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Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I test headphones for a living — these are my No. 1 travel pick for watching movies on the go
When I'm doing short hops around the country, I tend to stick with my trusty Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones to keep the noise of the world at bay. Noise canceling is the name of the game, and there's little better than the best noise-canceling headphones for that. When I go on longer trips, I want something extra to pass the time — and that means something that can give me the best movie sound possible. Whether that's on a lengthy ferry trip, a road trip that's going to last for hours and hours on end or a long-haul intercontinental flight, there's something extra that I want. The Sonos Ace and their Dolby Atmos sound for movies on the go are my weapon of choice for getting through lengthier travel. The Sonos Ace are a valiant first effort from Sonos, with excellent sound and good noise canceling. They're a comfortable fit as well, and feature a reasonable 30 hours of battery life. It's the Dolby Atmos for music and movies that really set them apart — there is no other pair of headphones capable of such excellent spatial audio. When a trip lasts longer than normal, I like to have a range of content to keep me entertained. I generally bring my iPad, so that I can do some light reading, but also to watch movies on a screen that's much bigger than my phone. But no-one else wants to hear the sounds of the post-apocolyptia in Akira or the whining of Anakin Skywalker as the plot of Star Wars Episode II unfolds, just as no-one else wants to hear it when I crank Crowbar. Neither do I want to listen to my movies over the speakers built into my iPad. Clearly, something must be done to remedy the situation. Enter the Sonos Ace from the top rope. They still block out the noise of the Greyhound bus/Boeing 787/Honda Prelude that I might be riding in, but they make sure that my movies sound their absolute best as I enter hour 11 of a long trip. "Oh, but the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones have that Immersive Audio feature, why not use that?" For one, it's because the feature is designed for music rather than movies. It takes the track you're listening to and uses some clever audio algorithms to stretch out the frequencies and make your music sound 'bigger' and more spacious. I'm still not entirely convinced about its musical abilities, even then, let alone if I were to use it to watch my favorite movies. Any surround mix, be that an older PCM mix or a new Dolby Atmos one, has specific places that sounds should be coming from. The mix of the film tells your audio system where to place those sounds, whether you're using one of the best soundbars, best home cinema receivers, or, in this case, the best headphones. That means things need to be more exact when you're watching movies or you'll find dialogue coming from somewhere that's less than ideal, or a car chase that jumps from ear to ear. That's why you need headphones like the Sonos Ace, or even Apple's Dolby Atmos-certified AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4 or AirPods Max. They're built from the ground up to be good for Dolby Atmos and surround mixes, giving you spatial audio from specially mixed Atmos music tracks on the likes of Apple Music, but also when you watch movies on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. So we've established why I want headphones like the Sonos Ace, but why the Sonos Ace in particular? There are other headphones that support the Dolby Atmos standard, like the AirPods mentioned above, so why have I opted for the Sonos Ace and their specific application? It's all down to the standard of their Dolby Atmos playback. The AirPods line are very good at playing back spatial audio mixes, placing sounds well in the virtual space around you. You can use them with an Apple TV as well, which is always a bonus, giving you Dolby Atmos playback if you don't have a capable soundbar or if you want to make sure you don't wake anyone up if you watch movies at 3am. They're good, but thanks to Sonos' experience with spatial audio in its smart speaker and soundbar line, the Ace are just better. The sound feels bigger and more immersive, with better placement and more natural head tracking to make it feel like you're in your own home theater — whether you're in a coach seat on a flight or the back of your mom's station wagon. So, every time I go on a longer trip (unless I'm driving, then everyone has to listen to my 24-hour death metal playlist — not sorry, I make the rules) I grab my Sonos Ace so that I can enjoy watching movies and make the journey go just that bit quicker. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Tom's Guide
4 days ago
- Tom's Guide
Nothing Headphone (1) vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
The Nothing Headphone (1) is an interesting pair of headphones that are built well and feature some top-notch specs. Unfortunately, they fall down in a couple of key aspects which keep them from scoring top marks — but how do they fare against Bose's flagship? Bose's ANC cans have long been at the top of the list when it comes to noise-canceling headphones. They have a slick style, a comfortable fit, and decent sound, but how do they match up against the newest headphones on the block? The Nothing Headphone (1) are the upstart in the headphone world. They want to upset the balance between the established competition, like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and the Sony WH-1000XM5, and undercut them both on price. That means loads of features, a cool-looking design, and some impressive battery life. But, for the money, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are still the best noise-canceling headphones that you can buy today. They feature mind-blowing ANC, impressive sound, and a very comfortable fit to go with their decent feature set. They might be more expensive, but Nothing's going to have to do a lot to make a better set of cans. Nothing Headphone (1) Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Price $299/£299/AU$549 $429 / £449 / AU$645 Colors Black; Silver Lunar Blue; Deep Plum; White Smoke; Black Size Not specified Not specified Weight 11 ounces 8.8 ounces Battery life (rated) Up to 80 hours Up to 24 hours Connectivity Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC and LDAC support Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC and LDAC, aptX HD support support Special features Adaptive ANC, Ambient Sound Mode, Bluetooth multipoint, customizable sound, quick charge, passive mode, Spatial Audio ANC, Immersive Audio, Bluetooth multipoint, customizable EQ, quick charge The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are one of the more expensive flagship offerings that you can currently pick up. They cost $449, a whole $150 more than the new Nothing Headphone (1). That's also more than the Sony WH-1000XM5, and the same as the also new WH-1000XM6. The Bose worth the higher price, sure, but we have to give credit where credit's due: Nothing Headphone (1) just cost less. They're $299, making them one of the cheaper options when compared to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones have been out long enough now that we see discounts, so you might not have to pay full price. Even then, their lowest price still doesn't match the MSRP of the Nothing Headphone (1). That's first blood for the Nothing Headphone (1). The Nothing Headphone (1) bring something new to the table. While the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones have a nice, if standard, look, the Headphone (1) look unlike just about anything else out there. They've got Nothing's signature design style, and I think that's pretty cool — just like the Nothing ear and the Nothing phones, they have transparent panels that hide some retro future design touches. These Nothing's design isn't for everyone and the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones look more traditional. That's no bad thing, however. They're quite stylish thanks to the use of multiple finishes, along with their subtle branding. The Nothing Headphone (1) is built slightly better though thanks to some improved materials. There's metal in the earcups, and there's more substantial heft to them But the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are more comfortable. Their cushioning is more plush, and you won't suffer from the slight squeezing effect that you'll find in the Headphone (1). Despite a better build and more interesting design, I'm going to give this to the less divisive and far more comfortable Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. Physical controls are my preferred way of controlling headphones, and the Nothing Headphone (1) deliver just what I'm looking for. They've got very intuitive controls, including a volume roller, a paddle for skipping tracks, a power switch, and a customizable button. Each one is easy to find without looking, and feel wonderful under the finger. I think they might be some of my favorite controls on a pair of headphones ever, bringing innovation to the table with their tactile clickers. The Nothing app is also good, letting you control ANC level, change the EQ, and adjust other settings on the fly. It's good that the EQ is so good given that the sound needs adjustment out of the box, but we'll get to that later. The controls on the Bose QuietComfort are more annoying. There's a multi-control button that controls the ANC, playback, and other features, alongside a touch stripe for volume. The touch stripe is annoying to use and fairly inaccurate, while the button pulling triple duty has to do too much. The Bose app pulls everything back, however. It's easy to use and very well laid out, letting you easily access the 3-band EQ, noise-canceling settings, and more. Overall, though, the control section has to go to the Nothing Headphone (1). Despite the influence of KEF on the sound of the Nothing Headphone (1), they don't sound as good as I'd hoped. They're much too dark, with an overreliance on upper-bass and lower-mids that take over the soundscape. This tuning leaves music feeling like it's being played in the next room, blocked by a wall. You can dial in the sound quality with the Nothing X app, but I'd have preferred the core sound be good enough out of the box. Not many users are going to dive into a complicated looking EQ adjuster when they realize their brand-new headphones don't sound very good. The Bose, on the other hand, sound good out of the box. It's a fairly bassy sound signature, with bass that can take some of the edge off the detail, but it's otherwise spacious and pleasant to listen to. It can be adjusted with a slightly weaker EQ, but the core sound is good enough that it's not entirely necessary. Headphones should sound good out of the box, so this round is going to go to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. The Nothing Headphone (1) bring a great feature set to the table, including the EQ, USB-C mode, and spatial audio. The former two features work very well, and the USB-C mode is something I wish I saw on more headphones coming out in 2025. Unfortunately, however, the spatial audio feature doesn't work very well. It serves only to thin out the music and make it sound less dynamic, as it stretches out what's there to make it sound much bigger. I'm generally not a fan of spatial audio modes, and this one is the perfect example as to why. The Bose have similar features, although they lack the USB-C mode. Immersive Sound (Bose's version of spatial audio) is much better, however, and it's the reason that they're going to win this round. The two headphones are fairly well matched for features, although the Bose just manage to eke out the victory. You can expect solid feature sets from both, however. This is going to be a blowout for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. They're the best noise-canceling headphones for a reason, with some of the best ANC that I've ever experienced out of a pair of headphones. They block out even the loudest and most disturbing noises, whether you're on the go or stuck inside the office. Fans are silenced, busy cafes subdued and bus journeys made a whole lot more tolerable. They're my choice if I want to block out everything happening in the world, and they've never let me down. That's not to say that the Nothing Headphone (1)'s noise canceling is bad, but it's not as good as Bose's. It does a fine job of keeping out the noise, but it does struggle a bit with the wind. Transparency mode is good for both pairs, and you'll have no problem hearing the bus driver when you go to buy your ticket. Thanks to their impressive ANC overall, though, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones take the win at the end. I don't need to say much here. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones last for 24 hours after a full charge. Meanwhile, the Nothing Headphone (1) will last you for 35 hours with ANC turned on, and then 80 hours when the ANC is turned off. The win here goes to the Nothing Headphone (1). The Nothing Headphone (1) get very close to being a very good pair of headphones. They've laid down the ground work, with a lovely design, solid build quality, and some impressive features for the price. But they're let down by some very disappointing sound quality. They don't sound as good as the Bose, that's for sure, which also beat them in noise canceling and comfort. The price differential is massive, but there's no denying that the more well-rounded product package from Bose is a better way to spend your money. I'd hoped to see Nothing arrive on the scene and bring some disruption to the table. While they got pretty close to the competition, there still needs to be some work done on Nothing's part to make sure they sound their best. As it stands, they're let down by the sound profile — and what are headphones all about if not their sound? Nothing Headphone 1 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Price and value (5) 4 3 Design (15) 14 14 Controls (10) 8 5 Sound quality (25) 15 22 Active noise cancelation (20) 17 20 Call quality (10) 6 9 Connectivity (5) 5 5 Battery life (10) 9 5 Total Score (100) 78 82
Tom's Guide
6 days ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Nothing Headphone (1) review: Bringing the weird
It's always difficult to know what to expect when a new manufacturer joins the headphones game. Which part of the package is going to stand out, which is going to need work for the next model? With Nothing and its new Headphone (1), things were slightly easier to foretell. Like the Oracle of Delphi, I could have told you that the headphones were going to look excellent. And they do — point one for the Oracle. I also could have told you they'd undercut the competition in price — and they do that too. Another point for the Oracle. What I couldn't have told you is how they were going to sound. Now that I've got them in my hands, I can tell you how they sound, and while the story is no Greek tragedy, it's not a shining tale of godly heroism, either: The Nothing Headphone (1) are treacherously close to being some of the best headphones, but they're going to require some work from you to adjust the EQ to your liking. And that's far easier said than done. The Nothing Headphone (1) have launched at a surprisingly compelling price for something that comes with so many flagship features. Here in the U.S. they undercut the Sony and Bose alternatives by a healthy $100 at $299, making them cheaper than both the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. And that's important in the grand scheme of things. They're aimed directly at the flagship models with comparable build, styling and features. That's an impressive package for such a saving — but things do get trickier for Nothing's new headphones when you start to consider some of the similarly priced competition. They've got to fight off Cambridge Audio's less expensive and sonically superior Melomania P100, for one. That's a tall order with the gaping void between the two in core sound. Then there's the Marshall Monitor III, which take the battery life claims of the Headphone (1) to school. So yes, they are a similarly specced but cheaper alternative to the flagship models, but there's still plenty of competition for the Nothing Headphone (1) in an arguably more well-stocked price bracket. Nothing has become well-known for its standout, transparent design. The Nothing Headphone (1) were never going to be an exception to the rule, and from the moment you pull them from their cardboard prison, you're treated to one of the most unique-looking and feeling pairs of headphones you can buy today. They're square, a bit like the AirPods Max, but flatter thanks to Nothing's cassette motif. The initial plane of the earcups is metal and feels great under the finger, and then the transparent panel that brings the Nothing house style sits on top. Under that clear panel is what looks like a cassette on each ear. Remember those? It looks like the designer at Nothing does, because there are constant references to audio gear of the past all over the place. They've got a retro futuristic style, and it's one that I really appreciate. Headphones should be fun, and that's something that Nothing has got very, very right. I imagine the design will be quite divisive, however. Not everyone will be interested in a pair of headphones that look quite so 'out-there', instead preferring the classic look of the competition. And that's ok — it's nice to have variety. The spice of life, as it were, is different-looking headphones. The design and its thick cushioning make for a fairly comfortable fit, although there are a couple of foibles to dampen the experience. The headband foam isn't the thickest in the world, and I found that after a couple of hours of wear, I could feel the plastic headband beneath. The earcups are overall comfortable too, but a word of warning for earring and stud wearers (like me): If you've got a cartilage piercing, I found that the headphones press down in just the wrong place. It's not initially uncomfortable or painful, but it is annoying. They also have a habit of pressing down on my lobes in such a way that my piercings there were disturbed. Again, more annoying than uncomfortable. So that they can battle better against the established options from Bose and Sony, Nothing has packed the Headphone (1) full of features. That means you can expect a form of head-tracked spatial audio on board, a solid app to change a range of settings, and even different wired listening modes that rely on both the headphone jack and USB-C ports. We'll start with the spatial audio implementation — and, as with so many other uses of the term, it's another custom thing that Nothing has used. In this case, it's not going to use Dolby Atmos Mixes brought from Amazon Music Unlimited or Apple Music, instead doing its own job to try and widen the soundstage. If you absolutely need your music to sound like it's coming from all around you it's fine. But in the long run, it serves more to thin out the already anemic mid-range, and completely obliterate any form of body that the sound once had. Head tracking is fine, but overall, a mode worth leaving in the 'off' position. You'll find that 'off' switch in the Nothing X app, the same one you'll have used for Nothing and CMF's earbuds. It's a simple application to use, with large buttons and well-labelled functions and features. Here, you'll be able to control the ANC level, change the way that the on-device physical controls work, and play with the settings. There's also a very strong EQ menu which you're going to have to become extremely intimate with should you choose to pick up a pair of the Headphone (1)s. I'll talk more about it later on, but for now I'll just say this — I'm glad that there's so much adjustment here, because the core sound is so imminently disappointing that it needs a lot of work from you, the person who bought them, to sound better. There's also a bass slider. It makes the headphones sound boomy, even at the lowest level. Don't touch it. No, don't you touch that dial. There's also a very strong EQ menu which you're going to have to become extremely intimate with. There are three different listening modes. The Bluetooth connection is 5.3, with support for LDAC and other hi-res codecs. It's good, and about what you'd expect from Bluetooth headphones. Then there are the two wired listening modes. The first is the 3.5mm headphone jack. That means you can listen from older devices, like an iPod. It's fine, although it still requires the headphones to be turned on and filled with battery juice for it to work. That's a shame. Once the headphones are dead, they're dead. Boo. Secondly, there's the USB-C listening mode, which lets you listen to hi-res tracks from Apple Music, Qobuz and Tidal. It's great! I'm not entirely sure that many people are going to notice a groundbreaking sonic difference given the internals aren't capable of such nuance, but it's a welcome addition to the cans. There are few things I hate in this world. Wasps. Mashed potato. Square pizza. Touch controls. So you can imagine how excited I was when I discovered that Nothing would be bringing physical controls to the Nothing Headphone (1). I was even more excited when I discovered how intuitive they are. Starting with the simple ones, there's a power switch on the bottom of the right earcup and a customizable button on the outer surface. Both are clicky and responsive, although the switch is perhaps a little small. It's the playback controls that are truly lovely, however. There's a volume roller thing which spins under the finger. It's an alternative to Apple's digital crown from the AirPods Max, and I love it. It clicks down to change ANC mode and play/pause the music as well. Underneath the volume roller there's what Nothing calls a paddle. It clicks forward and backward to skip tracks, and you can hold it to scroll through a track. Both controls are easily accessible and intuitive to use. There was no adjustment period here, just pure, rolly, clicky from one annoying issue. The sound that's piped into the headphones when you use the controls. The volume control clicks at an uncomfortable timbre, and the audio cues that tell you ANC is on and off are grating. It's a bit like nails on a chalkboard or someone rubbing some packing polystyrene. I'm not a fan and you can't turn them off. This is about as close to Sony and Bose as you're going to get if you're looking for solid noise canceling. I've been super impressed with the ANC of the Nothing Headphone (1) during my testing. It's got all the bells and whistles, including different ANC levels and even an adaptive mode that changes depending on the noise level of your environment. Play music and the outside world is all but completely silenced. In my small office space, I couldn't hear my fan at max level (it's really, really hot), the humming of my laptop, the sound of the fan outside or even the clacking of my keyboard — something that other ANC models often struggle with. If I tried really hard, I could defeat it — but what's the point of that? Taking the ANC outside gave me similar results. The bus was instantly calmer and more comfortable thanks to the headphones, with tire and engine noise silenced. There is one problem, however, and that's wind noise. The headphones struggle with blowy breezes more than some, as I found when I could hear the air from my fan and then the wind outside while I was on a walk. It's not massively distracting, but it is noticeable. And disappointing. I've found that the Headphone (1)'s call quality is almost the same amongst options at this price, but not quite up there in mic quality. The mic is uncommonly bad when compared to other options out there. My call partner complained that I sound like I was talking down a metal tube; not good. Things on my end were fine, thankfully — although you'll want to use the mic in your laptop for conference and work calls. The Nothing Headphone (1) are, apparently, tuned by one of my favorite audio brands: KEF. I love KEF. My speakers are KEF, my TV speakers want to be KEF, and my endgame HiFi contains a set of the brand's completely out-of-reach blade speakers. So you can imagine how I felt when I discovered that KEF would be behind the sound of the Nothing Headphone (1). Imagine my disappointment when I put the Headphone (1) on my head and discovered a sound signature that seemed counter to everything that I love about the brand. KEF is known for sonic analysis: High frequencies that are able to extract precise detail from a track and show you all the little bits you've been missing. The Nothing Headphone (1)s are…not that. My first listen showed me a pair of headphones that were mid-focused. With more listening, however, I noticed that there's a significant darkness thanks to an over-reliance on mid-bass, which swallows the highs and the mids completely. It's a restrictive soundstage, and it leaves music feeling distant and one-note. It's not horrible by any stretch of the imagination, but there are similarly priced headphones that sound much better out of the box. Thankfully, the EQ in the app is very strong, and lets you dial in the sound to your preferred listening curve. For better sound quality, I boosted the upper mids so that I can get more guitar and musical body, then lowered some of the mid-bass to get rid of some of the tonal darkness. The highs have been increased so that I can get more detail as well. It's worked well enough, although I suspect I will spend more time tinkering to get the sound I really want. As it stands, they now sound good, although there are still options out there that sound better, like the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100. The chainsaw guitars of Witchery in Legion require some of the upper-mid edge to sound as scary as they should, and after my adjustments, we're pretty much there. The dual guitars are fairly easy to separate throughout the brutal assault on your eardrums, but even after some adjustment to the lowest bass frequencies, the kick drum lacks a certain amount of 'oomph' that I look for. The vocals are well defined though, and after my high-range changes, the cymbals sound good and airy. It's cold and unforgiving, just as intended. TWICE's Strategy brings some decent low-end to the table, but some of the impact is lost at the very bottom. The vocals really shine, though, as the girls talk you through their titular strategy. The synths wobble smoothly, and every bell 'ting' is clear and concise. There's perhaps some control lacking in the very low stuff, but it's otherwise a good performance. Finally, Limp Bizkit bring the '90s with My Way. The mid-bass comes into its own, filling the soundscape with distorted bass guitar; Durst's slurred pseudo-singing is clear and well-defined, and the drums sound very good indeed. We're lacking some impact, again, but it's about as sludgy and filled with attitude as you'd hope. Nothing, where does that extra 45 hours worth of battery go when I turn the ANC on? The ANC is very good, but that's a gaping inconsistency that feels strange when the Sony and Bose options have far less difference between ANC on and off. The 80 hours of ANC off battery is very good, to be clear, but 35 hours with ANC on is about what you'd expect from the competition. Given how long they last with noise canceling off, it does feel like a shame that the battery isn't quite up there when it's on. Still, they've got decent battery life. My testing showed the battery life claims to be pretty much on the mark. After 8 hours of use I was down to about 70% battery, which is about what you'd expect. That's with volume at medium and with the ANC turned on. Just keep in mind that the overall battery life will vary depending on the set volume level, ANC level, and even the genre of music you're listening to. I'm torn. On the one hand, I really like the Nothing Headphone (1). They look excellent, and I'm genuinely excited to see something different in terms of design. I like how the price undercuts the likes of Sony and Bose while bringing comparable specs to the table, and I think it's important for upstarts to upset the established headphone norm. But there's a big sound-shaped issue that keeps me from whooping and hollering about the Headphone (1). EQ should be a nice extra to help you dial in your headphones to your preferred sound, not a fix for middling sound out of the box. It goes to show just how good a job Cambridge Audio did with the Melomania P100, mind you. In fact, I'd say you should probably look at those instead, if you don't mind leaving spatial audio behind. The Nothing Headphone (1) are a good pair of headphones, but their sonic downfall makes it tricky to recommend them over the competition. Instead, I can suggest you wait for the Nothing Headphone (2) to come out further down the line. If the sound is fixed, we're onto a surefire winner.
Condé Nast Traveler
02-07-2025
- Business
- Condé Nast Traveler
The Best Tech Gear for Work Trips
This story is part of The New Era of Work Travel, a collaboration between the editors of Condé Nast Traveler and WIRED to help you navigate the perks and pitfalls of the modern business trip. For business travelers who move as seamlessly through Tokyo as they do through Toronto, packing the right tech is essential—not optional. Today's global professionals are digital nomads of the highest order, jetting from boardrooms to hotel lobbies to remote meetings with barely a pause. Their travel gear must keep up. A work trip is not the time for dead batteries, tangled cords, or flimsy accessories. It's about top-tier efficiency when on-the-go, with portable products sleekly wrapped in functionality. From noise-canceling headphones that create an oasis mid-flight to luggage scales that help you save on fees, every item in your travel arsenal should pull its weight—and then some. We're talking luggage smart tags that let your bag track itself, ultra-slim chargers that slip into any carry-on, and portable Wi-Fi routers that turn airport lounges into mobile offices. Whether you're sipping espresso in Milan or racing to a connection in Dubai, this is the gear that ensures every leg of the journey feels first class. Courtesy of Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones $449 Amazon Stylish and well-built, with physical and app controls, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones are the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy. These cans offer excellent sound quality, with the right blend of clarity and punch to make the most of any audio whether it's a podcast, a death metal album, or a phone call. Don't want to hear anything? Bose's best let you enjoy the sound of silence, too. There's even support for spatial audio and lots of customization options. Courtesy of Apple MacBook Air $999 $849 (15% off) Amazon Powerful and portable, the svelte Apple MacBook Air (M4, 2025) is the best of the best laptops, and perfect for business travelers looking to get some work done in the office or on the move. You can expect slick performance, long battery life, and a lovely bright display. Apple's M4 chipset supports two 4K external monitors and on-device AI processing. There's also a crystal clear 12-megapixel webcam that's ideal for video conferencing. Courtesy of Amazon Pro 1000 $66 $50 (24% off) Amazon Need to make a stellar first impression on that presentation you crossed an ocean to give? Keep those pearly whites gleaming with the Oral-B Pro 1000. Top of WIRED's best electric toothbrushes guide, this is a reliable and effective way to clean your teeth. The Pro 1000 sports a circular oscillating brush head that can get in everywhere, and it buzzes every 30 seconds to prompt you to clean each quadrant of your mouth. You can also expect 10 days of battery life when fully charged. Courtesy of Amazon RT-AX57 Go Travel Router $100 Amazon Connect all your gadgets to the Asus RT-AX57 Go travel router before you leave for a trip and you only have to worry about connecting one device at your destination. This dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router has gigabit WAN and LAN Ethernet ports to plug into a modem, port in your hotel, or any other internet source. It can connect to public Wi-Fi, and you can even connect your phone to the USB 3.2 port and use the RT-AX57 Go as a hotspot to magnify your cell connection. The Asus RT-AX57 Go also comes with security software and VPN support, making it one of the best Wi-Fi routers around. Courtesy of Ceptics GaN 70W Universal Travel Adapter $45 Amazon The best travel adapters enable globetrotters to plug in all their gadgets. The Ceptics GaN 70W Universal Travel Adapter is first in our bag for every trip because it covers more than 200 countries and has a secure locking slider design that pushes out EU, UK, and US plugs (you can rotate the pins for sockets in Australia and China). We love the retractable 25-inch USB-C cable that goes up to 70 watts, but you also get an additional USB-C port and two USB-A ports, making this the only charger you need to pack. Courtesy of OnePlus Pad 2 $550 OnePlus Whether you want to kick back after a long day to watch a movie or get some light work done, this tablet is a smooth operator. As the Android pick in WIRED's best tablets guide, the OnePlus Pad 2 boasts a 12.1-inch LCD screen, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, and plenty of RAM and storage. The Open Canvas feature enables three apps side by side on the screen, making it perfect for multitaskers. There's also an optional detachable keyboard and stylus. Courtesy of Amazon Luggage Scale $13 $10 (23% off) Amazon No more surprise baggage fees—this compact scale slips neatly into your luggage and gives you peace of mind before check-in. Picked by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the best luggage scales, its user-friendly strap and clear display take the stress out of weigh-ins, so you're never left guessing. Built tough for globetrotting, it withstands knocks and rough handling. For business travelers, it'll help keep your bag within weight limits and keep your trip on-budget. Courtesy of Hatch Rest Go Portable Sound Machine $40 Amazon $40 Hatch This palm-sized sound machine delivers 10 soothing tracks—from ocean waves to white noise—without apps or Wi‑Fi, making it perfect for travel. With around 12 to 15 hours of battery life, it'll last through long flights or busy days. Its simple button layout and clip-on ring allow quick setup anywhere, from airport lounges to hotel rooms. Funnily enough, the gadget is actually designed for babies, but can be used by travelers of all ages—and a must-have for Traveler editors. It's affordable, tough, and sleek enough to blend into any travel toolkit. Courtesy of Nesugar Portable Handheld Steamer $59 Amazon A travel staple for sharp professionals, this handheld steamer tackles wrinkles in minutes—no ironing board needed. Just plug it in and press and glide to freshen suits, dresses, and linens. Lightweight enough for a carry-on bag yet effective enough to smooth creases effortlessly, it's the secret weapon to looking polished on arrival. Ideal for impromptu meetings or last-minute evening events, it ensures you always step out wrinkle-free. Courtesy of Apple AirTag $29 $23 (21% off) Amazon $30 Apple Slip an AirTag into your luggage or attach it to your bag and you can track it effortlessly via your iPhone—no more anxiety about lost bags or gear. The new U1 chip enables precision-finding, showing you the exact direction and distance to your missing item. It's water- and dust-resistant, runs for about a year on a standard battery, and transmits location via the vast Find My network. Privacy protections like rotating IDs mean no unwanted tracking and solely, smart security. Courtesy of Amazon Small Portable Charger $27 Amazon Tiny yet mighty, the iWalk charger fits in any pocket and delivers a fast juice boost thanks to its 4,800 mAh capacity and 20 W output. It's ideal for those in-between moments—waiting at the gate or lounging before boarding. LED indicators keep you informed, and USB‑C recharge is quick and convenient. Stylish and available in multiple colors, it's a sleek companion for busy days abroad—and not to mention, a Traveler favorite. Courtesy of Calpak Portable Charger Luggage Tag $35 Calpak Doubling as a luggage tag and power bank, this Calpak device blends functionality and finesse with its faux-leather exterior. It quietly powers up your phone mid-journey through USB‑C (or Lightning) connections when you need it most. Slim and lightweight, it slips neatly onto your bag and travels with ease. Backed by a one-year warranty, it's a reliable (and chic) lifesaver for unexpected low-battery situations on the go. A version of this story originally appeared on WIRED.
Tom's Guide
11-06-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Score Bose's QuietComfort Ultra Headphones at a record low price when you use our exclusive code
Sitting atop our list of the best noise-cancelling headphones in Australia, Bose's excellent QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are now available at a record low price thanks to the audio company's EOFY sale and an additional special offer. In our 4.5-star Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones review, we gushed about its outstanding ANC performance, stylish design, improved battery life and immersive audio experience, stating that the QC Ultra is "as close to perfect as you're going to get in the noise-canceling headphones category." Right now, the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are priced at AU$649 AU$399.95 on Bose's online store. However, you can score an additional 10% off on orders over AU$200 when you head to our Bose Promo Codes page and click the 'get unique code' button located up top. Then, simply apply that unique code at checkout on the Bose online store to bring the final discounted price down to AU$359.95 — an epic saving of AU$289.05 on the RRP! Save AU$289.05 with unique code Bose's class-leading QuietComfort Ultra are now available to buy at an all-time low price, thanks to this fantastic EOFY deal. To get the full discount, locate the 'get unique code' button on our Bose Promo Codes page and click it to generate your unique code. Then, apply it at checkout on the Bose online store to bring the final discounted price down to AU$359.95. Alternatively, you could use that unique 10% off code on any other item on the Bose online store that's priced over AU$200. Here are some other Bose products that you can combine with our unique code to score some massive savings: Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar: AU$1,499.95 AU$892.75 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds: AU$449.95 AU$269.95 Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II Bluetooth Speaker: AU$499.95 AU$359.95 We wouldn't wait around too long, though — Bose's EOFY sale ends after June 30, 2025 and these products are only available while stocks last.
