The Sony WF-1000XM3 wireless earbuds have some pedigree to live up to. Named - and designed, for that matter - to draw obvious connections with Sony's WH-1000XM3 headphones, the promise is industry-leading active noise cancellation in a Bluetooth earbud, without stinting on musical performance.
Before we go any further, I want you to know that this is not an advertisement, and nobody at any company (especially Apple) compelled me to write what you're about to read. I noticed today that several blogs had written about some AirPods discount or another - and passed it off as news. Besides the obvious affiliate angle, how did a discount about AirPods become news - and why do so many people care? Here are five reasons why Apple AirPods are so bonkers-level popular.
Completely wireless earbuds like Apple AirPods and Beats Powerbeats Pro are all well and good, but what if you need more than the average battery life? JLab Audio believes it has the answer, with the new Epic Air Sport promising a total of 70 hours of playtime - enough to get you from San Francisco to London seven times over.
Thanks in part to Apple pushing its AirPods onto the smartphone market, the in-ear Bluetooth earbuds industry has gotten some attention and improvements. From truly wireless designs to touch-sensitive surface, these audio accessories have greatly improved in all but one aspect: battery life. Considering their size and the technology they use, it's not surprising that they could last only a few hours at most. That's where Cleer's new Ally earbuds try to break the mold with 10 hours of playback that could get you through your work day with no problem at all.
The OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2 were revealed today with a collection of new features. This pair of buds works with a triple-armature driver structure and one GoerTek dynamic driver - plus they sound pretty great. They're designed with the OnePlus 7 family of devices in mind - they match the hardware - but they're smooth and simple enough to collaborate with any phone that supports Bluetooth.
The Beats Powerbeats Pro aren't going to do much to end step-sibling rivalry in Cupertino, but some healthy family competition pays dividends for music fans. AirPods have shared their toys, in the shape of the Apple H1 Bluetooth chip, and Powerbeats Pro have run with it, adding features and talents that could well overshadow Apple's already-iconic white earbuds.
Skullcandy has launched a new pair of truly wireless earbuds to compete with Apple's AirPods and the growing number of similar wire-free in-ear headphones models. The new Skullcandy Indy features two ear pieces with an elongated design, as well as a carrying case that includes a built-in battery for charging. Unlike some competing models, Skullcandy's offering has a budget price of $80.
The tiniest detail in the Razer Hammerhead Duo headset (earbuds) has an eye for the Nintendo Switch. To be clear, there'll be two versions of the Razer Hammerhead Duo, one for Switch, the other ready to roll with every other device under the sun. One is called "Razer Hammerhead Duo", the other is called "Razer Hammerhead Duo - Compatible with the Nintendo Switch". Sadly this version will not be in the eye-searing blues and reds of the Nintendo Switch console controllers.
The new Powerbeats Pro will hit shelves next month, Beats has confirmed, announcing pre-order dates and release information for the hotly-anticipated wireless earbuds. Announced earlier in April, the Powerbeats Pro borrow the wireless tech of Apple's AirPods 2 but then wrap it up in a form-factor probably more satisfying to fitness fans, among others.
With the attention given to the second gen AirPods and rumors of a Microsoft Surface Buds, it's almost too easy to forget that Samsung has had one like those for a few months now. As if to remind the public that the Galaxy Buds are a thing, it's pushing out a new update that's a rather sizable one despite the small file size. Now those who don't want to or even can't reach up to tap their buds can now control them with their voice thanks to Bixby integration.
Microsoft is reportedly preparing to take on Apple's AirPods with some smart wireless earbuds of its own, joining the line-up alongside the Surface Headphones. If the earbuds make it to market, it would mean further validation for the audio-focused wearable space, where virtual assistants communicate via voice interactions rather than showing data with displays.
Apple's new AirPods are here, and while there are several obvious reasons to upgrade, for me it's the small - but important - details that have my finger hovering over the buy button. A perennial success since they first launched in 2017, AirPods epitomize Apple getting things right when it comes to convenience and simplicity. Question is, if you're a happy first-generation AirPods owner, should you be upgrading?