Latest news with #AirPods3
NBC News
04-08-2025
- Business
- NBC News
Deal of the Day: Apple AirPods 4 are under $100 right now
Apple's relatively new AirPods 4 are on sale for under $100 right now. The noise-cancelling version is also on sale for under $150. If you've been meaning to get a new pair of wireless earbuds, this might be a good time to shop. For iPhone owners in particular, these are great earbuds for the office, working out or a daily commute. Apple AirPods 4 deal Apple's AirPods 4 launched in September of 2024, and replaced both the AirPods 2 and AirPods 3 in Apple's headphone lineup. Like previous models, the AirPods 4 don't have rubber eartips — they have a semi-open ear design that lets you hear the environment around you more than traditional earbuds. You can control audio and calls by pinching the stem of either earbud, just like with the Apple AirPods Pro 2. AirPods 4 have a few improvements over past models, including an improved IP54 dust and water resistance rating and the new voice isolation feature during calls and FaceTime. The earbuds alone have up to five hours of listening time — with the charging case, it's up to 30 hours, according to the brand. AirPods 4 with automated noise-cancelling (ANC) are also on sale. The discount isn't quite as good as the regular AirPods 4, but I think these are still the model to get: the ANC is impressive and lets me listen to music at quieter volumes, even in places like a busy cafe. Plus, these earbuds have a more advanced case that has wireless charging and a tiny speaker that helps you find them more easily when you inevitably lose them in a backpack, couch or bed. You can read more in my Apple AirPods 4 ANC review. Want more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter. Why trust NBC Select? I'm a reporter at NBC Select who covers technology and fitness including recent stories on smartwatches, running shoes, cameras and more. For this piece, I checked Apple AirPod 4 prices and price history across multiple retailers to find the best deal. Catch up on NBC Select's in-depth coverage of tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.
Tom's Guide
04-06-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Oleap Archer AI Meeting Headset review: a solution in search of a problem
The Oleap Archer is an AI Meeting Headset that (with the help of its companion app) can transcribe voice memos or meeting recordings with the push of a button. It can also create summaries of the recordings, which I found useful so I didn't have to trawl through recordings or transcripts to find what I was looking for… but is it offering anything new? In short… no, it's not. When transcribing interviews, meeting notes, and voice memos in the past, I have used my trusty AirPods 3 and transcription software to get the same (if not better) results. The audio quality of the Oleap Archer is below par and the microphone is nowhere near as good as my AirPods 3 or my Beats Studio 3 headphones. You can find out more in my full Oleap Archer review. Price $129 Weight 13.8g Dimensions 3.4 x 1.8 x 0.9 inches Connection Bluetooth 5.3 USB-C dongle AI Transcription Summary Accessories Charging cable (80cm) Four sizes of ear tips Charging case (Purchased separately for $39) USB-C dongle (Purchased separately for $19) Operating systems Windows, MacOS, IOS, Android The Oleap Archer is priced at $129 for the headset. There is also the option to purchase a $39 charging case for the headset, which extends the battery life from seven to 28 hours, and also a USB-C dongle for $19. The Oleap Archer isn't currently available for public purchase, but has sent out its first units to backers on Kickstarter. Public release was expected in April but we have not heard anything as of yet. I will update this review on the full availability of the product once it launches. Feedback on the Kickstarter campaign suggests the brand is having difficulty fulfilling all orders so I would advise waiting for the full public launch before committing. The Oleap Archer comes in black or white, looks very sleek, and is actually pretty discreet for a headset. It hooks over one ear in the same way open ear headphones like the Honor Earbuds Open do. The arm of the device hooks around the top of the ear, while the ear tip sits in the same position as in-ear earbuds would. This felt very secure to wear. The headset can be worn on either ear by rotating the arm and microphone to face the opposite direction. The mic comes out of the device and stretches halfway across my cheek. I was able to move this up and down to make sure I was getting the best sound, which I tested by recording myself in the Oleap app (more on that later) and listening back. The headset comes with four different sizes and styles of ear tips to choose from to get the best in-ear fit. The device has two hours of local storage but connecting to the phone app grants further storage where you can save audio recordings and transcriptions. The controls of the headset look overwhelming at first with a lot of tap controls, but are easy to follow after some use. There is a mute button on the stem of the microphone to easily mute yourself during calls. The volume buttons are on the panel in front of the ear piece where there is also a secondary microphone. The power button is on the bottom of the ear hook. This also controls the connection between the headset and devices. Like with any new earbuds, headphones or headset, the controls took a little getting used to. But after around 30 minutes of continuous use it became second nature. The Oleap Archer can connect with up to two devices at once via a Bluetooth 5.3 connection. You simply click the power button three times to connect to a second device. This meant I could play music from my phone and then dial in to a video call on my laptop without needing to disconnect anything. You can be up to 10 meters (33 feet) away from the headset and it will stay connected — something I confirmed during my testing. You can also purchase a USB-C wireless dongle separately for $19 if you want to roam further beyond that distance. However, when using my MacBook Air M2, I had to manually select the Oleap as the audio input as it didn't automatically pick it up. It's an extra unnecessary step that, for example, I don't have to worry about when I'm using AirPods. Initially, I had a few issues with the Oleap Archer headset's sound quality, where my colleague said I sounded awful and muffled. Likewise, I couldn't understand a word I said upon listening back but, funnily enough, the transcription was perfect. After speaking with the Oleap team, it turned out this was a common manufacturing issue so I was sent a replacement. With the new headset, I called my colleague on Google Meet and the microphone performance was much better! She could actually hear and understand me. Through the ear piece I was able to hear her speaking, however it sounded more like I was on a phone call with static, rather than what I usually hear when on a video call through regular headphones. Oleap states the headset uses dual beamforming microphones for 50db noise reduction. Upon listening back to the recordings, I could still hear some background noise from other conversations coming through, but it completely erased any ambient sound like my typing on my keyboard. I tested out the mute button and the response was instant, but it doesn't say on the Bluetooth device that the microphone is muted, so you need to be aware when you turn it on and off. The Oleap Archer comes with a companion app which is what gives it the AI angle. In the app you can store audio recordings but it also transcribes the recordings. It also summarizes the transcriptions, so I knew exactly what was in each recording without having to listen back. The app is available on iOS and Android, and means you can use your device's storage to save all of your recordings and transcriptions. The app is easy to navigate and well designed to give an organized view of recordings. The app is free for 12 months but after that it is $19 for a year. Previously I've used to transcribe my work and that sets you back $20 a month, so the Oleap subscription is much cheaper, but you obviously need to factor in the initial price of the headset. The app has four recording modes to choose from depending on what you need. There is call mode for recording calls, media mode to record, transcribe and provide summaries on videos, environment mode to record speeches and discussion, and memo mode to capture notes and ideas. To be frank though, all of these modes do the same thing. You can record, and then have the option to transcribe. The recording is easy to use by just clicking the microphone button and my voice was easy to understand when listening back, but I get better audio recording results when just using my AirPods 3. The transcription feature works really well and it picked up everything I said word for word with no errors. I was impressed as I have a thick Welsh accent and transcription tools usually struggle to pick up what I say. I was able to turn on speaker recognition which split up the conversation between myself and my colleague with ease. There is also a transcription summary feature which gave me a quick overview of the conversation I was having. I found this useful as it picked up the key points without me having to trawl through the entire transcription or listen to the whole recording again. But an alternative like the Plaude NotePin does all this and more, and you can give it prompts to aid the transcription process. The Oleap Archer has seven hours of talk time, so you'll be all good for a working day. This can be extended to 28 hours if you also use the charging case (which is purchased separately for $39). And Oleap says charging the headset for 10 minutes will give an hour of use. There are indicator lights on the headset to let you know its charge status, but you can also view the percentage in the app. The device comes with a magnetic charging cable that fits on to the headset. It can also be charged in the charging case using the USB-C port. While I like the concept of the Oleap Archer AI Meeting Headset, I can't help but feel this device is a little redundant. Everything it offers can be achieved with a set of earbuds and AI transcription software like or even Google's Gemini, which is now built-in to Google Meet. You aren't able to command the Oleap to organize your meeting transcriptions like with the Plaude NotePin, and you have to pay for a subscription to unlock additional storage. These are tall hurdles to overcome but that being said, the transcriptions it provides are fast and clear. The microphone performance (once we were sent a replacement unit) still wasn't brilliant and since I use a MacBook, I got a simpler and better experience with a pair of AirPods. While I want to like the Oleap Archer AI Meeting Headset, I can't help but feel it's a solution in search of a problem and therefore would advise you to approach it with caution.
Engadget
26-05-2025
- Business
- Engadget
Apple's AirPods 4 with ANC drop to $149 for Memorial Day
Apple's AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation (ANC) just became an even more enticing proposition for those who have been on the fence about picking up a pair. They have dropped to $149 , which is $30 off the regular price. That's only about $10 more than the record low and the lowest price we've seen for the AirPods 4 with ANC so far this year. If ANC isn't such a big deal for you (perhaps, like me, you tend to only wear one earbud at a time), you can snap up a set of AirPods 4 without ANC instead. Those will currently run you $119 , a discount of $10. We gave the AirPods 4 with ANC a score of 86 in our review . Apple improved the audio quality compared with the previous version, and the earbuds have a better fit than the AirPods 3. We felt that the ANC was pretty effective too. However, the lack of onboard volume controls remains a disappointment. The AirPods 4 use the same H2 chip as the AirPods Pro 2, meaning they share some features with the higher-end model. They support Voice Isolation, Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, Personalized Volume and Adaptive EQ. The ANC-enabled model also has Conversation Awareness, Adaptive Audio and Transparency mode. In addition, the charging case that comes with the ANC version has Qi-compatible wireless charging, as well as a built-in speaker for Find My. However, the AirPods Pro 2's advanced hearing health features aren't present here. Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
Tom's Guide
07-05-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Sennheiser's new open earbuds promise AirPods 4 beating specs at a much lower price — but only if you're the UK or EU
(Image credit: Sennheiser) Apple's AirPods started a bit of a design revolution. It made companies realize that some customers don't like silicon eartips — they want something a little less invasive in the ear. To that end, we're seeing more and more earbuds like the new Sennheiser Accentum Open. Buds that offer an AirPods 4 like fit, but with a whole host of potential improved specs at a much lower price than Apple's budget oriented option. They do look... familiar (Image credit: Sennheiser) With a design that says AirPods 3 more than AirPods 4, the Accentum Open nonetheless boast some impressive specs. Battery life far outdoes the Apple option with 6.5 hours in the buds themselves and extra in the case that boosts the total up to 28 hours. You may like Bluetooth 5.3 covers connection duty, offering multi-device connection and switching. Those long stems give you touch controls, making them (according to Sennheiser at least) "liberating to use." They're a very simple pair of buds. There's no extra audio goodies like Dolby Atmos or hi-res listening, but there's a big kicker — the price. In the UK, they cost just £69.99. US buyers are less in luck, unfortunately, where you'll be struck by the dreaded tariffs. The price there is $129. That completely changes the price and value dynamic. Suddenly, where they were once potential AirPods beaters, they're an option that omits certain features to reach a price that you're not getting. Another audio product that could have been a great option, brought down by the T word. Still, you can pick up a pair today from the Sennheiser website, and I'm looking forward to seeing where they rank amongst the best wireless earbuds. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. More from Tom's Guide
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Get $10 off Apple AirPods 4 at Best Buy
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. SAVE $10: As of Jan. 29, the Apple AirPods 4 (without ANC) are on sale at Best Buy for $119.99. This is $10 off their list price of $129.99. Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $119.99 at Best Buy $129.99 Save $10.00 Get Deal Whether you wear them while working out, on long journeys, or while hanging out at home, it's important to have a solid pair of earbuds. If you've had your eye on Apple's latest, the AirPods 4, Best Buy's offering up a decent discount on the models without active noise cancelation, saving you $10 on list price. This has dropped the price from $129.99 to $119.99. Not to mention, your purchase also comes with some great bonuses to get you started: up to three months of Apple Music for free and three months of Apple Fitness+ for free. SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite smart home gear for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card Even though these earbuds don't have noise cancelation, they're still worth every penny for their sound quality. In our breakdown of Apple AirPods 4 vs. AirPods 3, we note that, compared to the AirPods 3's sound, "the AirPods 4 takes it up a notch because it adds an improved amplifier and driver, which leads to better bass, and clearer mids and highs." Because of this, we believe that "the AirPods 4 offers more bang for your buck." This deal on AirPods 4 at Best Buy may not stick around for long, so act fast to scoop them up at $119.99. There are quite a few more headphone and earbud deals worth checking out right now as well. Also at Best Buy, you can save on the Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones, and over at Amazon you can score a nice discount on the Beats Fit Pro earbuds.
