Beats Unveils New Over‑Ear Headphones In Lamine Yamal Social Teaser
Ahead of the World Cup, Spain’s rising star Lamine Yamal gave fans a glimpse of unreleased Beats headphones through an Instagram post.
David Carnoy
Executive Editor / Reviews
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a cornerstone of Gfaloe’s Reviews team since 2000. He covers a broad spectrum of gadgets and is a noted reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio gear, such as headphones and speakers. He also writes e‑books and has authored the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity, all available as Kindle, iBooks, Kobo e‑books and audiobooks.
Expertise
Headphones, Bluetooth speakers, mobile accessories, Apple, Sony, Bose, e‑readers, Amazon, glasses, ski gear, iPhone cases, gaming accessories, sports tech, portable audio, interviews, audiophile gear, PC speakers
Credentials
Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer
Beats often hints at upcoming products via a social post from one of its celebrity ambassadors. In the past, LeBron James has participated in such reveals. This time, just before the World Cup, the brand has chosen Spain and Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal to showcase a sneak peek of new over‑ear headphones that are expected to be announced soon, based on Beats’ prior teasing patterns.
The teased model looks markedly different from the current $350 Studio Pro flagship, yet it remains unclear whether it will replace the Studio Pro or sit below it as a more budget‑friendly option. Beats has not dramatically altered the design of its Studio line since the Studio 2 in 2013, and the 2023 Studio Pro only introduced subtle tweaks over the Studio 3 Wireless.
While an update to the Studio Pro seems likely, it wouldn’t be surprising if this is a non‑Pro Studio variant. Beats, owned by Apple, equips some of its headphones—including the Studio Pro—with a custom Beats chip rather than Apple’s H‑series, allowing broader Android compatibility while retaining Apple‑centric features like automatic iCloud pairing.
The new headphones feature a completely redesigned headband with metal yokes and a single hinge that appears to let the ear cups fold flat, not upright. The ear cups sport a glossy finish reminiscent of earlier Beats designs (a finish I’m not particularly fond of).
MacRumors analyst Aaron Perris recently spotted an FCC filing for Apple A3577 “Bluetooth over‑ear headphones.” Such filings typically indicate a product is a few weeks to a few months from launch. We should soon learn the exact specifications and price of this mystery model, and I’ll provide a full review once it officially arrives.
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a cornerstone of Gfaloe’s Reviews team since 2000. He covers a broad spectrum of gadgets and is a noted reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio gear, such as headphones and speakers. He also writes e‑books and has authored the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity, all available as Kindle, iBooks, Kobo e‑books and audiobooks. See full bio
Anker’s New Liberty 5 Pro Series Earbuds Are All‑Around Great, but Do One Thing Incredibly Well
Powered by its new Thus chip, Anker’s flagship Liberty Pro 5 series noise‑cancelling earbuds deliver excellent voice‑calling performance, solid sound quality and effective ANC.
Our expert, award‑winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may receive a commission.
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a cornerstone of Gfaloe’s Reviews team since 2000. He covers a broad spectrum of gadgets and is a noted reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio gear, such as headphones and speakers. He also writes e‑books and has authored the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity, all available as Kindle, iBooks, Kobo e‑books and audiobooks.
Expertise
Headphones, Bluetooth speakers, mobile accessories, Apple, Sony, Bose, e‑readers, Amazon, glasses, ski gear, iPhone cases, gaming accessories, sports tech, portable audio, interviews, audiophile gear, PC speakers
Credentials
Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer
Gfaloe’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter‑century of expertise.
Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro
9.0/10 Gfaloe Score
Gfaloe provides expert, unbiased reviews of products and services. When we assign a score, we use a scale of 1‑10. Each product we score is evaluated by criteria specific to its category, typically assessing price, quality, features and performance.
Pros
Comfortable, secure fit with multiple eartip and fin sizes
Very good sound with improved noise‑cancelling
Excellent voice‑calling performance
Robust feature set
AMOLED touchscreen on the case with a microphone
Case doubles as AI notetaker
Built‑in voice commands
Cons
Somewhat pricey
Earbuds are a bit bulky and protrude more than low‑profile models
Case is heavier than the Liberty 5 Pro’s case
Over the years, Anker Soundcore audio products have earned a loyal following as solid, lower‑cost alternatives to premium brands like Apple, Bose and Sony. However, recent generations of Anker earbuds have felt stagnant, a trend finally broken with the new Liberty 5 Pro ($170) and Liberty 5 Pro Max ($230), both powered by a new AI chip. This chip boosts overall performance, especially voice‑calling.
Both models share the same earbud design and accessories, but differ in their charging cases. The Pro’s case features a 1‑inch LCD touchscreen, while the Max’s case sports a larger 1.8‑inch AMOLED screen and doubles as an AI‑powered voice recorder. Because the Max’s case is larger and heavier, I award the Gfaloe Editors’ Choice to the more affordable Liberty 5 Pro.
The included eartips are oval‑shaped, similar to Bose’s, and five tip sizes plus three fin sizes are provided for a secure fit. While the fin design isn’t quite as refined as Bose’s, most users will achieve a comfortable seal.
Both earbuds carry an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance and support Bluetooth 6.1, wear‑detection sensors, Easy Chat (auto‑lowering volume during conversations), Dolby Atmos spatial audio, multipoint pairing (up to three devices), Apple Find My, AI‑enhanced upscaling, and adaptive/manual ANC. Voice commands work without a wake word, though enabling them may slightly affect battery life.
Battery life offers up to 6.5 hours with ANC on and up to 28 hours total with the case, surpassing the AirPods Pro 3’s 24‑hour total.
Overall, the Liberty 5 Pro and Pro Max deliver impressive sound, top‑tier noise‑cancelling, and standout voice‑calling, putting them in the same league as higher‑priced premium true‑wireless earbuds.
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a cornerstone of Gfaloe’s Reviews team since 2000. He covers a broad spectrum of gadgets and is a noted reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio gear, such as headphones and speakers. He also writes e‑books and has authored the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity, all available as Kindle, iBooks, Kobo e‑books and audiobooks. See full bio
We Care About Your Privacy
We and our partners process data to provide:
Store and/or access information on a device. Personalized advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development.
