True Wireless

Eight 'True Wireless' stories August 2016 - August 2017

Review: Bragi Dash Pro is a costly standout amongst wireless earphones

Greg Barbosa Aug 11 2017 - 1:54 pm PT

Long before the AirPods hit the market, Bragi hit the ground running with their true wireless earphones on Kickstarter. Three years later the company has released an upgrade on their original Dash. The Dash Pro brings improvements to Bluetooth connectivity, microphone quality, and a new live language translation ability.

Having spent a full month using the Dash Pro over my AirPods, I’ve dissected as much as I could out of these wireless earphones. The original Dash didn’t raise praise from us before, but could the Dash Pro be Bragi’s comeback kid story?

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Comment: Apple’s AirPods show just how badly Siri needs an offline mode [Poll]

Greg Barbosa Dec 23 2016 - 10:50 am PT

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A few days after having received my AirPods order, I’ve quickly come to realize how the lack of accessible audio playback controls can hinder the overall experience. In my previous reviews of true wireless earbuds, I’ve consistently brought up on-device controls as a positive or a negative. When you remove the wire and the controls so many of us have gotten used to, offering a new means of control is necessary.

With the AirPods, the main and only means of audio playback control is by double-tapping above the AirPods’ stem. Based on your settings this either activates Siri, allowing you to speak all of the basic playback commands, or controls play/pause for audio. Double-tapping and only being able to play/pause controls aren’t enough for daily usage, but relying on Siri, especially when internet connections are weaker, makes for a cumbersome experience at best. These issues highlight the need for Apple to introduce an offline mode for Siri.

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Review: Are the cord-free Skybuds worth the $249 price tag ahead of Apple’s AirPods?

Jordan Kahn Nov 23 2016 - 2:09 pm PT

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While we await Apple’s delayed cord-free, wireless AirPods, we’ve been reviewing the competition to see if they are indeed worth the wait. The $249 Skybuds are one of the latest entries, making a debut at Best Buy this month across the US. I’ve been testing them over the last couple weeks…

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Review: Can the Erato Apollo 7 fill the wireless earbud void before Apple’s AirPods?

Greg Barbosa Nov 1 2016 - 12:01 pm PT

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I discovered the Erato Apollo 7 a few months ago during its Kickstarter campaign and nearly immediately knew it would be a pair of earbuds that could fit into my life nicely. It really looked like the first pair of true wireless earbuds that included all the functionality I wanted, without sacrificing any distinct feature. With the AirPods being delayed potentially as far out as January, is there a possibility that the Erato Apollo 7 ($299) is ready to fill the void that Apple left with the iPhone 7?

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As we await Apple’s AirPods, these are the best wireless cord-free earbuds available

Jordan Kahn Oct 31 2016 - 11:41 am PT

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Apple delayed the release of its new truly wireless earbuds called AirPods that it originally planned on launching in late October. It’s disappointing for some who wanted to use them with their new iPhone 7 that launched back in September. But what does the competition look like?

With the AirPods originally expected to launch sometime this month, right around the time of Apple’s MacBook Pro event and Apple Watch Nike+ launch last week, a lot of accessory makers have been planning launches to time and compete with Apple’s new wireless earbuds. Just this week a few new products launched, including Michigan-based Sol Republic’s first cord-free product called ‘Amps Air’, and today Best Buy is launching new $249 Skybuds that claim to offer 24 hours battery with an included charging case and improved connectivity.

If you just can’t wait for the AirPods, or want to check out the competition and see how Apple’s earbuds compare, these are the alternatives…

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Review: Sol Republic’s new cord-free wireless earbuds bring big bass to take on Apple’s AirPods

Jordan Kahn Oct 27 2016 - 8:59 am PT

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Audio accessory maker Sol Republic is today launching its first product in the cord-free headphone space, the ‘Amps Air’ wireless earbuds. The launch would have been timed with the now delayed release of Apple’s own similar wireless AirPods that were previously expected to launch late this month and possibly following the company’s Mac event today. Apple released a last minute statement yesterday informing customers it needs more time to get the product right before shipping.

But after using the new Amps Air earbuds from Sol Republic over the last week, I’m convinced they will be a better option for many…

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Bragi launches cheaper $149 cord-free earbuds sans fitness sensors & storage ahead of iPhone 7

Jordan Kahn Sep 5 2016 - 9:59 am PT

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As previously teased, headphone maker Bragi today announced a new cheaper set of cord-free, truly wireless earbuds ahead of Apple’s iPhone 7 & Apple Watch 2 event on Sept. 7 this week.

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Review: Could the Syllable D900s be your first affordable, truly wireless earbuds?

Greg Barbosa Aug 2 2016 - 9:45 am PT

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Syllable D900s and iPhone

As time has gone on and increased reports of Apple’s next iPhone lacking a headphone jack have persisted, I’ve begun to delve deeper into the future of what consumer audio playback on iOS could be. Though headphones have found their way into nearly all levels of the consumer market in the past few years, I wanted to imagine what this headphone jack-less future could look like. I decided to start with the affordable, and what I would consider entry-level, Syllable D900s true wireless earbuds.

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