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Thanks to iOS 18.2,Apple Intelligencehas pretty much arrived on iPhones, and based on our own reportingGenmoji is proving a hit. Genmoji, a portmanteau of generative and emoji, is an artificial intelligence-powered feature that combines two emojis to make a custom one.
I’m not a fan of Genmoji. Maybe it’s the fact that the resulting emoji sport that creepy veneer of all AI-made images; maybe it’s my Android fanboyism’s natural aversion toApple… or maybe it’s the fact that I absolutely love Android’s own version of Genmoji.
Yes, Android has its own version of Genmoji, and true Android fashion, Google actually introduced it way ahead of Apple; in 2020 to be exact. This feature is called Emoji Kitchen, and far too few people have heard of it (possibly because of that strange name).
Emoji Kitchen, like Genmoji, lets you select pick two emoji and have them combine into a new one. Smiley face plus pineapple equals smiling pineapple, crying face plus cat equals crying cat, you get the picture.
As a tech reporter, I downloaded Emoji Kitchen as soon as it was made available and have been using it ever since. In fact, I absolutely love it and use it all the time, and with Genmoji potentially making Android users green with envy, it’s time to revisit this far superior alternative.
Back when Emoji Kitchen was introduced, you needed to enrol in a beta to access it. But now anyone on Android can, as long as you’re using the default keyboard option GBoard. Emoji Kitchen doesn’t work on all messaging apps but the key ones are supported includingWhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, Messenger and a few others.
To use Emoji Kitchen, open the chat log and press in the message box, where you type. Instead of typing, press the smiley-face icon to the left of the space bar, which brings up the menu that normally lets you send emoji, gifs and stickers.
Now, pick your first emoji and press it. Instantly, in the space between the keyboard and the messaging log, you’ll see a section appear for Emoji Kitchen, giving you some suggested custom emojis (I think these are based on your most-used emoji but I’m not certain).
To combine two emoji of your choice, find in the emoji list your second choice and press it. Now, the leftmost option of the Emoji Kitchen carousel will be the custom pick. Press it, and your concoction will be sent in the chat as a sticker. Unfortunately, you can’t send them in a message as with standard emoji.
My favorite part of Emoji Kitchen is just playing around with emoji combinations, but if you’d rather know what you’re sending, there’s afull list of options available here.
You can also use Emoji Kitchen on a computer, which lets you create emoji quickly and easily and copy-and-paste them into chats.
To do so simply Google search “Emoji Kitchen” and then press “Get Cooking” below the search bar.
A pop-up will appear that lets you choose from a range of emojis to combine, in a mathematical “X + X = X”. To create an emoji, select on the one you want to swap out and then press one of the ones in the list below.
Then to copy and paste your new custom emoji, press the ‘copy’ button (two rectangles, on top of each other) under the right-hand emoji to copy it. Paste it into another document or chat.
Unlocking the full potential of Emoji Kitchen
(Image credit: Google)
I love Emoji Kitchen because some of its resulting creations look silly. Silly but cute. And isn’t the big bonus of Android emoji over iOS ones that they look so much cuter? The veritable army of new cute combos is one of the reasons I keep using the feature.
My absolute favorite is the turtle emoji (some people tell me it’s a tortoise but its primary name according to emoji makers Unicode is “turtle”, take that!), with its hopeful simple smile, and about 75% of the Emoji Kitchen stickers I send nowadays are mash-ups featuring the turt. I spam my girlfriend with it so much that she baked me a gingerbread version of the turtle-alien mash-up, a Kitchen creation I was particularly taken with.
The thing is, the turtle alien emoji was sent because it was situationally relevant to what we were talking about (invasive species of turtles, not extra-terrestrial shelled reptiles), and that’s another aspect I enjoy about Emoji Kitchen. The ability to combine emoji creates so many situationally-relevant stickers to send, that there’s rarely a time I can’t find an emoji I’d like to send.
But my favorite thing about Emoji Kitchen, which is also a dig at Genmoji, is that the stickers simply look better. This is partly my preference but also partly that Genmoji are images made by an AI trying to slam two emoji together, and it tells. Emoji Kitchen, on the other hand, are hand-drawn, something thatGoogle has confirmed itself.
I’m not here to complain about AI, but you can tell that Genmoji lacks that human touch, sitting deep in that uncanny valley (alongside half of the other Apple Intelligence generative tools) while Emoji Kitchen basks in that cartoon cuteness. I need only show some of Apple’s own promotional images to prove this point:
(Image credit: Apple)
So if you’re an Android user, you shouldn’t feel jealous that you don’t have Genmoji. You should feel glad that you can use Emoji Kitchen instead.
Local manufacturers are once again likely to continue their dominance in 2025.
The Asian handset market is very interesting, with a significantly broader range of devices sold in the region than anywhere else. You have the usual Chinese contingent of Vivo, OPPO, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and Honor dominating sales, but Samsung and Google also sell most of their products in Asian markets, and Apple is slowly building momentum with the iPhone.
I used over 70 phones over the course of 2024, and while there were devices that didn’t measure up to their asking price, I didn’t run into any bad phones as such. The one brand that stood out the most to me is Vivo. It delivered truly incredible cameras in theX100 ProandX100 Ultra, and it made heady gains in the mid-range with theV30 ProandV40 Pro, delivering much better sensors.
Clearly, I’m not the only one who liked the brand’s progress, as Vivo managed to extend its lead in both China and India considerably. Vivo is likely to continue that momentum in 2025 on the back of the X200 Pro. As much as I like the X200 Pro, I’m waiting to see what the X200 Ultra brings to the table. Vivo doesn’t actually need to change much with the device, but if it manages to retain the same set of cameras while making the phone available in at least select regions outside China, it will be a monumental achievement.
While the V series is stronger than ever, the upgrades with the V40 Pro pushed it closer to value flagships, and Vivo needs to focus on the Y series to maintain its mid-range presence. I’m excited to see what’s in store with the V50 and V50 Pro, and whether they can deliver the same caliber of photos as the X series.
Although OPPO lost ground in China, it solidified its position as the second-largest handset brand in India on the back of the Reno 12, K series, and A series devices. While I enjoyed using theFind X8 Proquite a bit, I don’t think OPPO has the cachet to steal market share from Apple and Samsung just yet, but its introduction in additional global markets should give OPPO a decent platform on which to build. The one issue I have with the X8 Pro is that it doesn’t have the best cameras the brand makes, and that will inevitably debut on the X8 Ultra sometime in Q2 2025. Just like with Vivo, the X8 Ultra needs to launch globally to make the cameras accessible by a wider audience.
OnePlus, meanwhile, is doing all the right things. Although the manufacturer lost market share in 2024, its device portfolio is stronger than ever, and the imminent global launch of theOnePlus 13should allow the brand to take on Samsung and Google. What I like is that the R series is also sold globally, and with the OnePlus 12R still one of the best mid-rangers available today, I’m intrigued to see what the 13R can deliver. I just want to see the device continue to deliver the same value-focused ethos, and with the manufacturer confirming a class-leading 6000mAh battery, it has the potential to do incredibly well.
Xiaomi continues to do well thanks to its budget-focused portfolio, but that narrative has changed in recent years as it shifted to the mid-range with devices like the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus. In doing so, Xiaomi is effectively ceding ground to its rivals, and that’s one of the reasons why it is no longer in the top position in India. The brand needs to rethink its strategy and go back to delivering budget phones with strong value — that just hasn’t been the case in the last two years. Honestly, Xiaomi needs to do an overhaul of its devices, and rethink its strategy. That’s the only way it can retain its footing against its rivals, but I don’t see the brand doing so in 2025.
I really like what Honor is doing these days; the Magic 6 Pro and Magic V3 are two of my best phones of the year — with the latter being one of the best foldables around — and the brand is taking a radically different strategy to everyone else, positioning itself as a premium player to stand out. While that may not yield market share, Honor certainly takes up a lot of mind share, and with the brand regaining its foothold in India, 2025 should be a pivotal year for its global ambitions. The Magic 7 Pro is launching shortly, and I’d like to see the device delivering better cameras; while the 6 Pro was great in its own right, it didn’t quite measure up to the X100 Pro, and Honor needs to be on the same level as Vivo.
I usually turn to a Pixel as my daily driver, and that hasn’t changed in 2024. The Pixel 9 Pro XL is a worthy upgrade, and while it costs more, it has meaningful changes across the board and takes brilliant photos. The only issue with the device is that the hardware isn’t on par with its rivals, although that may change in 2025. Google is set to switch away from Samsung’s designs and go with MediaTek, which means that the Pixel 10 should be noticeably better in this regard. The biggest thing that Google needs to change with the Pixel 10 is the internal hardware; the Tensor platform may be good in mid-rangers, but it just doesn’t measure up against what Qualcomm and MediaTek are doing in the high-end category, and Google needs to do better. The latest leaks point to the brand doing just that with the Tensor G5, but I want to get my hands on the device to see how it actually holds up.
As for Samsung, the brand lost ground in India and other Asian markets this year, and that’sdown to its own shortcomings. While it built up an early lead in foldables, the lack of any meaningful innovation has allowed Chinese brands to eat into its market share, and Samsung is losing ground in the mid-range as well. What’s interesting is that the brand is positioning the FE devices as its value-focused models in major regions like the U.S. instead of traditional bestsellers like the Galaxy A55, and I don’t think that’s the best move. While high-end devices contribute to Samsung’s bottom line, it’s the mid-range where the brand sees a bulk of its sales, and it needs to bring its best devices to all regions.
Like much of the last decade, value-focused phones will dominate sales in 2025, but there is a growing demand for mid-range and even high-end devices, and that’s encouraging to see. With all major manufacturers introducing their products earlier than before, we don’t have to wait as long to see what’s in store with the best 2025 phones, and that’s always a good thing.
In the last year, I’ve taken up a new, rewarding hobby with astrophotography. Today’sbest phonesmake it easier than ever before to get breathtaking shots of the night sky, which is why I want to share my favorite shots from each of the flagship phones I’ve tested throughout the year.
These include theiPhone 16 Pro Max,Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra,Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, andOnePlus 12— many of which top batterymap’sbest camera phonesguide. They’re there for many reasons, but I will agree that the quality of images for astrophotography requires more than just the physical hardware. Plus, there’s a certain level of patience needed to get just the right images.
Most people don’t even know that these flagship phones are capable of capturing stuff besides the moon, stars, and constellations. As you’ll see, I’ve been able to image other deep space objects with their telephoto cameras — like nebulas and even some galaxies. Here’s all of my favorite shots.
Before I dive into it, I captured all the astrophotography images with each phone on separate occasions. Since astrophotography requires the phones to be extremely still with their long exposure, often upwards of 30 seconds, it’s not feasible for me to capture the same targets with each device. That’s why the images are from different days.
Secondly, it’s worth investing in a tripod and phone holder to capture astrophotography with phones. I’d recommend keeping them as close to the ground as possible because sometimes a slight gust of wind can ruin a shot. And finally, you’ll want to use the timer function to eliminate any shake when you’re hitting the shutter button.
Once you master these techniques, you simply need to switch to their respective night modes and select the longest exposure time.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
If you’re going to shoot astrophotography with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, I’d recommend switching to its Pro Mode and manually setting the shutter speed and ISO. In the first shot of the gallery below, I do like how the overall image is brightened to see the details in the tree’s branches, but the sky itself is a bit overexposed given how dark it looks in real life. Still, I love all the twinkling stars it’s able to capture.
In the second astrophotography image with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, I used Pro Mode to try and capture M42: The Great Orion Nebula. This is one of my favorite shots because the night sky is properly exposed, with less of the banding effect of the night shot one. And since I used a longer exposure, it manages to keep the noise down by shooting at a lower ISO.
And finally, there’s the last closeup shot of the Great Orion Nebula with the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s 50MP telephoto with 5x zoom. While I could’ve maxed it out 100x zoom, I chose not to in order to preserve the details. I think it does an excellent job of defining the gases that are coming from the nebula, which with the naked eye just looks like an ordinary twinkling star — but the S24 Ultra captures it in greater detail.
Apple’s flagship is a low light beast, and these astrophotography snapshots I captured with the iPhone 16 Pro Max proves that. Starting with its 48MP main camera, it’s the only flagship phone I’ve tested this year that can capture a galaxy. With it pointed straight up into the air, I was able to capture M31 Andromeda Galaxy — complete with its wispy trails. You’ll have to look very close in the first image below, but it’s there.
Next up, I want to point out how it captures The Great Orion Nebula with its 12MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom. I surmise that the clearer skies above me that evening attributed to what’s arguably my favorite astrophotography shot with these flagships, mainly because the nebula is better defined.
For my last pick, it’s the shot of M45 The Pleiades — which on that night was right above my garage. There’s a lot I love about this photo because not only are the seven main stars of the cluster visible with the main camera, but the colors of the leaves on the tree remain true-to-life.
OnePlus 12
Even though its flagships have often underperformed against its main rivals in the low light department, I will admit that the OnePlus 12 can get some respectable looking astrophotography images. The first one I tried getting of Jupiter in the night sky is a perfect example, especially when I was contending against the strong moonlight from the Moon. The overall shot may look underexposed compared to the brighter captures of the other phones here, but enough to give it a realistic look.
The second image in the gallery below is of M45 The Pleiades, which initially I thought was captured by its 64MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. But for some reason it stuck with the 50MP main camera, which I suspect is simply due to the low light conditions. Given how effective OnePlus leverages pixel binning here, I think it still pulls off an excellent shot.
Going back to M42 The Great Orion Nebula, the OnePlus 12’s main camera again captures an image that’s more underexposed, but it doesn’t have the banding effect that I tend to see with the night modes on other phones.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
There’s a reason why I saved the Pixel 9 Pro XL for last. Out of all the phones I’ve tested, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is my favorite for astrophotography. Not only does it have an excellent 48MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, but there’s a dedicated astrophotography mode that pushes the exposure to 4 minutes — resulting in a neat timelapse video to complement the image it captures. The first shot of M45 The Pleiades below shows a few rolling clouds overhead, while still showing the movement of M45.
With an unobstructed view of Jupiter, I love how this shot from the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s main camera also manages to expose some of the nearby stars. If you look to the south-east, there’s the Great Orion Nebula — while the seven stars of The Pleiades are visible to the north-east.
In order to better show off its telephoto capabilities with astrophotography, I pointed the Pixel 9 Pro XL towards the Great Orion Nebula and used its 5x optical zoom for a closer look. Needless to say that I’m astounded by what it sees, unlike my own eyes that merely see the famous star cluster as a smudgy blob in the sky. Not only is Orion’s Belt clearly captured in the 5x zoom photo, but I really love how the nebula itself is exposed.
Google drops Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking, an AI model that thinks on its feet.
What you need to know
Google’s Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking lets you see how it tackles tough problems, giving you a peek into its thought process.
Unlike OpenAI’s o1 model, which keeps things hidden, Gemini spells out its reasoning, making it easier to follow and avoid AI mistakes.
This approach helps Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking handle tougher challenges better than the standard version.
The model is free to try on Google’s AI Studio, though it has a 32,767-token limit.
Google has introduced Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking, an experimental AI model that lays out how it tackles tough problems in order to let you peek into its thought process and make it easier to see how it works.
Gemini 2.0Flash Thinking blends Flash tech’s speed with the reasoning chops of OpenAI’s o1 model. The difference is thatGeminispells out its thought process, while o1 keeps things behind the curtain. That clear breakdown makes it a win for anyone needing to follow complex reasoning and dodge surprise AI slip-ups.
This unique approach helps it outshine the standardGemini 2.0 Flashon tougher challenges.
Logan Kilpatrick, head of product for AI Studio, calls this model a big first step in Google’s push for smarter AI reasoning. Unlike most AI systems, these reasoning models can self-check their work, reducing common errors. The trade-off is that it takes a bit longer to get answers—sometimes seconds or even minutes.
Google DeepMind’s chief scientist, Jeff Dean, showed off on X some capabilities of Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking.
Want to see Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking in action? Check out this demo where the model solves a physics problem and explains its reasoning. pic.twitter.com/Nl0hYj7ZFS
The demo featured the AI solving tough physics problems by breaking them into smaller steps, showcasing its knack for methodical problem-solving and delivering solid, reliable results.
In another demo from Kilpatrick, the model shows off its impressive reasoning skills by combining visual and text data to solve a problem. It highlights how well the model can process and blend info from different sources.
While early demos have shown some missteps or missed details, it’s important to remember that this model is still in its early stages. Even so, these first impressions highlight the impressive potential of the DeepMind AI architecture.
The new model is free for everyone to try on Google’s AI Studio platform. That said, it has a 32,767-token limit, so it’s a bit capped compared to other versions. Still, it’s impressive how quickly it handles tricky problems that usually leave regular AI models scratching their heads.
It’ll be a major boost to the availability of Gemini features for iPhone users.
(Image credit: Google)
What you need to know
The public build of the Gemini app for iOS is getting Gemini 2.0 Experimental models before the Android version.
Gemini 2.0 Flash Experimental hit the Gemini app in the Android beta channel earlier this week.
Additionally, the iOS app supports more languages and extensions.
Google is continuing to roll out experimental features based on its Gemini 2.0 models, and now, the Gemini app for iOS is starting to get feature parity with its Android counterpart. According to the release notes, the latest Gemini app update landed on the App Store on December 18. Among them, Google included support for the experimental Gemini 2.0 model and support for two additional Gemini extensions.
Currently, updating toversion1.2024.4970016of the Gemini app for iOS adds the option for Gemini Advanced subscribers to use Gemini 2.0 Flash Experimental. This is an early version of Google’s smaller, lightweight AI model. Although the app’s release notes describe the update as adding support for “our latest experimental Gemini 2.0 models,” only 2.0 Flash Experimental appears to be live at the moment. The higher-end model,Gemini 2.0 Experimental, hit the Gemini web client Dec. 17 but isn’t available in the mobile app.
Notably, the Gemini app for iOS is receiving the Gemini 2.0 Flash Experimental model before the Android app. The functionalityreached beta testers this week, while it went straight to public release on the iOS version. It still requires Gemini Advanced, which costs $20 per month.
(Image credit: Google)
The iPhone app got a few other upgrades, too. It’s available in the following 11 new languages: Bulgarian, Estonian, Gujarati, Kannada, Latvian, Lithuanian, Malayalam, Serbian, Slovenian, Swahili, and Urdu. Additionally, Gemini Live support was added for the following 21 languages: Bengali, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Gujarati, Hungarian, Kannada, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Malayalam, Marathi, Norwegian Bokmål, Romanian, Slovenian, Swahili, Swedish, Tamil, Telugu, Ukrainian, and Urdu.
Gemini Advanced users can also agree to store their personal information to get better responses from Gemini. Plus, “conversation starters” are coming to the Gemini app for iOS for non-subscribers.
Two new extensions are arriving on the platform for the first time, too. TheGoogle Home extension launched on Android last month, and it’s now available for iOS. The same goes for the Google Photos extension.
As it tries to build up Gemini to compete with ChatGPT, it has done a decent job of bringing its best features to both versions of the Gemini mobile app — iOS and Android. This time around, the public build of the Gemini app for iOS is getting a hit feature before the Android version.
The service would reportedly have customers rent devices instead of buying them.
Apple has apparently shelved its plans for aniPhone hardware subscription service. It’s just as well — the last thing anyone needs in this economy is yet another ongoing expense.
Bloombergreports that Apple is no longer working on its iPhone subscription service, according to sources close to the matter.First rumoured in 2022, the tech giant’s hardware subscription would have given customers the option to pay a regular monthly fee to essentially rent their iPhone. They’d also be able to upgrade to the latest iPhone as new models were released.
This iPhone subscription service had reportedly been planned for launch the same year it was leaked, but was delayed by issues such as software problems and legal concerns. Now it seems the service won’t arrive at all.
Judging from the scant details that have emerged, Apple’s proposed subscription service seemed to have borne some similarities to its iPhone Upgrade Program. Introduced in 2015, this program allows customers to enter a two-year monthly payment plan for their iPhone, with current plans starting at $39.50 per month for the 128GB iPhone 16. Once they’ve made 12 payments, they’re eligible to upgrade their phone when the next model arrives, entering a new loan.
However, the iPhone Upgrade Program enables customers to ultimately own their device outright if they complete the payment plan. In contrast, Apple’s previously planned service sounded more akin to renting a device, with customers presumably required to return their iPhone if they cancelled their subscription.
Apple also discontinued its Apple Pay Later service earlier this year, a possible indication that the company is reassessing its financial products. Initially announced in 2022, Apple Pay Later was a Buy Now Pay Later service that allowed customers to split payments into multiple smaller installments spread out over several weeks.
Verdict For the most part, Google didn’t try and reinvent the wheel with the Pixel Tablet. As an Android tablet, it’s pretty much the perfect tablet for almost everything. But it really flexes its muscles when attached to the included Charging Speaker Dock, transforming it into a supercharged smart home display. There are a few quirks here and there, but honestly, it’s nothing that’s earth-shattering.
Pros
+Pixel experience comes back to tablets
+Includes Charging Speaker Dock
+USI 2.0 support
+Could be a look at the future of Google’s Nest products
+Design is reminiscent of the Pixel 5
Cons
-Not ideal for serious gaming
-No first-party stylus or keyboard options
-Removing the tablet off of the dock takes a bit of practice
I’ve used my fair share of tablets over the years. Predominantly, my time has been spent with an iPad Pro of some sort, but I do enjoy a good Android tablet whenever one is actually released. Like many of us Android nerds, we’ve been longing for Google to get back into the tablet game, and our prayers were finally answered with the Pixel Tablet.
I’ve been longing for a Google tablet that can capture my interest in the same way that theNexus 7did. And after a couple of weeks with the Pixel Tablet, Google is definitely onto something here.
Google Pixel Tablet: Price and availability
The Google Pixel Tablet was first introduced atGoogle I/O 2022, before making it was officially released in June 2023. There are three different colors available, as Google is offering it in Porcelain, Hazel, or Rose, complete with matching a Charging Speaker Dock in the box. Pricing starts at $499 for the 128GB model and goes up to $599 for the version with 256GB of storage.
Google Pixel Tablet: Brand new, yet familiar design
The first thing that I noticed when I took the Pixel Tablet out of the box is the feel of the back cover. It reminds me of the finish found on older Pixel phones like thePixel 4 XLandPixel 5. It’s soft to the touch, yet comfortable to hold and there aren’t any worries about fingerprints turning this into a smudgy mess, at least on the back.
This isn’t the same sentiment when it comes to the display, thanks to the glossy finish, which will likely show fingerprints as soon as you unwrap it. But something else I noticed is that Google didn’t want to go down the same path as theGalaxy Tab S8or iPad Air here. Instead, the bezels are large enough so you don’t have to worry about accidentally touching the screen. It’s likely the same approach Google made with the bezels on the Pixel Fold, and it’s actually been a bit refreshing.
Admittedly, the larger bezels do make the Pixel Tabletlooklike a device that was released a few years ago. Well really, thePixel Tabletlookslike the Nest Hubwith a better screen, but more on that in a bit.
That being said, I’m also a big fan of both the selfie camera and fingerprint scanner being placed in the correct positions. It seems that every other company, besides Apple, has learned that the camera should be orientated for landscape use, not at the top of the screen. And the fingerprint scanner, even with a case on, is still accessible and has been more reliable than the in-display one in my Pixel 7 Pro.
Google Pixel Tablet: Performance is what you’d expect
I won’t bore you with benchmarking scores and a spec breakdown because basically, the Pixel Tablet is aPixel 7wrapped in a larger screen. Google’s getting the most out of theTensor G2chip, which debuted along with the Pixel 7 and is now powering a total of five devices in Google’s lineup (including thePixel Fold.)
What that means is that it’ll handle pretty much all of the best Android games, while the 8GB of RAM is enough to take advantage of the changes to multitasking inAndroid 13. In fact, I’m sitting here writing this review with the Pixel Tablet propped up on my desk connected to a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard.
The new taskbar is similar to what you’ll find on theGalaxy Z Fold 4and other large-screen devices. With just a swipe up from the bottom, the taskbar appears, revealing your most recently-used apps, along with an app drawer button. Touch and hold on an app icon and you’re able to drag it into split-screen mode, but it’s not all sunshine and roses.
For example, you can’t have more than two apps open at a time when working on a split-screen. And this decision honestly has me scratching my head a bit. I haven’t even been able to get a third app to open as a floating window, which is pretty disappointing if I’m being honest.
Then again, Google isn’t positioning the Pixel Tablet as a productivity device, at least not yet. The software changes for Android tablets are more than welcome, especially on a large-screen device from Google. And you can still adjust the size of the app windows by dragging the line in the middle of the screen left or right.
If there was one thing that surprised me about the Pixel Tablet announcement, besides the obvious stuff, is the included support for USI 2.0. This means you can use the same USI pen from your Chromebook with your Pixel Tablet. My go-to USI pen has been thePenoval USI 2.0 stylus, and it’s worked pretty darn well, whether I’m trying to find a song to play or jot down some quick notes. You can even install the Google Canvas web app, along with any of the other best note-taking apps for Android, and don’t have to worry about dealing with a pairing process just to use a stylus.
Keeping with the stylus for a moment, I’m not someone who takes a bunch of hand-written notes on tablets orfoldable phones, but there are times when being able to do so just comes in handy. But I can’t help but feel like there’s just a little bit too much lag between what I write on the screen and when it actually shows up.
At first, I thought maybe something was up with the Penoval pen I was using, but it also happened with my otherUSI pens. Perhaps there’s a setting in Developer Options that will let me tweak things, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if improvements are made with future software updates.
Google Pixel Tablet: My new smart home hub
I have more smart displays and speakers in my house than I can count, but none of them are being actively used in my office. Until I/O 2023, there was aNest Hubon a shelf, accompanied by a Nest Hub Max in the kitchen and another Nest Hub in my living room. But even before I was offered to write this review, I knew that I would end up with a Pixel Tablet.
And instead of throwing it in a corner of the room, I’ve placed it on my desk, just to the right of my monitors. Google keeps trying to tell everyone that the Pixel Tablet is not a Nest Hub replacement, but after spending some time with it, I’m still of the mindset that Google’s just playing coy.
When docked, the Pixel Tablet’s Hub Mode can be customized with many of the same options that you’ll find on the Nest Hub Max. But the biggest benefit is the redesignedGoogle Homeapp which continues to come in handy when I want to turn on the lights or check my cameras.
As for the speaker itself, it’s quite a bit louder than I expected, despite the difference in speakers compared to theNest Hub Max. But what has come in really handy is the built-in Chromecast, as I have a tendency of starting videos when I take out my dog and want to continue watching them when I come inside. As you can see in the pictures, there is no shortage of screens in my office, but casting from my phone to the Pixel Tablet is much faster compared to anything else.
Instead of trying to find reasons to use the Pixel Tablet, it’s just become second nature to rely on it for things like music playback or video watching when I want something off to the side. Google really nailed it here, and while you won’t enjoy the best audio quality, it’s still quite a bit better than what I was expecting.
Google Pixel Tablet: There are trade-offs, for now at least
As much as I want to sit here and tell everyone to go buy the Pixel Tablet right now, I can’t exactly do that. It’s not the “end-all-be-all” device, let alone thebest Android tabletout there. Google did have to make a few compromises, some of which have shown up in my time with it so far, while others might just be a non-factor.
My biggest disappointment, so far at least, shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, but Ireallywanted Google to release a first-party stylus and keyboard cover for the Pixel Tablet. As someone who likes being able to work from pretty much anywhere, at any time, I don’t always want to throw in aBluetooth keyboardjust to get some work done on my tablet. There are some rumors that this could be rectified in the coming months, but I’m of the mindset of “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
That’s not to say that Google’s first-party Pixel Tablet case is bad, as the built-in adjustable kickstand has been quite nice to use. Plus, it still works with the Charging Speaker Dock, so I don’t need to worry about taking off the case whenever I want to throw my tablet on the dock. And as I mentioned earlier, the case doesn’t get in the way of my trying to unlock the tablet with my fingerprint, which is a nice touch.
Instead, my biggest problem with the case is that I feel like I’m either destined to live with scratches, or I’ll need to buy a screen protector if I ever want to take the tablet with me. The case does have a bit of a lip around the edges, which will definitely help if I place the tablet screen down. But that will do practically nothing if I throw the Pixel Tablet in my bag and then accidentally put something else in the same sleeve.
Another disappointment that I’ve had, was one that I didn’t expect, and that’s the Charging Speaker Dock becoming a large paperweight whenever the tablet is detached. After this was revealed by Google, I really didn’t think it would both me all that much, and honestly, it hasn’t. But there have been times when I was listening to music, then wanted to pick up the tablet to look at something, only to have the music switch.
Google Pixel Tablet: The competition
As is the case with most tablets, the most obvious competition to the Pixel Tablet is an iPad, and in this case, it’s theiPad (10th Generation). This is priced at $50 less than the Pixel Tablet but adopts the modern design found with almost every other option in Apple’s lineup. But for $449, you’ll only get the iPad and charging cable in the box and will need to spring for any other accessories that you might want.
In hishands-on, my colleague callie noted that theLenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2is also a formidable competitor. However, Google gains an edge in the software update department, while Lenovo’s tablet “costs slightly less with a better display.”
Google Pixel Tablet: Should you buy it?
You should buy this if:
You want an Android tablet with Google’s Pixel software interface.
You want an Android tablet that doubles as a smart home hub.
You want software updates as soon as Google makes them available.
You want a solid overall tablet and are okay with a few compromises.
You shouldn’t buy this if:
You’re looking for a productivity-focused tablet.
You’re on a budget.
While I’ve come around to One UI and am okay with software interfaces from other OEMs, there’s just something about Pixel UI that brings me back. It’s part of the reason why I wanted to see aGoogle Play Edition of the Galaxy Z Fold 3or 4 until Google announced the Pixel Fold.
The Pixel Tablet is not the best at any one thing but still manages to stand out from the pack with Material You and the Charging Speaker Dock. I’m still holding out hope that Google will release a keyboard case and its own USI stylus, but there are some pretty great options already available.
It’s also not often that I actually want to pick up and use a tablet while sitting on the couch, as opposed to just using my phone. To answer the question of what is “the one” from the title, the Pixel Tablet is the master of doing everything you want. Including things, you wouldn’t have expected.
Google unveiled two new AI models today: Veo 2 for video generation and Imagen 3 for images. According to human evaluators, both models set new benchmarks in their respective fields.
The new Veo 2 model can generate 4K videos and responds to specific filmmaking instructions, including different types of lenses and camera effects. Unlike previous models limited to short clips, Veo 2 videos can be “extended to minutes in length.”
One improvement in Veo 2, Google says, is how it handles common AI generation problems. The model produces fewer “hallucinations” – weird artifacts like extra fingers or random objects that often pop up in AI-generated content. Google also says the model has gotten better at representing realistic physics.
The company conducted direct comparison tests using 1,003 prompts from Meta’s MovieGenBench dataset, with human raters evaluating 720p resolution, eight-second video clips. In these head-to-head comparisons, Veo 2 came out ahead of its competitors, including OpenAI’s Sora Turbo, both in overall video quality and in how well it followed the given instructions.
In the comparison charts, green bars indicate the percentage of times evaluators preferred Veo 2’s output over its competitors.| Image: Google Deepmind
Despite these improvements, Google is upfront about Veo 2’s limitations. The company admits that creating consistently realistic and dynamic videos remains a significant challenge. In particular, the model still struggles with complex scenes and motion sequences – suggesting there’s still plenty of room for improvement in future versions.
For now, Google is taking a cautious approach with Veo 2’s rollout.Veo 2 will be limited to select products including VideoFX, YouTube, and the Vertex AI platform. The system will expand to YouTube Shorts and other products in 2025. All videos generated by the system will include an invisibleSynthID watermarkidentifying them as AI-generated.
Imagen 3 update from Google brings more vibrant AI images with better color balance and detail
(Image credit:Imagen 3 – Google DeepMind)
Along with Veo 2, Google announced a major update to its image generation AI. The newImagen3 model produces more vibrant images with better color balance, thanks to several under-the-hood improvements.
Google says Imagen 3 can now handle a broader range of artistic styles. Whether you’re looking for photorealistic images, impressionist paintings, abstract art, or anime-style illustrations, the model can adapt accordingly. The company also highlights Imagen 3’s ability to create more detailed images with improved textures and finer elements.
Google is makingImagen 3 widely available through its ImageFX tool, launching in more than 100 countries. While users can already access Imagen through Google’s Gemini Chat, the company hasn’t announced when this platform will get the upgraded Imagen 3 model.
Google introduces Veo 2 and Imagen 3, two AI models designed to deliver top-tier performance in video and image generation based on human evaluation.
Veo 2 generates 4K resolution videos, comprehends cinematographic instructions, and minimizes unwanted details. In direct comparison tests, Veo 2 outperforms competitors, particularly OpenAI’s Sora Turbo.
Imagen 3 offers enhanced color balance, more vibrant images, and improved detail through various technical advancements. The model has also been optimized to showcase different art styles.
Anyone looking for the best earbuds for small ears knows that it isn’t as simple as switching to the smaller ear tips supplied in the box. We, the small-eared music lovers, know that the narrowness of our ear canals is just one issue at play here. Actually, the size of our concha (that recess in the middle of our outer ear) and tragus (the pointy bit above it, at the opening of the ear canal) and what they can accommodate are far more pressing issues when it comes to finding non-painful earbuds for smaller ears.
Pocketable ‘buds that won’t stay in without excessive force are no fun. I know this because I’ve been testing thebest earbudsacross all prices – including thebest budget wireless earbuds– for years now, often having to wedge, twist and adjust earpieces to try to get bigger units just to stay put. It’s no good stuffing extra mics into each headshell to support ANC and juicier batteries if the wearer cannot tru;y glean the benefit.
The good news is, it can be done. What follows is is my pick of the best earbuds for smaller ears, for every budget and whatever your priority, based on that experience. I can sport these earbuds without issue for long listening sessions, so I’m confident you can too.
The best earbuds for small ears overall
(Image credit: Sony)
1. Sony LinkBuds S
Big features and specs even in smaller Sony earbuds
Specifications
Weight:4.8g per bud
Frequency response:20Hz-20kHz
Drivers:5mm
Battery life :6hrs ANC on, 9hrs ANC off, 2x charges in the case
Reasons to buy
+Compact, light and comfortable +Enjoyable and unthreatening sound +Great control app
Reasons to avoid
-Could sound more assertive -Don’t look or feel anything special
I know, I know: Sony’s earbuds didn’t start out small – some of us struggled to achieve a secure fit and seal with early WF-1000XM iterations, didn’t we? But Sony listened to our feedback, and things have changed. The LinkBuds S are small and beautifully designed, to the point that they sit practically flush with my tragus when worn, so no gust of wind can dislodge them.
Leaving their tiny size to one side for a moment, the May 2022-issue LinkBuds S use the same V1 processor to combine noise cancellation and audio processing as the one in the (more expensive, and bigger) former flagshipSony WF-1000XM4, but here it’s working with a new 5mm full-range dynamic driver – which is also smaller than the XM4.
What makes them my top choice for most people with small ears? While the LinkBuds S may be small, their spec-sheet is pretty big. With the exception of multipoint pairing, it’s basically a full house as far as perks go. Noise cancellation can be turned on or off using the capacitive touch surface on each earpiece (which works well, despite their diminutive size) and an Ambient sound option offers 20 different increments, handled by Sony’s Headphone Connect app – again, the same one as used by Sony’s flagship earbuds.
Why the less-than perfect review score? Sonically, they could benefit from an extra ounce of zeal, verve and punch. That said, they’re perfectly musical and enjoyable thanks to the relatively detailed sound, openness across the frequencies, and reassuringly chunky performance through the low-end – I’d just like more dynamic potency through the leading edges of notes). Yes, it’s splitting hairs, but that’s my job…
Oh, and the keen-eyed will note thenew LinkBuds Fitare now in town, having launched in early October 2024 – and with cute squishy ‘supporters’ (read: fins) to slip into more bijou ears and supersede the original LinkBuds S. Will they take this spot in the guide? We’re working on that…
The best budget earbuds for people with small ears
2. JLab JBuds Mini
Inexpensive, tiny, light and still quite capable
Specifications
Weight:3.3g per bud
Frequency response:Not stated
Drivers:6mm
Battery life :5.5hrs per bud, up to 20hrs via the charging case
Reasons to buy
+Incredibly small +Useful features such as multipoint +Customizable sound
Reasons to avoid
-Basic codec support -Quick charge isn’t great
Just quickly glance at the stat above, the one that says 3.3g. Isn’t that incredible for the weight of a driver-housing, battery toting true wireless earbud? It’s not only 1.5g lighter than the Sony LinkBuds S’ weight per bud (listed above as our top choice for smaller ears), but the lightest we’ve ever heard of.
For reference, the Sony WF-1000XM4 weigh 7.3g each, more than twice as heavy. At the other end of the scale, the January 2022-issue1More ComfoBuds Minipreviously got the nod for the lightest earbuds we’ve ever tested, at just 3.7g per earpiece, but each JLab JBuds Mini earpiece comes in at almost half a gram lighter – and when it comes to something that sits inside the delicate creases and wells of your smallish ear for many hours, it actually counts.
These September 2023-launch earbuds are enough to bring on an attack of cute aggression they’re so tiny; put the case on your keyring (JLab has thoughtfully supplied one, in the box) and you’ll barely notice your listening gear is there.
And if they’re going to live next to your keys, it helps to know you’re getting an IP55 rating for rain and dust ingress. You also get multipoint (something much pricier flagship earbuds still lack – Bose, we’re looking at you) and a very good companion app. What don’t you get? Active noise cancellation, which will be a deal-breaker for many – although the passive isolation is better than you’d expect. And for such a low price, we wouldn’t really expect it anyway.
Sonically speaking, they’re good – and that is nothing short of incredible for this money, aided by the option to tweak the EQ in the app. They suffer justfractionallythrough the low end for clout and impact, but it’s a minor shortfall at this ultra-budget level.
While you’re here, we also love the October 2024-launchJLab Go Pop ANCand they’re just as great for smaller ears, but at the time of writing, they aren’t widely available in a few regions… if you do see them, they’re well worth a look too.
The best high-end earbuds for small ears
3. Montblanc MTB 03
Designer earbuds for the pickiest of petite ears
Specifications
Weight:6g per earbud
Frequency response:20Hz – 20kHz
Drivers:7mm Beryllium
Battery life :6hrs (earbuds) 18hrs (case)
Reasons to buy
+Beautifully compact design; classy finish +Lossless audio codec support
Reasons to avoid
-No multipoint connectivity -Noise cancellation is average
If you like nice things (and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with liking nice things), you’ll like Montblanc’s bijou and beautifully crafted earbuds. There’s hi-res codec support – aptX Adaptive, to be precise – and the sound has been tuned by designer (of legendary headphones, including theSennheiser HD 600) Axel Grell. Yes, it’s high-end stuff.
You also get IPX4 water resistance and an app that offers a five band EQ tab, unusual noise cancellation and ambient features and auto-off wearer detection plus a lovely representation of the remaining battery life in each bud.
If you’re happy to pay a premium for the quality build, finish and iconic snowcap emblem within earbuds that sound good, I support you – yes, sonically they tick all the boxes for depth and neutrality when listening to higher-resolution music files.
The only fly in the ointment is the MTB 03’s noise cancellation, which is good rather than excellent. In lesser-priced earbuds it wouldn’t be a huge issue, but for this money one might hope for the near ‘bubble of silence’ performance you get from the (much bigger)Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Ultra– because the Montblanc buds are priced to compete with the best. And in the battle for quietness, the clear winner is Bose… but as I mentioned above, those earbuds are pretty huge. Montblanc’s will work nicely for small ears without sacrificing audio fidelity.
The best small earbuds for budget noise cancellation
4. Sony WF-C700N
Easily the best budget-friendly smaller Sony earbuds with ANC
Specifications
Weight:4.6g per earbud
Frequency response:20Hz-20kHz
Drivers:5mm
Battery life :7.5hr (buds) 15hr total (with case, ANC on)
Reasons to buy
+Detailed and immersive sound +Solid noise cancellation
Reasons to avoid
-No LDAC hi-res codec support -Only one charge from case
Remember, I have small ears. So believe me when I say that if it’s affordable Sony noise-cancelling earbuds you’re afterandyour ears are on the small side, you won’t be disappointed with the Sony WF-C700N.
They’re not the last word in audiophile-grade sound (you only get standard-quality SBC and AAC codec support rather than anything hi-res, although Sony has included in its entry-level DSEE upscaler to make Spotify tracks sound better) and if you want higher-resolution support in a design that celebrates a smaller ear, you will need to invest more. That said, you do get Sony 360 Reality support here, which is even better if you pay for Tidal – because that music streaming platform has a wealth of content presented inSony’s object-based immersive format.
What you need to know is that they’re lovely and small and they simply shouldn’t be this good for the money – specifically for sound and active noise cancellation. One key omission on the spec-sheet is auto-off feature when you remove them, but for this money it’s a compromise I’m more than happy to make. It’s also a shame that you only get one extra charge of them from the case, compared to two or three with most models here, but that’s balanced out by them offering excellent longevity in the buds from each charge.
Sony’s Headphones Connect app gives you control of the active noise cancellation, including Adaptive Sound Control optimized according to what you’re doing – yes, the C700N essentially learn how you tend to use them, then try to get with the schedule, so you can have lighter noise blocking in the office than when travelling. And even then, you can tweak it all in the app. When ANC is on, all but the loudest noises are softened, leaving me genuinely immersed in my playlists. Given the size of the earpieces, it’s no mean feat.
-Battery life is only average -Coolest features are Samsung only
Until Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, the company’s record with earbuds, er, wasn’t great. But forget shiny kidney bean-shaped buds and other quirky design flourishes, the Pro 2 are compact, comfortable and all business. Also, I don’t recommend the newer, July 2024Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Profor smaller ears – I found the Toblerone-esque stem a little too bulky to make the driver housing feel truly secure.
Back to the second-gen set I do recommend for those with smaller ears and the basics are spot on: excellent active noise cancellation, voice detect, wearer detection and customizable on-ear controls – all of which work very well indeed – plus IPX7 water ingress protection.
But if you own a Samsung Galaxy device (and thus, access to the Samsung Wearable companion app and home-screen widget) you also get easy spatial audio with optional head-tracking, plus end-to-end 24-bit high-res audio, which is quite a rarity.
For the smaller-eared wearer, the improved fit and lightness here is also winning – the Buds Pro 2 are 15% smaller than Samsung’s last effort and 0.8g lighter per earpiece (5.5g vs the 6.3g Buds Pro) – but more importantly, the design fits me simply, without having to repeat that overly-aggressive twist-and-hope-to-lock-em-in technique some of us know only too well.
The only downside here at the time of writing is that an updated iteration on these August 2022-issue earbuds is expected in August 2024 – here’s what we know about theSamsung Galaxy Buds 3 Proso far. Then again, that means we’re seeing some huge discounts on this still-excellent older model…
The best wired earbuds for small ears
6. SoundMagic E11C
SoundMagic’s humble inexpensive earbuds are still in the mix
Specifications
Weight:15g
Frequency response:20Hz-20kHz
Drivers:10mm dynamic
Battery life :n/a
Reasons to buy
+Elegant, small design +Great passive noise isolation
Reasons to avoid
-Bass can be slightly muddy -Not USB-C (but a version is available)
If you’ve ever nosed through an audiophile publication or Reddit thread, you’ll likely know about these wildly successful, multi-award winning entry-level wired earbuds. Despite their 2018 release date, they’re still serving up magical sound for the level. Note that these are 3.5mm terminated (meaning they use a regular headphone jack) but if you want a USB-C version, that’s called the SoundMagic E11D.
For the smaller-eared among us, wires can be attractive for reasons besides their improved sound quality (ditching a Bluetooth connection still means better-quality audio; even an aptX HD connection incurs a degree of ‘loss’ or compression) because wires tether your precious earbuds to each other – and of course to your source device. Anyone who’s ever had to frantically search under their train carriage seat for a popped-out earbudjustas they pull into their stop knows the value of this.
But to call the SoundMagic E11C a safe bet for portable audio is to do these wired earbuds a disservice. Yes, their aluminum dark-metallic design makes them look and feel much more expensive than they are when slipped into your ears – but better than that, they sound move expensive too. They’re not the final word in sonic brilliance, (bass and treble can both be less-than-totally-refined), but they’re impressive for the price, and it’s easy to actually hear what you’re listening to thanks to good passive noise blocking.
The silver-plated copper cable is coated in TPE and aside from the environmental benefits of this type of coating (it’s a kind of thermoplastic rubber that SoundMagic says has “a reduced environmental impact compared to other commonly used plastics”) it also means the cable feels durable and doesn’t tangle, which anyone who usesApple’s USB-C EarPodswill soon appreciate…
The best Apple earbuds for smaller ears
(Image credit: Apple)
7. Apple AirPods Pro 2
The best wireless earbuds for smaller-eared iPhone owners
Specifications
Weight:5.3g
Frequency response:Not listed
Drivers:Custom Apple design
Battery life :6 hours (buds) 30 hours (case)
Reasons to buy
+Top-tier noise cancellation +Lots of very smart features for iPhone
Reasons to avoid
-Average battery life -No lossless support
If you’re leaning towards an Apple product, there’s a reason this particular white stemmed design is so popular these days: it fits most people. And that includes those of us with smaller ears. Now, I don’t think AirPods arethe bestdesign for smaller-eared wearers, but if it has to be Apple, this is the set I’d advise. Why? Because I find Apple’s newer ‘open ear’AirPods 4design (which also comes in anoise-canceling variant) a little too wide for comfort in my smaller ears. Yes, the box is tiny; the driver housing of each bud is less so. Of course, fit is a personal thing and the designisemphatically different, so it’s worth trying them, but for me the Pro-suffixed set gets the nod.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 offer a powerful audio performance plus high-end noise cancellation in a build that’s smaller and more lightweight than plenty of the regular competition. OK, they weigh 5.3g, which is a little heavy given the competitionspecificallywithin this bijou budded list, but that includes the well-weighted stem, as well as the driver housing. I’ve called said stem a ‘toothbrush head shape’ in previous iterations (up to and including the second-gen.Apple AirPods 2019), but here the tail is a little shorter and tapers around slightly to hug your cheek, which aids with a secure fit.
Noise cancellation? It’s among the best in the business. Battery life? Not so much; six hours from the buds is distinctly average – although the 30 hours from the charging case is more impressive.
As always with Apple propositions, iPhone owners are the best-served customers here, thanks to unique features such as head-tracked spatial audio, Find My support including ultra-wideband precision location tracking (so your phone will literally point you to your lost buds) and seamless auto-switching between your Apple devices, which is basically the equivalent of multipoint connectivity on more devices than most – but remember, you need an Apple device to enjoy all of this (and ideally all Apple devices).
+Affordable hi-res audio +Impressive noise isolation +Comfortable and lightweight
Reasons to avoid
-Volume levels a bit quiet -Button controls too small -Cable noise impacts your enjoyment
The SoundMagic E80D are excellent value for money, bringing you great sound in a reliable and wired package ready for USB-C phones and laptops. They come with a built-in digital-to-analogue converter (DAC), delivering hi-res audio that’s much more detailed than any other pair of budget buds.
This makes them ideal for anyone who wants hi-res audio but doesn’t have the high-end budget to match. The SoundMagic E80D might not bring you truly premium sound, but you do get impressive hi-res audio that punch above their price, making them a great option if you want an affordable pair of buds that sound great.
Granted, we found that they don’t get very loud in our testing, and you don’t get active noise cancellation to compensate for that, but there’s solid noise isolation. We found that the E80D keep any surrounding noises low enough in general, so you can stay focused when you’re listening to music and podcasts or watching videos.
The SoundMagic E80D have a simple, wired design. During testing, we found that they were comfortable to wear, and the tiny buds size makes them good for the small-eared. We happily kept them in for hours over many times in an office and walking home. They also come with additional ear tips included in small and large sizes, as well as a double-layered option (the default ear tips are standard, medium-sized gels). Whichever ear gels you use, they’re also lightweight at 16g.
The best small buds without ANC
9. Sony WF-C510
The best cheap, smaller wireless earbuds without ANC
Specifications
Acoustic design:Closed
Weight:31g
Frequency response:20Hz – 20,000Hz
Drivers:6mm
Battery life:11 hours (buds) 11 hours (case)
Reasons to buy
+Punchy, energetic audio +Sony 360 Reality Audio support +Great in-bud battery life; bijou case too
Reasons to avoid
-A few features missing -Custom EQ mode is confusing -Limited case battery life
Some people want ANC to block the noise of busy offices, flights, or commutes, but not everyone wants it. And why pay for something you won’t ever use? Sometimes, it’s safer to stay fully aware of your surroundings, and some people even find ANC a little nauseating – no two humans are identical, as we’re all aware.
Anyway, my top pick for budget earbuds without ANC is the Sony WF-C510. The keen-eyed will note that they’re similar to the WF-C700N listed above (Sony is a name that’s featuring a lot in the realm of bijou buds, isn’t it? I don’t make the rules; it’s just how it is), but nearly half the price, so if you’re happy to forego noise-cancellation, there’s a bargain to be had here.
You won’t get audiophile-level sound quality, exactly, but the WF-C510 still offer a highly enjoyable listen. This is thanks in part to Sony’s DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine), which aims to open out and upscale compressed audio from streaming services. An edge over other budget options, I think you’ll agree.
In our review, we noted: “the buds stuck in my ears like the Abba songs they played stayed stuck in my head.” This secure fit is thanks to the “grippy” material on the tips and the lightweight build – just 5g per bud. And the case is another thing about them that’s compact and lightweight, though it only offers one extra charge, which is a tad disappointing. Still, with 11 hours of battery life on a single charge, they’re still competitive for stamina.
How to choose the best smaller earbuds for you
Which earbuds shape is best for small ears?
Short answer: something compact and either teardrop-shaped or pill-shaped, since that’s the most ergonomically accurate design for most ears.
That said, I’ve actually been surprised by the security and fit I’ve experienced wearing some largerlookingearbuds – namely theTechnics EAH-AZ80– which work because attention has been paid to the new ‘concha’ design. The weight these earbuds carry (a not insubstantial 7g) is well distributed across the housing, so they almost feel as if they hug the ear to stay put.
It’s worth noting that some users with smaller ears find an open-ear design is best, since this avoids the issue of achieving a seal – there’s no neck of the bud having to fit in your ear canal. Examples of this might be theAirPods 3(which sit in your ear well or tragus, but don’t need to be pushed further into the ear canal) or a completely open-ear design such as theBose Ultra Open Earbuds, which fit almost like an ear cuff.
As always, all ears are different and while we can point you in the right direction, there’s going to be a degree of trial and error here. What we can tell you is, there’s a set of earbuds out there for you even if you have small ears – and it’s well worth experimenting to find them.
Should I consider over-ears instead?
It’s a very good question, although the answer, as with so many things, will come down to personal preference and how (or when) you like to listen to your music.
Even five years ago, I might have suggested that if you want an excellent fit and you have very small ears, you probably need to be looking at over-ear headphones, but thanks to incredible advancements in onboard mics, batteries, Bluetooth chipsets (with anti-phase tech for ANC) and driver manufacture, ever-smaller earbuds – with ever-improving spec sheets – are arriving daily.
That said, some people still find the nature of an in-ear design hard to get used to. I’ve had emails from readers who find almost all earbuds painful, intrusive or even nauseating, regardless of their ear size. Others don’t experience any issues at all. We are wonderfully unique, you see.
Do you carry a small bag to work? Earbuds, which can be stored easily in their diminutive case and eve thrown in a pocket, are tempting aren’t they? Those big ‘don’t talk to me’ over-ears need a bigger tote bag at the very least.
My advice, as always, is not to rush this purchase. You and your earbuds will be spending a lot of time together, after all. Ask yourself which listening style best suits your lifestyleas well asyour physicality, read our reviews and, if you have the time, visit a bricks-and-mortar store to try your shortlisted options on before you buy.
Are there any earbuds I should avoid if I have smaller ears?
OK, real talk. Leading on from the point above, earbuds are only getting smaller now. Since their arrival not yet a decade ago, manufacturers are seemingly in a race to squirrel drivers, batteries, spatial audio processing and mics into ever decreasing true wireless earpieces. Take the 2015 Onkyo W800BT, the first widely available true wireless earbuds proposition. Each earbud came in at 8.5g – impressive at the time, huge by today’s standards (consider the 3.3g earpiece JLab has offered with the 2023 JBuds Mini for reference).
What I’m saying is, it pays to look for newer products since brands typically seek to better previous offerings with each fresh iteration – and size is a great spec to start with.
Some people findBose’s QuietComfort Earbuds 2and newer Earbuds Ultra (a very similar proposition physically, at least) a little on the bulky side. That said, others think Bose’s unique ear tips, which cover the whole housing rather than just the neck of the bud, particularly secure.
It’s all about a better viewing and sharing experience.
What you need to know
Google is rolling out a new PDF viewer for the Files by Google app, as it shared in a recent update to the app’s Play Store listing.
The old PDF viewer incorporated Google Drive, but now, the new one is specific to Google Files.
It’s easier to share, star, and take actions while viewing a PDF while using the new Files by Google interface.
Files by Google is getting a minor upgrade that could improve your PDF viewing experience. The app is rolling out a new view that leverages a custom PDF viewer, rather than using the integrated one fromGoogle Drive. This will make accessing certain options easier, such as starring a PDF or sharing it with others. Alternatively, you can still use the PDF viewer in the Google Drive app if you prefer the previous user-interface.
Google previewed the change in an update to the “What’s new” section of the Files by Googleapp listing onthe Google Play Store. “Over the next few weeks, we’re rolling out improvements to your experience with PDF files,” the note reads. “Print, find content, or access markup tools whenever you open a PDF in the Files app.”
9to5Googlefirst spotted that the change was rolling out to users of version 1.5687 of the Google Files app after a server-side tweak. Android Central confirmed the new PDF viewer on its devices, but notably, one device had to be updated toAndroid 15before the change took effect.
You can see the new look of the PDF viewer in Files by Google in the screenshots below.
From left to right: Old PDF viewer, new PDF viewer, new PDF viewer + overflow menu.(Image credit: Future)
Now, the overflow menu lets you access key options that weren’t available using the previous UI. With the old version, some menu buttons were only accessible through the list view of documents in theFiles by Google app. They weren’t there after the PDF was opened using the external Drive viewer, but that has been rectified with the new Files by Google custom PDF viewer.
TheFindandSave to Driveicons have been replaced withStarandShareon the new viewer. These can be pressed without opening the overflow menu. The new overflow menu includes more options, includingUse as,Open with,Move to Trash,Move to,Copy to,Move to Safe folder,File info,Find in file, andPrint.
Finally, the markup button (floating action button) has been redesigned, and some files will have aGoogle Lensbutton above it that quickly opensCircle to Search.
