Mobile reviews

Urbanista’s Miami ANC headphones see the Scandinavian brand head to the sunshine state for inspiration. These are budget units with a battery life that puts premium cans to shame. With the affordable and rather good London ANC earbuds in its back pocket, Urbanista is back with more budget goodness – and with Miami-inspired colours, these cans have prime appeal in the casual headphones market. So, are you going to (buy) Miami? Urbanista Miami price and availability The Urbanista Miami went on sale in February 2021 for an affordable £129 /$149 / €149 / CA$199 / AUD$269. Urbanista Miami design – Sunny disposition Striking colourways Button design isn’t the best Slightly itchy earpads Considering the either/or black and white aesthetic of most headphones, the vibrancy of the Miami cans is more than welcome – the Ruby Red and Teal Green are guaranteed to get glances on a street. There’s the DNA of Urbanista’s New York headphones in the Miami, with protruding ear cups and thick...

The Xellence true wireless from Kygo are the Norwegian audio lifestyle brand’s top-tier earbuds , packing style, sound personalisation and noise cancellation for around £200. As an audio brand, Kygo hasn’t quite won me over. The Xenon over-ears were good, a solid performer at a price that was easy to live with, while the A11/800 and E7/1000 both presented ups and downs. So, I’m hoping the name Xellence is a good omen. On paper, there’s plenty of promise and intrigue – so can Kygo deliver? Kygo Xellence price and availability The Kygo Xellence were announced in late 2020 and went on sale in the UK not long afterwards. Currently, the earbuds are priced at £179 / $239 / €199, which is quite decent for a pair of ANC true wireless. Kygo Xellence design – Cool looks, but not the best fit Distinctive looks Responsive touch controls Loose fit Annoying button placement As per Kygo’s other headphones, the Xellence are a distinctive, minimalist-looking set of buds. Available in bl...

The Cleer Goal are true wireless headphones squarely aimed at active people who need a music (or podcast) boost when running or sweating it out in the gym. Cutting the cable, these buds, like most other sporty in-ears, promise a secure fit, bassy and powerful sound, and sufficient battery to get you through a good few workout sessions before you have to reach for that charging case. There are a lot of true wireless headphones that promise to be the complete workout partner , so are the Cleer Goal the ones you should opt for? Cleer Goal price and availability The Cleer Goal went on sale in 2020 and are available to buy for £99 / $99. Cleer Goal design – A troubling fit IPX4 sweat-proof design Twist-fit sleeves to offer more secure fit Unique red on black look Most true wireless earbuds are a much of muchness in terms of looks, but there’s something quite likeable about the Cleer Goal and their red and black design. They’re not the smallest of buds, so if you’re hoping for ...

While on the surface little looks to have changed with Outlier Air v2 true wireless earbuds over the original, Creative’s latest have had something of a spruce up. This latest entry in the Air series beefs up the value with touch controls alongside Creative’s Super X-Fi audio tech. We gave the Outlier Air and Gold four stars, describing them as steady, dependable but not quite class-leading. The question is whether the Outlier Air v2 have added enough value and performance to move this model from supporting player to main act? Creative Outlier Air v2 price and availability The Outlier Air v2 went on sale in 2020, replacing the original Outlier Air earbuds. They’re priced around the same at £75 /$79 /€79 / AU$129.95, so you’re looking a few more features and refined design for the same price as before. Creative Outlier Air v2 design – Great for running/fitness Rock-solid fit and seal Introduces touch controls Decent looks Creative has decided that the Air v2 aren’t the ea...

I can’t remember the name of the first gaming headset I bought, but it was, to put it mildly, a hot mess. A garish affair, with horrifically aggressive angular edges and brightly coloured accents. It was the sort of device a 12-year-old would proudly wear, flossing over the lifeless bodies of their Fortnite rivals. Now older and wiser, my headphones of choice would be much simpler. A treat for my ears; a pair that’s comfortable to wear for hours, and don’t make me want to gouge my eyes out when I look at them. Enter the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal. Rocking a Designed for Xbox Limited Series partnership, the Portal feature Microsoft’s proprietary 2.4GHz Xbox Wireless tech, which offers instant pairing and full Dolby Atmos support with Xbox consoles and PCs rocking an optional Xbox Wireless adapter. In addition, they serve up Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX Adaptive for Android users, along with the option for wired use courtesy of the included 3.5mm jack and USB-C audio cables. Comb...