These massive headphones are for real and you can buy them


Looking at photos of people wearing JLab’s latest headphones, your first thought might be: “Wow, these folks must be tiny.” But no — the headphones are just huge. Absurdly huge. In fact, they’re the kind of huge that’ll turn heads if you wear them walking down the street. And don’t even think about taking them in coach.

Just to confirm, JLab’s latest device is for real. It’s not a joke. I mean, they may look like a joke, but you can buy them. For $100.

Truth be told, they’re not really designed to be worn over your ears, unless you have a massive head, as that’s the only way you’ll get a comfortable fit.

Their official name is the Blue XL Speaker Headphones, so yes, they’re more speaker than headphones. Though they look a lot like headphones.

You could wear them around your neck for portability, though we’ve not been able to find any information about their weight. But it’s safe to say you’ll get a full-body workout every time you put these things on.

You’ll probably be better off plunking them down somewhere in your home and using them as a regular Bluetooth speaker. They’ll certainly be a conversation starter when anyone visits.

JLab’s unique speaker headphones are powered by dual 2.5″ drivers and passive radiators delivering 30 watts of audio power, and apparently pump out “rich, immersive sound for up to 20 hours on a single charge,” according to the California-based company. They also offer 10W fast charging that refills the battery completely in three hours.

Want a pair? They’re only making a limited number of these, so you’ll have to act fast.

At the other extreme, JLab recently brought out these ANC earbuds that are so small you might end up losing them. No chance of that with these speaker headphones.

JBL’s Grip Bluetooth speaker doubles as a snazzy reading light


JBL just announced a new portable Bluetooth speaker, called the Grip. This model includes a rope hook, which should make it easy to attach to backpacks, ski gear, or just about anything else.

It also features customizable ambient lighting that actually looks pretty useful. The company says this lighting scheme makes the speaker a “perfect bedside companion for late-night reading.” A speaker that doubles as a night light? I can see the use for that.

As for the audio, JBL promises “pro sound” at a “fuller volume” when compared to some rival Bluetooth speakers. It boasts multispeaker connectivity via Auracast, which makes it . The battery life is also on point here, offering up to 14 hours of use per charge.

The speaker looks pretty durable, with an IP68 waterproof and dustproof rating. The company also notes that the unit is drop-proof, so “it can survive a hard fall onto concrete.” The JBL Grip costs $100 and is available in numerous colorways. Pre-orders are open right now, with shipments going out on September 28.