Earphones and headphones, the news of 2026 between AI, open-ear and the return of the wire

The earphone market is becoming one of the liveliest areas of consumer electronics. Traditional Bluetooth headphones are joined by open-ear models, increasingly advanced noise cancellation systems and functions based on artificial intelligence.

Anker and Huawei are among the brands that in recent weeks have concentrated their innovations on these fronts the most: the former bringing AI directly into different types of headphones and earphones, the latter focusing on the new FreeBuds Neo and on the integration between adaptive cancellation, high-resolution audio and compatibility between ecosystems.

Meanwhile, Apple, Honor and Shokz are updating their respective ranges and, almost in contrast, the old cable is also gaining space again, now especially in the USB-C version.

Anker focuses on AI, from clips to over-ear headphones

Among the most complex ranges is that of Ankerwhich precisely at Ifa Berlin announced the progressive reunification under a single brand of the Anker, soundcore, eufy, Solix and eufyMake brands. In audio the name soundcore remains recognizable, but the common thread of the new proposals is the chip THUS AIdeveloped by the company to perform some artificial intelligence-based processing directly on the device. The technology was introduced on the Liberty 5 Pro series and is now extended to different formats of headphones and earphones.

The AeroClip 2 and AeroClip 2 Pro they adopt the open-ear clip format: therefore they do not close the ear canal and allow you to listen to music or podcasts while still perceiving external noises. They use 12mm drivers, support the LDAC codec and integrate translation functions via AI. The declared autonomy is eight hours, which rises to 33 using the case; ten minutes of charging allow, according to Anker, up to four hours of listening. Bluetooth 6.0 and wireless charging are also expected.

Those who prefer traditional headphones will find them Space 2 Proover-ear model with active noise cancellation. Also in this case the THUS chip is used together with microphones and sensors to manage the voice during phone calls. The indicated autonomy is 30 hours with ANC on and 60 hours off. The classic format is then joined by i Liberty Buds 2in-ear earphones that use eight sensors dedicated to call management and 9.2 mm drivers.

An even different segment is that of earphones for sleeping. The Sleep 4 e Sleep 4 Pro they are designed to reduce noise during the night; the Pro version also collects data such as heart rate and heart rate variability and uses the BioSync system to adapt sound content. The case has a touchscreen and can be used to set the alarm or consult the information collected without opening the smartphone.

Huawei FreeBuds Neo, adaptive cancellation and high definition audio

Among the most recent innovations are the Huawei FreeBuds Neowhich arrived on the Italian market in September. Huawei focuses the new model on three elements: adaptive noise cancellation, audio transmission quality and compatibility with devices belonging to different ecosystems.

To limit external noise, the FreeBuds Neo uses adual-channel erasure architecturesupported by the third generation audio chip and algorithms that analyze the surrounding environment and automatically modify the intensity of the intervention. According to the company’s laboratory tests, the average erasure depth can reach i 30 dB on frequencies between 50 Hz and 20 kHz. The system was also designed to make changes in the pressure felt in the ear more gradual as the cancellation level varies.

On the sound front, Huawei introduces a new one Turbo driver unitwith a frequency range declared between 10 Hz e 48 kHz. Connected to compatible Huawei devices, the earphones can achieve high-resolution lossless transmission of up to 2,3 Mbps; with other LDAC compatible smartphones the bitrate can go up to 990 kbps. In simple terms, more audio data can be transferred to the earphones, with the aim of retaining more of the information present in the original recording.

Then there is the360 degree spatial audioprocessed directly from the earphones. Both a fixed and spatial mode are available through the Huawei Audio Connect app dynamic head trackingwhich changes the apparent source of the sound by following the movements of the person wearing the earphones. The feature can also be used on compatible Android and iOS devices and does not require the original content to be made specifically in spatial audio.

Huawei also insists on cross-ecosystem use. The FreeBuds Neo support Android, iOS e Windows and they can remain connected to two devices with different operating systems at the same time, allowing for example to switch from computer to smartphone. Through compatible Huawei smartwatches it will also be possible, with subsequent software updates, to connect earphones, change noise cancellation and audio effects, check the battery or locate them without going through the phone.

The format also focuses on lightness. Each earphone weighs approx 4.8 grams and Huawei claims to have studied the shape based on data relating to the different conformations of the ear, with the aim of distributing the pressure and keeping the earphone stable even during movement. The case, named Mini Shuttlehas a rounded shape; the expected colors are silver, pink, white and black.

I Huawei FreeBuds Neo cost 129 euros and are available on the Huawei Store and in the main electronics stores. At the time of launch, Huawei also provides 12 months of Loss Care, the service that allows, in the event of loss or damage, to replace a single earphone by paying half its official price.

Apple updates AirPods

Apple instead brings to the market the AirPods 5which maintain the open-ear structure but introduce a new acoustic architecture and an updated version of Adaptive EQ. The company claims a noise reduction of up to 50% higher than AirPods 4 with ANC and combines cancellation with a Transparency mode designed to allow surrounding voices and sounds to be perceived. There’s also conversation detection, which automatically lowers the volume when the wearer starts speaking.

Among the software functions there is space for Real-time translationpowered by Apple Intelligence. The wireless case version adds swipe volume control on the stem and offers up to five hours of listening time with ANC active, for a maximum total of 22 hours using the case. The prices indicated are 149 euro for the basic model e 169 euro for the one with wireless charging case, with availability in stores from September 18th.

Shokz takes open-ear out of sports

Open-ear is also at the heart of the Shokz OpenDots 2nd OpenDots Airarrived in Italy in July. They are clip-on earphones: instead of being inserted into the ear canal they rest on the ear, leaving it open.

The OpenDots 2 use two 11.8mm drivers, directional technology to limit sound leakage and Dolby Audio. For phone calls, they combine a bone conduction microphone with traditional sensors and AI-based processing systems. The indicated autonomy reaches 10 hours and 40 with the casealso with wireless charging and IP57 certification. The OpenDots Air reduce weight to 6.3 grams per earphone, offer nine hours of listening time and 36 hours overall with the case and support multipoint connection. The prices indicated are respectively 199 and 139 euros.

Honor Earbuds 4, due driver e ANC fino a 50 dB

The Honor Earbuds 4launched in June, instead use a dual driver configuration: one 11 mm dedicated mainly to low frequencies and one 6 mm intended for highs. A feature called Enhanced Surrounding Sound processes the signal to recreate a three-dimensional sound scene.

Active noise cancellation employs three microphones and, according to the company’s lab data, can achieve i 50 dB. There are three levels of intervention and a transparency mode. Honor also uses AI algorithms to isolate the voice during phone calls. The declared autonomy is nine hours per single charge and up to 46 with the case; ten minutes connected to the mains allows up to three hours of listening. The indicated launch price is 69,90 euro.

The wire comes back, but now it goes through USB-C

Perhaps the least predictable part of the 2026 news concerns the return of wired headphones. According to the material provided by the manufacturers, after five years of contraction the revenues of wired headphones began to grow again at the beginning of 2026. Above all, their simplicity favors them: they do not have a battery to recharge, they do not require Bluetooth pairing and they can be connected directly to many of the latest smartphones, tablets and computers via USB-C.

Devil MOVE 2 follows this approach precisely. They are USB-C in-ear earphones with 9.1 mm drivers and integrated digital sound card, plug-and-play compatible with smartphones, computers, tablets and portable consoles. Microphone and remote control are inserted into the cable, 1.30 meters long. The indicated price is 29,99 euro.

JBL offers a small wired range that includes the Tune 520Cfoldable USB-C on-ear headphones with 32 mm drivers, the Tune 305Cearphones with 12.5 mm drivers, and sports headphones Endurance Run 3CIP65 certified and can also be used by passing the cable behind the ear. The prices indicated range from 17.99 euros for the Tune 305C to 59.99 for the Tune 520C.

JVC also maintains both paths: the HA-FR17UC they use USB-C and integrate a digital-analog converter, while the more traditional ones HA-F17M they retain the 3.5 mm jack. The HA-S33UC instead they bring USB-C in a foldable on-ear format intended primarily for work, study, video and calls.