7 – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Headphones

Headphones were the original piece of wearable technology and they remain as essential today as ever. But they are starting to change rapidly now, as things like noise cancelling and Bluetooth wireless technology enable the dream of completely cable-free living. What will the best headphones of the future look like?

Wes Davis
Wes Davis
You might be able to fall asleep wearing Belkin’s new wireless earbuds.

Belkin announced the SoundForm Anywhere. I saw these in someone’s ear during a briefing — that funky, flat, fin-shaped part sits upright inside your ear, not jutting out like normal stem-style earbuds.

Odd look, but it could mean they’re comfortable enough to rest your head on. Belkin is aiming for a Q2 2025 release. Pricing details will come later.

SoundForm Anywhere earbuds — ordinary-looking earbuds portion but with a flat fin-like outer part that sits upright in the folds of your ear.
The SoundForm Anywhere, with one in its charging case and the other outside of it.
SoundForm Anywhere earbuds hovering over their case.
The SoundForm Anywhere sitting in their case.
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Belkin’s SoundForm Anywhere go for comfort over looks.
Image: Belkin
2024: a good year for earbuds

This year paved the way for a future where earbuds are much more than audio accessories.

Chris Welch
Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Let a Gundam protect your AirPods Pro.

Following its collaboration with Neon Genesis Evangelion last year, Casetify has announced a new anime collection featuring Gundam-themed cases and accessories. The standout is this $155 RX-78-2 Gundam head case for the AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2 that’s more expensive than what the latest version of the earbuds are currently selling for during Black Friday promotions.

Casetify’s RX-78-2 Gundam Collectible Earbuds Case for the AirPods Pro 2 pictured from two angles.
Casetify’s new anime collection includes a Gundam head AirPods Pro case.
Image: Casetify
Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
JVC’s new open earbuds are smaller and cheaper than Bose’s Ultra Open.

Borrowing the design of Bose’s open-style earbuds, the JVC Nearphones attach to the side of your ear and position a 10mm driver inside so you can hear your music plus everything else around you. They’re smaller and lighter than the $299 Bose Ultra Open, and at $99.95 they’re a more affordable solution if you find regular earbuds uncomfortable.

JVC’s Nearphones wireless earbuds pictured in five different colorways.
JVC’s Nearphones are available in five colorways with matching charging cases.
Image: JVC
Apple’s AirPods Pro hearing health features are as good as they sound

The AirPods Pro 2 will soon offer more robust hearing protection and a new hearing aid feature. But it’s the hearing test that really hooked me.

Chris Welch
Oura Ring 3 Horizon drops to $299Oura Ring 3 Horizon drops to $299
Quentyn Kennemer
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Quentyn Kennemer and Sheena Vasani
Wes Davis
Wes Davis
What’s really different about the AirPods 4 models?

iFixit x-rayed and ripped Apple’s new earbuds apart, and found two things the AirPods 4 with ANC have that the regular model doesn’t: A “$2 microphone” and a speaker in the case are what accounts for the $50 price difference between the two.

Of course, that doesn’t account for any software Apple has to license to make its ANC work.