Busy month in portable audio gear, September. In fact, those of us in the game have taken to calling this particular month 'Techtember', owing to the huge volume of new products entering the market during this important 30-day juncture.
And portable audio is always one of the biggest areas for growth. In fact, in the time since we started writing this little roundup, Bose (aside from releasing a set of which you'll find below) has also released not one but two new open earbuds propositions (which are not — that's how busy this space is right now).
Why is Techtember like this? Well, Apple typically kicks things off with its annual event at the top of the month. This year, the Cupertino giant's "Surprise and Shine" event on September 9 saw the release of two new AirPods 5 models at refreshingly affordable price-points.
Sony quickly joined in, going one better and launching new sets of headphones, namely the , to update its own slam-dunk hits for 2026.
So, Apple lost out on the tally sheet by one product? Not so fast: meet , the Apple sub-brand's all-new (and heavily leaked) cans that let you customize the ear cup and headband colors for a look that's unique to you.
Now, Sonos: the company's hotly-anticipated update to its Sonos Ace cans landed — and yes, the superb fix the key Sonos ecosystem compatibility snag of the originals to become one of our favorite releases of the year, and that's not something we say lightly.
Then, on September 29, two of the biggest releases in the premium over-ear space landed within hours of each other, namely Nothing's most expensive cans to date, the striking , which we've reviewed in full, and the aesthetically gorgeous , which I've delivered an initial verdict on, pending further tests.
For further information on any product in this roundup, select the 'view details' toggle below the image. Or, if you're already sold on a certain set, simply click through to shop these all-new products. Have fun — and above all, enjoy the music!
September 2026 — the all-new headphones and earbuds you need to see
Becky became Audio Editor at TechRadar in 2024, but joined the team in 2022 as Senior Staff Writer, focusing on all things hi-fi. Before this, she spent three years at What Hi-Fi? testing and reviewing everything from wallet-friendly wireless earbuds to huge high-end sound systems. Prior to gaining her MA in Journalism in 2018, Becky freelanced as an arts critic alongside a 22-year career as a professional dancer and aerialist – any love of dance starts with a love of music. Becky has previously contributed to Stuff, FourFourTwo and The Stage. When not writing, she can still be found throwing shapes in a dance studio, these days with varying degrees of success.