Tag Archives: earbuds

$225 Galaxy Buds On arrive with hands-free AI operation and smooth gestures

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The clip-on buds form factor is here to stay and not merely a fad. Samsung has joined the bandwagon with its first-ever clip-ons that compete in the flagship segment. The South Korean giant’s Buds4 Pro earbuds have already impressed us with their excellent call quality, ANC, and comfort. So we expect the same from the new Galaxy Buds On.

With Bose Ultra Open, Sony LinkBuds, Huawei FreeBuds 6, Nothing Ear (open), and CMF Clip Pro giving outdoor audio lovers plenty of options, the Samsung clip-ons have a strong case with the features on offer. Their first-ever clip-on wireless buds sit inside the ear, while the ergonomic shape comfortably hugs the ear for a snug fit even while working out. According to Samsung, the buds were developed after analyzing different ear shapes to optimize speaker placement and the built-in battery.

Designer: Samsung

Galaxy Buds On are focused on spatial awareness without losing out on the music quality, thanks to the TwinBoost speakers that deliver low-frequency performance. The automatic volume control toggles the audio level depending on the outside ambient noise, so that you don’t miss out on any of the important audio streams or call conversations. The introductory video clearly highlights the fact that the buds seamlessly integrate into daily life and personal listening space. Unlike some buds that have left and right distinction, these don’t have one, which is both a downside and an advantage when it comes to freedom of use.

The IP54 buds are powered by the Snapdragon S7 Gen 1 Sound platform paired with the high-efficiency Class-D amplifier, which optimizes things at the hardware level for final performance. This ensures a nonstop 9.5 hours of continuous music playback after a single charge. The buds come with a bone conduction vibration sensor that helps detect if the wearer is speaking to someone, so that the transparency mode can be enhanced and background noise reduced. As seen in the launch video, the buds can be triggered hands-free with the “Hey Google, let’s talk live” command for natural AI conversations.

Head gestures are also a part of the mix and more reliable given the bone conduction tech is at the helm. You can take or reject calls, read message notifications, dismiss alarms, or even adjust volume or equalizer on Galaxy devices. Samsung has also addressed the audio leakage issue, which is common to most clip-ons, with the Audio Leakage Reduction tech. The accompanying case brings the total battery life to an impressive 38 hours. With each of the buds weighing 6.65g and the case at 41g, the Buds On have a strong case for people in the Galaxy ecosystem. For a price of $229, they are flush in the flagship dominance race, and it will ultimately boil down to the real-world performance of the buds.

 

 

 

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Fairbuds 2 Earbuds Let You Swap Worn Batteries Instead of Buying a New Pair

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Wireless earbuds have come a long way, ever since Apple started the trend of removing the 3.5mm headphone jack from smartphones. Most sound fine or even great, but batteries both in the buds themselves as well as charging cases still pose a longevity problem. Taking a cue from its larger Fairbuds XL headphones, Fairphone’s new Fairbuds 2 make both those batteries replaceable, so that declining battery life doesn’t have to send the whole set into retirement.

On the outside, the Fairbuds 2 look fairly conventional, with rounded earpieces and short, flat stems. Forest Green offers an alternative to the familiar black, which is also an available option, and the matching case has softened corners rather than a rugged shell. The useful detail is a removable silicone sleeve around each earbud, hiding the opening that lets you reach its battery when it eventually needs replacing.

Designer: Fairphone

Remove that sleeve and the earbud’s battery compartment becomes accessible without tools. The charging case does require a Torx T5 screwdriver to reach its cell, but nothing you can’t get from a hardware store. Fairphone lists seven replaceable parts, including the case body and individual earbuds. Losing one earbud therefore doesn’t require buying another pair, which is reassuring if your usual storage system involves the bottom of a crowded bag.

Of course, easy repairs won’t make you enjoy a playlist if the sound doesn’t suit you. The Fairbuds 2 use 0.43-inch bio-cellulose drivers, with four presets and a five-band equalizer in the companion app. LDAC support adds a higher-bitrate option on compatible Android devices, but it isn’t a shortcut to guaranteed sound quality, and iPhone owners don’t get that particular audio codec.

Active noise cancellation handles the isolation side, with Fairphone claiming up to 45dB of reduction. Six microphones support noise management and calls, while multipoint connectivity keeps two devices connected simultaneously. You can move between a laptop and phone without pairing from scratch every time. The earbuds remember up to six devices, although that doesn’t mean six audio streams competing for your ears.

Battery life is a separate consideration from battery replacement. Fairphone claims up to eight hours of listening, or 40 hours with the charging case, with noise cancellation switched off. Turn it on, and the earbuds’ estimate drops to six hours. That could cover a commute and some desk time, but charging remains USB-C only, so a wireless charging pad won’t help here.

There’s a practical limit to the repair story, though. Seven replaceable parts don’t mean every internal component can be fixed separately, and continued use still depends on getting the right spares. Fairphone includes replaceable ear tips and silicone sleeves in that count. The IP54 rating provides dust and splash resistance for daily wear, but don’t mistake it for permission to take them swimming.

The US price is $119.99, with a November 2, 2026 release scheduled. Fairphone offers warranty coverage of up to three years, but a battery wearing out isn’t automatically a warranty claim. Fortunately, replacing it yourself doesn’t void coverage when done correctly. That leaves owners with two different ways to keep listening: support for manufacturing faults, and accessible spare parts for things that wear out.

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Samsung Galaxy Buds On let you listen to music without blocking your ears

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Clip-on earbuds have arrived in a big way, giving another versatile way to enjoy music whether you’re in the gym or making your way to the busy metro station. Rather than shoving the eartips deep down the ear canal, these buds are more comfortable and keep you aware of the environment at all times.

Huawei FreeClip 2 arrived late last year to turn up music lovers’ interest in this form factor, followed by the swanky CMF Clip Pro’s. Sennheiser jumped on the bandwagon with the Accentum Clip, and recently Bose came up with their second generation clio-ons. Predictably, Samsung has pulled the trigger with its first-ever clip-on wireless earbuds dubbed Galaxy Buds On, and they look impressive.

Designer: Samsung

So how are the Galaxy Buds On different from the other flagship clip-on buds in the tightly contested market? Do they have what it takes to bring to the active audio community what they desire out of such open-ear earbuds?

Clip-on design that takes comfort seriously

Samsung’s approach for this form factor is focused on rethinking how the bud sits on the ear. The Galaxy Buds On use an open-ear clip design that leaves the ear canal unobstructed, allowing wearers to listen to music while staying connected to conversations, traffic, or other sounds around them.

Samsung says it studied different ear shapes and ran simulations to determine the positioning of the speakers and battery. A larger contact area helps distribute pressure, while the elasticity of the connecting band is tuned to keep the buds stable during movement. That makes the design particularly relevant for walking, commuting and workouts where awareness matters as much as audio.

Bass that packs a punch

The audio hardware is also more considered than the unusual silhouette might suggest. Samsung has fitted the Buds On with TwinBoost speakers designed to emphasize lower frequencies, addressing one of the perennial challenges of open-ear audio – producing convincing bass without sealing the ear canal. An Audio Leakage Reduction system is intended to keep music from spilling excessively into the surroundings.

In conjunction, the automatic volume control adjusts playback according to the environment. Samsung claims up to 9.5 hours of continuous music playback from the earbuds, which puts the focus firmly on everyday usability rather than making the clip form factor a novelty.

Galaxy AI adapted for the open-ear formula

The more interesting bit happens when the Buds On are paired with a compatible Galaxy device. Samsung has integrated several Galaxy AI features, turning the earbuds into something closer to a hands-free interface. Users can launch Gemini Live through a voice command, while Quick Voice Memo allows a long press on the earbud to start recording without reaching for the phone. Those recordings can subsequently be searched through Bixby, provided the required Galaxy AI-supported device, Voice Recorder, and Bixby setup is in place.

Head Gestures take the hands-free idea further. Nodding or shaking the head can be used for actions such as answering or ending calls, dismissing alarms, or interacting with message notifications. For calls, the Buds On use three microphones alongside a bone-conduction-based Voice Pickup Unit and machine learning to isolate the wearer’s voice from surrounding noise. They are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S7 Gen 1 Sound Platform and a Class-D amplifier.

Samsung will launch the Galaxy Buds On in South Korea on October 27 in black for 299,000 won (roughly $220). A wider international rollout is planned, although regional pricing and availability have not yet been announced.

 

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Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds are an absolute steal for $99

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Wired earbuds are making a strong comeback for good reason. You don’t have to worry about charging the case, freak out about the buds dying from battery degradation over the years, or fear losing them in transit or dropping them by accident. Bose has realized how big the wired earbuds market is turning out to be over the last couple of years, and they’ve created a pair of ANC wired earbuds that’ll please music lovers like me.

Ever since the introduction of QC20 in the 2010s, the US-based audio brand has seen a lull of many years as far as tethered options go. Since true wireless earbuds first made their presence felt, wired earbuds have been sidelined for the sheer convenience of use. Now driven by the resurgence, as celebrities and Gen-Z endorse the novel idea, there is a renewed interest among audio fanatics for wired options. Bose has gone a level ahead with its new wired earbuds, as they offer what only a handful of trusted makers are offering – the ability to have active noise cancelling baked in.

Designer: Bose

Unlike the passive wired earbuds, these make more sense in audibly chaotic situations like on a flight, walking down a busy street, or noisy neighbours around the block. Simply called the Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds (I just love that), they bring back the nostalgia with all the perks that come with tethered options like the in-line remote, and of course, the goodness of blocking out distracting noises with the QuietControl noise cancellation tech. Bose has chosen to go with the USB-C connectivity options, which makes logical sense for audiophiles who value high-quality audio.

Since we are talking Bose, the wearing comfort is top-notch with the three sizes of silicone eartips and a couple of stability wings. According to Bose, listeners can mix and match them to find the “fit that feels both comfortable and secure”. For taking calls, the inline remote has the usual three button controls – volume up, volume down, and the play/pause button in the middle. ANC comes courtesy of the two microphones on each bud, which constantly monitor the surroundings and provide adaptive noise cancelling. Like all TWS earbuds, the ANC can be toggled to Quiet Mode for full immersion, Aware Mode for being aware of the surroundings, and the ANC Off Mode to listen in the native state.


Sound quality is always on top of Bose’s priority list and these wired ANC earbuds are no different. They come with the proprietary Sound Design digital signal processing with support for lossless audio listening. The wired buds can output a fixed 24-bit/48kHz audio signal, which should sound crisp and layered. We also have to keep in mind the low-latency performance, which should make gaming and watching fast-paced action movies a whole lot better compared to TWS earbuds.

The only downside is the absence of a dedicated app control for the wired earbuds, which Bose should consider having, as they are a no-brainer. So, for now, the in-line mic handles all the controls. On the upside, you don’t have to worry about those distracting noises when the wire brushes against the clothing. The IPX4-rated earbuds are waterproof and dustproof against splashes and sweat, and come with a zippered carry case for easy carrying.

Arriving in three classy color options, the Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds up for pre-order at $99 are worth the money. They are all set to ship on October 13, so you better pull the trigger before the stock runs dry, which I’m sure will be the case.

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Standard Earplugs Dig In or Fall Out, Ears 360 Silence Does Neither

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Most earplugs are built for your ear canal. Ears 360 Silence was built for your pillow as well. The French-designed earplug swaps the usual foam cylinder or silicone bud for a soft, retractable spiral that curls against the outer ear instead of wedging deep inside. The promise is simple: stay put through a full night’s sleep, filter out unwanted noise, and disappear until you forget it’s there.

The mechanism behind that promise is simple engineering. Twist the spiral open, tuck it against the ridges of your outer ear, then let it retract back into shape. It locks in place through geometry, not pressure, so there’s no tip wedged deep into your ear canal, nothing to ache by 2 a.m. The whole body sits nearly flat, flat enough to sleep on your side.

Designer: Youcef Abdaoui

Click Here to Buy Now: $25 $35 (30% off). Hurry, only a few left! Raised over $40,000.

That geometry matters most at night. Side sleepers know the drill: a plug that protrudes gets crushed against the pillow, and foam that expands too much starts to throb before sunrise. With the Ears 360 Silence tucked into the curve of your ear, nothing stands proud enough to notice. You roll over, the plug stays where you left it, and the room stays quiet until your alarm decides otherwise.

Sleep isn’t the only place this earplug earns its keep. Slip it in at a coffee shop or an open-plan office, and it softens the clatter around you without shutting out the person talking across the table. That’s the filtering trick at work, dialing down ambient chaos while keeping voices intelligible. And because the spiral sits low against the ear, nobody nearby even notices you’re wearing it.

Of course, comfort isn’t the whole story. Ears 360 Silence carries a certified 24 dB noise reduction rating under the EN 352-2:2020 standard, independently lab-tested rather than self-reported. Its attenuation peaks right around the frequency range where snoring and conversation both live, exactly where extra help matters most. It’s also rated IPX7 for water resistance and ships standard with four pairs of tips: S, M, L and a double-flange pair

Swap the standard tip for the clip-on triple-flange tip from the Swim & Work Kit, sold as a separate add-on, and attenuation climbs toward 29 dB. That’s enough for a construction site or a pool deck without having to switch out a different pair of buds. The tips swap in seconds, so the same pair that quiets a bedroom at night can handle a job site or open water the next afternoon.

Build quality is, of course, top-notch as well. The body is soft silicone, meant to be reused for years rather than tossed after one restless night, and it wipes clean easily. Four pairs of tips come in every box, so the fit adjusts to your ear rather than the other way around. Plus, the whole kit tucks into a case small enough to close in one hand, so there’s absolutely no reason you can’t take it anywhere with you, even if you’re not going to bed just yet.

Design touches carry through to the small stuff, too. The Ears 360 Silence comes in black, pink, and green, each paired with a case in the same shade, small enough to vanish into a pocket. And with the latest stretch goal reached, every backer gets a soft silicone neck cord, one per pair, to keep your Ears 360 Silence around your neck between uses. The whole object reads more like a considered accessory than a medical necessity you’d hide in a drawer, something you’d actually want sitting on your nightstand in plain sight.

Wake up after a full night wearing one, and you’ll notice what’s missing rather than what’s there. No hunting around the sheets for a stray foam cylinder, no ache in your ear canal from a tip jammed in too far. Just a quiet room and a plug that did its one job so well you forgot you were wearing it, which was the entire point.

Click Here to Buy Now: $25 $35 (30% off). Hurry, only a few left! Raised over $40,000.

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Bose Ultra Open 2nd Gen and Sport Open spice-up the clip-on earbuds options

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After almost two years of a lull, Bose has finally released a new version of the Ultra Open Earbuds, along with a new pair of fitness-focused open earbuds. While I’m still a sucker for ANC earbuds that isolate me from the ambient world for deep focus moments, Bose’s new Open earbuds are tempting enough to consider for my walks and outdoor activities.

The hardware for the second-generation Open Ultra has been updated for better audio, while the all-new Sports Open Earbuds explore new territory for hardcore active individuals who trust the brand with their audio requirements. Both these open-ear audio accessories take on the competition with a strong set of specifications, features, and pricing to keep everyone interested.

Designer: Bose

The timing of this release is perfect, as the open-ear earbuds are trending amongst individuals who need to be aware of the environment and, more importantly, suffer from occlusion triggered by ANC earbuds. Sure, those buds have transparency mode for situations where you need to hear what’s happening around, but the open-ear options are ideal for runners, cyclists, or public transport users. The two of them will support Bluetooth 5.4 multipoint connectivity for two devices and Google Fast Pair. Both these open-ear buds will be available for pre-order from 19 September, and available from October 1 in Black and White Smoke along with other respective limited edition colors.

Ultra Open Earbuds 2nd Gen

The flagship Ultra Open Earbuds arrive in the second generation to create “more listening moments across active pursuits and everyday life.” The buds are reengineered with better drivers to deliver deeper bass and a higher volume compared to the outgoing version. This has been the major complaint of existing users, and Bose has listened to the feedback and delivered the fix. The look and feel of the buds have been upgraded as they get a refined metallic cap with a beveled finish, while the case also benefits from a renewed design that makes them stand upright. As a welcome addition, the case is now wireless charging compatible. On the buds, you’ll now get 9 hours of battery life, with an additional 19.5 hours on the case. The buds support quick charge to deliver two hours of playback with just 10 minutes of quick charge.

High-quality audio is the main USP, as the open-ear buds get the aptX Adaptive codec and Snapdragon Sound support. For a better calling experience, the buds benefit from the Speech Clarity tech to adjust the listening volume automatically based on the environmental noise. Of course, this is AI-driven to smoothly transition the volume step. For those who love to watch movies and shows in surround sound, there is the Cinema mode that employs Bose’ TrueSpatial tech to envelope you in a 3D sound capsule. Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) will arrive in limited-edition Olive Green, Cherry Chocolate, and Sky Pink colors for $299.

Sport Open Earbuds

The new kid on the block is the Bose Sport Open Earbuds, which are designed for a secure fit and rated IP54 for dust and splash resistance. Compared to the big brother, these clip-on earbuds sport a more roundish hinge to stay in place even with the most rigorous activities like playing sports, running, or working out in the gym. According to Bose, the Sport Open Earbuds stay in place even with headshakes, cartwheels, and other activities.” For these open-ear wireless earbuds, Bose has opted for the tactile physical buttons since fiddling for touch controls is not practical.

For a sportier design, the earbuds get a translucent case lid that is textured for better grip. Each of the buds weighs 10 grams for all-day wearing comfort and touts 7 hours of listening time, with 29 hours total with the case. The Sport Open Earbuds will be available for $199 in limited-edition Eucalyptus Green, along with the aforementioned color options.

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Huawei FreeBuds Neo Review: Style, Comfort, and a Strong Feature Set

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PROS:


  • Exceptionally comfortable fit

  • Great overall performance for the price point

  • Nebula Pink gives the design real personality

  • Pleasant, well-rounded sound

    CONS:


    • Some Huawei smartwatch features were not available during testing

    RATINGS:

    AESTHETICS
    ERGONOMICS
    PERFORMANCE
    SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
    VALUE FOR MONEY

    EDITOR'S QUOTE:

    The FreeBuds Neo are not about chasing flagship bragging rights. They are about getting the everyday essentials right, and doing it with a bit more style than most.
    award-icon

    Huawei has been on a bit of an audio expansion streak lately. It now offers everything from traditional in-ear earbuds to open-ear and clip-style designs, and the company has openly said it wants to become the number one audio brand. In many ways, it feels like Huawei is trying to repeat the kind of success it has already had with smartwatches, building out a wider ecosystem instead of relying on just one or two standout products.

    That bigger push has also made the lineup more crowded. On the in-ear side, Huawei already has the premium FreeBuds Pro, the comfort-focused FreeBuds, the more affordable FreeBuds i, and the entry-level FreeBuds SE. The FreeBuds Neo feel like the pair meant to fill the gap in between, offering something a little more polished and feature-packed without tipping too far into premium pricing.

    Designer: Huawei

    That alone makes them interesting. I went into this review with fairly high expectations because the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 are still one of my favorite earbuds for ANC and sound quality. The FreeBuds Neo are clearly not trying to play in that league, but they do feel like an important part of Huawei’s bigger audio plan, and a pair that could end up appealing to a much wider audience.

    Aesthetics

    The Huawei FreeBuds Neo brings a bit more personality than the usual square or pebble-shaped earbud case. The case has an elongated oval shape, almost like a small American football, which gives it a more distinctive look than most budget rivals. It feels a little more sculpted than the norm, while still fitting nicely in the palm.

    Nebula Pink is easily the most interesting finish in the lineup. Most of the case is a soft pink with a muted metallic sheen, while the bottom fades into a pale light green with a gentle gradient between the two. It adds more depth than a flat single-tone finish and helps this version feel less generic than the plainer Stellar Silver, Ice White, and Starry Black options.

    The earbuds themselves follow a familiar stem-based design, but the stems are relatively short, which helps them look tidier in the ear. They are finished in the same pink tone, with light green accents that tie in neatly with the case. In this color, the FreeBuds Neo feel more expressive than many affordable earbuds, while the other finishes are much more straightforward.

    Ergonomics

    The case is easy to live with. Its elongated oval shape sits nicely in the palm, and the smooth curves make it easy to slip into a pocket or small bag. It is compact without feeling fiddly, which is exactly what you want from something you will be reaching for throughout the day.

    The earbuds are also very light at just 0.17 ounces, or 4.9g, each, and that helps a lot with comfort. The short stems are not just there for looks. They improve weight distribution, so the earbuds feel more balanced in the ear instead of hanging downward like some longer-stem designs. The downside is that they are not quite as easy to handle when adjusting them or placing them back into the case, simply because there is less stem to grab.

    For me, these are among the most comfortable earbuds I have used. I actually found them more comfortable than the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5, even though that is the more premium model in Huawei’s lineup. The short stems make a bigger difference than expected, especially when lying back or resting your head to one side. On an overnight flight, I could lean against my neck pillow without them digging in or becoming annoying, which is not something I can say about every pair of stem-based earbuds.

    Huawei includes extra silicone tips in XS, S, and L sizes, which is about what you would expect for in-ear earbuds. The companion app also includes a tip fit test, which can tell you whether the seal is good or not. It is a simple feature, but a useful one if you are unsure about fit.

    Performance

    The FreeBuds Neo are tuned for easy everyday listening rather than showy first impressions. They sound clean, balanced, and generally pleasant across music, videos, podcasts, and calls. Vocals come through clearly, there is enough bass to give tracks some weight, and the overall tuning avoids sounding too sharp or tiring over longer sessions. They also support LDAC and Hi-Res Audio, which is a nice bonus on a pair of earbuds at this level, especially for listeners who want access to higher-quality wireless audio.

    The ANC is good for the price. It does a solid job softening the usual background hum of travel or public spaces, though it does not match the stronger, more complete effect you get from premium models like the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5. For everyday commuting or working in mildly noisy places, though, it is useful enough to make a real difference.

    Awareness mode works well too, and it feels genuinely useful rather than just included for the sake of it. I especially liked the voice mode within Awareness, which seems to let speech through more clearly. That made it easier to catch announcements or have a quick conversation without taking the earbuds out.

    Controls are another area where the FreeBuds Neo do well. Even with the short stems, gesture controls worked reliably for me. You get double tap, triple tap, press and hold, plus swipe up and down, which gives you a fairly complete set of controls without constantly reaching for your phone. Head controls are here too, letting you nod to answer calls or shake your head to decline them.

    Dual device connection is one of the more practical features. Being able to stay connected to two devices at once makes the earbuds much easier to slot into daily life, especially if you switch between a phone and a laptop or tablet. They also support Bluetooth 6.0, which helps keep the overall feature set feeling current.

    Huawei also says that if you have a Huawei smartwatch, you can control music playback from the watch, hear workout notifications through the earbuds while listening from your phone, and adjust settings like ANC and EQ from your wrist. In my testing, though, those extra features were not available with the Watch GT 7 Pro.

    Battery life is solid. Huawei rates the FreeBuds Neo for up to 10 hours with ANC off or 6.5 hours with ANC on, with up to 38 hours in total when you include the case. That should be more than enough for most people, especially since these are the kind of earbuds that will usually be topped up in the case between listening sessions anyway.

    Overall, the FreeBuds Neo gets the important things right. The sound is easy to enjoy, ANC is useful, Awareness mode works well, the touch controls are reliable, and dual device support adds real convenience. They may not feel as polished or as powerful as Huawei’s more expensive earbuds, but for everyday use, they offer a well-rounded set of features without becoming complicated.

    Sustainability

    Sustainability is not a major part of the Huawei FreeBuds Neo story. Huawei does not make any notable environmental claims here, and like most true wireless earbuds, they are built in a compact, sealed form that is not really designed for easy repair.

    The main durability point is the IP55 rating for the earbuds themselves, which adds some protection against dust and splashes. That should help them hold up better in daily use. As with most earbuds in this category, the best way to get long-term value is simply to take care of them and keep them in use for as long as possible.

    Value

    At £119.99 (approximately $160), the Huawei FreeBuds Neo sit in the middle of the market, but they offer a fairly complete package for the price. They are not exactly cheap, though they still come in below more premium earbuds, so the value is less about one headline feature and more about how well everything comes together.

    What you get is a strong all-rounder. There is good ANC, a useful Awareness mode, reliable gesture controls, dual device connection, LDAC support, and a design that feels more distinctive than many rivals, especially in Nebula Pink. In markets like the UK, Huawei is also offering a £20 discount before October 26, which makes them even more appealing.

    They may not be the first choice if you are only chasing the strongest ANC or the absolute best sound for the money. But as a stylish, comfortable, and easy-to-use pair of everyday earbuds, the FreeBuds Neo offer solid value and feel like a well-judged package overall.

    Verdict

    The Huawei FreeBuds Neo get a lot right for a pair of everyday wireless earbuds. They are comfortable, easy to use, and come with enough useful features to feel like a well-rounded option. The short stems, lightweight fit, and palm-friendly case make them especially easy to live with day to day.

    Nebula Pink also gives them more personality than most earbuds in this price range. Add in good ANC for the price, a useful Awareness mode, reliable gesture controls, dual device connection, and strong battery life, and there is plenty here to like.

    The ANC does not reach the level of Huawei’s more premium earbuds, but that is easy to accept given the price. Even so, at £119.99, or about $160, and less if you catch the early bird discount in some markets, the FreeBuds Neo are an easy pair to like and an easy pair to recommend for everyday use.

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    Most Sleep Trackers Grade Last Night, but DUVA One Adjusts Tonight

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    Most sleep trackers wait until morning to tell a story that’s already over. A person tosses through a noisy night, wakes up groggy, and gets handed a score explaining what went wrong hours after it happened, with no chance to fix anything while it mattered. DUVA One, introduced at IFA Berlin 2026, moves that entire conversation into the middle of the night itself, treating disruptions as something to respond to in real time rather than data to review at breakfast.

    The system builds its response around two simultaneous points of view. Inside the ear, PPG and motion sensors track heart rate, HRV, movement, and sleep position throughout the night. Sitting beside the bed, the charging case reads the room itself, picking up noise, light, temperature, and humidity, then lining that environmental data up against what’s happening in the body at the exact same moment.

    Designer: DUVA (Fitnexa)

    That pairing turns a random 3 AM wakeup into something with an actual cause. A spike in movement paired with a sudden noise spike tells a different story than one paired with a temperature swing, and DUVA One uses that context to decide what to do next. It can dial in active noise cancelation, layer in sound masking, or switch on sleep audio, then keep watching to see whether the response actually helped or needs adjusting.

    Audio handling reflects the same instinct toward reading the moment instead of locking into one setting at bedtime. Someone might drift off with a podcast streaming over Bluetooth, and once DUVA One detects sleep, it can quietly hand off to locally stored sleep audio, cutting the connection while trimming power use for the rest of the night. It’s a small transition, but it removes the usual choice between falling asleep to something and burning battery doing it.

    All of that would be pointless if the earbuds themselves got in the way of actual sleeping, making you prefer not to have them on at all. DUVA built each one down to a 9.9mm profile at roughly 3.3g, sized specifically for people who sleep on their sides and need something that won’t dig into an ear against a pillow for eight hours straight. Multiple tip and stabilizer wing sizes come along to fit that shape to different ears rather than forcing a single mold.

    Morning wakeups get the same considered touch through a private, offline alarm that builds in volume gradually, with snooze options set directly through the earbuds instead of reaching for a phone. On the data side, DUVA draws a clear line around privacy, skipping conversation recording or raw audio storage entirely, while letting users switch off individual sensors or erase their history outright. DUVA One arrives in October 2026 at $349.99, targeting the US, Canada, UK, EU, and Australia.

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    Huawei’s FreeBuds Neo Are Small Enough to Forget, Loud Enough Not To

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    Huawei’s FreeBuds Neo makes a case for restraint, proving a pair of earbuds can shrink in size without shrinking in ambition. Announced globally to launch at IFA 2026, the FreeBuds Neo pairs noise cancellation with a shape built for long days of wear, arriving in four colorways that read more like a fashion accessory than typical tech hardware. It’s a design that treats comfort as a feature worth engineering around, not an afterthought.

    That comfort starts with the numbers. Each earbud weighs only approximately 4.8 g, and Huawei built that lightness around a significant number of real human ear feature data points, delivering an ergonomic, pressure-relieving fit that achieves even pressure distribution for pain-free long-term wear. Simulation tests replicating high-frequency movement led to design tweaks in areas prone to loosening, so the buds stay anchored through workouts, commutes, and everything in between.

    Designer: Huawei

    The Mini shuttle case carries that same restraint into its shape, presenting a fully curved form, with a sleek and minimalist silhouette and a lightweight body that slips into a pocket without adding bulk. Four color options, Stellar Silver, Nebula Pink, Ice White, and Starry Black, let the case double as a small style statement rather than a purely functional accessory. The Light Mini Stem carries that philosophy further, conforming to the ear’s contours for a fit that looks as refined as it feels.

    Underneath that compact shell, Huawei packs a dual-channel noise cancellation architecture that optimizes sound paths, cutting down medium and high-frequency noise, like wind and ambient chatter, for a full-frequency depth of up to 30dB. A third-gen audio chip handles the heavy lifting, reacting to shifting noise within milliseconds so a subway platform one moment and a quiet office the next don’t require manually adjusting anything.

    Sound quality gets its own upgrade courtesy of an all-new Turbo driver unit, stretching frequency response from 10Hz up to 48kHz. That range keeps bass hitting hard on a commute playlist while vocals and instruments stay clear during a podcast or a video call, recreating the texture of a live performance rather than a compressed streaming file. Paired with a Huawei phone, the buds support up to 2.3Mbps of lossless transmission, dropping to a still-respectable 990kbps over LDAC with other devices.

    Huawei also built in unlimited spatial audio, using its own algorithms to wrap sound in a 360-degree soundstage regardless of source or device, so a movie watched on a laptop can feel as enveloping as one streamed through a dedicated app. Cross-platform support rounds out that flexibility, breaking down ecosystem barriers to work across Android, iOS, and Windows, with dual-device connections that let someone switch from a work laptop to a phone call without digging through Bluetooth menus.

    Pricing lands at £119.99 (around $162) when the FreeBuds Neo arrives in the UK on 23 September 2026, positioning it as a mid-range option against pricier flagship earbuds. Between the lightweight fit, the four-color palette, and noise cancellation tuned for shifting environments, Huawei seems to be betting that people want earbuds that disappear into daily routines rather than demand constant attention.

    The post Huawei’s FreeBuds Neo Are Small Enough to Forget, Loud Enough Not To first appeared on Yanko Design.

    Plaud One AI Earbuds remember and summarize your conversations so you can focus on the work

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    Most wireless earbuds are designed to disappear into the background while you listen to music or take calls. Plaud One is more ambitious compared to your normal buds, as it wants to remember what happens around you and then help turn those conversations into actual work.

    The AI earbuds can record face-to-face conversations, phone calls, or online meetings without needing to stay connected to a smartphone. That is possible because the charging case includes built-in 4G LTE connectivity through an eSIM. Plaud says it has arrangements covering more than 80 countries and regions, allowing the earbuds to upload recordings even when your phone or Wi-Fi connection isn’t nearby.

    Designer: Plaud

    Recording isn’t limited to the earbuds, either. The case has its own microphones, allowing it to work as a standalone recorder when placed on a meeting table. Users can start recording from the earbuds, the case, or the app, while a recording indicator on the case provides a visible cue that audio is being captured. The earbuds can also natively capture audio from video-calling services such as Google Meet and Zoom. Once a conversation has been captured, Plaud’s software can transcribe it, summarize the discussion, and identify useful information. The more interesting step is what happens next. Plaud Agent is designed to use that conversational context to prepare follow-up work, such as an email, report, document or presentation.

    It can connect with services including Gmail, Google Calendar, Notion and Slack, potentially allowing a meeting to produce something useful before you even return to your desk. That makes Plaud One different from an AI recorder that simply leaves you with a transcript to sort through later. The company is positioning the wearable as an AI system that can remember information across conversations and use that context to help automate workflows. You can also interact with the assistant using a voice command or the dedicated button on the case.

    There is still a conventional pair of wireless earbuds underneath all this. Plaud One uses Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint connectivity, supports SBC and LDAC codecs, and includes active noise cancellation rated for up to 40dB of reduction. The earbuds are IP54-rated for dust and splash resistance. Battery life is rated at up to six hours for music playback with ANC off, while the case adds up to 36 hours of additional listening time. Storage is built into the system as well, with 16MB in each earbud and another 512MB in the case. Plaud says the case can hold up to 30 hours of recordings. Recording endurance from the earbuds varies depending on the use, with up to six hours for in-person recording and around three hours for calls and podcasts.

    The $250 Explorer Edition comes with $200 worth of Plaud Credits for its agentic AI features, but that allowance is not unlimited. Heavier transcription and AI use can require paid plans or additional credits, making the ongoing cost an important part of the product’s proposition.

    The post Plaud One AI Earbuds remember and summarize your conversations so you can focus on the work first appeared on Yanko Design.