Latest news with #SonyXM5
Tom's Guide
11-07-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
I've found the best last-minute Prime Day sales — my top picks on Samsung, Ring, and more
Prime Day deals are here and there's 1000s of products with great savings to choose from. So many, in fact, that you're probably feeling suitably overwhelmed by the whole thing. Fortunately, I've put in the hard work for you and scrolled through more pages than I can count to pick out the top 11 deals I'd recommend buying right now – before it's too late. My personal favourites include £70 off the Ring Video Doorbell and a whopping £160 off the Sony XM5 headphones. Both unbelievable deals, but don't worry, there's 9 more to add to your basket! Remember, you'll want to be a Prime customer to take advantage of the full savings. Prime Day is as good a time as any to invest in some new fitness gear and when Adidas offer discounts like these, it's hard to ignore! There's a variety of colours and sizes to choose from, varying in price by a couple of pounds. But, whatever you pick, you'll still make a great saving and add a gym staple to your wardrobe for less. The ultimate summer pick for women's fitness is a lightweight, anti-odour and quick-drying vest. Fortunately, UA is offering a whopping 40% off this Prime Day for its Tech Tank. For such a comfy fit that can take you from running in the gym to running errands seamlessly, it's tempting to buy more than one... These are my favourite socks for running and that's thanks to their anti-blister and sweat-wicking qualities. They're built to endure and you'll even get a replacement for free if you somehow wear a hole into them in the first year. 3 pairs for £24 is an absolute steal. Finding trainers on Amazon can sometimes be a little tricky, but for Prime Day there's a 50% discount off these comfy sneakers that is definitely worth talking about. A shock-absorbing midsole and flexible outsole makes for a perfect everyday trainer. But, it's also worth noting, the price varies depending on size and colour. Once I invested in my Ring doorbell, I never looked back and if you're yet to grab one, now is the perfect time. With an incredible £70 off, this easy to install and easy-to-use doorbell will give you invaluable home protection, including night vision and motion alerts. Don't be put off by the battery – it's very easy to charge and lasts for ages. Available in both Silver and Bronze. £80 off the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 with 64GB storage is an excellent deal. You can split your large display into two sections for multitasking, meaning you can video chat and do some work with two apps open at the same time. It also comes with a 3-year warranty, so if anything goes wrong, you've got peace of mind. When we got hold of the Brooks Ghost 16 in 2024, we said it was the "best version of the shoe in years" and we absolutely mean it. With improved midsole foam and upgrades on durability, it's a reliable daily trainer that's perfect for runners starting out their fitness journey. Depending on the size and colour you go for, the price will vary. Amazon's newest Kindle Paperwhite comes with a 7-inch glare-free display, weeks of battery life, adjustable warm light and absolutely no ads. It's what the brand are calling their "fastest Kindle ever" and this Prime Day, you can get it for 21% off. If your vacuum has just given up the ghost or you've found yourself checking out cordless models, now is the time to strike. With 34% off, the price actually dropped while I was writing this. The Dyson V8 is rechargeable, powerful, versatile and very quiet. With up to 40-minutes of power, it can tackle your everyday cleaning tasks with ease. And it can be yours for the wonderful price of £218. The Sony WH-1000XM5's are big performers, thanks to their sleek design, feature set and exceptional ANC performers. With £110 off, it's a huge saving if you're in the market for some premium wireless cans. They've got great control options, long battery life and articulate sound all for a very reasonable price. The Apple Watch Series 10 is the tech brand's flagship smartwatch with wide-angle OLED displays, a lighter design and faster charging on its 18-hour battery life. It might not look that new, but the feature set is packed with handy tools that'll help with health, fitness and more. At time of writing, it had already sold out in a few colours, but there's still a few left ready to grab!
Stuff.tv
01-07-2025
- Stuff.tv
The Nothing Headphones 1 are divisive, but I found lots more to like here than just bold design
Stuff Verdict Nothing's first headphones will please its passionate fanbase. Distinctive design, effective ANC and enjoyable audio impress, but they don't disrupt the market like the firm's previous audio efforts. Pros Funky looks meet functional controls Competitive noise cancelling and dynamic sound Comfortable and with enough battery for all-day listening Cons Some features restricted to Nothing smartphones You'll either love or hate the styling Can't match (pricier) class leaders on audio or ANC Introduction It was only a matter of time, wasn't it? Having cut its teeth on multiple generations of true wireless earphones, burgeoning tech brand Nothing has finally taken a stab at its first pair of over-ears. Headphone (1) evolves the firm's signature see-through styling and ditches touch inputs for intuitive physical controls, while speaker specialist KEF has lent an audio helping hand. These eye-catching cans represent a change of tactics, though. Instead of sitting in Nothing's established budget territory, Headphone (1) is heading upmarket to take on the best headphone front runners. At $299/£299/€299 they undercut the usual suspects from Sony, Bose et al – but clash directly with previous-gen greats like the Sony XM5, Bowers Px7 S2e and Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless. All are still capable of going a few rounds against a young upstart. Has Nothing done enough here to stand out from the pack on more than looks alone? How we test headphones Every pair of earphones and headphones reviewed on Stuff is used for a minimum of a week's worth of daily listening. We use a playlist of test tracks made up of multiple genres to assess sound, and use our years of experience to compare to other models. Manufacturers have no visibility on reviews before they appear online, and we never accept payment to feature products. Find out more about how we test and rate products. Design & comfort: hip to be square There's really no mistaking Headphone (1) for anything but a Nothing product, with transparent ear cups that proudly show off a mix of geometric shapes and textures that hint at the electronics underneath. I get cassette tape vibes, if you're old enough to know what those are. The circle-meets-square shape is pretty out there, especially if you go for the white version; slap on some silver face paint and your Dr Who Cybermen cosplay is basically complete. The black model is only a little subtler. Few over-ear headphones stray so far into fashion statement territory. It'll surely prove divisive, even among Nothing fans, but I like that the firm is willing to take risks. Fair play for resisting the urge to add glyph lighting LEDs, too – although given Phone 3 has ditched them in favour of a dot matrix, maybe that didn't take much restraint after all. Elsewhere things are a little more traditional, with oval-shaped ear cushions stuffed with memory foam and lined with faux leather for maximum sound isolation (at the cost of sweaty ears after prolonged listening sessions). The head cushion gets the same treatment, while the headband slides smoothly to adjust the fit. The ear cups then have tilting, pivoting arms that can each turn 90 degrees, letting you wear the headphones flush around your neck – handy, as it doesn't fold for travel. Even with the headband at its most extended, though, I found the square parts would butt into my chin more than a regular-shaped pair might. Comfort was otherwise pretty good, with just the right amount of clamping force and enough padding in all the right places that I could wear them for an entire work day and not feel worse for it once I'd clocked off. That's a big deal, as at 329g these are heavier than pretty much all of the class leaders. They would definitely shift around on my head when I was running, so I would't recommend them for exercise. Some of that weight can be chalked up to the metal used for the square parts of each ear cup. Everything else is made from polycarbonate. Nothing knows a thing or two about picking plastics that don't feel cheap, of course, so Headphone (1) largely holds its own on the materials front against similarly-priced rivals. I'm honestly a bit surprised it went to the effort of getting an IP rating, as I rarely see one on over-ear headphones; IP52 is pretty basic, but means you don't have to worry about sweat doing damage. Features & battery: button it Open the box and you'll find the Headphone (1) nestled in its bundled hard-shell carry case, which has a fairly large footprint but is slim enough to slide easily in and out of a rucksack. It's got a mesh pocket for stashing all the cables you could need. USB-C and 3.5mm are included for charging and analogue listening; you'll find ports for both on the right ear cup, next to the power switch. Physical controls are the order of the day here, with real thought having gone in to how you operate them all by touch alone. You spin the chunky roller to adjust volume, click it in to play or pause tracks, and long-press it to swap between noise cancelling modes. Nudging the slender Paddle button left or right skips tracks forward and backward – and holding it in fast-forwards or rewinds whatever's playing, if you media player supports it. I've found it very intuitive, and love not having to worry about overly sensitive touch surfaces accidentally skipping songs. The button that launches your phone's smart assistant lives on the outer part of the ear cup. On Nothing phones starting with Phone 3, it can be programmed to channel hop between different audio apps and favourites, or record a voice note with a long-press and send it straight to Nothing's Essential Space app. I like the idea of jumping between podcasts and Spotify playlists without having to reach for my phone, though I've not had the chance to test this out ahead of Phone 3's launch. Headphone (1) is quick to connect over Bluetooth 5.3, with Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair both on board. It's got dual connectivity for fast swapping between two devices, too. You'll have to head for Nothing's X app if you want to swap from AAC or SBC streaming (whichever your kit defaults to) to the higher quality LDAC. Voice calls are clear enough, with four of the six internal mics and some clever algorithms able to keep wind noise to a minimum while outdoors. I can't fault the wear detection, either; it never threw a false positive and paused my songs while I was moving. Nothing earns praise for battery life, too. I came very close to the firm's claimed 35 hours of ANC-on listening, which is a few hours more than either the Sony XM6 or Bowers Px7 S3 can manage – despite costing considerably more. There's easily enough juice here for a long-haul flight, and all the airport faff on either side. Disable noise cancelling and it'll do 80 hours per charge, while a five minute top-up is enough for over two more hours of ANC streaming. Sound quality and noise cancelling: we're in the big leagues now Without keen pricing to fall back on, the Headphone (1) has nowhere to run when it comes to performance. It gets off to a good start, with respectable noise cancelling ability. The sounds of next door's builders buzz-sawing through patio tiles were easily drowned out with music at a modest volume, and it all but deleted the low-frequency drone of my desk fan. Wind noise from having it blowing directly at my face wasn't a big deal either. The distinctive design posed a slight dilemma in how to test them on public transport or busy public spaces, but I managed to stay incognito long enough to confirm noisy subway carriages aren't a major concern. While Bose and Sony still set the standard, coping better with sudden changes in background noise and chatty fellow passengers, Nothing has largely kept in step with similarly-priced rivals. Sound quality is a similar story. The 40mm dynamic drivers deliver a lush, energetic presentation that isn't short on volume and doesn't skimp on low-end shove, even before you reach for the Bass Enhance settings. The sub-bass synths on Modestep's Shutting down slice through the mix, without taking away from the mids. My review sample showed some specific low-frequency distortion at extreme volumes with ANC enabled, but after speaking to other testers this seems to be an isolated issue. I'm waiting for Nothing to respond. KEF's tuning curve definitely leans towards a fun, v-shaped sound that won't sway audiophiles searching for neutrality or an analytical listen. That's not to say mid-range detail is lacking or pushed to the back of the mix; Zakk Wylde's thundering vocals still take precedence on Black Label Society's Stillborn. The closed-back drivers don't have the widest soundstage, but tunes don't sound overly enclosed or 'inside your head' either. This is an enjoyable listen overall, but Headphone (1) can't quite match the high frequency precision of Sennheiser's latest. It avoids sounding muddy, but the breathy vocals of Billie Eilish's Everything I Wanted didn't sparkle in quite the same way. Disabling noise cancelling sees this end of the spectrum sharpen up, but at the expense of bass presence. I definitely preferred to listen with ANC enabled. Interface: solve for X The latest version of Nothing's X companion app doesn't mix things up all that much, having previously ditched the dot matrix font for something a little easier to read. Anyone that's used a pair of the firm's wireless earbuds will recognise most of the features on offer, including customisable controls, a choice of noise cancelling modes, and a prominent battery life indicator right on the home screen – handy, as the headphones won't announce how much juice is left when you turn 'em on. You have to dig a bit to find wear detection, the low latency mode, and dual device connectivity. This is also where you'll apply firmware updates and access the Find My Headphones tool, which plays a loud noise should you misplace them. The big new addition is spatial audio, with fixed and head-tracking virtual upmixing on tap. The former helps expand the soundstage, creating the sensation your tunes are coming from further away. The latter pins sound in front of you, like you're at a gig or concert. It's as love-it-or-hate-it as any other take of the tech I've tried, and I'm not keen on the way treble takes extra presence with it enabled. I appreciate Nothing bringing is two-stage equaliser across from its in-ear range. There's a simple three-way slider for bass, mid and treble, plus a couple of presets that cover the basics; headphone geeks should head to the advanced EQ, which has choice of simple and advanced (8-band) EQ, the ability to make multiple profiles for different genres, and a QR code reader for importing community-made resets. Bass enhance also reappears, with five levels to pick from. I found level two could be a bit much for certain heavy electronic tracks, but it goes all the way to five if you want a skull-shaking low-end – and don't mind losing some definition elsewhere in the mix to bloated bass frequencies. Nothing Headphone 1 verdict If you're already sold on Nothing's styling, you'll be more than happy with how the Headphone (1) performs. It has punchy audio, effective noise cancelling, and very competitive battery life. It's no class leader on any one front, though, and is far from an impulse purchase like the firm's cheaper earbuds. You could spend similar money on the outgoing Sony XM5 if you want superior ANC, and the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless may be a better choice for critical listening. But if you like your tech to also make a fashion statement, this is basically in a class of one. Stuff Says… Score: 4/5 Nothing's first pair of headphones will please its passionate fanbase. Distinctive design, effective ANC and enjoyable audio help it take on established rivals, but they don't disrupt the market like the firm's other efforts. Pros Funky looks meet functional controls Competitive noise cancelling and dynamic sound Comfortable and with enough battery for all-day listening Cons Some features restricted to Nothing smartphones You'll either love or hate the styling Can't match (pricier) class leaders on audio or ANC Nothing Headphone 1 technical specifications Drivers 40mm dynamic ANC Yes, adaptive Bluetooth version Bluetooth 5.3 Codecs supported SBC, AAC, LDAC Durability IP52 Battery life 35 hours (ANC on) / 80 hours (ANC off) Dimensions 174x78x189mm, 329g
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Take over $100 off the Sony XM5 headphones at Amazon and get ready for the songs of summer
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. SAVE $101.99: The Sony XM5 headphones are on sale at Amazon for $298, down from the normal price of $399.99. That works out to a 25% discount. Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony XM5 headphones $298 at Amazon $399.99 Save $101.99 Get Deal Sometimes, top of the line really pays off. In terms of quality to price, a store-brand cola might taste just as good as the more expensive brand name. But there are a few situations in life where the quality of an item really does warrant the added price. Headphones tend to be one of these categories where spending a bit more pays off big time in terms of quality. However, if you shop today's sale, you'll be in for a top-tier product with a top-dollar discount. As of June 9, the Sony XM5 headphones are on sale at Amazon for $298, marked down from the standard price of $399.99. That puts you in line for a 25% discount that takes $101.99 off the price. Plus, this price extends to several colorways including the standard black but also midnight blue, smokey pink, and silver. Sony consistently ranks as one of the best headphone brands. They tend to impress in comfort, design, and sound quality and the XM5 headphones meet all of those criteria. But before we get into the details of the Sony XM5 headphones, we should remind you that Sony recently launched the XM6 headphones and we're in love (please act surprised). They come with a major design bonus when it comes to travel which is that they can fold up for easier storage. A potential downside is the XM6 headphones set you back about $450. If you're not in the mood for that price tag, the XM5 headphone are also awesome. SEE ALSO: Beats Solo 4 headphones are at their lowest-ever price at Amazon Mashable Deputy Editor Miller Kern reviewed the XM5s in 2022 and awarded them a Mashable Choice. In her review, she wrote, "Sony's WH-1000XM5s are an excellent pair of headphones for first-time buyers and those upgrading from old models." They come with superb noise-cancellation, have a sleek design, and get up to 30 hours of battery life. In Mashable's roundup of the best noise-cancelling headphones, the Sony XM5s are the top choice for audiophiles. They also appear on Mashable's ranking of the best headphones for flying for those who prioritize sound quality. That could be a great asset during upcoming summer travel. If you've been eyeing a fresh pair of headphones, today's deal on the Sony XM5s is calling. You'll be saving $100 on a pair that's fantastic in terms of battery life, sound quality, and comfort. Compared to the new Sony XM6, which sell for $448 at Amazon, you'll be saving $150. Soundcore by Anker P20i True Wireless Earbuds — $24.99 (List Price $39.99) Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones — $59.99 JBL Flip 6 Portable Bluetooth Speaker — $99.95 (List Price $129.95) Bose SoundLink Flex Portable Speaker — $149.00 Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones — $228.00 (List Price $348.00) JBL Bar 300 5.0ch Compact Soundbar — $249.95 (List Price $399.95)
Business Insider
29-04-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
I tried ChatGPT's new shopping feature. It's efficient, just not built for picky shoppers like me.
OpenAI is jumping into the online shopping game. The company said on Monday it rolled out a new shopping feature for ChatGPT. Users can ask for product recommendations and receive results with images, reviews, and direct links. ChatGPT will provide a curated list of products based on what it remembers about users' preferences and what it pulls from online reviews, said Adam Fry, who leads ChatGPT's search product team, in a prelaunch demo for Wired. Users are then sent to the retailer's site to check out. The feature works across categories like fashion, electronics, and home goods. Unlike Google Shopping's sponsored links, the product listings shown in ChatGPT are not paid placements, Fry said. I tried out the new shopping feature to see if it could make shopping smarter and easier. It was helpful, but I missed a few parts of non-AI online shopping. Getting ChatGPT's techy recommendation As an audiophile, I love a good pair of headphones. I asked ChatGPT, "What are the best headphones under $500 USD?" The response was impressive — and a bit overwhelming. It broke down options into categories like best wireless noise-canceling headphones, best audiophile and studio headphones, and budget-friendly picks. It even gave me a handy "Top Picks Summary," which helped cut through the clutter. The Sony WH-1000XM5 clinched the "Best Overall" — a model I'd heard people rave about. But ChatGPT didn't list where I could buy them, so I followed up with, "Where can I buy them at the best price?" This time, ChatGPT served up live prices and retailer links in Singapore, where I live. ChatGPT also suggested a rival to the Sony XM5 — the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. I wanted to compare both in detail, so I asked: "What's the difference between the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra?" ChatGPT came back with a side-by-side comparison that felt lifted from a high-end tech blog, covering everything from noise cancellation to fast-charging stats. One gripe, though: I had no idea where the information came from. It said Bose had "plush cushioning and lighter clamp force," while Sony offered "synthetic leather" and a lighter build. Those were objective details, but who decided Bose was more comfortable? What if I actually like the snug fit of Sony's headband? Buying a really personal item: running shoes Next, I put ChatGPT to the test with running shoes. For me, this was make-or-break. I'm obsessed with running shoes. I've gone too deep into the rabbit hole of reading shoe reviews, binge-watching YouTube breakdowns, and analyzing specs like a full-time job. I told ChatGPT I was looking for shoes for easy, short-distance runs under $200. My search yielded a solid list: Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 41, Brooks Ghost 16, Hoka Clifton 9, ASICS Gel-Nimbus 26, and New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v14. All great picks, but I was a little disappointed that my favourites, like the Adidas Ultraboost, didn't show up. When I refined my search and mentioned that I was a neutral pronator — my foot rolls naturally to absorb shock evenly — ChatGPT stuck to the same lineup with short, summarized notes about each shoe's strengths. I asked ChatGPT to break down the differences between the Brooks Ghost 16 and Hoka Clifton 9 since they were "Best Overall" and "Best Cushioning." The side-by-side comparison covered everything from cushioning and stability to ride feel. But one big thing was missing: visuals. As someone who cares a lot about how my shoes look — the sole design, the lacing, the vibe — I missed scrutinizing images beyond the four at the top. I don't blame ChatGPT for giving me a wordy review. But for something as personal as running shoes, I'd still rather scroll through a store's website and rummage through every photo and video. Google vs ChatGPT Google's shopping experience still feels a lot more fun. Although there are paid ads, there are also endless visuals — different colorways, angles, and even photos from real buyers showing off their pairs in the wild. Plus, I love seeing user reviews. They're raw, relatable, and sometimes way more helpful than expert reviews. ChatGPT wins in the heavy-lifting department. It provides detailed comparisons and spec breakdowns without making you dig through 10 different websites. It feels like an extension of what ChatGPT already does best — gathering info and summarizing it neatly. An AI built solely for shopping — or OpenAI's next version of this feature — might provide a better experience. I'm still an old-school shopper. I gather all possible sneaker info online, then head to the store to do a few laps. No review can tell me the best — for me — pair until it's on my feet.
