Internet connections for eligible fibre to the building (FTTB) users could increase to near-gigabit speeds thanks to TPG being one of the first local telcos to offer G.Fast technology to customers.
G.Fast is a type of technology capable of transferring up to gigabit speeds via existing copper-based connections. Lifehacker has a handy explainer on the ins and outs of G.Fast, which was first installed in various locations back in 2018, albeit unavailable to the general market at the time.
Those who will benefit from the TPG G.Fast upgrade include FTTB locations including apartment and office blocks across more than 2,000 buildings in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and the ACT. This encompasses over 230,000 premises, according to the TPG media release. South Australia and Western Australia were mentioned as states gaining access to G.Fast tech “over the next year”. An important distinction is that this runs on TPG’s own infrastructure, not the NBN Co network.
Under the now-available product offerings to wholesale customers in eligible areas, TPG offers two speed tiers with unlimited downloads: a 250mbps download and 50mbps upload plan, and an up to 990mbps download with 50mbps upload offering. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean individual residential TPG customers can sign up for the G.Fast network – it’s currently only accessible by those connected to a wholesale building-wide network.
To encourage wholesale customers to sign up for the new service, TPG is offering a 15% discount to customers that order a G.Fast service in the next 12 months, which will apply for the lifetime of the active service.
Hopefully, with TPG launching its G.Fast offering, other telcos will follow suit so there’s greater choice and high-speed options for more people. Especially considering the cost of Australian internet could increase in the future.
Scientists have managed to power a computer capable of performing calculations by sealing blue-green algae in a transparent container, in an experiment that could lead to more sustainable energy sources.
As reported by New Scientist, researchers from the University of Cambridge constructed a container, roughly the size of a AA battery, made from aluminium and plastic. Connected to an Arm processor, the container housed a colony of blue-green algae – what is scientifically known as Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, a type of cyanobacteria – generating oxygen via photosynthesis.
Throughout 2021, between February and August, this device sat on the windowsill of one team member, where the photosynthesis process provided a current to the microprocessor through its anode and cathode setup. From a computational process, the makeshift computer calculated sums for 45 minutes at a time, followed by 15 minutes of standby. During this, it required between 0.24 and 0.3 microwatts of power, which was measured and stored in the cloud for analysis.
The power remained constant for the six-month period, with no interruptions, and the blue-green algae even continued producing power after the experiment concluded. As for the reason behind the power generation, two theories were presented: one is that the algae produced its own electrons and current, while the other suggests corrosion of the aluminium anode produced electrons in a chemical reaction.
Although photosynthesis occurs in the presence of sunlight, power production via cyanobacteria like blue-green algae is possible during nighttime as well. One reason researchers suggest this is possible is that the food produced by the algae during photosynthesis results in a surplus, which continues to be processed after the sun goes down.
Similar methods of energy sources are already being tested using empty plastic bottles, with commercial application potential within five years for cheap power production. Some species of algae generate higher currents, too, according to researchers.
As demand for cheap, renewable energy climbs, unique methods of power production are good to see.
Digital storage solutions are getting bigger, with Western Digital announcing its upcoming solutions for businesses and individuals, including a huge 26TB hard drive.
Aimed at businesses using cloud storage solutions, the 26TB Ultrastar DC HC670 hard drive is built using technology referred to as ‘shingled magnetic recording’ (SMR). This helps increase data capacity, although it does equate to slower data transfer speeds.
Conversely, the also-revealed 22TB Ultrastar DC HC570 hard drive uses what is called ‘conventional magnetic recording’ (CMR) technology, which is known for faster speeds. This 22TB variant will also form part of the WD Purple, WD Red, and WD Gold range of products. Overseas, these drives will launch around winter our time, although local details are not yet available.
On the business SSD front, the Ultrastar DC SN650 NVMe SSDs will feature capacities of up to 15.36TB, use a PCIe 4.0 interface, and come in 2.5-inch and elongated E1.L variants. Expect to see these enterprise cloud-centric SSDs available in the second half of 2022.
For gamers looking to upgrade their storage, two new WD Black SSDs are hitting the market: the internal SN850X SSD and external WD Black P40 Game Drive SSD. Western Digital claims the transfer speeds for the SN850X, an NVMe PCIe 4.0 compatible device, go up to 7,300MBps, while the P40 maxes out at a reported 2,000MBps. Local pricing for both gaming storage options has not been confirmed, although the SN850X will start at US$189.99, with the P40 starting at US$119.99. As for size options, the SN850X will be available in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB options, while the P40 will have 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB options.
The WD Black SN850X SSD WD Black P40 Game Drive SSD
Western Digital also announced the PC SN740 NVMe SSD, which appears to cater more toward the prebuilt PC market than customisation enthusiasts. Other announcements also included portable modular SanDisk storage solutions aimed at media professionals such as photographers and videographers.
It’s seriously impressive how far storage technology has come over the years. As storage technology continues improving, expect the total capacity and transfer speeds to continue rising.
With a big screen encased in a slender body, the Motorola Moto Edge 30 is easy on both the eyes and the hand.
The race to build thinner and lighter handsets would seem to be over, with smartphone makers focusing more on screen quality these days. Even so, there are plenty of people who still care about keeping their smartphone’s bulk in check, whether it’s in their hand or in their pocket.
The Motorola Moto Edge 30 is the thinnest 5G phone on the market: a slender reed at 6.8 millimetres, while tipping the scales at a mere 155 grams. Motorola has shaved off 2 millimetres and 40 grams compared to the high-end Moto Edge 30 Pro, which landed in Australia a few months ago.
With the new mid-range Edge 30, Motorola has also shaved $300 off the price tag compared to the Pro – so what do you sacrifice in return?
The slender, lightweight design makes the Motorola Moto Edge 30 a delight to hold – especially if your eyes demand a bigger screen but your wrist doesn’t fancy carrying the load. The 6.5-inch screen in better-balanced is your hand than something like the ultra-tall Moto G51 5G.
The handset’s minimalist look features subtle volume and power buttons along the right-hand edge, along with USB-C at the bottom but no 3.5 mm headphone jack. The slim-line design also comes at the expense of curved edges, giving it a slightly boxy look which also leaves the three-camera array slightly protruding from the back.
As with many of Motorola’s current handsets, the Moto Edge 30 comes with a basic transparent protective case. It offers some impact protection but doesn’t seem as robust as something like a Tech 21 case.
Remove the case and you begin to see where Moto Edge 30 tones things down compared to the Edge 30 Pro. While the Pro opts for a Gorilla Glass front and back, the standard 30 features a matte-black polycarbonate back – which looks elegant but doesn’t quite have the same premium feel.
Powerful up the Moto Edge 30 and you’re presented with a bright, sharp 1080 × 2400 pixel AMOLED display. There’s no screen notch for the front camera, just a pin hole, but the fact it sits in the middle of the Android status bar means that it’s unlikely to get in the way.
While the AMOLED screen looks great, phone lovers an eye for detail and deep pockers might appreciate that the image isn’t quite as rich and vivid as an OLED display, like that found on the Edge 30 Pro.
As the slimmest 5G handset, the Motorola Moto Edge 30 feels right at home in your hand.
USB-C 2.0 or Qi wireless (both with fast charging)
Battery
4020 mAh
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 6E – 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11n 5Ghz, 802.11ac
Bluetooth
5.2, A2DP, LE
Operating system
Android 12
Security
Fingerprint reader, Face Unlock
Ruggedness
IP52
Dimensions
H 159.4 mm, W 72.2 mm, D 6.8 mm
Weight
155 gm
Features
The Motorola Moto Edge 30 runs the latest version of Android 12, with Motorola’s My UX and minimal bloatware, which is likely to appeal to Android fans. Motorola is promising an additional two years of platform updates, which means you’ll get Android 13 and Android 14 in time.
Under the bonnet, the Edge 30 is the first handset to sport the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ 5G processor. It slightly bumps up the CPU and GPU performance compared to standard 778G, accompanied by 8 GB of RAM. It’s also a 5G chipset, ensuring you can take advantage of Australia’s fastest mobile broadband networks. As you’d expect, it only supports sub-6 GHz 5G and not millimetre wave.
Once again, all this grunt is more than adequate for most people, but still a step down from the Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 found in the Edge 30 Pro, which comes with a choice of 8 or 12 GB.
When it comes to the screen, you still enjoy 1080 × 2400 resolution, with the slight sacrifice of swapping out OLED for AMOLED but still the benefit of HDR10+. Support for 144 Hz screen refersh rate is impressive in this price range, ensuring that apps which can make the most of it are fluid and silky smooth.
There’s also a fingerprint reader built into the display, along with support for Face Unlock. Meanwhile, the earpiece doubles as a second speaker, so you can get true stereo sound with good stereo separation.
When it comes to photography, the Edge 30 packs in a triple-camera array at the rear which consists of a 50MP primary shooter, a 50MP ultra-wide with 114-degree field of view and a 2MP depth camera. The front sports a single 32MP selfie camera.
It’s worth noting that, as is often the case, Edge 30’s slim-line design comes at the expense of battery capacity – 4020 mAh, down from 4800 mAh in the Pro. You feel the pinch in terms of battery life, yet Motorola still claims an ambitious 32.7 hours, only down slightly from the Pro’s 35.4 hours.
Realistically, you’ll be lucky to get 24 hours from the Edge 30 – depending on how you use it – and that power-hungry 144 Hz refresh rate might not help. By default the refresh rate is set to Auto, switching between 60 Hz and 144 Hz depending on the content, but you can force it to always use one or the other.
Thankfully, the handset features 33W charging support, which can charge up the battery in less than 90 minutes. There’s also fast wireless charging.
The 144 Hz refresh rate ensures silky smooth scrolling.
Quality
The Motorola Moto Edge 30 is no slouch and the GeekBench 5 benchmarks tell a decent story, scoring 829 on the CPU single core test and 2903 on the multi-core. Again, this falls a little short of the Edge 30 Pro but it’s still plenty of grunt to keep things humming.
When it comes to photography, Edge 30 takes advantage of the same cameras as the Edge 30 Pro. That 50 MP camera figure sounds impressive but megapixels aren’t everything. Thankfully, it also takes advantage of a larger sensor and pixels than Motorola’s budget models – ensuring crisp images with plenty of detail. Colour reproduction is good, if a tad muted, and the camera offers impressive low-light performance. The ultrawide camera also produces impressive results, with noticeably more saturated colours.
GadgetGuy’s take
The slender, lightweight design of the Motorola Moto Edge 30, combined with a large crisp 6.5-inch display, is a winning combination. You also score plenty of premium features at a mid-range price point.
The handset naturally cuts a few corners compared to the Edge 30 Pro, but thankfully those compromises don’t sting too much. While saving $300, you still get plenty of grunt and a premium camera – leaving you with with a solid mid-range handset which won’t hold you back or weigh you down.
Qantas has revealed how we will soon be checking in to our domestic flights without relying on paper-based boarding passes. Thanks to its next generation kiosks, the aim is to reduce the process of collecting your bag tags and checking your flight details to around 20 seconds, or 4 times faster than with previous kiosks.
After customer testing and tuning, Qantas has moved to a public trial of the new kiosks at Terminal 3 in Sydney Airport. These are expected to be fully installed by early June, with 240 kiosks at all major domestic airports by September.
Next generation check-in
The new check-in process takes into account that more than three quarters of Qantas customers check-in online and use digital boarding passes via their smartphones. As such, the new kiosks will be used primarily for bag tag printing and purchasing additional luggage.
Customers who are stowing luggage can simply scan the QR code from their digital boarding pass via the app on their phones, and the kiosk will quickly print out a baggage tag. Otherwise, those with only carry-ons can simply go to their gates using their digital boarding passes. If customers haven’t checked-in online prior, they can also do this by scanning a QR code on the kiosk.
Qantas says that its customer service agents will still be available for helping people check in if they don’t have a smartphone, are part of a large group booking or have oversized baggage.
How to check in:
1. Check-in online on your smartphone or device
2. Use new kiosk to print bag tag
3. Drop luggage at auto-bag drop with printed tag attached
4. Use digital boarding pass on device for flight
Another benefit of moving to digital boarding passes is that it reduces paper waste. Qantas says that before COVID, almost 25 million paper boarding passes were printed annually, and has committed to phase out their use as part of its sustainability targets.
For more on how the new kiosks will work, check out Qantas’s video below:
Made for photographers and content creators, the pair of new Canon cameras, the EOS R7 and EOS R10, combines the EOS R system with the APS-C image sensor into a mirrorless body. The result? Strong photographic and video performance at a lower price than the previously-announced EOS R5 C.
Both cameras feature Canon’s new-generation RF lens mount in addition to the same intelligent autofocus technology used in the company’s full frame cameras. This latter point means you can track moving subjects such as vehicles, animals and people, thanks to a combination of deep learning and Dual Pixel CMOS AF II tech. This includes face and eye detection across the frame and is ideal for capturing fast-action sports and wildlife.
Featuring a 24.2 megapixel sensor, the EOS R10 can rapidly take photos at 15 FPS with its continuous mechanical shutter, boosted up to 23 frames with the electronic shutter. Conversely, the beefier EOS R7 has a 32.5 megapixel sensor, and can snap 30 FPS with the electronic shutter. Lightweight and easy to capture images on the go, the EOS R10 weighs only 429 grams and the EOS R7 tips the scales at just over 612 grams.
As for each camera’s video capabilities, the EOS R10 shoots up to 4K at 30 frames, while the EOS R7 is able to reach 60 FPS when shooting in 4K and includes in-body image stabilisation. Another EOS 7 feature of note is that it is the first APS-C EOS camera outside the more expensive Cinema EOS range to use Canon Log 3 and Cinema Gamut, which Canon says enables more flexible editing options.
New Canon RF lenses
In conjunction with the new camera bodies, Canon also revealed two new RF-S lenses: the compact RF-S 18-45mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM zoom lens, and the RF-S 18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM lens for greater zoom capacity. Both bits of glass will be available in July for $569 and $899 respectively.
As for the bodies, the enthusiast-friendly EOS R10 model arrives in July, starting at $1,499, and can be bundled with either the 18-45mm lens for $1,649 or the 18-150mm lens for $2,049. Meanwhile, the more powerful EOS R7 camera is due out in late June for $2,349, with the option of bundling the 18-150mm lens for $2,899.
Both cameras are impressive additions to the Canon range of DSLRs, and it’s clear the push into hybrid cameras delivering solid still photography and video options is geared at content creators. Based on specs alone, the EOS R10 will likely suit most enthusiast photographers and videographers out there, while the EOS R7 appears to be better suited to those who want to take things a bit more seriously without breaking the bank.
Arlo is a well known brand when it comes to security cameras. The company’s Ultra, Pro and Essentials cameras offer a range of cutting edge features and connect to your home network via Wi-Fi. However, what happens when you want to keep an eye on things but you don’t have Wi-Fi coverage? This is where Arlo’s latest Go 2 4G comes in. Arlo’s latest camera otherwise looks and operates like the rest of the range, only now it features with both Wi-Fi and 4G connectivity. This means it can happily connect via Wi-Fi and switch over to 4G connectivity if there’s an outage. However, the real benefit is the mobility that 4G brings. For example, you could put the Go 2 4G on the edge of a large property that doesn’t have Wi-Fi coverage. Arlo says that the camera suits many scenarios, such as on building sites for keeping an eye on tools and materials, on boats, RVs, in garages, holiday homes, on rural properties and much more.
The Go 2 4G comes with a SIM slot for inserting a card from a telco of your choice. And, as the camera is weatherproof, you don’t need to worry about rain, shine or snow. The camera has an extended case to house a larger rechargeable battery but many will want to connect it to Arlo’s solar panel accessory that will keep it charged up without power cables.
You don’t need to worry about where your Arlo is either, should you have a number of cameras on your property, thanks to GPS location tracking. There’s also an option to be notified if your camera is moved outside of a set location, such as someone wanting to pinch it.
Here’s a quick summary of the Go 2 4G’s features:
Intelligent, Take-Anywhere Security – Connect to 4G network or use 4G as a backup while directly connected to Wi-Fi
100% Wire-Free Design – A swappable rechargeable battery powers the Arlo Go 2, eliminating cords and wiring hassles for a sleek install anywhere
All-Weather Protection – A weather-resistant design ensures the camera can withstand heat, cold, rain, and sun
Secure Local Storage – Users without an Arlo Secure subscription can opt to insert a secure microSD card into the camera to store videos directly on the device for later access and viewing
Two-Way Audio – Hear and speak to visitors clearly with superior audio quality
See More at Night – View critical details in colour night vision with an integrated spotlight for better identification
See Clearer Images in HD – View, zoom, and capture clear 1080p video
Built-In Siren – Users can trigger the siren remotely or automatically during an emergency or when they notice an intruder
Easily Locate the Camera – Recover or locate camera placement with GPS positioning
The Arlo Go 2 joins the existing Arlo Go, which is also a 4G SIM-equipped camera, however, the new model has improvements in just about every department including higher resolution, a spotlight, colour night vision and more.
You can pick up a Go 2 4G for $429 now from participating electronics retailers across Australia.
For more information about the Arlo Go 2 4G + Wi-Fi Security Camera, Arlo Secure or the full range of Arlo smart home security products and services, visit www.Arlo.com. Also, keep an eye out for our full review of the Go 2 4G, coming soon.
From a VR/AR headset to more powerful Apple Silicon, rumours abound when it comes to the show-stopping One More Thing at the upcoming Apple WWDC 2022 developer conference.
It’s less than two weeks until Tim Cook kicks off this year’s Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in California with a keynote on Monday, June 6 (early Tuesday, Australian time). WWDC primarily targets developers and focuses on software, but Apple is also known to surprise us with new services and hardware.
It’s highly likely that Apple will take the wraps off iOS 16, ahead of unveiling new iPhones in September or October. New native iOS apps are rumoured to be on the way, along with new ways of interacting with existing apps.
While iOS 16 is not expected to be a major redesign, it might introduce interactive widgets, more customisation tools and a refreshed Home app. Meanwhile, notifications could receive an overhaul, alongside improved health features.
Apple’s other major operating systems – iPadOS, watchOS, macOS and tvOS – have also received annual updates of late. They will all likely see some love at the Apple WWDC 2022 developer conference.
iPadOS 16 is expected to get more multitasking features, while watchOS 9 gains more health and fitness-focused features. Meanwhile, tvOS 16 could see tweaks to the Apple Fitness+ app, along with deeper integration with HomeKit for connecting to other Apple-friendly smarthome devices.
It’s also possible that Apple could rebrand HomePod OS as homeOS as it prepares to enhance the HomePod mini. Apple may even unveil a new HomePod at WWDC, expanding the range after retiring the original HomePod.
While Apple occasionally skips a year when updating its desktop operating system, we’ll likely see the successor to macOS 12 Monterey at WWDC. It may be optimised to make the most of a new Apple Silicon M2 chip, which is expected to debut in the next MacBook Air and could be unveiled at WWDC.
The long-shot at this year’s WWDC is a glimpse of Apple’s long-rumoured mixed reality headset, perhaps setting up Apple to dive into the multiverse.
Reportedly delayed since 2019, Apple’s combination VR/AR headset is expected to feature two 4K micro-OLED displays, eye tracking capabilities, hand gesture support and spatial audio. The inclusion of 15 camera modules will support inside-out tracking, eliminating the need for external cameras to track the wearer as they move around the room.
With rich sound quality and impressive noise cancellation, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 earbuds are up there with the best.
When noise-cancelling earbuds took off a few years ago, I didn’t see the point. To me, noise cancellation was all about protecting your sanity on a long-haul light – which involved wearing a pair of bulky noise-cancelling headphones from the likes of Sennheiser or Sony. Even before you turn them on, the nature of their bulky over-the-ear design offers a certain amount of passive noise cancellation by muffling the roar of the engines.
Of course, a pair of tiny earbuds can never compare when you reach cruising altitude on an A380, but you’d be wrong to dismiss noise-cancelling earbuds as a novelty. Having previously tested the likes of Apple’s AirPods Pro and Sony’s WF-1000XM3, it’s clear they’re still have a lot to offer in everyday situations, from riding the train to working in a noisy environment.
Noise-cancelling earbuds naturally offer less of a cone of silence than over-the-ear headphones, but that’s often for the best when you need to retain a sense of situational awareness, such as walking down the street.
Once you press play on your music, it helps drown out a lot of the other noise. One benefit of noise cancellation is that you don’t need to turn up your music as loud to drown out the noise of the world, which is better for your hearing and means you’re more likely to hear those important sounds.
Enter the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 earbuds, from one of the best names in the business when it comes to both sound quality and noise cancellation.
You can read other GadgetGuy Sennheiser news and reviews here
First impressions
Having carried around a pair of Apple AirPods Pro for a few years, they naturally have a strong impact on my first impressions of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3.
The first thing that struck me about the Sennheiser was the bulk of the carry case, which has a built-in battery for recharging the earbuds when not in use. The clamshell design is about the size of a ring box – almost twice as thick as Apple’s charge case, making it a lot less pocket friendly.
You might assume that extra bulk offers considerable extra battery storage, but the Sennheiser case extends the earbud’s life to 28 hours – only four more hours than the AirPods Pro. The case charges via USB-C or Qi wireless charging, with a USB-C cable in the box but no AC adaptor.
Open the case and you’re met with a stout design similar to most other non-Apple earbuds. A choice of four ear tips and three “ear fins” helps you get a great fit and improve stability. To me they still don’t feel quite as secure in my ears as the AirPods Pro, which wedge firmly into the bottom of your ear.
That said, the Sennheisers didn’t budge when I went for a run, so it’s just a matter of getting used to the different feel in your ears. After testing, I decided to drop down to a smaller sized ear tip, to help get a better seal. I still think the AirPods Pro are a little more comfortable to wear for extended periods.
The Sennheiser earbuds are easy to set up via Bluetooth, after which you can download the Sennheiser app to access a range of advanced settings. This includes adjusting the equaliser, but it’s hard to judge the sound quality of earbuds if you can customise them to your taste, so I initially stuck with the defaults.
Unfortunately, you can only connect the earbuds via Bluetooth to one device at a time, but Sennheiser says multipoint Bluetooth support is coming in a future firmware update.
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 earbuds are a little bulky but still comfortable.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 Specs
Drivers
TrueResponse dynamic, 7 mm
Microphones
3 mics per earbud, beamforming for noise reduction
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.2
Codecs
SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX adaptive
Profiles
A2DP, AVRCP, HFP
Noise cancellation
Hybrid Adaptive ANC
Ruggedness
IPX4 splash proof
Battery life
7 hours
Charging
USB-C, Qi wireless
Charging case weight
66 gm
USB-C Charge time
approx. 1.5 hrs for full charge, after 10 min charging 1 hrs music playtime
Features
Noise cancellation is one of the key selling points of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3. Unlike the AirPods Pro, the Sennheisers offer “adaptive” noise cancellation, which automatically dials up and down according to the current environment. What’s surprising is that there’s no option to disable the adaptive feature – making it a little difficult to compare apples with apples.
Of course, sometimes you need to hear what’s going on around you. Thankfully, you’ve also got transparency mode, turning off noise cancellation so you can hear noises from the outside word. You can set this to automatically kick in when you pause the music or tap an earbud.
There’s also the option to automatically pause your music when you remove one earbud from your ear, as well as automatically answer a call when you remove an earbud from the carry case.
To make life easier, you can access a wide range of features by tapping the left or right earbud several times. This includes accessing Siri or Google Assistant on your smartphone. Even better, you can dive into the settings in the Sennheiser app to customise these touch sensitive features, or disable them completely.
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 earbuds are also very customisable when it comes to sound quality. There is a three-band graphic equaliser, with a range of presets and the ability to create your own. You can also use the app’s “Sound Check” feature to help you create personalised presets.
Rather than constantly manually switching presets, the Sennheiser app lets you create “sound zones” with your preferred noise cancellation and equaliser settings based on different locations. It takes advantage of GPS to automatically switch between presets as you move between home, the office and the gym.
The case is a little bulky for your pants pocket.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 quality
As you would expect, Sennheiser doesn’t disappoint when it comes to sound quality. The earbuds deliver spacious, clean and detailed sound. It is much more rich and full-bodied than the trademark neutral sound from Apple earbuds, but not as warm and bass heavy as the typical Sony sound.
The stronger bass is also thanks to the Sennheisers reaching a little deeper into your ear canal and offering a tighter seal if you select the right-sized ear tips. Even then, the bass sounds impressive in a quiet environment but can get a little lost when you’re outside – you might opt to take it up a notch in the settings.
Getting a great seal also makes a big difference to the effectiveness of the noise cancellation. Initially I was underwhelmed by the Sennheiser’s noise cancellation compared to the Apple AirPods Pro, but dropping an ear tip size made a big difference and saw the Sennheisers come out ahead. That said, the inability to disable the “adaptive” nature of Sennheiser’s noise cancellation makes it harder to make comparisons.
With three mics per earbud, and beamforming for noise reduction, the Sennheiser earbuds also deliver great voice quality when you’re talking to someone on the phone.
GadgetGuy’s take
The competition is tough in the high-end active noise cancellation space, but the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 earbuds can certainly hold their own. The sound quality is excellent and the noise cancellation is impressive for earbuds. The lack of multipoint Bluetooth might be a sticking point if you tend to jump between devices.
The ability to work with Siri and Google Assistant is a bonus, even if you need to tap your earbud to get their attention. If working with a smart assistant is your primary concern then you should also check out the Apple AirPods Pro and Google Pixel Buds, depending on your smartphone of choice.
Would I buy it?
Maybe, if I was sure I didn’t need the advanced features of the Apple AirPods Pro and Google Pixel Buds.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 earbuds: the sound of silence (review)
With great sound, solid noise cancellation and plenty of advanced features, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 earbuds have a lot to offer.
