• Blood-Pressure Smartwatches Go Mainstream: Cutting-edge smartwatches now help detect hypertension. The new Apple Watch Series 11 can flag signs of high blood pressure using optical sensors and machine learning apple.com apple.com. Meanwhile, Samsung, Huawei, and Omron offer watches with actual blood pressure readings – some even use tiny inflatable cuffs for direct measurements wareable.com wareable.com.
• Accuracy and Approvals: Early studies show these wearables can come within ~±3 mmHg of a standard cuff if used properly wareable.com wareable.com. Huawei’s Watch D, for instance, proved generally in line with a medical monitor in tests wareable.com. Regulatory green lights are increasing (Omron’s HeartGuide earned FDA clearance in 2018 innovationsincrm.com innovationsincrm.com, and in 2025 the Aktiia “Hilo” cuffless wristband became the first FDA-cleared optical BP monitor fiercebiotech.com fiercebiotech.com). Still, most smartwatch BP features remain region-limited and require calibration (e.g. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch BP app isn’t FDA-approved yet and must be re-calibrated monthly with a real cuff) news.samsung.com.
• Limitations & Expert Take: These wearables estimate or monitor BP trends – they’re not full replacements for a proper cuff. Apple’s new Watch will alert you to possible hypertension, but it won’t spit out exact systolic/diastolic numbers forbes.com. Cardiologists applaud the potential to catch silent hypertension early, but caution about accuracy and context. “Addressing hypertension is critical… however, it’s important to know how accurate the diagnosis will be,” notes Dr. Sanket Dhruva of UCSF, who urges that users be at rest and confirm high readings via traditional methods statnews.com statnews.com. Even Apple acknowledges its algorithm “won’t detect all instances” of high BP statnews.com – it’s a screening tool, not a definitive test.
• AirPods Pro 3: Earbuds as Health Monitors: Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 blur the line between audio gadget and wellness device. They’re the first earbuds from Apple (and among the first globally) with a built-in heart-rate sensor in each bud theverge.com. The tiny PPG sensor shines infrared light to read your pulse from the ear, letting you track heart rate during workouts without a watch theverge.com theverge.com. The new AirPods also double down on hearing wellness – they feature Adaptive Audio that automatically adjusts noise cancellation vs. transparency to protect your ears, and will even lower volume for sudden loud sounds to prevent hearing damage blog.google. Apple’s iOS integrates AirPods with its Health app, logging metrics like headphone volume exposure to guard your long-term hearing.
• Earbud Showdown – Apple vs. Samsung vs. Google vs. Bose vs. Sony: AirPods Pro 3 stepped up with “world’s best ANC” (Apple claims 2× better noise canceling than the last gen) theverge.com, a Live Translation mode that turns foreign speech into your language in real-time theverge.com, and an improved design (smaller buds with foam tips in 5 sizes for a tighter fit and IP57 water resistance) theverge.com 9to5mac.com. Samsung’s Galaxy Buds2 Pro / Buds3 Pro hold their own – they boast hi-fi sound with dual drivers and 24-bit audio support, plus an Ambient Sound mode that a clinical study found can help people with mild hearing loss hear conversations better samsung.com samsung.com. Google’s Pixel Buds Pro (2nd gen) lean into smart features: a custom Tensor chip for Adaptive Audio (the buds auto-adjust noise blocking based on your environment) and Loud Noise Protection to spare your ears from sudden blaring sounds blog.google. They also offer hands-free Google Assistant and even head-gesture controls (nod to answer calls!) – a showcase of Google’s AI in earbuds. Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2023) are the ANC kings – Bose long held the noise-cancelling crown in this category ts2.tech. The QC Ultra delivered elite noise neutralization (now with Dolby Atmos spatial audio added) and rich, balanced sound, making them a top pick for travelers and audiophiles seeking pure listening bliss. Sony’s WF-1000XM5, similarly, is widely praised as one of 2023’s best all-around earbuds, marrying crisp, audiophile-grade sound with Sony’s famed noise cancellation in a smaller, more comfortable design. Reviewers noted its “great sound quality and noise canceling performance” and compact, comfortable fit loudnwireless.com loudnwireless.com – plus support for advanced Bluetooth codecs (LDAC, LC3) for high-res audio that AirPods (with their AAC) don’t officially match.

Smartwatches That Monitor Blood Pressure (2025 Edition)

Smartwatches are getting surprisingly adept at tracking blood pressure – one of the most vital (and tricky) health metrics. In 2025, you can actually buy watches that measure or detect blood pressure in various ways. Below we break down the major models and how they work, from true cuff-based devices to clever cuffless sensors:

• Apple Watch Series 11 & Ultra 3 (2025) – Cuffless detection of hypertension. Apple took a different approach by focusing on hypertension notifications rather than giving on-demand BP readings. The Series 11 (and Ultra 3) introduced an algorithm that analyzes subtle changes in your wrist’s blood vessels via the optical heart-rate sensor apple.com. Over ~30 days it looks for patterns of elevated pressure and will alert you of “signs of chronic high blood pressure” if it consistently detects anomalies apple.com apple.com. In essence, it’s passively screening you for hypertension in the background. Apple trained this feature on data from over 100,000 people and validated it in a 2,000-person clinical study apple.com. While it’s not going to display your exact BP (you’ll get a notification if it suspects hypertension), it could be hugely impactful given Apple Watch’s wide user base – Apple expects over 1 million users could get alerted to undiagnosed hypertension in the first year of rollout apple.com apple.com. Importantly, Apple advises anyone who gets a high-BP alert to confirm with a traditional cuff measurement over 7 days apple.com. As of late 2025, Apple’s hypertension alert feature was pending FDA clearance (and approvals in 150+ countries) apple.com. Experts like Yale cardiologist Harlan Krumholz are optimistic, saying making blood pressure detection “easy and part of daily life can help people get care earlier and prevent avoidable harm” apple.com. Just remember: the Watch isn’t actually measuring your BP in mmHg – it’s using an AI model to infer if your patterns resemble a hypertensive person’s. Think of it as an early warning system.

• Samsung Galaxy Watch Series (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) – Cuffless readings via PPG (optical sensor), with calibration. Samsung was one of the first big names to offer on-device blood pressure estimates. Starting with the Galaxy Watch 3 (2020), Samsung’s watches use pulse wave analysis from their optical heart sensor to estimate your BP wareable.com. You must calibrate the watch against a real cuff periodically (typically every 4 weeks) for it to stay accurate news.samsung.com. How does it work? Essentially, you take a few readings with a standard arm cuff, input those into the Samsung Health Monitor app, and the watch then uses its sensor data (like pulse transit time changes) to gauge your blood pressure on the fly thereafter wareable.com. It can output actual systolic/diastolic numbers in the app. Users in countries like South Korea and parts of Europe have been able to use this for a while, but notably Samsung’s BP feature is not yet FDA-approved for use in the U.S reddit.com theverge.com. In fact, as of early 2025, U.S. Galaxy Watch owners still can’t officially access the BP app reddit.com. (Samsung has gotten FDA clearance for ECG on its watches theverge.com, but blood pressure has remained elusive). For those in regions where it’s enabled, the experience is generally positive for tracking trends, though it’s not a replacement for a real monitor. Samsung footnotes remind users that the watch “cannot diagnose hypertension” or screen for acute conditions – it’s meant for wellness checks news.samsung.com. Accuracy depends on faithful calibration; Samsung recommends recalibrating monthly news.samsung.com. In practice, reviews have found the Galaxy Watch’s BP readings surprisingly close to cuff measurements after proper calibration, but if you forget to recalibrate, all bets are off. Bottom line: Samsung’s watches can measure your blood pressure (estimated), giving you convenient insight into trends, but U.S. users will have to wait for FDA clearance (many have been vocal, “Come on Samsung, get on with it!” amazon.com).

• Huawei Watch D (and D2) – Miniature cuff inside the band for real measurements. Huawei took a more direct route to wrist BP. The Watch D, launched in China in late 2021 and later in Europe, actually has a tiny inflatable bladder in the strap – effectively a micro-cuff that tightens around your wrist to take a blood pressure reading the classic oscillometric way wareable.com wareable.com. It’s chunkier than a typical smartwatch (and unmistakably a “medical” gadget in looks), but it yields real systolic and diastolic measurements. Using Huawei’s TruBP algorithm plus the hardware, it takes about 30 seconds to inflate and measure wareable.com. You hold your arm still at heart level while it measures, just as you would in a doctor’s office (the watch even warns you if your posture or movement might mess up the reading) wareable.com wareable.com. Huawei says the Watch D’s readings have a margin of error around ±3 mmHg, comparable to standard home BP cuffs wareable.com. Reviews back this up: when testers compared Watch D readings to a traditional cuff, the results were “generally in line or within that margin of error” as long as the watch was worn correctly and the user stayed still wareable.com wareable.com. Essentially, it can be as accurate as a typical home monitor. The device is CE-certified in Europe as a medical device, though (like many Huawei products) it’s not available in the U.S. It also offers an ECG feature and other health metrics, but blood pressure is its headline. The Huawei Watch D2, released in 2023, refined the design (slightly slimmer) and kept the same BP tech. Users have reported that it’s “surprisingly close” to pro BP monitors in accuracy reddit.com. The downsides: you do have to wear a not-so-sleek watch and remember to manually trigger measurements. It’s not something you’ll be wearing to a formal dinner – but for those who need to monitor BP frequently and hate arm cuffs, it’s a breakthrough.

• Omron HeartGuide – The pioneer FDA-cleared BP watch. No list is complete without the Omron HeartGuide, the device that proved this concept viable. Launched in early 2019, it was the first wearable blood pressure monitor in the shape of a wristwatch, and it secured FDA clearance as a medical device innovationsincrm.com. Like Huawei’s, it uses an inflatable cuff in the band (Omron filed ~80 patents to miniaturize the cuff mechanism for the wrist) innovationsincrm.com. It physically squeezes your wrist and directly measures blood pressure via oscillometric technology – the same method as the cuff at your doctor’s office innovationsincrm.com. The HeartGuide can store about 100 readings and syncs to an app for tracking trends innovationsincrm.com. Being a dedicated medical device, it also tracks steps, sleep, etc., but it’s not as full-featured “smartwatch” (no rich app ecosystem or fancy touchscreen graphics). People mainly get it for serious health tracking. One trade-off: battery life is only 2 days (since squeezing a cuff uses a lot of power). Omron’s achievement was huge in proving that an FDA-approved watch could accurately measure blood pressure; the company emphasized that knowing your BP throughout the day can literally be lifesaving (studies show self-monitoring can cut stroke risk by 20% by keeping hypertension in check) innovationsincrm.com innovationsincrm.com. The HeartGuide’s success has spurred tech giants to follow suit on the cuffless front. It’s pricey ($500) and not stylish, but for some, it’s a convenient doctor on your wrist.

• Other Notables: Aktiia’s Hilo Band deserves mention – not a smartwatch per se (no screen), but a discreet optical bracelet for 24/7 blood pressure monitoring. It got a CE mark in 2021 and in July 2025 became the first cuffless BP wearable cleared by the FDA for over-the-counter use fiercebiotech.com fiercebiotech.com. It uses multi-sensor optical readings and algorithms, with a calibration about once a month, to continuously estimate BP even during sleep. Its FDA clearance was hailed as “the start of a paradigm shift in hypertension management” by its creators fiercebiotech.com. We may soon see this tech in more consumer-friendly watches. Also worth noting, a few years back Asus experimented with the VivoWatch BP, combining an ECG and PPG sensor to estimate BP (again with calibration). It never went big, but it was an early entrant in cuffless tech. Fitbit (now Google) has also been researching BP tracking; they’ve filed patents for force sensors in the watch that could act like a mini-cuff on your wrist or finger fittechglobal.com forbes.com. As of 2025, though, Fitbits do not have a BP feature and users can only manually log BP in the app community.fitbit.com. We anticipate the next wave of wearables will continue to chase the holy grail of effortless, cuff-free blood pressure tracking.

➥ Bottom line: If you have hypertension (or a family history), these emerging gadgets are worth watching (pun intended!). They range from medical-grade monitors on your wrist to smart algorithms that quietly check your blood pressure trends. They can provide valuable insights – but they also have caveats. Always follow up a high reading or alert with a certified blood pressure cuff measurement to confirm. The technology is improving rapidly, with 2025 bringing big players into the fray, so the convenience of a smartwatch BP check is quickly becoming reality. Just don’t throw away your doctor’s cuff yet!

AirPods Pro 3 and the Competition: Health & Audio in Your Ears

Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 made headlines in 2025 for pushing the envelope of what earbuds can do – not just in sound, but in health and smart features. We’ll dive into what’s new and how they stack up against top rivals from Samsung, Google, Bose, and Sony.

AirPods Pro 3: The New Benchmark – Apple’s third-gen Pro earbuds launched in September 2025 with an impressive spec sheet. The most novel addition is the optical heart-rate sensor built into the buds theverge.com. This tiny custom PPG sensor shines invisible infrared light 256 times per second to measure your blood flow in the ear theverge.com. In practical terms, your AirPods can now record your heart rate during workouts, runs, or even throughout the day – no Apple Watch needed theverge.com 9to5mac.com. The ear is a decent spot for heart-rate tracking (similar tech is used in some sports earphones), and Apple integrates this data into its Fitness app. During workouts, the AirPods Pro 3, in tandem with your iPhone’s motion sensors, can help calculate calories burned and other exercise metrics theverge.com. Apple even introduced a feature called Workout Buddy that uses the AirPods’ sensors plus AI to give you coached feedback – effectively turning your earbuds into a fitness coach in your ear theverge.com.

Aside from heart tracking, AirPods Pro 3 also advance hearing health and safety features. With Adaptive Audio, the buds dynamically blend Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode depending on your surroundings. For example, if you’re in a quiet park, they might let some ambient sound in so you stay aware; if a loud truck rumbles by, they’ll crank up noise cancelling instantly. Apple also added Loud Sound protection – if an ambulance siren or jackhammer suddenly blares while you’re in Transparency mode, the AirPods will react in real time to dampen that spike in volume, protecting your ears blog.google. These features build on what Apple had already been doing (the iPhone and Apple Watch can alert you if you’ve been listening to music too loudly for too long, per WHO hearing guidelines). With AirPods Pro 3, this hearing protection is happening on-device and automatically.

Audio performance got a boost too: Apple redesigned the acoustic architecture with new drivers and “multi-port” vents that deliver a wider soundstage and stronger bass without distortion 9to5mac.com. Early impressions from journalists noted “unbelievable sound quality” and more vivid clarity, likely aided by updated Adaptive EQ tuning ts2.tech ts2.tech. The Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is so improved that Apple confidently calls it “the world’s best ANC of any in-ear headphones” theverge.com. That’s a bold claim, given Bose and Sony’s reputations – but Apple says the combination of new foam-infused ear tips (for better passive seal) and upgraded algorithms yields up to 2× the noise reduction of AirPods Pro 2 theverge.com. In real-world terms, users report noticeably less background din – Apple may indeed have taken the ANC crown this year. There’s also a fun new Live Translation feature: when enabled, you can have someone speak to you in another language, and your AirPods will translate and play it in your preferred language in near real-time theverge.com. (If the other person doesn’t have AirPods, you can hold up your iPhone to display translated text theverge.com). It’s like something out of sci-fi – and uses Apple’s speech recognition and translation engines to make travel or bilingual conversations easier.

From a hardware standpoint, AirPods Pro 3 have a slightly smaller, more ergonomic shape (Apple scanned 10,000 ears to refine the fit) and now include five sizes of ear tips, including an extra-small, to fit more ears 9to5mac.com 9to5mac.com. The ear tips are a new foam-silicone hybrid that passively block noise better. The buds are IP57 rated (up from IP54), meaning they’re dust-resistant and can handle sweat or rain with no issues 9to5mac.com. Battery life improved to 8 hours on a charge with ANC on (33% more than last gen) 9to5mac.com, which is on par with the best competitors, though the charging case holds 24 hours total (a bit less than before, due to its more pocketable size) 9to5mac.com. They sell for the same $249 as previous Pros. In short, AirPods Pro 3 are feature-packed: top-tier noise cancelling, personalized sound, translation, and now fitness tracking – all tightly integrated into Apple’s ecosystem (seamless pairing, audio sharing, spatial audio in Apple Music, etc.).

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro / Buds3 Pro: Samsung’s flagship earbuds (the Buds2 Pro launched 2022, and an iterative “Buds3 Pro” update in 2024) are the closest rival in terms of overall capability, especially for Android users. These buds focus on audio quality and all-around performance. Notably, Samsung uses a dual-driver system in its top earbuds – for example, the Galaxy Buds3 Pro feature a 10.5 mm woofer + 6.1 mm tweeter in each bud to deliver rich bass and clear treble ts2.tech. Sound tuning is generally excellent, with support for 24-bit Hi-Fi audio if paired with a compatible Samsung phone. They have strong ANC (branded Intelligent ANC or Adaptive Noise Control) which automatically adjusts the level of cancellation depending on your environment noise ts2.tech. Most reviewers rank Samsung’s ANC just a notch below Apple/Sony/Bose’s best, but still extremely effective for daily use.

What about health features? Samsung hasn’t (yet) put biometric sensors like heart-rate in their earbuds – not in Buds2 Pro nor Buds3 Pro (despite some speculation). However, Samsung did incorporate some hearing-focused functions. Their Ambient Sound mode (the opposite of ANC) can amplify outside sound, essentially acting like a hearing assist. In fact, a scientific study in 2023 found that Galaxy Buds Pro’s ambient mode significantly improved speech recognition for people with mild-to-moderate hearing loss samsung.com samsung.com. It suggested these earbuds could serve as affordable, OTC hearing enhancement devices in a pinch – a big deal now that the FDA allows over-the-counter hearing aids. Samsung has even built a “Personalized sound” feature in its app where you can tune the audio to your hearing profile (some Galaxy phones let you take a hearing test and adjust sound accordingly) hearingreview.com. While not marketed as health devices, Galaxy Buds can double as basic hearing assistance and hearing protection: you can use ANC to drown out harmful noise (some users wear them in loud work environments as de facto earplugs that also play music us.community.samsung.com). Samsung’s latest models also tout 360 Audio (Dolby head-tracking surround sound) and an interesting “Voice Detect” feature – if you start talking, the buds auto-switch from ANC to ambient mode so you can hear the conversation without manually toggling settings.

In terms of comfort and battery: the Buds2 Pro are very compact, ergonomic buds that many find more secure than AirPods in the ear. They come with three tip sizes and an IPX7 water resistance (even higher than Apple’s, meaning you can submerge them briefly) amazon.com. Battery life is around 5–6 hours with ANC on, up to 18–20 with the case – a bit behind some others, but decent ts2.tech ts2.tech. The Buds3 Pro (if we consider them) reportedly get about 6 hours ANC playtime, 24 with case ts2.tech. Samsung also added some flair with the Buds3 Pro: a “Blade Light” LED strip on the stem that can glow for notifications or help you locate a lost bud – a unique design touch ts2.tech. Price-wise, these launched at $229–$249 but Samsung devices often see discounts (one might find them around $180 on sale).

Google Pixel Buds Pro (2nd Gen, 2024): Google’s answer to AirPods focuses on smart AI features and deep Android integration. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 (released alongside Pixel 10 phones in late 2024) have Google’s custom Tensor A1 chip inside ts2.tech. This enables some really nifty tricks: Adaptive Audio – which, like Apple’s version, automatically adjusts how much outside sound to let in versus block out, on the fly. It basically combines ANC and transparency and sets it for you based on context blog.google (so you don’t have to constantly toggle modes). They also introduced Loud Noise Alerts/Protection, ensuring sudden loud sounds are clamped down before reaching your ears blog.google. Google leverages its Assistant too: you get hands-free “Hey Google” for queries or controlling music, real-time Translate conversation mode (which actually debuted on earlier Pixel buds – you can get translations via the Google Translate app while wearing the buds, effectively acting as an interpreter). One standout feature is the new head gestures: you can nod your head to answer a call or shake your head to decline, thanks to motion sensors in the buds and Google’s AI that interprets the gestures blog.google blog.google. This is a futuristic touch – truly hands-free control.

Sound quality on Pixel Buds Pro is very good, with large 11 mm drivers pumping out strong bass and clear highs ts2.tech. They support spatial audio with head tracking on Pixel phones (for movies, etc.), though they don’t support lossless codecs (sticking to AAC and SBC, like AirPods, since Google prioritizes BLE Audio and AI features over audiophile codec support). Battery life is a big win: about 8 hours with ANC, 12 hours with ANC off, and up to 30 hours with the case – one of the best in class ts2.tech. The buds are IP54 rated (okay for sweat/rain) ts2.tech, and the case has wireless charging. Comfort is solid, and they come with a few eartip sizes plus a vented design to reduce ear pressure. At $199–$229, they undercut AirPods a bit. For Android users (not just Pixel owners), Pixel Buds Pro offer perhaps the “smartest” earbud experience – Google’s AI features really shine, making them more than just headphones.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds: Bose is synonymous with noise cancellation – and their latest flagship buds carry that legacy. The QC Ultra Earbuds (launched late 2023) are essentially a refined version of 2022’s QC Earbuds II, with the big addition of Bose’s Immersive Audio (spatial audio). Bose’s strength is pure ANC performance: these have been rated at the very top for noise cancelling, often neck-and-neck with or slightly edging out Sony’s and Apple’s performance in independent tests. Until Apple’s recent update, Bose was widely considered the ANC champ. As one report noted, “Bose held the ANC crown until Sony/Apple raised the bar” in the last year ts2.tech. Even so, many users still find Bose’s noise cancellation to be the most effective, especially at lower frequencies like airplane rumble. The QC Ultra’s sound quality is characterized by a balanced, rich profile with a slight bass boost. Bose doesn’t chase high-fidelity codecs (no LDAC/aptX), but their tuning and proprietary tech (like active EQ) result in a very satisfying sound for most listeners – clear, with a nice soundstage and punchy lows. The spatial audio feature in the Ultra gives a surround effect for music and movies, and unlike Sony’s, it works cross-platform (no special phone needed). On the health side, Bose doesn’t incorporate biometric sensors or specific hearing features beyond the core ANC and transparency (though Bose did trial a “hearphones” concept years ago for hearing enhancement, that’s separate).

Comfort and fit: Bose’s earbuds are a bit larger than some competitors, and they use silicone stability bands (wingtips) in addition to eartips to lock into your concha. It’s a different approach, but many find it very secure and comfortable for long wear, despite the buds looking chunky. The upside of their size: they deliver excellent passive noise isolation too. Battery life is around 6 hours (ANC on), ~24 hours with case – decent, not class-leading. They are IPX4 (sweat resistant). At a premium price of $299, they’re on the high end. Bose doesn’t update models yearly, so the QC Ultra will likely remain their flagship into 2025 and possibly 2026. If your top priority is “block out the world and sink into your music”, Bose is a go-to choice.

Sony WF-1000XM5: Sony’s wireless earbuds have been top-rated for years, and the WF-1000XM5 (2023) show why. Sony managed to shrink the design by ~25% from the prior XM4, making the XM5 one of the smallest premium buds – only AirPods Pro are a tad tinier loudnwireless.com. This improved comfort significantly; they also switched to foam ear tips out of the box to ensure a good seal. Sony’s hallmark features: industry-leading noise cancellation and audiophile-grade sound. The XM5 uses dual processors and triple microphones per ear to analyze and crush ambient sound. When you get a proper fit, the ANC is exceptional – one reviewer noted it’s “easily one of the best out there in 2024 if you can get a good seal” loudnwireless.com loudnwireless.com. Sony’s approach may even outperform Apple in certain scenarios, especially for constant low-frequency noises.

Sound-wise, the WF-1000XM5 are tuned for clarity and detail. They have a lively, balanced sound with tight bass, natural mids, and crisp highs. Some reviewers say they’re among the best-sounding earbuds, period, noting the “crispness and clarity in the mids” and excellent detail resolution loudnwireless.com loudnwireless.com. For those who want to geek out, Sony supports LDAC (a hi-res Bluetooth codec) which can deliver higher quality music if your device supports it – as one expert put it, LDAC can bring out an “extra bit of detail and air” in lossless tracks loudnwireless.com. They also support the new Bluetooth LE Audio LC3 codec, which positions them for future tech like Auracast broadcasting loudnwireless.com. These are features Apple and most others don’t offer yet. Sony includes 360 Reality Audio (their spatial audio) and adaptive sound control (auto-adjusts ANC based on your activity/location).

Health features aren’t really Sony’s focus here – no heart sensors or such. But they do have something called “Adaptive Volume Control” that can automatically lower your music when the environment gets quieter (to save your ears) and raise it in loud environments, somewhat akin to what others do. And like others, they have speak-to-chat (which pauses audio when you start talking to let you hear).

Battery life on XM5 is advertised up to 8 hours with ANC on (24 with case) forbes.com. In real use, many get around 6–8 hours, which still places it at the top tier. They charge via USB-C (no wireless charging on the case, interestingly, unless they updated that in a revision). The XM5 launched at $299 but often sells for ~$279.

A tech reviewer summed up the XM5 by saying “it’s easy to recommend… based on its sound quality, cutting-edge noise canceling and compact size” loudnwireless.com. Truly, Sony has packed a lot of tech into a tiny, comfortable package – making them a favorite for those wanting both high-end audio and silence on demand.

Comparing These Earbuds: All major players now offer excellent sound, strong ANC, and a comfortable true-wireless form – so your choice might come down to ecosystem and extra features:

• Apple AirPods Pro 3 – Best for iPhone users who want seamless integration and new features like heart-rate tracking and translation. The ANC and sound quality are top-notch, and the user experience in Apple’s world (auto-switching between devices, spatial audio in Apple Music, Siri, etc.) is unmatched. They basically become an extension of your iPhone/Watch, now even doubling as a health monitor ts2.tech ts2.tech. If you’re deep in Apple’s ecosystem (and care about the fitness angle), these are hard to beat. Just note the lack of hi-res codec support – but most Apple users won’t mind as everything is optimized for AAC.
• Samsung Galaxy Buds2/3 Pro – Ideal for Samsung Galaxy phone owners or anyone who values a slightly more customizable audio experience (e.g. an EQ in the app, proprietary 24-bit Samsung Seamless codec for Galaxy devices). They integrate with Samsung’s ecosystem (easy pairing, Bixby, Samsung’s 360 Audio for Galaxy phones). They stand out with hi-fi sound via dual drivers and have fun touches like LED lighting (on Buds3 Pro) and a bold design ts2.tech ts2.tech. Their feature set (ANC, ambient sound, etc.) is well-rounded, if not as AI-heavy as Google’s. And Android users will appreciate that unlike AirPods, all features are available to them (Apple reserves some features for its own). If you’re not in the Apple world, these are a “true gem” for everyday use, especially with Samsung phones ts2.tech ts2.tech.
• Google Pixel Buds Pro (2nd Gen) – A great choice for Android users (especially Pixel owners) who want the smartest earbuds. Google’s AI features – Adaptive Audio, real-time translation, Assistant queries, and novel controls – make the user experience feel very next-gen and personalized. They also have the longest battery life here, which is a practical bonus. Sound and ANC are nearly on par with the best, and comfort is excellent for long wear. These buds essentially become an extension of Google Assistant and your phone, with “proactive” smarts that adapt to your behavior. If you’re intrigued by AI integration and hate fiddling with settings, Pixel Buds Pro are extremely compelling (and of course, they work fine on iPhones too, but you’d lose some magic).
• Bose QuietComfort Ultra – For the ultimate noise-cancelling fanatic or those who prioritize sound comfort. Bose delivered some of the strongest silence – if you’re a frequent flyer or you work in loud environments and need tranquility, Bose is legendary. They also have a very natural sound signature and now spatial audio for immersive movies and music. They may lack the high-tech sensors or AI tricks, but they “double down” on what Bose does best: pure ANC and audio quality, which they do exceptionally well ts2.tech ts2.tech. Also, if you’ve found other earbuds uncomfortable, give Bose a try – their fit with stability tips can be more secure for certain ears (though a bit larger). These are premium in price and targeted at those who are okay with that to get the best noise cancelling on the market.
• Sony WF-1000XM5 – For the audio enthusiast who still wants great ANC. Sony gives you a bit of everything: top-tier noise cancellation, excellent audio with support for hi-res formats, and a suite of features (speak-to-chat, adaptive sound, etc.). They work across Android and iOS (the Sony app is on both), though some things like LDAC work better on Android (since iPhones don’t support LDAC). Sony’s buds are also highly customizable – you can tweak the EQ, control settings, etc., more than you can on AirPods. They might not have the literal heart-tracking or head-gesture novelty, but for many, music fidelity is the priority, and Sony excels there. Plus, they are now nearly as small and comfy as AirPods, which was a former complaint. These remain among the “best overall earbuds” on the market, frequently topping reviewers’ lists for their balanced strengths (some even call them the gold standard that others must beat).

In 2025, it’s remarkable how all these earbuds are converging into multi-purpose wearables. Your earbuds are no longer just for music – they’re hearing protectors, hearing enhancers, fitness trackers, language translators, voice assistants, and more. As one tech writer put it, the era of “just Bluetooth headphones” is over; today’s top models are “fitness coaches, AI assistants, noise shields, and hi-fi speakers all at once.” ts2.tech ts2.tech It truly is an exciting time for audio and health tech.

Bottom line for buyers: if you’re an iPhone user, the AirPods Pro 3’s new abilities (and Apple magic) will likely delight you – they integrate so seamlessly that you’ll hardly notice you’re wearing supercomputers in your ears. If you’re on Android, you actually have more options at your disposal: Samsung for slick hardware and hi-fi sound, Google for AI-driven convenience, Sony for audiophile sound and silence, or Bose for best-in-class quiet and comfort. Each of these “earbud titans” has its unique flavor: Apple’s is polished and user-friendly, Google’s is clever and adaptive, Samsung’s is bold and feature-rich, Bose’s is focused and ultra-premium, and Sony’s is advanced and customizable ts2.tech ts2.tech. You really can’t go terribly wrong – it’s more about which feature set you value most.

One thing is for sure: earbuds are no longer an afterthought in the tech world – they’re at the forefront of wearable innovation. They might even help keep you healthier. So whether you’re monitoring your blood pressure on a smartwatch or counting your heartbeats via earbud, 2025’s gadgets are empowering us to know more about our bodies while enjoying our music and podcasts in ever smarter ways.

Sources:

1. Apple Newsroom – Apple Watch Series 11 adds hypertension notifications apple.com apple.com; FDA clearance info apple.com.
2. Stat News – Expert commentary on Apple’s BP feature (Dr. Dhruva) statnews.com statnews.com.
3. Wareable – Huawei Watch D review (cuff method accuracy ±3 mmHg) wareable.com wareable.com.
4. The Verge – Samsung Galaxy Watch3 BP not cleared in US theverge.com; AirPods Pro 3 announced (heart-rate sensor details) theverge.com theverge.com.
5. Samsung Newsroom – Galaxy Watch7 BP monitoring disclaimer (calibration, not for diagnosis) news.samsung.com; Study: Galaxy Buds Pro aid hearing samsung.com samsung.com.
6. Fierce Biotech – FDA clears Aktiia cuffless BP wristband (Hilo) fiercebiotech.com fiercebiotech.com.
7. TS² Tech Review – Earbud comparison (AirPods 3, Pixel Buds Pro 2, Galaxy Buds3 Pro specs) ts2.tech ts2.tech.
8. Loud & Wireless – Sony WF-1000XM5 review (sound and ANC praise) loudnwireless.com loudnwireless.com.
9. Samsung (Malaysia) – Buds Pro hearing loss study press release samsung.com samsung.com.
10. 9to5Mac – AirPods Pro 3 vs 2 (heart sensor and hearing features) 9to5mac.com 9to5mac.com.