Noise Photograph: Ryan Waniata The biggest issue I have with these “best of both worlds” earbuds is noise cancellation that’s not only limited but also unstable and inconsistent. This is almost certainly due to the lack of eartips, which prevents a proper seal. There’s a reason all our favorite noise-canceling buds come with multiple eartip sizes to conform to your ear canals; a good seal is paramount to effective noise canceling. High-register noises and midrange sounds are the worst offenders, especially voices. During one of my wife’s video calls, her voice seemed to constantly migrate from one ear to …

Best Wireless Earbuds (2026): Apple, Sony, Bose, and More

Best Wireless Earbuds (2026): Apple, Sony, Bose, and More

Published by skeptic

Other Earbuds We Like Every month seems to bring new sets of earbuds with longer battery life, new features, and more compact designs. As such, we can’t list everything we like. But if you’re still hunting, here are some other recommendations. Nothing Ear (a) for $59: It has taken a lot for me to recommend a pair of ostensible AirPods Pro clones as the best earbuds for most people, but that speaks to just how much I actually like the Nothing Ear (a). These stylish little yellow earbuds come in a sleek, clear charging case, and they have excellent sound and decent noise cancellation for under $100 retail. I liked how easily they paired with Android and iOS devices and that the lightweight, compact design helped them stay comfortable during longer listening sessions. The larger, more expensive Nothing Ear are also good, but they don’t quite match the Ear (a)’s svelte figure. Status Audio Pro X for $239: The multi-driver array inside these cool-looking earbuds from little-known brand Status Audio helps them rise above the …