Earbuds

Xiaomi has given smartphone photography a boost with the launch of the 12 Pro flagship, which includes a main 50-MP camera module that's built around Sony's large IMX707 sensor for the promise of improved low-light snaps.

While many earbuds now feature noise-cancelling technology, they typically block all noises, including people's voices. The Silenton device, however, is claimed to filter out most sounds while still allowing voices through to third-party earbuds.

Although today's earbuds may seem small, they're limited in form and function by the fact that their speakers require membranes and magnets. A prototype microspeaker overcomes those limitations, potentially providing more uses for in-ear headphones.

It's only been a few years since the first true wireless earphones launched and yet the marketplace is overflowing with variations on the theme. Relods is looking to stand out from the crowd with quick-swap batteries that let the music play on.

Although there are custom-fit earbuds that are molded to individual users' ear canals, Apple's AirPods Pro are not among them. Electronics startup ADV.SOUND has set out to address that situation, with its aftermarket Eartune Fidelity ear tips.

Since 2013, Astell&Kern has been employing multiple converters in its high-end DAPs in the pursuit of better sound. Now the company is taking that kind of thinking to its in-ear monitors as the Zero1 IEMs launch with three different driver types.

Regardless of whether you think they're less cumbersome or just easier to lose, AirPods certainly stirred things up when they first debuted. The third generation offers longer battery life, and technology that adapts the sound to each user's ears.

When other manufacturers were racing each other to get into the wireless headphone market, V-Moda held back. The high-style company has followed a similar path with true wireless earphones, only now entering the space with the Hexamove Series.

QuietOn's latest set of active noise-cancelling sleep earbuds are absolutely tiny, suitable for side-sleepers and extremely simple to use – although there's a couple of odd design decisions here. I've spent a few weeks sleeping in "nordic quietude."

Back at the IFA 2014 tech show, Panasonic relaunched Technics as a high-end luxury hi-fi brand, but it didn't join the true wireless earphones space until last year. Now two more models join the party, one with noise cancellation and one without.

Marshall has expanded its true wireless earphones offering with a third-gen outing for its Minor buds and a new model called the Motif ANC earphones, which close off listeners to the outside world so they can focus on the music.

It was just this year that we heard about the Sonr radio system, which lets coaches talk to swimmers via a waterproof speaker worn by the latter. It's a neat idea, but what happens when the coach isn't around? Well, that's where Athlos Live comes in.