Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE review

The Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE have sprung into the affordable IEM arena. One that, as of late, has provided some incredible quality, with brands such as Sennheiser, Meze Audio, and Activo bringing some serious sound-for-pound value.

While the DT 30 IE don’t try anything outwardly fancy, they’re still a very attractive proposition. They have 11mm dynamic drivers intended to supply a “neutral and balanced tuning,” passive noise cancellation up to “-39dB,” and even have an IP54 dust and water resistance rating.

But can they compete with some of the best wired earbuds around? I spent a couple of weeks using them as one of my main listening devices — here’s what I thought.

Let’s start with the area that matters most: sound quality. As you may expect at this price-point, sound quality is good rather than excellent — though there are a lot of positives to discuss.

In Can’t Let Go by Earth, Wind & Fire, overall audio was clear and balanced relatively well. I felt that vocals in the mid-range were a bit lacking in texture and detail, but still had good presence in the mix. More subtle percussive elements came through nicely, though, and funky bass was well-weighted.

Although I felt that the DT 30 IE perhaps lacked the openness and nuance of pricier options, they still sound strong for the price.

And perhaps the main thing that grabs you about the DT 30 IE is their bass output. It’s meaty and dynamic, which is ideal for gigging situations or if you want to enjoy hard-hitting tunes to the max in a more casual capacity. In Kickin’ In The Beat by Lewis Taylor, I was struck by pumping low-end output, which didn’t obscure vocals or drums in the treble range — it's punchy and fairly agile, making for an exciting listen.

Treble is clear and fairly controlled, though it could be more articulate and expressive. In Sing To Me by Ned Doheny, percussion in the treble range didn’t have the precise, bright quality that I was listening out for, with a slightly muted take. This wasn’t the case when I switched over to the Sennheiser IE 200, which offered better top-end clarity, and also provided a more natural interpretation of lead vocals.

So, it’s certainly a positive start overall for the DT 30 IE, but how do they compete elsewhere? In terms of features, there’s not a lot to run through. There’s no in-line controller with volume controls, which is more of a nice-to-have rather than an expectation for IEMs in my view. They also skip on interchangeable connectors, as seen on models such as the Activo Volcano, so you’re stuck with a 3.5mm option unless you purchase an adapter of some kind. But what I did like was the range of ear tips packed in, allowing you to find the ideal seal, no matter your ear size.

And when I got the right seal, I found that the DT 30 IE offered pretty solid passive noise isolation. Is it the best I’ve experienced? No — models with foam ear tips, such as the Shure Aonic 3 take the prize there. But I did find that sounds like typing and office chatter were dulled to a pretty commendable degree, and that’s going to be key for gigging musicians, for example. I also found that, with the right seal, the DT 30 IE were supremely comfortable and secure, making them ideal for longer listening sessions. They’re also nice and small, which I prefer over the chunky approach some rivals go for.

It’s also worth noting that the cable for the DT 30 IE is detachable, so you can swap this out for an aftermarket MMCX cable if you’d prefer. The cable itself is built to a really nice standard, though, and it produced next to no cable noise when I tried taking the buds on the go.

The IEMs themselves, however, don’t quite exude the same sense of premium build quality. They have a translucent look, enabling you to make out the drivers inside, but the casing feels a bit overly plasticky. I’m not expecting ultra-premium materials at this price point, but I do think some rivals in this price-range look a bit more luxurious — the Meze Audio Alba spring to mind.

So are the Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE worth the money? Overall, I’d say yes. They provide good sound quality with impressive bass and solid clarity across the frequency range, as well as a lightweight and comfortable build, and decent passive noise isolation. All of that for $149.99 / £99 / AU$199 isn’t half bad.

What I would argue, however, is that you can get slightly more detailed, nuanced sound — and slightly better build quality — in this general price range. The Sennheiser IE 200 and Meze Audio Alba, in my opinion, offer superior performance at a very similar cost, and I’d suggest checking those out before pulling the trigger on the DT 30 IE, as good as they are.

Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE review: price & release date

• List price of $149.99 / £99 / AU$199
• Released in June 2026

The Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE are priced at $149.99 / £99 / AU$199, meaning they’re certainly sitting in the affordable domain within the IEMs world.

I’ve personally reviewed a number of competitors in this range, including the Sennheiser IE 200, Meze Audio Alba, Activo Scoop, and Shure SE215.

The DT 30 IE were released in June 2026, and are available in a single white colorway.

Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE review: specs

Should I buy the Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE?

Buy them if…

Don’t buy them if…

Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE review: also consider

How I tested the Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE

• Tested over the course of two weeks
• Mainly tested using Tidal
• Paired with Astell & Kern A&ultima SP4000

I spent a couple of weeks using the Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE, and hours upon hours listening to music. Typically, I had the DT 30 IE hooked up to the Astell & Kern A&ultima SP4000 media player, though I did also try them out with my Windows laptop.

To begin with, I sifted through tracks in the TechRadar reference playlist, which features tunes from a wide variety of genres, but I also bumped a bunch of songs from my personal library. I also made sure to compare the DT 30 IE to affordable IEM rivals like the Sennheiser IE 200.

More generally, I’ve spent years testing audio gear here at TechRadar, where I serve as an in-house Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve covered everything from portable DACs through to premium wireless headphones such as the Sony WH-1000XM6, and have reviewed a number of IEMs, meaning I know exactly what it takes for a model to stand out in a competitive market.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: September 2026

JBL Live Buds 4 review

Ever wondered what life would be like if your earbuds had a touchscreen case? OK, you probably haven’t, but stick with me here. The JBL Live Buds 4 are the new generation of the audio specialist’s in-ears that pair with a smart charging case, enabling you to adjust sound settings, adapt ANC, and more — all without having to download a companion app.

They’re a standout model in a congested market. The Live Buds 4 also sit within JBL's wider Live range, which is itself fairly congested in that it also includes the stemmed JBL Live Beam, plus the open-fit JBL Live Flex. This specific model, though — the Live Buds 4 — comes with a number of claimed upgrades over its predecessor, including enhanced ANC, new “fidelity drivers,” and boosted call quality. But are they worth the money and can they compete with options in our best earbuds roundup? Here’s what I think after three weeks of testing.

We’ve got to start with the smart charging case, which has a revamped UI for a smoother, more complete user experience. The touchscreen is undoubtedly small, but it's highly responsive, and there are clear menus to access EQ tweaking, ANC modes, appearance options, and even tools like a flashlight and timer. I sometimes preferred using the JBL Headphones app for the ease of a larger screen, and the ability to set a custom wallpaper from my photo gallery, but for on-the-go tweaks, the charging case is a neat option — even if it is arguably a little bit gimmicky. But hey, I like a good gimmick now and then.

Beyond what I’ve already mentioned, the case features a lot of fun features, like a smart-talk option, which picks up voices if you want to have a conversation while keeping your buds in. There are also customizable touch controls for the buds themselves (which I found to be reactive and convenient), and settings for how your voice sounds on a call, including a bright, natural, and powerful option.

Speaking of calls, JBL has included 6 mics in these earbuds, as well as its new Perfect Calls 2.0 tech, which makes use of AI to keep your voice clear, even in noisier environments. As I mentioned in my JBL Live Beam 4 review (I know, it's easy to get confused with names), I did find my voice to be relatively clear on calls and when taking a recording, but unfortunately I didn’t get the premium clarity I was expecting. There was some noticeable sibilance in my recording, and I also found that some background noises remained more prominent than anticipated.

I also want to talk about active noise cancellation, which has been improved for the Live 4 series. Overall, ANC is decent, but it’s still not up to the standards offered by buds from Apple and Bose. When out and about or on public transport, I could still make out background chatter, and in the office, typing sounds and doors closing were still audible. Sounds are still dulled effectively, and ANC is by no means bad — but if you’re expecting a curtain of silence when using the Live Buds 4, you may be left wanting more.

One area that the Buds 4 totally excel in, though, is sound quality. For earbuds in this price-range, the Buds 4 are excellent, dishing out impactful bass, clean mids, and expressive highs, impressive handling of dynamics, and good attention to detail.

When tuning into Labor of Love by Ned Doheny, I was struck by the beautifully textured and weighted acoustic guitars, which were well separated from clear, tonally accurate vocals. Subtle percussive details also came through beautifully, and funky bass sounded impactful without drowning out other sounds across the frequency range. What’s more, by activating the higher-res Bluetooth codec, LDAC, I could make out some more intricacies in the mid-range, with almost life-like guitars taking the listening experience to the next level.

The Live Buds 4 proved to cope brilliantly with any genre, though. With a deeper, more energetic track, such as Don’t Compare Yourself by Kolter, the pumping deep bass hit phenomenally hard, and reached down to tremendous depths for this level. Bassy synths sounded textured and controlled, lively drums sounded articulate and precise, and emotive vocals, while impactful, never overwhelmed the mix.

I have very few complaints about the sound, and it’s super-simple to customize it to your liking with the EQ settings on the charging case or JBL headphones app. But one thing that could’ve been better was the spatial audio setting, which just lacked the clarity and openness of the standard tuning. I’d also argue that the soundstage is relatively broad on the Live Buds 4 anyway, so you should just keep this mode off if you ask me.

Let’s also talk design, as this is the main area where the Live Buds 4 differentiate themselves from the Beam and Flex. They take up a small, snug in-ear feel, which is ideal for those who prefer earbuds without the stems. I found the buds to be incredibly comfortable, and had no issue keeping them in for multiple hours at a time. They’re also highly secure, never feeling as if they’ll fall out of your ears.

The buds also have a good standard of build, the case has an attractive, textured finish, and the model can be purchased in a wide range of colors. The buds are also IP55-rated, making them splashproof. Some rivals offer superior IP57 protection, but IP55 is enough to keep your buds safe on a rainy day.

One more difference the Buds 4 have, is that they offer the least amount of battery life in the Live 4 lineup, with 8 hours of playtime with the buds when ANC is on, and up to 40 hours with the case. That’s still a good amount of playtime, and competes well with major rivals.

So, are the JBL Live Buds 4 worth their £179.99 / AU$269.95 (about $240) asking price? For me, it’s an emphatic yes. Of course, they’re not the cheapest buds on the market, but they’re also a fair bit cheaper than big-name rivals like the AirPods Pro 3 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2. They also sound fantastic for the money, with the nifty charging case only adding more value. Sure, they could do better in the call quality and ANC department, but ultimately, they still offer decent enough quality in those areas.

JBL Live Buds 4 review: price & release date

• List price of £179.99 / AU$269.95 (about $240)
• Revealed in May 2026

The JBL Live Buds 4 were revealed in May 2026, alongside their siblings, the JBL Live Beam 4 and the JBL Live Flex 4. They released about two years after their predecessor, the JBL Live Buds 3.

They come in at £179.99 / AU$269.95 (about $240), which is the same as their predecessors cost at the point of launch (in the UK). We’re yet to catch wind of a release date and pricing for the US, but we’ll update this review accordingly if and when further details emerge.

These buds are available at a relatively affordable price for the quality on offer, coming in at a lower cost than rivals such as the Apple AirPods Pro 3 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2.

Our top pick for wireless earbuds whatever your budget is the Technics EAH-AZ100, at $299 / £259 (around AU$478). So at quite a bit less than those figures, the JBL Live Buds 4 can be yours for a shade under flagship money — and that's a very good thing in terms of value.

That said, the Huawei Freebuds Pro 5 are our current 'best mid-range' pick in that detailed guide, and those excellent buds retail for the same £179.99 fee as the JBL option. They don't have a smart charging case, but still, food for thought…

JBL Live Buds 4 review: specs

Should I buy the JBL Live Buds 4?

Buy them if…

Don’t buy them if…

JBL Live Buds 4 review: also consider

How I tested the JBL Live Buds 4

• Tested over the course of three weeks
• Used in the office, on walks, and on public transport
• Mainly streamed tunes over Tidal, but tapped into Spotify too

I spent three weeks putting the JBL Live Buds 4 through their paces. During this time, I listened to countless hours of music, messed around with everything the smart charging case had to offer, and exhausted their various features.

As always, I made sure to use these buds in a range of environments — including at home or at the office, but also when out on walks near busy roads, and when on public transport like buses and trains. When listening to tunes, I predominantly streamed music over Tidal on my Xiaomi 17 phone, but I also jumped into Spotify now and then. I made sure to soft through the multi-genre TechRadar reference playlist, but also bumped a bunch of tunes from my personal library.

More generally, I’ve spent years testing audio gear here at TechRadar, where I serve as a Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve reviewed everything from premium wireless headphones like the Sony 1000X The Collexion to hulking party speakers like the Marshall Bromley 750. Of course, I’ve also tested many pairs of wireless earbuds, so I know exactly what it takes for a model to stand out in a highly competitive market.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: August 2026

Indian tech brand Noise has teamed up with Bose for a brand new pair of open earbuds, the Noise Master Buds Open.

These clip-on buds are a first for Noise in the open ear segment, but join its existing Master series lineup, that includes over-ear headphones and in-ear buds — which were also built alongside Bose.

And lucky me — I’ve already tried the Master Buds Open for myself. I got hands on with the brand new open earbuds at IFA Berlin 2026, and spoke with Noise about its collaboration with Bose and the fancy features crammed into its latest creation.

Bose sound at an affordable price… kinda

Allow me to start with something of a disclaimer. The Master Buds Open aren’t a fully fledged Bose product, they simply feature ‘Sound by Bose’ technology. This means that the audio giant helped to tune the sound on the Master Buds Open, and there’s a specific Sound by Bose EQ option for the model.

We’ve seen other brands use Sound by Bose tech in the last year or so, with Baseus making use of a partnership in its Inspire line (including the XH1 headphones), and Skullcandy teaming up with the ANC giant for products including the Method 360 ANC (which we rated very highly).

However, Noise has a closer relationship with Bose than most, as the latter has invested in the Indian company across recent years, and the pair have already developed a number of audio products together, including the Noise Master Buds 2 and Master Buds Max.

Although the new Master Buds Open don’t quite offer the exceptional build and sound quality we’ve come to expect from products like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2, this collaboration certainly heightens the perceived value of Noise’s affordable audio gear, and helps it to stand out as a relatively recent entrant in competitive markets like the US, UK, and EU.

Getting hands on

Anyway, let’s talk about my time getting hands-on with the Noise Master Buds Open.

I have to say, when the buds were brought over to me, they made an excellent first impression. They come in a beautiful case with appealing metallic details, and the buds themselves look incredibly sleek and almost futuristic — especially in the slick Silver colorway.

In use, the Master Buds Open also felt supremely comfortable. I find that some clip-on earbuds have the tendency to either feel a bit tight, or almost too loose, but in my short time with the Master Buds Open they seemed to master the clip-on feel, with a secure yet comfortable fit and almost weightless on-ear sensation.

Sonically, the Master Buds Open performed about as well as I expected, although I should preface my thoughts by noting that the unit I tried was a prototype, and so the Master Buds Open may sound a little different at launch.

Naturally, I made use of the Sound by Bose EQ option, and I’d say the earbuds performed decently overall. A representative played me a bit of I’m Alive by Céline Dion, and I was treated to clear vocals, with fairly prominent bass (as far as open ears go), and well-separated guitars in the mid-range.

I also had the chance to play some songs of my choosing, and switched over to Can’t Resist by Jamback. In this house track, I realized that treble was pretty forward, meaning that drums higher in the frequency range were particularly prominent. Bass was also decently weighted, although you won’t get the pounding low-end that some of the best wireless earbuds can provide.

Was I blown away by the audio on offer from the Master Buds Open? Perhaps not — at least not at this stage. But they did perform pretty well overall, especially when you consider their price. I was told that the Master Buds Open will release for about €119 (around $140 / £100), which is relatively affordable — especially when you consider that Bose’s Ultra Open Earbuds have a list price of $299 / £299 / AU$449.95.

A surprising highlight

While the Master Buds Open will undoubtedly face stiff competition from similarly priced rivals like the Anker Soundcore AeroClip, they did impress me with their comfort and looks.

But one thing struck me more than any other: their surprisingly feature-rich companion app. Not only did I find Noise’s app to be incredibly easy to use and navigate, but I also couldn’t believe how much functionality it had to offer.

There’s a spatial audio setting, designed to offer “dynamic and realistic” audio, as well as a Gaming Mode if you need low-latency audio — a nice touch for keen mobile gamers.

On top of this, the Master Buds Open have customizable touch controls, multi-point, Find My Device capabilities, and a Focus Mode, which locks the buds’ controls when you just want to zone in on your tunes and avoid accidental touch commands. Of course, there are also EQ settings, including a fully customizable equalizer, and mics built in for taking calls on the go.

Noise was also keen to show me that the Master Buds have a built-in AI assistant. This enables you to ask questions with your voice, read chat history, and transcribe meetings or discussions. That’s quite a lot of functionality for buds in this price-range.

While there’s no specific launch date for the Master Buds Open just yet, Noise has said that they’re set to launch on their website and with some major online retailers from late September 2026.

• Baseus Bowie MC2 open-ears launched recently, gaining our glowing review
• Baseus Bowie MC2 NC just made their debut mere weeks later, at IFA 2026
• This model adds noise cancellation and comes at a slightly higher price

It seems like only yesterday I was reviewing the Baseus Bowie MC2 cuff-style earbuds, which I thoroughly believe are some of the best open earbuds for people on a budget.

It was actually about two weeks ago, but the brand is already back with a follow-up to the buds.

At annual tech conference IFA 2026, the wraps have been pulled off the Baseus Bowie MC2 NC, which have one main change over the existing earbuds: the addition of noise cancellation. (You got it from the title didn't you?)

The Bowie MC2 NC are due to go on sale at some point this month, for a slightly-higher price of $99.99 (likely about £99.99, based on the non-NC buds' price). The previous pair sell for $79.99 / £89.99 (about AU$180), so you're paying a little more for noise cancellation. As you'd imagine.

Mostly, these are the same earbuds, with an identical feature set, sound profile and charging case. The latter's stamina is stated to be slightly better, with a 60-hour battery life, but given how much of a power drain noise cancellation is, the resulting battery life will likely be less.

Noise cancellation in a noise uncancelling bud

Noise cancellation is an odd feature for open earbuds — and it's very rare to see it in this ear cuff-style design. ANC typically removes background sound, but the entire point of open earbuds is to allow you to hear what's going on around you. Very few open-earbuds makers have offered any degree of noise cancellation; Honor's Earbuds Open and Shokz' OpenFit Pro are two of the few examples that do, but both sport a more 'traditional' open-ear shell design, rather than the Baseus Bowie's cuff shape.

In practice, though, I get it. You might want to hear what's going on around you while you're stood beside a busy, dangerous road, but not when you're on loud public transport. Some degree of versatility is welcome.

Cancelling sound on these buds is a technical challenge, though. It's hard to remove background noise from music, when these sounds are coming around the bud too. It's like trying to block a river, with a dam that only covers half of it.

To solve this problem, Baseus has redesigned the 'air cushion', or the comfy padded layer around the Bowie MC2's bud. This apparently now blocks up your ear better, to create an acoustic seal that can better block surrounding sounds.

Whether there's appetite for noise cancellation in noise uncancelling buds remains to be seen, but it's good that there are options; this is, as far as I can recall, the first clip-on pair I've heard of with the feature.

• Belkin unveils SoundForm Isolate and Dot earbuds
• Offer ANC, Multipoint and ear wings for a really low price
• Also, there's a new set of child-focused over-ears

You may know Belkin as a company that typically sells power banks, phone cases and charging cables, but its range is diverse and now includes some potential winners in the audio sector.

At IFA 2026, the brand has expanded its fledgling audio family with two new super-affordable pairs of earbuds, each of which offers Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) at a price far below rivals.

There's the SoundForm Isolate Buds, which sell for a very palatable £39.99 (about $54, AU$80), and the SoundForm Dot Buds, going for £29.99 (around $40, AU$60). Those names are meaty, but hopefully the audio is too.

Don't confuse the SoundForm Isolate Buds for the SoundForm Isolate; rookie mistake. Those are existing over-ears. Add 'Buds' for the new products.

Also, when it comes to the Dot option, you can select a model with or without ANC, because Belkin wants to give customers the choice. And the set that can't cancel noise can be yours for just £19.99 (around $26 or AU$36). Dot Got it? Good.

As luck would have it, we've got feet on the ground in Berlin at IFA, and my colleague Harry Padoan got a quick listen in with the SoundForm Isolate (main image and below).

His early thoughts? "From my brief time using the earbuds, they sounded very bass-heavy out of the box. The low-end was powerful and fairly regimented too, which is ideal for more energetic tracks," Padoan said. "While this could sometimes mean that vocals and mid-range sounds weren't the clearest in the mix, the audio quality seems relatively solid overall for the price you pay."

These options have been released alongside the SoundForm Play, over-ear headphones which are intended for "older kids".

Dot's the deal?

Both of Belkin's new earbuds are sold on an important promise: ANC for a lot less than Bose, Sony or Apple. But these buds have a few other benefits.

The Isolate offer Multipoint connection, a clear call quality mode, and a 32-hour battery life. They come with a wing-style design, with a ridge that keeps them locked in your ear, which should make them suitable for workouts.

The slightly cheaper Dots miss out on the wings, and have a slightly lower battery life at 30 hours, but still get Multipoint and clear calling. They also come in both ANC and non-ANC versions. The non-ANC model costs £19.99 (about $25, AU$40), so they're super cheap, but do miss a pretty useful tool.

Conspicuously absent? Any mention of the buds' audio architecture. It seems, then, that the feature list is the real selling point here; don't expect incredible sound (perhaps you guessed that from the price).

You'd be forgiven for being apprehensive about buying earbuds from a charging bank company, even a well-known one such as Belkin. However, many similar companies have begun making the jump into audio: Anker's Soundcore now makes some of our favorite earbuds, and Baseus is following suit — and both are also showing products at IFA.

This is because, unlike some spaces within tech, the power bank and charging tech sector is growing quickly (maybe people are holding onto their phones longer in these challenging times?), affording these brands some extra cash to put towards designing new affordable wearables.

What I'm saying is, it's well worth paying attention to Belkin's offerings. I'll be very interested to see if the company's affordable buds can rival our go-to best budget earbuds recommendations.

• Anker sub-brand Soundcore unveils 7 new headphones at IFA
• New wireless open-ears, over-ears and in-ears, as well as sleep buds
• These include Aerofit 2, taking features from some top options released earlier in the year

Released in May, the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro are my favorite earbuds of 2026 so far, leading to a glowing 4.5-star review... and now Soundcore has taken that DNA, and given it a little twist.

I'm talking about the Soundcore Aeroclip 2, which have just been unveiled at IFA 2026. On the surface, they seem like simple successors to the original Aeroclip, and an odd comparison for the aforementioned in-ear buds. But it's all about the feature set.

You see, the Aeroclip 2 come with Anker's Thus chip, the firm's very own internal AI chipset, used in the Liberty 5 Pro. This brings a suite of advantages that other earbuds of this design simply don't have, including clearer call quality, optimized battery life and a listening test. The new buds are due to cost $169.99 / £159.99 (about AU$320) and go on sale on September 22.

Another point of comparison is that both the Liberty 5 Pro and Aeroclip 2 also now have an advanced model: the 5 Pro Max and Aeroclip 2 Pro respectively. In the latter case, as in the former, the big upgrade is a control panel on the charging case, as well as a note-taking and transcription tool which uses the actual case to take notes. The advanced model is due to cost $229.99 (about £200, AU$400) but has no set release date just yet.

Not all of the Thus chip's features are present: I loved its noise cancellation capabilities, but since clip-style earbuds are designed to not cancel noise, naturally that won't show its face here. But if I want ANC, I have plenty of other options...

A busy IFA for Anker

Anker's Soundcore sub-brand had plenty of other devices at IFA.

First up, there's the Soundcore Space 2 Pro, over-ear headphones which build on the Space 2 we saw earlier this year. Again, the improvement is that they use the Thus chip, with noise cancellation that's apparently 1.5x better than on the original model. There's also a listening test, longer battery life and comfier build, with whatever an "optimized headband" is. These cans are set to cost $199 / £199 (about AU$400), and again go on sale on September 22.

Don't want over-ears? Well, Soundcore has standard earbuds too, in the form of the Liberty Buds 2. These are lightweight, without long stems, and weigh 4.7g each. They use 9.2mm wool paper diaphragms, and once again have the Thus chip, for the listening test and clear calling.

You can buy the Liberty Buds 2 on the same day as these other gadgets: September 22. They'll sell for $129.99 / £129.99 (about AU$230).

Soundcore is continuing its line of sleep earbuds with the... Sleep Earbuds 4 (and 4 Pro). These follow on from the Sleep A30, so the brand is changing up its naming conventions here.

These have build-in photoplethysmography sensors to track your sleep stage, heart rate, heart rate variation and other metrics, with "snore masking" and a redesigned shape so they're even smaller. A neat tool is that they offer dynamic audio: if it notices you waking up, it'll start playing a sleep sound to lull you back to sleep.

The standard buds come in October, and I wasn't provided a price. The Pro models come later, in November, and their main upgrade is that they have a screen on the case, so you don't need to use your phone to manage or monitor them.

Finally, we have the Anker RIC Hearing Aids, which continue a growing trend among audio companies: using their tech to create over-the-counter hearing devices. These use the Thus chip, and therefore the clear-calling and Hear ID tools, to boost sounds you struggle to hear. No word on a price or release date for these.

Phew. Take a breath. That's only the tip of the iceberg for Anker at IFA, with charging devices and home security cameras and more, but luckily for this missive, none of them go on (or near) your ear.

Open earbuds are super-hot right now, especially with great options from more premium brands — our guide to the best open earbuds is full of these. But prices have been coming down, and you can now find super-cheap options on Amazon, many for under $40 / £40 / AU$60. Some are from brands you’ve never heard of, others from well-known brands that are selling older models at a discount.

We all know that buying budget tech tends to come with a few sacrifices. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider them (just take a look at the great picks in our best budget earbuds guide for proof).

The problem is that open earbuds are tricky to get right. You need a combination of stability to keep them in place and an audio mix that’s engaging while also allowing ambient noise to get through. The only way to know if they've succeeded is to test them, so I picked three options from generally reliable budget earbuds brands and put them through their paces, all for under $40 / £35.99 / AU$60.

I put the Tozo OpenEarRing, Soundcore Anker V20i and Belkin SoundForm ClearFit buds to the test, listening to music and podcasts with them all over the course of two weeks.

There was no point focusing on whether these are elite sonic performers — they won’t be, and that's. But I wanted to know whether they’d still fit well, deliver enjoyable audio, and do a good job at keeping me aware of my surroundings.

For those who like to cut to the chase, I'll tell you up front that I think the Tozo OpenEarRing are actually good, the Anker Soundcore V20i are a solid buy, and the Belkin aren't worth it — but read on for exactly why.

Fit and stability

The whole point of open earbuds is they keep your ear canal open so you can hear both your music and what’s going on around you. But that means they’re challenging to design because there are no in-ear tips to keep them securely in place.

Instead, what keeps them stable is either an ear hook that sits around the back of your head, or an ear clip that slips over the side of your ear. (There are some options that just sit in the ear like regular earbuds, but without inserting into the ear canal — but when it comes to open earbuds most people focus on hook or clip style.)

The Belkin SoundForm ClearFit buds have the ear hook design, but it’s a fairly short hook and the angle it curves at didn’t feel particularly comfortable behind my ear.

The main unit of the bud, which sits in front of your ear, is also quite bulky. It felt like there were weight distribution issues between the hook and the buds, which meant they never felt totally secure when I was walking, and slipped and bounced around a little when I was running.

What made this experience worse was that the touch controls on the side of the buds were incredibly sensitive, so in trying to get the right fit or move them back into position, I was playing/pausing and skipping tracks without meaning to.

Now, the Soundcore Anker V20i may look similar with their ear hooks, but these are longer, which kept them more stable because they were anchored in place. They also had a really useful customization feature at the base of the hook, which gives you four slightly different angles to wear them at, depending on the shape of your ear, to help keep them secure.

They felt a little unstable on longer, sweatier runs, but their design differences meant they fit much better than the Belkin buds did.

The Tozo OpenEarRing buds have a different design altogether. They’re part of a category of buds we refer to as 'clip-on'. You part the buds ever-so-slightly and then slip them over your helix at the side of your ear.

Tozo’s take on this design was very easy to wear. It’s worth mentioning here that this style of design does get much closer to your ear than the ear hook style does, which instead sits above it. But the main, circular part of the Tozo buds sat in my concha comfortably, while still not creating a seal, so my ear canals were kept open.

In the past, I’ve preferred clip-on designs. I wear glasses often, and wear sunglasses over summer. I also have thick hair. These factors mean it never feels like there’s enough space behind my ear for buds with ear hooks.

Having said that, plenty of people do rate more expensive hook-style designs, like the Shokz OpenFit 2+. But if I wanted to play it safe with a cheaper pair, I’d pick the clip-on style every time — and that was the case with the Tozo. I had no complaints at all about the fit.

Fit for purpose sound

I wasn’t expecting high-fidelity sound from these buds. But I wanted to test whether they could achieve a decent listening volume (sometimes a challenge with open buds) and if there was enough musicality to make for an engaging and fun listen.

I’ve had people tell me they like having a pair of open earbuds for listening to podcasts while they walk, so I also tested how vocals sounded.

The Belkin buds were a disappointing listen with most genres of music. Even at the highest volume they felt quiet. But pushing them to higher volumes gave a really tinny and distant quality to the tracks. There also wasn’t much bass and the mix lacked definition, with instruments tending to blur together. If you’re listening to any sort of music with power behind it, it’ll lack impact here.

Having said that, tracks that were mostly instrumental sounded decent and podcast vocals were clear enough. Combine these experiences with the fit and I think I’d only recommend these buds if you want to listen to podcasts while you’re walking.

The Soundcore buds performed a little better. They were noticeably louder, but achieving higher volumes is tricky in this design. There was a little more bass presence and weight in bass-heavy tracks, so they're largely fine if you want to listen to a workout playlist but don’t need that thumping low end. Podcasts sounded pretty good too.

The Tozo buds sit much closer to your ear, which means they can achieve pretty high volumes. I also noted good instrument separation and a clarity that surprised me at this level. I felt a sense of things feeling a little bright, sharp and fatiguing eventually, but that was after several hours of use on a long walk.

Now, I wouldn’t say the bass had much weight or impact, but the sound was impressive given that these are open and incredibly cheap. Especially if you tweak the EQ, which is very easy from within the app. Just don’t expect the kind of low-end extension you’d get from an in-ear pair and you’ll be fine.

Does sound leak out?

Most open designs are built to point sound waves towards your ear, so even though they’re open, everyone around you won’t hear what you’re listening to. But in practice, these buds can leak a lot of sound.

I ran several tests to determine what the sound leakage was like at different volumes and distances.

The Soundcore buds performed well. When I was listening to podcasts and music at a medium volume, they weren’t audible from about two feet away — but crank music up to full volume and you can hear it faintly from three or four feet away.

The Belkin buds had the most sound leakage. They felt the furthest away from my ears, so maybe that’s to be expected. At two feet, podcasts and mid volume music was audible, but only if I was testing in a really quiet environment. At full volume, they could be easily heard from three or four feet away in a quiet-ish environment too.

The Tozo buds can get much louder, so I expected a lot more sound leakage. Surprisingly, they performed similarly to the Soundcore buds. There was some faint leakage at lower volumes or in a louder environment. In a really quiet environment and at full volume, I could definitely hear the music from a couple of feet away, but only faintly.

These aren’t options for quiet office spaces, but you knew that already given the design. It’s worth considering that there’s always going to be a little noise leakage in a cheaper, open design, but I’d say a clip-on choice will minimize it significantly given the simple fact that the speakers are closer to your ears.

Awareness of your surroundings

I’ve said in reviews several times before that if you don’t really need open buds, there’s little reason to consider them. I personally think you get a lot more for your money from in-ear designs among the best earbuds. But if you do really like the idea of hearing your surroundings as you listen to music, for your safety or just to feel connected to the world, then have at them.

Both the Belkin buds and Soundcore buds let a little more environmental sound in simply because they were a little further away from my ear. I heard close conversations, traffic, alarms and people shouting.

Now, ironically, at one point I was so preoccupied trying to get the Belkin to feel more stable, I actually lost my focus on the sound of nearby traffic, so I still ended up unaware of my surroundings. So I guess that just goes to show how important fit is.

With the Tozo buds at full volume playing music, I definitely wasn’t aware of as much outside sound, but I could still easily hear alarms, traffic and shouting. When I was using them to listen to podcasts, I was aware of everything.

Levels of awareness are pretty subjective and hard to judge. You could be hearing everything around you and still get distracted by your music or your own thoughts. But I’d say if you want to hear as much as possible, go for ear hooks designs.

Fuss-free controls

When I’m out walking or running and want to pay attention to my surroundings, I don’t want to be getting my phone out every few minutes to pause or skip tracks. Which is why I want to quickly mention the controls you’ll find on each pair of buds.

As I mentioned earlier, the Belkin buds had controls that were way too sensitive. It also seems like the whole front panel of the buds registers touch controls, which made them really difficult to use or wear. Unfortunately, there’s no app support for these buds to turn those off.

Once you memorize what these different controls mean, they do become handy. But the accidental taps outweighed the benefit of the intentional ones.

The Soundcore buds also have sensitive controls, but it was much easier to position them without setting them off. I also like that you can customize them from within the app.

Tozo’s controls don’t work with a single tap. I like this as it solves the issue of unwanted taps. But then again, the double click to play/pause was sometimes difficult to register.

This highlights a fundamental design problem with open buds. You’ll need to be able to touch them often to get the right fit, but still need to be able to touch them to control them.

The cheap Amazon open earbuds winner

The winner here was definitely the Tozo OpenEarRing buds, outshining the other two in terms of fit, stability and sound.

They weren’t perfect, but if you want a super-cheap choice that’s going to deliver decent sound and allow you to hear most of what’s going on around you too, I think they’re surprisingly solid.

If you can stretch your budget, other brands do clip-ons well. The Soundpeats Clip1 are currently our top sub-£100/$100 clip-on pick in our best open earbuds guide.

If you’re set on ear hooks, the Anker Soundcore V20i buds will deliver satisfactory sound with a fairly reliable fit, as long as super intense workouts aren’t your thing.

There are many other cheaper options on Amazon, but I think being aware that there are trade-offs at this level, and deciding which you’re willing to accept, will get you the best possible buds for your budget.

Noble Audio Vanguard review

Right out of the box, the Noble Audio Vanguard look and feel unlike any other in-ear monitors (IEMs) that I've tried before. Their medieval-like outer casework, their shield-shaped ear tip case, and their ink-black cable all caught my eye in a way that few rivals have in my years testing audio gear.

The striking visuals are undeniable. But what of their sound? Well, Noble Audio says that the Vanguard are “designed for control, clarity, and balance,” aiming to deliver excellent clarity across the frequency range through their triple driver configuration.

But are the Vanguard actually able to compete with the very best wired earbuds around? Here’s my verdict after extensive testing and many an hour of listening.

Let’s start by taking a look under the hood. The Noble Audio Vanguard make use of three drivers — all of which are focused on specific roles. For the low frequencies, there’s a 10mm dynamic driver, but there are also two custom balanced armature drivers on board — one for the mid-high frequencies, and another for the ultra-high domain. You can connect to an audio device with the standard 4.4mm connector, although there’s also a USB-C adapter included if you want to listen to tracks on your phone or desktop PC, for instance. Unfortunately, there’s no 3.5mm option out of the box, so you’ll need to use an adapter if you need access to that.

The Vanguard also come with a shield-shaped case filled with an outrageous number of extra ear tips, including gel and foam options. And with the right seal, the Vanguard are able to offer very solid noise isolation, with sounds such as typing and chatter in my office subdued to great effect. As well as the shield case for ear tips, you also get a fabric pouch for the IEMs. It's a neat addition, although it's incredibly susceptible to picking up fibers from a pocket or bag.

One thing that I have to discuss is the actual shape of the IEMs. They’re very chunky, and stuck out from my ears a fair bit, creating a slightly odd feel in-use. Their broad construction meant that they weren’t the most comfortable wired in-ears I’ve ever used, but I still felt that they were secure and fine to keep in for an hour or so at a time.

From a purely aesthetic perspective, the Vanguard fare a bit better in my eyes. They appear to be inspired by medieval-style fantasy, with a shield on each bud containing a splash of gold deep black outer casing. The buds are also constructed from aluminium and a “precision-machined shell,” and they feel highly premium — perhaps even more than their price would suggest. The black, intertwined wire is also a thing of beauty, and I was never subjected to distracting cable noise.

But you want to know how they sound now, don’t you? Well, I’ve kept you waiting long enough. And it’s good news, because for the price you pay, these IEMs sound exceptional.

In All'Acqua Ghiacciata by Marco Castello, the Vanguard performed brilliantly across the board. Acoustic guitars occupied a distinct pocket, and came through with gorgeous tonality. They were well separated from the vocals, which sounded textured and natural. The real highlight, though, was the energetic drums, which came through with incredible clarity and precision, and sounded tastefully prominent without feeling overly bright. Smooth bass was also perfectly balanced in the mix, communicated with impact and warmth without overstepping.

More generally, bass is well-balanced on the Vanguard — though it can hit hard if needed. For instance, on First Night by Vitess, the kick came through with tremendous impact and power, really immersing me in the cosmic house banger. And this was never at the expense of spacey synths or animated drums, which were perfectly weighted in the mix.

As you may expect from the driver configuration — with one specifically tailored for upper treble, and another for mids-highs — the higher frequencies sound excellent on the Vanguard. I’d say they sound a little forward, but tastefully so, emphasizing excitement and detail in the upper echelons of the frequency range. This may not be ideal for those who want the most neutral monitoring solution, but for sheer music-listening enjoyment it’s a welcome decision.

While the Vanguard perhaps don’t provide the enveloping, super-expansive soundstage that some listeners may like, I personally love their dynamic, tight, and detailed approach. And they still provide impressive instrument separation, enabling each component of your favorite tracks to breathe. The dynamic drivers provide weighty yet controlled bass, and the duo of balanced armature drivers are fantastic at supplying textured vocals and clear mids, and especially talented in plating up expressive highs. So the Vanguard are a hit as far as sound quality is concerned.

At $325 / £299 / AU$467, the Noble Audio Vanguard feel well worth the outlay. Sure, they’re a bit chunky, and could be a bit more snug in-use. But the level of detail and precision they supply is spectacular at this price-point. With high build quality and multiple connectivity options, the Vanguard are an excellent affordable-to-mid-range option that audiophiles are sure to love.

Noble Audio Vanguard review: price & release date

• Priced at $325 / £299 / AU$467
• Released in July 2026

At $325 / £299 / AU$467, the Noble Audio Vanguard sit in the affordable-to-mid-range section of the IEM market. They were released in July 2026, as something of a successor to 2025’s Noble Audio Knight IEMs.

For this money, their closest competition might be the Activo Q1, at $349 / £299 (about AU$600), from audiophile staple Astell & Kern's affordable sub-brand. And while the ethereal aesthetic of those wired buds is very different to that of the Noble, the star-rating is just as competitive.

One thing: they may be a little hard to find online, with no planned availability on Amazon or other big third party retailers. But that does not mean I encourage you to stop searching — in fact, the opposite is true.

Noble Audio Vanguard review: specs

Should I buy the Noble Audio Vanguard?

Buy them if…

Don’t buy them if…

Noble Audio Vanguard review: also consider

How I tested the Noble Audio Vanguard

• Tested over the course of multiple days
• Mainly tested using Tidal
• Paired with Astell & Kern A&ultima SP4000

I tested the Noble Audio Vanguard across multiple days and spent hours upon hours listening to music. Typically, I had the Vanguard hooked up to the Astell & Kern A&ultima SP4000 media player, though I did also try them out with my Windows laptop and Xiaomi 17 phone.

To begin with, I sifted through tracks in the TechRadar reference playlist, which features tunes from a wide variety of genres, but I also bumped a bunch of songs from my personal library. I also made sure to compare the Vanguard to affordable IEM rivals like the Sennheiser IE 200.

More generally, I’ve spent years testing audio gear here at TechRadar, where I serve as an in-house Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve covered everything from portable DACs through to premium wireless headphones such as the Sony WH-1000XM6, and have reviewed a number of IEMs, meaning I know exactly what it takes for a model to stand out in a competitive market.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: August 2026

Apple’s big September event is under two weeks away at the time of writing, with invites having been sent out for a ‘Surprise and shine’ event on September 9.

So what surprises can you expect? Well, given how extensively Apple’s products and services tend to leak, there’s a chance there won’t be any major surprises at all. But there certainly will be some big announcements — likely to be headlined by the first foldable iPhone, which could be dubbed the iPhone Ultra.

That’s probably going to be joined by other iPhones, Apple Watches, and an assortment of other devices, so there could be lots to see even if none of it comes as a complete surprise. Below, we’ve detailed the most likely Apple announcements.

1. The iPhone Ultra

The iPhone Ultra is likely to be the biggest announcement at Apple’s ‘Surprise and shine’ event, as this is set to be the company’s first foldable phone — something we’ve heard rumors of for many years at this point.

In fact, it’s been so long now that it’s almost hard to believe it’s actually about to land, but all signs suggest it is.

Leaks point to the iPhone Ultra having a roughly 7.8-inch foldable screen and around a 5.5-inch cover display, with an overall design that’s somewhat similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 — so more of a passport shape than the book-style Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

This will likely have a dual-lens camera and top-end power, and reports suggest the screen might not have a visible crease. It could be the phone you’ve been waiting for if you want an iPhone and an iPad mini all in one. But it’s also sure to be very expensive, with leaks pointing to a starting price of at least $2,000 (around £1,470 / AU$2,785).

2. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will almost certainly launch here too, for anyone who doesn’t want — or can’t afford — Apple’s foldable.

Based on leaks, these will probably sport broadly the same design as the iPhone 17 Pro series, complete with the same 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch screen sizes — though the back glass might be closer in color to the aluminum frame, leaving them with less of a two-tone appearance than the current models.

You can of course expect a chipset upgrade, with the as-yet-unannounced A20 Pro chipset likely to be featured, and the Dynamic Island might be smaller this year.

These phones are also rumored to have a variable aperture on one of their cameras — though it’s possible that only the iPhone 18 Pro Max will get this — and they could have higher capacity batteries than their predecessors.

Though they’re likely to also cost more, with estimates putting the starting price at anywhere between $100 (roughly £75 / AU$140) and $300 (around £220 / AU$415) more than the iPhone 17 Pro line.

3. New Apple Watches

That’s all the iPhones we’re expecting — with the base iPhone 18 reportedly not arriving until 2027 — but Apple is also likely to unveil some new wearables.

Specifically, we’re expecting the Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4. The main upgrades for the Apple Watch 12 could be Touch ID on the side button, and a new S12 chip, likely delivering a noticeable performance improvement. But — other than the new software coming with watchOS 27 such as a dedicated Siri app — this might otherwise be similar to the Apple Watch Series 11, complete with a largely unchanged design.

As for the Apple Watch Ultra 4, this could similarly have a new chipset and gain Touch ID, but it might additionally have a slightly larger screen and a slimmer build than the Apple Watch Ultra 3. Some reports suggest the upcoming model could also have new sensors, which might increase its accuracy at tracking health and fitness metrics.

4. New AirPods

Apple could also unveil some new AirPods at its next event, with talk of the AirPods 5 and AirPods 5 with ANC landing at the September event. Sadly we probably won’t see the rumored AirPods Pro with cameras yet though.

Details on the AirPods 5 are slim so far, but they might prove a tempting — and more affordable — alternative to Apple’s AirPods Pro line.

5. Apple’s first smart home display

Apple might finally launch a smart home display this September, as it’s rumored to be working on a home device with a seven-inch screen, and some reports suggest it will land this year — though don’t be surprised if we don’t see it until 2027.

This device — which might be called a Home Hub — will probably primarily be interacted with via Siri of course, and it will apparently use facial recognition to tell who is looking at it and serve up personalized content accordingly.

6. Other new devices for the home

Apple might also launch a new HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K box at its September event. The former will probably support some Apple Intelligence features and is rumored to work with Wi-Fi 7 and have improved sound quality over its aging predecessor.

The latter could support Siri AI, Wi-Fi 7, have an improved chipset, more RAM, and come with an upgraded Siri remote.

7. New software

That’s probably it for hardware, but September is also when we’ll see the launch of Apple’s new software, much of which is currently in beta.

This includes iOS 27, iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, macOS 27, and tvOS 27. The biggest feature on most of these will be Siri’s AI overhaul, bringing it more in line with the capabilities offered by the likes of Gemini and ChatGPT.

But you can expect tweaks to their interfaces and various other new and improved features too. So even if you’re not planning to buy one of the products above, your existing Apple devices should get a bit better soon.

• Plaud One records and transcribes calls and conversations, but its broader agent capabilities will arrive in a future update
• High-stakes actions require approval, while recording is manually triggered, and users are responsible for obtaining consent
• It features built-in 4G connectivity at no additional cost

It’s certainly an interesting time for AI wearables, with smart glasses in particular attracting a lot of attention — and raising privacy concerns around the potential for users to video people without their permission.

Announced for pre-order today, Plaud One Explorer Edition is a new wearable AI device, primarily aimed at professionals, that's designed to capture your conversations, so that it can produce actions and reports based on the discussions you’re having during your working day

Worn as earbuds or used through its standalone case, Plaud One can capture calls and in-person conversations. Recordings are uploaded automatically for transcription and summarization as they happen, so (in theory at least) you’ll never need to write anything down again.

Plaud One also has agentic capabilities that Plaud says can take actions across tools like Gmail, Google Calendar, Notion and Slack based on your conversations. However, when we quizzed Plaud about exactly what will be available at launch it told us: “Explorer Edition is the complete Plaud One hardware, but broader new Plaud Intelligence agent capabilities will be available in a future update.”

That caveat pushes the agentic features further into the future. So what agent abilities will work at launch, rather than arriving later in App 4.0? I spoke to the Plaud team to find out.

They told me that, “At launch, users can press and hold the Agent Button and speak to the agent. Hands-free 'Hey Plaud' activation through the earbuds is coming in a future firmware update.”

Privacy concerns

Given the obvious privacy concerns, I asked the team if recording is manually triggered, and how other people know it is happening.

“Yes, recording is manually triggered with the press of a button,” they told me. The team didn’t mention any audible or visible indication that recording is taking place, instead placing responsibility on the wearer to inform the people around them: “Plaud encourages users to follow local laws and best practices for recording consent," they added. "Where consent is required, users should inform participants before recording.”

Plaud Agent uses the context of your conversations to identify possible actions, such as preparing a follow-up email after a client meeting or producing a finished report based on a discussion. But can it actually send an email, post to Slack or create a calendar event without confirmation from the user?

“It depends on what the action is”, said the Plaud team. “Anything that changes something or leaves your environment, the agent pauses and asks you first. For example, editing or deleting your files, sending an email on your behalf, pulling in outside data — those always need your approval. Reading and querying your own data inside Plaud is different. That's a closed, trusted environment, so the agent can do that on its own. That's what makes it actually useful. If it had to ask permission to look something up in your own notes, it wouldn't feel like an agent at all.”

What happens when the agent misunderstands a decision?

“The design assumes a misunderstanding can happen, so it's built to be caught before it turns into a wrong action," the team told me. "All higher-stakes actions — changing or deleting internal files, sending an email externally, or calling external data — require the user to approve them manually. So if you spot something the Agent got wrong, you can fix it yourself before it goes anywhere, or ask the Agent to revise it. Nothing high-stakes acts on its own

"On top of that, the Agent's outputs are grounded, not guesswork — they're built from the context the user actually provides, the real transcripts and recordings, so they trace back to what was genuinely said and a misread is easy to spot.

"And as with any AI, we're clear that important outputs should be checked before they're used — the same principle behind the 'AI can make mistakes, please verify' note you see across these tools. The point isn't that it never misunderstands; it's that the user stays in control, and the work stays grounded, reviewable, and correctable.”

That approval system is only one part of how Plaud says the agent will work. To handle different kinds of tasks, Plaud Agent draws on a library of workflows known as Skills, alongside curated collections designed for particular professional roles called Plugins. As well as agentic actions, Plaud Agent can also generate finished work products, from emails to documents and presentations.

Independent of your phone

Interestingly, Plaud One is designed to work independently of your phone thanks to a built-in eSIM and 4G LTE connectivity. That immediately raises another question: will the eSIM require a separate subscription?

The Plaud team told me it will not: “No, Plaud One comes with a built-in eSim, which is provided at no extra cost to the consumer.”

I also asked whether users can inspect, correct and delete the information Plaud retains about them, and the team told me: “Users retain full control over their data. Plaud processes user data to deliver core product functionality, and users can access, correct, export, and delete their data — and withdraw consent — at any time through the Plaud App.”

Finally, I asked if these are fully functional music and calling earbuds, or primarily recording devices, and the team explain that, “The earbuds are recording devices first, capturing what you hear and say, so they can be used for calls. The earbuds also have High-Res LDAC audio, however, Plaud One is first and foremost an AI notetaker.”

Availability

Plaud One is priced at $249.99 / £229 and includes $200 / £150 in Plaud credits; pricing and availability for Australia is TBC. That made me wonder exactly what those credits buy — and how much continued use will cost once they've been spent.

The team did not disclose the ongoing costs, but explained that, “credits are used for the new Agent capabilities across Plaud Intelligence: agent tasks, Routines, Skills and Plugins, and the Artefacts the Agent produces. Everything else about Plaud One works out of the box.”

Pre-orders are open now in the US and UK with shipping of the Explorer Edition expected in Q4 2026.

• Report points to AirPods 5 launching in September, in two models
• A cheaper version and a pricier option with noise cancellation
• We're expecting the big iPhone 18 Pro event to happen in early September

Despite all these news stories about AirPods with cameras, we've been hearing that 'normal' AirPods are set to release before the end of the year — and a brand-new report paints a much clearer picture of what we're about to see.

According to a report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, a prolific Apple tipster, the brand is teeing up to release AirPods 5, consisting of a standard pair of buds and an ANC-toting model.

It's suggested that these buds could come in early September — Apple's regular late-year launch is expected to bring iPhone 18 Pro models, Apple Watch 12 and a folding iPhone Ultra — but, by the sounds of it, there's wiggle room for them to release a little later. Still, it's often Apple's style to have one big event with lots of products.

Back in 2024, Apple expanded its non-Pro AirPods line two have two versions. We received the standard AirPods 4, and also the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, the latter of which received a slightly more positive review from us. It was a similar model, but with a slightly higher price and ANC. It seems that Apple is continuing that trend.

AirPods that are really 'new'

Apple's standard AirPods see fewer leaks and rumors than the Pro model, and so there aren't any serious reports as to what we could expect. But we weren't glowing in our review, and there are a few tweaks Apple could make to improve them.

The main thing is simply the value. The AirPods 4 weren't expensive, but they just didn't offer as good value for money as the competition — the likes of the Nothing Ear (a) were cheaper, offered features such as ANC, and sounded better.

They stood in contrast to the AirPods Pro 2 (which were current when AirPods 4 launched) and later the AirPods Pro 3. The premium buds are excellent value compared to the competition, packing in more features, impressive sound, and a comfortable and light design.

Apple had the same problem I saw in Samsung's Galaxy Buds 4: a brand not making its cheaper options cheap enough. I'd like to see AirPods 5 either cost less (unlikely in today's tech world…) or have more features to give them a reason to cost more than the rest of the budget earbuds world.

I also think fit reliability is an area that needs to see changes too. It's a common problem in semi-open buds like the AirPods, that they don't grip in your ears as well as those with in-ear tips — I've lost count of how many AirPods runners I've seen lose their buds mid-jog. Apple's done good design work in this area, but I want to see improvements still.

Apple improved the battery life of its earbuds last time, and I hope it can do that again — they actually outperformed Apple's claimed figures, but it's normal to see earbuds hit close to 10 hours without ANC on, so it'd be great to see Apple get closer to that.

When it comes to audio, I hope they'll improve the way they handle detail. As we said in our AirPods 4 review, they lose fine resolution, which can affect the enjoyment of some tracks. Of all the upgrades I've listed, I'd imagine sonic tweaks are the ones most likely to come to fruition.

If Apple wanted to make some serious changes, it could make AirPods truly accessible to Android users (at the moment, most AirPods features require an iPhone, though they will function for basic audio with any Bluetooth device). I don't see the brand making this change, but it'd certainly shine a needed light on Apple's lesser-bought buds — however, Android support seems to be Beats' role in Apple's portfolio.

It's hard not to treat 2026 as a fallow year for AirPods. The fifth-generation models will likely be iterative updates, as the AirPods Max 2 were, and the camera-toting AirPods are expected to launch next year. But a few tweaks could help make the AirPods 5 feel like more than water-treading from Apple, even just two years after the previous models.

• More details on these rumored AirPods have emerged
• It seems they'll be capable of taking 1MP photos
• The earbuds may also be able to use environmental context

Rumors of Apple working on a pair of camera-equipped AirPods have been doing the rounds for years now, but it seems their arrival could now be close. A fresh leak has given us some more details of the specs to expect, as well.

As MacRumors reports, data hidden away in macOS suggests that these earbuds will be able to capture synchronized color images up to 1 megapixel in size. That backs up the idea that they'll primarily be for AI sensing and processing, rather than to snap photos of your vacation or kids.

The code also points to photo capture but not video capture, and there are mentions of context in the environment that are used by the AirPods: these potential contextual clues include nearby speech and sounds, and changes in the user's posture and head position.

There are also indications that these AirPods-with-eyes will have a capture light on them to show when the camera is active, and that all the necessary visual interpretation will be done on device — potentially assuaging privacy concerns around how they might be used.

Negative pushback

Of course none of these details are guaranteed to appear in the final product, which those in the know say will be making an appearance next year. Apple might decide to change certain aspects of the device's configuration, or cancel it altogether.

In recent months, we've seen a lot of conversations and consumer pushback around the covert recording that smart glasses are capable of, and Apple will know that it's going to have to work hard to avoid the same negative chatter in regards to these AirPods.

Going off one Reddit thread at least, users aren't sure about these extra capabilities, with one contributor saying "this is going to get AirPods banned from all workplaces". However, other commenters seem more positive about the possibilities here — while also insisting that Apple will have to put privacy protections like on-device processing in place.

The leaked video that we saw a few days ago shows the AirPods-with-cameras being used as a sort of visual bookmarking system, where users can ask to save an item like a book cover to reference again in the future.

JBL Live Beam 4 review

JBL is back with its new generation of touchscreen-equipped earbuds, and the JBL Live Beam 4 may just be my favorite of the bunch.

These in-ear wireless earbuds come with a number of improvements over their predecessors, including enhanced active noise cancelling capabilities, new “fidelity drivers” for more advanced audio, and better call quality to boot. That’s not to mention an updated UI for the smart charging case, which is packed with more features than ever before.

But are these changes good enough to cement the JBL Live Beam 4 as some of the best wireless earbuds that money can buy? Here’s what I think after weeks of testing.

Let’s start by talking about the smart charging case, which is the Live series’ unique selling point. Although it certainly borders on gimmicky, the revamped UI is actually pretty responsive, and is packed with plenty of functionality. You can adjust the ANC mode, equalizer, spatial sound settings, and playback settings, for instance, and 'favorite' certain settings for speedier access.

But that’s not all. You can also access tools such as a timer, flashlight, and a Find My Buds application, and also set a background — including a custom photo, which I loved doing. Gaining access to these instruments without needing to remove your phone (or other source device) may be handy in certain situations — like when your device is in a bag or on charge.

As chic as the touchscreen case is, though, I still found myself gravitating towards the JBL Headphones app on my phone — the ease of a larger screen, and the full control available in the companion software made it a more natural choice for me.

The feature-set available is pretty comprehensive just on the case though, and marks a vast improvement on the suite of features to be found in JBL's past screen-toting buds. On top of what I’ve already mentioned, you can activate a smart talk option — similar to Sony’s speak-to-chat feature. You can also customize touch controls, and alter how your voice — and the person on the other side — sounds on phone calls (there’s a natural, powerful, or bright version).

Given that JBL has also included ‘Perfect Calls 2.0’ tech, which harnesses an AI-trained algorithm, you may expect primo call quality here, but unfortunately, I found it to be a touch underwhelming. It was by no means bad, but during a call, my colleague noted how my voice lacked the clarity and definition they’d expected. When making a voice recording I found this to be accurate — my speech was clear enough, but there was a fair bit of sibilance, and background noises were pretty prominent too.

But let’s talk about arguably the most important feature of all — active noise cancellation. You can choose to have this on, off, or use a transparency mode, all of which are easy to cycle through in-app or on the smart charging case.

But just how good is the ANC on these earbuds? Well… it’s decent. We weren’t blown away by noise the cancelling on the JBL Live Beam 3, and despite some improvement, I still found them a little prone to letting external noise creep in. Whether it was passing by traffic, typing in my office, or chatter on buses, I could still hear a fair bit, even when listening at around 70% volume. The Beam 4 still dulled sounds effectively, and kept me focused on my tunes, but if you’re expecting the silence-inducing ANC of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2, for instance, then you may be disappointed.

Anyway, I think it’s about time I started giving the JBL Beam 4 their flowers, because they impressed me in almost every other area — including what is arguably the most crucial of all: sound quality. These are a fantastic-sounding pair of wireless buds, especially with LDAC activated for higher-resolution Bluetooth streaming.

Right out of the box, the Live Beam 4 offer exciting, impactful, yet detailed audio. As is usually the case with JBL audio gear, the bass is fairly forward, but not to the point that it’s distasteful or ‘boomy’.

For instance, tuning into Soul Mass Transit System’s Feel Da Vibe, I was struck by the deep, hypnotic bassline, which rippled throughout the track effortlessly, never sounding lethargic or unrefined. In addition, synths in the mid-range and drums up high never sounded drowned out or obscured by the hard-hitting bass.

More stripped-back, acoustic tracks sound great on the Live Beam 4 too. For example, in 78 Rotações by Jards Macalé, fingerpicked guitars sounded expressive and vibrant, and the natural tonality of the raw playing was replicated with finesse. Sure, vocals could have been separated in the mix a bit more effectively, but I still really enjoyed the listening experience overall — subtle percussive elements and guitar licks sounded were positioned brilliantly, and the buds’ broad soundstage made for a surprisingly immersive presentation.

All in all, I’d argue that these are some of the best-sounding earbuds in their price range. Treble is controlled yet vivid enough to capture the excitement of more energetic tracks, mids are detailed and clean-sounding, and bass is impactful yet disciplined. One thing, though: keep Spatial Sound off. This setting only made my music sound compressed, and vocals sound artificial and shrill. You also have to turn LDAC off to use it, so I’d steer clear, personally.

Something else I really liked about the Live Beam 4 is their design. Their stems make them easy to remove from your ears, and the glossy finish on the exterior is pretty enticing. The case itself is pretty neat-looking too and is built to a very high standard. The display itself is fairly bright, and although the case is on the bulky side overall, it’s still small enough to slot into just about any pocket.

In the ear, the buds also feel phenomenally comfortable and secure. I never felt the need to take them out, even when listening to music for hours on end — something I honestly can’t say about a lot of competitors. They’re also IP55 dust and waterproof-rated, meaning I was able to use the Beam 4 even if it was pouring with rain outside.

So are the JBL Live Beam 4 worth their £179.99 / AU$269.95 (about $240) asking price? For me, it’s a resounding yes. They offer genuinely sophisticated sound, a really comfortable in-ear fit, and plenty of features to play around with. The smart case — though admittedly a bit of a gimmick — is responsive and a fun inclusion, and I enjoyed setting a custom background, using the built-in applications, and having swift access to EQ settings, for example.

The battery life — although unchanged from the previous gen — is still plentiful too, 12 hours for the buds, and up to 48 hours with the charging case is better than you’re getting from Apple and Bose’s flagship earbuds.

So, even if the ANC and call quality could be better on the JBL Live Beam 4, they still earn my hearty recommendation, and if you want wireless earbuds that come with a unique twist, they’re well worth checking out.

JBL Live Beam 4 review: price & release date

• List price of £179.99 / AU$269.95 (about $240)
• Revealed in May 2026

The JBL Live Beam 4 were revealed in May 2026, about two years after their predecessor, the JBL Live Beam 3. They come in at £179.99 / AU$269.95 (about $240), meaning they cost the same as the previous gen model did at launch (in the UK). We’re yet to receive any information about pricing or a launch in the US, but we’ll update this review if and when we hear more.

They’re priced competitively, coming in at a lower cost than top-tier rivals like the AirPods Pro 3 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2.

JBL Live Beam 4 review: specs

Should I buy the JBL Live Beam 4?

Buy them if…

Don’t buy them if…

JBL Live Beam 4 review: also consider

How I tested the JBL Live Beam 4

• I tested over the course of multiple weeks
• Mainly used Tidal when assessing audio quality
• Took with me on walks, public transport, and to the office

I spent multiple weeks testing the JBL Live Beam 4, and took them with me just about everywhere I went. This meant that I was able to test the buds’ noise cancelling in a wide variety of environments, including buses, the office, and while on walks in my city.

When assessing audio quality, I mainly used the music streaming app, Tidal, which supports higher-resolution streaming. I did also dip into Spotify from time to time, however. During my time with the Beam 4, I made sure to cycle through the TechRadar testing playlist, which features tracks from a wide variety of genres, but I also bumped a ton of tunes from my personal library as well.

More generally, I’ve spent years testing audio gear here at TechRadar, and have reviewed everything from hulking party speakers to audiophile-friendly wired and wireless headphones. I’ve also tested several pairs of wireless earbuds from the likes of LG and Sony, so I know exactly what it takes for a product to stand out in this competitive segment of the market.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: August 2026

• Sennheiser has announced the Momentum True Wireless 5 noise-cancelling earbuds with a completely redesigned enclosure
• New features include Bluetooth 6.0, Dolby Atmos and replaceable batteries
• Available to buy from September 3 for the same price as the previous generation in the US, but more expensive in the UK and Australia

Hot on the heels of the launch of the much-anticipated Momentum 5 Wireless over-ear headphones, Sennheiser has announced their flagship earbud sibling in the Momentum True Wireless 5.

While there was a five-year gap between generations of the over-ear cans, we’ve thankfully had to wait less than three years for the sequel to a pair of earbuds we’ve previously awarded 4.5 stars to — and this is speedy indeed considering they’re a complete revamp over the fourth-generation true wireless buds, including design and features.

The fifth-gen earbuds introduce a “barely there” fit, by way of a newly streamlined silhouette. The audio brand promises that the new design is more comfortable than the previous generation, and I’m certainly keen to test that claim, especially since the previous model was “comfortable enough to keep wearing” even “after several hours of continuous use”. Four ear-tip sizes are included to help users achieve the perfect seal, ranging from extra small to large.

Ensuring customers get a similar experience whether they go buds or cans, Sennheiser says the Momentum True Wireless 5 benefit from the “same sound-first DNA” as their over-ear sibling. To achieve that goal, the new in-ears are fitted with the brand’s 7mm TrueResponse dynamic driver that claims to balance “remarkable detail with full-bodied, bass-driven tuning”, alongside “exceptional precision, clarity and dynamics”.

Another headline feature is the use of Bluetooth 6.0 with aptX Adaptive, giving them the ability to support hi-res wireless audio up to 24-bit/96kHz from compatible sources.

While Bluetooth 6.0 is still very much a rarity in the world of headphones, it has already found its way into a range of devices, including the iPhone 17, Google Pixel 10 and 11 and Samsung Galaxy S26. While they’re not the first set of headphones to integrate the latest standard (the JBL Tune 530BT and 730BT also boast Bluetooth 6), they’re certainly part of a minority group at present. Sennheiser is evidently keen to champion the latest wireless connectivity, as the Momentum 5 Wireless over-ears have also been promised Bluetooth 6.0 via a future software update.

The active noise-cancelling system in the fifth-generation flagship earbuds have also been revised. This sees a redesigned ear tip working in tandem with a four-mic array (per bud) to "maximize noise cancelling performance”. The company has placed an emphasis on crystal-clear quality during phone calls too, and as a result, there are eight system sensors — six microphones, two bone-conduction voice accelerometers — that work alongside an AI speech-extraction algorithm to isolate voice in busier environments. Like their over-ear sibling, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 are fully optimized for Dolby Atmos, complete with head tracking.

Sennheiser has also made improvements to battery life. This latest generation claims up to 12 hours on a single charge (up from 7.5 in the previous model) and a total of 40 hours including the case (up from 30 hours). These figures are with ANC turned off and our friends at What Hi-Fi? have cited Sennheiser as saying they drop to 6 hours and up to 25 hours, respectively, with ANC turned on.

They also gain the advantage of a replaceable battery system in both the earbuds and wireless charging case, which should considerably extend their usable lifespan, something that can't be said of many pairs of the best earbuds we've tested.

The Momentum True Wireless 5 are IP54-rated for dust, sweat and splash resistance, while a perforated microphone plate promises to keep wind interference at bay during voice calls.

The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 will be available from September 3 in Graphite, Cream, Copper, Denim and Lavender finishes for $300 / £250 / AU$499.

The flagship earbud frontrunner?

The biggest names in consumer audio all have a flagship pair of earbuds. You’ve got the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2, Apple AirPods Pro 3, Sony WF-1000XM6 and even the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8.

All of these have performed well under review with our team of audio experts, but this new pair from Sennheiser has several advantages that could see it become the flagship earbuds to beat.

Bluetooth 6.0 is certainly one of them. As mentioned, the new standard is still in its infancy when it comes to headphone adoption. Hopefully that changes soon, as Bluetooth 6.0 brings a number of improvements over previous generations, including the potential for lower latency, greater efficiency and more reliable connections. In other words, it lays the groundwork for wireless headphones to respond faster and maintain a more stable connection to your source device.

While combining Bluetooth 6.0 with aptX Adaptive doesn’t guarantee they’ll sound better than their flagship rivals, it gives them some impressive wireless credentials on paper — I, for one, am definitely keen to see how they manage to outperform the competition.

Just look at the specs sheet and it appears to be the complete package, promising improved active noise cancellation, Dolby Atmos with head tracking, superior battery life and, importantly, one you can potentially repair with a screwdriver rather than replacing after a few years of use.

Battery degradation remains one of the biggest limitations of true wireless earbuds, so being able to replace them rather than the entire product could give the Momentum True Wireless 5 a considerable longevity advantage over some of their premium rivals.

Again, none of these improvements guarantees they’ll outperform the best from Bose, Sony, Apple or Bowers & Wilkins, especially when sound quality and noise cancellation will ultimately need to be put to the test. But, on paper, Sennheiser has given its latest flagship practically everything it needs to compete at the very top.

As someone who ultimately prefers an in-ear style of headphone — save from my beloved and uber-comfortable Sonos Ace over ears — I can’t wait to hear what the Momentum True Wireless 5 are capable of.

Here's something I never thought: What if my ears could see? The very idea of it conjures visions of earlobes with clusters of tiny, spider-like eyes.

Of course, now we're all considering this possibility thanks to what appears to be a stunning crack in Apple's typically rock-solid dome of product secrecy.

As we reported earlier this week, MacRumors dug into one of the macOS 27 release candidates and unearthed a short bit of video featuring a man wearing AirPods Pro earbuds but somehow using them with Apple Intelligence to save an image of a book for later.

The guy isn't wearing glasses, so it's not the rumored Apple iGlass or Apple Vision Wear at work here. Instead, everyone believes this is the first confirmation that Apple is working on AirPods with cameras or "AirPods Vision," a pair of Bluetooth earbuds also equipped with vision sensors that, in concert with your connected iPhone, can use Apple Intelligence to recognize objects and then store information about them for retrieval later.

I spent some time staring at the bud in the guy's ear, and it looks, from this angle, exactly like the current AirPods Pro 3 I currently wear. I assume that whatever sensors the buds are using live on the opposite side, facing out so they can "see" what you see.

I also got caught up in the book the guy is memorizing. Could, Should, Might, Don't, is a real book by former design head for Google X, Nick Foster. In it, he dives into four mindsets of, I guess, future ideation and innovation:

• "Could" revolves around the wild possibilities (probably why we watch and love Star Trek).
• "Should" is sort of the realist's approach to what we should do based on on-the-ground facts and data.
• "Might" appears to combine elements of the first two.
• "Don't" is the risk-averse part. It's all the reasons people don't want Artificial General Intelligence or robots running AGI living with, working with, and maybe ultimately controlling us.

While not anti-tech or anti-innovation, the book has a point of view and seems an odd choice to include in what might be an iPhone and AirPods tip video.

I look at the overall image and that book and think:

"Yeah, we Could do this, have AirPods that can see, but we Should think about the consequences of another sensor on our body, and while it Might be cool to have an always-aware system memorizing things for you, we Don't want other people to freak out when they see cameras in our ears."

Smart Glasses is a lesson

Usually, I would remind people that these are all rumors and Apple is always working on oddball stuff that will never see the light of day, but we have a tip video. Apple doesn't create tips for products it's never bringing to market.

I think there's a good chance we will get these "seeing" AirPods Pro this year. I understand the system probably isn't collecting and storing images of everything you see forever. It appears to be on demand, and the use of Apple Vision should mean that it takes the image, sends it to Apple's Private Cloud Compute, matches it with available data on the internet — "What is this book?" — and stores that data without the need for the actual photo or anything else the AirPods Pro's sensors detected.

Even with those assurances, consumers are in no mood for more wearable sensors. Just look at the growing negative sentiment around smart glasses, which some are now calling "creep glasses."

The difference, of course, is that such smart wearable cameras are meant to both analyze the world you see and to capture and store photos and videos. The "creep" factor comes in from people circumventing the onboard privacy controls (trying to hide the LED lights) so they can surreptitiously capture photos and videos.

The problem with camera- or vision-equipped AirPods, though, is that people will have similar concerns. If they see cameras on your AirPods, they will surely recoil and demand to know what they're for and if you are capturing images and video of them. You might say no, but also secretly wish you had. The chance to document at least their face and name so you don't forget it the next time you see them would be too hard to pass up.

AirPods Vision, if that's what they're called, might not allow you to capture images of living things, something that could seriously limit their utility except for use in quiet, windowsless, and people-free rooms like the one that guy is standing in. Oh, wait, that has a window. What if someone walks by? Does the AirPods' vision system stop working?

In a few weeks, Apple will have a new CEO, John Ternus, who will want to put his stamp on the company. This could be his first opportunity. I know Tim Cook loved the idea of AR glasses and was definitely all in on sensor-filled wearables, especially ones that could improve your health and safety.

Ternus could recalibrate, though. I'm sure he'll continue to support the health and safety aspect, but maybe he pumps the brakes on glasses and these AirPods with cameras until he has a better understanding of public sentiment and the privacy implications. There's a lot to discover, and given the challenges in these markets, there's no need to rush into anything.

• Soundpeats announces UU2 clip buds
• Successors to 4-star Clip1
• Sound leakage avoidance, physical buttons, long battery life

Of all the cuff-style earbuds I've tested, the Soundpeats Clip1 are my favorite that cost under $100 / £100 / AU$100 — probably my flatmate's too, given how keen he was to 'inherit' them — and now, a follow-up has been announced.

These are the Soundpeats UU2, which have been on sale in Japan for a few months, but are now available in the US, UK, Australia and several European countries. No, I don't understand the name either, perhaps Soundpeats' execs come from a place where the buds have no name… (But to clarify no, as far as we know, there is absolutely no link with Bono et al).

You can buy the earbuds now for $49.99 / £59.99 (around AU$70) which is a small saving too, when you consider the $69.99 / £74.99 / AU$79.99 asking price of the original Clip1.

However these new buds make a place for our best open-ear buds list with a few premium features, likely inspired by higher-end models on the market.

Who's Gonna Ride Those Wild Earbuds

The Soundpeats UU2 get a 10-hour battery life, and 42-hour case life, both of those being longer than on the Clip1. I don't imagine anyone will be disappointed by that change.

More impressive is the introduction of a sound leak reduction mode, solving a common open-earbud problem in that people around you can hear what you're listening for.

Some earbuds have solutions: the Shokz OpenDots Air have an EQ mode to reduce it, and the Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro had an entire driver to eliminate sound leaking, and I imagine Soundpeat's solution will fall into one of those two categories.

Another pain of clip-style buds is that their touch controls can be pretty sensitive, so the UU2 have physical buttons to control the issue. Budget buds often go for haptic controls, with actual clicky buttons saved for premium models, so I'm somewhat surprised to see the Soundpeats rock them.

A seemingly-unchanged spec from the Clip1 is the driver: 12mm here, so I don't expect a sonic overhaul. The call clarity is said to have seen an increase, though.

We've yet to thoroughly test the Soundpeats UU2, but we've got our hands on them, so we'll soon see if they can outshine the Clip1 — and the ever-growing number of budget cuff-buds out there right now.

• A user on Reddit shared a solution to stop AirPods from slipping out of your ears
• They switched to liquid silicone tips instead of Apple's standard silicone ones
• The user claims these have solved the slipping issue, and they fit just as well as foam tips

We’ve tested pretty much all the best earbuds out there, and the AirPods Pro lineup always lands in our list of top models — but keeping them tucked securely in your ears can be a bit of a challenge during activities that involve a lot of movement.

If you find that your AirPods Pro slip out while running, or even walking and chewing, you’re not in the minority. Turns out, there’s a whole community of AirPod users out there who are running into the same issues.

I switched from earbuds to using some of the best headphones a while back, but when I had my old AirPods I endured the same frustrations of having to push them back into my ear every now and then. It’s quite annoying, especially if you use AirPods Pro for exercising — but one user has found a fix.

Liquid silicone is the solution (apparently)

In a post on Reddit (see below), u/LatissimusDorsi26 shared that they decided to ditch their Apple-made ear tips for cheap liquid silicone replacements they bought from Amazon (they said it cost them $5 for 4 pairs in XS, S, M, and L). They said the tips ‘permanently’ solved the problem for them and their AirPods Pro 2.

Yes, AirPods Pro come with silicone ear tips out of the box, but they’re not 'liquid silicone', which is what the author of the Reddit post believes makes the difference, detailing the replacement tips’ "sticky/ tacky finish on their surface which makes them stick to your ear canal".

I know what you might be thinking: won't your AirPods then be too big to fit in the charging case?. I thought that too, but according to the poster, they fit just as perfectly as they would with standard Apple earbud tips, and you won’t need to remove the tips for charging.

Since sharing this, fellow AirPods owners flocked to the replies, and it's sparked a deeper conversation about silicone vs foam tips for earbuds.

Though silicone tips are pretty much the go-to for a lot of earbud brands, and not just Apple — the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 4 also have silicone tips — a lot of users choose to upgrade to foam replacements from brands such as Comply. There are many reasons for this.

In short, foam tips can provide a grip that’s a lot more snug, and are arguably better for locking in audio and preserving noise cancellation. That said, foam replacements are expensive alternatives and don’t have the same durability as silicone — one user in the replies highlighted that Comply foam tips are the best part of $25 for three pairs, while another said that they still keep slipping out.

That’s not to say silicone tips don’t have their setbacks. By standards, some versions don’t fit quite as tight as foam ones, and transparent ones as shown earlier don’t quite fit the clean-cut aesthetic of the AirPods themselves. But silicone wins on the durability front, and won’t need frequent replacing like foam tips.

Based on this Reddit poster’s hack, it appears that there is a way to solve the pain points on both sides after all. On the one hand the liquid silicone tips stick to the user’s ear canal, providing a secure fit, and are durable and affordable on the other — all from a mere $5 Amazon purchase.

• AirPods with cameras are apparently still coming...
• ... but the next model, due in 2026, won't have them
• In truth, little is known about these new buds (which is how Apple likes it)

For some reason, Apple fans are clamoring for new AirPods with cameras built in, and we've been hearing plenty of rumors that they're on the way. But a new report suggests they won't actually be the next Apple earbuds we see.

According to stalwart Apple correspondent Mark Gurman (via his Power On newsletter), Apple has two AirPods models on the go.

The flagship ice-white buds we've been reporting on are set to have tiny AI cameras — and Gurman has now backed up rumors of their being slated for a 2027 release.

But some models are expected in 2026: Gurman mentions another pair of buds (with a lot less known about them) that are likely to come along the 2026 iPhones at the end of the year.

The coverage doesn't specify whether these are AirPods, AirPods Pro or even over-ears, but the latter seem unlikely, because the AirPods Max 2 are only a few months old.

Could it be a possible Beats release? TechRadar's Jacob Krol recently spent a few days at Apple's Beats HQ and pressed the highly successful Apple subsidiary brand on some much teased Beats headphones, spotted on various occasions at the World Cup recently, but the company remained tight-lipped on those.

For now, we'll have to wait and see.

Are cameras worth the wait?

Questions concerning whether AirPods with cameras would even work aside, Apple faces the question — given the recent backlash over glasses that see — over whether most buyers would even want that.

The point of the tech is, apparently, to let an AI assistant see what's going on around you. The hardware is part of a big AI push Apple is undergoing.

That's despite consumers' appetite for AI dropping as fast as companies' desperation for AI increases. I don't see many AirPods buyers opting for a new pair of earbuds without a genuine reason they'd be useful (and no, smarter Siri doesn't count), especially if their whole schtick is that they're always spying on you.

Often when we see a tech product delayed, it's because it's just not ready yet. But with the camera-toting AirPods, it's more likely that we're not ready yet... or maybe we just don't need them.

• Galaxy Unpacked 2026 was Buds-less
• A new report tips an end-of-year announcement
• Perhaps announced alongside tablets and FE (or 'Fan Edition') devices

Samsung's latest product launch event, Galaxy Unpacked 2026, was uneventful. Well, uneventful for audio fans; there were three foldable phones, two smartwatches and some all-seeing glasses... but where were the much-rumored Galaxy Buds Able?

This is a new pair of open earbuds, which we'd heard would be released alongside the foldables (it didn't). So where are they?

Well, shortly before Galaxy Unpacked, we may have heard our answer. According to a Korean publication called Electronic Times, which commonly reports on industry news, the Able are coming much later in the year.

The report states that the buds will release in 'Q4', though separately says September or October (September is Q3). Either way, expect them later in the year.

That could see the buds come alongside new tablets, or new FE smartphones or earbuds, all of which we're expecting to see before Santa's visit in December.

UnAble to launch?

According to the report, Samsung delayed the launch of the Galaxy Buds Able, implying they were originally meant to release alongside the Folds and Flips.

They're said to be delayed so that Samsung could evaluate "the product's quality and launch timing". The latter point is fair enough; the Galaxy Buds 4 haven't been on shelves for long.

The latter point also implies that Samsung doesn't think the Able is 'there' yet, and that's also fair enough; open earbuds — especially the even newer ear-cuff or clipping kind — aren't as easy as normal buds. The fit and audio architecture is a lot more important, and brands need to figure out a way to ensure audio quality isn't lost as the music is beamed from the buds to your ear.

To compete with big rivals from Shokz and Bose, the Galaxy Buds Able need to be top-quality, and I imagine Samsung won't launch anything until it can hit that bar.

So essentially, pencil in a rough 'September or October' date in your calendar for these new earbuds — and keep following our news coverage. As we know, so shall you.

• Someone used an AirPod to record flying disc throw statistics
• Tested with throws of up to 45mph and no damage
• Strava-friendly export for dedicated disc throwers

One of Apple's most famous adverts opened with "Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently." The text didn't explicitly say "here's to the ones sticking AirPods on frisbees", but I think Steve Jobs would have approved of the Redditor who's done exactly that.

Pavlo Sharhan, aka Disastrous-Body-297, has invented a use for AirPods that I'm pretty sure nobody at Apple ever considered. He used them to upgrade a standard frisbee and to stream real-time data. It can even export sessions to the Strava app.

Why upgrading a frisbee with AirPods isn't completely crazy

As the intrepid inventor explains: "The AirPod streams motion data to the phone and detects/analyses throws in real time. With optional voice feedback into the second AirPod. It measures speed, revolutions, airborne time, throw count. It also measures heartrate (either with latest AirPods or external HR)."

You can try it for yourself: the app is the sports metrics app Kinapod, which the creator says is currently going through Apple's approval process. The AirPod is literally just put through a hole created in the dead center of the disc. Sharhan says "Just punch a hole in the center of the disc and that’s it! You’ll be surprised how reliable it is. The AirPod stem is not entirely cylindrical, it doesn’t slide out."

The result is a lot of data: average speed, maximum spin, total airborne time, and more.

There's a market for that kind of information: as one Redditor, lenfantsuave, joke posts, "Tech disc: I will never financially recover from this." Tech Disc is a company that makes a range of launch monitors for disc golf priced at $299.99, which track multiple metrics and flight paths in order to help players improve their game, and someone from the firm joined in the online conversation to praise Sharhan's ingenuity.

Sharhan's tracker is very much a "fun thing" rather than a serious setup, not least because expensive earbuds aren't the most cost-effective gyro sensors to attach to a frisbee; the risk of damage or destruction is clearly pretty high, although the AirPods have survived so far.

Sharhan is currently chatting with Redditors on forums such as r/discgolf about alternative and more affordable ways of collating data. And in the meantime, the AirPod/Frisbee combination made me and other Redditors happy: "This is very rad," says claybythebay9, while GrandMasterFlex reckons, and I'm including to agree, that "this is sick as hell".

As Apple's ad put it, "while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius." Or as SilverMelodyPrincess says in the Reddit thread: "Apple accidentally made the most over-engineered frisbee stat tracker and I'm here for it."

The original version of this story used Sharhan's old screen name rather than his real name, so we've updated it.

• The European Union is working on tech repairability rules...
• ... except some 'wet appliances' are now exempt now
• This puts 'devices that are worn on the body' in a very gray area…
• …and yes, that probably means AirPods

E-waste worriers (and warriors) like me have been watching the creation of EU regulations with glee, since a selection of them will require tech manufacturers to put replaceable or repairable batteries in their gadgets. But now, there are a few new key exceptions to the rule.

Some major new clarifications, listed on the European Commission's website, mute the positive impact of replaceable, upgradable tech. These exceptions mean that wearables including smartwatches and fitness trackers don't have to be repairable — and I think it's ironic that these are precisely the kinds of gadgets you're more likely to throw out and replace, rather than try to repair.

The EU has moved these products to its "wet appliances" category, for gadgets which can't be kept repairable for safety reasons (ie, because they deal with water). However, no reason was given for why wearables, especially ones not designed for wet use (based on IP ratings) are now exempt.

While the EU's rule change doesn't actually mention AirPods (or earbuds in general), what the wording essentially means is that wireless earbuds, Apple watches and smart glasses reportedly also fall into this specific wearable category. Smart glasses are, to hammer home the point, really not designed for wet use — but their wearer might get caught in a rainstorm by accident, say.

There are two key pieces of information regarding the classification of small devices exempt from adhering to the EU's battery rules, as published in the recent guidelines. The first is that "Wearable devices are portable electronic devices that are worn on the body and often have sensors and connectivity to collect and transmit data. Examples of wearables include smartwatches, fitness trackers, smart glasses or other electronic devices integrated into clothing and other accessories".

The second? It's to do with those IP ratings for water- and dust ingress and whether the addition of a replaceable battery is "compromising safety". It states that if "there is evidence in the product documentation when placing the product on the market that battery replaceability and removability by end-users would compromise the safety of the user or the appliance", the product may be exempt.

So your AirPods 4 with ANC will likely no longer need to feature replaceable batteries because of the EU, including the case itself.

An Apple a day keeps the e-waste away

It's no secret that e-waste is a massive issue: according to the United Nations, the amount of discarded electronics we produce is rising five times faster than our ability to recycle it.

It's why the EU recently pushed through rules to ensure tech is repairable. A pair of headphones that break might just need a new battery; you don't need to buy a whole new pair.

Apple users have been begging for removable batteries in iOS devices, especially AirPods, as we argued back in 2024. AirPods are the best-selling earbuds in the world (and it's not even close), so at least some of them end up in landfill when they stop working, despite Apple's conviction to recycle any that get returned to its stores (Apple doesn't offer any trade-in value for AirPods, but dropping them in for recycling is free).

I believe it's important for all tech to be repairable (see B&O's long-running 'Cradle to Cradle' approach, even buying back and refurbing its own kit, to give it a new life), but doubly so for the ubiquitous kind.

Apple's way is of course a viable way to keep your eco credentials, while disposing of unwanted buds, but it's not the best way. That would be replaceable batteries, small and fiddly though it might be — and it is possible, because Fairphone has been doing it for a little while.

As per the mantra drilled into school kids: reduce, reuse, recycle, in that order. Reusing old earbuds, by repairing them, is much better for the environment than recycling them, and so it's a shame that the EU is giving out exemptions like candy.

If you have any broken tech, be it headphones, earbuds or something else entirely, a repair is always your first port of call before disposing of your existing ones. It's cheaper and quicker than buying new tech and, most importantly, is better for the planet. And if you do need to buy new tech, consider online or physical refurb shops such as Back Market, which repair others' gadgets.

• A new leak shows off the Nothing Ear 3(a)
• We see the earbuds in four colors, with the case
• The official unveiling is scheduled for tomorrow

If you can't wait until tomorrow for the official unveiling of the Nothing Ear 3(a), the budget wireless earbuds have now appeared in an extensive leak that reveals the design, colors, and features — so this is pretty much a full spoiler.

The early reveal comes courtesy of WinFuture, and is based on information from retailers who couldn't wait to get their listings live. We can see the earbuds in all four of the already announced colors: black, white, yellow, and pink.

There are a few interesting tidbits here, but when it comes to the aesthetics, there are no dramatic surprises: the look of these earbuds is very reminiscent of previous Nothing Ear models, with the semi-transparent stems and the transparent lid on the charging case.

What we do learn is that the Nothing Ear 3(a) are set to come with a 12-millimeter driver, as well as support for LDAC and Hi-Res Audio Wireless — so while the price is affordable, it seems the audio quality won't be compromised too much.

Touch to record

The leak gives us a glimpse of what seems to be a special feature we haven't seen from Nothing products before: the ability to press the stem of the earbuds to record voice notes, which is something to look out for.

WinFuture also refers back to previous leaks that mentioned a retail price of €99, so it would appear that the upcoming wireless earbuds are going to stick to the $99 / £99 / AU$169 starting price of the excellent Nothing Ear (a).

In our Nothing Ear 3 review, we praised those earbuds for offering "zealous, customizable sound" — though we weren't quite sure about how much value for money they offered, which is something this new pair might move the dial on.

One of the quirks of the Nothing Ear 3 is the 'Super Mic' that's included in the charging case, which you can use for calls and voice notes instead of the microphones on the earbuds — but as yet it's not clear if the Nothing Ear 3(a) will offer the same feature.

• 'Galaxy Able' gets name-dropped in the Wearable app
• These are the oft-rumored first ever clip-style earbuds from the company
• Could launch later in July, alongside two new Galaxy smartwatches

We've been hearing rumors that Samsung is teeing up to release a novel kind of earbuds offering — or at least, the design was novel a few years ago. It's a form factor that's entirely new for the company (though not its sub-brands) and completely unlike the Galaxy Buds 4 series in shape and name. And now, it's all but confirmed.

As spotted by an eagle-eyed Twitter user, an update to Samsung's Galaxy Wearable app has spilled the beans on a slew of upcoming products.

This includes the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, two products which may not surprise you if you're gifted with numbers and know that 9 follows 8.

But slightly more interesting is word of the Galaxy Able (not Galaxy Buds Able, as we'd previously heard). This naming all but confirms what we'd already thought: Samsung has seen our list of the best open earbuds and wants in.

Galaxy Able? Next up Galaxy Cain?

The open earbuds market moves quickly; it has to, it's such a new product line that even flash-in-the-pan tech AI predates it. If you haven't heard of them, they're earbuds that let in surrounding sound, so you know what's going on around you.

When the form factor began a few years ago, we mainly saw sports hook-style options (they snake around the back of your ear), but nowadays most seem to be clip-style ones that, according to my partner, make you look like a pirate. I prefer '80s New Romantic', because they're like big ear cuffs, but you get the idea.

Anyway, they're big, with a lot of the heavy-hitters testing out the form factor. To name a few, there's the Shokz OpenDots One, Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, Sony LinkBuds Clip, JBL Soundgear Clips, Huawei FreeClip 2, and many, many more. Brands big and small have released options.

That is, except Samsung (and, notably, Apple). The Android-friendlier firm tends to let the audio experimentation play out with its sub-brands, including JBL, Harmon and AKG, releasing only its main series of earbuds under its own moniker. So its decision to release clip style earbuds under its own name suggests the form factor is huge now.

Samsung's traditional earbuds (see the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro) offer great-sounding audio, though you often need a Samsung phone to make the most of them. But open-ears are a different kettle of fish, requiring different tuning and a hardy fit to account for the open style, so I'm curious to see if the brand manages to adapt its strengths to the format.

We're expecting Samsung to announce plenty of new products at some point in July, including the aforementioned watches as well as its next wave of folding phones. So we might be able to bring you a review of the Galaxy Able sooner, rather than later.

I’ve been reviewing gadgets at TechRadar for years now, and it’s pretty rare that something stops me in my tracks and so violently defies my expectations. But sometimes, a special product comes along and totally stuns me: and that was well and truly the case with the Sennheiser CX 80U.

Now you might be thinking: really? A pair of wired earbuds? But yes, they really were that impressive. See it all comes down to quality vs price, and these earbuds genuinely sound way, way better than I expected given their typical cost of $39.95 / £34.99. If you want rich, detailed sound at a highly-accessible price-point, the CX 80U are all you need.

I’ll drill into the beauty of this product more down below, but the bottom line is: the CX 80U are what I’d recommend to anyone looking to go back to wired earbuds in 2026.

Low risk, high reward

I’ve already touched on the Sennheiser CX 80U’s low price (and they’re occasionally discounted for even less), but let’s discuss what exactly makes them so special.

These buds use a USB-C connector with a built-in DAC, opening up lossless audio — something that’s not truly possible over Bluetooth, which is an inherently lossy technology. By using USB-C as a connectivity method, the CX 80U aren’t only optimized for modern smartphones, tablets, and laptops, but they also won’t need to be charged like their Bluetooth counterparts — and I often keep them with me in case I forget to juice up my Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones or LG Tone Free T90S earbuds.

But as practical as the CX 80U are, the real highlight is their performance. They show impeccable attention to detail, and can easily illuminate elements such as subtle percussion or delicate vocal intricacies. However, they also nail the fundamentals, with well-balanced, agile bass, clear mids, and vivid treble.

Speaking of treble, I found this to be a real highlight on the CX 80U — highs have an impressive sense of space, and often sound as if they’re operating in a well-defined pocket, giving percussion in particular plenty of space to express itself. But during my time testing the CX 80U, I was impressed with their quality right across the frequency range, and regardless of what genre I threw at them, they delivered an enjoyable and entertaining listen each time.

As well as sounding great, the CX 80U manage to provide surprisingly substantial passive noise cancellation, and they come with various-sized eartips, so you can find the perfect seal. Whenever I use them, I also find that cable noise is pretty muted, and they’re comfortable to wear, even for longer listening sessions.

One more thing I love about the CX 80U is their build quality. They look more premium than their price suggests, and I’m drawn to their rounded buds, slim wires, and enticing silver details. Classy.

So, if you’re on a budget but looking to get into the wired earbuds game, then it really doesn’t get much better than the Sennheiser CX 80U. Go on, give ‘em a go!

• AirPods are getting a universal custom EQ at last
• You'll be able to see the results live as a song plays
• It's set to come in iOS 27, as part of the AirPods' Settings screen

Apple just announced that one of the longest-requested features from AirPods users is finally coming as part of iOS 27: a custom EQ. Announced during the WWDC 2026 keynote, Apple hasn't revealed full details of the feature, but we did get a first glimpse.

There will be a screen that looks like the image at the top of this page, and if you tap 'Custom' then a blue line is overlaid on the frequency graph. You appear to be able to move the blue line to increase or decrease the frequency bands.

There's a live waveform that plays, so it appears that you'll be able to see the result on the sound signature live, as well as hearing it, obviously.

In the past, it's been possible to make some changes to AirPods' sound using accessibility tools, but this really isn't designed for making subtle changes to your music profile, it's designed for the hard of hearing to boost frequencies they struggle with.

There's also been an EQ in Apple Music, but that doesn't help if you use another app for music, and doesn't preserve the EQ when you switch devices or other apps in general.

There are interesting differences in the sound of different AirPods models. The original AirPods Max are much more neutral than the AirPods Pro 3, for example, and I can easily see that some people might choose to give the over-ears a little extra poppy punch at times — or might want to just take a slight edge off the earbuds.

However! The obvious thing that's missing in the images we've seen so far is a clear option to save presets, so the scenario I've described above might not be that easy. This might be in the final version, of course, or there might be a way to create this using Shortcuts.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if Apple keeps this pretty basic. The screen doesn't really encourage you to make changes: the description in the setting says, "AirPods are designed and engineered by Apple to faithfully represent music, TV shows and movies, and calls. If you prefer a different sound profile, you can customize how AirPods represent any audio played."

Still, given that the original AirPods model launched in December 2016, I'm just glad we're getting finally getting it as an option at all.

House of Marley Smile Jamaica USB-C review

In 1976, Bob Marley & The Wailers released Smile Jamaica, an upbeat reggae tune bursting with soul and positivity. And the House of Marley Smile Jamaica USB-C earbuds are aiming to replicate those qualities, boasting a vivid design, and apparently “vibrant sound”.

But just how good are these wired USB-C earbuds? Well, at $19.99 / £14.99 / AU$24.95, I wasn’t expecting anything magical, but there are a lot of major positives to discuss. So, here’s what I made of my time with the Smile Jamaica USB-C.

To begin with, I have to talk about the design of these wired in-ears. As soon as I took the Smile Jamaica out of the box, I was struck by their unique, enticing build. They’re made of a few materials, including recyclable aluminum, renewed PeT, and bamboo. Not only does this blend look fantastic, but it’s a lot more sustainable than a huge proportion of the competition — even some of the best wired earbuds.

I really liked the Brass variant that I tested out, but you can also grab these in Copper, Signature Black, or even Rasta (a celebration of red, gold and green, with green ear tips, yellow branding and a cable that incorporates all three colors). Pretty cool.

The braided wires are pretty well-built, and I never experienced excessive cable noise when using the Smile Jamaica USB-C on the go. They’re also tangle-resistant, so I didn’t get a horrible wiry mess every time I retrieved the buds from my pocket. The inclusion of a USB-C connector also means you can connect these buds to your smart phone or just about any modern device, which is incredibly practical — no pairing, no charging, just plug and play.

If I was to be critical, I’d argue that there could’ve been more ear tip size options in the box — you only get one additional pair. This way there could’ve been more options for people with larger or smaller ears — although as someone with aggressively medium-sized ones, this wasn’t an issue for me. There’s also no carry case, but they should be safe in a pocket or small bag regardless.

The ear tips that do come in the box are fairly comfortable, though, and they passively block noise to decent effect. Don’t get me wrong, you’re not going to experience the noise-crushing effects that ANC will provide on the best wireless earbuds, but when listening to music in the office, sounds like typing and chatter were dulled relatively well.

One feature that’s missing, however, is volume controls. The in-line remote skips on these, meaning I had to remove my phone to alter loudness on the go, something that could be a tad inconvenient. According to the instructions booklet, some of the commands — bound to a single button on the controller — are also restricted to iPhone only, which was no good for a Samsung-owner like me.

Still, the in-line microphone is actually pretty decent, and when making phone calls, various people reported that my speech was clear and easy to decipher. When making a recording, I experienced a bit of feedback and a bit of sibilance, but I was pleased with the mic at this price-point.

Anyway, I know what you’re really here for. You want to know how these sound, right? Well then, I suppose I’ll indulge you.

It only feels right to start with a tune from Bob Marley & The Wailers, so I gave Jamming a spin, and the Smile Jamaica buds performed pretty well. Subtle percussive elements were well balanced in the mix, and had an impressive sense of space, and I never experienced any harshness or tinniness — even when listening at higher volumes. However, the bass sounded a little bloated at certain moments and Marley’s vocals lacked as much definition in the mix as I’d like, resulting in a fairly middling listening experience.

This proved to be a bit of a theme with these earbuds, as the low-end seemed as if it lacked refinement across a number of tracks. In Black Eye by Allie X, bass was a tad bloated once more, and was missing the agility I’ve heard from other budget in-ears. Given that bass is pretty prominent on these buds, I just wish it had a bit more punch and precision. Still, vocals remained clear enough in the mix, and energetic percussion came through with commendable expression. But if you’re expecting the most refined bass ever, you may find the Smile Jamaica to be a tad heavy-handed.

I was more impressed when tuning into Asama by Yuta Orisaka — a laid-back record that blends Japanese folk with reggae tones. Here, I found vocals to be pleasantly weighted alongside relaxed electric guitars and rhythmic percussion, and more subtle keys glided elegantly in the backdrop. Sure, you’re not going to get meticulous instrument separation or the most intricate detailing from a pair of ultra-cheap buds like this, but for the price, they do deliver a satisfying sound, all things considered.

At the end of it all, would I recommend the House of Marley Smile Jamaica USB-C? Here’s the thing: it depends on your budget. If you want some extremely cheap wired buds that sound totally serviceable but won’t blow you away, then yes. On top of their adequate audio, they are well-built, have a decent mic, and tangle-free cable, ensuring good bang for your buck.

However, if you can spend a little more, then you can get big returns. A model like the Sennheiser CX 80U will deliver considerably better sound, with much-improved detailing and balance across the frequency range.

Want a bit more finesse and grace? Something like the Sennheiser is for you — but for stable and dependable sound on a budget, the Smile Jamaica USB-C aren’t a half-bad option.

House of Marley Smile Jamaica USB-C review: price & release date

• List price of $19.99 / £14.99 / AU$24.95
• Released in September 2025

The House of Marley Smile Jamaica USB-C released in September 2025, about 13 years after the original 3.5mm version debuted. They have a list price of $19.99 / £14.99 / AU$24.95, landing them firmly in the budget category, and are available in a range of color options, including Copper, Signature Black, Brass, and Rasta. You can get them on sale in some regions fairly regularly — I even spotted them going for less than £10 in the UK when producing this review.

House of Marley Smile Jamaica USB-C review: specs

Should I buy the House of Marley Smile Jamaica USB-C?

Buy them if…

Don’t buy them if…

House of Marley Smile Jamaica USB-C review: also consider

How I tested the House of Marley Smile Jamaica USB-C

• Tested over the course of multiple days
• Mainly streamed music over Tidal
• Took with me to the office and on walks

I spent many days (rolling into weeks, actually) testing out the House of Marley Smile Jamaica USB-C earbuds, during which time I took them just about everywhere with me, to analyze passive noise isolation and convenience among other things.

When listening to music, I typically streamed tracks over Tidal using the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. I started out by sifting through the TechRadar testing playlist, which features tunes from a wide variety of genres, but I also made sure to listen to hours worth of songs from my personal library.

More generally, I’ve tested tons of audio gear during my time with TechRadar, including a whole host of wired and USB-C earbuds. I had a few rival models at hand to compare the Smile Jamaica USB-C against, including the Sennheiser and Apple rivals mentioned in the ‘Also consider’ section.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: May 2026

An increasing number of wireless earbuds are landing in my inbox — and on my front porch — with touchscreens built into their charging cases. There are now enough to make it officially a growing and real trend rather than just a passing gimmick… but I'm not convinced.

Most recently, I tested Anker's feature-packed Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro series, which offer two different kinds of screen, but they're just the most recent. Earlier in the month, the JBL Live range was refreshed with plenty of screens, and I recently tested the open-ear Cleer Arc 5, which you can see at the top of this article complete with a sizeable display.

What's the point of these screens? Well, it varies by bud, but generally the premise is the same. The display lets you glean some instant information about your buds: battery life, noise cancellation status, volume, but also change features like EQ preset, Bluetooth codec, what you're song you're listening to, and so on.

This is all potentially useful, if the buds let you avoid using your smartphone and an app to change these features. That's all in theory, but in practice, it's not so.

Displays in earbuds generally bump up the price of the gadget, increase the case's footprint, and increase the risk of accidental pressing when you put the case in your pocket. So they really need to justify themselves, and I'm not sure they are right now.

Just use your phone

When I find an EQ preset I like, I generally stick to it, rarely changing. That's also true about other earbud settings; if I'm on anything but the highest ANC setting, someone should check me for a concussion.

So I don't need a carry case that lets me change these settings, because I rarely do. And when I do, I don't mind booting up the app; I need to justify downloading it in the first place, and changing EQ is much easier on the larger screen.

In theory, the music and volume controls of an earbud case are more useful, as these are things everyone uses. But on-bud touch controls exist — and if you're digging a gadget out of your pocket to change a track, it may as well be one you'll probably be using for other tasks too: your phone.

It doesn't help that, from my experience, charging case screens aren't hugely reliable. They remind me of cheap smartwatches and fitness trackers from years ago: they often need multiple taps, and seemingly some vocal coercing (well, I think it helps), to do anything. My phone isn't like that.

Finding a niche

I'm not going to make a blank ruling on earbud cases; in some situations they work.

Take Soundcore's Liberty 5 Pro series. In the base model, the display is a tiny window. You can use it to check some easy info, but it's not trying to replace your smartphone. Perfect.

In the top-end Liberty 5 Pro Max, the case is packed full of novel features, including a recorder-transcriber, and translation tool. It's not meant to replace your phone; it's its own thing.

That's where I see earbud charging case displays finding their niche: by offering features and functions to act as the earbuds' unique selling points, as an accessory that's useful to have separately to your phone.

This would generally be in top-end or professional-targeted buds, like how the Pro Max is ostensibly designed for business buyers.

But not every pair of the best earbuds needs a little LCD or OLED screen on the charging case. At the moment, it feels like they're becoming more prominent as a fad, but I think most us would rather just pay less or see that money go into battery innovations or other improvements — I only see them sticking around if makers find a way to justify them.

Anker's Soundcore brand is just going harder and harder on releasing new models. Not content with the Soundcore Liberty 5 earbuds and Soundcore Space 2 headphones recently, the brand has unveiled two new pairs of earbuds based on the Liberty.

These are the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro and Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max, and they're new premium pairs of feature-packed earbuds that, unlike many other Pro-titled products, actually feel targeted towards professionals.

I’ve been using both the Pro and Pro Max for a week now, to try to understand both buds, how they’re different, and which I’d recommend people buy. That's not enough time to have completed two reviews, which is why you're not reading those right now — but I’ve definitely used the earbuds long enough to answer all of my questions.

So here’s what’s different between the Liberty 5 Pro and Liberty 5 Pro Max and, crucially, which one I think most people should end up buying.

How do the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro and Pro Max compare on price?

It’s important that we establish the main difference between the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro and Pro Max first: it’s the price.

The Pro is, as you’d imagine, the cheaper of the two earbuds. To buy it, you’re paying $169 / £149 (about AU$300). So it’s a lot pricier than the Liberty 5, which sold for $129 / £99 / AU$169.

But that cost is nothing compared to the Pro Max. These sell for $229 / £199 (about AU$400), which is only a hair under the AirPods Pro 3’s $249 / £219 / AU$429 asking price.

I’m not going to treat the Liberty 5 Pro like the budget option, given its price, but you’ll soon read about how it’s probably the best option based on budget.

How do the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro vs Pro Max compare on sound quality?

If you only want to know about the differences between the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro and Pro Max, you’ll want to keep scrolling. These two earbuds both have exactly the same audio performance, but it's important to address them.

What are their specs? Well, nowhere in Anker’s promotional material for the buds, press pre-briefing ahead of their release or the buds’ packaging, is that actually mentioned. You’ll have take my word for it then.

I’ve quite liked how the buds have sounded, in my testing time. The audio is detailed and sharp, with a real oomph when it’s needed. However, at least in the default sound profile, I’ve found the bass a little too prominent, yet not quite as precisely defined as I’d like.

It’d be fine in earbuds at the price of the Liberty 5, but when you’re picking up a 'Pro' or 'Pro Max' pair of earbuds — and paying the price for them — I’d like a little more controlled lower-end.

Anker’s been heavily advertising the listening test available in both of its new earbuds, and I’ve yet to try that or the equalizer, so perhaps these will give me the sound profile I'm looking for — I’ll let you know in my full review later.

What are the differences in Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro and Pro Max's design?

Likely due to their identical audio specs, the Liberty 5 Pro and Pro Max earbuds are exactly the same. I could put the Pro Max earbuds in the Pro case, and vice versa.

The buds are certainly unique; they have a kidney-shaped body, not dissimilar to Samsung’s old bean buds, but with a tip to allow for the noise cancellation and give you a solid fit.

On that topic, these Liberty 5s both come with wings at the top of the bean, kind of like the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Ultra 2nd Gen, and these are great for fit. I’ve been on multiple runs with them, and they’ve been a dream, even if they’re a little heavier than rivals at 7g each.

The real design difference between Anker’s new earbuds is the charging case. Actually, that’s the main difference full stop, at least it feels that way in my testing.

The Liberty 5 Pro Max have a pretty big charging case. It’s a squarish rectangle, with a lid that slides up to reveal the buds, and it weighs about 86g. What makes the case so large? That’ll be the screen, which takes up the entirety of the lid; it’s a big square that looks like the kind of panel you’d find on a squircle smartwatch.

You can use this screen to control music playback, change EQ presets, toggle between noise cancellation modes and activate a range of the buds’ features — more on that later.

The Liberty 5 Pro also have a touchscreen, but it’s smaller: a thin strip like the display on a fitness tracker. It’s much simpler, with battery indicators and small icons for a range of features. The case still has a slide-up lid to reveal the buds, like on the Max, and weighs a little less at 70g.

I’ve had some problems with the screen on both sets of earbuds. It’s a little less responsive than I’d like, often needing multiple swipes to change menu and repeated taps to enable a setting. It reminds me of fitness trackers of old, which needed coercing to work.

Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro and Pro Max features explained

It’s not the main selling point of the Anker earbuds, but I’ve been really appreciating the active noise cancellation on both the Pro and Pro Max. It’s among the best in any earbuds I’ve tested, proving effective at wiping out background sound in all conditions I've tried so far.

Likely to thank for this is a new chip Anker created, and debuted in these buds; it’s designed specifically for the Liberty 5 buds’ ANC and features, and adds support for Dolby Atmos audio.

The battery life is a little more average; both pairs of buds last for 6.5 hours of listening, with the charging case bringing that time up to 28 hours — both figures are with ANC turned on. My benchmark for the average battery life of earbuds is 8 hours with ANC off, which I imagine the Liberty will surpass by a little, but I’ll have to test it properly for my full review.

The new Soundcore app is the key to your kingdom of features here. It has a huge range of features including meditation and ambient noise playlists, a built-in AI chatbot, a fit test, a listening preference test to create custom EQ, a sound level meter and volume limiter, a sound-quality upscaling option, and the ability to customize the case screen.

That’s not counting all the usual earbud app tools you’ve come to expect, such as a standard equalizer, touch control customization, ANC modes and so on.

I’ve got to hand it to Soundcore: this is perhaps the biggest array of features I’ve ever seen in a pair of earbuds. They’re incredibly feature-packed, and browsing though the app, I felt like a kid in a candy store.

Everything I’ve mentioned so far is available on both buds, but the pricier pair offers a little more: the Pro Max’s biggest unique feature is that it functions as a note-taker.

Thanks to the case having a built-in microphone, you can use it to record audio, and the app will create a transcript — naturally, the buds can do the same with their own mics. There’s also a live translation tool, which uses the same hardware to achieve its ends.

Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro vs Pro Max: which one would I recommend?

So far, I’ve mostly been using the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max. I thought I’d rather test the expensive earbuds first, and based on the extra features, they're clearly the better buds in the simplest terms.

However for most buyers, I’m not sure these are the earbuds I’d actually recommend. While not cheap, the Pro are a little more affordable than their Max counterparts, and I think you’re getting better value for money.

The extra features the pricier model brings are neat, but I don’t see them being reliably useful for many people. Most of us don’t need a portable dictaphone on our earbuds.

Also worth bearing in mind is the charging case: on the Pro, it’s a little smaller and more streamlined, and that makes it better for toting around. Not good — it’s too bulky to disappear into a trouser pocket, unlike the AirPods Pro 3 case or similar — but it's still a little more convenient than the Pro Max’s.

Sure, its charging case screen is smaller, but in my week with the buds, I’ve barely used either display. I’ve tested a few different earbuds with charging case screens, and I’m still yet to be convinced that these are essential, making the screen's minimization in the Pro no bad thing.

• Anker launches Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro and Pro Max earbuds
• The earbuds are the same, but some of the features are different, including a touchscreen on the Max
• Also new app, bespoke chipset for the buds

Anker's Soundcore has just announced two new pairs of earbuds, which are its first products made with its new 'Thus' audio chipset. This little component promises to enable its speakers and headphones to enjoy better active noise cancellation, improved on-device audio AI, more accurate voice controls and, perhaps most usefully, better power efficiency.

Anker also unveiled VibeOS, which confusingly isn't an operating system despite the title, but is rather the name of its new and improved tie-in app, that you'll use to control your audio gadgets.

VibeOS is set to have a huge range of features, and if Anker delivers, its devices could be feature-packed gems. The best new picks include an EQ listening test, audio source restoration, sleep management, audio transcript creation and real-time environmental adaption for your music.

It's not quite clear when VibeOS will roll out, whether it'll come to existing Soundcore gadgets or will arrive alongside new ones. But we have some likely contenders from the brand in the shape of its two new buds.

Free up some time for the Liberty

The Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro and the Liberty 5 Pro Max, are the bigger new releases from Anker, both bearing the Thus chip. They follow the 'normal' Soundcore Liberty 5, released a year prior, but when you read about them you'll understand why they're not the Liberty 6.

At a press briefing, Anker didn't describe the audio specs of the Liberty 5 Pro series, but they'll likely be similar to, or better than, the 9.2mm dynamic driver-toting original.

Anker sold the buds on their features: they're set to have eight microphones for improved call quality and noise cancellation, Dolby Atmos spatial audio with head tracking, and an AI voice recorder function for note taking.

The main draw to these earbuds — and the distinction between them — is in the charging case. Both buds get a case with a touchscreen, with the Pro getting a little strip and the Pro Max's case bearing a large display.

This touchscreen can be used to monitor battery, change ANC modes, and toggle a variety of features. By the sounds of things, it can be used to toggle those aforementioned features too, perhaps such as setting up the voice recorder to record a meeting.

You can also point to the touchscreen cases for the prices: the Liberty 5 Pro costs £149.99 (about $200, AU$300, exact global pricing TBC) while the Liberty 5 Pro Max goes for £199.99 (around $280, AU$400, again global prices TBC).

So they're noticeably pricier than the original buds at $129 / £99 / AU$169. We've got the Liberty 5 Pro series in for testing now, to see if they justify that cost… watch this space.

• Chinese researchers have developed 'AccLock'
• This uses your heartbeat to verify your identity
• All it needs is earbuds with accelerometers

Researchers from several universities in China have developed a technology they called AccLock, and it's basically Ear ID. It's a way of verifying your identity using your heartbeat, as detected by your earbuds — even if your buds don't have the kind of built-in heart-rate sensors you get in AirPods Pro 3.

The idea is that your earbuds will be able to recognize your unique palpitations, to verify that you're you, and to unlock access to things like your PC or phone, or perhaps even a smart door lock.

According to the paper, earbuds were chosen because they "remain closely coupled with the wearer during everyday use," so if you're the kind of person who's constantly wearing your AirPods when out and about, you inspired this choice.

In testing AccLock, the researchers did in fact use AirPods, as well as their own custom-made earphones, and so it clearly could work within Apple's system. But it doesn't have to, because it only relies on motion-sensing tech rather than a dedicated heart tracker.

Open hearted

Instead of a dedicated heart-rate sensor, the tool simply uses a motion-sensing accelerometer, the kind of which plenty of earbuds already pack.

An accelerometer is used to measure things like acceleration, vibration and orientation. In earbuds, they can be used for different tools: gesture controls, head tracking or spatial audio, depending on the bud.

Some low-end earbuds may miss them, but generally, it's a common component. And so, in theory, AccLock could work on many earbuds, using the accelerometer to recognize your heartbeat.

Again, this is all hypothetical, but sometimes these studies can mirror what companies are actually considering. For example new research we reported on regarding AirPods with cameras is matched by some reports suggesting Apple is actually considering adding this tech to future AirPods.

• Campfire Audio unveils new Chimera in-ear monitors (IEMs)
• Nine-driver tech includes bone conduction woofer and electrotatic tweeters
• Premium design that makes each unit unique

Everyone's talking about ditching Bluetooth in headphones these days. Well if you're looking for the best wired earbuds around, then Campfire Audio has a very interesting proposition for you, but it'll cost you.

It'll cost you a lot.

The new Campfire Audio Chimera cost $7,500 / £6,999 (about AU$14,000). That's 30 times the $249 / £219 / AU$429 price of the AirPods Pro 3, which I use as a reference since they're the most popular model of buds on the planet. Suffice it to say, they're not for the average consumer — it's likely to be professionals and the most hardcore of head-fi enthusiasts who'll pick them up.

But boy, what you get for that money is hard to argue with. These IEMs look fantastic, made of carbon-fibre and brass, adorned in a magnesium shell. According to Campfire Audio, every single unit made will look slightly different, with the production method resulting in subtle differences.

You can see how good they look in images; apparently they're designed to catch the light, so will appear even better in person.

The cable included with the IEMs uses four copper conductors, and two 50/50 copper and silver ones. And you get a lot more in the box: loads of eartips (including silicone and foam options), a cleaning tool and cloth, and a carry bag.

But the real draw to the Chimera is the audio.

Driver? I barely know 'er

The Campfire Audio Chimera has not one, not two, not… okay, it has nine drivers. And there are some real surprises in that list.

You're getting a 10mm dynamic driver for low-end, dual-diaphragm balanced armature driver for midrange, two balanced armatures for clarity, four electrostatic "super-tweeters" for high-frequency sound, and a bone conduction driver too.

This latter sounds like one of the most interesting selling points of the Chimera: it'll let you feel, not just hear, low-end sounds, to add a little extra physicality to sub-bass.

That's a bold choice, but it could pay off big time. We've previously knocked the brand's IEMs for their bass, like the Campfire Audio Solaris Stellar Horizon, and maybe Campfire Audio has fixed that problem in style.

For those who don't care about bigger bass, the draw lies in the use of four electrostatic drivers per bud — it's not a tech that gets out much, so we love to see it.

To keep the show on the road, Campfire Audio has given the Chimera a pressure valve to keep the airflow correct, and a tuning damper to make sure sound quality is as good as it could be. Given the specs list, these could sound like some of the best IEMs out there (and you'd hope so, for that price).

• Xiaomi teases its first clip-style open earbuds
• Launch date unknown, presumed imminent
• Past Xiaomi open earbuds have had sound leakage prevention tech

In 2025, it felt like every tech company felt the need to release open earbuds, and recently brands have been tripping over themselves to release clip-style buds, ranging from Anker, Bose and through the alphabet to (now) Xiaomi.

Chinese tech giant Xiaomi has teased its first open earbuds, sharing on social media platform Weibo a graphic of a half-open case, with the slogan "Brand new form". You can see enough of the enclosed earbuds to suggest these are clip buds (and it's basically the only headphone form factor the brand hasn't tried out yet).

There's not much more to know about the buds just yet, but Xiaomi's expected to launch a new smartphone at some point in May called the Xiaomi 17 Max. It's likely the earbuds will get some screen time at the same launch event.

It's therefore impossible to say what Xiaomi has cooking; from my experience, the brand's audio products remain weaker than the competition, but clip buds are hard to get wrong. And Xiaomi has one piece of tech that could elevate these new buds over the competition…

No noise

Back in 2025, Xiaomi released the OpenWear Stereo Pro, hook-style open earbuds with a whopping five audio drivers. I tested them, and while I didn't love the fit, or audio quality, they had one feature that was unique and really useful.

One of the drivers wasn't for music, but was designed to reduce sound leakage. It basically worked as anti-noise-cancellation; it wouldn't stop you hearing people around you, but it'd stop those people around you hearing you.

Sound leakage is one of the big problems of open earbuds. Since the drivers aren't in your ear, and the sound has to travel across the void between the bud and your ear, audio will invariably be audible to those around you.

Don't expect your guilty pleasure playlist to stay secret, if you listen with open earbuds; my partner is constantly humming along to my music when I'm using them. This didn't happen with the Xiaomi, though, and the driver worked wonders in keeping my private playlists… well, private.

It's hard to say whether Xiaomi will resurrect this tech for its clip-style earbuds, and it's certainly not guaranteed — these kinds of buds have less space for drivers in the bud, compared to hook-style ones, since the driver sits in your ear.

Saying that, the Shokz OpenDots One had two drivers, so it's clear that there's space for a well-engineered clip bud to fit multiple. It's just about whether Xiaomi decides it's a good fit (so to speak).

JBL has launched its new Live 4 series of earbuds, with three new pairs available from 12 May 2026.

The new models include: the JBL Live Buds 4, which are a set of compact in-ears; the JBL Live Beam 4, a pair of stemmed in-ears; and the JBL Live Flex 4, which are stemmed semi-open earbuds. Each of these has arrived about two years after their predecessors from the Live 3 series.

JBL’s Live earbuds are known for one thing above all — their touchscreen-equipped charging cases. On previous models, this has enabled users to swiftly adapt ANC, EQ, volume, and more. And JBL has revamped its Smart Charging Case software, and packed the Live 4 models with more features, controls, and customization options than ever before.

But will this be enough to help JBL rival some of the best earbuds from heavy-hitters like Apple and Sony? Well, I’ve seen the new Live 4 series for myself, and I could see some of the additions being a big hit — here’s what you can expect from JBL’s new buds.

Building on success

When we tested out the JBL Live Beam 3 back in 2024, they left quite the impression on us. Thanks to their impressive sound quality, plentiful battery life, and fun feature-packed case, we awarded that model a high 4.5-star rating.

And it really seems that their successor, the Live Beam 4 — alongside the new Buds and Flex versions — are building on a lot of the things we already loved.

First of all, let’s go back to the touchscreen case. Although I’m yet to test the Live 4 series in depth, I was pleased to see that the Smart Charging Case comes with a brand new user interface (UI) alongside a larger screen on JBL’s newest earbuds.

Sure, some would argue that the screen is a little gimmicky, but it provides instant access to customization tools, whereas usually you’d have to withdraw your phone and root around for the JBL headphones app. As someone with way too many audio apps on my phone, I can certainly see the appeal.

JBL has also updated the sound of its Live series, with the new earbuds equipped with “new fidelity drivers” that the audio specialist claims to be “carefully tuned for deeper bass and clearer sound”. Although JBL has employed new drivers, they’re still 10mm and dynamic on the Buds and Beam, and 12mm dynamic on the Flex.

Another area that’s been improved is call quality. Live 4 series models utilize six microphones with new “Perfect Call 2.0” tech, combining a wind-proof design with an AI algorithm for clear quality. Some of the microphones are also used for noise cancelling, which has also been improved according to JBL.

Something that’s largely remained the same, though, is battery life. With the charging case, JBL claims the Buds 4 will provide up to 32 hours with ANC on and 40 hours with it off; that the Beam 4 can manage 40 hours with noise cancelling active and 48 hours without it; and that the Flex 4 will deliver 35 hours with ANC switched on and 50 hours without. That’s similar to what we saw on the previous generation, but remains impressive across the board, especially when you consider that rivals like Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 only deliver 24 hours with the charging case.

The Live 4 series is available in a range of colors, including Black, Blue, Silver, Champagne, Green, Purple, and Orange. They are priced at £179.99 / €199 (about $245 / AU$340). I’ll be reviewing each of the new models in the coming weeks to see if they’re truly worth the money, so keep your eyes peeled for my full thoughts.

• Sivga unveils M260 wired earbuds with huge 14.2mm driver
• They come in USB-C or 3.5mm versions
• The fit is like the old Apple Earbuds design from before AirPods

It's been 14 years since Apple discontinued its classic iPods earbuds, which had a circular speaker grille — ditching them for the still-sold EarPods — but other brands occasionally still release earbuds in this style, and the latest one takes advantage of the design to whack in a huge driver.

Audio company Sivga has unveiled a new pair of cheap buds which share a lot of design traits with the older earbuds, except their clean white design and the sheer size of the driver involved.

These are the Sivga M260, which are newly on sale in two iterations. There's a version with a 3.5mm plug, which costs $44 / £33 / AU$62, and one that connects via USB-C, which goes for $50 / £38 / AU$70.

We've mostly tested the brand's over-ears, like the classy wooden Sivga Oriole or Sivga Robin SV021 Pro, but it sells plenty of earbuds and in-ear monitors too.

Budget buds with a big driver

The Sivga M260 gets a 14.2mm driver, which is on the big side for in-ear buds like this. It uses a dynamic driver with neodymium magnet and copper composite diaphragm.

According to the brand, the tuning is aimed towards a smooth and natural sound, with controlled bass.

In the box, you get four different pairs of ear pads, so you can make sure the M260 lock in your ears, and to block out a little bit of surrounding sound.

The cable's another element that differentiates this from the cheapie earbuds that came in-box with your iPod. It's a 4N silver-plated, oxygen-free copper cable, and it's detachable from the buds so you can replace the cable or buds if one or the other is damaged (or if you make an upgrade).

There are some small differences between the two on-sale models. The USB-C version has a small control panel, with volume rocker and microphone, and it has a built-in DAC for hi-res audio.

Given how many products are losing the headphone jack nowadays, I imagine most people will opt for USB-C… unless you're one of the people still holding onto your iPod and you want these to bring back that classic feeling.

• LibrePods improves the AirPods experience on Android
• The app is now available on the Google Play Store
• Use features like Conversational Awareness on selected phones

While AirPods have always worked with Android — they're essentially Bluetooth earbuds, at their core — users with Google-powered phones and tablets haven't been able to enjoy the full AirPods experience. That's now changing with a new update to an open-source app called LibrePods.

LibrePods has been around for a while, but previously required a jailbroken Android device to work properly. As Android Authority reports, LibrePods just became available on the Google Play Store, so anyone can make use of it — no jailbreak needed.

This has been made possible by a bug fix pushed out with the Android 16 QPR3 update, also known as the March Pixel Drop if you're using a Google Pixel phone. As LibrePods developer Kavish Devar explains, this opened up more Bluetooth functionality.

It means you get access to features like more precise battery level reporting, immediate ear detection, the ability to change listening modes, and Conversational Awareness (which lowers the AirPods volume when you're chatting to someone.

Going Ultra?

As this updated Bluetooth functionality has only just been added to Android, it's going to take a while to reach all phones and tablets. Right now, it should work with Google Pixel, OnePlus, and Oppo phones updated to the latest software versions.

In the future, the improved Bluetooth features should be kept in Android 17, which will be One UI 9 on Samsung phones. Over the next few months, LibrePods should become compatible with more and more handsets as these updates roll out.

Once you've got LibrePods installed on a compatible phone, you'll find a host of options available in the menus — including the option to set up head gesture controls (provided you've got a pair of AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2, or AirPods Pro 3).

If you're an Android user, your choice in terms of the best headphones and best wireless earbuds just got bigger, and could expand further soon. There are rumors from Macworld that Apple is planning to introduce some AirPods Ultra headphones in the near future, while also applying the 'Ultra' branding to other high-profile products.

EarFun Clip 2: Two minute review

The Earfun Clip 2 buds are the latest entry in the wave of clip-style options among the best open earbuds. They're Earfun's second go at this form factor after the original Earfun Clip, following the brand's OpenJump ear hook design.

And the big pitch of the Earfun Clip 2 is price, because they cost $79 / £69 / AU$120 at launch. With early discounts already appearing on the Earfun website, they undercut much of the competition.

Now, that budget positioning does come through in places. The plastic build feels a little cheap in the hand. The sound profile, though energetic and punchy for workouts, has some limitations at volume that I'll get to, which means you’ll want to tweak the EQ.

There are some notable features here that I really rated, including an impressive 11 hours of battery life, Hi-Res Audio and LDAC support, multipoint connectivity, and a smart AI translation tool, which could just be a nice-to-have for some or genuinely useful for others. For cheap open-ears, there’s a lot here.

Open-ear designs are a bit of a gamble when it comes to comfort. Do you go with a neckband, ear hooks, or clip-on? Well, I’m firmly in the clip-on camp, and I found the Clip 2 buds mostly secure, light, comfortable and easy to forget about once they're in. I did notice some slight slippage, but only on sweaty runs when I pushed their grip to the limit.

However, after a lot of time testing audio gear, I've learned that ears are subjective little things. Some people love the clip-on feel and others find it irritating. That subjectivity runs through the whole experience here, from fit to sound to whether you mind the build quality at this price.

Overall, the Earfun Clip 2 aren't trying to compete with similarly style buds, like the Bose Ultra Open or the Shokz OpenDots One, on refinement. Instead, they’re asking: hey, do you want a decent pair of open earbuds without spending very much?

If the fit works for you and you're willing to play with the settings, the answer could well be yes — I've tested a load of clip-style buds, and these are the cheapest option I'd happily tell people to buy.

EarFun Clip 2 review: Price and availability

• Price at launch: $79.99 / £69.99 (about AU$120)
• Launched April 2026
• Already discounted at launch

The Earfun Clip 2 buds launched at $79.99 / £69.99 (about AU$120), but there's already an early bird discount on the Earfun website bringing them down to $55.99 / £49.99, which probably tells you what price you can expect to see them fall to in any sales events.

The headline here is they significantly undercut much of the competition. The two clip-on open earbuds we'd most readily recommend right now are the Shokz OpenDots One at $199 / £179 / AU$339 and the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds at $299 / £299 / AU$449.95.

The Earfun Clip 2 cost less than half of the Shokz and roughly a quarter of the Bose. Even the Edifier LolliClip, which does pack in extras such as noise cancellation, heart rate and blood oxygen tracking, come in at $129.99.

Which means that if you've been curious about the clip-on design but reluctant to spend big on an experiment, the Earfun Clip 2 make a very compelling entry point on price alone.

That said, they're not the only budget option in this increasingly crowded space. For example, the Soundpeats Clip1 are currently our top pick for open buds in a clip-on design for under $100 costing only $69.99 / £74.99 / AU$79.99 and we gave them a solid 4 out of 5 star rating.

What’s more, the JLab Flex Open earbuds come in at $49.99 / £49.99 / AU$129.95. We haven't reviewed those, so can't speak to quality, but it's worth knowing that cheap clip-on open earbuds exist beyond the Earfun. Granted, not all of them will be worth your time and money, and as we'll get to, the Clip 2 do pack in some great features to back up that low price.

EarFun Clip 2 review: Specifications

EarFun Clip 2 review: Features

• 11 hours battery life (40 hours with the case)
• AI translation across 100+ languages
• Solid app to tweak settings

The Earfun Clip 2 buds were easy to set up: just open the case and they connect, with Google Fast Pair support speeding things along if you’ve got an Android phone. Multipoint connectivity worked reliably throughout testing too. I spent a full working day moving between my laptop and phone across cafes and a coworking space, and the switch took under five seconds each time.

Battery life is a strong point. With LDAC off, you get up to 11 hours from the buds and 40 hours total with the charging case, and during testing I got close to 10 hours, which tracks enough for me. Switch LDAC on and that drops to six hours (22 hours in total), which is still reasonable. The case supports wireless charging, and the buds fully recharge inside it in about an hour.

For context, the Bose Ultra Open manage 7.5 hours (27 total), the Shokz OpenDots One offer 10 hours (40 hours in total), and the similarly-priced Soundpeats Clip1, offer eight hours from the buds (32 hours in total). so the Clip 2 hold their own against pricier rivals.

The standout feature here is AI translation, covering more than 100 languages. There are two modes: face to face, which translates in chunks after each person speaks, and real-time, which handles continuous one-way speech with a slight delay. Both worked well in my testing.

AI translation is appearing in other earbuds too, but finding it in a pair this affordable and in an open design feels like genuine added value.

There's Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification and LDAC support too, which is rare at this price, though the drivers and open design don't fully capitalize on that extra bandwidth.

The Earfun app is clean and easy to navigate. The 10-band custom EQ works well, alongside presets like bass boost, treble boost, vocal enhancement and genre options like rock, pop and classical. As we'll get to, I needed to tweak the EQ to get the most from the Clip 2, so this was welcome.

You'll also find a game mode for reduced latency, a theater mode that widens the soundstage, and a privacy mode that drops volume and reduces sound leakage.

Other extras include hearing health settings with volume limits and left/right balance, auto-shutdown timers, and a 'find my earbuds' function that worked reliably every time for me.

Connectivity was solid around the house, though I noticed occasional brief drops in the left earbud when I was walking through the city, where there could be more interference. They reconnected within a second or two, but it’s worth noting, since not all earbuds have this issue in the city when I use them.

There's no active noise cancellation here, and you're not getting heart-rate sensors or a personalized hearing test, or anything like that — and that's absolutely fine, given the price.

• Features score: 4/5

EarFun Clip 2 review: Sound quality

• Punchy bass for open earbuds
• Treble turns a little harsh and fatiguing at high volumes
• Mid-range can get buried

As you'd expect from the open design, you can still hear your surroundings with the Clip 2, whether that’s conversations, alarm or traffic. Not as much as buds that sit further from your ear, such as a bone conduction pair, but enough for situational awareness.

That said, don't mistake open-ear for transparent. You're still listening to something, and I found myself distracted enough by the audio that I wasn't hearing everything around me, even with my ear canal relatively free.

As with any open earbuds, you're trading fidelity for that awareness of your surroundings here. The question isn't whether the Earfun Clip 2 sound as good as in-ears (they don't). It's whether they make the most of the form factor at this price.

At lower volumes, the answer is yes. There's separation, a sense of space, and a brightness that keeps things lively without feeling thin. Listening to Tame Impala's Dracula at a comfortable level, the bass came through with some presence, which is not always the case in open earbuds.

Budget open options like the Huawei FreeArc, our current top pick at this end of the market, have never really satisfied fully on the low end. The Clip 2 have noticeably more punch.

However, push the volume and things can start to unravel depending on what you’re listening to. Treble takes over, cymbals and hi-hats become sharp, vocals and guitars turn brittle, and the midrange almost gets buried underneath.

I put on Death From Above 1979's Turn It Out, a track I've listened to hundreds of times, and at first the crashing drums and heavy low end landed brilliantly. But the moment guitars and vocals came in, it became harsh enough that I didn't want to keep listening. That's a problem when it's one of your favorite tracks.

So there’s a bit of tension with the Clip 2. These are earbuds mostly designed for outdoor use, like running, walking and commuting — ie, environments where you might really need to push the volume to hear them. But they sound their best when kept a little lower.

Now, I’m happy to report that the custom EQ helps a little. A treble reduction preset warmed things up, and pulling back the highs further with the 10-band EQ created a smoother, flatter listen. But even with adjustments, that midrange muddiness didn't fully clear up.

Podcasts sounded decent, with enough vocal clarity to follow speech comfortably. That same treble harshness crept in at higher volumes here, though in noisier environments the extra edge actually helped voices cut through in busy environments.

As you’d expect from open buds, there was some detectable sound leakage, but not that much. Unless you're listening at volume in a very quiet office or train carriage, I'd say you'll be fine.

They're not a great-sounding pair of earbuds in the grand scheme of things. But for the form factor and the price, they are more capable than much of the competition, as long as you don’t need to pump up the volume too often.

• Sound quality score: 3.5/5

EarFun Clip 2 review: Design

• Clip-on design that's surprisingly secure
• Comfortable for long sessions, though fit is subjective
• Plastic build feels budget compared to rivals

The Earfun Clip 2 use a clip-on design that hooks over the cartilage at the side of your ear. The chunkier rectangular section housing the controls and battery then rests behind the ear and the spherical driver unit sits in your concha. Each bud weighs just 5.5g, and a Ni-Ti (nickel-titanium) alloy frame helps the clip hold its shape over time.

After reviewing plenty of open earbuds, I've come to accept that fit preferences are deeply personal. Some people swear by hooks behind the ears, others prefer neckband-style fits.

For me, the clip-on is actually my favorite form factor, partly because I have thick hair and sometimes wear glasses, both of which can make hooks and neckbands less comfortable and secure. But your experience may really differ, all of our ears are unique after all!

That said, the first day or two I spent convinced they were about to fall off. They didn't, and once I'd stopped second-guessing them, I found the Clip 2 surprisingly secure and comfortable for long listening sessions.

The only time they shifted around to the point I wanted to take them off was during sprint intervals in a sweaty HIIT session, and I'd expect that from most earbuds.

There's IP55 dust and water resistance, so they'll handle sweat, rain and the odd splash without any trouble, just don't submerge them. Combined with the (mostly) secure fit and light weight, they make a solid workout companion.

Looks-wise, I've always found the clip-on design quite cool, like something out of Star Trek. But the Clip 2 are simple, black and plastic, and some might find them a little cheap-looking compared to shinier rivals with more colour options, like the Bose Ultra Open or the Shokz OpenDots One.

Controls are handled by a physical button on the back of each bud rather than touch surfaces, which I preferred. It's easy to find by feel when you're moving, responsive enough that I never had to fumble, and you can customize single, double-, triple- and long-press actions in the app.

The charging case tells a similar story to the buds themselves. It’s pill-shaped, black, plastic, but with a solid hinge and matte finish that make it look plain and purposeful if I’m being polite, a bit cheap if I’m not.

• Design score: 4/5

EarFun Clip 2 review: Value

For the price, the Earfun Clip 2 deliver, and they’re the clip-on open earbuds I'll be recommending if anyone needs a budget pick.

The value here is strongest when you look up the price ladder. The Shokz OpenDots One offer a similar experience for more than double the price. The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds do justify their premium with noticeably better sound, but they cost almost five times as much.

This means that if you're curious about the clip-on design and don't want to gamble serious money on finding out whether it suits your ears, the Earfun make that experiment much easier to stomach.

Yes, the price shows at times. The plastic build feels budget, and the sound has limitations at higher volumes that the pricier rivals handle better. But you're not buying these expecting premium. You're buying them because you want open earbuds with a clip-on fit, decent bass and a whole shopping list of useful features without spending much. On all of those terms, they deliver.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Should I buy the Earfun Clip 2?

Buy them if...

Don't buy them if...

Earfun Clip 2 review: Also consider

How I tested the Earfun Clip 2

I tested the Earfun Clip 2 for two weeks to write this review. I mostly had them paired with my iPhone 16 Pro, but also used them with my MacBook to test the multipoint connectivity.

I used them mostly to listen to music and podcasts while I was working out of the house or exercising. But I also tried listening to TV shows and movies with them to see how the different modes sounded.

I’ve been testing and writing about tech for nearly 15 years. I’ve reviewed wearables, health tech and smart home products. But I’ve recently been focusing on fitness audio and open earbuds, especially headphones and buds on the more affordable end of the spectrum.

I’m especially interested in how tech actually feels to use day to day, rather than how it performs against a spec sheet.

• First reviewed: April 2026
• Read more about how we test

• Honor Choice Earbuds Clip 2 get global release
• Clip-style open earbuds with handy feature
• Sound leakage may be thing of the past

Since I started testing the best open earbuds several years ago, the form factor has advanced leaps and bounds. No longer do these anti-noise-cancelling earbuds struggle with poor sound transmission, unreliable fits or huge carry cases. But a few problems linger.

Because each earbud is held outside of your ear canal, this kind of bud has natural sound leakage, so people around you can hear your music if it's quiet, such as in an office. But Honor's new earbuds promise a solution to the problem.

The Honor Choice Earbuds Clip 2 Pro were announced at the end of 2025 in China, but have finally received a global release as of April 2026. They're priced equivalent to around $125 / £100 / AU$200, but we're waiting on availability and prices around the world.

Beyond that essay of a name, they come with a few specs which make them seem competitive as clip-style open-ears. Their 12mm driver is bigger than many we see in this style of bud, and the 10-hour battery life again is competitive.

The case charges wirelessly, the arch is designed to survive bends, and the buds automatically detect which ear they're in, so you don't have to think about it. All very handy features.

But beyond that list of useful but familiar specs, there's one tool that stands out.

Goodbye, sound leakage

As I mentioned, there's natural sound leakage with open earbuds, so people around you can easily hear what you're listening to. The pair I'm testing currently are easy to make out if you're within several meters of the listener. It's pretty embarrassing that everyone at Parkrun can hear all the Backstreet Boys I'm listening to.

We did see the Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro come with a driver designed to mitigate this problem, but those were on hook-style open buds, not clip-style like the Honor. Oh, and as my 3-star review (linked above) attests, they weren't especially good.

The Earbuds Clip 2 Pro, however, have a driver on the back of the bud, which emits sound to cancel out the music you're listening to, working basically the reverse of how noise-cancelling headphones operate.

In theory, these solve open earbuds' remaining major pain point, and I'm really curious to test them out and see how well it works (or, more accurately, let my partner discover how well they work, as I'll no longer be annoying her with my music… in theory).

Clip-style earbuds are quickly proving themselves more popular than hook-style ones, at least judging by how many new pairs are released, and I've previously been impressed by the company's offerings, such as the Honor Earbuds Open.

So I'm holding out hope that, if this clippy problem-solver works as well as I think, the Clip 2 Pro could be the best open earbuds yet — at least, for those who share a workspace.

Activo Scoop review

The Activo Scoop in-ear monitors are designed to be as smooth as a pebble, in just about every way possible. Physically, they’re light, rounded, and sculpted. Sonically, Astell & Kern’s sub-brand Activo has attempted to craft IEMs with “smooth resonance,” and supply a sound that’s as natural and “gentle” as possible.

If we’re talking about design, I’d argue that Activo has just about nailed the audio-equipped pebble. The Scoop IEMs are sleek, have a polished feel and with an attractive white finish. They are a little bit chunky in the ear, and the attached cable is on the thick side, but I found the IEMs to be pretty comfortable for longer listening sessions, and I never had to deal with over-zealous cable noise or any connectivity issues.

But I want to focus more on the Scoop’s sound, and how well it adheres to the pebble theme. As you’d expect from a pair of IEMs, the overall sound profile is fairly balanced, and the Scoop are largely focused on an “organic” presentation that steers clear of harshness, according to Activo. But how good do they really sound? And can they really compete with some of the best wired earbuds on the market?

Well, I’m pleased to report that they’re pretty strong performers, especially given their budget-friendly pricing. Their five-driver setup — which features one 8mm dynamic, two 6mm dynamic, and two balanced armature drivers — supplies clean, articulate sound, with subtle detailing and a genuinely impressive soundstage.

In This Is All I Have for You by Makoto Matsushita, I was struck by the Scoop’s revealing sound. In the introduction, rhythm guitar was beautifully balanced in the mix, almost occupying its own unique pocket. However, it never sounded incoherent with other instruments in the mix — it danced beautifully alongside rapid and responsive percussion and full-sounding, funky bass.

Even after vocals entered the fray, the Scoop maintained a disciplined and balanced approach. And as subtle strings and percussive elements reared their heads, the Scoop ensured that they were clear, but never over-emphasized.

When I compared the Scoop against my trusty Sennheiser IE 200, I found that the former had less of a ‘warm’ sound profile, opting for more of an agile and snappy bass response. Sure, that may be a bit less exciting for some listeners, but for professional users — or those who simply prefer a more neutral sound — that could be a positive.

All in all, I did feel as if the Scoop took a more natural approach than the IE 200, although I did realize that they went a bit more aggressive on the highs.

In Entertainer by Ruze, higher-pitched percussion sounded more forward in the Scoop. That’s not to say that treble sounds were tinny or harsh — but they were noticeably more subdued using Sennheiser’s in-ears. In other tracks, like Tale of Two Cities by Darren Rahn, claps in the build-up again sounded pretty eager on the Scoop, and I do think that some may prefer how the IE 200 stayed their hand up top.

To be clear, I did still enjoy the Scoop’s expressive treble overall, and although I think some may prefer a bit more emphasis in the low-end for casual listening, I commend their rich, detailed sound. You get capable and solid instrument separation, with just about every part of the frequency range celebrated and with room to express itself, as well as controlled audio, even at higher volumes.

Beyond their admirable audio, the Activo Scoop supply quite a few positives. The most obvious is their broad selection of connectivity options: 3.5mm, 4.4mm, and USB-C. If you want to switch from 3.5mm to USB-C, for instance, all you have to do is unscrew the 3.5mm connector, plug the USB-C alternative in, twist that on…and hey presto — you’re away.

Having so much variety makes the Scoop ideal for using while mixing or mastering in a professional setting, or using on your modern smartphone for casual listening sessions. There’s no in-line controller, which is pretty common for IEMs, but otherwise they’re very well-equipped.

For instance, you get a bunch of different-sized eartips, and picking the right size will be crucial. A perfect seal won’t only deliver optimal audio quality, but it will improve passive noise isolation — crucial for blocking out pesky external sounds in your environment.

I went for the medium size as usual, and getting a comfortable feel was fairly straightforward. I found the foam eartips to be a little fiddly, although they did work very nicely — especially when it came to noise isolation. The clear silicone alternative was my go-to, however, both for ease-of-use and for its clear look, which was a better match for the white IEMs, visually speaking.

It would also be remiss of me not to mention the included case, which is very similar to that of the Activo Volcano. It offers plenty of room for your IEMs, different connectors, and eartips, it’s fairly compact, and it only boosts the Scoop’s value-for-money score.

Speaking of value, I have to say, the Activo Scoop are priced very generously indeed. They come in at $99 / £99 (about AU$140), and they feel worth every penny. With well-refined audio, wide compatibility, good passive noise isolation, high build quality, and even a case thrown in, it’s hard to knock these IEMs, value-wise. The buds themselves are even detachable, meaning you can add your own cable if you’d prefer, making them a versatile option.

Downsides? OK, I do find the Scoop quite chunky in-ear, and their bulky cable and connectors can’t compare to the diminutive Sennheiser IE line. And yes, you would be able to get IEMs with a bit more space for vocals and even better detail at a higher price point. On a personal note, I’d probably prefer the slightly bassier and sexier Meze Audio Alba, but they’re about $60 / £40 (about AU$100) more than Activo’s IEMs, making the latter a seriously tempting proposition.

All in all, the Activo Scoop are a great pair of in-ear monitors that — in spite of their low price — don’t skimp on quality. Their versatile connectivity and natural sound signature makes them a swell choice for both personal and professional use, they offer solid customizability, and they’re pretty comfortable to boot.

They’re not the most compact, and those with smaller ears may be better off with a model like the Sennheiser IE 200. Sennheiser’s rival IEMs also produce a bassier sound, with more subdued treble, which fans of certain genres may prefer. In the end, though, the Scoop seem like an improvement on Activo’s previous lower-priced effort, the Volcano, and I can’t help but admire their sonic and physical fidelity to the humble, water-sculpted pebble.

Activo Scoop review: price & release date

• Priced at $99 / £99 (about AU$140)
• Released in March 2026

In March 2026, Astell & Kern revealed that the Activo Scoop were coming to the UK market. They are typically priced at £99, placing them heavily on the budget end of the spectrum. The Scoop will cost $99 when they’re available in the US, which we're told is a certainty, although we’re not aware of a specific release date just yet.

Activo Scoop review: specs

Should I buy the Activo Scoop?

Buy them if…

Don’t buy them if…

Activo Scoop review: also consider

How I tested the Activo Scoop

• Test over the course of several weeks
• Mainly tested using Tidal
• Tried using various connectivity modes

I tested the Actio Scoop IEMs over the course of multiple weeks, and used their various connectivity methods along the way — predominantly listening via 3.5mm with my Windows laptop and USB-C alongside the Nothing Phone 4(a).

When listening to music, I started — as usual — with the TechRadar testing playlist, which includes tracks from a wide variety of genres. However, I also listened to tunes from my personal library. For the most part, I used Tidal to stream music, however I also dipped into Spotify from time to time.

In the past, I’ve tested the Activo Volcano, so I had clear expectations in mind for Activo’s budget friendly IEMs, but I’ve also tested other budget models from the likes of Meze, and have tested more premium monitors like the Sennheiser IE 600 and Shure Aonic 3.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: April 2026

Shokz OpenFit Pro: Two-minute review

Shokz knows its way around a pair of open earbuds. At the time of writing, the brand has three entries in our best open earbuds with good reason — it is one of the few companies out there dedicated to the fitness headphone/bone conduction market.

With the OpenFit Pro, though, Shokz seems to be courting new customers. Whereas the OpenRun Pro 2, clip-on OpenDots One and our market leader the OpenFit 2+ were targeted at a sports-specific market where audio accompaniment of any kind saves us from the monotony of a freezing early-morning January run or a rain-lashed cycle commute, the OpenFit Pro are different.

Sure, they're still tailor-made for runners, cyclists and general sporty types — including tennis, in my case — but the OpenFit Pro are pushing the barriers of what open earbuds can be for dyed-in-the-wool audiophiles. Want Dolby Atmos with head-tracking tehcnology? They've got it. Want customizable EQ profiles, in addition to the five provided by the Shokz app? They've got them. Want support accessories for an even more secure fit? Yep, them too.

Even want active noise cancellation? OK, they've not quite got that — these are still open earbuds, after all — but they do have what Shokz calls 'noise reduction', courtesy of a synchronized dual-diaphragm driver and triple-mic system with the Shokz ear-adaptive algorithm. This is incredibly rare in open earbuds and the results are mightily impressive. Sure, they can't block out everything in the way a pair of in-ears with active noise cancellation can, but in 'noise reduction mode' they do a damn good job if you need to keep regular life at bay and concentrate.

With Bass Boost selected from one of the five EQ presets, they deliver a punchy, nuanced sound that is impressively clear and detailed. The Dolby Atmos with head tracking is a welcome addition, especially in an office environment when turning your head from side to side to speak to colleagues, and delivers responsive sound to the ear that is closest to the source device.

Design-wise, the carry case is small enough to fit into your pocket, battery life is superb-to-relentless and the comfort akin to wearing air. On more than one occasion, I'd forgotten I was wearing them. While exercising, I never felt like they would slip, let alone fall out, especially after I fitted the rubber o-ring for extra stability.

The Shokz OpenFit Pro, then, are audiophile-friendly open earbuds that fully warrant their place in the best we've tested. They may be a little on the expensive side compared to the competition, but when you consider the aural additions these feature that almost no other open ears possess, they're worth it.

Open earbuds used to be the sole preserve of runners or cyclists who wanted to listen to background music without getting mown down by traffic. Not any more.

Shokz OpenFit Pro review: Specifications

Shokz OpenFit Pro review: Price and availability

• Released January 2026
• Priced at $249.95 / £219 / AU$399

The Shokz OpenFit Pro launched at CES in January 2026 and went on sale immediately. You can pick up the OpenFit Pro for $249.95 / £219 / AU$399 RRP, though there are some discounts available already via some retailers.

That makes them a fairly hefty chunk more expensive than our class-leading Shokz OpenFit 2+ ($179.95 / £169 / AU$350), but still (just about) cheaper than the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds at launch. So the big questions are what bang do you get for your extra buck(s), and are they worth the expense?

In order: lots, and yes.

Shokz OpenFit Pro review: Features

• 12-hour battery life, 50 hours with case
• Noise reduction, not cancellation, is excellent
• Bluetooth 6.1; IP55 for water- and dust-resistance

The biggest criticism usually laid at any open earbuds' door is their lack of versatility. Sure, they're great if you want to listen to something while working out — that's why a sporty type, like me, is doing this review while TechRadar's brilliant audio editor Becky Scarrott, who did the initial experiential, is indisposed with a frozen shoulder — but you would want something much punchier and full-blooded for everyday listening. They're a second pair, nothing more.

The Shokz OpenFit Pro want to be more, and we'll come on to that, but first let's deal with their fitness side. I hate anything jammed into my earhole, so their open-ear design is perfect for me, and allowing external ambient sounds through is essential for the running and cycling I mostly did while wearing them during a month-long stint working at the recent 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

While cycling, your ears are your mirrors and the balance between listening to Only God Knows by Young Fathers and hearing traffic behind me was about perfect. When running, especially the 3.5km between hotel and office at the Winter Olympics, I could at all times hear the maniacal Milanese drivers who would otherwise have mown me down without a second's thought had I been too zoned in on Fontaines D.C.'s Romance LP.

Connection, that includes multi-point pairing, was never a problem thanks to the Shokz' uber-stable Bluetooth 6.1 technology and nor was getting extra sweaty with their IP55 rating good for water and dust resistance.

In my (windowless) office in Milan, I also used the OpenFit Pro to transcribe athlete flash quotes and take reliably crystal-clear calls from reporters despite the high-pressure, higher-noise newsroom environment surrounding me. The same was true when calling my fiancée — your aforementioned Techradar audio editor, no less — from a packed pizzeria and an evening watching figure skating from opposite ends of the arena (it's a long story).

The battery life is more than above average and borders on the relentless. Shokz promise 12 hours of listening from a single charge, plus another 50 hours from the slimline and lightweight case, which I found to be about bang on. On a couple of occasions I ran into the office with only the earbuds, used them regularly to listen to and transcribe interviews on a 10-hour shift and ran back to the hotel. They lasted all day and even got me back into the office the following morning (this time with the charging case in my back pocket).

In a bit of rush? No problem, 10 minutes of fast charging will give you four hours' listening. Wireless charging is also an option, albeit at a slower pace. Sure these figures come down a bit when you turn on 'noise reduction' mode — six hours from a charge, another 24 from the case — but we're still talking about listening periods firmly in the 'every day' territory.

Time to talk about why you'd want to. That 'noise reduction' mode really is excellent for a pair of open earbuds. It's basically impossible for the Shokz to have ANC but the noise reduction technology, helped by the brand's SuperBoost technology, ear adaptive algorithm and synchronized dual-diaphragm driver, does a great job of blocking out more of the world.

The companion Shokz app is also a boon. It's home to five EQ presets, plus two options to create your own sound profiles, and is also the destination to turn on 'noise reduction' (touch control toggles are also available), Dolby Atmos and head tracking technology. You can also customize those multi-point connections and use the very useful 'Find My Earbuds' function.

The overall impression is very positive. Sure, closed earbuds have a bigger feature set in general — but the fact that all this exists in a set of open earbuds, is pretty impressive indeed.

• Features score: 5 / 5

Shokz OpenFit Pro review: Sound quality

• Noise reduction excellent for open-ear design
• Dolby Atmos and head-tracking technology
• Treble can overwhelm

The difference in price between the Shokz OpenFit Pro and the vast majority of their competitors can be explained in how they sound, or at least, how they try to sound. Remember, at a price touching $250, Shokz are going after an audiophile market here.

For the most part, they succeed. The detail at the low end — especially with EQ preset Bass Boost turned on in the Shokz app — is impressively dynamic, and weighty enough to almost make you forget that these are open earbuds. Wet Leg's Chaise Longue loses none of its lustrous early bass power thanks to that synchronized dual-diaphragm driver, while Age of Consent by New Order enhances the propulsive force of Peter Hook's four-string.

If treble is your bag, you're also in luck, but you've really got to love it. Treble Boost brings forward guitars and vocals — only accentuated further if you switch on the Vocal setting in the app – which sound at their best for semi-spoken word songs like Go! by Public Service Broadcasting but for my money it's to the detriment of the overall sound profile.

Bass gets lost and the treble overwhelms to the point it sounds a little tinny, rendering a song as good as The Concept by Teenage Fanclub almost unlistenable — so much Norman Blake and Raymond McGinley rhythm guitar and almost no Gerard Love woozy bass.

You can also create your own EQ in the app, which, though a little fiddly, does do a good job in establishing a Goldilocks setting just for you. In the end, though, I listened almost exclusively in Bass Boost mode and felt all the happier for having done so.

The OpenFit Pro's aforementioned noise reduction mode does as good a job as can be expected from a set of open earbuds. Helped by a triple-mic system (up from two in the OpenFit 2), Shokz's ear-adaptive algorithm can predict external noise and delivers a solid reduction in what you hear. In the app, you can also select how much noise reduction you actually want with a toggle, although I didn't notice much difference. You will, though, have to crank up the volume to a Spinal Tap 11 if you want to block out the world around you — in doing so, I had a notification on my phone telling me I had "exceeded the recommended limit for audio exposure" over the previous seven days. This has never happened to me before.

I tended to use noise reduction only when in an office environment and needed to focus — I'm not the biggest fan of ANC in general and found the noise reduction here too manufactured to the point of slight nausea — but it's easy to turn on and off with either the buds themselves or using the Shokz app. On my flight home, it also made an appreciable difference to both aircraft and wailing baby noise, albeit nothing compared with my Cambridge Audio Melomania P100s, which combine an over-ear seal with ANC.

Elsewhere, the combination of Dolby Atmos and head-tracked spatial audio is a winner. It upscales TV on the Radio's Wolf Like Me without sounding too muddy, while listening again to Tidal's Dolby Atmos version of Wet Leg's Chaise Longue was a transformative experience. With both Dolby Atmos and head-tracking switched on, the bass-heavy intro is punchier, with extra clarity, and you feel 'in the mix' much more throughout.

When a breathy 'what?' halfway through the first verse appeared from apparently behind my right ear, I genuinely turned around, certain a prank was being played on me by a sleep-deprived Olympics colleague. Only when the same happened moments later in my left ear, having turned my head, was I finally assuaged that it was vocalist Rhian Teasdale with some Dolby Atmos help. You might think it's a gimmick, but it genuinely felt like she was in the room.

• Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Shokz OpenFit Pro review: Design

• Super-comfortable and endlessly tactile
• Portable charging case
• Sound leakage at upper volume a problem

The best thing to be said about the OpenFit Pro's design is that on numerous occasions after pausing a track to deal with a work enquiry, I simply forgot I was wearing them. They really are that comfortable, especially over long periods. They sit snugly around your ear, too, with a handy demonstration from the Shokz app of how to fit them if you're a luddite like me.

Weighing 12.3g, each bud may be a little heavier than our current open-ear market leaders the OpenFit 2+ (9.4g) but, typical of the Shokz oeuvre, the OpenFit Pro's general silicone stylings are supremely tactile. The driver housing is made from an 'aerospace-grade aluminium PMI dome cap' which adds security and a well-positioned nub that sits perfectly to direct sound straight into the ear. It's the same with the charging case, which feels premium and is small enough to fit in your pocket — whether jeans or even running shorts, as I found.

Thanks to the OpenFit Pro, for the first time in my 30 years' playing competitive tennis (yes, my name really is Andy Murray), I listened to music during match training. How your opponent hits the ball is your biggest clue to their shot — its pace, its spin and even its trajectory — and despite listening to Queens of the Stone Age banger The Lost Art Of Keeping A Secret, while warming up I could still hear and track the ball in the way I always have. I wouldn't wear the Shokz for anything more than a 15-minute warm up — my addled brain can only cope with doing so many things at once — but they brought a new way of interacting with a sport I love.

Unlike running and cycling's repetitive movements, tennis' reactive twisting and turning really gave the OpenFit Pro a stability workout to stay on my ears. And they managed it. In tougher rallies, I found my right earbud feeling slightly unstable, but attaching the supplied ultra-soft silicone o-rings to the inside of earpiece sorted that in a heartbeat. I always wear a baseball cap when playing tennis, as well as a helmet while cycling, and neither interfered with the Shokz sitting snugly around my ears.

I regularly put on and took off jumpers, T-shirts and sportswear without having to take out the buds. As if to prove a point, I just put on a hoodie while writing this sentence. The fit really is excellent. The buds, that is. The hoodie has probably seen better days.

Whether in white or the review sample black I tested, the OpenFit Pro look sleek, smart and unobtrusive — numerous colleagues in Milan were surprised when asking me a question and I'd respond by either taking off the Shokz or using the buds' touch controls to pause.

Those touch controls are great, by the way. Each bud has an easily accessible nub, which does everything. One quick press on either bud for pause, and answer and end call; double click for skip track; triple click for previous track; a quick press followed by a continuous hold does volume up (right) and down (left); and press and hold to toggle noise reduction. These are all customizable in the Shokz app, too. Listening to Fontaines D.C.'s Starburster over and over with that triple click saw me through a couple of 3.5km PBs.

Only in one design area does the OpenFit Pro suffer, and it's one familiar to any regular open earbuds wearer. Despite the clever noise reduction mode, to really block out the world around you'll need to crank the volume, making sound leakage a problem. At 50% volume in a silent room it's barely audible, but start to push things further to drown out external stimuli and it's immediately obvious.

On the morning commute this shouldn't be a problem if you don't want your neighbor to know you're getting your groove on to Chappell Roan's Pink Pony Club, but while my fiancée was watching TV, she could hear my dirty secret from across the room when I tried to drown out her weekend Homes Under the Hammer catchup. Nor does the 'Private' EQ setting particularly help – there's only a negligible improvement for your companion and the bass suffers significantly for you. I wouldn't bother.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Shokz OpenFit Pro review: Value

In the general scheme of things, the Shokz OpenFit Pro aren't that expensive, it's just that for nearly $250 they come in at the north end of the open earbud market, albeit not quite as pricy as the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds. With noise reduction, Dolby Atmos and head-tracking technology, though, Shokz seem to be targeting these as the only buds you need in your listening arsenal.

So, are they worth it? In audio terms, absolutely. You quite simply won't find a better-sounding set of open earbuds with this feature set, and as sturdy a battery life. I wouldn't necessarily throw out your regular over-ears or ANC in-ears just yet, though. There are times when you need to zone in and hear nothing of the outside world.

That being said, as a pair of sports-specific open earbuds, I don't think you'll find better.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Shokz OpenFit Pro review: scorecard

Shokz OpenFit Pro: Should I buy them?

Buy them if...

Don't buy them if...

Also consider

How I tested

I tested the Shokz OpenFit Pro for well over a month, which is longer than our regular testing period at TechRadar.

The buds were paired to an iPhone for the entirety of the testing, using Tidal's high-res and Dolby Atmos audio outputs. I used them at home at work and also on runs, while cycling and even playing tennis, at which I've competed at a high level for 30 years.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed: April 2026

Over five years since Apple entered the over-ear headphones market, admittedly with a pair that stood out from the rest for a premium build with a hefty price tag, the Cupertino-based tech giant is now ushering in the second generation.

At first glance, you might have a hard time telling the difference, and that's kind of the point. AirPods Max 2 stick with the original iconic design — aluminum and stainless steel parts give these headphones some heft, and they're connected at the top not with a headband but with a mesh canopy that helps distribute weight.

The over-ear form factor is pretty much identical, and the colors are very familiar — it's the same five that debuted when Apple swapped Lightning for USB-C in 2024.

What's changed is everything you can't see: dual H2 chips replacing the original H1s, a new digital amplifier carried over from AirPods Pro 3, and a processing architecture that Apple's own engineers describe as carrying headroom well beyond what ships on day one.

To understand exactly what that means five years on, TechRadar sat down with Apple VP of Platform Architecture Tim Millet and Director of Audio Product Marketing Eric Treski to unpack how AirPods Max 2 is finally catching up to its own ambitions.

Built for the product, not the market

"When we build chips at Apple, it's always about the product. We don't sell chips out in the open market, and this gives our team really the luxury of knowing exactly what they're building for," says Millet.

That's the philosophy that defines AirPods Max 2 — and it's what makes the H2 upgrade more than a spec bump. Rather than dropping in an off-the-shelf component, Apple created a purpose-built audio streaming processor co-designed from the ground up with its acoustics and firmware teams. The goal, as Millet puts it, is to make sure they're "only limited by the physics."

The processing capability that unlocks is significant. Millet relays that his team's view is that "some of the processing we do here is exceeding the kind of compute that you get in a general sense in the Mac — but because we've made it so specific for audio, it's actually deliverable in these tiny form factors."

"We've got giga-operations of floating point implemented in the most energy-efficient possible way," he adds. And crucially, all of it feeds into a single constraint that Millet returns to repeatedly: "It's all about latency. It's hard to trick the human mind when it comes to audio."

ANC without touching the hardware

One of the boldest claims Apple makes for AirPods Max 2 is a 1.5x improvement in active noise cancellation — achieved without changing a single physical component. "Getting those improvements to ANC and especially that 1.5 times more powerful ANC, which of course is a feat in itself, considering we didn't change the actual design of the headphone at all from a form factor or material standpoint," says Treski.

That improvement isn't limited to a specific frequency band either. "We take that average at 1.5 times across an average of all frequencies. We're not cherry-picking individual frequencies or a certain range," he adds. That means AirPods Max 2 should perform better whether it's blocking louder, booming sounds or higher-pitched ones — and that's a high bar, given that the original AirPods Max were no slouches when it came to blocking out sound.

On AirPods Max 2, that gain comes entirely from processing speed and improved algorithms, all running on the H2. "ANC — getting those improvements to 1.5 times without changing the hardware — is incredibly difficult to do. That's all thanks to the compute power and the improved algorithms with H2," says Treski.

The arrival of Apple's newer silicon also brings a breadth of new features to second-generation AirPods Max. Leading that pack is Adaptive Audio, which blends ANC and Transparency together to intelligently block out unimportant sounds while letting important ones through. Think blocking out the background noise of a coffee shop while still hearing someone speak to you, or cutting the roar of an airplane cabin while catching an announcement. It's been one of the standout features on AirPods Pro, and it's a welcome addition to AirPods Max.

Apple needed the headroom and processing power of H2 to make that happen — and it does raise the question of what future software updates might unlock, even if Apple didn't touch on that in our conversation.

Audio quality and the case for personalization

Alongside the H2 upgrade, Apple is bringing over the digital amplifier from AirPods Pro 3 — a quieter change with significant downstream effects.

Treski frames it around distortion and reference accuracy: "It's really about bringing it back to a target — ensuring that we have it with the best fidelity possible with the lower THD. So we have a lot more headroom to sort of play with and gain a lot more clarity."

That headroom feeds directly into Adaptive EQ, which runs continuously and cannot be switched off. "There's no ability to turn off Adaptive EQ essentially... using that microphone and being able to determine what you're supposed to be listening to on that air-correcting mic — a reference mic — and then being able to use Adaptive EQ at 48,000 times a second with the higher range up in the higher frequency. That's really important, especially with ANC, to be able to do this all in real time," says Treski.

The result is a more consistent listening experience across different head shapes, ear fits, and seal quality — effectively standardizing sound for every user rather than relying on a fixed tuning curve.

Personalized Spatial Audio benefits from that consistency, too. Previously, Apple had to tune conservatively because it couldn't account for individual differences. On previous AirPods Max without Personalized Spatial Audio, Apple "had to make one profile for everyone, so we were way more conservative... now we know that we can take more liberties to expand those instruments out more," says Treski.

A platform, not a product cycle

The H2 upgrade also unlocks a raft of features carried over from AirPods Pro 3 — among them Live Translation, which Treski singles out as a personal favorite. It uses beam-forming microphones to isolate a voice directly in front of the wearer rather than the wearer's own: "so challenging to do," he says, "without changing the physical architecture of the microphones."

That same capability should push call quality forward, too, with AirPods Max 2 better able to isolate your voice from surrounding noise. The broader additions — Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, Camera Remote, and 5GHz support with Game Mode — all run through the same underlying architecture. The point isn't any single feature. It's that the system can now carry all of them simultaneously.

For Millet, that's the deeper story. "H2 is this platform that continues to demonstrate that it has continued headroom," he says. What AirPods Max 2 ships with today may not be the ceiling of what it eventually does — and that's been a hallmark of AirPods broadly. AirPods Pro have repeatedly expanded their capabilities over time, from Adaptive Audio to the Hearing Health suite to Live Translation.

AirPods Max 2 doesn't try to look like a new generation of headphones. It reflects Apple's broader hardware philosophy: keep the physical design stable — especially one that's well-regarded — and expand the internal system's capabilities to deliver new features.

It's not a redesign. It's a recalibration of what the same shape can now do. And for most people wearing them, that difference will be the point — even if they never see it.