Key Takeaways
- Beats has unveiled its highly anticipated Solo 4 headphones with extended battery life and lossless audio capabilities.
- Sony’s WH-1000XM6 headphones will feature a lightweight design and incredible ANC capabilities and are expected to be available in summer 2024.
- Sonos is rumored to be launching a premium headphone range in spring 2024, aiming to take on industry giants like Apple and Sony.
As 2024 approaches and summer arrives, cheerful bird songs fill the air in celebration of warmer weather. Meanwhile, anticipation is building in the headphone and earphone industry, with leaks, rumors, and announcements creating excitement among audiophiles, myself included.
With Beats unveiling its long-awaited latest edition to its popular line and rumors circulating about Sony’s plans to revamp one of its most iconic headphones, it’s clear that expectations are building.
The previous year, 2023, saw a flurry of new headphones and earphones launch on the market. It was a pretty busy year for music lovers, with plenty of standout products. Some of my personal favorites include Bose’s flagship QuietComfort Ultra series, Beats announcing its Studio Pro headphones as a successor to its Studio series, and Bowers & Wilkins enhancing its acclaimed Px7 S2 headphones with the Px7 S2e.
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e review: Attention to detail
Bowers & Wilkins has managed to fix what wasn’t broken and deliver even better performance from its sub-flagship over-ear headphones.
But while 2023 is sure to be a year of excitement, let’s look ahead and delve into the realm of speculation and confirmation. With Beats announcing the long-awaited update to its beloved line and rumors circulating about Sony’s plans to revamp one of its most iconic headphones, the anticipation is palpable.
1 Beats releases long-awaited update
Popular options have been renewed
beat
Perhaps one of the most popular wireless headphones on the market, Beats has finally released the latest in its Solo series: the Beats Solo 4. The upgrade is long overdue, as its predecessor, the Solo 3, hit the market in 2016. The company’s on-ear headphones come with several improvements that improve the overall experience.
After eight long years, Beats has finally released its new Solo headphones and the $80 Solo Buds.
It was definitely time for a refresh.
First, the battery has been improved. The Solo 3 headphones have a 40-hour battery life, but Beats found a way to cram in an extra 10 hours, bringing the total battery life to 50 hours. This is helpful if you travel or tend to forget to charge your headphones. I’m the latter, so longer battery life is a lifesaver. Like its predecessor, the latest version retains the Beats Fast Fuel feature, which gives you an impressive 5 hours of playback from just 10 minutes of charging.
Also new to the Solo 4 headphones are the 3.5mm wired connection. If the battery is completely dead, you can just plug in the Solo 4 like in the good old days and listen with your trusty cable. Beats designed the Solo 4 to be passively tuned, meaning you get the same sound quality whether you use it wirelessly or plugged in. But what I’m most excited about is the lossless audio feature.
The Solo 4 headphones have a USB-C connection that allows you to listen to lossless audio. Of course, this is only if you’re listening on a supported device and via a lossless audio streaming platform, but we think that’s accessible to most self-professed audiophiles. The Solo 4 is available now for $200, so be sure to check out our review.
5 features that make the Beats Studio Pro 2 a top-tier over-ear headphone
The Beats Studio Pro has helped Beats win back the support of audiophiles, but the company needs to keep that momentum going with the second generation.
2 Will a new Sony WH-1000 model be released?
Sony’s most popular ANC headphones may be on the way soon
There are no reliable leaks, not even information from Sony. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that a new member of the WH-1000 headphones series may be coming soon. The first model in the WH series was the WH-1000XM3, which was released in August 2018. Its successor, the WH-1000XM4, was released two years later in August 2020. I wouldn’t be surprised if they said that the WH1000-XM5 will be released two years later in 2022. So, if Sony isn’t willing to change things, we should see the XM6 around August this year, probably in the summer.
5 Reasons Why the Sony WH-1000XM4 Are My Favorite Headphones
It’s been a year since I bought them, and I still use the Sony WH-1000XM4 when I want comfortable, powerful, and long-lasting over-ear earphones.
There are several reasons why I like the WH-1000XM5 headphones. Firstly, their lightweight design makes them extremely comfortable to wear for long periods of time without any issues. Additionally, Sony’s foldable case offers both protection and convenience, fitting easily into tight spaces without the bulk that comes with a headphone case. The ANC is also fantastic, and among the best in the industry, so there’s a lot to look forward to in the WH-1000XM6 headphones. It will be very interesting to see if Sony can surpass the XM5, but we’ll wait patiently to see if they do.
5 Reasons to Buy Sony WH-1000XM5 Over Bose NCH 700
From the design to the noise cancellation, these over-ear earphones have me falling in love with Sony.
3 Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro?
The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are likely to be popular
While speculation surrounding the Sony XM6 remains uncertain, rumors are far more likely that the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro could launch in 2024. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro debuted in August 2022, about a year and seven months after the launch of the original Buds Pro. Following this release pattern, it’s reasonable to expect the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro to arrive in the fall of 2024. This news could be exciting, as the Buds Pro series is one of the most popular earbuds, especially for Android users.
Speculation regarding the release date of the new Buds Pro has been carrying more weight than the XM6, mainly due to comments from insiders. Last year, SamMobile boldly suggested that the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro would be released in 2024, indicating that these new earbuds could debut alongside the upcoming versions of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip smartphones. To back up this idea, Roland Quandt, an industry analyst at WinFuture, said: Samsung’s next-generation earphones confirmed to be released on January 22, 2024.
A highly anticipated feature of the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro in the market is the inclusion of on-board real-time AI.
A market-anticipated feature of the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is the inclusion of on-board real-time AI. This on-board AI can be used for real-time language interpretation, and the Buds can work with Samsung’s latest smartphone, the Galaxy S24, which has generative AI features like chat assist. So it makes sense for the company to include this technology in the Buds 3 Pro. There are currently no earbuds on the market with real-time AI, so it would help Samsung differentiate itself from the competition.
Six features to look forward to in the Galaxy Buds 3
If the upcoming Galaxy Buds 3 come with a better IP rating, better touch controls, and the other four upgrades, I’ll buy them.
Four AirPods Pro Max 2?
Come on Apple, give me a hint.
It’s amazing that it’s been over three years since the AirPods Max headphones debuted. Time flies. But as time goes on, rumors are spreading that the AirPods Max 2 may arrive in mid-2024 or early 2025. Since only one version of the AirPods Max has been released so far, it’s a little hard to predict when it will be released. But if I had to guess, it’s very likely that Apple will announce the AirPods Max 2 headphones at the same time as the next iPhone and iPad models, usually around the end of the year in the fall.
The inclusion of a 3.5mm jack will greatly improve the user experience.
While the AirPods Max 2 headphones already stand out as one of the best over-ear options, there are a few potential upgrades we’re keeping an eye on. Chief among them is the addition of a “power off” button, a feature that will be appreciated by many users who find the current “low power mode” restrictive. Additionally, the inclusion of a 3.5mm jack would greatly improve the user experience. Imagine watching in-flight entertainment during a long flight or enjoying older audio formats like CDs and records at home. The 3.5mm input would allow for seamless connectivity in such scenarios.
4 Features That Make the AirPods Max 2 My Favorite Over-Ear Earphones
Apple’s AirPods Max 2 are rumored to be coming this year, and these four features make them a worthwhile upgrade from the original model.
Five Sonos’ first headphones?
Home entertainment giant enters headphone space
Sonos/Pocket Lint
Rumors of Sonos headphones have been rumbling for a long time in the audiophile world. Now, it looks like those whispers may finally become a reality, with reports suggesting a long-awaited debut in Spring 2024. Priced to rival industry giants like Bose and Sony, these headphones are not only expected to offer premium sound quality, but also seamlessly integrate with a range of Sonos speakers while supporting Sonos voice control.
With an estimated price of over $400, these Sonos headphones are poised to challenge the dominance of Apple’s AirPods Max.
Five things to know about the new Sonos app
The company’s biggest redesign to date has seen major changes to the interface that puts the focus on listening.
The Sonos headphones, rumored to cost over $400, are poised to challenge the dominance of Apple’s AirPods Max. They’re rumored to come in two stylish colors, sync easily with your existing Sonos setup, and promise an overall consistent audio experience. And that’s not all: Sonos is also rumored to be looking at the earbuds market, readying itself to take on the likes of Apple and Samsung.
But as with any highly anticipated release, speculation is being met with cautious optimism. Bloomberg reports that Sonos has encountered roadblocks in the development process, with software issues delaying the launch until the summer. But despite these challenges, Sonos remains unwavering in its ambitions to compete with industry giants like Apple, Sony, and Bose. With plans to produce 650,000 to 1 million units within the next 12 months, Sonos is gearing up to meet the expected demand for the new headphones, perhaps even branching out into the in-ear headphone space to challenge the dominance of the AirPods Pro.
7 Sonos Headphone Features I Want to See
With the rumored first Sonos headphones closer than ever, here are the features I’d most like to see.
