Gadgets
fromThe Verge
6 hours agoThe rugged Bose Soundlink Flex is 25 percent off right now
Bose Soundlink Flex is on sale for $119, matching its best price, featuring subtle refinements and maintaining its rugged design.
The TTT-W magnetic modular wall rack is flushed against the wall, featuring four circular magnetic pads that create a vertical design piece, unifying the audio devices.
The ring-like portable speaker has a lanyard that lets users hook it onto a backpack or simply carry it around the wrist. Another option is to wear it around the neck, turning the device into a personal stereo system that surrounds the user with sound while remaining lightweight and portable.
The MPC Sample features a four-by-four grid of 16 RGB backlit pads that respond to pressure, allowing for dynamic sound manipulation. A full-color display and three knobs provide hands-on control over effects and sound.
The Bromley 450 carries over its larger sibling's 360-degree audio trickery. Like equivalents from other companies, Marshall's "True Stereophonic 360-degree sound" fools your brain into perceiving more directionality than its form factor allows. Lighting effects ("inspired by '70s stage shows") also carry over from the larger model.
The collection includes two wireless speakers that both feature Bluetooth 5.5 with Auracast support, an IP67 rating so they can survive the occasional short dunking, 24 hours of battery life, neon colored buttons, and multicolored LED lighting. Cassette tape functionality hasn't been carried forward from Philips' original '80s Moving Sound devices, but both speakers have color LCD screens displaying a stylized animation of spinning cassette reels, and other playback details.
What's wild about this jump in stamina is that it's disproportionate to the battery's capacity. The Kilburn II ships with a 5,200 mAh cell, while the new model is only about 5% bigger: 5,500 mAh. Clearly, some big efficiencies have been gained.
A dependable portable Bluetooth speaker is one of those essentials you don't realize you need until the moment music is missing. Whether you're hosting friends in your living room, hanging out in the backyard, spending a day at the beach, or heading off on a weekend camping trip, good sound can completely define the mood. Phone speakers sitting in red cups simply don't cut it, and that's where a powerful option like the JBL Boombox 4 earns its place.
I've spent a lot of time testing headphones, and I always find a new favorite with every new release. But one pair of headphones will always hold a special place in my heart, years after their launch: the Beats Solo 3 on-ear headphones. The Solo 3 awakened my passion for headphones; they were the first pair I spent more than $50 on. I bought a Rose Gold pair in high school with the money from my first job, and they stuck with me throughout college.
I've tested a variety of portable Bluetooth speaker brands over the past two decades. Most of the time, I connected these speakers to my smartphone and streamed music for backyard gatherings, beach outings, drive-in movies, and other events with family and friends. The most common issue I had with these speakers was finding out the hard way that they're dead -- all because I forgot to charge them in advance.
They're called open earbuds (or open-ear buds, depending on the brand), and just about every audio brand has a pair (or three). They come in a slew of styles, but most either loop around your ears like older Beats buds, or clip on like funky-futuristic earrings. Whatever the style, they're designed to deliver satisfying sound while keeping your ear canals open to the sounds of the world around you.
A compact, rectangular body with a looped carrying strap makes it easy to hang, grab, or slip into a bag when you're ready to go. It's built to be rugged, dustproof, and waterproof (IP67), allowing it to handle wet, sandy conditions and random rain showers without interrupting your music. Plus, its battery lasts up to 20 hours, providing solid playtime for your playlists, podcasts, and background music until you need to recharge.
Amazon has - quite generously - dropped the price of the JBL Xtreme 3 speaker by 39%. You can now pick it up for $200, after a whopping $130 discount. The offer applies to all three color options, including black, blue, and camo. The deal is open to all shoppers (both Prime and non-Prime members), but we're expecting it to wrap up soon.
Good music can instantly lift your mood and the overall vibe of any space. Those shopping for a portable Bluetooth speaker today should consider grabbing the 2nd-generation Bose SoundLink Micro speaker, while it's going for less than $100 at Amazon. The retailer is currently offering this mini yet mighty device at a 23% discount, which drops its $129 price to just $99. Delivery is free, and the offer applies to all color options.
Bose SoundTouch was first launched in 2013, with prices ranging from $399-$1,500. During the initial launch, it was announced that support for the devices would last for 13 years. That time has come. Bose SoundTouch announced in October 2025 (via an email) that all SoundTouch speakers would become "dumb" speakers on Feb. 18, 2026. Once that date hits, the speakers will stop receiving updates (including those for security), and the only way they will work will be via HDMI, Aux, or Bluetooth connections.
There's something oddly comforting about watching the vinyl resurgence happen in real time. We've collectively decided that convenience isn't everything, that sometimes the ritual matters as much as the result. But while turntables have been getting their moment in the spotlight, another piece of audio history has been quietly staging its own comeback: the dedicated digital audio player. Enter the DAP-1, a concept device from Frankfurt-based 3D artist
Chances are this does exactly what you need. It will play your old CDs, your new CDs, your homemade mixtapes, the whole nine yards. You can even listen wirelessly thanks to onboard Bluetooth. It's got a decent battery life that can last you up to six hours, and it uses a USB-C to recharge. We usually have one of those on hand.