Tech / Technology

Bose QuietComfort II earbuds deal: $80 off at Amazon

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Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are on sale at Amazon as of Nov. 6. Take $80 off these in-ear headphones that offer personalized noise cancellation.
Women wearing Bose QuietComfort earbuds climbs a rock

SAVE $80: Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are on sale for just $199 as of Nov. 6 at Amazon. That’s 29% off the usual list price of $279.


A soapstone colored pair of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

Credit: Bose


Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

$199 at Amazon (save $80)

In today’s world, it’s not uncommon to feel like someone has their hand on the volume control, constantly turning it up. Noise-canceling headphones help carve out some peace no matter where you are.

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are on sale as of Nov. 6 at Amazon for 29% off. That means the list price is taken down from $279 to just $199. This is a historic low for these superb, in-ear noise-canceling headphones. Even throughout the Prime Day sale last month, these headphones were still listed for above $270. We don’t know when (or if) this price will come back, so we suggest taking advantage of the deal while you can.

These aren’t your average noise-canceling earbuds, either. Bose’s technology leaves behind the one-size-fits-all approach in favor of offering a noise-canceling experience that can adapt and personalize noise cancellation levels to fit you and your environment. Not only is the sound quality powerfully immersive but the overall experience of using these headphones is designed to keep you grounded in the present moment, too. Through touch activation, you can control your music and alter the noise cancellation level without ever having to pick up your phone. Plus, they’re seriously comfortable: these earbuds come with a fit kit so you can shape them to your ears.

Score a pair of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II today and transform the way you listen to music.

Tech / Technology

Best Bose deal: Bose Smart Soundbar 600 on sale for an all-time low price of $399

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The Bose Smart Soundbar 600 is on sale for an all-time low price of $399. That’s 20% off its regular price of $499.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 600 resting on top of a wooden shelf

Save $100: As of November 3, the Bose Smart Soundbar 600 is on sale for $399 instead of $499 at Amazon, which is a savings of 20% and the item’s lowest price yet.


The Bose Smart Soundbar 600 in black, positioned next to its compatible remote

Credit: Bose


Bose Smart Soundbar 600

$399 at Amazon (save $100)

If you’re someone who loves to throw a Sunday night football game on the TV, or maybe binge-watch all the latest episodes of The Golden Bachelor, it’s absolutely imperative that your TV audio is in tip-top shape. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case without some investment. That’s where the Bose Smart Soundbar 600 comes in.

As of November 3, you can get the Bose Smart Soundbar 600 for only $399 instead of $499 at Amazon — which is the item’s lowest price to date. We only ever saw it drop this low in September (according to the price tracker camelcamelcamel), and the current deal isn’t guaranteed to last long, either. If you’ve been itching for a more immersive listening experience while watching TV, run don’t walk to get this item.

The Bose Smart Soundbar 600 features Bose TrueSpace technology and two upward firing transducers: Ensuring all corners of your room are bathed in rich, Dolby Atmos sound quality. The soundbar has five speakers in total (that’s major, considering it’s only 27.5-inches wide and 2.25-inches tall). In addition, it’s one smart cookie — what with this device’s compatibility to Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay, Spotify Connect, Chromecast, and beyond. Thanks to the Bose Music app, you can easily toggle with the Smart Soundbar 600’s settings (even grouping Bose devices together for maximized sound output!). Your movie-watching experience will never be the same after this purchase, and we hope you’re excited.

Tech / Technology

Best headphones for Samsung in 2023 (UK)

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The best headphones for Samsung devices, including models from Bose and Apple.
Samsung Galaxy Buds on pink background

Your Samsung smartphone might offer plenty of great features, but we’ll bet that the earphones it came with aren’t that great. That’s a standard-issue problem with standard-issue earbuds. You’re better off upgrading by buying a pair of earphones or headphones that offer superior audio and features.

But before you jump in and invest in a fancy new set, it’s worth thinking about your specific requirements — particularly as a Samsung user. After all, some headphones are geared towards Samsung devices, and some are geared towards Apple devices.

Where will you use your headphones? Do you commute regularly? Do you love using Samsung’s voice assistant? Do you need noise cancellation? It’s important to pick a pair that works for you. Especially if you’re looking to spend a decent amount of money on a more than decent pair.

To help get through the jargon and figure out what works best for your Samsung devices, here’s a quick guide.

Are wired or wireless headphones better?

When buying headphones, you can choose between wired headphones, wireless, or even “true” wireless. Wired means you plug them into your headphone jack with cables trailing up to your ears. This can be an issue if you’re moving around a lot and don’t want to get tangled up. These do tend to be cheaper than wireless solutions, though.

Wireless headphones, meanwhile, are typically connected via Bluetooth. That means you’re free to move around without being physically connected to your device.

The latest Samsung smartphones don’t have a headphone jack. Instead, they have a USB-C port that connects to the standard-issue earphones. In other words, Samsung is following Apple in moving towards wireless listening. Be aware of this when ordering headphones that still use an old-school jack connection.

What is true wireless?

True wireless (sometimes called “truly” wireless) is a term you’ll come across often when researching earphones. There are technically several levels of wireless. Regular “wireless” means earphones that aren’t connected to the device but are connected to each other via a cable that hangs behind your neck.

True wireless is exactly as it sounds: two earbuds and no cables anywhere. They’re typically the most expensive option and you need to get a pair that fit comfortably so they don’t fall out. They’re particularly useful for when you’re running or commuting, as you don’t want to be tangled in cables. 

Are headphones better than earbuds?

Wired, wireless, and true wireless aren’t the only variations you have to consider. There are also on-ear headphones or in-ear earphones (or earbuds as they’re often called). Neither is technically better than the other. It all comes down to personal choice. Some people prefer the old school-feel of on-ear headphones. Others like buds that feed music directly into their ears.

There are benefits to both. On-ear headphones tend to have higher-quality sound, while in-ear earphones are more compact, portable, and inconspicuous. They’re also better suited to fitness or commuting.

What is noise cancellation?

Active noise cancellation (ANC) is a clever bit of tech that blocks out external sound. It uses mini microphones that detect incoming noise and then create anti-sound waves to cancel out that noise. Some headphones have variations of ANC, such as “adaptive” noise cancellation, which cleverly adapts to your surroundings, or ambient modes which let in certain types of external noise such as other people’s voices, so you know when someone has started a conversation.

Are Beats headphones compatible with Samsung?

This is a commonly asked question, because Beats is such a popular brand, but became Apple-centric when Apple bought Beats back in 2014. You might think that you can’t use Beats headphones with your Samsung smartphone but that is not the case. The people at Beats are quick to remind listeners that their headphones sync with other types of devices straight out of the box, although you’ll miss out on some iOS features.  

Are cheap headphones any good?

It’s pretty easy to find cheap headphones, but there are reasons why they’re so inexpensive. Typically, you get what you pay for, and the cheapest set is going to be lacking. You’ll want to make sure your headphones offer decent battery life, sound quality, durability, and portability, because otherwise you’re just wasting your cash. The more you spend, the more features you tend to get.

What are the best headphones for Samsung devices?

If the sheer number of headphone options has you feeling overwhelmed, do not fear. We’ve made the whole process much easier. We’ve done the research, listened to the experts (not to mention some tunes), and pulled together a selection of your best options. Just pick something that sound good to you.

These are the best headphones for Samsung devices in 2023.

Tech / Technology

Best wireless earbuds in 2023 (UK)

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The best wireless earbuds from top brands like Apple and Sony.
Man with earbuds in

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

We all know the pain of untangling your headphones. It’s like some ludicrous puzzle that we must solve every single day. It’s the curse of owning wired headphones — so infuriating that someone once did a scientific study into why it happens.

Perhaps that’s why the top audio brands have largely ditched the classic headphone jack and moved towards almost exclusive wireless listening. Well, that and the ever-evolving technology. Unsurprisingly, wireless earbuds have risen in popularity and become a must-have bit of tech for busy and active lifestyles.

What are wireless earbuds?

Just like a pair of standard wired buds, these little guys fit snugly inside your ear’s concha (that’s the shell-shaped cavity right next to the entrance of your ear canal). But instead of sending digital audio signals through a cord, they transmit them via a wireless connection.

What is true wireless?

True wireless is a term you’ll come across a lot when researching and shopping for earbuds. Technically, earbuds fall into several categories. For instance, “wireless” earbuds connect to each other via a cord, while “true wireless” have no cord whatsoever — they are completely independent of each other and your device. True wireless headphones can use different types of wireless technology to transmit the sound into your ears. The most common form is Bluetooth.

With brands and listeners favouring true wireless, we’ve followed suit — all the earbuds in this roundup are true wireless.

Are earbuds better than headphones?

If portability and a lower price point appeals to you, you’ll probably prefer wireless earbuds over the on-ear counterpart (wireless headphones). And luckily for you, Apple is no longer the only major brand cranking them out. From Bose to Beats, almost every audio brand has got a couple of wireless earbud offerings on the market nowadays.

Headphones are generally considered the go-to option for serious audiophiles. But there are earbuds geared towards high-quality sound that can match up to over-ear headphones at the same price point. Wireless sound quality is affected by factors such as distance and obstructions between your headphones and device, and the codec software that your headphones support.

What are Bluetooth codecs?

Codecs are algorithms that encode and decode digital audio signals. Look out for earbuds with low latency (this is the time it takes for the sound to hit your ears) and support for Qaulcomm’s aptX codecs. These are the best, most up-to-date codecs — particularly for streaming video content and keeping the image and audio in sync. This is important if you’re a Netflix nerd or have a passion for Prime.

What is noise cancellation?

Noise cancellation is another important feature in tech-savvy headphones. There are two kinds of noise cancellation — passive and active noise cancelling. Passive noise cancellation is achieved by the design of the headphones, which may physically block out noise. Active noise cancellation (ANC) uses a system of small microphones which pick up external sounds and create anti-noise sound waves to cancel them out.

Earbuds tend to offer some level of passive noise cancellation because of their in-ear design. But some also have specific ANC modes, such as “transparency mode” which allow select ambient sounds to seep in. A transparency mode is especially useful when listening out for announcements at the train station or talking to colleagues — all without having to stop your music every 30 seconds.

What are the best wireless earbuds?

All of these options can make for a tricky decision when it comes to finding the right pair of wireless earbuds in terms of fit, style, and intended use. That’s why we’ve done the research to bring you the best wireless earbuds featuring the latest Bluetooth technology. There should be something for everyone at every budget on this list, including popular models from top brands. All you need to do is pick a favourite pair.

These are the best wireless earbuds in 2023.

Tech / Technology

Best headphones for under £50

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The best cheap headphones from top brands like Sony and Corsair.
Back of man's head listening to headphones

A good set of headphones are an absolute necessity in this increasingly noisy world. There are few greater pleasures than sticking on a set of headphones and losing yourself in great-sounding tunes. Now helped by the endless playlist on your phone.

Not only is this a tried and tested method of relaxing, it’s also pretty effective at blocking out everything that’s going on around you.

The prospect of living in your own little sound bubble is pretty appealing, and it needn’t cost a fortune. You don’t need to be loaded to get access to the best tech. There are lots of great budget headphones available. If you need some help choosing a pair, here’s some useful information to get you started.

What are the best headphone brands?

You can pick and choose from a wide selection of devices and a lengthy list of brands. You’ve almost certainly heard of Bose, Sony, and Apple, but there are lots of lesser known brands to consider as well.

Sticking to the top brands definitely has its advantages. You’re taking less of a risk by investing in one of the bigger names, but that doesn’t mean it’s always the way to go. You can often find much better value by looking at some of the smaller brands, and you don’t need to sacrifice comfort, style, or sound quality.

What features should you consider when shopping for headphones?

You might be surprised at all the features included with modern headphones — even at a budget price point. Here are some key things to consider:

  • Bluetooth — This allows you to connect to your phone or music-playing device wirelessly. It’s fairly standard with up-to-date headphones but usually for convenience rather than sound quality. Wired headphones are still the best for audio aficionados.

  • Sound quality — Serious audiophiles might want to spend a bit more to get the richest, expertly engineered sound. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get great sound for a low price. Look out for reviews that credit the lows, mids, and highs (these describe the different frequencies of music). Also, look for headphones with drivers of 50mm and under. Drivers are bits of internal tech which convert electronic signals into sound.

  • Microphone — It’s the age of connectivity and most headphones will connect to your phone and allow you make calls via an internal mic, built into the headset or the cable.

  • Manual controls — Many headphones include buttons on the headset for manually controlling the volume, playback, or making calls. Sounds simple, right? Not entirely. Be sure the controls are easy to access and are easy to differentiate from each other.

  • Closed-back/open-back — Closed back headphones have completely sealed ear cups, which direct sound to your ears and keeps out ambient noise. Open-back headphones let air into the ear cup but can cause sound leakage that goes both ways — both in and out. Expensive headphones sometimes have open backs for clearer, natural sound. But closed-back are the go-to choice for commuting and noisy environments.

  • Noise cancelling — Much like it sounds, this is a feature that cancels out ambient and surrounding noise to create a completely immersive experience. Some headphones are built to physically keep out noise. Others include specific tech that further cancels it out. That’s called “active noice cancellation” (ANC).

Keep these features in mind when shopping around for your next set of headphones.

What are the most comfortable headphones?

This is down to personal preference and — of course — what best fits your head size and shape. Some headphones are designed with comfort in mind, with padded ear cups or adjustable headband for getting the fit just right. Others are made with practicality in mind, and may fold up for added portability.

What are the best headphones for under £50?

Listen up, because we’ve done all the hard work and tracked down some of the best very headphone options for under £50. This list includes some names you probably don’t know, some budget models from the biggest brands, and everything in between. There really is something for everyone in this list. Just select the set that best fits your listening and lifestyle habits. Sounds good, right?

These are the best headphones for under £50 in 2023.

Tech / Technology

Best headphones for under £100

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The best cheap headphones for under £100, including models from Sony and JBL.
A pair of green headphones on a green and pink background

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

What are the true essentials that every modern person needs? Water, food, oxygen, and oh yeah, a cracking set of headphones. Indeed, you can’t put a price on a great pair of headphones. Except for when you’re working on a budget. Sometimes you just have to put a price on them. In this case, £100 or less.

There is a common trap that a lot of shoppers fall into with headphones: The (false) notion that you need to spend big to get the best technology. Sure, you probably have a better guarantee with the most expensive devices from the biggest brands, but that doesn’t mean quality can’t be found at a more reasonable price point.

Switched-on shoppers will find deals on tech, including laptops, desktops, smartphones, and more, with just a little know-how. See below: You’ll also find great-sounding, tech-savvy headphones at low prices — without comprising on quality.

What’s the best headphones brand?

There are plenty of brands out there — from household name manufacturers to lesser-known audio wizards — offering big sound, total comfort, and serious style. You already know the big-name players such as Philips, Sony, Bose, and Apple. And sticking to the top brands always has plus points. You know you’re getting the best. There are however lots of other brands to consider. There’s great value and surprisingly good spec on offer from smaller brand names like JBL.

What are the most important headphones features?

Choosing a pair of affordable headphones doesn’t mean simply knowing where to get the lowest prices. It means knowing the key features and the spec that best suits your lifestyle and listening habits. Consider whether you prefer old school wired headphones or something that’s wireless and Bluetooth-equipped. Other features to research include built-in microphones for making calls, or apps that allow you to control the music levels and other functions. Also, check out what kind of drivers the headphones offer. Drivers are little bits of tech that convert electronic signals into sound. The best performing drivers within this price point are between 30mm-50mm. Look for performance across the range of frequencies — the highs, mids, and lows.

What is noise cancellation?

This is another important feature in up-to-date headphones. It’s pretty much as it sounds — a feature built into headphones that keeps out external noise, allowing you to fully immerse yourself into the music distraction-free. There are two basic kinds of noise cancellation: Passive and active noise cancelling.

Passive noise cancellation is achieved by the design and build of the headphones, which physically blocks out noise. This might include large over-ear cups that create a seal which prevents external sound seeping through.

Active noise cancellation (ANC) uses a system of small microphones which pick up in-coming sounds and create anti-noise sound waves to cancel them out. Advanced variations include noise cancelling which adapts to your surroundings — or can even be customised — and a transparency mode which allows certain sounds to bleed through, so you can tune back in to reality or have a conversation IRL.

Do closed-back or open-back headphones sound better?

“Closed-back” and “open-back” are other terms you may have come across. Closed-back headphones have hard-shell ear cups which direct the sound towards your ears and keep out external noise. They’re best for listening on-the move or in busy places. Open-back headphones have ventilation — usually with a mesh design on the ear cup — which allows sound to go both ways. This causes sound leakage both ways, but creates a more natural, realistic sound.

To the untrained ear, open-back sounds like a cheap alternative. But the open-back design is usually reserved for top, audiophile-friendly models because the sound is actually superior — closer to listening to a stereo or even a band playing live. At this price point, however, closed-back are more common.

What are the best headphones for under £100?

You could go and hunt down the best value headphones that the internet has to offer, but — fortunately for you — we’re absolute gluttons for audio-based punishment. We’ve done the hard work of tracking down the best headphones that go easy on your bank balance. Just choose the pair that sounds good.

These are the best headphones for under £100 in 2023.

Tech / Technology

Best wireless headphones for TV in 2023 (UK)

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The best wireless headphones for watching TV, including popular models from top brands like Sony and Bose.
Wireless headphones

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

There’s no doubt that watching TV is one of the all-time great hobbies. Who doesn’t love a good session in front of the box after a hard day’s work? But sometimes your home life can get in the way of your TV time. So, if you’re a proud TV addict, you need a pair of good headphones.

You might live in a busy household where people are constantly in and out, playing loudly around you, or are working on their own activities and hobbies. Simply put, your family or housemates might annoy the hell out of you when you’re trying enjoy your latest Netflix obsession. Or maybe you annoy them with your loud TV watching.

Thank goodness, then, for wireless headphones. Wireless headphones make it possible to fully immerse into a show or movie without bothering people around you.

Do you need headphones for watching TV?

Reasons for having headphones for the TV can vary. Perhaps viewers are hard of hearing, or maybe you don’t want to disturb everyone else in the house. In the day and age of everyone having different devices — often in the same room — it makes sense to have headphones for the TV. Even if you’re not using them all the time. And, hey, there’s always the option of getting a pair that double up for TV and everyday use.

What should you look for when buying headphones for the TV?

Sound is important when you’re buying any pair of headphones, but if you’re buying specifically for watching TV, you’ll need to consider the sort of things you’ll be watching. Will you need heavy bass for the rumbling carnage of action movies? Or nuanced detail for quieter, pensive moments? Or maybe all-round, un-fussy performance for casually watching sport and comedy?

If you’re relaxing in front of the TV, chances are you don’t want to actually be connected to the TV — what you need are wireless headphones.

What’s best, Bluetooth or radio frequency technology?

Most wireless headphones are Bluetooth-enabled, the standard technology these days for hooking your headphones to a smart device. It might be standard, but this is not necessarily the best tech for wirelessly watching TV. There might be some lag between what you’re watching on the screen and what you hear in your headphones, which means the picture and sound might be slightly out of sync. Bluetooth is a good option for podcasts or music on your smartphone or laptop, but it’s not always the best for watching TV.

Believe it or not, headphones that use old school radio frequency technology (RF) are excellent for watching TV because lag or latency is minuscule and virtually seamless between picture and audio. This doesn’t mean there aren’t good Bluetooth options out there, but it’s something to consider when shopping.

What are Bluetooth codecs?

If you do want to buy a Bluetooth-enabled set of headphones, check out which codecs they support. These encode and decode digital audio signals. Codecs decode at a specific bitrate, which determines whether the headphones have a high or low latency (AKA lag), which is measured in milliseconds. High latency means your picture and sound may be out of sync.

Look out for headphones with low latency that support Qaulcomm’s aptX codecs, which are generally rated as the best codecs for streaming video content or hooking up to a TV.

Do you need noise cancelling headphones to watch TV?

Ultimately, it’s down to personal preference but if you want a totally immersive experience, noise cancelling headphones will block out the world and put you right at the centre of a movie or show.

There are two kinds of noise cancellation — passive and active noise cancelling. Passive noise cancellation is achieved by the design and build of the headphones, which physically block out noise. Active noise cancellation (usually called ANC) uses a system of small microphones which pick up incoming sounds and create anti-noise sound waves to cancel them out.

What are the best headphones for watching TV?

If that seems like a lot of information to take in, don’t worry, because we’ve scoured the reviews and have come up with a list of your best options for watching TV. We’ve lined up all the best wireless headphones for watching your favourite show or movie, including popular devices from top brands like Sony and Bose.

There should be something for everyone and every budget in this list. We recommend taking your time and considering everything that has made the cut. Weigh these headphones up against your priorities and a favourite should emerge.

These are the best wireless headphones for watching TV in 2023.