Samsung took heavy inspiration from Apple’s AirPods when it reinvented the design of itsGalaxy Buds 3, but is making some tweaks for the next set.Android Authority spotted the Buds 4 Pro in leaked One UI 8.5 animations, with a flatter stem and no light strip.

I’ve recently joinedThe Verge as its senior reviewer of TVs and audio, and will be fielding your AV questions starting at 2PM ET. Come on by and let’s talk about AV!

Just... not the actual phones. Instead, it’s 2023’s repairableFairbuds XL headphones that will go on sale on Amazon this month. As for the excellentFairphone 6, CEO Raymond van Eck tells me launching that is a “complicated process,” but one he hopes will be sorted “in the near future.”

[Raymond van Eck]

Creative hasresurrected its Sound Blaster brand for a modular audio hub to help you route audio inputs and outputs across your gear. Go take one look at it and tell me you don’t feel exactly the same way as commenter RG7:

RG7:

I have no use for this but I must have it.

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This new edition includes chapters by fellow acclaimed Harman researchers Dr. Sean Olive (on headphones) and Todd Welti (on subwoofers and room acoustics). It’s20 percent off until next Tuesday.

TheBlomprakt Bluetooth speaker lamp wasfirst announced last July as part of a new lineup following theend of Sonos and Ikea’s partnership earlier this year. It’s priced at $59.99 in the US making it much cheaper than Ikea’s $179Sonos-compatible Symfonisk lamp speaker, but the Blomprakt lacks Wi-Fi and streaming support.

Innovative earbuds with a microphone built into the charging case.

When it launched last November,Rode’s $149 Wireless Micro system was a smaller and more discreet alternative to the company’sWireless Go II. The mics are nowslightly less discreet with three new bright color options including blue, red, and anorange that looks similar to Apple’s, and they’re cheaper at $99.

Last week, we noted that the popular multiplatform podcast appwas showing ads to people who’d paid for the mobile version years ago, beforesubscriptions. Now,a post in its forum says, “We have removed the banner ads, and they will not be displayed to app purchasers in the future.”

From the app store notes:

Banner ads won’t be shown to Plus/Patron subscribers or users with accounts created prior to Sept 2019 – thanks for your support.

You might have noticed tech is getting just alittle more expensive these days. SteelSeries’ new$599.99 Arctis Nova Elite headset is only the latest example, but at least it means fans of spending money can complete the set.

Holmeser:

Pairs perfectly with my $999 Xbox Ally X and $750 PS5 Pro

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The update to firmware version 4.467 is rolling out, lettingthe buds adjust ANC on the fly to keep you aware of your surroundings. Announced in August,the update also brings loud noise protection, clearer mic audio forGemini Live, and head gesture controls to take or decline calls.

[support.google.com]

TheOpenFit 2 debuted at CES 2025 earlier this year, but Shokz is already rolling out an updated version called the OpenFit 2 Plus. Their functionality is nearly identical to the $179.95 Open Fit 2, but the Plus adds the convenience of wireless charging, support for Dolby Audio, and a price bump to $199.95.

Good for side sleepers but ANC kills battery life.