Most Bluetooth speakers and earbuds reach about 30 feet (10 meters) in practice, though some advertise much more. Walls, water and bodies cut range sharply. Here is what affects Bluetooth range and how to fix dropouts.
A battery-powered speaker rated IPX7 or IP67 is generally safe in the shower because it runs on low-voltage battery power. The real risks are charging while wet, mains-powered devices and water damage. Here are the rules to follow.
IPX4 protects against splashes from any direction; IPX7 survives temporary submersion. Here is what that means in real life for earbuds, speakers and wearables, and which rating you need for showers, workouts and the pool.
IPX7 means a device is protected against temporary immersion in water up to 1 meter for 30 minutes, but it hasn’t been rated for dust. Here is how IP codes work, what IPX7 covers, and what it doesn’t.
The best Bluetooth speaker for the shower is the JBL Clip 5: IP67 waterproof, big sound and a carabiner that clips to any caddy. Here are 5 waterproof shower speakers compared, from suction-cup budget picks to floaters.
Earbuds usually fall out because the tip is the wrong size, the bud is too heavy for your ear, or jaw movement and sweat break the seal. Here are the 7 most common causes and a simple fix for each.
Silicone ear tips last longer and are easy to clean; foam tips mold to your ear for a grippier seal, better noise isolation and fuller bass, but wear out faster. Here is how to choose, and when hybrid tips make sense.
Ear tips usually come in XS, S, M and L, but sizes aren’t standardized between brands. Here is how tip size, depth and bore work, how to test each size, and how to buy replacement tips that actually fit your earbuds.
Most earbud fit problems are solved by trying every tip size, inserting with a gentle twist, and running a quick seal test. Here are 8 practical tips, from foam tips to wing accessories, to make any earbuds fit better.
Clean wireless earbuds with a dry soft brush, a lightly damp cloth and a little isopropyl alcohol on a swab — never running water. Here is a safe step-by-step routine for the buds, ear tips, mesh and charging case.
The best wireless earbuds for small ears are the JLab Go Air Pop+: tiny, light and inexpensive. Here are 5 compact earbuds compared, from the 3.3g JBuds Mini to the better-sounding Sony WF-C510.
Matter is a shared smart home standard that lets one device work with Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home and SmartThings at the same time, with more local control. Here is how it works, what Thread has to do with it, and whether to buy Matter devices now.