Portable Audio

As Sony's lineup of portable audio devices has evolved over the years, it's veered towards more discerning listeners. It's just dropped its most expensive Walkman yet: the $5,900 NW-WM1ZM3. What on Earth is inside that could make it cost this much?

Fairphone's just released its Fairbuds 2 wireless earbuds, which can not only be fixed easily, but also improve on the original pair that came out in 2024. Expect better sound and noise cancelation, longer battery life, and a slick new design.

If you enjoy minimalist design in your tech, you're going to want to take a closer look at CMF's first portable speakers. Available in two sizes, they resemble milk cartons – in the best way – and have me wanting all four colorways.

These newly launched headphones feature a novel hybrid design that I can't say I've seen before. You can use them on your noggin as normal for private listening, or twist the headband so the cups combine to form a speaker for others to hear.

In the running for best budget headphones of 2026, OneOdio's Focus A1 Pro outperform what you'd expect from a pair that'll set you back US$34.99. While they won't outshine premium audio tech, they leave the competition in their price bracket for dead.

Danish audio gear brand Soundboks lives life loud, and has just launched the Mix, a powerful Bluetooth speaker designed to balance high output, long battery life, and portability for both parties and everyday listening.

iBasso’s DX340 flagship digital audio player launches with a durable, lightweight titanium chassis and a modified AMP15 card. Featuring dual OS, an AMOLED screen, and a dual-battery system, it delivers elite, high-resolution audio performance.

Bone conduction offer the freedom of listening to music while staying aware of your surroundings – and now you can take this tech underwater with Jabeees' 7Seven headphones. And, at US$79.99, they keep pace with many of their more expensive competitors.

Whether a content creator or a casual recording enthusiast, the Maono Wave T5 wireless mic ticks a lot of boxes without breaking the bank. Capture clean audio at home or on-the-go, with functionality and quality that belies its $89.99 starting price.

Though the name Marshall is synonymous with guitar amplification, the brand has branched out into personal and home audio, as well as curveballs like a fridge and smartphone. Now the company is getting its party on with the Bromley 750.

A new innovation is aiming to redefine earbuds – in function and in form. The PIN, wireless AI buds are sustainably handcrafted from real wood and engineered for sound, include real-time translation and a sleep aid – and they start at only US$134.

The brand Astell&Kern will likely be very familiar to audiophiles, particularly those who like to groove on the move. The company's latest high-end digital audio player comes with a docking cradle that allows it to serve as a home music streamer.