Most premium headphones feature gyroscopes or motion detection systems that enable their wear detection capabilities. Wear detection pauses audio content when the headphones detect that you've removed them from your head, and resumes content when you put them back on. Apple's AirPods Max and Bose's QC Ultra 2 perform this feature best by pausing content when you remove the headphones and disconnecting them from your phone's Bluetooth.
That's why I was excited to review the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16, one of the few Windows laptops out there that at least attempts to rival the 16-inch MacBook Pro. With a powerful CPU and discrete RTX 5050 (or up to an RTX 5060), the Yoga Pro 9i 16 has the specs to compete as one of the best laptops, even if the lackluster battery life ultimately holds it back.
Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET Editor's Note: If you don't see the discounted price, make sure you're logged into Amazon and manually click the "Snapdragon X Elite" icon and 16GB configuration. When I reviewed Microsoft's Surface Laptop with the Snapdragon X Elite chip last summer, I was impressed with its snappy performance, fantastic battery life, and overall positive user experience, while noting that it was on the pricey side.
I found myself downloading more e-books from my public library and reading a wider variety of novels because of how easy it was to rent them through Libby and read them while I sat on the subway or passed the time in the waiting room of doctor's appointments. The Kindle actually fits in my coat pocket, which is nearly miraculous for a woman given how small women's pockets are.
I put it best in my review: The Google Pixel 9a skips the flashy features, but nails the essentials -- a reliable formula for lasting appeal. If you're on the market for a new phone, especially one that's somehow both affordable and will likely hold up well over the coming years, I'd put the Pixel 9a above competing models from Samsung, OnePlus, and Motorola.
If you know someone who always has the perfect playlist queued up, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 makes for a solid gift. It's easy to bring to the beach or take with you on a short weekend jaunt, and it produces surprisingly robust sound despite its pint-sized stature. Thankfully, it's also once again on sale at Amazon and Best Buy for $66.49 (about $32 off) as part of Prime Big Deal Days, dropping it to its second-best price of the year.
Android users: rejoice. If you've been keeping an eye out for Oura Ring deals but have found yourself unlucky and discount-less, I've got a great alternative wrapped around my finger. might not have as many bells and whistles as the Oura Ring, but it's still one of the most competitive smart rings you can buy. The best part? There's no subscription attached to this ring -- unlike Oura, who paywalls your data behind a $70 annual membership.
If you're in the market for a cheap Android device, it currently doesn't get any better than the Pixel 9A. The budget-friendly handset offers a 6.3-inch OLED screen that's noticeably brighter than its predecessor, making it easier to see in direct sunlight. It also now carries a robust IP68 rating, so you don't have to panic over dropping it in water or dirt. And while its wireless charging isn't the fastest at up to 7.5W, it's a feature you don't always see at this price point.
Portable Bluetooth speakers solve a simple problem: you want decent sound without lugging around something heavy or worrying about where you'll use it. The J BL Go 3 nails this balance by packing legitimate audio quality into a speaker that fits in your hand. At its regular $39 price, it's already reasonable. But right now, Amazon's Prime Big Deal Day flash sale has dropped it to $24 for the first day only, and the deal expires tonight.
When Apple's M4 processor came to the MacBook Pro laptop line, we noted how it improved upon the already powerful M3 Pro and M3 Max with smooth performance, a more efficient battery, and a new Thunderbolt 5 port for blazing-fast data transfer speeds. One of the best things about the new M4 MacBook Pro is that it starts at the same price as last year's M3, making it that much easier to consider.
As someone who's barely 5 feet tall with relatively small hands, if I felt this much discomfort, I can't imagine what someone bigger than me might experience. Unsurprisingly, my partner could barely get his index and middle fingers in the sleeves. We tried stretching the silicone, but that didn't help our cause. Frankly, it'd be more comfortable to tie the vibrators to my fingers than try to deal with the sleeves again.
CMF, the budget-focused sub-brand that Nothing plans to spin off into a standalone subsidiary, has launched its first pair of over-ear wireless headphones. The CMF Headphone Pro borrows features like a multi-function roller control from Nothing's Headphone 1 that debuted in July, but while Nothing's over-ears feature a polarizing boxy design, CMF's go hard on the soft curves with round earcups, cushions, and a well-padded headband.
Previously known as HP's 600 series, the EliteBook 6 G1 lineup is available in multiple RAM and memory configurations, a lightweight form factor, and either an AMD, Intel, or Qualcomm processor; a highly customizable laptop for a wide range of users. Also: I tested HP's first-gen EliteBook X, and it's a powerhouse at the office (and $500 off) I went hands-on with the EliteBook G1q (q for Qualcomm), which has the Snapdragon X Plus chip, 32GB of RAM, and a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD.
Microsoft is perhaps best known for its Surface Pro tablets which compete directly with the iPad Pro but its Surface laptop line has been the best way to experience Windows at its finest. If what you need is a thin, light notebook with full Windows 11, current AI-capable Copilot capabilities and good performance, this is an extremely tempting option. The most affordable model with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Plus processor and 256GB storage has now hit an all-time low cost on Amazon:
Besides the improvements to Apple's proprietary AI, Apple Intelligence, the MacBook M4 Pro and M4 Max have some hardware upgrades -- notably, the USB-C Thunderbolt 5 ports -- becoming some of the first laptops on the market to support faster than 120Gbps transfer speeds, 240W charging, and even better performance with external monitors. For professional creatives who use external GPUs and need a portable system that can move large files in a flash, this alone could make the MacBook Pro M4 a worthy upgrade.
But most Samsung phones -- especially the flagships like the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 7, and Z Flip 7 -- come with over-the-top features that you might not use daily. If your new Galaxy phone isn't lasting an entire day on a single charge, there are ways to make the most of what you have without hindering the user experience. Also: The best Samsung phones to buy in 2025 Here are seven ways to maximize the battery life on your Galaxy phone.
It features a Super Mic in the charging case, cutting noise up to 95dB for clear calls, and can be activated with the Talk button for instant use. Users can also record voice notes directly from the case using the Talk button, with automatic transcription in Essential Space available only on phones running a compatible Nothing OS. The TWS earphones also support up to 45dB real-time adaptive active noise cancellation (ANC) and are claimed to offer a total playback time of up to 38 hours,
In 2023, DJI created a massive hit with the Osmo Pocket 3, a tiny steadicam with a far bigger one-inch-type sensor that dramatically improved the quality of video you could get with so tiny a gadget. Today, the company may be doing the same with its most popular portable line of drones - and with better battery life than ever.
At first glance, the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max seem like a drastic upgrade over their predecessors. They have a fantastic new look-one that adds more character with a two-tone design highlighting the blend of the aluminum chassis and glass. The " Camera Plateau," as Apple calls it, elongates the camera module and gives it a more balanced appearance and feel. (Although I have to say, Google did it first.)
The OnePlus 12 is a well-rounded device capable of competing with the company's latest flagship model, the OnePlus 13. Thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, performance is fast and reliable. Users will be able to play demanding mobile games like Genshin Impact and hop between multiple apps with relative ease. Plus, its high-quality Quad HD+ (3,168 x 1,440 pixels) resolution display has a maximum brightness of 4,500 nits. That's bright enough to pierce through the sun's glare and maintain clear visibility.
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