Ever since I moved into the city, I’ve been fixated with sleep aids. From white noise to weighted sleep masks to melatonin pills to pillow mists, I’ve tried them all. However, despite my romp through all things sleep, a tech-based solution has always eluded my grasp. Nothing really caught my eye. That said, when the Philips x Kokoon Sleep Headphones dropped onto my lap, it raised my eyebrows.
Headphones and earbuds designed for sleep aren’t new to the industry. Bose, for example, previously launched a series called SleepBuds which were ultimately shelved due to lack of demand. The segment still exists through smaller companies including one from ex-Bose employees. Now, Philips, a big name in its own right, wants to enter the segment in partnership with Kokoon. How did it go? Read on.
Unobtrusive… to a point
Especially for a pair of earphones, the Philips x Kokoon Sleep Headphones has a unique form factor. Instead of just offering two simple plugs, the device has a main body with two coiled wires extending into the two earbuds. You wear it by draping the device over your nape and wearing the two earbuds as normal.
If you’re shopping for devices to wear while you sleep, your first question should be: is it comfortable to wear? Well, the answer is… it depends, honestly.
The reason for its unique design is to shift most of the weight from the earbuds themselves to a body designed to be out of the way. While sitting up in bed, the Sleep Headphones were largely unobtrusive. I barely felt them on me.
Things changed when I started lying down, though. I’m a side sleeper, so anything pressing onto the side of my head is a cause for concern. While the weight of the body wasn’t an issue, your comfort will ultimately depend on your sleeping conditions. For example, I prefer my pillows on the hard side. Though the headphones claimed compatibility for side sleepers, a hard pillow will still cause issues. Sometimes, I ripped the headphones off while I was asleep. One time, I also ended up with sore ears.
Changing to a softer pillow did solve the issue, though. However, asking someone to change the way they sleep might be too much for most. If you’re planning to get these, think about your current sleeping conditions first.
Another subscription
As it says on the tin, Philips isn’t the only brand behind this device. Kokoon, a sleep aid app, is working with Philips for the headphones. To squeeze out absolutely everything from the headphones, you’ll need to download the Kokoon app.
The app includes a respectable library of atmospheric white noise to wind you down for bed. It also has the ability to automatically shut off the audio once it detects that you’ve fallen asleep. The feature works even if you play audio from an external app. Once you’re asleep, the app can also pipe in brown, pink, or white noise to mask potential sources of disruptive noise around you. It can track your sleep, too. Finally, it can subtly wake you up with a smart alarm.
In terms of effectiveness, the Philips x Kokoon Sleep Headphones does a good job of filtering out noise. Even when I wake up in the middle of night, the piped-in white noise helped me get back to sleep almost immediately.
Unfortunately, the full app experience isn’t free. To maximize Kokoon, you’ll need to pay a yearly subscription fee of GBP 35 (approximately US$ 44). While the subscription isn’t the most exorbitant out there, another subscription might turn off most folks.
Thankfully, the headphones work even without Kokoon. Paired with Spotify and a sleep timer, you should be able to use the device normally.
Enough juice for a night
Since you’re ideally using these for the entire night, you should expect enough battery life to last a good night’s sleep. Indeed, it does.
I can reliably get around seven hours of sleep per night. Each night ended with 30 to 40 percent of battery left in the tank. Even if you sleep in, the headphones should still last. However, despite the ability to last a night, the need to recharge another device day after day is another thing to think about.
At the very least, the device charges with a USB-C cable. It also comes with a handy soft case for storage in between sleeping sessions.
Is this your GadgetMatch?
The Philips x Kokoon Sleep Headphones costs US$ 285. The package includes the headphones, the case, and a free year of Kokoon Premium. It’s quite a hefty price tag for such a niche device.
However, I can think of a few scenarios where these earphones are absolutely worth it: if you live in an area constantly bombarded by noise or if you go on long-haul flights regularly. Otherwise, you might find better mileage from other sleep aids.
Entertainment
ITZY’s YUNA is Infinix’s first ever global brand ambassador
Infinix is in with YUNA in the scene
Infinix is entering a new era — and the brand is bringing one of K-Pop’s most sought-after stars along the ride.
A first for Infinix
In line with the launch of the latest NOTE 60 series, Infinix has also named YUNA of ITZY as its very first Global Brand Ambassador. The company calls this a bold step forward for both innovation and style.
For the record, this is the first time Infinix has tapped a global ambassador — and the choice makes sense. YUNA is known for her confidence, vibrant energy, and unapologetic self-expression. These qualities align closely with Infinix’s “Joy Tech, Beyond Limits” philosophy.
In a statement, YUNA shared her excitement about the partnership. She said she’s looking forward to connecting with fans in a new way and creating meaningful stories together with the brand.
For Infinix, this collaboration is more than just a celebrity endorsement. It signals a shift in how the company wants to position itself globally — not just as a smartphone maker, but as a lifestyle tech brand for expressive, tech-savvy youth.
The more, the merrier
The partnership goes along the debut of the NOTE 60 Series, further fueling Infinix’s move toward a more premium smartphone experience.
Like YUNA, the NOTE 60 line also brings notable names in the table:
- Powered by Snapdragon from Qualcomm
- Design collaboration with Pininfarina
- Audio tuned with JBL
It’s a clear attempt that Infinix wanted to elevate both performance and design by blending in flagship-level specs, more refined aesthetics, and immersive sound altogether.
Infinix says this launch also marks its expansion into more premium international markets.
With YUNA as the face of the brand, the company hopes to strengthen its appeal among younger users who want both powerful hardware and a device that matches their personality.
Rather than focusing purely on specs, Infinix is leaning into storytelling — highlighting how technology can spark creativity, joy, and individuality.
With the NOTE 60 Series and YUNA front and center, Infinix appears ready to redefine its brand identity on a global scale.
I’m starting to think that cosmic horror is near-impossible to adapt to the big screen. Often, the point of this subgenre of horror is to showcase the unfathomable, a horror so unknowable that it’s impossible to describe. Now, for a medium that thrives on “show, don’t tell,” a full-length movie doesn’t seem like the best format for this type of horror. I’ve seen so many cosmic horror films, and a majority of them fail to land the satisfaction of a more traditional horror film.
Iron Lung, directed by and starring Markiplier, takes a stab at this elusively complex genre.
After the sudden disappearance of stars and planets in the universe, a lone space station explores a nearby moon to search for a way to save humanity. The catch is that the entire moon is covered in an ocean of blood. A convict, played by Markiplier, is tasked with exploring the moon in a one-man submersible, in exchange for his freedom.
Naturally, an ocean of blood isn’t the best place to be. The moon’s ocean hides mysteries and monsters beneath all the gore.
On the impossibility of cosmic horror
Though a movie is all about showing and not telling, Iron Lung navigates through these intricacies by not showing anything.
Because everything is just blood outside, the submarine needs a special camera that takes only grainy photos directly in front of the submersible. There’s always a sense of claustrophobic dread. What’s outside the submarine? What were those sounds? Did the camera really take a photo of something alive?
The film’s premise alone is a perfect source of horror. This is where cosmic horror thrives: on the questions, on the tiny sneak peeks of a monster lurking around the corner.
But, then again, this is also where the subgenre can paint itself into a corner. Eventually, audiences ask for more. They need to see and know the beast for real. Think Cloverfield, when the massive alien finally shows its face, or The Nun with… well, The Nun.
It’s an unwritten rule in horror films that the monster must make an appearance. It becomes a paradox for cosmic horror because the beast must also be unknowable.
When the beast finally shows up in Iron Lung, the audience never learns an understandable reason why it’s stalking the submarine. It’s not hungry, it doesn’t want revenge, and it doesn’t want to take over the world. It just is.
Is that a satisfying enough conclusion? If you’re a fan of cosmic horror, then it’s par for the course. However, if you’re more used to the more traditional horror film, it might leave you wanting more.
On madness
A mysterious monster isn’t the only thing that cosmic horror is known for. It’s also about madness and how the protagonist goes insane after seeing the unknown.
It’s apropos, then, that the convict starts hallucinating right after seeing a glimpse of the ocean’s beast. He starts to lose track of what’s real and what’s not.
In other movies, madness is an effective tool in subverting expectations and amplifying the horror. For example, in The Lighthouse, Winslow, the protagonist, also loses his sanity and questions reality. The film is all about this descent into madness and the questionable actions as a result from it. In Shutter Island, madness is a punchline, a plot twist that invites the audience to revisit the entire film and question their own perception.
Iron Lung, however, is neither a complete descent nor a plot twist. Rather, it’s a clear third act stemming from the convict’s encounter with the monster.
Since it’s clearly delineated in the third act, it’s hard to empathize with the convict’s plight. There’s a sense of vertigo moving from a creature feature into, in the convict’s own words, “alien shit” where you’re not sure of what’s real. Likewise, it’s not a plot twist either. You don’t reevaluate whether the entire movie was a hallucination.
Madness is understandably a major plot point of the original game that the movie is based on. However, its translation into film isn’t the smoothest. It’s both too short and too long.
But is it a good film?
Despite its struggle with the format, Iron Lung is still a spirited attempt at a one-room horror film. Markiplier melds into his role and doesn’t just showcase his on-screen YouTube personality.
The premise is, at once, frightening. It’s eerie and creepy. There is always a pervasive need to figure out what comes next. That’s pretty much what you want from a movie anyway. Yes, the ending might be polarizing, especially to those more used to the usual horror film, but the journey is still worth the price of admission.
And, at the very least, the film got me interested in watching Mark’s original playthroughs.
Entertainment
Netflix does the unthinkable: Mayweather-Pacquiao II set for September
Streaming globally on the app
Netflix has done the seemingly impossible: a Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao mega fight rematch is set for September 19. It will stream globally on Netflix with no additional cost for standard subscribers.
The historic bout will be the first-ever boxing match to be held at The Sphere, the 20,000-seater modern indoor venue in Las Vegas known for its immersive, 16K wraparound LED display.
Arguably two of the greatest icons in boxing history, Floyd “Money” Mayweather (50-0, 27 KOs) and Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao (62-8-3, 39 KOs), will square off in an official, professional rematch.
The development comes on the heels of Mayweather announcing coming out of retirement an almost decade-long hiatus.
Meanwhile, it will be Pacquiao’s first professional fight since July 2025 when he and Mario Barrios fought to a majority draw. At the time, he also came out of a four-year retirement.
During the span, both fighters have been active in exhibition boxing matches. Notably, Mayweather fought against Tenshin Nasukawa and Logan Paul, whose brother Jake popularized novelty exhibition boxing matches. Pacquiao, for his part, fought against DK Yoo and Rukiya Anpo.
Interestingly, both Mayweather and Pacquiao
The upcoming rematch follows the two protagonists’ 2015 “Fight of the Century” wherein Mayweather outpointed Pacquiao via a unanimous decision.
A rematch had been sought for so long, especially with both fighters having encounters with each other numerous times.
Full details regarding undercard and ticket availability will be announced in the coming weeks.
Netflix taking over sports broadcasts
The Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch comes just a few days after Netflix announced a Ronda Rousey-Gina Carano MMA super fight.
This match is a collaboration between the streaming giant and MVP promotions, which is co-founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian.
On the other hand, the upcoming boxing slate in September is primarily more of a broadcast for Netflix.
The platform has actively been getting into broadcasting premier sporting events, including the Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford fight last year.
Unlike pay-per-views (PPV), Netflix does not require extra payment for viewers to be able to watch such sporting events. A standard subscription to their platform is already enough.
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