Technology

When a Chromebook ages, it often sits unused and collects dust. However, with a little effort, you can breathe new life into your old device. From passing it down to your kid to turning it into an e-reader or a digital photo frame, here are some ways to repurpose your old Chromebook.

Google is such a huge search engine, that the very act of searching for something on the net is often referred to as "googling" something. Yet, Google has become a service that not everyone likes for reasons of privacy and, in some cases, even accuracy.

When shopping for a new pair of headphones, one of the most important choices you'll make is whether to go with an open-back or closed-back design. This key difference greatly affects how your headphones sound and feel. So, which type is right for you?

Plaintiffs in the landmark Kadrey v. Meta case have already submitted the U.S. Copyright Office's controversial AI report as evidence in their copyright infringement suit against the tech giant.

Last Friday, the Copyright Office quietly released a "pre-publication version" of its views on the use of copyrighted works to train generative AI models. The consequential report contained bad news for AI companies hoping to claim the fair use legal doctrine as a defense in court.

Less than a day after the report was published, Shira Perlmutter, the head of the Copyright Office, was fired by President Donald Trump. It's still unclear exactly why Perlmutter was fired, but the move alarmed some copyright lawyers, as Mashable previously reported.

And on May 12, the plaintiffs in Kadrey v Meta, which includes artists and authors such as Junot Diaz, Sarah Silverman, and Ta-Nehisi Coates, submitted the report as an exhibit in their class action lawsuit.

What's in the U.S. Copyright Office's AI report?

The Office's report was the conclusion of a three-part investigation into copyright law and artificial intelligence, which it calls uncharted legal territory. The "Copyright and Artificial Intelligence Part 3: Generative AI Training" report examined exactly the type of legal issues at stake in Kadrey v Meta.

While some copyright lawyers and Democratic politicians have speculated the report led to Perlmutter's firing, there are other possible explanations. In a blog post, copyright lawyer Aaron Moss said "it’s more likely that the Office raced to release the report before a wave of leadership changes could delay — or derail — its conclusions."

The report addressed in detail the four factors of the fair use doctrine. Meta and other AI companies are being sued for using copyrighted works to train their AI models, and Meta in particular has claimed this activity should be protected under fair use.

The lengthy 113-page report spends around 50 pages delving into the nuances of fair use, citing historic legal cases that ruled for and against fair use. It doesn't goes as far as making any blanket conclusions, but its analysis generally favors copyright holders over AI companies and their unprecedented stockpiling of data for model training.

The Copyright Office's stance on the white hot issue doesn't line up with the wishes of Big Tech titans, who have cozied up to the Trump Administration. In general, President Trump has taken a pro-tech approach to AI regulation.

The plaintiffs in the Kadrey v. Meta case are clearly hoping the report could tip the scale in their favor. The lawyers who submitted the report as evidence on Monday didn't explain in detail why it was submitted as a "Statement of Supplemental Authority." The brief simply said, "the Report addresses several key issues discussed in the parties’ respective motions regarding the use of copyrighted works in the development of generative AI systems and application of the fair use doctrine."

AI models can harm creative markets, Copyright Office finds The controversial AI copyright report could tip the scales for the case against Meta. Credit: wildpixel / iStock / Getty Images

The part of the report that's potentially the most damning for Meta is the Copyright Office's assessment of the fourth factor of fair use, which considers the effects on current or future markets.

"The use of pirated collections of copyrighted works to build a training library, or the distribution of such a library to the public, would harm the market for access to those works," said the pre-publication version of the report.

The analysis also considers possible market dilution for authors. "If thousands of AI-generated romance novels are put on the market, fewer of the human-authored romance novels that the AI was trained on are likely to be sold. Royalty pools can also be diluted," the report stated. In addition, the plaintiffs have argued that Meta's use of piracy to access the authors' books deprived them of licensing opportunities.

For its part, Meta argues that its AI model Llama doesn't compete with the authors' market, and that the model's transformative output makes the fair use argument irrelevant.

While the report favors the plaintiffs' argument, we don't know if the judge in the case will agree. And because this is a pre-publication version, it could be edited or even rescinded by a future leader at the Copyright Office.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ just got a big 20% price drop. Originally costing $999.99, this top-tier Android tablet is now priced at $796.56 on Amazon.

You might have seen the news reports with tongue-in-cheek segments noting the uptick in people collecting and listening to cassette tapes. Yes, those fiddly plastic rectangles I thought we'd left long behind once people figured out how to put a CD player in a car.

Humble Raspberry Pi computers have been the brains powering a huge variety of projects. People have shown they can create just about anything with a Pi, and that now includes Polaroid-style instant cameras.

Microsoft's Surface lineup has suffered another setback with the quiet discontinuation of the Surface Laptop Studio 2. While Microsoft has not officially declared the device dead, the company has told resellers that production has stopped.

Against all my personal expectations that the fad would pass, vinyl records continue to be popular and there are hobbyists all over the world saying "no thanks" to digital music and prefer dropping a needle onto a vinyl disc.

TL;DR: There's only until June 1 to hop on this BitMar offer. Grab this lifetime content aggregator and get access to millions of free shows, movies, etc., for only A$23 with code BITMAR5.

If you're tired of hopping between streaming platforms to catch your favorite shows, movies, and music, BitMar offers a refreshing alternative. With your one-time payment of A$23, (reg. A$234) with code BITMAR5, you can unlock lifetime access to an all-in-one streaming platform that consolidates content from various sources into a single, easy-to-navigate interface.

What is BitMar?

BitMar isn't just another streaming service — it's a content aggregator powered by AI, similar to Bing's search engine. It scours the web to bring you millions of free, on-demand movies, TV shows, channels, videos, and songs from platforms like YouTube and TV networks. Whether you're in the mood for a classic film, the latest TV episode, or international content, BitMar has you covered.

Check out all the other perks of owning BitMar:

• Massive content library: Access over 200,000 channels and countless movies, TV shows, and music.

• Ad-free viewing: Enjoy your content without pesky interruptions.

• Multi-device support: Stream on up to five devices, including smart TVs, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

• DMCA-compliant: You'll have peace of mind knowing that all content is legally sourced and compliant with copyright laws.

• No subscriptions: Pay once and enjoy unlimited access without recurring fees.

Why choose BitMar anyway?

With streaming costs on the rise and content spread across multiple platforms (we're looking at you, Netflix), BitMar simplifies your entertainment experience. Instead of managing multiple subscriptions, BitMar consolidates all of the best free content into one platform, saving you time when choosing what to watch and putting extra money back in your wallet.

You have until June 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT to grab this BitMar lifetime subscription for just A$23 — enter code BITMAR5 at checkout to grab it at this low price.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: BitMar BitMar Streaming Content-Finder: Lifetime Subscription AU$23
AU$234 Save AU$211 Get Deal

SAVE $151: Walmart's onn. 50-inch 4K Roku TV is on sale for just $178 as of May 15. That's nearly 50% off its list price of $329.

Opens in a new window Credit: onn. onn. 50-inch 4K Roku TV $178 at Walmart
$329 Save $151 Get Deal

There's two kinds of people in the world: those who splurge on fancy specs and those who opt for the cheapest model they can find that'll still get the job done. I fall into that second category.

Nearly three years ago, I moved to a new place and needed a bigger (and newer) TV to fill the space a bit better than my old 32-inch model from college (don't judge me). I ended up grabbing the onn. 50-inch 4K Roku TV, which is Walmart's own TV brand, because it was on sale for only $238. After years of watching endless hours of New Girl and literally hundreds of NHL games, I can honestly say I love this thing. It's reliable, looks great, and is equipped with the best smart TV platform (in my opinion), Roku TV. The one thing I don't love? It's now way cheaper than when I bought it.

As of May 15, the onn. 50-inch 4K Roku TV is on sale for an outrageously low $178. That's nearly 50% off the list price of $329 and $60 less than when I found it on sale back in 2022.

Specs wise, the Walmart brand TV isn't anything spectacular, but if you just want a way to stream your favorite shows, movies, and sports, you probably won't care. It's equipped with 4K UHD and HDR10, so it looks good to the average viewer. It's compatible with Apple AirPlay, Apple Home, Google Home, and Alexa, includes plenty of connections for your peripherals (3 HDMI inputs, 1 composite, 1 USB, 1 LAN, 1 coaxial/cable, 1 optical, and 1 headphone jack), and can be set up in minutes. The sound isn't going to wow you, but you can always connect external speakers or a soundbar to boost it up a few notches like I did. With all the money you'll save on the TV itself, you can splurge on a sound system.

If you're concerned about buying a Walmart brand TV instead of a well-known brand like LG or TCL, a two-year limited warranty should ease your mind. Plus, mine has been kicking for nearly three years and I've never had a single complaint or issue. If you're like me and don't care much about specs and just want something reliable, it's going to be hard to beat a 50-inch 4K TV for only $178.

The best TV deals to shop this week

• Roku Ultra 4K Ultimate Streaming Player (2024 Release) — $79.99 (List Price $99.99)

• Amazon Fire TV 4-Series (43 inches, 2024) — $269.99 (List Price $329.99)

• 55-inch Sony Bravia 3 4K LED Smart Google TV (2024 Model) — $578.00 (List Price $699.99)

• LG 65-inch Class UR9000 Series 4K Smart TV — $496.99 (List Price $629.99)

• Hisense 85-Inch Class U8 Series Mini-LED ULED 4K UHD Google Smart TV — $1,697.96 (List Price $1999.96)

The biggest cryptocurrency exchange in the United States just confirmed that it was hacked.

On Thursday, Coinbase confirmed that their systems were breached by unauthorized users and that internal company documents along with customers' personal data were accessed. The company was made aware of the breach via an email from the threat actor on May 11.

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Coinbase disclosed that in the email that the company received from the hackers was a demand for a $20 million ransom in exchange for not publicly leaking the stolen data. Coinbase says it will not pay the ransom and will instead establish a $20 million reward fund for anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the criminals behind the breach. The company also said it's cooperating with law enforcement.

The news of a data breach at Coinbase was first disclosed in legally required filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 

Coinbase believes the intrusion occurred after cyber criminals recruited a group of overseas contractors and support agents. Coinbase detected workers with authorization to access its systems "accessing data without business need." 

The crypto exchange says it immediately fired contractors who were involved with the breach and warned customers whose information was accessed.

Less than 1 percent of the exchange's monthly transacting users have been affected by the breach, according to Coinbase. Based on previous company filings regarding its user data, that means around 100,000 Coinbase users were affected.

According to Coinbase, no user login credentials such as passwords, personal keys, crypto wallets, or exchange funds were accessed.

However, the affected data is still quite concerning. Coinbase says the hackers obtained names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of its users. In addition, customers' masked bank account numbers, photos of government IDs such as driver's licenses and passports, as well as the last four digits of social security numbers were stolen. Furthermore, the bad actors accessed certain user account data such as balance snapshots and transaction history.

As for company information, Coinbase says the hackers received limited corporate data such as training materials, support agent communications, as well as other internal documents.

In a video statement posted by Coinbase CEO Brain Armstrong, the Coinbase head describes changes being made to ensure a similar breach doesn't happen again. For example, the company is revamping its customer support systems and relocating its customer support operations as a result of the breach.

Armstrong also pledged to reimburse any customers who were socially engineered due to the breach and lost funds as a result.

SAVE $30: As of May 15, get the Google Nest Security Cam for $69.99, down from its usual price of $99.99. That's a discount of 30% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Google Nest Security Cam (Wired) $69.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $30 Get Deal

If you want to make sure everything is copacetic around your home, it's a good idea to invest in a security camera. Just to see what's going on when you don't want to get up and look outside, or when you're away. And here's the good news: you don't to spend a bonkers amount of money on one if you're ready to make a purchase. Not if you shop at Amazon right now, anyway.

As of May 15, get the Google Nest Security Cam for $69.99, down from its usual price of $99.99. That's $30 off and a discount of 30%. It's also the lowest price we've seen. This price applies to all colorways, including Fog, Linen, and Snow.

This is a wired camera that gives you crisp 1080p HDR video as well as night vision, so you can still see what's going on when the sun goes down. What's more, it comes with 3 free hours of event history so even if you do happen to miss something, you can go back and review it. A Nest Aware subscription gives you 60 days of history if you prefer to pay though, so you have more options there.

You can access your camera feed 24/7 via app, and it uses AI to determine whether humans or animals or cars are passing by your home at any given time of day. That determines what types of alerts it'll send so you're not bothered all day by false positives.

This is a wired camera so you'll have to be strategic about placement, but it's worth picking up for the money saved alone. You can stay on your couch and keep a safe home. What a concept.

SAVE 31%: The De'Longhi Magnifica Evo Automatic Espresso and Coffee Machine is on sale at Amazon for $549.95, down from the listed MSRP of $799.95. That's a savings of $250 that matches the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: De'Longhi De'Longhi Magnifica Evo automatic espresso and coffee machine $549.95 at Amazon
$799.95 Save $250 Get Deal

Coffee is one of life's greatest pleasures. You can ignore that statement if you're not a fan of coffee, but if you are, you know how it goes. No morning is complete without a perfect cup of coffee. Sometimes it's not even the caffeine we crave, it's simply the routine of having something nice to enjoy each morning. If you're not in the mood to put on real clothes and head out the door to the local cafe, become your own at-home barista thanks to this deal at Amazon.

As of May 15, the De'Longhi Magnifica Evo Automatic Espresso and Coffee Machine is on sale at Amazon for $549.95, marked down from the listed MSRP at De'Longhi of $799.95. That's a savings of $250 and a sale price that matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

The best home and kitchen deals to shop this week

• Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender — $89.99 (List Price $119.99)

• Skylight Frame 10-inch Digital Picture Frame — $99.90 (List Price $159.00)

• Skylight Calendar 15-inch Digital Calendar & Chore Chart — $319.99

• Ninja Crispi Air Fryer — $159.99 (List Price $179.99)

• Birdfy AI Smart Solar Powered Bird Feeder with Camera — $179.99 (List Price $249.99)

• KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer — $349.95 (List Price $449.99)

• Eufy Omni C20 Robot Vacuum and Mop With Self-Emptying Base — $399.99 (List Price $699.99)

Convenience with quality is everything you need to know about the De'Longhi Magnifica Evo automatic espresso and coffee machine. With one touch, you'll be in line for a frothy cafe latte, a bold espresso, or an iced coffee. The built-in conical burr grinder has 13 settings which means you'll be able to grind beans to your exact desire. Plus, the De'Longhi LatteCrema system is friendly with both milk and milk alteratives.

Instead of getting dressed and heading to the coffee shop, snag the De'Longhi Magnifica Evo automatic espresso and coffee machine while it's back at the lowest price ever. For just $549.95, you can become your own at-home barista making perfect morning coffees and awesome espresso martinis come evening.

SAVE $8: As of May 15, preorder a digital copy of Elden Ring Nightreign for $31.99 at Newegg, down from its usual price of $39.99 ahead of release with promo code ERNSAVE. That's a 20% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Newegg Elden Ring Nightreign $31.99 at Newegg
$39.99 Save $8.00 Get 20% off with promo code ERNSAVE Get Deal

There's a new Elden Ring adventure in town, and it's set to debut later this month. Elden Ring Nightreign is the first Elden Ring spinoff, and it's a co-op multiplayer adventure that changes things up significantly. There's still time to preorder if you want to get your game on with friends, but if you want to save some cash while doing so, Newegg has you covered.

As of May 15, preorder a digital copy of Elden Ring Nightreign for $31.99 at Newegg, down from its usual price of $39.99 ahead of release with promo code ERNSAVE. That's $8 off and a 20% discount.

This preorder is for the digital edition, so you'll be getting a code delivered to you via email, so you'll need to watch out for it after your purchase. The code won't go live until the game does, so there's still a bit of a wait left until May 29, but saving almost $10 on a brand new game is a good idea no matter how you slice it.

Journey to the land of Limgrave, now renamed Limfeld, and explore procedurally-generated versions of the area as one of a few premade characters with your friends. You can play in a single-player mode if you wish, but the game was created for teams of three to work together and clear out sections on their way to defeat a final boss.

If you're ready for another slice of Elden Ring, albeit in a different form factor, don't miss out on getting some cash off a game you probably planned on buying anyway.

Google today announced a suite of new accessibility features in honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, including AI-powered and personality-driven settings for users' most popular assistive tools.

SEE ALSO: Apple adds accessibility labels to App Store, braille options to hardware

Earlier this week, the company also announced new AI-powered scam prevention tools in Chrome browsers, as it tries to overhaul the public's perception of tech and its encroachment into our lives, Black Mirror-style.

Gemini for Talkback can carry a convo

For Android users, Google is enhancing the Talkback experience — the company's in-house screen reader tool for people who are blind or have low vision — with more Gemini features, including the ability to ask questions about Talkback's descriptions. Users can also get live information about their entire screens by asking specific questions to Gemini while using Talkback.

Google first announced Gemini for Talkback in 2024, intended to provide support for onscreen images without alt text.

More human captions

Google is also revamping its Expressive Captions feature, introduced in December to provide a more accurate captioning experience that includes the vocalizations and emotions of the speaker within the caption's text, such as gasps, raised voices, and background noise context. The new expressive captions will now add the flair of a speaker's vocal stylings, such as elongated vowels or dragged out sounds, and even more sound labels, like whistling.

New accessibility tools for students, and more

For Chromebooks, the company is collaborating with College Board — the national nonprofit that oversees AP, SAT, and college admissions curricula — to integrate Google's accessibility tools into the Bluebook testing app. Students will be able to use their Chromebook's assistive features, like ChromeVox screen reader and Dictation, when taking a College Board test.

In addition, mobile Chrome users will now be able to zoom in on just the text of a webpage, instead of the entire screen, with Page Zoom. And the company is also introducing Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for PDFs, which will allow screen readers to interact and understand scanned PDFs.

Philips is embracing the "right to repair" movement.

The Dutch tech company has started up a new program called "Philips Fixables," per Tom's Hardware. The idea behind Philips Fixables is that users will be able to 3D print their own replacement parts for Philips products, using exact Philips specifications, at home. The plan is for Philips to put the files up on Printables.com, a popular home for 3D printing information, for free.

SEE ALSO: A popular YouTuber tore open the Google Pixel 9a and found a big red flag

There are, of course, a few catches to this. One is that it's seemingly only available in the Czech Republic right now, though it will obviously expand to other regions over time. Another is that the only replacement part that's currently available for 3D printing is a 3mm comb for one of Philips' shavers, so Philips didn't launch with a particularly exhaustive list of parts for users to print.

The right to repair personal electronics has gained a ton of momentum over the past several years. Some manufacturers, like Framework, produce laptops that are meant to be opened up and messed around with by users. On the flip side, Google received some criticism this week for making it nearly impossible for users to perform their own battery replacements on the recently launched Pixel 9a phone.

With the spread of accessible 3D printing tech (as well as economic concerns about inflation and tariffs), don't be surprised to see this kind of thing become more popular over time.

SAVE $179.01: The EcoFlow River 2 Max portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $289.99, down from the MSRP of $469. That's a 38% discount and the lowest price we've seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: EcoFlow EcoFlow River 2 Max portable power station $289.99 at Amazon
$469 Save $179.01 Get Deal

Summer camping season is just weeks away which means you might be considering the logistics of how you'll stay powered up while off-grid. Instead of packing countless portable power banks to keep your phone charged, consider upgrading to a portable power station. And thanks to today's deal at Amazon, you won't have to spend a fortune.

As of May 15, the EcoFlow River 2 Max portable power station is on sale for $289.99, down from the list price of $469. That's a 38% discount that takes $179.01 off the normal price. It also happens to be the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon for the River 2 Max.

Fully recharging in just one hour means the EcoFlow River 2 Max might just be more important to pack on the camping trip than the s'mores supplies. While we don't recommend forgetting either, the EcoFlow River 2 Max is around to keep your fully charged up with three USB-A and one USB-C port. You'll also get four AC ports, two with grounding.

The best home and kitchen deals to shop this week

• Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender — $89.99 (List Price $119.99)

• Skylight Frame 10-inch Digital Picture Frame — $99.90 (List Price $159.00)

• Skylight Calendar 15-inch Digital Calendar & Chore Chart — $319.99

• Ninja Crispi Air Fryer — $159.99 (List Price $179.99)

• Birdfy AI Smart Solar Powered Bird Feeder with Camera — $179.99 (List Price $249.99)

• KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer — $349.95 (List Price $449.99)

• Eufy Omni C20 Robot Vacuum and Mop With Self-Emptying Base — $399.99 (List Price $699.99)

Like all EcoFlow portable power stations, you can also recharge via solar panels, but you'll want to grab those separately.

There's also plenty of reason to keep an EcoFlow River 2 Max portable power station at home and ready to keep you charged up during storms that knock out power. You'll want to make sure your phone has juice in any scenario.

SEE ALSO: Save $700 on the EcoFlow Delta 2 Max portable power station at Amazon

Instead of worrying about how you'll stay charged while camping this summer, score the EcoFlow River 2 Max portable power station while it's at the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon of just $289.99. Everyone in your camping party will be thankful you made the investment.

On May 15, Sony launched its latest flagship product, the noise-cancelling WH-1000XM6 headphones. It's been three long years since the previous-generation XM5 headphones were released, and there is one major design change: The headphones now fold up for easy portability.

Otherwise, I'd class the changes as more iterative than innovative, but if you want best-in-class noise-cancellling headphones and pristine audio quality, the headphones deliver — with a catch. The new Sony XM6 headphones are about $50 more expensive than the XM5s.

The most likely explanation for the price increase? Tariffs, of course. There's been a rash of tech price hikes lately, but let's not go there.

So, how do the new Sony headphones sound? I've been testing the headphones ahead of their official launch, and I believe they (mostly) justify their $449.99 price tag. We'll be updating this review as we spend more time with these wireless headphones, but let's dive into my first-hand impressions.

You can also watch my Sony XM6 headphones review in video form, if you prefer:

Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones review: How do they sound?

When testing the XM6 headphones, I compared them to other elite wireless headphones and earbuds. Specifically, I've also tested the Sony XM5 headphones, Dyson OnTrac headphones, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, and Panasonic Technics AZ100s, among others. Sony's new flagship headphones definitely hold their own among other flagship cans and buds, but do they offer the best sound I've ever encountered? Not quite.

The new Sony headphones offer impressive audio quality, and they definitely improve on the XM5 models. The active noise cancellation is particularly phenomenal (more on that below). I really appreciated the overall balance, depth, and quality of the audio. For the XM6, Sony audio engineers worked with music mastering engineers here in the United States, and the results are clear when you listen to music. Like all headphone reviewers, I have a dedicated playlist for testing new audio products, and I found that vocal-heavy tracks sound particularly great, with noticeable improvements over the XM5s.

The new Sony XM6 headphones (left) next to the previous-gen XM5 model (right). Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

While I tend to have weaker bass hearing, I had no trouble picking out the bass line in my favorite Radiohead tracks. As for the mid- and high-frequency range, the vocals on tracks like "Hello" from Adele and "Someone You Loved" by Lewis Capaldi rang out clearly, as did the strings in classic Mozart symphonies.

However, I did have one small problem with the audio, which is a disappointment for a pair of $450 headphones. On extremely layered tracks like "National Anthem" from Radiohead or "Outro" by M83, I found the sound a little lacking in clarity. I wouldn't go so far as to call it muddy, but the soundscape did blur a touch. I also found that to truly appreciate all the richness of the XM6 sound, I had to turn the volume up a little higher than I'd like.

Honestly, I think the Technics AZ100 earbuds have just ruined me for other audio products, as the latest Technics driver really has no equal in terms of clarity. Still, these headphones do sound very impressive, and they pass the "bop" test. As in, how much did I bop my head and play air drums while listening to my favorite music? If you're a music lover, I don't think you'll be disappointed with these cans.

One more note: If you love big-thumping bass, as I noted in my video review above, opt for the Sony ULT headphones, which prioritize bass.

Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones review: What's new? The newly released XM6 headphones fold up for portability. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Sony introduced one major design change with the XM6 headphones: They now fold up for portability. The travel case is also sturdier (the XM5 travel case was truly terrible), with a magnetic closure instead of a very breakable zipper. The case may not look that much smaller in photos, but when you're stuffing them into a backpack, the compact size and shape make a big difference.

The new storage case (left) and the old (right). Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Sony also added a new processor to the headphones. The new Sony QN3 processor is seven times faster, according to Sony, and powers improved adaptive noise cancellation and better call quality thanks to "AI beamforming" tech. Sony also added additional microphones (12 versus the eight in the XM5) for improved noise cancellation. For phone calls, there are six dedicated mics instead of four.

The headband design has also been tweaked for improved comfort, and I have to say these headphones are extremely comfortable. Even while wearing them all day at the office, I didn't have any issues with comfort or ear fatigue.

The Sony XM6 headphones have easy-to-use touch controls and a redesigned ANC button. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable The new storage case is also more compact. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones review: What's not new?

After three years, you might have hoped for bigger changes. I certainly did. While the foldable design is a much-appreciated change, and while there are improvements to sound, those are differences of degrees, not miles. Sony also made no improvements to battery life. The XM6 headphones have the same 30-hour battery life (with ANC engaged) as the last model. In my Dyson OnTrac review, I noted that Dyson hid extra battery packs in the headband to power its incredible 55-hour battery, but Sony seems to have opted for foldability over a battery improvement.

The overall aesthetic is still recognizably Sony, so if you liked the look of the XM5 headphones, you'll like the new design as well.

Can you tell the difference between the XM5 and XM6 at a glance? Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

To me, they also prove that headphones have somewhat plateaued. Just look at the newest Apple AirPods Max headphones, which added USB-C charging and not much else with their most recent update. I imagine Sony and Apple audio engineers reluctantly telling their bosses, "We can't make the drivers any better than they already are!" That's not entirely fair, as Sony did make some tweaks for improved vocals (which you can really hear), but I do think we're reaching the peak of headphone quality, barring a big advancement in audio technology.

Two more important notes: First, the multi-point pairing here is absolutely seamless. I could switch between my iPhone and MacBook with no issues. Second, you can now listen to music and charge the headphones at the same time.

Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones review: The ANC is incredible

Sony's flagship headphones have always been at the head of the pack with noise cancellation, and that legacy continues here. The ANC in the XM6 is as good as or better than any I've ever heard.

Good noise cancellation should feel a little bit like magic. When the ANC engages, you should instantly step into a bubble of silence, and that's what you get here. With music playing, the noise cancellation is near perfect. Sure, on the subway, some sounds get through, but under normal listening conditions, it's spooky how sounds disappear. I like to use these headphones at work for their noise cancellation (with no music playing) just so I can focus better.

The ANC on the new flagship Sony headphones works like magic. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

On the downside, while Sony says these headphones have adaptive noise cancellation, they don't really offer much personalization. Some Bose headphones (and the Technics earbuds I mentioned) let you fine-tune the ANC settings to your liking, which would have been a nice addition.

The new Sony XM6 Headphones: Just the specs

• Processor: Sony QN3

• Microphones: 12

• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 (LDAC support)

• Battery: 30 hours with ANC (40 hours without)

• Charge time: ~3.5 hours

• Noise cancellation: Active noise cancellation

• Spatial audio: Yes

• Colors: Midnight blue, black, silver

• Inputs: USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack

• Quick charge: 3 hours in 3 minutes

Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones: Are they worth it?

I say yes, absolutely. While I wouldn't say these headphones deliver the best sound I've ever heard, they come close. Add to that elite noise cancellation, a comfortable fit, and a travel-friendly design, and you have flagship headphones that justify their $450 price tag. That being said, they're not an instant upgrade if you already own the XM5 headphones. But if you have an older pair, want LDAC support, or just like the Sony product ecosystem, they're a worthy purchase, no doubt.

While we don't love seeing a price increase, it has been three years since we got the XM5s. On top of that, other flagship headphones from brands like Bose, Dyson, Sonos, and Apple have all come in at $449 and above. If you're a music lover who wants the best possible sound, that's the new price of admission, folks.

You can buy the new Sony headphones now for $449.99 at Sony, Amazon, and Best Buy.

Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones $449.99 at Amazon
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On May 15, Sony released its newest flagship headphones, the noise-cancelling WH-1000XM6 headphones. The new headphones have improved noise cancellation and sound, but there's a catch — they cost $449.99. That's about $50 more than the previous version, and hardly a surprise in the tariff era. Still, that's a big ask for music lovers.

As I noted in my full review, "other flagship headphones from brands like Bose, Dyson, Sonos, and Apple have all come in at $449 and above. If you're a music lover who wants the best possible sound, that's the new price of admission, folks."

Mashable has been testing the new wireless headphones over the past couple weeks, and you can read our full review of the new cans (spoiler alert: they sound fantastic). But if you're ready to pass go, drop $450, and collect your new headphones, you can already purchase them at Sony, Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers.

Sony's flagship headphones always rank among the very best noise-cancelling headphones, and the XM6 are no exception. In this post, we'll cover what's new, what's not, and other need-to-know details on the latest Sony noise cancellers.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones $449.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Meet the new XM6 headphones: The specs

You can't release a new product in 2025 without adding some type of AI feature, even if you have to use the term AI liberally. However, Sony really did add a faster chip (seven times faster, the company says), the Sony QN3 processor. That chip powers improved noise cancellation, particularly for phone calls. The other improvements definitely fall into the iterative category, with one big exception: these headphones now fold.

Meet the new Sony flagship headphones. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

And here are the specs:

• Processor: Sony QN3

• Microphones: 12

• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 (LDAC support)

• Battery: 30 hours with ANC (40 hours without)

• Noise cancellation: Active noise cancellation

• Spatial audio: Yes

• Colors: Midnight blue, black, silver

The Sony XM6 Headphones: What's new?

For the new headphones, Sony audio engineers worked with mastering engineers here in the United States to improve the overall audio quality. And when directly comparing them to the XM5 headphones and wireless earbuds, there is a noticeable improvement. (How much better? Read our full XM6 review to find out.)

For call quality, additional microphones and "AI beamforming" provide clearer, more directional sound. For calls, the headphones also feature two additional microphones.

Most importantly, the new headphones are more travel-friendly. The case is slimmer and smaller than the XM5 case. They also trade the terrible, easily broken zipper for a magnetic latch. While the case might not look much smaller, in person, it's significantly more compact. And here's the big news: The headphones now fold up for storage.

The XM6's case is more travel-friendly. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable Unlike the previous model, the XM6 headphones fold up for easier storage. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable The XM6 Headphones: What's not new?

While Dyson's OnTrac headphones were able to achieve a mighty impressive 55 hours of battery with ANC, the XM6 headphones have exactly the same battery life as the previous model. That's pretty disappointing. (Though, unless you're taking back-to-back 20-hour flights, I'm not sure anyone really needs more than 30 hours of playback at a time.) I would also class the noise cancellation and audio improvements as a matter of degrees, not miles. Considering it's been three years since the previous model, I was hoping for a little more.

Honestly, it's looking like noise-cancelling headphones like this have pretty much plateaued. Just look at the non-existent changes Apple made to the "new" AirPods Max headphones. At least Sony included noticeable audio quality improvements, a new processor, and a big new design change.

Where to buy the Sony XM6 Headphones

If you've been eagerly waiting for Sony's new headphones, you can order them now from Sony, Amazon, and Best Buy. The headphones have a $449.99 price tag and come in three colors, Midnight blue, black, and silver.

Get the Sony XM6 headphones Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones (Midnight Blue) $449.99 Shop Now Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones (Black) $449.99 Shop Now Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones (Silver) $449.99 Shop Now The previous-gen model Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones $348 (Save $50) Get Deal