Articles by Ted Kritsonis

Samsung has taken more than a few cracks at different product categories, and smartwatches have been no exception. With several attempts at getting it right already in the books through new smartwatches and fitness trackers every year. We take a look at some of the best available, including the newest of the bunch with the Galaxy Watch 3 and its stylish take on telling more than just time.

Best Overall: Samsung Galaxy Watch 3

After focusing on its more fitness-focused smartwatches in 2019, Samsung pivots back to its more refined design philosophy with the Galaxy Watch 3. The watch isn’t radical in sporting any sort of redesign, and it will look familiar to anyone who knows Samsung’s smartwatches. But it is smaller, lighter and thinner, which could make it more appealing to a greater subset of wearers. The genuine leather band is casual and elegant all at once, and the standard lugs mean you can always strap on another one.

It’s also feature-laden, though a couple of key ones wil…

The best wireless earbuds are comfortable, sound great, and have long-lasting battery life. These tiny headphones from companies like Jabra, Samsung, Sennheiser, Sony and others are almost as important as the phones we have in our pockets, and the market has become crowded over the years with options. We’ve reviewed a sizeable number of models available, and rated the absolute leaders of the pack, helping you find the best fit and value for your ears and budget. Our buyer’s guide will help you navigate this space and find the pair that suits your needs and tastes the best, no matter what you like listening to.

What are the best wireless earbuds you can buy today?

Which wireless earbuds, like any pair of headphones, are right for you is subjective in a few key ways. They have to fit right, feel comfortable over longer periods, and produce sound that’s pleasing to your ears. If audio fidelity is paramount for you, there are good options for that, just as there are options for being…

For some, the Apple Watch is considered the gold standard of smartwatches, but whether it is or not makes no difference to Android users who couldn’t use it even if they wanted to. The best Apple Watch alternative for Android users that stands out from the pack is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 because of its balanced functionality and stylish design that caters to a wider subset of users. There are plenty of other options worth exploring, too.

Best Overall: Samsung Galaxy Watch 3

After focusing for over a year on the Active models in its Galaxy Watch lineup, Samsung came back this year with a newer premium design. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 offers a slimmer frame and while it’s not quite as small as the Active models, there are 41mm and 45mm sizes to choose from.

The biggest design treatment setting this watch apart from others is the trusty physical rotating bezel that makes navigation feel fluid when wading through the various menus and options. You can still tap on the screen if…

The best wireless earbuds are comfortable, sound great, and have long-lasting battery life. These tiny headphones from companies like Jabra, Samsung, Sennheiser, Sony and others are almost as important as the phones we have in our pockets, and the market has become crowded over the years with options. We’ve reviewed a sizeable number of models available, and rated the absolute leaders of the pack, helping you find the best fit and value for your ears and budget. Our buyer’s guide will help you navigate this space and find the pair that suits your needs and tastes the best, no matter what you like listening to.

Top 6 wireless earbuds, at a glance

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro — Best Overall: Samsung brings it all together with improved sound, ANC, and a number of other features.
Jabra Elite 75t — Best Value: A sleek, comfortable fit with complementing solid sound.
Jabra Elite 85t — Best Upgrade: Jabra finally brings proper ANC to its vaunted earbuds.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wirele…

All aboard

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro

$200 at Amazon $200 at Best Buy

Pros

Bolder sound
Solid ANC performance
Dynamic ambient mode
360-degree audio ability
Significant water resistance
Smaller charging case

Cons

Fit requires more fidgeting
Proprietary ear tips
Lower battery life than predecessors

Samsung endeavored to include as many features as possible into these earbuds, resulting in a combination that works together to be handy in certain situations. Active noise cancelation and ambient mode complement the sound quality and increased water resistance.

Almost there

AirPods Pro

$199 at Amazon $235 at Best Buy

Pros

Excellent noise cancelation
Transparency mode works very well
Spatial audio is cool
Super comfortable design
Playback gestures are great
Compact, high-quality charging case

Cons

So-so battery life
No customizability on Android
Lightning for charging
Not as resistant to water and sweat

Without question, these are the best earbuds Apple has ma…

Samsung fans have finally entered the modern smartphone age — the age of phones with no headphone jack. Unless you use wireless headphones or have that odd pair of USB-C earbuds, you’re going to need an adapter to get the most out of your new Galaxy S20 or S21 together with your favorite set of cans. The dongle life can be cumbersome, so we give you options to pick the adapter that fits your needs, whether you need a long cord or short, a fixed dongle or flexible, and even some surprising options that will give you the most flexibility. These are the best USB-C audio adapters for the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S21.

Audio Powered

Accguys USB-C to 3.5mm Headphone Adapter

Staff Pick

This Accguys adapter isn’t the smallest, but it does pack a headphone port and a spare USB-C power port, plus the onboard audio chip means you’ll get the best sound from your device.

$16 at Amazon

Simple Cord

JSAUX USB Type C to 3.5mm

This simple yet effective adapter can bend a lot without br…

Bolder choices

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro

$200 at Samsung

Pros

Bolder sound
Solid ANC performance
Dynamic ambient mode
360 audio ability
Significant water resistance
Smaller charging case

Cons

Fit requires more fidgeting
Proprietary ear tips
Lower battery life

Samsung crammed in as much of the tech that was previously missing as possible. Not only is there dynamic active noise cancelation at work, but it also works in reverse with a lively ambient mode. That’s all on top of a bolder sound and better water and sweat resistance for workouts.

Staying true

Samsung Galaxy Buds+

$110 at Amazon $110 at Best Buy $110 at Walmart

Pros

Tried and true design
Outstanding battery life
Comfortable fit
Lively color options
More affordable price

Cons

Touch controls can be finicky
No ANC support
Larger case

Samsung righted some important wrongs when they made these earbuds as successors to the originals, and the benefits are a major leap in battery life, plus improved au…

If your budget for a pair of headphones allows, then one among the best wireless headphones under $100 is within reach. They range from over-ear headphones to true wireless earbuds, giving you some variety to select from. For the best of the bunch, you’d have to start with the Sennheiser HD 4.40 BT because of their excellent sound quality, comfort and consistency.

Best Overall: Sennheiser HD 4.40 BT

Sennheiser doesn’t often compete on aesthetics, but the company is very consistent in its audio prowess. Even at a price range like this, the HD 4.40 BT are the best wireless headphones under $100, proving that you get real bang for your buck. It might be somewhat surprising, given they came out in 2017, but they’re still available and sound just as good as today’s headphones.

Granted, the sound signature here isn’t on Sennheiser’s regular audiophile level, opting to go with a more crowd-pleasing soundstage that slightly boosts the bass. Despite that, it works really well for multipl…

Best answer: Yes, but not in the way you’d want expensive headphones to work. Apple’s AirPods Max are premium over-ear Bluetooth headphones built with features that have some exclusivity attached to them for iOS users. Given the price, there are premium alternatives that do more for less.

Maxing out: AirPods Max ($549 at Best Buy)

What the AirPods Max can do

The AirPods Max have H1 chips in both ear cups. It’s the same chip introduced in the second-generation AirPods that facilitated the super-fast pairing and easy access to Siri through voice activation. The improved battery management means the headphones won’t die faster since they’re constantly listening for the “Hey Siri,” command, plus you get longer talk time for calls.

Apple put in a digital crown like the one from the Apple Watch as the primary form of onboard control for volume, skipping/repeating tracks, making phone calls and activating Siri. There are nine microphones, eight of which are included to handle the ac…

A TV is usually a major purchase for any entertainment setup, especially when you’re looking for one that can display in 4K and HDR. The Chromecast is a great streaming device to get the content you love at the highest resolution and dynamic range, but you need a TV that supports the standards as well. The LG CX 4K Smart OLED TV is a beautiful screen that fits in everywhere, with great variances in size, and a feature set that is perfectly ideal as the best 4K TV for Chromecast.

Best Overall: LG CX 4K Smart OLED TV

LG’s OLED TVs are a thing of beauty. They bring nearly perfect blacks and vivid colors with incredibly sharp images and crystal-clear motion. If you want a top-notch TV, look no further than the LG OLED. They come in sizes from 48-77 inches, and all come complete with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant built-in, plus Dolby Atmos sound, Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG for 4K HDR content.

There’s more where all that came from. LG’s CX series has the Alpha a9 III processor p…