Headphones were the original piece of wearable technology and they remain as essential today as ever. But they are starting to change rapidly now, as things like noise cancelling and Bluetooth wireless technology enable the dream of completely cable-free living. What will the best headphones of the future look like?
Samsung took heavy inspiration from Apple’s AirPods when it reinvented the design of its Galaxy Buds 3, but is making some tweaks for the next set. Android Authority spotted the Buds 4 Pro in leaked One UI 8.5 animations, with a flatter stem and no light strip.
Just... not the actual phones. Instead, it’s 2023’s repairable Fairbuds XL headphones that will go on sale on Amazon this month. As for the excellent Fairphone 6, CEO Raymond van Eck tells me launching that is a “complicated process,” but one he hopes will be sorted “in the near future.”
6
Verge Score
Innovative earbuds with a microphone built into the charging case.
With glued-in components that are difficult to access, iFixit has some major criticisms of the AirPods Pro 3 that echo what it said about the first AirPods Pro and even about the very first set of AirPods.
You might have noticed tech is getting just a little more expensive these days. SteelSeries’ new $599.99 Arctis Nova Elite headset is only the latest example, but at least it means fans of spending money can complete the set.
Holmeser:
Pairs perfectly with my $999 Xbox Ally X and $750 PS5 Pro
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8
Verge Score
SteelSeries has created a category of luxury gaming headsets that doesn’t really exist right now.
The update to firmware version 4.467 is rolling out, letting the buds adjust ANC on the fly to keep you aware of your surroundings. Announced in August, the update also brings loud noise protection, clearer mic audio for Gemini Live, and head gesture controls to take or decline calls.
The OpenFit 2 debuted at CES 2025 earlier this year, but Shokz is already rolling out an updated version called the OpenFit 2 Plus. Their functionality is nearly identical to the $179.95 Open Fit 2, but the Plus adds the convenience of wireless charging, support for Dolby Audio, and a price bump to $199.95.
7
Verge Score
Good for side sleepers but ANC kills battery life.
“Live translation with AirPods is not available if you are in the EU and your Apple account country or region is also in the EU,” reads the Apple support page. According to Politico, Apple is blaming DMA’s interoperability requirement for the limitation.
