Beat the heat with this super-cool personal air conditioning unit

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Summers would be so much cooler without the heat. In Florida, summertime means spending most of the day inside to avoid sweltering temperatures and sweat-inducing humidity. Hell, if it wasn’t for air-conditioning, Florida would probably still be a balmy, pristine, practically uninhabitable tract of land jutting out from the United States.

So it makes sense that a couple Floridians recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for what may be the next evolution in air conditioning — the Airwirl.

Taking the form of a fortified 7-Eleven Big Gulp, the Airwirl is actually a personal cooling (or heating) device that is small enough to fit in a cup holder and big enough to pack a punch of cool (or hot) air into your face, providing much-needed (albeit temporary) relief when temperatures reach certain extremes.

“Unlike battery operated fans, misters, or evaporative towels, Airwirl actually changes the ambient air temperature into refreshing, ice-cool air when it’s hot, or cozy, warm air when it’s chilly,” Steve Herweck, Airwirl’s co-creator, told Digital Trends.

The device features a cup and a lid, and works using thermal convection. Load the cup up with ice or activated heat warmers depending on your needs. Within the lid is a motorized turbine fan system and elongated air post that pulls air out of the chamber and sends it through a nozzle in the lid. An attachable hose allows for more flexible control. An insulated foam insert helps keep the cup’s contents at a steady temperature.

“By use of a turbine fan built into a motorized lid, ambient air is drawn inside a double-walled, vacuum-insulated container,” said co-creator Michael McCarthy. “When ambient air is allowed to flow through this system with ice cubes inside, the thermal energy causes a change in air temperature as it leaves the unit.”

The Airwirl is available through pledges of $129 through a Kickstarter campaign and 280 backers have pledged nearly $42,000 at the time this article was published. The Airwirl creators said they have heard interest from Disney World, postal workers, and bus drivers whose vehicles don’t have functioning AC.

As with any Kickstarter campaign, we suggest you read our explainer article on how to avoid getting burned by scams and fails before throwing your money out there.

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Shopping for plans on Sprint? We break down the carrier’s options

Sprint is in a dead heat with T-Mobile for the title of major carrier with the cheapest plan. While the carrier originally only offered the Unlimited Freedom Plan, it has recently introduced two new unlimited plans to take its place. Known as Unlimited Basic and Unlimited Plus, both plans go into effect July 13.

Since Sprint now offers a few different unlimited plans that each offer a variety of features, it’s easy to feel confused. Here, we break down your options to help you decide which is best for you and your family.

Sprint Unlimited Basic Plan

People
Line cost (with AutoPay)
Data
Total

1
$60
Unlimited
$60

2
$60 + $40
Unlimited
$100

3
$60 + $40 + $20
Unlimited
$120

4
$60 + $40 + $20 + $20
Unlimited
$140

5
$60 + $40 + $20 + $20 + $20
Unlimited
$160

(Editor’s note: These are non-promotional rates.)

For those looking for a plan that’s not too feature heavy, the Unlimited Basic plan costs the same as the Unlimited Freedom Plan did originally. But with Unlimited Basic, LTE hot spot data is reduced from 10GB to 500-megabytes and video streams up to only 480p. As far as any additional perks, the plan does come with a Hulu subscription.

As for cost per line, the first line costs $60 per month and the second line costs $40. For every line after that, you’ll be charged $20 per line — which comes out to $160 for the maximum five lines. AutoPay saves you $5 per month on each line when you enroll.

The perks of the Sprint Basic Unlimited Plan:

• Unlimited talk, text, and data in the United States
• Unlimited talk and text in Mexico and Canada, along with 5GB of 4G LTE
• Hulu subscription (with commercials)
• Global roaming in more than 185 destinations

The downsides of the Sprint Unlimited Basic Plan:

• Reduces hot spot capabilities to 500 megabytes
• Video streaming reduced to standard definition (up to 480p)
• Music streaming is limited to 1.5 mbps
• Gaming streams up to 2 mbps

Unlimited Plus

People
Line cost (with AutoPay)
Data
Total

1
$70
Unlimited
$70

2
$70 + $50
Unlimited
$120

3
$70 + $50 + $30
Unlimited
$150

4
$70 + $50 + $30 + $30
Unlimited
$180

5
$70 + $50 + $30 + $30 + $30
Unlimited
$210

Sprint’s Unlimited Plus plan is a bit of an upgrade from the Basic Plan, offering a few more features. In addition to unlimited talk, text, and data in the United States, you’ll have 15GB of mobile hot spot data and streaming in full HD — up to 1080p.

As for the cost, the Unlimited Plus plan will come out to $70 for the first line per line and $50 for the second. Every line after that will cost you $30 each, up to a maximum of five lines. In celebration of the launch and for a limited time only, Sprint is offering each line for $22 per month as long as you buy a new phone or bring in your own. If you prefer to lease a device, you’ll be charged the regular price for Unlimited Plus, which is $42 per line.

The perks of the Sprint Unlimited Plus Plan:

• Unlimited talk, text, and data in the United States
• Unlimited talk and text in Mexico and Canada, along with 10GB of 4G LTE
• Hulu subscription (with commercials)
• Basic Tidal subscription
• Streaming in full HD
• 15 GB of mobile hot spot data
• Global roaming in more than 185 destinations

The downsides of the Sprint Unlimited Plus Plan:

• Music streaming is limited to 1.5 mbps
• Gaming streams up to 2 mbps

Unlimited Military

People
Line cost (with AutoPay)
Data
Total

1
$60
Unlimited
$60

2
$60 + $20
Unlimited
$80

3
$60 + $20 + $10
Unlimited
$90

4
$60 + $20 + $10 + $10
Unlimited
$100

5
$60 + $20 + $10 + $10 + $10
Unlimited
$110

For veterans, active duty, and reserves of the U.S. Armed Forces, Sprint offers an Unlimited Military Plan. It’s essentially the same plan as the Unlimited Basic (meaning you’ll receive all the same perks), but with half off family lines. For one line, it’ll cost $60 per month, with the second line priced at $20. Every additional line after that is $10 each, which comes out to $110 for five lines.

Unlimited 55+

Back in May, Sprint introduced its new unlimited data plan for seniors specifically. The plan allows older smartphone users to receive as much data as possible, but at a more affordable price. The unlimited data plan comes in at $50 per month for the first line and $20 a month for the second line — with Autopay set up. That means seniors can get unlimited data for $35 per month per line for two lines.

With the Unlimited 55+ plan, seniors get Sprint Global Roaming — allowing unlimited texts and “basic data” at no additional charge in 185 countries. As with the Unlimited Basic Plan, there’s also the ability to stream at 480p.

Top phones at Sprint

Phones
Down payment
Price/month x 18 (with Sprint Flex Plan)

iPhone 8 (64GB)

iPhone 8 Plus (64GB)

iPhone SE (32GB)

$0

$29.17 x 18 = $525.06

$33.34 x 18 = $600.12

$14.59 x 18 = $262.62

Samsung Galaxy S9

Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus

$0

$16.50 x 18 = $297

$21.50 x 18 = $387

LG G7 ThinQ

LG V30 Plus

$0

$33 x 18 = $594

$19 x 18 = $342

Sprint has a great selection of phones, but you will have to pay the full price now that two-year contracts and subsidies are gone. High-end phones range from $650 to $1,000, so monthly payments run between $20 and $35 a month for 24 months. Cheaper phones cost as little as $5 a month.

You can also lease phones on Sprint’s network with the carrier’s Flex Plan — if you like to upgrade every time there’s a new phone. After choosing a phone under the Flex Plan, you can lease it for 18 months, then swap it out for a new phone or keep the one you already have and pay it off completely in one installment. If you want to keep the device but don’t have the money to pay it off right away, you can opt for six more monthly payments, with past lease payments counting toward the purchase price. Another option is to pay $5 a month extra and upgrade the device after one year.

Do be careful with your device, though, because you’ll have to pay a damaged device fee if it’s harmed before you turn it in. The fee varies based on the amount of damage. Sprint also offers insurance.

Updated July 12: Sprint introduces new unlimited data plans.

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• How to unlock a phone on every carrier

Oscar the A.I. trash can sorts your garbage and recyclables

Confused by which items in your trash are recyclable? Oscar the artificial intelligence garbage bin can do the sorting for you — at least that’s the claim by Autonomous, the ergonomic office and gaming furniture company behind Oscar.

If you are intrigued by a smart device that will help sort your garbage, Autonomous plans to a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for Oscar starting July 17.

According to Autonomous, when you drop an item of trash in Oscar’s recognition and sorting mechanism an image-recognition camera detects whether or not it is recyclable.

Oscar drops anything it deems recyclable in one of two cardboard bins. If Oscar recognizes a piece of trash as non-recyclable, it dumps it into the second bin.

If Oscar’s machine learning algorithm doesn’t recognize an item, an LED blinks red to prompt the user to help by “teaching” the item’s classification. Any time a user teaches Oscar about a new item, that information is stored in an A.I. server in the cloud and shared with all other Oscar units.

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According to Autonomous, about one in four items people place in recycling bins are not recyclable, which strains and contaminates the recycling system. Autonomous created Oscar to help the environment and to give owners the convenience of automated recyclable sorting as well as the chance to help the cause by participating in the training process.

Oscar requires an AC outlet and an internet connection to access the global algorithm. If there’s no Wi-Fi, the unit won’t work even with garbage it recognizes.

The aluminum A.I.-powered sorter, which Autonomous calls “Oscar’s classifying capsule,” is a one-time purchase. The cardboard body and bins will eventually need replacement at as-yet unpublished prices.

Owners are expected to use trash bags in each of Oscar’s 1,000-ounce bins (about 7.8 gallons). Autonomous also recommends wiping out the bins every time you remove the trash bags.

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Oscar is the company’s first artificial intelligence product. Autonomous primarily focuses on ergonomics office furniture with a current product list that includes electric sit-stand desks, office chairs and stools, and gaming desks.

Oscar will have a $1,000 list price. A preliminary announcement on the company website states the first 50 super early bird backers who contribute $349 will receive an Oscar for 65 percent off as a reward if the campaign is successful.

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How to turn off targeted ads in Google

Ever wonder what Google actually knows about you? Or why that ad pop-up is strangely semi-related to something you Googled yesterday? Google recently updated its “Ad Settings” feature, now letting you see why certain ads are targeted toward you and what information Google thinks it knows about you.

With the update, you can turn off certain interest signals that Google uses for targeting ads, giving you the freedom to manage your ad settings. If you don’t want Google to personalize your ads, it will now let you opt out entirely. The process is simple and easy, taking just one minute.

First, make sure you are logged into your Google account. Click the box in the upper right-hand corner and hit “My Account.”

You will be directed to your account, where you can access all of your information. Click on “Ad Settings,” underneath the “Personal info & privacy” column.

Once at this window, click “Manage Ad Settings.”

You will be directed to a screen that shows you whether or not your ad personalization is on or off. Slide to the left and your ad personalization will be off.

Google will pop up, telling you what turning off personalization will do, stressing the fact that you will still receive ads, but they will no longer be tailored toward you.

If you are at all interested in what Google ads they thought you would like, scroll to the bottom of the screen before turning off personalization. Some may make sense, others may leave you entirely confused.

If you don’t want to turn your personalization off, but want to get rid of ads that don’t have anything to do with you, click on the specific topic that you want to get rid of, and click “Turn off.”

Google also updated its “Why this ad?” feature that appears next to ads, and lets you know why you are seeing this certain ad in your feed. They have expanded the coverage of the feature, you will now see “Why this ad?” notices on all services that show Google Ads, including YouTube, Google Play, Gmail, Maps, Search, and nearly all websites and apps that partner with Google to show ads.

If personalizing what ads you see is not enough, we rounded up the best ad blockers for Chrome, helping you hopefully get rid of ads once and for all.

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How how to easily log in to multiple Gmail accounts at once

Aleksey Boldin/123rf

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Have you found yourself rapidly accumulating Gmail accounts? Between work, school, and any personal or spam accounts you may have created, it’s completely reasonable to have three (or more) Google accounts that need to be checked regularly.

It can be annoying (not to mention time-consuming) to log in and out of each of your accounts every time you want to use them. Luckily, Google makes it easy to log in to multiple Gmail accounts at once and quickly switch between them on your phone and computer. Here’s how to make use of Google’s multiple sign-in feature.

On your computer

Navigate to Google and sign in

First, navigate to the Google homepage. If you’re already signed in to your first account, you can skip down to the next section. If not, in the upper right corner of the screen, press the blue Sign In button. You can either choose an account you’ve previously logged in with and re-enter the password, or enter all the relevant information for another account. Once you’re signed in to that first account, you’ll be brought back to the homepage.

Adding additional accounts

Once you’re logged in, you should see your profile picture (or your initials if you haven’t added a photo yet) in the upper-right corner. Click it. A drop-down menu will appear directly below it. Next, click Add Account. Sign in to the next account and repeat this process for however many Google accounts you have (up to 10). To switch between your signed-in accounts, press your photo again. Each additional account will show up as an option in this menu now. Click whichever one you wish to use and a new tab or window will open with that account signed into.

You may notice that one of your accounts (like the first one you signed in with) will have a (default) tag next to it now. Whichever account is set to default will be the account that is automatically logged into when you first access a Google app. There is currently no easy way to change your default account once you’ve signed in to them all, except by logging out of all of your accounts and signing in with the one you want first.

On your iPhone or Android phone

Download the Gmail app and sign in

While you can check your email on a single account through the mobile version of Gmail, you’ll need to download the app if you want to log in to multiple accounts at once. Once you’ve downloaded and opened the Gmail app, you’ll be presented with a white envelope and prompted to sign in. Enter your email and password or toggle the accounts that you’ve previously logged in with. Press Add account to sign in to another account. When adding a new account, press Google at the top of the resulting page and enter your information when asked. It will sign in using Google, which will also sign you into any Google services in your apps, as well as Safari.

Adding more accounts

To add an additional account to your Gmail app, press the menu button (represented as three vertical lines in the upper left). Next, tap the account that’s signed into at the top of this menu, and click Manage accounts from the resulting menu. Toggle whichever accounts you would like to see in the app, or add another one from the Add account button. You will only be able to see mail from one account at a time. To switch between the accounts you’ve added, press the menu button again and either tap the picture of the account you want to use to automatically switch to that account, or tap the email currently logged into, and select the next email you’d like to check from the drop-down menu. And that’s it!

To help differentiate your accounts once they are all signed in, make sure to check out our guide to adding a signature to your Gmail account.

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Apple’s sticky key problem isn’t going away on the 2018 MacBook Pro

Although Apple introduced an updated third-generation butterfly switch keyboard with the latest MacBook Pro refresh on Thursday, July 12, it did not address a major pain from last year’s MacBook models. While the new keyboard will be even quieter when you type compared to the 2017 MacBook Pro, the 2018 model could still suffer the same fate of unresponsive and sticky keys if dust gets lodged underneath the keyboard, an issue that’s been widely reported when Apple switched to the new butterfly key switches.

“Sadly, while the new 2018 MacBook Pro does have an updated third-generation keyboard, Apple tells CNET it doesn’t include any new engineering or tweaks to address the sticky key issue,” the publication reported, eliminating any hope that Apple was able to deliver a permanent fix to the widely reported keyboard issue. The flaw had led to several class-action lawsuits.

Prior to launching the new MacBook Pro, Apple announced a repair program for affected keyboards, which the company said only affected a small number of laptops. Apple advised its Genius Bar staff and third-party authorized repair centers to either repair or replace the keyboard regardless of the warranty status. A prior report suggested that because of the way the keyboard is integrated into the laptop’s enclosure, an out-of-warranty replacement can run as high as $700. Fortunately, users out of their standard one-year warranty and who did not purchase the extended AppleCare protection plan can take advantage of Apple’s keyboard repair program without having to pay any additional cost.

Without a permanent keyboard fix in place, another bit of unfortunate news is that Apple discontinued its 2015 MacBook Pro model. That laptop was the last MacBook Pro to utilize Apple’s old scissor key switch for the keyboard, which delivers a more traditional typing experience. The change to the butterfly key switch design allowed Apple to create a more compact laptop — the 2015 model measured 0.71 inches high, while the redesigned MacBook Pro was just 0.59 inches thick — but the downside is that key travel was much more shallow.

For now, it appears that Apple is solely focusing on how the keys sound when typing on the third-generation keyboard. The company has been promoting the quieter keys on the new 2018 MacBook Pro keyboard. The strategy makes sense given that Apple has been promoting dark mode as one of the key new features of MacOS Mojave, which will launch this fall as a free update. A quieter keyboard and an OS that is friendlier on the eyes when working in the dark will likely appease night owls.

Editors’ Recommendations

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The U.S. Justice Department is appealing the AT&T and Time Warner deal

Not even a month after AT&T purchased Time Warner for $85 billion, the U.S. Justice Department is now appealing the deal.

A court document was filed on Thursday, July 12, confirming the news. The appeal is being led by District Court Judge Richard Leon.

Per CNBC, Leon noted in his 200-page appeal filing that “the government failed to meet its burden to establish that the deal would significantly decrease competition.”

On June 15, AT&T officially completed its purchase of Time Warner following months of debating the acquisition in court. Time Warner owns major brands such as HBO, DC, and Turner, and commenting on the completing of the deal, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said —

We’re going to bring a fresh approach to how the media and entertainment industry works for consumers, content creators, distributors, and advertisers.

The court’s decision to let AT&T and Time Warner go through this agreement was seen as a controversial move by many, so it’ll be fascinating to see where the next steps of the appeal process take us.

What do you think about this development?

AT&T has officially purchased Time Warner for $85 billion

Apple’s Mac Shipments Increase in Q2 2018 as PC Market Sees First Growth in 6 Years

Apple’s worldwide Mac shipments grew 3 percent in the second quarter of 2018 compared to the year-ago quarter, according to new preliminary PC shipping estimates shared today by Gartner.

During the quarter, Apple shipped an estimated 4.4 million Macs, compared to 4.26 million in the second quarter of 2017. Apple’s market share also saw slight growth, improving from 7 percent in Q2 2017 to 7.1 percent in Q2 2018.

Gartner’s Preliminary Worldwide PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 2Q18 (Thousands of Units)
Apple’s improved Mac sales come amid an overall increase in worldwide PC shipments, the first growth that’s been seen in the last six years. Worldwide PC shipments totaled an estimated 62.1 million units in Q2 2018, up from 61.3 million in the year-ago quarter.

Though Apple saw sales growth in Q2 2018, the company was ranked the number four PC vendor in the world, coming in behind Dell, HP, and Lenovo. Lenovo was the number one vendor with 13.6 million PCs shipped, followed by HP with just under 13.6 million and Dell with 10.5 million. Acer Group, the number five worldwide PC vendor, shipped 4 million PCs during the quarter.

Lenovo and HP are tied for 21.9 percent market share, followed by Dell at 16.8 percent and Apple, as previously mentioned, at 7.1 percent. All of the top five worldwide PC vendors saw shipment growth in Q2 2018 compared to last year.

“PC shipment growth in the second quarter of 2018 was driven by demand in the business market, which was offset by declining shipments in the consumer segment,” said Mikako Kitagawa, principal analyst at Gartner. “In the consumer space, the fundamental market structure, due to changes on PC user behavior, still remains, and continues to impact market growth. Consumers are using their smartphones for even more daily tasks, such as checking social media, calendaring, banking and shopping, which is reducing the need for a consumer PC.

Apple saw less growth in the United States, shipping an estimated 1.84 million Macs, up from 1.81 in the year-ago quarter, an increase of 1.7 percent. Apple was also the number four vendor in the U.S., coming in behind HP (#1), Dell (#2), and Lenovo (#3). Apple holds 12.7 percent of the PC market in the United States, compared to 14.9 percent for Lenovo, 28.6 percent for Dell, and 29.3 percent for HP.

Gartner’s Preliminary U.S. PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 2Q18 (Thousands of Units)
Almost all top vendors in the U.S. saw shipment growth, with the exception of HP, which saw shipments fall 0.6 percent. Acer Group had the best quarter in the United states with 25.7 percent growth. Overall U.S. shipments were up 1.7 percent, with a total of 14.5 million PCs shipped during the quarter, compared to 14.3 million in Q2 2017.

Apple’s Market Share Trend: 1Q06–2Q18 (Gartner)
It’s important to note that data from Gartner is preliminary, and that the numbers can shift, sometimes dramatically and sometimes less so. Last year, for example, Gartner estimated Q2 2017 worldwide Mac shipments at 4.236 million when the actual number was 4.266 million.

Apple’s Mac sales could grow significantly next quarter and through the end of 2018. Apple today introduced new 13 and 15-inch MacBook Pro models with improved processors, more maximum RAM, higher-capacity SSDs, True Tone displays, and more.

The rest of Apple’s Mac lineup, including iMacs, MacBooks, and the Mac mini, is also expected to get a refresh before the end of 2018.

Tag: Gartner
Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Announces New $300 Million Clean Energy Fund in China

Apple today announced the launch of a $300 million investment fund in China which is designed to connect Apple’s suppliers with renewable energy sources.

Apple, along with 10 initial suppliers, is investing $300 million into the China Clean Energy Fund over the course of the next four years. Apple says the fund will invest in and develop clean energy projects totaling more than 1 gigawatt of renewable energy in China, which is equivalent to powering close to 1 million homes.

Apple’s new fund will be managed by DWS Group, a company that specializes in sustainable investments. DWS also plans to invest in the fund.

“At Apple, we are proud to join with companies that are stepping up to address the climate challenge,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives. “We’re thrilled so many of our suppliers are participating in the fund and hope this model can be replicated globally to help businesses of all sizes make a significant positive impact on our planet.”

According to Apple, the China Clean Energy Fund will provide participates with the advantage of greater purchasing power and the ability to attain “more attractive and diverse” clean energy solutions.

Participating suppliers include Catcher Technology, Compal Electronics, Corning Incorporated, Golden Arrow, Jabil, Luxshare-ICT, Pegatron, Solway, Sunway Communication, and Wistron.

Apple earlier this year announced that all of its facilities around the world are powered by 100 percent renewable energy, a milestone achievement for the company.

To hit that goal, Apple invested in and constructed renewable energy facilities around the world, including solar arrays, wind farms, biogas fuel cells, micro-hydration generation systems, and other energy storage technologies.

Since the launch of its Supplier Clean Energy Program in 2015, 23 manufacturing partners across 10 countries have committed to powering their Apple production lines with 100 percent clean energy.

Tags: China, supplier responsibility, Environmental Responsibility, Apple environment
Discuss this article in our forums

Audio-Technica ATH-ANC40BT wireless noise-cancelling earbuds review: Function over form

We come by a lot of Bluetooth earbuds here at AndroidGuys, so we appreciate when manufacturers make a valiant effort to standout. This is precisely how our attention got caught in our talks with Audio Technica – renowned Japanese audio manufacturer.

The long-standing company has been keeping up with the times, and one of its latest wireless earbuds, the ATH-ANC40BT, packs quite the spec sheet.

Chiefly, there’s active noise-cancellation (ANC) tech incorporated, which is something we don’t see often in an in-ear headphone. Is the ANC40BT as promising as it sounds? We’ll cover the important details in this review.

Design

Wireless earbuds come in various shapes and sizes, from around-the-neck band to completely wire-free earpiece flavors. The ANC40BT is the former. This may not appeal to everyone, but we imagine that Audio Technica put technology in front of form when making this earbud (we’ll cover its capabilities in the next section).

Packaging includes a sizable drawstring pouch, four sizes of silicone tips, airplane adapter, microUSB charging cable, and a microUSB-to-3.5mm jack for optional wired listening.

We’ve seen neckband designs that work really well, such as with LG‘s Tone series. However, the ANC40BT very basically put together. The flexible band portion is an averagely thick, rubbery cable, which terminates with sizable plastic compartments at its ends, from where the compact earpieces simply extend via a very thin wire.

It’s a very essential design not just in form but also materials. Everything is constructed from ho-hum-feeling plastic. This isn’t to say that it’s flimsy or won’t hold up, it’s just not different in feeling than a solid $30 pair of earbuds would be. And this is a $120 headphone. We imagine the justification will come when we look at its function and sound quality.

There is a small bit of styling to note on the outward surface of the earpieces. Alongside the inset metal grills (we’re guessing that assists noise-cancellation tech) are circular metal caps. They’re attractively shiny and have Audio-Technica’s logo engraved.

Function

The ANC40BT packs a bit more within than your typical wireless earbud. The common physical controls are present like that of most. That is, a power button with accompanying status LED and three-button playback toggles.

Their locations may seem a little convoluted (all fitted around the left-hand compartment), but its all fairly intuitive to use. The volume up/down buttons are the ones closest to you, and the ANC switch is only an on/off switch. We like there being separate buttons for power/pairing and for play/pausing.

The two back volume buttons can also switch tracks with a long press, and the front play/pause button can take calls (there’s a microphone).

Charging is done via a microUSB port on the end (this port can also be used for wired audio using the supplied microUSB-to-3.5mm cable). The nearby ANC switch is concise.

The around-the-neck wear is comfy. This isn’t a compact unit all-together. You’ll really feel the equipment around your head; it doesn’t “disappear” like many alternatives. What really doesn’t help is the earpiece wires. Although they’re thin, they’re stiff, and they butt up right against the left and right side of your chin. There isn’t really anything you can do about it, unless you tape them down onto the neckband.

This also makes the ANC40BT not quite ideal for working out, as the wires rub against your face with head movement. The unit stays in place just fine, so you can work out with them if you wanted to, but we just don’t get the sense they were designed for Sport use (additionally, we don’t see any mention of water resistance).

The ear tip in-canal fit can also be a concern. Even with the largest included tips, we just couldn’t manage to get an appropriate seal. If we could push them in further, maybe, but the considerable stems about the earpieces keeps you from pushing them past a certain point. Despite not having the smallest ear canals, I always manage to find a size that works on other earbuds. But the ANC40BT’s tips are a complete no-go for me.

The included silicone ear tips.

Fortunately, the ANC system works quite well, and somewhat makes up for the compromised ear tip seal. There’s a stark reduction in ambient noise when you toggle it on. It cleans up the audio a bunch in a noisy environment, excellently isolating the music.

Like most ANC systems, it mostly targets silencing lower-end frequencies. Especially that our incomplete seal means compromised passive isolation, we hear plentiful high frequencies get through.

Overall, the system still works for an appreciably isolated experience. Just don’t expect silent levels like that of the Sony WH-1000MX2 or Bose QC 35 II (to be fair, no earbud with ANC has reached close to this level).

Sound

Audio-Technica is a brand that knows what it’s doing when it comes to audio quality. The company has a history for good reason, and holds some beloved classics like the super popular ATH-M50X. And the fact definitely shows with the ANC40BT.

The ANC40BT pairs nicely with the aptX-equipped LG G7 ThinQ.

Firstly, it did the appropriate thing for wireless earbuds in this day and age by employing the aptX wireless audio codec. Streaming music with “High” settings results in plentiful and clean details throughout.

One of the most enjoyable parts of the sound is the deep and bodied bass. It has an authoritative presence throughout (maybe a little too strong in the mid-bass for some audiophiles), without being overdone.

The mid-range isn’t as full or open as with higher-end earphones, but overall well-done for this price range. It has a smooth and natural tone, with a hint of airiness. Again, it’s not “forward”, but not a V-shaped sound signature either (more like U-shaped). We like how the upper bass and mids have clear distinction, and can be separately appreciable.

We have the same kind of quality up through the treble. Details come through punchy and clearly (though, not as crisply as you’ll get up the price chain). Extended portions can get slightly lost in the mix. This isn’t unexpected at this price-point.

We like the amount of soundstage width that the treble can utilize. Coupled with the strong bass, you can get that immersive sense that larger headphones achieve.

Regarding the low-level hiss that plagues many like headphones, the ANC40BT has very little. You’ll only notice it in silence or quiet passages of tracks; the music easily drowns it out when it gets going.

Final Thoughts

We’re left a bit torn with Audio-Technica’s ANC40BT earbuds. What they clearly have going for them is the great ANC tech and sound quality. But there’s a notable lack of finesse in the design.

The entire unit is quite bulky for a portable wireless earbud, and the wear leaves to be desired. They’re undeniably comfortable (save for the face-butting earpiece wires), and the functions work well.

Our biggest contention was our ability to get a complete in-canal seal. Audio-Technica should re-look at the earpiece/ear tip design, or at least include foam tips in the box. Though, this is a “your mileage may vary” kind of thing. The ear tips may work fine for your canals. If they do, and if you don’t mind the involved design, then the ANC40BT would be a good choice, especially if audio quality is your utmost priority.