Samsung is thought to be working on a pair of premium over-ear headphones, potentially called the Galaxy Studio.

The name suggests that these are high-end headphones, designed to rival the likes of the Apple AirPods Max, but also to fend off launches like the Nothing Headphone (1) Pro.

Back in 2014, Samsung released the Samsung Level Over headphones, but with the acquisition of brands like AKG, JBL and Harmon Kardon soon after, Samsung's focus shifted to Galaxy Buds. Now, it seems, there could be a change of direction.

The existence of these headphones first became known thanks to code strings in the Galaxy Wearable app, uncovered by SamMobile.

At the time, the headphones were simply referred to as Galaxy H1, but the Galaxy Studio name has now been suggested by a leaker on X, who seems to have accurate insights into Samsung's audio plans.

It's thought that Samsung's headphones will launch in 2027 and it's likely that they could make their debut alongside the Samsung Galaxy S27 series, which could be January or February.

Little else is known about the headphones, but it's likely they will offer active noise cancellation, a range of audio codecs to support higher quality listening like SSC UHQ, but might forego common options like LDAC, which is a Sony technology.

Spatial audio, a folding design for travel and long battery life would also put them in contention with popular Bluetooth headphones, while it's likely that access to Gemini or Bixby assistants will also be included.

Currently, Samsung's plans for 2027 are unknown. There's no date for Galaxy Unpacked, while the launches for 2026 are almost finished. The latest launch has been the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and we're expecting to see the launch of Galaxy Glasses, probably some time in November.

That will add another string to Samsung's bow, establishing Android XR in a glasses format and providing some challenge to Meta's smart glasses.

If anyone asks me what the best headphones for travel are, then I'm quick to answer – Bose's QuietComfort over-ears are the lightest, most portable option with the best active noise-cancelling (ANC).

Check out Bose's QC SC Headphones on Amazon

There are an abundance of options, though, with the top-tier Ultra model my favourite. But there's a slight step-down version, the 'SC', that can save you even more money – as they lack the spatial audio features and hard carry case.

Right now, as it's the last day of Amazon's October Prime Day sale, that already lower-than-flagship asking price is further reduced, down by a massive 44% – making these over-ears close to half the price.

This particular discount is for the black pair, but there's a 'White Smoke' finish for a few quid more if you prefer – I'd avoid it, personally, as I received the QC Ultra 2 model in that guise and think it looks too plasticky; the black is much classier.

I should repeat that this is part of Amazon's sale, so that price won't necessarily hold after the clock ticks over from Wednesday 7 October – so if you're in the market for quality headphones then now's the time to get that basket to checkout.

Amazon does offer an interesting 0% credit option, however, so with these you could pay £32.29 a month for five months and spread the payment – without paying a penny more than the discounted price. That'd be my way of buying these, if I was in the market for more headphones.

Sonos only just dropped the Ace Ultra, its newest and most impressive headphones, and they're frankly phenomenal (as someone who's been using them for a couple of weeks now). The five-star verdict we gave them is ironclad, in my opinion, but there's no getting around the fact that they're jolly expensive.

Before I got my hands on the Ace Ultra, I was the proud owner of a pair of standard Ace headphones, and the reality is that I had absolutely no complaints about them. Now, in the latter stages of Amazon's two-day Prime Big Deal Days event, they're looking even better than before, thanks to a frankly massive price cut.

Shop all Amazon Prime deals

With the Ace Ultra debuting at £399, we always knew that the standard Ace might become one heck of a deal by comparison, as Sonos allows its price to slide in sales events, and that's proven true immediately. Nearly half price, this deal sees them hover just over the £200 mark, and for that money they're a steal.

When they arrived back in 2024, we were absolutely amazed by how comfortable they were, and they remain basically the gold standard on that front (and it's telling that the Ace Ultra changed almost nothing on that front).

Their sound is also brilliant, though, and the ANC on offer is also extremely solid. That latter feature is probably where the uplift to the Ace Ultra is steepest, as well as some new connectivity options, but those won't apply for most people, and the normal Ace are now pretty much half the price of their newer sibling.

In that light, they're clearly the more sensible purchase for the vast majority of people, and this marks a great opportunity. That said, Amazon's sale ends at the end of today (7 October), so don't be surprised if the deal disappears at that point, too.

Shopping for some new headphones can be a stressful process – after all, there are countless out there on the market, and the average standard has become uncomfortably high. From sound quality to noise cancellation, the average high-end headphones are now frankly brilliant.

So, it might be smart to look for a brand that's doing something different, if you want a more niche experience that isn't mirrored by every single major headphone-maker, and I'd say Nothing fits the bill. This UK-based brand has been ripping up the rules of design for a good few years now.

It just released its first truly high-end headphones, the Nothing Headphone (1) Pro, but I think the smart money is actually on its older, mid-range offering – the standard Headphone (1). A tasty deal on Amazon right now, as part of its Prime Big Deal Days sale, makes that even more true than usual.

The crucial thing about the Nothing Headphone (1) is that it has basically the best controls ever put on some headphones, in my opinion. Nothing genuinely innovated here, adding a roller button for volume control and play/pause, along with a rocker that lets you skip through tracks intuitively.

With a tactile on/off switch to add to the party and a couple more buttons for functionality, it adds up to a brilliant case study in user convenience, and I love how it shook things up.

On top of that, the sound quality you get for the price is genuinely great, and the ANC is extremely creditable, too. That all means that this deal (knocking nearly £50 off) is a hard one to pass up if you need some new headphones. These ones have a design that will make you stand out from the crowd, and some features that'll make you glad to have grabbed them.

I'll happily hold my hands up and admit that I've been something of an open earbud sceptic for the last few years. While I've used a handful of "open" style 'buds, and I understand the appeal from a safety point of view, my experiences have generally left me keen to stick with my daily driver (the AirPods Pro 3) for convenience.

Shokz is one of the brands really aiming to shake up that sort of thinking, though, and having made a name for itself with bone conduction audio, it's long since branched out into the wider earbud market.

The OpenFit Air 2 aim to be so lightweight that even heathens like me end up seeing the light, and they've been a fascinating set of earbuds to use for the last few weeks while exercising.

Price and Availability

Shokz released the OpenFit Air 2 earlier this summer, so you can buy from basically all the retailers you'd expect, including Amazon, crucially.

It comes in at £129 here in the UK, $129.95 in the US, and €139 in the EU, which makes it really quite an affordable option compared to much of the exercise-specific market.

That said, it's also available at lower prices in a few instances, including some sub-£100 listings here in the UK – see the shopping widget above for current best deals – so there's already scope to score it for less.

Design and Features

As I mentioned in my introduction, it's important to clarify from the outset that these are not bone conduction earbuds. Rather, they're open-style earbuds that effectively play audio through a traditional driver, but without the sort of passive seal offered by either in-ear tips or over-ear cups.

The OpenFit Air 2 have a hooked design that will be familiar to anyone who's shopped for earbuds aimed at exercising in the last couple of decades. This means that when you wear them, you basically secure them around the back of your ear, which leaves the main part of the 'bud pointing into your ear canal.

They're really secure thanks to that hooked arm, but also leave your ear canal nice and open so that you can still clearly hear the world around you as you move around. This is ideal for exercising outdoors safely, since it won't drown out road noise or others around you.

The OpenFit Air 2 come in a few colours; I tested the dark grey option, but there's also a clean white version and a quite fetching icy blue, too. If there's a downside to their design, it's that those hooks make each 'bud rather big, which in turn makes the case housing them quite large – and therefore less convenient in a pocket.

Still, the 'buds themselves are well made and finished in a soft-touch plastic that is easy to grip even when you're sweaty (and you probably will be). They're also exceptionally lightweight, at just 7.2g per earbud according to my scale. That makes them really comfortable to wear for long periods.

In terms of battery life, Shokz says these earbuds should manage an impressive 8 hours of continuous play per charge, with a total of 36 hours if you account for the extra juice in the charging case. Those are great numbers, and beat much of the 'normal' competition.

When it comes to controls, though, things are a little bit more unique. Each Shokz earbud has one button on its inner section, and if you grip the earbud in the right way, you can squeeze it. This can play/pause your music, but it's really quite fiddly to locate when wearing the se, making it a challenge in practice.

The design made me assume they would offer some swipe- or tap-based touch controls on their outside, where the Shokz logo sits, but that's not the case. Given there's also no on-ear detection to pause your music when you take an earbud out, it leaves the OpenFit Air 2 a bit lacking where controls are concerned.

Another limitation comes with the case, which doesn't have wireless charging – it's wired via USB-C only. It does at least have its own IP rating (at IP54), to make sure that it's okay with a decent amount of liquid or dust exposure.

Sound and Performance

I used the OpenFit Air 2 as my earbuds for lunchtime jogs for a few weeks, and the fact that they're aimed squarely at fitness means I'll treat comfort with more detail than I normally would for an earbud review. In short, they're excellent on this front, provided you know what you're in for.

The fit of the OpenFit Air 2 can be a little hard to describe, but once you have them hooked into your ears, and after a little adjustment of the hook (which can be bent a little into the right shape for you, with effort), they sit really naturally and comfortably on the ears. They're so light that you might forget they're there, which is a rare boast in this area.

With water- and dust-resistance that sits at IP55 (therefore more resistant than the case), they're durable enough to withstand basically any amount of sweat or rain that you can throw their way – but they're not safe for submerging, so abandon any thoughts of swimming with them. I'd love to see that rating pushed higher for future iterations, but it's no issue here.

How do they sound, though? Well, it's a mixed bag, but only by virtue of the design. There's no getting around the lack of passive isolation here, so whatever environment you're in, you'll be hearing it. When running, this is not a problem (in fact, it's a safety boon), but at home with a robot vacuum running, it means they're not a great option.

Still, in either a quiet room or when doing exercise, to accept the downsides, the actual sound quality on offer here is solid for the price. You get good clarity, and the earbuds can go to a high volume, too, which is more important than it normally is because background noise plays a role.

I found that the amount of bass on offer was surprising (in a good way), and Shokz claims to have concentrated on that in its upgrade over the previous OpenFit Air, so the return on that investment is noticeable.

That said, these aren't going to win awards for sound quality – mids aren't the most detailed, and the high-end can be a little weedy. EQ adjustment is available through Shokz's app, and you might want to tinker with it, because it can unlock distinct improvements compared to the default tuning. Having that functionality is appreciated.

Another small note is that the open design means that sound leakage is a factor here. I often listened to music at high volumes to deal with background noise, and that meant that taking the earbuds out made it apparent that my audio wasn't exactly inaudible to those around me.

Verdict

If you're looking for a wallet-friendly open-ear earbud that will perform really well during exercise, then the Shokz OpenFit Air 2 is a great pick.

These 'buds are incredibly, almost bafflingly light, have decent enough sound for this kind of design, great battery life, and the right sort of fit and durability.

Most of the downsides come packaged with open earbuds, from sound leakage to a lack of isolation, and while I'd love to see its sound tuning refined further, I really don't have major issues on any one front.

Shokz's latest may not permanently dislodge my AirPods Pro 3, but for a much lower price, it's given me a great secondary option when I go for halting jogs.

Also Consider

I've mentioned my AirPods Pro 3 a few times, but a fairer comparison and alternative comes from the new AirPods Gen 5. These don't have a silicone seal, either, and can be had for a price that competes much more directly with Shokz.

For an upgraded version of the same sort of hook-armed earbuds aimed at sweaty exercise, though, you might want to look to Beats. The Powerbeats Pro 2 are no longer brand-new, but they're superb and have all of those same Apple chip smarts, for easy device switching and pairing. They're not open, though, so will feel more enclosing.

Earlier this year I got acquainted with Shokz's latest and most comfortable open-ear earbuds, the OpenDots 2 – and they're a 5-star smash.

Now, as part of Amazon's Prime sale this October, those super-comfortable running earbuds are now lower-priced than ever before, dropping 15% from their asking price.

Check out the OpenDots 2 deal on Amazon

These earbuds are ideal for running, as they're completely open – to the point you'll forget you're wearing them – without blocking out any surrounding sound, thus enhancing your safety.

As is often the case with Amazon's sales, this is a time-limited promotion, as the latest Prime deals run until the very end of tomorrow, Wednesday 7 October. So if you're looking to buy, don't hesitate beyond then.

What sets the OpenDots 2 apart from the mounting competition in this space is what I described as "supremely comfortable fit – without disturbing your inner ear canal". That's why they're ideal for workouts.

The sound remains surprisingly solid, though, with decent bass levels delivered – assuming you're not in a super-noisy environment anyway, as that's a limitation of this 'bud type.

You won't get any noise-cancelling or suchlike features here, as that's the opposite of an open-ear design. But you will get enhanced safety by being always aware of your surroundings – without needing to forego your playlist or podcast listening session.

Shokz has gone to town with this Amazon promotion, as far more of its products than just the OpenDots 2 have discounts – check out the full Shokz Store on Amazon for the full rundown.

So whether you're looking for bone-conduction running headphones, or smaller and more affordable clip-on types, there's an option for everyone in this sale.

Anker is making some big moves this year, not least in the form of a slight branding rejig to really centre its own name on its products more (making the likes of Soundcore and Nebula more part of product names, rather than sub-brands in their own right).

That's a little arcane for the average customer to care about, though – we're more interested in new launches. So, on that note, here comes the Soundcore Space 2 Pro to make things interesting.

The follow-up to Anker's mid-range set of headphones – which I rated highly back in 2024 when I reviewed them – the new Pro is a step up in price, with Anker hoping that some added quality will make it work for people. So, has it succeeded?

Price and Availability

The Soundcore Space 2 Pro is an interesting swing from Anker on the pricing front, having launched this September. You can order them now from a range of retailers, with Amazon being the most prominent in most regions, for £199.99 in the UK or $199.99 in the US. Availability in other regions seems to be rolling out slightly more slowly.

This price puts them a good chunk more expensive than the recent standard Space 2 (£129.99 / $129.99), which are already seeing discounts to make them cheaper. The price is also a £50/$50 bump over the Space One Pro from 2024, again underlining Anker's gambit.

Design and Features

The Space 2 Pro is a very familiar proposition, having handled the Space 2 extensively earlier this year, with both units provided by Anker for testing. These are headphones that lean into subtle design, surprisingly so from a brand that used to be a lot louder in its design work.

In fact, shorn of that previously recognisable Soundcore logo, the earcups of the Space 2 Pro are actually some of the most anonymous and simple of any headphones I've used recently (and not even in the same league as the Nothing Headphone (1) Pro). They're dead clean, with just a subtle reflective bit of logo work around their edge.

On the right earcup, you'll find a play/pause button, along with a rocker for putting the volume up or down. The other earcup has a 3.5mm jack, a USB-C port for charging, a power button that doubles as a pairing button, and a toggle for the noise-cancelling modes on offer.

Slipping the headphones on confirms that the generous-looking cushioning is indeed extremely comfortable, with a good amount of give on both the headband and those earcups. It's soft-touch, and I've found the Space 2 Pro great to wear for long stretches as a result.

That said, the Space One Pro was one of the most comfortable headphones ever made, and this is surprisingly a bit of a step down, I'd say. That doesn't make it a bad fit, but it's not the direction of travel I'd have chosen.

The headphones do fold, meanwhile, but don't do so into the smallest shape I'd have expected, and they're a little fiddly to collapse. You do get a carrying pouch in the box with them, but I'd have liked this to be more protective given the bump in price that Anker has brought in this time.

So, what about the features on offer? Well, in keeping with the Space 2 below it in the range, you get sophisticated adaptive noise-cancelling (ANC) here, enabled via eight microphones. The Space 2 Pro also has on-head detection for auto-pausing, which I always welcome.

Anker's making a big deal out of the new microphone array on the headphones, which it says has garnered a Guinness World Record for the best wireless over-ear call quality (however that could possibly be proven). I'll talk on that later, but it's something that's not on cheaper models.

Battery life is interesting, because it's quoted at 60 hours, but halves to 30 hours with ANC turned on, and goes down to 20 if you're on calls continuously, thanks to the new AI processes for its voice detection.

In terms of audio quality, 35mm drivers are housed in each earcup, and they support spatial audio if you want it activated. You'll also find support for LDAC and Hi-Res Audio in either wired or wireless modes, which is always nice.

Sound and Performance

While comfort and sound quality might not seem like they're necessarily related to parts of a headphone's performance, the reality is that cushioning has everything to do with the passive seal that great headphones now use for part of their noise-cancelling. That's why it's good to report that the Space 2 Pro has some of the best comfort on the head that I've tried in ages.

As I say, I still think it's slightly less perfect than the Space One Pro, but I still happily wore the headphones for three hours at a time without any clamping issues or discomfort. Even without powering them on, meanwhile, the amount of noise cancelled out was very decent.

Turned on, though, the ANC in this release becomes extremely obvious and impressive. Anker might not be able to quite say it's the best on the market, but this is definitely the best noise-cancelling I've tried on headphones under £/$200 in recent memory – and that's quite the boast.

That same level of positivity can be redoubled when it comes to the call quality on these headphones, something that I normally skip over as being relatively secondary in importance. I still think that, but when it's this good it's worth mentioning. Anker says its "Thus" chip is the reason for the clarity and pick-up quality that the headphones manage, with AI playing a part, and it makes for impressively clear audio when you're on calls – which is rare for this sort of headphone.

That's a fairly brilliant start to matters, but it's a slight shame that Anker can't bring five-star audio quality to match its ANC and microphones. That's not to say that there's anything explicitly wrong with Anker's tuning, but it's certainly not the most refined you'll find out there.

It leans quite heavily on bass, for one thing, which does mean that you get a good amount of warmth in the low-end of tracks, but this hurts the detail in other registers. The start of Eric Clapton's After Midnight (Live) from 2021 showcases this – its opening twangs are just a little overdone, lacking balance.

You can still have a great deal of fun with the headphones, though, in particular using Anker's app to customise their sound and create a personalised range of settings to make things a little more clinical. Out of the box, though, they're not particularly sophisticated, and that's a bit of a shame.

I found battery life to live up to the billing pretty closely, though, which means they're more than competitive with most of the other options you can find at this price. Some standouts go far beyond the 30-hour mark with ANC on, though.

Verdict

The Sound 2 Pro is an interesting launch from Anker, not least because these headphones are substantially more expensive than the Space One Pro, let alone the more recent Space 2 (Anker's approach to numbers and text is also clearly quite fluid).

I'm not sure they merit the price hike that they've been given, and that's the shortest version of my verdict.

However, there's nuance to be had here. The call quality here is really quite remarkable, and Anker clearly thinks that'll matter to certain people – like those who'll use them primarily in the workplace and need that to be reliable. The ANC is similarly really great for the price, and that's an interesting pair of strengths to maximise.

If their music performance could only match them, Anker would have a real stunner on its hands. Instead, this is an interesting launch that will suit a specifc set of users, while leaving others potentially wishing they'd spend a little more on genuine musical excellence.

Also Consider

If you want much of what makes the Space 2 Pro great, but fancy saving a bunch of cash without a huge downgrade, then consider the standard Space 2. Super comfy to wear, with a look that's just as clean, plus they're a bit more of a bargain.

Alternatively, if reading my verdict has made you realise that you'd rather spend more and get better audio quality, then I'd point you towards the Sonos Ace Ultra. We just slapped a five-star verdict on them, and I've been using them a little to confirm that they are indeed stellar and as comfortable as anything on the market.

Cambridge Audio is one of those smaller brands that keeps on doing sterling work in a world theoretically dominated by giants like Sony, Bose and Apple – and coming in with sensible pricing is a big part of its appeal. A year ago I was impressed by the Melomania A100, true wireless earbuds that did a lot right for a fair price.

Now, a little over a year later, it's debuting a revision of that same earbud, now called the Melomania A100 SE, and it seems like another very sensible launch for those who want earbuds like the AirPods Pro without spending quite that level of cash.

Many of their specs and features are the same as before (including 39 hours of total battery with the case, IPX5 water resistance, and LDAC compatibility for hi-fi audio). However, Cambridge has managed to squeeze in Spatial Audio by Dolby for the first time, which some people love (and which other people love to ignore).

Cambridge also says that it's re-tuned the earbuds and that this should bring better bass, clearer vocals, and richer mids – all good things. Intriguingly, though, this does seem to be the main sum of the changes, which are basically audio tweaks to improve things subtly.

A new Qualcomm chipset inside the earbud is part of this improvement, handling some sound processing to give the A100 SE a little bit more power to work with in terms of that sound presentation.

Still, this underlines why this isn't an A200 launch, then, since Cambridge Audio is indeed effectively just putting out a new, slightly improved version of the same earbud without really changing huge parts of its design or feature set.

The Melomania A100 SE will be available this month (we don't have a more precise date than that right now), and will launch at £129 in the UK, €149 in the EU, and $149 in the US. It's worth knowing, though, that the standard A100 can now be found for quite a lot less than that, which might represent the best opportunity out of this whole launch.

Technics has pulled off some blinders in recent years when it comes to in-ear and over-ear audio. The EAH-A800 over-ears from four-and-a-bit years ago were a 5-star wonder, as was the impressive (and award-winning) EAH-AZ100 in-ears released just last year.

Looking to trump both those products, however, is this: the all-new EAH-A1000 over-ears, which deploy updated unique technologies taken from both the AZ100 and the brand's storied speaker products. The goal is for a high-end, high-resolution pair of headphones that stand apart from their peers.

But standing apart is ever more difficult in a market bustling with choice: from Sonos' just-released Ace Ultra and their ecosystem-targeted Wi-Fi functionality; to Bowers & Wilkins' PX7 S3 and their luxury design and material choices; to Sony's WH-1000XM6 for the ultimate in travel headphones and noise-cancelling (ANC) capabilities.

Technics hasn't explicitly tried to take on any one of those examples head-on, mind, carving out a niche of its own by doubling down on its technologies and sound quality in a design that may position them as home-listening headphones for many. Yet their lightweight nature – despite large-scale physicality – and ANC credits mean they're also versatile enough to use while on the go.

Price & Availability

The Technics EAH-A1000 are available now (from 30 September), with a launch price set at £399 in the UK and €449 in Europe. They will go on sale worldwide, but US and wider regional pricing is yet to be determined at the time of writing.

That positions the A1000 at £/€100 more than the earlier (and less advanced) A800 model, so by that logic the US asking price for the A1000 could be $549 – but we'll have to wait and see, given current market complications.

What's New?

While I've mentioned the previous A800 model, I won't really be discussing those headphones from here on – as the A1000 is an entirely different product with a heap of its own innovation. Indeed, there are some core aspects in the A1000 that provide a unique edge.

The first is the brand's Magnetic Fluid Driver technology, which uses a magnetic oil-like liquid that sits between voice coil and driver magnet, to support precise movement and suppress unwanted vibrations and distortion. This has been adapted from the AZ100 in-ears, but it needed lots of tweaking to make it possible at this larger scale.

The second is the custom dome-and-cone-shaped 40mm driver, which is made from carbon fibre – selected due to its low weight and inherent rigidity. However, Technics pulled upon its SST Edge technology (that's 'Symmetrical Surround Technology'), derived from some of its established speaker products, to ensure airflow during movement remained symmetrical.

Being able to produce a carbon fibre diaphragm to the specified shape proved tricky, though, as the material's hardness caused challenges with moulding and deformation. Technics worked around this by weaving fibre directions and adding a physical 'rib' to the dome to provide stability. No compromise to shape, nor on the material choice.

An Acoustic Control Chamber behind the driver helps manage airflow, minimise irregularities, and drive the acoustic path to the ear with utmost clarity. This, combined with the above technologies, gives the A1000 its unique sonic properties. But such technologies are also what makes the earcups protrude more than you average – as there's so much to accommodate within.

Design

How you feel about that physical size could be the deciding factor in whether these are the headphones for you, as this is no slim-profile, Sonos-style product. I've felt conscious of that when wearing these headphones for travel, not that it's as eye-catching a prospect as something zany, like Nothing's Headphone (1).

That said, there's nothing heavy about the A1000 headphones. The 306g weight is roughly that of, say, Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3, and the way the Technics headphones position over the head feels balanced, comfortable and avoids any undue clamping force – with the headband effortlessly (and silently) adjustable.

There's been a lot of thought in what Technics calls its Flow Arm structure – the arms which hold the earcups to the headband. It flows from a square structure to a triangular one at its end, giving this a fluid visual. However, I do wish as much attention was paid to some surrounding details, as the visual presence of a hex-screwhead and notable openings for the folding mechanics don't look quite as refined.

Technics has opted for physical controls here, too, with two buttons flanking a toggle control on the right earcup. They're easy to reach, making pairing, skipping tracks and adjusting volume a breeze, although the look and feel – when inspected up close – isn't to the same lofty heights as Sonos' latest Ace Ultra headphones in my view. It, too, could be further finessed.

I'm also not a fan of the Platinum Greige name – per my review photographs – but do think the visual appeal is undeniable. Especially those metal earcaps, which are aluminium and finished with a spun-blasted technique for a distinct look in the way light catches in them. The Technics logo looks grand in gold, just as it does on the alternative Black finish option.

Sound & ANC

When I was first introduced to the A1000, the listening sessions Technics presented to me were largely built around instrumental jazz records, which the headphones presented very well – bar some minor resonance when wired USB-C listening at higher volumes.

Since then, I've explored all kinds of music with the A1000 and the myriad genres it rewards is reflective of Technics' versatility. That's an echo of how the brand is represented, from its roots in classical jazz through to DMC scratch DJ competitions.

From Daft Punk to Michael Jackson, even underground drum and bass and melodic techno, the A1000 really can put its talents to anything. I'd initially assumed the bass profile here would be limited, but it's anything but – straight and punchy, there's no shyness in low-end presentation whatsoever.

The soundstage is broad, yet doesn't overcomplicate its presentation by overindulging with processing trickery, leaving you firmly in the centre – as vocals and high-end percussion dance around that capable low-end core. The A1000 can cater for 20Hz to 48kHz, such is its range.

What really brings this all together, as the glue if you like, is the capable active noise-cancellation (ANC) on offer. I've discreetly tested it while travelling, so know how well it functions on a plane, just as it does when in the office. A key aspect of its wizardry is the 'Adaptive / Auto-optimization' feature.

In the Technics Audio Connect app you're be able to toggle between ANC being on, off, or engaged in Ambient Sound (what many would call passthrough, such as 'Aware' or similar), with a 0-100 slider to adjust the strength. Oddly it's even more powerful with Adaptive switched on, surpassing the 100 manual maximum – and, in my plane test example, drowning out that hissing background sound even more effectively.

But where ANC really helps is in the way it enhances the overall sonic profile. It's what helps that bass hit more powerfully, it's what enables distractions to be drowned out so you can focus on what you're listening to – and while some sharp external sounds can penetrate through, I've found that to be barely a distraction.

The same app also offers a bunch of customisation options, including EQ presets and an eight-band manual adjustment if you want to be very specific – three of which can be saved as your own personal Custom options to call upon. LDAC quality sounds great, Bluetooth connectivity has been solid in all my tests, but if you want to engage LE Audio or spatial audio then LDAC is dropped for lower-bandwidth AAC.

Even with all its highest settings engaged – LDAC and ANC – the A1000 lasts for a superb 40 hours per charge. That's increased to 45 hours for AAC. Wired listening is catered for, too, which can last for 30 hours delivering Hi-Res Audio playback via the provided USB-C-to-3.5mm or C-to-C cables.

Technics A1000 review: Verdict

After two weeks of using the Technics EAH-A1000, I've fallen for their big sound and presentation – the resulting benefit of unique audio technologies and design working together to great effect.

Big is the operative word, though, as that abundance of technologies does mean the A1000's earcups protrude more than your average – and some people will find that a deterrent if looking to buy travel headphones.

I have travelled plenty with the A1000, though, where the battery life and active noise-cancelling (ANC) have shown true grit and ability to stand up to the not inconsiderable competition on the market at this price.

While the A1000 won't be for everyone, therefore, their niche nature and distinctive design bring appeals of their own. But it's the sound and comfort that'll keep you coming back for more, time and again, reinforcing their 5-star status.

Also Consider

While many products aren't going to match what the A1000 is offering, I think there are a trio of alternatives that excel in their own respective areas.

The Sonos Ace Ultra are the most comfortable headphones going, in my view, with a slim profile that's great when at home or on the go.

If you want to cut some of the weight for the sake of travel convenience, then Sony's WH-1000XM6 are a strong choice, with ANC that's largely unbeatable.

Last up, from a design perspective, the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 are delightful. Lush materials and a luxury aesthetic are appealing, even if the ANC isn't as powerful.

Technics has continued to step up its game, with its latest flagship over-ear headphones, the EAH-A1000, bringing technologies adapted from the brand's AZ100 in-ears and storied speaker products.

The next-generational step up over the EAH-A800 – which launched over 4 years ago, back in 2022 – the A1000 bring low-distortion driver technology in an attempt to lure you away from picking, say, a pair of Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3.

The so-called Magnetic Fluid Driver within the A1000 utilises a magnetic oil-like liquid that sits between the voice coil and driver magnet, as if 'floating', to support precise movement and suppress unwanted vibrations and distortions.

Technics also chose carbon fibre for the driver diaphragm, due to its low weight and extreme rigidity. Combining this with the brand's SST Edge technology – as adapted from its hi-fi speakers – enables the driver to "keep air displaced symmetrically between forward and backward movement" for greater clarity.

These future-facing and proven technologies have been paired with all the latest mod cons in the A1000, with active noise-cancelling (ANC) offering an adaptive feature to auto-adjust based on your surroundings; it also offers Ambient Sound for passthrough should you want to hear conversations.

High-quality sound is supported through LDAC – the proprietary audio tech developed by Sony – and able to support 990kbps for high-resolution audio files. The option for spatial audio is also here, although this disables the LDAC capability. USB-C audio is available should you want to go wired.

Design is also a considerable part of the A1000 package, with Technics opting for a different balance of the headband angle, which connects to what the brand is calling a "newly designed Flow Arm" – the connection point between headband and earcups curves from a square shape to a triangular one in seamless fashion.

Battery life is assessed at 30 hours of playback with both LDAC and ANC switched on. That increases to a massive 45 hours if you ditch LDAC, but leave noise-cancelling switched on. That's competitive innings that position the A1000 squarely against the likes of Sony's WH-1000XM6, Bose's QC Ultra Headphones, and more.

You can pre-order the Technics EAH-A1000 right now, which carries a suggested retail price of £399 at launch (additional market pricing is to be confirmed). Two colour options are available: Black and Platinum Greige.

I’ve always had a soft spot for the AirPods Pro series, thanks in no small part to their volume slider feature, which has made countless rival earbuds feel unnecessarily awkward ever since.

Being able to swipe up or down on the stem to adjust the volume sounds like a small addition, but compared to the various button-and-touch implementations from brands like Bose, Sony, and Huawei, Apple’s approach remains the gold standard for me in on-bud control.

Bringing this feature to the more affordable AirPods 5 is therefore a huge deal for fans of Apple sound tuning on a budget. It is a huge deal for me, in particular, as I wasn’t the biggest fan of the new shape of the AirPods Pro 3. It felt bulkier in my ears than my beloved AirPods Pro 2, which made me appreciate all the improvements less.

In addition to adding volume control to the buds, Apple has redesigned the internal acoustic architecture, improved Adaptive EQ, strengthened ANC and increased water resistance to IP57. Battery life has also improved slightly, but not to the level I would like to see it in 2026.

To clarify, this review is of the model that Apple confusingly calls “Apple AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case.” This is the version with the volume slider and slightly longer battery life. The cheaper version also offers ANC but lacks the volume slider and the wireless charging case.

Apple AirPods 5 review

Price and availability

Apple announced the AirPods 5 in early September 2026, with the earbuds going on sale on 18 September. They are available directly from Apple UK, Apple US, Apple EU, Apple AU and third-party retailers now.

There are two versions. The standard AirPods 5 cost £119 / $129 / €149 / AU$219 and, unlike the base AirPods 4, include Active Noise Cancellation. The AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case reviewed here cost £139 / $149 / €169 / AU$249 and add on-stem volume control, wireless charging and slightly longer battery life.

The £139 model is £40 cheaper than the AirPods 4 with ANC was at launch, despite adding the excellent volume slider and improving sound and noise cancellation. Considering the relatively small £20 premium over the standard AirPods 5, I think the Wireless Charging Case version is comfortably the better buy.

Design and comfort

Before trying the AirPods 5, I wasn’t entirely convinced that Apple’s volume slider would translate particularly well to this form factor. In my head, the AirPods 4 had a noticeably shorter stem than AirPods Pro 3. Putting the AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3 side by side quickly corrected that assumption.

The stems are almost the same length, and the volume groove is essentially the same, which gives you plenty of room for the swipe gesture. Sliding a finger up or down adjusts the volume smoothly, while squeezing the stem handles playback and other functions. To my delight, it works just as well here as it does on AirPods Pro.

That’s a huge win because the volume slider remains one of my favourite design innovations on any pair of in-ear headphones. Nothing irks me more than trying to control button-sized earphones by pressing them further into my ear canal. Stem-based control lets you access all the important control functions without straining your ears.

The bigger physical difference between AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro is the earpiece itself. The AirPods 5 head is considerably smaller, and because there are no silicone tips, there is no passive seal in the ear. This makes the buds more comfortable to wear for longer periods (if only battery life would support this feature).

I wasn’t particularly keen on the larger shape of the AirPods Pro 3, whereas the AirPods 5 are reminiscent of the AirPods Pro 2 and almost disappear once they’re in. If you dislike the plugged-up feeling of silicone-tipped earbuds, that remains one of the biggest advantages of standard AirPods.

Apple has also improved water resistance, giving the AirPods 5 an IP57 rating. That’s a significant upgrade for anyone planning to use them as running headphones, as they should be considerably more resistant to sweat, rain and other wet conditions.

I didn’t intentionally dunk the earbuds to test that claim, but the increased protection should make them a more reassuring option for running, gym sessions and generally wet conditions.

Sound performance

Noise cancellation

Apple says the AirPods 5 offer 50% more noise reduction than the previous generation, and by the sound of things, there is definitely an improvement. However, the open-fit design places a hard limit on what ANC can achieve.

Without an ear tip creating a passive seal, ambient noise will always find its way in. Sitting on a train, for example, announcements over the tannoy found their way to my ears without an issue, even with ANC switched on.

That’s not to say ANC is poor, though, especially compared to the AirPods 4. Low-level background noise and general rumble are suppressed impressively well, and the AirPods 5 do a very good job by open-fit standards.

Of course, “open-ear” covers several very different designs. AirPods 5 sit much closer to the ear canal than something like the Shokz OpenDots 2, so they naturally block more external sound even before ANC gets involved.

The point is that they still don’t create the passive seal you get from silicone-tipped earbuds. That said, anyone expecting the isolated, cocoon-like effect of AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3 or AirPods Max 2 will be disappointed by the noise cancellation prowess of the AirPods 5. In practice, the effect often feels closer to active noise reduction than complete isolation.

Transparency mode

Transparency mode, on the other hand, is exceptional. Apple has been excellent at Transparency for years, and the AirPods 5 might be one of the best showcases for it. Voices and environmental sounds come through clearly and naturally, without the processed or amplified quality you sometimes hear from rival earbuds.

Combine that with the lightweight open-ear design, and the result is a barely-there sensation that sealed earbuds struggle to replicate. You can hear what's happening around you almost as though you weren't wearing headphones at all, while your music or podcast continues playing in the background. I love it.

Sound quality

Sound quality has taken another noticeable step forward. Apple says it has redesigned the AirPods 5 internally with a new acoustic architecture informed by lessons learned from developing the AirPods Pro 3, along with a newer generation of Adaptive EQ.

I liked what Apple did sonically with AirPods Pro 3, but I wasn’t particularly fond of their larger physical shape, which made me enjoy everything else a lot less. The AirPods 5 let me enjoy some of that improved acoustic performance in a much smaller and more comfortable package.

They sound full-bodied and surprisingly substantial for such small open-fit earbuds. Bass has plenty of weight without becoming overwhelming, while the midrange is rich and treble has enough presence to keep things lively and detailed. There is also an impressive sense of space.

Open-fit earbuds naturally have some advantages here, but the AirPods 5 create a surprisingly broad sonic landscape given their compact size. The AirPods Pro still have the edge for outright clarity, separation and finer detail, but the gap has certainly narrowed.

They sound full-bodied and surprisingly substantial for such small open-fit earbuds. Bass has plenty of weight without becoming overwhelming, while the midrange is rich and the treble has enough presence to keep things lively and detailed. There is also an impressive sense of space.

Open-fit earbuds naturally have some advantages here, but the AirPods 5 create a surprisingly broad sonic landscape given their compact size. The AirPods Pro still have the edge for outright clarity, separation and finer detail, but the gap has certainly narrowed.

Custom EQ

After years of begging the company, Apple has finally given one of the most requested features to AirPods users. With iOS 27, compatible AirPods – including not just the new AirPods 5, but also the AirPods 4 and certain Pro and Max models – now get Custom EQ.

Apple hasn’t gone overboard by offering a massive library of genre presets or a complicated multi-band equaliser, but you get Apple's standard tuning or a Custom option with three simple controls that let you adjust the frequency response while previewing the changes live

The tuning is stored on the AirPods themselves and the settings follow them across compatible apps and devices, which is nice.

Personally, I haven’t felt much need to use it, as I’m generally happy with Apple's default tuning on the AirPods 5. After some experimenting with Custom EQ, I quickly returned to the standard setting, but I appreciate that Apple has listened to its customers for once.

Battery life and charging

Battery life is easily my biggest frustration with the AirPods 5. Apple promises up to five hours of listening with ANC enabled (on the £139 model), and my testing broadly backed that up.

After around four and a half hours of continuous listening with noise cancellation switched on, my AirPods battery was down to 12%.

Apple partly offsets the short runtime with fast charging, with five minutes in the case providing roughly another hour of listening. My pair went from 12% to 80% after around 30 minutes in the case.

That sounds reassuring, but I think it misses the real problem. Quick top-ups only work properly when the battery already lasts long enough to fit naturally around your day.

The AirPods Pro 3 are a good example. Their eight-hour ANC battery life is enough to cover a morning commute and several hours at work. You can then put them back in the case over lunch for a quick top-up, and comfortably get through the afternoon and journey home.

The AirPods 5’s five hours means you can already be approaching empty before lunch, forcing you to think about charging during normal use, which makes the battery life feel limiting.

The £139 model at least supports USB-C, Qi, and Apple Watch wireless charging, so putting power back in is easy. But fast charging only makes things less inconvenient, as it doesn’t offer a like-for-like substitution for decent battery life.

Verdict

Apple is the granddaddy of iterative design, so it shouldn’t surprise anyone that the AirPods 5 look almost identical to their predecessors. In use, though, the improvements add up to something considerably more substantial.

Sound is fuller and more spacious, noise reduction is stronger, Transparency mode is outstanding, and the open-fit design remains exceptionally comfortable. Most importantly for me, the £139 version finally gets the AirPods Pro's excellent volume slider.

The AirPods 5 don't turn standard AirPods into cheaper AirPods Pro, nor should they. They're arguably better at simply being AirPods; as in, a lightweight, comfortable and almost invisible pair of headphones that sound considerably better than before.

The biggest compromise remains battery life. Five hours with ANC isn't unusable, and Apple makes charging quick and easy, but it isn't long enough to disappear into the background of a normal workday in the way the eight-hour AirPods Pro 3 can. Fix that, and Apple would have an exceptionally difficult pair of open-fit earbuds to fault.

Nothing has just unveiled the Headphone (1) Pro, a big swing into a more premium part of the headphones market, one that puts it in direct competition with the likes of the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 5.

The new headphones are very much an upgraded version of the Headphone (1) that I loved back in mid-2025, and the overall design of the headphones hasn't changed drastically. That means they still have the cassette-shaped earcups on the outside, although the design of their transparent section is actually a little more subdued this time around.

Despite this, there's plenty that's changed under the hood, including a redesigned main driver system that now actually has three parts – with tiny extra drivers helping to add more detail to your highs and mids when playing music.

The comfort should also be upgraded thanks to a slightly plusher headband and ear cushions, and it's fair to say that this all contributes to a more premium-feeling set of headphones.

My favourite part of the Headphone (1) when I tested it was how Nothing approached its controls, with a dial and flapper that were both unlike anything else on the market. Those controls remain, as do all the controls, except for one new addition. There's a new switch inside the left earcup that toggles on a new "Flat" EQ mode.

This is something that Nothing has apparently worked on with a host of musicians, including its recently announced ambassador Charli XCX. It's an EQ preset that, as it sounds like, flattens out much of the jazzier accents of the Headphone (1) Pro's default sound tuning, to make it more reliable in studio or mixing settings.

That means the "Pro" in the name of these new headphones actually might have some truth to it, since this should make them more reliable for professional-grade use.

The other big change comes in the storage department, where Nothing has slightly jumped the shark. Rather than the quite choice felt case that the Headphone (1) came with, this time around things are very different.

The Headphone (1) Pro comes with a hardshell case that looks like a sort of clamshell that you clip the earcups into. It latches shut, and the headband of the headphones sticks out as a sort of carrying handle, making for a super unique look that strongly summons up the much-derided AirPods Max case that Apple created years back.

Unlike that case, though, it's chunky and heavy, so I can't say I'm the biggest fan, as I've expanded on in my full review of the Headphone (1) Pro, which you can read right here to find out more.

The headphones should be available to order imminently and come in at $399 in the US and £349 here in the UK. There's no getting around how ambitious that price is, needless to say.

Nothing made a bit of a splash, at least in my own estimation, when it debuted the Headphone (1). It arrived in the over-ear headphone market with a bold design, superb controls, and extremely solid sound – and I was won over (more so than some of my peers).

Now, after already having made a cut-price version, the Headphone (a), Nothing's going even higher-end with the new Headphone (1) Pro, on review here.

These over-ears pose the question of how you could make the Headphone (1) fancier, and come up with answers that vary from expected to baffling. I've had them for a few weeks to formulate my detailed thoughts on how they shape up.

Price and Availability

When you announce a "Pro" version of an existing headphone, most people's first question will rightly be how much the price is going up. It's what people recently asked of the Sonos Ace Ultra over the original, for example.

The Headphone (1) Pro launches at $399 in the US and £349 here in the UK, exactly £100 more than the Headphone (1)'s launch price (which hasn't been cut down since then, despite some sales bringing temporary discounts).

The headphones will be available to order imminently, if you're keen on them, and that price rockets them right into the same bracket as a whole heap of flagships. They're in contention with the likes of Sony's WH-1000XM6, Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless and more, making for an extremely competitive field.

Design and Features

At a glance, it would probably be pretty hard for the uninitiated to tell apart a pair of Headphone (1) Pro from the older Headphone (1), since they very much share the same design foundations.

The new headphones retain most of the main elements of the older pair's design, including their squared-off earcups and a leaning towards transparency. It's not the biggest difference, but the Pro's earcups are actually a little less jazzy than last time out, which I welcome. Some of the details inside the transparent windows have been toned down and made less eye-catching.

That said, the windows themselves have technically been upgraded, since they're now faced with actual glass – scratch-resistant, Nothing assures me, something I've been loath to test – framed within aluminium. That's a tip-off about one of the ways the Headphone (1) Pro differs – its materials are more premium, although the headphones are in fact 2g lighter than the Headphone (1).

There's now more metal and less plastic, that new glossy glass, and some plusher cushioning in key places: the headband in particular, and the earcups, too. This honestly changes very little about how they sit on the head, but I had no comfort issues with the older version. If you found those too clamping, however, then you might have a better time with the Pro.

Also nearly unchanged are the borderline revolutionary controls that Nothing came up with for its first over-ears. You get the same roller button for volume and play/pause, a rocker for skipping tracks, an external customisable button, and a hidden button for pairing.

There's now a new switch inside the other earcup to activate a new Flat EQ mode. This is important because Nothing's pinning quite a lot on the new audio tuning offered by the Headphone (1) Pro, and the EQ presets that come with it. In the Nothing X app, you can now tinker far more deeply with the headphone's sound, including some spatial presets to mimic different types of venues.

Much of this is gimmicky (and Sony does the same with its Collexion top-tier offering), but the Flat EQ mode is pretty interesting. It does what it says on the tin, basically turning tuning off at your beck and call, to return you to a sterile, studio-style listening experience that doesn't bring anything to the table to influence your listening. I like it a lot, and being able to toggle it so easily is fun.

Like the Headphone (1) before them, these cans bring active noise-cancelling (ANC) to the table, and it performs solidly again – although I couldn't necessarily discern a massive improvement when I surreptitiously used them on a few long-haul flights recently. More microphones should mean more accurate noise suppression, though.

Battery life is a curious topic this time, with the estimated 30 hours with ANC turned on actually lower than on the Headphone (1), although turning it off will net you a really chunky 68 hours. Not that many people are likely to opt for that.

I'm an outspoken fan of Nothing's previous design work on its headphones, but that position has been tested enormously by one part of the Headphone (1) Pro: its case. Rather than a soft-touch case like every other headphone you've used in the last few years, Nothing has stepped out and instead gone for a sort of hardshell plastic halfway design, which leaves the headband exposed as a carrying handle.

I heard directly from Nothing's designers about how this would save space in bags, and how its handle loops could make it a fashion statement worn as a sling, but in practice I think it's a design disaster. At a criminal 384g, it more than doubles the headphones' weight (327g on their own) in a bag, and has room for precisely no extra accessories like wires, adapters, or anything else.

It's the definition of aesthetics over purpose, and I can't quite believe it made it out of the door – not least because of its similarities to the AirPods Max case that people have spent about half a decade loudly mocking. At least that one is light and thin, though!

If that over-thought case added anything to the final price of the Headphone (1) Pro, then colour me baffled – I'd back plenty of people to decline it from the package if they could save even £20 as a result.

That's obviously a sour note, but it stands in clear contrast to the rest of the design work on the headphones themselves, which remains innovative and different (both rarities at this point).

Sound and Performance

If you're going to crank up the price of your new headphones by this sort of margin, how they sound becomes even more important than it already was. Nothing has played an interesting hand here, too, leaning on new customisation features as well as a new driver architecture.

The new driver system is a three-part one that its engineers are clearly proud of, and the end result is more precise and detailed, just as promised. The Headphone (1) Pro builds on the solid foundations of the standard version, but it does have more heft and verve.

Listening to Jungle's new album, there's a really nice amount of separation between vocals and backing elements, and the high-end sounds great. Rerouting to older material from J. J. Cale, the acoustic soul of the tracks comes through really nicely, and the same is true of some Creedence Clearwater Revival.

It's all very impressive in isolation, but it's also fair to say that when I got my Headphone (1) back out, I confirmed fairly quickly that the gap between the models is not massive. Yes, the (1) Pro has a bit more to it, but it's improving on a great skeleton.

The same is true of that newly improved ANC system, which did indeed dull the noise of the flights I took to a strong degree, but not in a way that made the previous version look too substandard. It blocks more noise, but still falls short of the best I've used in this price bracket (which remains Sony's WH-1000XM6).

Many of the other features Nothing's keen to spotlight reside in the Nothing X app, and I'm curious how many people will be moved particularly by them. Flat EQ, as I've mentioned already, is a winner in my book, not least because it has a physical toggle.

Another addition is spatial audio presets designed to mimic different listening environments, from a studio to a club or a concert venue. I'll be frank: I experimented with these but almost immediately confirmed they're not something I'd want to use regularly, and I'd be surprised if many people diverged from that.

Some new EQ presets are a bit more traditional in their approach, and their changes to the Headphone (1) Pro's sound are clear to hear when you swap between them. It feels generous to count that as a standalone feature, though, when you can just do your own EQ customisation when you want it.

Nothing Headphone (1) Pro review: Verdict

I don't want to draw any overly grand conclusions about the Nothing Headphone (1) Pro and what it says about Nothing's wider market approach, but at a time when it claims to know it might have made too many phones in recent years, I wonder if this new launch fits into a similar bucket.

I like it plenty when assessed in isolation, but in the context of the cheaper and, in my opinion, much better-value Headphone (1), I don't see enough in the Pro to warrant an upgraded version with this sort of price jump. You get better sound and some add-on features, but a considerably more inconvenient case and little meaningful change in design terms.

At this price, I'd point people towards other options, frankly, and I'll be extremely interested to see how Nothing fares with a launch that might not really have needed to happen at all. If it could only have brought some of these improvements to a later-launching Headphone (2) without a price rise, it could have been cooking with some gas.

Also Consider

No prizes for guessing the headphones that I'd recommend most if you're enticed by the cool design of the Headphone (1) Pro but aren't sure about the price. The normal Headphone (1) remains excellent, in my view, and while you'll save a chunk of cash, I think it's almost certainly one to keep an eye on through the coming autumn and early winter sales – if its price doesn't budge, I'll eat my hat.

Alternatively, my favourite recent over-ears are the Momentum 5 Wireless from Sennheiser, which are far stealthier in design terms. They sound brilliant and have excellent battery life, too, and a normal case. Plus, they're actually cheaper than the Nothing Headphone (1) Pro here in the UK, making them a comprehensive winner by comparison.

The retro revival is truly here. Not only are youngsters and seasoned tech fans alike looking to vinyl and CD players, but there's renewed interest in wired earbuds, too.

That's why Bose has just revealed its first wired in-ear product in over a decade, the descriptively named Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds, which are due out mid-October with a £99 / $99 asking price.

The real trick to these, of course, is the addition of active noise-cancelling (ANC) in a wired 'bud form, giving these in-ears one of Bose's best features, just without any wireless connectivity.

When I first saw the promotional shots of these earbuds it took my mind back to Apple's iPod launch days – if you remember those iconic, colourful ads? Not that I'm comparing Bose's buds directly; it just triggered a wave of nostalgia for me.

That modern-retro design delivers an advanced feature set, all considered, as the Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds don't have any battery on board – but the active noise-cancelling (ANC) doesn't require one to operate.

That means no risk of them running dead, yet no restriction on the ANC type you want – with Bose offering the same Quiet and Aware options, per its other core headphone products. The earbuds draw power from the device to which they're connected – via the USB-C connection.

Sound quality caters for Hi-Res Audio, too, as the earbuds can output files to 24-bit/48kHz if you have the source material. That's well beyond CD quality, so whether you're streaming or plugged into a more elaborate source, this Bose product has got your back.

The Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds are available in classic Black or White Smoke, while a limited-edition Dewdrop Mint version is also available. I wouldn't be surprised if more colourways launch over time, too, as these in-ears look ripe for it.

It seems that 2026 is rapidly becoming the year of "modern retro", with products such as this showing that the anti-wireless, anti-AI and simpler choice is sometimes exactly what people want. And more iPod-style adverts, too, please.

It’s a very big month for Sonos. The audio brand is set to launch its Ace Ultra headphones and Beam Ultra soundbar imminently – pre-orders are open now – alongside the latest Sonos 27 app to wash the brand of its previous software sins. Both products are brilliant as – spoiler alert! – our 5-star reviews attest.

However, with the Ace Ultra’s big new feature that it offers Wi-Fi connectivity to play nice with your Sonos system at home – here’s how its Headphone Linking feature works – you might think that’s the core playing field for these new headphones. I think they offer much more, though, as the Ultra is extremely adept in the outside world too.

September has been a jam-packed month for me personally, involving a lot of travel. I’ve flown for roughly 70 hours during this month alone thus far, with some particularly long-haul flights – Tokyo to London’s routing is touching upon 16 hours at present – which seemed like the ideal opportunity to truly test Sonos’ latest headphones.

I’ve been carting around the Ace Ultra alongside the original Ace product (for side-by-side testing), plus a batch of in-ears and some secret headphones that I’m not yet permitted to talk about. And using these Sonos over-ears has been a real unexpected treat during my travels. Here, in five key points, I highlight the biggest takeaways in my experience.

Noise cancelling that truly competes

When Sonos launched the original Ace, it proclaimed to have the best active noise-cancelling (ANC) on the market. Many scoffed at this, frankly, especially when Bose and Sony had long ruled that roost. It was decent, mind, just not as ‘locked-in’ as some other products can deliver – but that was arguably more fitting of such a product and its at-home use potential.

In the Ace Ultra, however, Sonos hasn’t just leant back and re-stated the very same claim. These headphones have fully reworked the ANC on offer, with more microphones – 10 in total – being a major part of how it can sense and constantly adapt to surroundings, making your listening experience better.

The new Adaptive ANC feature is there to, just as its name states, adapt to surrounding conditions. But it’s not mere marketing, as I’ve been able to literally hear it operating: when putting my glasses on after a little nap on the flight, for example, the added gap between headphones and my head made for a less ideal ANC environment.

But this new Sonos product knows – and it’s kitted out to make real-time adjustments. Mere seconds after making that physical adjustment, upon which I could hear the ‘fizzing’ background noise of the aircraft cabin, it dwindled and almost disappeared.

This is ANC of the highest order, so if you don’t want to hear bothersome distractions then you’ll be well served – even if you keep making tweaks to the headphones’ fit over your head. It’s very clever stuff indeed, not to mention the Ultra sounds way better with ANC activated.

Battery life that bosses it

There's no shortage of decent travel headphones, many of which make it their job to offer the best possible longevity – so you can keep on listening, trip after trip. There’s the Sony WH-1000XM6, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, and plenty of others to consider.

In the Ace Ultra, Sonos has really elevated its offering. The original Ace was decent in its innings, with 24-to-30 hours per charge doing a darn good job for extended periods – and being mighty comfortable throughout. The Ultra, however, ups that to 35 hours per charge, which is a notable improvement.

That’s 35 hours with ANC on, by the way, so you needn't forego any feature niceties at all. I've used the Sonos 27 app to dig into these headphones’ EQ settings, too, as there’s a fully customisable eight-band equaliser to get everything sounding just as you want.

Given just how much travelling I’ve been doing, I’ve been able to watch hour by hour how accurate that ’35 hour’ claim is too. The app is really good at presenting precisely what it predicts you have remaining in the tank, while an auto-off setting (which you can set as you please, should you wish to delay it) ensures battery savings when you forget to switch off.

I did wonder if ‘bigger battery’ would mean ‘greater weight’, but the product’s 322g total mass doesn’t feel excessive when wearing. Comfort is one of the biggest positives about this product in my view – as I’ll cover more extensively below – and I think other big names could learn a thing or two from Sonos’ take on design and ergonomics.

Wired listening ideal for in-flight entertainment

When on long flights, I tend to use my AirFly Pro to wirelessly send a Bluetooth signal from in-flight entertainment to my headphones. I forgot to charge that unit this trip, though, and even once I had it didn’t want to play ball on this occasion.

Therefore, faced with wanting to watch a movie – pray tell thee, why on earth did I pick Hamnet? – I was assuming the provided cables in the Ace Ultra’s package might not play nice with British Airways’ IFE system. How wrong I was, though, as it worked a treat – no fiddling about or balancing the 3.5mm half into the socket to get a decent audio signal.

Sonos includes a USB-C-to-3.5mm cable in the box, which worked wonders for my wired listening in this scenario. Outside of flying, though, you can also use a USB-C-to-C cable (also provided) for Hi-Res Audio listening at the utmost quality. So the Ace Ultra isn’t just good via Bluetooth, it’s great to use wired too.

Serious sound and customisation

All of which is all well and good, but the core reason for travelling with headphones is to obtain the best possible sound when on the go. And in a way that's private.

Fortunately, the Sonos Ace Ultra sounds stupendous. These are no ‘Ace+’, as Sonos built a new 40mm driver from the ground up, tuned it with Grammy-nominated producers, and has really pushed for a more vibrant sound profile. There’s bass in abundance, enhanced by the ANC, but no other frequency goes amiss.

Per the Adaptive ANC, there’s another clever option going on here to enhance the listening experience: Adaptive EQ. In real time, these headphones can offset frequency balance based on your surroundings, the product’s fit, and what you’re listening to. There’s even a Loudness switch to toggle on for some ‘turn it up to 11’ additional pep.

I’m very impressed with the sound. But that is, in a way, also enhanced by the comfort. Just as I said of the original Ace, the Ace Ultra is supremely comfortable over the ears. There’s no excess weight or clamping force, just a very well-considered design that looks, feels and sounds a triumph.

The case is still a faff though

So far, so happy. But there’s one part of the package that Sonos hasn’t addressed well enough: the carry case. This honestly surprises me – in my original Ace review I called out that case for being a weak point in the whole product offering, and I certainly wasn’t the only one to say it.

The Ace Ultra? The included case here is pretty much the same. Yes, it looks nice, but when it’s got a zip that can catch the fabric and get stuck, that doesn’t really matter, does it? The material finish also marks up, so it won’t necessarily stay looking all that nice for long either.

The way the headphones fold and fit within, plus the little pockets for those included cables – that stuff is all good! It’s just the finicky nature of the zip which really lets this case down and, given how sophisticated the headphones' design is overall, that seems like the one weak point when travelling with them.

Can’t have it all, eh? But it’s 95% of the way there – and I’d happily use the Ace Ultra for long-haul travel in addition to at-home sessions. It might well have added some degree of Wi-Fi compatibility, but that far from defines this product. If anything, the Ace Ultra might be at its best when out in the wild – and a true new competitor among the best headphones money can buy.

Beats once made headphones as much a fashion statement as audio equipment, but they gradually evolved into a polished part of the wider Apple ecosystem. That's hardly a bad thing, but somewhere along the way, some of the attitude that originally made Beats such an interesting brand became less obvious.

With the Beats 360, it feels like the pendulum is swinging back in the right direction. The brand’s latest premium headphones come with adaptive noise cancellation, Personalised Spatial Audio, automatic device switching and a fourth-generation proprietary Beats chipset.

On top of that, they're unapologetically fun and customisable, with ear cushions that twist off and headband cushions that pop out, letting you customise your headset any way you want.

More importantly, Beats has designed the 360 around something plenty of people already do, despite most manufacturers seemingly pretending otherwise. The cans are the brand's first over-ear model with an IPX4 sweat- and water-resistance rating, built from the ground up for workouts.

I’ve been wearing them all day for a week now for work and exercise, on the train, in the office and at home. And guess what? The Beats 360 are my new favourite headphones from the brand. They aren’t perfect – I dearly miss the cabled-in option that made the Beats Studio Pro so excellent for long-haul flights – but the new headphones are a lot of fun to wear and listen to audio with.

Beats 360 review

Price and availability

The Beats 360 launches at £299.95 in the UK, $349.99 in the US, €349.95 in Europe and AU$499.95 in Australia. Beats is simultaneously dropping Studio Pro to £249.95 / $299.99 / €299.95 / AU$479.95.

The price is almost identical to Bose's QuietComfort 2nd Gen and below Sennheiser's £329.99 Momentum 5 and the £349 Sonos Ace. Sony's WH-1000XM6 sit higher again at their standard pricing, while my all-time favourite cans, Apple's AirPods Max 2, remain significantly more expensive at £499.

Additional cushion kits normally cost £49.95, but Beats is running an introductory offer that drops them to £9.95 in the UK from 22 September until 31 October 2026, while stocks last. That’s a huge discount that I would seriously consider.

Even if the headphones’ price drops eventually – which is likely – getting two pairs of ear cushions will save you £80, and that’s quite something!

Design and comfort

Beats’ chunky new headphones were teased for months before the reveal in September 2026, which gave us a clear idea of how they will look. In most photos and videos, the bright colours and interchangeable ear cushions were evident, and while these are a key part of the Beats 360’s appeal (see below), they have much more to offer.

With the Beats 360, the company has moved to what it describes as a true wireless architecture, with each earcup containing its own battery, antenna and processing components. This approach reduces the hardware running through the headband and supposedly let designers make it thinner while shifting more weight to the cushions.

The finished headphones weigh 294.5g, which isn’t exactly lightweight in absolute terms, but it's competitive for this kind of premium over-ear headphone. The Beats are heavier than Sony’s and Sennheiser’s top-of-the-range plastic cans, but lighter than Sonos’ Ace and Apple’s AirPods Max 2, which comes in at a whopping 386.2g.

Despite the lighter construction, the Beats 360 feels light on the head without feeling flimsy in the hand, and I think that distinction matters.

Beats is famous for its headphones’ grip strength, and the 360 continues that tradition. That makes sense, especially since the brand wants people to use the over-ears for workouts. I've found the 360 stays reassuringly planted during exercise, from cycling to strength workouts and beyond.

The trade-off is pressure on the ears, of course, especially during and after long listening sessions. During testing, I wore the Beats 360 for hours on end, and I could certainly feel the cans pressing on the lower ends against my ears and neck.

It’s not the end of the world, and if I had to choose, I would probably say pressure on the lower side is better than pressure at the top, because that would press my glasses into my skull too much.

Beats launched the 360 with two types of ear cushions. The standard Performance Knit cushions use memory foam wrapped in a diamond-knit textile made from 36 micro-threads, which Beats says creates a softer, more breathable surface. The brand recommends these for workouts.

The UltraPlush cushions use engineered leather over the same memory foam. These are softer to the touch and lend the Beats 360 a more premium look and feel. I found both comfortable enough to wear, but I preferred the feel of the UltraPlush cushions more.

Sadly, neither completely solves the heat problem for me. Both ear cushion options seemingly provide a good enough seal for heat to build up. This forced me to take them off for a few minutes after a couple of hours to let my ears cool down. It goes to show that there isn’t a perfect solution: you either get a good grip and seal or better airflow around the ears.

Customisation

The large, interchangeable cushions not only give the Beats 360 its easily recognisable silhouette but they also expand the cans’ versatility. They release with a twist, and the padded headband, included in the box, snaps in and out using three attachment points. It’s all very straightforward.

Better still, the sensors identify which cushion type you've attached, and the headphones automatically adjust ANC, Transparency and EQ tuning to compensate for the different acoustic properties of Performance Knit and UltraPlush. Neat.

There are four frame colours – Black, Cloud, Sky and Pink – while additional Performance Knit kits come in six colours, and UltraPlush comes in Black and Cloud. Start mixing different ear and headband cushions, and Beats says there are theoretically 256 combinations.

(This would obviously involve mixing different colours for the two ear cushions and the headband, which I don’t think looks good, but it certainly is an option.)

If you want to use the Beats 360 for workouts, having a spare set of ear cushions is almost essential. Sweat and dirt will build up in these contact points, and trust me when I say that you don’t want to walk around with sweaty, smelly headphones on your head when you aren’t in the gym.

Having one set of cushions and headbands for workouts and another for everyday use makes the Beats 360 a truly “360” headphone option you can wear all day, every day. Beats says the Performance Knit cushions can be hand-washed in warm, soapy water, so having a spare set is great in the sense that it lets you wear the headphones for work while the other dries at home.

Controls and connectivity

The Beats 360 uses physical controls, something I prefer over the touch variety. Along the edge of the earcups, you’ll find four push buttons to turn the headphones on and off, switch between listening modes, adjust volume and start/stop playback. Beats says the rear placement is designed to make everything accessible with your thumbs.

And while it’s true, the button design is far from ergonomic. They are simply too flush, so I have to feel around the earcup to figure out where my thumb is supposed to go. Apple's AirPods Max 2 is considerably more expensive, but its prominent Digital Crown and separate noise-control button demonstrate how much easier headphone controls can be to identify without looking.

The Beats 360 is also notable for returning to the company's own silicon. Inside is the fourth generation of Beats' proprietary chipset, a welcome departure from Apple’s H-series chip. Don’t get me wrong, I have no qualms with Apple’s chips, but I’m glad Beats is pushing its own technology.

Thankfully, you don’t miss out on any native Apple features. There's one-touch pairing, iCloud pairing, Automatic Switching, Audio Sharing, Find My, hands-free Siri and Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. Android gets Fast Pair, Audio Switch, Find Hub and additional controls through the Beats app.

That platform-agnostic approach remains one of Beats' biggest strengths. You can use an iPhone without feeling like you've bought a second-rate Apple product, but switching to Android doesn't suddenly strip half the useful features away either.

Sound quality and noise cancellation

Thankfully, none of that personality comes at the expense of sound quality. The 360 uses a completely new acoustic platform built around 40mm dual-magnet drivers, a high-dynamic-range amplifier and triple-layer (!) diaphragms. Beats says the new transducer produces 12dB higher output than the Studio Pro driver while keeping distortion low.

This isn't the aggressively bass-heavy Beats tuning people might remember from years ago. The new setup has plenty of low-end weight, and the overall presentation feels powerful, but it’s far from muddy, with impressive clarity and separation (alongside the punch you'd expect from the brand, of course).

That said, the Beats 360 are enjoyable headphones and not analytical ones, but in all fairness, that's exactly how I'd want a pair of Beats to sound.

Active noise cancellation is another strong point. Beats claims the 360 delivers up to 1.75 times more total noise cancellation than Studio Pro, using eight ANC microphones and substantially more processing power.

It goes without saying that I can’t tell if the ANC is exactly 1.75x stronger than the Beats Studio Pro – what does that even mean? What I do know is that isolation is excellent, even in noisy environments like trains and offices.

Ambient noise barely comes through, which is great news as the Beats 360 lets you listen to music at lower volumes even in public. I appreciate good ANC, as I feel it helps preserve my hearing by letting me avoid high volumes.

The Transparency mode isn't quite as convincing. External sounds occasionally seem to arrive a fraction of a second later than I expect. It almost feels like the algorithm needs a bit more time to think about the noise before acting on it. As a result, the effect is slightly less immediate and natural than the best implementations I've used.

It's hardly disastrous, and it strikes me as something Beats could potentially improve through a software update, but right now it's one of the few areas where the 360 doesn't feel as polished as its ANC performance.

Battery life and charging

Beats says the headphones can last up to 32 hours with ANC and Personalised Spatial Audio enabled, which is not mind-blowing but still above average. Strangely enough, Transparency mode drains the Beats 360 faster and can fully deplete the battery in just 24 hours.

Fast Fuel provides up to one hour of playback from a five-minute charge. Thirty-two hours is competitive even before you remember that Beats is quoting that figure with ANC running.

Sony's WH-1000XM6 offers up to 30 hours with noise cancellation switched on, as does the Sonos Ace. Bose's new QuietComfort 2nd Gen manages 24 hours, while AirPods Max 2 is rated for 20 hours with ANC. Sennheiser remains the battery monster of this part of the market with the Momentum 5 promising up to 57 hours with ANC enabled.

So the Bats 360 isn't the outright endurance champion, but 32 hours puts it comfortably towards the stronger end of the premium ANC category. Better still, it works like a dream (see above).

It's hardly a major criticism when the overall battery lasts this long, but Beats' fast-charging figures no longer look especially fast. I’ve been listening to the Beats 360 for a week, and I only had to top it once. The quick charge function is particularly handy when you forget to charge the cans overnight.

Verdict

The Beats 360 is one of the most interesting headphones the brand has made in years. Sound quality is excellent, battery life is strong even with ANC running, and the comparatively lightweight construction combines with a secure fit that genuinely works for exercise.

They aren’t perfect, though, with their high clamp force and overheating issue. I also really miss the Studio Pro's wired listening option. Oh, and there are the issues with the buttons. However, the 360 feels like Beats returning to its roots by producing premium, cool-looking headphones that remain attainable for a wider audience. And I like that.

I came away from my Beats 360 review thinking they were some of the best headphones the brand has made in years.

They sound excellent, the active noise cancellation is much stronger than before, the battery life is impressive, and their secure fit finally makes working out in premium over-ear Beats feel like proper running headphones.

And while the new cans sound better than the Beats Studio Pro, I would still choose the older, cheaper headphones for long-haul flights for one simple reason.

Simply put, the Beats 360 has no wired audio connection, which means I can't use them for in-flight entertainment, forcing me to use the terrible cabled earbuds they give you on flights. Boo-hoo.

Newer isn’t always better

That omission makes sense when you look at how Beats designed the 360. The headphones use what the brand calls a "true wireless architecture," with separate batteries, antennas and processing components in each earcup.

This approach lets Beats reduce the hardware passing through the headband and optimise overall balance and fit. The result is a comparatively lightweight, secure headphone that feels much better suited to exercise and all-day use.

Conversely, the slightly heavier Studio Pro offers a 3.5mm analogue input, which might sound increasingly old-fashioned in 2026, but it remains incredibly useful on an aircraft.

Plug the included cable into the entertainment system in the seat in front of you, and you can listen to films and TV through your own headphones instead of relying on the usually dreadful pair handed out by the airline.

And there's an even bigger advantage! When you connect Studio Pro using the 3.5mm analogue cable, the headphones don't need battery power to play, which is enormously useful on a long-haul flight.

ANC won't work indefinitely because that still relies on the headphones' electronics, but basic audio playback through the cable does.

If the battery dies halfway across the Atlantic, or you've simply forgotten to charge the headphones before leaving home, you can still plug them into the seat and carry on watching.

With the Beats 360, once the battery is gone, so is your audio. Admittedly, the 32-hour battery life means that's unlikely on a single flight, but that's not really the point.

Sure, some newer aircraft and airlines now offer Bluetooth pairing, but it's far from universal. For most flights, the seat socket remains the easiest way to use your own headphones.

You can buy a Bluetooth transmitter and plug that into the aircraft's headphone jack, of course, but that's another gadget to remember, charge and carry around.

The Beats 360 is the more advanced product in almost every other respect. It has Beats' newer fourth-generation proprietary chipset, stronger ANC, interchangeable cushions, IPX4 sweat and water resistance, and longer ANC battery life.

So for commuting, exercise and everyday use, I'd take the 360. For a 14-hour flight from London to Tokyo, I'll still pack the Studio Pro.

Sometimes the boring feature matters most

It's easy to dismiss wired headphones as something the industry should have left behind years ago. For phones and everyday listening, I'd probably agree, as I almost never plug headphones into my smartphone anymore.

However, a simple 3.5mm socket gives Studio Pro flexibility the Beats 360 doesn't have, and analogue playback without battery power makes it especially well suited to long trips.

None of this makes me like the Beats 360 any less. They're still the Beats headphones I'd choose for almost everything else. But until in-flight Bluetooth becomes genuinely universal, the supposedly old-fashioned Studio Pro will keep one very important place in my bag.

Beats just permanently reduced the Studio Pro's price, so if you like cabled listening, now is the time to get one.

I really like the new Beats 360, but if there's one thing I'd rush to buy at launch, it isn't necessarily the headphones themselves, but the cushions.

To entice people to splash the cash on its new over-ear noise-cancelling headphones, Beats is launching replacement 360 Cushion Kits for just £9.95 in the UK, down from £49.95.

Each kit includes replacement ear pads and a matching headband cushion, and at that introductory price, I think they're almost impossible to ignore.

That's especially true if you're planning to use the Beats 360 as running headphones.

The headphones are Beats' first over-ear model with an IPX4 sweat- and water-resistance rating, and the supplied Performance Knit cushions have specifically been designed with workouts in mind.

The cushions twist off, while the padded headband section snaps out, making it easy to swap between different sets.

After a sweaty workout, the last thing I want is to put the same damp ear cushions back on for an afternoon of work.

Having one set for training and another for everyday listening makes much more sense.

Beats says the Performance Knit cushions can be cleaned, but they'll obviously need time to dry.

A spare set means you can swap them over and keep using the headphones.

The £80 saving is the real deal

At the normal £49.95 price, two additional cushion kits would cost £99.90.

Buy those same two kits during the introductory promotion, and you'll pay £19.90, saving a whopping £80.

While I'm sure Beats will eventually drop the price of the new headphones, you might not save much on the cans themselves if you're also planning to buy at least one set of replacement cushions.

The promotional price runs from 22 September until 31 October 2026 in the UK, with a limit of three kits per customer and availability while stocks last. After that, the normal price of £49.95 applies.

At £9.95 a set, I'd probably buy two. One for sweaty workouts, one for everyday listening, and potentially £80 left in my pocket compared with doing the same thing later.

Head over to Apple to order your Beats 360 and cushions.

Anyone who's sat in a proper racing simulator knows that there's quite a difference between a proper rig and the sort of setup that most of us could probably afford to build at home. I'm not knocking the sort of Logitech wheels and pedals that can instantly upgrade your home racing experience, but the sort of rig I drove last week is in a different category.

Over the course of nearly an hour in the rig at Sim Motorsport, a simulation centre at the ultra-historic Brands Hatch raceway in the UK's southeast, I got a sense for just how impressive modern sims have become, and how integral they are to the teaching process for aspiring racing drivers.

What took me by surprise, though, was how a recent upgrade in the sims' audio setup has helped those drivers (and, by a smaller margin, me) shave even more time off their laps.

It's now nearly a year since Sim Motorsport partnered with Innit Audio, a Swedish audio startup that's trying to get the word out about its new approach to spatial audio. Innit's founders have managed to effectively magic up an algorithm that can make two-channel audio sound drastically more realistic to the human ear.

The technical details of how its system works can get baffling quickly, but it basically comes down to more properly representing how sound actually travels to our ears when we hear it. Effectively, when you hear something on your right-hand side, you actually hear it through both your right and left ears, but when you listen to most audio in headphones, the right channel is exclusively in your right ear.

That makes headphones and gaming headsets often feel like bubbles that don't really represent real-world sound, for all that we're all really used to that feeling by now. Innit's system feeds the sound into both channels in marginal ways that mimic the real-world movement of sound waves around your head.

When you try it out, at times it can be like a magic trick – whether listening to music or in-game audio, turning it on can make for bafflingly fuller and more 360-degree sound, even though the audio input hasn't changed in any way.

In the context of a racing simulator, the benefits are marginal but crucial, as explained by a whole heap of testimonials that Innit has been gathering from pro drivers who train in sims constantly. The embedded clip below gives a taste of it if you have headphones on.

With the system turned off, you hear the game as you'd expect, and there's nothing clearly wrong with that. Turn it on, though, and you're suddenly hearing more detail with far clearer placement, including the audio of your tyres with more individual clarity.

That sort of audio is massive for natural and instinctive decision-making while racing, and means that you're basically even closer to the real experience of the race you're training for. Some drivers have told Innit that the audio upgrade gets them in the zone quicker, and others have said that it can shave an entire second off tight lap times.

In my time in the sim rig, I wasn't able to toggle Innit on and off, so I couldn't do any sort of scientific comparison – and I'm hardly an experienced driver in the first place. Still, there's no doubt that the audio coming from the neck-mounted gaming speaker being used was way more immersive than I expected, and did indeed, at times, let me make calls about my rear tyre positioning, in particular, with just a little less conscious thought than I'd have expected.

Innit's system was easier to get to grips with in a demo I tried later in the day, where I had the ability to toggle it on and off midway through audio – no matter where it was from. Playing music from Spotify or YouTube, the difference was stark each and every time I turned it on.

There were a couple of cases where I felt like it threw the mix of the music slightly off, but in most cases I heard fuller sound and got more of a sense of my own presence in the soundstage. That's pretty key to what Innit hopes to achieve – its team talks a lot about expanding the sound experience out so that it doesn't just seem like a bubble of audio around your head.

Bernt Böhmer, Innit's founder, told me that while sim racing is where they're currently showcasing Innit's potential to upgrade one's experience, it's far from limited to the track – and for him, the idea started with music: "It's kind of funny because having a background in music and music labs, and all of that, and creating that sort of equipment, I always approached this from a music point of view. So I wanted to recreate reality when music was playing back".

One huge challenge facing Innit is how it gets its audio renderer into people's ears. It could be included right on the chipset in earbuds and headphones, if it were licensed by a partner, but right now the only real route is to download its software to your PC and subscribe to use it there.

Innit's team is clearly hugely keen on the idea of getting the system onto smartphones, since that's where most of us consume the vast majority of our audio each day. That's a daunting process, though, with neither Apple nor Google making it easy to layer this sort of audio processing into their operating systems, for security reasons.

It's a little hard to know whether that means that in a few years I'll nod in recognition when I see Innit's logo attached to a big audio release from a brand like Sony or Sennheiser, swapping out more interventionist and obvious spatialisation tech for this lighter, potentially more accurate-feeling approach; or whether the tech will instead first end up in a phone, laptop, gaming handheld or some other device like it.

Either way, I came away from my demos and sim session feeling impressed by an audio solution that's clearly winning people over via word of mouth. If it can break out of the sim racing scene, it'll be fascinating to see where Innit ends up.

Sonos has had a bit of a ride over the past few years. The audio brand has never stopped making great products at its core, though, with the current line of new 'Ultra' models turning the dial up (the Beam Ultra soundbar is well worth your attention).

Much as not everyone loved the brand's first headphones – the Ace, which I thought were super and incredibly comfortable – it has taken on abundant feedback and condensed those learnings into the follow-up model, the Sonos Ace Ultra on review.

These new over-ears aren't just an 'Ace+', though, as the Ace Ultra will act nice among your Sonos network via Wi-Fi, even handover audio to other Sonos products or groups in your system with the press of a button. The Ultra is just far more, well, Sonos.

It's also far improved in terms of hardware and features, with a new driver unit, the benefit of Grammy- and Oscar-winning audio engineers part of the tuning process, new adaptive active noise-cancelling (ANC) enhancements, and a new adaptive equaliser (EQ) too.

So how does all this newness fare? I've been testing the Sonos Ace Ultra for two weeks, both at home via my Sonos network, and when on the go – from lunchtime walks to public transport commutes and even long-haul flights – and must say that Sonos is back with a bang.

Price & Availability

Being premium headphones as they are, the Sonos Ace Ultra's launch price isn't small – set at £399 / $449 / €449 / AU$699 – but is competitive against its closest rivals.

You're also getting a lot more for your money compared to the original Ace model, without a price increase. Indeed, the UK market's RRP is actually lower by £50 for the Ultra.

At the time of writing this review we're in a pre-order phase, with the Ace Ultra set to go on sale on 29 September. You can purchase it in four colours: Black, Soft White, Agave or Sand.

What's New?

During my travels I've carted both the original Sonos Ace and new Ace Ultra in tandem, as a tried-and-tested comparison piece will be forthcoming – just as we've done with the Sonos Beam 2 versus Beam Ultra.

Regarding 'what's new?', however, and it might be easier to say what isn't new. While the Ace Ultra look really familiar, certainly akin to the original, they've been built from the ground up – yet maintain that similar aesthetic and 'Sonos look'.

Re-engineered, starting with that new 40mm driver, which is housed in user-replaceable earcups (same goes for the battery – which now also offers 35-hours per charge, up from 24 hours previously) that make for an incredibly comfy wearing experience.

More microphones have been added – there are now 10 in total – for noise-cancelling (ANC) that Sonos claims is twice as effective as before. It's also able to use those for beam-forming calls with higher clarity.

The added points of measure available from these mics also means a new adaptive system that adjusts ANC automatically (and even EQ if you wish – it can be toggled off in the app), ensuring a better listening experience if, say, you pop your glasses on and add a broader gap between your head that the headphones can adjust for.

A key internal piece of hardware is a new chip that supports Sonos' Headphone Engine 2. This is what enables Wi-Fi connectivity so that the Ace Ultra can be seen as part of your Sonos ecosystem – they never show in the app per a Sonos speaker or group, though, which feels like a miss. Headphone Linking audio handover is the one benefit of this – and something the original Ace headphones will never offer, as the physical hardware isn't there to handle it.

Similar to Bose, Sonos also offers Dynamic Head-Tracking for added immersion – whether Bluetooth listening or for the TV Audio Swap feature (which also uses Wi-Fi, but with the soundbar rather than headphones handling the processing), when you can pass a Sonos soundbar's output to the headphones with three-dimensional audio.

Setup

Now, the one blip that I had with my Sonos Ace Ultra regarded the setup. Keep in mind, of course, that these review headphones are pre-release, with even a pre-release software activation to enable the Headphone Linking feature.

Because, for me, that audio handover feature didn't work at all with my first setup attempt. I had to reset the headphones multiple times, opted to run an iPhone setup for iOS after the initial Android failure, and found the whole experience really irksome.

However, it did work eventually – both on Android and iOS platforms – and Sonos even sent a second Ace Ultra to my colleague, who set up his product in an instant, with zero issues, and Headphone Linking working like a dream. Isolated and unfortunate experience for me? It would seem so. But it would be remiss of me not to mention it here, just in case others have a similar battle.

I've found Headphone Linking a fun feature, but it's a little slow – it takes a few seconds of pressing and holding the Content Key before an audible sound confirms success and your audio stream is sent over to the physically nearest group or speaker in your Sonos ecosystem.

Note: you cannot run the Ace Ultra as part of a group – it can only handover the audio and cease its own playback. I think more could be done there, such as offering grouped playback so someone could piggyback on a session in a different room while wearing the headphones.

I also think that more can be achieved in general in how the Ace Ultra are presented in the app. As the headphones feature the hardware to act like any Sonos speaker, their absence front-and-centre in the Sonos 27 app seems odd – you have to scroll down to the Bluetooth section to get a better look and dive into the available options.

Once there, however, there's a lot of control that's very handy. You can toggle between the ANC and Aware modes, decide if you want adaptive ANC and/or EQ to be active, toggle Head Tracking on or off, set up the Headphone Linking and separate TV Audio Swap feature, tweak the EQ (three- or eight-band are available), and view the battery life remaining.

Design

From a design perspective I've zero qualms with Sonos' vision in the Ace Ultra – except for calling one colour 'Agave' when I'd argue it's far from it. I did love the original Ace's look and feel, too, which certainly have a similar vibe – Sonos hasn't ripped up a very solid rulebook, which I can only commend.

The Ace Ultra manage to look distinctive without being outlandish; oozing class and consideration without shouting about it. From the subtle logo embossed on the right earcup's exterior, to zero screws or prominent seams being visible, the level of detail here is beyond many other headphone-makers – and I've tested pretty much all the best headphones of recent years.

It's not just for the sake of looks, though, with the Ace Ultra proving supremely comfortable. I'd said the same of the original Ace, and while the two do differ marginally in terms of physicality, I've worn these headphones on a 15-hour flight for the duration and largely forgotten they were on my head.

The physical controls are lovely to use, too, with that Content Key easy to locate due to its protrusion and just as easy to adjust – it can toggle up or down for volume control, or be pressed (in sequence) for play/pause/skip controls. Below it, the ANC button simply cycles through the available modes.

The fit is very comfortable, with no excessive clamping force, and the 322g weight is no burden either. A contender for the most comfortable headphones on the market, beyond even Bose, Sony and Bowers? I reckon so. That alone is reason enough to consider buying these, whether a Sonos diehard or a newcomer with no Sonos kit.

The only not-so-good part about the design? The case. It's basically the same as the original Ace's largely maligned one. The fact the zip can catch on the fabric of the case itself is a major annoyance. It can mark too easily, too, and then look scruffy as a result. The actual layout, size, cable inclusions and whatnot are all fine though.

Sound & ANC

The sound of these headphones depends on the quality of fit, which is where I've heard the adaptive ANC feature act in real-time to great effect.

While on a plane at 41,000ft, with that classic and almost 'fizzy' white noise in full effect, I woke up wearing the headphones and popped my glasses on. This added a gap and the background sound was more present – but then, just as quickly as I'd added my eyewear, it dulled somewhat due to the software.

The ANC is therefore highly effective, able to blot out bothersome external sound with confidence, creating an enclosed listening experience where you can focus on what's important – be that music, podcasts, your TV's audio or whatever else.

The original Sonos Ace was criticised by some for being a little too 'flat' sounding and not having default bass output as large as some rivals. The Ace Ultra is a more lively listen, thanks to that new 40mm drivers and tuning, but can be further tweaked as you please.

As I've said: the Sonos 27 app provides access to a detailed eight-band EQ, but there's even a loudness toggle to amp up the sound further, should you want. So whatever you're listening to and however you want the frequency range to be enhanced, it's all at your fingertips.

You may choose to make no adjustments and that'd be just fine, though. There's all the warm bass, broad soundstage, vocal cut-through and sparkling top-end output without needing to do a thing. Bluetooth has been my typical way to listen, but a USB-C-to-C is in the box for Hi-Res Audio wired listening (and a USB-C-to-3.5mm for other wired connections).

Sonos Ace Ultra: Verdict

The Ace Ultra introduce a feature that really should have been part of the brand's headphones story from day dot: Headphone Linking audio handover to other products in your Sonos ecosystem.

While I've found that feature to be charming (despite initial protestations in my personal setup) – as you can handoff from the headphone's Bluetooth connection to local network speaker Wi-Fi at the press of a button – I've typically used the Ace Ultra standalone wireless via Bluetooth.

In that format, however, I've found the Ace Ultra's astounding comfort, incredible battery life – 35 hours per charge is impressive – and both quality sound and enhanced ANC to be as good as – or often even better than – its key competition from Bose, Sony, Bowers, et al.

Whether you're a Sonos user who's been waiting for a more integrated pair of Sonos headphones, or you're just looking for a class act where design and audio are concerned, Sonos is back with a bang in the Ace Ultra.

Also Consider

Options, options, options. That's very much the case in the headphones market at this kind of asking price.

If you want to save money and care not for Headphone Linking then look to the original Ace to make savings. They still offer the brilliant TV Audio Swap with a compatible Sonos soundbar, which is great for private movie watching without disturbing others. Wider Wi-Fi compatibility isn't possible, though.

If you're not in on the whole Sonos game, however, there are plenty of alternatives. Bowers & Wilkins' PX7 S3 are the most luxurious-looking you could buy. Sony's WH-1000XM6 perhaps have the best ANC going. And Bose's QC Ultra Headphones will save weight for epic transportability – without costing you quite as much.

Bose has announced the expansion of its open-ear range, building on the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds that launched in 2024. The additions expand on the trend for earbuds that don't cut you off from the outside world, without compromising on sound quality.

While the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) build on the predecessor, Bose is introducing an entirely new option, the Bose Sport Open Earbuds. As the name suggests, they are specifically designed for those exercising.

This lands exactly where the open-ear trend is so popular, with those running or working out who want to listen to music, but don't want to be cut off from the world around them.

The Sport Open Ultra retain the cuff design, leaving the ear canal clear, but have a softer design finished in silicone for a stable fit while active, while offering an IP54 rating to protect against sweat or that occasional rain shower.

There are custom drivers promising rich audio, with automatic volume to adapt to ambient noise levels. The battery is said to last for 7 hours, while the case will provide an additional 22 hours.

Textured buttons provide control with sweaty fingers, whether that's taking a call or switching workout tracks.

The Bose Sport Open Earbuds will be available for £179.59, on sale from 15 October.

Expanding on the flagship offering, the new 2nd Gen Bose Ultra Open Earbuds promise improved sound performance and call quality, while also addressing one of our criticisms of the originals by extending the battery life.

That results in up to 9 hours of playback, with the case offering an additional 19.5 hours. There are new drivers for deeper bass and increased volume, again with auto volume that will adjust to the ambient sound levels.

Adding to the feature set is Cinema Mode, which is designed to expand the spatial soundstage, boosting the experience of podcasts and video for more immersive audio. That's on top of support for aptX Adaptive and Snapdragon Sound for a great experience with compatible Android devices.

The design gets a tweak but sticks to the same overall aesthetic, but with a premium lift so they look a little better.

The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) cost £299.95 and will be available from 1 October.

Both new pairs of Bose Open Earbuds use Bluetooth Core 5.4, with support for SBC and AAC, while also offering Google Fast Pair for Android devices. There's support for Spotify Tap, while support for Google Find Hub and, Alexa+ and a shortcut for Apple Music will arrive via a future software update.

It might be overly simplistic to view the entire wireless earbud market as one big attempt to rival Apple's AirPods Pro, but as someone who returns to his AirPods Pro 3, I do sort of look at it that way. If you can rival Apple's convenience and at least match its sound quality and ergonomics, you're off to a good start.

Probably my favourite non-Apple earbuds ever are the Technics EAH-AZ100, and I think it's a little surprising that it's taken this long for another brand to get close to the high-water mark they set.

Sennheiser has done just that, though, with the Momentum True Wireless 5, a truly excellent new set of earbuds that deserve your attention. I've used them nonstop for a couple of weeks for this review – and they've made a lasting impression.

Price and Availability

The Momentum True Wireless 5 can be yours right now, having been revealed and released in late August 2026.

The asking price is £249.99 in the UK, $299.95 in the US, €299 in the EU and AU$499 in Australia. That means it's a chunk more expensive than getting a pair of AirPods Pro 3, and puts the earbuds on a par with flagships from Sony and a bunch of others.

That means these are obviously premium earbuds, as reflected in the fact that Sennheiser makes a fair few more affordable pairs you could also consider, including the Accentum True Wireless model from a couple of years ago.

Design and Features

There seems to be a bit of a rule in the audio industry about major redesigns of earbuds and headphones – each design gets at least a couple of outings before it's changed in a major way.

That's how I'd look at the Momentum True Wireless 3 and True Wireless 4, which were really similar to each other, and have now been completely rewritten in the form of these earbuds, the Momentum True Wireless 5.

Where those older earbuds tried to stand out from the crowd with a fabric-covered case that was quite interesting, Sennheiser has gone more mainstream this time around. That case is instead finished in matte plastic with a slight speckle finish, topped with Sennheiser's logo. It's also taller rather than flat and squat like the older one.

The earbuds themselves are also very different. The last two generations were quite square in their shape, but that shape has been shaved down into a far more bean-like look that's a little more obvious in its ergonomics. Sennheiser told me this didn't necessarily make each earbud smaller than last time, but that it would make them more comfortable.

Each earbud also has a circular Sennheiser logo on its outer edge, and this is the touch-sensitive zone for some customisable controls. You can tap up to three times on each side, with each of those being mapped to a different control.

As befits their price, active noise-cancelling (ANC) is present and correct, and probably the setting I've been cycling the most using those touch controls.

The earbuds and case have one massive trick up their sleeve that I want to spotlight and praise, too: repairability. We've heard a lot about the EU requirements around user-replaceable batteries recently, and indeed the number of exemptions that are going to be flying around (here's looking at you, Apple).

Sennheiser has embraced the opportunity, though, and that means the Momentum True Wireless 5 is hugely future-proof. Each earbud sports a couple of recessed screws to let you take them apart for battery replacement, while the case needs only one screw to do the same.

This is massive for longevity, with battery degradation being one of the very few flaws that can affect this sort of higher-end earbud over time. Once your earbuds no longer last a satisfactory span, Sennheiser will sell you a replacement you can fit yourself – what a step forward, and here's hoping it pressures other brands into following suit.

Out of the box, though, you can expect around 12 hours of use on a charge, with nearly three more full charges in the case making for about 40 hours without needing to plug it in. You also get IP54 dust and weather protection, meaning they're safe for use in workouts or bad weather.

Sound and Performance

It's nice to see Sennheiser putting the R&D work into adding repairability to its earbuds, but you wouldn't necessarily want that to come at the expense of sound quality. Luckily, I can't find much to fault in terms of how the Momentum True Wireless 5 perform sonically.

I've long been a fan of Sennheiser's neutrality and its calm approach to sound signatures – it avoids the temptation to pump the bass past reasonable limits, and tends to keep things sensible on a few fronts. That trend has continued with the Momentum True Wireless 5, which sounds pretty exemplary.

I've used the earbuds as my daily driver for multiple weeks, including on an overseas trip, so I'll cover off their ANC ability first. It's extremely solid, dulling the hum of a plane cabin really well for a few hours, but also making the London Underground far less of a sensory overload.

This was an area where there was improvement to be had from the Momentum True Wireless 4, so it's great to see a decent stride be made. It's probably still not quite up there with the AirPods Pro 3 in my experience, but I'd feel comfortable putting it in the same bracket, which is more than enough.

How do the Momentum True Wireless 5 fare with music? It's impressive. I've been genre-hopping with the earbuds, including quite a lot of mellow material like J.J. Cale's album Naturally and Green River from Creedence Clearwater Revival. The acoustic texture of both came across really clearly and characterfully with Sennheiser's default tuning.

Jungle's new album Sunshine is a warm delight, meanwhile, and its hints of bass were nicely nuanced and detailed. Going back to my most familiar ground, Justice's debut album Cross is a monster of bass deployed tactically, and it too was a punchy success on these Momentum earbuds.

That's a pretty great outlook, and the picture's further rounded out by Sennheiser's Control+ app, which gives you a bunch of tweaks to make and settings to figure out.

Being able to swap what the touch controls do is a great touch, although I can't pretend to love the controls themselves that much. They're a little finicky, and the reality is that few brands have nailed on-earbud controls at this point.

Verdict

I'm hugely impressed by the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 – just as I was with the over-ear Momentum Wireless 5 a few months ago. These are earbuds that do exactly what I need, whether that's because of rock-solid ANC or superbly balanced sound.

After a lot of noise about whether Sennheiser had a future at all around the turn of the year, this is a pretty phenomenal way to silence the crowd. The brand now has 5-star headphones and earbuds fresh out of the gate, and retains a pretty loyal following thanks to the work of previous generations.

If you need some new wireless earbuds, I think it would be crazy to ignore the Momentum True Wireless 5 moving forward – and I can only hope that they usher in a new era of user-replaceable batteries in earbuds.

Also Consider

I've mentioned them in this review already, and Technics still just about retains my personal award for "best non-AirPods earbuds", but it's by the merest sliver over the Momentum on review. The AZ100s are brilliant, comfortable, and because of their age, they're now cheaper – but they don't have those replaceable batteries.

Meanwhile, the obvious other point to make is that the AirPods Pro 3 remain phenomenally convenient and reliable, and if you're a big Apple user then their device-swapping smarts can't really be beaten. I still use them every day for music, media and when out running – and that probably won't change unless something big happens.

Ever since British tech startup Nothing sprang up five years ago, its focus has largely been on releasing quality devices, with high-level components but at very competitive prices.

That has permeated its Android phones, earbuds and, more recently, over-ear headphones. The Nothing Headphone (1) was slightly different, in that it was more at the premium end of the spectrum – not least thanks to its partnership with audiophile brand KEF. But ultimately Nothing still managed to undercut similarly spec'ed rivals.

Now it looks like it's back for another stab, but this time it seems to be taking on the big boys directly.

The Nothing Headphone (1) Pro has leaked, with a report by Dealabs claiming that a follow-up is imminent. And considering it's specifications and, most significantly, the suggested price, we could be looking at the brand taking the next step.

According to the French tech site's sources, the Headphone (1) Pro will feature a triple-driver architecture, with bass, precision and XMEMS type treble drivers. This has the potential for a more refined and solid sound performance, to compete with the likes of Sony, Bose and Bowers & Wilkins.

It'll have Hi-Res Audio and LDAC support, it's claimed, along with spatial audio and sound customisation capabilities. And there will be improved noise cancellation, with real-time ANC using 10 microphones to block ambient sounds more effectively.

Battery life is said to last up to 60 hours of playback in the headphones themselves, while Bluetooth 6.1 will be on board for wireless streaming. Physical touch controls will also feature on the headset's aluminium shell, the the earcups will be covered by scratch-resistant glass. IP52 water and dust proofing rounds up the leaked specs.

Perhaps the most surprising element to the early information is its price. It is claimed that the Nothing Headphone (1) Pro will cost $399 / €349. That's also likely to translate to £349 in the UK too.

That's naturally a step up on the £299 of the original Headphone (1) and is considerably more than the Headphone (a) price, which started at £149.

Indeed, if genuine, it puts the Headphone (1) Pro on a par with the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QC Ultra 2 alternatives. So it'll be interesting to hear them in action to find out whether they can match or even beat those hugely popular pairs.

We have a few weeks to wait before then though – Dealabs says that the launch won't be until 29 September. We'll keep our ears to the ground until then.

Apple has announced its fifth generation AirPods and they blur the line between the entry and pro models more than ever before.

More durable and with live translation capabilities – much like the AirPods Pro – the AirPods 5 also feature better active noise cancellation. Apple claims that it works 50% more effectively than the last-gen, and with improved audio playback.

The design is largely the same, but the new AirPods are now rated IP57 for dust and water resistance. There's a bigger battery offering up to five hours of playback time with ANC activated, while the USB-C charging case expands that to up to 20 hours.

Another new feature of the upgraded buds is that they support the new Siri AI functionality coming with iOS 27. And there are two models that will be available – with a standard variant and a step-up pair that come with a wireless charging case.

This additional version also features volume controls on the stem of the right AirPod – a feature also migrated from the AirPods Pro.

The standard Apple AirPods 5. are priced at $129 / £129 and they're available to pre-order from today. They'll ship on 18 September 2026.

The step-up model with on stem audio controls, wireless charging case and longer battery life are priced at $149 / £149.

There is no new AirPods Pro version announced as yet, but with the features added to these entry buds, you have to wonder whether we need a new Pro. At least until the variant with an AI camera in the buds arrives (likely early next year).

T3 is covering all of the new Apple announcements live – just follow the news as it happens in our regularly updated blog.

Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and admit when you've made a device so good that retiring it makes no sense. Sony's basically doing that by acknowledging that its flagship headphones from two generations ago, the WH-1000XM4, remains its most popular model ever. Now it's bringing them back.

The WH-1000XM4 has apparently sold over 10 million units by Sony's own reckoning, which is a fairly huge threshold for some headphones that were really quite premium in price for much of their shelf-life. As a result of the enduring popularity of the design (since modernised in the XM5 and XM6 models), Sony's now launching the WH-1000XM4C, which changes very little about the older cans.

Sony says the new model is "based on" the older one, but in truth it's almost identical, featuring the same sound and noise-cancelling from back in 2016. You will now get 10-band EQ control, though, which could be welcome, and a new RRP accompanies the launch – £219.

It'll be fascinating to see whether bringing in this newer tier of essentially an older headphone will undercut the momentum of the XM5 and XM6s, but maybe this is a sign that said momentum wasn't all that powerful in the first place.

It's not the only set of headphones Sony is putting out this month, either. It's also launching the £100 WH-CH730N, a revision that puts a surprisingly lovely design on some affordable over-ears. Then there's the £50 WH-CH530, an on-ear option that similarly refreshes an existing model.

This all adds up to mean Sony's headphone lineup covers pretty much every price bracket from the very high-end (represented by the super-premium WH-1000XX The Collexion) right down to the very entry-level, and it's hard to argue with the idea behind that move.

At a time when people are watching prices get hiked on all manner of tech devices and launches, having options for those who want to spend less is hard to argue with. That said, this is also the first time I've seen a big tech brand bring out a new version of a 10-year-old product like this, so it'll be fascinating to see whether the XM4's popularity waxes or wanes as a result.

All of these headphones will be available later this month, according to Sony's estimates.

The beginning of September was huge for Sonos, which revealed a new Sonos 27 app architecture, new Sonos Beam Ultra soundbar, and new Sonos Ace Ultra headphones.

It's the last of those that I got to try in Berlin, at an event running adjacent to the IFA tech expo's calendar. These new headphones play nice with other Sonos products, able to handover audio with ease – which is what I was keenest to test out.

The feature is thanks to the new Headphones Engine 2, which sees the Ace Ultra act, in part, like other Wi-Fi-capable Sonos speakers to connect to the wider Sonos system – something that previous Ace product couldn't deliver.

I had many questions about how the feature would function, however, so have broken down in Q&A style below to explain how it all works.

What is Headphone Linking?

If you have a variety of Sonos speakers in your home, whether setup individually or as groups, then you're able to pass over what you're listening to on the Sonos Ace Ultra to those – it's called Headphone Linking.

There's no restriction on the product, so long as it's a Wi-Fi-capable Sonos – the Bluetooth-only products, like Roam, won't function in this way (just as they don't function in the same way in Sonos' overall setup).

To action this is simple: you simply press-and-hold the physical action button on the Ace Ultra, wait until it beeps, then it'll ping over to your nearest Sonos system. It's really simple to use.

What if I've got multiple groupings?

But what if you've got multiple groupings in your home? Say one kitchen setup, one bedroom, and another larger home cinema system in the lounge?

This is where the new Sonos 27 app will identify through your Wi-Fi network the nearest signal to you.

Can you fool it or can it mess up? I asked a Sonos engineer and the answer was only if you were perfectly equidistant would the system need to make a 'choice', but the company spent a long time testing to deliver the most fluid result.

Can you play on headphones and speakers?

As Ace Ultra have the hardware on board to act like a speaker, can you listen on the headphones whilst other Sonos speakers output audio – in a separate room in the house, for example?

While this could theoretically be possible, Sonos took the decision to disable such functionality. The Ace Ultra are either playing your source audio, or you hand it over to another system – you can't run the headphones in tandem with a speaker grouping.

What about the original Ace headphones?

Will this functionality be coming to the original Sonos Ace headphones? The short answer here is 'no'.

That's because the Headphones Engine 2 is part software, part hardware solution. And the chip required to run the calculations and Wi-Fi operability isn't in the original headphones.

If you want the most functionality, you'll therefore want the Ultra headphones, not the original product.

Has the TV Audio Swap feature changed at all?

One thing that the original Ace did do – and while niche, it's a feature that many love – is TV Audio Swap. This enables you to nab the audio from your soundbar and deliver it straight to the headphones.

It's also activated by a press-and-hold of the action button on the Ace Ultra (just as it is on the original Ace), but rather than functioning Headphone Linking and passing the audio over to another Sonos grouping, the app will know that audio is via an HDMI signal.

It's that HDMI hard-wiring that overrules the usual functionality, enabling the Ace Ultra to run TV Audio swap in the same way as the original Ace. As the majority processing is done on the soundbar, not the headphones, there's no disparity between Ace and Ace Ultra here.

Should I buy the Ace Ultra?

I'm not going into detail about how the Ace Ultra sound in this feature – a quick listen and I think they're superior to the original product thanks to a new driver and new tuning – but should you consider buying the latest headphones?

Absolutely. If you're a Sonos power user then the new Headphone Linking feature will expand your usability considerably. TV Audio Swap remains in tact and is still great. And the comfort of these headphones is second to none.

I'll be reviewing the new headphones in the coming weeks ahead of their 29 September on-sale date, digging into the design differences, long-term wear functionality, sound quality and ANC in minutiae detail.

Earlier this year, Shokz, the well-known open-ear earbuds brand, revealed its 5-star OpenDots 2 product.

Now the brand is elevating its partnership to premier levels, with a newly announced limited-edition version and collaboration with England star Chloe Kelly.

The England forward – whose famous Euro Championships-winning goal broke the internet in 2022 – is now breaking the mould of what Shokz has delivered before.

Modelling the limited-edition OpenDots 2 in signature pink, this new addition to the product line – under the 'Always More' campaign banner – will be a big hit for footie fans.

The tie-in makes sense: the OpenDots 2 are ideal for running and training without blocking out the outside world, so you can remain aware of your surroundings – while listening to your favourite tunes.

Kelly says: "'Always More' really resonates with me because football is a huge part of who I am, but there’s of course more to me than simply the player you see on the pitch.

"I’m always pushing myself to perform at my best, while also enjoying everything that matters to me away from the game.

That’s what I like about Shokz: it’s made for performance, but fits naturally into everyday life too.”

You can buy the limited edition pink colourway right now from uk.shokz.com, with the Shokz x Chloe Kelly Limited Edition Clutch Gift Box priced at £179 in the UK.

Be quick, though, as when that Gift Box version sells out, that's the end of availability – although the pink colourway will continue to sell thereafter, joining the current pearly white, grey and black options.

Sonos has gone all-out this week with major new reveals, adding its second-ever headphone product, the Ace Ultra, to its incoming future line-up.

That follows the all-new Sonos Beam Ultra soundbar, which brings upfiring channels to the mid-size soundbar range for the first time, improving its immersive Dolby Atmos credentials.

While the Sonos Ace Ultra may look similar to the original Sonos Ace over-ears, this newer product has been "built from the ground up" and uses an all-new 40mm driver within each earcup.

Audio handover

Crucially, however, the Ace Ultra introduces what Sonos calls its 'Headphone Engine 2', enabling the Ultra to handover audio to your other Sonos speakers.

As the Ace Ultra can act as a full-scale node in Sonos' platform, you can link them to your system in myriad ways.

This expands beyond the established TV Audio Swap feature, where the headphones can wirelessly receive three-dimensional audio from a connected Sonos soundbar.

Note, however, that as the Headphone Engine 2 feature requires specific hardware to operate, this handover feature will not be available on the original Sonos Ace product – as it doesn't have the necessary chip to operate this way.

New and improved ANC

Elsewhere, the Ace Ultra also up their active noise-cancelling (ANC) game, thanks to a new microphone arrangement – with 10 in total, marking two additional ones over the original Ace product.

An Adaptive EQ feature is designed to measure how well the earcups are sat on your head, adjusting the ANC profile accordingly based on the seal – and that'll act as a big benefit for glasses wearers.

Battery life has also been considerably improved, offering 35 hours per charge with ANC active. That's a far superior claim to the 24 hours achievable with the original Ace. There's also boost charging, said to offer up to 3 hours of use from just 3 minutes at the plug.

While the wireless format is the Ace Ultra's forte, these over-ears can also be used wired via the USB-C port. That offers Hi-Res listening up to 16-bit/48kHz for those who can serve it the correct audio formats.

Upgraded design

It's not only the drivers within that are new. Sonos has further improved the ergonomics, with the earcups' connections even more adaptable and with improved rotation

Making the most comfortable headphones even better was surely no small order, but Sonos looks to have pulled out all the stops in the Ace Ultra.

How much will a pair set you back? You can pre-order right now for the 29 September on-sale date, with retail prices fixed at £399 / $449 / AU$699 / €449.

Recently, Bose launched the QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) – sometimes abbreviated as 'QC Headphones 2' or, per the app, 'QC 2 HP' – and I've been using them for a full week.

However, over the years I've used the original Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones for hundreds of hours since their launch.

Whether at home, on walks, commuting, or flying dozens of hours on a plane – those headphones have been with me every step of the way.

Thing is, the 'basic' QC Headphones 2 are mighty similar to the pricier QC Ultra Headphones 2. So what exactly is the difference and which one wins?

I've side-by-side tested Bose's two QC Headphones so you don't have to, highlighting their differences to help in your purchase decision.

Price

The Bose QC Ultra Headphones 2 went on sale in September 2025, priced at £449 ($449). They've since dropped in price in the UK, however, and you can buy for £349.

The newer Bose QC Headphones 2 (i.e. not the Ultra) went on sale this month, in August 2026, priced at £299 ($359).

Even with price drops, however, the Ultra ultimately still cost more – so just what more do you get and is the extra outlay actually worth it?

Design & Controls

I'll caveat this section by saying that I really don't like the silver finish of the Ultra headphones that I possess – I think they look tacky. Go with one of the other colourways would be my suggestion.

In terms of weight – and I put each pair on my digital kitchen scales to check this – the Headphones 2 come in at 239g, while the Ultra are a little more, at 263g.

That weight difference ultimately comes down to the material choices in construction. While the Ultra may look plasticky in places, it's the only product with aluminium as part of its build makeup – the QC 2 HP is all plastic.

The weight difference is marginal for comfort, with both headphones using protein leather coatings on their earcups and headband areas. Both offer the same slide-adjustable headband mechanism, too, which feels great.

So which is more comfortable? I prefer the Ultra, for the simple reason the earcup openings are deeper. The base QC 2 HP have a 'step' behind the mesh within, and I find them slightly inferior as a result. It's a close race, though.

Controls are another considerable part of the difference: the Ultra has touch controls, whereas the base model has a trio of buttons for play/pause and volume up/down; it also has a physical switch for Bluetooth pairing – the Ultra opts for a simple button instead.

Sound Quality

As you might have guessed by my earcup depth comment above, the Bose QuietComfort Headphones 2 and the Ultra 2 don't possess the same drivers – although Bose doesn't state that anywhere on its website.

I'm claiming this on the basis of listening, because these two headphones do not sound the same. They both sound great, granted, but the sound profile is different.

In short, the Ultra is the better-sounding pair, with greater expansiveness across the higher frequencies. It just delivers a bit more bite and depth – which I've checked again and again by switching between the two headphones across various tracks.

However, whichever you choose you can guarantee great bass and great overall clarity. Both are also USB-C compatible for wired listening should you prefer.

Active Noise-Cancelling (ANC)

When I first received the QC Ultra Headphones 2, I was disappointed by the active noise-cancelling (ANC) – as my side-by-side tests against the first-gen QC Ultra Headphones proved it to be a downgrade in blocking out external sounds.

Software updates have progressed, though, with Bose's systems and app now in a greater place of parity. And it's fair to say that's largely the case with the ANC systems on both the QC Ultra Headphones 2 and QC Headphones 2.

Both are very good at blocking out external sounds, as I've tested at home with various degrees of fans whirring, TV noise in the background, and when commuting out and about through London.

However, the Ultra visibly feature more microphones, so ultimately have the more advanced setup. The only way I've perceived this, however, is with the QC 2 HP getting gazumped by pressure changes when on the Tube network in London – the Ultra model seems to withstand this better (although not always entirely).

Battery Life

While both these headphones are pretty close in their runtime, the official take is that the Ultra offer 30 hours of use to the QC 2 HP's 24 hours of use. The Ultra therefore take it.

Note, of course, that battery longevity will depend on listening volume and whether you activate Bose's Immersion feature within the app – which depletes the battery even more quickly (but gives an awesome three-dimensional sound stage enhancement effect).

In Conclusion

For me, both these headphones deliver 5-star sound and active noise-cancelling (ANC).

The Ultra is the better product, however, on account of its sound profile delivering slightly more bite, its higher battery offering, and greater comfort due to interior earcup structure.

Side by side the two look very similar, aside from the extra physical buttons on the QC Headphones 2 – which may be an upsell if you don't like touch-based controls – and I'd think carefully about which colourway you choose, too.

So it's a close run race, but the Ultra take the crown. Whether those slight gains are enough for you to pay the extra is another question entirely, though – because the lower price point adds obvious appeal too.

When I first received Bose's QuietComfort Headphones Ultra a few years ago, I was blown away by the comfort, portability, sound quality and just absolutely on-point active noise-cancelling (or ANC, for short).

Later, Bose released a pair minus the 'Ultra' name, trimming back on some of the finer aspects of its top-tier travel headphones. While I didn't get to see those original QC Headphones, however, I've had the updated '2nd Gen' pair on review for a week.

What you need to know about the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) is that these updated over-ears take many cues from the superior Ultra model – including many trickle-down features that, in some cases, put these headphones on par with the best.

Indeed, if you're a fan of physical buttons rather than touch controls, then these over-ears arguably make the better choice. That said, with the Ultra – which features a slightly nicer finish – now down from its original price, you're spoiled for choice.

Price & Availability

The Bose 'QC 2 HP' – that's the shorthand name, per the Bose app – are on sale now, with an asking price of £299.95 in the UK, $359 in the USA, AU$549.95 in Australia, and €349.95 in wider Europe.

That's actually a lower price for the UK market than the original, but that's an integral move to provide an ample gap between these QC Headphones 2 and the Ultra version (which is also a '2nd Gen' product).

That said, you can find the original QC Ultra Headphones on significant discount, making those an even more affordable purchase – see in the shopping widget embedded above.

That creates some confusion, perhaps, as while the 2nd Gen Ultra isn't quite as close yet, the asking price is very tight between it and these QC Headphones 2 on review.

Features & What's New?

• Updated design with adjustable sliders and new faux-leather cushioning
• Addition of Bose's TrueSpatial technology (Still, Motion, Cinema)
• Active noise-cancelling (ANC) said to be improved
• Battery life reduction (18h using Immersive)
• Lossless playback via wired USB-C

I've included a series of bullet points above to summarise what's different between the original and 2nd Gen model of these Bose headphones.

The more interesting comparison, however, might be between these headphones and their Ultra equivalents – as the gap between the two is fairly close.

I've used the Ultra extensively over the years, so can tell you that its touch-sensitive controls and improved padding are the two aspects that set it apart.

If you prefer physical buttons, however, then that's what the QC Headphones 2 put pride of place – a hark back to the earlier models, such as Bose's QC45.

Design & Usability

I don't mind using those physical control buttons at all, though, with the left earcup housing a Bluetooth connect switch and single button for cycling between the ANC modes (Quiet, Aware, Immersion).

The right earcup, meanwhile, features a play/pause that's straddled by volume up and volume down buttons. This trio lives near to the exposed USB-C port. And that's your lot – no other major distractions to get in your way.

The QC Headphones 2 come with an included carry case, in which is a little pouch with USB-C-to-C and separate USB-C-to-3.5mm cables. That's handy for different outlets, should you want to use a wired connections, such as on planes.

The headphones feature a folding design, so the earcups fold towards the headband, minimising their size for stowing. They sit in the case slightly differently to that, but everything is held nice and secure.

The updated Bose app can register your product, which will give you app-based controls to adjust the Modes, tweak the EQ, customise (or deactivate) the Shortcut button, and toggle between Source options.

The majority of that can be achieved without the app, of course, but it's a good visual way to delve into those settings – especially the EQ, which can't be controlled any other way. There's also a battery percentage visual, which is handy.

I will say that the general feel of the headphones, given their plasticky frame and light weight, might not make you think 'top tier' immediately. But the earcups and headband are well supported, with the slide mechanism of the size adjustment proving smooth and elegant in use.

Performance & Sound Quality

While some aspects of the product's feel – as in, to touch – might not be hyper premium, you'll totally forget about that when wearing these over-ears.

I've already worn them for dozens of hours, whether at home in the office, out on morning walks, or commuting by train and tube, and they almost dissolve away – they're that comfortable.

The sound is truly epic, too. Big bass, enthusiastic mid and high frequencies combine to output a wide soundstage with settings at their most basic.

Play around with the Immersion aspect, however, and this feature – which was originally reserve of the Ultra model – gives you a three-dimensional uplift that makes you feel as if you're moving through the music.

You can adjust Immersion to be static, or based on your motion, which changes the experience. It can over-sharpen some higher frequencies, while battery life is more limited when it's in use – but it's a totally optional processing feature, so up to you whether it's active or not.

Whether it is or isn't, however, doesn't affect just how capable the active noise-cancelling (ANC) system is here. Ideal for blotting out surrounding ambient sound, I've found it ideal to escape the outside world and get focused.

Bose is master with ANC, as the company has long proven, and the version in the QC Headphones 2nd Gen is mighty impressive – no 'downgrade' blips, as I experienced with the Ultra 2nd Gen (issues which, via the power of over-the-air updates, Bose has since ironed out anyway).

There's one thing that can gazump the ANC, however, and that's changes in pressure. That's by no way unique to this product, I just felt it more sensitive and therefore pronounced with some wind-tear issues, or with passing trains causing one side of the ANC to cut out and reset. No biggie, but something you might notice on public transport.

Battery life is technically worse for this generation product, because the addition of the Immersive ANC option dictates that. You'll still get 18 hours at a decent volume, though, and that's been feasible by my in-use calculations – and I don't listen quietly, so Bose isn't pulling your leg here.

Verdict

While the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) don't have 'Ultra' in the name, there are plenty of ultra features on show here.

If you're looking for lightweight and supremely comfortable travel headphones with decent sound quality, exceptional active noise-cancelling (ANC) and strong battery life, then these tick every box.

If anything, it's only the proximity to the higher-spec QC Headphones Ultra (2nd Gen) that makes purchasing these questionable – given the close pricing between the two.

Should you prefer physical buttons to touch-sensitive ones, the non-Ultra model is actually your best match. And while the build might not look great at every turn, the cushioning materials and wear factor are second to none.

Also Consider

One of the QC Headphones 2nd Gen's issues is that the original 'Ultra' version is now available for less. They look a bit smarter, with fewer visible buttons, and on a price basis are the most logical buy.

There's also a heap of competition in this market, with many worthy competitors to consider. The Sonos Ace is supremely comfortable, for example, while Sony's WH-1000XM6 offer arguably the supreme travel headphones design.

Every time I test a bit of Marshall kit, whether it's a new speaker or some headphones, I tend to say a similar thing at the start of my review – that few audio brands have anything like the defined visual identity of its lineup. That cursive Marshall logo, generally in brass or white, atop either a grille or some leatherette, makes for a genuinely iconic look.

It's one that's seen the brand carve out an impressive niche for itself among those who want punchy audio and a more old-school aesthetic, and that's getting a further twist with the release of three new parts of its ongoing tribute to Jimi Hendrix.

It's apparently 60 years this year since Hendrix used a Marshall amplifier to level up the sheer noise of his sound, and Marshall's already released a couple of tributes, but the newest ones include probably the most approachable and attractive designs yet.

They include new versions of the very solid Emberton III Bluetooth speaker, along with the ever-popular Major V headphones. In both cases, purple is the name of the game.

They've both been given new colours; in the case of the Emberton III, it's a more all-over job, with a new purple-hazed colour that Marshall calls "psychedelic graphics", along with a Hendrix-themed version of the brass control knob on top of the speaker. Even the status lights have been turned purple instead of red.

The Major V has the same purple accents, but it's a little more subtle, since it's only on the ear cushions of the headphones, rather than the outside. This might make it the most sleek of the lineup, since it's different but doesn't shout about it.

There's a third part of the tribute, but it'll ship in far smaller quantities – a hand-assembled JMH Studio amp, with that gorgeous purple design all over it. It's genuinely staggeringly cool to look at, but obviously will be a far more niche prospect aimed at real musicians.

To that end, the Emberton III and Major V versions can be ordered from Marshall today for £129.99 and £149.99 respectively, while the JMH Studio amp comes in at a cool £1749.99 and will be available from 9 September.

CMF, the affordable sub-brand of Nothing, has announced the CMF Buds Neo, a new set of earbuds that include active noise cancellation at an incredibly low price.

With CMF stepping away from smartphones (for this year, at least), the focus appears to be on accessories. CMF recently announced the Clip Pro, its new open ear model, but this new addition returns to CMF's traditional earbud design.

As such, there isn't a huge change to the aesthetic, with CMF sticking to a two-tone case, the earbuds themselves offering contrasting bodies and silicone tips. Three tips are supplied to make sure you can get the right fit.

That's where the price comes in: they launch at ₹1999 (about £15), which is really affordable. CMF says that the whole aim is to make the CMF Buds Neo easily accessible.

There's a 12.4mm driver, but it's the active noise cancellation that's impressive at this price, said to offer up to 35dB noise reduction, with a choice of two different strengths.

The sound can be changed using the EQ in the Nothing X app on your phone, while the battery is said to last for 11 hours (without ANC) on a single charge - and up to 52 hours total thanks to recharging via the case.

With ANC on that drops to a total of 30 hours, but that's still fairly typical for earbuds that cost a lot more. Recharging the case via USB-C takes 70 minutes, while 10 minutes in the case will give the earbuds 5.5 hours of playback.

CMF's existing Buds 2a are the next step up, costing ₹2499 (£29) offering 42dB ANC, but otherwise appear to be much the same, perhaps making the Buds Neo an easy choice.

The CMF Buds Neo are listed as being exclusive to India, although it's not clear if that's just launch exclusivity or if that's going to be for the life of the product. With the Buds 2a currently priced at £29 in the UK, coming in at around £15 would be about right for the UK - the question is whether CMF offer the new earbuds outside India.

The CMF Buds Neo can be ordered from Flipkart.

Sennheiser might have just fixed one of the few remaining problems posed by true wireless earbuds in 2026 – when their batteries degrade, in most cases they're rendered near-useless. For a long time, when your earbuds started to barely hold a charge, you were toast.

Now, with the newly unveiled Momentum True Wireless 5 (joining the five-star over-ear Momentum 5 Wireless from earlier this year), we finally have a mainstream earbud that features a fully user-replaceable battery system.

With just a regular (albeit small) screwdriver, you'll be able to replace the battery on each of these earbuds when it's degraded, with Sennheiser committed to selling that spare part. In fact, the charging case itself will also feature the same boast, so you can take care of all parts of the earbud system.

Anyone who remembers the last two generations of Momentum True Wireless will also easily spot a very new design for the earbuds, too. Gone is the squared-off shape, replaced by a far smoother and more ergonomic one. Sennheiser told me that the overall volume of each earbud hasn't changed much, but that this new version should be more comfortable for most people.

Excitingly, Sennheiser is also bucking its former plans and launching a range of colours immediately, rather than drip-feeding them over the next two years. You can choose between Graphite, Cream, Copper, Denim and Lavender, with that blue denim colour looking particularly handsome to our eyes.

It's also upgraded the earbuds' actual battery life, which now stands at around 12 hours on a charge with ANC on, and a total of around 40 hours including the power in the case.

That ANC should also be improved, too, with extra microphones, one of which is a bone-conduction mic to help the earbuds pick up your voice more accurately and reject outside noise better for your call quality.

Another headline addition is full Dolby Atmos compatibility, which could make these an immersive choice for your commute movie-viewing if you're using a compatible service (like Apple TV in many cases).

All of this adds up to quite an exciting launch for Sennheiser, after the superb Momentum 5 Wireless, and the earbuds will be available to order from 3 September, coming in at £249.99, €299.90, $299.95 and $479.95 AUD (the same as the last generation at launch).

Apple has long been rumoured to be working on next generation AirPods that house cameras to see the world around them. This will allow the wearer to engage Visual Intelligence features – much like the cameras on smart glasses, like the Ray-Ban Metas.

It could make street navigation suggestions more accurate, with the buds seeing landmarks and signs, or you could find out more information on objects around you.

The only issue is that this has been just rumour and speculation. Until now, that is.

MacRumors has discovered an instructional video clip inside the latest release candidate build of macOS. The short demo shows a man allegedly wearing the new AirPods and being able to "save" a physical book "for later".

We assume that using Visual Intelligence, Siri AI will be able to log that book in a diary or calendar entry so you can be reminded to check it out again when you're free. And while we don't know for sure, maybe this feature can be used to look at a book cover in a store, but then check it out online too when you get home.

This could help you check out alternative prices or buy a digital equivalent. There are plenty of other use cases that could be unlocked too.

According to MacRumors, the AirPods will also inform you if the cameras have been obscured by objects, such as long hair or a hat. It's claimed that you'll receive an alert: "To get the most accurate information about things in your environment, make sure AirPods are not covered," it says.

It's not yet known when the new AirPods will launch, nor what they'll be called. It's believed that they'll look like AirPods Pro and the cameras will be hard to detect.

Apple will undoubtedly host its annual iPhone launch event in early September, so we could find out more then. And with the iPhone Ultra also likely to appear, it could be the most exciting presentation in a few years.

Nothing's cheaper sub-brand CMF teased a new product yesterday, which led to online speculation – we also covered it. However, it now seems more clear what the company has up its sleeve.

A second tease has been posted on X with a brief video clip showing a volume rocker on what looks to be the corner of a charging case. The text is even more precise: "Buds Neo. 20 August," it says.

Basically, as we guessed yesterday, it looks to be a new pair of earbuds from CMF by Nothing, which will launch properly this Thursday.

We still haven't got many details, nor have we seen anything but the original vague image of what looks to be an earbud, but the video clip does hint that the CMF Buds Neo will borrow something from the open ear CMF Clip Pro pair released recently.

The charging case that comes with the Clips Pro has a dial on the front that can be used to manage playback, change the volume and even answer calls. That seems to be the case (literally) here too.

We can also see that the new buds will come in three colour options – white and orange, cyan and black, and simply black.

Other than that, we'll have to wait for more information. But that won't be long considering the launch is just a couple of days away.

It'll be interesting to see where the CMF Buds Neo fit in the lineup. The label already has earbud models for most affordable price points, starting from just £29 / $29. Will the CMF Buds Neo replace the Buds 2 Plus or Buds 2a, for example? Or are we looking at a new entry-level pair?

T3 will let you know the minute we find out.

It's only been a couple of weeks since Nothing's budget brand CMF launched the Clip Pro open earbuds, but it seems that's not the only product on the horizon.

An official X post from CMF by Nothing has revealed "a hint of what's next", but without furnishing followers with any further information.

Comprise of what looks like three elements, the "device" is seemingly capped off with a silicone ear tip. So maybe that points towards newly-designed CMF Buds. Maybe even buds that can swivel into different shapes to fit your ears better.

However, others provide more radical speculation – @pauwmaa suggests it's CMF's answer to Star Wars droid BB-8, for example.

It's certainly not of anything currently in the CMF stable, and won't be anything to do with a new CMF Phone. It's already been confirmed that we won't see a new budget handset from the brand until next year at the least – when RAMageddon and the components crisis hopefully starts to turn around.

It also doesn't really look like a replacement for the CMF Headphone Pro over-ears, which have proved excellent for the price.

So that doesn't really leave much other than new earbuds. Sadly we might have a few more weeks of teases (and inevitable pictures of Pokémon) before we find out for sure.

CMF Clip Pro open earbuds now available

At least the CMF Clip Pro earbuds are now available to buy, so that should keep us all amused in the meantime.

Priced at £79 / $99 a pair, they are the label's first open ear buds, with an innovative clip that secures them around each ear. They are designed to be worn when you need to also hear your surroundings, so don't expect any noise cancellation wizardry.

You do instead get IP54 protection, making them sweat and rain resistant if you're in the gym or out for a run. And battery life is an impressive 10 hours, with a further 22.5 hours in the included charging case.

It's not only a decent laptop that you need for your next year going to university or college – a decent pair of headphones can, for many people, really help to focus in and crack on with work.

Other times it's just great to have a pair of earbuds or headphones that you can use in your personal time to skip on the distractions – without disturbing any of your cohabiting colleagues.

As a student, of course, budget is a major consideration. So in this round-up –where I'll dig into three top audio picks – I'm selecting a cheapy pair of earbuds, a more premium pair of noise-cancelling over-ears that'll serve their worth for years to come, and a pair of over-ears that won't break the bank.

If you're more explicitly looking for workout headphones for running and exercise, take a look at our Running Headphones Guide instead, as I won't be delving into a sports-based outlook here otherwise.

T3's Top 3

Pricing

As you can see from my selection of top headphones picks, I've selected a pair that'll cost you pocket money, versus some top-tier over-ears that are 10x the price, with the fancy AirPods option sitting in between the lot. The three aren't therefore directly comparable.

You do, however, get what you pay for. The Bose are the nicest made, best-sounding, and most feature-laden of the lot, as you'd expect for the price. Apple's option is just plastic, so there's a premium on the features – but they'll still ideal for most people. Sony, meanwhile, has pulled off magic in offering over-ears at such a lean price, with such bold sound.

As you can see from the best-price shopping widgets attached to each of the products above, the price variance across this range of options is fairly significant.

Beginning at £30 / $38 for the alternative suggestion Sony over-ears, and rising to £299 / £359 for the top-tier Bose headphones, budget may be a big part of what dictates your purchase.

You'll need to pay more for active noise-cancelling (ANC), inevitably, so if that's a must-have then you can rule out anything in the double digits – unless you get very lucky with a Soundcore Q45 deal anyway.

Personally I wouldn't want headphones without ANC – the quiet they can bring, that escape from noise and distraction, will bring worth to your life for years to come. So spending a little more now is a better economy.

Alternatives?

There are good and bad reasons to buy any one pair of headphones. From features you don't need, to pricing that's out of whack with your budget, or just a design difference – the fit, for example – that won't agree with you.

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3

If you want materials and comfort that are second to none, plus some decent ANC that doesn't feel like your head's in a vacuum, then Bowers & Wilkins makes superb headphones.

They're expensive, mind, so might not be the most obvious go-to for students. But these Px7 S3 cans will last the test of time – and were a T3 Awards 2026 winner.

Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless

Another super strong ANC pair of over-ears that often gets overlooked is from Sennheiser, whose latest Momentum 5 Wireless cans are an easy 5-star product.

These are all about a neutral yet impressive soundscape, so you can immerse yourself in your music, paired with some great control refinements that make using them a breeze.

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While we've got the Pro version of Apple's in-ears as our go-to pick, if you don't want the ANC and don't want to spend as much, then the step-down AirPods 4 (Without ANC) are a great pick.

This is all about balancing the budget sheet, really, as while the ANC is missed, the sound quality is still on point. They're even IP54 rated, so you could use them for sports and fitness, not just in class or when doing out-of-hours work.

The Winner Is

You'll have personal preference whether it's in-ear, on-ear or over-ear that most suits – but for a more relaxed fit that gives your ear canals a break, I'd suggest over-ears.

Of the lot, it's Bose's lightweight, comfortable, yet well-designed QC Headphones 2 that take the prize. Yes, they're more expensive – but the advanced features here will last for years and are worth the investment.

That's because the new-and-improved ANC is impressive, as is the inherent sound quality – with a great dollop of bass to keep everything sounding its fullest.

Need a lower-price alternative? Glance back over our other top suggestions and their budget alternatives, as each are a quality, viable option – it just depends how much you've got to spend and whether in-ear or over-ear best suits your needs.

Bose makes some of the best noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones on the planet – as the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones make abundantly clear.

The New York-based company also makes step-down over-ears as part of its line-up, dropping the 'Ultra' for the QuietComfort Headphones namesake.

Now, Bose has revealed its updated take, in the aptly named QuietComfort Headphones 2nd Gen, which add a variety of design changes and feature updates.

QuietComfort Headphones 2nd Gen: What's New?

• Updated design with adjustable sliders and faux-leather cushioning
• Addition of Bose's TrueSpatial technology (Still, Motion, Cinema)
• ANC renamed as QuietControl, improved performance
• Lossless playback via wired USB-C (to 24-bit/48kHz)
• Battery life reduction (24h / 18h with Immersive)
• New colourways and two-tone design

The 2nd Gen version of Bose's QuietComfort Headphones aren't akin to the originals with new colourways – although the addition of new colour options is part of the latest.

Instead, Bose has redesigned the QuietComfort Headphones 2nd Gen with new materials for greater comfort, plus updated adjustable sliders for the headband fit.

The active noise-cancelling (ANC) technology has been renamed QuietControl – presumably a staple for Bose products moving forward? – and brings some enhancements for poor fit.

Bose specifically cites its improvement for glasses wearers, where an imperfect seal due to glasses stems can be optimised for, still offering great ANC results.

A feature previously reserved for the Ultra model also trickles down to this new 2nd Gen Headphones: the TrueSpatial technology brings a trio of motion controls – Still, Motion, Cinema – that adapt to the wearer's head movements, depending on the desired effect.

However, the quoted battery life is now lower as result of these design changes. It's still good, though, with up to 24 hours per charge, or a maximum of 18 hours with the Immersion mode of ANC activated.

If you're keen to keep the cord and ditch wireless mode, then the QuietComfort Headphones 2 also introduce a lossless playback via wired USB-C, for 24-bit/48kHz audio.

Or simply you want the ability to handily use a cable, should you want to plug into, say, an in-flight entertainment (IFE) system on your travels.

The Bose QuietComfort Headphones 2nd Gen are available for pre-order right now (you'll need to sign up to MyBose for early access), with an on-sale date set for 13 August. They're priced at £299.95 in the UK, with other regional pricing to be confirmed.

The price remains the same irrelevant of which colour you pick, too. The staple Black and White Smoke duo return, but there's also a trio of new additions: Eucalyptus Green, Dewdrop Mint, Rosewood Mauve. These seem to embody a 90s nostalgic movement.

Nothing has been teasing a new CMF product for over a week and now we know exactly what it is. The CMF brand has its own open-ear earbuds – Clip Pro.

Supporting Hi-Res Audio and with an ergonomic 3-point clip design to fit around your lobe, the CMF Clip Pro buds further the trend of open-ear audio that seems popular right now.

They are designed to provide a solid, rounded audio experience but without fully drowning out external noise. That means they especially suit runners and wearers who want to move around a city while remaining aware of their surroundings.

Each ear contains a custom-tuned 10.8mm dynamic driver, with CMF's own Ultra Bass technology that enhances lower frequencies.

The buds support LDAC, AAC and SBC playback, while the lack of active noise cancellation has the added benefit of up to 10 hours battery life in the buds. This extends to 32.5 hours with the included charging case.

A 10-minute fast charge will provide up to four hours of listening time, so they'll pretty much always be ready for you.

The charging case can also be used to manage playback and change volume remotely, as well as answer calls, with a smart dial on the lid. This matches other CMF product design.

Bluetooth 5.4 is on board, along with a low latency mode so they're suitable for gaming too. IP54 protection means they're also sweat and rain resistant.

Nothing has, of course, already got a pair of open-ear buds in its lineup – the Ear (open) – but the CMF pair are more compact and come in at a reduced price point.

You'll be able to order the CMF Clip Pro buds for £79 / $99 in the UK, US and Japan from 15 August in dark grey, light grey and coral colourways. They'll also be available in other regions across Europe and the rest of the world from 15 September.

While retro-inspired gadgets are hot property right now, wired headphones (which could be labelled as vintage, due to their lack of modern features like wireless chips) have never really gone away.

Case in point: most high-end headphones have always featured a cable, because it just sounds better that way.

And Apple has never stopped selling its simple EarPods, though they're just more inclusive these days: 3.5mm, Lightning, and USB-C. They also cost just £19, so you can join the anti-wireless revolution without having to take out a bank loan.

SENNHEISER HD 620S

Until now, Sennheiser's ‘600' range of over-ear headphones have been open-backed – they sound great but leak sound, to the annoyance of anyone nearby. The HD 620S are closed-back, and so nothing like as anti-social in this regard – but Sennheiser has somehow managed to retain the sense of air and space that's the hallmark of its open-backed designs.

£299.99, sennheiser-hearing.com

MEZE AUDIO 99 CLASSICS (2ND GEN)

By combining balanced and insightful sound with an excellent build and finish, and throwing in a USB-C DAC dongle, Meze Audio has made the second generation of its 99 Classics very easy to admire. Smaller-headed listeners should try before they buy, though…

£319, mezeaudio.com

CAMPFIRE AUDIO ALIEN BRAIN

Given the name that's on them, let's not pretend to be surprised by the way these earbuds look or the price they carry. Almost as predictable is the stunningly direct, positive and controlled sound the Alien Brain earphones serve up – must be something to do with those five (five!) drivers per bud…

£999, campfireaudio.com

MARSHALL MODE USB-C

They're necessarily small, of course, but the rock 'n' roll credentials are clear from the way they sound. The presentation has punch and drive, with a combination of detail and energy that turns the excitement in a recording all the way up.

£45, marshall.com

APPLE EARPODS

The lack of eartips remains a weird idea, but in every other respect the Earpods are a tremendously competitive product and arguably the best value item in the entire Apple line-up. Big, confident sound, sleek design and the usual pride of ownership that comes free with every Apple product makes these the best affordable wired headphones around.

£19, apple.com

SHURE SE215

The SE215 have the usual Shure benefits of sky-high comfort levels, impressive scale and prodigious bass power – but what really sets these wired earbuds apart is the level of passive noise isolation that's provided by their carefully designed ergonomic shape and super-snug eartips. Which means you're able to listen to your tunes in peace, freed from most external distractions.

£109, shure.com

GRADO S750 SIGNATURE

The broad design of Grado's products doesn't seem to have changed much since the early '60s. And neither does the effortlessly dynamic, tonally convincing and beautifully poised sound that's the calling-card of the company's wired over-ear headphones, either.

£1,695, grado.co.uk

FOCAL HADENYS

Lighter than they look and every bit as comfortable as they appear, the Focal Hadenys present a warm, informative and welcoming sound that's the aural equivalent of a cuddle. These tasteful open-backed charmers are the complete package.

£599, focal.com

Nothing's affordable arm, CMF, is teasing the launch of a new product, taking to social channels to get fans excited ahead of the big reveal.

That's seen Igglybuff shared, as CMF and Nothing love to use Pokémon for product codenames and teases, while Akis Evangelidis, co-founder of Nothing and CMF, said that it was a "new product category".

While that might set the mind spinning, it's thought that it could be the CMF Clip Pro, an open ear style headphone like the Nothing Ear (Open).

CMF recently announced that there would be no new phones for 2026, while existing phones have been removed from some stores like the UK. That sees CMF looking more like an accessory brand, offering a range of headphones and an affordable watch.

The suggestion of a new product category could be a distraction: Akis has subsequently shared a speaker emoji confirming that's it's an audio device, while CMF's official channel then went on to share what looks like a speaker grille of some sort.

But the biggest hint comes from an established leaker Yogesh Brar, commenting on the post of Igglybuff, simply saying "Ear Clip…" That's what leads us to thinking it’s the CMF Clip Pro.

Fortunately, the CMF Clip Pro naming was previously confirmed with a listing on Singapore's IMDA certification database, revealing that this is a product that's in development and preparing for launch.

However, while that seems like the simple solution, we're also treated to a product number - B189. That doesn't correspond to Igglybuff who is 174. That would have been poetic - some Nothing device product numbers have matched exactly to their Pokémon codename numbers - but CMF doesn't always do this.

Arguably, this isn't a new product category, but could result in an affordable open ear style headphone, perfect for those who want to listen to music while staying aware of what's happening around them.

That could be why CMF said "built for what's coming" in one of the teases. It's a headphone that let's you hear what's coming.

To celebrate the release of their 25th studio album, Foreign Tongues, The Rolling Stones have teamed with Technics for a limited edition version of the EAH-AZ100 earbuds.

We awarded the standard variant five-stars in our review last summer, saying that they "sound excellent" and improve on their predecessor in every way possible. Clearly Mick and the gang agree, as they've allowed Technics to release the buds in a special edition collector's case.

The rubberised shell features the band's Lips & Tongue logo, with each version sold also engraved with an individual serial number from 1 to 5,000. That gives you an idea of how limited these could be, with just 5,000 pairs being available worldwide.

They are priced the same as the original version though (pre-discounts), so you'll have to be quick if this is the model you fancy. You can find them on the Technics website now for £259 / €299.

What do the Technics EAH-AZ100 offer?

A true step up from the AZ80 wireless earbuds release before, the EAH-AZ100 buds feature adaptive noise cancellation and excellent battery life. They can be charged from flat to full in around two hours, but last up to 10 hours with noise cancellation switched on.

The case can expand that to 28 hours with ANC on.

Each bud sports a proprietary 10mm Magnetic Fluid Driver, which promises low distortion and accurate bass. They support spatial audio for Dolby Atmos playback, as well as Dolby Head Tracking, and you get multipoint connectivity for up to three devices with seamless switching.

Bluetooth 5.3 is on board for wireless hook-up to your phone or another device, and there's IPX4 weather and sweat proofing, so you could wear them in the gym or on a run.

The Rolling Stones x Technics buds are available now.

It's no easy task to break into the world of gaming accessories as a newer brand. While some giants like Sony and Logitech have big fan bases, there are also plenty of smaller gaming-specific brands with long lineages, from Razer to SteelSeries. Glorious is a far newer beast, founded in 2014 and with a heavy focus on PC accessories.

It's branched out into headsets in the last couple of years, though, and finally has a high-end flagship in the form of the GHS Wireless InfinitePlay. I've had my hands on it for over a month, and have run the rule over it in real detail, to see whether it could disrupt the established hierarchy of headset makers. So how does it fare among the best gaming headsets?

Price and Availability

The GHS Wireless InfinitePlay can be ordered directly from Glorious, with stock likely to trickle through to other retailers imminently. As mentioned, this is a high-end headset in Glorious' own terms, although it's lower-cost than some other flagships I've tested.

It comes in at £199.99 here in the UK and $229.99 in the US, which leaves it in a quite interesting window in the market. At that price most of its competition don't offer a base station of its sort – but equally, much of that competition does have active noise-cancelling (ANC).

Design and Features

Glorious has kept things pretty safe when it comes to the GHS Wireless InfinitePlay's design, and I think that's almost certainly the right call. The main headset is a simple enough thing to look at, although it conceals some smart design choices.

Each earcup comes with a good amount of cushioning, and the headband has a semi-hidden strap system that suspends some of its weight, making it nice and comfortable for long sessions in my testing.

One earcup has a volume dial, while the other has a more multipurpose one – letting you turn the headset on and off, but also balancing its chat/audio mix.

Those lovely dials are metal, which makes them different from the rest of the headset, which is mostly plastic. This keeps the weight down, at 360g, but it does mean that it feels a cut below more premium alternatives.

There's also a mute button and a Bluetooth pairing button (swapping between Bluetooth mode and the 2.4Ghz connection).

The right earcup also houses the removable boom microphone. This is the first duff note – it's made of a sort of flexible plastic, but doesn't flex all that well and is frankly fiddly to position correctly. The material means you'll need to do this each time you remove it, too.

The other big inclusion is a swappable battery, also in the right earcup. Fair play to Glorious here – this is the best implementation of such a system I've ever tested.

Rather than requiring you to open a panel and pry out a battery (like in SteelSeries' case), you simply push on the spring-loaded battery and it pops out, before you slot in the replacement. Crucially, that replacement is symmetrical in its power pins, so you don't have to worry about getting it the right way around.

To make this system even more impressive, each battery gives a huge 85 hours of play before needing to be swapped. The cherry on top is that the headset has an internal battery in addition, with around three hours of reserve charge so that you don't lose audio after 10 seconds like most of the competition. This makes the battery-swapping system pressure-free and genuinely so slick to interact with.

It's clear that Glorious' aim with this headset is to provide an approximation of the flagship experience, but at a substantial discount, meaning the box has to come with extras. The first, as is logical, is a base station that houses your spare battery, charging it when docked.

That station also has a slot for the included 2.4GHz USB-C dongle (handy since it lets you separate them if desired). There's a USB-A adaptor, too, so you're covered from all angles. That said, it's worth knowing that, like almost every headset out there, this won't work with Xbox consoles at present – but PlayStation, Switch and PC are all covered.

Finally, Glorious' software solution Core lets you customise quite a few elements of the headset's sound, including microphone gain, custom EQs, sidetone and more – including different settings for game audio and chat audio. It's functional and a welcome layer of customisation for those who want it.

Sound and Performance

Glorious has managed to pack a lot of features into a headset without inflating the price too badly, which means I was really curious about how it would perform in sonic terms.

Luckily, from a sheer audio quality standpoint, I'm impressed – the GHS Wireless InfinitePlay is a great headset that won't let you down when it comes to immersive or competitive play. I got through a lot of Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced, but also hours of Battlefield 6 for comparison.

In both cases, the spatiality of the sound was well preserved, leaving me able to hear cues and environmental details with a good amount of precision. There's also plenty of oomph, with really high volumes possible, and good amounts of bass by default.

There's one big omission in the GHS Wireless InfinitePlay's array of features, though – active noise-cancelling (ANC). So long as it's well-implemented, this can help hugely with immersion, so it's a shame not to see it here – although keeping the price down makes it easy to see why it's absent.

There is some noise-cancelling on the microphone, but I didn't find it all too brilliant. As well as being tough to adjust physically, the microphone was extremely sensitive straight out of the box, and picked up my breathing to a distracting degree for teammates. This was adjustable in software, but I suspect many people don't bother with that layer, so there's a small warning.

Still, the real meat of a gaming headset's performance is in its sound, and I'm impressed at what Glorious delivers at this price. That's even more the case when it comes to that battery system, which had me basically forgetting I'd ever need to swap one out. The 85 hours on a single charge is stunning stuff, even before the swappability feature's considered!

Verdict

Glorious has taken on a tough task in breaking down the order of things in the headset world – but its first take on a higher-end option is an impressive warning shot for bigger brands.

The GHS Wireless InfinitePlay headset's design is 'safe' but extremely effective, with great comfort levels and visual flair. Meanwhile, its battery life and swap system are best-in-class and outperform far more expensive rivals.

The sound is extremely solid, too, but there are a couple of letdowns. Including ANC would be a huge win if it didn't spike the price much, while the microphone lets the side down in both sound and design terms.

Overall, given the GHS Wireless InfinitePlay's asking price, this headset feels like a really great option in many areas. If you can forego ANC but want the best battery system then this one's a total winner.

Also Consider

The obvious major competitor is SteelSeries' own swappable-battery headset, the Arctis Nova Pro Omni (our reigning champion in our best gaming headset buyer's guide). Despite shorter battery life, SteelSeries wins out on sound quality and design, for me, but it's way pricier – ANC seals the deal, and if you have a bigger budget, it's the obvious choice.

If you want to stay below £/$200, I'd take a look at the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro, a wireless headset that keeps things much simpler with just a dongle to worry about, and which has a far more industrial design. It feels more premium than Glorious' effort, but has a slimmer array of features as a compromise.

Nothing is having an interesting year. Having said that, the smartphone world is moving too quickly in terms of inflation, so it's supposedly taking things slower there, yet shows no signs of a similar lull on the audio front. We've already had the good value Headphone (a), so now it's time for some even more affordable earbuds.

The Nothing Ear (3a) look a lot like the brand's Ear (3), unsurprisingly, at least as far as each earbud is concerned. But they're a very different product at a really attractive price point. Do they make that money feel worth it, though? I've used these 'buds for a week straight to find out.

Price and Availability

Nothing has now formally launched the Ear (3a), which means you can order the earbuds direct from its store, or find them on Amazon. They'll set you back £/$99, which makes them a little over half the price of the Nothing Ear (3).

It also means that, compared to much of the competition, they're a very low-cost option – most rival audio brands have completely separate product lines at this price, albeit with similar features to Nothing's offering (with some exceptions that I'll get into).

Design and Features

From a design perspective, the Nothing Ear (3a) is extremely familiar in two different ways.

Firstly, if you check out the case itself, it's the same as the Nothing Ear (a) with some minor differences; the earbuds themselves are very difficult to tell apart from either the cheaper Ear (a) or pricier Ear (3) models.

Returning to the case for a moment. It's rectangular with rounded corners, but the majority of the actual body is a pill-shaped part within this rectangle. This basically gives the case a lip around the outside, and while I normally really appreciate Nothing's design work, I can't give this much praise.

While it does look striking, it also makes the case a good chunk bigger in your pocket than it needs to be – form over function, which is pretty sinful stuff, I'd say. The lip also makes it actively fiddly to open the case, requiring a fingernail to pry it, and it's annoying to do so one-handed. Again, not ideal.

The earbuds themselves are far more impressive, though, retaining the stem design that Nothing has used on its other earbuds thus far. Selecting the right eartip from four options in the box, I found the fit to be really comfortable and reliable, while the earbuds' stems have that cool transparent look for which the brand is well known.

One final design moan is that, for slightly intangible reasons, these earbuds are the first I've tested in ages where putting them back in the case can be a mixed bag. The placement of the magnets on each stem sometimes sees them grabbed at the wrong angle, requiring a brief fiddle to fix. At least the three-part charging indicator LED is really natty and works great with animations to give you more information.

Where the case was the Ear (3)'s big innovation thanks to an on-board microphone, with the (3a) Nothing has gone a different route. The big change is that the earbuds have on-board storage that can let them directly record audio and phone calls rather than relying on an outside app or service.

Nothing seems to think that people want this feature, and I can't speak to that demand personally, but I can't say I wanted the feature. Let alone the paid membership to get more accurate and faster transcripts – although you do get free recording and slower transcription as standard.

In more traditional territory, the Ear (3a) does have active noise-cancelling (ANC), and you can expect to get around 6 hours of battery life while it's active before you need to top them up in the case. That's now about par for this sort of earbud.

Sound and Performance

Nothing says that the Ear (3a) comes with a new 12mm dynamic driver. The big difference that you can hear when you wear them compared to older Nothing 'buds is that the bass is definitely boosted – although that might just be a tuning choice, too.

It means that these earbuds do give a pretty good first impression, and before I get into more detail, I'll confirm that for the price, I think their sound quality is pretty much bang on what I'd expect. You get decent clarity and relatively balanced performance across the frequency range.

Take Five is a testing classic for good reason, and its sprightly jazz comes across pretty well, while the more folkish stylings of Animal Fear by Marika Hackman do well too, with the unsettling lower notes coming in decently.

That said, I found I had two different listening experiences in different circumstances. At home in relative quiet, the earbuds were solid. On the move, on public transport and with background noise for the ANC to tune out, it was a far muddier and weaker listen.

The villain here is the ANC, of course, which I won't fly much of a flag for – it's not particularly powerful, and is probably where the budget of the (3a) is most obvious compared to pricier competitors. That's no surprise, but it's still a little disappointing – I thought the Ear (3) performed decently at its higher price tag, for instance.

The on-earbud controls on offer are simple, with each one detecting a squeeze, but lacking any more sophisticated touch controls (like AirPods Pro, for instance). This works well enough, but it does mean you'll need your phone to, for example, adjust the volume of your audio.

Squeezing both at one time activates the "audio snapshot" feature that I mentioned above, recording your audio whether you're on a call or just out and about. The fact that it captures what you're listening to regardless of the source (meaning it could be any video on the web, for example, or a phone call that notifies the other party when it starts) might make it useful for clipping, but I remain unsure why this would be much of a marketing win.

Verdict

Bouncing from high-end earbuds to lower-cost ones is always a bit of a whiplash experience, but the Nothing Ear (3a) softens the blow in some interesting ways.

I really like how the earbuds fit, and they sound extremely solid for this asking price, which immediately makes them a strong pick.

However, subpar active noise-cancelling (ANC) brings the score down, and I don't love all the design choices, with the case particularly warranting a second pass in my view.

For value, the Nothing Ear (3a) are really hard to argue with, but I'd point people towards slightly pricier Ear (3) alternatives to acquire solid upgrades in terms of their sonic experience.

Also Consider

If you're willing to spend just a little more, I'd say the better ANC in the Ear (3) make them a solid upgrade. I much prefer the included case, too, and these 'buds only lack the recording features of the (3a) – which I don't think most people actually want.

If you're committed to staying below the £/$100 mark, then Sennheiser's Accentum True Wireless earbuds are a great counter-option. They're simpler from a design perspective, but I think they sound a little better and have better ANC, too.

When you think about noise-cancelling headphones, there are a couple of brands that will spring to mind. Sony is one, Apple and Bowers & Wilkins are also likely to be considered, but Bose most definitely will be. Now there's another to add to the list.

Skullcandy has partnered with Bose for its Crusher 1080 ANC headphones, pulling off something no other headphone brand has managed before: getting Bose to hand over its prized noise cancellation tech for a pair of over-ears that aren’t Bose-badged.

What's so special about the Skullcandy Crusher 1080 ANC?

The Crusher 1080 ANC headphones marry Skullcandy's signature bass technology with a full suite of Bose audio smarts, including its adaptive noise cancellation, spatial sound and voice-clarity features.

It's the first time Bose has allowed another headphone manufacturer to integrate the full suite of Premium Sound by Bose audio technologies into a single product.

For anyone who's tried Skullcandy's Crusher line before, the idea is simple: turn a physical haptic bass dial on the earcup (or open the accompanying app) and adjust the sensory "rattle" of your bass from normal and balanced sound to a rumble you can basically feel.

That sensation is built on a dual-driver setup, and Skullcandy says the version in the 1080 ANC is its most refined yet, with sharper detail and separation than previous Crusher models.

Layered on top is Bose's contribution: QuietControl adaptive noise cancellation with Quiet, Aware, and Off modes, TrueSpatial 3D audio with head tracking, and the WaveForm audio engine to keep sound balanced at any volume.

There's also SpeechClarity for calls, so background noise doesn't drown out your voice.

Battery life is claimed to be 60 hours with ANC off, or 50 hours with it switched on, plus a 10-minute rapid charge that delivers four hours of playback.

Other useful extras include multipoint pairing, wear detection, a low-latency mode for gaming and video, and Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio and Auracast support.

Skullcandy CEO Brian Garofalow calls it an attempt to build "the world's greatest headphone" by combining the two companies' strengths, while Bose's Nick Smith frames it as a chance to reach new listeners through Skullcandy's playful, sensory-first approach.

The Skullcandy Crusher 1080 ANC headphones are now available for £219.99 in Black, Candy, Primer, and Cement colourways through Skullcandy.co.uk and select UK retailers.

Huawei has unveiled a premium new version of its FreeClip 2 open-ear earbuds.

The Chinese tech giant teamed up with French jewellery brand Les Néréides in a bid to make wearable audio as much a fashion statement as a tech accessory.

The FreeClip 2 S Signature Edition retains the open-ear earbuds design of the standard model while adding metallic finishes, exclusive clip-on accessories and a more luxurious aesthetic.

Huawei says the Signature Edition is designed around a "luminous aesthetics" philosophy, introducing new Deepsea Blue and Space Silver finishes alongside a range of decorative accessories created by Les Néréides.

The charging case has also been redesigned using more than 100 manufacturing steps, with Huawei claiming the internal storage space has increased by 20% while keeping the case compact enough for everyday use.

Each earbud weighs just 5.1g, matching the lightweight comfort that helped make the original FreeClip stand out in the increasingly crowded open-ear category.

More than just a pretty face

The FreeClip 2 S Signature Edition uses a new third-generation audio chip and an AI-powered adaptive volume system that automatically adjusts playback based on your surroundings.

Adaptive voice enhancement aims to improve clarity for calls, podcasts and audiobooks, while dual-diaphragm drivers promise richer vocals and more impactful bass.

Like the standard FreeClip 2, the earbuds work with both Android and iOS devices and feature Huawei's interchangeable left and right design, meaning either earbud can be worn in either ear.

They're also IP57-rated for dust and water, while battery life is up to 9 hours per charge or 38 hours with the charging case.

The FreeClip 2 S Signature Edition is available from today in the UK from Huawei with an RRP of £199.99 (~$267 / €234 / AU$385), although Huawei is offering an introductory price of £169.99 (~$227 / €199 / AU$327) until 17 August.

A limited-edition bundle including a pair of Les Néréides accessories is also available for £199.99 during the launch promotion.

Audio is integral to so many people's lives – and 2026 has seen the ways in which you can source your favourite music, in particular, look as much forward as back. From the vinyl and CD resurgence to the proliferation of powered bookshelf speakers – a new category in this year's Awards – there are more ways to engage than ever.

This category also houses many staples in the audio market, whether picking the best headphones to pipe your favourite tunes into your ears, or opting for a more classic plug-in wireless speaker to fulfil Hi-Res over your home Wi-Fi network. There's something for everyone here.

The T3 Awards 2026 celebrate our brand's core areas of coverage – across Tech, Active and Home pillars – and the quality over the past 12 months has been undeniable. In addition to this Best Audio and Headphones page, do also check out the Best Tech and Best TVs Awards features.

Picking each of the winners from our broad range of reviews from the last year was no easy task, of course, but there can only be one winner per category. So without further ado, let's get to it: here are the T3 Awards 2026 winners across Audio and Headphones.

Best Headphones

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2

In a market with so many competing for this title, you have to be something particularly special to earn the crown.

Which is exactly what Bowers & Wilkins' second-gen PX8 headphones represent. They're a class act, with second-to-none sound quality and an exuberant finish.

The design details, material choices and pristine finish really set them apart. There's stronger active noise-cancelling (ANC) elsewhere on the market, it's true, but the goal here is for all-round quality, comfort and home-listening appeal.

These are the business class of headphones – and once you've settled in, you won't ever want to downgrade again.

Highly commended: Sony WH-1000X The Collexion

Best Travel Headphones

Sony WH-1000XM6

Despite such considerable competition, Sony has managed to maintain its firm grip on producing the best headphones that you'll want to take on your travels.

The XM6 has been joined by a new, higher-end model this year – The Collexion – but it's the folding design of this established older model that maintains it as the clear winner in this category.

With active noise-cancelling (ANC) that's the very best money can buy, plus superb sound quality, and a lovely carry case included, there's no stone unturned in these headphones' quest to be your perfect travel companion.

Highly commended: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2

Best Earbuds

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)

While the second-gen version of Bose's QC Ultra Earbuds doesn't bring huge additions over the first model, that doesn't detract from what are the best active noise-cancelling (ANC) earbuds that money can buy.

The slight improvements generation on generation – wireless charging and software tweaks to the ANC's operation – further improve what was about as close to perfection as you could obtain just a couple of years back.

While these new earbuds may appear physically large, when in the ears they feel so well-considered and lightweight to wear that you'll barely notice them – even for extended periods.

Highly commended: Apple AirPods Pro 3

Best Wired Headphones

Meze Audio Poet

For the ultimate audiophile experience, high-end headphones that only deliver a hard-wired experience are a real luxury experience. That plugged-into-quality-source listening experience can bring out-of-this-world quality that wireless just cannot.

The best wired headphones are quite often eye-wateringly expensive, though, as they're often crafted from luxurious materials and feature drivers of a build and size that you won't find in cheaper and more transportable models.

Embodying all of that (in the best of ways) is this year's winner, the Meze Audio Poet. Delivering a "direct, confident and impressively musical listen," these beautifully constructed headphones are simply sensational.

Highly commended: Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation)

Best Gaming Headset

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni

We loved last year's Arctis Nova Elite, but its price tag was hard to swallow – by contrast, the Arctis Nova Pro Omni is a headset with no asterisks attached, which makes it one of the clearest award winners in any category this year.

The headset doesn't rip up the excellent design work that SteelSeries has done in recent years, using a design that's basically identical to previous versions, but the improvements are clear. Its swappable batteries will last longer and its sound is subtly better too.

The biggest upgrade, however, is a base station transmitter that now works with all consoles (including Xbox) in one version, letting you even mix between sources. This makes the Omni a powerhouse for those with multiple devices that they use for gaming. The fact that it's also a dream to wear for hours at a time is a lovely bonus.

Highly commended: SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite

Best Powered Bookshelf Speakers

Cambridge Audio L/R S

A major new category for this year's T3 Awards, but no surprise given that 'The biggest new hi-fi trend of 2026 is powered wireless speakers – as buyers pivot from traditional separates setups'.

The number of brands entering this market is increasing at pace, but Cambridge Audio's established quality has seen its L/R system deliver a rare 5-star first attempt – and in strong style, too.

This is the small version – hence 'S' model in the range, with the 'M' and 'X' medium and large models delivering bigger, pricier and more advanced options – but its sound and quality is quite the opposite.

Highly commended: Ruark MR1 Mk3

Best Wireless Speaker

Sonos Play

We feel like we waited years for Sonos to make exactly this speaker, but it was worth the patience. The Play puts the multiroom experience into a genuinely convenient portable option, much like a more sensibly sized Sonos Move 2.

The Play sounds excellent and compares pretty well to an Era 100 fixed speaker, but it sits on a charging dock, ready to be lifted out and carried around as and when you need it.

With sound that can adapt to the open air when outside, and a design that's durable enough to be fine in bad weather (hot or cold), the Play is just wildly convenient to use as a home speaker that you can cart around the house.

For those who like the idea of speakers that can work equally well when home or away, this is Sonos' most flexible product to date. It stands apart from the more permanently fixed speakers that are also part of this category, but if that's your want then Focal's runner-up position is a solid alternative.

Highly commended: Focal Naim Mu-so Hekla

Best Portable Speaker

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 3

Bang & Olufsen's smallest speaker has been a long-time favourite among the best portable Bluetooth speakers thanks to its sheer quality of design and sound.

Now in its third generation, the latest model enhances the looks, the bass output, and extends the battery life. That's a win-win in all departments, then, which ensures its place at the top in this already saturated market.

This speaker is so exceptionally well-made and delivers audio that's a level well beyond what its scale suggests, so you'll barely believe the results. You'll have to pay for the privilege – but it'll reward you handsomely for your investment.

Highly commended: JBL Xtreme 5

After telling the whole world what it was working on, Nothing has now properly unveiled its latest earbuds – the entry-level Ear (3a), with perhaps the biggest news being some absolutely wild colour options.

There will be four variants of the Ear (3a), including standard white and black options, but also a bright yellow one and a neon pink variant, the latter two of which are undeniably different looking compared to your averages set of 'buds.

Of course, this being Nothing, these aren't just a tiny update to the Ear (a). Nothing is also making another bold play when it comes to audio recording tech. The pricier Ear (3) changed things up by having a microphone built into the case for better audio when recording content. Now, the Ear (3a) has actual built-in storage in the earbuds themselves, to let you make recordings without needing your phone.

As Nothing explained to me in a briefing, the Ear (3a) comes with 32 MB of built-in flash storage, powering a new feature it's calling Audio Snapshot. This will let you clip whatever audio you're listening to through the earbuds, whether it's a phone call with a friend or a video you're watching.

The feature is activated by pinching both earbuds at the same time and captures a little audio before and after the trigger to make sure it doesn't miss the moment. When you connect to your phone, these recordings will port over to the Nothing X app for you to review and share as you like.

Similarly, you can also record entire calls (up to that 32MB limit) right on the earbuds, so you could get around two hours of recorded audio on the go. Thankfully, there will be a privacy announcement when you activate the setting, so the other party always knows you're recording.

In terms of the actual audio quality of the earbuds themselves, Nothing says the Ear (3a) have new 12mm dynamic drivers that allow them to boast Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification, which is a nice metric for wireless quality. Noise cancelling has also been improved, along with quite big steps in the transparency mode, apparently.

Finally, the earbuds get 10 hours of use on a charge, and the case has just over three more charges in it, giving you about 42 hours without needing a power cable, which is very decent.

All of this comes at a price of just $99 / £99 / €99, so Nothing's entry-level tech remains very impressive from a value point of view. You should be able to order them today from Nothing's own store, and they'll doubtless spread to other retailers soon, too.

There's no shortage of headphone brands out there, so when a new one turns up out of nowhere it needs to stand out. Enter Daisy Sound, a new audio company coming out of California, with a natty pair of headphones with a design which will go toe-to-toe with the AirPods Max.

That comparison comes thanks to the aluminium outer shell, which gives the model a really premium look. At the base of one of the earcups is a knurled aluminium dial, complete with a daisy motif on the outer edge.

Inside, magnetic ear cushions are employed, to make it easier than ever to remove and clean the contact point of your headphones. They're also made with memory foam cushioning, to make sure your ears stay comfortable as possible in use.

Each of the cups houses a 35mm dynamic driver, which should be capable of delivering impressive sound. In particular, the low-end is optimised with the brand's own proprietary algorithm.

Elsewhere, you'll find a hybrid, adaptive ANC, a natural transparency mode and a noise filtering algorithm with voice isolation. It's an impressive suite of tech focussed features, and should be enough to let the Daisy One keep up with the best on the market right now.

In terms of battery life, you can expect 35 hours with the ANC engaged, or 45 hours with the ANC off. That's pretty decent, and is made even more impressive with the quick charging feature, which delivers two and a half hours of listening time from a three minute charge.

Another peculiar feature is still mode. That sees a range of five immersive tracks recorded in the California wilderness embedded directly onto the device, meaning you can listen to a range of relaxation tracks without needing to pair to your phone.

The other bright point is the price. At £365 / US$399 (approx. €426 / AU$705), these sit beneath a lot of the established competition, which should make them an attractive prospect. I'll reserve further judgement until they've been tested, but it's certainly an attractive option.

Nothing is far from done with product launches for the year. Having already released the Nothing (4a) phone series earlier this year, alongside the new Headphone (a) over-ears, it will soon introduce a budget phone – the Nothing Phone (4b) – and new earbuds.

Indeed, the latter have now been confirmed, with a full launch planned for next Tuesday, 7 July. Called the Nothing Ear (3a) they will be the latest in the brand's affordable audio range, and we've just received a teaser in preparation.

We don't know a whole lot about the new buds yet, save for the fact you can sign up for a launch notification on the Nothing website. But interestingly, the teaser video doesn't only have music connotations (with a vinyl deck displaying a zoetropic animation), it effectively gives us the colour options that will be available – white, black, yellow and pink.

Oh, and it just so happens to have been shot using the camera on the forthcoming new phone – the Nothing Phone (4b).

Other than that, the rest is guess work for now. That includes price, although we wouldn't be surprised if the Nothing Ear (3a) replace the current Ear (a) pair. That would put them around £79 a pair at launch.

The flagship buds – the Nothing Ear (3) – are currently £149, so these new additions will be cheaper than those, for sure.

It's hard to say what features you might get – active noise cancelling and Hi-Res Audio support are likely. Although we doubt there'll be the Super Mic case, as found on the more expensive devices.

You won't have too long to wait to find out, although it's also worth considering that if you are in the market for budget earbuds at a decent price, the Nothing Ear (a) are currently down to £49 – probably in anticipation of this latest launch.

They're very decent for that price.