airpods

apple-announces-$179-airpods-4-with-active-noise-cancellation

Apple announces $179 AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation

airpods, AirPods Pro, Apple, Tech / /

Apple Audio —

AirPods Pro and Max get new features, too.

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  • The AirPods 4.

    Apple

  • The new earbuds have shorter stems.

    Apple

  • Inside the earbuds.

    Apple

  • A closer look at the stems.

    Apple

  • The new AirPods case with USB-C and wireless charging.

    Apple

  • The AirPods 3 with its longer stems.

    Valentina Palladino

Apple announced the fourth-generation AirPods today during its It’s Glowtime event. As you can tell from the gallery above, the AirPods 4 look different from their predecessor. They also have Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) if you’re willing to pay extra.

Apple said that it mapped and analyzed “thousands” of ear shapes with 3D photogrammetry, laser topography, and other modeling tools to design the AirPods 4’s new form. Apple claims the new shape will make for a better fit. The new earbuds appear to have shorter stems. They look more similar to the AirPods Pro now but without the silicone tips. The stems also allow users to play/pause media and end or mute calls with a “quick press,” Apple claims, noting a new force sensor.

The new AirPods move from Apple’s H1 chip to the H2, which the current AirPods Pro use. Compared to the H1, Apple has said that the H2 is supposed to be up to twice as good at noise cancellation. Upgraded mics and computational audio are also supposed to aid in ANC.

The AirPods 4 inherit several AirPods Pro features. They claim personalized spatial audio, which uses head tracking, and machine learning-powered voice isolation as features. The AirPods are also supposed to be able to automatically lower the volume of whatever’s currently playing when you start talking to someone in real life. The Transparency mode lets you hear outside noises while media’s playing, and Adaptive Audio automatically blends Transparency mode with ANC.

The fourth-gen AirPods also have a new acoustic architecture that Apple claimed, without getting into much detail, delivers “richer” bass and “clearer” highs.

The new earbuds also have a redesigned case that’s 10 percent smaller by volume and is 2 inches (50 mm) long. It incorporates Apple’s slow, (European Union law-driven) shift from the proprietary Lightning charging port to USB-C. Apple said the case should last for up to 30 hours. It also supports wireless charging, including Qi.

The AirPods 4 will start at $129, which is cheaper than what the AirPods 3 have been going for ($179). But if you want ANC, they’ll cost $179. The AirPods 4 come out on September 20 but can be pre-ordered today.

Smaller updates to AirPods Pro and AirPods Max

Apple didn’t announce a new AirPods Pro or AirPods Max today but is adding some features to the current versions.

The AirPods Pro are getting a software update this fall that will allow the the earbuds to serve as a “clinical-grade hearing aid,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said. The feature is limited to people with “mild to moderate hearing loss,” Apple’s announcement said.

The fall update will also add a Hearing Protection feature to help quiet loud environmental sounds. “The ear tips help to provide passive noise reduction, while the H2 chip helps to actively reduce louder, more intermittent noise at 48,000 times per second,” per Apple’s announcement. Finally, the update will allow you to use the AirPods Pro as earplugs by use of an updated “multiband high dynamic range algorithm,” and add a hearing test.

AirPods Pro updates are all about hearing health.

Enlarge / AirPods Pro updates are all about hearing health.

Apple

The AirPods Max, meanwhile, are joining the move to USB-C. They’re also getting personalized spatial audio and new colors: midnight, blue, purple, orange, and starlight.

This version of the AirPods Max will be available on September 20 and will cost $549. Pre-orders start today.

Listing image by Apple

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What to expect from Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event

airpods, AirPods Max, Apple, apple watch, Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Series X, apple watch ultra, iOS, ios 18, iPad mini, IPhone, iPhone 16, iphone 16 pro, Tech / /
Apple It's Glowtime event promo image depicting a neon Apple logo

Enlarge / Apple’s event will likely discuss Apple Intelligence, though that’s not going to launch until later in the year with iOS 18.1

Apple

For years, Apple’s September event has focused almost exclusively on new flagship iPhones and new Apple Watch models. Once in a while, other second-tier products make an appearance. And in recent cycles, the Mac and high-end iPads had their shining moment later in the year—often in October or November.

We expect the same to happen this time. You can almost certainly count on new iPhones and Watches. As for what else to expect: well, no Macs, but there are a couple of interesting possibilities.

Here’s what we expect to see next week.

iPhone 16 and 16 Pro

Gone are the days of radical changes to the iPhone; the last dramatic redesign was the iPhone X in 2017. Since then, Apple has iterated a little bit each year—never enough to drive yearly upgrades, but perhaps enough to entice consumers with phones that are three years old or so.

The iPhone 16 and 16 Pro are expected to continue this pacing, with a grab bag of improvements to existing features but nothing too radical.

The only notable design change that has been rumored is the introduction of the “Capture” button on all models; this will allow taking pictures without using the touchscreen on all models. This could be done with the Action button on last year’s iPhone 15 Pro, and that Action button is expected to come to all iPhone 16 models (not just Pro) this year.

But adding a Capture button frees the Action button up for other things, and the Capture button is expected to produce different results depending on how you press it, making it more useful.

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus rear camera arrangement will switch to two vertically aligned lenses instead of the diagonal arrangement of the previous model. Apart from that and the new buttons, there will be no noticeable design changes in the non-Pro phones this year.

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will also not have noticeable design changes, but they will have slightly larger screens. The Pro is going from a 6.1-inch screen to 6.3 inches, while the larger Max version will go from 6.7 to 6.9 inches. The phones will be slightly larger, but much of the screen-size gain will come from Border Reduction Structure (BRS) implementation that will reduce the already barely there bezels a little bit.

Speaking of the screens, the Pro models will feature new panels that will provide just a bit more maximum brightness, following a trend of improvements in that area that has spanned the last few iPhones.

  • The general look of the new iPhones isn’t expected to change compared to these designs from last year, except for the camera arrangement on the base iPhone 16.

    Samuel Axon

  • The Action Button, seen here on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, will reach the non-Pro iPhones this year.

    Samuel Axon

That’s it for changes visible on the outside. Inside, the phones are expected to get an improved thermal design—which hopefully addresses our biggest complaint when we reviewed the iPhone 15 Pro—as well as faster 5G modems in the Pros and a new A-series chip that will probably offer modest gains in performance and efficiency over the top-tier chip from last year.

All the remaining changes that are rumored from leaks, supply-chain insights, or news reports are tweaks to the camera systems. All models will get better ultra-wide cameras that handle low light better, and the iPhone 16 Pro will go to a 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera to better match the wide-angle lens’ overall performance. Additionally, the 5x zoom telephoto lens that was reserved only for the Pro Max last year will make its way to the smaller Pro this time.

That’s all we’ve heard so far. Looking back on paragraphs of text here, it sounds like a lot, but most of these things are pretty modest improvements. Those coming from an iPhone 13 Pro or earlier may be tempted by all this, but it’ll be pretty silly to upgrade from an iPhone 15 to an iPhone 16 unless Apple has managed to keep some earth-shattering new feature a secret.

What to expect from Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event Read More »

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Samsung delays Galaxy Buds3 Pro release over quality concerns

#earbuds, airpods, AirPods Pro, audio, samsung, Tech / /

Delayed until August 28 —

“It tore from the inside instantly.”

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Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro

Enlarge / A marketing image for the Galaxy Buds3 Pro.

Samsung

Samsung is delaying the release of the $250 Galaxy Buds3 Pro in the US from July 24 to August 28, per its website. The third-generation earbuds have Samsung moving from a bean-like shape to an Apple AirPods Pro-like design, including silicone ear tips. But some users have claimed that the new tips rip too easily.

Samsung confirmed to Android Authority today that it has temporarily stopped shipping units to stores. The devices were no longer available for preorder on Amazon or Best Buy as of this writing.

Samsung’s statement to Android Authority noted “reports relating to a limited number of early production devices” and asserted that it’s taking the problem “very seriously.” The statement continues:

We are urgently assessing and enhancing our quality control processes. To ensure all products meet our quality standards, we have temporarily suspended deliveries of Galaxy Buds 3 Pro devices to distribution channels to conduct a full quality control evaluation before shipments to consumers take place. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Samsung also advised people who already have a pair to contact Samsung or go to a Samsung Service Center. Android Authority reported that some customers also received an email from Samsung informing them of the quality control concerns and offering a link where customers can find contact information to ask Samsung representatives about canceling their orders for a refund.

Samsung’s website says the earbuds have a one-year warranty that does not cover defects or damage “caused by accident, misuse, abnormal use, abnormal conditions, improper storage, neglect, or unusual physical, electrical or electromechanical stress.”

“It tore from the inside instantly”

Although the Galaxy Buds3 Pro were originally going to be available in the US on July 24, they have already been available for purchase in South Korea, per Android Police. Other people who already have the earbuds include reviewers, employees, and those who made their preorders early. (Some people also claimed that they were able to buy the earbuds at US Walmarts before Samsung announced them).

Some who reportedly had the earbuds claimed it was hard to remove their silicone tips without tearing them. Like AirPods Pros, Galaxy Buds3 Pros have a silicone tip that latches onto a plastic ring on the earbuds’ chassis. Various people reported trying to remove the tip and the tip ripping, with a piece of silicone remaining stuck on the plastic ring.

Some, including reviewers at The Verge and Android Authority, said they hadn’t experienced the problem yet. But others, including TechRadar, found it challenging to remove the ear tips without damaging them.

One Reddit user claimed that they pulled on an ear tip to remove it, and “it tore from the inside instantly.” They noted that because the silicone is clipped into the plastic ring, “you have to pull it strongly.” Similarly, another user said the “left ear tip ripped right off” when they tried to remove it.

Samsung has even published a support page on its Korean website explaining how to remove the ear tips to avoid damage. It notes various ways in which the silicone could tear, including, per a Google translation, if you hold them with your fingernails while inserting or removing, if you press or twist the ear tips hard, or if you pull the ear tips out quickly.

After numerous complaints online, including on Reddit (examples here, here, and here) and YouTube (examples here and here), Samsung has pushed back general availability. Complicating potential quick fixes, Samsung doesn’t yet offer replacement tips for the earbuds. People usually don’t have to frequently change their earbuds’ tips, but not offering replacement when Apple has for years seems like an oversight.

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds3 Pro look like the AirPods Pro that originally debuted almost five years ago, and it doesn’t care. What it definitely should care about, though, is a new design appearing weak and inferior before it’s even fully released. Samsung has at least taken the initiative in addressing early complaints rather than ignoring them and is instead offering refunds and delaying the release to limit the number of impacted customers. We’ll see if the earbuds are more sturdy by August.

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Fairbuds are Fairphone’s proof that we really could make better tiny gadgets

airpods, Apple, e-waste, electronics recycling, fairbuds, fairphone, recycling, Tech, wireless earbuds / /

Wireless earbud repairability —

Swap the batteries, tips, charging case, shell, or even just individual buds.

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Fairbuds with all their components laid out on a blue background

Enlarge / The Fairbuds and their replaceable components, including the notably hand-friendly, non-soldered batteries.

Fairphone

Fairphone has spent years showing us that it could do what major phone manufacturers suggest is impossible: make a modern-looking phone, make it brazenly easy to open up, design it so battery swaps are something you could do on lunch break, and also provide software support for an unbelievable eight to 10 years.

Bluetooth headphones, specifically wireless earbuds, seemed destined to never receive this kind of eco-friendly, ownership-oriented upgrade, in large part because of how small they are. But the Fairbuds have arrived, and Fairphone has made them in its phones’ image. They’re only available in the EU at the moment, for 149 euro (or roughly $160 USD). Like the Fairphone 4, there’s a chance interest could bring them to the US.

The highlights include:

  • Seven replaceable parts from the buds and charging case, all sold by Fairphone
  • A two-year warranty, expanded to three if you register them
  • Batteries in both the case and buds that are replaceable
  • IP54 sweat and water resistance
  • Individual left or right buds and a charging case that Fairphone will sell to you
  • Made with “fair and recycled materials,” in “fair factories,” and “climate conscious and electronic waste neutral,” (as explained by Fairphone).

Of course, the buds also, you know, produce sound, with 11 mm titanium drivers. The Fairbuds sport active noise-canceling and ambient sound modes, Bluetooth 5.3 with “dual point connectivity” for quick-switching between devices, and a Fairbuds app for customizing EQ and preset settings. The buds’ 45 mAh batteries carry about six hours of listening per charge, and their 500 mAh case adds another 20 hours.

  • Fairbuds in exploded view.

    Fairphone

  • Fairbuds and their charging case, which also come in black.

    Fairphone

  • The battery removal process from a Fairbud.

    Fairphone

  • Closeup on the white Fairbuds.

    Fairphone

  • The back of the Fairbuds charging case and a battery you just… put into it. With your fingers. I’m sorry, it’s weird to type that now.

    Fairphone

It’s not Fairphone’s first foray into fair, repairable sound devices. The firm previously made the since-discontinued True Wireless Stereo Earbuds and still offers Fairbuds XL, which are not buds at all but full over-ear headphones (and also EU-only).

The best that major-brand earbuds have ever done in repairability is “maybe you can do it, if you’re careful, and you don’t mind losing water resistance.” Taylor Dixon took apart six buds for iFixit back in 2020, and only Sony’s WF-1000XM3 didn’t require soldering, cutting and re-applying glue, and a steady hand working in very small spaces.

AirPods? AirPods are something else. One firm, The Swap Club, has figured out some means of getting the battery out of AirPods and selling them refurbished. But they only accept regular AirPods, not AirPods Pro. Alternatively, Apple will send you a pre-paid label to send in your spent AirPods for recycling, though with no trade-in credit. Even if Apple gets some kind of material out of the AirPods, a lot of them (and nearly every other wireless earbud) end up as waste after 18 months or however long their batteries last.

Fairbuds may or may not take a big chunk out of the market for AirPods, Beats, Pixel Buds, or other use-and-toss airbuds. But at a minimum, they give people something to point to as proof this category could be a lot better.

Disclosure: Kevin Purdy used to work for iFixit. He has no financial ties to the company.

Listing image by Fairphone

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Apple’s AirPods Pro could be getting a “hearing aid mode” later this year

airpods, AirPods Pro, Apple, fda, fda approval, hearing, hearing aids, hearing impairment, ios 18, Tech / /

Cheaper hearing aids —

In development for some time, AirPods could finally get the FDA label this fall.

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AirPods arranged at an Apple Store

Enlarge / Apple AirPods on display at the company’s Fifth Avenue store in New York in Feb. 2024.

Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Apple’s AirPods Pro are getting closer to becoming fully fledged hearing aids and marketed as such, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The move could have a large impact on the hearing aid market, which has already been recently shaken up by over-the-counter models.

Gurman writes that AirPods Pro are due to receive a hearing-aid function in iOS 18, arriving this fall and likely to be announced and outlined at a Worldwide Developers Conference in June. The Wall Street Journal reported in the fall of 2021 that Apple was working toward a future AirPods Pro model that functioned as a hearing aid and would also be able to monitor body posture and even body temperature.

It was not clear from Gurman or the Journal’s reporting whether the hearing aid function would be available only in a new model of AirPods Pro or offered as a software update on prior models. Since the Journal’s report, Apple has released both a second-generation model of AirPods Pro and a refresh of that model with a USB-C port.

“Hearing aid” may also not be technically accurate, depending on Apple’s aims. The US Food and Drug Administration in 2022 provided for a new category of “Personal sound amplification products,” or PSAPs, that do not need to meet the stricter requirements for an FDA-approved hearing aid. This new category offered huge cost savings to people with mild to moderate hearing loss and kicked off a generation of hearing aids that connected to a smartphone over Bluetooth for setup, tuning, and monitoring. These are distinct from over-the-counter hearing aids, which, while still notably cheaper than “professional fit” hearing aids, are still regulated by the FDA.

A study in late 2022 found that first-generation AirPods Pro, with their “Live Listen” feature activated, could meet four of the five PSAP standards and just barely missed a sound-pressure threshold. Notably, the AirPods Pro, tested in relatively quiet environments, helped people hear about as well as hearing aid models that cost up to $10,000, within the PSAP standards.

The next version of Apple’s mobile operating system, iOS 18, is rumored to contain a multitude of features beyond AirPods updates. MacRumors (leaning on Gurman’s subscriber-only newsletter reporting) suggests that generative AI features, RCS support for text messages, and revamps to many core Apple apps are due.

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Apple exec departure leads to major iPhone, Apple Watch reshuffle

airpods, Apple, apple watch, Bloomberg, IPhone, Tang Tan, Tech / /

Musical Chairs —

Tang Tan is leaving the company, and multiple people will shift to take his place.

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The iPhone 15 Pro.

Enlarge / The iPhone 15 Pro.

Samuel Axon

According to a report in Bloomberg, Tang Tan, vice president of Product Design, is leaving Apple, and his departure heralds a shuffle of executives heading up some of the company’s most important products.

Sometimes, you might wonder just how much a specific executive influences the grand scheme of things, but the report claims that people within Apple see Tan’s departure as “a blow,” clarifying that he “made critical decisions about Apple’s most important products.” His team reportedly had “tight control” over the look and functionality of those products.

Tan oversaw major aspects of iPhone and Apple Watch design, and he was the executive overseeing accessories and AirPods, as well. He reported to John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, who is likely a more widely known name.

Richard Dinh, “Tan’s top lieutenant and head of iPhone product design,” will report directly to Ternus and take on some of Tan’s duties, while Kate Bergeron, previously involved in Mac hardware engineering, will take on the Apple Watch.

Apple has seen several executive departures from its product design and engineering groups recently, so many aspects of upcoming iPhones and other products will be designed with new eyes and perhaps new sensibilities, though what that might lead to remains to be seen.

Apple recently shifted the iPhone from the company’s proprietary Lightning port to a more standard USB-C, and it changed the materials for its Pro line of phones. Despite tweaks like that, the iPhone’s design and functionality has not changed significantly in the past five or so years.

The iPhone 16 line in 2024 is expected to shake things up a little more, at least regarding the phone’s look and feel. Rumors have suggested that the new phones may have larger screens (and bigger chassis overall) and perhaps haptic buttons instead of the current physical buttons. Other changes could be in store, and Apple’s plans are likely not yet finalized.

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