Tag Archives: earphones

Sony redesigns sports earphones with an ‘off-ear’ rendition to ensure comfortable running experience

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The running community is used to the regular wireless earphones with ANC and splash-proofing. For the first time, there is a company that thinks the runners – and those involved in active sports – need a specially tailored pair of earphones, which is a little more. And who better to do that than Sony!

The masters of good sound and design excellence have revealed the Float Run (available on Amazon), which forgoes the traditional in-ear design for an off-ear style that allows the earbuds to rest outside the ear while holding snug with a clip-on, over-ear extension and a flexible neckband.

Designer: Sony

Those who remember bone conducting earphones would recognize the design instantly. Sony Float Run is engineered to be worn outside the ear, somewhat like the bone conducting ones that are clipped to the ear lobe. I have used this type of earphones; the sound and efficacy are not compromised but there is a pain point, they tend to release the sound outward so people around can hear what you are listening to.

How much has Sony figured that out and plugged the pain point is going to clear up only with use – we were not able to find clear evidence to this – but what we are clear about is that the Float Run is a comfortable fit and delivers high-quality sound to the listener.

The speakers of the Sony headphones are designed to float in front of the ears so you can enjoy comfort and convenience while running. Since the ears are not stuffed with the buds, the runners or sportspersons do not feel pressure in the ear, even after prolonged usage. The interesting aspect of the Sony device is that it allows you to hear the ambient sound naturally when you are wearing them.

The sound from the outside is naturally heard, so it can be safely worn while walking on the trail, running on the road, or pumping your muscles in the gym. If the sound from the outside is allowed in, the earbuds have to maintain a good speaker standard. To that end, the Float Run come with large, 16mm driver that allows excellent sound, thick base, and treble; though slightly higher volume than usual may be necessary.

Provided with IPX4 Splash Protection, the Sony earphone, which runs for up to 10 hours on a single charge, would allow you to enjoy music when you are sweating or running in a sudden shower. The Float Run weighs only 33g and is powered through the USB Type-C connector. If you like the idea of an earphone that doesn’t make your ear feel constrained, you can think of taking these home for usage during sports, including running.

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Nothing’s downgraded earbuds minus ANC is a typical Apple copycat move

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Nothing arrived on the scene with its first highly anticipated product the Nothing Ear (1) and followed up the next year by debuting its first-ever smartphone, the Nothing Phone (1). Whether Carl Pie’s company lived up to the build-up is subjective, still, both these gadgets have die-hard lovers as well as biased haters.

Now Nothing is back with a follow-up pair of wireless earbuds dubbed Ear (stick) that seem like a stripped-down version rather than an upgrade to the inaugural TWS earbuds. Something similar to what the Apple AirPods are to the premium AirPods Pro.

Designer: Nothing

Click Here to Buy Now!

The target market for these audio accessories clearly seems to be the crowd who prefer comfort to sound isolation. That’s because Nothing Ear (stick) earbuds ditch the silicone ear tips for half in-ear design and sadly also trench the active noise cancellation feature. All this for a stripped-down price tag of $99 as an alternate version for ones on a budget. We also have to consider the Ear 1 earbuds came at an intal price tag of $99 but recently the price was hiked by 50 percent as Carl cited “an increase in costs” to be the primary reason. Either way, now both these Nothing earbuds feel like a pinching choice in hindsight.

Moving on, there are a few pluses to the Ear (stick) earbuds in the form of a 12.6-millimeter custom driver compared to the 11-millimeter drivers in the Ear (1). That’ll excite music listeners who prefer audio quality more than anything else. There are three mics on each earbud to compensate for the noise bleed (remember it doesn’t have sealing ear tips) by measuring bass frequencies and then employing automatic equalization. A feature Nothing calls Bass Lock. The mics will also negate the windy noises during calls for a seamless listening experience. This should make the earbuds good enough for listening in less noisy environments but a bit short while air traveling, on public transit, or on a crowded street.

Another advantage comes in the form of a redesigned antenna in the stems to help minimize blocked signals. The charging case on these ones looks more like a cylindrical stick with a twisting mechanism to access the buds. This should make the earbuds less prone to tossing out in case of accidental drops when compared to the predecessor. Other modifications on the IP54 earbuds include physical press controls instead of touch controls.

Thankfully, the Ear (stick) has a claimed seven hours of battery life with additional 22 hours in the charging case. A quick dash of two hours of battery life can be achieved with a 10-minute charge. Phone (1) owners can access the earbuds in a jiffy via the quick settings toggle and other Android owners can download the Nothing X app to get access to all the available features with the Ear (stick).

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The world’s first bicycle helmet-friendly smart earphones allow you to ride safe and ‘sound’!

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Designed by the same company who brought us the LIVALL EVO21 smart helmet with built-in safety lights, the LIVALL LTS21 are wireless earphones designed specifically for cyclists. With a unique design that allows you to wear most cycling helmets along with the earphones, the LTS21 gives you the ability to listen to music/podcasts, answer calls, and talk to fellow riders while still providing situational awareness through its open-ear design.

Designers: Bryan Zheng & Mingqiang Xu

Click Here to Buy the Sport: $79 $135 ($56 off). Hurry, only limited to 20. Includes free remote controller, portable bag, and 50% off shipping.

Click Here to Buy the Pro: $89 $149 ($60 off). Hurry, only limited to 20. Includes free remote controller, portable bag, and 50% off shipping.

The hallmark of the LIVALL LTS21’s design lies in its ability to be worn regularly as well as with your cycling helmet. The earpieces come with modular attachments including a band that secures them around the back of your head (like sports earphones) so they don’t fall off while running or working out, and a second helmet bracket that allows your LTS21s to attach to practically any cycling headphone. The helmet brackets ‘hold’ the earphones while they sit on your ear, giving you a unique helmet-mounted audio device that plays music, answers calls, and even summons your phone’s voice assistant… but most importantly, unlike AirPods and other TWS earbuds, the LTS21 let you hear things around you. A car horn, a bus engine, someone calling out your name, anything that may require your attention.

The LIVALL LTS21’s open ear design relies on an innovation that surpasses your regular bone-conduction technology. Its earpieces use a directional acoustic technology that provides a leak-free private listening experience, without the uncomfortable vibrating feeling of a bone-conducting earpiece. What this does is make listening to audio more comfortable, while still allowing you to listen in on the world around you, keeping you aware and safe. The earphones are powered by high-grade 16.2mm audio drivers, designed to provide a balanced sound with minimal leakage. The LTS21 connects to your phone via Bluetooth 5.2, pairing instantly, and thanks to battery-saving protocols, it has an operation time of a whopping 12 hours – extendable to 60 hours along with the charging case.

16.2mm Speakers – Has a sensitivity rating of 106, ‡3dB that has received calibrations in layering, space, bass tone and clarity for a more immersive listening experience.

Bluetooth 5.2 – The technology supports connection and reconnection in less than a second.

Environmental Noise Cancellation – Features four high-quality silicon microphones to form a powerful noise re-duction array.

Long Battery Life – Supports up to 12 hours of continuous play and has an 800mAh charging case/power bank with the capacity to fully recharge for up to 60 hours of playtime.

The LTS21 also boasts of ENC or environmental noise canceling, thanks to 4 high-quality silicon microphones that form a noise-reduction array… so while it does have an open-ear design, car horns or noisy pedestrians don’t end up drowning out your phone calls. IP64 dust and water resistance mean the LTS21 can comfortably take on sweat and light rain while jogging or cycling, and even though the LTS21 comes with a touch-sensitive surface for controlling your listening experience, each pair of earphones ships with a LIVALL remote that straps to your handlebars, allowing you to remotely toggle playback, answer/reject calls, increase/decrease volume, or even ask Google/Siri for directions without taking your hands off the handlebars.

IP64 – Protected against dust and water.

Enjoy a hands-free walkie-talkie with your teammates while riding.

The LIVALL LTS21 comes in white and black variants, and you can choose between the regular $85 ‘Sport’ variant that ships with the headband (perfect for regular use, jogging, yoga), or the $95 ‘Pro’ variant that also includes the helmet brackets (for the aforementioned as well as cycling, skateboarding, hoverboarding). Yanko Design readers get a special discount treat, so make sure you use the links provided!

Click Here to Buy the Sport: $79 $135 ($56 off). Hurry, only limited to 20. Includes free remote controller, portable bag, and 50% off shipping.

Click Here to Buy the Pro: $89 $149 ($60 off). Hurry, only limited to 20. Includes free remote controller, portable bag, and 50% off shipping.

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This clip-on audio receiver turns any wired earbuds/headphones into wireless ones

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A unibody clip-on Bluetooth receiver that pairs with your wired earbuds or headphones to listen to with mobile devices or other gadgets that have ditched the 3.5mm headphone jack for good!

Going wireless with your mobile devices is a standard that most flagships are following. This all goes well for lifestyle products like Bluetooth earbuds, but if you are a hardcore audiophile, parting with your favorite pair of headphones or earbuds for listening to music or podcasts on a smartphone is painful. Especially if you own a phone that doesn’t come with the good old headphone jack.

Designer: Ugly Duckling

The Grampus clip-on Bluetooth audio receiver (the designer calls it a clip-on Bluetooth) comes to the rescue for any such users who don’t want to sacrifice the option of listening to the audio on their trusted wired earphones/headphones. Not only can this accessory be useful for listening with Bluetooth mobile devices but also for times when you don’t want to wake up others in the family while watching an action movie on the big screen from a distance, paired with your wired set of cans. The design is dominated by a killer whale-like shape, wherein, the clip isn’t a separate part of the body, rather, it is a part of the unibody design of the product.

The flexibility of use is the key with this concept design that has huge potential to turn into a real-life product. The volume up/down button, as well as the power button, are very prominent in the form factor – thereby aiding in quick input without even looking at them. If the actual product does come with the supplied pair of detachable earbuds, it would be the red cherry on top. That way, the Bluetooth accessory can be paired with the color-matching earbuds, or if you want to use them with your trusted earbuds/headphones, it’s also possible to do that.

Grampus Bluetooth audio receiver should get support for connectivity with at least two devices simultaneously to appeal to modern users who live in an ecosystem of wireless devices. The cool colors that the designer has rendered the product in look absolutely desirable, and for people who want exactly this kind of functionality, Grampus makes complete sense.

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Sennheiser IE 600 earbuds puts a unique design twist to uncompromised in-ear listening

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Sennheiser IE 600 Earbuds Images

Sennheiser breathes and lives audio, so this brand always comes up with excellent quality products that offer audio solutions that work. Every accessory or speaker introduced by the company aims to make a difference in sound listening experiences. Most audiophiles can attest to this claim, especially since Sennheiser has been around for almost eight decades.

Consumer audio devices like the new Sennheiser IE 600 Earbuds prove why Sennheiser is a name to be reckoned with. The latest from the company is a pair of Sennheiser IE 600 Earbuds that promises to deliver neutral sound reproduction, accurate natural sound, and unmatched tuning. These audio advantages are housed in rugged earphone housings produced via 3D printing.

Designer: Sennheiser

Sennheiser IE 600 Earbuds Features

The IE 600 cases are made of ZR01 amorphous zirconium and have been 3D-printed. The metal may appear like glass, but it is not delicate. Compared to hard steel, this one comes with bend resistance but is three times as hard. It is the same material NASA used on its Mars Rover, specifically, the drilling head, so you can probably describe the pair’s durability as out of this world.

The pair looks tough and it really is, starting with the surface that never scratches nor corrodes. Scratch resistance is possible with the several elaborate treatment processes the material went through. The earbuds’ resilience can be expected as you use the pair each day and for the years to come.

Sennheiser IE 600 Earbuds Launch

Sennheiser’s IE 600 earbuds have been manufactured meticulously. It demonstrates that the Sennheiser IE product lineup is separate from the other audio accessories from the brand. The pair is made at the Sonova Consumer Hearing’s transducer production facilities based in Ireland, following top-notch standards. It is meant to exceed expectations, and the pair can with its reliable channel matching, anti-corrosion design, excellent acoustic, and more.

Sennheiser Audiophile’s Product Manager Jermo Köhnke said: “At the audiophile development team, we intently listen to the feedback of our incredibly passionate customers. The IE 600 delivers a neutral reference tuning in combination with our industry-leading miniature transducer technology.” The company did listen to the feedback of its loyal consumers, so it knows how to cater to their mobile audio demands. He added, “The paradigm-shifting acoustic performance is appropriately clad in highest-performance amorphous zirconium. The IE 600 will be a reference for the most demanding mobile audio enthusiasts.”

Sennheiser IE 600 Earbuds Pricing

Beyond the aesthetics that bring virtual delight, the pair can offer excellent sound, thanks to precision-molded resonator chambers, innovative acoustic back volume, and intimate voicing, especially during vocal performances. High-fidelity sound is delivered by dual chambers that can mask resonances and conceal higher frequencies. Sennheiser implemented its own TrueResponse transducer technology, which is simple a 7mm driver. The tiny driver allows ultra-low distortion, extra-wide frequency range, and highly detailed resolution.

The IE 600 may be small, but it offers a big sound with excellent stability. The ergonomic housing makes the pair comfortable even for all-day wearing. Each bud is almost tailor-made because you can choose from either the memory foam or silicone earbud tips that fit most ear sizes. In addition, Sennheiser is offering three sizes so you can comfortably seal the sound. The pair also promises flexibility with the adjustable ear hooks, resulting in reliable comfort even if you are using it the whole day.

Sennheiser IE 600 Earbuds Announcement

The IE 600 comes with a recessed MMCX connector for better guidance and stability. The design of the earphones and the cables makes sense as the cable is more secured. The pair can support 4.88mm and 3.5mm so you can also use the earbuds with a wide variety of audio sources, including hi-fi components capable of balanced outputs. Sennheiser has spent hours of research and development into this pair, so you can expect an accurate low-end response, true-to-life voicing, steep bass slope, and an overall optimized acoustic system.

The Sennheiser IE 600 will be up for purchase for $699.95. That is expensive for a pair of wired in-ear earbuds, but apart from the premium audio quality it offers, it is made of ZR01 amorphous zirconium. Just say it is a material NASA uses in the Mars Rover, so it sounds cool, rugged, and hardcore.

Sennheiser IE 600 Earbuds Photos

True audiophiles will love the Sennheiser IE 600 even it does not offer wireless or Bluetooth connectivity. The wired in-ear pair’s use of aerospace materials makes it highly coveted. Of course, we always prefer function over form, but this pair combines the two perfectly.

Sennheiser IE 600 Earbuds Release

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Carl Pei’s Nothing debuts its first product – a pair of TWS earbuds with a ‘zero-secrets’ transparent design

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There was a time when you could take a screwdriver and practically fix anything. A radio, a telephone, a washing machine, all you’d need was a simple tool to help you inspect, replace, and repair parts and your product was good as new, but that isn’t the case today. Try venturing a guess on what’s really inside your smartphone, or how your TWS earbuds work, and the regular consumer will probably draw a massive blank. We take these complex products for granted because they do their job without a fuss, but without even really knowing how beautifully complicated they are on the inside. Nothing, former OnePlus founder Carl Pei’s latest venture, is lifting the veil on products with its brand of minimalist ‘nothingness’. The ear (1) marks Nothing’s debut in the product space and comes with a rather alluring transparent design. The earphones sport a transparent housing that lets you really appreciate the design and detail gone into the product’s inner assemblies, and a transparent case accentuates the brand’s ethos… of being a breath of fresh air in a saturated tech space that’s all about making black and white boxes.

Partnering with Teenage Engineering over the design of the ear (1), Nothing highlights the fact that the design’s beauty lies in ints inherent rawness. “Nothing like you’ve seen before, the raw beauty of ear (1)’s stripped-down aesthetic features transparency to expose the engineering, including microphones, magnets, and circuit board. Everything that is ear (1) is there with purpose”, the brand mentions in a press release.

The earphones boast a massive 11.6mm audio driver, tuned to perfection by the folks at Teenage Engineering, who have established themselves as one of the leading audio-tech brands of our time. The audiophiles at Teenage Engineering painstakingly dialed in the software and hardware for balanced bass, mid, and treble performance, and equipped the TWS earbuds with Bluetooth 5.2 for incredible connectivity.

The earbuds sit rather tightly in your ear thanks to liquid silicone ear-tips, and are even equipped with ANC – a feature that’s definitely worth praise given the TWS earbuds’ $99 price tag. The ANC can be controlled with different modes – like a Light mode for moderate cancelation in a relatively noise-free setting, and a Maximum mode for much noisier environments like in the outdoors, or in public transport. A Transparency mode lets you easily listen to the world around you when you’re walking down roads or you need to pay attention to your surroundings, and the ear (1)’s built-in Clear Voice Technology dramatically reduces distractive background noise, like the wind.

Yet another noteworthy feature is the earbud’s battery life – a cumulative 34 hours, along with the charging case. I’ll admit, there’s definitely an allure to being able to see the earbuds inside their case – it’s almost like a work of art… and you’ve got to admire the way every single element in the earphones is visible, including the magnets that cause the buds to align inside the case. The transparency does trigger a human response to think that the earbuds are fragile, but Nothing ensures that they’re built to a world-class standard. They come sweat and water-resistant, and each earbud weighs a stunningly low 4.7 grams. The case charges wirelessly too, and is Qi-compatible.

The launch of Nothing’s ear (1) quite mirrors how OnePlus established itself as a brand. When OnePlus launched its first phone, it capitalized on crowd fanfare brought about by an alluring design, an extremely competitive price, and a highly limited edition drop that had the crowd begging for more. Nothing seems to be employing a similar strategy too, given its rather eye-catching transparent design and transparently low price. The TWS earbuds will also be available via limited drops on their website nothing.tech. Open sales will begin on 17 August 2021 across 45 countries and regions, including the UK, USA, and Canada.

Designer: Teenage Engineering and Nothing

Bose officially launches SoundControl hearing aids, making its audio tech more inclusive and accessible

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Bose just announced their latest product, the SoundControl™ Hearing Aids – the first FDA-cleared, direct-to-consumer hearing aid developed for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. They’ll be sold by Bose (as opposed to being available at medical stores) and can be directly purchased, worn, and controlled by the wearer without needing to visit a doctor for a prescription or even an audiologist for a hearing test and professional fitting. The SoundControl hearing aids partner up with the Bose Hear app that gives wearers complete control over their wearables through their smartphone. Using its revolutionary CustomTune technology, the app lets you personalize your hearing experience in under 30 minutes, which Bose says is “a seismic shift from the process required for conventional hearing aids”.

The hearing aids come with a rather discreet design that’s virtually impossible to spot when worn. They even come in a palm-sized case that’s highly reminiscent of TWS earbuds, helping bring hearing aids into the 21st century… although Bose mentions that they’re strictly just regular hearing aids. They don’t stream music from your phone or let you use them as Bluetooth headsets while on calls or video chats. However, designed as a culmination of over 30 years of research and conceptualized along with scientists, audiologists, and engineers, the SoundControl claims to do a remarkably good job with being able to make the hearing-impaired hear crisp, clear audio, with the ability to amplify soft and easy-to-miss sounds in conversations (like consonants).

The SoundControl ‘hearables’ take on a sleek, practically invisible design featuring a tiny ear-tip that connects using a transparent cable to the receiver that sits behind the ear. Each earpiece contains one tiny speaker and two microphones, while the receivers both come with their own dedicated volume buttons that control ‘World Volume’, that helps amplify quieter audio to balance it out with louder noises. Each earpiece weighs just 3 grams (0.1 ounces) and runs on a standard 312 zinc-air battery, which lasts for up to four days when used 14 hours daily. That would imply that the case that comes along with the SoundControl is purely for storage, and doesn’t provide any charging function, as found with most TWS earbuds.

The SoundControl is Bose’s first foray into medical audio tech. “In the United States alone, approximately 48 million people suffer from some degree of hearing loss that interferes with their life. But the cost and complexity of treatment have become major barriers to getting help,” said Brian Maguire, category director of Bose Hear. The SoundControl aims at bridging the current divide by providing those people with access to the same high-fidelity audio experience that Bose provides to the rest of the world. My personal gripe with the SoundControl, however, is its absolute lack of smart features. The hearing aids don’t play music from your phone or even assist with phone calls or alarms. They don’t summon your phone’s voice assistant either – which does seem like a bit of a let-down, but then again, that could have impacted their FDA approval. They do, however, move mountains by making hearing aids much more accessible to the masses by helping customers circumvent the current system of consulting doctors and buying prescription hearing aids which can cost in the ballpark of over a thousand dollars. The SoundControl helps avoid that clinical route, and customers can purchase them for $849.95 starting May 18th in five states: Massachusetts, Montana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas — with nationwide availability to follow.

Designer: Bose

Honeywell and rapper Will.i.am just debuted a futuristic face-mask with built-in wireless earphones

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I’ll be honest, nothing about that title is even remotely predictable. In fact, it gets progressively weirder with every subsequent word. You wouldn’t expect Will.i.am to release a medical product, more so, partner with Honeywell over it… but together the rapper and the OEM conglomerate collaborated over a mask that combines the best of both parties. Titled the XUPERMASK, the $299 face-mask comes with dual three-speed fans and HEPA filters, but also packs Bluetooth earphones with noise canceling audio and 7-hour battery life. I’ll be honest, the association with Will.i.am aside, the mask really looks pretty futuristic (it comes co-designed by Hollywood costume-designer Jose Fernandez, who also designed the SpaceX astronaut suits). The fact that it’s built by Honeywell lends it a good amount of credibility, and I can’t believe I’m saying this but I could actually see myself wearing one of these.

The XUPERMASK attempts at turning face-masks into a bit of a pop-culture item. It surely isn’t fluff… the mask is awaiting FDA approval, and it comes fitted with replaceable HEPA filters made by Honeywell – a company that’s built itself on designing the world’s greatest HVAC systems. The pop-culture element comes from rapper and Black Eyed Peas member Will.i.am, who aims to turn the XUPERMASK into a renegade pair of wireless earphones too.

As far as the face-mask part of the design is concerned, the XUPERMASK sports a universal fit, thanks to a silicone face-seal and a high-performance elastic strap that wraps around your head. The mask is outfitted with dual-fans that work at 3-speed settings to deliver purified air directly to your face as you breathe. Air is pushed through a set of pleated HEPA filters manufactured by Honeywell, and the filters are designed to be replaced every 30 days for optimal performance. The fans themselves run for an impressive 7 hours on a full charge, providing enough usage to get you through most of your day… and to seal the deal, the mask even sports glowing LED rings around each fan for that futuristic appeal.

Aside from being just a face-mask, the XUPERMASK (pronounced Supermask, if you’re still wondering) also packs a pair of wireless earphones too. The earphones emerge from the sides of the mask, and can be docked on the mask itself on designated magnetic panels. When you want to wear them, just pop the earphones off and place them in your ear. The earphones come with Bluetooth 5.0, pairing seamlessly with any smart-device. They come with active noise-canceling (pretty impressive for a face-mask), and even house an integrated noise-reduction microphone for things like answering calls or sending voice-messages. There’s no indication of where this microphone is located, but I’d be thoroughly impressed if it was within the mask’s enclosure itself. It would essentially mean you could talk while wearing the mask and not have your voice get muffled.

The XUPERMASK comes in two colors for now – one in pure black, and another in a white + orange combination. Just visually, it does look pretty impressive. The LED rings, metallic fan covers, and those magnetic earbuds, all set the XUPERMASK apart. The mask even comes with a set of controls built on either side, allowing you to toggle fan speed, the LED light, switch on/off the ANC feature, and do basic things like answer calls or play-pause music. Off the top of my head, a fan-powered face-mask with earphones does sound like a crazy idea that might just work, and with the XUPERMASK, Honeywell and Will.i.am are betting on a future where masks will still be a common outdoor face-accessory… in which case, having wireless earphones built into your face-mask just sounds a tad bit more sensible. The XUPERMASK is currently available in two sizes, and for a retail price of $299. The mask comes as a part of a XUPERKIT (I’m guessing the nomenclature was Will.i.am’s idea), which includes a carry-case, 3 months worth of replaceable HEPA filters, a USB charging cable, and replaceable earphone tips for different ear-sizes. The XUPERMASK hasn’t received FDA approval yet, but it has been granted authorization for emergency use.

Designers: will.i.am & Jose I. Fernandez in partnership with Honeywell

Razer’s new ‘gaming glasses’ have blue-light blocking properties and built-in earphones!

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The product development team at Razer must be working overtime! The company, which recently revealed their reusable straw has also released a pair of eyewear, and while a stainless steel straw seems like a rather odd product for a gaming-tech company to launch, the Razer Ansu glasses fit more into their wheelhouse.

The Razer Ansu is a little more than your average pair of glasses. Styled rather fashionably (and available in wayfarer-style round and rectangular frames), these glasses are designed to be lightweight, comfortable, and perfect for wearing in front of screens or out in the sun. Armed with interchangeable lenses, the frames let you swap in and swap out eyepieces, choosing between blue-light filtering lenses (for excessive screen-time) or polarized UV-blocking lenses (for wearing outdoors)… but that isn’t all. The frames come outfitted with ope-ear audio drivers too, which lets them double as earphones when you wear them. 16mm drivers carefully located within the temple stems fire audio directly into your ears, creating a personal, earphone-like listening experience without needing to wear earphones. The Ansu pair with devices via Bluetooth 5.1, letting you listen to music or podcasts from your phone, or even wear them while gaming (instead of slipping on those thick headsets). Sure, there are microphones built into the Ansu too, and a touch-sensitive area on the spectacles let you do stuff like control playback or activate your phone’s voice assistant. The Ansu comes with 5 hours of battery (and it powers off when you ‘close’ the glasses), and is even built to be IPX4 water-resistant, so a little rain shouldn’t really deter you from wearing the specs outdoors. The Ansu come in two shapes (rounded and rectangular) across two sizes, and ship with a chic leather carrying case. Additionally, Razer has partnered with Lensabl to extend 15% off prescription lenses for Anzu buyers who require corrective lenses.

Designer: Razer

Leaked AirPods 3 images show earbuds with curved stems, like in the Apple AirPods Pro

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When you’re a trillion-dollar company with wildly successful products, it’s kinda difficult to keep things under wraps. With the global supply chain for Apple being spread across multiple countries and multiple continents, a leak from some rogue employee is bound to happen, and happened, it has! Images of the new AirPods 3 have been circulating on the Chinese social network Weibo, with the folks at GizmoChina even jumping on the gun to create renders that show what the third generation of the company’s consumer-grade TWS earbuds will look like.

At a first glance, the AirPods 3 look like a hybrid between the regular AirPods and the AirPods Pro. They feature the same earbud style as the AirPods, but come with a smaller, slightly angled stem, found in the pro-version. This relatively smaller design also translates to changes in the case design, which is definitely shorter and stouter, resembling the kind of case you’d get with the AirPods Pro. Apple’s slated to announce the AirPods 3 sometime this month. They officially called off their March event, but that hasn’t stopped the company from launching products along with press releases. Little is known about how the AirPods 3 will measure up in the specs/performance department, but credible leakers have mentioned that the earbuds may come with AirPods Pro-style active noise canceling.

Designer: Apple

Images via GizmoChina and LeaksApplePro