John Higgins | The Verge

Bose’s new wired earbuds are simple in the best way

2026-10-17T09:11:08-04:00

Bose has me thinking I’m in my 20s again with its wired earbuds.

After Apple courageously removed the headphone jack from the iPhone in 2016, most people switched to Bluetooth earbuds and never looked back. But their wired counterparts have stuck around, and their sales even went up this year after five years of decline.

Part of the resurgence can be tied to the fact that they’re cool now with younger generations — following the revival of tape decks and vinyl. Celebrities have been spotted wearing them, and there’s even an Instagram account that follows the trend. Wired earbuds have real benefits. They don’t need a battery, so they’ll last longer than wireless ones that eventually die, and it’s a lot harder to lose a wired pair with a long cable than a single earbud.

Now, after more than a decade, Bose has returned to the wired world, but the Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds are no throwbacks.

Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds

Score: 8

Pros	Cons
One of the few sets of wired earbuds with ANC Comfortable and secure fit High-res audio Simple to use	Call quality isn’t great Wind noise is distracting

Where to Buy:

The $99 Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds connect over USB-C, so they don’t need an extra dongle to work with current phones. That’s also how they can offer ANC. Because the 3.5mm or 4.4mm analog audio connector doesn’t provide enough power for active noise cancellation, most wired earbuds, from cheap off-brands to wildly expensive audiophile in-ear monitors, rely on passive isolation only. Bose’s last attempt at wired in-ears with ANC, 2013’s QuietComfort 20, had a 3.5mm jack, and their ANC relied on a rechargeable battery in the cable. The new Bose earbuds don’t need the battery pack; they can get the minimal power they need for ANC from the USB-C port.

There are a few other USB-C wired headphones with active noise cancellation, but not many. There’s also the $30 Belkin SoundForm ANC Wired Earbuds, which reportedly have weak noise canceling, and Audio-Technica released a pair in Asia earlier this year.

The best part of the Bose earbuds, or any wired earbuds, is that they’re simple. No need to worry about pairing them, no need to charge them, and no need to fiddle with an app. Plug them into the USB-C port on a phone or computer and they just work.

The in-line remote is super basic in the best way." data-portal-copyright="" />

While the noise canceling performance doesn’t measure up to Bose’s Bluetooth earbuds (the wired earbuds have two mics per side, while the QuietComfort Earbuds have three), it’s still solid for the price. It does a great job blocking low-frequency sounds like air conditioners and low truck rumbles, but has difficulty muting conversation (with ANC on, I can’t hear our air conditioner at all, but can make out every word of my wife’s phone conversation as I write this). There’s a slight high-end hiss when the noise canceling is active, but it’s only noticeable when they aren’t playing any sound.

And they sound great. Vocals are clear and bright, and bass is punchy without overwhelming other instruments. I wouldn’t mind being able to cut down the high-end brightness a bit (mainly to tame cymbal ringing), but since these don’t use an app there are no EQ options. The wired connection allows for low latency, so there’s no worry about sound and video lining up, and they support high-res audio at 24-bit/48kHz. I went back and forth between CD quality (16-bit/44.1kHz) and high-res streams of the new release of The Beatles’ Rubber Soul on Qobuz, and the high-res versions sounded a bit more open and spacious. It’s not an enormous difference, but I’d listen to the high-res version on the Bose over the CD-level stream any day.

The in-line remote has three buttons that control volume, playback, and noise-canceling mode selection. They respond quickly when pressed and have a nice rubberized texture. The headphones come with three ear tip sizes and two sets of wings to find a good fit (you don’t even need to use the wings if you find them uncomfortable). I was easily able to find a comfortable combination and they stayed securely in my ears for hours. The earbuds are also IPX4 rated if there’s a light rain while you’re out or you want to use them on a run.

Even with the benefits of wired earbuds, though, nostalgia can’t wipe away the frustrations. If you don’t run the 4.2-foot cable under your shirt, or coil up the excess in your jacket pocket, it catches on everything. In my short time with the Bose, the cable caught on the handle of a kitchen drawer, the edge of my keyboard, the zipper of my sweatshirt, the strap of a bag I was carrying, my pocket (when I accidentally stuffed too much of the excess in with my phone), and even the hand of a stranger who got too close to me in line at Starbucks.

There are three ear tip sizes and two wings available to find the right fit." data-portal-copyright="" />

And as with any wired earbuds, there’s cable noise, as vibrations from rubbing or bumping against something travel up the cable to be heard in the earbuds. Although I will say the cable insulation is enough to minimize the effect better than cheap (and older) options.

The Bose struggle with wind. The microphones for noise canceling or transparency mode pick up the wind noise, and it’s distracting — with ANC on, it cuts out the low-end whoosh decently, but the high end is still incredibly present. I found turning it off was best when it was windy outside, although that meant compromising on the noise canceling.

Call quality also isn’t the best. The microphone is on the in-line remote, and it picks up a good amount of ambient sound during calls. If you regularly make calls while walking busy streets, these aren’t the earbuds for you.

I’m not ready to go back to 2016 and convert back to wired earbuds. In most situations, the benefits of wireless earbuds outweigh those of wired ones, and I don’t see that changing for me. But for the ease of use, convenience of a USB-C connection, lack of lag, high-res capability, sound quality, and the fact they include ANC, the Bose are unquestionably the best affordable wired option out there.

Photography by John Higgins / The Verge

As a TV enthusiast, I was hoping for more from the Apple TV 4K

2026-10-14T18:26:08-04:00

The new Apple TV 4K and remote look just like the old ones and mostly have the same features.

It’s been four long years since the last Apple TV 4K was released, and in that time there have been lots of hopes and dreams for features in whatever comes next. A new chip, 4K/120Hz support, audio passthrough, a remote locator, better home control integration — the 2022 Apple TV 4K is a great box, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement. With the fourth-gen Apple TV 4K announced on Tuesday, some of those hopes were met, while others were unfortunately left out.

Coloring the announcement is the device’s price. Apple eliminated the cheaper 64GB, Wi-Fi-only model, leaving just the 128GB, Wi-Fi and Ethernet model — and bumped up its price to $300. I repeat, $300 for a streaming device. It’s a hefty price when every other major streamer on the market is at least half the cost.

There are new features I like about this year’s Apple TV 4K. More processing power is great — although my third generation is still running plenty fast — as is the Find My support for when the remote inevitably gets lost in the couch cushions or tangled up in blankets. Built-in far-field mics for talking to Siri are nice, too, provided you don’t stuff the box into a credenza like I do. The fourth-generation Apple TV 4K also adds a dedicated AV1 decoder, which allows for higher-quality streaming from apps that support it, such as Netflix, which is excellent. Any potential improvement to streaming content is a welcome one.

My primary concern, though, is how the Apple TV 4K performs as an integral piece of my home theater. Apple added the ability to create a surround sound system by using its HomePod 2 and HomePod Mini 2 smart speakers in matching pairs for fronts and surrounds. For Apple ecosystem fans looking to build out a surround setup akin to Sonos or Bose, it’s an interesting idea (and I’m all for getting people into immersive sound in their home theaters). But as I expect is the same for many people interested in pricey streaming hardware, I already have a sound system — it’s an Atmos setup with a combination of SVS and Revel speakers. I’m not setting up my two HomePod 2s in my living room and spending another $300 on a pair of HomePod Mini 2s to replace my existing speakers.

The Apple TV 4K pairs with up to four HomePods (such as the Mini 2 pictured here) for surround sound." data-portal-copyright="" />

What I, and many current users, have been hoping for from the Apple TV 4K for years is the addition of audio passthrough. This would allow my more expensive and capable audio/video receiver to decode the raw audio stream instead of the Apple TV using its Continuous Audio Connection, which can cause some playback issues.

Additionally, it would have been nice to see Apple support 120fps output, especially for those who use Moonlight to stream games to it. That’s a feature that would have set the Apple TV 4K apart from all the other streamers, which top out at 60fps, and helped to justify the high price. Apple could have also used it to pivot more into TV gaming. (For movies, though, the 60fps limit is not a huge deal, as the box can be set to output 24fps, allowing a native 120Hz TV to just use 5:5 pulldown.)

Other premium features that would set Apple’s streaming box apart and make home theater enthusiasts throw their money at it include an HDMI input for HDMI passthrough or a digital optical out. I understand leaving them out if it meant raising the price further. This box is already expensive enough. But it does leave the Apple TV 4K in an uncomfortable spot, pairing a high-end price with features that are largely matched elsewhere for much less.

Are these high-end omissions a concern for the majority of people? Not really. But those people are going to look at the $300 price tag of the Apple TV 4K and then at Google, Roku, or Amazon streaming devices, which are all half that price or less. The Apple TV 4K is looked at as the premium streamer option, but the now extra premium price without some of the, admittedly niche, features gives me pause.

Maybe the new Apple TV 4K will surprise me. I’ve certainly been looking forward to it for a while. I already appreciate the way Apple handles privacy, and if Apple adds features in coming months, maybe it could be worth it. But that $300 price? It might be better spent elsewhere in your home theater setup.

LG’s RGB LED TV is good for certain situations, but an OLED is better

2026-10-09T18:49:57-04:00

The LG’s picture is bright and punchy, but its panel is very reflective.

When it comes to TVs, the LG name has long been synonymous with OLEDs, continually leading Samsung and Sony as the top OLED manufacturer. But 2026 is all about RGB LED TVs. Almost every major company has released models with the new technology — including LG and its $3,600 75-inch Micro RGB evo MRGB95B that I’ve been testing. And while LG’s RGB LED TV benefits from the brightness and color capability the technology provides, it has issues I couldn’t overlook that its less expensive competitors don’t.

The MRGB95B comes in three sizes, with the 75-inch being the smallest. It has four HDMI 2.1 ports, supports Dolby Vision — although not Dolby Vision 2 or HDR10+ — and comes with the Magic Remote design LG unveiled last year. It has a more traditional remote shape instead of the curved wand of previous versions. As with all LG TVs, the MRGB95B runs on webOS. It runs quickly, but I find it less intuitive to navigate than Google TV, Apple TV, or Roku. It supports all of the major streaming apps.

LG MRGB95B RGB LED TV

Score: 6

Pros	Cons
Bright picture Vibrant color	Some color inaccuracy out of the box Very distracting reflective screen More blooming than competitors

Where to Buy:

Speaking of software, a quick note: LG has recently come under increased scrutiny after a video from Gamers Nexus showed security vulnerabilities and continuous audio recording on its TVs, which LG has denied. When setting up the MRGB95B, it’s only necessary to accept the terms of use and privacy policy if you want to use webOS. Otherwise, as with any TV, it can be disconnected from the internet, although an external streaming device would be needed for any streaming services (I use an Apple TV 4K, myself).

OK, moving on. So, why buy an RGB LED TV?

RGB LED TVs use zones of individual red, green, and blue LEDs as backlights as opposed to a field of white or blue LEDs that rely on a color filter or quantum dots to create the colors that reach our eyes. RGB LED TVs have a color filter, too, but since the backlight is already creating color based on what’s needed onscreen, the color filter doesn’t need to work as hard to dial that in. It allows for higher color brightness and the ability to display more colors.

LG (and Samsung) use the term Micro RGB to describe the technology, while others say Mini RGB LED. And while the LG and Samsung RGBs are reportedly smaller (although neither has confirmed the exact size), it doesn’t directly translate into more zones or better performance over Mini RGB.

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As with all of the RGB LED TVs I’ve seen this year, the 95B gets very bright — I measured a peak of 4,011 nits in HDR Filmmaker mode — allowing it to deliver an impactful image even in a sunlit living room. And in a dark room, the highlights in scenes from The Meg really pop. At the other end of the spectrum, though, the LG struggles a bit. Near-black shadow detail, such as the corners of the living room and kitchen of Sapper Morton’s home at the beginning of Blade Runner 2049, is difficult to see. And when there are bright moments within a dark portion of the screen — subtitles are a good example — the LG exhibits more blooming than I’ve seen on other RGB LED TVs.

LG MRGB95B specs

Display type: RGB LED

HDR formats: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG

TV OS: webOS 26

HDMI inputs: 4 x HDMI 2.1 (one with eARC)

Audio support: Dolby Atmos, Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, Dolby Digital, Auracast

Gaming features: VRR, ALLM, Game Optimizer, G-Sync compatible

Sizes available (inches): 75, 86, 100

The LG 95B can display really vibrant colors thanks to the RGB LED technology. It’s able to cover 100 percent of the P3 color gamut (which is what’s used for films) and nearly 90 percent of the larger BT.2020 color area. But even in Filmmaker mode out of the box, those colors still show visible accuracy issues. Overall, the TV leans toward light blue, so white clouds have a slight blue tint to them and skin tones are cooler than they should be.

After a few days living with the LG MRGB95B, I got used to the slightly blue image (although it was still noticeable). A $3,600 TV in 2026 shouldn’t have the inaccuracies on the MRGB95B.

While the TV performs well in a bright room during the day, when the sun goes down and the lamps turn on, they can wreak havoc on the image. The 95B’s glossy coating is one of the most reflective I’ve seen in a long time. In moderately lit rooms, a lamp or ceiling light directly reflected on the screen causes rainbows to dance across the image. It’s not as bad when the scene is bright, such as the scorching desert of Arrakis in Dune, but once we enter the dark corridors of House Harkonnen, the reflections become incredibly noticeable.

Viewing angles are always a problem for LED TVs — RGB or not — and that’s evident on the LG, too. When only moderately off-axis, the colors become washed out, losing their vibrancy for anyone who’s sitting off to the side.

LG’s webOS has loads of streaming options, but if you don’t want to use them, you can choose to not agree to the terms of use and privacy policy during setup." data-portal-copyright="" /> In Filmmaker mode, the picture leans a little toward light blue." data-portal-copyright="" />

In a vacuum, the MRGB95B is a good TV for certain situations. It’s really bright and stands up to ambient light well (just avoid having ceiling, wall, or standing lights reflected on the screen), and the colors are vibrant if not totally accurate out of the box. But it doesn’t hold up against other TVs. The Sony Bravia 7 II (which you can find $1,300 cheaper at 75 inches) has better color accuracy and handles reflections better. And the Hisense UR9 performs comparably for less money, too.

But the real competition comes from within LG itself. The LG G6 OLED is only a few hundred dollars more than the MRGB95B, as is the Samsung S95H, and both of those TVs offer significantly better performance with superior color accuracy and viewing angles. The OLEDs don’t get quite as bright, but since they can turn off light at the pixel level, contrast is remarkable and there’s zero blooming.

LG has always struggled to make competitive LED TVs, and that trend continues with the MRGB95B. In fact, it might be LG’s best argument to get an LG OLED TV.

Photography by John Higgins / The Verge

How I test TVs

I set up each TV in my living room on my home theater credenza. I stream movies and shows through the TV’s apps and from an Apple TV 4K, play discs on my Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player (including the Spears & Munsil Ultra HD Benchmark disc), and play games on my Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. This is done at different times of the day and under different lighting conditions, with curtains open, with lamps and overhead lights on, or with blackout curtains up to keep the room dark. While I am a certified ISF Level 3 calibrator, I do not calibrate the TVs before measurement, as the overwhelming majority of TV owners don’t bother. So it’s important to know how well the TVs perform out of the box, with minor tweaks in the menu anyone can do.

For measurement, I use Portrait Displays’ Calman color calibration software, a Murideo 8K Seven pattern generator, an X-rite i1 Pro 3 spectrophotometer, Portrait Displays’ C6 HDR5000 colorimeter, a Konica Minolta LS-100 luminance meter, and Leo Bodnar 4K lag tester.

The Sonos Ace Ultra are the headphones Sonos should have made the first time

2026-10-01T06:58:22-04:00

The Ace Ultra look like the Ace, but they’re better on the inside.

The original Sonos Ace headphones should have been a triumphant entry into a new product category. Instead, they were overshadowed by Sonos’s disastrous app redesign. And while the original Ace are well built, sound good, and are incredibly comfortable, they weren’t good Sonos headphones: Their flagship feature let you reroute audio from a Sonos soundbar to the Ace headphones so you could listen to your TV audio without disturbing anyone. But it was glitchy, and at launch it only worked with the $1,000 Arc soundbar, and only with one pair of Ace headphones at a time (both of those have now been fixed). It also couldn’t connect to the rest of the Sonos system for music streaming.

Now the Ace Ultra are here, at the same $449 release price as the Ace (which are now $349). They’ve improved on what the Ace did well, while finally adding the ability to pass audio from your Sonos system to the headphones and back (although it’s in “early access”). They’re what the Ace should have been the first time.

Sonos Ace Ultra headphones

Score: 8

Pros	Cons
Can be used with Wi-Fi in a Sonos home system Improved sound profile and ANC performance Incredibly comfortable	Headphones can’t be grouped with Sonos speakers Sound and ANC still aren’t quite as good as competitors Wi-Fi audio during early access is lossy

Where to Buy:

The Sonos Ace Ultra have the same clean, understated look of the original, which I appreciate. They’re incredibly comfortable for hours on end, even while I’m wearing my glasses, and though they’re ever so slightly heavier than the Ace — 0.69 pounds to 0.71 pounds with the Ace Ultra — that weight was never a problem. The ear cups are squishy and spacious, and like the Ace’s ear cups, they’re also magnetic and easily removable; Sonos sells extras for $39 a pair. The battery is also user replaceable (a kit costs $25), although a statement on the battery kit listing does warn that “swapping out the battery requires disassembly and tools, plus some time and patience.”

The headphones also keep the tactile buttons and Content Key volume slider of the Ace instead of using capacitive buttons like the Sony XM series or Bose QuietComfort Ultra. I loved this setup and I’m glad Sonos kept the real buttons on the Ace Ultra. The Content Key reacts quickly and is easy to find while wearing the headphones. And its button functionality allows you to access the Sonos-specific features of TV audio swap and headphone linking.

The Content Key control acts as both a slider and a button, and it’s very intuitive to use." data-portal-copyright="" /> The Ace Ultra support lossless audio over USB-C." data-portal-copyright="" />

While the original Ace came with TV audio swap, that was the extent of their Sonos system integration. The Ace Ultra have rectified that, albeit with a caveat, by adding headphone linking. The headphones now show up in your system list, and with a press of the slider button, you can move your music from any Sonos speaker or speaker group — not just TV audio from the soundbar — to the headphones and vice versa. That includes audio coming into the Sonos system from a record player or CD player or anywhere else. Both TV audio swap and headphone linking use a Wi-Fi connection.

It’s not flawless; sometimes I’d have to press the button a couple times to get the transfer to happen. If you pull the audio from your speakers to the headphones and decide to send it back later, it only goes to the closest speaker in your system, not whichever speaker or group was playing before. Adding it back to a speaker group has to be done in the Sonos app. The headphones also cannot be grouped with any speakers. I suppose the thinking is, if you’re listening to music on your headphones you don’t need it also playing from your speakers. One nice touch is that if you have different music playing on different speakers, pulling the music to the headphones from one doesn’t affect the rest of them. Headphone linking is in early access, according to Sonos, so it’s possible the experience will change.

As Sonos’ own Wi-Fi vs. Bluetooth explainer points out, one of the main benefits of Wi-Fi audio streaming is that the higher bandwidth allows for hi-res and lossless audio. But right now, the Ace Ultra don’t take advantage of that. During the headphone linking early access period, audio over Wi-Fi with headphone linking is lossy. (Sonos has not said how long the early access period will last). Senior director of product management Andrew Sutherland told The Verge via email, “our focus right now is making sure the core experience is genuinely solid and reliable for listeners by using a high-quality, lossy-compressed stereo audio stream optimized for listening over WiFi. We’ve been really happy with the results. We’ll continue to build out its capabilities from there.” I appreciate the cautiousness in making sure headphone linking works properly, but it’s disappointing that Sonos shipped a product with one of its flagship features still in beta.

There’s a magnetic pouch in the case to hold the included USB-C-to-USB-C and USB-C-to-3.5mm cables." data-portal-copyright="" />

At the moment, the Ace Ultra only support lossless audio over Bluetooth with aptX Lossless and a compatible device, or over USB-C. The wired USB-C or 3.5mm connection maxes out at 16-bit/48kHz, though, so there’s no high-res audio. There will surely be lots of debate on the forums about the tragic lack of high-res support, but the reality is most people won’t be missing anything.

Newly designed 40mm drivers sound better than those on the original Ace, and an adaptive EQ makes real-time adjustments based on fit and any obstructions — such as glasses’ temples or earrings. The bass is richer without overpowering vocals, which is most evident in songs with a thumping low end, like Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy” (one of my go-to bass tests). The kick drum through the verse and chorus has weight and drives the energy forward while the rhythmic bass line supports the voice. There’s also good stereo separation on “Killer Queen” by Queen with lead guitars to the left and right of the soundstage.

I do wish the Ace Ultra had better midrange clarity, especially on busier tracks like Radiohead’s “The National Anthem” and its cacophonous middle section. The 8-band EQ Sonos added to the Ace Ultra (sorry original Ace owners, this isn’t for you) helps this a bit when I boosted the mids at 460Hz and 1kHz a little. While in there, I also added more high frequencies to open up the sound. With the tweaks, I got the Ace Ultra to a place where I enjoyed my listening across genres. It’s a good step forward from the original Ace, although I still prefer the Sony XM6’s default sound profile.

Streaming music can be moved from a Sonos speaker to the headphones with a press of a button or through the Sonos app." data-portal-copyright="" />

The Ace Ultra’s active noise cancellation (ANC) is better than the Ace’s and now includes an adaptive version. It’s still not as strong as the ANC on the Sony XM6, Bose Ultra Headphones, or Apple AirPods Max 2 — it lets in more midrange and a few higher frequencies, as well — so if you’re mainly using them to block out ambient noise, those three options are better choices. But if you’re using ANC paired with music playing, the Ace Ultra perform well.

Call quality is also better. When I was on a video call while my wife was having a phone conversation 20 feet behind me in the kitchen, the Ace Ultra kept her voice and other ambient noise quieted. They had a bit more trouble keeping out the noise when I went outside to a busy street — the Sony XM6 are much better at this — but I still sounded clear and easy to understand.

Sonos has upped the battery life, from up to 30 hours on the Ace to up to 35 hours with the Ace Ultra. They come with the same felt-covered case with a magnetic removable pouch that stores the USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to 3.5mm cables.

Sonos has taken a great first shot at headphones and followed up with an even better pair. They have improved sound, better ANC, and Sonos-specific features. And they’re one of the most comfortable pairs of headphones I’ve worn in a while.

The Sonos Ace Ultra come in four colors — black, white, agave, and sand." data-portal-copyright="" />

But to get the most out of the Ace Ultra, you need to be an existing Sonos user, or be ready to spend hundreds more dollars. The cheapest Sonos soundbar that works with TV audio swap, the Ray, is still $219. And headphone linking is only useful if you have Sonos speakers.

If you do have a Sonos soundbar and speakers and you’re looking for headphones, the Ace Ultra are an easy recommendation, especially over the original Ace — even though those are down to $350. If you’re not in the Sonos world, though, the Sony WH-1000XM6 (or even the older XM5) with their better ANC and sound quality for less money, are a better bet.

Photography by John Higgins / The Verge

Nothing’s new flagship Headphone 1 Pro put you in the studio

2026-10-06T15:03:42-04:00

The Headphone 1 Pro flagship headphones keep Nothing’s aesthetic while adding some surprises. | Photo: John Higgins / The Verge

Nothing has been on a bit of an audio tear this year, releasing the solid Headphone A and the surprisingly good Ear 3A earbuds. The Headphone A released at $199, while the earbuds are under $100, leaving room for something fancier. That something is the Nothing Headphone 1 Pro, the company’s new $399 flagship over-ears that surprised me with everything they offer. They include what you’d expect from a pair of flagship headphones, such as active noise cancellation (ANC), multiple sound profiles, and easy-to-use controls. They also have a few things you might not: a triple-driver design, Auracast, and something I’ve never seen before: a Flat EQ switch that removes processing.

If anything, the recent trend has been to add EQ customization to headphones. Even Apple finally added a 3-band equalizer option for the AirPods with its recent iOS 27 update. But the Headphone 1 Pro have a switch to disable the EQ and spatial audio options in the Nothing X app. The goal is to give studio professionals the ability to hear what they’re mixing without coloration from the headphones, and the idea came through a partnership with Metropolis Studios, a recording and mastering space in London where Mark Ronson produced Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black.

Nothing 1 Pro headphones

Score: 8

Pros	Cons
Incredibly comfortable Auracast Enjoyable sound profile	ANC isn’t quite as good as direct competitors Case only covers the ear cups, leaving headband as carrying handle

Where to Buy:

I really enjoy listening to the Nothing 1 Pro. With the default sound profile (called Balanced), the bass has a little extra oomph, but it’s not overly boomy. Vocals and the meat of a guitar sound are warm. Toward the upper range of a guitar, the sound is pushed a little. I could hear this in the new mix of “I’m Looking Through You” from The Beatles’ Rubber Soul, where the guitar starts higher and a bit twangy before settling down with some midrange warmth as the vocals, bass, and drums come in. The Hammond organ stings in the measures between sections also poke a bit more than something like the Sony XM6.

The Flat EQ switch is on the inside corner of the left ear cup, far away from any of the other controls, so there’s no worry about accidentally turning it on or off while using the headphones.

Turning on Flat EQ brings those mid and high frequencies more in line with the bass; nothing sticks out too much, although it does take away some of the airiness to the music. For regular listening, I preferred taking off some of the high-end edge by using the advanced parametric EQ in the app instead of using the Flat EQ switch.

I love the tactile buttons on the Nothing headphones, and never accidentally triggered one, as can happen with capacitive buttons. | Photo: John Higgins / The Verge" data-portal-copyright="Photo: John Higgins / The Verge" />

The idea of a flat EQ response curve is one that sounds appealing, letting the user hear what it might sound like in the mix room without the headphones adding their own sound signature. But extensive research conducted by Sean Olive and his colleagues at Harman shows that most people prefer a curve with elevated bass response, relatively neutral mids for natural sounding vocals, and slightly boosted highs (before they start to roll off above around 5kHz). It’s what’s referred to as the Harman curve. So while there’s use for an unaffected EQ curve while doing studio work, a flat EQ for most people will sound off and wrong. (There’s also an argument to be made that even in a studio environment, flat EQ headphones are unnecessary because most studio monitors are tuned to the Harman curve as well.)

While the flat EQ switch has less of a Harman curve sound than the Nothing’s default profile, it doesn’t sound completely flat. There’s some roll-off of the bass frequencies starting around 100Hz, which affects the lower notes of the bass and the presence of the kick drum. And there’s still some peakiness to the high end, but as with the default profile, it’s not objectionable. If using the Nothing 1 Pro for mixing or mastering, the most important thing is the same as with any headphones or speakers — get familiar with how they sound by listening to mixes you know really well. And always check your mixes with other headphones, earphones, or speakers to make sure they translate to other environments.

Another thing that sets the Nothing Headphone 1 Pro apart from mainstream headphones like the Sony XM6, AirPods Max 2, and Bose Ultra Headphones Gen 2 are the drivers. While those three competitors use a single driver for each side, the Nothing use a triple-driver design. There’s a 40mm dynamic driver for bass, a separate midrange driver, and a xMEMS driver (which is a small solid-state driver) for upper frequencies. This design allows for each driver to focus on specific range, so things like the attack of higher frequencies is faster and cleaner.

The Nothing Headphone 1 Pro supports LDAC, wired and wireless high-res audio up to 24-bit/96kHz, as well as wired lossless over USB-C up to 24-bit/192kHz. The headphones can also act as an Auracast transmitter or receiver with the Nothing X app — something I think all flagship headphones should include, as do the Sony XM5 and XM6 and just recently the Bose Ultra Headphones.

The ANC performance impressed me during my short time with the Nothing Headphone 1 Pro. It does an excellent job blocking out low-end rumbling, such as A/C units or airplane noise, and a good job with street traffic. It’s not quite as good as the current top three — Sony XM6, Bose Ultra Headphones Gen 2, and Apple AirPods Max 2 — but with music playing I was suitably isolated from the world around me. And it’s definitely the best I’ve ever heard from Nothing, by far.

The Nothing Headphone 1 Pro have a folding hard case.

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For $400, the Nothing 1 Pro’s ANC performance goes up squarely against the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2. The extra time I’ve spent with them confirms they do a very good job blocking out ambient sound, but they fall short of those two category leaders. The Sony and Bose are most noticeably superior with low-end frequencies, such as the drone of airplane cabin noise. I also found that wearing glasses affects the Nothing’s ANC more than with the other two, as the padding didn’t close the space around the temples, allowing in more midrange of the airplane noise. I could see this also being an issue for someone with thick hair preventing a solid seal.

The ANC performance on the Nothing 1 Pro is still very good, just not as vaulted as the Sony and Bose. Once music is playing, though, it doesn’t matter, as that covers any noise that slips in, even when playing at a moderate volume.

There’s no chance of mistaking the Headphone 1 Pro for anything other than Nothing headphones. It has the same design style as the company’s other headphones, and uses the same tactile controls, which I really like, particularly the volume roller. What I don’t like is the AirPods Max-esque case, which closes around just the ear cups and leaves the headband exposed, acting as the case handle. One benefit over the AirPods bra case is that it’s a hard shell, but I wish the case protected the entire headphones.

The headphones are IP52 rated and get up to 30 hours of battery life with ANC on, or up to 68 hours with it off.

Nothing makes a pretty strong statement with its flagship Headphone 1 Pro, and they’re definitely the best Nothing headphones I’ve used. The Flat EQ switch will be a novelty for most regular users, but studio professionals could find the option useful. And for everyone else, the ANC performance is comparable to the big competition, and they sound good (especially for someone that likes more high-end presence). Plus they have the unmistakable Nothing look for those who want to stand out.

Photography by John Higgins / The Verge

Correction, September 29th: An earlier version of this article misstated the title of Amy Winehouse’s album. It is Back to Black, not Back in Black.

Update, October 6th: Added more information and converted the hands-on into a full scored review.

Bose starts adding Auracast to its headphones

2026-09-28T15:31:24-04:00

The flagship Bose headphones will now be able to connect to Auracast broadcasts for better accessibility. | Image: The Verge

A new firmware update for the $449 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2 adds support for Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast as beta features. The flagship Ultra headphones are the first from Bose to support the audio sharing technology, which the company plans to bring to more devices soon.

Only a few major manufacturers include Auracast, and only on select headphones or earbuds — including Sony, JBL headphones, Samsung Galaxy Buds, and Sennheiser, which also released an Auracast transmitter this year. Some smaller companies, like EarFun, have added support. But Bose is one of the most recognizable names in headphones, so the fact that it’s finally jumping in is big news for Auracast.

Auracast was officially announced back in 2022, but the adoption process has been slow. The technology allows a device to broadcast Bluetooth audio to any number of supported headphones or speakers at the same time. This could be for gate announcements while waiting at the airport, a performance at a local venue, or a college lecture. You can even use Auracast at home to watch TV while kids are asleep or for extra hearing assistance — some Samsung and LG TVs have the functionality buried in their menus.

The firmware update, labeled 10.12.12, has been quietly rolling out the past few weeks. Alongside Bluetooth LE and Auracast, it adds improved audio over wired USB connections, including balance for gaming audio and chat, and better compatibility for web conferencing apps.

Bose spokesperson Tim Williams told The Verge via email that the QC Headphones (Gen 2), which I recently reviewed, should get the beta firmware next.

The Beats 360 are what I’d bring to the gym if I hated earbuds

2026-09-22T09:36:35-04:00

The Beats 360 are designed to last through your sweaty workouts.

Everyone has seen someone at the gym or running around their neighborhood wearing headphones that were never designed for workouts. Quite often those headphones are Beats. Good news for the earbud haters: The new Beats 360 over-ear headphones are durable and built to withstand sweat, with water resistance and swappable knit ear cups. And there aren’t many headphones out there like them.

IP ratings are a bit out of the ordinary on any headphones, and the Beats 360 are the first IP-certified headphones from the company. Like Beats workout earbuds, the Powerbeats Pro 2 and Powerbeats Fit 2, the Beats 360 are rated IPX4, which protects against splashes of water and sweat. It’s the minimum rating I would recommend anyone use for a pair of workout headphones or earbuds if you want them to survive for more than a short time.

There’s no way to avoid sweat accumulating around the ear cups when using headphones during a workout. But both wearables senior reviewer Victoria Song and I wore the Beats 360 while exercising, and we both found that the default performance knit ear cups on the Beats 360 did a good job wicking away that moisture. Still, by the end of her 40-minute run and my hour-long gym session, each of our headphones were wet and, as Victoria put it, “icky.” The ear cups are easily removable, so they can be cleaned separately — Beats recommends wiping them with a soapy solution, then a damp cloth with water only, and finally removing any leftover dampness with a dry cloth — and I didn’t run into any issues doing so.

Beats 360 headphones

Score: 7

Pros	Cons
Beats’ first IP-rated headphones Easily removable ear cups in six colors Replaceable battery	ANC not as good as other $350 headphones Midrange sounds shush-y Can shift during high-intensity workouts

Where to Buy:

$349.99 at Apple

The Beats 360 have decent clamping force to keep the headphones secure during most workout movements without causing discomfort. For exercises where my head position was consistent — such as back squats, planks, and lunges — the Beats 360 stayed comfortably in place.

Still, we both had moments where we needed to readjust them: sprints for Victoria and sit-ups for me. The movement isn’t excessive, and for explosive workouts — like the sprints, or even burpees — the Beats 360 would do in a pinch, but both of us still prefer earbuds.

The Beats 360 come with performance knit ear pads, which are good for workouts (particularly because of the moisture wicking), but after a few hours of non-workout use, they make the side of my head itchy. But since it’s super easy and fast to change the ear cups, switching to one of the plush engineered leather options for regular listening is the right move (it’s the same material used with the Studio Pro headphones).

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The headphones come in black, white, light blue, and pink, and you can buy extra cushion sets to customize the look. The performance knit ear cups come in black, white, light blue, pink, navy, and a fluorescent green — though the plush are only in black and white. Each cushion kit comes with two ear cups and a headband and costs $50, although until the end of October, they’re available for $10 through Apple. There’s promo pricing for Canada, Australia, France, the UK, China, and Korea, as well.

The Beats 360 have sensors that can tell whether you’re using the knit or plush ear cushions and automatically adjust the tuning. I didn’t hear any significant differences going back and forth between the two (although of course noise canceling was a bit better with the plush padding). The bass sounds nice and supportive, with good oomph for bass-heavy tracks without being too overpowering, like the Beats of old could be. And most of the high end sounds clear, if a bit peaky. My main issue is with the midrange, where it feels like a wash of sound. There isn’t much separation of guitars and vocals during the chorus of the Foo Fighters’ “The Pretender,” mostly because the shushiness of Taylor Hawkins’ cymbals overwhelm everything. It’s not a dealbreaker, but for $350, I prefer the Sony XM5.

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Noise-canceling performance is very good. Not as silent as the Bose Ultra Headphones Gen 2 or as solid a fit as the AirPods Pro 3, but the only reason I knew the gardeners were using their accursed leafblowers outside my window while I listened to some tunes on the Beats 360 was the lingering smell of gasoline. The ANC is enough to let you focus on your own music and block out the gym bro that says they know exactly how to correct your form.

One of the benefits of all Beats headphones and earbuds is their integration across both Apple and Android ecosystems — an advantage of being owned by Apple, but not being Apple. On Apple devices, the Beats 360 support one-touch pairing, iCloud pairing, automatic switching between devices, audio sharing with AirPods and recent Beats headphones, Find My, and hands-free Siri. Native Android features include fast pairing, pairing across devices on the same Google account, audio switching (on supported Android devices), and Google’s version of Find My called Find Hub. Voice assistant works with Android, too, but requires a press of the play/pause button. It all makes them a great option for someone in either ecosystem.

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Instead of a hard case, the Beats 360 have a soft-sided bag that has a magnetic clasp at the top and a loop on the back to hook to a clasp on your bag. I would have preferred a hard case at this price. They also have a replaceable battery, although there currently isn’t any documentation about the process or pricing for the replacement battery.

For those who cannot abide earbuds or bone-conduction headphones at the gym, the options for solid, dependable headphones are few. The Beats 360, with their IPX4 rating and knit ear cups, are there for those who need something designed for that sweaty environment. And the replaceable ear cups and battery will help extend their life regardless. They’re not my first choice for everyday listening, but if I wanted to focus in on my reps without a worry — while showing off some color — I’d grab a pair.

It’s not just LG. Every TV company is spying on you

2026-09-18T19:45:38-04:00

The TV in your living room knows more about you than you realize. | Photo by John Higgins / The Verge

The TV world has been a pot of controversy thanks to a two-hour-and-15-minute video from Gamers Nexus claiming LG TVs are nefariously spying on everything you do. They can record and store audio even when they seem to be off, track everything you watch, and could even be hacked remotely and turned into covert surveillance devices. LG TV owners, and tech enthusiasts in general, are furious, and a hurried response from LG has done little to calm the situation.

Some of the claims in the video may be based on speculation and assumptions, but many of the core concerns are real and pervasive. While LG was the focus of the video, every TV company is tracking what you do, collecting that data, and sharing it with its partners. And we agree to it — even if we don’t realize it.

TV prices have come down significantly over the years, to the point where some companies are selling them at a loss. But they make up that shortfall selling user behavior data they collect from the OS. It’s why Walmart bought Vizio in 2024.

There’s a lot going on in the Gamers Nexus video, but we’ll start with the part pretty much everyone making TVs is doing: tracking what you watch, when you watch, where you watch, and how you watch to sell you things about it all. Automatic content recognition (ACR) systems are built into just about every modern TV and can identify the content playing through built-in streaming apps and over the TV’s ports by grabbing snippets of audio or video, converting them into digital fingerprints, and sending them to a database for identification. It’s what allows a TV to make content recommendations, as well as feed you ads based on your viewing habits. It’s also one way companies like Nielsen can track viewership across platforms and services.

In order for TVs to capture this information, you need to agree to it. One of Gamers Nexus’ complaints in the video is that this consent is often buried in confusing and lengthy agreements that you need to accept in order to use the TV, and that companies often use dark patterns or deceptive designs to get users to agree to things without realizing they didn’t have to. For example, the Gamers Nexus video showed an LG TV displaying six different user agreements, including one consenting to ACR, and automatically putting the cursor on “Select All” when only two agreements are required to continue.

As a TV reviewer, I have to deal with end-user license agreements (EULA) and privacy policies on every product I review. And while it might be a losing battle because of the sheer number of TVs and other smart devices that come through my apartment, I take steps to try and protect my privacy. I have a burner Gmail account that is used solely for signing into apps and the TV’s operating system. Initially, I only accept the legally required documents for the TV to work properly so I can run my picture quality tests — both Calman and test discs. I never agree to automatic content recognition, which is referred to by names including Enhanced Viewing, Smart TV Experience, and Samba Interactive TV.

I also dig through all of the menus, partly to become familiar with all the settings available, but also to make sure any ad or data tracking is toggled off. When I need to test voice control, I’ll then accept the voice recognition agreements before testing functionality. And since this is usually the last thing I do in my test process, this is followed by a factory reset before sending the TV back to the manufacturer. If you’re worried about privacy, don’t use voice control. Or if you do, only use the one on a separate streaming box from a brand you trust.

I recommend the same for everyone with a smart TV. Have a dedicated email for logging in to TVs (and, if possible, your streaming apps) that isn’t connected to your personal email. When setting up the TV, only agree to whatever’s necessary for the TV to run if you want to use its OS. And after setup, go through all the menu options to make sure any ad tracking is off, and read the menu prompts closely, as the wording is sometimes confusing (probably intentionally so). Consumer Reports has a great, although slightly older guide to limiting data collection from the different TV manufacturers.

To take it a step further, turn off Wi-Fi and unplug the Ethernet cable from the TV and essentially use it as a dumb TV (the Vizio Mini LED Quantum I reviewed is the best at this). Then, plug in your third-party streaming device of choice. I use an Apple TV 4K. Not because I don’t think Apple harvests any data, but because it doesn’t use ACR and I trust its security protocols more than I do any of the TV manufacturers or Google.

Apple does still offer content recommendation based on what you watch, download, browse, and subscribe to in the Apple TV app. This can be turned off in settings by going to Apps -> TV -> Use Play History -> Off. For third-party apps, such as Netflix or Disney Plus, Apple gives users the option to “Ask App Not to Track,” which blocks the app’s developer from accessing the system advertising identifier. Keep in mind that every streaming service does track your usage within its own app and tie it to your login; many streaming boxes do too.

The problems beyond ACR

A good chunk of the Gamers Nexus video focused on broader security concerns and what appear to be much more egregious privacy violations from LG. That includes recording video and audio from the room even when the TV appeared to be off, sending information about the local network to LG’s servers, and logging background audio captured when using the TV’s mic for voice search and voice control. Gamers Nexus and Level1Techs were even able to exploit security vulnerabilities to take control of the TV, which is how they discovered the above.

None of that is good, obviously. But it is worth noting that the scariest part — recording video (from a webcam they attached) and audio when the TV appeared off — seems to have been possible only because Level1Techs rooted the TV using an exploit that they said requires network access. If you have access to a computer, which is what a smart TV is, and you can root it, you can make it do pretty much whatever you want. If the TV is indeed rootable with only network access, that is a legitimate security problem; it still requires an attacker to get into your private network, but gives them a vulnerable endpoint if they do.

With that root access, Gamers Nexus also discovered that when an LG TV’s mic was activated for voice search, it kept recording for 10 to 15 seconds after it last detected speech. It could also detect the “hi LG” wake word and other speech from farther away than you would expect — after Gamers Nexus enabled the far-field microphone and cranked up the mic sensitivity. Taken in combination, that means that as long as anyone within the (long) earshot of the microphones kept talking after the mic was activated, the TV would capture their conversation too and treat it as part of the voice search. That’s not ideal, but Gamers Nexus and Level1Techs did go out of their way to increase the mic’s pickup range and used the optional voice search wake word, both of which are easy to avoid doing.

Gamers Nexus rooted the LG TV in order to access and see the data it was collecting in real time.

| Image: Gamers Nexus" data-portal-copyright="Image: Gamers Nexus" />

Alongside their pretty damning testing, there’s also a lot of “it might” and “we think” and outright speculation in the video, not to mention long-distance conclusion jumping. For example: Gamers Nexus’ Steve Burke says that unplugging your TV’s ethernet cable might not be enough to stop it transmitting data to LG, because it could auto-connect to open neighborhood Wi-Fi broadcasts from Comcast or AT&T customers in order to upload that data. There’s no evidence in the Gamers Nexus video that LG TVs actually attempt to do this — these hotspots require user accounts, for one thing — and Burke doesn’t say that they do, or even could, but the implication is clear. This type of rampant speculation undermines the legitimate vulnerabilities Gamers Nexus highlights.

There’s really no way to completely protect yourself from your TV, streaming device, or streaming services gathering your data, at least right now. There’s so much money being made at the expense of consumers and the data collection is so integrated into how these companies work that the change and regulation needs to come from government policymakers. “We need a comprehensive federal privacy law that covers this sort of data collection and misuse,” said Thorin Klosowski, senior security and privacy activist at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). “Specifically one that requires opt-in consent, with no deceptive design tricks to get that consent, and a data minimization requirement, which would limit the companies to only using data for what’s needed to provide the service.”

The fact that we, as users of tech products, need to actively protect ourselves from the companies that sell us things is bad. But it’s the unfortunate current reality of living in a tech-filled world and taking advantage of the benefits current technology affords. Beyond disconnecting completely and living in a cabin in the woods with a dumb TV and a collection of Blu-rays, the best we can do is limit as much shared information as possible. If it’s possible to keep it private, we should.

The premium AirPods 5 are the best open-ear earbuds Apple has made

2026-09-16T11:25:38-04:00

The AirPods 5 earbuds and case look identical to the AirPods 4.

It’s almost a guarantee that the new version of a product will be, at best, the same price as the old one, and often (especially in the past couple years) more expensive. But that’s not what Apple did with the AirPods 5. The $149 AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case are $30 cheaper than the AirPods 4 with ANC they replace. They have slightly better active noise cancellation, and they’re the first non-Pro AirPods with volume controls on the stem. Apple has never made wireless earbuds that offer as much for so little, and they make the base AirPods 5, which are $20 cheaper but don’t have wireless charging or volume controls, pointless.

Apple AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case

Score: 8

Pros	Cons
Cheaper than the AirPods 4 with ANC Improved sound Volume swipe control	Below-average battery life Confusing naming convention

Where to Buy:

The AirPods 5, like all non-Pro AirPods, use an open-ear design, meaning they don’t have silicone ear tips to form a seal in your ear canal. Last generation, Apple offered two versions of the AirPods: one with active noise cancellation and one without. This time around, there are still two models. But both models of the AirPods 5 include active noise cancellation. They both also have adaptive audio and transparency mode, plus live translation with an iPhone 15 Pro or later, and are IP57 rated (up from IP54 on the AirPods 4). The main differences between the $129 AirPods 5 and the $149 AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case — aside from the wireless charging case and the annoyingly long name — are the volume controls, battery life, and 20 bucks.

That extra $20 is well worth it. The wireless charging case is nice (it isn’t MagSafe, but it does work with the magnetic Apple Watch charger). But the most important change is that they finally have swipe volume controls. That’s one thing that’s been missing from all non-Pro AirPods until now. Part of the convenience of wireless earbuds is that you can leave your phone in your pocket or bag, and omitting volume control on the earbuds themselves defeats the purpose. With the two models so close in price, I can’t understand why Apple even released the base AirPods 5.

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Apple says that both models of the AirPods 5 have up to 50 percent better noise cancellation than the AirPods 4 with ANC, but the company doesn’t provide details about which frequencies are affected (we’ll have to wait for folks like SoundGuys to put them on their measurement rig). While the size and look of the AirPods remains the same, Apple redesigned the internal acoustic architecture, reworked the algorithm, and included denser mesh on the ports for slightly more passive attenuation (naturally reducing ambient noise), which helps achieve that ANC improvement. In my own subjective testing, I could hear minor benefits both with low-end airplane drones and when out at a busy restaurant picking up some burritos to go.

The AirPods 4 with ANC already delivered better noise-canceling than any other open-ear design I’ve heard (particularly clip earbuds), and the AirPods 5 do step that up. But don’t expect the kind of isolation you get from sealed earbuds like the AirPods Pro 3, which are often on sale for only $50 more.

The AirPods 5 (right) share the exterior design as the AirPods 4 (middle) and are inspired by the internal acoustic architecture of the AirPods Pro 3 (left)." data-portal-copyright="" />

Apple has always led the field with its transparency mode, but with the AirPods 5, there’s now barely any perceivable difference between transparency mode and not wearing the earbuds at all. With other earbuds, transparency mode generally boosts high-frequency ambient sounds a little, such as the sibilance of esses. Verge laptop reviewer Antonio Di Benedetto wore the new AirPods on a 5K run and found transparency mode to be preferable to ANC, as it gave great awareness without wind noise. It also never felt like the earbuds were in danger of falling out of his ears.

The redesigned internals also benefit the AirPods 5’s sound. There’s more bass response — something I felt the AirPods 4 were sorely lacking — and vocals have more clarity and aren’t as covered and muted as they were on the 4. Kim Deal’s singing on “Gigantic” by the Pixies is clean and easy to hear amid the distorted guitars that wash over the chorus, and throughout Surfer Rosa, the separation of instruments and voices across the soundstage impressed me. The AirPods 5 sound better than other open-ear earbuds I’ve heard.

With iOS 27, Apple has added a 3-band EQ for those who want to tweak the sound. It’s not exclusive to these buds and will work with the AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max 2 as well. The different bands don’t majorly change the sound profile, but it’s nice that Apple has finally included something for those who want to play around with it.

Call quality is also better than on the AirPods 4. While my voice sounded a bit compressed to those I talked to, they didn’t have any difficulty understanding me, and traffic sounds were imperceptible. The occasional conversation from someone passing by or strong breeze would sneak through the attenuation, but it was never too distracting.

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The biggest disappointment with the AirPods 5 is their battery life. The buds are small, but only five hours with ANC on is below average and doesn’t even cover a cross-country flight. Battery life with the case got a slight increase from 20 hours up to 22 with ANC turned on. The base model AirPods 5 with ANC turned on get up to four hours on the earbuds, or up to 20 with the case. Putting the buds in their case for five minutes charges them up for another hour of listening.

If all you’re looking for is solid earbuds, there are lots of cheaper options that offer many of the same features. Earbuds like the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC and the Nothing Ear 3A are around $100 and have better noise canceling with sound quality that’s nearly as good. But neither of those have the same seamless integration with Apple products that the AirPods 5 do. And crucially, both of those are sealed earbuds, while the AirPods aren’t put into your ear canal at all, which some find more comfortable.

Apple’s open-ear earbuds design has never been my favorite. Silicone tips are more secure and provide superior active noise cancellation (although they come with their own fit challenges). But the AirPods 4 redesign, which felt more comfortable in my ears, started to sway me. Now with ANC at a cheaper price that includes volume control and a wireless charging case, the $149 AirPods 5 are great for someone who doesn’t like the feel of a sealed fit. I wouldn’t even bother with the less expensive AirPods 5.

Correction, September 15th: An earlier version of this article misstated the battery life of the AirPods 4 with ANC’s case. With ANC turned on it is 20 hours, not 30 hours.

There aren’t AirPods with cameras yet and I hope it stays that way

2026-09-09T19:00:04-04:00

New AirPods Pro with cameras were thankfully not announced at the September Apple event. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

September Apple events are always a swirl of information and new, exciting products, and today’s was no different. Apple announced its first foldable, the iPhone Duo, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max; active noise cancellation (ANC) is now on the cheapest AirPods model, the AirPods 5; and a Siri Recap feature comes to the Watch Series 12 and Watch Ultra 4. But missing were the AirPods Pro with cameras that have been rumored throughout the year and, according to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, are delayed until 2027. I’m happy about that and I hope we never get them.

I have too many concerns about a company — any company — putting cameras anywhere, especially in devices like earbuds that are now so ubiquitous in our daily lives. LED lights on glasses or earbuds do little to ease people’s minds when someone is recording them. And some Meta smart glasses users have shown people will hide their recording intentions. While recording in public in the US is generally legal, it can be very creepy. And with earbuds as common as they are, someone could wear them into sensitive situations unnoticed.

Rumors say that the cameras on the potential AirPods will be low-resolution and “aren’t designed” to take images or video, but instead use what they see to inform Siri AI and Visual Intelligence. That information could be used to help with turn-by-turn directions or identify writing and objects like books. Even with a low-resolution camera, it’s still potentially always gathering information about the world (and people!) around you. That invasion of privacy is something I cannot get past.

During today’s event, Apple introduced Audio Intelligence with the Apple Watch, which sounds like a precursor to the Visual Intelligence we’re expecting on the rumored AirPods Pro 4. In its support documentation, Apple points out that audio is not stored and there’s no way to access a recording, which could be the same for video data with Visual Intelligence, and that for its Siri Recap feature, any data used to create a summary is not even accessible by Apple. Any stored data — such as a Siri Recap or a bit of text the user can save with Live Rewind — is also end-to-end encrypted. People are not identified in the Siri Recap, either. Of course, none of this is live yet, so we’ll have to wait and see how well Audio Intelligence works once it’s released.

Functionally, a camera will only gather information if it can see things. What if you have thick, long hair? Or like to wear hoodie sweatshirts? Or fancy, elaborate jewelry? The AirPods would just turn into what they should be — earbuds. It’s possible the reason the AirPods with cameras have been pushed into 2027 is to find solutions to these problems. Or maybe part of the delay is Apple separating itself from the current public climate around cameras thanks to Meta and Flock.

The one immediate benefit of the AirPods with cameras could be accessibility. They could improve situational awareness for people with visual limitations or help hard-of-hearing users read lips. They could even figure out the person you’re speaking to and focus the AirPods’ mics on them for increased intelligibility.

When you take out privacy concerns or the fact that lots of people — and companies — look for opportunities to exploit people, there’s good that can be done. But it involves a lot of trust to be put in untrustworthy hands. I’m not sure I’m ready for that. Or if I ever will be. Whether any of us are ready or not, though, it seems the cameras are coming. The introduction of Apple’s Audio Intelligence on the new Apple Watch is evidence enough that the company is going all in on using sensors to analyze the world around us.