There’s never been a better time to treat yourself to a smart speaker. That’s because Buy at Newegg $150 off the Google Assistant-driven Sony LF-S50G — sending the price plummeting down to a more affordable $50.
So, what does the poorly named Sony LF-S50G bring to the table? Well, at $50 it’s an absolute steal, bundling several high-end features, like 360-degree omni-directional sound, touch-free gesture control, and Bluetooth, NFC, and Wi-Fi.
The device itself is not too dissimilar from the rival Apple HomePod in form, with the main difference being that the Sony has an integrated LED clock, which can be dimmed or disabled altogether if the light it emits is a little too bright for your liking.
It excels in functioning with Google Assistant rather than (of course) Apple’s Siri. That means you can use it to control all the Google Smart Home devices in your house, including Chromecasts, Philips Hue lights and Nest thermostats.
The most attractive feature — for us, at least — is the integration of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, which means that you can instruct it to play songs from your smartphone over the former, or through a streaming service like Spotify over the latter.
Being a Wi-Fi-connected device, the LF-S50G can also be hooked up to Google Home’s Multi-Room, letting you stream audio across all your Google Home devices at the same time — creating a Sonos-like playback experience.
Strangely, the LF-S50G can handle a little splash of water. That doesn’t mean you should take it for a dip in the pool, though — it’s just a little reassurance that if you do happen to spill a glass of water nearby, it should emerge unscathed.
There’s no word on how long the deal will last, so we’d urge those who like the sound of the Sony LF-S50G, or who are looking for a high-end bit of kit for a bottom-of-the-barrel price, to head over to Best Buy and snap it up right away.
But if you’re in the market for something a little more versatile, we’d recommend consulting our round-up of the best smart speakers currently on the market. It outlines what makes a fantastic smart speaker for each and every scenario.
Instagram is making its way to yet another screen, and this time, Apple TV is getting a taste of the Reels rabbit hole. The company has launched a dedicated Instagram app for Apple TV, bringing Reels, longer videos, and live shows to the big screen. So, if watching one quick clip on a phone somehow turns into an hour of scrolling, there's now a much larger screen for that.
Instagram brings Reels and more to Apple TV
Audio-Technica, a brand well known for making some of the best studio and professional headphones on the market, has just come out with the ATH-AWX7000, which the company itself claims to be its "finest headphones ever." The new flagship closed-back headphone has debuted at an eye-watering price of $3,799. It combines hand-finished Japanese woodwork with a newly developed 58mm driver.
The earcups are made from Kiso cypress, a prized wood historically used for Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. Each housing is finished by hand with traditional Echizen lacquer, which brings out the grain and is expected to darken over time. The frame and sliders are finished in a deep navy kachi-iro shade traditionally associated with samurai.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
Technology evolves every day, transforming how we live and work. Our devices are becoming more than tools we use. They are increasingly capable companions that help streamline day-to-day routines and spark creative ideas. If you have been waiting for the right moment to upgrade your tech setup, the Discover Samsung Shopping Event offers an opportunity to explore what connected, AI-powered living can look like.