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

Best Wireless Earbuds of 2025

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Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds: Bose has announced that it will be shipping its improved QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen) in the “summer” of 2025 in the U.S., which means you’ll be able to find discounts on the original QC Ultra Earbuds, which feature excellent sound and previously best-in-class noise-canceling performance.

Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC: Anker released the new Liberty 5 earbuds in 2025, but this 2023 model remains a decent value at around $90. It offers decent noise canceling and a similar level of sound quality as the Liberty 5 (it’s quite good but not great). However, the Liberty 5 has improved noise canceling and voice-calling performance.

Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2: Once included on this list, Jabra has discontinued the 2024 Elite 8 Active Gen 2 after announcing it decided to gradually wind down the Jabra Elite product line. Still, we liked their incredible durability (they survived several drops without a scratch) and enhanced spatial sound powered by Dolby Audio. They make for great sport earbuds if you can get your hands on them. I have a full Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 review if you’re still interested in the discontinued buds.

Sennheiser CX: If you can’t afford Sennheiser’s flagship Momentum True Wireless 3 earbuds, the CX are a good alternative. They feature very good sound, plus decent noise cancellation and voice-calling performance. The only issue is they stick out of your ears a bit and may not fit some smaller ears. This model, which often sells for less than $100 on Amazon, doesn’t feature active noise cancellation but the step-up CX Plus does (the CX Plus is also a good value, particularly when it goes on sale). Learn more about the budget model in my Sennheiser CX true wireless earbud review.

Beats Studio Buds: The Beats Studio Buds look a lot like the rumored stemless AirPods some people have been waiting for. Geared toward both iOS and Android users, they are missing a few key features on the Apple side of things (there’s no H1 or W1 chip), but they’re small, lightweight true wireless earbuds that are comfortable to wear and offer really good sound. Their noise cancellation isn’t as good as the AirPods Pro’s, but they do have a transparency mode and they’re decent for making calls. Learn more in my fullBeats Studio Buds review that includes a more in-depth look at the features.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro offer improved noise cancellation along with very good sound and voice-calling performance, plus support for high-resolution wireless audio streaming if you’re a Galaxy device owner with the right setup. Their biggest upgrade may be their new design and smaller size, which make them a better fit for more ears. Aside from their somewhat high price tag, their only drawback is that some of their key features only work with Samsung Galaxy devices. Read my full Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review to learn more about the Android-enabled earbuds.

JBL Tour Pro 2: JBL’s Tour Pro 2 earbuds have received a lot of attention for bringing something new to true wireless earbuds: a full color touchscreen display embedded in the case that allows you to access the earbuds’ key features and control playback as well as adjust volume levels. It’s a bit of a gimmick but also useful. While the buds could sound slightly better for their list price, overall the JBL Tour Pro 2s are very good earbuds that offer a good fit, a robust feature set, strong battery life, plus solid noise cancellation and voice-calling performance. I took a closer look at the earbuds in my full JBL Tour Pro 2 review in 2023.

Sony LinkBuds S: Unlike the “open” LinkBuds, the LinkBuds S are traditional noise-isolating true wireless earbuds with tips that jam in your ears. They’re more compact and lighter than Sony’s former flagship WF-1000XM4 and also feature Sony’s V1 processor (Sony has since released the more compact WF-1000XM5). While their sound and noise cancellation don’t quite measure up to either XM4 or XM5’s, they’re still quite good. They’re the Sony buds for people who can’t afford Sony’s flagship earbuds but want 80% of those buds’ features and performance for significantly less. Read more about them in our hands-on review of the Sony LinkBuds S.

Sony WF-1000XM4: Released in 2021, Sony’s WF-1000XM4 earned a CNET Editors’ Choice Award. They’re still excellent earbuds, but Sony has now released the next-gen WF-1000XM5. They may be a good option if you find them at a good discount. If you’re interested in the model, I took a closer look in my full Sony WF-1000XM4 review.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3: The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 were among the best new true wireless earbuds of 2022. They’re still among the best truly wireless earbuds, but Sennheiser has released the upgraded Momentum True Wireless 4. Also, the newer AirPods Pro 2 and Sony WF-1000XM5 buds are arguably superior, so only look to buy the Momentum True Wireless 3 when they’re significantly discounted. Learn more about the impressive buds in my full Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 review.

Beyerdynamic Free Byrd: Beyerdynamic may be late to the game, but it’s finally introduced its first true wireless earbuds, which feature active noise cancellation, up to 11 hours of battery life (with noise cancelling off) and impressive sound quality. Read our Beyerdynamic Free Byrd review.

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX: Bang & Olufsen’s $399 Beoplay EX buds are the company’s best true wireless earbuds. They feature a comfortable, secure fit (except perhaps for those with really smaller ears), top-notch build quality, great sound, good noise cancellation and improved voice-calling performance over B&O’s EQ buds, with three microphones in each earbud they help with reducing background noise while picking up your voice. They’re out of most people’s price range, but they’re arguably the best earbuds out there with stems and offer slightly superior sound to the AirPods Pro 2 with better clarity, deeper more powerful bass and richer, more accurate sound. Learn more about the premium model in my full Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX review.

Sony Linkbuds: The LinkBuds are, in a sense, Sony’s answer to Apple’s standard AirPods. While they don’t sound as good as Sony’s flagship WF-1000XM4 or the Linkbuds S noise-isolating earbuds, they offer a discreet, innovative design and a more secure fit than the AirPods, as well as decent sound and very good voice-calling performance. Like the third-gen AirPods, their open design allows you to hear the outside world — that’s what the ring is all about. Check out our Sony Linkbuds reviewfor more information on the Sony buds.



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Get Super Mario And Kirby Switch 2 Wireless Controllers For Up To 50% Off
Game Updates

Get Super Mario And Kirby Switch 2 Wireless Controllers For Up To 50% Off

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With Nintendo’s official Pro Controllers for Switch 1/2 now priced at $80/$90, it has become quite expensive to pick up first-party gamepads for Players 2-4. Thankfully, there are officially licensed third-party controllers with lower prices and Nintendo’s seal of approval. And ahead of next week’s Prime Big Deal Days sale, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 owners can save big on over a dozen wireless controllers produced by PowerA, Nintendo’s most prolific official partner.

Most of the controllers on sale are themed around popular Nintendo franchises, with plenty of Super Mario and Pokemon models discounted by up to 50%. Arguably the best design on sale–and currently the top seller of the bunch–is the ultra-cute Kirby Mouthful Wireless Controller for $30 (was $50). You’ll also find Princess Peach and Super Mario versions for $30 each. For King Koopa fans, the Bowser-themed wireless controller with back buttons is only $27 (was $45). You can check out those three models and more with huge discounts in the gallery below.

$30 (was $50)

Inspired by Mouthful Mode in Kirby and the Forgotten Land, the adorable design makes it appear as if Kirby just inhaled your Nintendo Switch controller.

This is a standard PowerAo Wireless Controller, which means it uses AA batteries (included) and doesn’t have back buttons. You can get up to 40 hours of game time before needing to swap out the batteries. We’d recommend grabbing a pack of rechargeable batteries such as this popular 8-pack with a charger for $22 (was $29).

PowerA’s Switch controllers offer great ergonomics and solid performance for the price. The Kirby Mouthful Controller has six-axis motion controls, but it doesn’t have rumble motors, an IR camera, or an NFC reader for Amiibo.

Note: PowerA’s Enhanced Wireless Controllers have two remappable back buttons and charge via USB-C. The Bowser controller and this Legend of Zelda controller split the difference by having back buttons and AA batteries. You’ll also see a couple Enhanced models with PowerA’s Lumectra RGB lighting effects. All of the controllers have very similar form factors with the exception of the Mario Victory Nano Controller, which has a compact form factor and is on sale for 50% off.

While none of the controllers in our gallery have the Switch 2’s new C button for GameChat, PowerA is releasing three wireless models in its Advantage line with the GameChat button and Hall Effect sticks on October 30.

If you like having back buttons on your controllers and want even more customization options, we’d highly recommend checking out 8BitDo’s Ultimate and Pro series. 8BitDo released new iterations of both this year. The 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller is on sale for $60 (was $70); if you prefer aligned thumbsticks like a PlayStation controller, the 8BitDo Pro 3 Gamepad with GameCube-inspired color schemes is up for grabs for $63 (was $70). Check out our story on the Ultimate 2 for more details.

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This Wireless Tech Could Fix the Most Annoying Thing About Using Wireless Earbuds at Home
Gaming Gear

This Wireless Tech Could Fix the Most Annoying Thing About Using Wireless Earbuds at Home

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Your phone is usually attached to your hip (in terms of the recent iPhone 17’s Crossbody Strap, I mean that literally). But in the comfort of your own home when you’re trying to unwind and escape your phone with your favorite music, needing to stay in Bluetooth range for your headphones and wireless earbuds can be a little annoying. Qualcomm’s audio engineers are trying to solve that issue by seamlessly switching to Wi-Fi if you travel away from your audio source. Sure, that sounds neat, but the tech implies a future where you won’t even need any other device nearby to listen to your favorite tunes on your AirPods.

I can already hear the whining in the comments. The problem this feature hopes to fix is a very niche use case, but it’s one that could end up in many next-gen wireless earbuds in the near future. I tested out this feature at Snapdragon Summer in Hawaii (full disclosure: travel and lodging were paid by Qualcomm, and Gizmodo did not guarantee any coverage as a condition of accepting the trip), dubbed XPAN for “Expanded Personal Area Network,” with a pair of nonspecific reference wireless earbuds used by Qualcomm. With the feature enabled, the buds work with the phone to detect if the device is in Bluetooth range. If you start walking away, they will automatically switch over to Wi-Fi.

© Kyle Barr / Gizmodo

In many ways, the tech is far more interesting than the end result. The wireless earbuds contained a Wi-Fi antenna, though neither the case nor the buds looked much different from what I’ve used in the past. I walked 30 feet away from the phone and back, and I didn’t notice any interruptions in the song playing. The phone showed how it was swapping from a P2P (peer-to-peer) connection through various other connection types. A Bluetooth 5.3 connection range is technically close to 33 feet. While that means you won’t lose connection walking from one end of the room to the other, intervening walls or—in my case—a crowd of bodies could interrupt that signal. XPAN merely expands the range to encompass everywhere there’s a Wi-Fi signal.

Although wireless earbuds with the technology will be limited to local Wi-Fi, the technology could potentially allow you to listen to your device from “anywhere in the world” through a Wi-Fi access point. Dino Bekis, Qualcomm’s general manager of connectivity, told me in a Q&A that there’s no issue with latency on a Wi-Fi connection compared to Bluetooth. Modern wireless earbuds are already so damn good at cutting down on latency even when streaming high-bitrate lossless audio. Wi-Fi networks should be able to handle the 96kHz speeds necessary for lossless. It shouldn’t matter if you’re still using Wi-Fi 6 or the modern Wi-Fi 7 standard, either.

“Today, with XPAN, it’s 96kHz 24-bit, but we see that evolving to 192kHz to be truly lossless,” Bekis said.

Qualcomm has talked up Wi-Fi audio connections for the past two years with its previous-gen S7 and S7 Pro platforms. The first wireless earbuds with XPAN built in were the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro released earlier this year. They support the 96kHz standard, though Bekis promised we should see more wireless earbuds soon enough with current or future S7 chips. Audiophiles would still extol the benefits of lossless and minimum latency. Regular folk who just want to listen to their tunes simply care that they need to be within close range of their paired music source. Still, the feature may end up being more useful for taking calls with your wireless earbuds than for listening to music.

Inevitably, it seems our wireless earbuds will become as connected as our phones are today. What that means for music listeners is a future where we connect to Spotify or Apple Music right from our wireless earbuds’ or headphones’ case, rather than needing to go through a phone. I don’t think we’ll need to wait long to see more wireless earbuds cases with screens used to control music. Hell, if you were longing for a device as dedicated to music as your old iPod, a Wi-Fi-enabled pair of wireless earbuds could fit the bill. You’ll still have to pay your tithe to your favorite music streaming app, of course.



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Super Sounding Wireless Earbuds, Not-So-Super Mic
Product Reviews

Super Sounding Wireless Earbuds, Not-So-Super Mic

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From the start, Nothing was designed to be an antidote to Apple and its omnipresent AirPods. While Apple focused on a sort of all-purpose minimalism, Nothing adopted a hallmark transparent look that, if not altogether disparate (both pairs of wireless earbuds have a similar stem design), at least gave its Ear products a unique design language. That quest for being different extended into features, too. In 2023, Nothing introduced personalized EQ, giving it a visual and technological difference over Apple’s AirPods and eventually a ChatGPT integration, which was a first in the category.

But a lot happens in a few years, especially in a space as saturated as wireless earbuds, and while Nothing’s Ear are still a solid pair of earbuds, they feel… a little less of an earful. Apple now has its AirPods Pro 3 with high-tech features like real-time translation and heart rate monitoring, while non-Apple competitors in the same price range, like OnePlus and Google, aren’t pulling any punches with their own entrants into the space that offer personalized EQ, AI features, and noise-canceling that compete with pro-level gadgets.

Nothing Ear 3

The Nothing Ear 3 have solid sound, but flub the one thing that makes them unique.

Pros

  • Great sound
  • Solid ANC
  • They look very cool
  • Case feels premium

Cons

  • Super Mic is a super letdown
  • May not be worth the premium over last gen

But just in the nick of time, as Nothing’s flagship wireless earbuds seem to be falling behind, the company is back with its $180 Ear 3 that offer a new look and one truly unique feature for improving voice calls. As usual, Nothing is taking some chances, and not just in the visual department. For me, some of those risks are really paying off, but others… well, they’re not so super.

Nothing Ear 3 gets a visual update

© Adriano Conreras / Gizmodo

So much of Nothing is about looks. That’s not a knock on the company. This is technology that you wear, and because of that, appearance can be make-or-break. Chances are, if you’ve bought Nothing products in the past, you agree, which also means, if you saw Nothing teasing its Ear 3 wireless earbuds before its release, your eyebrows may have been raised.

I’m going to get straight to the point: the Ear 3 look great. I was worried at first that the Ear 3 may scale back on the transparent part of its wireless earbuds, but that’s not the case here at all. Sorry for the alarm bells, anyone who reads my blogs. Instead of a homogeneous black look on the outside of the stems, the Ear 3 goes with a metallic silver that really makes them look like a capital “G” Gadget. As Gizmodo’s Senior Editor, Consumer Tech, Raymond Wong, noted to me, this thing has big Talkboy vibes (shout out to Macaulay Culkin). There’s still a transparent shell that lets you see the internal components through the sides and back of the earbud stems.

© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

The case also adopts the same metallic look, shedding the white version (there’s also still black) for an aluminum that both looks and feels genuinely different. The “Talk” button (more on that later) is also nice and shiny, inviting you to push it. This case now has some weight in your hand, and I really love that. No one wants to carry around heavy gadgets, but Nothing did a good job here of balancing the weight to make the case and buds feel premium without making it feel chunky.

The design language also feels more aligned across flagship audio products now, bringing together the Ear 3 and the Headphone 1, which have an aluminum finish. If you’re a fan of the Headphone 1, or prior Nothing buds, you’ll love the look of the Ear 3. Another thing you’ll love? The sound.

A much-needed audio upgrade

I thought the Ear were nice wireless earbuds when I first listened to them in 2024, but I’ve tested a lot of newer earbuds since then, and in that testing, my opinion has shifted. The Ear still hold it down, but the sound and ANC aren’t quite as premium as I’d like them to be, especially with a slight cost premium over brand new buds like the OnePlus Buds 4. In short, it was time for an upgrade.

According to Nothing, the Ear 3 now has a redesigned 12mm dynamic driver and “patterned diaphragm surface” that is meant to “lower total harmonic distortion from 0.6% to 0.2% versus the previous in-ear generation.” Nothing also says that the redesigned architecture increases bass response and delivers a wider soundstage. That’s all rhetoric, though, and at the end of the day, what you really want to know is, “Do these sound better than the last generation?” and in my anecdotal testing, they definitely do.

© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

I tested the Ear 3 back to back with the Ear (which is actually newer than the Ear 2) and found that there was a lot less distortion when listening to C.W. Stoneking’s “Desert Isle”. There’s more spatiality in the Ear 3 than the Ear, making guitars and vocals sound like they’re in their own place instead of muddled together competing. Vocals in particular sound clear and natural, which is great if you’re like me and tend to listen to a lot of rock music. One vast improvement over the Ear is in the bass department. As I’ve said many times, I don’t particularly care about having a ton of bass in wireless earbuds, but I do appreciate a pair that can still provide low end without sounding over-compressed or super simulated. I’d say the Ear 3 do just that, especially after testing bassier music by listening to Daft Punk’s “Da Funk”.

As usual, I also dove into the Nothing X app and used Nothing’s personalized audio test to tune the Ear 3 to my specific hearing. I can’t overstate this enough: stop sleeping on your wireless earbuds’ companion app. There’s a big difference in the sound before using the personalized EQ and after, and while this won’t be the case with everyone, I’m 33 years old and a couple of decades of going to shows and listening to loud music means I could probably use a little assistance in the hearing department. The Ear 3 sound great out of the box, but personalized EQ really sends the audio over the top. In short, Nothing is still holding it down with its flagship-level sound, and the Ear 3 is an even bigger improvement generation-to-generation than its jump from Ear 2 to Ear.

Active noise cancellation (ANC), however, I found a little less improved generation-to-generation. Though to be fair, Nothing isn’t touting better noise canceling this time around. I gave the Ear 3 the obligatory subway test, and while they passed, they weren’t quite as formidable as my favorite noise-canceling wireless earbuds, Bose’s Quiet Comfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen). They’re still much better than the similarly priced Galaxy Buds 3 FE from Samsung that I recently tested. I do think they’re slightly more noise-canceling than the last generation, though that could be due to Nothing’s redesign of the buds, which are meant to provide a better and more comfortable fit in your ears—that could create better passive noise cancellation and the illusion of stronger ANC.

Battery life is also only slightly improved. Nothing says the Ear 3 will get 5.5 hours of listening with ANC on, while the Nothing Ear was rated for 5.2 hours. This is nowhere near the best battery of wireless earbuds in this class; in fact, it’s a little under. Six hours is generally the standard nowadays. In my testing, I went from 100% to 80% battery in a little over 1 hour of listening at 70% volume with ANC on high.

So, that’s the good, pretty good, and just okay news about the Ear 3. But there are some things I really don’t like, so let’s talk about them.

Super Mic? More like soupy mic.

There’s one aspect of the Ear 3 that can’t be compared, since Nothing is the only company really trying it. I’m talking about the “Super Mic,” a new exclusive feature in the Ear 3 that lets you use microphones in the case for clearer calling and voice recording. By pressing the “Talk” button on the case, you can activate the feature and get recording or calling—one push activates the feature until you release the button, while a double-tap will turn the feature on until you turn it off.

According to Nothing, there are two Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) mics inside the case that use beamforming to zero in on your voice and cancel out environmental noise at the same time. The Ear 3 also take advantage of bone-conducting capabilities that detect “microvibrations” in your jaw that are meant to detect speech. The process of relaying the results of your Super Mic voice is a bit convoluted. Nothing says your voice is “sent to the case antenna, relayed to the earbud antenna over Bluetooth, then passed to the phone.”

© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

Per Nothing, Super Mic “focuses on your voice, cutting through surrounding noise (up to 95 dB) for clearer calls and voicenotes.” In theory, I love the idea. Wired earbuds are a big thing again, and a major part of that (outside the superior audio quality) is that they usually come with an on-cable mic for clearer calls. This theoretically makes the Ear 3 a best of both worlds situation, giving you wired earbud-level mics for calling (or better) while not having to deal with annoying wires.

The only problem is… the Super Mic doesn’t work as advertised. I ran the feature through a few different tests, and the results were varying degrees of muddy. At first, I played background music while using Super Mic to record my voice through my iPhone’s Voice Memo app. Instead of canceling out the background music (lo-fi beats playing at 75% volume from a Chromebook about a foot away from me), it mixed my voice and the beats together, creating a kind of muddled amalgam that wasn’t very pleasant to listen back to.

© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

Similarly, I simulated subway noise (something more “environmental”) on YouTube at the same volume and distance, and the results were similar. My voice was still mixed in with the ambient sound that I hoped it would filter out. Super Mic did seem to work better out on the street near my office (a fairly busy part of downtown Manhattan), though I still wouldn’t describe the results as “super” in any way. Even when Super Mic effectively filters out environmental noise, I find the fidelity to be choppy and compressed-sounding at times. It’s nowhere near as pleasing to listen to as recording through the native mic on my iPhone 13.

Super Mic did filter out noise effectively while walking on the street next to ongoing construction and in a fast casual restaurant that was playing music, but it still picked up other people’s voices in settings where people were talking nearby, which would make using the feature in an environment with other people potentially problematic.

There’s also the issue of compatibility. Nothing says Super Mic is designed for voice calling in apps like Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, WhatsApp, WeChat, and is also supported in native voice memo apps on iOS and Android. However, Nothing makes it clear that the feature “isn’t optimized” for in-app voice messaging through third-party apps like Snapchat or native voice features in iOS Messages and the like. This is a long way of saying that your mileage may vary when it comes to Super Mic, and while compatibility can’t be blamed on Nothing—it’s up to Apple and Android to allow third-party mic access, and in what apps—it still limits the Super Mic feature, making its use a lot more restricted than it ought to be.

I reached out to Nothing about the issue I had with Super Mic, but haven’t yet determined if there’s an issue with the wireless earbuds or a problem with the feature. (Yes, I was using the right firmware and Nothing X build). Other reviewers have reported their own issues with Super Mic, too.

Good buds, but a little (ear)itating

When you make a big bet, you might lose a little money—no risk, no reward. No matter your rote idiom of choice, that sentiment tends to be true. Super Mic could be a cool feature if it’s refined, but for now, I would file it firmly in the “undwhelming” folder. Maybe it will improve with future software, but I can’t really guarantee that, so all I have to work with is what we have right now, which is to say a Super Mic that seems to be plagued by a serious case of Kryptonite.

© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

The annoying part is that everything else about the Ear 3 is pretty solid. They look great, they sound great, and ANC is sturdy. The battery life leaves something to be desired, but it’s not so bad that it’s disqualifying. But this is what happens when you try to do something different sometimes, you gotta take the hits with the misses. Alright, I’m done with the corny euphemisms now, I swear.

The Ear 3 might falter out of the gate with a shoddy Super Mic feature, but if you like the way Nothing wireless earbuds look and you want solid sound and ANC, the Ear 3 are still worth a look. Just don’t expect to be taking any Zoom calls from a construction site with these things just yet.



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Product Reviews

The best multi-device wireless charging pads for 2025

by admin


We all have so many gadgets now that we use and take with us regularly, and there’s a good chance that at least a few of yours support wireless charging. Whether its your phone, wireless earbuds, smartwatch or all three of those things, you can power them up cord-free using a good wireless charger. And if you do plan to rely on wireless power-ups for your most-used devices, a multi-device wireless charger is a good investment. These accessories neatly charge up more than one device simultaneously, without using a bunch of cables that can mess up your space. We’ve tested a bunch of the latest multi-device wireless chargers; you’ll find out top picks below for the best wireless charging pads, plus some advice on how to choose the right one for your needs.

Table of contents

Best wireless charging pads

UGREEN

UGreen’s MagFlow Qi2 3-in-1 charger station offers a ton of value for $100. The company managed to build a trio charger that works well as a permanent fixture on your bedside table or desk, as well as a compact portable charging station. As the former, it takes up very little space when fully setup, and the magnetic phone charger can be tilt-adjusted up to 70 degrees so you can get the right viewing angle if you’re watching videos on your iPhone while charging. The Apple Watch charging pad is similarly adjustable, and the space that wirelessly powers up AirPods or other earbuds sits right in front of that.

Since this is a Qi2 charger, it can power up an iPhone 16 from zero to 40 percent in roughly 30 minutes, so you won’t have to wait long before you can grab your phone and get going. The magnets are strong and allow you to use the phone in either portrait or landscape mode while it’s powering up, and when you’re done, you can fold the entire charging station flat and easily toss it in a bag to take with you. UGreen includes a USB-C to C cable and a 30W adapter in the box, so you’re given everything the station needs to power up all your devices as quickly as possible.

The design is clever and feels premium without being too heavy, and I appreciate the soft-touch accents throughout. There are also four rubberized feet on the bottom so the device is less likely to move around or fall over when perched on a table. Overall, this 3-in-1 charger station essentially gives you a unit you can easily take with you as much as you want, using it at work, at home and everywhere in between.

Pros

  • Compact, travel-friendly design
  • Qi2 15W charging
  • Includes USB-C cable and 30W adapter in the box

Cons

  • Included USB-C cable is a tad short

$100 at Amazon

Anker

Anker’s Qi2 15W 3-in-1 charging station is quite similar to our top pick, but it’s slightly smaller overall and its MSRP is a bit more expensive. It also comes with a 40W adapter in the box in addition to its USB-C cable. Minor differences aside, either this or our top pick are excellent options for anyone who wants to streamline their charging setup with a station that’s just as convenient to park on a nightstand or throw in a carry-on ahead of a trip.

You can charge an iPhone at top speeds with Anker’s device, plus an Apple Watch and a pair of AirPods. The magnets are quite strong (there were a few instances where it too me some strength to remove my phone when it was done charging), and the whole thing folds down to roughly the size of a deck of cards when you’re all done with it. It’s listed at $110, but you can often find it on sale for less than $85 — that’s the best time to pick it up.

Pros

  • Compact, travel-friendly design
  • Qi2 15W charging
  • Includes USB-C cable and 40W adapter in the box

Cons

  • A bit more expensive than our top pick

$110 at Amazon

Satechi

Satechi’s accessories always impress with build quality and performance, and this Qi2 Trio wireless charging pad is no exception. It’s a sleek aluminum pad with space for a phone, smartwatch and pair of earbuds, with the first two items having pop-up magnetic charging spaces that fold back down into the pad when not in use. The phone’s silicone charging puck has a soft-touch finish and can be adjusted to position your phone at the right angle for media consumption or viewing in Standby Mode.

Strong magnets keep your phone in place either in portrait or landscape mode, and you’ll get up to 15W of power delivery with newer iPhones. The whole thing measures 8.2 x 3.8 x 0.81 inches, so you will need a bit of horizontal space on your nightstand or desk to accommodate it, but it’s otherwise streamlined. I appreciate the fold design for the phone and watch chargers because it allows you to travel more easily with the charging pad, and since you get a USB-C cable, a 45W power brick and US, EU, and UK travel adapters included in the box, you’ll probably want to do so.

Pros

  • Premium build
  • Qi2 15W charging
  • Includes travel adapters along with USB-C cable and 45W adapter in the box

Cons

  • Takes up more horizontal space on a desk or nightstand

$94 at Amazon

Belkin

Belkin is known for make quality accessories, and the 3-in-1 UltraCharge Pro charging station really exemplifies this. It feels luxe with its chrome accents and soft-touch finish, and it’s nicely weighted so it won’t be easily pushed to the side on your desk or nightstand. It wirelessly powers up an iPhone, Apple Watch and pair of AirPods simultaneously, and it supports Qi2 25W technology, so the latest iPhone will recharge as quickly as possible. It even has a built-in fan (that runs supremely quiet) that you can switch on and off to use the active cooling technology while you’re powering up all your devices at once. And since it comes with a power cable and a 45W adapter, you don’t need to get anything extra to set it up properly.

Pros

  • Premium design
  • Qi2 25W charging
  • Includes a 45W adapter in the box
  • Active cooling technology for heat management

$130 at Amazon

Belkin

This 2-in-1 UltraCharge station from Belkin ticks all the right boxes if you’re looking for duo charger. It supports Qi2 25W power technology, it’s MagSafe compatible, its design is slim yet sturdy and could even be used during travel and it comes with a cable and 45W adapter in the box. All of that for well under $100 makes it a great value if you have one of the latest iPhones, or an older model that supports MagSafe. You’ll be able to charge one of those iPhones and a pair of AirPods simultaneously, and when you have the juice you need, the charging station flips closed so you can toss it in your bag. And for folks with Apple Watch as well, there’s a 3-in-1 version you can pick up instead.

Pros

  • Compact, travel-friendly design
  • Qi2 25W charging
  • Includes a 45W adapter in the box

Cons

  • Only available in three colors

$60 at Amazon

UGREEN

The UGreen Uno 2-in-1 wireless charger isn’t only one of the most compact and effective chargers I tested, it’s also probably the cutest. As is the case with most of the Uno lineup, which includes devices with precious little digital faces on screens that can indicate different charging statuses. With this model in particular, the digital facial expression changes when your phone or wireless earbuds go from actively charging to powered and in standby mode.

Another clever feature of this 2-in-1 station is the flat phone pad that flips up from the top edge and can be adjusted to position your smartphone accordingly while powering up. Underneath that is the pad for your earbuds, which is only as big as it needs to be to hold a pair of AirPods Pro 2, with or without a case. Although the cube-like station is chunky enough that I probably wouldn’t travel with it, there’s a good case to be made for tossing this into your backpack or carry-on when you’re going on a trip. The only major drawback here, as is the case for many 2-in-1 charging stations, is that it only comes with a USB-C cable — you’ll have to provide the right power adapter (we suggest 30W or higher) to plug it in.

Pros

  • Compact, adorable design
  • Qi2 15W charging
  • Includes USB-C cable in the box

Cons

  • No included power adapter

$44 at Amazon

Satechi

This Satechi Duo wireless charger stand pulls double duty as a 10,000mAh power bank, making it a great option for frequent travelers. It looks similar to most charging bricks, but it has a flip-up stand that can be used to charge your phone and prop it up while doing so, either in portrait or landscape mode. Underneath that stand is a spot for a pair of wireless earbuds to sit and power up, and both charging sections can be used either while the station is plugged in or not. That means you can wirelessly charge on the go, or connect your phone, earbuds or other USB-C device via a USB-C cable to the power brick and juice up that way.

As is typical of Satechi devices, this power station is well designed with convenient touches like a rubberized strip where your phone sits on the stand so it doesn’t slide side to side, and small feet on the underside to prevent the charger from moving when it’s propped on a table or nightstand. While you do get a USB-C to C cable that you can use to connect devices to the brick and power the charger itself, you do not get an adapter in the box.

Pros

  • Wireless charger and 10K power bank in one
  • Can wirelessly charge when not connected to power (provided the power bank has juice)
  • Qi 10W charging

Cons

  • No included power adapter

$50 at Amazon

Do wireless charging pads work with any phone or device?

The short answer is no, but the long and more detailed answer starts with it depends. Regular old wireless charging pucks should work with any device that’s compatible with the same wireless charging standard that the charger supports. Smartphones and other mobile devices that support wireless charging nowadays are likely to support the Qi standard, so double check that your phone or gadget fits that bill and it should work with any Qi wireless charging pad (all of our top picks fall into this category).

When it comes to multi-device chargers, things can get a little tricky. Rather than starting your search looking for the most universally adaptable accessory, consider the devices you have and aspire to own in the future. If you’re an iPhone user with an Apple Watch, you may want to look for a wireless charger that has a Watch pad built in. Ditto if you’re a Samsung phone owner and use a Galaxy Watch. Some earbuds support wireless charging, but you’ll only need an open pad or space on your multi-device charger where you can sit the earbuds in their case down for a power-up.

Those with iPhone 12s and newer Apple smartphones can take advantage of MagSafe chargers, which magnetically attach to their handsets. Android devices don’t support Apple’s proprietary MagSafe technology, but you can buy a magnetic adapter for pretty cheap that will allow your Samsung or Pixel phone to work with MagSafe multi-device chargers. You’ll also need that to get full Qi2 goodness with newer Android phones like the Galaxy S25 series, which are “Qi2 ready,” but since they do not have magnets built in, aren’t precisely Qi2 compliant.

How to pick the best wireless charging pad for your needs

Even without a charging cable to worry about, you’re probably buying a multi-device wireless charger with one location in mind. It might sit on your nightstand or on your desk. Not everyone buys a charger just for themselves, though; you might want to use one as a shared station for you and a partner.

If the charger will sit on your nightstand, you’ll likely want a compact, stable unit that won’t swallow all your free space or tumble to the floor (and if it does fall, one with enough durability to survive). Some may prefer a lay-flat design if your phone screen has a tendency to keep you awake at night. Others might use their phone as their alarm clock, in which case you may want a stand that keeps the screen within reach and eyeshot. This is also the preferred design if you use Standby Mode on iPhones.

A vertical orientation may be best for a charger that lives on your desk so you can more easily check notifications throughout the day. Will the charger sit on a low table? Horizontal charger pads may make it easier to grab your devices in a hurry. Travel chargers should fold up or otherwise protect the pads while they’re in your bag. And, yes, aesthetics count. You may want something pretty if it’s likely to sit in a posh room where guests will see it.

For vehicles, consider a wireless car charger if you frequently need to top off your device on the go. These chargers combine convenience with functionality, ensuring your phone stays powered while you’re navigating and taking calls at the same time. We also heavily recommend a magnetic charger so there’s less of a chance your phone will go flying into the passenger’s seat the next time you hit a pothole.

Wireless charging speed and performance

It’s no secret that wireless charging is slower than wired, and powering multiple devices adds a new wrinkle. As these chargers often have to support a wide range of hardware, you’ll have to forget about the fastest, device-specific options from brands like Google, OnePlus and Samsung.

Today, most wireless chargers come in at 15W for phones. The latest Qi2 standard can get you up to 25W of power with a compatible smartphone. These speeds are improving bit by bit, but they’re still not quite as fast as wired charging. It’s rare that you’ll find a truly slow-as-molasses example, mind you. Even some of the most affordable options we’ve seen will recharge your phone at a reasonable 7.5W or 10W, and the 5W for other devices like wireless earbuds is more than enough.

If you’re only docking overnight or while you work, speed won’t make a huge difference. Just be sure that whatever you buy is powerful enough for a phone in a case. Some chargers may also include an AC adapter in the box. If not, make sure you’re using one with the right power level to get the fastest charge.



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The Creative Chat Wireless headset during our review
Product Reviews

Creative Chat Wireless business headset review

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Why you can trust TechRadar


We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

The Chat Wireless from Creative is a lightweight Bluetooth headset designed for business use. It doesn’t seek to reinvent the wheel, but instead deliver exceptional comfort and crystal-clear audio at what I’d consider to be a very fair price.

As a chap who lives inside his headphones – for everything from conference calls to music playback and gaming sessions – I was keen to see how well they performed.

Spoiler alert: they’re definitely worth a look if you’re a professional. Yes, I have issues with the buttons, but the design, price, and overall quality of the audio and noise-canceling mic are excellent.

  • Creative Chat Wireless at Amazon for $69.99

Creative Chat Wireless: Price & availability

The Creative Chat Wireless headset is currently priced at $70 from Creative’s official US site – while in the UK, it’s retailing for £50 via Creative.

I’m also seeing it available on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk for the same price.

Compared to alternatives, it’s priced pretty much at the low- to mid-range – it’s certainly not as pricey as offerings like the Jabra Evolve 2 65 Flex I’ve reviewed, which far surpasses the $150 mark.

Creative Chat Wireless: Design & features

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(Image credit: Creative // Future)(Image credit: Creative // Future)(Image credit: Creative // Future)

The design of the Chat Wireless headset is par for the course and in line with what I’d expect from a unit at this price. Inside the box, there’s the headset itself, a USB cable, the USB dongle, and a quick start manual.

In hand, the headset is impressively lightweight with plenty of give to fit a range of head sizes. The band is made of a firm plastic, neatly rounded on one side, which I think gives it an attractive, premium style compared to bland, budget headsets. Encompassing the top is padding for a more comfortable fit. As an accent, there’s bronze-colored metal connecting it to the pads.

I found the earcups well-cushioned, with a foam interior covered with a synthetic material. They fit nicely over the ear, but don’t envelope them in the way casual consumer headphones do. These also swivel inward for easier storage – although they aren’t foldable and don’t come with a case.

On the left earcup is a USB-C port for charging and separate volume up and down buttons. I particularly like how they’re positioned on either side of the band, so I wasn’t blindly fumbling for the correct one.

It’s also home to the stowable microphone, which rotates both ways and features a physical mute button. At the base of the mic is a Call button, used to turn the unit on and off or entering Bluetooth pairing mode.

All in all, the headset boasts a simple and efficient design with all the core features you’d expect.

Creative Chat Wireless: Performance

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(Image credit: Creative // Future)(Image credit: Creative // Future)(Image credit: Creative // Future)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the Chat Wireless is light, tipping the scales at 0.3lb / 137g when I weighed them. It’s the sort of headset you can easily wear all day (and I did) without discomfort. If you’re taking a lot of calls, they’re pitch-perfect in this regard.

When wearing the headset, it’s surprisingly firm on the ears – and while there’s no noise-cancelling on the earcups, the snug fit did prevent extraneous background noise filtering in.

I found audio quality to be excellent, with just the right amount of bass and treble, while voices had the correct timbre. I used these for video calls using both Bluetooth and the USB dongle, as well as hooking up via Bluetooth to my phone to listen to music and podcasts, and a Nintendo Switch 2 while playing games. Each time, I experienced no tinniness here, which I sometimes find from cheaper devices.

Microphone quality came out incredibly clear. There is noise-canceling on the mic and in my own tests, this worked well. Which is useful, as I have an especially vocal cat that likes to make its presence known during calls. I experienced absolutely no issues throughout my use, and yes, the mute button on mic works instantly and well (a perennial fear of mine). A discrete voice will whisper in your ear to let you know when it’s muted or unmuted, and the LED simultaneously switches from blue (unmute) to white (mute), too.

All button presses feel soft and pleasant – neither too clicky nor too mushy, but somewhere in between. However, I did find when attempting to adjust the volume, I had to be quite firm in order for it to register. Light taps just won’t work here.

This wasn’t the case with the Call button, which was immediately responsive when answering calls and hanging up. Other features like holding the volume buttons to skip tracks during playback or tapping the Call button to play or pause worked well.

Where I did run into problems, though, was when hitting this button multiple times to activate the various functions, like redial or opening my AI assistant. It took some time to figure out the appropriate amount of time between each click. It needs to be neither rapid nor too drawn out. Experimentation is recommended.

But where it really counts – audio and mic quality – I was highly impressed, and confident I was being heard. Never once did I have to ask “Can everyone hear me?” or “Is this thing on?”

Creative Chat Wireless: Final verdict

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(Image credit: Creative // Future)(Image credit: Creative // Future)(Image credit: Creative // Future)

Whenever I’m reviewing a device like this, I ask myself: Would I buy this with my own hard-earned cash? And, considering the cost and the overall audio experience, this one is a resounding yes. It’s impressively lightweight, and ideal for professionals in an office or home office setting.

I do have some issues with the buttons, which could be more responsive – but to some degree that might be user error on my part – and some may wish for extra features like a foldable design or a storage case. And if you prefer a wired connection, these aren’t the ones for you, as they’re wireless-only.

But for a low- to mid-range wireless unit that makes meetings more bearable, especially if you’re using them all day, they’re one of the best Bluetooth headsets I’ve used.

Should I buy the Creative Chat Wireless?

Buy it if…

✅ You wear a headset all day: The Chat Wireless is pleasantly lightweight for all-day use, and the earpads feel snug over the ear without pressing against them too hard. I found them to be very comfortable, even after wearing them for hours at a time.

✅ You want a well-priced headset with all the core features: It’s not overloaded with unnecessary features or expensive technology, but audio quality is great and the buttons deliver a multitude of additional functions for navigating calls and playback.

Don’t buy it if…

❌ You need wired and wireless connection: As the name suggests, this headset is wireless only using Bluetooth 5.4 or the USB dongle. Creative does sell the Chat USB, which has a slightly thicker design but near-identical price with – you guessed it – a wired USB connection.

❌ You want noise-canceling audio: While the mic does have noise cancelation, the earcups don’t have this feature. I didn’t find this to be an issue even in somewhat active rooms, but it may be a deal-breaker for those in noisy workspaces.

For more top picks, we’ve reviewed the best headsets for conference calls.

Creative Chat Wireless: Price Comparison



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Xbox Controller
Game Reviews

Xbox Turns Up the Fun With Friends, and It’s Crashing the Price of Its Wireless Controller

by admin


Having a Xbox but not enough controllers kind of kills the fun, especially when playing with friends and family. What makes the console truly cool is those multiplayer moments, and nothing beats sharing the game with extra controllers on hand. The catch? Controllers aren’t always the easiest or cheapest to grab. That’s why timing your buy is key, and right now there’s a Black Friday-level deal on Amazon that’s too good to miss: The latest Xbox wireless gaming controller is available for $53, down from its original $64.

See at Amazon

Contemporary Design Coupled with Comforting Play and Intelligent Features

Its modernized design features sculpted surfaces and refined geometry that fit comfortably in your hands, and keeps you gaming longer without fatigue. The textured grip on the triggers, bumpers and back case is there to make sure your fingers stay steady and controlled. And the new hybrid D-pad adds precise directional control which is a big deal whether you’re navigating tricky menus or battling opponents.

The Share button is perhaps the best feature of them all since it lets you snap and share your gameplay—screenshots, video, whatever—without breaking stride. It’s a simple way to share with friends or easily record your best victories.

The controller supports Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth which makes it simple to connect to many devices. If you’re playing on your Xbox console, alternating to playing with your Windows computer, launching games on Android or iOS, or even attaching it with Fire TV Sticks, smart TVs, or VR headsets, this controller lags behind none. With so much flexibility, you won’t need to keep multiple different controllers occupying valuable space.

And, to boot, players also have a lot of selection with sound: The 3.5mm headset jack will work with any supported headset, so you can simply plug in and talk or be completely enveloped in the game’s sound. The USB-C port lets you plug directly into your Xbox or PC for plug-and-play installation which is perfect if you are enthusiastic about a wired connection or charging during gaming.

All things considered, snagging this controller at $53 is a smart move whether you’re replacing an older one or expanding your multiplayer setup.

See at Amazon



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Front panel of Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII wireless speakers on a white background
Product Reviews

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: WiiM addition fixes the wireless speakers’ only minor issue

by admin



Why you can trust TechRadar


We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII: Two -minute review

Update September 19, 2025: WiiM and Audio Pro have contacted TechRadar to clarify that contrary to the initial September 4 announcement about a big Audio Pro WiiM-powered wireless speaker rollout, Audio Pro’s new range of speakers aside from the C10 you’re reading about here and the new A10 should no longer be described as “powered by WiiM” and instead “powered by LinkPlay”, which is the parent company of WiiM. Audio Pro’s new speaker range does not integrate with the WiiM ecosystem, and does not have direct WiiM support.

The release states: “For further clarity, the only Audio Pro speakers that are powered by WiiM and integrated with the WiiM Home app are the A10 and C10, WiiM Edition speakers, available exclusively via WiiM’s Amazon storefront.”

To explore how WiiM compares to Sonos as a multi-room option, read this guide to the current state of both platforms. The rest of this review remains as written.

The Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII is a predictably good-looking wireless speaker with plenty going for it purely in design terms (as long as you’re OK with monochrome). It’s lost its handle and its Amazon Alexa voice control compared with the original model, but it’s gained a swanky new streaming platform (thanks, WiiM!) which offers an absolute stack of options where music sources and system flexibility are concerned.

Best of all, it’s a fine-sounding speaker that is able to extract an absolute stack of information from a recording and put it into convincing context. It’s punchy when it needs to be, it’s insightful, and it sounds a heck of a lot bigger than it looks. Deft control of the low frequencies, plenty of midrange articulacy and a winning way with dynamic variations all add to its sonic charm. If it was just a little more vibrant and exciting when the music demanded it, the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII would be absolutely ideal, but it is nevertheless worthy of a place among the best wireless speakers out there.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

  • Audio Pro Addon C10 MKII (White) at Amazon for $359.10

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: Price and release date

  • Cost $360 / £259 / AU$699 (approx.)
  • Launched in 2021

When the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII first launched back in 2021, it cost $450 / £329 / AU$749 (approx.).

Fast-forward to today, and not only has this product become even more compelling thanks to upgrades in its streaming support and smart features, but it’s also routinely available for $360 / £259 / AU$699 (approx.). It looks like rather than becoming outdated, the C10 MkII has matured and evolved…

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: Features

  • 80 watts of power
  • Dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2
  • Numerous streaming options

It’s fair to say that Bluetooth 4.2 with SBC and AAC codec compatibility is not the most inspiring specification for a wireless speaker in 2025. But what the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII lacks in cutting-edge Bluetooth chops, it more than makes up for in its wireless network abilities.

The exemplary control app, which is now bolted to WiiM’s extremely well-regarded streaming platform, allows you to integrate a lot of music streaming services – and I mean a lot: Amazon and Apple Music, Deezer and Spotify, Qobuz and Tidal, QQ Music, iHeart Radio and vTuner, and plenty more besides. The C10 MkII is compatible with Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Chromecast, and the app allows the speaker to be half of a stereo pair or part of a multi-room system without any fuss whatsoever. It’s an extremely flexible device.

Once aboard, digital audio information is processed by a 24bit/96kHz DAC and then is breathed on by 80 watts of Class D amplification. A pair of 19mm tweeters get 20 watts of power each, and in between them there’s a 133mm midrange driver that receives the other 40 watts. This bigger driver is supported by a rear-facing vertical bass reflex port.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

  • Open, detailed and well-controlled sound
  • Great tonal balance and frequency response
  • Could sound a little more exciting

Yes, by the standards for $350-ish wireless speakers the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII is quite large. But be assured the sound it creates is plenty larger than the cabinet it’s coming from.

The sort of scale the Audio Pro can invest in a FLAC file of Hookworms’ Negative Space is straightforwardly impressive. It can open the recording out and offer a proper sense of space at the same time, even though the point-source of sound is always obvious. The amount of dynamic headroom that’s available allows the speaker to track the ever-increasing intensity of the recording convincingly, and the control of the lowest frequencies is such that rhythmic expression is confident and naturalistic, too.

And as well as being controlled with real authority, the bottom end – like the rest of the frequency range – is loaded with detail and variation. The C10 MkII is no thumper – it hits good and hard at the low end, but is textured and tonally varied. The same is true at the opposite end, where treble sounds are bright and substantial, with plenty of information available regarding tone, attack and decay. Through the midrange, the Audio Pro is about as explicit and as eloquent as any device of its type and price I’ve heard. It communicates in absolute torrents.

The tonal balance is nicely judged – it’s not absolutely neutral, but the tiny suggestion of warmth (especially towards the bottom end) is almost certainly sensible in the context of the circumstances the C10 MkII will probably be used in. The evenness of the frequency response is splendid, too, giving measured and appropriate weighting to every part of the tonal range, without underplaying or overstating any particular area.

Really, about the only area of mild concern where the sound of this speaker is concerned has little to do with the specifics of performance – it’s more about attitude. For all of its undoubted dynamic potency and ability to paint a full and nicely detailed picture, the Audio Pro is not the most demonstrative listen.

It sounds quite like it looks: sophisticated, understated and in unarguable good taste. This, where audio quality is concerned, can be considered shorthand for ‘slight lack of excitement’. No one is interested in a feral loudspeaker, of course, but at those moments when a recording demands vigor and attack, I get the strong impression the C10 MkII thinks this kind of behavior is a little beneath it.

  • Sound quality score: 4.5 / 5

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: Design

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

  • 165 x 320 x 185mm (HxWxD)
  • Black, white or gray matte finishes
  • Magnetically attached grille

The Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII is, by the standards of a ‘rectangular box’ wireless speaker, very nicely finished and actually quite elegant in an understated sort of way.

This is just as well – given the 165 x 320 x 185mm (HxWxD) dimensions, it could have very easily ended up looking a bit bulky. As it is, though, the standard of construction and finish, along with the unapologetically monotone options of black, gray or white matte colours, make for a very harmonious look. The magnetically attached grille helps with the clean look, too.

It’s a fairly sizeable proposition on the average desk, though, and the lack of a handle makes transporting its 4.3kg weight rather less easy than it might be. I can’t deny I’ve used the bass reflex port as a handle, but I can’t imagine Audio Pro would recommend it as an option…

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: Usability and setup

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

  • Great control app, extensive physical controls
  • No voice control
  • Can easily be part of a multi-room set-up

Unlike the previous generation of C10, there’s no Amazon Alexa voice control here – there’s no voice control at all, in fact. You may count this as a negative, you may not, but there’s no denying that your other control options are very nicely realized indeed.

That WiiM-powered control app, as already mentioned, is stable, logical and slick in operation. As well as the ability to integrate a generous number of music streaming services and internet radio providers, it’s also where you can form a stereo pair or establish a multi-room system. There’s bass and treble adjustment, the ability to establish as many as half a dozen presets, input selection, the ability to check for firmware updates and various timer and alarm-clock functions.

The top surface of the cabinet features a selection of controls, too, embedded in a tactile steel plate. Power, volume, playback control and Bluetooth pairing are all available here, and access to the six presets you’ve defined in the control app are also available. There’s also a little LED giving confirmation of the selected input.

  • Usability and setup score: 4.5 / 5

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: Value

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

  • Excellent standard of finish
  • Versatile streaming platform and app
  • Extras add up to value for money

Consider the standard of build and finish, and then consider the out-and-out sound quality. Take into account the great new WiiM-powered streaming platform and all its possibilities, from forming a true stereo pair to easily creating a multi-room system.

And then look around at what this kind of money can buy you from alternative brands. Yes, the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII is very good value for money indeed.

Should you buy the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII?

Swipe to scroll horizontallyAudio Pro Addon C10 MkII score card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth (albeit 4.2 with SBC and AAC codec) and WiiM’s excellent streaming platform.

4.5 / 5

Sound quality

Open, detailed and well-controlled, but could be a little more exciting.

4.5 / 5

Design

Three possible matte finishes, sizeable with carry handle removed, magnetically attached grille.

5 / 5

Usability and setup

Great control app, extensive physical controls, can be part of a multi-room set-up.

4.5 / 5

Value

Not cheap, but extras provide added value to make the expense more than worth it.

4.5 / 5

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII: Also consider

How I tested the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII

Because the C10 MkII is mains-powered rather than battery-powered, I listened to it exclusively in my home. It’s a bit big for a desktop speaker, but nevertheless I gave it a go – it was much more at home on a shelf in the lounge, though.

I listened to music from Tidal and Qobuz via the excellent control app, of many types and quite a few different file sizes. And I listened both critically and with the Audio Pro functioning simply as a ‘background’ device – and there were never less than thoroughly enjoyable.

  • First reviewed: July 2025

Audio Pro Addon C10 MKII: Price Comparison



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Montage of three wireless video doorbells
Gaming Gear

I’m a smart home tech editor, and these are the 3 best wireless video doorbells that you can install in minutes

by admin



Wireless video doorbells have come a long way in recent years, and many of the latest models offer super-high resolution footage, smart object detection, and extra-long battery life. They’re incredibly easy to install as well; just screw the mount to your doorframe (or stick it up using 3M tape in some cases), clip on the doorbell, and you’re ready to get going.

Not all wireless doorbells are made equal, though. Some are trickier than others to set up, some suffer from significant lag when you’re talking to a caller, and some have their best features locked behind an expensive paywall. That’s why I’ve put together this list of the three best wireless doorbells that deliver great performance and offer good value for money.

If you live in the UK, I also recommend checking out the Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell, which can be used wirelessly and has a huge 8GB internal storage for your clips, and the super accessible Doro Hemma, which is ideal for anyone who wants to keep home security as simple as possible. Both of these are superb wireless doorbells, but aren’t currently available in the US or Australia.


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EZVIZ EP3x Pro

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(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)

If I was looking for a new wireless video doorbell for my own home, this is the one I’d choose. Not only does it capture crisp 2K video, it has dual lenses that allow it to capture great images of packages left at your door, as well as visitors calling. No more worrying about falling victim to a porch pirate.

Speaking of deliveries, the EZVIZ EP3x Pro can detect and identify both packages and people, and give you specific alerts – an extremely handy feature that with most other brands would only be available for a monthly fee, but is included free here. There’s also 32GB built-in storage, which means you don’t have to pay to store your clips online, and you’re always in control of them. During testing we really appreciated the way your clips are listed in the app, which makes it simple to find and replay a specific moment.

If all that’s not enough, the EP3x Pro also comes with an angled solar panel that dramatically extends its battery life, so it’ll keep running for longer without recharging.

There are a few limitations. It’s pretty chunky for a video doorbell, and we found that its app wasn’t always the easiest to use, but its feature set is hard to beat and it’s dropped in price significantly since its launch, making it a bargain.

Read our full EZVIZ EP3x Pro review

Today’s best EZVIZ EP3x Pro deals

SwannBuddy4K

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(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Chris Price)(Image credit: Chris Price)(Image credit: Chris Price)(Image credit: Chris Price)

Swann makes some of the best home security cameras we’ve tested here at TechRadar, and its video doorbells are superb too. The SwannBuddy4K is a particularly good example. Not only can it be used wirelessly, it also has one of the best cameras of any doorbell on the market, so you’ll never miss a detail.

When it first launched, one feature that particularly piqued my interest was the SwannBuddy4K’s ability to use AI to generate custom responses to visitors, with different tones of voice depending on how friendly (or not) you want it to be. In practice though, it was the super-sharp video quality that really impressed us here.


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The ability to use the SwannBuddy4K subscription-free is also a real boon. Your videos are stored on an internal SD card, so you don’t have to pay a monthly fee to save them in the cloud for access later.

When we first reviewed this doorbell we thought it was a little on the expensive side, but its price has dropped significantly since then. When you factor in the lack of subscription fees, it becomes great value.

Read our full SwannBuddy4K review

Today’s best SwannBuddy4K deals

Ring Battery Doorbell Plus

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(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)

Ring is the biggest name in video doorbells, and it’s easy to see why – its devices are easy to install, simple to use, and work seamlessly with Amazon Alexa devices. The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus is one of its best models, with an impressive field of view (150 x 150 degrees) that allows you to see visitors from head to foot, plus any packages they leave at your door, plus a higher video resolution than your typical Ring doorbell.

It’s a piece of cake to install, and like the two models above, it can run from a rechargeable battery or be connected to existing doorbell wiring. The battery is removable, so unlike some other wireless doorbells, you don’t need to take down the whole unit when it needs more power.

During our tests we found the customizable motion-detection zones particularly useful, and appreciated the ability to set privacy areas so we wouldn’t be notified of movement on a neighbor’s property or a sidewalk.

The biggest downside of this doorbell (and any other Ring doorbell) is that you’ll need a Ring Home subscription to get the most out of it. The membership plan isn’t, strictly speaking, mandatory, but without it you’ll only be able to watch video live from your doorbell’s camera – it won’t be saved anywhere so you can watch it back later. You also won’t be able to receive doorbell alerts as calls to your phone, or get specific person, package, and vehicle alerts. For more details, see our complete guide to Ring subscriptions.

Read our full Ring Battery Doorbell Plus review

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Samsung's 'Fan Edition" Wireless Earbuds Are Just Enough
Gaming Gear

Samsung’s ‘Fan Edition” Wireless Earbuds Are Just Enough

by admin


If you’re a Samsung fan and you see “FE” branding, you probably think a few things. The first thing that comes to mind is probably, “I’m saving some money.” For those not fluent in Samsung lingo, FE, which is actually short for “Fan Edition,” is the equivalent of SE in Apple-speak, meaning it’s a more budget-friendly alternative to the flagship-level gadgets. But it’s not just savings you want when you’re seeking something FE-branded—you want quality, too. Maybe you’re not expecting every bell and whistle in the wheelhouse, but you want a lot of it.

I want a lot of the good stuff, too, and I don’t want to pay for it, which is why when I got my hands on Samsung’s recently released Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE, my expectations were elevated. And at $150, they might be even more elevated than usual. It’s not that $150 is too much money in the world of wireless earbuds, it’s that there are a ton of competitors in that range, and a lot of them punch above their weight class—the OnePlus Buds 4, Nothing’s Ear, and Google’s Pixel Buds 2a, for example.

So, the next logical question is how do the Galaxy Buds 3 FE hold up against competition, and if we already know there are compromises built in, what exactly are they? On that front, I’ve got good news and bad. Let’s start with the good stuff.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE

Samsung’s newest Galaxy Buds 3 FE wireless earbuds sound good but lag in some key departments.

Pros

  • Good sound

  • Same blade design as Buds 3 Pro

Cons

  • ANC is middling at best

  • Not as feature-rich as competing buds

  • Blade design looks nice but isn’t great to touch

FE price with flagship sound

© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

I won’t mince words; I really like how the Galaxy Buds 3 FE sound. For wireless earbuds in this price range, they sound (at the risk of hyperbole) shockingly good. They don’t have as much bass as some competitors like OnePlus and its recent pair, the OnePlus Buds 4, but I personally don’t mind that at all—I don’t key in on bass when it comes to wireless earbuds. I’m more likely to appreciate buds that mitigate distortion, and I would describe the Galaxy Buds 3 FE as pleasantly unmuddled.

See Galaxy Buds3 FE at Amazon

See Galaxy Buds3 FE at Samsung

I find that, despite being less bassy, the Galaxy Buds 3 FE have a really natural soundstage, with clear mids and highs, which make vocals feel audible and present, and accompanying music distinct. I tested the Galaxy Buds 3 FE back-to-back against the OnePlus Buds 4, listening to the new Gorillaz single, “The Happy Dictator,” and the experience was kind of jarring, but I think I prefer Samsung’s audio tuning. I could hear vocals upfront, background vocals felt artfully tucked away, arpeggiated synths occupied their own rightful space in the mid and high range, and I didn’t detect much distortion even with the volume turned almost all the way up. If you emphasize bass, you’ll most likely disagree with me, but the Galaxy Buds 3 FE are my preference.

What’s the FE catch?

© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

So, there’s the highlight—the sound. But what about the stuff you may not like? For me, it’s the active noise cancellation (ANC). As much as I like listening with the Galaxy Buds 3 FE when I’m in a relatively quiet environment, I find that the appeal withers slightly in the cacophony of New York City living. One of the biggest tests you can put a pair of ANC wireless earbuds through is New York’s subway system—a gauntlet that I send almost every pair of wireless earbuds and headphones through—and in this case, I would say the Galaxy Buds 3 FE barely pass the test. When a train arrives, I basically can’t hear what I’m listening to, and even while I’m riding the subway, I’m still getting a decent amount of ambient noise from my environment.

I don’t think that it’s a passive noise cancellation issue—the default eartips feel comfortable—but even if it were, the Galaxy Buds 3 FE also only come with two tip sizes, which is notably less than other similarly priced competitors, which offer between three and five sizes. I’ll give Samsung a little slack here if just because the last pair of ANC wireless earbuds that I tested are Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), which cost $300 and are designed specifically to cancel the heck out of all the noise around you. They’re the best at noise cancelling of any wireless earbuds I’ve put in my ears. But still, I was expecting more from Samsung, especially when I had no such complaints about the OnePlus Buds 4.

While the Galaxy Buds 3 FE are fine for mild instances of noise cancellation—they’re mostly fine on the sidewalk in New York when I’m walking place to place—they’re not the wireless earbuds I would spring for on an airplane or during a loud New York City subway commute.

Things that are fine with the Galaxy Buds 3 FE

© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

You’ve got the good and the not-so-good, but what about the in-between? There are levels to this stuff, after all. I think the best encapsulation of things that are just fine in these wireless earbuds is the squeeze and touch controls. They’re not the best I’ve ever used, but they’re very okay. Interestingly, Samsung includes two types of controls on the Galaxy Buds 3 FE. To adjust volume, you swipe up or down on the buds, while skipping tracks, pause/play, and turning ANC on and off are done through squeezing. Like any squeeze controls, you’ll have to adjust to the sensitivity at first, but once you do, they work fine for the most part.

I say “the most part” because I do find—because the Galaxy Buds 3 FE are so light—that squeezing them does jostle them in my ear a bit. They’re not flying out mid-commute or anything, but squeezing does feel marginally more tenuous than on other pairs of wireless earbuds. Adding to that tenuousness, I think, is Samsung’s “blade” design, which is borrowed from its flagship Galaxy Buds 3 Pro for this version of the FE. My complaint doesn’t have anything to do with how the blade design copies AirPods—I actually like the look of the Galaxy Buds 3 FE—but one thing I don’t like is how it feels on my fingers.

Because of the way the buds are situated when they’re in your ears, the edge of the blade faces forward, which means when you go to squeeze, you may actually be squeezing a sharp angle, which (while not the biggest problem in the world) just doesn’t feel altogether right. I’d much rather squeeze a flat surface (a flatter stem with a bigger surface area). It’s a small tactile detail in the scheme of things, but as long as we’re getting nerdy about this stuff, it’s worth mentioning.

© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

Though I don’t love the feel of the blade design, I do actually like the look. They’re plain in the scheme of things, but I find them kind of elegant. I also like how they appear when they’re in my ears, though the blade is a decent length and can sometimes end up sticking out if I don’t properly put them in my ears. Haters will say that the blade design is just an AirPods ripoff, and congrats, haters, you’re right. That being said, AirPods look nice (if a little boring), in my opinion, and I think that Samsung does a good job of putting a little twist on the Apple minimalism.

In keeping with the theme of the section, the battery life of the Galaxy Buds 3 FE is also just okay. The buds are rated for 6 hours of battery life while ANC is activated and 8.5 hours when it’s turned off, and with my usage, those estimates seem accurate. With the charging case, the total hours of battery is up to 24 hours with ANC on and up to 30 hours with it off. That’s about the same battery you’d get with most wireless earbuds in this price range, give or take a half hour or so. Sorry folks, if the longest battery life is a priority, you’ll just have to spend more money on wireless earbuds.

Feature-wise, the Galaxy Buds 3 FE are decently equipped but not brimming. You get adaptive ANC, 360 audio (Samsung’s version of spatial audio), transparency mode, and you can choose EQ presets in the Galaxy Wearable app, but there’s no personalized tuning test like there is on the OnePlus Buds 4 or Nothing Ear. That last one is a bit of a bummer since personalized EQ can dramatically change the sound quality in my experience.

Feature-rich or not, the Galaxy Buds 3 FE are still nice-sounding buds at a fairly affordable price. I think Samsung has room to improve in the ANC department, though, and if you’re looking for the most of anything, going FE just isn’t the way. But if you like Samsung’s Galaxy products and you’re more focused on quality sound over anything else, these might be your pick without costing too much.

See Galaxy Buds3 FE at Amazon

See Galaxy Buds3 FE at Samsung



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