The Apple AirPods 3 won't launch until 2021, says industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has been proven right about numerous Apple product launches in the past.
According to 9to5Mac, the prolific Apple analyst believes that Apple "will continue to sell second-generation AirPods through this year’s holiday season", replacing the popular true wireless earbuds with the AirPods 3 "in the first half of 2021".
The new 'Pods will apparently take their design cues from the AirPods Pro, which ditched the rigid plastic tips and super long ear stems of the 2019 Apple AirPods, in favor of silicone eartips and a sleeker look. Whether that means they'll come with noise cancellation as well remains to be seen.
Kuo's prediction may come as a disappointment to those who were hoping to see the AirPods 3 at WWDC 2020, which kicks off today at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM BST (3AM AEST on June 23).
All is not lost, however. Despite rumors that the keynote won't include any hardware announcements, our fingers are crossed for the launch of Apple's first over-ear headphones, the AirPods Studio, and perhaps even a new smart speaker, the so-called Apple HomePod 2.
Apple is undeniably a technological trailblazer, innovating in the worlds of smartphones, laptops, true wireless earbuds, and more – but when it comes to smart speakers, the tech giant has been left behind by the competition.
Rumor has it that Apple is on the verge of launching the follow-up to its first smart speaker, the Apple HomePod. The Apple HomePod 2 – or HomePod Mini, as some are calling it – is said to be a smaller, cheaper version of the brand’s Siri-powered speaker, and it could launch as soon as July 22, at Apple’s WWDC 2020 event.
However, if the new HomePod is to be a success, Apple will need to address some key issues that prevented the original speaker from enjoying the same success that the Amazon Echo and Google Nest (née Home) devices have garnered.
A limited ecosystem
The original Apple HomePod was launched in 2018 to mixed reviews and underwhelming sales. While the HomePod was praised for its audio performance, its capabilities as a smart home hub were distinctly lacking compared to the likes of the Amazon Echo and the Google Home.
That’s because Siri simply can’t compete with the smarts that Alexa and Google Assistant offer, and the HomePod’s reliance on the Apple ecosystem means that the smart home devices it works with are limited.
Called HomeKit, Apple’s smart home ecosystem is controlled primarily through the Home app on your iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch.
There are some great aspects to HomeKit. Setting up something like a smart plug or smart light is as simple as scanning the code on the device from your phone or tablet and having it added into the mix – once that's done, you're able to control it with your voice.
It's undeniably cool to be able to walk through the door, say 'Hey Siri, I'm home!' and all the lights you've set up blink up because your lamps have smart plugs.
Still, compared to Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa, Siri is rather limited in what it can do for you as a smart home hub – and with no voice training capabilities, you can’t personalize Siri like you can with other assistants, which means you lose out on both the security of your smart speaker being able to distinguish between different voices in your household and a tailored experience.
This isn’t great considering it’s one of the most expensive smart speakers on the market, and Siri is your main means of controlling it.
With that in mind, we’d love to see better Siri performance in a new HomePod iteration when it comes to enacting commands quickly and allowing for greater personalization in its performance .
Great sound, so-so connectivity
The original Apple HomePod is still one of the best-sounding smart speakers on the market – but when it comes to actually playing your music, it leaves a lot to be desired in terms of connectivity.
Sure, voice control is the calling card of the smart speaker, but sometimes Bluetooth connectivity is more convenient – and that’s something the original HomePod is lacking, which is particularly frustrating when you can’t find a track on Apple’s own streaming service.
Apple Music is the only streaming service that can be controlled with Siri, and you won’t find native support for Spotify or Tidal – so if you want to listen to Hi-Res Audio files, you’ll be disappointed.
If you buy one of the current Apple HomePod speakers, you’re essentially locking yourself into Apple’s audio ecosystem. The Apple HomePod 2 could rectify this by either adding support for these services, or by allowing for Bluetooth connectivity, letting you stream tracks from your smartphone from whichever platform you choose.
By letting other services have a look in, the Apple HomePod 2 could entice a host of new users who would have otherwise opted for models like the Sonos One.
All in all, for the Apple HomePod 2 to make a real impact in the world of smart speakers, the company needs to introduce a little flexibility to its rigid way of thinking.
Apple should really give users the option to stream music from multiple services, and open Siri’s capabilities up to those who aren’t already invested in the Apple ecosystem – and if Apple offers incentives like cheaper Apple Music subscriptions to those who make the switch, it could build a loyal fanbase of smart home enthusiasts.
There are rumors that Siri will be cut from the device entirely to save on cost, making the new Apple HomePod a regular wireless speaker – which is totally feasible given the HomePod’s strong audio performance and multi-room capabilities.
However, we’d rather see some improvements – after all, if Apple can get Siri up to scratch, it could dominate the smart speaker market in the same way it has propelled the true wireless earbuds market with the AirPods and AirPods Pro.
There was no sign of the AirPods Pro Lite at WWDC 2020 – although the AirPods Pro were given a hefty upgrade that allows for immersive Dolby Atmos sound and a nifty auto-switching feature.
Rumors surrounding a new version of the AirPods Pro, the so-called AirPods Pro Lite, have been circling since mid-February, after a report from DigiTimes claimed that the new true wireless earbuds will launch in the first half of 2020.
The next big release window could be in September, the month in which Apple usually launches its latest iPhone – this year we're expecting to see the iPhone 12.
The AirPods Pro Lite will reportedly be an entry-level version of the noise-cancelling AirPods Pro, which suggest the rumored wireless earbuds might be cheaper the most expensive Apple earbuds currently on the market.
Despite no official confirmation from Apple, and very hazy details on the earbuds, we’ve even been hearing reports on how the current coronavirus outbreak will stall production on the AirPods Pro Lite – and then later reports disparaging these claims.
Even though we know very little about the AirPods Pro Lite – or if they even really exist – that hasn’t stopped us from dreaming up a wishlist of all the specs and features we’d like to see from a new pair of AirPods Pro true wireless earbuds. Plus, we take a look at all the news and rumors we've heard so far.
What are they? A rumored cheaper version of the AirPods Pro.
When will they be released? They could launch this year, but that's TBC.
How much will they cost? Likely under $249 / £249 / AU$399, the price of the AirPods Pro.
AirPods Pro Lite release date
There's been a bit of back and forth with AirPods Pro Lite release date rumors – reports of a 2020 release date are being countered pretty much as soon as they're revealed.
Initial rumors suggested new 'regular' AirPods would crash into the market before 2020 is out, but recent comments from industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggest we may be waiting a while longer – speculating that the next-gen AirPods would start mass production in early 2021, with a new AirPods Pro model arriving in 2022 too (via AppleInsider).
However, we think we will be seeing some new Apple headphones in 2020. That's partly because respected tech analyst Jon Prosser recently tweeted that a new pair of Apple earbuds are "ready to ship".
Prosser didn't elaborate on which model it could be – after all, there are multiple model names being floated around, including the AirPods Pro Lite and the AirPods 3 – but he has said that they are not the AirPods Studio, which are said to be Apple's first over-ear headphones.
If the AirPods Prosser mentions are the AirPods Pro Lite, the next feasible release window is in September, the month in which Apple usually launches its latest iPhone – this year we're expecting to see the iPhone 12.
AirPods Pro Lite price
If the rumored AirPods Pro Lite really are an entry-level version of the AirPods Pro, we’d expect them to be significantly cheaper than their pricy siblings. At $249 / £249 / AU$399, the original Pros are pretty expensive, even more so than the best true wireless earbuds you can buy in 2020, the Sony WF-1000XM3.
We’d like to see the AirPods Pro Lite at a similar price to the 2019 AirPods; at $159 / £159 / AU$249, they aren’t cheap, but they’re much more affordable. It would be even better if Apple could launch a pair of true wireless earbuds at the $100 / £100 / AU$150 mark, as that would really shake up the competition with a genuinely affordable pair of Apple earbuds.
Interested in buying some Apple headphones now? Check out the best deals we've found below:
AirPods Pro Lite: what we want to see
Noise cancellation
We don’t think there would be much point in releasing an entry-level version of AirPods Pro if they didn’t come with its best feature: active noise cancellation.
This was a true upgrade over the original AirPods, and signaled a shift in the true wireless earbuds market that means we can now expect to see features previously reserved for premium over-ear headphones in cordless models.
The noise cancelation offered by the AirPods Pro is very good indeed, particularly for true wireless earbuds. We’d also expect to see the Transparency feature continued in the AirPods Pro Lite, which allows sound to pass through the buds when you want to quickly tap into your surroundings.
A streamlined design
The AirPods Pro offered a much lighter and more streamlined build than the 2019 AirPods, and we’d like to see a development of that design in the rumored AirPods Pro Lite. As the Pros offered shorter stems than there predecessors, it would be interesting to see whether Apple could take this even further, perhaps getting rid of the stems entirely in favor of a Samsung Galaxy Buds-style look.
We don’t think that’s very likely, considering how iconic the AirPods design has become in recent years, and the fact that the AirPods Pro come with touch-sensitive controls built into the stems.
Could the AirPods Pro Lite come with a more workout-friendly design like the Beats Powerbeats Pro?
If Apple does keep the protruding stems we’d love the brand to include haptic feedback when you touch them – it would add a little bit of tactility to the user experience that we think would be really beneficial.
Speaking of the design, some earfins wouldn’t go amiss to appeal to the running crowd. While we find that the AirPods Pro are generally quite secure during workout sessions, some extra security could win over diehard fans of the earhook-toting Beats Powerbeats Pro.
Another way to steal some custom from Beats (and therefore itself)? Adding some cool color options to the AirPods Pro Lite. If they really are a cheaper version of the AirPods Pro, and therefore not a flagship product, what’s the harm in a little experimentation? We’d love to see true wireless earbuds in the same space gray and rose gold colors we’ve seen with some iPhone and MacBook Pro models.
A report in DigiTimes (via MacRumors) passes on information from the Apple supply chain that production of these ambient light sensors is being ramped up, quite possibly to get ready for some brand new wireless earbuds.
There are a lot of dots to join here, and there isn't necessarily just one way to join them – but that said, it would make a lot of sense for Apple to want to boost the fitness tracking capabilities of future AirPod models, much as it did with the Apple Watch.
Whether these light sensors are headed for the AirPods Pro Lite or the so-called AirPods 3 is unclear at this stage, but we think they'd be a great addition to the Pros, which can already track your hearing health by monitoring the volume of your music.
Is Apple working on the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2? It certainly looks like it, with a new pair of Beats wireless earbuds making an appearance in an FCC (Federal Communications Commission) filing back in March.
Since then, the rumored Powerbeats Pro 2 have popped up in similar filings around the world, suggesting that a follow-up to the popular Beats Powerbeats Pro is on the cards.
Update: Could the Powerbeats Pro 2 show up during this year's virtual WWDC 2020 event today? We'll just have to tune in to find out!
The Beats Powerbeats Pro are among the best true wireless earbuds you can buy, and thanks to their long battery life, good sound quality, and smart design – including venting holes that reduce the pressure the earbuds impart on your ears – they are among the best running headphones, too.
A year on from their launch, and Apple has released the true wireless earbuds in four bright new colors – which could mean that Apple isn't quite ready to launch a second-gen version of the earbuds.
Details of the Powerbeats Pro 2 are scant right now, and without official confirmation from Apple, we can only guess as to details like a release date, specs, and sound quality – and some outlets are even speculating that the FCC filing only relates to minor tweaks to the existing earbuds.
Whenever the buds turn up, and whether they're a complete overhaul or a minor tweak to the existing Powerbeats Pro, we've dreamt up a wish list of all the things we'd like to see from the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2.
What are they? The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, a pair of true wireless earbuds
When will they launch? That's still TBC, but it could be as soon as June 2020
How much will they cost? Likely similar to their predecessors ($249 / £219 / AU$349)
Powerbeats Pro 2 release date
While Apple hasn't announced a Powerbeats Pro 2 release date – or even confirmed their existence, for that matter – we can hazard a guess as to when we'll see the new Beats earbuds.
We though the new buds could launch at WWDC 2020, but with no new hardware announcements, the next feasible release window is in September, when we're hoping to see the iPhone 12.
If we don't see the Powerbeats Pro 2 in September, the next release window might not be until October. In an FCC filing for what we think are the new earbuds, Apple requested that the FCC withhold external photographs, internal photographs, test setup photographs, and the user manual until October 12, 2020.
The original Powerbeats Pro.
Powerbeats Pro 2: what we know so far
In April, Apple filed a new document with the FCC that appears to describe the Powerbeats Pro 2.
The FCC ID BCGA2453 describes ‘totally wireless high-performance earphones’ and corresponds to Apple’s model numbers A2453 and A2454 – though whether those two different model numbers corresponds to two new versions of the Powerbeats Pro remains to be seen.
Unfortunately, Apple requested that the FCC withhold external photographs, internal photographs, test setup photographs and the user manual until October, so it will be awhile before we can confirm our suspicions.
Without photos or documentation there’s not a whole lot of information available inside the brief other than the wireless frequency the earphones will operate on (2.402-2.48 GHz) and some really technical information about the kind of wireless transmitter it will have inside.
Some outlets are reporting that the FCC filing describes "a minor tweak" to the Powerbeats Pro, rather than a truly new model – perhaps in a similar vein to the AirPods (2019), which replaced the 2016 AirPods, or even as a mere software update.
MacRumors believes the filing represents "a minor internal tweak to the existing models that will soon be or has already been quietly released without any announcement or changes to public-facing specs".
So, it could be that newer Powerbeats Pro models have been given a few adjustments without any announcement from Apple. MacRumors says that, "if you've recently purchased Powerbeats Pro, you can check the fine print on the inside of each earpiece" to see whether they correspond with the new A2453/A2454 model numbers.
Whether the FCC filing relates to a brand new model or some minor tweaks remains to be seen. In the meantime, we've put together a wish list of all the things we would want to see if the Powerbeats Pro 2 actually materialize.
Can't wait to find out? We've gathered the best Powerbeats Pro prices below, so you can get your hands on the original true wireless earbuds.
Powerbeats Pro 2: what we want to see
While we were big fans of the original Powerbeats Pro, there are a few features we'd like to see in their successors.
Noise cancellation
This was a pretty big omission from the Powerbeats Pro, which were only able to offer limited noise isolation without active noise cancelling technology built in. We'd like to see Apple take a leaf out of the AirPods Pro's book, and give users the chance to block out annoying environmental sounds at the tap of a touch-sensitive housing.
Customizable sound
The Powerbeats Pro shook off Beats' reputation for overly bassy audio, offering a more neutral sound profile. While we liked the sound quality offered by the original buds, we were disappointed that Apple didn't provide any way to alter the EQ settings, either via an app or through a series of preset sound profiles. An accompanying app with a customizable EQ would give Powerbeats Pro 2 users the option to really personalize the sound of their buds, tweaking the bass, mids, and trebles exactly to their liking.
A higher IP rating
The IPX4 waterproof rating offered by the Powerbeats Pro was fine, but we think Apple could do better with the next generation. An IPX4-rating means the original Powerbeats Pro could take a bit of sweat, maybe an accidental splash from a water bottle or someone jumping in the pool, but imagine how great it would be if you could take them swimming?
Sleeker charging case
The charging case for the original Powerbeats Pro was a little bulky in our opinion; we'd love to see something sleeker for the Powerbeats Pro 2. A slim case is especially important for use while working out, as shorts and running leggings don't always come with deep pockets to stuff all your gadgets into.
Longer battery life
The Powerbeats Pro have a great battery life as it is – but we'd like to see Apple push the boat out with its second gen model, perhaps taking a cue from the affordable and incredibly long-lasting Lypertek Tevi.
Rare Beats headphones deals have popped up on the Apple website, Best Buy, and Amazon, where you can save money on the Powerbeats Pro and the Beats Solo Pro wireless headphones – and it could mean that new Apple headphones are coming soon.
First, let's take a look at the deals on offer. Right now, the Powerbeats Pro have hit their lowest ever price, dropping from $249.95 to $199.95 – a sweet saving of $50 on these fantastic true wireless earbuds. (Not in the US? Scroll down for the best Beats headphones deals we've found in your region.)
As well as that, you can save $70 on the Beats Solo Pro, a pair of on-ear headphones that wowed us with excellent noise cancelation, a long battery life, and their gorgeous design.
The so-called AirPods Studio were apparently revealed early, after 9to5Mac discovered icons representing the rumored cans in iOS 14 code – and since then, numerous analysts have come forward to say that the Apple headphones will launch on June 22.
The AirPods Studio, which we're expecting to come with noise cancellation among other cool features, could eclipse the Beats Solo Pro; that's why these Beats discounts could be yet another indication that the new over-ear headphones are soon to be released.
That's not all – we're also hoping to see new Apple true wireless earbuds at WWDC (though we think this is less likely than an AirPods Studio launch). Those Powerbeats Pro discounts could be Apple's way of shifting stock ahead of a true wireless launch, which could include the rumored Powerbeats Pro 2, AirPods Pro Lite, or AirPods 3.
We don't have to wait too long to find out what WWDC will bring, but these Beats deals are a tantalizing hint that the annual event could be huge for the world of headphones.
Not in the US? Check out the best Beats headphones deals in your region:
Rumors of the Sony WH-1000XM4 – the successors to the best headphones we've ever tested – have been ramping up in recent months, coming to a head when a Walmart listing that appears to describe all the specs of the new headphones was leaked.
While the existence of the XM4s is yet to be confirmed by Sony, the Walmart listing revealed the kind of changes (or lack thereof) we can expect over the Sony WH-1000XM3.
Now, normally we would expect a brand to make some significant changes when bringing out a successor to its last pair of headphones. In this instance, however, we’re relieved that Sony hasn’t tinkered too much with its class-leading noise-cancelling headphones.
Instead, it looks like the company is making some very considered tweaks to the XM3, which could genuinely improve the user experience without detracting from a winning design. As they say, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’.
What’s new with the Sony WH-1000XM4?
According to the leaked listing, one of these tweaks is the ability to connect more than one audio source to the headphones at once; multipoint pairing is something users of the XM3s have been calling out for, and it will allow you to pair the WH-1000XM4s with your laptop and your smartphone at the same time.
There should also be a slight improvement to the sound quality. A feature known as “Edge-AI” can restore the detail lost in highly compressed audio files by upscaling them in real time, which Sony says delivers sound “as close as possible to that of a wired connection.”
Wireless headphones have long been considered inferior to their wired counterparts in terms of audio fidelity, so this tweak will likely appease audiophiles who haven’t yet committed to cutting the cord.
Connectivity in general should be improved too, as Sony makes the leap from Bluetooth 4.2 to Bluetooth 5, which brings faster pairing times, connectivity over longer distances, and stronger pairing in high traffic areas.
The Sony WH-1000XM3.
Anyone who has used the Sony WH-1000XM3s to make phone calls should notice an improvement in the sound quality as well, with a feature called Precise Voice Pickup that uses the headphones’ five microphones and advanced audio signal processing to make your voice sound clearer.
The noise cancellation that made the Sony WH-1000XM3s so popular is also due an upgrade. According to the leaked listing, a feature called Adaptive Sound Control will “learn to recognize locations you frequently visit, such as your workplace or your favorite cafe.”
“In addition it automatically detects what you’re up to – for example, walking, waiting, or traveling – and then adjusts ambient sound settings to best suit the situation,” says Sony. This is a feature that’s already been brought to the XM3s via a firmware update, so we've had a bit of a preview already.
These are all smart tweaks to already-great features. So what’s staying the same with the Sony WH-1000XM4?
What’s staying the same?
Aside from these little tweaks and upgrades, the new XM4s seem to be very similar to their predecessors.
It looks like there won’t be any material changes to the design of the Sony WH-1000XM4s, which we think is a great thing. We loved how comfortable the XM3s felt, with big padded earcups and a soft headband.
They also looked great, with a sleek, minimalist build that appeals to a wide range of people, and we liked the touchpad controls – another feature that will be making a return.
The sound quality shouldn’t change substantially either, aside from that AI upscaling feature that will help to curb the data loss from highly compressed files. Judging from the leaked listing, the XM4s will use the same 40mm drivers as their predecessors and support for Sony’s LDAC transmission technology – and as the XM3s are among the best-sounding headphones on the planet, we’re happy to see that the audio profile hasn’t been tweaked too much.
Some may be disappointed to find that there’s no improvement to battery life – but with 30 hours of juice, the Sony WH-1000XM3 weren’t exactly short-lived. Plus, with a return of USB-C fast charging, the XM4s shouldn’t take too long to top up.
A considered approach
Sony has a history of making careful tweaks to its products with each upgrade, and it’s something we’ve seen with the brand’s noise-cancelling 1000X range before.
It’s a great way of instilling a sense of trust in the products, and it makes us feel confident that each new upgrade will bring genuinely useful updates, rather than skin-deep design changes that don’t really improve the experience of using the headphones.
Sony wouldn’t be able to be subtle with its upgrades to the 1000X series if the original product wasn’t so good – and in a market where every company is trying to outdo one and other with headline-grabbing features like gesture controls and built-in AI (like the TicPods Pro 2), it’s a risky move to let the sound, feel, and look of the headphones speak for itself. That's especially true with the first-ever Apple over-ear headphones looking like they're going to launch in a matter of weeks and shake up the headphones market.
Trends (or gimmicks, if you prefer) like virtual 3D audio, bone conduction, and crazy form factors (see: the Bose Frames) may come and go – but we don’t think there will ever be a time when people won’t want a great-sounding pair of noise-cancelling headphones that do their job with minimal fuss.
Hopefully, that’s exactly what the Sony WH-1000XM4 will do when they’re finally released – and with this recent leak, it’s only a matter of time before we can get our hands on them and find out for ourselves.
Can't wait until then? Check out the best Sony WH-1000XM3 deals we've found today:
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 could launch very soon, with rumors of the upgraded true wireless earbuds ramping up in the lead up to the brand’s next Unpacked event, which is expected to take place in August.
In late April, the South Korean company registered the brand name 'Samsung BudsX' in the UK and Europe, which suggests a new version of the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus could be on the way. It’s not clear whether the ‘X’ is a placeholder, but we think they’ll probably be called the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2.
Since then, leaked images of the successors to the Samsung Galaxy Buds have shown a strange bean-like design, while noted leakers like XDA Developers’ Max Weinbach have claimed that the new wireless earbuds are on the way.
The original Galaxy Buds were Samsung’s answer to the Apple AirPods when they launched on March 8, 2019, and they were followed in February 2020 by the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus.
Cut to the chase
What are they? The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, a pair of true wireless earbuds.
When will they launch? We think August 2020, but that’s TBC.
How much will they cost? Likely similar to the Galaxy Buds ($149 (£139 / AU$249).
Neither of Samsung's first attempts were able to outperform Apple's AirPods or the AirPods Pro in terms of popularity or proficiency – which is why a new, better version of the Galaxy Buds is such an exciting prospect.
Details about the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 (or Galaxy Buds X, as some outlets are calling them) are fairly thin on the ground at this stage, but that hasn’t stopped us from collating everything we know so far – and everything we want to see – from the second generation true wireless earbuds.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 release date
The next big release window for the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 will be at the company’s Unpacked event, which we’re expecting to take place in August 2020.
That's when we think the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 will be released too, based on previous phones in the range. That month has now also specifically been rumored, but due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Unpacked will apparently be an online-only event, and the timing could change.
In any case, we’re not the only ones expecting to see the Galaxy Buds 2 soon. In a tweet showing off the new Galaxy Buds Plus color, XDA Developers’ Max Weinbach said “I find it weird they keep launching new colors right before the BudsX are rumored to launch”.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 price
There’s no word on pricing yet, but the most recent Galaxy Buds Plus went on sale in March for $149.99 / £159 / AU$299, so we’re expecting something similar when the next earbuds arrive.
With new Apple earbuds also expected to launch in the near future (whether they will be the AirPods 3 or the AirPods Pro Lite remains to be seen), Samsung would do well to undercut its biggest competitor with its next-gen buds – after all, price is a huge deciding factor for those looking to buy new headphones.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 design
If leaked images are to be believed, the design of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 will be drastically different to that of its predecessors. Based on the 3D renderings that have appeared, there are going to be big changes in the design.
The images come courtesy of WinFuture, and it seems the small stems on the current Galaxy Buds Plus are ditched in favor of a bean-like shape – and indeed the codename for the earbuds is rumored to be "Beans".
WinFuture's sources say the new Beans buds are 2.8 cm (1.1 inches) in length, so they should fit snugly in most ears. There are no silicone tips though, so any noise cancelling tech – if it exists – might suffer as a result.
Based on the leaked renders, it looks like the Galaxy Buds 2 will come in three colors: white, black, and light blue.
WinFuture says that the back of each earbud “fills the upper part of the ear, while the lower part and thus the integrated loudspeakers protrude into the ear canal”. This bean-shaped design isn’t a form factor we’ve seen before, so we’re excited to see how they look and feel when they’re finally released.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 fitness-tracking
The trademark filing discovered earlier this year revealed some of the features we might see from the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, including “software for measuring distance, speed, time, changes in heart rate, activity level, calories burned."
It’s worth bearing in mind that the specs described in trademark filings don’t always show up in the final product, but these biometric sensors could make the new Galaxy Buds a great pair of running headphones like the Powerbeats Pro.
The trademark filing also describes “wireless earsets incorporating software for providing a fitness guide”, which means they could come with a built-in voice assistant (Bixby, perhaps) that can help bolster your running performance by giving you real-time advice based on data collected by biometric sensors.
If Samsung does release a pair of fitness-tracking headphones, we’d expect to see an IPX4-or-above waterproof rating, which would keep them safe from sweat or rain.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2: what we want to see
Both the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus were decent true wireless earbuds, but there are a few improvements we’d like to see.
Noise cancellation
We were disappointed to find no noise-cancelling tech in the Galaxy Buds Plus – we were expecting them to be Samsung’s answer to the Apple AirPods Pro.
Once the preserve of bulky over-ear headphones, noise cancellation is increasingly common in true wireless earbuds, especially after the success of models like the Sony WF-1000XM3.
It’s about time that Samsung brought the technology to its line of Galaxy earbuds, and we hope that the Galaxy Buds 2 will deliver.
Improved sound
The Galaxy Buds 2 didn’t sound bad by any means, but we’d like to see an improvement in the audio quality with the next generation.
One way Samsung could achieve this is by introducing support for Hi-Res Audio codecs like aptX, aptX Low Latency or, even better, Sony’s LDAC.
Longer battery life
The Galaxy Buds Plus boasted a far longer battery life than the original Galaxy Buds, but the charging case left something to be desired. The earbuds themselves contain 11 hours of charge, while the charging case provides an additional 11 hours, bringing the total battery life to 22 hours.
That 11-hour battery life is pretty long for earbuds – but for the charging case, it’s not a huge amount of battery. For comparison, the Apple AirPods contain 5 hours in the buds themselves, with an additional 20 hours provided by the charging case, for 25 hours in total. We’d love to see the charging case of the Galaxy Buds 2 afforded a longer battery life so you can charge more than once on the go.
Can't wait for the Galaxy Buds 2? Check out the best Samsung Galaxy Buds and Galaxy Buds Plus deals we've found today:
Mobvoi, the company best known for its TicWatch smartwatches, has announced its latest pair of true wireless earbuds, the TicPods ANC.
The new wireless earbuds come with active noise-cancellation like the AirPods Pro and the Sony WF-1000XM3, but don't share the same high prices as these models, coming in at just $89.99 / £79.99 / AU$138.99.
A button on the back of each bud allows you to toggle between three different noise-cancellation models, including Quiet Mode, Sound-Passthrough Mode, and ANC-off Mode.
Like the AirPods Pro, these earbuds come with silicone eartips, which Mobvoi says "seal off your ears from ambient noise even if you are not using ANC function".
Each earbud can be used independently of one and other, and Mobvoi says that the TicPods ANC will "automatically connect to your device, if previously paired, by using Bluetooth 5.0, the latest version of the Bluetooth wireless communication standard".
Battery life isn't great, judging by the specs. Mobvoi says that you'll get four-and-a-half hours of continuous music playback with ANC on, and five hours with it switched off. That on-board life is about the same as the AirPods Pro, but the charging case only offers a further 10 hours of juice – Apple's charging case offers double this amount.
Strangely, Mobvoi hasn't offered much information on the kind of audio quality we can expect from the TicPods ANC. Hopefully the new wireless earbuds offer an improvement upon the TicPods 2 Pro, which despite having an exceptionally wide soundstage, really lacked in warmth and richness, particularly in the mid and bass frequencies.
Where are the TicPods ANC smart features?
Somewhat disappointingly though, the TicPods ANC don't some of the most promising features of its predecessors, the TicPods Pro, including Mobvoi's own artificial intelligence technologies TicHear and TicMotion.
TicHear allows you to control your audio playback with your voice, without needing to use a wake word to summon your voice assistant of choice, whether that's Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri.
We found that this feature worked really well when we tested the TicPods 2 Pro – less successful however, was TicMotion.
This feature allows you to control voice calls by moving your head, thanks to built-in motion sensors – that means you can nod your head to accept a call, or shake to decline.
But when trying to accept phone calls using these gestures, we found the tech frequently didn’t work – even so, we're disappointed that Mobvoi hasn't developed this feature further, as it could really differentiate its earbuds from the competition.
The flagship pair of earbuds are the Panasonic RZ-S500W, which come with active noise cancellation like the AirPods Pro and the best true wireless earbuds of 2020, the Sony WF-1000XM3.
Panasonic says that the new wireless earbuds offer "industry-leading" hybrid active noise cancellation technology, which combine "FeedFoward Noise Cancelling, Feedback Noise Cancelling, and an Analog/Digital Processing hybrid".
These technologies work together to reduce noise generated both inside and outside the earcups, in theory resulting in an uninterrupted listening experience – and at $289 / £169, they're cheaper than much of the competition. That works out at around AU$415, though a Panasonic spokesperson tells us that these prices are subject to change.
Like the AirPods Pro, you can allow environmental sound to pass through the earbuds when you need to hear what' s going on around you; Panasonic says you can "simply tap the touch sensor to cycle between Noise Cancelling, Ambient Sound
and OFF".
Peaceful phonecalls
That touch sensor can also be used to activate your voice assistant of choice, whether you prefer Siri or Google Assistant. Panasonic says that support for Amazon Alexa will be coming in the next few months, too.
As well as applying noise cancellation to your music, the new true wireless earbuds will also block out environmental noise from your phone calls, using a built-in microphone that, according to Panasonic, suppresses wind noise and other interference, improving noise cancellation performance and call quality.
Battery life comes in at six-and-a-half hours of continuous playback with noise cancellation turned on, while the charging case offers a further 13 hours of juice.
As for audio quality, we've been left guessing somewhat; Panasonic hasn't revealed the kind of drivers used within these earbuds, or given any description of the sound profile on offer – we can't wait to try them out for ourselves to see how they stack up against the best headphones of 2020.
The Panasonic RZ-S300W (pictured) are the cheaper of the new true wireless earbuds.
Check out the cheaper model, too
The second of Panasonic's new true wireless earbud models are the RZ-S300W, which don't come with noise cancellation, but are cheaper than the flagship pair at $129 / £109 (around AU$185) – again, these prices are subject to change.
Without active noise cancellation draining the battery, these buds can last for 7-and-a-half hours of playback, with three further charges contained within the charging case.
Like the pricier RZ-S500W, the RZ-S300W come with an IPX4 waterpoof rating, so they too should be suitable for working out with, as well as voice assistant-compatibility.
Both models also come with "a unique antenna design" that Panasonic says will deliver reliable connectivity, even when using Bluetooth in a crowded area.
Again, we don't know much about the sound profile of these true wireless earbuds, but if they can offer decent audio quality on top of that budget-friendly price and good battery life, Panasonic could be onto a winner.
Now the corporation is opening up an early version of Beeb to UK-based members of Microsoft’s Windows Insider Programme, who the BBC hope will help them "to improve Beeb by experimenting with features and generally putting the voice assistant through its paces".
In a press release sent to TechRadar, the BBC says that "the next step will be bringing this beta version out to the general public in the near future".
If you want to test Beeb out for yourself, you can do so by signing up to the Microsoft Windows Insider Programme via its website.
The BBC says that, "once you’ve signed up, you’ll then need to update your PC to the Windows 10 May 2020 Update or newer, download the ‘Beeb BETA’ app from the Microsoft Store and sign in with your BBC account".
Early days
If you do sign up for the beta version of Beeb, the BBC says you'll be able to speak to the voice assistant to get "live and on-demand radio, music mixes, and the BBC's wide range of podcasts, as well as news and local weather updates."
As with Alexa and Google Assistant, you'll be able to ask Beeb jokes – and you'll get material from BBC comedy writers . Or if it's knowledge you're seeking, you can ask for "quirky facts selected by comedy panel quiz show QI's elves'' as well as QI facts read by "Sandi Toksvig herself".
The BBC says that as this is still a very early version of the voice assistant "not everything will be working perfectly from day one, and the future Beeb assistant will be able to do a lot more and will be available on more platforms and devices".
When Beeb was first announced in August 2019, the BBC said it would be optimised to understand British regional accents, and was being tested on BBC staff around the UK to make sure it can pick up everything from Brummie to Glaswegian intonations.
According to a Guardian report at the time, the BBC has no plans to launch a physical product like the Amazon Echo or Google Home speakers to house its proprietary voice assistant.
Instead, Beeb will come built-in to the BBC’s website, its iPlayer app on smart TVs, and will be "made available to manufacturers who want to incorporate the public broadcaster’s software." For now though, only those who sign up to the beta will be able to see it in action – everyone else will have to wait a little longer for the BBC's first voice assistant to land on our screens.
The AirPods Studio – AKA, the first-ever Apple over-ear headphones – never materialized at WWDC 2020, in spite of rumors that the headphones would make an appearance at the annual keynote.
That's in line with a tweet from prolific Apple leaker Jon Prosser, which went out a few hours before the keynote started, suggesting that hardware announcements at WWDC 2020 were cancelled altogether.
In the end, Prosser was correct, though it sounds like the lack of hardware wasn't always the plan – that means we could still see an AirPods Studio release date in 2020.
We've been anticipating a pair of Apple over-ear headphones for a while now, with numerous outlets reporting that the Cupertino company is planning to release the so-called AirPods Studio this year.
The AirPods Studio aren't the only new Apple headphones rumored to launch in 2020, too. The AirPods Pro Lite will apparently be an entry-level version of the noise-cancelling AirPods Pro, while the so-called AirPods 3 are the anticipated follow-up to the original AirPods – which saw their last upgrade in 2019.
When will they be released? It's rumored that they'll launch this year
What will they be called? Possibly the Apple AirPods Studio or the AirPods X
How much will they cost? Reportedly$349 (about £280 / AU$530)
The Apple AirPods Studio are perhaps the most concrete rumored release we know about so far. That's because the headphones were apparently revealed early, after 9to5Mac discovered icons representing the rumored cans in iOS 14 code.
Two icons – one light, one dark – depict a pair of over-ear headphones with padding on the earcups and headband, and appear to show two different color options for the headphones (likely space gray and the same white as the AirPods).
This is the clearest image of the new Apple headphones so far. You can check out the icons below:
Right now, everything we know about the AirPods Studio – from potential release dates to prices – are based on rumors and leaks. That's not to say that we shouldn't lend any credence to what we've heard so far – that's why we've compiled this guide to everything we know about the first Apple over-ear headphones, as well as all the features we want to see from the Apple AirPods Studio.
Apple AirPods Studio release date
The Apple AirPods Studio weren't released at WWDC 2020, despite a number of rumors indicating that the new headphones would be revealed during the keynote.
The June 22 release date had been floating around for a while now, and was most recently posited by XDA Developer's Max Weinbach, who says that says the firmware for the over-ear headphones has been "finalized" and is ready to go onto the production units.
Weinbach also claimed that the launch would happen "imminently", and was "likely" to take place at WWDC 2020 – of course, the headphones never materialized.
This new intel backs upa May report by The Information, which says that Apple suppliers Goertek and Luxshare will assemble "at least a portion of the headphones in Vietnam and begin shipments to Apple in June or July".
In any case, a 2020 release date has been on the cards for a long time. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo – whose Apple predictions have been proven right in the past – claimed that the new headphones will launch in 2020 back in 2018, when he said that Apple was working on updated AirPods as well as “own-brand, high-end over-ear headphones with an all-new design” back in 2018.
As we now know, Kuo’s prediction about the updated AirPods turned out to be right, as the release of AirPods (2019) last year, and the subsequent release of the AirPods Pro demonstrated.
Since then, Kuo elaborated on his initial claims, saying that 2020 would bring iPhone SE 2 (check), a new iPad Pro (check) and MacBooks with scissor keys, as well as a "smaller wireless charging mat, UWB tag, and a high-end Bluetooth headphone" from Apple.
With Kuo’s predictions being correct so far, we wouldn’t be surprised if he – and the others – are right about the over-ear model being released in the first half of 2020 too. Time is running out, though, and a late 2020 release date is looking more and more likely.
A tweet from well-respected tech analyst Jon Prosser suggests new in-ear AirPods (perhaps the AirPods 3 or the AirPods Pro Lite) will come before the over-ear Apple AirPods Studio. That means we could be waiting until the latter half 2020 to see them, perhaps at Apple's annual iPhone launch event in October.
Either way, we're expecting to see the AirPods Studio this year – even if the headphones' release date has been pushed back in the past, as Bloomberg reported way back in 2018.
The AirPods Studio may look similar to the Beats Solo Pro (pictured).
Apple AirPods Studio price
An inventory listing from US store Target, may have revealed the price of the hotly-anticipated cans.
YouTuber Jon Prosser posted an image to Twitter, purporting to show the upcoming over-ear headphones in Target's system, mysteriously listed as "Apple AirPods (X Generation)".
The product in the image appears to cost $399, which works out at around £300 / AU$600 – if these are the rumored AirPod Studio / AirPods X then the brand is aiming for the higher end of the price scale, surpassing the cost of competitors like the Sony WH-1000XM3 and the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700.
More recently, however, Prosser alleged that the AirPods Studio they'll be around $50 cheaper than initial reports suggested, coming in at $349 (about £280 / AU$530).
Either way, we're not expecting the new Apple over-ear headphones to come cheap.
Apple AirPods Studio design
The two icons discovered in the iOS 14 code clearly depict a pair of over-ear headphones – and the lack of wires suggests they may be wireless, too. To be honest, we wouldn't expect Apple to release a pair of wired headphones after the success of their previous true wireless models.
The icons also appear to show two different color options for the headphones (likely space gray and the same white as the AirPods).
However, Jon Prosser has speculated that the Apple over-ear headphones could come in a range of colors, citing the existence of three different product codes, all priced at $399 (around £320 / AU$610). So far, Apple's existing headphones, the EarPods, AirPods, and AirPods Pro, have only ever been available in white, though Apple-owned Beats headphones often come in a range of bright colors.
Apple AirPods Studio: what we want to see
The best over-ear headphones combine slick design, comfort, and portability – ideally without breaking the bank. But these days, headphones can be incredibly tech-heavy as well, which is what we would expect from a pioneering company like Apple.
That’s why we’d like to see modern conveniences like wireless connectivity, built-in voice assistance, and active noise-cancelling in the rumored Apple over-ear headphones – and above all else, fantastic sound quality.
The Apple AirPods (2019)
Better sound quality than the AirPods
They may be popular, but Apple's AirPods have never been known for their audio quality. While they have a lively presentation, they can sound a bit harsh when it comes to higher frequency sounds like snares, violins, and trumpets.
The Apple AirPods also aren’t the bassiest earbuds on the market (although the more recent AirPods Pro do a better job of this) – but more powerful bass could absolutely be achieved by a higher-spec pair of over-ear headphones.
Ketan Bharadia, International Technical Editor of What Hi-Fi? agrees: “I've never rated the sound of the company's in-ears but, considering [Apple’s] engineering might and the sonic qualities of their iPhones and the HomePod, there's plenty of potential for over-ears to stir things up.”
Over-ears tend to offer higher sound quality than in-ear models anyway, partly because they have bigger drivers than in-ear models. These larger drivers are able to displace larger volumes of air than their smaller counterparts, which in turn creates a more powerful audio performance.
According to Audio Advice, these larger drivers tend to reproduce the “widest range of frequencies, from silky smooth highs to tight, deep bass,” providing a richer, more colorful soundstage than in-ear headphones.
This mockup from Curved shows the so-called AirPods Studio charging wirelessly
Classic Apple design
Take away the technical aspects of a pair of headphones, and you’ve essentially got a (potentially very expensive) piece of headgear – and as such, it’s important that they look good.
We know that Apple has a strong design aesthetic; despite initial ridicule, the Apple AirPods have become iconic for their unique design, with lots of true wireless earbud manufacturers since taking inspiration from their long, protruding stems and all-white color scheme.
We'd like to see an evolution of Apple's classic design with their rumored over-ear headphones, with smooth, clean lines, premium materials, and a minimalist look without lots of bulky hardware ruining the effect.
Although Apple hasn’t even confirmed the existence of the AirPods Studio, that hasn’t stopped German tech publication Curved from mocking up its own concept illustrations of what the headphones might look like.
The illustrations from Curved are based on the look of Apple’s HomePod, framed by “the same textile mix as Apple’s smart speaker”.
They also take inspiration from Beats headphones in terms of their shape and build, but swaps the Beats logo for Apple’s own hallmark, although we're not sure such abundant use of color is likely from a brand that has only ever made white audio accessories so far.
Saying that, it has been posited that the Apple AirPods Studio could come in a range of colors, after three different product codes, all priced at $399 (around £320 / AU$610) were discovered in a product listing at Target.
Curved also predicted that the headphones would charge wirelessly, showing the mocked-up headphones resting on an Apple-branded charging platform, and that the housings would feature touch controls, a little like the Microsoft Surface headphones.
The Microsoft Surface Headphones
Decent sound isolation
The way Apple’s over-ear headphones sound will have a huge impact on the different situations they can be used in, as Senior Supervising Engineer at the National Film & Television School Jeremy Rodeschini explains:
“My role is to do with sound engineering covering a wide range of applications from theatrical sound to VR as well as live sound – and each application has very different requirements.”
While Rodeschini looks for “excellent isolation from ambient noise, reliability, and robustness” from the headphones he uses for mixing live sound, comfort and “a slightly flattering response” is preferable when he’s recording actors delivering their lines in the studio.
Of course, noise isolation isn’t just useful for working with live sound; for anyone who wants to listen to music in loud environments, like on their daily public transport commute for example, good noise isolation makes a world of difference.
How well a pair of headphones can isolate ambient noise depends on how well they seal around your ears, creating a physical barrier that prevents environmental sound from getting to your ears; this can be challenging for over-ear styles, as they don’t offer as tight a seal as in-ear models.
Still, a good pair of over-ear headphones should be able to physically block a decent amount of ambient noise, and this is something we would expect from a pair of high-end headphones from Apple.
Fantastic noise cancellation
The Sony WH-1000XM3 (pictured) are the best noise-cancelling headphones of 2020.
If Apple wants its AirPods Studio to compete with the best over-ear headphones on the market, it should take a leaf out of Sony’s book, and offer the same high-standard of noise cancellation provided by the Sony WH-1000XM3s, as well as noise isolation.
The best noise-cancelling headphones make commuting a breeze, eliminating the noise of crying babies, honky traffic, and the loud conversations of your neighbors by digitally tuning out unwanted environmental sound.
With Apple’s technological might, we’d be surprised if a pair of over-ear headphones from the San Cupertino company didn’t include noise-cancelling technology – after all, it’s an increasingly common feature of premium headphones.
Both the Beats PowerBeats Pro (pictured) and the Apple AirPods (2019) contain Apple's H1 chip
Apple's H1 headphone chip
If Apple is going to release a pair of over-ear headphones, we’d expect them to have the same H1 headphone chip that’s built-in to the AirPods (2019) and the PowerBeats Pro.
Apple’s new H1 chip is designed to improve connectivity and battery life, and allows for a new ‘Hey Siri’ voice activation feature in the upgraded AirPods – all of which we would like to see in any future Apple over-ear headphones.
Wireless isn’t everything though – if Apple markets these headphones as studio-quality cans, the option to use a wired connection to your device will be crucial.
This is because wired headphones tend to offer higher quality audio than their wireless counterparts, as Joe Cox, Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi? explains:
“Bluetooth would traditionally compress your music files to transmit them wirelessly, reducing audio quality before it’s even reached your headphones."
While advances in Bluetooth like aptX HD means that audio quality is far better than it once was, you won’t find this technology in Apple’s AirPods (2019) – and if the company doesn’t include support aptX HD in the AirPods Studio, the option for a wired connection will be important to get that studio-quality sound.
For truly modern connectivity, Apple will need to include support for the latest Bluetooth 5.0, while ensuring that gamers don't experience annoying lag by adding support for aptX Low Latency.
It could be that the new AirPods Studio take inspiration from the over-ear headphones already offered by Beats like the Beats Studio 3 wireless noise-cancelling headphones – but these models aren’t exactly known for their audio quality either, with some criticizing their bass-heavy presentation.
If Apple frames these new headphones as studio-quality, true audiophiles like Rodeschini will be looking for perfect audio accuracy:
“Personally I like a comfortable pair of headphones that delivers a sound that is as close to the original as possible so I get to appreciate all the expertise of the mixer and get as close as possible to the artist's intention.”
He continues: “If a headphone is adding any color to the soundtrack, it would be like adding the same blend of spices to every dish you eat without the chef's knowledge – not desirable in my opinion.”
Cant wait for the Apple AirPods Studio to launch? Check out the best over-ear headphone deals we've found today:
The video shares an "exclusive" update from XDA Developer's Max Weinbach about the AirPods Studio, who says that says the firmware for the over-ear headphones has been "finalized" and is ready to go onto the production units.
Weinbach also claims that the launch is happening "imminently", and "likely" at WWDC 2020 alongside the iPhone 12, which is set to take place on June 22.
This new intel backs upa May report by The Information, which says that Apple suppliers Goertek and Luxshare will assemble "at least a portion of the headphones in Vietnam and begin shipments to Apple in June or July".
We've been hearing about the over-ear AirPods for much longer than that, though. Back in 2018, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, claimed that Apple was working on updated AirPods as well as "own-brand, high-end over-ear headphones with an all-new design".
A mockup of the AirPods Studio as shown in the EverythingApplePro video.
As such, we're not expecting the new AirPods Studio to come with a budget-friendly price. In fact, respected Apple leaker Jon Prosser has claimed that the new cans will cost $349 (about £280 / AU$530) – the same price as the best headphones of 2020, the Sony WH-1000XM3.
We're also expecting to see active noise cancellation, wireless connectivity, and Apple's well-established slick design when the AirPods Studio are finally revealed – and with everything pointing to a June 22 release date, we may not have to wait long.
When you’re looking to buy a new pair of headphones from Amazon, hate speech is probably the last thing that you’d expect to see. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened when, in the early hours of May 3, Amazon users in the UK discovered product listings riddled with racist abuse, including listings for the Apple AirPods and other Bluetooth headphones.
Nadine White, a news reporter for the Huffington Post, took to Twitter to express her dismay at seeing the hijacked product listings while browsing Amazon, saying that the racist imagery "needs to be acknowledged, removed, explained, apologized for asap. Being Black right now is hard enough; we don't need to be called the N- word while shopping online, to boot".
Despite calls for Amazon to remove the listings – which appeared in the first page of results for the AirPods – they remained in place long enough for screenshots to begin trending on Twitter.
In an email to The Verge, Amazon said that “Our store maintains content guidelines which third party sellers are required to follow.”
“As soon as this issue was raised, we investigated, removed the images in question and took action against the bad actor,” the company explained.
So, how were these images allowed to be uploaded to Amazon in the first place? And to appear in the coveted first page of results for search terms like ‘Apple AirPods’ and ‘Bluetooth headphones’?
Hacktivism could be the answer. Lotem Finkelstein, manager of threat intelligence at Check Point told TechRadar: “As Amazon is not sharing details of the attack specifics, it is hard to tell exactly how hackers were able to deface so many products at once."
"Looking at the characteristics of the defaced listings, offering the same products having small number to no reviews or sales, one possible explanation can be hacking into accounts of a single owner and defacing its external images. This is a common way for hacktivists to spread their messages," he explained.
It’s not clear whether the ‘bad actor’ was a hacker, a disgruntled former employee, or a rogue third-party seller – but the likelihood is that the perpetrator had insider access to Amazon’s back end, says Jake Moore, Cyber Security Specialist at ESET.
“For Amazon to be hacked would be quite a feat but not impossible," Moore explained. "They have many layers of security ring-fencing all possibilities to defend a multitude of different threats that are inevitable. Clearly, however, no company is un-hackable and we mustn’t become complacent to the fact that bad actors come in all varieties with different skill sets.
“For an image change to occur, it is most likely someone had back-end access and to only change one image suggests to me that this is an inside job where a begrudged employee, third party or otherwise, has had full access to the image library and decided to change a popular product in high demand to get maximum reach,” he continued.
“Insider threats are notoriously difficult to stamp out as the suspects need such access to carry out their roles and therefore a level of trust is adhered to. This simple little trick will most likely be traceable to whomever did it but although embarrassing to Amazon, I would be surprised if this was any more sinister.”
So what can be done?
Whoever was behind the attack, it’s clear that Amazon needs to do more to ensure that browsing its listings is safe and secure for every user – and it needs to do it quickly.
It could be that Amazon needs to improve its vetting process for third-party vendors, which could prove a huge undertaking.
As Moore explains, “vetting employees is difficult to do for any large company but when employees start spilling out into third party vendors it becomes an even bigger management task”.
Difficult or not, a company with the wealth of Amazon should be able to enact change fairly rapidly, particularly if it turns to image recognition software to prevent the uploading of offensive imagery to its listings.
It’s likely that Amazon already has something like this in place, and might have image recognition software in place to mitigate the risk of an indecent image being uploaded, but Moore thinks the offensive text was an oversight in the algorithm.
“This is likely to be a big learning curve for the tech giant and won’t be taken lightly."
TechRadar has reached out to Amazon, asking how the company intends to prevent this kind of thing happening in the future, however it declined to expand on its previous statement.
"This is likely to be a big learning curve for the tech giant and won’t be taken lightly."
Jake Moore, Cyber Security Specialist
Waning trust
It’s not the first time that Amazon has come under fire for the way it handles its third-party sellers, some of which have recently been accused of price-gouging – in other words, raising the price of items far beyond what is reasonably fair.
Price-gouging has become a big problem for the retailer in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, with unscrupulous vendors selling products like face masks and hand sanitizer at enormously inflated prices.
For its part, Amazon says it has “zero tolerance” for price-gouging and that it strictly prohibits sellers from “charging excessively high prices of products and shipping”. Even so, the practice continues.
Politically-motivated or not, Amazon clearly needs to address a number of issues that could undermine its reputation as a trusted online retailer, particularly with Amazon Prime Day reportedly going ahead in September.
First and foremost however, it needs to ensure that shoppers aren’t subjected to hate speech when they’re simply looking to purchase a new pair of headphones.
Since their inception, smart speakers have been touted as the new center of the home, providing us with music, supplying us with virtual PAs in the form of voice assistants, and acting as the control hub for the myriad smart home devices designed to make our lives easier.
However, smart speaker sales are slowing down – and that’s in spite of the lockdown conditions that many people across the world are facing, forcing more and more of us to spend much of our time at home.
You might have expected that all that time at home would lead to more people looking to improve their home audio setups, set up or expand smart home systems, and stay in touch with family using smart displays like the Google Nest Hub and the Amazon Echo Show.
That’s not what the numbers suggest, though: according to research firm Strategy Analytics (via Voicebot.ai), 28 million smart speakers were sold globally in Q1 of 2020, down from a peak of 55.8 million in the preceding months.
Usage is up, sales are way down
It’s not that people are using their existing smart speakers any less; on the contrary, a report by NPR and Edison found that 52% of people who have speakers equipped with voice assistants said they were using voice tech several times a day or nearly every day, compared to 46% before the Covid-19 outbreak.
Similarly, the survey found that “36% of adult smart speaker owners say they are using their device more to listen to music and entertainment”, while 35% of users are listening to more “news and information”.
David Watkins, director of Strategy Analytics agrees that lockdown conditions could strengthen the relationship we have with our smart speakers. Explaining the market research firm’s findings, he said that “much opportunity lies ahead of course, but the current stay-at-home conditions present an opportunity for smart speaker vendors and voice assistant operators to reinforce the value proposition of voice-first experience”.
So, with smart speaker users clearly finding their devices more useful during the lockdown – we’ve all seen an increase in TV adverts extolling the virtues of making video calls with smart displays – why isn’t that translating to stronger sales?
The Lenovo Smart Display (pictured) can be used to make Google Duo video calls with friends and family members.
A universal problem
Well, it’s a problem that’s affecting the wider tech industry, not just smart speaker manufacturers: people just aren’t buying devices in the numbers they were before the pandemic took hold and disrupted industries – and lives – the world over.
Smartphone sales have also plummeted, dropping from 99.2 million in February 2019 to just 61.8 million in February 2020, as Asian factories shut down and shoppers became hesitant to visit brick-and-mortar stores to make purchases.
Strategy Analytics’ executive director Neil Mawston, says this was “the biggest-ever fall in history of the worldwide smartphone market”, adding that it’s been a period that “the smartphone industry will want to forget”.
Smart speaker manufacturers will likely want to do the same. After all, they’ve seen their sales nearly cleaved in two in a matter of months – aside from production interruptions plaguing the industry, as with other products many of us are simply more cautious when it comes to making big purchases.
A silver lining?
It’s not all bad news, though. For some manufacturers, the lockdown has been an unexpected source of inspiration that could change the way smart speakers and voice assistants are designed in the future.
Mark Spates, Google’s product lead for smart speakers, has admitted that, in some ways, the lockdown has been advantageous for the tech giant.
“I think it’s enhanced the insight that we have on these devices, because now we’re spending 100% of our time with them,” he explained.
“I would actually say some of the new features you’re going to start seeing is because we’ve been living with our products every single day, finding new use cases for them and actually questioning some things.”.
So, as a direct result of the lockdown, we could see better, smarter, easier-to-use Google Nest speakers in the near future – and that could be a boon to smart speaker sales, just when the industry needs it the most.
Competition is fierce, however, and the Sony WH-1000XM3 – which have topped our list of the best headphones for two years running – will likely be the biggest rival that Apple will have to contend with if it does launch the AirPods Studio this year. And, that’s if we don’t get the long-awaited Sony WH-1000XM4 before then.
So, what does Apple need to do if its first over-ear wireless headphones are to stand up to the might of Sony? We’ve taken a look at the main battlegrounds where the two tech giants could go head-to-head.
The cost of the new Apple headphones will be crucial in determining its place in the market – and its popularity among consumers. It’s rumored that they’ll cost $349 (about £280 / AU$530) – the same as the Sony WH-1000XM3. However, if Apple could undercut its biggest competition, the AirPods Studio could prove a very compelling alternative to the best headphones of 2020.
The Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones are Apple's biggest competition
Audio quality
If Apple wants to beat (or even contend with) the Sony WH-1000XM3, the AirPods Studio will need to offer outstanding audio quality that’s on par with the best headphones in the world – and that means they’ll have to do better than Apple’s true wireless earbuds, the AirPods and the AirPods Pro.
Over-ear headphones tend to sound better than earbuds anyway, but to compete with the Sony WH-1000XM3, the AirPods Studio will need to sport large dynamic drivers that can displace lots of air and create a powerful sound.
It’s not just about brawn though; as well as power, we want to see fantastic audio fidelity, with the ability to handle music with accuracy, agility, and clarity. The bass frequencies should be warm and rich, without overpowering the mid and treble sounds.
Noise cancellation
If Apple wants its AirPods Studio to compete with the best over-ear headphones on the market, it should take a leaf out of Sony’s book, and offer the same high-standard of noise cancellation provided by the Sony WH-1000XM3.
Apple does have some experience in this field, with the noise-cancelling AirPods Pro – and hopefully a pair of over-ear AirPods would enhance this technology even further by providing better passive noise cancellation, thanks to padded earcups.
We’d also like to see a return of the Transparency mode that comes with the AirPods Pro, which lets you hear what’s happening around you without removing your earbuds – or in this case, cans.
The Apple AirPods Studio could take their style cues from the Beats Studio 3 (pictured).
Design
Apple has a strong design aesthetic, and while the Sony WH-1000XM3s look great, the AirPods Studio could introduce a new look to appeal to a younger generation – particularly if the company takes cues from Beats headphones, which come in bright colors.
Even when we finally see the Sony WH-1000XM4, we’re not expecting a huge design overhaul, based on recent leaks. Apple could do some serious damage with a line of fun, modern-looking headphones that borrow from the company’s past design triumphs.
Another way that the first Apple over-ear headphones could top the Sony WH-1000XM3 is through battery life; Sony’s headphones offer 30 hours of wireless playback. While that’s excellent in it’s own right, we know that noise-cancelling headphones with longer battery life are possible – after all, the Marshall Monitor II ANC can last for 45 hours.
Connectivity too, will have to be the best of the best if Apple is to beat Sony. The Apple AirPods are already pretty good at this, thanks to the inclusion of the 2019 H1 headphone chip, which allows for super-fast pairing times to Apple devices as well as hands-free Siri voice activation.
We’d expect to see the H1 chip – or even a newer, better chip – in the new Apple AirPods Studio, and we’d also like to see an upgrade in the version of Bluetooth used. The true wireless AirPods Pro already beat the Sony WH-1000XM3 in this regard, using Bluetooth 5 as opposed to the XM3’s Bluetooth 4.2.
Looking for headphones right now? Check out the best Apple AirPod and Sony headphone deals we've found below:
