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Google is still selling its $30 Pixel USB-C earphones
Another set of wired earbuds bites the dust... not
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- A reader has pointed out that the Google Store listing has returned, and you can once again buy the Pixel USB-C earphones for $29.99. We're not sure why the link went down in the first place, but it's back now. Meanwhile, commenters have pointed out that Verizon is now out of stock, which is pretty funny.
After a little over two years on the market, Google's aptly named Pixel USB-C earbuds are no longer for sale. These buds are no longer available for sale at the Google Store and most retailers, which is a shame since they were decent for what they were.
Today only: Get 25% off Master & Dynamic headphones, earbuds, and speakers
It's perfect for those late Christmas gifts
Master & Dynamic is known for manufacturing high-end audio products, which offer impressive build and audio quality. Sadly, their prices tend to be relatively high; however, you can save 25% on the brand's collection thanks to this boxing day sale.
Sony’s latest true wireless earbuds and noise-canceling over-ear headphones start at $130
Pre-orders will open later this month
The influx of budget Bluetooth headphones once audio jacks started disappearing from smartphones has inspired brands like Sony to focus more on the more affordable segment while its premium WH-1000XM3 continues to enjoy critical success and win followers. While we wait for the them to get their successor sometime this year, Sony has dropped a couple of new options—one truly wireless and one over-ear—in the mid-tier price bracket.
Earlier this year, Samsung released a cool pair of true wireless Galaxy Buds that could charge sitting on your Galaxy S10’s back. For $129, the earbuds undercut the sought-after Apple AirPods and turned out to be a solid alternative for Android users. The Galaxy Buds have been marked down to $100 for this Cyber Monday, which is $30 off the MSRP.The Galaxy Buds ticked most of the right boxes for our own Scott while garnering praise for their pocketable design in his review. They play nice with some of the newer Samsung flagships, thanks to a smoother pairing process. You can, of course, pair them with any Android phone over Bluetooth, though you’ll be missing out on a few Samsung-specific features.
Microsoft held a major event in New York today, during which it introduced a bunch of new Surface devices, including a laptop, tablets, and even a Galaxy Fold competitor. The company also unveiled its new Surface Earbuds, which are its take at true-wireless earphones. Even though they're a bit late to the game, their Office integration sets them apart from the competition.
True wireless earphones don't necessarily mean you need to break the bank, and Mobvoi's TicPods Free are a good example, as they offer good value for less than $100. Their price has just dropped to $80, which is considerably lower compared to Apple's AirPods.
True-wireless earbuds are practically the norm now, but what if you're looking for something just a tad more premium? Well, we've got what you need, and it comes with a markdown. Master & Dynamic is known for its high-end audio products and the use of premium materials, and its MW07 wireless earphones are among the most luxurious ones on the market. Thankfully, they just dropped to $219, which is $80 less than their original retail price.They boast unique components that set them apart from the competition, such as their 10mm beryllium drivers, stainless steel acoustic enclosures, and acetate body. Their 20m range is also impressive, which ensures you'll still benefit from outstanding audio even if you're far from your phone. The 3.5-hour battery life is more standard, but it can be extended to a total of 14 hours thanks to the charging case. The latter is filled up through a USB-C port so that you can use the same cable as your phone's.We particularly appreciated their impressive sound quality, reliability, and design in our review. However, we found their price to be too steep, which this deal helps alleviate. If you're interested in snagging a pair for $80 off, simply use the link below to buy them from Amazon. Unfortunately, only the Matte Black version is available with at this price, but the Piano Black, Pink Coral, and White Marble variants are selling for $250, which is still $50 less than the MSRP.Buy: Amazon (Matte Black, Piano Black, Pink Coral, and White Marble)
Before Shazam or SoundHound existed, I remember searching for a year or even more before I found the name of a few songs I heard a couple of times on the radio. Now it's as easy as tapping a button and getting the result. And Shazam is bringing more handy improvements that make song recognition easier while using other apps or if you have headphones plugged in.
For those of us that prefer wired headphones, or who merely can't tolerate the bugginess of Bluetooth on many Android phones, there aren't a lot of USB Type-C choices out there — especially if you don't want noise canceling. Moshi's new Avanti C checks the right boxes, though. There's no charging, no Bluetooth, and no ANC. What you do get is good audio, nice build quality, and dongle-free wired compatibility with 3.5mm and USB Type-C sources. Moshi thinks that's worth $200, and I agree.
The 3.5mm headphone jack is now an exception rather than a standard in the flagship smartphone world. Many consumers have turned to Bluetooth options, but there are still some folks who prefer wired audio. If you're in the latter camp and you hate dealing with dongles, you'll probably want a set of USB Type-C headphones.Several USB-C earphones have appeared on the market in the past year or so. I very much enjoy using the noise-cancelling Libratone Q Adapt that we reviewed last year, though the $149 price tag might put it out of reach for many. On the other end of the spectrum is the $19 Essential Earphones Mini, which just isn't very good. Essential's more premium offering, the Earphones HD, now goes for $49 (half of its original MSRP) — a sweet spot pricing-wise, but it's still riddled with compromises.I wasn't sure what to expect from the $49.95 Moshi Mythro C, given that Moshi isn't traditionally known for its audio products, but I'm pleased to say that it's definitely worth your consideration. It sounds good, looks nice, and it's priced well. You can't really ask for much more out of a pair of earbuds.
Apple popularized fully cordless audio with its AirPods, but other manufacturers also offer cheaper or better alternatives. A good illustration is Aukey's in-ear buds, which are much more discreet than their counterpart — meaning they don't look like toothbrush heads — and cost $100 less. The below coupons make them $20 cheaper and therefore one of the most affordable products in their category, at just $39.59.I'm a big fan of true wireless in-ear earbuds because they fit perfectly and their tight grip offers passive noise cancelation. The absence of any cable means you're free to move your head around without having to worry about obstructions, which is particularly useful when working out. You will have to be cautious with Aukey's buds, though, as they don't offer water or sweat resistance, but I'm not sure you can expect more given their price.
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HMD Global just announced its latest hardware at a swanky event in London, leading with the intriguing mid-range Nokia 7.1 smartphone. The company also introduced some literally-named companion audio products — meet the Nokia True Wireless Earbuds and Pro Wireless Earphones.
Jaybird has announced that the newest version of its popular wireless earbuds is coming soon. The X4 will be available on August 17 for $129.99 — the same MSRP the Jaybird X3 launched at in late 2016. They're expected to be available for pre-order today.
Starting with the Galaxy S8, Samsung began bundling AKG-branded earphones, officially called "Samsung Earphones Tuned by AKG," with its flagship phones. As far as included earphones go, they're actually very good. Now, with our exclusive coupon, you can pick up a two-pack of these from Daily Steals for a stunningly low .99 - that's $10 per set.
The headphone jack is dead, or so we're told by OEMs, but the selection of wired USB Type-C headphones is still woefully inadequate. If you aren't interested in all the problems associated with Bluetooth audio, you're pretty much forced into the donglelife. But Essential just launched two new pairs of USB Type-C powered headphones, including the Earphones HD. Although the HDs aren't bad, for $100 it's tough to recommend them unless you absolutely can't use a dongle. Initially, we planned on reviewing both of Essential's new headphones: the Earphones Mini and Earphones HD. But, in my own testing, I couldn't find anything good to say about the smaller Earphones Mini. So they've been cut, though I do still make a few comparisons for interested parties. The TL;DR for the Earphones Mini is that they are hollow, tinny, and a poor value even at $50.Essential's Earphones HD are a different story, though. I wanted to like them, and they have a lot of good features, but there's a constant background hiss that I just can't ignore, and for $100 that's not really OK.
The headline announcement from Bose yesterday may have been the Google Assistant-toting QuietComfort 35 II headphones, but it wasn't the only new product the company has to shout about. There's also the completely wireless SoundSport Free earbuds, which are being touted as a worthy Apple AirPods competitor. And just for a bit of a laugh (unfortunately they're actually serious), Bose is also releasing the preposterous SoundWear Companion Speaker, a "neck speaker" to you and me.Let's be honest, we're only really interested in the SoundSport Free, which look pretty good if a little bulky. Each earbud weighs 0.35 ounces and boasts a bluetooth range of up to 30 feet, keeping them connected to each other and your music playing device. They offer digital signal processing and volume optimized EQ, so the sound quality should be as expected from expensive Bose hardware.[EMBED_YT]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI_dkP828Xc[/EMBED_YT]The lithium-ion batteries that power the earbuds should last up to five hours on a two-hour charge before needing to be popped back into the magnetic charging case. You'll get two further complete charges from the case, so roughly another 10 hours of listening time, and it also protects the earphones when not in use.As the name suggests, the buds should hold up to the rigors of exercising. The StayHear Sport tips should keep them in place no matter what activity you're doing, and the IPX4 rating means that they're resistant to sweat and rain. If you happen to misplace either earbud, the Bose Connect App has you covered with a handy "Find My Buds" feature. It's only capable of showing their location the last time they were turned on, but it should still help you narrow the search.
Two colors will be available for the SoundSport Free, and availability differs for each. The 'Triple Black' model is up for pre-order right away, with delivery expected in early October. The more sporty looking 'Midnight Blue with Yellow Citron' won't be available until later in the year. As for the price, Bose's finest wireless earbuds will set you back a cool $249.95. That's a hefty price tag, but probably in line with what we've come to expect from Bose's high-end audio products.You can pre-order the SoundSport Free from the Bose website, or from Amazon where you'll save a whopping 95 cents on the retail price. According to Amazon, the black earbuds will ship on October 22nd and the blue and yellow a month later. Artem will be very interested to see how these compare to his recently purchased Jaybird RUNs.
In recent years, people have commonly associated Jaybird with quality; their earbuds are widely considered some of the best available on the market. However, good stuff comes at higher prices—or so we thought. Now, as part of Best Buy's 50-year anniversary sale, you can pick the Jaybird X2 earbuds up for just .99.Last time AP reported on a Jaybird X2 deal, the price was $79.99, and you had to be an Amazon Prime member to get them at that price. This time around, anyone can drive straight to Best Buy (or order them online, whatever floats your boat) and pick them up.Jaybird's X2 originally retailed for $149.99. Despite having a light, secure design, they offer eight hours of battery life, a mic, and media buttons. They come in Midnight (black), Storm (white), Fire (red), Alpha (camo green), Charge (a greenish-yellow?), and Ice (teal). Unfortunately, if you really wanted one of those last two colors, Best Buy is listing them as out of stock.Amazon currently has the X2 listed at anywhere from $114 to $150, depending on color; Best Buy's $69.99 price is around half that and is almost a steal. If you want a pair for yourself, this deal will end on Saturday (8/20) at 11:59 PM CST/12:59 AM EST/9:59 PM PST.Source: Best Buy
Audio-Technica's M40x and M50x headphones are some of the best loved headphones in existence. Rocking a 4.6 star rating on Amazon with over 2,200 reviews, the M50x is a shoo-win for the 'Most Popular' award in the audio device high school yearbook. They sound great, are well built, fit comfortably, and aren't terribly expensive.Especially today, as they are currently on sale. Amazon has the M40x for an all-time low at $64.99 and the M50x for just $117.95 – which is also a great price for that set of cans. If you, like me, live in a state where Amazon charges sales tax, then you may choose to pick up the M40x for the same price through Adorama instead (make sure you use the provided link or the discounted price won't appear).I have wanted to try the M50x for months, but I promised my wife that I wouldn't buy any more headphones (I love headphones). She told me that I'd have to sleep in the garage if I bought another pair. I do have a rather comfortable couch in the garage and it's not nearly as cold out there as it was a month ago... Oh man – decisions. If your wife hasn't banned you from buying headphones, then you can pick up a pair for yourself by following the links below.Amazon
The physical hardware that pumps audio into your ears using Bluetooth comes in many forms. You can have earbuds connected by a cord or bulky over-the-ear headphones that pamper your ears with cushion. Both types are currently on sale at Amazon from MEE. What, no, I don't know how to make headphones. Why do you ask?MEE will sell you the AF18 Bluetooth wireless sports earphones for $23, down from a regular price of $35. The MEE Air-Fi Headphones in black/red or white/blue are both reduced to $40, down from $80. According to those three camels, this is the lowest price either product has hit on the site.Whichever way you go, you're looking at a sizable discount and an average rating of 4.5 stars. I don't know much about audio fidelity, but that sounds good to me.Source: Amazon
I have tried more than a dozen Bluetooth earbud form factors, but the one I absolutely love for everyday use is the Jaybird Freedom Sprint / Plantronics Backbeat Go 2 design. Two small earbuds, one wire, and all the freedom you can think of. It's less cumbersome than the dog tag design (à la Jabra Tag) and lighter to carry around than the necklace style (think Samsung's Gear Circle or LG's Tone series). And when you have something like the Freedom Sprint, you simply wrap up the small wire and put it in a pouch, pocket, or purse and you're good to go whenever you need it.