Accessories

The QCY H3S headphones pack ANC and LDAC without the exorbitant price

Less pricey yet feature-rich

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QCY H3S
Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

If you’ve been following QCY for quite some time, you’d know that the H3 and H3 Pro wireless headphones already exist way back.

ICYMI, both were older models released last November 2023 and October 2024 respectively.

1~2 years in, the Shenzhen-based brand finally reveals that much-needed follow-up.

Meet the QCY H3S — the newest ANC headphones you can buy right now without burning a hole in your pocket.

Purity in Chaos

One of the key highlights of the QCY H3S headphone are its lower than ever -56dB ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) capabilities.

For context, H3 Pro is limited at -50dB while H3 only offers a 43dB “Hybrid ANC”.

The pair is also equipped with a 7-mic array (six of which are ANC mics) paired with a DNN Neural Network Algorithm.

QCY H3S

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

The said system intelligently and impressively reduces noise and filters background chatter all at once.

Three anti-wind microphones also exist to improve call clarity by up to 80% — regardledss if it’s crowded or windy around.

There are even Multiple ANC modes such as Commute, Indoor, and Anti-Wind for better noise cancellation no matter where you are.

QCY H3S

But, QCY didn’t stop just with ANC alone.

The H3S features a dual-driver architecture with a 40mm titanium-coated diaphragm plus a 13mm tweeter.

These drivers are responsible for bringing in powerful mids bass alongside crisper highs.

LDAC Hi-Res Audio

It’s even Certified for Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Wireless with LDAC support for full-on Hi-Fi on the go.

Additionally, it has an updated Bluetooth 6.0 connectivity as opposed to H3 and H3 Pro’s BT version 5.4 — further reducing latency while improving location accuracy and security at the same time.

QCY H3S

There’s also the Dual-Device Connection feature that enables seamless switching between your devices.

Wired listening is also supported but only limited through USB-C as the H3S doesn’t have a 3.5mm audio port unlike its Pro sibling.

Comfort On, Noise Out

Weighing at a featherweight 240 grams, the QCY H3S is built for long listening sessions. It’s more comfortable thanks to its overall design.

Aside from its 13-degree angled speaker mesh, the pair also possess deeper ear cups that are also rotatable and foldable.

Cushions made out of soft protein-leather and the adjustable headband is padded as well.

QCY H3S

The QCY H3S also leads the battery stamina of the H3-line.

While the H3 Pro provides up to 55 hours of battery no ANC, QCY decides to double that with the H3S — up to 102 hours.

With ANC turned on, that’s a battle one should take with a grain of salt:

  • H3 Pro = 40 hours
  • H3S = 48 hours
  • H3 = 30 hours

QCY even says a quick 10-minute top-up already brings an impressive 7 hours of uninterrupted music.

ANC

Aside from the headphones’ physical controls, more on-screen controls are found in the QCY app. This means quicker access to ANC modes, Audio Presets, dedicated Music / Movie / Gaming profiles, Low-Latency Mode, Custom EQ, among others.

OTA firmware updates will also show and get initiated in the app when needed.

Lastly, the QCY H3S headphones boast an IPX5 rating — making it resistant not just to splashes and showers, but also against hard rain and water jets.

Pricing and Availability

The QCY H3S’s price tag is currently discounted by 15% and has a special introductory price of US$ 42.49.

Pre-orders take place starting this October 25 (Saturday) until November 10 (Monday).

It’s available on QCY’s official website, Amazon, and even AliExpress.

Furthermore, it’s within everyone’s reach as the pair will be sold in many regions around the world.

  • North America: United States, Canada, Mexico
  • Europe: United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Ireland, Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland, Sweden, Greece, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Malta
  • Asia-Pacific: Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Israel, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia
  • Africa: Angola, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa
  • Oceania: Australia, New Zealand
  • Latin America: Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Chile

BLACK FRIDAY SALE INCOMING!

With the annual Black Friday Sale coming up, QCY is also offering latest deals — including the all new H3S headphones.

You can get between 25% to 50% off when you check out items in QCY’s Official Site from November 20 (Thursday) until December 5 (Friday).

Additionally, Prime Members of Amazon US can get up to 35% off from November 20 until December 1 (Monday).

The QCY H3s is now being sold at an even more ridiculous value at just $39.99 (was $59.99)!

Moreover, two more products are being sold for an even cheaper value.

Accessories

Peak Design’s new City Line combines minimalism and color

Less padding, more personality

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Known for its camera-friendly bags with generous padding to protect photography gear, Peak Design is taking a different approach with the City Line.

The new collection prioritizes lightweight construction and everyday functionality, stripping away unnecessary bulk while still delivering the thoughtful organization the brand is known for.

The new collection includes the City Backpack in 15L and 22L sizes, the 15L City Tote, the City Crescent in 6L and 12L options, and the compact 2L City Sling. While each bag serves a different purpose, they all share the same minimalist aesthetics and intuitive organization.

To achieve that lighter design is Peak Design’s new weather-resistant MonoShell material, along with a seam-reduced construction that cuts down on unnecessary bulk.

It also comes with Peak Design’s built-in BagLev hook, allowing you to hang your bag from a table instead of placing it on the floor.

Beyond the neutral and muted finishes we’ve seen in the past, Peak Design is also introducing brighter options that add more personality to the collection.

The vibrant Lapis blue, in particular, stands out as a fun alternative for anyone looking to move beyond the usual black everyday bag.

The City Line is now available through peakdesign.com and authorized retailers worldwide.

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Accessories

DJI Osmo Mobile 8P: From a videographer’s perspective

Better tracking, fewer buttons

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DJI’s smartphone gimbals have always chased one goal: delivering cinema-smooth footage without forcing you to carry a heavy rig.

The Osmo Mobile 8P (OM 8P) makes its priorities clear right out of the box. This is not a simple refresh. DJI rebuilt how you control the gimbal, and that decision shapes the entire shooting experience.

Freedom behind the lens

The biggest change is the FrameTap remote, and it’s the kind of upgrade that fixes a problem you didn’t realize was slowing you down until it’s gone.

On the standard OM 8, adjusting your framing meant reaching for your phone every time, which broke the flow of shooting and pulled you out of the moment.

FrameTap puts that control back in your hand. You can reframe shots and manage the gimbal without touching your phone at all, and for anyone shooting solo, that alone changes how usable the whole setup feels. Tracking has taken a real step forward too.

ActiveTrack 8.0, paired with Module 2, held onto its subject even after they stepped out of frame for a moment, then picked them back up without much fuss.

It also lets you sit off-center in the shot instead of forcing you into the middle every time, which gives you more room to compose something that doesn’t look like every other gimbal video.

None of that would matter much if the gimbal itself wasn’t solid, and it still is. The OM 8P holds onto the same foldable design, magnetic phone clamp, and built-in tripod that made the OM 8 easy to live with.

And it remains one of the better compact options for stabilization, tracking, and portability in one package.

The tripod legs are a touch wider this time, and that extra width does make a noticeable difference on uneven ground.

The trade-offs in touch

The trade-off for all that new remote functionality is a control scheme that takes more getting used to. More of the gimbal’s functions now live on the FrameTap touchscreen, the joystick is smaller, and switching between shooting modes takes a few extra taps compared to the OM 8. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s a learning curve you’ll need to budget time for.

DJI also removed the zoom and focus wheel, so if you leaned on that dial for quick adjustments, you’ll feel its absence here. Module 2 no longer lets you plug a DJI wireless mic in directly either.

You’ll need to connect it to your phone instead, which adds a step to a setup that used to be simpler. Phone compatibility is still a limiting factor as well. DJI lists support for phones up to around 300g and 11mm thick, so bigger phones or ones in chunky cases may not clamp in properly.

Finding your ideal workflow

The OM 8P makes the most sense for solo creators who want dependable tracking and the freedom of remote framing without stepping up to a dedicated camera like the DJI Osmo Pocket.

If you’re already shooting on a phone with a solid camera, this fills the gap nicely. It’s a tougher sell if you prefer physical buttons over touchscreen menus, or if your phone runs on the larger and heavier side, since fitting it onto the clamp might be a problem before you even get to shooting.

Price, availability

DJI is offering the OM 8P in three combos, so how much you pay depends on how much of the ecosystem you actually need.

  • Standard Combo (PhP 7,499): the gimbal itself, with 8th-gen stabilization and the detachable FrameTap remote included.
  • Advanced Tracking Combo (PhP 9,199): adds the Multifunctional Module 2 for the improved subject tracking we tested.
  • Creator Combo (PhP 11,099): the full kit, built for creators who want everything DJI bundles in from the start.

Is the DJI Osmo Mobile 8P your GadgetMatch?

The DJI Osmo Mobile 8P asks you to relearn a few habits in exchange for a gimbal that finally lets go of your phone. If hands-free framing and steadier tracking matter more to you than a dedicated zoom dial, this is worth the adjustment.

If you’d rather keep things exactly as they were on the OM 8, that learning curve might be the deciding factor.

Swipe right if you shoot alone often and have been waiting for a gimbal remote that actually works. The FrameTap remote alone justifies the upgrade if reaching for your phone mid-shot has been slowing you down.

Consider this if reliable tracking matters to you, especially if you’ve had a subject wander out of frame and stay lost on older gimbals.

And of course, get this if you already own a capable phone under the weight and thickness limits, and you’d rather invest in a smartphone rig than jump to a dedicated camera like the Osmo Pocket.

Swipe left if you lean on physical dials for zoom and focus, and moving those functions to a touchscreen sounds like a downgrade rather than an upgrade.

This is not for you if you use a DJI wireless mic and want it plugged directly into the module without routing through your phone first. Or, your phone runs heavier or bulkier than DJI’s limits allow, since no amount of enthusiasm fixes a clamp that won’t close.

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Accessories

Sony WH-1000XM6 gets a new Olive Gray colorway option

The new color launches today.

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Last year, the Sony WH-1000XM6 quickly became our favorite pair of noise-cancelling headphones. The audio quality pairs remarkably well with its ANC capabilities. Now, a year into the accessory’s life cycle, new colors are still coming out. Today, the acclaimed WH-1000XM6 is getting an Olive Gray variant.

A few months ago, Sony expanded the WH-1000XM6’s colorway options with a Sandstone version, launching alongside the Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION. At the time, the new color added a splash of life to an already blossoming lineup.

Now, much like the rest of the lineup, the new Olive Gray version is a subdued mashup between olive green and gray. Though it stands out on its own, the color is still cool enough to mix well with the contours of the user’s head.

Other than that, the new version is still identical to the inner workings of the original device. The Sony WH-1000XM6 comes with a new HD Noise Canceling Processor QN3, providing 12 microphones for effective noise cancellation. In terms of audio quality, the headphones support High-Resolution Audio and High-Resolution Audio Wireless, thanks to LDAC support.

Also, the accessory sits comfortable on the head with a high rigidity carbon fiber composite material dome, cushioned well with synthetic leather.

As always, the Olive Gray version, launching today, will sell for US$ 459.99.

In Singapore, the Sony WH-1000XM6 in Olive Gray is available starting today through Sony Stores, the Sony Store Online, and authorized dealers for S$649, matching the pricing of the existing color options.

SEE ALSO: Sony WH-1000XM6: Master of sound quality and noise cancellation

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