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Posted 9/27/2023, 1:00:00 PM

Anker's New $100 Earbuds Pack Impressive Features and Value Despite Some Small Compromises

Anker's Soundcore line of affordable wireless earbuds has become a cheat code in the industry. Their latest offering, the Liberty NC, is a well-equipped pair of earbuds priced at $100. These buds have almost every feature you can think of, rivaling big brands like Sony, Samsung, and Apple at a fraction of the cost. However, there are a few compromises, such as finicky controls and some features that don't work as advertised. Despite these drawbacks, Anker's new buds are hard to resist with their stylish design and impressive range of features.

The Liberty 4 NC earbuds stand out with their flashy appearance, thanks to various color options and futuristic touches like the lighted front button on the case. The case, resembling Google's Pixel Buds Pro case, is Qi-charging compatible, which is a rarity in budget earbuds. The buds themselves adopt Apple's stem-shaped design and offer a comfortable fit. However, the flimsy silicon ear tips and finicky touch controls are evident cost-saving measures.

One standout feature of the Liberty 4 NC is the fully programmable touch controls, customizable through the Soundcore app. The app also provides access to a wide range of features that surpass most earbuds in this price range. These include adaptive active noise cancellation, multiple transparency modes, wind buffering, an EQ, and a sound-customization setting. There are also additional features like an earbuds finder, gaming latency reducer, multi-point audio, and LDAC high-resolution streaming for Android phones.

Despite the impressive range of features, not everything works flawlessly. The claimed battery playback time of 10 hours and 50 hours with the charging case doesn't account for energy-draining features like noise cancellation. In reality, you can expect around six to seven hours of playback with ANC. The lack of granularity between volume levels may also be a slight annoyance for some users.

In summary, Anker's Liberty 4 NC wireless earbuds offer a compelling combination of affordability, style, and feature-packed performance. While there are some compromises and not every feature works perfectly, these buds are a worthy contender against more expensive alternatives.

wired.com

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8/23/2023

These Hearing Aids Are Big and Cheap—but the Audio Quality Is a Miss

Linner Nova: The Affordable Hearing Aid That Falls Short The race to lower prices in the hearing aid market has reached new heights with the introduction of Linner Nova earbuds. Unlike the typical over-the-counter hearing aids priced around $1,000, the Nova set is available for just $300. However, there are several major downsides to this seemingly great deal. In terms of design, the Nova earbuds appear bulky and resemble oversized Apple AirPods, with a prominent white tail hanging outside the ear. They even feature physical buttons for audio control, making them look more like traditional earbuds than actual hearing aids. Although the selling point of the Nova is their ability to amplify both recorded media and environmental sounds, they fail to deliver on both fronts. When it comes to audio quality, the Nova earbuds fall short. They offer a mediocre listening experience, lacking immersive bass and clarity. The sound appears muddy and indistinct, regardless of the source. The amplified audio, intended for hearing aid purposes, also disappoints. It is filled with echo, booming sounds, and occasional feedback, particularly impairing voice amplification in the presence of multiple audio sources. The most useful feature of the Nova earbuds is the volume buttons, allowing for individual adjustment of ambient sound levels; this, however, only applies to ambient sound and not recorded media. The earbuds continuously operate in an ambient sound mode, unlike noise-canceling headphones. And although the ability to fine-tune ambient amplification for each ear can be beneficial, the physical buttons do not control volume when media is playing. Additional adjustments can be made through the Linner HA app. In conclusion, while the Linner Nova earbuds may seem like a budget-friendly option in the hearing aid market, their design and functionality fall short. The audio quality, both for recorded media and amplified sounds, is subpar. Although the ability to adjust ambient sound levels individually for each ear is a positive aspect, it is overshadowed by the numerous flaws of these seemingly cheap hearing aids.

9/11/2023

Samsung's Budget-Friendly Galaxy Buds FE Earbuds Leak, Showing Familiar Design and Features

Samsung's upcoming wireless earbuds, the Galaxy Buds FE, are all but confirmed with the release of the manual, which reveals their features and design, including ANC, pass-through, and a square-shaped case. The pricing and availability, however, remain unknown.