Anker has just unveiled the soundcore Liberty 5 Pro series earbuds in New York during Anker Day. They are available in the Liberty 5 Pro and Liberty 5 Pro Max variants.

Available colors are:

• Pro Max: Midnight Black, Titanium Gold
• Pro: Pearl Blue, Midnight Black, Pearl White, Rose Gold

These latest TWS earbuds feature Anker’s first neural-net chip, the Thus AI chip. This breakthrough architecture introduces neural-net compute-in-memory processing.

It means AI computation directly inside NOR Flash Memory is enabled, instead of continuously transferring data between memory and processor.

Thus applies compute-in-memory principles inspired by the human brain, allowing AI models to process information where the data already resides.

Earbuds that think

Applying the Thus AI chip to the new soundcore Liberty 5 Pro series, Anker has integrated an advanced AI-powered 10-sensor fusion system.

This system combines eight MEMS microphones and two bone conduction sensors to isolate the user’s voice from environmental noise in real time.

Such system continuously cross-references airborne audio with vibrations captured directly from the speaker’s cranial structure. The result is significantly clearer voice isolation during calls, even in loud environments.

The Liberty 5 pro series also debuts Adaptive ANC 4.0. It is soundcore’s newest intelligent noise cancellation platform.

This system dynamically adjusts cancellation depth across varying environmental frequencies, while also minimizing pressure fatigue commonly observed on traditional ANC systems.

Integrated smart display

Both variants of the Liberty 5 Pro series come with Control at a Glance, an integrated smart touch display built directly into the charging cases.

Users can switch between ANC modes, customize EQ settings, manage playback, and answer calls from the case.

The Pro Max variant, in particular, comes with a 1.78-inch AMOLED smart screen which has an AI Note-Taker for AI-powered recording, real-time transcription, speaker identification, intelligent summaries, and more.

Furthermore, both models support three-device multipoint connectivity, IP55 dust and water resistance, Bluetooth 6.1, and up to 28 hours of total battery life.

The Sony WH-1000XM6 is still the best pair of headphones I currently own. If you’re looking for the bang for your buck, this pair is more than capable of delivering what you want from consumer-friendly headphones. That said, the series is about to get a lot better. Today, Sony has unveiled the 1000X THE COLLEXION.

If you spot the new headphones from across the room, you might mistake them for just another pair of the WH-1000XM6. However, a closer look reveals a more intricate focus on design and craftsmanship. The headband features metal accents with a matte texture and some hand-polished gloss.

The earcups are just as luxurious, touting vegan leather for a comfortable fit during long listening sessions. The materials are also balanced enough to provide a comfortable distribution for any head shape.

For sound quality, the 1000X THE COLLEXION will boast the same superior sound quality you can find from the 1000X series, including a wide soundstage and impressive sound across the range.

You can still expect some improvements, though. For this one, Sony worked with Grammy-winning producers to improve quality. The headphones also have DSEE Ultimate, a new feature that can upscale compressed music using AI. They also have 360 Reality Audio Upmix, which creates spatial experiences for music, movies, and games.

Like its predecessors, the 1000X THE COLLEXION comes with twelves mics and the Adaptive NC Optimizer for an effective noise-cancelling experience.

Even with all these features, the headphones still tout up to 24 hours of battery life on a single charge.

Price, availability

The Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION will be available starting this month, coming in Platinum and Black. It will sell for US$ 649.99.

Meanwhile, Sony is also expanding the WH-1000XM6 to include a Sandstone colorway option for US$ 459.99.

Discreet wearables are finally a thing. Though huge screens are still thriving in the market, there is a growing demand for wearables that don’t make it obvious that they’re wearables. Besides smart rings, we now have screen-less fitness bands, highlighted by the new Google Fitbit Air.

Fitbit has been known as a wearable brand for a long time now. However, the wearable has since mellowed out since getting bought by Google, especially after the launch of the Pixel Watch. Now, Google is aiming for a resurgence of Fitbit in the screen-less market.

Today, Google is launching the Fitbit Air, a screen-less band that’s designed for subtlety and comfort, while maintaining the brand’s prowess in fitness tracking. On the outside, the new wearable presents itself as a modest customizable band. On the inside, a pebble-shaped device rests comfortably between the band and your skin. This little pebble packs all the tech that can give you a rundown of your fitness.

Since the Fitbit Air doesn’t have a screen, you can control everything via the new Google Health app. It also has automatic workout tracking which starts when the device detects activity. Users can then view their workouts afterwards on the app.

Besides workouts, the Fitbit Air has an optical heartrate monitor, a 3-axis accelerometer, a gyroscope, an SpO2 monitor, and a temperature sensor. There’s also a vibration motor for alarms.

A single charge can reportedly last up to seven days. Plus, a five-minute charge is enough for a day’s worth of battery.

The Fitbit Air will ship starting May 26. It starts at US$ 99.99. A special Stephen Curry edition retails for US$ 129.99.

It comes in Obsidian, Fog, Berry, and Lavender. You can also get a sweat-proof Active Sport Band (US$ 34.99) or an Elevated Modern band (US$ 49.99).