Apple is said to be close to launching new third-generation AirPods according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and Debby Wu, after several months of leaks and rumors about the product. The new buds, rendered above, will feature shorter stems and look similar to current-generation AirPods Pro.

Sorry Sony, but in the battle of the next-gen headsets, Microsoft is the winner.

A Nothing tease.

But they’re not perfect by any means.

Four years later, people are still going gaga for AirPods, despite there being hundreds of alternatives readily available with better sound quality or lower pricing. I, myself, reviewed many like the Pixel Buds, Galaxy Buds Live, and OnePlus Buds this year. AirPods’ popularity has been even better for Apple’s bottom line. Revenue from the company’s “Wearables, home, and accessories” category, of which AirPods are part of, grew 21 percent year-over-year, accounting for $7.9 billion.

When Apple unveiled AirPods Max last week, it revealed that they don't come with an on/off power button, but instead enter an "ultralow" power mode when inserted into the included Smart Case. That left a lot of questions about what happens to battery life when they're left out of the Smart Case and not being actively used. However, today Apple has provided some somewhat surprising answers to those questions, suggesting that the Smart Case isn't as essential to preserving battery life as many first thought.

A supply-chain report claims that AirPods Max suppliers consider Apple’s premium over-ear headphones to be a niche product with strong competition from existing players. Two suppliers of printed circuit boards (PCBs) are reportedly not expecting the new headphones to give much of a boost to their sales...

The long-rumored headphones are Apple’s end-of-year hardware surprise

Apple removed the headphone jack from the iPhone and its laptops are USB-C only. You need adapters or dongles to connect to HDMI or wired headphones.

Apple's third-generation AirPods have once again been rumored to be launching in the first half of 2021, according to DigiTimes.

Your headphones should be durable if you would be using them during an intense workout. You would not want to be hindered when you are exercising, and a faulty headphone should not deter you from completing your session. After all, listening to motivational and energetic music inspires you to exercise longer and harder. Plus, it...

The company sent an email asking customers to check their earphone software has been updated.

Enough quality, comfort, style, and usefulness to merit a $180 price—just barely.

Sony’s WF-1000XM3s raised the bar for noise canceling capabilities on wireless earbuds, but a lack of waterproofing and a $230 price tag limited where they could be used. Wearing them on rainy days or during sweaty workouts just wasn’t worth the risk. But Sony’s new WF-SP800N earbuds not only pair noise-cancellation with IP55 water resistance, they do so with a fitness-focused design that’s more comfortable to wear—and they even come with a cheaper price tag.

Google finally started shipping the second-generation Pixel Buds, and with them came a slew of new features for Android's Bluetooth stack. The 2nd-gen Pixel Buds are Google's first truly wireless headphones, and they are finally on sale for $179 in the US. They were announced a whopping six months ago at Google's annual hardware event, alongside the Pixel 4, Pixelbook Go, and Nest Wi-Fi. They have an always-on Google Assistant, a charging case, and no active noise cancellation.

Google's second-generation Pixel Buds, the company's first true wireless product, have tons of features built-in and a reimagined design for a more secure fit.

Apple’s no stranger to the audio space, but it would appear the company is now gearing up to go toe-to-toe with the likes of Bose and Sony. The next headphones from the company, according to a Bloomberg report, might be some fancy over-ear wireless headphones featuring swappable parts.

Alleged listings reveal new Apple TV and iPod touch, too

Apple's long-rumored over-ear headphones could include a unique control scheme, one consisting of touch gestures that function regardless of how the headphones are oriented on the user's head, rather than dedicated function buttons.

Some early buyers are convinced Apple’s new earbuds worked better at launch than they do now.