A lot happened this year in the world of headphones. 2023 gave us the usual helping of great new products, but it also continued that story of headphones becoming smarter and more advanced, while audio quality continues to reach new heights. And for better or worse, the trend helped strengthen the ecosystem lock-in for brands like Apple, Samsung, and Google.
Bose overhauled its hardware lineup and launched the QuietComfort Ultra headphones and earphones, which are the latest in the company's best-in-class active noise cancellation. Sony launched the long-awaited WF-1000XM5 headphones. Jabra attempted to keep up with its larger competitors with a pair of new premium earbuds, the Elite 10 and Elite 8 Active. Other companies produced headphones with fantastic sound and unique features like, in the case of Panasonic's Technics brand, three-way multipoint pairing.
Meanwhile, Apple and Samsung largely stuck to their existing products in 2023, focusing instead on new software capabilities to improve their value. Apple implemented several features including Adaptive Audio, Talk Awareness, and Custom Volume to make AirPods Pro even smarter about your everyday environment. They are much better headphones today than when they first went on sale, demonstrating the benefits of these ecosystem-dependent devices. It's a hassle if you're on the other side of the fence, but the list of amenities keeps growing for those who've already purchased.
This year has not been without its setbacks: LE Audio continues to roll out at a snail's pace, slowing down the arrival of interesting improvements to Bluetooth specifications. Hopefully, CES 2024 will spur a wave of new hardware that supports the AC3 codec, Auracast (streaming audio to multiple devices at once), and other LE Audio benefits.
Either way, 2024 looks like a very exciting year for audio nerds. New devices are on the way from big tech players, we have new competitors emerging, and Qualcomm could radically evolve the range and fidelity of headphones by using Wi-Fi to compensate for the weaknesses of Bluetooth.
New AirPods are on the way
Bloomberg Mark Gurman has reported that Apple plans to replace the third generation AirPods with two new models in 2024. One of them will include active noise cancellation, bringing that feature to a lower price than the flagship AirPods Pro model, which likely won't see any major changes next year after transitioning to USB-C in September. The new conventional AirPods will continue that change. And they will retain the one-size-fits-all design that requires nothing to be inserted into the ear canal. This makes them the most comfortable Apple headphones for some people, and they're also the best at keeping you aware of your surroundings.
Samsung likely to launch its next Pro headphones
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro were well-received by critics and audio experts alike, and almost two years after their launch, the time is right for Samsung's next top-tier earbuds to debut. There haven't been many rumors about the Buds 3 Pro, but Samsung will inevitably do its best to counter Apple's latest software tricks with some clever new features that strengthen the link between the Galaxy Buds and the company's upcoming Galaxy S24 series. .
Sonos will enter the scene in 2024
After years of rumors, Sonos is expected to launch its first pair of wireless headphones next year. The product is rumored to have a very high price tag of between $400 and $500, which would put Sonos' headphones up against the best in the category, including Apple's AirPods Max and Bose's QuietComfort Ultra. That's a bold strategy for a newcomer, but Sonos expects its first headphones to generate the majority of revenue from new hardware launches next year, so the stakes are high. The big question is how Sonos will stand out among a crowded field; The headphones will surely integrate with the company's multi-room audio platform. But other important characteristics are still unknown.
Wireless headphones and earbuds will soon have Wi-Fi
Qualcomm's latest chipset designed for these products will use micro-power Wi-Fi to keep music playing even when you leave your smartphone's Bluetooth range. This will also enable truly lossless audio to be delivered to wireless headphones from compatible Android phones. Wi-Fi could also help overcome congestion and occasional signal interruptions that can still occur with Bluetooth headphones in crowded environments. There are a lot of promises related to this S7 Pro silicon; Now we'll have to see if the execution goes well among the headphone manufacturers. The first devices of this type are expected to hit the market from 2024.
As my buying guide for the best wireless headphones should make clear, there are plenty of great products to choose from as 2023 comes to a close. They all have a good handle on features like active noise cancellation, ambient sound mode and other vital elements. 2024 should be a great indicator of where the category is headed and how the biggest players in tech can continue to advance and convince consumers to upgrade whatever they're using right now.
Spatial audio has become a confusing mess
Headphone makers can't seem to agree on how spatial audio should work for music. And there is a lot of “fake” processing and virtualization going on. With its new Ultra line, Bose has veered towards its own proprietary spatial audio solution that completely ignores actual Dolby Atmos audio mixes. Jabra's new Elite 10 headphones similarly use Dolby processing to “spatialize” all your music whenever you enable the setting. And head tracking remains a largely gimmicky experience that primarily benefits watching movies, not music. It would be wonderful if tech companies could get on the same page, somehow, and bring some coherence to spatial audio over the next 12 months. But I hope it continues to be a pitched battle.
Doesn't anyone care about repairability?
One persistent problem that tech makers have yet to solve with wireless earbuds is the notion that they are ultimately disposable. Over time, your batteries will hold less charge until you have no choice but to replace them with something newer. This cycle is great for a tech company's bottom line, but not so great for the environment. And while the industry has made progress in the repairability of some smartphones and PCs, there has been little progress with comparatively smaller and more delicate headphones. It would be surprising if at least one or two manufacturers could flip the script in 2024, but I'm not holding out hope. This is the main reason to never forget about old wired headphones, even if they lack the elegant advantages of modern wireless headphones.
