We recently reported that Sony could be working on a new pair of premium headphones that might make even the AirPods Max feel relatively affordable. Now, fresh leaked renders shared by Steve H. McFly, in collaboration with Android Headlines, are giving us our first proper look at what’s reportedly called the ColleXion headphones. And honestly? They look very Sony. The Black and White variants instantly reminded me of the Sony WH-1000XM6, especially with the clean, understated design language. Sony seems to be leaning even harder into minimalism this time around, and personally, I think that works in its favor. A lot of headphones today try too hard to look futuristic or flashy. These, at least from the renders, feel far more refined and grown-up.
What is more interesting, though, is the hinge redesign. The XM6 received its fair share of criticism over hinge durability concerns, and according to the report, Sony is reportedly trying to address that with an entirely new hinge mechanism on the ColleXion. From the renders alone, the design does look noticeably different, so there is a good chance Sony is finally taking those complaints seriously.
There is also speculation that Sony could move towards a more premium material finish, possibly using leather or other higher-end materials instead of the matte plastic used on previous models. Right now, though, it is difficult to say anything with certainty from renders alone. Product renders have a tendency to make almost everything look more luxurious than it actually is. We will have to wait for hands-on impressions before drawing conclusions there. That said, the White color variant already has my attention. It looks clean, minimal, and surprisingly elegant without trying too hard. It is the kind of gadget aesthetic that feels premium quietly, instead of screaming for attention, and I genuinely prefer that approach.
As for pricing, rumors currently suggest these headphones could cost somewhere around $649. If that turns out to be true, Sony is clearly positioning the ColleXion well into luxury territory. Whether people are willing to spend that kind of money on headphones is a completely different conversation, especially when premium audio products are already getting absurdly expensive. For now, though, these are still early leaks, and Sony itself has not officially confirmed anything around the launch, specifications, or pricing. So yes, it is best to keep expectations in check and take everything with a grain of salt. Still, based on the renders alone, these headphones already look far more interesting than I expected.
The OnePlus Buds Clip are a new pair of open-ear earbuds built around a simple convenience. They join Sony’s LinkBuds Clip in the growing ear-cuff category, but either OnePlus bud can go on either ear.
Sensors recognize how the earbuds are being worn and route the audio channels accordingly. There’s no label to check before putting them on, and the feature also works when only one bud is used.
We buy fitness bands and activity trackers to keep tabs on our exercise, but it is easy to forget to start tracking or switch modes when moving between different activities. For Fitbit and Pixel Watch users, that could soon become a lot less annoying, as Google is rolling out a major upgrade to automatic activity tracking that can recognize more than 100 types of exercise, up from just 10 before.
Google first showed off the improved tracking earlier this month alongside the Fitbit Edge. It is now coming to Fitbit Air and the Pixel Watch 3, 4, and 5, and Google claims the added context behind the system makes workout detection nearly twice as accurate while cutting missed activities by more than half. Fitbit Edge will support it too.