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iOS 26 Just Gave Your AirPods a Bunch of Free Upgrades
Gaming Gear

iOS 26 Just Gave Your AirPods a Bunch of Free Upgrades

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Apple’s iOS 26 is finally out, and with its release, there’s a lot to officially unpack (sorry, beta features don’t count). Naturally, most of the new stuff pertains to your iPhone; you’ve got Visual Intelligence, which allows AI to both see and interact with your screen; Live Translation in the Messages, FaceTime, and Phone apps; and a new, streamlined Camera app that should make it easier to switch between video and still photo modes.

But it’s not all about the iPhone. Buried in all those feature tweaks and upgrades are some substantive improvements to AirPods, and the best part is you don’t need to rush out to buy the AirPods Pro 3 to take advantage. With a firmware update rolled out on Sept. 15, AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 (when coupled with iOS 26) get all of the features listed below with just a download.

If you’ve got compatible AirPods and an iPhone, here’s everything coming your way—for free!

Camera Control

© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

Sure, you could take pictures the old-fashioned way by tapping the shutter button in your Camera app, but this is 2025, and it’s time to step into the future. In iOS 26, you can use AirPods to snap photos with the new Camera Control feature. Once enabled (go to settings, your name, and then Camera Control), you can select a gesture to use the feature when you have the Camera app open. Your options are either “Press once” or “Press and hold” on your AirPods stems, and both will initiate a countdown until a picture is taken.

This might not be a feature you’re using all the time, but if you’re in a situation where you don’t want to fumble around with your iPhone, it could come in handy.

Battery notifications

If you have battery anxiety about your AirPods, Apple is throwing you a bone in iOS 26 with notifications that tell you when your wireless earbuds are fully charged. Perhaps more helpfully, it will also tell you when your case needs to be juiced up so you don’t leave the house with dead AirPods.

“Studio quality” recording

© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

This one is for all the podcasters and YouTubers. According to Apple, iOS 26 brings better recording quality to AirPods, thanks in part to the H2 chip first introduced on the AirPods Pro 2. Using the beamforming microphones, Apple says its recording quality upgrade will also work better in noisy environments.

That same upgrade will also equate to what Apple is calling “more natural vocal texture and clarity” with calls and FaceTime. Even better, the upgrade isn’t just for iPhone, but also iPad and Mac, and works across features like Voice Memos, dictation in Messages, and video conferencing apps like Webex. I’ll have to test this feature out myself to see how “studio quality” it is, but on the surface, it sounds great, no pun intended.

Sleep detection

I hate sleeping with wireless earbuds in, but that doesn’t mean I’ve never tried. I’ve personally never fallen asleep with AirPods or any other pair stuck in my ears, but if you have, then Apple now has a feature for that. For AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4, iOS 26 can detect when you’ve fallen asleep and pause the content you’re listening to. I wouldn’t want this feature activated if you’re trying to block out someone’s snoring, but if you’re listening to a podcast, this could help make sure you don’t miss all the gory details of that true crime fodder you like to nod off to.

Live Translation

AirPods Pro 3 aren’t the only buds capable of using Apple’s new Live Translation feature—a pair of AirPods with an H2 chip and ANC (AirPods Pro 2 with Lightning and USB-C, and AirPods 4 with ANC) can also get in on the action, and all you need is an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone running iOS 26. ICYMI, Live Translation is exactly what it sounds like: a feature that is able to translate speech in real-time. That all runs on-device, too. If you want to know more about how Live Translation works, you can read more from our AirPods Pro 3 review.



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AirPods Pro 3 review: tripling down on a good thing
Product Reviews

AirPods Pro 3 review: tripling down on a good thing

by admin


The AirPods Pro are about as ubiquitous as earbuds can get. Step outside your door, and you’re almost certain to see people wearing them. For good reason, too. Their active noise cancelling (ANC) is excellent for the price, sound quality is great, and they’re comfortable and convenient. If it ain’t broke, why fix it? After all, messing with a winning formula just for the sake of change often ends up in disappointment.

That’s not the case with the $249.99 AirPods Pro 3. Of all the shiny new gadgets Apple launched last week, this is the sole no-brainer upgrade. Everything you liked about the AirPods Pro just got better — and so did everything you didn’t.

$249

The Good

  • Improved ANC and sound
  • Longer battery
  • Standalone workout tracking
  • Live translation
  • Same price
  • IP57
  • Better fit
  • Camera remote control is handy!

The Bad

  • If you’re hoping for traditional foam ear tips, this isn’t that

The second-gen Pro was more or less about refining the software and sound; the overall design didn’t change. But while the AirPods Pro 3 look familiar at a glance, pop them in your ear and you’ll feel the difference. The new buds and tips are more angled, so they slot more naturally into your ear canal. You can twist them in for a more secure fit, whereas the last AirPods Pro would pop out unless you put them in just right.

Another plus: Apple now includes five ear tip sizes, adding an XXS size so you have a better chance of finding a comfy fit. That said, I would temper any expectations regarding the “foam-infused” tips. These aren’t your traditional foam tips, which expand to fit your ear more securely. What Apple’s done here is more of a hybrid approach. The front portion has some foam that subtly expands, but the majority of the tip is silicone for comfort and easier cleaning.

You can see the difference between the AirPods Pro 3 (top) versus the AirPods Pro 2.

And the other side.

The third-gen buds have a new shape to better fit ears.

Fit has always been one of the biggest complaints with AirPods, regardless of model. Whenever I come across AirPods haters, the usual reasons are either that the buds are too uncomfortable or they simply slip out. My spouse has bought multiple pairs over the years because the buds are always falling out of their ears. Nary a day goes by that I don’t find them crouching next to the bed or sofa, phone flashlight out, searching underneath for a missing AirPod. With these, they immediately declared, “They fit so much better!” and proceeded to pre-order their own pair. I’ve heard similar reactions from fellow reviewers who also had issues with the fit on prior AirPods Pro.

Still, that’s not a huge sample size, and everyone’s ear shape is unique. While I think the Pro 3 will fit more people, I still recommend trying a pair before committing if you’ve had issues in the past. But as someone who hasn’t, these fit me better too.

At Apple’s keynote last week, Apple executives kept saying these things had the “world’s best ANC” for wireless in-ear headphones. The claim is that the active noise cancellation in the third-gen buds is twice as good as the second gen, and four times better than the originals. The sound quality is also purportedly better due to a redesigned internal architecture that Apple says improves airflow for better bass.

Now, I’m not an audio engineer, but I did put the AirPods Pro 3’s ANC through a series of real-life tests alongside my personal pair of AirPods Pro 2. It’s pretty damn good.

The first test was a six-and-a-half hour flight from San Francisco to New York. Both pairs of buds performed well, but the third-gen were noticeably better. The dull hum of the plane was completely eliminated, though I could still hear announcements if I didn’t have audio playing. (That’s typical for any ANC headphones, however, especially earbuds.)

The case for the AirPods Pro 3 also has stronger Find My capabilities this year.

My second test was sitting in my kitchen while my spouse and in-laws were fixing our broken garbage disposal and running the laundry. Again, the second and third-gen buds were comparable, but the latter were notably better at dampening higher frequencies like voices and my cats yowling for kibble. If I put my tunes on, I couldn’t hear anything.

I also tested the active noise cancellation at a Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson concert against the Loop Experience 2 and EarPeace Music passive earplugs, which reduce noise by 17db and 20db respectively. The third-gen buds outperformed the Loop Experience 2, and were roughly on par with the Earpeace Music. I normally wouldn’t use AirPods in lieu of earplugs at a concert, but it’s nice to know that they’ll do in a pinch.

As for sound quality, the improvement is subtle but definitely there. I noticed it most while listening to the K-Pop Demon Hunters soundtrack. Multi-part vocal harmonies in songs like “Golden,” “Your Idol,” and “What It Sounds Like” are more audible, while the bass lines are punchier. Despite listening to this album on repeat since June with the AirPods Pro 2, I noticed new elements in the sound production, like faint bubble-popping effects in the catchy “Soda Pop.” I had a similar experience listening to old favorites. And while I still think spatial audio is gimmicky outside of a Vision Pro, I can appreciate that sound quality has been subtly improved on Dolby Atmos tracks as well. Ultimately, you’ll notice a richer overall listening experience regardless of whether you’re listening to music or watching an immersive movie.

Sensors: Dual beamforming microphones, inward-facing microphone, skin-detecting sensor, motion-detecting accelerometer, speech-detecting accelerometer, heart rate sensor, touch control.

Chips: H2 headphone chip, U2 chip in charging case

Dust and water resistance: IP57

Battery: Estimated 8 hours of listening time with ANC, 7.5 hours with Spatial Audio and Head tracking enabled. 6.5 hours with heart rate sensing during workouts. 10 hours in Transparency mode. 24 hours with the case.

Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3

Calls sound “generically good,” according to a friend I called while walking along a windy highway full of bustling cars. They weren’t able to hear any of the wind or environmental noise, even though the ANC wasn’t able to wipe them out entirely for me.

ANC is power-intensive, but I was pleased to see the third-gen buds have improved battery life. I wore them with ANC enabled for five hours of my flight, plus a 10-minute wait at baggage claim and a 40-minute Uber ride home. I still had 27 percent battery left by the time I got home. Altogether, my usage roughly tracks with Apple’s eight-hour estimate for ANC listening time on a single charge.

Hands-free fitness tracking

Perhaps the biggest hardware update for the AirPods Pro 3 is the addition of a heart rate sensor, enabling fitness tracking without an Apple Watch. It’s not a huge surprise, given that Apple added heart rate sensors to the Powerbeats Pro 2 earlier this year. But the AirPods Pro do a lot more with the feature.

For starters, you can track your heart rate during 50 types of workouts directly from the native iOS Fitness app. On the Powerbeats, this was limited to a handful of partner apps at launch. This is great news for folks with wrist tattoos, which get in the way of smartwatch sensors, or those who’d rather not wear smart rings, chest straps, or smartwatches for sports like boxing or weight lifting. It’s also a boon for anyone who routinely forgets their Apple Watch while on walks.

You can choose to track workouts with the Apple Watch or with just the AirPods Pro 3.

Apple’s Fitness Plus app can display heart rate data from the AirPods Pro 3 — a strange omission from the Powerbeats at launch. Crucially, the AirPods can also act as a secondary heart rate data stream when used with the Apple Watch. Previously, apps always deferred to the Apple Watch over the Powerbeats. Now, Apple’s introduced an algorithm that will analyze which of the two heart rate data streams has a stronger signal in a given activity, and prefer that one. Some good news: Apple isn’t gatekeeping these improvements to the AirPods. It’s since announced these updates will also come to the Powerbeats in iOS 26.

I tried Pro 3-only tracking for two outdoor walks and found that the heart rate tracking was comparable to a chest strap, within roughly 5 to 10 beats per minute. Accuracy will heavily depend on a secure fit, but I never had issues getting readings, even when I got sweaty. Some more good news on that front: the buds now have IP57 sweat and water resistance. I wouldn’t dunk my head in a pool while wearing them, but they might stand a better chance of surviving the wash or a sudden downpour.

As part of Apple Intelligence, the AirPods Pro 3 (along with the Pro 2 and AirPods 4) will support live translations for a handful of languages. I’ve always wanted the Babel fish from Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy to be real, so I was stoked to try this out. Compared to phones or smartwatches, earbuds feel like a more natural choice for live translation tech.

Sorry to burst any bubbles. This live translation feature is no Babel fish, though I can see it being useful in a handful of scenarios.

The feature was impressive in a live demo Apple gave me where a Spanish speaker gave a short speech. I activated Live Translation via the iPhone’s Action Button and voilá. (You can also activate by pinching both AirPods’ stems). The speaker’s voice was dampened and after a short, intentional delay, Apple Intelligence crisply translated what was being said on-device. You and your conversation partner can either both use AirPods for translation, or if they don’t have a pair, you can also view a transcript of the translated conversation on your iPhone. And if it worked like this every single time, I’d cry tears of joy.

You can view a transcript of a conversation via the iPhone

You can also start a live translation session from the phone…

Or via touch controls. You just have to press the stems of each earbud.

But real-life conversations are a bit different. They’re not always calm. They’re full of ums and uhs, and I doubt there’s any child of immigrants who hasn’t heard an auntie rattle off at the speed of light. So I called up my cousin’s spouse, who is a fluent German speaker, to see how this feature would handle translation without guardrails. To both of our surprise, it actually worked quite well for conversational German. It was even able to accurately translate when he spoke in German slang in an Austrian accent — something he said might be hard for a native German speaker. (He likened it to hearing someone with a thick Scottish accent.) It only stumbled when he would occasionally switch back to English to comment on accuracy.

The feature isn’t limited to in-person conversations only, however. It works with any audio you’re hearing in person, meaning you should be able to use it for public announcements while traveling, video calls, or foreign-language media. To test this, I watched a scene from the German film Der Untergang featuring an epic meltdown from Hitler in the last days of his dictatorship. I chose this scene precisely because the actor speaks quickly and with emotion, changing thoughts mid-sentence, and there’s cross-talk from other characters. (And because I could compare the translation with the official subtitles.)

1/3You can get the gist even if it’s not quite right.

The translation feature performed admirably, but struggled to recognize character names or account for abrupt pauses in dialogue. Sometimes it identified the words correctly but used the wrong meaning for the context. For example, a line that Live Translation presented as “Steiner could not massage enough forces for an attack” is translated in the movie’s subtitles as “Steiner didn’t have enough force to attack.” A more literal translation would be “Steiner couldn’t amass enough forces for the attack.” There are multiple ways you can translate the word that became “massage,” but Live Translation picked the wrong one.

This isn’t an Apple limitation; I’ve seen it across all AI translation tech. But while live translation works well enough to convey broad meaning, it’s hard to say whether people will use this as intended. I’ve lived abroad and have a multilingual family. To me, using AirPods makes most sense in trying to translate announcements, museum tours where multilingual options aren’t available, or media that may not yet have subtitles. In face-to-face human interaction, most people are happy to gesture or point to a translation app on their phones. And in business meetings where the absolute correct meaning is crucial, it’s hard to beat seasoned interpreters. I’ll be curious to try this out during an upcoming trip to Italy, but I have the sense that doing so will also come with a healthy dose of anxiety and self-consciousness.

Now that I’ve used the AirPods Pro 3, I can’t go back.

Let me preface this by saying you shouldn’t run out and buy these if your AirPods Pro 2 are working perfectly fine. There’s no reason to throw out a good pair of earbuds. Ideally, I’d ask that everyone exercise restraint and only upgrade when their current AirPods finally crap out or are genuinely in need of replacement. (If you’re coming from the original AirPods Pro, you’ve got a much better case for upgrading.)

But I also know how gadget nerd brains work. If you’re going to ignore me, yes this is a worthy upgrade. I wrote ahead of last week’s event that Apple should lean into giving people what they want, and they’ve done that with the AirPods Pro 3. I have next to no complaints, and the only downside I can think of is perhaps the improved fit still won’t work for everyone. The price is the same, the new additions are smart, and most importantly, the sound quality and ANC are top-notch for earbuds.

I’m happy with my AirPods Pro 2, but I won’t lie. Now that I’ve experienced the AirPods Pro 3, I can’t go back. I’ll be ordering a pair for myself once I return this review unit.

Agree to continue: AirPods Pro 3

Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it — contracts that no one actually reads. It’s impossible for us to read and analyze every single one of these agreements. But we’re going to start counting exactly how many times you have to hit “agree” to use devices when we review them since these are agreements most people don’t read and definitely can’t negotiate.

Like any other Bluetooth earbuds, the AirPods Pro can technically be set up and used without you agreeing to anything in software. With the new heart rate tracking feature, however, you may optionally be asked to agree to third-party privacy policies and terms of service if you agree to share that data (i.e., Ladder, Runna, etc.)

Final tally is one mandatory agreement.

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Product Reviews

Kodak’s mini camera fits on your keyring and is smaller than an AirPods case

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Kodak has shrunk a camera to fit onto a keyring, but it still manages to shoot both photo and video. It’s hard not to compare the Kodak Charmera to the ubiquitous Labubu craze, considering the highly collectible nature of Reto Pro selling these officially licensed mini cameras as a single blind box for $29.99 or a full set of six for $179.94. The keyring cameras, which only weigh 30 grams, are already sold out on the Reto Pro website, but are expected to be restocked.

The blind box can be unwrapped for one of seven designs, including one secret version that has a transparent shell to show off the tiny camera’s internals. According to the website, the basic style odds are one out of six, while the secret edition has a probability of one out of 48. Whichever design you get, each Charmera comes with a keyring to Labubu-bify it to your belt loop or bag and a USB-C cable to export your photos or videos to other devices.

Inspired by Kodak’s first single-use camera from the ’80s called the Fling, the Chamera sports a throwback design that can shoot 1.6-megapixel images with a 1,440 x 1,080 resolution and videos at 30fps. Nobody should expect any ultrasharp images, but you can customize your shots with Kodak frames, vintage filters and a date stamp. We’re not expecting the Charmera to deliver the highest-quality images, but just like the Gameboy Camera, that won’t make it any less fun to use.



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Amazon Fire Tv Soundbar Plus (newest Model)
Game Reviews

A Full Soundbar for Less Than Earbuds, Amazon’s Fire TV Soundbar Plus Is Now Cheaper Than the Older AirPods Pro 2

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All of that wall-rattling bass and gigantic surround sound coming from your expensive home theater audio setup is impressive, but if you’re watching a movie or TV show and you can’t make out the dialogue, what good is it? The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus that’s on sale right now for just $180 makes those voices come through loud and clear while it puts money back in your pocket.

This limited-time deal takes $70 off the price of this compact, plug-and-play 3.1-channel soundbar that brings Dolby Atmos and DTS:X sound to any TV, and is also Bluetooth compatible so you can hear your favorite playlists and podcasts with the same brilliant, clear sound.

See at Amazon

From Box to Boom in Minutes

You don’t need to be a high-end audiophile or electrician to get the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus working within minutes of unboxing. Just connect it via the included cable into your TV’s HDMI eARC/ARC port, plug it into an AC outlet, and turn it on. The audio instantly moves from your TV’s built-in speakers to the soundbar, and if you’re connecting it to a Fire TV, you can use the remote control you already have to control both the TV and the soundbar — no coding or pairing necessary.

The compact 37-inch length and and light 8.8-pound weight of the Fire TV Soundbar Plus make it a natural fit on a mantelpiece below your wall-mounted big screen, or if you’re placing it on a TV stand, it’s low-profile enough to not block the screen. At that size and weight it’s also an easy speaker to mount to the wall. Wherever you end up placing it, the 3.1-channel sound is perfect for filling the room with rich, immersive sound without rattling the walls.

All-Content Friendly

The Fire TV Soundbar Plus’s voice-dedicated center channel ensures that you hear what’s being said, even during an action movie or live sports event, but that’s not coming at the expense of the rest of the sound. Four listening modes — Movie, Music, Sports, and Night — are all optimized to bring you the right sound mix at the right time. Connect your music source via Bluetooth and enjoy the extended bass from the built-in subwoofer, and hear the on-field ambient sound and roar of the crowd during the game while still hearing the play by play.

You don’t need to break the bank or break the walls of your home to wire up that monster surround-sound system in order to enjoy clear, high-quality sound. Not while Amazon’s running this great deal on their Fire TV Soundbar Plus — it’s just $180 right now in a limited-time deal you will not want to miss.

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The AirPods Pro 3 Can Read Your Heart Rate During Workouts, Without the Need of an Apple Watch
Gaming Gear

The AirPods Pro 3 Can Read Your Heart Rate During Workouts, Without the Need of an Apple Watch

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Apple unveiled the new AirPods Pro 3 during its “awe-dropping” event Tuesday. The latest iteration of the Pro earpods has improved noise cancellation, the ability to translate other languages in real time, better and clearer sound quality, and water resistance, so it can handle your sweatiest workouts. But the AirPods Pro’s newest standout feature is its ability to read your heart rate using a small sensor implanted in the earpiece.

That means during your daily walks or workouts, your AirPods will be able to capture your heart rate using a unique infrared light sensor and a new on-device AI model that tracks heart rate and calories burned. All this data will be tracked in Apple’s Fitness app.

Additionally, the new AirPods will also give you access to Workout Buddy, a fitness feature that uses Apple Intelligence to collect your workout data, fitness history and more to personalize your workout experience. So if you’re going for a walk or run, these AirPods will function like a coach, motivating you during your workout. If you’re already an Apple Fitness Plus member, you’ll be able to use these AirPods to view your real-time performance metrics like heart rate, calories burned, Burn Bar and close the Move ring on screen. 

The addition of the heart rate sensor took me by surprise, since these types of sensors are commonly used on wearables around the wrist, like the Apple Watch, or as a smart ring. However, it does make me wonder how accurate or in sync the data will be if someone owns both the AirPods Pro 3 and an Apple Watch. Now that both can record your workouts, it will be interesting to see how it plays out as people use them in the real world.

The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are now available for preorder and will hit stores next Friday, Sept. 19. Pricing starts at $249 (£219, AU$429).



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I Tried Apple's New AirPods Pro 3 and They Feel Surprisingly Different
Gaming Gear

I Tried Apple’s New AirPods Pro 3 and They Feel Surprisingly Different

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Apple was widely expected to release the next generation of its AirPods Pro noise-canceling earbuds this fall, and now it has. As part of its September “awe-dropping” event, the company debuted the AirPods Pro 3. The new buds are upgraded in several ways, including better noise canceling and sound quality, and they have heart-rate sensors like the Beats PowerBeats Pro 2. You can preorder them today for $249 and they ship on Sept. 19.

Watch this: I Tried Apple AirPods 3: First Impressions of New Features

05:00

Here are some of their key upgrades. It’s worth noting that the AirPods Pro 3 still use Apple’s H2 chip, not the rumored even more powerful H3 chip some people thought they might get. (It apparently doesn’t exist yet.) Also, the case uses a new U2 chip for advanced precision in the Find My location system. 

  • Refined design for better fit (the buds are slightly smaller)
  • New heart-rate sensors
  • New 10.7mm drivers with new multiport acoustic architecture
  • 2x better noise canceling compared to AirPods Pro 2
  • Upgraded microphones
  • Improved sound quality with better bass
  • More natural sounding transparency mode
  • New ear tips with upgraded foam on the inside (now available in five sizes)
  • New live translation feature
  • Up to 8 hours of battery with noise canceling on (up to 10 hours with transparency and hearing aid modes)
  • IP57 water-resistant and dust-resistant (AirPods Pro 2 are IPX4 splashproof)
  • Price: $249, £219, AU$429
  • Shipping: Sept. 19

The AirPods Pro 3 have heart-rate sensors like the Beats PowerBeats Pro 2.

Apple/Screenshot by CNET

I got a chance to try the AirPods Pro 3 in Apple’s demo room at the event. While they look very similar to the AirPods Pro 2, they’ve been redesigned and are slightly smaller. The angle of the buds has been altered slightly so the eartips point more directly into your ear canals. The tips themselves have also been redesigned, with new memory foam in the tips, though the exterior of the tips is still silicone. The tips now come in five sizes, including a new extra, extra small tip. While there’s no extra large tip (which I was hoping for), the large tips now fit more like XL tips. Alas, the new tips aren’t compatible with the original AirPods Pro or AirPods Pro 2. 

The buds definitely felt different in my ears than the AirPods Pro 2, and overall they seemed to fit more snugly and securely. I suspect more people will be able to get a secure, tight seal with these new AirPods, which is crucial for noise-canceling performance and sound quality.


Enlarge Image

The case is the same size, but has a new U2 chip that enhances the precision of Apple’s Find My system. 

David Carnoy/CNET

The noise canceling seemed excellent, but it was hard to tell whether it was really two times better than the noise canceling of the AirPods Pro 2, as Apple says. But the buds are supposed to do a better job across all frequencies with noise canceling, including mids and higher frequencies that can be challenging to muffle. I’ll see how they stack up to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen) when I get my review sample. Those $299 Bose buds currently offer the best noise canceling in a set of earbuds.

It was hard to judge sound quality in the noisy demo room, even with the noise canceling on, but I got a chance to try them briefly in a quieter area and came away impressed. The bass seemed slightly deeper and better defined and the treble clarity seemed slightly improved. The new multiport acoustic architecture allows for more airflow in the buds (the vent on the bud is significantly larger), which is important to improving sound quality and bass performance.

Watch this: AirPods Pro 3: Everything Apple Just Announced

03:42

I wasn’t able to make any calls, but supposedly voice-calling performance is improved with even better noise reduction and voice clarity. Transparency mode is also supposed to sound even more natural and Apple has enhanced the hearing aid feature — battery life is improved to 10 hours when in hearing aid mode.

Heart-rate monitoring is new to the AirPods, though, as noted, it’s already available with the PowerBeats Pro 2. I’ll be testing that feature as soon as I get my hands on a review sample along with Apple’s new live translation feature, which will also be coming to the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 series (it’s coming to any AirPods with the H2 chip). Note that live translation only works with iPhones that support Apple Intelligence, including iPhone 15 Pro models, as well as all iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 models.

While we didn’t get a new H3 chip or a touchscreen LCD in the charging case, we got a lot of what we were expecting with the AirPods Pro 3, and the buds do seem like a nice upgrade over their predecessor for the same price. That wasn’t a given, as the Trump administration’s tariffs seem to be affecting the prices of premium Bose and Sony headphones. Look out for my full review in the coming weeks with comparisons to other premium earbuds in this price range.



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Marshall Major V On-Ear Headphones Crash to Lowest Price Ever, Over 5x Cheaper Than AirPods Max

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Looking for the right pair of headphones? The three most important factors are do they look good do they sound good, and will they not empty my bank account? Well, you can go right ahead and check off all three boxes with the Marshall Major V on-ear wireless headphones. These Bluetooth headphones are stylish as heck, produce great sound, and pretty dang affordable. They’re normally listed at $160. However, Amazon has them as part of a limited time deal at the moment. They’re going now for as low as 38% off which drops the price by a solid $61. You’ll only be paying $99.

With the Marshall Major V headphones, you can expect to hear the signature sound Marshall is known for. You get a thunderous bass, smooth mids, and a crisp treble. Marshall is not like Samsung or Apple. They are exclusively in the audio business — a business they’ve been in for over 60 years, mind you. The brand has developed so many iconic product from huge amplifiers to headphones such as these. They’re priority is meeting the needs and expectations of musicians and anyone else who deeply cares about sound quality.

See at Amazon

Long Listening Time

A pair of Bluetooth headphones won’t really be worth that much to you if they can’t hold a charge, so how doe the Marshall Major V hold up? Well, these on-ear headphones are capable of lasting over 100 hours on one charge. You can listen to your music non-stop for over four days before you need to plug them in again. And when they do finally die on your, you can even choose to charge them wirelessly. You’ll get from zero percent back up to full is just about three hours.

The Marshall Major V are engineered knowing you’ll be schlepping them around with you wherever you go. That’s why they’re ruggedly durable. They can handle getting roughed up a tad. When they’re not in use, they fold up easily to nice, portable size so you can toss them in a bag without taking up much room.

These headphones even features a side button which you can customize to trigger a number of different actions. By default, this button will launch Spotify on the connected device.

Right now, Amazon has the Marshall Major V wireless Bluetooth headphones marked down by a solid $61. That 38% discount is bringing the price down from $160 to just $99 for a limited time. Pick between black, brown, cream, and midnight blue. Currently all are on sale, but the black and cream are sitting at the lowest price.

See at Amazon



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The AirPods Max (USB-C) are available in a few new color options
Gaming Gear

Don’t Expect New AirPods Max 2 at Apple’s iPhone 17 Event, Report Says

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Some of us have been waiting for Apple to announce a new second-gen version of the AirPods Max, its high-end over-ear noise-canceling headphones that were released in December 2020. They were refreshed last year with USB-C connectivity, some new color options and USB-C audio in April of this year. But if a recent report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who’s usually a reliable Apple whisperer, proves accurate, we won’t be seeing the AirPods Max 2 at Apple’s iPhone 17 Event, which is likely to take place in early September based on previous iPhone events.

Read more: Everything We Expect to Be Announced at Apple’s iPhone 17 September Event

Gurman says what I’ve suspected for while: The AirPods Max are “too popular for Apple to stop selling them, and not popular enough for the company to invest a ton of time and money into creating a new version.” MacRumors posted an article Monday that summarizes Gurman’s comments in his latest Power On newsletter, which is behind a paywall. 

Citing industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a pretty good track record with Apple predictions, with a 72.5% accuracy rating over 142 rumors posts, a lighter version of the AirPods Max may only enter mass production in 2027 and that “Apple’s audio team is more focused on annual AirPods updates and supporting audio components across other products.”

While we probably won’t see a new version of the AirPods Max this year, many folks are predicting we will see the AirPods Pro 3 at Apple’s iPhone 17 Event this fall. As I talk about in my full roundup of everything we know about the AirPods Pro 3, there’s been a lot of chatter about the AirPods 3 getting Apple’s next-gen audio processor, the H3, which would help power new features and help improve not only sound quality but noise-canceling and voice-calling performance along with Apple’s Hearing Aid feature and a rumored new translation feature. 

Read more: Everything We Know About the AirPods Pro 3 Coming Soon

The AIrPods Max are only equipped with Apple’s H1 chip, so it doesn’t support all the features found in the AirPods Pro 2, which use Apple’s H2 chip. These features include Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness and Apple’s Hearing Aid and Hearing Protection features. While the AirPods Max remain excellent noise-canceling headphones and have been a fixture on CNET’s best noise-canceling headphones list since their release, it’s a shame Apple’s most expensive headphones don’t have its latest AirPods tech. But we’ll hopefully know a lot more about the future of its AirPods line in just a few weeks, so stay tuned.      



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