Tag Archives: Audio Accessories

Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds leak reveals pill-shaped design and angular case

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Wireless earbuds are the new normal, branching into bold categories like the Clip-Ons and going strong with traditional ANC options. Flagship TWS earbuds are constantly improving with hardware upgrades every couple of years (depending on the brand) and firmware updates that bring new features and options to explore the tech inside.

Sony has long been a major player in the TWS earbuds market, taking on the likes of Bose, Apple, Samsung, Sennheiser, Jabra, Technics, Nothing, and OnePlus. The WF-1000XM5, released in 2023, is their tough competitor, but the two-year release cycle has made them lag behind a bit in the feature list. Their next flagship earbuds are just around the corner, and their design has leaked to give us critics something to hanker about.

Designer: Sony

Looking to take forward the solid legacy of the 1000XM5s, Sony needs to innovate to reclaim the market share that’s being steadily eaten up by the likes of Technics AZ-100, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, and Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4. Even though Sony still has solid products, the WF-1000XM6 should bring incremental upgrades that retain the Japanese brand’s supremacy in the market.

The leaked Sony earbuds were listed on Power Buy, a retail website, for a while, but were eventually taken down. However, The Walkman Blog managed to extract all the leaked images and a trail of information that got the internet buzzing. No specifications were mentioned in the listing, so we are still in the dark about the internal hardware of the upcoming flagship earbuds by Sony.

Compared to the contoured XM5, the successors have an elongated oval shape that makes them look bigger, but we’re sure they’re not. The listing mentioned the buds to have an IPX4 rating, which should be good to take them on a rainy day or listen to music by the poolside. Other than that, the earbuds will have ANC and transparency modes, which is predictable and nothing new in current times. From the very clear images, it is apparent that the glossy finish is gone (thank god) and the matte texture looks good with the aesthetics.

On closer look, one can clearly see three microphones on each earbud (two on top and one on the side), indicating better call audio quality and ANC performance. The charging case has also taken the upgrade route with a more geometric shape compared to the outgoing model. It sure looks bulkier than the older one, but we’ll have to see them side by side to make any conclusions. There are stock eartips on the buds, and we expect to see some good hybrid and silicone tips in the accessories package. If there’s one thing we didn’t love about the XM5s, it’s the eartips, which are fatiguing.

The pill-shaped earbuds will come in two color options: Black and Silver, but we’re sure there are a couple of more colors lurking in the space. Sony has this strategy of revealing more colors after the initial release, so it won’t be surprising if they’ve reserved the peppier options for later.

The post Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds leak reveals pill-shaped design and angular case first appeared on Yanko Design.

Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds leak reveals pill-shaped design and angular case

Posted on by

Wireless earbuds are the new normal, branching into bold categories like the Clip-Ons and going strong with traditional ANC options. Flagship TWS earbuds are constantly improving with hardware upgrades every couple of years (depending on the brand) and firmware updates that bring new features and options to explore the tech inside.

Sony has long been a major player in the TWS earbuds market, taking on the likes of Bose, Apple, Samsung, Sennheiser, Jabra, Technics, Nothing, and OnePlus. The WF-1000XM5, released in 2023, is their tough competitor, but the two-year release cycle has made them lag behind a bit in the feature list. Their next flagship earbuds are just around the corner, and their design has leaked to give us critics something to hanker about.

Designer: Sony

Looking to take forward the solid legacy of the 1000XM5s, Sony needs to innovate to reclaim the market share that’s being steadily eaten up by the likes of Technics AZ-100, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, and Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4. Even though Sony still has solid products, the WF-1000XM6 should bring incremental upgrades that retain the Japanese brand’s supremacy in the market.

The leaked Sony earbuds were listed on Power Buy, a retail website, for a while, but were eventually taken down. However, The Walkman Blog managed to extract all the leaked images and a trail of information that got the internet buzzing. No specifications were mentioned in the listing, so we are still in the dark about the internal hardware of the upcoming flagship earbuds by Sony.

Compared to the contoured XM5, the successors have an elongated oval shape that makes them look bigger, but we’re sure they’re not. The listing mentioned the buds to have an IPX4 rating, which should be good to take them on a rainy day or listen to music by the poolside. Other than that, the earbuds will have ANC and transparency modes, which is predictable and nothing new in current times. From the very clear images, it is apparent that the glossy finish is gone (thank god) and the matte texture looks good with the aesthetics.

On closer look, one can clearly see three microphones on each earbud (two on top and one on the side), indicating better call audio quality and ANC performance. The charging case has also taken the upgrade route with a more geometric shape compared to the outgoing model. It sure looks bulkier than the older one, but we’ll have to see them side by side to make any conclusions. There are stock eartips on the buds, and we expect to see some good hybrid and silicone tips in the accessories package. If there’s one thing we didn’t love about the XM5s, it’s the eartips, which are fatiguing.

The pill-shaped earbuds will come in two color options: Black and Silver, but we’re sure there are a couple of more colors lurking in the space. Sony has this strategy of revealing more colors after the initial release, so it won’t be surprising if they’ve reserved the peppier options for later.

The post Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds leak reveals pill-shaped design and angular case first appeared on Yanko Design.

Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds leak reveals pill-shaped design and angular case

Posted on by

Wireless earbuds are the new normal, branching into bold categories like the Clip-Ons and going strong with traditional ANC options. Flagship TWS earbuds are constantly improving with hardware upgrades every couple of years (depending on the brand) and firmware updates that bring new features and options to explore the tech inside.

Sony has long been a major player in the TWS earbuds market, taking on the likes of Bose, Apple, Samsung, Sennheiser, Jabra, Technics, Nothing, and OnePlus. The WF-1000XM5, released in 2023, is their tough competitor, but the two-year release cycle has made them lag behind a bit in the feature list. Their next flagship earbuds are just around the corner, and their design has leaked to give us critics something to hanker about.

Designer: Sony

Looking to take forward the solid legacy of the 1000XM5s, Sony needs to innovate to reclaim the market share that’s being steadily eaten up by the likes of Technics AZ-100, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, and Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4. Even though Sony still has solid products, the WF-1000XM6 should bring incremental upgrades that retain the Japanese brand’s supremacy in the market.

The leaked Sony earbuds were listed on Power Buy, a retail website, for a while, but were eventually taken down. However, The Walkman Blog managed to extract all the leaked images and a trail of information that got the internet buzzing. No specifications were mentioned in the listing, so we are still in the dark about the internal hardware of the upcoming flagship earbuds by Sony.

Compared to the contoured XM5, the successors have an elongated oval shape that makes them look bigger, but we’re sure they’re not. The listing mentioned the buds to have an IPX4 rating, which should be good to take them on a rainy day or listen to music by the poolside. Other than that, the earbuds will have ANC and transparency modes, which is predictable and nothing new in current times. From the very clear images, it is apparent that the glossy finish is gone (thank god) and the matte texture looks good with the aesthetics.

On closer look, one can clearly see three microphones on each earbud (two on top and one on the side), indicating better call audio quality and ANC performance. The charging case has also taken the upgrade route with a more geometric shape compared to the outgoing model. It sure looks bulkier than the older one, but we’ll have to see them side by side to make any conclusions. There are stock eartips on the buds, and we expect to see some good hybrid and silicone tips in the accessories package. If there’s one thing we didn’t love about the XM5s, it’s the eartips, which are fatiguing.

The pill-shaped earbuds will come in two color options: Black and Silver, but we’re sure there are a couple of more colors lurking in the space. Sony has this strategy of revealing more colors after the initial release, so it won’t be surprising if they’ve reserved the peppier options for later.

The post Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds leak reveals pill-shaped design and angular case first appeared on Yanko Design.

This AI Music Sketchbook Captures Ideas Before They Disappear

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You know that feeling when a melody pops into your head while you’re walking down the street, but by the time you pull out your phone to record it, the magic’s already gone? Or when you’re hit with a musical idea but don’t have the technical skills to translate it into something real? That frustrating gap between inspiration and creation is exactly what designer Woojin Jang is trying to bridge with their concept project, Everglow.

Think of it as a sketchbook, but for sound. Just like artists carry notebooks to capture visual ideas before they fade, Everglow is designed to help musicians and creators capture sonic inspiration in real time. The concept combines a physical hardware interface with generative AI technology, creating something that feels both wonderfully tactile and futuristic at the same time.

Designer: Woojin Jang

What makes this particularly interesting is how it rethinks the relationship between humans and music-making tools. Traditional instruments require years of practice, and digital audio workstations can feel overwhelming with their endless menus and options. Everglow sits somewhere in between (hence the design name “InBetween”), offering immediate access to sound creation without the steep learning curve.

The hardware interface is key here. Instead of clicking around on a screen or fumbling with software, you’d interact with physical controls that respond to your touch and gestures. This tactile element matters more than you might think. There’s something about physically manipulating sound that connects you to the creative process in a way that mousing around never quite achieves. It’s the difference between typing a description of a drawing and actually sketching it with your hands.

But the real innovation happens when you pair that physical expressiveness with AI-generated sound. The generative system doesn’t just play preset sounds or samples. Instead, it responds to your input by creating and shaping audio in real time, almost like having a collaborative partner who instantly understands where you’re trying to go musically. You guide it with your gestures and adjustments, and it fills in the gaps, suggesting possibilities you might not have considered. This approach democratizes music creation in a fascinating way. You don’t need to know music theory or have mastered an instrument to explore sonic ideas. The concept suggests a world where musical literacy isn’t a prerequisite for musical expression, where the barrier between “I hear something in my head” and “here’s what it sounds like” becomes paper-thin.

Of course, as a concept, Everglow exists in that exciting space where possibility meets imagination. We’re not looking at a finished product you can buy tomorrow, but rather a vision of what music-making tools could become. That’s what makes design concepts so valuable. They push our thinking forward, challenge assumptions about how things should work, and inspire both creators and technologists to pursue new directions.

The timing feels right, too. We’re living in an era where AI is rapidly transforming creative tools, from image generation to writing assistance. Music has been part of this evolution, but often in ways that feel disconnected from the physical, intuitive experience of making sound. Everglow suggests a different path, one where AI enhances rather than replaces the human touch, where technology becomes invisible enough that you can focus on the creative flow rather than the technical obstacles.

Whether or not Everglow itself becomes a reality, the questions it raises are worth sitting with. How do we design tools that capture the fleeting nature of inspiration? What’s the right balance between human control and AI assistance in creative work? And how can we make music creation feel as natural and immediate as doodling in a notebook? For anyone who’s ever had a musical idea slip away before they could catch it, concepts like this offer a glimpse of a more intuitive future. One where the tools get out of the way, and the space between imagination and creation becomes just a little bit smaller.

The post This AI Music Sketchbook Captures Ideas Before They Disappear first appeared on Yanko Design.