When I reviewed them in 2025, the original Soundcore Space One Pro proved to be one of Anker’s biggest curveballs. I honestly expected something extremely mid from the mid-priced headphones. So when the Anker Soundcore Space 2 Pro launched in September 2026, I couldn’t wait to try them out.

While I love the overall sound quality and the personalized EQ feature, there are a few quality-of-life issues that prevent the Space 2 Pro from receiving the coveted 4-star “Recommended” rating. If you value products with their advertized AI features actually working as intended, you’re not in the right place.

But don’t care about AI in headphones? Then, the Space 2 Pro could be some of the best over-ear headphones available today. It totally depends on what you’re after. Don’t fret — I’ll walk you through all the details in this Anker Soundcore Space 2 Pro review.

Anker Soundcore Space 2 Pro review: Specs

Anker Soundcore Space 2 Pro review: Price & availability

The Anker Soundcore Space 2 Pro (say that ten times fast) cost $199 from Amazon U.S. and £199 from Amazon U.K. This is the same launch price as the predecessor, Soundcore Space One Pro, which I like to see.

$200 places them firmly in the mid of mid-range. Even so, the similar-performance Bose QuietComfort Headphones Gen 2 (not Ultra) will set you back a lot more — $359, to be exact. The brand-new Beats 360 are $349, but have an IPX4 rating (more on that later) and interchangeable ear cups.

At this price point, you might even want to check out Sony’s recently refreshed WH-1000 XM4, which were initially released in 2021. Now you can snag these cans for $298, which isn’t bad for the high-quality sound.

For those looking to save even more money, you might want to check out Soundcore’s budget option, the Space 2, which sound much better than their $99 price tag might suggest.

For the Space 2 Pro, Soundcore ditched the, well, Soundcore branding and added the parent company’s name: now it’s Anker Soundcore. Consequently, the app is now called Anker Soundcore rather than Soundcore.

Anker Soundcore Space 2 Pro review: Design

In terms of design, the Soundcore Space 2 Pro are both inconspicuous and sleek. I tested the lovely grayish mauve, which would be my choice if buying these for myself. If you want something a bit more eye-catching, you might want to check out the aforementioned Beats 360.

Unfortunately, there’s no IP rating. While this isn’t unheard of for over-ear headphones — the AirPods Max 2 and Sony WH-1000XM6 lack one, too — the Nothing Headphone (a) are rated IP52, making them splashproof, while the Beats 360 are IPX4 rated, making them water- and sweat-resistant, so excellent for working out.

Comfort

The Space 2 Pro are oh-so comfortable. I wore the headphones for eight hours while donning glasses, and the cups never pushed my glasses into my skull. I barely felt them — checks out, considering they’re just 9.2 ounces. This is a whole ounce lighter than the Space One Pro and the Beats 360.

Controls

There are controls on either ear cup, and, thankfully, no touch controls. Woo-hoo! While simple to use, I wish the controls had more customization. There’s no option to configure skip forward/skip back or pause… surely the most important buttons on an audio product? No, Anker has decided to forgo actually useful audio-related controls in favor of AI controls and assistants. Great! It just makes no sense.

Connectivity

I found connecting the headphones supremely easy. Multipoint also works seamlessly: I was connected to my phone and laptop within seconds. All you have to do is press the Bluetooth button for each additional device, and it works exactly how it’s supposed to.

The headphones use Bluetooth 6.0 and also have LDAC (a high-resolution codec available on most modern Android phones). I’m extremely relieved to see Bluetooth 6.0 as Apple released both the AirPods Max 2 and the Beats 360 with Bluetooth 5.3 / 5.4, respectively. Yes, in 2026. I know.

In short, Bluetooth 6.0 will provide a longer range and more stable connection. In reality, I was able to go downstairs and to the front door before the Space 2 Pro disconnected.

Anker Soundcore Space 2 Pro review: Sound quality

To test sound quality, I listened to a range of genres on Qobuz, our best music streaming service for audiophiles.

Just like its predecessor, the Space 2 Pro are very bassy. If you like a bassy sound signature — similar to the JBL Live 780NC or the Bose QuietComfort/Bose QuietComfort Ultra — you’ll like it. Of course, you can adjust the default EQ to whatever suits you. I’ll discuss this more in the “App” section below, but you can also do Soundcore’s HearID game to find your “optimal” EQ.

With my personalized EQ, I listened to “Hot Dog” by Limp Bizkit. The heavy, crunchy guitars in the chorus chugged through the headphones without unbalancing the vocals. In the verses, the softer guitar riffs fluttered around the background of the track. Most present of all was bass, which led the track like a knight commander running into battle.

Details are pronounced, too. I switched back to Anker Signature EQ for my next track. The chattering synth flicks in “Bias” by Floating Points were clear enough to trick my mind into thinking my jaw was trembling. I could feel the vibrations around my skull. Through the rest of the track, the sub-bass (the lowest bass, and the stuff you can feel rather than hear) grumbled along with intensity; although it might be a touch too rounded for some, I love powerful bass (as long as higher frequencies don’t suffer because of it).

The playful licks of synth towards the end of the track were layered beautifully over that pumping sub-bass. Each flickering synth was clear and well-formed, with no crispiness or overly bright processing issues. This song sounded immense.

All that being said, the propulsive bass might be a little too intense for some listeners. While details are still clear, the bassline dominated in “Superscar” by ADELA. Let me reiterate: this is not inherently a bad thing. I personally like this sound signature because I get a naughty bass response without the vocals being pushed back.

Overall, the Space 2 Pro sound like their predecessor with a little more oomph. Bass steals the spotlight, but without shoving higher-frequency details into the wings.

Anker Soundcore Space 2 Pro review: ANC

ANC, as expected, is great. I tested the headphones both in the office and while walking around the city. I couldn’t hear myself typing or conversations around me.

When I was walking around the city, I could hear some construction (drilling) noises, but chatter and general human noise were completely silenced. If you live near a super busy road or are often on public transport, these headphones would suit you fine. However, if you want to obliterate nearby drilling, they might not be enough (but is there anything capable of blocking out a concrete drill?).

Anker Soundcore Space 2 Pro review: Call quality

Anker’s marketing claims the Soundcore Space 2 Pro hold the Guinness World Record for the world’s clearest call quality. Well, I’ll be the judge of that.

To test call quality, I called my boyfriend, who has listened to every pair of headphones and earbuds I’ve ever tested. I played a drilling noise track at max volume (75dB) to test the environmental sound reduction capabilities.

He said my voice was clear and audible, around the same as my AirPods Pro 2, but it wasn’t anything special. He also reported he could hear the drilling noise track in the background; however, the headphones isolated my voice and he could hear everything I said.

Anker Soundcore Space 2 Pro review: App

Because the Space 2 Pro come with Anker’s new “Thus AI” chip, they have an upgraded AI assistant. If you’re the kind of person who uses AI in headphones, this’ll be music to your ears. Personally, I never use AI in any earbuds or headphones, so this is redundant for me.

Even so, “Anka” (yes, that’s its name) is supposed to be able to do a number of interesting things: adjust your EQ, take notes, and even tell you a joke. The joke, however, is that Anka can’t do any of these things.

Haha. Really funny. It couldn’t even answer the pre-programmed suggested questions. If you want headphones with AI that actually works, the Space 2 Pro might not be the ones for you.

I do find it ironic that Anker uses AI-generated images in its advertisements but its own AI doesn’t work. It feels serendipitous.

Even so, it’s incredibly frustrating that Anker is selling an unfinished product: don’t advertize AI features that don’t work. I’ve reached out to Anker to clarify this.

Apart from the non-functional chatbot (seriously, who asked for this?), the Soundcore app can do everything you’d expect it to. You can customize EQ manually, configure the controls (kind of), and cycle through ANC modes. As far as apps go, it’s standard.

Of course, there’s the HearID function, as in the Space One Pro. I love this feature. I’m a sucker for gamified personalized EQs.

My HearID was markedly quieter in the low mids than Anker’s Signature EQ, but a little more pronounced in the sub-bass. Naturally, you can adjust the EQ on the fly, too, so you can easily switch between bass and balanced when you go from rock to pop, for example.

Anker Soundcore Space 2 Pro review: Battery

The Soundcore Space 2 Pro last for 60 hours with ANC off and 30 hours with ANC on. I listened for 8 hours and it went down by 20%, which checks out.

Although I’ve tested headphones with seriously unkillable batteries — like the EarFun Wave Pro (55 hours with ANC) and the EarFun Tune Pro (80 hours with ANC), 30 hours is more than enough to get you through at least a decent chunk of the week.

But please remember — you have to turn off the headphones manually. They don’t sleep after a certain amount of dormancy. I woke up one morning to find my headphones dead.

Anker Soundcore Space 2 Pro review: Verdict

The Anker Soundcore Space 2 Pro are great headphones. Are they better than the predecessor? As good as they sound, I’m going to say no. Not when the advertized AI features don’t work. Again, this is super personal — I do not care about AI in headphones, full stop, so I could overlook this. But it does leave a sour taste in my mouth. What other features don’t work?

As far as I’ve tested, everything else works. HearID? Yes. 30-hour battery? You got it. Rich, high-quality sound? Yep. Supremely clear calls? Uh-huh. Cloud-cushion comfort? Another yes. Honestly, though… I think I’d buy the Space One Pro on discount instead of paying full price for the Space 2 Pro. The improvements, while seemingly impressive, aren’t worth the extra cash. True, we’re still waiting for said discounts, but with Black Friday around the corner, I’m sure there’ll be some decent savings on the older model now.

Even so, if you want the newest version, you won’t be disappointed. The Space 2 Pro sound excellent, feel super comfy, and have great call quality and ANC. Just beware of those “AI” features.

Bluetooth speakers are some of the most popular tech products on Amazon Australia, and Prime Big Deal Days has brought sizeable discounts to several of the online retail giant's best-selling models. Whether you're after a rugged speaker for outdoor adventures or something compact for everyday listening, now's a great time to buy.

While there are stacks of Bluetooth speakers on sale right now, the standout deals for me are the JBL Flip 6 and Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen). The former received 4.5 stars in our review, while the latter earned a respectable 4-star rating.

Right now, you can snag the excellent JBL Flip 6 for just AU$169.95 AU$99.95, saving you a cool AU$70 on the RRP, while the Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) is down to AU$249.95 AU$147.25 for Prime members — that's a hefty AU$102.70 discount.

Both speakers combine strong sound quality with rugged waterproof designs, making them easy recommendations for anyone looking for a portable audio upgrade. They're far from the only deals worth considering, though, with Amazon's best-seller rankings also featuring popular options from Soundcore, Harman Kardon and Ultimate Ears across a range of budgets.

That's what makes this year's Prime Big Deal Days speaker deals worth a closer look. I've rounded up the best offers below, but you can also browse Amazon AU's current best-selling speakers to see what's proving most popular with shoppers right now.

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The Shokz OpenFit Air 2 is the new entry-level model in the brand’s line-up of open earhook headphones, and comes in considerably cheaper than the Shokz OpenFit 2+ and OpenFit Pro.

They don’t quite match the sound quality of those headphones, but still sound good and have a flexible, lightweight design that creates a great fit for workouts in particular.

I rate them among the best running headphones I’ve tested with an open design, and if you need an earhook to keep your buds in place when getting sweaty, the OpenFit Air 2 offers a nice middle-ground between budget options and pricey flagship models.

Shokz OpenFit Air 2: price and availability

The Shokz OpenFit Air 2 launched in August 2026 and cost $129 in the U.S. and £129 in the U.K., which is $10/£10 more than the price of the original Shokz OpenFit Air, though those can often now be found on sale.

They are the cheapest model in the current OpenFit line-up, sitting beneath the Shokz OpenFit 2+ and Shokz OpenFit Pro. The more expensive models offer longer battery life, better sound quality and, in the case of the OpenFit Pro, noise reduction.

Shokz OpenFit Air 2: design and fit

The Shokz OpenFit Air 2 are currently available in three colors: black, white and light blue. As the name suggests, they’re the lightest OpenFit model, weighing just 0.25oz/7.2g per earbud.

This lightweight design, along with the flexible earhook, makes them exceptionally comfortable to wear for long periods in my experience.

They stay securely in place during all kinds of workouts, but don’t put any pressure on the ear, and I was happy to wear them for several hours at a time, going from work to workouts.

The reshaped speaker sits near the ear canal without blocking it, with Shokz’s DirectPitch tech helping to avoid too much sound leakage.

If you don’t need the earhook to keep the headphones in place during workouts, however, I do think the clip-on design of buds like the Shokz OpenDots Air is less fussy and just as comfortable for long periods of use.

Shokz has also reduced the size of the case compared with the older model, though it’s still not the most easily pocketed compared to the tiny case you get with buds without earhooks.

The OpenFit Air 2 has an IP55 rating, so they are sweat- and water-resistant, and offer multipoint pairing to two devices at once via Bluetooth V6.1.

Shokz OpenFit Air 2: controls

One of the things I disliked about the original Shokz OpenFit Air was their touch panel controls, which were not the most reliable and easy to use during workouts with sweaty fingers.

The new pressure-sensitive buttons on the OpenFit Air 2 are a big improvement. The small buttons sit on top of the speaker of each earbud, so you can grip both sides to press the button.

I found this new design much easier to use during runs and other workouts, and they’ll also be easier to use with gloves in the winter.

Shokz OpenFit Air 2: sound quality

The OpenFit Air 2 sound good, but not great. As with all open headphones, you lose out on bass and noise cancellation compared with in-ear buds, but they also fall a little short of the clarity and power of the more expensive OpenFit 2+ and OpenFit Pro.

However, I do think they live up to their price in terms of sound quality, and I enjoyed using them during and outside of workouts. They’re loud enough to still hear your audio when running by busy roads too, though can be drowned out when traveling on trains.

The bass is powerful enough to deliver the motivational punch I’m looking for when I put on my rock-heavy running playlist, and in quieter environments tracks like Phoebe Bridgers’ “The Governor's Waltz” sounded bright and clear.

You can customize the EQ on the headphones in the Shokz app too, which is worth doing to ramp up the bass in particular.

There’s always a trade-off to consider with the sound on open headphones, but the extra awareness you get from the OpenFit Air 2 is worth it for me as a runner, and while these aren’t the best sounding open buds you can get, I don’t think you’ll do much better for the price.

Shokz OpenFit Air 2: battery life

The OpenFit Air 2 lasts up to eight hours on a charge and offers a total of 36 hours including the charging case.

It’s not as much as the OpenFit 2+ and OpenFit Pro, but that’s a lot of battery life, and in my use, they lived up to the listed stats.

Even when running with them every day and using them for a couple of hours of work, they lasted over a week, and you can get three hours of use from just 10 minutes of charging in a pinch.

Should you buy the Shokz OpenFit Air 2?

The Shokz OpenFit Air 2 offers a good middle ground between budget open headphones and the impressive, but expensive, top options in the Shokz OpenFit line-up.

If you just want the best sound you can get from open earhook buds, I’d opt for the OpenFit Pro, but the OpenFit Air 2 sounds good enough for me and is almost half the price, and I think the balance of features, fit, and price they offer is very good.

Cheaper alternatives to consider include the OpenFit Air, which will now be on sale and, while not as good as the new model, still offers decent sound and a great fit, and the JLab Epic Open Sport, which aren’t as comfortable and don’t sound as good, but are $99.

If you’re flexible on the exact style of open headphones you’re after, I’d also look at the Shokz OpenDots Air and OpenDots 2, because I prefer the clip-on fit myself, and the case is smaller. Having been a long-term user of earhook buds for my runs, clip-ons have become my go-to, and the OpenDots Air are the same price as the OpenFit Air.

Have you ever wanted to throw an "easy-connect" Wi-Fi speaker across your living room? If your answer's no, I don't believe you. As a tech journalist, I've tested my fair share of even the best smart speakers with severe connectivity issues.

If I had a nickel for how many times I've fantasized about taking a chainsaw to a recalcitrant speaker and giving it a piece of my mind, I'd have enough to buy myself a Wi-Fi speaker that actually worked.

Well, JBL's trying to fix all that with its new "Cove" line. Releasing on October 8, the Cove line includes the entry-level M1 ($199), portable-yet-Wi-Fi P1 ($399), and the flagship X1 ($429). Allegedly, it takes just forty seconds to connect the speaker to your home Wi-Fi. I know, right? It honestly feels too good to be true. I got to try out the new line, so what did I actually think?

No connectivity headaches

I'm just as suspicious as you, but during my three hours using and listening to the JBL Cove M1, Cove P1, and Cove X1, I didn't experience any cuts or restarts. Ever feel like sometimes if you look at a wireless speaker wrong, it'll reset itself? I do. Don't get me wrong, I love my Denon Home 550, but I had to buy an Ethernet cable to stop it disconnecting randomly.

During the stereo demonstration, the paired X1 speakers took about thirty seconds to connect to the example phone, but once they connected, they connected. No issues there. "Money" by Pink Floyd dinged and crashed its way through the 6-drivered speaker.

You can also use the smaller M1 and P1 speakers as rears with the JBL Bar 300XMK2 and the JBL Bar 500XMK2. To test this out, I watched the famous car chase scene from "No Time to Die", and I was nodding along with thinly veiled admiration. The church bells resounded through the living room, and every lick of the tense violin OST felt like a lash of tension darting up my spine.

I know, right? There's got to be something wrong... surely...

Dynamic, punchy sound

In true JBL fashion, the Cove M1, P1, and X1 all sound fantastic. Obviously, the flagship X1 is the most exciting and vivacious, but the M1 holds its own, too. There's a decadence to the bass — just like JBL's Live 780 NC headphone line — and vibrance in the vocals.

"Shiver" by Ed Sheeran filled the open-plan kitchen, particularly effusive in the violin plucks. Although the treble was a touch harsh in "Señorita", the M1 is a small speaker, so naturally isn't going to have the depth of the P1 or X1.

Speaking of the P1 and X1 — boy, am I excited to test them out properly. As already touched upon, the X1 is rich and dynamic, especially during "Birth4000" by Floating Points. The sub-bass was strong without overpowering the hi-hats or high-frequency synth notes, one thing I look out for while testing speakers.

As the portable speaker of the group, the P1 has a 14-hour battery life (but charges while placed on the dock, so should always be full of juice) and sounds rambunctious. When I tested this in the garden, my first thought was, "The neighbors definitely hate me." Let that do all the talking for me.

Problem-solving features

Last, but certainly not least, is the array of problem-solving features across the Cove line. For starters, you can control the speakers without the app, which I like to see. Of course, you need the app for initial Wi-Fi setup and button configuration, but once you've programmed the heart-shaped "Moment" button to Spotify playlists (or podcasts), it can play with one tap.

The speakers also have a "Follow me" feature, where they switch off from one room and start playing instantly from the next. There's also a "break-in" feature, so you can stop a group and start a new group with just an on-speaker button.

Seriously, in a world full of apps, this is a breath of fresh air.

But my favorite part: you don't need a JBL account to do any of this. The JBL One app runs entirely off Wi-Fi, so as long as your phone is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the speakers, you can control the speakers with no JBL account. And you don't miss out on any features. Other members of the household can also control the speakers with just the app (or buttons) — no account setup necessary.

So what's the catch?

Honestly, I don't know. I'll be testing the speakers out properly in the coming weeks, so be sure to check back here for my comprehensive review. Right now, it all sounds too good to be true... My home speaker suspicion senses are tingling.

My hopes are well and truly sky-high.

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• I've tested dozens of mini speakers, and my top pick is already discounted for Prime Big Deal Days

I run every day and listen to music or podcasts on almost all my runs, but I very rarely use over-ear or on-ear headphones for this. For the most part I prefer open earbuds that clip on or hook over my ear, which have smaller, sweatproof designs.

However, the new Beats 360 over-ear headphones are touted as great for workouts thanks to their swappable pads and sweat-resistant build, so I was curious to see how they actually felt on a 10-mile long run.

I was pleasantly surprised at their performance. There are drawbacks to the bulkier design, which does get hotter and sweatier than earbuds, but if you prefer to use over-ear cans for everything then I’d say the Beats 360 are the best running headphones you can get.

The Beats 360 were comfortable and secure throughout the run

Over-ear headphones are bigger and heavier than the buds I normally use and I worried the Beats 360 would either be loose and slide around during the run, or have such a tight fit to avoid this that they became uncomfortable after a few miles.

I needn’t have worried. The fit on the Beats 360 is spot on and they stayed securely in place throughout my run without ever putting undue pressure on my ears.

Even when running downhill (which can make headphones bounce around), they didn’t budge, and they never actually felt too heavy or bulky.

I will give one caveat on comfort though, which when wearing traditional glasses or sunglasses I do get a bit of pressure where the arms are pushed in by the headphones. On the run I used Ombraz Teton glasses that have a cord rather than arms, and didn’t get this pressure.

My ears did get hot, and the cushions take some time to dry afterwards

No matter how well-designed over-ear headphones are, they’re going to make your ears hotter and sweatier during workouts than smaller earbuds, and the pads on the Beats 360 were damp with sweat by the end of my 10-miler.

It was a pretty cool day and I didn’t find that this was uncomfortable during the run, but it took the performance knit cushions around five hours to fully dry afterwards.

Having a couple of sets of the swappable cushion kits are a must if you plan to use the headphones for workouts. It’s very quick and easy to take the cushions off and mix up the look and feel of the headphones.

That said, the fabric covering the driver also felt a little sweaty after my run, and though it dried quickly, I’m a little concerned about how long-term workout use might affect the headphones, which are only IPX4-rated.

This means they are water and sweat resistant and usually I’ve found that this is a high enough rating for workouts and runs with earbuds, but the extra sweat produced by wearing over-ear headphones might be more of a stretch.

The sound quality is great, and the transparency mode keeps you aware

The benefit of the Beats 360 compared with in-ear and open-ear buds is the great sound quality and active noise cancellation you get from the design, which is even more apparent outside of workouts.

During my run I used them in their transparency mode to stay aware of my surroundings — I was mostly on traffic-free paths in a forest, but had a couple of short stints on roads.

If you turn the volume down and use transparency I do think you get enough awareness, though not as much as with open headphones of course.

Then you can lock in and use ANC when it’s safe to do so, like when training in the gym or traveling.

One thing I did notice with the Beats 360 is that they don’t filter out the sound of the wind well when I was running outdoors with the transparency mode on, so they can sound a little gusty when you hit a headwind.

The best over-ear cans I’ve run with, but I’m still going back to earbuds

I was impressed by the Beats 360 and if you love over-ear headphones, these are the best for running I’ve tried. I’d happily use them regularly, but I still do prefer the fit and feel of smaller buds myself, especially those with an open design.

The Apple AirPods 5 and Shokz OpenDots 2 are my favorite running headphones at the moment and they offer more awareness and a less sweaty fit. If you don't need the open design, then the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are a strong pick for workouts and runs thanks to their earhook.

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Wired headphones have become increasingly popular in the last couple of years, so much so that Bose is bringing back wired earbuds for the first time in 11 years.

The company's new earbuds have the apt name Bose Noise Canceling Wired Earbuds. These Bluetooth-free earbuds ditched the battery but still come with active noise canceling.

Each earbud features two microphones to enable the noise canceling with multiple modes that can be moved through using a button on the inline remote in the wire. The controller also has a microphone for phone calls and should pick up your voice without holding it close to your mouth.

As for connecting to your devices, there's no 3.5mm headphone jack. Instead, Bose's wired earbuds use a USB-C connector at the end of the 4.2-foot cable.

The rising popularity of wires

Wired headphones have become more popular in 2026 for a variety of seemingly sociological and perhaps psychological reasons.

A Circana study from February 2026 found that wired headphone sales surged in the back half of 2025, increasing by 20% in the first month and a half of 2026 alone. "The trend in wired headphones could be an instance of consumers trading down to a lower cost and lower spec alternative," Ben Arnold noted.

Notably, wired headphones are cheaper than wireless versions, likely thanks to a reduction in needed components like a battery or Bluetooth module. On the price front, a study from Coherent Market Insights projects that premium wired headphones will make up more than 50% of headphone sales this year due to better sound quality, zero latency and reliability.

Meanwhile, a sudden influx of celebrities wearing wired earbuds and a desire for analog experiences as a way to push back against AI are considerations for the growing popularity of wired earbuds.

As a longtime member of the Cult of the Wire, sometimes you just get tired of having to charge every device you own.

Price and availability

You can pre-order the buds today for $99 in black, white smoke and a "limited edition" dewdrop mint. They should start shipping by October 15 per the press release, though the Bose store says October 13.

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Sony knows how to make a party speaker that doesn’t give you much to complain about — just look at how outstanding the ULT Tower 7 is. This is a fantastic speaker if you want to bring Earth-shaking sound to your next gathering without breaking the bank. The Tower 7 delivers room-filling bass, and packs 30 hours of runtime as well as lovely LED lighting.

Extensive app control, a plethora of party features, and robust input options make the Tower 7 a dream for hosts, DJs, and karaoke lovers alike. But unlike its smaller sibling, the Tower 5, the Tower 7 has a couple of drawbacks. It’s a little awkward to wheel around, and the 360° sound isn’t that immersive. The treble is slightly overzealous too, but this is easily fixable via the app.

Is this still one of the best Bluetooth speakers for you? Read my full Sony ULT Tower 7 review to find out.

Sony ULT Tower 7 review: Specs

Sony ULT Tower 7 review: Price & availability

The Sony ULT Tower 7 is one of three speakers in the second generation of Sony’s party speakers — the Tower 5 ($448) and the Tower Max ($1,499) being the other two. All three speakers were announced in September 2026, and the Tower 7 is the mid-range choice, retailing for $648 / £499 at Amazon. As you’ll soon see, it offers excellent value for money.

There’s no shortage of competition in the Tower 7’s price range. You’ve got heavy hitters like the Marshall Bromley 450 ($799) and the JBL PartyBox 330 ($629), and the Soundboks Mix ($799) is great for those after ground-shaking bass (though it has its flaws). The Tower 7 faces fierce competition from its cheaper sibling, the Tower 5, too, a portable party speaker I awarded 5/5 stars to. While the Tower 7 isn’t as good as the Tower 5, it’s still a standout choice for those after rumbling bass.

Sony ULT Tower 7 review: Design

All three speakers, the Tower 5, Tower 7 and Tower Max, share similar design philosophies. The Tower 7 looks like a taller, chunkier version of the Tower 5. It sports an all-black finish, a stripped-back top panel with basic controls, and sophisticated reactive lighting. The large front grille houses a circular ULT button, located in the top-left corner. One of the biggest visual (and acoustic) differences between the Tower 5 and the Tower 7 is the presence of two rear tweeters on the latter (more on that shortly).

Just like the Tower 5 and Tower Max, the Tower 7 features an LED strip that runs along the length of the front grille, and it produces cyan, blue and purple gradients. It’s also highly customizable via the excellent Sony Sound Connect app, but I’ll discuss that in detail later. The LED lighting might not be to everyone’s taste as it isn’t as lovely to look at as the Marshall Bromley 450’s integrated stage lights, but it’s more tasteful than that on the JBL PartyBox 330.

Like I said before, the Tower 7 is tall and chunky, measuring 27.95 x 16.57 x 13.66 inches, and at 50.26lbs, it weighs a lot more than the Tower 5 — almost double, in fact. To make it easier to transport the Tower 7, you’ll find four integrated handles on the top and bottom, and there are two wheels on the bottom, too.

Annoyingly, though, you have to grasp the top edge above the slit on the rear side of the speaker, and it’s awkward and uncomfortable to roll the speaker around like this. I never managed to get a decent grip on the Tower 7, and neither did my coworkers. I wish Sony had a suitcase-style pull-out handle to make this easier, like on the Marshall Bromley 750 ($1,299).

Weatherproofing

Just like the Tower 5 and the JBL PartyBox 330, the Tower 7 is IPX4-rated, so it’s splash-proof but not protected against dust and dirt (that’s what the ‘X’ in IPX4 means). Also like the Tower 5, the IPX4 protection is active in the vertical position only, as the rear port cover is completely sealed but the sides aren’t. The Marshall Bromley 450 and Soundboks Mix feature better weatherproofing as they’re IP55- and IP65-rated respectively.

Controls

Controls on the Tower 7 are identical to those on the Tower 5. Located on the top are three (self-explanatory) buttons: power, Bluetooth, and playback. There’s a circular ULT button on the front grille — it’s quite big so you can’t miss it — and this lets you swap between EQ presets, or it can be rotated to adjust the volume.

The rest of the buttons are located on the speaker’s rear panel, just under the backward-facing tweeters. These give you control over features like Party Chain (multi-speaker pairing), Light (lighting effects), Key Control (for swapping between flat and sharp keys), and more. Again, these are the same as on the Tower 5 and in that vein, it doesn't take long to get a hang of them.

Connectivity

Like the controls, connectivity options are the same on the Tower 7 and the Tower 5. For wireless playback, there’s Bluetooth 5.3 with support for SBC, AAC and LDAC codecs, and multipoint connectivity for pairing two devices simultaneously. Party Chain is available, too, which utilizes an Auracast broadcast to connect to 100 compatible Sony speakers. Having listened to 10 of the Tower speakers together, I’ve seen this happen at scale and can confirm this feature certainly works.

There’s no shortage of ports on the Tower 7 either. All ports are protected by a rubber flap for protection against splashes. There’s a USB-C port for playing music directly from your smartphone or phone, and a USB-A port for playing from a USB stick. There’s a 6.3mm mic/instrument jack, RCA line input, and a balanced XLR input and an XLR output for a second device or PA system. That’s more than enough for connecting instruments, mics for karaoke, DJ turntables, and more. You’ll also find a similar level of connectivity on the Marshall Bromley 450.

Sony ULT Tower 7 review: Sound quality

The Sony ULT Tower 7 has a commendable acoustic configuration and on paper, it sounds like a beast. You get a total power output of 420W, an 11-inch woofer, two 4.7-inch mid-range drivers, and four 2-inch tweeters (two on the front, two on the back for 360° sound). You can use the ULT button to swap between ULT 1 (deep bass), ULT 2 (attack bass), Flat (neutral) and Live sound profiles, too, and there’s a 10-band equalizer available via the app if you want more control.

But how does the speaker sound straight out of the box? I listened to some of my favorite tunes on Qobuz, the best music streaming service for audiophiles, to test it out. Bass is naturally the Tower 7’s forte as this is, first and foremost, a party speaker, and MGMT’s ‘Little Dark Age’ highlighted the strong, Earth-shaking low-end reproduction. The pulsing synth-bass had impressive weight and depth as the Tower 7’s large woofer gave each note a physical, room-filling quality. Each bass pluck was loud and clear even at the lowest (and highest) volume, and the lowest frequencies added a dark, resonant foundation. The groove felt visceral without completely swallowing the mid-range.

‘Catch These Fists’ by Wet Leg felt expansive and physical through the Tower 7. The driving chunky bassline anchored the soundstage with weight, while the guitars spread across the room at an almost concert-like scale. The vocals remained distinct, whether they were quiet in the verses or loud in the chorus, and they didn't get drowned out by the rhythm section. The Tower 7’s rear-facing tweeters shone here, too, as they made the track sound wider than a conventional forward-firing speaker, like the Soundboks Mix.

While most of the soundstage sounds great, I’ve been disappointed by the Tower 7’s treble. The fast-moving percussion layers, like the snares and claps, in the Afro-tech infused ‘Open Arms’ by Little Simz ft. DEELA sounded overzealous and a little too sharp. While the Tower 7’s multiple tweeters are designed to deliver crisp high frequencies, they make the treble feel edgy rather than smooth.

This was prominent in ‘One Inch Punch’ by Yin Yin, too, where the cymbals felt pushed forward, dominating the soundstage a bit too much and taking away from the track’s otherwise relaxed character. You can salvage this by playing around with the 10-band equalizer, of course, but I wish the Tower 7 sounded just as well-rounded as the Tower 5, straight out of the box.

The Tower 7 features 360° Party Sound, too, which, as the name suggests, is 360° surround sound that’s meant to make songs sound the same regardless of where you’re standing. In theory, this sounds great, but I didn’t find the 360° sound on the Tower 7 as convincing or immersive as on the Marshall Bromley 450. The Tower 7’s rear tweeters deliver clear sound but because there’s no rear woofer, the bass sounds a little thin. I guess Sony had to give you a compelling reason to splurge on the Tower Max which does feature an 11-inch rear woofer.

Listen along to my review with the Sony ULT Tower 7 testing playlist:

Sony ULT Tower 7 review: App

You’ll need to download the Sony Sound Connect app on either iOS or Android if you want to customize your Sony ULT Tower 7. The app is extremely easy to use and everything is signposted clearly. You get extensive control over the Tower 7’s LED lighting and 10-band equalizer, to name a couple.

All three of Sony’s ULT Tower speakers, including the Tower 7, have a Party Pad function within the app. This lets you trigger live audio effects, like a flanger or sampler, while playing music, performing karaoke, or playing live. It lets you add DJ-style effects, like robot, drums, rhythm, audience voices, and more.

The Sony Sound Connect app is much more impressive than the Marshall Bromley 450’s and the Soundboks Mix’s, as their companion apps don’t give you a lot of control of their settings and features.

Sony ULT Tower 7 review: Battery life

A compelling reason to buy the Sony ULT Tower 7 over the Tower 5 is the longer battery life. The Tower 7 runs on either a power supply from an AC outlet or on its built-in rechargeable battery, which is rated for up to 30 hours. That’s 10 more hours over the Tower 5. The Tower 7 trumps the JBL PartyBox 330 which is rated for just 18 hours, but it falls short of the Marshall Bromley 450’s and the Soundboks Mix’s 40-hour playback times.

Of course, how much power the speaker consumes depends on the Tower 7’s settings and features, like the LED lighting, EQ presets and volume. I listened at varying volume levels with different presets toggled, and after four hours of testing, I had 80% battery left. Like on the Tower 5 and Tower Max, Stamina mode can be activated via the dedicated button at the back, and this disables power-hungry features to prolong battery life.

Similar to the Tower 5, the Marshall Bromley 450 and the Soundboks Mix, you can use the Tower 7’s USB-C or USB-A ports to charge your smartphone, laptop or other devices.

Sony ULT Tower 7 review: Verdict

The Sony ULT Tower 7 is an absolute blast of a party speaker. Is it perfect? Not quite, as it’s awkward to wheel around and the 360° sound isn’t that immersive. But the ground-shaking bass, distortion-free sound at all volume levels, and massive audio scale make those minor grievances fade into the background.

You also get 30 hours of battery life with the Tower 7, as well as extensive connectivity options for mics, instruments and DJ turntables. It’s a two-in-one karaoke machine and party speaker. For just under $650, the Tower 7 is on par with its pricier rivals, and in some cases, it even outshines a few of them, like the Soundboks Mix. If you want high-energy, impactful sound that keeps the party alive all weekend, the Tower 7 is a standout choice.

I think everyone should have a pair of the best cheap wireless earbuds in their audio arsenal. They’re the perfect solution when you misplace your regular drivers, or don’t want to risk losing them somewhere. The Tribit FlyBuds C3 are an interesting solution, offering a sleek design, comfort, decent ANC and good sound quality — if you make adjustments in the companion app.

Since they are so cheap, there are a few trade-offs. These include an echoey call quality and high-end tinniness at times. You can also get better battery life from other brands without spending more money, but 35 hours of listening is still impressive.

To find out more about these budget earbuds, you can keep reading this full Tribit FlyBuds C3 review.

Tribit FlyBuds C3 review: Specs

Tribit FlyBuds C3 review: Price & availability

The Tribit FlyBuds C3 earbuds are available to purchase from Amazon U.S. for $39 and from Amazon U.K. for £49. The earbuds are only available in black.

But just because they're cheap doesn't mean they're bad. We test lots of budget earbuds with sound quality rivalling the big brands like Apple and Samsung.big brands like Apple and Samsung. The JLab Go Pods ANC, for instance, cost just $36 and have a killer bass performance that doesn’t impact the rest of the sound, and don’t have any issues with tinniness (which the FlyBuds C3 do).

CMF by Nothing also makes a variety of cheap earbuds. The CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2 cost $69 and provide Apple-level ANC along with fantastic bass performance. They perform better than the Tribit buds so the extra £30 is well spent.

Around the $100 mark, the EarFun Air Pro 4+ are $99 and will knock your socks off. With clear bass, effective treble, and a whopping 54 hours of battery life, they're still a testament to bang for your buck, despite costing $60 more.

Tribit FlyBuds C3 review: Design

If Top Gun was a pair of earbuds, it would be the Tribit FlyBuds C3. It’s in the name — they look super fly. The all-black finish is glassy, with sleek gunmetal detailing that makes them pop and look far more expensive than they actually are.

The buds feel sturdy and the case is quite small, so I can easily slip it into pockets when I’m heading out. They’re very lightweight, with the case weighing 1.32 ounces. An IP55 durability rating makes them an ideal choice for heading out and about in the rain, and means they can handle sweat from the gym too.

Comfort

I’ve found the buds very comfortable to wear for long periods, and they come with three different-sized eartips so you can get the ideal fit for you. Each bud weighs just 0.14 ounces, so even after wearing them all day, I didn’t experience any ear fatigue. In fact, I hardly noticed them.

Controls

The earbuds have a downward stem, just like the classic design of Apple AirPods 5. This stem is where the touch-sensitive controls sit, and they are very responsive and tactile to use. You can play or pause the music and answer or end calls by tapping the earbuds. You can also activate ANC by holding the right earbud.

I kept the controls as they were, as they worked well for me, but you can make changes to the controls through the Tribit App.

Connectivity

The FlyBuds C3 use Bluetooth 6.0 to connect to your devices for a stronger connection, and they have a range of 3.8 feet. They have multipoint connectivity, which makes it very easy for me to connect to my phone and laptop with the click of a button, so I can easily toggle between work calls and music. The earbuds support SBC and AAC codecs.

Tribit FlyBuds C3 review: Sound quality

The Tribit FlyBuds C3 are undeniably cheap earbuds, and for the price, I think the sound you get is impressive. With a few tweaks in the companion app, I was even able to achieve sound I’d expect from my AirPods 3.

I recommend using an EQ with enhanced bass and a lower high end, such as the BassX preset, or creating your own. This is because the high end can sometimes be tinny, so this counteracts that effect.

To test the bass performance, I listened to Backseat by Balu Brigada, which has a groovy bass line that leads into a breakdown driven by the lows. I could tell the bass was being prioritized by the buds, as it was strong and clear. The buds replicated the song really well, but the vocals were a little quieter compared to when I listen to the song through speakers and various headphones.

When judging the mid-range performance, I listened to Cross Your Mind by Shelly. This song has a funky drum beat that keeps the tempo, with a dreamy electric guitar layered with harmonizing vocals. I really enjoyed how the buds replicated the drums, as they were distinct from the other instruments.

To evaluate the treble performance, I listened to Ugly Things by Lizzie McAlpine, an acoustic track that uses delicate string instruments in the background to fill out the song. The earbuds did a great job of replicating quieter tones, ensuring nothing in the high end was lost. The whole track felt a little brighter than my usual Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones, but I enjoyed that.

Although the treble sounded good in a slower acoustic track, when listening to more upbeat songs, the high end struggled a little, such as in Overcome by Nothing But Thieves. It felt as though the vocal performance was sacrificed.

Tribit FlyBuds C3 review: App

The Tribit FlyBuds C3 are compatible with the Tribit app. This allows you to alter ANC levels, choose between 10 preset EQ modes and access three noise control modes, including Game Mode for low latency.

This app is very easy to navigate, and the presets make it very easy to figure out what sound profile works best for you. There’s also an X-3D toggle button that allows you to enable the spatial sound algorithm, and this made the sound a lot brighter but a little crackly.

The Tribit app gives you a lot of control over your music and, like the Soundcore app, is very user-friendly.

Tribit FlyBuds C3 review: ANC

The ANC on the Tribit FlyBuds C3 is very effective. Although it’s not as powerful as the CMF Buds 2 Plus. That said, FlyBuds still put up a good fight against the sound of chatting around me and low-level music.

There are five ANC levels to choose from, so if you need to let in some ambient sound, these are a great option. I love using this feature when I’m in the office so I can still hear my colleagues.

Tribit FlyBuds C3 review: Call quality

To test out the call quality of the Tribit FlyBuds C3, I used them on a team call with my colleagues. The 6 mics and AI technology didn’t do much to block out ambient sound, as they said my voice was very echoey.

If you want a cheap pair of earbuds that will be good for calls, I’d recommend the EarFun Air Pro 4+ as the noise-minimizing AI algorithm works really well here.

Tribit FlyBuds C3 review: Battery life

The battery life of the Tribit FlyBuds C3 earbuds is quite impressive, but there’s better on the market. With ANC off, these buds offer 35 hours of listening with the charging case and eight hours in the buds alone. With ANC on, you get 25 hours of listening and six hours in the buds on a single charge. This is based on testing at 50% volume, and through my testing, I found this to be an accurate representation of their capabilities.

Comparatively, the CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2 can give you 43 hours of listening with the charging case. And the CMF Buds 2 Plus have a whopping 61 and a half hours of playtime.

The FlyBuds C3 earbuds take around an hour and a half to charge up in the case, and the case takes around two hours to charge using a Type-C charging cable.

Tribit FlyBuds C3 review: Verdict

The Tribit FlyBuds C3 are a super affordable option in the audio world for anyone who needs a new pair of wireless earbuds. They are proof that you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to get good sound quality and decent ANC. The buds have a very sleek design, which makes them appear more expensive, and they are very comfortable to wear too.

But with such a low price tag, there are a few minor trade-offs. The call quality is very echoey, so it’s not the best choice for work calls, and when listening to music, the high end is tinny unless you make EQ adjustments in the app. You can also get better battery life elsewhere.

These buds are certainly worth the money, but you can get even more bang for your buck elsewhere.

Sony is back on top of the party speakers game with the ULT Tower 5 — and the audio giant hit a home run with this one. Compact and portable thanks to four handles, the Tower 5 is an excellent speaker for on-the-go musicians, karaoke enthusiasts, and everyone in between. The speaker features an array of ports for hooking up instruments and mics, as well as Bluetooth connectivity that also enables you to sync up 100 speakers together.

Sound quality is where the Tower 5 comes into its own. Room-filling and ground-shaking bass, airy and refined treble, and an expansive soundstage make it a standout choice. For just under $450, the Tower 5 is one of the best Bluetooth speakers you can buy today, and Sony takes the fight to Marshall and JBL and emerges victorious.

For the complete breakdown, read my full Sony ULT Tower 5 review.

Sony ULT Tower 5 review: Specs

Sony ULT Tower 5 review: Price & availability

Announced in September 2026, the Sony ULT Tower 5 is part of the brand’s second generation of party speakers which also includes the Tower 7 ($648) and the Tower Max ($1,499). The Tower 5 is the cheapest of the three, retailing for $448 / £349 at Amazon. It’s actually only a smidge pricier than the JBL Xtreme 5 ($399)!

The Tower 5 is priced similarly to the JBL PartyBox 130 ($449), and is cheaper than the Soundboks Mix ($799) and the Marshall Bromley 450 ($799). Frankly speaking, the Tower 5 is ridiculously good value for money given its compact form factor, mahoosive 300W power output, great design, and wide range of connectivity.

Sony ULT Tower 5 review: Design

Sony has redesigned its Tower lineup and the second gen speakers, including the Tower 5, look more sophisticated with classier reactive lighting, cleaner top panels, and easily understandable controls. The Tower 5 features a large front grille that houses a circular ULT button in the top-left corner, and the speaker has a lovely matte black finish.

An LED strip frames the front grille, producing cyan, blue and purple gradients, and it looks fantastic. This is what gives the speaker its distinctly neon, party aesthetic. Though I still prefer the Marshall Bromley 450’s integrated stage lights, the Tower 5’s lighting is tasteful and doesn’t look as garish as on the JBL PartyBox 130.

The Tower 5 is the smallest and most portable of Sony’s ULT speakers, measuring 21 x 14.1 x 11 inches. It’s still quite heavy, though, weighing 28lbs. Sony has happily installed four carry handles so you can pick it up and carry it around. I’ve found these handles useful when moving the Tower 5 up and down the stairs. In comparison, both the JBL PartyBox 130 and the Marshall Bromley 450 feature single handles.

Weatherproofing

The Tower 5 is IPX4-rated (in the vertical orientation only), which means it’s splash-proof, but the ‘X’ in that rating means it doesn’t have an official rating for dust protection. This is the same level of waterproofing as the JBL PartyBox 130, but it’s worse than the Marshall Bromley 450’s IP55 and the Soundboks Mix’s IP65 ratings. Both the Bromley 450 and the Mix are, then, better for outdoor use.

Controls

The Tower 5 features a stripped-back, minimal control scheme. On the top, you’ll find buttons for turning the speaker on and off, Bluetooth, and playback. The circular ULT button on the front grille is customizable via the companion app and can be used to swap between EQ presets, and it can be rotated to adjust the volume.

More buttons are located on the speaker’s rear, and they give you control over features like Party Chain (for multi-speaker pairing), Key Control (for swapping between flat and sharp keys), and Stamina (to reduce power consumption). There are a few other buttons but they’re all easy to understand and get a hang of.

The buttons and dials on the Tower 5 give you ample control over the speaker’s settings, and you don’t really need the companion app, which is excellent. The controls give good tactile feedback, and I found them responsive in my testing.

Connectivity

There’s no dearth of ports or connectivity options on the Tower 5. If you want wireless playback, the Tower 5 utilizes Bluetooth 5.3 with support for SBC, AAC and LDAC codecs. It features multipoint connectivity, too, so you can pair it with two devices simultaneously, and the speaker will automatically switch between them when you start playback on either device.

All three speakers in the ULT Tower range — the Tower 5, Tower 7 and Tower Max — feature Party Chain, which essentially utilizes an Auracast broadcast to connect the speakers with compatible Sony speakers. Pressing the Party Chain button on the Tower 5 pairs it with… wait for it… up to 100 speakers. One hundred! I don’t know who might own 100 of the Towers, but I’ve listened to 10 of them together, so I know this feature works well at scale.

Then there’s wired connectivity. On the Tower 5’s rear panel, you’ll find a USB-C port for playing music directly from your smartphone or phone, and a USB-A port for playing from a USB stick. There’s also a 6.3mm mic/instrument jack, RCA line input, and a balanced XLR input and an XLR output for a second device or PA system. That’s a lot! There are more than enough ports for hooking up your instruments, mics for karaoke, and other devices. This is a similar level of wired connectivity you’ll find on the Marshall Bromley 450.

Sony ULT Tower 5 review: Sound quality

Let’s talk details first. Though the Sony ULT Tower 5 is small-ish, it packs a lot of power. It’s got a total power output of 300W, powered by one 9-inch woofer, two mid-range drivers, and dual 2.3-inch tweeters. The ULT Tower speakers have been tuned to deliver ground-shaking bass, and that’s exactly what the Tower 5 does.

As this is a bass-first speaker, I listened to a few hip-hop, electronic and heavy rock tracks on Qobuz, the best music streaming service for audiophiles — starting with ‘Come Around’ by 070 Shake. Through the Tower 5, the rumbling synths hit me with force as soon as the song started, and the low-end was deep, heavy and physical. The sub-bass felt weighty, and the Tower 5 ensured that each note felt punchy and room-filling. I could feel the ground rumbling under me, even when the speaker was playing at just 50% volume. Even with the volume pushed close to 100%, the bass felt tactile and controlled, never muddy.

This was with the ULT 1 sound profile enabled, which delivers deep bass that you can feel, and it maintains clarity at even high volumes. You can swap to ULT 2 by pressing the ULT button on the front grille if you want extra energy and drive. I listened to ‘Von Dutch’ by Charli xcx, and ULT 2 made the electronic beat feel bold and aggressive, and the Tower 5 laid the bass on thick. The club-like reproduction felt immersive, vibrating through the room without overwhelming the vocals. I couldn’t help but bob my head along!

Heavy rock tracks, like ‘Two Faced’ by Linkin Park, are handled with precision by the Tower 5, too. The Flat sound profile (also toggled via the ULT button) makes songs sound neutral and close to the original production, but it still packs plenty of punch. ‘Two Faced’ highlighted the speaker’s wide, energetic soundstage, as the guitars spread across the room with strong separation, while the drums sat firmly in the centre with impressive weight. Vocals sounded expansive and expressive, and Emily Armstrong’s screams didn’t overwhelm the speaker either, and they didn't pierce through the soundscape.

Finally, treble. ‘Life Itself’ by Glass Animals is driven by layered snappy percussion, including crisp hi-hats and tambourines. The Tower 5 reproduced these textures brilliantly, and the treble sounded airy and lively. The speaker kept up with the song’s energetic beat, and the overall sound didn’t feel thin or pushed back.

I’ve been extremely impressed with the Tower 5’s performance. Don’t let its tiny stature fool you: this thing is an absolute beast when it comes to raw performance.

Listen along to my review with the Sony ULT Tower 5 testing playlist:

Sony ULT Tower 5 review: App

Sony Sound Connect is your one-stop shop for customizing your headphones, earbuds and the ULT Tower speakers, too, including the Tower 5. Available for free on iOS and Android, the app sports a clean interface, and gives you extensive control over the Tower 5’s settings. You can customize the 10-band equalizer as well as the LED lighting’s colors.

You also get access to Party Pad which lets you trigger live audio effects, like a flanger or sampler, while playing music. Live musicians and even karaoke enthusiasts will surely appreciate this feature as it lets you add DJ-style effects, and I had a lot of fun playing around with it. There are effects for almost everything — drums, rhythm, robot, you name it.

Compared to the Marshall Bromley 450 and the Soundboks Mix whose companion apps don’t give you a lot of control over the speakers’ settings, the Tower 5 (and the Tower lineup) sets a new standard for what a party speaker can really do.

Sony ULT Tower 5 review: Battery life

The Sony ULT Tower 5 is capable of running on either a power supply from an AC outlet, or on its built-in rechargeable battery. On a single charge, the Tower 5 can last up to 20 hours, according to Sony. It upstages the JBL PartyBox 130’s 15-hour battery life, though it pales in comparison to the Marshall Bromley 450’s massive 40-hour playback time — but the Bromley 450 is also pricier than the Tower 5.

Your mileage will naturally depend on the LED lighting, EQ presets, volume level, and other speaker settings. I listened at varying volume levels with different presets toggled, and after five hours of playback, I had 70% battery remaining. If you want to extend the battery life, you can toggle Stamina mode via the dedicated button on the back. This turns off energy-hungry features like the LED lighting. Bass naturally loses its power, but it’s handy if you’re in a pinch.

Similar to the Marshall Bromley 450 and the Soundboks Mix, you can use the Tower 5’s USB-C or USB-A ports to charge your smartphone, laptop or other devices.

Sony ULT Tower 5 review: Verdict

There isn’t a lot wrong with the Sony ULT Tower 5. In fact, the only drawback I can think of is that it’s IPX4 waterproof only, but that’s about it. The Tower 5 nails every aspect, and it’s a well-rounded party speaker that delivers where it matters most: meaty bass that you feel in your soul; crisp, airy treble that doesn’t become fatiguing; and an expansive soundstage that makes every genre sing.

The Tower 5 sports a visually pleasing design, too, utilizing tasteful LED lighting and an all-black matte finish. It’s portable, and can be carried easily thanks to the integrated handles. There’s a plethora of ports and connectivity options. What more could you ask for? Pound for pound, the Tower 5 is the best portable party speaker of 2026.

A quartet of unannounced Apple products was reportedly discovered in a company code that revealed images of a new iPad mini 8, iPad 12, HomePod mini 2, and the long-awaited Apple TV 4K refresh.

The images were found by Aaron Perris, a regular contributor to MacRumors. It's not clear what code Perris dug through to find the images, though usually it's one of the major operating systems like iOS or macOS.

Per MacRumors, where the images were discovered indicates that these devices could launch very soon.

Here's what we know about the four products.

Apple TV 4K

The image Perris discovered appears to be labeled "Apple TV 4K (4th generation)." Based on this image, the fourth generation will look pretty much exactly the same as gen three.

The upgrades should all be inside, including a new chip, anything from an A17 Pro all the way up to the A20, based on rumors. The newer chip will come with more RAM and the ability to run Apple Intelligence and the new Siri AI.

It's also rumored to get an Apple-designed N1 chip (possibly the N2) and WiFi 7 support, plus an updated Remote.

iPad 12

Not every leaked image comes with potential technical specifications, but the iPad 12 apparently did. According to the code, Apple's updated entry-level iPad 12 will feature an A19 chip, an Apple-built C1X modem, an N1 chip and 8GB of RAM.

In all, those are expected updates based on previous rumors. Like the Apple TV, more RAM and a more recent chip will enable the iPad 12 to support Apple Intelligence and Siri AI, which the current iPad 11 can't run.

iPad mini 8

Interestingly, the leaked code of the iPad mini 8 doesn't seem to discuss the rumored OLED display. Instead, MacRumors found that it will have an A20 Pro chip, a new landscape front-facing camera, and an updated speaker system.

Many previous rumors have suggested that the next mini tablet will be the iPad mini with OLED, meant to launch this October. Just because OLED doesn't appear in the code doesn't mean that it won't launch this fall though.

That said, the iPad mini running the A20 Pro chip is new and should make Apple's smallest tablet quite powerful. For instance, the iPad mini 7, released two years ago features an A17 Pro chipset.

HomePod mini 2

It appears that new version of the HomePod mini will be released in five colors which appear to include white, black, green, blue and a pinkish variant. The current models come in blue, yellow, orange, midnight and white.

We've tracked the HomePod mini 2 on our rumor radar since at least 2023. It should be a simple update including a new chip that will likely let it run Apple Intelligence and Siri AI as with every other device listed above. It's also expected to have improved audio.

We expect all four devices to launch before the end of October alongside the HomePad smart home hub, and new M6 Macbooks.

More from Tom's Guide

• How to add Apple's new dynamic step count widget to your Apple Watch
• I swapped my Shokz for the Apple Airpods 5 on my runs — here’s 4 things I love, and 2 I don’t
• Android president on Apple iPhone Duo: 'Android is usually where you see the future first'

It didn’t take long for the JBL Live Beam 4 to become my go-to wireless earbuds. As soon as I put them in and started playing music, I was impressed with the punchy sound and comfortable fit. They sport a lovely design and come with a smart charging case that lets you adjust the earbuds’ settings — including customizing the EQ — on the fly.

The Live Beam 4 boast class-leading battery life, too, and the ANC is highly effective (indoors, at least). I also love the user-friendly companion app that gives you extensive control over the earbuds’ features. Though call quality isn’t the best, it’s a minor flaw that’s overshadowed by everything else on offer.

To find out if these are the best wireless earbuds for you, read my full JBL Live Beam 4 review.

Editor’s note: All three JBL Live 4 series earbuds — Beam, Flex and Buds — share the same internal hardware and driver setup, and there’s no difference in sound quality, so this review will cover all three pairs. I’ll point out the key differences along the way.

JBL Live Beam 4 review: Specs

JBL Live Beam 4 review: Price & availability

Launched in May 2026, the JBL Live Beam 4 are part of the brand’s Live lineup, alongside the JBL Live Flex 4 and the JBL Live Buds 4. All three pairs share internal hardware and acoustics, so there’s no difference in sound quality — only design, battery life, and waterproofing.

The Live Beam 4 succeed the Live Beam 3 and have a retail price of £149 at Amazon. The Live 4 Flex are cheaper at £135, and the Live 4 Buds are the cheapest of the lot at £113. At the time of writing, none are available in the U.S., but I will update this review as and when that changes.

The Live Beam 4 compete with the likes of the Nothing Ear (3) ($179), the Bose QuietComfort ($179), and the AirPods 5 ($149). They’re also much cheaper than the Sony WF-1000XM6 ($329). As you can see, there’s no shortage of competition in the Live Beam 4’s price range — but these earbuds make a compelling case with their punchy sound, smart charging case with a touchscreen, long battery life, and lovely design.

JBL Live Beam 4 review: Design

Similar to the Nothing Ear (3) and the AirPods 5, the JBL Live Beam 4 feature a drop-stem design, and I think they look fantastic. Available in a range of colors, including but not limited to Blue, Orange and Green, they’re eye-catching and so fun to look at. I tested the Green model and it looks gorgeous. They feel premium and durable, too.

The key difference between the Beam, Flex and Buds lies in the design. The Flex feature a drop-stem design without eartips, similar to the AirPods 5. I’m personally not a fan of this design as I don’t think it fits snugly enough in my ears. I’ve tested the Flex and they tend to slip out of my ears, too. The Buds, on the other hand, feature a more-rounded design, like the Bose QuietComfort, which sits directly and securely inside the ear canal, making them the better choice for workouts.

Making a return from the third-gen is the Live Beam 4’s charging case with a touchscreen (which the Flex and Buds come in, too). Now, some people might think it’s gimmicky, but the case is actually useful, and I’ll discuss so below. It features custom backgrounds, too, and this is done via the app (more on that shortly). You can display your own photos, add or remove the clock, battery status and other widgets, to make the earbuds truly your own. Though the case is made of plastic, it doesn’t feel cheap and weighs 2.57oz — just a touch heavier than the Nothing Ear (3)’s 2.51oz case.

Weatherproofing

The Live Beam 4 and the Live Buds 4 are IP55-rated (and it’s what I’d expect in this price range), which means they’re highly dust resistant and waterproof, so they can withstand rain and are good for wearing to the gym, too. In comparison, the Bose QuietComfort are only IPX4-rated, which means they aren’t dustproof, while the Nothing Ear (3) and the AirPods 5 are IP54- and IP57-rated respectively. The Live Flex 4 are also IP54-rated.

Comfort

I’ve tested my fair share of earbuds, and the Live Beam 4 are some of the comfiest buds around. Each earbud weighs just 0.17oz so it’s very light, and you don’t really feel weighed down by them. Even after a full day of wearing the Live Beam 4, my ears didn’t feel uncomfortable, hot or itchy. I stuck with the default eartip size they came with, and you’ll find a few additional sizes in the box.

Controls

There are two ways of using or controlling the Live Beam 4: using either the charging case or the touch gestures on the earbuds themselves. I found the touch sensors on the earbuds responsive in my testing, and they let you play/pause music, skip tracks, change the ANC mode, and toggle the voice assistant on your phone (Gemini on Google phones, for example).

The touchscreen on the case is just as responsive if not more. You can do all the functions you can as on the earbuds, and in addition to those, you can initiate Bluetooth pairing, swap between EQs or customize your own, and even trigger the buds’ ‘Find’ feature. It essentially lets you control playback and settings without pulling out your phone or using the app.

But unlike the Groov-e Neo Buds (£39), you can’t play a knock-off version of Flappy Bird on the Live Beam 4’s screen. *shakes fist* We were so close to perfection!

Connectivity

The Live Beam 4 utilize Bluetooth 6.0 with support for SBC, AAC, LDAC and LC3 codecs. LDAC is an advanced codec for streaming high-resolution audio at higher sampling rates over Bluetooth, and its inclusion gives the Live Beam 4 a leg-up over the Bose QuietComfort which support only AAC and SBC. You also get multipoint connectivity for connecting to two devices simultaneously.

Similar to other earbuds in its weight class — barring the AirPods 5 which are designed for Apple devices — the Live Beam 4 feature Google Fast Pair. As soon as I took them out of their case and I heard the pairing audio cue, they popped up on my Google Pixel 10 Pro XL. They were instantly added to my Google Find Hub, too, and I could see where they were on the map.

Finally, the Live Beam 4 feature wear detection so playback is automatically paused when you remove an earbud, and it resumes when you put it back into your ear. You’re probably thinking, “This is common, does it really warrant a mention?” And yes it does, because I recently tested the pricier Noble Audio Osprey ($199) which don’t feature wear detection.

JBL Live Beam 4 review: Sound quality

The JBL Live Beam 4 are fitted with 10mm dynamic drivers which, according to JBL, are powered by “JBL Signature Sound to deliver crisp detail, deep bass, and natural balance.” That’s exactly what the Live Beam 4 do. Straight out of the box, they boast a wide soundstage, and sound incredible. To test them, I listened to my favorite testing songs on Qobuz, the best music streaming service for audiophiles, with LDAC and the default EQ enabled.

‘Gold Guns Girls’ by Metric highlighted the earbuds’ confident, energetic presentation. The soundstage felt reasonably wide for a closed in-ear design, as the vocals remained firmly centered and forward while the guitars extended towards the edges. The bass sat solidly underneath the mix and sounded punchy. It didn’t crowd the mid-range either, while the drums and percussion gave the track some lateral movement and air. The Live Beam 4 kept up with the energetic and lively rhythm, resulting in an immersive listening experience.

I then listened to ‘Parachute’ by Hayley Williams, and the intimate, emotional vocals came through with plenty of clarity and texture. Sibilance sounded controlled and Hayley’s words didn’t bleed into one another. Stronger vocal peaks, like in the second verse, remained engaging without sounding harsh. I also love how the treble sounded lively rather than subdued as the earbuds added a sparkle to the cymbals and guitar riffs.

‘Nova’ by Burial and Four Tet proved that the Live Beam 4 are more than capable of handling dense electronic productions. From deep bass pulses and textured percussion, to the atmospheric effects and rapidly shifting rhythmic details, the earbuds kept all elements separated, even when the arrangement became busy. The buds’ bass response gave the song a solid foundation while the treble added definition to the smaller clicks, hi-hats and digital details. Even at nearly full volume, the track remained distortion-free and didn’t lose composure.

Regardless of the song or genre I listened to through the Live Beam 4, I couldn’t help but bob my head along. Podcasts and audiobooks sounded detailed, too, and I felt fully immersed. There’s also a Spatial Sound mode which works well to create a three-dimensional sound, but vocals sound a little thin. Despite that, the Live Beam 4 are seriously impressive earbuds.

Listen along to my review with the JBL Live Beam 4 testing playlist:

JBL Live Beam 4 review: App

Having tested and used many of JBL’s speakers and earbuds, I’ve never been disappointed by their companion apps — and the same is true in the case of the JBL Live Beam 4. These earbuds are accompanied by the JBL Headphones app, available on iOS and Android, and it’s a wonderful piece of software.

The JBL Headphones app sports a clean layout and gives you extensive control over the Live Beam 4’s settings. When you launch the app for the first time, you’ll be asked to do a seal check, and I recommend doing so as it ensures that you’re getting the best-possible listening experience. Once that’s done, you can customize the 10-band EQ, personalize the sound according to your ear shape with Personi-Fi 3.0, adjust the ANC level, and customize the touch controls, among other things.

All of this is extremely easy to do, and there’s plenty of signposting to make you understand what each function does.

JBL Live Beam 4 review: ANC

The JBL Live Beam 4 feature adaptive active noise cancelation, or True Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0 with Real Time Calibration, as JBL calls it. At the highest level, the ANC works really well — indoors, at least. The earbuds blocked out the song of my mechanical keyboard as well as office chatter. My colleagues had to wave to grab my attention because I just couldn’t hear them.

I found the ANC a little lacking outdoors. I was still able to hear the loud rattling of the bus, and the sounds of traffic still made it through. This is a similar level of ANC to the Nothing Ear (3), and if you want better, the Bose QuietComfort are arguably the best ANC earbuds in this price range.

JBL Live Beam 4 review: Call quality

On paper, the JBL Live Beam 4 sound like they’re excellent for phone calls. They’re fitted with six beam-forming mics, and utilize what JBL calls Perfect Calls 2.0, which harnesses AI-trained algorithms to cut out background chatter and make you sound clear. Call quality, when there are no external disturbances, is good. My partner said that my voice sounded loud and clear, and that it had a warm tone to it. On a team call, my colleagues noted I sound good but one of them mentioned some clipping, but that could also be because of Wi-Fi stability.

When something’s playing in the background, like a TV show, or you’re in a crowded store, chatter makes its way through. My partner said that she could hear announcements on the PA system at a grocery store, and that my voice sounded like it was pushed into the background.

So, for team calls in a meeting room or your home office? Good! For calling your partner to ask whether you should pick up apples or oranges or both while in a busy supermarket? Not the best. I’d recommend the Bose QuietComfort there.

JBL Live Beam 4 review: Battery life

Another compelling reason to buy the JBL Live Beam 4 is their class-leading battery life. With ANC disabled, the earbuds are rated for 12 hours of playtime, or 10 hours with ANC on, and you get a total of 48 hours from the charging case. I used the earbuds for seven hours with ANC and LDAC enabled, at varying volume levels, and the case indicated I had 15% battery left. LDAC uses more power than, say, AAC and SBC, so your mileage will depend on your settings.

The Live Beam 4 are either on par with their competition or they upstage them. With ANC disabled, the Bose QuietComfort are rated for 12 hours (31.5 hours from case), and the Nothing Ear (3) can last up to 10 hours (38 hours from case). The AirPods 5 perform the worst here, as they last just six hours without ANC (20 hours from case). The Live Beam 4 perform just as well as the pricier Sony WF-1000XM6, too, which are rated for 12 hours (24 hours from case).

Are there any differences between the Beam’s, Flex’s and Buds’ battery lives? Just a smidge. The Flex 4 can last up to 10 hours with ANC disabled (50 hours from case), while the Buds 4 are rated for 10 hours with ANC off (40 hours from case).

JBL Live Beam 4 review: Verdict

So, should you buy the JBL Live Beam 4, the Live Flex 4 or the Live Buds 4? Depends entirely on your budget and style choice! I’d go with the Live Beam 4, personally. JBL has knocked it out of the park with them. Ridiculously comfortable and sporting a colorful design, these earbuds are aesthetically pleasing and practical. Their ANC is effective, though not the best compared to the Bose QuietComfort, but their prowess lies in the wide soundstage and punchy bass.

The Live Beam 4 don’t give you much to complain about in the audio department. They also come with a handy charging case with a touchscreen, too, and it enables you to control the earbuds’ settings and toggle certain features on or off. If you want even more customization, the JBL Headphones companion app is extremely user-friendly. Battery life is also class-leading, making the Live Beam 4 some of the best wireless earbuds you can buy today. They’ve replaced my Nothing Ear (3) as my go-to earbuds.

I’ve tested my fair share of Bluetooth speakers, and I’m always impressed when it comes to Bose. I personally love the sound its speakers make, and the Bose SoundLink Micro 2 is no exception to that fact.

It delivers a balanced sound that can be turned up without distortion, is compact and lightweight for easy portability, and is waterproof and dust-resistant for any outdoor activities. There are loads of color choices too, and the useful connectivity options mean you can pair multiple speakers for a bigger sound.

However, there are far cheaper options on the market that can save you half the price and give you comparable sound and better battery life. To find out more about what I think about the speaker, you can keep reading this full Bose SoundLink Micro 2 review.

Bose SoundLink Micro 2 review: Specs

Bose SoundLink Micro 2 review: Price & availability

The Bose SoundLink Micro 2 is available to purchase from Best Buy in the U.S. for $129, but can frequently be found on sale for as low as $79. In the U.K., you can purchase the speaker for £119 from Amazon. You can purchase the speaker in a variety of colors, including Sunset Peach, Sandstone, Black, Petal Pink, Blue Dusk, Dewdrop Mint and Twilight Blue.

Bose also offers the bigger SoundLink Flex, which is only $20 more at $149, offering the same durability specs in a slightly less portable package. The SoundLink Micro 2, by contrast, fits in the palm of your hand, making it better for travelling.

When it comes to small, portable speakers, you can certainly pick up cheaper options, but you won’t be getting the full-bodied sound you get with the Bose. The$39 Tozo PE1 is a decent option if you’re on a very tight budget, but the battery drains fast, and the sound becomes tinny at higher volumes.

Staying on the micro side, the $64 Tribit StomBox Micro 3 is around the same size as the SoundLink Micro, but has a higher IP68 durability rating. I love the sound you get from the Tribit, and I find myself reaching for it regularly. It’s half the price of the Bose and, in my opinion, performs just as well.

Bose SoundLink Micro 2 review: Design

The Bose SoundLink Micro 2 is a devilishly handsome speaker that comes in a variety of colors. The wide range of colors means you can choose one that complements your style, but I prefer the understated black variant.

Micro-sized speakers are very portable, and this one is about the size of my hand at 4.1 x 4.1 x 1.7 inches. It only weighs 11.2 ounces, so it didn’t add any noticeable weight to my bag when taking it out and about. The Tozo PE1 is lighter at just 8 ounces.

Bose says this speaker is built to bounce, so I obviously had to put it to the test. I dropped it from chest height (I’m 5’2”), and it quickly rebounded off the ground with no marks in sight, so it is very sturdy. This speaker has an IP67 durability rating, meaning it is fully protected against dust and can be submerged in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. Since I mostly use Bluetooth speakers when I’m out in the garden, it’s great to know that the SoundLink Micro 2 is protected. I took the speaker on vacation with me and had it poolside where it was subject to splashes from the pool, and it was completely unfazed.

Controls

The Bose SoundLink Micro uses button controls, which are very responsive. On the right, there is a shortcut button. This is programmable through the Bose app. I decided to set it so that it would play music from my Spotify account without me selecting it on my phone. This was useful as I could leave my phone inside, minimizing distractions.

Connectivity

The Bose SoundLink Micro 2 uses Bluetooth version 5.4. The Tribit Stormbox Micro 3 uses Bluetooth 6.0, a more advanced version, but for everyday listening I don’t think it makes much of a difference. The Bose speaker supports multipoint connectivity for up to two devices, which allowed me to easily transition between two phones. This worked well for my family when we couldn’t decide who should be in charge of the music.

Bose’s Party Mode is supported by the speaker too, so you can connect two of their SoundLink speakers and sync up the audio for an even bigger sound. You can also enable stereo mode here and turn them into left and right speakers to immerse yourself in the sound.

Bose SoundLink Micro 2 review: Sound quality

The Bose SoundLink Micro 2 was the perfect way to soundtrack my vacation as it gave me great volume with total balance over the bass, mids and treble. Though it may be small in stature, don’t let that fool you when it comes to the sound capabilities.

To test the bass performance, I listened to Let’s Go Crazy by Prince. This track has a lot going on in the high end, so when I listen just using my phone speakers, the driving bass line is often lost in a sea of synth effects. However, when listening with the SoundLink Micro 3, I was impressed by how clear the bass guitar was, and it allowed the song to perform to its full potential.

When evaluating the mid-range performance, I listened to Graceland Too by Phoebe Bridgers, which is an acoustic track filled with strings and a delicate vocal performance. The plucking of the string instruments was clear, but you could still hear the vocal harmonies clearly, showing strong tonal separation.

Finally, to test out the treble, I listened to It’s Amazing To Be Young by Fontaines D.C. for its leading drum riffs and lead guitar. The speaker replicated these tones with ease, and I didn't experience any tinniness. Again, I was impressed by the instrument separation across guitar and drums.

You certainly get the classic Bose sound here and I prefer the sound profile to the Tozo PE1, which sounds a lot cheaper, but I would say it’s on par with the Tribit StormBox Micro 3.

Bose SoundLink Micro 2 review: App

The Bose SoundLink Micro 2 speaker is compatible with the Bose app, which you can use to customize the sound or simply control it. It’s easy to navigate, and I felt like I had a lot of control. I prefer using this to the Tribit app for the StormBox Micro 3.

There are custom EQ adjusters to fine-tune the bass, mid-range and treble, or you can use the EQ presets in the app. I like the default EQ of this speaker, but increasing the bass makes it pretty ground-shaking.

As I mentioned earlier, there’s a shortcut button on the speaker that can be altered on the speaker and used to launch Spotify Tap, or sync with other Bose speakers to activate Party Mode. The app is certainly a helping hand throughout the listening process, and it’s not at all complicated.

Bose SoundLink Micro 2 review: Battery life

The Bose SoundLink Micro 2 comes with a USB-C to A cable for charging, which takes around three hours. The speaker holds 12 hours of battery life, which lasted me around three days before I needed to juice up again.

I would have liked a little more battery life for longer trips since rivals prove it can be done, even in such a small package. The Tribit StormBox Micro 3, for example, has 24 hours of battery life, and the Tribit PocketGo (which is even smaller) holds 20 hours of battery.

Bose SoundLink Micro 2 review: Verdict

The Bose SoundLink Micro 2 impressed me by delivering clear and balanced sound with zero distortion, even at louder volumes. It’s very lightweight and compact, making it a great option for taking with you on trips, as I did. There are loads of color options to choose from, so it can certainly be a style-minded purchase, and the connectivity features unlock ways to get an even bigger sound. Meanwhile, the IP67 durability rating makes it a good option for anyone who likes to listen to music outdoors.

As much as I like the speaker, there are cheaper options on the market that also provide great sound and even have stronger battery life. But if you’re a fan of the classic Bose sound, this speaker is a no-brainer.

Noble Audio is no stranger to making excellent earbuds for audiophiles — or naming its products after historical figures, artists, and even birds of prey. The Noble Audio Osprey, like the hawk they’re named after, soar above the rest with their refined sound quality and eye-catching design. They pack effective ANC, good battery life, and are comfortable for all-day long wear.

For detail-oriented listeners, the Osprey easily warrant a recommendation. The treble is airy and the bass is plentiful. It’s important to note, though, that they don’t pack features like wear detection and Google Fast Pair, like many of their competitors do, and they aren’t the most waterproof. But these are still sublime wireless earbuds for audiophiles who value sound above all else.

To find out if these are the best noise-canceling earbuds for you, read my full Noble Audio Osprey review.

Noble Audio Osprey review: Specs

Noble Audio Osprey review: Price & availability

The Noble Audio Osprey are budget in-ear buds. Well, budget in the wider context of Noble’s earbuds costing $600 on average, that is. The Osprey have a retail price of $199 / £199, and can be bought directly from Noble. They’re Noble’s cheapest wireless earbuds but when compared to their competitors, they can be best described as mid-range.

Launched in June 2026, the Osprey enter a crowded market and face fierce competition from the Nothing Ear (3) ($179), the Bose QuietComfort ($179), and the AirPods 5 ($149). For $50 more, you can also pick up the AirPods Pro 3 ($249), or for the same price as the Osprey during sales events. The Status Pro X ($299) and the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 ($399) are tuned to deliver detail-oriented listening, too, making them the Osprey’s primary competition — but they’re also a lot more expensive than Noble’s offering.

The Osprey offer a refined sound profile and a delicious design, but they don’t feature wear detection or Google Fast Pair (which many of their rivals do). Are they still worth the money, especially for audiophiles? Let’s find out.

Noble Audio Osprey review: Design

Like the Bose QuietComfort, the Noble Audio Osprey feature a stem-less, rounded design. Noble Audio knows how to make a good-looking pair of earbuds, like the Iris ($699), and the Osprey are no different. Each earbud features a distinct marbled blue faceplate that gives the pair an artisanal look. The brand’s crown insignia is engraved on each earpiece, keeping branding minimal and classy.

A sleek aluminum charging case houses the earbuds when you aren’t using them. Just like the earbuds, the case feels and looks premium (certainly more so than the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8’s plasticky case), although it’s prone to scratches and getting scuffed when it’s in your pocket or bag. The case isn’t very heavy either, weighing 2.15oz, so it feels weightless to travel with.

Weatherproofing

The Osprey are IPX4-rated, just like the Bose QuietComfort. This means the Osprey are splash-proof and can survive sweat and light rain. The ‘X’ in IPX4 means the earbuds aren’t officially dustproof. If you want better resistance to the elements, the Nothing Ear (3) are IP54-rated, as are the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8, while the Status Pro X are IP55-rated.

Comfort

I’ve found the Osprey very comfortable to wear all day long. Each bud weighs 0.22oz, so just a smidge lighter than the Bose QuietComfort (0.29oz each). The curved shell angles fit snugly in my ears without any awkward pressure points or abrasions when I wore them for five hours straight.

Noble Audio happily includes a few different eartip types in the box: dual-flange black silicone (for passive noise cancelation), foam (with wax guards), and wide-bore silicone (for a balance of comfort and seal consistency). This is a step-up over most rivals who offer just one or maybe two eartip types. All of the Osprey’s eartips come in small, medium and large sizes. The medium dual-flange black silicones fit my ears perfectly.

Controls

The Osprey can be controlled using the touch-sensitive faceplates on each earbud. Using a combination of taps and long presses, you can adjust the volume, change tracks, enable and disable ANC, and toggle your device’s voice assistant, too. These controls can be customized via the app (more on that shortly).

I found the touch controls responsive and reliable in my testing. Unintended feather-light taps didn’t trigger them either, which is great.

Connectivity

The Osprey utilize Bluetooth 6.0 with support for SBC, AAC and LDAC codecs. It’s nice to see the inclusion of LDAC (also found on the Status Pro X), an advanced codec that enables you to stream high-resolution audio (at higher sampling rates) over Bluetooth. It’s also something that’s missing from the Bose QuietComfort, giving the Osprey a leg-up. The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 don’t feature LDAC but they support aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive and aptX Classic, so they provide true CD-quality audio

As is commonplace with many earbuds today, the Osprey feature multipoint connectivity, so you can pair them with two devices simultaneously. I did this with my MacBook Air M2 and Google Pixel 10 Pro XL and it worked like a charm. But unlike many system-agnostic buds, the Osprey don’t feature Google Fast Pair, so they don’t automatically pop up on your Android phone’s screen for near-instantaneous pairing.

One of the things I’m most surprised by is that the Osprey don’t have wear detection, so music doesn’t pause and play automatically when the buds are removed (and put back in). This is a feature I missed dearly as it meant that I had to manually pause (and resume) playback every time. Just annoying, and it’s the least I’d expect from a pair that costs nearly $200.

Noble Audio Osprey review: Sound quality

The Noble Audio Osprey utilize a dual-driver architecture, and each earbud is fitted with a 10mm dynamic driver and a balanced armature. Combined, they cover a frequency response range of 20Hz to 40KHz. Noble is best known for making high-end in-ear monitors (IEMs) for audiophiles, so the Osprey’s sound profile feels neutral and balanced for detail-oriented listening, but the earbuds pack meaty bass, too.

To test the Osprey, I listened to my usual testing tracks on Qobuz, the best music streaming service for audiophiles, with LDAC enabled. ‘God’s Chariots’ by Oklou proved to be a good test for the Osprey’s soundstage, and one the earbuds passed with flying colors. Instrument and vocal separation is fantastic, and the earbuds gave the track plenty of depth. The synths felt wide and dimensional as if they were swirling around my head, while Oklou’s vocals sounded textured and airy, like they were floating above the instrumentation.

The Osprey boast excellent high-frequency and treble control, as I discovered when listening to ‘Under Cover of Darkness’ by The Strokes. The track is packed with bright, jangly guitar work that the Osprey lend a crisp, electric edge to without making them sound harsh or brittle. Cymbals and hi-hats remained well-defined, and they had convincing sheen and natural decay. The Osprey ensured the song remained energetic throughout, and it never once sounded fatiguing through the buds.

Bass is also a strong suit for the Osprey. Though the bass doesn’t rumble as it does through the Nothing Ear (3), it still carries enough authority and is extremely enjoyable. The bass in Porcupine Tree’s ‘Harridan’ sounded tight and controlled, with the opening low-frequency bassline reaching deep without sounding bloated. The earbuds’ transient control kept the low-end articulate even when the arrangement became dense. Instead of collapsing into a thick mass, the individual bass elements remained distinguishable.

Overall, the Osprey are excellent earbuds for anyone after high-fidelity, detail-oriented sound with punchy bass and expressive mids. They don’t give you much to complain about, and they feature a 10-band equalizer if you want to tailor the sound to your liking (more on that below).

Listen along to my review with the Noble Audio Osprey testing playlist:

Noble Audio Osprey review: App

The Noble Audio Osprey are accompanied by the Noble FoKus app, available for free on iOS and Android. It’s simple and straight to the point (albeit with a strange left-justified interface). Via the app, you can remap the touch controls and gestures, choose one of five EQ presets, and customize the 10-band equalizer. Everything else is fairly self-explanatory, like the option to update the firmware.

I have no complaints about the app — the Android version, at least. When senior reviews editor, Pete, tested the Noble Audio FoKus Artemis ($899), he found the iOS app janky and finicky to use, so it’s something to look out for if you’re an iPhone user.

Noble Audio Osprey review: ANC

As someone who travels a fair amount, ANC in my earbuds or headphones is a necessity for me. The Noble Audio Osprey pack ANC that’s effective both indoors and outdoors. Indoors, I couldn’t hear my mechanical keyboard, or my coworker’s. The earbuds blocked out the sound of the kettle boiling as well as the doorbell ringing, too, and my colleagues had to wave to get my attention.

Outdoors, the Osprey did a respectable job of blocking out idle chatter on public transport, though I could still hear the loud rattling of the bus. Some high-frequency sounds, like car horns, also made it through, but overall, my immersion wasn’t broken. In this price range, though, I’d say it’s hard to beat the Bose QuietComfort when it comes to ANC.

Noble Audio Osprey review: Call quality

The Noble Audio Osprey’s call quality is quite decent. I called my partner and she said that my voice sounded clear and natural, and there wasn’t any piercing sibilance either. She also noted that she couldn’t hear much background noise, but that some public chatter managed to bleed in.

If you want better call quality, I’d recommend the Nothing Ear (3) whose case doubles as a mic and is designed to enhance voice clarity by up to 95dB in noisy environments.

Noble Audio Osprey review: Battery life

The Noble Audio Osprey’s battery life is similar to that of its closest rivals. On a single charge, the earbuds can last up to seven hours with ANC off or five hours with ANC on. The case provides an additional 28 hours when ANC is disabled, and Noble Audio doesn’t specify the total juice when ANC is enabled.

But the Osprey doesn’t boast the longest earbud-only battery. With ANC on, the Bose QuietComfort can last 8.5 hours; the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 provide 6.5 hours of continuous playback; the Nothing Ear (3) are rated for 5.5 hours; and the Status Pro X are rated for eight hours. The Osprey’s case’s battery life trumps the Bose QuietComfort’s and, more importantly, the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8’s cases, which provide a total of 31.5 hours and 20 hours respectively.

In my testing, after using the earbuds with ANC enabled and listening at 50-60% volume, the Osprey lasted just under five hours, true to Noble Audio’s claim. If you’re in a hurry, you’d be pleased to know that a 10-minute quick charge provides approximately two hours of playback time.

Noble Audio Osprey review: Verdict

The Noble Audio Osprey are compelling wireless earbuds that put sound quality firmly ahead of flashy features. Their refined, detailed presentation, punchy bass and excellent separation make them appealing to audiophiles, while the comfortable design and effective ANC add plenty of everyday appeal.

There are a few notable omissions, though, such as wear detection and Google Fast Pair, both of which are offered by similarly priced rivals. Battery life is competitive rather than class-leading, too, and the waterproofing is merely okay. Though you can get detail-oriented earbuds that don’t sacrifice QoL features, you’ll need to spend a lot more on the likes of the Status Pro X and the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8.

At the end of the day, the Osprey deliver where it matters most: they sound fantastic and look distinctive. For listeners who want sound quality above all else, the Osprey make a strong case for themselves.

The best running headphones have to strike an almost impossible balance. They need to fit well and sound great, but also offer some awareness of your surroundings and be robust enough to handle sweat and rain.

In-ear buds tend to offer the best sound, but less awareness, while open headphones are great for staying aware but don’t sound as good, and can be drowned out when you’re running by a busy road in my experience.

Enter the Apple AirPods, which tread the line between open and in-ear, and for me offer the best of both worlds — they have better sound quality than fully-open designs and still allow for enough awareness, especially when using the transparency mode.

I’ve been using the Apple AirPods 5 on all my runs over the past week or so and they’ve replaced the Shokz OpenDots 2 as my go-to buds.

However, there’s a big caveat to this, which is the fit of the AirPods, which won’t work for everyone on the run.

I’ve run around 50 miles while wearing the AirPods 5; here are my likes and dislikes.

Like #1: The fit is comfortable and secure enough

The main reason I love the AirPods is the fit, which I find more comfortable than in-ear headphones and less fussy than earhook or clip-on buds.

I actually find that the AirPods 5 fit more securely on the run than the Apple AirPods Pro 3, though this is something that will vary depending on the shape of your ear.

The lightweight design and the fact they don’t put pressure on any part of the ear means I can wear the AirPods 5 for long stretches without any discomfort, and even when I wore a headband over them during runs they didn’t push into my ear uncomfortably.

Like #2: You can stay aware of your surroundings

I prefer to use open headphones for all my runs just to have a better idea of what’s going on around me. Whether I’m running by busy roads or in my local forest, I don’t like the closed-off feeling of using in-ear buds.

The AirPods 5 allow for this because of the semi-open design, especially if you also use the transparency mode on the headphones.

I also find that the semi-open design removes two of the more annoying features of in-ear buds when running; I don’t hear the sound of the wind rushing over the headphones, and I don’t experience the occlusion effect.

The latter is the sound of your feet pounding, which often happens when running with in-ear headphones that fully block the ear canal.

Like #3: The sound quality is excellent and the ANC is good

You can get the benefits of a secure, comfortable fit and awareness with most open headphones, but the AirPods 5 have a key advantage over them, which is their sound quality.

The AirPods 5 offer better sound quality than any fully-open headphones I’ve tried, and when I turn to my running playlist for a motivational boost during hard runs they offer more power and bass in particular.

They’re also simply a bit louder, which certainly helps at times — I used them at a busy half marathon race in London and could clearly hear my podcasts and music even in the crowds.

When the situation calls for it, they also offer the best ANC I’ve come across in open headphones, so they’re more useful for traveling. When I use the OpenDots 2 on trains they’re easily drowned out, but the AirPods 5 filter out a lot of the background noise.

Like #4: The IP57 rating

Past models of the AirPods have offered an IPX4 or IP54 water and dust resistance rating, which is enough for regular running in my experience, but the IP57 rating on the AirPods 5 is a welcome improvement on this front.

The final number in an IP rating refers to the water resistance, and while past AirPods models were resistant to splashes, the AirPods 5 can handle being submerged for 30 minutes in depths up to one meter — you still shouldn’t do this, but it gives more confidence that they’ll easily resist sweat and rain during runs.

According to Apple’s support pages this IP57 rating also applies to the case on the AirPods 5, which is handy because it means I can slip it into a pocket or running belt for long runs without worrying about it getting damaged by sweat. The fact that it’s so small also helps for this.

Dislike #1: The battery life

There is a drawback to the small size of the AirPods 5 and their case, which is that the battery life is shorter than most other headphones I test.

Even the more expensive AirPods 5 headphones with a MagSafe charging case only offer five hours of battery life with the ANC or transparency mode enabled, and 22 hours in total with the case.

The Shokz OpenDots 2 I have been using offer 10 hours of battery life and 40 hours with the case, and I’ve noticed the need to charge the AirPods 5 more already.

That said, they charge extremely quickly, and I don’t plan to do any runs longer than five hours any time soon so it’s not a huge problem for me.

Dislike #2: The fit isn’t as secure as other designs

The biggest reason the AirPods 5 won’t work for everyone is the fit. It’s great for me, but I know that isn’t the case for everyone, and if they bounce out while running all the other benefits of the design become somewhat moot.

If you need a more secure fit, then the clip-on design of the OpenDots 2 or open headphones with an earhook like the Shokz OpenFit line-up will suit you better.

The other option is to buy third-party silicone wings that fit onto the AirPods 5, which I’ve done in the past. You have to take these off to get the buds back into the case though, so it’s not the most elegant solution.

If the fit does stick for you, however, the Apple AirPods 5 are pretty much perfect running headphones in my opinion.

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You are out for a walk, enjoying your favorite podcast or playlist, when suddenly a sharp thumping, crackling, or high-pitched fluttering sound hits your ear canal. It usually happens the moment you step off a curb, hit a bump on the bus, or catch a sudden gust of wind.

Before you panic and schedule an expensive repair or start shopping for a replacement pair, take a breath. That strange, irritating noise doesn't mean your premium headphones or earbuds are broken. In fact, it might be a sign your Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is getting tripped up by a hidden buildup of everyday grime.

So, what actually causes that weird acoustic glitch?

To understand why it happens, you have to look at how Active Noise Cancellation works under the hood. ANC headphones use tiny outward-facing microphones to listen to the sounds around you. The headphones instantly create an opposite sound wave to block out those background noises before they reach your ear.

When you step down hard on the pavement, ride over a pothole, or walk through a gust of wind, the physical shockwave sends a sudden rush of air toward those tiny built-in mics.

Normally, the software handles these air shifts seamlessly. But over time, microscopic particles of dust, pocket lint, and skin oils build up directly over the mesh grilles protecting those external microphones. When air rushes across a partially blocked grille, it creates uneven air friction.

Instead of reading normal background noise, the mics pick up localized air turbulence. The software panics, scrambling to cancel out a noise that is physically vibrating the microphone housing itself, producing that annoying thump, pop, or flutter directly in your ear.

The simple fix that solved it for me

I was experiencing this exact issue with my Sennheiser Momentum 5s on my daily morning walk, and after assuming my pair was simply on its last legs, I realized the problem wasn't internal hardware damage at all — it was entirely physical. The moment I gave the external microphone ports a thorough deep clean, the irritating thumps and pops disappeared completely.

To clear out the buildup yourself, start by locating every tiny mesh grille or pinhole port on the outside of your ear cups or earbud stems. Take a dry, soft-bristled toothbrush or an electronics cleaning brush and sweep gently across the grilles at an angle, making sure not to push straight down so you don't pack lint deeper inside.

Next, I applied a tiny amount of micellar water to the tip of a cotton swab — it breaks down skin oils cleanly without leaving a sticky film behind. Alternatively, you can use an electronics-grade rubbing alcohol (70% isopropyl) or a tightly wrung-out wet wipe.

Whichever you choose, ensure the swab or wipe is barely damp and never dripping, then gently roll it over the mesh openings to lift any stubborn residue.

I then let my headphones air dry for about 5 minutes before putting them back on, and the noise cancellation returned to crystal-clear performance.

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After years of delays, Siri AI is finally available for everyone bringing an Apple-supported AI experience to most of your devices. One of the few things that hasn't been graced with Siri Ai just yet to the HomePod smart speaker — but that might be changing soon.

Details related to Siri AI have been uncovered by pdfu in HomePod's audio OS 27 software. The code contains references to "Linwood," which is apparently the system that will power Siri AI on Apple's speaker. However, the downside is that it may not be available unless you buy a brand new HomePod first.

There are more updates than just which version of Siri you'll have access to. The light and sound effects on the HomePod seem to be changing, much like they do on other devices. The comparison pdfu posted shows the standard Siri with a simple "bing" chime and the classic rainbow light effects. Meanwhile Siri AI uses a lighter tone, with more yellows and blues, as well as a longer chime with an echo-effect.

Obviously audioOS 27 is already available and Siri AI is non-functional. This leads pdfu to speculate it may be limited to newer HomePod devices. However, they do note HomePod is "accepted as a Siri AI-capable device" and "activation is separately blocked in current versions."

That could mean that Apple is simply not ready to roll out Siri AI to HomePod yet, even if there's no hardware reason for it not to work.

We're not expecting a new version of the large HomePod anytime soon, but there have been rumors suggesting two different devices could be on the way. That includes the HomePod mini 2, which is supposedly coming with a newer chip, as well as the long-awaited Apple smart display — often referred to as a HomePad.

Considering the HomePad was reportedly delayed because Siri AI wasn't ready, we can certainly expect it to come equipped with the full range of Apple AI tools. As for other models, we're not so sure. However, it would be bizarre for Apple to restrict which devices can use Siri AI unless there are hardware incompatibility issues.

I would personally hope Apple is just holding off on releasing Siri AI to HomePods until the newer devices have been formally revealed. Sadly we'd need Apple to clarify what the deal is, otherwise all we can do is wildly speculate until an official announcement is made.

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Remember when the rumor mill of those AirPods Pro with cameras started swirling? We may be waiting a while longer for them, but outside of Apple’s ecosystem, Qualcomm’s just launched the Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2 silicon to support the devices that will compete with them.

Beyond lossless sound enhancements, ambient ANC, and enhanced voice clarity, this chip is all about multimodal AI with camera support, alongside support for agentic AI.

The big specs (to me)

So let me get straight into it, as there are some wins here. Packed into a 30% smaller footprint with 40% lower power consumption, this is bringing intelligence to premium earbuds, camera buds, audio glasses, headphones, AI wearables and more.

It starts with aptX lossless audio support, new AI enhanced ANC that adapts to your ambient surroundings, a new AI-turbocharged microphone pickup algorithm to improve voice pick-up.

This means an EQ that can change slightly around where you are, alongside local models that can let important sounds through the ANC wall (like sirens).

And for the cherry on top, there’s now integrated micro-power WiFi 6E — a world first for a headphone chip that means you could connect to cloud audio directly from the device.

The AI pivot

But let’s get into the big thing of Sound Elite Gen 2: that new local intelligence built right in. Qualcomm’s packed this with up to 2x greater AI capability than its predecessor, ready to fuel the next generation of on-camera equipped form factors (translation: all the AirPods with cameras built in for Siri vision).

Plus with that direct-to-cloud connectivity, it can support a breadth of AI services both locally and on-cloud. This will take earbuds beyond your standard voice assistant into something a little more agentic thanks to that built-in NPU and an ecosystem of apps and agents built specifically for the chip.

Do you actually want camera buds in the age of pervert glasses?

This is the big question here. My tech nerd take is of course that this is a solid silicon upgrade for upcoming devices. But we’ve come to realize a lot more about the privacy issues that come with AI smart glasses or always-on recorders.

So now that we’re seeing these kinds of devices in a whole new light — a light where we’re much more aware of how much of our lives are being used to train AI models, and the rise in covert recording — is this a case of bad timing? Would you want to buy a pair of camera buds?

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There's finally a pair of Apple headphones that solve a problem I've been preaching about for years: people wearing delicate, $550 over-ear headphones like the AirPods Max to the gym. Sweat ruins sensitive electronics, and standard warranties will not cover liquid damage when a device isn't explicitly rated for protection.

Enter the Beats 360, an over-ear pair of headphones built specifically to bridge the gap between workout durability and modern everyday features. They feature an official IPX4 sweat rating, swappable modular cushions that automatically adjust sound settings and equal-treatment connectivity across both Apple and Android ecosystems.

But at $349, they face competition like the equally-priced Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) and Sony WH-1000XM5, which are regularly discounted to $299. While the noise cancellation on the 360 is easily the best Beats has ever produced, Bose is still noticeably better at silencing plane engines, and Sony has some added convenience for commuters such as wear detection.

All things considered, are these the best headphones for you? Find out more in my full Beats 360 review.

Beats 360 review: Price & availability

• $349 MSRP
• New cushion sets = $49
• Beats Studio Pro drop to $299

The Beats 360 are available for $349 directly through Apple, Beats and major third-party retailers. That price places them directly above the Beats Studio Pro, which have been permanently dropped to $299 MSRP (and will probably see further discounts during major deals events.)

Staying within the Apple ecosystem, the Beats 360 sit well below the $550 AirPods Max 2. Given their athletic feature set, they target a different type of user than Apple's premium noise-cancelling headphones, specifically those with active lifestyles.

Beats 360 review: Design

• Official IPX4 rating built for workouts
• Modular twist-and-click cushion system
• Gym bag-ready, low-profile carrying bag

Aesthetically, Beats pulled design cues straight from athletic sneakers, constructing an ultra-thin headband around a flexible steel spring. Almost all the weight is shifted directly into the earcups, which feature 50% more cushion mass than the Studio Pro to distribute pressure evenly across your head without painful clamping.

Each earcup functions as its own self-contained hardware module with its own battery, antenna, and processing chip. This design allowed Beats to install a custom acoustic firewall behind the drivers, giving these an official IPX4 sweat and water rating. In other words, sensitive electronics remain sealed off from liquid damage.

Comfort

Right out of the box, you get breathable Performance Knit cushions woven from 36 micro-threads. If you prefer a traditional leatherette fit, you can purchase UltraPlush pads separately. Because each pad twists off with a quick mechanical snap, swapping dirty cushions after a heavy gym session takes less than five seconds. If being able to ditch sweaty earcups isn't a testament to wearability and comfort, I don't know what is.

That said, at 294.5 grams, they are slightly heavier than the 260-gram Beats Studio Pro, but the ergonomic weight distribution keeps them feeling light during extended wear. Also keep in mind that the AirPods Max 2 are still significantly heavier at 386.2 grams (only adding more confusion as to why people choose to wear them to the gym.)

Controls

Instead of touch gestures that misfire when your hands get sweaty, Beats placed physical thumb buttons on the back of both earcups. Your right thumb handles volume and play/pause, while your left thumb toggles power and noise control modes.

But I have a major issue here: the Beats 360 lack wear detection. Just like I called out on the Bose QuietComfort (2nd Gen), $350 headphones in 2026 should automatically pause your music and enter low-power mode when taken off your head. Having to manually power them down every time you take a break is an annoying omission especially if you're someone who's moving between a workout, work, commuting or other activities.

Carrying bag

While some might call the included travel pouch skimpy compared to heavy clamshell cases, I actually prefer it. It feels sporty, lies completely flat when empty and provides just enough scratch-resistant protection without taking up unnecessary volume in a gym bag. It’s protective, low-profile and workout-ready.

Beats 360 review: Connectivity & compatibility

• Equal feature parity for iOS and Android users
• USB-C audio input supported

Compatibility is where Beats consistently beats out Apple-branded audio products. On iOS, you get native ecosystem perks like One-Touch Pairing, Find My, hands-free "Hey Siri," and Spatial Audio with head tracking.

Unlike AirPods Max, Android users aren't left out in the cold. The Beats 360 support Google Fast Pair, Android Find Hub, automatic audio switching and full custom button mapping via the native Beats Android app.

For wired listening, you can stream lossless audio over USB-C, though you won't be able to plug into older 3.5mm airplane entertainment jacks without an adapter.

Beats 360 review: Sound quality

• Punchy bass with 12dB higher maximum output
• Built-in sensors auto-tune sound to cushion material
• Driving rhythm profile tuned for modern music

The Beats 360 use a custom transducer equipped with dual neodymium ring magnets and a triple-layer diaphragm, pushing 12dB higher maximum output than the Studio Pro with zero distortion at high volumes.

And if you're wondering whether swapping out between the different earcup materials impacts sound, hardware sensors inside the earcups detect which cushion material you’ve attached and auto-tune the acoustic output accordingly.

Beats's signature sound profile remains dynamic and fun. In Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us," the low-end kick hits with force, while sub-bass frequencies remain tight and punchy without overwhelming Kendrick's vocals or muddying the mid-range.

For pop music, Dua Lipa's "Houdini" presented a snappy driving bassline and distinct vocal layering even with all those synth details. With modern rock, heavy electric guitar transients in Rage Against the Machine's "Guerrilla Radio" sounded crisp and aggressive.

If you are an audiophile looking for a flat, reference-grade sound, I'd say the Beats 360 are not right for you. Although Beats headphones have progressively neutralized, Sony’s WH-1000XM6 or XM5 offer a more neutral soundstage.

Beats 360 review: ANC

• 1.75x stronger noise cancellation than Studio Pro
• Great for gym hums and loud ambient environments
• Bose QuietComfort remains superior for flight isolation

I never thought I’d put "great ANC" and "Beats" in the same sentence, but these are easily the best noise-canceling headphones Beats has ever made. Packing 1.75x stronger ANC than the Studio Pro, they do an impressive job deadening ambient gym chatter, clanging weights and questionable overhead playlists.

To be perfectly clear, these are not dethroning flagship travel heavyweights — Bose still holds the crown when it comes to canceling low-frequency jet engine roar on long-haul flights for me. But for workouts, daily commutes and general noise isolation, Beats is finally legitimately in the conversation.

Beats 360 review: Call quality

• 9-microphone array with AI speech modeling
• Dynamic beamforming for wind rejection

For voice calls, Beats packed in a 9-microphone array supported by AI speech modeling. When stepping outdoors or into windy conditions, the system dynamically pulls in extra beamforming mics to isolate your voice.

In practice, these are not the best headphones for calling. While I sounded clear in my testing, my voice sounded slightly over-processed. Sure, if I need to answer a call quickly at the gym if only to tell the other person I'll call them back, they're passable. But these would not be my pick for video conferencing or important calls.

Beats 360 review: Battery life

• 32 hours continuous playback with ANC enabled
• Fast Fuel: 5 minutes charge = 1 hour playback
• No included cable

Battery life on the Beats 360 is a high point. You get 32 continuous hours of playback with both ANC and Spatial Audio turned on. That easily outlasts the AirPods Max (20 hours), the Bose QuietComfort 2nd Gen (24 hours), and the Beats Studio Pro (24 hours).

If you get caught on empty before a workout, a quick 5-minute Fast Fuel charge via USB-C grants a full hour of listening time. Just remember to power them off manually when you throw them in your bag, as the lack of wear detection will drain the battery if left on idle. Oh, and they also don't come with a charger, but if you're like me, you'll have plenty of USB-C cables available around your house you can use instead.

Beats 360 review: Verdict

The Beats 360 are a triumph for athletic audio, delivering a feature-packed package that finally makes wearing over-ear headphones to the gym a worry-free experience. With an official IPX4 sweat rating, modular swappable cushions, tactile physical controls,and generous 32-hour battery life, they solve practical daily problems that competitor flagships ignore.

While Bose still holds the crown for world-class flight noise cancellation, Beats' upgraded ANC performance is more than strong enough to mute gym chatter and environmental hums. The lack of wear detection is a frustrating oversight at $350, and travelers who rely on 3.5mm wired connections will need to pack an adapter.

If your primary goal is finding durable, great-sounding headphones that look stylish, support both iOS and Android natively and won't succumb to workout sweat, the Beats 360 are easily the most complete pair Beats has ever produced.

I’ve had a soft spot for the original Sonos Ace ever since they launched. In fact, they quickly became one of my default commuting picks. Whenever I catch someone sporting a pair at an airport terminal, it feels like an unspoken "if you know, you know" nod between us frequent flyers.

With the new Sonos Ace Ultra ($449), Sonos took what worked on the original and focused heavily on performance and ecosystem polish. The headlining upgrade is easily the active noise cancellation: thanks to a new 10-microphone array and updated Adaptive ANC, these cans are legitimately giving Bose a run for its money.

Add in redesigned 40mm custom drivers, subtle design tweaks like a more flexible swivel, and direct Wi-Fi system linking via Headphone Engine 2, and you have an exceptionally polished pair of premium headphones. But one big question remains: are these worth buying if you don't already own a house full of Sonos gear?

I'll answer that for you in my full Sonos Ace Ultra review below.

Sonos Ace Ultra review: Price & availability

The Sonos Ace Ultra land at $449 (£399 / €449), positioning them squarely in the luxury over-ear bracket. They're still comfortably below the $550 Apple AirPods Max 2, but align pretty evenly with the $449 Sony WH-1000XM6 at full price.

General availability opens September 29, 2026, directly through Sonos and major audio retailers.

Sonos Ace Ultra review: Design

• Subtle ergonomic refinements and slimmer earcup profile
• Intuitive physical Content Key slider
• Travel case features an internal magnetic cable pouc

Compared to the Sonos Ace, the Sonos Ace Ultra's design has been refined in meaningful ways. You get a slimmer earcup profile, a more flexible headband swivel, slightly enlarged control buttons and a repositioned USB-C port for easier charging while resting on a stand.

They come in classic Black and Soft White, as well as two stunning new matte finishes: Agave and Sand.

Comfort

Weighing 322 grams (0.71 lbs), the Ace Ultra balance their premium metal and high-grade materials with exceptional weight distribution. The soft memory foam ear cushions create a gentle acoustic seal that doesn't pinch over earrings or my sunglasses. I had no comfort concerns even when wearing the Ace Ultra for hours at a time.

Controls

Sonos kept the tactile Content Key on the right earcup, which slides up and down for smooth volume adjustments, presses in to handle play/pause/skip, and holds down to swap audio with your nearest Sonos speaker.

A separate dedicated Noise Control button handles ANC/Aware mode toggles.

Carrying case

The included travel case retains its familiar, felted aesthetic, but Sonos added a clever touch inside: a magnetic interior pouch that cleanly secures your charging and audio cables.

Inside the case, you'll find both a USB-C to USB-C cable and a USB-C to 3.5mm audio cable. My only minor nitpick here is that the cables are standard black or white. I would have loved to see color-matched cables for the new Agave and Sand options, but the magnetic storage pouch is so convenient it's easy to forgive.

Sonos Ace Ultra review: Connectivity & Sonos Ecosystem

• Headphone Engine 2 enables direct WiFi linking to Sonos speakers
• Bluetooth 6.0 with aptX Adaptive Lossless support

While these operate as stellar Bluetooth 6.0-compatible headphones on the go, their best performance inside the home. Powered by Sonos' new Headphone Engine 2, the Ace Ultra can join your home Wi-Fi network directly to participate in the broader Sonos audio operating system.

If you are watching TV with a compatible soundbar like the new Beam Ultra or Sonos Arc Ultra, pressing the Content Key instantly pulls the TV audio off the soundbar and hands it off to your headphones in full spatial audio with Dolby Atmos and TrueCinema head tracking. Pressing it again sends the soundtrack right back to the room.

If you're already embedded in the Sonos ecosystem, as I am at home, this feature alone elevates the Ace Ultra above standard Bluetooth noise-cancelers. I actually wanted to keep wearing them even when I got home from my evening work commute, enjoying my standard fix of reality TV to decompress through the privacy of my Ace Ultra headphones.

Sonos Ace Ultra review: Sound quality

• Redesigned 40mm custom drivers with Adaptive EQ
• Support for Spatial Audio
• 3-band and 8-band EQ tuning in the Sonos app

Acoustically, the redesigned 40mm drivers deliver a wide, detailed soundstage with zero distortion even when pushed to high volume levels. Adaptive EQ continually measures the seal around your ears to compensate for hair or glasses, keeping the overall response balanced and natural.

That said, the iconic bassline in Gorillaz "Feel Good Inc." lands with thick, resonant depth. The driver handles heavy sub-bass decay effortlessly without masking the acoustic guitar plucks or vocal textures in the mid-range.

Stevie Nicks’ vocals sound hauntingly intimate and centered in Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams." Instrumental separation between the clean rimshots and background harmonies is crisp, demonstrating impressive warmth and acoustic layering.

And of course, I had to test the audio performance in blockbuster soundtracks. Hans Zimmer's "Paul's Dream" from "Dune" excelled with spatial rendering and high-frequency control. Dynamic brass swells and intricate percussion sparkled across a wide soundstage without ever becoming shrill or fatiguing at higher volumes.

Sonos Ace Ultra review: ANC

• 10-microphone array
• 2x stronger ANC performance vs. original Ace
• Bose-rivaling in travel scenarios

ANC is where the Ace Ultra make their biggest leap forward from the first-generation Sonos Ace. Jumping from eight to ten microphones allows the Adaptive ANC to adjust much faster to changing environmental sounds.

In real-world testing, these give Bose’s flagship noise-cancelers a serious run for their money. Lower-frequency drones (think: air conditioning HVAC hums and jet engine rumble) are muted with shocking efficiency.

Meanwhile, the Aware Mode uses the 10-mic array to blend ambient surroundings back into your ears. I will say it's not the most natural-sounding awareness setting on the premium headphone market, but it certainly suffices.

Sonos Ace Ultra review: Call quality

• Beamforming mics with background noise suppression
• Sidetone feature prevents shouting on calls

With 10 microphones and upgraded background noise suppression, call performance is noticeably improved over the original Ace. Voice isolation remains clean even when taking calls near busy street traffic.

Sonos also added a dedicated Sidetone feature, which feed a natural mix of your own voice back into your ears while on calls so you don't end up shouting over the Active Noise Cancellation. I'm guilty as charged, so I consider this a clever quality-of-life feature.

Sonos Ace Ultra review: Battery life

• Up to 35 hours of listening time with ANC enabled
• Low Power Mode extends battery life by up to 30%
• 3-minute rapid charge gives 3 hours of playback

Battery life gets a welcome boost up to 35 hours from 30 hours on the OG Ace with ANC turned on. At 35 hours, it outperforms both the Bose QuietComfort 2nd Gen (24 hours) and AirPods Max (20 hours.)

If you toggle Low Power Mode within the Sonos app, battery life can extend by up to an additional 30%. And if you ever get caught at 0%, a lightning-fast 3-minute quick charge over USB-C yields 3 full hours of listening time.

Sonos Ace Ultra review: Verdict

The Sonos Ace Ultra are an exceptional, luxury pair of noise-canceling headphones. The upgraded 10-microphone ANC array places them squarely in the top tier of noise isolation. Combine that with refined wearability and 35-hour battery life, and I found no shortage of reasons to love these headphones.

That said, the $449 price tag is a significant hurdle. If you don't own any Sonos home gear, you are paying a premium for ecosystem features like Headphone Engine 2 and TV audio swapping that you simply won't use. In that case, standalone alternatives from Sony or Bose offer similar everyday performance for less. Not to mention, Sonos devices go on sale less frequently than those from the aforementioned competitors.

But if you do already happen to have some Sonos speakers at home and want impressive ANC that transitions seamlessly from your living room soundbar to your morning flight, the Ace Ultra are a match made in audio heaven.

EarFun makes some of our favorite cheap wireless earbuds, and a couple years ago, the Chinese brand ventured into the over-ear headphones space. While its previous flagship cans weren’t the greatest, EarFun has made improvements to the Wave Pro X and the results are good… mostly.

The Wave Pro X boasts excellent ANC, both indoors and outdoors, and they’re supremely comfortable for all-day wear. Vocal clarity is fantastic, and the headphones pack up to 90 hours of battery life. Their user-friendly app enables extensive customization, too. Unfortunately, the bass is muddy and the harsh treble can wear on you.

Despite their imperfections, could these still be the best cheap headphones for you? Read my full EarFun Wave Pro X review to find out.

EarFun Wave Pro X review: Specs

EarFun Wave Pro X review: Price & availability

The EarFun Wave Pro X are the brand’s latest flagship over-ear headphones, and they succeed the two-year-old EarFun Wave Pro.

They’re currently EarFun’s most expensive cans, carrying a retail price of $129 / £119 at Amazon. The Wave Pro X are $50 / £50 more than their predecessors, the Wave Pro, as they pack advanced Qualcomm silicon, dual drivers, and Bluetooth 6.0.

The budget and mid-range headphones market is extremely competitive and crowded with some fantastic cans, like the Soundcore Space 2 ($129) and the JBL Live 670NC ($129). The JLab JBuds Lux ANC ($79) and the CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro ($99) are also exceptional headphones, and they cost even less than the Wave Pro X.

EarFun Wave Pro X review: Design

Aesthetically, the EarFun Wave Pro X are designed and built better than the Wave Pro. Instead of relying heavily on standard plastic construction, the Wave Pro X feature upgraded metal yokes and anodized aluminum elements. Not only do these make the headphones look more premium and sleek, they add to their durability, too. Color choice is limited to just one option — black — but I think the Wave Pro X look great.

Weighing 9.13oz, the Wave Pro X feel substantial to hold, but they aren’t too heavy that you feel uncomfortable after a few hours of wear. They’re a hair lighter than the Soundcore Space 2 (9.3oz), and heavier than the JBL Live 670NC (7.7oz) but the difference isn’t that noticeable.

Just like their predecessor, the Wave Pro X come with a hardshell carry case to protect them from scratches when they’re in your backpack. The headphones are foldable, too, for easy transport.

Weatherproofing

Similar to the Wave Pro, EarFun doesn’t say that the Wave Pro X are waterproof, and as such, they don’t have an official IP rating.

It’s normal for over-ear headphones to not have IP ratings, though: The Soundcore Space 2 and the JBL Live 670NC aren’t waterproof either.

If you want headphones for working out, I recommend checking out the best running headphones.

Comfort

One of the things I loved most about the original Wave Pro were the cans’ soft ear cushions — and they’re back on the Wave Pro X. Made of soft breathable protein leather and memory foam, the cushions make your ears feel like they’re resting on clouds.

As soon as I put the Wave Pro X on for the first time, I was impressed with how comfortable they felt — and even after wearing them for six straight hours, that didn’t change. My ears didn’t feel sweaty or too hot, either. I’d say the Wave Pro X are as comfortable (if not more) as the pricier Beyerdynamic Aventho Y ($149).

The Wave Pro X’s headband uses the same material for added cushioning, and it helps relieve the pressure you’d otherwise feel on the top of your head.

Controls

The Wave Pro X feature tactile physical buttons located on the right earcup, instead of touch controls that we found finicky on the OG Wave Pro. Controls on the Wave Pro X are easy to understand, and they give good tactile feedback when pressed. You can use these to adjust the volume, enable/disable ANC, and turn the headphones on and off.

The EarFun Audio app lets you customize these, too (more on that shortly).

Connectivity

The Wave Pro X utilize Bluetooth 6.0 (the latest version at the time of writing) with support for SBC, aptX, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LC3 and LDAC codecs. It’s nice to see the inclusion of more advanced codecs, like aptX and LDAC, as they enable streaming CD-like quality and higher sampling rates over Bluetooth. That’s something that’s missing from more expensive models, like the Beyerdynamic Aventho Y, which earns the Wave Pro X brownie points.

Like most other headphones, the Wave Pro X feature multipoint connectivity so you can pair them with up to two devices simultaneously. This allowed me to seamless switch between my MacBook Air M2 and Google Pixel 10 Pro XL. There’s Google Fast Pair, too, and my Pixel immediately picked up the Wave Pro X when I put the cans into pairing mode.

The Wave Pro X are Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Wireless certified, which confirms that they can stream high-resolution sound over both wired and wireless connections. Speaking of, you’ll find a USB-C port on the left earcup and a 3.5mm port on the right, and these can be used for wired playback. Hybrid active noise cancelation (ANC) remains active during wireless and wired playback.

EarFun Wave Pro X review: Sound quality

On paper, the EarFun Wave Pro X feature an excellent acoustic architecture. Their predecessor packed a single driver but the Wave Pro X themselves utilize a dual-driver setup. Under the hood, you’ll find a 40mm DLC composite driver as well as a 10mm LCP driver. Together, they deliver “powerful bass, extended highs and rich musical detail,” according to EarFun.

Unfortunately, that's in theory only. It’s a different story when it comes to real-world use. But I’ll kick off with the good news first.

To test the headphones, I listened to an array of songs and genres on Qobuz, the best music streaming service for audiophiles.

Without any EQ adjustments and LDAC enabled, Hayley Williams’ vocals in ‘Parachute’ sounded rich, clear and textured. Her lower/mid vocal tone came through naturally and with good body, while the quieter parts felt more intimate. When she pushed her voice in the second verse, her voice didn’t dissolve into the rest of the soundstage, and they landed with the emotional roughness she intended.

But the headphones struggle with nearly every other aspect of the soundstage, which is disappointing. If I had a nickel for every time I tested a pair of headphones that boasted strong vocal clarity but muddy bass, I’d have two nickels, which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice. First the Beyerdynamic Aventho Y, and now the Wave Pro X.

Straight out of the box, the bass in ‘Knights of Cydonia’ by Muse sounded muddy and muffled. While the bass was full-bodied, it sounded boomy rather than meaty. Sub-bass is the Wave Pro X’s biggest weakness as the lowest notes in the track didn’t rumble through my head as they do through the Soundcore Space 2, for instance. The rumbling bassline in the chorus wasn’t given enough room to shine, and instead of feeling like the song’s backbone, it felt like a pulsating mess.

Treble isn’t anything to write home about either. ‘Open Arms’ by Little Simz ft. DEELA showed the Wave Pro X’s limitations. The Afro-tech infused track features fast-moving percussion layers, and the sharp snares and claps were fatiguing. The various instruments and atmospheric beats didn’t sound very clean. This is a track I adore, and even I didn’t feel like listening to it through the Wave Pro X.

You can salvage some of that sound quality via preset EQs or customizing your own using the EarFun Audio app. (I was able to use the Treble Boost 3 preset to make the treble in ‘Open Arms’ sound less fatiguing, so the Wave Pro X wins a point over the Beyerdynamic Aventho Y there.) But I believe that a pair of headphones — or earbuds — should sound great straight out of the box, and you shouldn’t have to make EQ adjustments.

Listen along to my review with the EarFun Wave Pro X testing playlist:

EarFun Wave Pro X review: App

To customize the EarFun Wave Pro X, you’ll need to download the EarFun Audio app, available for free on iOS and Android. It’s easy to use and everything is well-signposted.

You can use it to customize the 10-band equalizer — and as I noted in the previous section, you’ll need it to salvage the sound quality. There are a few EQ presets to choose from, too, like Bass Boost and Vocal Enhancer.

You can also customize the headphones’ controls within the app.

EarFun Wave Pro X review: ANC

My favorite thing about the EarFun Wave Pro X is the highly effective ANC. EarFun says that the headphones utilize an eight-microphone array that works in conjunction with real-time AI processing to deliver continuous, adaptive ANC. They apparently scan your surroundings “800 times per second” — I can’t measure that, of course, but I can confirm that the ANC works very well.

Indoors, I couldn’t hear the loud clicking of mechanical keyboards in the office. I couldn’t hear my coworkers either, and they had to wave to get my attention. When I was traveling on a bus and train, the Wave Pro X managed to drown out the sound of people chattering and the vehicles rattling, and I almost missed my bus stop because I couldn’t hear the announcement. (That's a good thing in this case.)

EarFun Wave Pro X review: Call quality

The call quality on the EarFun Wave Pro X is decent. When I spoke with my partner on the phone, indoors, she said I sounded fairly clear, and that my words didn’t bleed into one another.

Outdoors, she said the wind didn’t have a detrimental effect on the sound of my voice. She did note that there were a few instances where I sounded distant and slightly echoey — but nowhere near as bad as I've sounded while using other headphones.

EarFun Wave Pro X review: Battery life

Battery life is the EarFun Wave Pro X’s strong suit, as these headphones are rated for 90 hours with ANC off and 50 hours with ANC on. That’s almost the same as the pricier Beyerdynamic Aventho Y (90 hours with ANC off, 60 hours with ANC on), and just a touch shorter than my trusty Marshall Monitor III (100 hours with ANC off, 70 hours with ANC on).

I wasn’t able to drain the Wave Pro X’s entire battery during my testing period, but after about 20 hours of listening with ANC enabled, I was left with 55% battery. If you extrapolate that, you should get just about 50 hours of playtime. If you’re in a hurry, you can plug the Wave Pro X in for 15 minutes to get 10 hours of battery life.

EarFun Wave Pro X review: Verdict

There are a few things I love about the EarFun Wave Pro X. For a pair of budget cans, they’re some of the most comfortable headphones I’ve tried. The ANC is ridiculously good for the price you pay, and the 90-hour battery life is most welcome. Vocal clarity is great, too, making the headphones decent for acoustic tracks.

But I’m not convinced by the rest of the sound spectrum. The Wave Pro X deliver bass that sounds muddy and muffled, and treble that’s harsh. While these can be somewhat fixed through EQ adjustments, I really wish the headphones sounded fantastic straight out of the box.

Given that EarFun has made improvements since the OG Wave Pro, perhaps the next flagship pair will be a homerun. Third time's the charm?

Exactly two years on from the release of the AirPods 4 ANC, there's a new cheap earbud in town: the AirPods 5. And, oh boy, are the newest earbuds even cheaper. At just $124/$149 (standard case vs wireless charging case), the AirPods 5 are actually the most inexpensive AirPods ever released.

And the best part? The AirPods 5 have ANC as standard. No paying $50 for ANC this time around; the $124 AirPods come with the feature as standard. Sure, there's a "premium" and "budget" model — the $124 standard charging case version has an hour less battery than the $149 wireless charging case — but this is pretty negligible in the grand scheme of things.

But should you upgrade if you have the AirPods 4 ANC? What are the differences between the AirPods 5 and AirPods 4? I've got all the answers and more. Spoiler alert: I genuinely think the AirPods 5 are some of the best cheap earbuds on the market right now.

AirPods 5 vs AirPods 4 ANC: Specs compared

AirPods 5 vs AirPods 4 ANC: Price

While the AirPods 4 ANC are technically discontinued, you can still purchase them at Amazon U.S., Best Buy, and Walmart. Currently, they're discounted to $149 down from the MSRP of $179, which is still a whopping $20 pricier than the brand-new AirPods 5.

There are a few different versions of the AirPods 4 ANC and AirPods 5, so I'll quickly walk you through them.

The AirPods 4 come with and without ANC. The non-ANC version are $99, while the ANC version are $149 (discounted).

The AirPods 5 come with either a standard charging case or a wireless charging case, $124 and $149 at Amazon, respectively. Both versions have ANC as standard.

This is a huge step in the right direction, and I know I'm not the only person happy with Apple's switch-up. Charging $50 extra for ANC in 2026 is audacious. Of course, the AirPods 5 still have a "basic" and "premium" version, but this is in the form of a wireless or wired charging case, so it's much more palatable — and the price difference is only $20.

Winner: AirPods 5

AirPods 5 vs AirPods 4 ANC: Design & features

As Apple's "entry-level" earbuds, neither the AirPods 5 nor the AirPods 4 ANC can hold a candle to the AirPods Pro 3 in terms of features. Even so, the AirPods 4/5 offer a different design than the Pro 3 that some might find more comfortable. That being said, if you struggle with silicone ear tips, you'll be much better off with the 5 or 4.

But how do you choose between 5 and 4? Appearance-wise, the 4 and 5 are pretty identical. Both have the plain stem design we're familiar with, and both are relatively small. Both stay in my ears well enough, but aren't as snug as the Pro 3.

The AirPods 4 ANC and AirPods 5 wireless charging cases are noticeably tiny. They're just 0.8 inches thick and 1.8 inches wide, and weigh just 1.2 ounces.

The AirPods 5 have volume swipe, which is a much-loved addition.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the AirPods 5 durability now matches the AirPods Pro 3. While both AirPods 4 models were just IP54-rated, the IP57 rating on the 5 means the earbuds/charging case can survive underwater for around half an hour, as opposed to mere splashes.

In theory, you could fall in a pool with the AirPods 5 in your pocket, and they'd survive.

Physical features aside, both the AirPods 4 ANC and the AirPods 5 have Apple's flagship H2 audio chip. But what does this actually mean in real life? What can these earbuds actually do?

In short, they have access to sophisticated Siri integration. You can ask your earbuds complex things like "Hey Siri, what did John just text me?" or "Hey Siri, play XYZ track right now".

The AirPods 4 ANC and 5 also have Live Translation, which was one of the standout features of Apple Intelligence. Of course, you need an AI-enabled iPhone to use AI features.

Even so, many AirPods 4 and AirPods 5 features are identical. Take a look at this.

The big glaring issue with both earbuds are their support for the Bluetooth 5.3 standard. Yes, one of the biggest tech brands in the world — if not the biggest — is releasing earbuds in the grand old 2026 with Bluetooth 5.3. This Bluetooth version came out in 2021. Samsung released its entry-level Galaxy Buds 4 with Bluetooth 6.0.

In real terms, this means the AirPods 5 might not be as reliable as earbuds with 6.0, and they don't have as large a range. You'd be able to get further away from your Samsung buds before they disconnect.

However, both the AirPods 4 ANC (2024) and AirPods 5 (2026) have Bluetooth 5.3, but because the 4 are older, I'm more forgiving. Apple, please do not release the AirPods Pro 4 or AirPods 6 with Bluetooth 5.3.

Even so, the AirPods 4 and 5 have all the same Apple ecosystem integration. This is seamless, and I have nothing bad to say about this. It's the main reason why I can't quit my AirPods.

Winner: AirPods 5.

AirPods 5 vs AirPods 4 ANC: Sound quality

This might be a somewhat controversial opinion: I don't think the AirPods 4 ANC sound good. At all.

The treble tends to err on the side of "tinny", and some percussion feels metallic and overly crisp. While the bass sounds controlled and confidently handled, this is upset by the lack of warmth in the treble.

Consequently, I'm not a huge fan of the AirPods 4 ANC. Even though they're the entry-level AirPods, and therefore I'm not holding them to the same standard as AirPods Pro 2/3, there are cheaper earbuds that actually sound better.

But the AirPods 5 are completely different. Bass is more controlled and elegant, while there's no unpleasant tinniness in the treble. "Punishers" by Die Spitz is an atmospheric rock track with soft female vocals and all-encompassing bass. Every layer of this track sounded clear on the AirPods 5, whereas the AirPods 4 pushed the bass back and made the rolling guitars sound a little crunchy.

This is true in pop and electronic genres, too. "Space Cadet" by sim0ne balanced the immersive synth motifs with the sped-up vocals excellently, and the hyperspeed DnB-tinged percussion didn't overpower the piano notes. When I listened with the AirPods 4, the higher-frequency synths and some of the snare drum effects were a little tinny.

Winner: AirPods 5

AirPods 5 vs AirPods 4 ANC: ANC

ANC on the AirPods 4 is merely fine. I could still hear myself typing; I could hear general office sounds like moving chairs and a particularly overloaded gaming laptop.

ANC on the AirPods 5 is slightly better, but only slightly. I could still hear myself typing, as well as office conversations. While walking around the city, most ambient sound was minimized, but I could still make out high-frequency sounds like laughter and squawking seagulls.

So, while the AirPods 5 cinch this round, neither are groundbreaking ANC-wise. For that, you'd need earbuds with a silicone ear tip.

Winner: AirPods 5

AirPods 5 vs AirPods 4 ANC: Call quality

Call quality on both the AirPods 4 ANC and AirPods 5 is excellent. At this point in the wireless earbud life cycle, you can safely assume all big-name earbuds will have great call quality.

When testing the AirPods 4 ANC and the AirPods 5, my voice was clear and audible, even while walking through busy city streets. One wasn't better than the other — both are tip-top.

Winner: Draw

AirPods 5 vs AirPods 4 ANC: Battery

The AirPods 4 ANC have just 4 hours of listening time with ANC (up to 20 hours with the case). Yes, 4 hours. No, that's not a typo.

It pains me to write this, but the AirPods 5 also have just 4 hours of listening time (20 hours with the case). The wireless charging case version offers 5/30 hours. This is simply not good enough in 2026.

When much, much smaller brands (EarFun) offer 8 hours with ANC on $99 earbuds, this discrepancy can't help but sting. Sure, the AirPods 5 may be running more power-intensive features, but the EarFun Air Pro 4+ can do everything the AirPods 5 can, and more. AI live translation? Yes. Lossless Bluetooth playback? Yes. Strong ANC? Yes.

In the future, I'd like to see Apple go for 6 hours as the bare, bare minimum.

Winner: Draw

AirPods 5 vs AirPods 4 ANC: Verdict

There is zero competition here. You should definitely get the AirPods 5 over the AirPods 4.

For starters, the AirPods 4 (even on sale) are actually more expensive than the AirPods 5. If that hasn't convinced you, I don't know what will.

Secondly, the AirPods 5 sound so much better. There's zero tinniness, more control across the low end, and more liveliness in the treble. In short, they're just better to listen to. The AirPods 5 sound more like AirPods Pro 3 than the AirPods 4.

Without a doubt, you should grab the AirPods 5. This is the upgrade we've been waiting for.

AirPods 5 vs AirPods 4 ANC: Ratings scorecard

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When I say my AirPods Pro 3 have gotten me through hundreds of miles, I’m not exaggerating — I’ve worn them for two half marathons, a marathon, and all the training miles in between.

Yet last week, Apple announced the new AirPods 5 — starting at $129, with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and sensor controls. Could these be a cheaper alternative for runners?

To find out more, I left my trusty AirPods Pro 3 at home and went for a 22-mile run with the AirPods 5 for company. Read on to find out what happened.

Here are 3 things I liked

They're much better than the AirPods 4

Unlike the AirPods Pro 3, the AirPods 5 have an open-ear design; in other words, there’s no silicone tip that allows you to customize the fit. I’ve always struggled to get the regular AirPods to stay in my ears, making them next to impossible to work out or run in.

I didn’t have the same issue with the AirPods 5, and they mostly stayed put for the entire three-hour run. They did move slightly when I laughed, alone, listening to my podcast, and again as I moved my head erratically to check for a bike behind me, but I’ll forgive them for both slips.

They also have sensor controls on the buds themselves, which make it much easier to turn the volume up and down mid-run without having to reach for your phone.

They’re a lot more affordable

While I wasn’t thinking about this on my run, it’s worth noting that for a free sport, running is super expensive. Before you’ve even signed up for a race, you’ve probably spent a decent amount on a pair of running shoes and a sports bra or running shorts. If you’re looking for a pair of headphones you’ll wear on your commute, in the office, and for a run, you’ve probably considered AirPods.

There are two different options when it comes to the AirPods 5. You can spend $129 and get them without a wireless charging case, or $149 with wireless charging. The AirPods Pro 3 cost $249.

The noise canceling isn’t as good, but that’s ok

A drawback with the open-ear design is that the ANC isn’t quite as good. However, when you’re running or cycling around the city, I’d argue that this is actually a positive. I could hear bikes coming up behind me, or traffic, as I ran to the trail.

Here are 2 things I missed

The battery life

My AirPods 5 were at 80% charge in the morning, but by the time I’d used them for my son’s daycare drop-off, to walk the dog, then run for three hours, they were making the dreaded low battery sound by my final few miles. The AirPods 5 promise four hours of listening time, six hours without ANC for the $129 option, five hours of listening time, or seven hours without ANC for the $149 option.

When you compare this to the eight hours of playback, or 10 in transparency mode on the AirPods Pro 3, I think I’d still reach for the latter during a marathon. That said, if you’re not running for four hours, the case boosts the AirPods 5 battery life to 20-22 hours.

The heart rate monitor

The big headlines when the AirPods Pro 3 launched were that they featured a heart rate monitor for the first time, and during our testing, it’s pretty darn accurate. While I normally have multiple monitors strapped to every pulse point, it’s a cool feature for when I’m doing a relaxing yoga class or Pilates session screen-free.

So which should you buy?

If you have the budget, the superior ANC and battery life of the AirPods Pro 3 make them a great choice; plus, with the different silicone buds, you’ll almost definitely get a better fit. That said, for $129-$149, the AirPods 5 are a fantastic runner-up, and I’ll definitely be using them when I’m not working out going forward, just probably not for my next marathon.

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The AirPods 5 are here, and I'm super excited about it. While the AirPods 4/AirPods 4 ANC only released last September, I personally wasn't a huge fan of the 2024 iteration — so I'm lapping up the AirPods 5 like a parched sailor after three weeks lost at sea.

But are the AirPods 5 the best earbuds for everyone, or should you spend an extra $100 on the flagship AirPods Pro 3? What are the main differences between the cheap model and the flagship model?

I pitted Apple's cheapest earbuds against its priciest earbuds to answer just that. I compared value, sound quality, ANC, features, design, comfort, battery and call quality — so let's get into it.

AirPods 5 vs AirPods Pro 3: Specs

AirPods 5 vs AirPods Pro 3: Price

The AirPods 5 come in two versions: with a wireless charging case (which provides a better battery), and with a standard charging case. The wireless charging case costs $149, whereas the standard charging case will set you back just $124. This is an incredible price considering the AirPods 4 ANC launched at $179. Both versions of the AirPods 5 have ANC by default.

The AirPods Pro 3 are Apple's flagship earbuds with a flagship price to boot: These earbuds cost $249 and come with a wireless charging case and ANC — as you'd expect from premium earbuds.

Even so, I genuinely think the AirPods Pro 3 are an incredible value. They offer some of the best sound quality, ANC, and quality-of-life features available today.

Despite this, I'm going to give the win to the AirPods 5. I was genuinely surprised when I saw the low launch price — $124 for AirPods with ANC is fantastic. I hope Apple continues with this affordable(ish) pricing.

Winner: AirPods 5

AirPods 5 vs AirPods Pro 3: Design & features

The main design difference between the AirPods 5 and the AirPods Pro 3 is fit style. If you like silicone ear tips or want earbuds with a tight seal, you'd be better off with the AirPods Pro 3. However, if you don't like the feel of silicone ear tips, you'll need the AirPods 5.

Of course, there are pros and cons to each style of earbud: the silicone ear tips create a tight seal, resulting in superior ANC. The tipless style of the AirPods 5 might be better for super small ears (I'm thinking teenagers) or those who don't like the feeling of something tight in their ears.

In terms of case design, they're pretty similar: The AirPods 5 case is super tiny, just 0.8 inches deep and 2 inches wide, while the AirPods Pro 3 case is a little larger at 0.9 inches deep and 2.5 inches wide. Again, this doesn't really have a tangible effect on my overall experience with either earbud, but it's worth knowing if you only like tiny cases.

Personally, I prefer the design of the AirPods Pro 3 due to the silicone ear tip, but this is my opinion.

In terms of features, both the AirPods 5 and the AirPods Pro 3 have Apple's flagship audio chip, the H2. But what does this actually mean?

In short, the earbuds are capable of doing smart stuff like Live Translation. That's available on both the AirPods 5 and the AirPods Pro 3. Obviously, you need an Apple Intelligence-enabled phone to use any of these smart features, which is understandable.

So what can the AirPods Pro 3 do that the AirPods 5 can't? Where's that extra money going?

The AirPods Pro 3 have health features like heart rate tracking, hearing aid features, an 8-hour battery life (more on that later), and stronger ANC. In terms of generic AirPods features — Spatial Audio, Conversation Awareness, Live Translation — the AirPods 5 has 'em all.

Personally, if it's features you're interested in, I wouldn't rush to buy the AirPods Pro 3 — not when you can get 90% of the functionality with the AirPods 5.

Winner: AirPods 5

AirPods 5 vs AirPods Pro 3: Sound quality

Sound quality is where the true difference lies.

The AirPods Pro 3 are some of the best-sounding wireless earbuds money can buy. I'm always enthralled by them. Every genre from rock to pop to blues to techno sounds clear, detailed, balanced, and, most importantly, fun. Every note trembles with life, every verse sounds like it's being sung directly into my ear.

I mostly listen to alternative rock and hyperpop — there's literally no in between — and every song I played during my comparison testing was perfect. "Cult of Celebrity" by Lambrini Girls snarled through the earbuds with enviable control across the growly bass and spoken-style vocals. "Michael" by Rebecca Black (yes, that one, and yes, her music is fantastic) was smooth and sophisticated, the '90s-Madonna-inspired instruments as slick as a waterslide.

I really wasn't expecting much from the AirPods 5 as I didn't love the AirPods 4 ANC. Oh, how wrong I was.

The AirPods 5 are miles, miles better than the AirPods 4. While the AIrPods 4 can be tinny at the best of times and down-right pinchy at the worst, the AirPods 5 are some of the best-sounding sub-$150 earbuds on the market, Apple or not.

"Nothing to Prove" by beabadoobee is an indie rock track with bubbly female vocals and gritty guitars in the chorus. The over-processed guitar effect was handled elegantly by the earbuds, with no unpleasant grinding sounds and a natural balance between the instruments and vocals.

Electronic sounds great, too. "I'm your girl, right?" by Tove Lo (Fcukers Remix) utilizes layered synths and stacked vocals on top of a deep sub-bass foundation. While the synths could have been a touch more nuanced in the upper mids — some detail was lost due to the over-processed effect — and this song sounded better with AirPods Pro 3, this is still an excellent performance for AirPods 5.

Winner: AirPods Pro 3, but the 5 are great for the price

AirPods 5 vs AirPods Pro 3: ANC

Apple claims the AirPods Pro 3 have three times the ANC of the AirPods 5. Do I believe it? Yes. Yes, I do.

Obviously I can't provide quantitative data here, but I can say this: the silicone ear tips combined with the strong ANC make the AirPods Pro 3 some of the best ANC earbuds I've ever used. The only competition would be the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2.

As the AirPods 5 lack the silicone tip, they physically can't create the "seal" you'd expect from the Pro-line buds. Even so, the ANC is decent. I wouldn't go as far to say it's industry-leading or suitable for really loud environments, but for open-tipped earbuds, it's pretty great.

I could still hear myself typing; I could still hear conversations around me; I could still hear traffic sounds while walking around the city. But without that silicone ear tip, it's impossible to create that all-important seal.

Winner: AirPods Pro 3

AirPods 5 vs AirPods Pro 3: Call quality

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, but we've come so far in the world of wireless earbuds that, in general, most big-name brands will have fantastic call quality. The AirPods Pro 3 and the AirPods 5 are no different.

The Pro 3 make my voice sound realistic and are phenomenal at blocking out external noise, even while walking on super loud city streets. Rumbling engines, screaming passers-by — all silenced by the Pro 3.

The same thing can be said of the AirPods 5. The earbuds minimize environmental noise without breaking a sweat. During calls, the person on the other end of the phone could hear everything I said clearly.

Winner: Draw

AirPods 5 vs AirPods Pro 3: Battery

The AirPods 5 last for 4 hours with ANC, and 5 without. You'll get between 20 and 22 hours in the case — depending on ANC usage — and a five-minute charge will provide an extra hour of battery life. The wireless charging case provides 5 hours of playback rather than the standard case's 4.

Comparatively, the AirPods Pro 3 can go for up to 8 hours with ANC for a total of 24 hours.

Of course, there's a clear-cut winner here: the AirPods Pro 3 have an extra three hours, so I can't do anything but crown them the champion.

Winner: AirPods Pro 3

AirPods 5 vs AirPods Pro 3: Verdict

The AirPods Pro 3 are near-perfect earbuds. But I know what you're wondering: do you need to spend more on the Pro model, or will the basic model suffice?

It depends on what you're looking for and what you value.

Is sound quality your biggest priority, or would you rather save money but still benefit from Apple's excellent ecosystem integration, top-notch call quality, and impressive newfangled features?

Personally, I would buy the Pro 3 as I value sound quality over anything else. But if you want AI features like Live Translation and integrated Siri for less — and you're not obsessed about getting the "best" sound — then save some money and get the AirPods 5.

Definitely don't buy second-hand or refurbished AirPods 4 — the AirPods 5 are launching at $30-50 less than the AirPods 4. Get the new model, please!

AirPods 5 vs AirPods Pro 3: Ratings scorecard

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The AirPods 5 are Apple’s latest iteration of in-ear buds. Starting at just $124, these are the cheapest pair of AirPods… ever. Yes, ever. (The original AirPods launched at $159 in 2016 and, while the 2024 AirPods 4 base model cost $129, they lacked ANC.)

But the AirPods 5 offer ANC, great sound quality, and near-perfect call quality for just $124. Users with an Apple Intelligence-enabled phone also get AI features like Live Translation, though you'll still have to upgrade to the AirPods Pro 3 for the hearing aid and heart rate monitor features.

So, are the AirPods 5 the best earbuds on the market? For iPhone users on a budget, without a doubt. The sound quality is miles better than the AirPods 4, they’re supremely affordable, and the ANC is impressive for non-silicone-tip buds. For the full story, keep reading this Apple AirPods 5 review.

Apple AirPods 5 review: Specs

Apple AirPods 5 review: Price & availability

The AirPods 5 are available in two versions: standard and wireless charging case. I tested the wireless charging case model. The only difference is the charging case, which provides one extra hour of battery and, as you'd expect given the name, wireless charging.

There’s no difference in sound quality, ANC, call quality, or features between the two models. Unlike previous AirPods, both the cheaper model and the pricier model offer active noise cancellation (ANC).

The AirPods 5 are $124 from Amazon U.S., while the wireless charging model is $149 from Amazon U.S. This is markedly cheaper than the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 ANC, which launched at $129/$179.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the AirPods 5 effectively cheaper than the 4 — you get ANC for $55 less if you choose the standard charging case — so I hope Apple continues this trend.

In terms of overall value, $124/$149 are reasonable prices for AirPods: Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 4 cost $179, the same price as the AirPods 4 ANC. Apple has now undercut this by a whopping $50. Sure, you can get similar-spec earbuds like the EarFun Air Pro 4+ ($99) or CMF by Nothing Buds 2 Pro for less, but $124 for AirPods with ANC is still a great value.

Apple AirPods 5 review: Design

The AirPods 5 are essentially identical to the AirPods 4: shorter stem, no silicone ear tip, tiny charging case. When I say tiny, I mean it. The case is 0.8 inches thick and just under 2 inches wide.

I’m a huge fan of how they look. While they won’t break any design frontiers like the rectangular Status Audio Pro X, they’re inconspicuous and stylish, and that’s what most AirPods users want.

Comfort

As relatively small earbuds, the AirPods 5 are comfortable, even after long periods of wear. I never had to take them out. Due to the lack of silicone ear tips, the nozzle doesn’t irritate my ears. I’d recommend these earbuds for anyone who doesn’t like silicone ear tips, or doesn’t like the feeling of a seal in their ears.

I have really, really tiny ears — I need to use the smallest ear tip size every single time — and I wore the AirPods 5 for around six hours with zero pain.

Controls

So there are a couple of differences here: the standard charging case doesn’t come with a volume swipe control, but the wireless charging case model does. As I tested the $149 wireless case version, I got to play with the volume swipe.

If you’re familiar with the AirPods Pro 2 or Pro 3, you’ll also be familiar with the volume swipe control. It works identically on the AirPods 5 — simply swipe up and down on the stem to control volume. This is genuinely one of my favorite aspects of AirPods overall. Whenever I test other earbuds, I find myself inadvertently swiping up on the stem.

In terms of general controls, the AirPods 5 are identical to the AirPods 4. One squeeze pauses music, two squeezes skip a track, and a long press switches between ANC modes.

Connectivity

I’m sensing a theme here, but as these are AirPods, they boast all the benefits of the Apple ecosystem. If you’ve got an iPhone, Mac, iPad, or anything in between, you’ll get seamless connectivity between devices.

When I listened to music on my iPhone 16 Pro and started playing a YouTube video on my MacBook Pro, the earbuds automatically moved to my laptop.

Unfortunately, though, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. I can’t believe I’m writing this in the year 2026, but the AirPods 5 still only have Bluetooth 5.3. When Samsung released the Galaxy Buds 4 in March 2026, they came with Bluetooth 6.1 as standard. If Samsung can do it — amongst budget brands like EarFun, by the way — then why can’t Apple?

Bluetooth 5.3 came out five years ago — so it’s nowhere near as future-proofed as Bluetooth 6.1, which was released in 2025. In short, Bluetooth 5.3 has inferior range and reliability, meaning the earbuds will cut out sooner and might suffer from broken connections more regularly.

In reality, I was able to get out of my apartment door and downstairs to the foyer before the earbuds cut out.

New features

Due to the revered H2 chip, the AirPods 5 (and 4) are almost as smart as the AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max 2. While the hoo-ha surrounding the H2 chip can feel more like marketing jargon than useful information, its inclusion here brings a few noticeable benefits.

I’m not going to pretend the H2 chip is a newfangled thing — it was also present in 2025’s AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 ANC — but it’s still nice to see on such cheap earbuds. With it, you can access deeper Siri integration (with a compatible iPhone running Apple Intelligence, of course) and AI features like Live Translation. Live Translation works decently well, but still isn’t fast enough for real-life conversations.

Even so, there’s not a huge change between AirPods 4 and AirPods 5.

As you can see, the main difference between the 4 and 5 is “stronger” ANC (more on that later). If you want to unleash the newest health or AI innovations in earbuds, the AirPods 5 are not the buds for you. Don’t get me wrong, they’re much better than the AirPods 4 — but mostly because of the improved sound quality and reduced price.

For cutting-edge features, you’d be better off with the AirPods Pro 3, which can measure your heart rate and act as FDA-approved hearing aids.

Workout features

Even though I use my AirPods for running, I only run 5ks. For a super-thorough analysis, I thought I'd ask our Fitness Managing Editor, Jane McGuire, for her experience using the AirPods 5 on a massive 22-mile run.

"I’ve always had a huge issue with Apple AirPods — they just don’t stay in my ears, which is why I’ve always recommended the AirPods Pro to runners, riders, or anyone who will listen. Yet with the new design features on the AirPods 5, namely the controls, allowing you to swipe up and down to change the volume of your music on the bud itself, and the IP57 water rating, meaning they’ll handle a downpour mid-run, I decided to leave my AirPods Pro at home and wear Apple’s latest release for a 22-mile adventure on the Thames Path.

I was impressed. While they still didn’t hold in place quite as well as other running headphones, they only really moved if I laughed at a podcast or moved my head erratically to see if there was a bike behind me. The ANC isn’t as good as the AirPods Pro 3, but for running outside, this isn’t a bad thing, as it means you can still hear the world around you while also hearing your music or podcast.

The only downside I found during my testing was the battery life — the AirPods 5 have four hours of playback time, but I found that by the time I’d walked the dog and run for three hours, my headphones were making that little noise all AirPods users dread in the final mile of my run. I wouldn’t trust these for a marathon, as I wouldn’t want to carry the case with me and top them up halfway round." — Jane McGuire, Fitness Managing Editor

Apple AirPods 5 review: Sound quality

To test sound quality, I listened to a range of genres on Qobuz, our best music streaming service for audiophiles, as well as Apple Music to test Apple ecosystem integration.

Let me tell you this — I didn’t expect such an improvement in sound quality. I never liked the sound of the AirPods 4. It’s tinny and flat at the best of times, and can even be unpleasant in treble- or bass-heavy genres.

But the AirPods 5 are completely different. Every genre I listened to was rich and detailed, with zero tinniness at the top of the treble and careful, well-controlled mids. Like the AirPods Pro models, bass is balanced rather than propulsive, better for detail listeners.

“Space Cadet” by sim0ne is a heavy hard house track with sped-up female vocals, euphoric ‘90s piano chords, and a squelchy, fast-paced bassline. Every element of this track sounded excellent. The angelic synths and processed vocals melted perfectly together, with zero fighting or battling for dominance. Every note was detailed, balanced, and euphoric. This was a near-perfect listening experience. I’m so much more impressed than I thought I would be.

Afterwards, I switched up the genre to “All Apologies” by Nirvana. Just like the electronic track, this song was immensely expansive and detailed. The layers of violins, guitars, percussion, and vocals sounded both wide and high. Even though the bass was more subdued than the lead guitar, this actually benefitted the track — it was a well-controlled complementary element than a driving force.

Finally, I listened to “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits, one of the best headphone/earbud-testing tracks. The opening synths were clear and immersive, and I could feel the music enveloping me. The lead vocals were textured — I could hear every tremble, making the song feel more alive — and the backing vocals were just as well-developed.

Audiobooks also sound great. I played a section of “Yesteryear” on Audible. The narrator’s voice was clear and warm, and I could hear every word perfectly.

Truly, I didn’t expect this performance from the AirPods 5. Those who know me will know I was really disappointed by the AirPods 4, but the AirPods 5 have healed that wound.

Apple AirPods 5 review: ANC

The main difference between the AirPods 4 and AirPods 5 is ANC. On the 4 model, you needed to buy the “ANC” version ($179) to get ANC. Thankfully, both versions of the AirPods 5 come with ANC as standard. This is a huge step in the right direction and I’m really impressed with this change.

ANC on the AirPods 5 is good, but it’s not groundbreaking in the same way you’d expect from the AirPods Pro 3, or, heck, even the AirPods Pro 2. I played a city sounds ambient track at 68dB to test ANC (and also wore the earbuds as my general earbuds for two days).

I could still hear some high-frequency sounds like car horns and indistinct chatter, but the earbuds did a pretty decent job. Transparency mode is great, isolating sounds like notifications and speech over music.

When I wore the earbuds as my main earbuds, I could still hear myself typing in the office (I can’t while using the AirPods Pro 3), and I could still hear conversations around me. If you need something that will really cut out every ambient sound, I’d recommend the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds ($179, non-Ultra) or the AirPods Pro 3. But for no ear tips, this is a great ANC performance.

However, I will note that there’s a weird hissing/fizzing noise with ANC enabled but with no music playing. This isn’t audible when listening to music, but might be a little annoying if you use earbuds for ANC and no music in busy rooms.

Apple AirPods 5 review: Call quality

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, but we’ve got to a stage where any earbuds from a big-name brand — Apple, Samsung, Sony, Bose, etc — will have excellent call quality. The AirPods 5 are no different.

To test out the call quality, I wore the earbuds on a work call. One of my colleagues reported he was “surprised by how good they sound”. If you need earbuds for casual and professional calls, you won’t be disappointed by the call quality.

Apple AirPods 5 review: App

While the AirPods 5 don’t have an “app”, if you have an iPhone, you can customize the earbuds directly from your phone settings. Here’s a screenshot of what’s on offer.

As you can see, customization options are pretty thin on the ground, but still decent. You can configure call controls and toggle wear detection, but you can’t customize EQ in the traditional sense.

Apple AirPods 5 review: Battery

I’m as disappointed as you, but the AirPods 5 aren’t innovators in terms of battery life. The standard charging case offers 4 hours, while the wireless charging case offers 5 hours. This is majorly disappointing from such a big-name brand — and for arguably what will become the most popular “cheap” pair of earbuds.

If you want seriously good battery for cheap, I’d recommend the EarFun Air Pro 4+ ($99) or the CMF Buds 2 Pro ($69), both of which last for over 8 hours with ANC (and 11 hours without).

Apple AirPods 5 review: Verdict

I’m seriously blown away by the AirPods 5. The sound quality is much better than the predecessor, with zero tinniness and balanced, controlled bass. Vocals sound faithful, percussion is detailed, and the soundscape is remarkably expansive. On top of that, instrument separation is some of the best you can get for this price.

Of course, quality-of-life features are fantastic, too: crystal-clear call quality, surprisingly impressive ANC, and smart features thanks to the H2 chip. There’s Live Translation and integrated Siri AI — as long as you have an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone.

If you’re an AirPods 4 user looking to upgrade or an AirPods newbie wondering if they’re worth the splurge, you will not be disappointed by the AirPods 5. They’re a genuinely worthwhile upgrade, in terms of both functionality and price. Sound quality go up, but price go down? That’s what I like to hear.

Bose has just announced two new additions to its open-ear audio lineup, and as a big fan of open-ear earbuds, I’m excited for what's coming. The new launches include the Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen), an upgrade to the original fan favorites, and the new Sport Open earbuds, which prioritize stability and comfort during exercise.

The new Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) come with upgrades like immersive audio, longer battery life, clearer calls, and a refined design. I already like all those features in the original model, so I'm interested to see how Bose's upgrades bear out during testing.

But I’m most intrigued by the new Sport Open Earbuds. They share a lot of qualities with the Ultra Open Earbuds, such as stereo audio, onboard button controls, customization access with the Bose app, multipoint connectivity, and of course, that reliable ear cuff design. The Sport buds also feature an IP54 durability rating, so they should withstand water splashes, sweat and dust. Bose also claims they'll hold 22 hours of battery life with the charging case.

When can I buy the new earbuds and how much are they?

Pre-orders for the new buds open on September 19 on the Bose website and will be available on October 1. The upgraded Bose Ultra Open Earbuds 2nd Gen will cost $299, the same price as the original model, and the Bose Sport Open Earbuds are priced at $199, which is what we expect from high-end open buds.

The new buds are available in some new colors. The core colors of both models are Black or White Smoke, but limited-edition colors will also be available, including Cherry Chocolate, Olive Green and Sky Pink.

Wireless charging and a new 'Cinema Mode'

I like the original Bose Ultra Open Earbuds. In fact. They’re the pair I reach for when I’m heading out on a run because I know they’ll replicate any genre of music I listen to with ease — but there are some things I wish the earbuds had.

I hate clutter, so I opt for wireless charging where I can. A lot of earbuds these days will support Qi-certified wireless charging, but the Ultra Opens don’t. All that changes with the 2nd Generation and the Sport Open Earbuds. Both new buds are wireless charging compatible, and the Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) will boast a claimed 28.5 hours of battery life with the charging case, a little more than the original buds.

Bose says the newly-engineered driver on the Ultra Open Earbuds (Gen 2) will deliver deeper bass and higher volume than the first-generation model. There's also a new "CinemaMode", powered by Bose TrueSpatial technology which is designed to bolster video content with a wider, more immersive soundstage while keeping dialogue sharp.

What could still be missing?

The original open buds also lacked automatic wear detection. This is one of the most annoying features to miss out on because if you’re listening to an audiobook or a podcast, you can easily lose your place.

Bose hasn't revealed whether we can expect wear detection on the new models, so it's the first thing I'll be looking for when Tom's Guide gets these earbuds in to review.

Are you excited for the new buds? Will you be purchasing an upgraded pair of Ultra Opens or the new Sport Open Earbuds? Let me know in the comments box below.

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