I would argue that Bose helped popularize clip-on open earbuds—the kind of bud that wraps around the outside of your ear like a statement earring. The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds launched in 2024 and were a big swing on the form factor, especially for a major brand. Other companies like Shokz had been making bone-conduction
Sonos has a new app. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. The smart speaker company, long a darling of the audio industry, undid much of the goodwill it earned with its multiroom speakers through a bevy of software updates that broke its app in 2024. Almost all app users hated it, citing the
Noise canceling is also top-tier. The buds have the standard noise cancellation, transparency, adaptive, and off modes, and you can fine-tune ANC strength (from one to five) using the case or Soundcore app. The only earbuds that noticeably canceled more noise were the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) and Sony WF-1000XM6. Video: Harry Rabinowitz
I use Wireless earbuds constantly. I use them for work, running, working out, relaxing, traveling—whatever I am doing, chances are I have a pair of wireless earbuds on me, just in case. While some of the earliest models were huge and inconvenient, earbuds nowadays are slim, comfortable, and often affordable. The WIRED Reviews team doesn’t
