GoKawiil
Tech News
Qualcomm introduced its Sound Elite platform built around a new S3 chip small enough to fit inside earbuds, allowing them to stream Wi-Fi lossless audio without needing a paired phone nearby. The design lets users leave their phone in another room while still receiving uninterrupted high-quality sound.
JLab's Go Sport Plus true wireless earbuds, designed with over-ear hooks for workouts, are currently discounted on Amazon to $24.99 from their $31.99 list price, a 22% cut. The earbuds feature IP55 sweat resistance, Bluetooth 5.3, Google Fast Pair, and over 35 hours of combined battery life via the case.
Bose has refreshed its clip-on Ultra Open Earbuds with a new driver for louder, deeper bass sound, longer battery life of up to nine hours, and a subtly redesigned beveled metal cap. Alongside this, Bose introduced a cheaper $199 Sport Open Earbuds model built for a more secure fit during workouts. Both open-ear designs skip noise cancellation on purpose, letting wearers stay aware of their surroundings while listening.
Apple's new AirPods 5 launch at $129 for the standard model, adding active noise cancellation that was previously missing from the lineup. A $149 version bundles a Wireless Charging Case and extended battery life, making it the more compelling purchase for most buyers.
Amazon is currently discounting JBL's Live Buds 3 wireless earbuds by $70, pricing them at $129.95. The buds support LDAC high-resolution audio streaming and use a six-microphone array for calls.
Apple's new AirPods 5 lineup starts at $129, with a $149 version including a wireless charging case, both undercutting the $179 AirPods 4 with ANC by at least $30. Unlike the previous generation, both new models include active noise cancellation, adaptive audio, transparency mode, and an IP57 rating, while the pricier version adds swipe-based volume controls on the stem for the first time on non-Pro AirPods.
Anker's Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro earbuds, praised for strong call quality and IP55-rated durability, have dropped to $149.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Anker's own store, down from their usual $169.99. The earbuds had held that price steadily since their May debut, even skipping discounts during Prime Day in June.
Apple unveiled the AirPods 5, an update to its entry-level earbuds line featuring a redesigned acoustic architecture that delivers 50 percent better noise reduction than the AirPods 4. The lineup keeps the same two-tier pricing structure: $129 without a wireless charging case and $149 with one, both arriving September 18.
Apple has released a new generation of AirPods that improves active noise cancellation but leaves out the camera-equipped design that had been rumored ahead of launch. The earbuds focus on incremental audio and performance upgrades rather than new hardware features like built-in cameras.
Sony's WF-1000XM6 and WF-1000XM5 both retail at $330 but are currently priced $50 apart on Amazon, with the M6 at $298 and the M5 at $248. The newer M6 has a smaller, pill-shaped design and a new QN3e chip that improves sound quality, but its ear tips create fit issues that weaken noise cancellation, while the M5 handles call clarity and background noise suppression better.
Soundcore's new Liberty 5 Pro earbuds carry a Guinness World Records certification for the highest speech quality score among wireless earbuds. A WIRED reviewer testing dozens of earbud models found the Liberty 5 Pro noticeably improved phone call clarity, particularly for conversations with elderly relatives, while also featuring a redesigned, larger pill-shaped body with multiple ear tip and wing options for comfort.
Most wireless earbuds ship with silicone ear tips, which are cheap to produce but often fail to seal properly given how much ear shapes vary from person to person. Because earbuds rely on the ear tips alone to create a seal, a poor fit lets sound leak out and outside noise in, weakening bass response and noise cancellation performance. Swapping to a better-fitting tip, particularly memory foam versions, can significantly improve both comfort and audio quality without buying new earbuds.