Apple is set to reshape the future of its voice assistant, Siri, with the highly anticipated release of iOS 27. This update introduces new integration with third-party AI services, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of voice assistant technology. The announcement will take center stage at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2026, with the […]
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Screen time has crept up to the point where most people spend more waking hours staring at a phone than almost anything else. Smartphones aren’t particularly kind about it, with vivid, high-brightness displays that perform well in demos but aren’t gentle over long stretches. Eye fatigue and dryness have become almost expected, yet most people aren’t ready to swap their phones for e-readers just to get some relief.
TCL has spent the better part of four years building an answer to that problem through its NXTPAPER line, and the NXTPAPER 70 Pro is the most capable version yet. It’s a full Android smartphone with eye-care features pushed to their highest iteration, now available in the US at $199.99 through T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile, and at $299.99 unlocked.
Designer: TCL
The centerpiece is the 6.9-inch NXTPAPER display, an IPS LCD panel with a matte, anti-glare surface built using nano-matrix lithography. It cuts harmful blue light at the hardware level down to 3.41%, uses DC dimming to eliminate flicker entirely, and applies circular polarized light to simulate diffused daylight that’s easier on the eyes. Independent certification from TÜV and SGS backs those claims up.
A physical NXTPAPER Key on the side cycles through three viewing modes. Regular keeps full-color smartphone output, Color Paper shifts to a warmer and more subdued tone suited for long reading sessions, and Ink Paper dials the display down to a near-monochrome, paper-like appearance that also conserves battery. Switching between them takes a single press, keeping the feature genuinely useful rather than buried in a settings menu.
That Ink Paper mode also unlocks the phone’s most impressive feature: battery life, which TCL claims can stretch to seven days when reading. The 5,200 mAh cell with 33W fast charging handles everyday use comfortably and reaches 50% in about 38 minutes, but it’s the combination of a power-efficient display mode and capable hardware that pushes endurance well past what most phones manage.
The camera doesn’t feel like an afterthought either. A 50 MP main sensor with optical image stabilization handles everyday shots and difficult lighting well, paired with an 8 MP ultrawide and a 32 MP front camera that covers video calls and social content. Storage starts at 256 GB and expands via microSD to 2 TB, while a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chip keeps things running on Android 16.
Built-in AI tools can summarize articles, transcribe audio, and help clean up text you’re writing, which fits the device’s clear lean toward readers, students, and anyone who uses their phone for focused work. The IP68 rating handles rain and spills without fuss, and at 207g, the large frame doesn’t feel excessive in hand. Unfortunately, it seems that T-Pen stylus support won’t be making its way to this US variant, a feature that has been revealed for the global version.
What’s notable about the NXTPAPER 70 Pro isn’t any single feature taken alone, but how they all pull toward the same priority. Eye-care display technology has mostly lived on phones that cost well over a thousand dollars, which puts it out of reach for most buyers. At $199.99 on T-Mobile, that changes, and the argument for a phone your eyes might actually thank you for becomes genuinely hard to ignore.
The post TCL’s $200 Phone Fixes Eye Strain That $1,000 Flagships Still Ignore first appeared on Yanko Design.
AutoResearch represents a shift in how artificial intelligence tackles problem-solving, emphasizing self-directed experimentation over traditional manual coding. As explained by Caleb Writes Code, this approach allows AI systems to operate autonomously within predefined goals and constraints, iteratively refining their performance. For example, in a retail setting, AutoResearch might optimize inventory management by experimenting with ordering […]
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Designing an efficient and visually appealing iPhone home screen doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By focusing on simplicity, functionality, and personalization, you can create a home screen that enhances productivity while reflecting your unique style. The video below from iReviews provides actionable steps to help you streamline your iPhone setup like a professional. […]
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Sometimes, you just want your dang music streaming app to play music. Spotify, which has increasingly incorporated video features through the years, is finally giving us the option to turn that mess off. Behold: universal video toggles.
Spotify's video settings control several areas. First, the old Canvas toggle (videos on the Now Playing screen) is still there. But now you'll find two additional switches alongside it. One lets you control whether the app plays music videos. The other, "all other videos," covers video podcasts, vertically scrolling videos and artist clips.
You'll find the controls under Settings > Content and display. Once you choose your preferences, they'll apply universally across all platforms. And if you're a family account manager, you can toggle video settings for all members on your plan.
Spotify has increasingly leaned on video in recent years. The Canvas video loops arrived back in 2018. Then came video podcasts in 2020, as the format was enjoying a pandemic-era boom. The platform added music videos in 2024 (though they didn't arrive in the US until late last year). Then there are artist clips, the 30-second vertical videos where creators can send intimate (promotional) messages to their fans.
The company claims that over 70 percent of its users say more video content would enhance their experience. So, don't be surprised if more video features arrive in the future. Fortunately, Spotify recognized that certain (perhaps older?) users don't want or need a TikTok-ified music app.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/music/spotify-now-lets-you-turn-off-all-video-130000034.html?src=rss
Claude Code’s latest update introduces the ability to directly interact with graphical user interfaces (GUIs), expanding its automation capabilities. As highlighted by World of AI, this feature enables users to perform tasks such as automating spreadsheet workflows, testing application interfaces and debugging visual components. Currently offered as a research preview for Mac OS Pro and […]
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Apple continues to redefine the smartphone landscape with the iPhone 18 Pro Max, a device that blends meticulous design, enhanced performance, and innovative connectivity. The staggered release schedule for the iPhone 18 lineup reflects Apple’s strategic approach to maintaining consumer interest. The Pro models are set to launch in September 2026, followed by the standard […]
The post iPhone 18 Pro Max Design: Say Goodbye to the Large Dynamic Island appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.
AI agents like OpenClaw are accelerating production by automating tasks at unprecedented speeds, but this rapid output often exposes a critical organizational gap. According to Nate Jones, while these systems can generate work at rates up to 100x, human review processes typically operate at just 3x, creating a significant mismatch. For instance, an AI agent […]
The post AI Produces at 100X. You Review at 3X : This Bottleneck is Ruining Your AI Workflow appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.
Apple is set to redefine its product lineup with the introduction of the highly anticipated M6 chip, a next-generation processor built on an advanced 2nm process. This innovative chip is expected to deliver substantial improvements in performance, energy efficiency, and battery life across devices such as the MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, and Mac Studio. The […]
The post 2026 Mac Roadmap Revealed: When to Expect the M6 MacBook, Mini, and Studio appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.
JBL introduced two new headphones to its Live series lineup and both are fighting to live up to expectations. Don’t get me wrong, the JBL Live 780NC and 680NC are both a solid set of cans, but in a sea of noise-cancelling headphones, one of them definitely has more appeal. The biggest differences between these two headphones are the over-ear and on-ear cups, and surprisingly, their audio quality. Let’s get into what does and doesn’t make them so special.
Outside of varying colors and cup sizes, the JBL Live 780NC and 680NC look practically identical. They have these hockey puck-looking ear cups that are divided from the leatherette pads. The design looks like someone’s idea of headphones from 10 years ago. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it feels a bit clunky. Despite that, the metal hinge and leatherette band are more pleasantly minimalist. The cups also fold up neatly in a heart shape so you can slot them easily in the included bag.
There’s a dedicated volume rocker on the left ear cup while the right holds room for a USB Type-C port, the active noise cancelling (ANC) button and a combo power/Bluetooth switch (yes, it’s a switch, not a button). Meanwhile, you get all of the touch controls available on the right cup of each set of headphones.
Both headphones felt a little uncomfortable to wear at first, but it usually takes time for me to get used to new cans. After spending several hours each with them, they eventually grew on me. They’re both a bit snug, but neither one left me aching at the end of the day. I felt more relief when taking off the 680NC because of the added pressure of on-ear cups, but I’m also not used to the on-ear design.
Despite the near $100 price gap, you get the same set of features for the JBL Live 780NC and 680NC, all wrapped up in the JBL Headphones app. It’s easy to set up and you don’t even need to make an account.
The first thing you might want to do is hop over to the settings and add the “disable ANC” function to the rotation. Out of the box, you can either switch between ANC or Ambient mode on the headphones, which is super frustrating — I shouldn’t need an app to enable a basic action. Most headphones these days allow you to cycle between ANC, Ambient mode and off (neither).
At the very least, the app offers a thorough suite of features. You can adjust the strength of the ANC and Ambient modes. Enabling Adaptive ANC allows automatic noise cancellation changes based on the surrounding noise level, while Personal Sound Amplification makes everything around you sound louder than normal. The latter was incredibly helpful in writing this very headphone review, ironically, as I had to keep an ear out for my child potentially committing a crime (kidding… mostly).
The JBL Live 780NC and 680NC are packed with the features I’d expect from a pair of premium headphones. They offer 360-degree spatial sound, an adaptive EQ, Auracast, automatic pausing and simultaneous Bluetooth connections with automatic switching.
You can also customize all of the controls, from the ANC Button to the Touch Panel, which includes two call shortcuts and four general shortcuts, one of which is already dedicated to native voice assistants like Bixby and Siri. You do need to put a little more pressure than you might expect in order for the touch controls to activate, though. This is a bit of a learning curve, so it would’ve been nice if it was more sensitive.
The JBL Live 780NC and 680NC both feature 40mm neodymium drivers, but they offer completely different soundstages. With the 680NC, I noticed the bass hit a lot harder during the DanDaDan soundtrack, but vocals and string instruments weren’t as crisp or bright as they were with the 780NC. I had a similar experience while schmoozing my way through everyday objects in Date Everything!, where vocals seemed more distant with the 680NC. However, when playing Helldivers 2, 680NC captured the bassy intensity of an explosive-intergalactic space war.
Continuing to run through tracks like JVKE’s “her” and “Radio” by Bershy, I noticed a common theme amongst the headphones. The 680NC’s soundstage was narrow and bassy, while the 780NC was wide and hollow. Both reproduced one half of a great couple, but unfortunately, they’re currently separated and seeking lives of their own. No, but seriously, the audio quality on both of them is still decent individually. I can distinguish each instrument from each other, so they aren’t getting muddied in the mix. But I don’t think the 780NC is worth the extra $90 on sound quality alone, since you’re trading one issue for another.
The ANC system is slightly different in the JBL Live 780NC and 680NC. The former features six microphones that detect and monitor ambient noise while the latter is outfitted with four microphones.
What difference does that actually make, though? Well… not much, at least not practically. If you stuck them in a lab and crunched the numbers, there might be, but in my testing using the JBL Live 780NC and 680NC as everyday headphones, there’s virtually no difference outside of the passive noise isolation you get from over-ear design.
My dog is quite the yapper, so I happened to test the ANC against her with both headphones, and they managed to block out most of her bark, but not all (she is quite loud). Unless you’re actively listening to something, it won’t kill all the sound around you — when everything was quiet, I still heard my fan running in the background. As a passenger, the car’s road noise and the other cars around me faded mostly into the background, but they were still present (when not actively listening to music).
Ambient modes for both headphones kept me alert while walking outside, and while checking to make sure nothing chaotic was happening in my home. I could clearly hear the ruckus my child and dog were causing in the next room, and I got even more of it when I turned up the Sound Amplification.
As I mentioned above, the most annoying thing about the ANC and Ambient mode systems is that you cannot disable both of them at the same time (out of the box); you need the app in order to make the “off” option available via the ANC button.
JBL wasn’t lying about calls: Both the JBL Live 780NC and 680NC were great at cancelling out the noise from my surroundings, whether it was busy traffic or me blasting music on my desk. The microphone picked up little things here and there, but it blocked out most background distractions. The problem, however, is the overall microphone quality.
Microphones on both sets were pretty rough. My voice sounded like it was underwater or in another room entirely. And while the microphones were able to cancel out the noise in the background, I noticed that it made me a little more muddied, like it was also cancelling out some of my voice as well. This is likely due to the signal processing to block background noise. My friend said, “You sound like you’re fighting an ocean.” If you’re looking for a great caller, these ain’t it.
With a full battery, I didn’t have to charge the JBL Live 780NC or 680NC for the week I tested them. That’s with a combination of ANC on and off, as well as using them to chat with friends. JBL rates both headphones with the same battery life: 80 hours with ANC off (33 hours of talk time) and 50 hours with ANC on (28 hours of talk time). Those numbers lined up with my testing considering how long they lasted. Charging the headphones from empty does take two hours, though.
If you want a solid pair of over-ear ANC headphones in this price range, I’d recommend the Sony WH-CH720N. The ANC struggles a bit, but the headphones are much cheaper than the 780NC and offer great sound quality. It’s the best option if you want to save some money.
However, if you’re looking for alternative on-ear ANC headphones, you’ll be hard pressed to find premium competitors to the JBL 680NC. On-ear headphones tend to land in the mid-range or budget class. The JBL 680NC aren’t the best pair of headphones out there, but they’re good for what they are in those categories.
To bass or not to bass? That’s one of the few questions you’ll need to ask yourself when choosing between the JBL Live 780NC and 680NC. Of course, on-ear and over-ear designs appeal to different consumers, but the fact is that the former sounds hollow and the latter is more bass-heavy. Both headphones are comfortable and offer great ANC and features.
Overall, however, the JBL Live 780NC falls in the middle of the overcrowded market for noise-cancelling wireless headphones, while the 680NC stands just tall enough to make you want to take a closer look. On a sale, I’d say you could grab either of these cans and be satisfied, but at their full price, I’d be wary. If you twist my arm, I could make an argument for the 680NC because there aren’t enough on-ear noise-cancelling headphones available these days.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/jbl-live-780nc-and-680nc-review-great-leaps-greater-missteps-120000508.html?src=rss