A bunch of great games made with Unity dropped in May—across genres, budgets, and styles. Here’s a quick roundup of what shipped that anyone not still lost in Blue Prince should check out.IGF Awards Huge congrats to all the IGF finalists, especially the games made with Unity that dominated the awards this year — including Consume Me, which took home three wins! Fresh off their Audience Award win at the IGF Awards, The WereCleaner team joined us on stream. Check it out:Made with Unity Steam Curator Page Once again we sent out a clarion call for Unity staff to share which of your games they've been playing this past month. Be sure to see them all on our Steam Curator Page here:Working on a game in Unity? We’d love to help you spread the word. Be sure to submit your project.Without further ado, to the best of our abilities, here’s a non-exhaustive list of games made with Unity and launched in May 2025, either into early access or full release. Add to the list by sharing any that you think we missed.ActionShotgun Cop Man, DeadToast Entertainment (May 1)Deliver At All Costs, Studio Far Out Games (May 22)Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo, Pocket Trap (May 28)Bullet HeavenBioprototype, Emprom Game (May 19)Broventure: The Wild Co-op, Alice Games (May 15)Tower of Babel: Survivors of Chaos, NANOO (May 19 – early access)Cards, dice, and deckbuildersMonster Train 2, Shiny Shoe (May 21)Into the Restless Ruins, Ant Workshop Ltd (May 15)Casual, rhythm, and partyAmong Us 3D, Schell Games, Innersloth (May 6)Dunk Dunk, Badgerhammer Limited (May 8)Ithya: Magic Studies, BlueTurtle (May 7)Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo, Galla (May 16)Bugtopia, Nocturnal Games (May 21)Kabuto Park, Doot, Zakku (May 28)City and colony builderPreserve, Bitmap Galaxy (May 15)MEMORIAPOLIS, 5PM Studio (April 30)Darfall, SquareNite (May 8)Worshippers of Cthulhu, Crazy Goat Games (May 22)City Tales - Medieval Era, Irregular Shapes (May 22 – early access)ComedyPick Me Pick Me, Optillusion (May 28 – early access)Experimental or surrealistENA: Dream BBQ, ENA Team (March 27)FPSBloodshed, com8com1 Software (May 22)GRIMWAR, BookWyrm (May 16)Noga, Ilan Manor (May 30)HorrorLiDAR Exploration Program, KenForest (April 2)White Knuckle, KenForest (April 17 – early access)The Boba Teashop, Mike Ten (April 21)Out of Hands, Game River (April 22)Darkwater, Targon Studios (April 22 – early access)Management and automationBlacksmith Master, Untitled Studio (May 15 – early access)Liquor Store Simulator, Tovarishch Games (May 2)Animal Spa, Sinkhole Studio, Moonlab Studio (May 13)Toy Shop Simulator, PaperPixel Games (May 16)Alien Market Simulator, Silly Sloth Studios, Kheddo Entertainment (May 25 – early access)MetroidvaniaOirbo, ImaginationOverflow (February 11 – early access)SteamDolls - Order Of Chaos, The Shady Gentlemen (February 11 – early access)Narrative and mysterydespelote, Julián Cordero, Sebastian Valbuena (May 1)Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping, Happy Broccoli Games (May 22)Beholder: Conductor, Alawar (April 23)PlatformerPaperKlay, WhyKev (March 27)Bionic Bay, Psychoflow Studio, Mureena Oy (April 17)Once Upon A Puppet, Flatter Than Earth (April 23)PEPPERED: an existential platformer, Mostly Games (April 7)Ninja Ming, 1 Poss Studio (April 10)Seafrog, OhMyMe Games (April 15)Puzzle adventurePup Champs, Afterburn (May 19)Strings Theory, Beautiful Bee (Console release)Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer, Clifftop Games (May 20)Poco, Whalefall (May 20)Axona, Onat Oke (May 28)Projected Dreams, Flawberry Studio (May 29)Elroy and the Aliens, Motiviti (April 2)Leila, Ubik Studios (April 7)Tempopo, Witch Beam (April 17)BOKURA: planet, ところにょり (April 24)Amerzone - The Explorer's Legacy, Microids Studio Paris (April 24)Roguelike/liteSavara, Doryah Games (May 6)Vellum, Alvios Games (May 2)Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade, 7QUARK (May 14)An Amazing Wizard, Tiny Goblins (May 22 – early access)Garden of Witches, Team Tapas (May 23 – early access)RPGTainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon, Questline (May 23)The Monster Breeder, Fantasy Creations (May 6)Yes, Your Grace 2: Snowfall, Brave At Night (May 8)SandboxA Webbing Journey, Fire Totem Games (May 19 – early access)Islands & Trains, Akos Makovics (May 29)SimulationThe Precinct, Fallen Tree Games Ltd (May 13)Liquor Store Simulator, Tovarishch Games (May 2)Doloc Town, RedSaw Games Studio (May 7)Tales of Seikyu, ACE Entertainment (May 21 – early access)Trash Goblin, Spilt Milk Studios Ltd (May 28)Sports and drivingThe Last Golfer, Pixel Perfect Dude (May 28)Turbo Takedown, Hanging Draw (March 3)StrategyTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown, Strange Scaffold (May 22)Tower Dominion, Parallel 45 Games (May 7)9 Kings, Sad Socket (May 23 – early access)SurvivalDino Path Trail, Void Pointer (May 9)Survival Machine, Grapes Pickers (May 7 – early access)Oppidum, EP Games® (April 25)That’s a wrap for May 2025. Want more Made with Unity and community news as it happens? Don’t forget to follow us on social media: Bluesky, X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitch.

Table of Contents Table of Contents Table of Contents Shokz OpenDots One: Best for most people Bose Ultra Open: Best upgrade pick Anker Soundcore AeroFit 2: Best ear hook design How We Tested What are open earbuds? What are the drawbacks of open earbuds? What about bone conduction headphones? What's next in our testing pipeline Noise-cancelling earbuds are a popular choice for many people, but if you're someone who wants to hear the world around them or finds an in-ear design uncomfortable, there's a better option out there: open earbuds.Though open earbuds share the common feature of sitting on the exterior of the ear, they come in many shapes and sizes, from clip models to ear hook models. Some are more geared toward working out, while others are better for everyday use. Below, we've compiled some of the best open earbud models available in 2025. This guide is a work in progress, so we'll possibly be shifting (or expanding) our recommendations as we continue to test pairs. The best headphones and speaker deals to shop this week Soundcore by Anker P20i True Wireless Earbuds — $19.98 (List Price $39.99) Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones — $38.00 (List Price $59.99) JBL Flip 6 Portable Bluetooth Speaker — $99.95 (List Price $129.95) Bose SoundLink Flex Portable Speaker — $149.00 Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones — $228.00 (List Price $348.00) JBL Bar 300 5.0ch Compact Soundbar — $249.95 (List Price $399.95) Our Pick Shokz OpenDots One Best for most people $199.95 Amazon The Good & The Bad Sound quality comparable to Bose earbuds Impressively long battery life Clip-design is lightweight and unobtrusive Multipoint pairing works well Silicone grip helps keep them in place during exercise Touch controls are intuitively placed and work well Can feel uncomfortable after several consecutive hours of wear Not a ton of extra features Our review Check out our full review of the Shokz OpenDots One. Who it's for If you plan on using your open earbuds primarily for working out but want the option of a solid pair of earbuds too, the Shokz OpenDots One provide the best bang for your buck. Why we picked this Brands tend to market open earbuds to folks who like to exercise, and for good reason: That's where their use case makes the most sense. Priced at $199.95, we find that the Shokz OpenDots One hit the sweet spot between providing some of the best sound you can find on open earbuds, while giving the major fitness features you want, all without breaking the bank.The clip-on ear design is secure but not too snug, only causing some discomfort after multiple hours of wear (in other words, probably less time than you'll spend working out). The cuff design is helped by a silicone grip on one side of the earbud, which also acts as a touch panel, in addition to the battery barrel.As great as their design is, Mashable contributor Alex Bracetti found these earbuds really shone in their audio quality, even comparing them to Bose's open earbuds: "Shokz isn’t known for its sound quality, but the OpenDots One leave quite the impression. The 11.8mm drivers deliver crisp and lively sound to keep runners fueled on long runs." Considering these earbuds are $100 less than the Bose, getting comparable sound is no small feat. And if you're not in love with how they sound out of the box, the equalizer settings on the Shokz app allow you to fine-tune your experience. Where these earbuds definitively beat the Bose Ultra Opens is in their battery life, boasting 10 hours per charge to Bose's seven (and four with immersive audio). Their case also holds significantly more charge: 40 hours, to Bose's 19.5.However, that is where their feature list pretty much ends. It's not necessarily a negative, especially if you prefer buds that do the basics, but do them well. Details Battery life: 10 hours per charge (40 with case) IP rating: IP54 GET IT Bose Ultra Open Best upgrade pick $249.00 Amazon The Good & The Bad Excellent sound quality Option to use immersive audio Comfortable clip design that doesn't pinch, even after hours of wear Small charging case Plenty of color options available Tactile on-ear controls located on battery barrel Multipoint connection can be touch and go Battery life could be better, especially compared to other options Microphone quality could be better Lowest water and dust-resistance rating of any option on our list Expensive Our review Read our full review of the Bose Ultra Open earbuds. Who it's for If you want to use open earbuds but don't want to sacrifice having the best sound quality possible, the Bose Ultra Opens easily compare to in-ear options. You'll just have the shell out. Why we picked this It's hard not to be at least a little floored the first time you try the Bose Ultra Open earbuds — they simply sound way better than any pair of open earbuds has a right to. Sure, they can be a little more distant depending on the angle (easily adjustable) and have less of a booming bass than some in-ear designs (a plus for some people), but despite their quirks, they more than deliver on the sound front. Mashable contributor RJ Andersen writes in her review, "The sound was well-balanced, and even with my ear completely uncovered, I didn’t notice any issues with the audio sounding distant or muddy. Instead, the Ultra Open Earbuds sounded clear, natural, and pretty lush." While they sound great out of the box, Bose gives you the option between stereo and Immersive Audio (aka Bose's spatial audio setting) once you connect it to the companion app. Of course, you'll also have access to four equalizer presets and one custom equalizer setting. For $300, we expected to be impressed, and based on the sound alone, we were.But Bose didn't stop there. Although the Ultra Opens share the same cuff-like design as our top pick earbuds, we didn't find any uncomfortable pinching or squeezing, even after hours of wear. They stood out as the most comfortable pair of open earbuds we tested. The design thoughtfulness extended to the on-ear controls, which feature a button at the top of the battery barrel that sits on the outside of your ear. The result was a control that was just as easy as a touch control to use, but way less likely to be triggered by accident.For all their good, the Ultra Open earbuds aren't quite perfect. Their battery life is on the lower end, their mic quality wasn't great on calls, and their IP rating makes them the least outdoor workout-friendly. (As IPX4 earbuds, they have an unknown amount of dust resistance and splash resistance, meaning they can handle sweat fine, but might not fare as well if you're out in heavier rain). Still, while they're not the most rugged pair, they are the most premium sounding — if you mainly work out indoors, and don't find yourself on extra-long runs all that often, these drawbacks are workable. Details Battery life: 7 hours per charge, 4 hours with immersive audio (19.5 hours with case) IP rating: IPX4 GET IT $249.00 Amazon Anker Soundcore AeroFit 2 Best ear hook design $99.98 Amazon The Good & The Bad Solid sound quality for the price Tons of equalizer options Adjustable ear hook helps you find the right fit Has the best battery life and water and dust-resistance rating of all the earbuds we tested Case has wireless charging Customizable touch controls (and option to turn them off entirely) Impressive language translation feature with companion app Back and forth conversation with translation feature is a little awkward to use Sound quality isn't as good as more expensive options Didn't feel quite as secure as clip-on earbuds Who it's for If you want open earbuds that are excellent for workouts, still great for daily use, and don't cost a ton, you want the Anker Soundcore AeroFit 2 earbuds. Why we picked this Once you start to get to the budget-friendlier end of open earbuds, you realize that it's not a given that they sound decent. Peaking becomes more common, you lose even more of the detail of a song, and audio leaking is more rampant. We didn't have those problems with the Anker Soundcore AeroFit 2 earbuds.The newer release from the brand improved upon the older model by making the ear hook adjustable. While most ear hook earbuds come with some degree of flexibility, the AeroFits offer four locked-in angles, making them the most comfortable (and snug) open-ear hook buds we've tried so far. Despite sitting in the large case that comes with the ear hook territory, Soundcore's version here is at least lower profile.As for their performance as workout earbuds, the AeroFit 2s have the best IP rating of any of our picks, being both dust protected and able to survive jets of water. They have 10 hours of battery life per charge, so even distance runners would be hard pressed to run them down in one use. The touch controls also hit the right mark for sensitivity, making them great to easily pause and play music (if you prefer, you can also turn them, and their sound queue, off entirely). These earbuds surprised us most with their AI language translation feature that you can use through the companion app. Either in real-time or with a push-to-talk function, the earbuds were able to accurately translate French and Mandarin to English. Soundcore advertises that they can translate into over 100 languages. While we weren't able to get the real-time translation to work to facilitate a back-and-forth conversation, the push-to-talk allows you to speak in English, and the translation in the opposite language comes out through your device's speakers. The other person's dialogue comes through as text on the app and in audio through your earbuds, with only a slight delay. While the use cases for this feature might be more limited, we found it a clever way to leverage the open ear design that lets you engage with another person while still wearing earbuds. Details Battery life: 10 hours per charge (42 with case) IP rating: IP55 GET IT $99.98 Amazon Related Stories Topics Bose How we tested We spent three weeks trying out open earbuds priced for $120 to $300. Here's what we looked at:Comfort and fit: A major part of open earbuds appeal is that they're less obtrusive than traditional earbuds and headphones, so we made sure that all of our picks were comfortable to wear for at least a couple hours. We also made sure to exercise in the earbuds, including running and yoga, to test how well they stayed put.Sound quality: As open earbuds project the sound into your ear, we knew these earbuds wouldn't sound the same as in-ear earbuds or over-ear headphones. With that said, we also expected the sound to have some dynamic qualities, come through clearly, and avoid any obvious peaking.Durability: Open earbuds are a popular pick for folks who like to exercise, so we made sure each pair that we tested (and included on our final list) was at least sweat resistant. We played around with the maneuverability of the ear hooks and cuffs to make sure an accidental instance of putting them on a little too rough wouldn't mean the end of the earbuds.Battery life: Thanks to the lack of ANC, open earbuds generally get better battery life per charge. Still, we made sure to include pairs with decent case battery life, and that offer quick charge options because nothing is worse than getting ready for a run and realizing your earbuds are dead. What are open earbuds? Open earbuds allow you to get as close as you possibly can to the feeling of not wearing earbuds at all. Unlike in-ear earbuds which sit in your ear canal (as the name states), open earbuds sit just outside your ears. Some models hold the speaker component in place with an ear hook while others opt for an ear cuff.People generally opt for open earbuds for three main reasons:They provide a private listening experience while leaving you almost completely aware of the world around you. It's like the best transparency mode you've ever used.For some people, not having an earbud physically in their ear is generally more comfortable.The hooks and cuffs (along with the general awareness of your surroundings) make them a great option for keeping them in place, and keeping you alert, while you're working out.What are the drawbacks of open earbuds?As you may have gathered from the section above, open earbuds don't generally come with active noise cancellation. That's mostly thanks to how much sound they let in (by design) and the difficulty of cancelling out sound without having the device covering your actual ear canal.Also thanks to the whole open ear-canal situation, these aren't going to be the earbuds for audiophiles. That's not to say open earbuds sound bad — if you've never tried them, we promise they sound much better than you're imagining — but you will lose out on some of the nuance of a song without having the earbud actually in your ear.That said, many pairs still have equalizers on their companion apps to help you make them sound their best. Our upgrade pick, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds, even have a spatial audio feature that worked surprisingly well. Most open earbuds will also boast some form of special technology that keeps them from leaking too much sound. While these pairs do pretty well in keeping the sound just to you, most pairs (including our picks) while be prone to some leakage, especially at higher volumes.Finally, some open earbuds — mainly those with ear hooks — tend to have slightly bulkier cases. If you like to travel light, it's something to be aware of.Bone conduction earbuds work exactly like the name implies they do — they use your skull to conduct sound waves, instead of projecting the sound into your ear, like most of the picks are on list. Typically, a band runs from either side of the users head to help hold the headphones in place.Shokz, the brand behind our top pick, is a popular maker of these kinds of headphones. While we do consider them open earbuds, we have yet to test any bone conduction earbuds — look out in the future for that update. On that note: What's next in our testing pipelineThe open earbuds market is rapidly expanding, so we'll be testing more as we can get our hands on them. Up next, we'll be trying out budget pairs of open earbuds under $100, as well as more pairs from Shokz. In addition to the earbuds that made our final guide in May 2025, we tested out the Nothing Ear (Open) earbuds ($149), the Sony Linkbuds Open ($199.99), the Anker Soundcore AeroClip earbuds ($169.99), and the Shokz OpenFit Air ($119.95). While none of the above were bad earbuds by any means, we found our picks to outshine them in their comfort and sound quality, especially when considering their respective prices. MORE:

Sloths once came in a variety of sizes and lived in multiple settings in many parts of the world. A study in the journal Science examined sloth evolution over the past 35 million years, investigated multiple factors driving their growth and expansion throughout the world, and concluded that human hunting starting around 15,000 years ago drove their dramatic decline.Today, only six species within two genera remain. All are relatively small (especially compared to their largest ancestors) tree-dwellers that primarily live in the tropical rainforests of South and Central America.“These species are a tiny remnant of a once diverse American clade that was mostly made up of large-bodied species,” according to an editorial summary that accompanied the paper. Ancient Sloths Were Once WidespreadThat’s a huge contrast to sloth life during the late Cenozoic. During that period, more than 100 genera of sloths lived in a wide range of habitats and a variety of sizes, topping out at nearly 20 feet tall and weighing several tons.To investigate this diversity — and to track where, when, and why it collapsed — a team of scientists examined fossil measurements, DNA and protein sequences, and advanced evolutionary modeling. In doing so, they reconstructed sloth evolutionary history across 67 genera. They then investigated whether evolutionary changes in size were linked to habitat, diet, climate, predation, or other ecological pressures.Habitat Drove Sloth SizeThe findings show that habitat appeared to be a major driver in shaping their body size evolution. The earliest sloths were large and grazed on the ground. Some species adapted to tree dwelling and developed smaller body sizes. However shifts in both sloth size and dwelling didn’t happen in a straight line. The species size grew or shrunk as the climate warmed and cooled, and as ecosystems shifted from grasslands to woodlands.The species thrived for tens of millions of years, exhibiting the most variety in body sizes in the Pleistocene, which began about 2.6 million years ago.Ancient Humans Caused Dramatic DeclineThen, starting about 15,000 years ago, the creature experienced “a sudden and dramatic decline,” according to a press release.The researchers report that decline doesn’t mesh with any major known climate events. "Size disparity increased during the late Cenozoic climatic cooling, but paleoclimatic changes do not explain the rapid extinction of ground sloths that started approximately 15,000 years ago,” according to the paper. However, it does coincide with the expansion of humans into the Americas. The likely conclusion is that human hunting drove the extinction of the larger, ground-based sloths, while the smaller ones related to today’s creatures escaped by taking to the trees.Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:Before joining Discover Magazine, Paul Smaglik spent over 20 years as a science journalist, specializing in U.S. life science policy and global scientific career issues. He began his career in newspapers, but switched to scientific magazines. His work has appeared in publications including Science News, Science, Nature, and Scientific American.

Fortnite has returned to iOS after nearly five years away from the platform in the US. A lengthy legal drama between Fortnite developer Epic Games and Apple saw the two sides pitted against each other over Apple's digital storefront business practices. A recent ruling by a judge forced Apple to let Fortnite back on the platform, though soon after, Apple had blocked Epic's app submission on one last technicality that kept the game from reappearing on iOS last week.But now, it's downloadable. It won't appear in search quite yet, but you can download Fortnite on iOS here.Fortnite is BACK on the App Store in the U.S. on iPhones and iPads... and on the Epic Games Store and AltStore in the E.U! It’ll show up in Search soon! Get Fortnite on the App Store in the U.S. ➡️ https://t.co/HQu3pYCXFm pic.twitter.com/w74QPFFkOS — Fortnite (@Fortnite) May 20, 2025 Epic versus Apple timelineThe Epic versus Apple saga began when Epic tried offering a more direct payment method for players to make in-game purchases, complete with a cheaper price tag attached to them, thereby circumventing Apple's payment system and thus the tech giant's 30% cut of any and all transactions. For this, Apple removed the game from the App Store and the two sides fought it out in court for the next several years. If you're curious, here's the timeline of events:Continue Reading at GameSpot

Sony WH-1000XM64.5 ExcellentBottom LineSony's high-end WH-1000XM6 headphones feature foldable earcups, new driver tuning, and noise cancellation that rivals the best from Bose.US Street Price$449.99Learn MoreSony WH-1000XM6 ReviewVSBose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones4.5 ExcellentBottom LineThe Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones pump out robust sound and offer the best noise cancellation of any over-ear models we've tested.Street Price1699.0Learn MoreBose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Review Table of ContentsPriceDesignComfortCases and CablesBluetooth and ConnectivityBattery LifeMobile AppNoise CancellationTransparency ModeSound QualityMic Quality PriceIf you want the best over-ear noise-cancelling headphones available, be prepared to pay up. None of these models comes cheaply. It's not entirely surprising that Apple has the priciest pair of the bunch at $549—the AirPods Max are also the oldest. The brand-new Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones cost a cool $449. Bose now has the "cheapest" pair of the bunch with its two-year-old QuietComfort Ultra ringing in at $429.99. Winner: Bose QuietComfort UltraDesignAll three headphones have their own look and defining features. Sony's resembles the previous model, with a matte plastic look and a lightweight build. They come in three colors (Black, Midnight Blue, or Silver), and the earcups can fold flat for portability. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones, meanwhile, are mostly plastic, even more compact when folded, and come in four colors (Black, Lunar Blue, Plum, or White Smoke).Left to right: AirPods Max, Sony WH-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra(Credit: Christian de Looper)Aesthetically, the AirPods Max stand out thanks to their metal build and clean lines. They have removable earcups and come in the most color options, including Blue, Midnight, Orange, Purple, and Starlight. Their use of metal makes them heavier, but ensures they look the most luxurious. They also have a fantastic rotating digital crown for adjusting the volume and controlling other features.Winner: AirPods MaxComfortBose QuietComfort Ultra(Credit: Christian de Looper)The metal build of the AirPods Max makes them the heaviest of the three (13.6 ounces), but doesn't impact their comfort as much as you might expect. They're good at distributing weight across the top of your head, and their plush earcups don't clamp down too tightly. Nonetheless, both the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (8.8 ounces each) are more comfortable. Of the three, the lower clamp force and thicker padding of the Bose headphones make them the most comfortable for extended listening.Winner: Bose QuietComfort UltraCases and CablesWhile the AirPods Max may look the most high-end, the same can't be said of their meme-worthy rubber case, which is more of a barely there cover-up than a case. They only come with a USB-C cable, though you can use it for lossless USB audio. To connect them to a 3.5mm source, you’ll need to buy Apple’s USB-C to 3.5mm adapter separately.Left to right: AirPods Max, Sony WH-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra(Credit: Christian de Looper)Both the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Sony WH-1000XM6 come with a clamshell hard case and the cables you need for both charging and wired listening. They each include a USB-A-to-USB-C charging cable, while the Bose headphones have a 2.5mm-to-3.5mm cable for their smaller input port, and the Sony headphones have a standard 3.5mm cable. Sony's carrying case has a magnetic clasp instead of a zipper, but I prefer the smaller leather case that comes with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra.Winner: Bose QuietComfort UltraBluetooth and ConnectivityAll three headphones support the standard SBC Bluetooth codec, and they all have AAC on top of that. That’s where Bluetooth codecs end on the AirPods Max, though. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones add support for AptX Adaptive, which works with compatible Snapdragon-powered phones. As has been the case with Sony's high-end headphones for years, the WH-1000XM6 also support LDAC, which works with most modern Android phones, and LC3, which is becoming more common on Android devices.AirPods Max(Credit: Christian de Looper)Both the Bose and Sony headphones have Bluetooth multipoint for connecting to two devices simultaneously. If connecting to multiple Apple devices is your goal, the AirPods Max enjoy a significant ecosystem benefit—they can switch seamlessly between any Apple device (Apple TV, iPad, iPhone, Mac) signed into the same iCloud account. Sony gets the win here for codec support (LDAC works with more phones than AptX Adaptive and LC3 is a nice addition), while Apple gets the win for versatile ecosystem connectivity (as long as you use Apple devices).Winner: Tie (AirPods Max and Sony WH-1000XM6)Battery LifeNone of these headphones stand out when it comes to battery life. The AirPods Max have a rated battery life of 20 hours with noise cancellation on, but you might find that you get less actual listening time if you don't put them in their case every time you take them off (they enter standby mode rather than turn off completely). The Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones step that up to 24 hours, while the Sony offers 30 hours of listening and the fastest charging. While the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones can get three hours of listening from 15 minutes of charging, the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones can get three hours of listening from just three minutes of charging. Winner: Sony WH-1000XM6Mobile AppThe mobile experience associated with these three headphones is starkly different. On the surface, the AirPods Max appear to be the most bare-bones. Rather than rely on a separate app, their settings are integrated deeply in your iPhone's operating system. To access them, you have to wade through the Bluetooth settings menu where you can tweak things like noise modes and automatic head detection, but there's no EQ. You can also tweak some settings through Control Center, including spatial audio settings. Recommended by Our EditorsSony WH-1000XM6(Credit: Christian de Looper)The Bose app is minimalist and easy to navigate. The main screen grants you access to noise modes, Bluetooth settings, button shortcuts, and a rudimentary EQ. It lets you tweak what it labels as bass, mid, and treble, but doesn't specify which frequencies each slider affects.Sony's Sound Connect app offers far more control than Bose. You can set up your noise modes, button shortcuts, and location-based noise settings. You also have access to a comprehensive 10-band EQ, with bands ranging from 31Hz to 16kHz. Apple beats the others on depth, but Sony keeps everything in one spot and has the best EQ.Winner: Tie (AirPods Max and Sony WH-1000XM6)Noise CancellationUntil the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones arrived, Bose was the clear winner when it came to noise cancellation. The QuietComfort Headphones silence most environmental sounds. The AirPods Max offer respectable ANC, but it can't compete with Bose or Sony offerings, both of which excel at dampening ambient noise, whether you're on a plane or in a busy coffee shop.Bose QuietComfort Ultra(Credit: Christian de Looper)Sony has a slight edge when it comes to complicated settings like a city bus or a busy cafe, spaces that have uneven bursts of sound that Bose isn't quick enough to cut. Bose still delivers excellent ANC, but it's no longer head and shoulders above the competition, and Sony takes the win in this category.Winner: Sony WH-1000XM6Transparency ModeAirPods Max(Credit: Christian de Looper)While the AirPods Max trail behind the other two in ANC, they're a clear winner when it comes to transparency mode, which lets you hear your surroundings. They deliver natural and consistent audio and don't introduce the hiss that Bose and Sony do. Winner: AirPods MaxSound QualityAll three of these headphones offer outstanding sound quality. The 40mm drivers in the AirPods Max deliver deep bass and the best high-end response of the three, but the lack of a user-adjustable EQ is frustrating.The Bose headphones also offer excellent bass response with clear highs, but those highs aren't quite as crisp as they are on the AirPods Max. The audio also doesn't really feel as spacious as the AirPods Max, which have a wider soundstage and can sometimes come across as overly processed. Lastly, the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones have a slightly sculpted sound, removing some of the mids that Bose keeps. If you want to change the sound signature, Sony offers the best EQ to do so.Sony WH-1000XM6(Credit: Christian de Looper)If spatial audio is important to you, then the AirPods Max are the best of the bunch, as long as you use them with Apple devices. The AirPods Max can actually process surround sound input, instead of artificially adding the effect to stereo sources (assuming the content offers it, of course).So while the AirPods Max have the best audio out of the box, the Sony offers much deeper customization, supports higher-quality sources, and works with more devices, making it a tie.Winner: Tie (AirPods Max and Sony WH-1000XM6)Mic QualityThe microphones across all three headphones are perfectly sufficient for voice calls. Bose offers a little more body than Apple or Sony, but not as much clarity and detail. The AirPods Max microphone is crisp and detailed, but of the three, Sony's headphones deliver the best experience thanks to their half-dozen microphones and improved beamforming technology.Winner: Sony WH-1000XM6

MediaTek Dimensity 9400e was unveiled in China on Wednesday as the latest chipset for mobile devices from the Taiwan-based chipmaker. It will compete against the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset from Qualcomm. The Dimensity 9400e features an All Big Core CPU architecture, with four Cortex-X4 cores clocked at 3.4GHz and a 12-core Immortalis-G720 GPU with support for hardware ray tracing. The new chipset also supports on-device operation of several large language models, and enables support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0 connectivity.MediaTek Dimensity 9400e Availability TimelineThe new MediaTek Dimensity 9400e will be available on smartphones in the coming weeks, according to the company. The first smartphones from Realme and OnePlus equipped with the chipset are slated to debut by the end of May.According to details shared by the smartphone makers on Wednesday, the Realme GT 7 will be launched in India on May 27 with a Dimensity 9400e chipset, while the OnePlus Ace 5 Racing Edition (or Ultra) will be launched in China with the same processor.MediaTek Dimensity 9400e SpecificationsThe MediaTek Dimensity 9400e is built using TSMC's third-generation 4nm process technology, and features an All Big Core CPU architecture. It has four Arm Cortex-X4 cores with a peak clock speed of 3.4GHz and four Cortex-A720 big cores clocked at 2GHz. The Dimensity 9400e features a 12-core Immortalis-G720 GPU that supports hardware-level mobile ray tracing.The chipmaker has also equipped the Dimensity 9400e with a MediaTek APU 790 which will enable support for generative AI features on smartphones and other mobile devices. It supports on-device processing for large language models like DeepSeek-R1-Distill (Qwen1.5B/Llama7B/Llama8B) models, as well as Gemini Nano with Multimodality and LLaVA-1.5 7B. Smartphones equipped with the Dimensity 9400e will offer support for Wi-Fi 7, 5G, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 6.0, GPS, and NavIC. They can be equipped with a 320-megapixel rear camera and support video recording at up to 8K/ 30fps or 4K/ 60fps. MediaTek says the chip enables Bluetooth connectivity between compatible devices up to 5km away, within line of sight.Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.

A former Rockstar Games developer that has previously worked on Grand Theft Auto 4 has said that the studio should work on a remaster of the game. Responding to social media X users asking him a question about rumours surrounding a GTA 4 remaster, former technical director at the studio Obbe Vermeij said that it should happen, considering other successful remasters in recent times. “I hadn’t heard those rumours,” posted Vermeij on X. “I think GTA IV should be remastered. It’s a great game and there have been a number of successful remasters recently.” Vermeij also wrote about wanting to see GTA 4 protagonist Niko Bellic return in some form, saying that he is still the best protagonist of the franchise in his opinion. “I would like to see it updated,” Vermiej responded to a post asking his thoughts. “Niko is still the best protagonist in any GTA game I think.” Rumours about a remastered release of Grand Theft Auto 4 first started making the rounds all the way back in November 2021. The rumours came in light of the at-the-time recent release of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – Definitive Edition. At the time, the rumours indicated that the remaster would be released in 2023 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S, and that it would include the Episodes from Liberty City expansions as a bundle. However, 2023 is a long time ago when it comes to video game releases, and Rockstar Games has still been quiet on the matter. While smaller rumours kept popping up here and there, they started coming back in earnest this year. A more recent rumour, courtesy of known Rockstar Games insider Tez2, indicated that a port for modern platforms is still in the works. Taking to the GTA Forums, Tez2 said that Grand Theft Auto 4 is being ported to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, and that work on the ports had been going on for more than a year. While the post didn’t reveal too many details, it did indicate that Rockstar might be looking to tide fans of GTA 6 over in light of its recent delay to May 26, 2026 by releasing the GTA 4 port later this year. The insider also said that the GTA 4 port would be part of a larger plan by Rockstar to also release a remaster of Max Payne 3 down the line. The latter would be released in time with Remedy’s current work on remaking the original Max Payne games. “Someone at R* hinted at the [GTA] IV port, and by now it should’ve gone up a year in development.+,” he wrote. “We may end up seeing it drop later this year. And it’s one more reason, in addition to existing reasons, the LCPP mod was taken down. If they still follow their plan laid out from the pandemic days, they’ll do an MP3 port after IV. So that is an opportunity to do a bundle or a Definitive Edition. Max Payne 1 & 2 remakes, and a Max Payne 3 port.” Grand Theft Auto 4 was originally released back in 2008 on Xbox 360 and PS3. It has since also been released on PC, where it can still be played on modern systems alongside its Episodes from Liberty City story expansions. I hadn't heard those rumours. I think gtaIV should be remastered. It's a great game and there have been a number of successful remasters recently.— Obbe Vermeij (@ObbeVermeij) May 12, 2025 I would like to see it updated. Niko is still the best protagonist in any gta game I think.— Obbe Vermeij (@ObbeVermeij) May 13, 2025