At the launch of theiPhone 15andWatch 9本周系列,苹果提到它在track to release theApple Vision Pro, which it announced in June this year, in early 2024. It has also included some features in the new iPhone and Apple Watch that are consistent with its Vision Pro development:
A double-finger tap gesture can be used to select actions in the Apple Watch 9.The gesture uses a mix of sensor inputs processed by the Watch 9’s upgraded neural engine to identify the prompt. While the Apple Vision Pro uses cameras to spot gestures, the new Watch interactions will engender the use of subtle hand gestures that will also be used to interact with the Apple Vision Pro.
The new iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max cameras can record images and videos stereoscopically.When viewed via the Vision Pro, the images and videos will have depth and provide a more immersive experience.
In our analysis of theApple Vision Pro, we highlight that it is the most complex consumer electronics product ever made. And it is already causing a shift in approach by its rivals.
Nevertheless, we still believe that Apple is using the Vision Pro essentially as an insurance policy. The majority of Apple’s revenue and profit is derived from the iPhone product line, and related products and accessories – Watch, for example, would not exist without iPhone.
Therefore, iPhone is the core of Apple’s almost $2.75-trillion market cap (at the time of writing). Apple is bound to do anything in its power to defend the iPhone’s market position.
For a long time, people have speculated that the product most likely to replace the smartphone as their primary interface with digital life will be some sort of augmented reality device. So far, the eXtended Reality (XR) market has been disappointing – generating a few 10s of millions of unit sales but not a huge amount of consistent usage, apart from some niche enterprise use cases. Furthermore, the technical challenge of making true augmented reality glasses has proven to be beyond the capabilities of even the most technically gifted companies.
Apple is therefore not immediately threatened by the slowly developing XR industry. But would it be wise for it to sit on the sidelines and watch while potential competitors work on what might, one day, be a product that can truly compete with its iPhone revenue stream? Of course not, and it hasn’t.
For Apple, the worst possible outcome would be if the XR segment took off strongly and it did not have a product in the game. Even if Apple spends a few billion dollars developing its XR products and the market still doesn’t take off, it would be costly but scarcely make a dent in its ample cash reserves.
So, Apple has made the logical choice and invested in creating the Apple Vision Pro. Along the way, it has amassed an impressively large patent portfolio that it can use to defend its position.
If, ultimately, the XR market does take off, Apple will be in a prime position to exploit the opportunity. However, if it continues to behave as an interesting niche market, then Apple has cemented its place by having a product that will be used to measure all others.
Apple announced the anticipated Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 on September 12.
Both watches will come with Apple’s new S9 SiP, powering several new features.
The launch comes amid a slump in Apple Watch shipments over the last three quarters.
While new features and hardware make the devices a notable upgrade over their predecessors, macroeconomic conditions may undermine the success of these devices.
Apple announced two new Watches – the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Watch Ultra 2 – at its launch event on Tuesday, September 12. The two devices feature several key updates over their predecessors that, on their own, are impressive. However, amid a slump in Apple Watch shipments, will the upgrades be enough to get buying consumers to the store?
Apple’s S9 SiP Brings New Features and Functionality
Central among the upgrades for both the Apple Watch S9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2is theS9 SiP –the first new processor in an Apple Watch since the 2020 Apple Watch S6– which is a big deal. The new S9 SiP features over 60% more transistors, giving a 30% speed boost to its GPU. The chip also features a quad-core neural engine that is twice as fast as that on the Apple Watch Series 8, enabling improved on-device machine learning and AI functionality. Additionally, the S9 SiP features improved power efficiency, helping the Apple Watch S9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 achieve a battery life of 18 hours and 36 hours, respectively.
The upgraded performance of the S9 SiP enables several new features on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. Notably, Siri will now operate on-device, making it faster and more reactive to users’ needs. The improved neural engine also makes dictation up to 25% more accurate, which should reduce the frustration users have when Siri misunderstands their requests. Users will also now be able to ask Siri to log health information or to reply to them with key health metrics. This should be helpful for when users are in the middle of a workout and are unable to look at their watch faces.
Apple Watch Series 9 from Apple’s Announcement
The updated neural engine also powers one of the event’s biggest Apple Watch announcements –the new double-tap gesture。Users can now double-tap their forefinger with their thumb on their watch-wearing hand to accept or decline calls, start and stop music, snooze alarms, and more. This feature will be very convenient for users whose other hand is occupied with another task. The neural engine processes data from the watch’s gyroscope, accelerometer, and heart-rate sensor to bring this feature to life. It’s also worth noting that the double-tap gesture is used for the Apple Vision Pro. It seems Apple is slowly introducing its consumers to the vocabulary of gestures that will drive its spatial computing devices.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 from Apple’s Announcement
Brighter Displays
Another upgrade to the Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 was in their display technology. While the previous Apple Watch Series 8 and Watch Ultra featured displays of 1,000 nits and 2,000 nits of brightness at their brightest level. The Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 feature up to 2,000 nits of brightness and 3,000 nits of brightness, respectively. This will make reading the display in bright outdoor settings much easier, which should be especially attractive to outdoors enthusiasts as well as athletes.
Sustainability Engineered into the Apple Watch S9 and Ultra 2
苹果设计的可持续性的DNAs new Apple Watches. From the materials used in the devices to shipping methods, Apple made a serious effort to reduce its carbon footprint. In fact, when paired with specific bands, the Apple Watch S9 and Ultra 2 are carbon neutral.Apple also announced that with recent measures, last year’s Apple Watch SE 2 is now carbon neutral with specific bands, making Apple’s entire lineup of latest watches carbon neutral. This sets a high bar for competitors who will feel the pressure to implement similar measures.
To achieve this feat, Apple moved to replace all cobalt in its Apple Watch batteries with recycled cobalt and moved to use 95% recycled materials for the casing of the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Additionally, Apple is shipping a higher number of units via ocean rather than air, which significantly lowers carbon emissions.
Pricing and Availability
Despite the upgraded chip, pricing for the new Apple Watch S9 matches that of its predecessor, at $399 for the 41mm version and $429 for the 45mm version. The price for the cellular versions each cost $100 more. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 maintains the same price as its predecessor at $799. Consumers can trade-in their current smartwatch for up to $380 off through the Apple website.
*This section of the blog will be updated as major carriers and retailers announce their promotions.
Will the Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 end the company’s Watch slump?
Apple’s smartwatch shipments have been in a slump. Since 2022, record levels of inflation caused consumers in North America and Western Europe to hold off on non-essential purchases, including smartwatches. This hurt Apple Watch sales, which were down 10% in Q2 2023 with YoY declines for three straight quarters. Due to this, Apple haslost sharein the global smartwatch market. Although macroeconomic conditions continue to impact consumers as they spend more on things like rent, mortgages, loan repayments, the updated chip in the Apple Watch S9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 gives consumers a legitimate reason to upgrade from their Apple Watch S7 or earlier device. However, despite the upgraded hardware and new features, consumers’ budgets may be too strapped to make the upgrade. Therefore, promotions may play the deciding role in the success of Apple’s new devices.
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Global Smartwatch Shipments Market Share (Q1 2022 – Q2 2023)
Brands
Q1 2022
Q2 2022
Q3 2022
Q4 2022
Q1 2023
Q2 2023
Apple
32%
27%
22%
37%
26%
22%
Samsung
10%
9%
12%
9%
9%
–
Huawei
7%
7%
7%
10%
Fire Boltt
–
–
–
–
9%
–
Noise
–
–
9%
–
–
10%
Others
50%
57%
56%
47%
56%
58%
Highlights:
The global smartwatch market’s shipments bounced back to increase by 11.1% YoY in Q2 2023 to reach 35 million. The previous two quarters had experienced a YoY decline.
While Apple and Samsung saw YoY declines of 10% and 19% respectively, Huawei and India’s top two brands – Noise and Fire-Boltt – recorded significant growth.
In terms of regional markets, India led the overall global gains as it more than offset declines in North America, Europe and the rest of Asia.
We also have a detailed smartwatch shipments model tracker available for subscribing clients:
Global Smartwatch Shipments by Model Quarterly Tracker, Q2 2023
这份报告分析了smartwatches的出货量splitting them in ASPs, price bands and revenues. It also includes model and specs level analysis with a region split. This is a robust quarterly report with fact-based deep analysis that covers multiple dimensions and will help players across the smartwatch value chain to holistically analyze the current state of the global smartwatch market and plan ahead of competition.
The global smartwatch market increased by 11.1% YoY reaching 35million of quarterly shipments. This is a turnaround in three quarters after experiencing a YoY decline in the previous two quarters.
While Apple and Samsung saw YoY declines of 10% and 19% respectively, Huawei and India’s top two brands – Noise and Fire Boltt – recorded significant growth. By region, India led the overall global gains as it more than offset declines in North America, Europe and the rest of Asia.
This data represents the global smartwatch market share by quarter (from 2020-2023) by top brands. For detailed insights on the data/tracker, please reach out to us atcontact(at)www.arena-ruc.com。If you are a member of the press, please contact us atpress(at)www.arena-ruc.comfor any media enquiries.
Disclaimer: The data, charts and other visuals on this page are the exclusive property of Counterpoint Research. While we encourage free use and sharing of all the data on this page, we do request that you always attribute Counterpoint Research
China’s smartwatch shipments rose 5% YoY in Q2 2023 to mark the market’s gradual recovery.
Huawei remained the best-selling brand with a 39% market share.
imoo (BBK) surpassed Apple to rank second in market share.
The≥$500 price band’s share increased significantly, while the ≤$50 price band’s share decreased significantly.
Beijing, New Delhi, Seoul, Hong Kong, London, Buenos Aires, San Diego – August 30, 2023
Marking a gradual recovery in Q2 2023, China’s smartwatch shipments increased 5% YoY, according to Counterpoint Research’s latestGlobal Smartwatch Model Tracker。
Senior Analyst Shenghao Baisaid, “The YoY rise in Q2 came on a low base of the same period last year. At the same time, the holiday travel in Q2 and the 618 e-commerce festival also boosted consumer demand for smartwatches. The market has recovered slightly better than we had predicted.”
Source: Counterpoint’s Global Smartwatch Model Tracker
Note: Figures may not add up to 100% due to rounding
Market summary
Huaweirecorded a 58% YoY growth, maintaining its good reputation among consumers. The newly launched Huawei Watch 4 and Huawei Watch 4 Pro series models were popular with consumers, while old models such as the Huawei Watch GT 3 series still sold well. Another newly launched model, the Huawei Watch Ultimate, contributed to the brand’s performance in the ultra-premium segment.
imoo(BBK) benefited from the demand in the first full back-to-school quarter after the pandemic lockdown was lifted in China. Its multiple offline retail stores also contributed to the brand’s growth.
Applerecorded a 15% YoY decrease in Q2 2023. Although the Apple Watch Series 8 was the best-selling model family in China during the quarter, its shipments decreased 25% compared to that of its predecessor Apple Watch Series 7 in Q2 2022. With new product launches expected in Q3 2023, Apple is likely to increase its market share in the quarter.
Xiaomirecorded a decrease of 15% YoY but an increase of 7% QoQ. The brand still took the biggest share in the ≤$50 segment. Waning consumer interest in entry-level products contributed to the decline in Xiaomi’s market share.
OPPOachieved a 28% YoY increase in Q2 2023. Promotions during the 618 e-commerce festival helped the OPPO Watch 3 and OPPO Watch 3 Pro’s sales.
Source: Counterpoint’s Global Smartwatch Model Tracker
Note: The price refers to the wholesale price
In terms of wholesale price bands, the ≤$50 band’s share significantly dropped compared to the same period last year. This price band’s share has been recording YoY drops in the past several quarters. On the other hand, the ≥$500 segment’s share rose significantly to 11% from almost negligible in Q2 2022.
Research Analyst Alicia Gongsaid, “The entry-level products with simple features are not as popular with consumers as they once were. A growing number of consumers are gravitating toward smarter devices with more health monitoring, sports tracking and guidance functions. Since the Apple Watch Ultra’s release last year, the share of premium segments has been growing. The promotions during the 618 e-commerce festival also contributed to these segments’ growth.”
Background
Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the TMT (technology, media, and telecom) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects, and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.
In Q2 2023, global smartwatch shipments increased 11% YoY after declining for two successive quarters.
For the first time in two years, Huawei took the second spot, fueled by a 58% YoY surge in domestic shipments.
India’s market recorded a remarkable 70% YoY growth, whereas North America saw a 9% decline.
Seoul, New Delhi, Hong Kong, Beijing, London, Buenos Aires, San Diego – August 29, 2023
Global smartwatch shipments increased 11% YoY in Q2 2023 after declining in both Q4 2022 and Q1 2023, according to Counterpoint Research’s recently publishedGlobal Smartwatch Model Tracker。India’s shipments soared by 70% YoY, serving as the primary driver for the global market’s rebound. China’s market also recorded a modest increase. Besides, a shift in the competitive landscape was evident as Huawei ascended to the second position in terms of global market share.
Research Analyst Woojin Son说:“华为记录令人印象深刻的增长在202年第二季度3, securing the second position in quarterly shipments for the first time in two years. The leading Chinese brand’s growth stagnated for some time due to technological sanctions and a slowdown in its domestic market. Although the Chinese market’s recovery remained lukewarm, Huawei aggressively pushed new flagship products such as the Watch 4 series into the market in Q2, achieving its highest quarterly shipments after 2020. Huawei seems to be determined to bounce back in the market. It remains to be seen whether this momentum can be effectively expanded to other sectors, such as smartphones.”
Global Top 3 Smartwatch Brands’ Shipment Share, Q2 2023 vs Q2 2022
Applesaw a 10% YoY decline in its Q2 2023 shipments. This decline pushed its Q2 shipments to below 8 million units for the first time in three years. Consequently, Apple’s market share fell to 22% from 27% in Q2 2022.
Huaweimade big strides by increasing its domestic market share to 39% following a surge of 58% in shipments. This achievement propelled the brand to the second spot in the global smartwatch market share rankings. Another significant change was observed in the premium segment, especially in the >$500 band. Huawei’s products in the >$500 band in China expanded their share in the band to 52% in Q2 2023, a remarkable leap from the brand’s near-absence from the band in the same quarter of 2022.
Indian brandsNoiseandFire-Bolttemerged as major contenders, boasting 86% and 70% YoY growth, respectively. Within Noise’s offerings, products priced under $50 constituted a significant 98% of total shipments. Noise’s Colorfit Icon series managed to carve out a substantial 28% share of the total shipments. Fire-Boltt also made strides in expanding its market share by capitalizing on cost-effective smartwatches.
Samsungwitnessed a 19% YoY decline in Q2 2023. The brand managed to boost shipments in the Chinese and Indian markets. Samsung’s performance in North America and Europe, its pivotal markets, recorded 24% and 13% YoY declines, respectively.
Smartwatch Shipment Share by Region, Q2 2023 vs Q2 2022
In terms of regional shipment shares, India’s market stood at 34%, a 12% points surge compared to the year-ago period. In Q2 2023, 88% of India’s smartwatch shipments were dominated by products priced <$50. Leading the charge in this segment were Noise, Fire-Boltt and boAt, collectively contributing to 72% of India’s total shipments.
TheChinese market’s share declined due to the swift expansion of India’s market. However, China’s shipments grew 5% from Q2 2022. In terms of revenue, the share of products priced >$500 surged to around 34% in China.
In North America, there was an 9% YoY reduction in shipments in Q2 2023. However, the revenue saw a rise of around 3% due to the sustained popularity of high-end premium products. Nevertheless, North America’s share inglobal smartwatchrevenues declined, compared to both Q2 2022 and Q2 2021.
Background
Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the TMT (technology, media, and telecom) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects, and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.
Counterpoint Research will be joiningDeviceNextSummit as Knowledge Partners. As part of this collaboration, our Senior AnalystAnshika Jain, will serve as the moderator for a panel discussion centered around “Manufacturing in India: Challenges and Opportunities” within the smart wearables and accessories ecosystem.
Topic:Manufacturing in India: Challenges and Opportunities
When:11th August, 2023
Where:Aerocity, New Delhi
About the Event:
能团结DeviceNext峰会是一个行业事件the home-grown brands, manufacturers, channel partners, and visionary investors hailing from the world of smart devices and accessories. With its unique focus on smart devices ecosystem, this summit serves as a powerful catalyst for fostering meaningful connections and partnerships within this booming industry.
This year’s DeviceNext Summit, centered around the theme “Unifying The Device World: Bringing Key Players Of Make In India Together,” committed to bridging gaps and driving growth within the B2B smart devices ecosystem. Creating an inclusive and all-encompassing platform that brings together the key stakeholders who have played a pivotal role in the phenomenal success of the “Make in India” initiative.
Our Senior Analyst,Anshika Jain, recently addressed the Indian wearables market during her appearance on Business Standard. In her discussion, she highlighted the positive impact of government policies, the competitive price points offered by Indian brands, and the strong demand for wearable devices.
Global XR headset shipments (covering AR and VR headsets) declined 33% YoY in Q1 2023.
XR市场消费者失去兴趣,as market leader Meta’s Quest series has not been refreshed in over two years.
Quest series has cumulatively shipped more than 20 million units as of Q1 2023, with the Quest 2 contributing 18 million units.
The newly released PSVR2 garnered significant attention from the video-gaming brand’s user base, leading Sony to capture the second position in Q1 2023.
2023 is the year of next-generation VR headset launches. The PSVR2, E4 and Vive XR Elite are some of the prominent launches so far. And then, of course, Apple has announced its Vision Pro。
London, San Diego, New Delhi, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Seoul, Hong Kong – July 5, 2023
Global extended reality (XR)headset shipments (covering augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) headsets) declined 33% YoY in Q1 2023, according toCounterpoint Research’sXR Model Tracker。XR市场消费者失去兴趣,as Meta’s Quest series, the market leader, has not been refreshed in over two years. The performance of the newly launched next-generation Sony PSVR2 (PlayStation VR2), along with the price reduction of the Quest 2 by Meta, saved the global market from a more drastic decline.
Meta was the best-selling global XR headset brand during Q1 2023 with the Quest 2 as its long-time best-performing VR headset. The Quest series has cumulatively shipped more than 20 million units as of Q1 2023, with the Quest 2 contributing 18 million units. The Quest 2 continues to sell relatively well and to maintain its momentum, Meta is making the headset more affordable by lowering its price after last year’s price increases. Besides,Meta has announced the launch of Quest 3 later this year, which is expected to further boost sales and transition from the success of Quest 2.
Nevertheless, Meta’s shipment share fell to 49% in Q1 2023, the lowest since the launch of Quest 2 in Q4 2020. This decline was a result of the highly anticipated launch of Sony’s successor to its 2016 headset PSVR. The newly released PSVR2 garnered significant attention from the video-gaming brand’s user base, leading Sony to capture the second position in Q1 2023 with a 32% market share. Besides, the PSVR2 shipped 1.2 times more units than its predecessor in the first quarter of its launch.
Pico and DPVRtook third and fourth places with market shares of 7% and 6% respectively. While Pico’s performance had earlier improved after its acquisition by TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, a lack of attractive consumer use cases and limited high-quality content resulted in a 38% decline in its shipments in Q1 2023.
DPVR’s shipment volumes are primarily driven by its enterprise partners, with whom it has established strong relationships. These partners regularly place orders for several thousand units. However, delays in orders from education sector partners led to a 40% decline in DPVR’s shipments in Q1 2023.
2023 is the year of next-generation VR headset launches.Sony’s PSVR2, DPVR’s E4 and HTC’s Vive XR Elite are some of the prominent launches so far this year. Having advanced technology and features, these headsets are retailing at around or over $500, which will likely negatively impact their sales potential. It will also depend on how much value consumers perceive these VR headsets are delivering.
And then, of course,Apple has announced its Vision Pro, which has set a new high bar for consumer XR devices, though at a price above most people’s reach. Apple will nevertheless cast a shadow over the market ahead of the Vision Pro’s actual release.
Background:
Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the TMT (technology, media and telecom) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.
The JBL Tour One M2 featuresAdaptive Noise Cancelling to block the ambient noise around you.
It also includes a Smart Ambient mode which helps you stay alert of your surrounding noise.
Personi-Fi 2.0 lets you customize the audio to match your personal listening profile.
音频内容创作至关重要——卷s, short films, and, of course, podcasts – and a good pair of headphones makes a lot of difference. Without a good headset, playing competitive games or even casually listening to music or watching a movie is an incomplete experience. As an avid PlayStation 5 gamer and a multimedia editor myself, good audio is crucial as it can really enhance the gameplay and help refine the content that is being produced.
I tried out the new JBL Tour One M2 headphones to test if they can be more than just good premium Bluetooth headphones. It was used under different scenarios like editing multimedia content in our studio, while gaming, and also when commuting and traveling on a flight.The headphone cost about $300 and provide a bang for the buck as it is loaded with a host of features from which I have listed the top five attributes that I found to be helpful for my day-to-day use.
WATCH: JBL Tour One M2 Unboxing
Adaptive Noise Cancellation (ANC): Filter out ambient noise based on your surroundings
TheJBLTour One M2 comes with Adaptive Noise Cancellation (ANC), which is basically active noise cancellation, but has ambient features for different scenarios. We will talk about that in a bit.
As working professionals, we have returned to an office environment, working with teams spread across different cities and nations. So, collaboration becomes important at such times. My colleagues sitting next to me in the office are in virtual meetings or on team calls will other colleagues almost all the time. There are several distractions and disturbances around you in an office space, which is why I found the ANC to be quite helpful. The feature cancels most of the surrounding noises and helps me focus on my video and podcast edits.
Also, while we have a studio room for recording audio and video, there are times when the audio sounds too hollow or there is an echo or reverb, not something that one can easily notice on a smartphone or a regular laptop speaker. This is where the JBL Tour One M2’s noise cancellation comes in handy to hear these things clearly, acting as a good monitoring headphone.
Smart Ambient mode: Helps you stay aware of your surroundings even with headphones on
The Smart Ambient mode lets you stay aware of your surroundings without taking off your headphones. I love listening to music during my daily commute to work. The headphone’s Smart Ambient mode allows me to be aware of my surroundings and listen to announcements when traveling in a metro. This is also useful at the gym where I listen to music while working out, to stay cognizant of what’s going on around me. The Smart Ambient Mode basically allows you to continue listening to music without being shut out from the world and is useful for those who want to maintain situational awareness.
Personi-Fi 2.0: Calibrate headphones per your personal hearing profile.
JBL电子旅游一个平方米with a feature called Personi-Fi 2.0, which helps personalize sound levels according to your hearing profile. Not everyone has the same hearing ability, so it becomes important to customize the audio to make it a comfortable experience. There is an audio test that you can take from the JBL headphone app that helps calibrate the headphones when connected. It plays sounds of different frequencies and you need to tap when the frequency is audible. This will create an audio profile with a sound curve that best suits you.
I did not experience much difference with the headphones when watching movies on OTT apps or listening to music. However, it did make some difference when I was editing. Even when playing competitive games, it is important to hear every footstep clearly and other elements like gunshots and water sounds. With Personi-Fi 2.0 enabled, these sounds were clearer to me and helped enhance the gameplay.
Talk-thru: Media automatically mutes when you speak
Talk-thru is a good feature where you do not have to pluck out your headphones while talking to someone. The moment you start talking, the device automatically mutes the music, and starts ambient mode. Once you are done talking, the device unmutes the music playback after a few seconds. Through the smart talk option, you can set the mute timing between five to twenty seconds.
Though this is a great feature and helps a lot in a work environment, there is one small drawback – the ambient mode kicks in even when you start humming a song. Hopefully, this can be fixed with future updates.
Auto Play and Pause: Media automatically plays when you put on the headphones and pauses when you take them off
Sometimes when you take yourheadphonesoff, the music or movie continues to play, which drastically drains the battery. With the JBL Tour One M2, the Auto Play and Pause feature kicks in when you take off your headset and automatically pauses the movie or song, and resumes playback when you wear them back. This neat feature conserves battery life and ensures you resume your music/movie exactly where you left it.
While those were my top five features in the JBL Tour One M2, I would also like to give a special mention to the comfort that the cushioning of the earcups and the headband. Comfort is important to me as I tend to use my headphones for long durations when working. So, I would definitely recommend this pair to those who like to have their headphones on for hours.
There are more features that the JBL Tour One M2 offers which we will highlight in our detailed review soon.
Sony’s WH-CH720N comes with an integrated V1 processor for effective noise cancellation.
Sony claims that the headphones offer up to 50-hour use on a single charge.
The headphones support multi-point connectivity.
索尼广泛被称为一个行业领袖的时候comes to offeringactive noise cancellation(ANC) on headphones. And while most OEMs are focusing on theTWSsegment,Sonycontinues to focus on both TWS earbuds and over-the-ear headphones. Last year, we tested the Sony WH-1000XM5 (review), which are premium headphones priced at around $425. We were impressed with their ANC, ambient noise and sound quality.
This year, Sony released the more affordable WH-CH720N, which is available for around $125. In terms of positioning, it is beneath the flagship 1000X line and alongside the XB extra-bass series.
A key highlight of the WH-CH720N is that it is powered by the same integrated V1 processor for noise cancellation as on the XM5. The headphones also come with multipoint connectivity to seamlessly switch between two devices. We have been using the headphones for a little over two months now and below is our analysis.
WATCH: Sony WH-CH720N Unboxing and First Look
Lightweight design, good comfort
At just 192 gm, the WH-CH720N is Sony’s lightest wireless noise-canceling headphone set. The weight is well-balanced and you hardly feel it, even when using them for a long time. The headband is faux-leather and offers the right amount of padding needed to hold them comfortably.
The outer side of the earcups is made from plastic and has a matte finish. The inner side has faux leather padding which is soft and comfortable, and stays that way for hours of wearing them, even in hot and humid conditions.
The 720N does not fold inwards. Instead, the earcups swivel at a 110-120-degree angle to allow them to lie flat on the table. However, as they do not fold inwards, the headphones will take up more space inside your bag. Also, Sony doesn’t include a carrying case as a standard offering.
The WH-CH720N is lightweight and has a comfortable design for long listening hours.
Talking about buttons and ports, the left earcup has a physical 3.5 mm audio jack, a USB Type-C port for charging, and a power button. The right earcup has the play/pause and volume buttons and the noise cancellation/ambient noise button.
Just like other Sony devices, the 720N also focuses on sustainability and is made from recycled plastic. The packaging is plastic free and made from recycled paper.
The headphones pair with your smartphones and laptops over Bluetooth 5.2, and support SBC and AAC codecs. The 30 mm dynamic drivers support a frequency range of 7Hz–20,000Hz. Unlike the flagship headphones, the 720N lacks Google’s Fast Pair support. Though it is not a big deal, having Fast Pair would have been a nice addition.
The WH-CH720N supports the Sony Headphones Connect app which is available for both Android and iOS platforms. Sony’s app lets you control different aspects such as the 5-band equalizer and presets, multipoint connectivity, and configure button settings.
There is an ambient sound mode (transparency) that lets you adjust the strength up to 20 levels. It works well, helping you stay aware of the surroundings depending on your preferences. The feature can come in handy when you are traveling in a metro or on a flight where you want to listen to music but at the same time do not want to miss out on key announcements. We tried it both on a flight and in a metro and were impressed with how well the ambient mode feature worked.
The ambient sound mode lets in enough sound to stay aware of the surroundings while also listening to music.
Talking about noise cancellation, the integrated V1 processor works well in cutting out background noises such as fans and traffic noise to a good level. On a flight, even when sitting closer to the engine, the 720N was quite effective in cutting out the jet noise, while the music volume was at 60%. However, it does not completely cut off all the noise, and the moment you stop music playback, there is some sound intrusion.
The ANC works well in cutting off unwanted noise and offering a good music-listening experience.
Just like the 1000XM5, the CH720N also comes with adaptive sound control, a smart function that can automatically switch between ANC and transparency modes depending on your location. It uses the phone’s motion to detect when you are sitting, walking, running, or commuting. According to the situation, it activates the ANC or increases the transparency level so you can clearly hear your surroundings. Again, it worked well in our tests.
We tested the WH-CH720N’s sound quality using different audio sources, including primarily anApple iPhone 14 Pro, aMacBook Pro 16and aGalaxy Z Fold4。The sound quality was consistent across devices. With a balanced tuning, the headphones sound pleasant, though the bass is slightly punchy. The big drivers do help in offering a spacious sound to enjoy listening to different music genres. The wide sound staging also makes the headphones great for watching OTT content like TV shows and movies.
Lastly, there are two more things to talk about – mic and battery life. The beamforming mics are good enough for making and receiving phone calls, and even video calls on conferencing platforms like Zoom and Teams. We made a few calls in noisy environments like airports and metro stations, and the recipients were able to hear us clearly.
In terms of battery life, Sony claims to offer up to 50 hours of non-stop listening with ANC off, and about 35 hours with ANC on. During our test, we kept ANC on all the time, with a volume between 50% and 70%, and would listen in parts for about four hours a day. With such usage, even after eight days, the headphones still had about 10% of battery left, totaling around 32 hours of usage. That is about one charge in a week, and if you turn off ANC, it may reach close to two weeks.
Key Takeaways and Wishlist for WH-CH720N Successor
The WH-CH720N is a value-for-money over-the-ear Bluetooth headphone set.
It has a well-built design and offers a comfortable fit.
Multipoint connectivity works flawlessly to switch between devices.
The WH-CH720N delivers a great battery life so you can go without charge for a week depending on your usage.
ANC and ambient sound modes work as expected.
The headphones offer good sound quality in their segment.
A wear detection feature could have been a great addition to pause/resume music playback.
On the design front, an inward folding one could have been even better, considering most of us also carry them while traveling.
Premium features like Hi-Res audio could be a good addition to the CH720N’s successor.
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