PC Builds $8000* Disaster Prebuilt PC - Corsair & Origin Fail AgainMay 19, 2025Last Updated: 2025-05-19We test Origin's expensive PC’s thermals, acoustics, power, frequency, and perform a tear-downThe HighlightsOur Origin Genesis PC comes with an RTX 5090, 9800X3D, and 32GB of system memoryDue to poor system thermals, the memory on the GPU fails our testingThe fans in the system don’t ramp up until the liquid-cooled CPU gets warm, which means the air-cooled GPU temperature suffersOriginal MSRP: $6,050+Release Date: January 2025Table of ContentsAutoTOC Our fully custom 3D Emblem Glasses celebrate our 15th Anniversary! We hand-assemble these on the East Coast in the US with a metal badge, strong adhesive, and high-quality pint glass. They pair excellently with our 3D 'Debug' Drink Coasters. Purchases keep us ad-free and directly support our consumer-focused reviews!IntroWe paid $6,050 for Origin PC’s 5090-powered Genesis when it launched, or $6,500 after taxes. Today, a similar build has a list price of $8,396. Markup is $1,700 to $2,500 over DIY. This computer costs as much as an RTX Pro 6000, or a used car, or a brand new Kia Rio with a lifetime warranty in 2008 with passenger doors that fall off…The point is, this is expensive, and it also sucks.Editor's note: This was originally published on May 16, 2025 as a video. This content has been adapted to written format for this article and is unchanged from the original publication.CreditsTest Lead, Host, WritingSteve BurkeVideo Editing, CameraMike GaglioneTesting, WritingJeremy ClaytonCameraTim PhetdaraWriting, Web EditingJimmy ThangThe RTX 5090 is the most valuable thing in this for its 32GB of VRAM, and to show you how much they care about the only reason you’d buy this prebuilt, Origin incinerates the memory at 100 degrees Celsius by choosing to not spin the fans for 8 minutes while under load. The so-called “premium” water cooling includes tubes made out of discolored McDonald’s toy plastic that was left in the sun too long, making it look old, degraded, and dirty.But there are some upsides for this expensive computer. For example, it’s quiet, to its credit, mostly because the fans don’t spin…for 8 minutes.OverviewOriginally, this Origin Genesis pre-built cost $6,488 – and that’s after taxes and a $672 discount off the initial sticker price of $6,722. We ordered it immediately after the RTX 5090 launch, which turned out to be one of the only reliable ways to actually get a 5090 with supply as bad as it was (and continues to be). It took a while to come in, but it did arrive in the usual Origin crate.We reviewed one of these a couple years ago that was a total disaster of a combo. The system had a severely underclocked CPU, ridiculously aggressive fan behavior (which is the opposite of the system we’re reviewing today), chipped paint, and a nearly unserviceable hardline custom liquid cooling loop. Hopefully this one has improved. And hopefully isn’t 1GHz below spec.Parts and PriceOrigin PC RTX 5090 + 9800X3D "Genesis" Part Prices | GamersNexusPart NameRetail Price 4/25MotherboardMSI PRO B650-P WIFI$190CPURyzen 7 9800X3D$480Graphics CardNVIDIA RTX 5090 Founders Edition$2,000RAMCorsair Vengeance DDR5-6000 (2x16GB)$93SSD 1Corsair MP600 CORE XT 1TB PCIe 4 M.2 SSD$70Custom Loop"Hydro X iCUE LINK Cooling" / Pump, Rad, Block, Fittings$712Fans12x Corsair iCUE LINK RX120 120mm Fan$360CaseCorsair 7000D Airflow$240PSUCorsair RM1200x SHIFT 80+ Gold PSU$230RGB/Fan Controller2x Corsair iCUE Link System Hub$118Operating SystemWindows 11N/AT-ShirtORIGIN PC T-ShirtN/AMousepadORIGIN PC Mouse PadN/AShipping"ORIGIN Maximum Protection Shipping Process: ORIGIN Wooden Crate Armor"N/A???"The ORIGIN Difference: Unrivaled Quality & Performance"PricelessTotal retail cost of all parts as of April 2025$4,493We’ll price it out based on the original, pre-tariff $6,050 build before taxes and with a 10% off promo. Keep in mind that the new price is $7,500 to $8,400, depending on when you buy.The good news is that nothing is proprietary – all of its parts are standard. The bad news is that this means we can directly compare it to retail parts which, at the time we wrote this piece, would cost $4,493, making for a $1,557 markup compared to the pre-tax subtotal. That’s a huge amount to pay for someone to screw the parts together. Given the price of the system, the MSI PRO B650-P WIFI motherboard and 1TB SSD are stingy and the 7000D Airflow case is old at this point. The parts don’t match the price.Just two months after we ordered and around when it finally arrived, Origin now offers a totally different case and board with the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite. The base SSD is still just 1TB though – only good enough for roughly two or three full Call of Duty installs. The detailed packing sheet lists 22 various water cooling fittings, but, curiously, the build itself only has 15, plus one more in the accessory kit, making it 16 by our count. We don’t know how Origin got 22 here, but it isn’t 22. Hopefully we weren’t charged for 22. Oh, and it apparently comes with “1 Integrated High-Definition.” Good. That’s good. We wouldn’t want 0 integrated high definitions.Similar to last time, you also get “The ORIGIN Difference: Unrivaled Quality & Performance” as a line item. Putting intangible, unachievable promises on the literal receipt is the Origin way: Origin’s quality is certainly rivaled.Against DIY, pricing is extreme and insane as an absolute dollar amount when the other SIs are around $500-$800 markup at the high end. In order for this system to be “worth” $1,500 more than DIY, it would need to be immaculate and it’s not. The only real value the PC offers is the 5090. Finding a 5090 Founders Edition now for $2,000 is an increasingly unlikely scenario. Lately, price increases with scarcity and tariffs have resulted in 5090s closer to $2,800 or more, so the markup with that instead would be $777 if we assume a 5090 costs $2,800. That’s still a big markup, and the motherboard is still disappointing, the tubes are still discolored, the SSD is too small, and it still has problems with the fans not properly spinning, but it’s less insane.Build QualityGetting into the parts choices:This new Genesis has a loop that’s technically set up better than the last one, but it only cools the CPU. That means we have a $6,500 computer with water cooling, but only on the coolest of the two silicon parts -- the one that pulls under 150W. That leaves the 575W RTX 5090 FE to fend for itself, and that doesn’t always go well.Originally, Origin didn’t have the option to water cool the 5090. It’s just a shame that Origin isn’t owned by a gigantic PC hardware company that manufactures its own water cooling components and even has its own factories and is publicly traded and transacts billions of dollars a year to the point that it might have had enough access to make a block... A damn shame. Maybe we’ll buy from a bigger company next time.At least now, with the new sticker price of $8,400, you can spend another $200 and add a water block to the GPU. Problem solved -- turns out, we just needed to spend even more money. Here’s a closer look at Origin’s “premium” cooling solution, complete with saggy routing that looks deflated and discolored tubing that has that well-hydrated catheter tube coloring to it.The fluid is clean and the contents of the block are fine, but the tubing is the problem. In fact, the included drain tube is the correct coloring, making it even more obvious how discolored the loop is.Corsair says its XT Softline tubing is “UV-resistant tubing made to withstand the test of time without any discoloration or deforming.”So clearly something is wrong. Or not “clearly,” actually, seeing as it’s not clear. The tubing looks gross. It shouldn’t look gross. The spare piece in the accessory kit doesn’t look gross. The coolant is even Corsair’s own XL8 clear fluid, making it even more inexcusable.We’re not the only ones to have this problem, though – we found several posts online with the same issue and very little in the way of an official response from Corsair or Origin. We only saw one reply asking the user to contact support.Even without the discoloration, it comes off as looking amateurish from the way it just hangs around the inside of the case. There’s not a lot you can do about long runs of flexible tubing, unless maybe you’re the one building it and have complete control of everything in the pipeline... There is one thing we can compliment about the loop: Origin actually added a ball valve at the bottom underneath the pump for draining and maintenance, which is something that we directly complained about on the previous Origin pre-built. We’re glad to see that get addressed.The fans in the build are part of Corsair’s relatively new LINK family, so they’re all daisy chained together with a single USB-C-esque cable and controlled together in tandem by two of Corsair’s hubs. It’s an interesting (if expensive) system that extends to include the pump and CPU block – both of which have liquid temperature sensors.Tear-down Grab a GN15 Large Anti-Static Modmat to celebrate our 15th Anniversary and for a high-quality PC building work surface. The Modmat features useful PC building diagrams and is anti-static conductive. Purchases directly fund our work! (or consider a direct donation or a Patreon contribution!)We’re starting the tear-down by looking at the cable management side. Opening up the swinging side panel, we noticed masking tape on the dust filter, which we’re actually okay with as it’s to keep it in place during shipping and is removable.  Internally, they’ve included all of the unused PSU cables in the system’s accessories box, which we’ll talk more about down below. The cable routing makes sense and is generally well managed. While they tied the cables together, not all of the ties were tied down to the chassis. The system uses the cable management channel for the 24-pin connector. Overall, it’s clean and they’ve done well here. Looking at the other side of the system, we can see that the power cable leading into the 5090 is mostly seated, and isn’t a concern to us. Removing the water block’s cable, it had a little piece of plastic which acted as a pull tab. That’s actually kind of nice.Removing the screws on the water block reveal that they are captive, which is nice. Looking at the pattern, we can see that they used pre-applied paste via a silk screen. That allowed contact for all 8 legs of the IHS, which looked good with overall even pressure. The block application was also good. Looking at how well all of the cables were seated, everything was fine from the CPU fan header down to the front panel connectors. Removing the heat sync off the NVMe SSD, we didn’t see any plastic on the thermal pad, which is good. Look at the 16GB DDR 6000 RAM modules, they are in the correct slots and Origin outfitted them with Corsair 36-44-44-96 sticks, which are not the greatest timings. Examining the tightness of all the screws on the motherboard, we didn’t encounter any loose screws. Removing the motherboard from the case, everything looked fine. Looking at the motherboard out of the case, it’s a lower-end board than we’d like to see out of a premium system. Looking at the fans, they are immaculately installed, which is partially due to how they’re connected together. This results in a very clean setup.  The back side of the PC has a massive radiator. And overall, the system has very clean cable management and the assembly was mostly good. This relegates the system’s biggest issues being the value and its water-cooling setup. We didn’t drain the loop so we’re going to keep running it and see what it looks like down the road. Thermal BenchmarksSystem Thermals at Steady StateGetting into the benchmarking, we’ll start with thermals.Right away, the 96-degree result on the memory junction is a problem -- especially because this is an average, which means we have spikes periodically to 100 degrees. The technical rating on this memory is 105 degrees for maximum safety spec. This is getting way too close and is hotter than what we saw in our 5090 FE review. This is also when all of the thermal pads are brand new. The Origin pre-built uses a large case with 12 fans, so it should be impossible for the GPU to be this hot. The Ryzen 9800X3D hit 87C at steady-state – which is also not great for how much cooling is in this box. All of the various motherboard and general system temperature sensors fell well within acceptable ranges.Finally, the watercooling parts provide a couple of liquid temperatures. The pump is on the “cool” side of the loop and read 36.7C at steady state, while the coolant in the block on the “hot” side of the loop got up to 41.3C. You typically want liquid temperature to stay under 55C (at the most) to not violate spec on the pump and tubing, so this is fine.We need to plot these over time to uncover some very strange behavior.CPU Temperature vs. Fan Speeds Over TimeCPU temperature during the test starts out on a slow ramp upwards during the idle period. When the CPU load first starts, we see an immediate jump to about 72C, a brief drop, then a long and steady rise from roughly 250 seconds to 750 seconds into the test where it levels off at the 87C mark. The VRM temperature follows the same general curve, but takes longer to reach steady-state. Adding the liquid temperatures to the chart shows the same breakpoints.Finally, adding pump and fan speeds gives us the big reveal for why the curves look like this. The pump stair steps up in speed while the temperatures rise, but the fans don’t even turn on for over 8 minutes into the load’s runtime. Once they’re actually running, they average out to just 530RPM, which is so slow that they might as well be off.This is an awful configuration. Response to liquid temperature isn’t new, but this is done without any thought whatsoever. If you tie all fans to liquid temperature, and if you have parts not cooled by liquid like VRAM on the video card, then you’re going to have a bad time. And that’s the next chart. But before that one, this is an overcorrection from how Origin handled the last custom loop PC we reviewed from the company, which immediately ramped the fans up high as it could as soon as the CPU started doing anything. Maybe now they can find a middle ground since we’ve found the two extremes of thoughtless cooling.GPU Temperature vs. Fan Speeds Over TimeThis chart shows GPU temperatures versus GPU fan speed.The GPU temperature under load rises to around 83C before coming back down when the case fans finally kick on. As a reminder, 83-84 degrees is when NVIDIA starts hard throttling the clocks more than just from GPU Boost, so they’re dropping clocks as a result of this configuration.The 5090’s VRAM already runs hot on an open bench – 89 to 90 degrees Celsius – and that gets pushed up to peak at 100C in the Origin pre-built. This is unacceptable. Adding the GPU fan speed to the chart shows us how the Founders Edition cooler attempts to compensate by temporarily boosting fan speed to 56% during this time, which also means that Origin isn’t even benefiting as much from the noise levels as it should from the slower fans. Balancing them better would benefit noise more.As neat of a party trick as it is to have the case fans stay off unless they’re needed in the loop, Origin should have kept at least one or two running at all times, like rear exhaust, to give the GPU some help. Besides, letting the hot air linger could potentially encourage local hot spots to form on subcomponents that aren’t directly monitored, which can lead to problems.Power At The WallNow we’ll look at full system load power consumption by logging it at the wall – so everything, even efficiency losses from the PSU, is taken into account.Idle, it pulled a relatively high 125W. At the 180 second mark, the CPU load kicks in. There’s a jump at 235 seconds when the GPU load kicks in.We see a slight ramp upwards in power consumption after that, which tracks with increasing leakage as the parts heat up, before settling in at an average of 884W at steady state. AcousticsNext we’ll cover dBA over time as measured in our hemi-anechoic chamber.At idle, the fans are off, which makes for a functionally silent system at the noise floor. The first fans to come on in the system are on the GPU, bringing noise levels up to a still-quiet range of 25-28dBA at 1 meter. The loudest point is 30.5 dBA when the GPU fans briefly ramp and before system fans kick in. CPU Frequency vs. Original ReviewFor CPU frequency, fortunately for Origin, it didn’t randomly throttle it by 1GHz this time. The 9800X3D managed to stay at 5225MHz during the CPU-only load portion of torture test – the same frequency that we recorded in our original review for the CPU so that’ good. At steady state with the GPU dumping over 500W of heat into the case, the average core frequency dropped by 50MHz. If Origin made better use of its dozen or so fans, it should hold onto more of that frequency. BIOS ConfigurationBIOS for the Origin pre-built is set up sensibly, at least. The build date is January 23, which was the latest available in the time between when we ordered the system at the 50 series launch and when the system was actually assembled.Scrutinizing the chosen settings revealed nothing out of line. The DDR5-6000 memory profile was enabled and the rest of the core settings were properly set to Auto. This was all fine.Setup and SoftwareThe Windows install was normal with no bloatware. That’s also good.The desktop had a few things on it. A “Link Windows 10 Key to Microsoft Account” PDF is helpful for people who don’t know what to do if their system shows the Activate Windows watermark. Confusingly, it hasn’t been updated to say “11” instead of “10.” It also shepherds the user towards using a Microsoft account. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but we don’t like how it makes it seem necessary because it’s not and you shouldn’t. There’s also an “Origin PC ReadMe” PDF that doesn’t offer much except coverage for Origin’s ass with disclaimers and points of contact for support. One useful thing is that it points the user to “C:\\ORIGIN PC” to find “important items.”That folder has Origin branded gifs, logos, and wallpapers, as well as CPU-Z, Teamviewer, and a Results folder. Teamviewer is almost certainly for Origin’s support teams to be able to remotely inspect the PC during support calls. It makes sense to have that stuff on there. The results folder contains an OCCT test report that shows a total of 1 hour and 52 minutes of testing. A CPU test for 12 minutes, CPU + RAM, memory, and 3D adaptive tests for 30 minutes each, then finishing with 10 minutes of OCCT’s “power” test, which is a combined full system load. It’s great that Origin actually does testing and provides this log as a baseline for future issues, and just for base expectations. This is good and gives you something to work from. Not having OCCT pre-installed to actually run again for comparison is a support oversight. It’s free for personal use at least, so the user could go download it easily.There weren’t any missing drivers in Device Manager and NVIDIA’s 572.47 driver from February 20 was the latest at the time of the build – both good things. There wasn’t any bundled bloatware installed, so points to Origin for that.iCUE itself isn’t as bad as it used to be, but it’s still clunky, like the preloaded fan profiles not showing their set points. PackagingOn to packaging.The Origin Genesis pre-built came in a massive wooden crate that was big enough for two people to move around. Considering this PC was $6,500 after taxes (at the time), we’re definitely OK with the wooden crate and its QR code opening instructions.Origin uses foam, a fabric cover, a cardboard box within a crate, and the crate for the PC. The case had two packs of expanding foam inside it, allowing the GPU to arrive undamaged and installed. The sticker on the side panel also had clear instructions. These are good things. Unfortunately, there’s a small chip in the paint on top of the case, but not as bad as the last Origin paint issues we had and we think it’s unrelated to the packaging itself.AccessoriesThe accessory kit is basic, and came inside of a box with the overused cringey adage “EAT SLEEP GAME REPEAT” printed on it. Inside are the spare PSU cables (that we’re happy to see included), an AC power cable, stock 5090 FE power adapter, standard motherboard and case accessories, a G1/4 plug tool and extra plugs, and a piece of soft tubing with a fitting on one end that can be used to help drain the cooling loop. All of this is good.Conclusion Visit our Patreon page to contribute a few dollars toward this website's operation (or consider a direct donation or buying something from our GN Store!) Additionally, when you purchase through links to retailers on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission.During this review process, the price went even higher. You already shouldn’t buy this, but just to drive it home:Now, for the same configuration, the Genesis now costs $7,557 after the discount, off the new sticker price of $8,396. That’s an increase of over $1,000, making the premium over current DIY pricing roughly $1,700-$2,500.Now, there are good reasons for the price to go up. Tariffs have a real impact on pricing and we’re going to see it everywhere, and tariffs are also outside of Corsair’s control. We don’t fault them for that. But that doesn’t change the fact that the cost over DIY is so insanely elevated. Even Corsair’s own competitors offer better value than this, like Maingear.At $8,400 sticker price, you’d have to be drunk on whatever is discoloring Origin’s loop to buy it. Nobody should buy this, especially not for gaming. If you’re doing productivity or creative work that would seriously benefit from the 5090’s 32GB of VRAM, then look elsewhere for a better deal. This costs nearly as much as an RTX Pro 6000, which has 96GB of VRAM and is better.It would actually be cheaper to get scalped for a 5090 on Ebay and then buy the whole rest of the computer than to buy this Origin system. That’s how crazy this is.The upcharge, even assuming a 5090 price of $2,800, is just way too high versus other system integrators. Seriously, Alienware is cheaper at this point – by thousands of dollars. Alienware.We can’t recommend this PC. Ignoring the price, the memory on the video card is hitting 100 degrees C in workloads when the fans aren’t turning on because the fans are set to turn on based on the liquid temperature and the liquid doesn’t touch the GPU. For that reason alone, it gets a failing grade. For our thermal testing, pre-builts have to pass the torture test. If they don’t, they instantly fail. That’s how it always works for our pre-built reviews. This system has, unfortunately, instantly failed.

MotoGP racing, the pinnacle of motorbike competition, requires precision and skill–and some scraped elbows and knees.   Image: Ducati/Lenovo Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. MotoGP is high-speed, high-tech motorcycle racing. The fastest riders in the world compete on specialized, purpose-built motorcycles from companies like Ducati, Honda, Yamaha on the world stage in this series, which is considered the most prestigious in the game. Riders reach incredible speeds on their machines up to 220 miles per hour, and races can go 350 turns with gravity-defying leaning that scrapes elbows and knees. This Grand Prix is for the toughest of the tough on the moto circuit.  Behind the riders and the machinery is a boatload of data and technology; we’re talking massive amounts of data in numbers that make your head spin. As tech company Lenovo puts it, when it comes to MotoGP–a sport in which every millisecond counts–data can mean the difference between a first and last place finish.  Lenovo and Italian motorbike manufacturer Ducati work hand in hand to create a champion racing team with information gathered by 50-plus sensors that track tire rotation, speed, grip, acceleration, and more. Motorcycle racing, at the highest echelon, has evolved way beyond just the machinery or even the skill of the rider. Without the technology, any team would be left in the dust.  The data journey In the past, the only way to evaluate the outer limits of what a motorbike could endure was to disassemble a crashed bike. Today, a multi-pronged approach to data collection takes that process up several notches. Every time a bike enters the pit garage, an in-person team and a crew from the Ducati Lenovo Remote Garage at Ducati’s headquarters in Bologna, Italy analyzes performance.   Via 50 sensors on each bike, Ducati engineers collect tons of data they can parse and assess. Image: Ducati/Lenovo No matter where the team is racing, data streams in from the motorbike sensors. Off-site engineers analyze information from the track, making tiny tweaks to the bike and its operation. That way, every qualifying lap may be reviewed and fine tuned for the best competitive outcomes.  “We debrief after each session, aligning with the rider on the sections and corners in which we think that he can improve his performance,” says David Attisano, the data and performance analysis manager for Ducati Racing. “We review with the rider his maneuvers and what we can expect to improve and how. For example, if the data shows that the rider can brake two meters later than he is, that’s a huge distance in this race.”  For the MotoGP series, Ducati has three different teams with a total of six riders. Each Ducati rider receives the data not just about his own ride but for all the other riders, so they can track what the other five are doing. That’s a giant amount of data. “We can push each other to the limit because we can see what the other riders are doing and comparing, then we can highlight and suggest some changes in their riding style,” Attisano explains.  Through its partnership with technology company Lenovo, Ducati collects and analyzes data to push its bikes to the limit and win races. Image: Lenovo/Ducati Per official MotoGP rules, the sensors can’t transmit the data while the bikes are in motion. As soon as the bike gets to the garage, the engineers download the data. From this point, the data analysis process begins. At this point, the partnership is especially critical as the servers are developed by Lenovo specifically for Ducati. On top of that, there are data signals created with a custom algorithm and simulating based on engineering knowledge about the bikes. The team can even create a detailed “digital twin” of the course that maps each twist and turn, using 200GB of data per circuit. “If the rider tells us that the traction control is not working properly, our electronics engineers can adjust the ECU,” says Attisano. “In our competition, the human factor is very important. We rely on the data and the humans do the last mile to gain the result and to achieve victory.”  Sure, data clearly plays a big part, but human interpretation is still a critical aspect to translate the results. Even those who know nothing of motorcycles can create algorithms or artificial intelligence to offer some hints or tips, but without input from the team, the data has no context. The technology, Attisano emphasizes, is intended to augment the capabilities of human beings, not to replace them.  Italian motorbike manufacturer Ducati makes high-speed, high-tech machines. Image: Ducati/Lenovo “The behavior of the bike is very complicated–it’s very difficult to understand if you have not studied it at university,” he says. “In our experience, the exchange of knowledge between engineers and data scientists is very important.”  Ducati’s data collection on the competitive side feeds into the safety and reliability for all riders, including those who like to take their motorbike for a spin on any given Sunday; not just competitive situations. Every time the bike emerges from the pit at a MotoGP race, the engineers strive to be sure it’s in good form and safe for the rider. Every improvement via the data collected from 50 tiny sensors on each factory-made racing bike leads to a better ride for casual street riders, too.

Menu Home News Hardware Gaming Mobile Finance Deals Reviews How To Wccftech Deals You Can Buy Nearly Two Of Sony’s WH-1000XM4 Ultra-Premium Wireless Headphones With Noise Cancellation For The Price Of One WH-1000XM6, With Amazon Snipping 34 Percent Off The Older Model Omar Sohail • May 18, 2025 at 01:38pm EDT Sony’s audio prowess only meant that its uber-premium WH-1000XM6 wireless headphones were just around the corner, but at $448 for a pair, the majority of buyers need to dig deep to find room to make these their daily driver. Well, there is no shame in admitting that these expensive headphones are out of the budget, but you know what is in your budget? The WH-1000XM4, and with the latest discount from Amazon, you can get a pair of the older wireless headphones for $229.99, thanks to a 34 percent price cut. Now, we know what the majority of interested buyers are thinking; an older-generation pair of wireless headphones will probably not offer anything noteworthy, and that is where you made a grave error in judgment. The Sony WH-1000XM4 are an award-winning piece of technology that just happened to become more affordable, making it highly beneficial for you if your preference is enjoying impeccable audio quality. With noise cancellation enabled, you can effortlessly get up to 30 hours of battery life, with the quick charge feature for 10 minutes netting you five hours of listening time through the USB-C port. Embedded in the WH-1000XM4 are a host of sensors with which you can play, pause and skip tracks, not to mention control the volume, activate the voice assistant and answer incoming phone calls. There are five built-in microphones that deliver astounding clarity to the other person, and these wireless headphones are so clever, the audio playback stops when the WH-1000XM4 are removed. Still these these are less advanced for $229.99? If so, you can divert your attention to the newer version, the WH-1000XM5, which can be yours for $299.99 after a 25 percent discount. Then again, if you have deeper pockets and want nothing but the best, there is no one stopping you from owning Sony’s WH-1000XM6. Get the WH-1000XM4 headphones from Amazon - $229.99 (34 percent off, discount applicable only on the Black and Silver finishes) Get the WH-1000XM5 headphones from Amazon - $299.99 (25 percent off, discount applicable only on the Black and Silver finishes) Get the WH-1000XM6 headphones from Amazon - $448 See the latest technology deals that Amazon has discounted today See what else Amazon has discounted today Subscribe to get an everyday digest of the latest technology news in your inbox Follow us on Topics Sections Company Some posts on wccftech.com may contain affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com © 2025 WCCF TECH INC. 700 - 401 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada

While Amazon won FAA approval to fly beyond an operators' visual line of sight, "the program remains a work in progress," reports Bloomberg: A pair of Amazon.com Inc. package delivery drones were flying through a light rain in mid-December when, within minutes of one another, they both committed robot suicide... [S]ome 217 feet (66 meters) in the air [at a drone testing facility], the aircraft cut power to its six propellers, fell to the ground and was destroyed. Four minutes later and 183 feet over the taxiway, a second Prime Air drone did the same thing. Not long after the incidents, Amazon paused its experimental drone flights to tweak the aircraft software but said the crashes weren't the "primary reason" for halting the program. Now, five months after the twin crashes, a more detailed explanation of what happened is starting to emerge. Faulty readings from lidar sensors made the drones think they had landed, prompting the software to shut down the propellers, according to National Transportation Safety Board documents reviewed by Bloomberg. The sensors failed after a software update made them more susceptible to being confused by rain, the NTSB said. Amazon also removed a backup sensor present that had been present on earlier iterations, according to the article — though an Amazon spokesperson said the company had found ways to replicate the removed sensors. But Bloomberg notes Amazon's drone efforts has faced "technical challenges and crashes, including one in 2021 that set a field ablaze at the company's testing facility in Pendleton, Oregon." Deliveries are currently limited to College Station, Texas, and greater Phoenix, with plans to expand to Kansas City, Missouri, the Dallas area and San Antonio, as well as the UK and Italy. Starting with a craft that looked like a hobbyist drone — and was vulnerable to even modest gusts of wind — Amazon went through dozens of designs to toughen the vehicle and ultimately make it capable of carting about 5 pounds, giving it the capability to transport items typically ordered from its warehouses. Engineers settled on a six-propeller design that takes off vertically before cruising like a plane. The first model to make regular customer deliveries, the MK27, was succeeded last year by the MK30, which flies at about 67 miles an hour and can deliver packages up to 7.5 miles from its launch point. The craft takes off, flies and lands autonomously. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Bringing plants indoors instantly adds life to any space, but for many plant lovers, the real fun begins when caring for their leafy friends feels interactive. What if your favorite snake plant or pothos could actually communicate its moods and needs? The Smart Plant Ivy planter is here to turn that dream into a playful reality, transforming your green companion into a true character in your home. At first glance, Ivy looks like a stylish planter that blends effortlessly into any decor, from cozy living rooms to modern offices. But hidden inside is some impressive technology: an AI-powered chip that lets the planter keep tabs on everything your plant needs. This isn’t just about watering on a schedule. Smart Plant Ivy automatically senses water, light, and temperature, keeping your plant happy without the guesswork. Designer: Smart Plant Ivy What really makes Ivy stand out is its personality. Using over 70 different emoji-like expressions, Ivy lets you know exactly how your plant is feeling. Is it thirsty, chilly, or basking in just the right amount of sunshine? Ivy’s little screen gives you instant feedback, while a touch of the leaves or a gentle pat on the pot can prompt it to smile or even “wag” in response. It’s a bit like having a virtual pet, only this one helps your plants thrive. This playful interactivity is powered by seven built-in sensors tracking everything from soil moisture and water levels to humidity and light intensity. Even better, Ivy doesn’t play favorites. Its smart system adapts to over 40 supported plant types, and its AI ensures any plant you choose gets personalized care. Just fill the water reservoir, plant your favorite greenery, and let the technology do its magic. Integration with smart home platforms is seamless. Ivy works with Apple HomeKit, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa, making it easy to keep track of your plant’s needs from your phone or through voice controls. Whether you’re away for the weekend or busy at work, you can check in on your green friend’s mood and make sure it’s living its best life. The real joy of Smart Plant Ivy is watching it interact and adapt to your care. Each day brings different expressions and reactions, making your plant feel more like a companion than a piece of decor. For anyone who loves the idea of giving houseplants a bit of heart and personality, Ivy brings technology and nature closer together, one cheerful emoji at a time. The post Smart Planter Gives Your Green Pet Some Personality first appeared on Yanko Design.

ZDNET's key takeaways The new Ecovacs Deebot N30 Omni originally launched for $799, but is on sale at $400This midrange robot vacuum and mop features auto-emptying, mop washing and drying, and strong suction, which we were able to confirm during testingThe downside is that the Deebot N30 Omni doesn't boast the best obstacle avoidance capabilities, which significantly hinders how often you have to rescue it after it gets stuck on a small object. $399.99 at Amazon The Ecovacs Deebot N30 Omni is currently on sale for $400, a 50% discount off its full price of $800.I've tested robot vacuums in all price ranges, and if I were in the market for one, I'd go with a midrange model. These robot vacuums typically range between $400 and $1,000, a decidedly affordable alternative to a flagship vacuum that costs $1,800 or $1,900.Also: This Ecovacs robot vacuum and mop is a sleeper hit, and it handles carpeting like a champBecause you're compromising on price, you can also expect to compromise on features. Some units, however, are rare unicorns in the market, with high-end features for a surprisingly affordable price. Such is the case with the new Ecovacs N20 Series and the Ecovacs Deebot N30 Omni, which are priced at $550 and $800, respectively. details View at Amazon Ecovacs refers to these robot vacuums as "entry-level," but they're more midrange in pricing than anything else. The features, however, align with more high-end models nearing the $2,000 mark.Also: My picks for the best robot vacuums for pet hair of 2025: Roomba, Eufy, Ecovacs, and moreI've been testing the Ecovacs Deebot N30 Omni for a couple of weeks, subjecting it to different kinds of obstacles and debris. It performs much better than you'd expect for an $800 robot vacuum and mop, with some caveats.The Deebot N30 Omni features 10,000Pa suction power and a Zero Tangle brush roller that easily scoops up pet hair and debris. One of its two rotating mop pads can extend into corners, using Ecovacs' TruEdge Adaptive Edge mopping technology to thoroughly clean corners often missed by robot vacuums and mops. Maria Diaz/ZDNETThe Omni station seems to perform as well as the Deebot X2 Omni (priced at $1,500 at launch). During a cleaning session, the robot periodically docks itself to wash its mop pads and then returns to continue cleaning. It also automatically empties its dustbin into a large dustbag inside the dock, which you only have to change every 75 days.Also: This robot vacuum might be better at cleaning than me - and I'm a neat freakThis type of hands-free convenience typically costs over $1,000. A lower price typically implies some compromises, and the N30 Omni is no exception, as I found when I subjected it to controlled and typical home environment testing. Ecovacs/ZDNETIn my controlled testing, I found that the Deebot N30 Omni was about 83% as effective at picking up all the debris on hard floors, a pretty decent performance for its price range. That means the robot can pick up most dust, pet hair, crumbs, or debris on your floors in a single cleaning session.Also: This robot mower has no boundary wire or antenna - here's how it handled my yardThe biggest drawback comes in this robot vacuum and mop's ability to avoid obstacles. The Deebot N30 doesn't feature top-of-the-line LiDAR sensors or AI-powered obstacle avoidance, but I wouldn't expect these in a robot in this price range. Maria Diaz/ZDNETThis N30 robot vacuum was prone to getting its brush roller stuck on small obstacles, like socks and toys, strewn about the floor, about 33% of the time. I did a test with pet waste, and it either pushed it or tried to vacuum it up half the time. If the pet waste were real, then the robot would have likely spread it all over my house, which would have been atrocious.Also: I tested a robot vacuum with zero-tangling technology - here's my buying advice after a monthHigh-end models feature more advanced obstacle avoidance, including additional pet waste avoidance features. Some, like the iRobot Roomba Combo J7+ and Dreame X40 Ultra, even use AI-powered visual recognition to discern what pet waste is and what a dust bunny is. You'll have to pay more for these extra obstacle avoidance features. Maria Diaz/ZDNETAlthough the robot creates a map of an area within a few minutes upon setup, I also found that it only stuck to its original map about 70% of the time. Other times, it skipped spots or didn't cover the entire floor area, leaving untouched lines between its paths. This is also common with many robot vacuums, even far more expensive ones. Also: This $80 device is probably the only indoor security camera you'll needRunning it in my home, which isn't a controlled environment and is subject to a lot of activity from three kids and a dog, I found the robot performed similarly to the controlled testing. For example, it confirmed the obstacle avoidance shortcomings by getting stuck on an extension cord during its first cleaning after mapping.ZDNET's buying adviceThe Ecovacs Deebot N30 Omni is a workhorse for homes with high dirt and pet hair, provided your pets are trained to go potty outside. The N30 features outstanding 10,000Pa suction that was effective against dust, pet hair, and Cheerios in my home and kept my floors clean daily. It also features a long battery life, with up to 320 minutes on a single charge.The Deebot N30 Omni and N20 Omni are perfect for anyone looking to upgrade from an entry-level or budget robot vacuum. This is especially true if you don't have kids who leave stuff all over your home or you don't mind getting your cords off the floor before a cleaning session. What are the tariffs in the US? The recent US tariffs on imports from countries like China, Vietnam, and India aim to boost domestic manufacturing but are likely to drive up prices on consumer electronics. Products like smartphones, laptops, and TVs may become more expensive as companies rethink global supply chains and weigh the cost of shifting production.Consumers may also experience notable price increases on robot vacuums and smart home products. Manufacturers are exploring options such as relocating production to countries with lower tariffs, but such transitions are complex and may not provide immediate relief. In the short term, shoppers should anticipate higher costs for robot vacuums due to these trade policies. Show more When will this deal expire? While many sales events feature deals for a specific length of time, deals are on a limited-time basis, making them subject to expire anytime. ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best offers to help you maximize your savings so you can feel as confident in your purchases as we feel in our recommendations. Our ZDNET team of experts constantly monitors the deals we feature to keep our stories up-to-date. If you missed out on this deal, don't worry -- we're always sourcing new savings opportunities at ZDNET.com. Show more Featured reviews

Public service announcement: don't point your phone camera directly at a lidar sensor.A video recently shared on Reddit demonstrates why. As the camera zooms in on the sensor affixed to the top of a Volvo EX90, a whole galaxy of colorful dots is burned into the image, forming over the exact spot that the flashing light inside the lidar device can be seen. What you're witnessing isn't lens flare or a digital glitch — it's real, physical damage to the camera. And it's permanent."Lidar lasers burn your camera," the Reddit user warned. Lidar is short for light detection and ranging, and it's become the go-to way for automakers to enable their self-driving cars to "see" their surroundings (unless you're Tesla, that is). The sensors work, essentially, by shooting a constant stream of infrared laser beams to measure the distance to nearby objects, which a computer uses to form a 3D reconstruction of everything in the vicinity of the vehicle.We can't see the laser beams since they're in a wavelength outside the range of human vision. But cameras, on the other hand, are all too sensitive to the powerful beams. Their delicate little sensors can be damaged if they're brought too close to a lidar source, or if a long lens is used to look at one. As in its coverage, this is why backup cameras are usually unaffected, since they use an ultra-wide angle lens. In the video, you'll also notice that the burn-in damage disappears when the camera zooms out: that's the camera transitioning from a long lens to its undamaged short one.To its credit, Volvo explicitly warns about lidar damage on its support page and its owners manual, but that hasn't stopped a few surprised owners from learning about it the hard way. And honestly, we can't really blame them. The phenomenon has even caught a self-driving car engineer off-guard, who discovered that their $2,000 Sony camera's sensor was permanently fried after attending a CES show where lidar-equipped cars were being exhibited.This is a risk with potentially any car's lidar tech and not just Volvo's, to be clear. After The Drive reached out, the Swedish automaker doubled down on its warning."It's generally advised to avoid pointing a camera directly at a lidar sensor," a Volvo representative told The Drive. "The laser light emitted by the lidar can potentially damage the camera's sensor or affect its performance.""Using filters or protective covers on the camera lens can help reduce the impact of lidar exposure," the Volvo rep added. "Some cameras are designed with built-in protections against high-intensity light sources."If reading all this has you worried about your eyeballs, fret not: according to experts, the lidar beams used in cars are harmless. Volvo's lidar system, for example, uses 1550-nanometer lasers, and at that wavelength, the light can't even reach the retina. We still wouldn't recommend staring at them, though.More on phones:Trump Believes Entire iPhones Can Be Manufactured in AmericaShare This Article

Higher power Do these Buddhist gods hint at the purpose of China’s super-secret satellites? Until recently, China's entries in the realm of spaceflight patches often lacked originality. Stephen Clark – May 17, 2025 1:00 pm | 14 This illustration of Chíguó, protector of the east in Buddhism's Four Heavenly Kings, shows the divine being strumming a pipa, a traditional Chinese musical instrument. Credit: Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology This illustration of Chíguó, protector of the east in Buddhism's Four Heavenly Kings, shows the divine being strumming a pipa, a traditional Chinese musical instrument. Credit: Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more Mission patches are a decades-old tradition in spaceflight. They can range from the figurative to the abstract, prompting valuable insights or feeding confusion. Some are just plain weird. Ars published a story a few months ago on spaceflight patches from NASA, SpaceX, Russia, and the NRO, the US government's spy satellite agency, which is responsible for some of the most head-scratching mission logos. Until recently, China's entries in the realm of spaceflight patches often lacked the originality found in patches from the West. For example, a series of patches for China's human spaceflight missions used a formulaic design with a circular shape and a mix of red and blue. The patch for China's most recent Shenzhou crew to the country's Tiangong space station last month finally broke the mold with a triangular shape after China's human spaceflight agency put the patch up for a public vote. But there's a fascinating set of new patches Chinese officials released for a series of launches with top secret satellites over the last two months. These four patches depict Buddhist gods with a sense of artistry and sharp colors that stand apart from China's previous spaceflight emblems, and perhaps—or perhaps not—they can tell us something about the nature of the missions they represent. Guardians of the Dharma The four patches show the Four Heavenly Kings, protector deities in Buddhism who guard against evil forces in the four cardinal directions, according to the Kyoto National Museum. The gods also shield the Dharma, the teachings of the Buddha, from external threats. These gods have different names, but in China, they are known as Duōwén, Zēngzhǎng, Chíguó, and Guăngmù. Duōwén is the commander and the guardian of the north, the "one who listens to many teachings," who is often depicted with an umbrella. Zēngzhǎng, guardian of the south, is a god of growth shown carrying a sword. The protector of the east is Chíguó, defender of the nation, who holds a stringed musical instrument. And guarding the west is Guăngmù, an all-seeing god usually depicted with a serpent. The patches for a quartet of Chinese satellites launched since March each portray one of the Four Heavenly Kings. We know little about these satellites, other than their names and locations, and they were reportedly manufactured by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, a division of China's main state-owned aerospace contractor. They are part of a series of Chinese missions known as Tongxin Jishu Shiyan (TJS), or what China calls communication technology test satellites. But that's likely a cover for their real purpose. This artwork released by one of China's state-run space companies shows the Four Heavenly Kings. Clockwise, in order of launch from the upper left: TJS-15 as King of the West, TJS-16 as King of the East, TJS-17 as King of the North, and TJS-19 as King of the South. Credit: Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology China launched TJS-15, the first satellite with a Heavenly King mascot, on March 9 aboard a Long March 3B rocket. A Long March 7A rocket launched the TJS-16 satellite March 29, and another Long March 3B deployed the TJS-17 payload April 10. Finally, on Monday, a Long March 3C rocket sent China's TJS-19 satellite into orbit, skipping TJS-18 in the sequence. All four satellites are on their way to, or already operating in, geosynchronous orbit more than 22,000 miles (nearly 36,000 kilometers) over the equator. At that altitude, a satellite's orbital velocity matches the speed of Earth's rotation, allowing it to remain over the same part of the planet. Notably, ground-based trackers have detected unexpected objects that appear to have separated from TJS-15 and TJS-17 in geosynchronous orbit. These may be remnant rocket engines that helped inject the satellites into their operating orbits, but a handful of earlier Chinese satellites also released smaller spacecraft to perform their own maneuvers. Orbital intrigue US officials believe China uses many of the TJS satellites for missile warning or spy missions. In the first instance, some of the TJS satellites may be similar to the US Space Force's fleet of early warning satellites, on guard with heat sensors to detect the thermal signature of a ballistic missile launch. TJS satellites filling the role of a reconnaissance mission might have enormous umbrella-like reflectors to try and pick up signals transmitted by foreign forces, such as those of the United States. It's not difficult to start making connections between the Four Heavenly Gods and the missions that China's TJS satellites likely carry out in space. A protector with an umbrella? An all-seeing entity? This sounds like a possible link, but there's a chance Chinese officials approved the patches to misdirect outside observers, or there's no connection at all. All of the TJS satellites are parked in geosynchronous orbit over the Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, or the Western Pacific, except for one—TJS-7—positioned over the Eastern Pacific, with good visibility over the entire United States. A Long March 7A rocket carrying the TJS-16 satellite lifts off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on March 30, 2025, in Wenchang, Hainan Province of China. Credit: Liu Guoxing/VCG via Getty Images Mike Dahm, a researcher at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies and a former naval intelligence officer, told the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission last year that TJS-7 is probably a missile warning satellite, but it could be spying on signals coming from the US homeland. Some of the TJS satellites might also be capable of maneuvering near other satellites for closeup inspection. The US military has its own inspector satellites, known as GSSAP, to get a closer look at interesting things happening in geosynchronous orbit. And the Space Force is using them. One of these GSSAP platforms, designated USA-324, approached within about 10 miles of China's new TJS-16 and TJS-17 satellites on April 26 and April 29, according to COMSPOC, a commercial satellite tracking company. A video animation released by COMSPOC, embedded below, shows how the USA-324 satellite maneuvered close to each of the Chinese satellites last month over the Western Pacific Ocean. It seems the Space Force is intrigued by China's flurry of new top secret satellites missions, too. Stephen Clark Space Reporter Stephen Clark Space Reporter Stephen Clark is a space reporter at Ars Technica, covering private space companies and the world’s space agencies. Stephen writes about the nexus of technology, science, policy, and business on and off the planet. 14 Comments

The first time I encountered someone listening to their phone out loud in public, it was on a city bus and I was taken aback for two reasons. First, the volume level on the phone wasn’t just audible to the person sitting next to them; our entire section of the bus could hear it. Second, it was a FaceTime call, and neither the person on the bus, nor their caller seemed to be the slightest bit hesitant to carry on their conversation in public. In fact, they appeared completely oblivious. That was a few years ago. Since then, the problem of listening out loud has gotten much worse. I’ve encountered it in grocery stores, airport lounges, coffee shops, and even when just walking on the sidewalk. And it’s not just phone calls/FaceTime. Music, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram — you name it. If it’s got an audio track, I’ve heard it blaring from the speaker of someone’s phone. During a recent episode of the New York Times’ excellent tech podcast, Hard Fork, a listener referred to the problem as an epidemic, and I don’t think that’s hyperbole. Recommended Videos We all know the solution: just use a set of wired or wireless headphones or earbuds. It’s that simple. Except, maybe it’s not. I’ll give these folks the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps they’ve fallen victim to misinformation — myths about headphones and earbuds — and that’s the reason they do what they do. With that in mind, allow me to dispel a few of the more common misunderstandings about headphones and earbuds. They’re too expensive In 2016, when Apple launched the first-gen AirPods, wireless earbuds were indeed pricey gadgets. That was almost a decade ago, and since then, the market for wireless earbuds and headphones has become heavily commoditized. Yes, the biggest brands still sell their best products for hundreds of dollars, but there’s also an ocean of less expensive alternatives that can be had for as little as $20. The affordable products aren’t worth buying Simon Cohen / Digital Trends Five or six years ago, I’d have strongly agreed with that statement. Today, it’s no longer true. Take Moondrop’s Space Travel earbuds as an example. I’ve been using these $30 wireless earbuds for a month and they’re shockingly good for the basics. They’re comfy, they sound great, and they even provide a small amount of active noise cancellation (ANC). They’re also fine for calls, as long as it’s not too windy or noisy. Sure, they’re missing lots of the extras you’ll find on more expensive buds, like wireless charging, Multipoint, and wear sensors. Their battery life is similarly basic at just four hours per charge (12 total when you include their funky, transparent block of a charging case). But the point is, they do what we need every set of earbuds to do and they cost less than an average meal for a family of four at McDonalds. Even if you spend less than $30, the odds are good that they’ll at least sound decent. They may not blow you away, but the days of truly awful sound are behind us. Here’s a list of the best wireless earbuds and headphones under $100. I have an iPhone so I need AirPods Simon Cohen / Digital Trends I’m sure Apple would love it if this were true, but nope. Any set of Bluetooth earbuds or headphones will work with any iPhone. I’ve tested hundreds of these products and I’ve still never found one that wouldn’t connect to my iPhone. I’ve heard it said — even by those who should know better — that if you’re an iPhone owner, you should use AirPods because the connection is more reliable. I don’t know of any studies that demonstrate this and my own experience doesn’t back that belief up. However, it is true that when connection problems occur, they’re more often related to the design and engineering of the earbuds/headphones rather than the phone. And since Apple’s AirPods are — whether you like them or not — very well engineered for connection quality, they may be more reliable than lesser products. I can’t wear earbuds; they’re painful or they just fall out Simon Cohen / Digital Trends Now this is not a myth. A lot of people find it hard or impossible to keep earbuds in their ears simply because of how their anatomy is shaped. The good news is, there are now more options than ever, including the newest category of earbuds known as open-ear earbuds. Typically, earbuds are semi-open, which means they sit in front of your ear canal (but don’t seal it with silicone tips) — think AirPods 4 — or, closed, which do seal the ear canal opening (e.g. AirPods Pro). Both types rely on contact with your ear’s concha to stay put. If you’ve got a tiny concha, or an irregularly shaped concha, these types of earbuds just won’t fit correctly, no matter what you do. However, open-ear earbuds are different. They come in two main styles: earhook and ear clip. Both position their speakers just outside of the ear canal, which eliminates any discomfort associated with having an object up against that area. Earhooks, as the name suggest, wrap around the top of your ear (and provide a very secure fit), while ear clips wrap around the side. If you’ve ever struggled to get a good fit with traditional wireless earbuds, open-ears are a superb alternative. Check out our list of the best open-ear earbuds for some suggested models. Just keep in mind, open-ears are, well, open: they can’t block any external sounds. This can be helpful for staying aware of your surroundings, having conversations with others, and they’re excellent for phone calls because you can hear your own voice naturally. But there will be times where those external noises are annoyingly intrusive — it’s just the nature of the beast. Alternatively, most people find wireless headphones very comfortable. I prefer wired earbuds/headphones but my phone doesn’t have a headphone jack Simon Cohen / Digital Trends It’s true. You’ll be hard pressed to find smartphones with headphone jacks unless you go for a niche product like the Sony Xperia 1 VII or the Moondrop MIAD01, which has not one, but two jacks. But that doesn’t mean you can’t connect a set of wired earbuds or headphones. In fact, you have several options. By far the easiest and most affordable way to go is with a USB-C-to-3.5mm adapter. These tiny and inexpensive accessories plug into your phone’s charging port and turn them into headphone jacks. Inside, each of these adapters has a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), which does the all of the heavy lifting of turning your phone’s digital music into something your headphones can reproduce as sound. These DACs are often basic, rarely exceeding 24-bit/48kHz, but for most folks, that’s more than enough quality. If you’re still rocking an iPhone with a Lightning port, don’t worry — there are plenty of adapters for your phone too. Apple makes one that’s just $10. The only thing to double-check when you go to buy, is whether or not the adapter supports two-way audio, so you can continue using your earbuds’ or headphones’ inline mic for voice calls. A step up from simple adapter is a dedicated external DAC/amp. These devices are aimed at folks who care a great deal about audio quality and can range in price from $50 to $450 and up. Their biggest advantage is that they can process hi-res audio at the highest levels (typically up to 24-bit/192kHz or higher) and many of them are designed to work with audiophile-grade earbuds and headphones, which often require more voltage to sound their best (that’s the amp part). It’s rare for these devices to support two-way audio, so check the specs if that’s important. If you don’t already own a set of wired earbuds or headphones, you may want to look for some that come with a USB-C plug. These are becoming increasingly popular, and they basically stick a DAC with a USB-C plug at the end of their wire. Other than that one feature, they’re the same wired products that we’ve had access to for years, and they frequently include an inline mic and remote buttons. I wish I could say I’m confident that this round of myth-busting will convince all those who listen out loud to change their ways — I suspect that’s unlikely. What I can do is share this brilliant scene from 1986’s Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home as a reminder that this is not a new problem.