The 12 months 2024 has been one other superb one for wi-fi earbuds. We’ve reached a degree the place each tech large is firing on all cylinders. Apple’s AirPods Pro, Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, and Google’s Pixel Buds Pro 2 are every incredible in their very own proper and pretty comparable within the options they provide. Are there benefits relying on which you choose? Positive. Samsung’s new voice controls are tremendous handy. Google wins out on consolation. And Apple’s new hearing health features actually stage up what we count on from client earbuds. However when it comes to on a regular basis efficiency, they’re all inside spitting distance of one another.
As for over-ear headphones, Sonos launched its long-rumored Ace headphones this 12 months. Their marquee trick, TV Audio Swap, is the power to obtain audio from a Sonos soundbar for personal listening — an excellent instance of a model attempting to muster a singular promoting level in a aggressive market, whereas Apple, Samsung, and Google are laser-focused on interaction inside their very own respective ecosystems. (After all, Sonos’ headphones have been all however forgotten within the avalanche of controversy introduced on by the corporate’s overhauled cell app.)
However this 12 months has bolstered that you just don’t must spend large to search out nice worth. Apple introduced lively noise cancellation to its less expensive AirPods 4. With the Nothing Ear and budget-priced Ear (a), Nothing proved yet again that it can compete with long-established earbud makers — and outdesign a lot of them. Fashion-wise, it’s arduous to decide on between the flashy yellow of the Ear (a) or Beats’ candy red Solo Buds, however Nothing provides you extra on your cash than Apple’s model.
2024 additionally noticed Jabra make an exit from the consumer earbuds market. The corporate spent years producing worthy alternate options to the AirPods and different merchandise again through the early waves of true wi-fi earbuds, however Jabra misplaced its momentum and did not meaningfully stand out with its newer Elite earbuds. The Elite 10 Gen 2 are glorious by all accounts however arduous to advocate after they signify the tip of the road.
As for the place the class is headed, earbuds are rapidly evolving into units with a function that extends properly past audio consumption. Apple’s AirPods Professional 2 now provide a robust trifecta of listening to well being options: you may put on them as listening to safety, take a take a look at to gauge your individual listening to loss, or use the earbuds as clinical-grade over-the-counter listening to aids. I’d count on we’ll see different business heavyweights like Sony, Samsung, and Google convey related capabilities to their very own future buds — maybe as quickly as subsequent 12 months.
Health monitoring is one other space the place we’ll proceed to see earbuds provide new benefits. Coronary heart price monitoring is becoming relatively common, and the next-generation Powerbeats Professional, due early in 2025, are rumored to incorporate the helpful characteristic.
As for the brand new 12 months, Sony’s long-popular 1000X series is due for a refresh. The 1000XM6 earbuds (and headphones) look like a lock for 2025. I feel the identical is true of the subsequent AirPods Professional; Apple will reportedly launch a redesigned third-gen pair someday subsequent 12 months. However, with Samsung and Google having each launched new fashions within the final six months, I wouldn’t count on a lot from them within the close to future.
For you audiophiles on the market, 2025 is more likely to see the introduction of extra earbuds that may wirelessly stream lossless audio as Qualcomm’s most advanced chips begin to proliferate throughout new merchandise from varied manufacturers — probably together with Sennheiser, Bose, and others. As for different options, I’m curious to what extent earbud makers will faucet into AI chatbots. Google’s Pixel Buds Professional make it attainable to hold on complete conversations with Gemini Reside. Will different manufacturers look to offer the same expertise with totally different AI platforms?
The brand new 12 months is for certain to get off to a busy begin proper out of the gate, with headphones and earbuds from dozens of manufacturers anticipated at CES 2025. Hopefully there’ll be some real surprises among the many bunch.
Pictures by Chris Welch / The Verge
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