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  • Best All New Wireless Headphones for 2021

    Best All New Wireless Headphones for 2021

    Whether you’re looking for a good pair of headphones for working out or just something to wear while drowning out sounds during your commute, not having to fuss with wires is a huge plus. No one wants to worry about the tangle of wires in their pocket or bag, or their cord snagging on something and damaging their headphones. Thankfully, there are some stellar Bluetooth headphones on the market. Here are some of our top picks.

    Jabra Elite 75t

    If you like having wireless earbuds for sports activity, we can highly recommend the Jabra Elite 75t. These new earbuds fit snugly in most ears, and they have a great sound quality for their small size. The drivers are solid, offering punchy bass, good mid-levels, and decent overall sound: while these won’t be beating any dedicated audiophile headphones, they’re good for their price point and size.

    A notable draw to the Jabra Elite 75t is their microphones. They work incredibly well as a headset for taking phone calls, doing a great job of filtering out background noise. If you like wearing earbuds while jogging, cycling or other types of activity, this is a great draw. Taking a call while getting in your workout is a great two-in-one feature for busy professionals.

    Sony WF-1000XM3

    Sony has finally taken its wildly successful WF series headphones and put them into a smaller package. The WF-1000XM3 takes the quality of their full-size headphones and puts them into a smaller earbud form factor.

    Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless

    If you’re looking for the intersection of portability and sound quality, you’re looking for the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless earbuds. These wireless earbuds offer incredible sound quality and accurate reproduction of recordings. They’re incredibly light: you might even forget they’re in your ears. When you need a good set of earbuds for taking with you on trips or to work and back, these are a great go-to.

    While they’re not the best for sports or activity, the Sennheiser earbuds are great for daily activities like walking or commuting. For the person who wants portable wireless earbuds that can be tucked into a pocket but still wants the best sound quality, these physics-defying little earbuds are the best option.

    AirPods Pro

    If you’re already in the Apple ecosystem, these are a no-brainer. Their intuitive gesture controls allow you to change the song, adjust the volume and answer calls quickly and without having to pull your phone out.

    The 2020 update brings even more useful tricks to the AirPods Pro. With Apple’s propriety H1 chip they feature snappier Siri integration. You can send messages, start playlists and ask for internet searches all while jogging, cleaning or whatever you’re doing while wearing the AirPods. If you love high-tech integration and cool fashion statements, the AirPods are a great pick for you.

    Beats Solo Pro

    Apple has finally stepped up the quality of their Beats headphones. The Beats Solo Pro is a set of over-ear, active noise canceling, headphones. They used the same noise-canceling technology featured on their more premium, over-ear, Studio3 Wireless. The H1 wireless chip makes sure they are easy to connect to your phone and feature full Siri support. They’re a bit more expensive than the average headphones, but their great technology integration and stellar sound quality on phone calls makes them great for people on the move.

    PowerBeats Pro

    If you love the idea of the AirPods but want a more fitness-oriented set of wireless earbuds, the Beats Powerbeats Pro are for you. The same technology that went into the second generation AirPods is on display in the PowerBeats Pro, just in a more fitness-oriented shape. The over-ear design on display here helps the earphones stay on your ears while your exercise, making them great for any active person.


  • Best All New Wireless Headphones for 2020

    Best All New Wireless Headphones for 2020

    Whether you’re looking for a good pair of headphones for working out or just something to wear while drowning out sounds during your commute, not having to fuss with wires is a huge plus. No one wants to worry about the tangle of wires in their pocket or bag, or their cord snagging on something and damaging their headphones. Thankfully, there are some stellar Bluetooth headphones on the market. Here are some of our top picks.

    Jabra Elite 75t

    If you like having wireless earbuds for sports activity, we can highly recommend the Jabra Elite 75t. These new earbuds fit snugly in most ears, and they have a great sound quality for their small size. The drivers are solid, offering punchy bass, good mid-levels, and decent overall sound: while these won’t be beating any dedicated audiophile headphones, they’re good for their price point and size.

    A notable draw to the Jabra Elite 75t is their microphones. They work incredibly well as a headset for taking phone calls, doing a great job of filtering out background noise. If you like wearing earbuds while jogging, cycling or other types of activity, this is a great draw. Taking a call while getting in your workout is a great two-in-one feature for busy professionals.

    Sony WF-1000XM3

    Sony has finally taken its wildly successful WF series headphones and put them into a smaller package. The WF-1000XM3 takes the quality of their full-size headphones and puts them into a smaller earbud form factor.

    Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless

    If you’re looking for the intersection of portability and sound quality, you’re looking for the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless earbuds. These wireless earbuds offer incredible sound quality and accurate reproduction of recordings. They’re incredibly light: you might even forget they’re in your ears. When you need a good set of earbuds for taking with you on trips or to work and back, these are a great go-to.

    While they’re not the best for sports or activity, the Sennheiser earbuds are great for daily activities like walking or commuting. For the person who wants portable wireless earbuds that can be tucked into a pocket but still wants the best sound quality, these physics-defying little earbuds are the best option.

    AirPods Pro

    If you’re already in the Apple ecosystem, these are a no-brainer. Their intuitive gesture controls allow you to change the song, adjust the volume and answer calls quickly and without having to pull your phone out.

    The 2019 update brings even more useful tricks to the AirPods Pro. With Apple’s propriety H1 chip they feature snappier Siri integration. You can send messages, start playlists and ask for internet searches all while jogging, cleaning or whatever you’re doing while wearing the AirPods. If you love high-tech integration and cool fashion statements, the AirPods are a great pick for you.

    Beats Solo Pro

    Apple has finally stepped up the quality of their Beats headphones. The Beats Solo Pro is a set of over-ear, active noise canceling, headphones. They used the same noise-canceling technology featured on their more premium, over-ear, Studio3 Wireless. The H1 wireless chip makes sure they are easy to connect to your phone and feature full Siri support. They’re a bit more expensive than the average headphones, but their great technology integration and stellar sound quality on phone calls makes them great for people on the move.

    PowerBeats Pro

    If you love the idea of the AirPods but want a more fitness-oriented set of wireless earbuds, the Beats Powerbeats Pro are for you. The same technology that went into the second generation AirPods is on display in the PowerBeats Pro, just in a more fitness-oriented shape. The over-ear design on display here helps the earphones stay on your ears while your exercise, making them great for any active person.

    We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.


  • Anker Soundcore Liberty Air: Discount Price AirPod Killers

    Anker Soundcore Liberty Air: Discount Price AirPod Killers

    If you love the idea of wireless earbuds for your runs and walks, you’re likely intrigued by Apple’s AirPods. They’re stylish, they have great sound quality and they’re truly wireless. There’s a lot to love about them, except for that tremendous price tag. Coming in at around $160, the AirPods are seriously expensive for being small earbuds that don’t do a great job of blocking out other sounds.

    That’s where high-quality alternatives come into play. Anker’s Soundcore Liberty Air come in at the low price of $80, making them literally half the price of Apple’s offering. However, are you getting half the value when you go with Anker, or do the Soundcore Liberty Air earbuds live up to their “Airpod Killer” nickname?

    Sound Quality

    Of course, one of the first considerations when you’re looking at a pair of earphones is the sound quality. Thankfully, the Soundcore Liberty Air earbuds aren’t lacking on that front. The drivers, though small, pack a ton of punch. The bass levels are rich and smooth, not booming by any stretch but powerful in their own way. Mid-tones sound even and clean, and the higher register is audible even on loud, highly-compressed songs.

    One of the biggest strengths of the sound quality of the Soundcore earbuds is that they sport a rubber ear tips, creating a seal with the inside of your ear. This not only helps them stay put when you’re running or jogging, but it also helps them to block out outside sounds and makes the listening experience more encompassing. This is a marked improvement over the AirPods, which don’t do a great job keeping sound out.

    Design

    If you’re not a huge fan of the “hair dryer” design of the AirPods, you’re likely going to like the look of the Soundcore Liberty Air earphones. They sport a shorter, flat tail, as opposed to the long, cylindrical tail of the AirPods. The back of both earbud is actually totally flat, making these discreet and stylish earbuds. As we mentioned earlier, they sport rubber ear tips that allow them to make a seal with your ear. Not everyone loves this earbud design, but if you do, these are great.

    They fit snugly in their charging case, which offers an excellent storage solution while also providing up to an extra three charges. Since each charge lasts around five hours, this means you’ll likely get a solid twenty hours if the earbuds and the charging case are both totally topped off before you leave the house. That’s a lot of juice for these little earbuds, making them a great companion for a commute or a long plane ride.

    Minor Quibbles

    On the negative side, if you don’t like the rubber ear tips, then you really don’t like them. They’re integral to the sound quality of these earbuds, as getting a good seal is how they deliver their sound. If you can’t get a good seal due to the shape of your ears, then you’re going to find these to be absolutely worthless earphones.

    Another small quibble is the charging case: it uses Micro USB instead of USB-C, making it a bit outdated in that regard. It also means the case charges a bit more slowly than it would if it used a more modern power cable.

    Bottom Line

    That all being said, the Anker Soundcore Liberty Air earphones are a great deal at $80. If you’re in the market for good true-wireless earbuds, then these are a great pickup. The only real concerns are the ear tip design and the somewhat-dated charging case. All-in-all, these earbuds are close to deserving their nickname of “AirPod Killers”.


  • PowerBeats Pro Review: An Alternative to AirPods?

    PowerBeats Pro Review: An Alternative to AirPods?

    AirPods are the de facto true-wireless earbuds on the market, thanks to Apple’s dedication to high quality and brand recognition. However, Beats has a new entry in the wireless market coming on May 10th, the PowerBeats Pro. Are they a true competitor to Apple’s throne?

    Well, Beats is owned by Apple, so it might not be as much of a competition. However, the question remains: are these wireless earbuds worth it? While the two companies have shared innovation from the AirPods on the PowerBeats Pro, these are decidedly different products.

    PowerBeats Pro

    Details and Specs

    Out of the gate, the only finish available will be the plain black. However, as time goes on, Beats will roll out navy, moss and ivory color options. The earbuds offer up to nine hours of listening time, making them a solid option on that front. Likewise, the H1 chip seen in Apple’s AirPods is on display here.

    The sound is high quality, spacious and roomy in ways that earbuds often aren’t. The earbuds hook around the ear, locking in place tightly, making them better options for jogging or swimming than AirPods. As you might expect, the PowerBeats Pro are water and sweat resistant.

    Much like the AirPods, these come with a charging case that is slick and helps you keep up with the earbuds when not in use. Speaking of, the rounder, larger design makes these much harder to lose or misplace than AirPods.

    Bottom Line

    If you’re an active type who enjoys jogging, climbing or swimming while listening to music, then these earbuds are likely a great pick for you. If you feel like it’d be too easy for you to lose AirPods, then the PowerBeats Pro, with their larger design and variety of color options, might be the right option for you.

    You can pre-order the newest Beats headphones online at Apple’s site now. They’ll be made available on May 10th, and they’ll be retailing for $250.

  • Best Earbuds for Running in 2019

    Best Earbuds for Running in 2019

    Whether you’re an avid runner, exercise often or just want to get started, having a good pair of earbuds is important. Running can be a bit boring without music to listen to. As such, we’re digging into some of the best earbuds for running available in 2019! Let’s talk about it.

    Best Earbuds for Running

    Jabra Elite Active 65T

    Jabra makes a killer set of earbuds with these Elite Active 65T true wireless earbuds. They use an anchoring design that helps them stay locked in the ear, making them a solid pick for runners. The earbuds are small but pack a ton of sound, as well as a great fit and comfort level.

    These earbuds are a bit on the pricey side, coming in at a solid $200 on average. However, for that price, you get what may be the best earbuds for activity on the market.

    Soundcore Spirit Sports

    These earbuds from peripheral manufacturer Anker come in at a stellar budget price of around $40. Featuring a rounded, off-the-neck design that ensures you won’t lose them while running, the Soundcore Spirit Sports pack a ton of features into a small budget.

    These are waterproof, sound great and sport a great 8 hours of battery life. In short, there’s a lot to love here for the low price. They fit well, they’ve comfortable and they’ll do the job. They don’t sound as great as the pricier options, of course, but that’s what you pay for.

    Optoma Nuforce BE Sport 4

    That name is a mouthful, but these are great Bluetooth earbuds for runners. Coming in around $70, these earbuds run the middle ground between the expensive Jabra Elites and the budget Soundcore Sports. They sound great, they have a good 10 hours of battery life and they fit beautifully.

    These aren’t truly wireless, sadly, as they have a bit of wiring on the headset. That’s not a huge drawback, though it’s not ideal for some conditions. If you absolutely must have true wireless, you’ll need to upgrade to the Jabra Elites.

  • Soul Electronics Blade Earbuds Review: Great for Fitness Fans

    Soul Electronics Blade Earbuds Review: Great for Fitness Fans

    True wireless earbuds are great for fitness-focused people. Whether you’re into swimming, running, cycling or hiking, having earbuds that don’t require wires is a huge help. If they’re also weather-resistant and high-quality, that’s just a win-win.

    Today we’re looking at the Soul Electronics Blade earbuds to see how they stack up against the competition.

    Soul Electronics Blade Earbuds Review

    Design

    These new earbuds are stylish and made of a comfortable, flexible rubber. They’re weather-resistant, with a solid iPX7, meaning you could even swim with these or run in the rain with them. The Soul Electronics earbuds are actually a new version of the previous Blade In-Ears from last year. Those, likewise, were aimed at fitness-focused people with their numerous smart features.

    The design is hook-like to make sure the earbuds stay on your ear during a run or other activity. A comfortable, sport-friendly fit is a must for these kinds of earbuds, and that’s on display here, too. The battery life is impressive, at six hours, making these a great pick based on their design alone.

    Fitness Features

    The Soul Electronics Blade Earbuds sport a number of bleeding-edge technological features for fitness-minded folks. Firstly, there’s a built-in heart rate monitor, so you need not worry about having a separate fitness tracker. That’s a huge help for fitness fans on a budget who don’t have the money for a ton of different gadgets.

    Another interesting feature on display with these new earbuds is a voice coach powered by an AI that can give feedback on your run. This feedback is given in real-time by the AI, and takes a lot of factors into account. Speed, distance, step length and width, even the angle of your head are all tracked by the earbuds and taken into account by the AI system.

    App

    There is also, of course, the Soul Electronics Soul Fit app available. This app tracks your runs and various metrics, such as heart rate and steps. The app allows you to even share your run with your friends, helping keep up with your other fitness-minded friends. The training log is great for seeing your progress over time.

    Bottom Line

    Long battery life, stellar design and fascinating fitness features all come together to set the Soul Electronics earbuds apart from the competition. For those looking to pick up a pair of these earbuds later this year, the price is the only sore spot. These are coming in at a relatively high $250, making them a bit on the high side for wireless earbuds.

  • Mobvoi Ticpods Free: True AirPod Killers?

    Mobvoi Ticpods Free: True AirPod Killers?

    Apple’s AirPod wireless earbuds have a lot of catching up to do. While they were some of the first truly wireless earbuds on the market, they’ve been largely outdone by some of their competitors. One such competitor is Mobvoi. Do the Mobvoi Ticpods Free have what it takes to dethrone the AirPods as best wireless earbuds? Let’s get into it.

    Mobvoi Ticpods Free Review

    Design

    There’s nothing crazy going on with the design of these earbuds. The Mobvoi Ticpods Free have the same standard “earbud with a long tail” look that the AirPods started. The tail is flat, unlike the AirPods, and allows you to use the touch controls. The left earbud controls volume with swipes up or down on the tail. The right earbud can be double tapped to skip songs or long-pressed to bring up the voice assistant.

    Largely, these are sleek-looking earbuds that seem to be designed to look almost just like their chief competitors. If you like the way AirPods look then you’ll like the Ticpods. If you don’t, well, maybe these aren’t for you.

    Features

    Unlike the AirPods, the Ticpods have a comfortable silicone tip that feels great in the ear. The seal these tips make with your ear make the sound quality that much better. Although the AirPods may have better drivers, they sit so loosely in the air that the sound quality is degraded. The Ticpods, on the other hand, suffer no such problem

    The only thing these earbuds don’t have on the AirPods is battery life. While the AirPods last an average of five hours on a single charge, the Ticpods only go for four hours. That said, most people will keep the charging case on hand, which offers an additional 14 hours of battery. You just need to remember to put them back in the case when you’re not using them!

    Bottom Line

    With the exception of battery life, these are tighter earbuds than the AirPods. The best part is that they cost a lot less, coming in at $130. We can recommend these Mobvoi TicPods Free to all but the most die-hard of Apple fans.