Accessories

9 chic, wireless alternatives to Apple’s AirPods

All pretty in pink!

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When it comes to wireless earphones, Apple’s AirPods is still one of the most prominent choices. From being a lifestyle companion, it became everyone’s go-to accessory. Since it went mainstream, some people started looking for alternatives.

In a sea of AirPods look-alikes, we rounded up wireless alternatives to Apple’s AirPods — from earbuds to in-earphones, and even headphones. Though each has its own design and purpose, these accessories are certainly chic, stylish, and functional.

Now, hop on and let’s find the accessory that matches your life and style.

Samsung Galaxy Buds+ (SG$ 268)

If you’re not a fan of AirPods’ design, the Galaxy Buds+ is an excellent alternative. It’s compatible with iPhones and of course, Android. Also, it comes in Cloud Pink and other colors such as Jennie Red, Cosmic Black, Cloud Blue, and White.

Battery-wise, it takes up to 11 hours on a single charge, and another 11 hours with the charging case. It doesn’t have a noise-canceling chip, but it uses its physical design to lessen the surrounding noise for a pleasant experience.

Happy Plugs Air 1 Plus (US$ 100)

If you enjoy AirPods’ design but prefer it in contemporary colorways, Swedish lifestyle brand Happy Plugs has the Air 1 Plus for you!

Fostering a culture of fashionable, comfortable, and untethered life, the Air 1 Plus is the perfect accessory for those who want to look fashion-forward in whatever style. It’s available in Pink Gold and other neutrals that certainly match any outfit.

Sabbat X12 Pro (US$ 59)

A crowd-favorite, the Sabbat X12 Pro has been popular among casual listeners. Several Matchketeers — GadgetMatch‘s official fans and followers — recommended these TWS earbuds for a multitude of reasons.

For starters, its design is different compared to most wireless earbuds. It resembles the AirPods’ design sans the stem. Additionally, it fits well, produces detailed sound, and has good battery life.

Getting the Pink variant might be difficult since it goes out of stock quickly, but you can always take your chances.

Hakii Moon (US$ 100)

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Hakii’s Moon follows this philosophy on its design and experience. For instance, this pair of wireless earbuds comes in an elegant, Coral Pink aesthetic.

Moreover, it promises seamless and efficient navigation, with the earbuds turning on upon opening the charging case. It also pairs quickly with your phone and delivers seamless navigation through simple touches.

Sudio Tolv R (PhP 4,000)

Sudio is a popular brand of fashionable, true-wireless earphones. Among its roster, there’s an affordable, feature-packed accessory — the Sudio Tolv R. It comes in Pastel Pink housed in an ultra-light charging case.

It prides itself with long-lasting battery life and seamless pairing, making the Tolv R a listening companion that’s perfect for when you’re studying, working, or commuting.

UrbanEars Jakan (US$ 80)

For those who want to go wireless but can’t let go of the cords, UrbanEars’ Jakan is the perfect accessory for you. This chic-looking pair of wireless headphones exhibits a beautiful, braided nylon available in multiple colors like Powder Pink.

Thanks to its ergonomic design, it’s comfortable to wear around your neck since it has an adjustable fit and the magnetic earbuds lock easily. It also offers easy navigation using its control knob and lets you listen all day on a single charge — which lasts up to 12 hours of battery life.

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8 3rd Gen (US$ 350)

The third generation of Bang & Olufsen’s Beoplay E8 comes in a flesh-like pink and a massive battery life of up to 35 hours. It promises seven hours of playtime and an additional four charges in its case, which is capable of Qi wireless charging.

It has a compact and ergonomic design, resembling most wireless earbuds. Although the looks are familiar, the Beoplay E8 prides itself with better call clarity, fast and flawless wireless experience, lesser battery consumption, and authentic Bang & Olufsen sound experience.

hër Bluetooth in-earphones (EUR 70) 

Nudely elegant, hër in-ears are unobtrusive and comfortable to wear. It’s the perfect accessory for people on the go, matching any style perfectly thanks to its discreet color and subtly classy design.

But hër in-ears is more than just a stylish accessory. It’s lightweight and portable, and it delivers clear sound and balanced acoustics — offering the best possible sound experience. More importantly, it has a reliable connection that will let you move freely.

You can put your smartphone in your bag or somewhere near you when working out, and still expect a clear, strong, unbreakable connection — unlike the guy you last dated.

JBL Tune500 BT (US$ 50)

If you prefer wireless headphones, JBL’s Pink Tune500 BT might be the one for you. It lets you stream high-quality sound cord-free, carrying JBL’s renowned Pure Bass sound.

It also boasts a 16-hour battery life and quick, two-hours charging time. Its lightweight and foldable design offer great portability, making it the perfect companion on your short or long travels. More importantly, it lets you switch between devices seamlessly — something I enjoyed when I was using Sony’s H.ear on headphones.

SEE ALSO: 6 reasons why you should switch to wireless earbuds

Accessories

CASETiFY Match: Finding the right case for your Galaxy Z8 Series phone

Cases that match your personality

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CASETiFY cases for Galaxy Z8 series phones

A phone case can be more than protection. It can also be a way to show off your interests, personality, and the little things that make you, well, you.

For our CASETiFY Match for the Galaxy Z8 Series, we asked the team one question: Why was this CASETiFY design your Match?

From Spider-Man fandom and capybara obsession to feline-inspired art and snake motifs, here are the designs that found their way into our team’s everyday carry, plus a couple of bonus picks worth checking out.

Rodneil: A little New York energy for a certified web-head

If it wasn’t obvious enough, I’m a certified web-head. I love anything and everything Spider-Man, especially the iconic red-and-blue motif. Though, if we’re being honest, I’m more partial to the red.

I had my eyes on the Spider-Man suit design for the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and the Spider-Man Mask Snappy Grip Stand. Unfortunately, those designs aren’t available for the Galaxy Z Fold8.

So, I went with a design that gives off a bit of New York energy instead. It still pairs nicely with the Spidey Snappy Grip Stand, letting me bring a little of that Spider-Man vibe to my everyday setup.

V: Keeping it cool with capybaras

I’ve been a capybara stan since 2020, long before the world finally caught up with just how cute and chill these animals are. Seeing them get the recognition they deserve has been a source of much excitement.

Finding cool and cute capybara cases and accessories for the phones I use every day, however, hasn’t always been easy.

That’s where Deville Dewil’s capybara collection comes in. It fills that gap while making my Galaxy Z Fold8 feel like an even more personal accessory.

At this point, I’d like to identify as a capy/bara.

Luigi: A cat design that’s playful without being too loud

There’s no shortage of cat-themed cases out there. If you’re a cat lover like me, chances are you’ve considered one at some point.

The tricky part is finding a design that isn’t too whimsical or loud. I love the little furballs, but I still want something sleek and clean.

CASETiFY’s cat collection speaks to that balance. In particular, this design by Catwheezie blends artistry with a touch of whimsy. It lets me show off my personality without being too flashy.

MJ: A little reputation energy

I’ve always had a soft spot for snake motifs, and CASETiFY’s Transparent Kingsnake case gives me Taylor Swift’s reputation era energy.

I love how snakes symbolize transformation. As someone who’s always evolving and never afraid to reinvent himself, that meaning feels personal.

The black-and-white design also brings a sleek, rebellious edge. Paired with my Galaxy Z Flip8, it’s giving statement accessory with a little bite.

Bonus Match: Sunglasses at Night

Sometimes, keeping it simple is the way to go. The Sunglasses at Night design is tasteful and understated, letting me show off the actual color of my phone without competing with it.

Bonus Match: Pink Weekly Planner

For the girls (and gaes) who plan their days–and life–ahead. And of course, for when they need to keep their Wednesdays pink.

Find your Match

There’s no single way to find a phone case that feels right. It might be a favorite character, an animal you’ve loved for years, a piece of art, or a symbol that means something to you.

For our team, the right CASETiFY design is the one that brings a little more personality to a device we carry every day.

So, which design would be your Match?

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Accessories

Bose acquires Skullcandy

But both are still separate brands.

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As one of the wisest sages of the 2000s once said, “He was a punk, she did ballet. What more can I say?” Sometimes, opposites attract. Now, two of those opposites in the audio space are coming together: the punk Skullcandy and the ballet-loving Bose.

Today, Bose has announced its acquisition of Skullcandy. The latter will continue to operate as a separate brand but now officially under the Bose umbrella. Although, it’s not a new collaboration as the two brands have previously worked together on devices before. Skullcandy will just have more access to Bose’s technologies moving forward.

Alternatively, Bose will now have access to Skullcandy’s more varied audience. Compared to Bose’s focus on premium products, Skullcandy caters to more alternative lifestyles. Though the brand has since mellowed from its more radical roots, it is still known as one of the alternative brands.

Bose, on the other hand, is still a household name for home audio and noise-cancelling headphones. The new relationship between two polar opposites might be seen as a weird one, but it’s ultimately beneficial to both parties. Besides, both brands were very strong in the 2010s. Keeping both brands going is a boon to audiophiles of the past decade.

SEE ALSO: Sony unveils three premium Walkman music players

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Accessories

Fujifilm’s new instax Pal 2 and Link WIDE 2 make room for more creative memories

A new pocket camera and a collage-making printer join the instax family.

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Seeing a memory take shape beyond your screen changes how it feels. A favorite photo becomes a print you can tuck into a journal or pin beside your desk, and the everyday moments you capture get a little more room to live.

That was the spirit of Fujifilm’s instax Playhou2e launch in Makati, where visual artist Jill Arteche brought her signature illustrations into the event space.

Her artwork surrounded the latest additions to the instax family, the instax Pal 2 and instax Link WIDE 2. Both devices treat photography as a form of personal expression, from the snapshots you take throughout the day to the printed memories you want to keep close.

A pocket-sized camera that goes wherever you do

The original instax Pal made the case for carrying a camera without a full-sized setup. Its successor, the instax Pal 2, builds on that with a refreshed design and improved image quality.

The palm-sized camera is built for everyday adventures and can capture angles that are awkward to get with a smartphone. Its compact body also makes it easy to bring along if you like documenting your day as it happens.

Fujifilm gave the Pal 2 a semi-matte finish. A new monitor on top lets you review shots right after you take them, and the added viewfinder, control dial, and lever give it a more tactile feel to shoot with.

The specs have moved up, too. The Pal 2 captures 10-megapixel images, double the original’s five megapixels, and its internal storage holds up to 100 images compared with 50 before. A separately sold microSD card adds more room.

The creative options are where the Pal 2 gets playful. It offers 30 effects, so you can give images different moods without editing each one from scratch. Its instax Animation mode strings up to 10 consecutive shots into a flipbook-style animated video.

Transferring your photos is straightforward. The Pal 2 supports wireless Bluetooth transfers, and a USB Type-C connection offers faster transfers to compatible smartphones. From there, you can edit the images and post them to social media or keep them in your camera roll.

Because the Pal 2 is part of the instax ecosystem, its digital photos can also be printed on instant film through compatible instax printers. That means you can shoot first and decide later which moments deserve a physical copy.

Turning your camera roll into something worth keeping

Taking photos is only half the fun. The other half is deciding what to do with the hundreds of images that pile up on our phones.

The instax Link WIDE 2 is Fujifilm’s answer for anyone who collects travel photos or documents celebrations. As the brand’s WIDE-format smartphone printer, it prints at twice the image area of the instax mini format, which leaves more space for group photos and landscapes.

Its biggest new feature is Photo Mixer, which builds scrapbook-style collages from multiple images you pick in the dedicated app. Instead of printing a single photo, you can combine highlights from a trip or a gathering into one larger keepsake.

The app suggests layouts based on your chosen photos and adjusts image sizes, angles, text placement, and fonts to keep the design cohesive. You can then add your own text and stamps. A cutout function identifies people and objects in your photos so you can layer them into the collage.

With Photo Mixer, printing becomes part of the creative process, and your camera roll turns into material for building a visual record of an experience in a single print.

The Link WIDE 2 also gets a design refresh, with two-tone finishes in Duo Beige and Duo Blue. The light and dark surfaces give it a polished look on a shelf or desk, and an illuminated instax logo glows while it prints.

Connectivity has expanded, too. Beyond smartphones and tablets, the printer works with PCs, Fujifilm X Series cameras, and the instax Pal 2, so digital artwork and other compatible images can become physical prints.

A more personal way to keep your memories

The instax Pal 2 and Link WIDE 2 share the idea that photography is a way to express yourself. The Pal 2 makes it easy to capture moments as they happen, and the Link WIDE 2 gives those images a place in the physical world.

Jill Arteche’s artwork at the launch backed that idea up. Her illustrations filled the space with personality and showed how photos and art can make an environment feel more personal. The event also made a case for revisiting and reinterpreting the images we collect.

Taking a photo takes seconds, and printing one can make the memory feel more special. The instax Pal 2 and Link WIDE 2 bring that into everyday life and give your snapshots room for creativity, from the moment you press the shutter to the moment you find a place for the print.


In the Philippines, the Fujifilm instax Pal 2 retails for PhP 10,599, while the Fujifilm instax Link WIDE 2 is priced at PhP 10,999. Both devices are now available on Fujifilm’s authorized stores and retailers nationwide.

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