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The greatest TV show of all time is a subject that's hotly debated. Several shows are regularly cited as being the best, but you're all wrong. The greatest TV show of all time is actually something else.

TL;DR: Live stream Newcastle vs. PSV in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League delivers regular doses of elite competition between Europe's top sides. There are plenty of fascinating matchups on the schedule this week, including Newcastle vs. PSV.

Both teams are in contention to move into the knockout rounds. Newcastle won't have given up on a top eight spot, but they'll need two wins from their final fixtures. Next week Newcastle travel to play defending champions PSG, which is obviously going to be tough. That just puts more pressure on this fixture. Eddie Howe's team really need three points against PSV.

If you want to watch Newcastle vs. PSV in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Newcastle vs. PSV?

Newcastle vs. PSV in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. GMT on Jan. 21. This fixture takes place at St. James' Park.

How to watch Newcastle vs. PSV for free

Newcastle vs. PSV is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Newcastle vs. PSV for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Newcastle vs. PSV for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Newcastle vs. PSV (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Newcastle vs. PSV in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

Raspberry Pi boards have supported USB gadget mode for years, allowing you to connect a Pi to a computer with one cable for power and SSH/desktop access. Now, there's a much easier way to try it out, and it's built into Raspberry Pi OS.

There comes a time when paying for a dating app just isn't in the budget anymore, and it's time to cancel your subscription. If you're a Bumble user forking over cash monthly for Boost, Premium, or Premium+, and you don't want to anymore, here's how to cancel. The method will depend on how you subscribed.

SEE ALSO: All your Bumble questions, answered How to cancel Bumble subscription through the app

Choose this method if you're using Apple Pay, a credit or debit card, or PayPal

Total Time

• 2 minutes

What You Need

• Bumble app

Step 1: Open the Bumble app

Step 2: Tap your profile icon

Credit: Screenshot: Bumble

Step 3: Go to "Subscription details"

Step 4: Tap "Manage your subscription" and choose to cancel

How to cancel Bumble through the App Store

If you subscribed to Bumble through the App Store, try this.

Total Time

• 2 minutes

What You Need

• iPhone

Step 1: Open Settings on your iPhone, then tap your name

Step 2: Go to Subscriptions and select Bumble

Credit: Screenshot: Apple

Step 3: Tap "Cancel Subscription"

Credit: Screenshot: Apple How to cancel Bumble subscription through Google Play

If you subscribed through Google Play on your Android, use this method to cancel.

Total Time

• 2 minutes

What You Need

• Android phone

Step 1: Open the Google Play Store app and tap your profile icon

Step 2: Go to Payments & subscriptions, then Subscriptions

Step 3: Select Bumble, then tap "Cancel subscription"

SAVE $700: As of Jan. 21, you can get the Anker Solix C1000 portable power station with a 200W solar panel for just $599 at Amazon when you enter the code ANKER610 at checkout. That's a savings of around 54% or $700 and the lowest price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix C1000 portable power station with 200W solar panel $599 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $700 with code ANKER610 at checkout Get Deal

You've probably at least considered investing in a portable power station by now. Also known as a solar generator or backup home power, these reliable and movable power sources can keep your essentials up and running when you don't have access to standard wall power. Of course, they don't come cheap. But for a limited time, a special discount code knocks over 50% off one of our favorite options: the Anker Solix C1000.

As of Jan. 21, when you use the coupon code ANKER610 at checkout (enter it under payment method), you'll knock an extra $90.99 off the Anker Solix C1000 bundled with a 200W solar panel. Already on sale for just $689.99 from $1,299.99, that brings the final price down to only $599. That's a total savings of $700 or 54%, marking a new best-ever price for the bundle.

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This do-it-all power station is a Mashable Choice Award winner, thanks to its portability, versatility, and impressive performance. It weighs less than 30 pounds, which is kind of like carrying around a stocked cooler — not exactly lightweight, but maneuverable. Its up to 2,400W output and 11 versatile ports (two USB-C, two USB-A, and six three-pronged AC outlets) can keep plenty of your essential gadgets up and running during tailgates, camping trips, or even if you lose power at home. It's not going to power up your entire home, but it'll deliver power to a space heater, coffee maker, and even a refrigerator. It recharges in less than an hour via wall power, but you can also connect it to the included solar panel if you're off the grid.

Even at full price, our reviewer thinks the Solix C1000 is worth it — at less than half price, it's a helluva deal.

If you’re budgeting for a new Toyota Corolla but crave something with a lot more excitement, the used market has a compelling alternative: an engaging hot hatch that delivers spirited performance without straying far from your price target. While compact sedans make sense for commuters, fun-to-drive cars often demand higher budgets, yet this used hatch blends practicality, performance, and value in a way that few new cars can match at the same price point.

Have you ever wondered if there was an easier way to install and update apps on your Windows 11 machine? One of the best tools for doing so is the Windows Package Manager (WinGet), which ships with the operating system itself.

Netflix is planning to redesign its mobile app (again) amid changing priorities for the streaming giant. And you should expect — like lots of other apps — a shift toward TikTok-style vertical video.

Netflix indicated its plans during an earnings call this week. Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters noted in the call that the planned mobile redesign followed a similar overhaul of its TV user interface.

SEE ALSO: Vibes check: I spent a day in Meta's 'infinite slop machine' watching AI videos

"Just as you've seen us do with the new TV UI, we're working on a new mobile UI that will better serve the expansion of our business over the decade to come," Peters said in the call. "We're gonna roll this out later in 2026. And just like our TV UI, it then becomes a starting point. It becomes a platform for us to continue to iterate, test, evolve, and improve our offerings."

At the investor earnings call, Netflix's other CEO, Ted Sarandos, also called out Instagram as a competitor to watch.

"TV is not what we grew up on. TV is now just about everything,” he said, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. “The Oscars and the NFL are on YouTube. Networks are simulcasting the Super Bowl on linear TV and streaming. Amazon owns MGM, Apple is competing for Emmys and Oscars, and Instagram is coming next.”

The planned redesign also follows Netflix's recent push into podcasts, a medium that often creates viral vertical videos.

"You can imagine us bringing more clips based on new content types like video podcasts," Peters noted.

The exact details of Netflix's mobile redesign remain undisclosed, but you can expect an app that integrates the many ways in which the streaming giant has infiltrated our lives. That could mean clips from a podcast, an NFL highlight, or the somewhat disappointing end to a hit show.

TL;DR: Live stream Siniakova vs. Anisimova in the 2026 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 Australian Open excitement continues to ramp up, with top seeds such as Sabalenka and Gauff advancing to the third round already. American star Amanda Anisimova, however, still has a second-round match to win before she can progress. The No. 4 seed faces Katerina Siniakova.

Things are looking good for the 24-year-old Anisimova. She had a breakout 2025, a year that saw her reach two Gland Slam finals — at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. The big question at the Australian Open is, can she make it three finals in a row or even bring home the trophy this time around?

If you want to watch Siniakova vs. Anisimova in the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Siniakova vs. Anisimova for free

Siniakova vs. Anisimova in the 2026 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2026 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 9Now

5. Watch the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Siniakova vs. Anisimova without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $59.88 and includes an extra three months for free — 69% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Siniakova vs. Anisimova in the 2026 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $157.26: As of Jan. 21, get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones for $271.74 at Amazon, down from their usual price of $429. That's a discount of 37%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bose QuietComfort Ultra $271.74 at Amazon
$429 Save $157.26   Get Deal

A new pair of headphones can fundamentally change the way you enjoy your favorite music. You suddenly start hearing more of the song and even discover things you may not have heard before. And when that happens, it's like hearing a song again for the first time. Treat yourself to some new headphones now with this great deal on one of Bose's best models.

As of Jan. 21, get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones for $271.74 at Amazon, down from their usual price of $429. That's $157.26 off and a discount of 37%.

SEE ALSO: The 11 best noise-cancelling headphones we use, love, and recommend

Mashable Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino called these headphones "the most comfortable" she's ever worn, praising them for their variety of audio settings and noise cancelling abilities, how simple it is to connect to Bluetooth, and their all-day battery life.

"The Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones offer exceptional comfort," she wrote. "They cup your ears for a secure fit but won't cause aching ears. If you're wearing headphones from the beginning of your commute, all throughout the workday, and until the moment you get back home, these are a worthy investment for comfort, not to mention battery life."

If you're looking for great sound quality as well as noise cancellation that goes above and beyond, you won't want to miss out on this deal, especially while they're still on sale at this significant discount.

SAVE $500: The DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale at Amazon for $1,099, down from the normal price of $1,599. That's a 31% discount that matches the record low at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo $1,099 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $500   Get Deal

Despite the FCC ban on foreign drones, you can still get yourself a DJI drone. The fine print of the ban explains that any drone already in the country are excluded from the new legislation, which means they're fair game for ownership and operation. However, that means stock is dwindling, so if you're searching for a DJI drone, check out this deal.

As of Jan. 21, the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale for $1,099 at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $1,599. That's a 31% discount that takes a hefty $500 off the price. It also matches the record low at Amazon.

The DJI Mini 5 Pro is a premium drone and the Fly More Combo makes it just that much more appealing. The bundle includes the DJI Mini 5 Pro drone itself, the DJI RC 2 camera-drone remote controller, a set of filters, three DJI Mini 5 Pro Intelligent Flight batteries, three propeller sets, a shoulder bag, and more. Boiled down, this is everything you'd want for an epic drone set-up.

SEE ALSO: Last chance to score the DJI Power 2000 power station for its best-ever price at Amazon — save $600

In terms of performance, the DJI Mini 5 Pro is a stellar model. It has a one-inch CMOS camera with 4K HDR filming at 60fps. You can also go with 4K 120fps for slow-motion filming. DJI also made this model especially appealing for night flying thanks to the 360 degree Nightscape Omnidirectional Sensing and Nighttime return-to-home function. DJI's ActiveTrack 360° technology is a must-have feature if you'll be filming moving subjects like a cyclist, skier, or surfer.

While it's still in stock and on sale for a record-low price, snag the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo. The bundle is packed with advanced accessories while still being a perfect model for beginners.

These days, SSDs are so durable that many people will never have to deal with SSD failure. But there's another side to that coin: when SSDs fail, they often do it quietly, and you may not notice until it's too late and your data's already lost.

Sony led the charge for “open” earbuds with the weird donut-hole LinkBuds a few years ago, and we’ve seen more creative interpretations from other companies since. Now, Sony is borrowing a design from its competitors with the new LinkBuds Clip.

Sony was one of the first companies to champion the idea of open-ear earbuds when it released its first LinkBuds model in 2022, an in-ear design with a distinctive donut-shaped speaker module. Since then, it has stuck to this formula — with a small tweak to 2024’s LinkBuds Open — while most open-ear competitors like Shokz, Bose, and Soundcore have chosen earhook and clip-style designs.

Today, that changes with the debut of the Sony LinkBuds Clip ($229.99), available now in four different colors (lavender, black, green, and greige). At the time of writing, the earbuds are available at Amazon and directly from Sony.

Sony LinkBuds Clip $229.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon

The LinkBuds Clip, as its name suggests, follows in the footsteps of the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds and Shokz OpenDots One, with a U-shaped clip design that wraps around the side of the ear instead of sitting inside it.

Left: The Sony LinkBuds Open have a distinctive donut-style shape. Credit: Sony Right: The new LinkBuds Clip have a cuff-style shape. Credit: Sony

I got to briefly try the new Sony LinkBuds Clip at a demo ahead of their launch, and I've got all the details on these new wireless earbuds.

SEE ALSO: I tested the best Sony headphones and earbuds for ANC, sound, and cool factor: See my top 7 picks Sony embraces a new design for the LinkBuds

Sony says its research revealed that fit and comfort are among buyers’ top concerns in choosing open-ear earbuds. And while Sony stopped short of saying that users found the LinkBuds and LinkBuds Open uncomfortable, the LinkBuds Clip seems like an acknowledgement that not everyone was able to get a comfortable fit with the company’s in-ear models.

A soft, flexible band connects the in-ear speaker pod with a battery module that sits behind the ear. Sony includes a set of small silicone “air fitting cushions” to help users with smaller ears get a secure fit. Like the rest of the LinkBuds family, the new Sony LinkBuds Clips have an IPX4 splash-proof rating.

Credit: Sony

As with the LinkBuds Open, Sony will sell accessory silicone top and bottom covers (with ring carabiners) for the charging case in the same five colors as the earbuds. The tops come with a color-matched set of air cushions, and you’ll be able to mix and match top and bottom colors. They cost $24.99 for a set and will only be available on Sony’s website.

Speaking of the charging case, its size and shape are nearly identical to the LinkBuds Open, with a clamshell design that unfortunately lacks wireless charging.

SEE ALSO: Open earbuds guide: What they are, who should buy them, and why they're popping up everywhere What else is new with the Sony LinkBuds Clip earbuds?

Sony says it has upped the battery life on the LinkBuds Clip by an hour versus the Open model, claiming a 9-hour per charge play time, and a total of 37 hours when you include the case’s capacity. A fast-charge system promises an additional one hour of play time after just three minutes of charging.

Sound-wise, Sony has added a new voice mode that attempts to keep spoken audio content clear and intelligible in noisy environments, while a sound leakage mode works to prevent your music and voice calls from being heard by others.

The company also says that a future firmware update will bring adaptive volume control, which will sense the noise level of your surroundings and boost or lower the LinkBuds Clip’s volume to match.

Credit: Sony Credit: Sony

The Clips support Bluetooth Multipoint, along with SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs, but unlike the LinkBuds Open, you don’t get LC3 codec support. Perhaps more disappointingly, Sony has no plans to add Bluetooth Auracast.

The earbuds use tap controls instead of physical buttons, but Sony hasn’t included the wide-area tap feature from the LinkBuds Open, which lets you tap near the earbuds instead of directly on them. Moreover, customization of the controls with Sony’s Sound Connect app will be limited to a set of pre-configured control groups.

Call quality, which has always been a big selling point for open earbuds, could see a significant improvement on the LinkBuds Clip. Sony says it has leveraged AI-powered noise reduction, combined with a new bone-conduction sensor, to eliminate background noise during calls. During my briefing, Sony played some example recordings to illustrate the difference these new technologies make, and if they prove to be as effective in real life, the Clips should be excellent for calls.

The Beauty is Ryan Murphy at his Ryan Murphy-est, which is to say that it's maximalist, deranged chaos.

For proof, look no further than the show's opening. Over five minutes, The Beauty puts Bella Hadid through body horror hell. As fictional model Ruby, Hadid struts a muddy Paris catwalk. She's gleaming — not with supermodel shine, mind you, but with a concerning layer of sweat. It's a symptom of a mysterious affliction that's burning her up from within, one so unbearable she begins snapping onlookers' necks in order to steal their water bottles.

SEE ALSO: 2026 TV preview: All the TV shows you need to know, and where to stream them

That's just the start of Ruby's quest for hydration, which soon spirals into a motorcycle chase involving shredded skin, broken bones, and Hadid splashing herself with toilet water. It all culminates in Ruby self-destructing in an impressive shower of blood, guts, and gore that left me cackling and wondering, as I do after watching most Murphy shows, "What the hell did I just witness?"

What's The Beauty about? Rebecca Hall and Evan Peters in "The Beauty." Credit: Philippe Antonello/FX

FBI agents Cooper Madsen (Evan Peters) and Jordan Bennett (Rebecca Hall) are trying to answer that very same question, albeit with far less cackling. Turns out, Ruby isn't the first supermodel to spontaneously combust. She's the latest in a string of grisly deaths, the culprit of which is a nightmarish new virus described as "the fucked-up love child of HIV and rabies, but neither."

Meet the Beauty, a sexually transmitted disease that turns its hosts into absolute bombshells — after a hideously painful transformation, that is. The virus was initially engineered as a product for the wealthiest man alive, known simply as the Corporation (Ashton Kutcher). While it's currently running rampant in the wild, he hopes to one day market it as the shot that makes you hot.

No, The Beauty is not (entirely) a Substance rip-off. Jeremy Pope and Anthony Ramos in "The Beauty." Credit: Eric Liebowitz/FX

If the concept of an injectable beauty serum reminds you of Coralie Fargeat's 2024 film The Substance, I don't blame you. But The Beauty is actually based on Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley's graphic novel series of the same name, which began its run in 2015.

However, the show does take major liberties with its source material. (Hurley still serves as a consultant.) That includes the intense focus on the Corporation and the injectable aspect of the Beauty, which screams The Substance. It's tough not to see the latter's influence in The Beauty's many transformation sequences either.

SEE ALSO: 'All's Fair's most WTF lines of dialogue

These scenes are showstoppers: body convulsions straight out of The Exorcist, swaths of melting skin, and bone cracks so loud you'll think twice about watching any ASMR chiropractor videos. When a victim's "beautiful" self is ready to emerge, it does so by hatching from the goopiest cocoons you've ever seen.

After watching The Substance's Sue crawl out out Elisabeth's split back, these skin sac rebirths may feel tame by comparison. Plus, as The Beauty sees more and more of its characters transforming, the pattern of body horror risks becoming stale. Thankfully, the show's astounding prosthetics work, and the Beauty's increasing mutations keep things feeling fresh instead of punishingly rote. New transformations focus on new body parts, from teeth to fingernails to rib cages, ushering in a new wave of WTF-ery every episode.

The Beauty is at its best when it's unhinged. Ashton Kutcher in "The Beauty." Credit: FX

Granted, "WTF" is the reaction so much of The Beauty wants you to have. The show oozes with twists, transformations, and out-of-pocket one-liners that feel, like the virus at the show's heart, as if they've been lab-engineered for maximum shock value. But Murphy and Hodgson also aim for introspection, trying to prompt greater conversations around beauty standards and the extreme lengths people go to in order to look "beautiful."

The latter elements are unfortunately skin-deep. As part of their thoroughly unconvincing love story, Detectives Madsen and Bennett discuss why people would want to take the Beauty in the first place, debating breast augmentation and monologuing about people's desire for sexual validation. Elsewhere, a plastic surgeon (Jon Jon Briones) tells a prospective patient (Jaquel Spivey) that he's an "incel" when he should be a "chad." Of course, the patient is extremely online and found the doctor thanks to a dark web chat room, meaning he'd definitely know what an incel is. This explanation is just one example of The Beauty's clumsy, on-the-nose attempts to be a part of current discourse around beauty standards. Of course, when the show itself caves to said beauty standards, with its cast of Instagram-perfect faces and bodies and a lens that ogles them incessantly, it's tough to believe that The Beauty buys what it's selling.

It's when The Beauty gets less earnest and more straight-up unhinged in its messaging that it works best. Forget metaphors about the Japanese art of kintsugi and embracing our physical flaws. I want the Corporation's Assassin (Anthony Ramos) ranting about the career of Christopher Cross on the way to a kill. I want Isabella Rossellini (whose casting is a delightful Death Becomes Her nod) reading Kutcher to filth for his superficial behavior. If you're going to somehow be less subtle than The Substance when it comes to commentary on beauty standards, I want you to make it flat-out fun!

The Beauty manages to do so as it begins to focus less on the detectives and their fight for justice, and more on the Corporation and just how darn evil he is. (It helps that both Kutcher and Ramos know exactly the kind of over-the-top villainy their roles demand.) There are some exceptions to the rule, though. At several points, The Beauty peers beyond both its detectives' investigations and the Corporation's wrongdoings, examining the many use cases for the Beauty beyond just looking stunning. Gender-affirming care and life-saving medicine are at the center of two of these moving storylines. The show also examines how the Beauty and social media make for a potent mix, especially for high school girls whose self-esteem already takes enough of a beating without the world telling them they need a hotness superdrug.

The ground-level storytelling in these vignettes is the closest the series has to holding up a mirror to our own world, no on-the-nose monologue necessary. Of course, it's not long before The Beauty reverts back to its main, extremely heightened plotline, full of jet-setting, corporate conspiracy, and yes, explosions. It's some of the most ridiculous TV I've watched in ages, and this being a Murphy show, you can bet I mean "ridiculous" in both the best and worst sense.

The first three episodes of The Beauty premiere on FX and Hulu at 9 p.m. ET on Jan. 21, with a new episode every Wednesday.

As a professional headphones tester, the question people around me have asked me the most this past year is some version of: What exactly are open earbuds? That often gets followed up with: Are they better than regular noise-cancelling earbuds?

SEE ALSO: How we test headphones and earbuds

The (somewhat) short answer to the first part: They're one of the most popular earbuds trends. If you haven't heard of them yet, you might have seen their other names: open-ear earbuds or open-ear headphones. This earbud type is unique in that no part of the earbud sits in your ear canal. Chances are, if you've seen one pair, you've seen the Bose Ultra Open earbuds, which, though great (I recommend them as one of the best open earbuds), are just one option of many on the market.

The Bose Ultra Open earbuds are part earbud, part fashion accessory, and one of the most popular options available. Credit: Bose

In addition the the cuff-designed Bose earbuds that focus on the listening experience first and foremost, there are open buds that use ear hooks to stay in place, designs made for exercise, and even open headphones.

Major audio brands seem to be going all in on the rising popularity of this design. In 2026 alone, JBL announced five new styles of open earbuds at CES, Soundcore revealed an open earbud that can also be used as a noise-cancelling earbud, Shokz introduced noise reduction into the open earbud space, and Sony revamped their donut open earbuds in favor of a pastel clip design.

So to that second question — are any of those options better than in-ear noise-cancelling earbuds? As always, it depends on what you're looking for in a pair of earbuds. So let's start with the basics:

What are open earbuds?

Open earbuds are any earbuds that don't sit directly in your ear canal. Generally, this means they use air conduction to transmit the sound to your ears. Some folks also consider bone conduction headphones, like the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, to be a type of open earbud, as they don't sit in the ear canal and send vibrations to the bones of your head, which then transmit as sound in your inner-ear canal. However, for the purposes of this guide, I'll be speaking primarily about the air conduction open earbuds.

Bone conduction headphones also leave the ear canal open, but use different tech to transmit sound. Credit: Shokz

A significant part of open earbuds' appeal is that they essentially provide a permanent transparency mode, without any annoying hissing or weird amplification of environmental sound. Some folks also find them more comfortable, suited for exercise, and a good alternative to traditional earbuds (if they don't like the feeling of earbuds in their ears).

Do open earbuds offer noise cancellation?

Open earbuds sit outside of the ear canal and don't encompass the ear (like a traditional over-ear headphone), so it's essentially impossible for any open earbuds to provide active noise cancellation.

Instead, open earbuds rely on using music to drown out the world around you, to an extent (though they will be noticeably less effective than a pair of ANC buds). Still, this is the point of an open earbud — they're designed for excellent noise transparency, not noise cancellation.

SEE ALSO: I tested sleep earbuds for months: Here are the 3 I'd buy, and the one I'd skip

What exactly does that mean? It means that in the best pairs of open earbuds, you'll find a balance between external sounds and the audio you're streaming. You'll be able to hear a barista calling your name clearly, cars driving along the road next to you, or yourself singing along. Frequently, transparency modes on traditional in-ear earbuds can amplify environmental sounds to an unnatural degree — because the transparency mode is built into the design, open earbuds essentially give you the experience of having your own personal speakers. They're an excellent solution for anyone who frequently finds themselves wearing only one earbud or sliding one ear cup slightly off their ear with over-ear headphones.

If the lack of ANC turns you off from using open earbuds, I wouldn't check out just yet. As I mentioned briefly up top, Soundcore recently introduced a pair of open earbuds that can also be used as ANC buds. Granted, when using the noise cancellation feature, you do wear the earbuds as in-ear buds, but they can be adjusted back to their open wear form. The Shokz OpenFit Pro are another new release that are worn solely as open earbuds, and provide noise reduction — you'll still hear the world around you well, but it will be dampened in an effort to make the audio you stream easier to listen to.

Can other people hear open earbuds?

Ideally, the sound leakage from open ear headphones is minimal to nonexistent, but that's not always the reality. While it won't be like you're actually using small Bluetooth speakers, certain models, especially at higher volumes, might play music clearly enough that someone standing within a couple feet of you might be able to make out the lyrics of what you're listening to.

Though I didn't have a pair on hand to confirm this theory, the sound leakage felt somewhat reminiscent of what you'd experience with the early 2000s on-ear headphones that often came with portable CD players.

The main benefits of open earbuds, summarized

Open earbuds won't appeal to everyone's taste, but anyone looking for their earbuds to give them the following is much more likely to be pleased:

• Comfortable wear: Open earbuds don't obstruct your ear canal, and can generally be much lighter on the ear than traditional earbuds and headphones.

• General awareness: You can still hear the world around you the entire time you're wearing open earbuds, making them great for taking out in public, whether on a run or for a stroll in the park.

• Exercise-friendly: Many open earbuds have IP scores that deem them water resistant or even waterproof, meaning they're okay to sweat in. Awareness of the world around you can come in handy when you're running down the street or want to stay alert at the gym. Finally, the ear hook design can help hold earbuds in place, making them ideal for use during more movement.

Beyond the lack of ANC, open earbuds have two major cons. For one, the audio itself won't sound as robust, because they're sitting outside your ears — hearing finer details or well-rounded bass is less likely across the board, even with the best-sounding earbuds. Some brands may also be prone to more audio leakage, meaning using them in already quiet settings (like studying at the library) could pose some risk of disturbing others.

How to wear open earbuds

How exactly you'll wear an open earbud depends somewhat on the design and the brand. Ear hook designs tend to take a little more finessing to situate comfortably, while ear cuff buds can be more straightforward to put on.

The EarFun Clip earbuds cuff around the ears (and can be worn with an earring stack). Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

However, with both styles, you'll likely spend some time during your first wears adjusting where exactly the earbud sits on your ear. Though this is something you'll do to some extent with all earbuds, it's especially important with open earbuds, as the sound quality can legitimately be affected by where the earbud is situated. Finding the right spot is simple: While playing music, slightly adjust the earbuds until they sit where they sound best.

Our favorite open earbuds

Like regular earbuds, open earbuds can run you anywhere from $25 to $300 — below, I've included tried and tested open earbuds models from across the price spectrum.

Best open earbuds Best budget option EarFun Clip $69.99 Shop Now Best ear hook design soundcore AeroFit 2 $129.99 Shop Now Best for most people Shokz OpenDots One $199.95 Shop Now Best upgrade pick Bose Ultra Open earbuds $299 Shop Now

Check out Mashable's full roundup of the best open earbuds.

System76 released version 1.0.3 of its fresh, Rust-based COSMIC desktop environment this week, bringing with it several fixes and improvements for Linux fans running it. In particular, the file browser is getting some essential features.

YouTube TV is kicking off the new year with a couple of features that are long overdue. The first is a much-needed expansion of the excellent “Multiview” feature, and the second marks a return to the original promise of streaming live TV services.

Worried about seeing a bunch of ads in your favorite AI assistant? If you're using Google Gemini, you probably won't — at least not in the foreseeable future.

During an interview in Davos, Switzerland, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis told Alex Heath that the company doesn’t have “any plans” to put ads in Gemini. In contrast, OpenAI is about to start testing ads in ChatGPT, causing outrage from many of its users.

SEE ALSO: Google increases Gemini usage limit. How it will work.

Plans can and do sometimes change, of course, and Google could still integrate ads into its AI assistant one day, but at least we know it's not happening soon. (Though we should note that Google is currently the largest advertising company on the planet; in 2023, the company generated $175 trillion in ad revenue.)

In discussing AI ads at Davos, Hassabis also seemed to take a subtle shot at his chief AI rival, telling Axios he was "surprised" that OpenAI was turning to ads so quickly.

In a tweet, OpenAI said that ChatGPT ads will only show up in ChatGPT free and Go tiers, and explained that ChatGPT's responses will not be influenced by ads and that users' conversations will remain private from advertisers.

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The company said that its mission is "to ensure AGI benefits all of humanity," and that its pursuit of advertising is "always in support of that mission," as well as "making AI more accessible.

It probably isn't that simple, though. In 2024, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said ads were a "last resort" for the company, and recent reports describe how Altman internally declared "code red," prioritizing efforts to make sure ChatGPT doesn't fall behind competitors, including Gemini.

Anyone who grew up in the '80s is in for a treat, with Amazon MGM Studios dropping the first glimpse of live-action He-Man (Nicholas Galitzine) in a teaser for Masters of the Universe.

The teaser itself gives little away — it's pretty much a 30-second promo for the actual trailer dropping tomorrow — but we do see some brief glimpses of the heroes based on Mattel's famous action fantasy franchise.

SEE ALSO: 2026 movie preview: All the films you need to know about right now

Camila Mendes, Alison Brie, James Purefoy, Morena Baccarin, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Charlotte Riley, Kristin Wiig, Jared Leto, and Idris Elba make up the incredibly stacked cast.

Masters of the Universe is in theaters on June 5.