Sennheiser just announced the latest addition to its Momentum lineup of premium, noise-canceling headphones. Priced at $349.95, the new Momentum 4 Wireless headphones look much different than past models, with the company trading its signature retro aesthetic for a more lightweight, comfortable design. Sennheiser says the Momentum 4s offer “exceptional comfort” and superior active noise cancellation compared to the Momentum 3 Wireless. They’ll be up for preorder on August 9th and will be in stores as of August 23rd.
Aside from the revamped style, the other big selling point seems to be battery life. Sennheiser claims the Momentum 4s can achieve up to 60 hours of playback time on a single charge, far beyond the 20 to 30 hours promised by competitors like Sony’s WH-1000XM5, Bose’s QuietComfort 45, and Apple’s AirPods Max.
The already terrific sound quality of the third-generation cans seems mostly unchanged: both use 42-millimeter drivers that are tuned for “brilliant dynamics, clarity and musicality.” But the Momentum 4s should offer improved voice call performance. Sennheiser has also moved away from physical button controls and adopted the same tap and swipe gestures as other popular noise-canceling headphones. And while the new headphones can no longer fold up, they come with an improved case with hardshell protection.
Like their predecessors, the Momentum 4s support convenience features like multipoint connectivity, wired USB-C audio, and they have replaceable ear pads — now made from artificial leather instead of the genuine leather that Sennheiser used before. For Bluetooth codecs, the company’s latest headphones support AAC, SBC, aptX, and aptX Adaptive.
I’ve been testing the Momentum 4s for some time now, and you can read our full review to get a sense of whether their improved comfort makes up for the very generic design.
Best Buy’s Anniversary Sale is in full swing, and you’ll find plenty of great offers on tons of big-ticket items like smart TVs, laptops and more. The sale officially runs through Aug. 14, but not all deals will be available that entire time. We’ve seen some discounts come and go, and some of the hottest items have already sold out. So if there’s a specific item you’re hoping to grab while it’s on sale, we’d recommend getting your order in sooner rather than later.
With so many discounts available, it can be hard to find the best bargains. We’ve gone through the sale and have highlighted some of the best deals currently available. But there’s a whole lot more available, so be sure to check out the entire sale selection at Best Buy for even more savings.
David Carnoy/CNET
Sleek and stylish, Beats is one of the most popular headphone brands on the market. And fortunately, these Studio 3 over-ear headphones offer plenty of substance along with their flashy looks. They’re equipped with Apple’s W1 chip, which means they pair seamlessly with Apple devices and are compatible with the Siri voice assistant. They feature active noise-canceling capabilities which can be toggled off to help preserve battery, extending it to an impressive 40 hours in low-power mode. They also calibrate your audio in real time for a premium listening experience.
Read our Beats Studio3 Wireless review.
Microsoft
The Surface Laptop 4 is great for streaming movies, gaming with friends and jumping on video calls while still being a portable size. It also has HD video and studio mics to make sure you come through perfectly clear no matter where you are. Plus, the speakers support Dolby Atmos audio. This particular model has 256GB of storage on a solid-state drive and 16GB of memory, which is enough to power all your everyday computing tasks and entertainment needs, as well as intense multitasking, video editing, gaming and other projects. This laptop features Windows 11, the latest Windows OS. And with fast charging, you can get up to 80% in an hour, giving you more flexibility to stay connected and productive, wherever the day takes you. Read our Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 review.
Google
Smart thermostats are incredibly useful and can help save you money on your heating and cooling bill. Getting it set up doesn’t require much experience. However, if you aren’t comfortable turning off the power and replacing your existing thermostat, you’ll want to contact a professional to install it. Once you set it up, you can adjust the temperature from anywhere and program it.
It’s the weekend, which means the time has come for another Dealmaster. Our latest roundup of the best tech deals from around the web includes a nice offer for those who’ve been interested in trying out Apple Music or just want to wring out a few free months of music streaming. As of this writing, Best Buy is offering six months of service to new subscribers of Apple’s Spotify rival at no cost. If you’re a returning subscriber, meanwhile, you’ll get five months for free. Apple normally provides a one-month free trial to new users before charging a $10 monthly fee, so this deal works out to a $50 discount in total.
You’ll need to supply Best Buy with an email address to redeem the offer, and, sadly, the deal doesn’t apply to current Apple Music subscribers. Once you activate the extended trial, your subscription will be set to auto-renew by default, but the Dealmaster can confirm that you’re able to turn that off in your account settings without losing access to the free months of service. It took about five minutes for Best Buy to email us a redemption code after putting in an order, so don’t be alarmed if you don’t receive the deal immediately after purchase.
We covered the pros and cons of Apple Music in our guide to the best Spotify alternatives earlier this year. Compared to its biggest competitor, Apple’s service tends to put more emphasis on music curation by actual people. It’s not devoid of algorithm-based recommendations by any means, but in general, Spotify’s are better-tuned. Apple’s approach could be good or bad depending on how in tune you feel Spotify is with your taste, but either way, both services have a massive music library that you can sort into playlists and listen to à la carte as you please. Unlike Spotify, Apple doesn’t offer a free tier to fall back on, but it can integrate music you may already own (on iTunes) with its streaming library, and it offers higher-quality audio with some content (for now, at least). Naturally, it’s also more tightly integrated with other Apple products—here’s looking at you, HomePod owners—though it has apps for both iOS and Android.
If you don’t feel like switching to a new music service, though, our roundup has plenty of strong discounts on other gadgets and gear we like, including Sony’s still-excellent WH-1000XM4 noise-canceling headphones, Google’s Chromecast with Google TV, Sonos’ Move portable speaker, a truckload of PC, Xbox, and PlayStation games, Fitbit trackers, high-speed SSDs, and much more. You can check out our full curated roundup below.
Ars Technica may earn compensation for sales from links on this post through affiliate programs.
Featured deals of the day
Up to 6-month Apple Music membership for free ($50) at Best Buy (new or returning users only)
Google Chromecast with Google TV 4K media streamer for $40 ($50) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy
Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless ANC headphones for $278 ($325) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy
Capcom Summer 2022 Bundle: various PC games + coupons for $20 at Humble
Nintendo Switch Online 12-Month Family Membership + SanDisk MicroSDXC Card for Nintendo Switch (128GB, U3) for $35 ($56) at Amazon (bundle in cart)
Halo: The Master Chief Collection (Xbox, PC) for $16 ($25) at Xbox, Steam (also on Game Pass)
Sony DualSense Wireless Controller for PS5 (various colors) for $59 ($70) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy
Sonos Move portable home speaker for $319 ($399) at Sonos, Best Buy, Walmart
Sonos Roam portable speaker for $143 ($179) at Sonos, Target, Best Buy
WD Black SN850 (2TB) PCIe 4.0 internal SSD for $225 ($260) at Newegg (use code: SSBTAA26)
Fitbit Versa 3 activity tracker for $161 ($195) at Amazon
Dell S2721DGF 27-inch gaming monitor (1440p, 165 Hz, IPS, FreeSync, G-Sync Compatible) for $300 ($365) at Dell, Best Buy
newer and pricier WH-1000XM5 (left), the XM4 aren’t quite as comfortable and have a more bass-heavy sound by default, but they can fold up for easier storage, and they still deliver excellent active noise cancellation.”>
Enlarge / At its current deal price, the Sony WH-1000XM4 (right) is still a great value among noise-canceling headphones. Compared to the newer and pricier WH-1000XM5 (left), the XM4 aren’t quite as comfortable and have a more bass-heavy sound by default, but they can fold up for easier storage, and they still deliver excellent active noise cancellation.
Jeff Dunn
Electronics deals
Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless ANC headphones for $278 ($325) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy
Sony WF-1000XM4 true wireless ANC earphones for $228 ($265) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy
Bose QuietComfort 45 wireless ANC headphones for $279 ($310) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy
Sonos Move portable home speaker for $319 ($399) at Sonos, Best Buy, Walmart
Sonos Roam portable speaker for $143 ($179) at Sonos, Target, Best Buy
Sonos One SL (refurb) smart home speaker for $159 ($199) at Sonos
Apple Watch Series 7 (45 mm) smartwatch for $359 ($385) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy
Apple AirPods (3rd gen) true wireless earbuds for $150 ($165) at Amazon, Target, Walmart
Apple AirPods Pro true wireless ANC earphones for $175 ($185) at Amazon, Target, Walmart
Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) smart display for $60 ($90) at Target, Best Buy, Walmart
Google Nest Thermostat smart thermostat for $100 ($120) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy
Enlarge / The Sonos Move is hefty, but it works over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and sounds great for a (technically) portable speaker.
Jeff Dunn
Amazon Echo Dot (2-pack) smart speaker for $55 ($80) at Amazon, Best Buy (use code: FDDOT)
Fitbit Versa 3 activity tracker for $161 ($195) at Amazon
Fitbit Luxe activity tracker for $90 ($115) at Amazon
Garmin Forerunner 245 GPS running watch for $225 ($270) at Garmin, Amazon, Target
Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 1080p dashcam for $110 ($125) at Garmin, Amazon, Best Buy
Kobo Clara HD 6-inch e-reader for $90 ($110) at Walmart
WD My Passport (1TB) portable SSD for $117 ($130) at Amazon, Best Buy
iRobot Roomba i3 Evo robot vacuum for $249 ($290) at Amazon, Target, iRobot
iRobot Roomba i3+ Evo robot vacuum + self-emptying dock for $399 ($480) at Amazon, Target, iRobot
iRobot Roomba j7+ robot vacuum + self-emptying dock for $599 ($740) at Amazon, Target, iRobot
iRobot Braava Jet M6 robot mop for $349 ($385) at Amazon, Target, iRobot
Eufy RoboVac 11S robot vacuum for $140 ($175) at Amazon
Enlarge / The Fitbit Versa 3 is a fitness-focused wearable we recommend in our guide to the best smartwatches.
Fitbit
Laptop and desktop PC deals
Gigabyte Aorus 15P KD 15.6-inch gaming laptop (Core i7-11800H, 1080p 240Hz, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, GeForce RTX 3060 6GB) for $1,199 ($1,340) at Best Buy
WD Black SN850 (2TB) PCIe 4.0 internal SSD for $225 ($260) at Newegg (use code: SSBTAA26)
SK Hynix Gold P31 (1TB) PCIe 3.0 internal SSD for $93 ($110) at Amazon (2TB for $179)
Dell S2721DGF 27-inch gaming monitor (1440p, 165 Hz, IPS, FreeSync, G-Sync Compatible) for $300 ($365) at Dell, Best Buy
LG 27GL850-B 27-inch gaming monitor (1440p, 144 Hz, IPS, FreeSync, G-Sync Compatible) for $300 ($365) at Amazon, B&H
AMD Ryzen 5 5600G 6-core/12-thread desktop CPU for $169 ($205) at Amazon, B&H
Enlarge / Most people don’t need the higher speeds of a PCI Express 4.0 SSD like WD’s Black SN850 just yet, but if you own a PlayStation 5 and want to expand its internal storage space, this model meets Sony’s specs and performs capably.
Jeff Dunn
TV and home entertainment deals
Google Chromecast with Google TV 4K media streamer for $40 ($50) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy
Roku Ultra 4K media streamer for $70 ($95) at Target (discount in cart)
Dune (4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, Digital) for $14 ($27) at Amazon, Best Buy
Hisense U6G (2021) 65-inch 4K LED TV for $498 ($625) at Walmart
Hisense U8G (2021) 65-inch 4K LED TV for $850 ($1,000) at Amazon, Best Buy
LG C1 (2021) 55-inch 4K OLED TV for $1,097 ($1,275) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy
Enlarge / The Google Chromecast with Google TV is our top pick among affordable 4K streamers.
Jeff Dunn
Video game deals
Halo Infinite (Xbox) for $25 ($50) at Amazon, Best Buy (also on Game Pass)
Halo: The Master Chief Collection (Xbox, PC) for $16 ($25) at Xbox, Steam (also on Game Pass)
Forza Horizon 5 (Xbox) for $43 ($52) at Amazon (also on Game Pass)
Ori: The Collection (Xbox, PC) for $12 ($25) at Xbox (also on Game Pass)
Stardew Valley (Xbox) for $10 ($15) at Xbox (also on Game Pass)
Rare Replay (Xbox) for $7 ($15) at Xbox (also on Game Pass)
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen (Xbox, PS4, PC) for $5 ($15) at Xbox, GOG, Steam, PSN
Assassin’s Creed Origins (Xbox, PS4, PC) for $9 ($15) at Xbox, PSN, Epic (also on Game Pass)
OlliOlli World (Switch) for $20 ($28) at Nintendo
Subnautica + Subnautica: Below Zero (Switch) for $20 ($30) at Best Buy (also on Game Pass)
Halo Infinite.”>
Enlarge / The blockbuster first-person shooter Halo Infinite.
Xbox Game Studios / 343 Industries
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (PS5, PS4, Xbox, Switch) for $45 ($58) at Amazon, Best Buy
Assault Android Cactus (PS4) for $4 ($15) at PSN
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (PS5) for $40($60) at Target, Best Buy
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection (PS5) for $30 ($50) at Amazon, Target
God of War (PS4) for free ($15) at PSN (PS Plus required)
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (PS5) for $40 ($50) at Amazon (Epic for $38 w/ 25 percent-off coupon)
Sackboy: A Big Adventure (PS5, PS4) for $30 ($45) at Target, Best Buy
MLB The Show 22 (PS5, Xbox Series, Switch) for $50 ($65) at Target, Best Buy (also on Game Pass)
Tales of Arise (PS5, PS4, Xbox) for $20 ($35) at Amazon, Best Buy
Nier Replicant Ver.1.22474487139… (PS4, Xbox) for $20 ($35) at Amazon
Forza Horizon 5.”>
Enlarge / The playful open-world racer Forza Horizon 5.
Capcom Summer 2022 Bundle: various PC games + coupons for $20 at Humble
Cuphead (PC, PS4) for $14 ($20) at GOG, Humble, PSN
Psychonauts 2 (PC, Xbox, PS4) for $30 ($40) at GOG, Steam, Xbox, PSN (also on Game Pass)
Spiritfarer (PC, Switch) for $10 ($20) at GOG, Steam, Nintendo (also on Game Pass)
Nobody Saves the World (PC, Switch, PS4) for $20 ($25) at Humble, Nintendo, PSN (also on Game Pass)
Resident Evil 4 (PC) for $5 ($15) at Steam (Switch for $10, Xbox for $8)
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (PC) for $37 ($50) at Epic (use 25 percent-off coupon)
Tunic (PC) for $22 ($30) at Epic (use 25 percent-off coupon, also on Game Pass)
Rogue Legacy 2 (PC) for $15 ($22) at Epic (use 25 percent-off coupon)
Kena: Bridge of Spirits (PC) for $20 ($35) at Epic (use 25 percent-off coupon)
Celeste (PC) for $5 ($15) at Humble, Epic
Cuphead.”>
Enlarge / The tough-as-nails and stunningly animated run-and-gun shooter Cuphead.
Enlarge / Sony’s DualSense gamepad for the PlayStation 5.
Gaming deals
want a sub-$50 gaming headset.”>
Enlarge / It’s a few years old, but HyperX’s Cloud Stinger is still a good value if you want a sub-$50 gaming headset.
Apple often issues firmware updates for its entire AirPods line, including AirPods Pro, AirPods 2, AirPods 3, and AirPods Max. However, the company doesn’t make it clear how to actually update your AirPods, nor do they share what each firmware update does. So here’s how to do it, whatever model of AirPods you use.
But first, why should you bother? Apple isn’t updating the firmware without a purpose, of course. Firmware updates can solve bug issues, like when AirPods Max users were experiencing abnormal battery drain (for all other issues, there’s the hidden reset option we’ve talked about before) and improve performance, so it pays to update them regularly, even if they seem to be working fine.
How to check your AirPods’ current firmware version
First, check the firmware version of your AirPods to make sure the update hasn’t already happened. The first step is to connect your AirPods to your iPhone. For this step, how you do that doesn’t matter, but it will matter when it comes to actually installing the update (more on that later).
Now, on your iPhone, head to Settings > General > About, then scroll down. If your AirPods are connected, you should see their name appear. Tap the name, then check “Firmware version.” As of this article, 4E71 is the latest firmware version for all AirPods, but head to Google to make sure Apple hasn’t since issued a newer update.
How to update the firmware on your AirPods
To update your AirPods, you’ll still need to connect them to your iPhone, but in a specific way: the trick here is to make sure your AirPods are connected to your iPhone while remaining in the case. Your AirPods won’t update if they’re outside of the case, so don’t keep them in your ears and expect iOS to upgrade the firmware. So long as you’ve paired your AirPods with your iPhone before, they should connect when you lift the lid to the case (again, AirPods Max should connect while placed in the case).
Now, you’ll need to plug your AirPods into power. Theoretically, the update should work if you use wireless charging (if your AirPods case supports it), but I’ve only ever seen walkthroughs use a lightning cable for firmware updates. Once connected to power, let your AirPods sit for 10–15 minutes. After this period of time, go ahead and check the firmware version for your AirPods: it should now be fully updated. If not, try this step again.
It doesn’t come as a surprise after recent leaks, but today, Sony announced its latest flagship noise-canceling headphones, the WH-1000XM5. They cost $399.99, an increase from the prior 1000XM4s, and will go on sale May 20th.
Sony says it has cranked up its already-fantastic noise cancellation to new highs by adding a second processor to the new headphones. The improvements are most noticeable in “mid- to high-frequency noise,” according to the company’s press release. That includes things like everyday city street noise and human voices.
The 1000XM5s have a design that’s quite different from their recent predecessors. Sony has gone for a sleeker look, switching to a stem-style slider and moving the microphones (there are now eight of them) around the perimeter of the ear cups. The 1000XM5s also use a new type of synthetic leather on the headband, which is a bit thinner than on prior models. Controls haven’t changed: you still control audio with tap and swipe gestures, and there’s a physical button for switching between ANC and ambient modes.
The WH-1000XM5s have an all-new design.Image: Sony
The internal components have also changed. Sony has ditched the 40-millimeter drivers of the 1000XM4s in favor of new 30-millimeter drivers that supposedly sound more natural and “improve sound clarity and bass reproduction.” One of the criticisms of the 1000XM4s was their at-times muddy bass, so it seems Sony has worked to address that with the new model.
Sony WH-1000XM5 review: new design, new sound, new price
They come in black or off-white.Image: Sony
Sony is also highlighting improved voice call quality made possible by four beamforming mics and AI noise reduction algorithms. All the signature Sony features — LDAC, DSEE Extreme upscaling, 360 Reality Audio, Speak to Chat, and so on — have made their way to the 1000XM5s.
These headphones don’t really do anything new compared to the WH-1000XM4s, which Sony plans to continue selling. But the company seems confident that they surpass past 1000X-series headphones at the most important things like sound quality, noise cancellation, and voice calls.
Is that true? Well, I’ve been testing the 1000XM5s for the last couple weeks, and you can read the full review right now before deciding if it’s time to upgrade.
Since their release in 2020, have consistently been among the best Bluetooth headphones you can buy thanks to their long-lasting battery and excellent noise cancelling capabilities. It now looks like the company has a substantial upgrade planned. In a leak spotted by , German-language publication shared details on what to expect from the WH-1000XM5.
According to the outlet, Sony’s next flagship noise cancelling headphones will feature up to 40 hours of battery life. If accurate, that would be a significant improvement from the already impressive 30 hours you can get on a single charge from the XM4. Charging the new model to full via USB-C will reportedly take approximately three-and-a-half hours, or about 30 minutes longer than the XM4. The new model is also said to feature an additional processing chip for ANC and a new set of drivers.
But as you can see from the renders TechnikNews shared, the most notable difference between the WH-1000XM4 and its alleged successor is an entirely new design. It looks like the XM5 won’t fold in like Sony’s current flagship Bluetooth headphones but the tradeoff it appears is that they’ll feature more padding on the earcups and a lighter band. A lot of people love the WH4 for their comfort and it will be interesting to see if the design of the new model makes it even easier to wear over long listening sessions.
TechnikNews didn’t say anything about a release date or pricing for the WH-1000XM5. Outside of sales, the current model retails for $350. We’ll note here Sony’s earbuds ended up costing more than their predecessor due the addition of features like Qi charging and LDAC support.
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Sony’s WH-1000XM4 noise-canceling headphones have been one of the best options since they debuted in 2020, but it appears the company is gearing up to release the next generation. German tech news site TechnikNews has published some images and specs of the successor, seemingly called the WH-1000XM5 (via Gizmodo).
The first thing you might notice is a sleek new design, particularly a thinner headband. The 1000XM3s and 1000XM4s were almost identical, but Sony could change the way things look for the new 1000XM5s.
Instead of a shrouded arm that swivels, the arm is exposed, with a single contact point replacing the XM4’s larger folding hinge over the ear cups. That changes the design of the ear cups as well but suggests just a bit more of their space is available for the stuff that affects what you hear.
That arm looks slimmer than the previous design and could contribute to a lighter weight that hopefully doesn’t give up any strength and durability. As Gizmodo points out (via Notebookcheckand The Walkman Blog), filings for the FCC and other regulators that outlined a new model were spotted in February. One key item revealed is that the FCC labeling has moved, going from the headband itself to underneath an ear pad, which The Walkman Blog speculated could mean the band is now made out of metal instead of plastic.
Image: TechnikNews
Pictures of the leaked models in their carrying case show a design that ditches the collapsible folding of the XM4 that tucked one cup inside the other. Still, in these pictures, it seems doubtful they’ll take up much more space on a desk, stand, or in your bag.
According to TechnikNews retail source, the WH-1000XM5 will have an estimated battery life of up to 40 hours with active noise cancellation (ANC) on, 10 hours longer than the XM4, with a total charging time of 3.5 hours via USB-C, about 30 minutes longer than the XM4. They also report it will use two processors for ANC instead of one, and sound will be produced by a new driver, although there are no details on what has changed. They still sport three microphones to pick up your voice and detect noise to cancel it, but the positioning has changed.
The button previously labeled “Custom” is in the same place as before but now marked NC/Ambient, which probably reflects what most people use it for, rather than integrated voice assistants or anything else.
Last year’s model iterated on its award-winning predecessor with “Speak to Chat,” which silences music if it hears you trying to speak to someone, and multipoint Bluetooth audio that stayed connected to more than one device at a time. The latter feature was much more useful, although it did have some glitches at launch. Software updates helped it work better, but any improvement in helping the headphones decide which device to connect to and when would be welcome.
There’s no word on pricing or a release date, but the WH-1000XM4 cost $349.99 at launch, and retailers like Best Buy and Amazon maintain that price today. The headphones’ price has occasionally dipped during sales that Verge Deals points out when they pop up, and it’s unclear if the changes in a new model will move the bar in any direction.
Sony’s WH-1000XM5 headphones are perhaps the most anticipated noise-canceling headphones of 2022, and a new leak claims to have revealed their new design and key specs.
TechnikNews out of Germany, citing an unnamed “retail source,” says the successor to the immensely popular WH-1000XM4 will feature a redesign and improvements to battery life, among other updates. If this leak is accurate—as always, be cautiously skeptical about these sorts of things—the WH-1000XM5 will get up to 40 hours of battery life, another 10 hours on top of the previous three models, putting it near the top of its class. Also, the 1000XM5 will supposedly fully recharge in 3.5 hours, or about 30 minutes longer than before—not a bad tradeoff for the extra juice.
Renders supposedly provided to TechnikNews reveal a more refined design, with the 1000XM5 sporting a sleeker profile than the 1000XM4, one that reminds me more of the Bose 700. As the renders show, thin arms now connect to the earcups and are separate from the headband. There also seems to be more padding on the earcups, which could make one of the most comfortable pair of headphones around even cushier. The new design certainly looks more modern, though I would have liked more color options beyond black and silver(ish).
Image: Nils Ahrensmeier/TechnikNews
The WH-1000XM5’s three microphones have supposedly been repositioned, and an NC/AMB button will replace the CUSTOM one. I assume most folks were using the CUSTOM button to switch between ANC and ambient modes anyway, so this change is more about clearing up any ambiguity. The 1000XM5 headphones are also said to feature new drivers and two processors for managing noise cancellation, to go along with the larger battery.
The WH-1000XM5 headphones are poised to be one of the most significant headphone releases of the year. For context, buying noise-canceling headphones pre-2016 used to be easy, with everyone simply purchasing the latest Bose QuietComfort model and enjoying their class-leading noise cancellation and great sound quality. Then Sony released the MDR-1000X, and everything changed. Finally, Bose had a challenger.
Since then, Sony has released one critically acclaimed and commercially successful pair of noise-canceling headphones after the next, and at some point, even topped Bose. Now everyone wants in on the party, and Sony finds itself in the unenviable position of defending the throne against the likes of the Apple AirPods Max and the Bose 700.
That’s where the WH-1000XM5 come in, and we won’t have to wait much longer to see how these cans stack up. While we don’t have a firm release date, the XM5 was unearthed in FCC documents a few months back, suggesting an imminent release.
It’s not dystopian science fiction. Dyson’s new Zone air-purifying headphones may look as wild as they sound, but it’s a real device you’ll be able to buy sometime this fall, according to Dyson.
For Dyson — a company that’s best known for its high-end vacuum cleaners — it’s the first foray into wearable technology. The Zone is a set of noise-canceling, over-ear headphones that “simultaneously deliver immersive sound to the ears and purified airflow to the nose and mouth,” addressing the “urban issues of air quality and noise pollution.” No word yet on pricing, but it seems safe to assume that these will cost more than your typical premium noise-canceling headphones from Bose and Sony, and maybe even more than Apple’s AirPods Max headphones.
There’ve been rumors that Dyson was working on such a device for years. Back in 2018, Bloomberg reported that Dyson was working on an air purifier-headphone combo and in 2020, Dyson applied for a patent for a new pair of headphones with a built-in air filter.
Now playing: Watch this:
Dyson for Your Face? Zone Air Mask and Headphones Explained
6:24
“Air pollution is a global problem — it affects us everywhere we go. In our homes, at school, at work and as we travel, whether on foot, on a bike or by public or private transport,” says Jake Dyson, chief engineer (and son of the company’s eponymous founder). “The Dyson Zone purifies the air you breathe on the move. And unlike face masks, it delivers a plume of fresh air without touching your face, using high-performance filters and two miniaturized air pumps. After six years in development, we’re excited to deliver pure air and pure audio, anywhere.”
Dyson says it created 500 prototypes over the course of the Zone’s six-year development.
Dyson
According to Dyson, the air-filtration component is a “non-contact” system, which means it doesn’t touch your face like a mask but rather sits just in front of it. “The compressors in each ear cup draw air through the dual-layer filters and project two streams of purified air to the wearer’s nose and mouth, channeled through the non-contact visor,” Dyson explains. “Sculpted returns on the visor ensure purified airflow is kept near to the nose and mouth and diluted as little as possible by external crosswinds.”
Dyson says that developing a non-contact solution was crucial in order to avoid the “discomfort and irritation associated with full-contact alternatives.” In the latest Dune movie, no one seems to be complaining too much about wearing filt-plugs in their noses to draw moisture from exhaled air back into their stillsuits for later drinking. But in the real world, people can have strong emotions about wearing anything on their faces, particularly masks.
Dyson says to test the Zone, its engineers used a breathing mannequin named Frank that was fitted with medical-grade mechanical lungs and sensing equipment that replicated human breathing patterns in a controlled chamber. That sensing equipment measured pollution levels within the nose and determined “the filtration efficacy of those particles, which would otherwise end up in Frank’s artificial lung.” The mannequin was named Frank because it reminded the engineers of Frankenstein, a Dyson rep told CNET.
Frank, the mannequin.
Dyson
Earlier this year, Razer released its cyberpunk-style Zephyr Pro air-purifier mask. Initially the company said it used N95-grade air filters, but later ran into some bad publicity when it had to retract that designation. Dyson doesn’t reference any medical-mask grades as far as air filtration goes, but does say that electrostatic filtration captures 99% of particle pollution as small as 0.1 micron, such as dust, pollen and bacteria and that a potassium-enriched carbon filter captures city gasses like NO2, SO2 and O3. How much that filter will cost to replace is still up in the air, but filters for its full-size air purifiers list for $70-$80, depending on the model..
On the audio side, Dyson says you can expect a premium listening experience with an accurate, neutral audiophile sound profile and proprietary advanced noise canceling. The headphones are also designed with comfort in mind, though Dyson hasn’t announced how much the headphones weigh or what their battery life ratings are with air filtration and noise-canceling on. Each ear cup houses two motors, and Dyson says they’re the smallest in any of its machines to date. The headphones connect via Bluetooth — no word on what version number — and can also be used to make voice calls.
As soon as we get our hands on a review sample later this year, we’ll provide more details about how the headphones perform and how they feel to wear around the New York City streets and subway system. We imagine we’ll get some interesting reactions from our fellow travelers.
The Dyson Zone air-purifying headphones key features, per Dyson
Radical new format for delivering purified air and high-fidelity audio on-the-go
Electrostatic filtration captures 99% of particle pollution as small as 0.1 micron, such as dust, pollen and bacteria
Potassium-enriched carbon filter captures city gasses like NO2, SO2 and O3
Contact-free air delivery visor channels two streams of purified air to the nose and mouth, engineered specifically for usage outdoors and in crosswinds
The smallest in any Dyson machine to date, two motors sit in each ear cup and are the “beating heart” of the Dyson Zone air-purifying headphones
Advanced ANC and a high performing neodymium electroacoustic system deliver rich, immersive audio that faithfully replicates audio as the artist or creator intended
15 undergraduate students from the Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology worked on the Dyson Zone project, supporting disciplines as diverse as acoustics development, electronics and airflow systems.
3 ANC modes: Isolation, Conversation and Transparency
Isolation mode: Highest level of active noise cancellation
Conversation mode: Activates when you dip the visor –- automatically turns off the purification to conserve battery power and amplifies conversation
Dyson is getting into headphones in the most Dyson way possible: the Zone, a pair of noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones with air purification technology built in, thanks to a bizarre-looking magnetic face visor. It’s both the strangest and most ambitious product that the company has ever made.
Today’s announcement is just an initial reveal of the Zone headphones ahead of a fall release date, and Dyson isn’t announcing specific details like price or specifications (including how much the headphones weigh or how long the battery will last) at this time.
The goal of the Zone is to make living in urban spaces more comfortable by attempting to mitigate both air and noise pollution.
The air purification half of the Zone doesn’t reinvent the wheel for Dyson. Instead, it miniaturizes the company’s existing air filtration technology into a unique form factor. The Zone pulls in air through each earpiece using a pair of tiny compressors. The air is then filtered and piped through the (slightly bizarre-looking) “visor” for the user to breathe in — sans most of the particles and pollutants.
Despite what it looks like, the visor doesn’t make contact with your face like a mask would. Instead, it sits in front of your face, creating a gap where a bubble of clean air can gather and be breathed in. (The company showed off a separate attachment that could be clipped on in instances where you might need a proper full-contact face mask, too.)
The Dyson Zone on the company’s testing platform, Frank.Image: Dyson
The visor snaps on through a series of magnets, allowing for it to be removed if you just want to use the headphones as headphones. It also has hinges that flip it down so that you can talk to people normally without having to take off the whole apparatus. The Zone’s filtration system also offers multiple settings for different levels of exertion. For example, if you’re running up a flight of stairs or trying to catch a bus, you’ll breathe heavier (and need more air) than if you’re on a leisurely stroll. There’s even an automated setting that uses accelerometers to automatically adjust the airflow.
Dyson says the Zone can filter out up to 99 percent of particle pollution — although the filters aren’t reusable and will need to be replaced after about a year. (The company says the exact amount of time will depend on how much air pollution you encounter and how actively you use the headphones.)
The headphone part is a little more traditional, despite being a new product category for Dyson. The company says its goal with the Zone was to create “faithful” reproductions of a musician’s original tracks. Noise cancellation is provided through a mix of passive cancellation from the overall design and active noise cancellation through a series of microphones.
There are three different modes for noise cancellation on the Zone. Isolation mode has active ANC when the face visor is raised. Lowering the visor automatically shifts into conversation mode, which disables ANC so you can hear the person you’re talking to. There’s also a transparency mode, which filters out important sounds like car horns and sirens. Charging is done over USB-C, and the headphones connect to a Dyson Link app, which can provide more detailed information on the air quality around you.
I was able to try a prototype of the Zone a few weeks ago, and it certainly seems to do what the company claims. I could feel the jets of air being pumped in front of my face — although I was indoors, so it was hard to tell just how much cleaner it was.
ANC worked well, too (but, again, a quiet hotel room isn’t the best test scenario), and the audio quality for music was good without particularly dramatic bass (which, arguably, was the company’s goal).
On the flip side, the Zone headphones are also very big and noticeably heavy. Dyson has done an admirable job of cramming all this technology into a pair of headphones, but they’re still comparatively bigger and bulkier than, say, a pair of Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones. Additionally, the whirring of the compressors was still slightly audible when the motors were running at faster speeds and I wasn’t listening to music to drown it out, even despite the noise cancellation.
The Zone is certainly one of the most unique products from Dyson (or likely any company) that we’ll see this year. There are still a lot of crucial details we don’t know — including price and battery life. And while mask-wearing has been normalized considerably over the past two years, we’ll have to see whether customers will be willing to embrace this extremely odd-looking product.
