wireless headphones
Latest
Surface Earbuds and Headphones 2 review: Comfort is king
The Surface Earbuds and Headphones 2 prove that Microsoft has finally found its audio niche. It's focusing on comfort and usability in very smart ways.
Sony debuts $200 headphones with powerful ANC and long battery life
Over the last few years, Sony has given Bose a run for its money when it comes to noise-cancelling headphones. With the 1000X line, Sony has continued to improve both audio and active noise cancellation (ANC) in successive products. It also offers a taste of those high-end features in more affordable models, like the WH-XB900N I reviewed last year. Still, that Extra Bass option was $250. Now the company is back with another set of noise-cancelling headphones: the WH-CH710N. And this time, thankfully, they're even more affordable at $200.
Our favorite noise-cancelling headphones are cheaper than ever
Earlier this month, Newegg discounted Sony's $350 WH-1000XM3 headphones down to $250. (Sale prices on the unit typically hover around $275.) Now, the electronics retailer is dropping the price even lower. At $238, the 1000XM3s are a great deal. Engadget gave the Bluetooth headphones an impressive score 94 thanks to their fantastic audio quality and great noise-cancelling performance, but noted that the price was a big downside. With a $112 discount, that's far less of an issue. Buy Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones on Newegg - $238
Sennheiser's latest over-ear wireless headphones offer affordable ANC
Don't panic if you want wireless over-ear Sennheiser headphones but can't stomach the $400 for the Momentum Wireless -- there are more affordable options. The audio veteran just unveiled the HD 350BT and noise-cancelling HD 450BT (pictured), two Bluetooth 5.0 models that replace the earlier 4.40BT and 4.50BTNC. They both offer up to 30 hours of listening, fast charging over USB-C and a dedicated voice assistant button, but they cost roughly half as much or less. You're looking at $130 for the 350BT and $220 for its ANC-equipped counterpart.
Sony's best noise-cancelling headphones are on sale at Amazon
Over the last two years, noise-cancelling headphones have not only become really good, but they've become more accessible as well. With Black Friday around the corner, now is a great time to take advantage of all the advancements companies like Sony have made in the field. Amazon has discounted two of the company's most popular models, the WH-1000XM3 and XB900N.
The best workout headphones
The gym can be a dull, boring place for some of us. Myself included. Fortunately, you've got a smartphone -- or an MP3 player. Whether it's for a music streaming service, a finely curated list of ripped tracks or a backlog of podcasts, what you need now are some workout headphones. It's 2019, and while not all wired headphones will work with your smartphone of choice, all phones have Bluetooth. There's also the fact that moving around with headphones, whether for a bench-press session or a run around the block, is better without wires. As long as your headphones stay put, that is. That's why all of our recommendations are wireless models. We've pulled together a few picks that should suit most workouts. While you can expect decent audio quality from all of them, decisions about workout gear, come down to personal preferences. Because of that, we've included over-ear models, noise-canceling champions and some reasonably priced headphones that punch above their weight.
LG’s first true wireless earbuds come with a germ-killing case
Most people don't clean their earbuds anywhere near as much as they should to keep them free of germs, bacteria and unsightly earwax. And while they won't do all the cleaning themselves, LG's latest pair of headphones do have a nifty trick up their sleeve that will appeal to germaphobes. For the company's first pair of true wireless pair of earphones, the Tone+ Free, LG has built a UV light into the charging case that comes with the headphones. LG claims the light will disinfect the Bluetooth headphones anytime you store them to charge.
Sennheiser's new Momentum headphones are improved, but still pricey
Sennheiser has been fine-tuning its Momentum Wireless headphones for a few years now, and at IFA 2019, the company is unveiling a third-generation model. While the overall design is mostly the same, the company added a host of new features to bring these over-ear headphones in line with the likes of Sony's WH-1000XM3 and the top options from Bose. At $399.95 (€399), they're pricier than a lot of the flagship headphone competition, even if Sennheiser did stack the spec sheet.
The Rock and Under Armour cook up true wireless earbuds
The tag team partners of Dwanye Johnson and Under Armour have teamed up again for a new product in their collaborative line. the activewear company announced today the Project Rock True Wireless In-Ear Headphones. The fitness-focused earbuds are designed to be sweat proof and to stay in the wearer's ear even in the most intense workouts. Under Armour claims the headphones get about 5 hours of continuous playback on a full charge. they also come with a charging case that can add up to 20 hours of listening. The wireless earbuds retail for $199 and will start shipping on June 7th.
B&O adds Google Assistant to its pricey H9 headphones
High-end electronics manufacturer Bang and Olufsen is back with a set of headphones that are made for the power listener. The latest version of the company's flagship Beoplay H9 headphones promise a whopping 25 hours of wireless playtime from its built-in battery. That's seven hours longer than the company's previous Beoplay H9i managed on a single charge.
Master & Dynamic's MW65 are its first noise-cancelling headphones
Last year, Master & Dynamic filled a gap in its headphone lineup with the MW07 true wireless earbuds, but the company was still missing one key feature: noise cancellation. That changes today as M&D has announced the MW65, a set of over-ear wireless headphones with active noise cancellation (ANC). The company's attention to detail is on display once more, with its trademark aesthetic that mixes leather and metal. The additions of ANC and a dedicated Google Assistant button do come at a cost, pushing the price tag on the MW65 to $499.
Urbanears' $150 over-ear headphones last 30 hours
If you're in the market for over-ear, wireless headphones, you've probably noticed how pricey they can get. Good over-ear models can often set you back two or three hundred dollars, if not more. But budget-minded music lovers may be in luck: Urbanears just released a new line of Bluetooth, over-ear headphones for $149.99.
Xbox One gets premium wireless headphones from SteelSeries
Xbox One owners haven't had many choices when it comes to wireless headphones. Up until now, you either had to get one of Turtle Beach's Stealth headsets, or make do with plugging wired headphones into your Xbox One controller. Now SteelSeries is aiming to step things up a notch with the $200 Arctis 9X, a new headset with native wireless support for the Xbox One. While it's certainly a bit late in the console's lifetime for a custom accessory, SteelSeries is at least providing something plenty of Xbox fans have been waiting for.
Apple AirPods review (2019): More of the same, but that's OK
In the two and a half years since they were first released, Apple's AirPods have undergone a remarkable transformation. What started out as Q-tip-shaped curiosities have become a full-blown millennial status symbol. Now memes run rampant and a YouTuber can clear 600,000 views with a "proposal" video involving Apple's wireless earbuds. (What I can say? The future we live in is weird sometimes.) Beyond their newfound coolness, these earbuds have also brought Apple considerable financial success: A recent report suggests that the AirPods are the most popular wireless headphones in the world, and some would-be rivals have dropped out of the market entirely because of their dominance. I doubt even Apple saw this kind of cultural and commercial impact coming. With all that said, Apple had to produce a follow-up. It's safe to say, though, that these $160 second-generation AirPods aren't exactly what some of the company's fans have been hoping for. Their design hasn't changed so not everyone will find them particularly comfortable, and Apple hasn't done much (if anything) to improve the audio quality. Instead, Apple chose to focus on what made the AirPods so pleasant to use in the first place: their dead-simple convenience. That might not be the most exciting upgrade for people who already have AirPods, but it does mean Apple's second-gen wireless earbuds are a stronger choice than ever for people who haven't taken the plunge yet.
The top 14 portable audio gadgets you can buy right now
We love our tunes and we're guessing that most of you do too. If you're in the market for some portable audio gear or summer's been so great that you've inflicted serious damage on your current devices, we've got a fresh list of some of the best items out there. Samsung's Level On Wireless headphones are surprisingly comfy and sound great, while UE's affordable new Roll Bluetooth speaker doesn't disappoint. There's plenty more, so check out the gallery below for a rundown of what's new in portable audio or swing by our complete buyer's guide for a full listing of gadgets in every category.
Bringing it to Beats: can these 'social' headphones compete?
Music is a social experience. Headphones -- by their very nature -- are not. Except the team behind the Wearhaus Arc you see above never got that memo. If you think these look familiar, that's because I wrote Wearhaus an open letter back in May. I received the press release about the Arc headphones (and its bold idea to unite friends and strangers through proximity music sharing) and thought it sounded like a good idea. In a blue-sky world at least. Ultimately, I was worried it would be limited by one thing -- the buying public's desire (need?) for individuality. But what do I know. Wearhaus broke another convention and hosted (successfully) its own crowdfunding campaign. Those orders will ship early next year (pencilled in for January). Wearhaus then dropped a prototype in my lap to really convince me they weren't messing about, just as the Arc launches on Kickstarter proper. Could these social headphones really be more than just wireless headsets with a party trick? The evidence for that is certainly mounting.
Rapoo H9080 wireless headphones promise mellow bass, 10 hour battery life
Wireless home theater cans? A dime a dozen these days -- luckily, we're still suckers for a handsome charging dock. Debuting in the halls of the Las Vegas convention center are Rapoo's H9080 Home Entertainment Wireless Headphones, a leather-clad pair of audio earmuffs that promise deep, on-demand bass boosting and clean treble tones. Rapoo attributes the sets' audio fidelity to COM-Ti membrane vibration technology, ensuring a pure and mellow sound. A handsome charging cradle keeps your headphones from getting lost, whilst juicing it up for 10 hours of use for every three hours on the cradle. The company isn't ready to trot out a price tag just yet, but says the headphones will be available in the first quarter of 2013.
Logitech UE 9000 Wireless Headphones hit the FCC: Bluetooth in a full-size package
We've seen Logitech extend the reach of its Ultimate Ears brand once before with the UE Air Speaker, and now it appears that full-size headphones are soon to be on the list. As revealed by a recent FCC filing, the division -- best known for its pro-quality IEMs -- is working on a set of Bluetooth headphones dubbed as the UE 9000. There isn't much in the way of details or photos, however, a diagram detailing the location of the unit's FCC label reveals what looks like a full-size headphone -- new territory for UE for sure. We'll let you know when we hear any official word about the cans, but for now, feel free to scope the existing competition while reading about how much radiation these puppies might inject into your noggin.
Microsoft patent imagines headphones as accessory docking motherships
If it never occurred to you to plug all kinds of peripherals into your ear cans -- including the media player making the sound -- a new patent from Redmond's brain trust might give you pause. The headphones are shown as a catch-all, with receiving spaces for snapping in devices like rechargeable battery packs, storage, Bluetooth or WiFi reception modules and media players -- such as the Zune-like one sketched in above. The headset could also have controls to operate those peripherals, as well as an optional boom mic and USB ports, according to the document. All this is claimed to allow for numerous configurations, letting you pimp your headset to fit your own needs, and interface with games, movies or music in various ways. If they ever get to market, you might start thinking of humble headphones as full-blown entertainment centers instead of mere accessories.
Engadget Giveaway: win one of two pairs of Sync by 50 wireless over-ear headphones!
This week we're once again bringing the audio goods to you, and today's giveaway should be incredibly tempting. 50 Cent's brand, SMS Audio, wants to hook you up with a pair of its premium wireless over-ear headphones, Sync by 50. Priced at $400, these cans are spendier than a fair number of smartphones, but it offers Kleer technology with CD-quality lossless audio and will work up to 50 feet away from your device. And just for kicks and giggles, SMS Audio is also throwing in a snapback hat, shirt and a backpack to go along with your prize, so it's definitely worth heading below the rules and leaving a comment to enter. Good luck!
