The best noise cancelling headphones currently include the AirPods Max, which are known for their premium build quality, active noise cancellation, and immersive spatial audio. They feature a comfortable design with memory foam ear cushions and a mesh canopy headband, making them ideal for long listening sessions. However, they are on the heavier side and come with a high price tag of $549.
The AirPods Max stand out due to their advanced features such as active noise cancellation, spatial audio for a theater-like experience, and adaptive EQ that adjusts sound in real time. They also include Apple's H1 chip in each ear cup, which enhances audio quality and allows for seamless integration with other Apple devices.
Yes, the AirPods Max are designed for comfort with memory foam ear cushions and a breathable mesh canopy headband. However, some users may find them heavy for extended use, which could lead to discomfort over long listening sessions.
Some downsides of the AirPods Max include their heavy weight, high price point of $549, and occasional issues with turning on. Additionally, the Smart Case design has received criticism for being impractical, and some users have reported condensation issues inside the ear cups after prolonged use.
The AirPods Max offer up to 20 hours of listening time with active noise cancellation and spatial audio enabled. A quick 5-minute charge can provide approximately 1.5 hours of playback, making them convenient for users on the go.
This list showcases noise cancelling headphones designed to provide an immersive listening experience by effectively reducing ambient sounds. These headphones are engineered with advanced technology to enhance audio quality and comfort, making them ideal for music lovers and frequent travelers.
The Bose QuietComfort Headphones are wireless over-ear headphones with active noise cancellation. They offer two primary listening modes: Quiet Mode for maximum noise reduction and Aware Mode, which lets in ambient sounds. Users can switch between these modes depending on their environment. Battery life lasts up to 24 hours on a full charge, with a quick-charge option providing additional playback after just 15 minutes of charging. Bluetooth connectivity supports multipoint pairing, allowing the headphones to connect to two devices at the same time. The design includes plush ear cushions and a reinforced headband, built for long-term comfort. Sound settings such as bass, midrange, and treble can be adjusted through the Bose app. An optional audio cable with an in-line microphone is included for wired use when Bluetooth is unavailable or undesired. The headphones come with a carrying case, USB-C charging cable, and audio cable. They are priced at $349 and available in multiple colors, including Blue Dusk.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones are over-ear headphones designed for comfort and noise cancellation. They have soft, cushioned earcups and a padded headband made from synthetic leather, making them comfortable to wear for long periods. The headphones are built with impact-resistant nylon and metal hinges, so they’re sturdy enough for regular use. They offer two listening modes: Quiet Mode, which blocks out most background noise, and Aware Mode, which lets you hear your surroundings through built-in microphones. The sound is balanced, and you can adjust the bass, mids, and treble using the Bose Music app. The headphones connect wirelessly via Bluetooth, with a range of about 30 feet, and can remember up to seven devices for easy switching. They offer up to 22 hours of battery life on a full charge, and if you’re in a hurry, a quick 15-minute charge gives you about 3 hours of listening time. Their design is simple and lightweight, and they fold flat for easier storage. You can also pair them with select Bose speakers and soundbars for private listening. Voice assistants are accessible through a button on the earcup, making it easy to control music or take calls.
The Beats Studio Pro are over-ear headphones made for people who want solid sound and noise cancellation. They come in several colors like black, deep brown, navy, and sandstone. The design is pretty simple—nothing flashy—but they’re built to be comfortable with soft ear cushions that you can wear for hours. They’ve got Active Noise Cancelling (ANC), which helps block out outside sounds—good if you’re on a plane or somewhere loud. There’s also a Transparency Mode, so you can hear what’s going on around you without taking them off. Battery life is impressive—up to 40 hours with regular use, and if you forget to charge them, a quick 10-minute plug-in gives you about 4 more hours of playtime. Sound-wise, they’re tuned to be clear and balanced, not overly bass-heavy like older Beats models. There’s a feature called Personalized Spatial Audio, which makes it feel like the sound is coming from all around you—nice for movies or certain songs. If you’re into wired listening, you can connect with a USB-C cable for higher-quality, lossless audio. They work with both Apple and Android devices. Pairing is quick, and if you lose them, they’ve got "Find My" support to help track them down. Controls are on the ear cups for changing songs, answering calls, or talking to your phone’s voice assistant. In the box, you get the headphones, a carrying case, charging and audio cables, and a quick start guide. They’re not cheap, but they’re built to be versatile—good for commuting, working, or just chilling at home.
The AirPods Max are Apple's high-end wireless over-ear headphones, first released in 2020. They stand out for their premium build, active noise cancellation (ANC), and spatial audio that creates an immersive, theater-like sound experience. Design & Comfort The AirPods Max have an aluminum body, a mesh canopy headband, and memory foam ear cushions for a snug yet breathable fit. They come in multiple colors, and the ear cushions are swappable for a custom look. Sound & Features Inside, each ear cup has Apple’s H1 chip, enabling adaptive EQ, transparency mode, and computational audio that adjusts sound in real time. The Digital Crown (like the Apple Watch) lets you control volume, skip tracks, answer calls, and activate Siri. Battery & Charging They offer up to 20 hours of listening time with ANC and spatial audio on. A quick 5-minute charge provides 1.5 hours of playback. The 2024 model switched from Lightning to USB-C for charging and wired audio. Smart Case The included Smart Case puts the headphones into a low-power mode, though its odd purse-like design has been widely mocked. The Downside? While the AirPods Max deliver top-tier audio and noise cancellation, they’re heavy, don’t fold for easy storage, and at $549, they’re one of the most expensive consumer headphones on the market. Some users have also reported condensation issues inside the ear cups after long listening sessions. Final Thoughts If you’re deep in the Apple ecosystem, love high-quality audio, and don’t mind the price, these are some of the best wireless headphones out there. But if you’re after a more portable or budget-friendly option, there are plenty of solid alternatives.
This is the only audiobook I've ever listened to lol. But it is a very interesting story about Elon, arguably the most interesting person alive.
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood is Trevor Noah’s autobiography, published in 2016. It tells the story of his early years growing up in South Africa during and after apartheid. The title comes from the fact that his birth—he had a black Xhosa mother and a white Swiss-German father—was literally considered a crime under apartheid laws that banned interracial relationships at the time. The book is a mix of humor and tough truths. Much of it focuses on Trevor’s relationship with his mother, Patricia, who plays a huge role in his life. She’s portrayed as tough, religious, and fiercely independent—someone who dragged him to multiple church services every week, even during times of violence and unrest. Her strong influence shapes his character, often through strict discipline and sharp lessons about right and wrong. Trevor shares stories from his childhood that range from funny to intense. There’s a scene where his mother throws him out of a moving minibus to save him from a potentially dangerous driver. He also talks about using his talent for languages to navigate different cultural groups in South Africa, and how he hustled by selling bootleg CDs to make money. But not all his stories are light—he describes living with his abusive stepfather, Abel, whose violence culminated in him shooting Trevor’s mother, though she miraculously survived. Despite the heavy topics—racism, poverty, domestic abuse—Noah’s storytelling is funny, honest, and full of warmth. The book gives a personal look at how apartheid shaped everyday life but also highlights the resilience of his family, especially his mother. The memoir was widely praised, becoming a bestseller and earning spots on numerous “best of the year” lists. It struck a chord with readers around the world, and even inspired figures like U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth and First Lady Jill Biden, who assigned it as reading for her English class. A film adaptation is in the works, with Lupita Nyong’o set to play Trevor’s mother and co-produce the project.
Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life is William Finnegan’s story about growing up obsessed with surfing. It’s not just about catching waves—it’s about a whole way of life that’s demanding, addictive, and sometimes dangerous. Finnegan started young, learning to surf in California and Hawaii, and kept chasing waves into adulthood, traveling through places like Fiji, Australia, Indonesia, and Africa. Along the way, he mixes adventure with self-reflection, talking about friendships formed in the water, the culture around surfing, and how it all fit with the times—especially during the social changes of the 1960s and '70s. The book isn’t just about the thrill of surfing; Finnegan dives into the technical side of waves and the patience it takes to master them. He’s honest about his youthful recklessness—like taking LSD before surfing a massive wave in Maui—and the risks that came with his travels, from malaria scares to navigating shady markets. Still, surfing pulls him along, even when he’s juggling a career as a war reporter and later, family life. At its core, Barbarian Days is an old-fashioned adventure tale mixed with a thoughtful look at what it means to be hooked on something so completely. Finnegan’s writing captures both the beauty and the grind of surfing, making you feel like you’re right there with him—whether on a remote beach or paddling out into icy waves off Long Island.
Get Jacked is a gym tracking app and personal robo trainer. Get Jacked helps beginners, intermediates and advanced lifters improving their training by tracking training performance over the medium and long term. Get jacked adjusts training volume to fit your needs making sure that you get the best possible results given your personal constraints.
Musicat is a comprehensive website and mobile app available for Android and iOS. It connects to your Apple Music account to track your listening history, offering detailed stats, year-by-year top artists and albums, and insights into your favorite tracks. Musicat also helps you discover new music, lets you view what you were listening to on this day in the past, and enables following interesting accounts for a social music experience.
Duolingo is an app and website designed to help people learn languages in a simple and engaging way. It’s free to use, though there are paid options that remove ads and offer extra features. The lessons are short and interactive, with exercises that involve matching words, listening to sentences, speaking, and translating. A green owl named Duo acts as the app’s mascot—offering encouragement when you stay on track and reminders when you don’t. The platform offers a wide range of languages, from widely spoken ones like Spanish, French, and Chinese to less common choices like Welsh, Hawaiian, and even fictional languages like Klingon and High Valyrian. Lessons focus on practical, everyday communication—like ordering food or asking for directions—though you’ll occasionally encounter quirky sentences that are memorable in their oddness. Duolingo adapts to your progress: if you’re struggling, it slows down; if you’re doing well, it introduces more challenging material. There are game-like features—points, streaks, and levels—that keep learning motivating and fun. For those looking to go beyond basic lessons, Duolingo also offers podcasts, stories, and interactive exercises to improve listening and reading comprehension. Convenient and easy to use, Duolingo fits into almost any schedule—you can practice on the bus, during a lunch break, or before bed. While it’s not a complete substitute for full immersion or in-depth study, it’s a useful tool for beginners and a good way to keep language skills fresh.
I am a huge fan of chloe ting's workouts. I haven't checked out her app yet, as I use her mostly on desktop but I find that her workouts are the most fun, versatile and effective.
Drops is a language learning app that focuses on teaching vocabulary through quick, visual-based games. The idea is to make learning feel more like playing, with short sessions you can fit into your day. Instead of grammar-heavy lessons, it leans on matching words with pictures, swiping, and tapping to help words stick in your memory. The app covers over 40 languages, from common ones like Spanish and French to less common ones like Hawaiian and Ainu. You get common, everyday words and phrases to start with—things you’d actually use in conversation. It’s built for people who want to learn at their own pace, and there are features like reminders and streaks to keep you coming back. Drops keeps lessons short—usually five minutes—so it’s easy to squeeze in some learning while waiting for coffee or riding the train. There’s a free version with ads and limits on daily use, or you can pay for Premium to get rid of ads, unlock all content, and use it offline. Overall, it’s not going to teach you complex grammar or how to hold a full conversation right away, but if you’re looking to build your vocabulary in a fun, no-pressure way, it does the job.
I am a huge fan of chloe ting's workouts. I haven't checked out her app yet, as I use her mostly on desktop but I find that her workouts are the most fun, versatile and effective.
Drops is a language learning app that focuses on teaching vocabulary through quick, visual-based games. The idea is to make learning feel more like playing, with short sessions you can fit into your day. Instead of grammar-heavy lessons, it leans on matching words with pictures, swiping, and tapping to help words stick in your memory. The app covers over 40 languages, from common ones like Spanish and French to less common ones like Hawaiian and Ainu. You get common, everyday words and phrases to start with—things you’d actually use in conversation. It’s built for people who want to learn at their own pace, and there are features like reminders and streaks to keep you coming back. Drops keeps lessons short—usually five minutes—so it’s easy to squeeze in some learning while waiting for coffee or riding the train. There’s a free version with ads and limits on daily use, or you can pay for Premium to get rid of ads, unlock all content, and use it offline. Overall, it’s not going to teach you complex grammar or how to hold a full conversation right away, but if you’re looking to build your vocabulary in a fun, no-pressure way, it does the job.
Musicat is a comprehensive website and mobile app available for Android and iOS. It connects to your Apple Music account to track your listening history, offering detailed stats, year-by-year top artists and albums, and insights into your favorite tracks. Musicat also helps you discover new music, lets you view what you were listening to on this day in the past, and enables following interesting accounts for a social music experience.
Duolingo is an app and website designed to help people learn languages in a simple and engaging way. It’s free to use, though there are paid options that remove ads and offer extra features. The lessons are short and interactive, with exercises that involve matching words, listening to sentences, speaking, and translating. A green owl named Duo acts as the app’s mascot—offering encouragement when you stay on track and reminders when you don’t. The platform offers a wide range of languages, from widely spoken ones like Spanish, French, and Chinese to less common choices like Welsh, Hawaiian, and even fictional languages like Klingon and High Valyrian. Lessons focus on practical, everyday communication—like ordering food or asking for directions—though you’ll occasionally encounter quirky sentences that are memorable in their oddness. Duolingo adapts to your progress: if you’re struggling, it slows down; if you’re doing well, it introduces more challenging material. There are game-like features—points, streaks, and levels—that keep learning motivating and fun. For those looking to go beyond basic lessons, Duolingo also offers podcasts, stories, and interactive exercises to improve listening and reading comprehension. Convenient and easy to use, Duolingo fits into almost any schedule—you can practice on the bus, during a lunch break, or before bed. While it’s not a complete substitute for full immersion or in-depth study, it’s a useful tool for beginners and a good way to keep language skills fresh.
The Australian Citizenship Tests app is a tool that helps you get ready for the Australian citizenship test. It’s made to be simple and easy to use, giving you practice questions, full-length tests, and helpful study materials. The questions are based on official resources, so you’ll get a good idea of what the real test is like. You can use the app on your phone or laptop, and there’s no limit to how many practice tests you can take. The app tracks your progress, so you’ll know which topics you need to work on. There’s also a demo with audio explanations if you prefer listening while studying. The app was created by Jogi, an independent developer who originally built it to help his wife prepare for her test. He noticed there weren’t many good resources available, so he decided to make one that’s clear, useful, and easy for anyone to use. Many people have found the app helpful. Users from different countries—like Sweden, Iran, Vietnam, Brazil, and Pakistan—say it made studying less stressful and boosted their confidence. Over 3,000 people are currently using it, and the platform has recorded thousands of answered questions and practice tests taken. There’s a 7-day free trial, and if you’re not happy with it, there’s a money-back guarantee. To qualify for that, you’ll need to complete all the practice tests in the app. The prices are in US dollars, and your personal information is kept secure. If you want, you can also check out their blog for study tips, test-day advice, and information about Australian history and culture.
Antarctica remains one of the least-visited places on Earth due to its remoteness and challenging environment. An Antarctic cruise offers adventurers unique, pristine landscapes, abundant wildlife (penguins, seals, whales), exciting activities (kayaking, hiking, camping) in one of the world's most remote locations.It's an adventure few others have experienced!
The least dignified way to travel in Europe! Even booking a ticket with them is a nightmare trip through a maze of upsells and dark patterns. Once you have booked your flight, enjoy your 1-hour commute to a second-tier regional airport. The seats are tiny. They're made of cheap plastic, probably so that they can easily hose them down every 100th flight.
Because life is a nightmare
Antarctica remains one of the least-visited places on Earth due to its remoteness and challenging environment. An Antarctic cruise offers adventurers unique, pristine landscapes, abundant wildlife (penguins, seals, whales), exciting activities (kayaking, hiking, camping) in one of the world's most remote locations.It's an adventure few others have experienced!