Tech / Technology

Best headphones for Android in 2023 (UK)

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The best headphones for Android users, including models from brands like Bose and Samsung.
Set of headphones

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

All Android smartphones come bundled with earphones for you to listen to your favourite music or podcasts immediately, but they’re rarely impressive. It’s a fact of life. It’s a better idea to purchase a separate pair of headphones or earphones that suit your needs, as long as you know the kind of headphones or earbuds you need.

It’s important to think about when you’re going to be using your headphones. For starters, do you want to block out background noise while you’re on your daily commute? Do you want a pair that are great while you’re running or working out at the gym? Or do you just want to relax at home, listening to music through your headphones, perhaps even while you sleep? 

These sort of questions will help you find the best wireless headphones for your Android device. To make it even easier, we’ve put together a quick guide.

What is Android?

Perhaps best known as the alternative operating system to Apple’s iOS, the Google-owned Android is an open source platform — that means (unlike Apple) any developers and tech companies can use and build on it. It’s used on many non-Apple phones and tablets, including devices made by Samsung and Google itself. Over 3 billion people actively use Android devices.

What makes a pair of headphones good for Android users?

It stands to reason that headphones made by the likes of Google and Samsung will make headphones that brilliantly sync with Android devices. Generally, look for headphones that have compatibility with Android-specific features, such as Google Fast Pair and Google Assistant. Most decent Bluetooth headphones have access to a voice assistant, such as Alexa, Google Assistant, or Samsung’s Bixby. You just need to set the headphones to your preferred version — in this case, Google Assistant. Be wary of headphones that only support one voice assistant (some have Alexa built-in). 

What can Google Assistant do?

Once you have Google Assistant set up on your headphones and Android device, it’s seriously helpful. You can ask it to play specific songs — not to mention control all playback features — as well as make calls and send messages, set schedules and alarms, do general searches, and check the news or weather.

What is Google Fast Pair?

This Google-specific feature eliminates the faff of fiddling around with menus to connect Bluetooth devices. Your Android device will use Bluetooth Low Energy and location tech to immediately detect any Bluetooth devices nearby. A window will automatically pop up on your device and ask if you want to connect. Fast Pair devices can also sync with your Google account and offer personalised features.

Are cheap headphones worth the money?

The simple answer is, not really. If you’re looking to go easy on your wallet, you could just stick with the pair that come with your Android smartphone. This is only really a worthwhile plan if you’re prone to losing headphones, because — ultimately — the standard-issue headphones are never that good. If you regularly enjoy music or podcasts, it’s definitely worth investing in a more expensive pair that offer more useful features like active noise cancellation or companion apps.

What are the best headphones for Android?

To help you find something that will work for you and your Android device, we have tracked down a selection of your best options. We’ve done the research, read the online reviews, and have come up with a list of the best headphones for Android users.

These are the best headphones for Android devices in 2023.

Tech / Technology

TikTok’s latest viral manicure? ‘Boston University Red’ nails.

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TikTok’s trend-cycle marches forward, with DND’s “Boston University Red” shade going viral in time for Halloween.
TikTok screenshots of red nails.

TikTok loves a good manicure. The new seasonal favorite? Boston University red.

The nail color, created by brand DND, is described by the company as “a perfect scarlet red, not too dark, not too bright.” DND proposed the shade as the ideal tool to create a Halloween-inspired look, taking to its own TikTok account to show viewers just how to use it.

A screenshot of a person doing their nails.


Credit: TikTok / @dndgel

The specific colour is inspired by BU Red — #CC0000 or Pantone’s 186 — which is one of Boston University’s official hues alongside black.

A Pantone swatch of red colour 186.

Hold up that nail, is it surefire Boston University red?
Credit: Pantone

As with most TikTok beauty trends, news spreads fast and creators are quick adopters. Across the app, the shade is going viral. The hashtag #bostonuniversityred currently has over 226,000 views on the app. TikTokkers like @kybeal_ shared videos of the manicure, writing “Boston Univeristy Red is my new fav”; nail creator @heluviee shared the color as the Halloween-adjacent tool it was likely made for: “vampy reds of my dreamsss,” she wrote.

TikTok’s beauty-centric trend cycle moves at lightning speed, and its nail obsessions are plenty. Over the summer, the “blueberry milk” manicure was declared by TikTok as the season’s best. But this trend turned out to be controversial for both its name and what it represented. With the onset of “blueberry milk”, many took objection to the micro-trend for rebranding what is essentially a light baby-blue hue, one that has been popular for years before TikTok came around. Others objected to the never-ending trend trap, a loss of individuality, and the fact that being on TikTok means your wallet must always be prepared to buy the next big thing — too often.

SEE ALSO:

TikTok’s ‘blueberry milk nails’ have the internet questioning trend culture

Red nails, too, have been revered for centuries (yes, really) and popular nail brands like OPI and Essie have catalogues packed with various colors along the spectrum. Demi, lead technician at London-based salon Browfique, tells Mashable that red nails have in-fact, seen “a resurgence recently”, thanks to TikTok discussions like “red nail theory”.

The latter is a debate that has made rounds on the app for months now, with red nails being touted as a confidence-booster and a way to attract potential suiters. Essentially, TikTokkers suggested that heterosexual men are more attracted to women with red nails. Take @melissevmartineau who told her followers that that she “had never been asked on so many dates” as when she donned the trend. Creator @ashleymescia tried the theory, captioning her post, “Suing if i don’t have 10 dates lined up next week.”

A screenshot of a creator wearing red nails.


Credit: TikTok / @ashleymescia.

“Boston University Red” may be an extension of this obsession. But, as many TikTokkers pointed out, red manicures have long been an aesthetic choice, way before any debates about the trend and cuffing season sprouted up. On the flip side of all these micro-trends and their associated discourse, lies the simple philosophy that people should pick and wear what they like. Easy, right?

Tech / Technology

Best Tile tracker deal: Score the Tile Mate Essentials 4-Pack for just $44.99.

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Score the Tile Mate Essentials 4-Pack for just $44.99, down from $79.99, at Amazon as of Oct. 30. That’s a 44% discount.
a set of keys sits on a table with a tile mate key tracker attached and a remote control has a tile sticker attached

Save 44%: Grab the Tile Mate Essentials 4-Pack for just $44.99 on Amazon thanks to an automatically applied promo that takes off $11.79 and the clippable on-page $10 coupon, plus an already discounted price. That’s a total savings of $35.


a 4-pack of tile trackers

Credit: Tile


Tile Mate Essentials 4-Pack (2 Mate, 1 Slim, 1 Stickers)

$44.99 at Amazon (save $35)



Life has a lot to keep track of these days. We’re outfitted with tech that keeps us well connected — but that means losing an element can become a major headache. Keep track of all your important items from your wallet to your cell phone and the TV remote thanks to a set of four Bluetooth trackers that are on on sale for a major discount.

As of Oct. 30, you can score the Tile Mate Essentials 4-Pack for just $44.99 at Amazon. An already discounted price, an automatic promo code, and an on-page coupon means you can save $35 off the regular price of $79.99. This triple-threat of savings brings the pack down to the lowest price we’ve ever seen.

The Tile Mate Essentials 4-Pack includes two Tile Mates trackers, one Tile Slim, and one Tile Sticker. The mates attach well to items like keys and backpacks. The slim is designed to fit neatly in your wallet, being similar in size to a credit card, and the Tile Sticker can be useful at home for remote controls or video game controllers.

Whatever your desired item to keep track of, the Tile Bluetooth trackers serve as an alternative to Apple’s AirTag. Download the free Tile app, attach your Tile devices to your prized items, and you’ll be able to track all four through the app. Each Tile tracker has a range of 250 feet and is water resistant up to 20 feet. That means dropping your keys in a puddle won’t be a problem. Each Tile includes a non-replaceable battery meant to last for up to three years.

If you often find yourself scrambling to find lost items, the Tile Mate Essentials 4-Pack could introduce some tracking serenity to your life. Snag the four-pack for just $44.99 at Amazon for the lowest price we’ve ever seen.