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Amazon October Prime Day: 173+ early deals to shop now

Amazon October Prime Day: 173+ early deals to shop now

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Amazon Prime Day is no longer one glorious day of deals just for Prime members. The flagship Prime Day now spans four days in July, and Amazon has added another annual event in October, too. This year, Prime Big Deal Days returns tomorrow, spanning October 7 and 8. Amazon says its October Prime Day event will deliver millions of deals across categories, giving customers a head start on holiday shopping.

Before the sale begins tomorrow, it’s worth mapping out what gifts you need to buy or which household goods need restocking. But if you’re eager to get an even earlier jump on the holiday shopping, we have some good news. Early deals are already starting to creep in. There are some real gems already available to buy before the chaos of Prime Day takes hold.

Note: Deals marked with a 🔥 denote an all-time low price.

October Prime Day deals to come

Now that Prime Big Deal Days arrive in just a week’s time, Amazon is tantalizing customers with a preview of the deals to come. While these deals aren’t live yet, here’s what we know is to come.

  • Up to 45% off Bose headphones and speakers

  • Up to 40% off on select LG and Hisense TVs and monitors

  • Up to 50% off on select Amazon devices, including Kindle e-readers and Echo devices

  • Up to 65% off chargers and power banks from Anker

  • Up to 50% off vacuums from Shark and Eufy

  • One free grocery item on a Same-Day order at eligible locations

  • Prime members can use Grubhub+ to get $10 off orders of $20 or more

  • Prime members receive triple points on Kindle store purchases during Prime Big Deal Days

Best Apple deal

Why we picked this

“The second-generation AirPods Pro offer top-tier sound quality, excellent noise cancellation, and a battery life of about seven hours per charge. They’re our current favorite earbuds for Apple users, though that may soon change once we finish testing the newer AirPods Pro 3, which have a different design and five swappable ear tips (up from three), even better active noise cancellation, Live Translation, and extra health features. They’re a pretty significant upgrade on paper, but if price is your biggest concern, the AirPods Pro 2 are $79 cheaper for the time being.” — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

Read Mashable’s full review of the Apple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C).

More AirPods deals

MacBook deals

  • Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $999 $1,199 (save $200)

  • Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,399 $1,599 (save $200)

  • Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $2,249 $2,499 (save $250)

  • Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4 Max, 36GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,869 $3,199 (save $330)

  • Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M4 Max, 36GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $3,099 $3,499 (save $400)

Apple Watch deals

iPad deals

  • Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB) — $299 $349 (save $50)

  • Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) — $399 $499 (save $100)

  • Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi + cellular, 128GB) — $449 $499 (save $50)

  • Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi, 128GB) — $449 $599 (save $150)

  • Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi + cellular, 128GB) — $599 $749 (save $150)

  • Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M3, WiFi, 128GB) — $649 $799 (save $150)

  • Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M3, WiFi + cellular, 128GB) — $799 $949 (save $150)

  • Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) — $896.03 $999 (save $102.97)

  • Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M4, WiFi + cellular, 256GB) — $1,099 $1,199 (save $100)

  • Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,099 $1,299 (save $200)

  • Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M4, WiFi + cellular, 256GB) — $1,299 $1,499 (save $200)

More Apple deals

Best headphone and earbud deal

Why we picked this

“In the lead up to Amazon’s October Prime Day, we’re looking across categories for the best early savings. One of our favorite categories — headphones and earbuds — is looking a little sparse when it comes to deals, but that’s not to say that there are no good early deals. We’ve found a few great ones.

Ahead of Prime Day, find the Beats Studio Buds for 47% off. That saves you $70 off its typical $149.95 MSRP. The Beats Studio Buds deliver well-balanced sound and active noise cancellation in a small package. Plus, like AirPods, they have easy connectivity to iOS systems, but unlike AirPods, they’re also well-suited for Android users.” — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More headphone and earbud deals

Early Prime Day Bluetooth speaker deals

Best laptop deal

Why we like it

“The 13.8-inch Surface Laptop 7 with a Snapdragon X Elite chip is our favorite Windows laptop for most people. It’s beautiful, it’s about as fast as an M4 MacBook Air, and it lasts for nearly 23 hours on a single charge — that’s two longer than the M4 Pro-powered MacBook Pro, the longest-lasting MacBook we’ve tried. (Before you buy it, just double-check that its powerful ARM-based CPU is compatible with your go-to apps.) The black variant with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage is marked down to $972 ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, which is a 31% discount on its $1,399.99 MSRP. It very briefly fell to $918.47 in late September, but this current offer beats its Prime Day deal in July.” — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

Read Mashable’s full review of the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7.

More Windows laptop deals

  • Asus Vivobook 16 (AMD Ryzen AI 5 340, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $679.99 $799.99 (save $120)

  • Microsoft Surface Laptop, 13-inch (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $729.99 $899.99 (save $170)

  • Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 13.8-inch (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $949.99 $1,199.99 (save $250)

  • Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 15-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,549.99 $2,099.99 (save $550)

2-in-1 laptop deals

Gaming laptop deals

Best TV deal

Why we picked this

“The most affordable 65-inch QLED TV we’re seeing so far is the same one that was the cheapest 65-inch during Prime Day over the summer — but it’s even cheaper now. Snag Insignia’s QF Series QLED for $299.99 versus $329.99 in July.

If you’ve never had a QLED TV before, this XL Insignia model is a great low-stakes opportunity to upgrade. Customers in the reviews seem to be more than satisfied with its picture quality and color vibrancy for the price. As a budget QLED, you can’t expect this model to stunt in HDR like a premium Samsung QLED would. But compared to your old LED TV, you’ll quickly see the difference those quantum dots are making — they’ll especially pop when watching football in the daytime.” — Leah Stodart, Senior Shopping Reporter

More TV deals

42-inch to 50-inch TV deals

55-inch TV deals

65-inch and 70-inch TV deals

  • Hisense 65-inch E6 Cinema Series QLED 4K TV — $399.99 $549.99 (save $250) 🔥

  • LG 65-inch C5 OLED 4K TV — $1,496.99 $2,696.99 (save $1,200) 🔥

  • Samsung 65-inch The Frame 4K QLED TV (2024 model) — $1,197.96 $1,997.99 (save $800.03)

  • Samsung 65-inch S95D OLED TV (2024 model) — $1,297.99 $1,697.99 (save $400) 🔥

  • Sony 65-inch A95K QD-OLED 4K TV — $2,399 $3,499.99 (save $1,100.99)

  • Sony 65-inch Bravia 8 II QD OLED 4K TV — $2,998 $3,499.99 (save $501.99) 🔥

  • Insignia 70-inch F50 Series 4K Fire TV — $329 $499 (save $170) 🔥

75-inch and 77-inch TV deals

85-inch and up TV deals

  • Hisense 85-inch QD7 QLED 4K TV — $879.99 $1,299.99 (save $420)

  • TCL 85-inch QM6K QLED 4K TV — $999.99 $1,499.99 (save $500)

  • Hisense 85-inch U7 QLED 4K TV (2025 model) — $1,499.99 $2,499.99 (save $1,000)

  • Hisense 85-inch Canvas QLED 4K TV — $2,047.99 $2,499.99 (save $452)

  • Hisense 85-inch U8 Mini LED QLED 4K TV (2025 model) — $2,247.99 $3,498 (save $1,250.01)

  • Sony 85-inch Bravia 9 Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $4,498 $4,799.99 (save $301.99)

  • Hisense 100-inch E6 Cinema Series QLED 4K TV — $1,999.99 $2,699.99 (save $700) 🔥

Best Kindle deal

Why we picked this

“The best Kindle deal isn’t actually on one of Amazon’s e-readers. Instead, Amazon is offering three months of Kindle Unlimited totally free. Think of it like a streaming service, except for e-books. Joining Kindle Unlimited gives you access to the Kindle Unlimited library, from which you can borrow. But unlike the library, there’s no due date on these borrowed books; the only restriction is that you can borrow up to 20 books at a time.

Leading up to and during Prime Big Deal Days, you can join Kindle Unlimited for three months — totally free. The promotion is available to everyone, even if you’ve already used up your free trial. This is a $35.97 value that you can score without spending a penny. Plus, you don’t actually need a Kindle to enjoy Kindle Unlimited. You can read from the Kindle library on your smartphone, tablet, or web browser.” — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More Kindle deals

Best Amazon device deal

Why we picked this

“There’s no way around it: A shit ton of people are going to buy AirPods this October Prime Day. But for those who aren’t married to Apple’s earbuds (or how often they seem to break), just know that the latest version of Amazon’s Echo Buds with ANC are just $34.99 after a 71% discount. That beats their Prime Day price from July by $10, and you could get five pairs of Echo Buds for less than the $199.99 sale price of the AirPods Pro 2.

Amazon’s noise cancellation doesn’t level with the effectiveness of those AirPods or other top noise-cancelling earbuds, but casual music or podcast listeners may not care at this price point.” — Leah Stodart, Senior Shopping Reporter

More Amazon device deals

Fire tablet deals

Echo deals

Fire TV deals

Fire TV deals from non-Amazon brands

Blink home security deals

Other Amazon device deals

Best robot vacuum deal

Why we picked this

“When it comes to robot vacuums, I always turn to Mashable’s in-house robot vacuum expert, Leah Stodart. When I asked her about these deals, she pointed out that iRobot marked down the Roomba Plus 405 to $399.99, making it one of the most affordable combo robot vacuums and mops. That saves you $265.01 off its list price of $665 for 40% off.

Mashable Deals

The Roomba Plus 405 includes both vacuum and mopping abilities, featuring strong suction to really scrub at dirt and grime. It features four cleaning levels that you can adjust from the iRobot app. Plus, its dock not only empties the vacuum, but even cleans the mopping pads for a truly hands-free experience.

While we’re not sure what other combo vacuum and mop deals are coming during Prime Big Deal Days, we can safely say that the Roomba Plus 405 is one of the best deals you can get ahead of the event.” — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More robot vacuum deals

More robot vacuum and mop deals

Best smartwatch deals

Why we picked this

“The Garmin vívoactive 5 was recently replaced as the newest model by the vívoactive 6, but the 5 still holds a special place in our hearts. This is what we’d call a perfect all-rounder fitness tracker, perfect for tracking long runs and cycles while also still having a great range of lifestyle features like sleep tracking, stress levels, and body battery. It’s also a vast improvement over the vívoactive 4, and even has a bright AMOLED display, making it appear even more high-tech.” — Lois Mackenzie, Mashable contributor

More smartwatch deals

Best boring but essential deal

“Prime Day sales are the perfect time to restock your home or apartment with essentials like paper towels, cleaning products, batteries, and health necessities. An always-reliable Prime Day deal is Crest Whitestrips, and once again, they’re on a great discount before we head into October’s sale. The 22-treatment set has 44 strips in total, and it’s on sale for $29.99, which works out to a sweet 35% discount compared to the usual price of $45.99. Plus, this deal qualifies for Proctor and Gamble’s buy two, get $5 off coupon deal, so if you snag two boxes of Whitestrips, you’ll be saving even more.” — Lauren Allain, Mashable contributor

More essential deals

Best Lego deal

Why we like it

“For those looking to get a head start on holiday shopping, Lego’s advent calendars are a very fun pick-up. It’s even better when they can be found on sale. Right now, the 2025 Lego Minecraft Advent Calendar is down to its best price at Amazon, dropping from $44.99 to $38. If you’re looking to grab one for the kids to enjoy over the holidays, now is a great time to jump on it.” — Hannah Hoolihan, Mashable contributor

More Lego deals

Best portable power station deal

Why we like it

“A portable power station is one of the most useful items you can buy for your home this year. They’ve seen major advancements in both battery technology and user-friendliness recently and the Anker Solix C1000 portable power station is a standout model. It’s an idea combination of power (1,056Wh), plenty of ports, and it’s on sale ahead of Prime Day for $429, which is the lowest price Amazon has ever offered.

When the power gets knocked out by a storm this fall or winter, you’ll be able to use the C1000 to keep phones and laptops charged up. You can also use it to power up the coffee maker in the morning or plug in the WiFi router so you won’t have to suck down data.

Come summer, the Anker Solix C1000 can come along on camping trips and if you snag a solar panel, you’ll be in line for unlimited power.” — Lauren Allain, Mashable contributor

More portable power station deals

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Related Posts

Enco Air 5 Pro as an example. They combined well-balanced audio and strong ANC capabilities into a package that cost ₹4,999. While we still think they are great value, I’d also admit that spending that much isn’t feasible for many budget-conscious buyers. Keeping that in mind, OPPO has just announced the non-Pro version, the Enco Air 5. It follows the same recipe as its bigger brother, with 52dB of ANC and a 54-hour battery life, but trims the price down to just ₹3,099.

So, when OPPO called asking if I’d like to test the Enco Air 5, I said yes, of course. For some context, I have been using the buds for almost a month, during which I’ve taken them to countless gym sessions, gone on evening walks while listening to my favorite music, and even taken them with me to cover an esports tournament in Jaipur. If you can’t be bothered to read the full review, then yes, they are worth the price. Here’s why.

OPPO Enco Air 5 Review

Hisan Kidwai

Summary

Everything about the Enco Air 5 feels well balanced. The design is understated yet premium, the comfort is good enough for hours of use, and the companion app is packed with genuinely useful features. The sound tuning gives every part of a track room to breathe without letting one frequency overpower another. Even the ANC does a commendable job of cutting out everyday noise.

Design & Comfort

OPPO Enco Air 5 Review: The Budget Earbuds Most People Should Buy OPPO’s Enco earbud series has time and again delivered some of the best value devices, and for good reason. Take last month’s Enco Air 5 Pro as an example. They combined well-balanced audio and strong ANC capabilities into a package that cost ₹4,999. While we still think they are great value, I’d also admit that spending that much isn’t feasible for many budget-conscious buyers. Keeping that in mind, OPPO has just announced the non-Pro version, the Enco Air 5. It follows the same recipe as its bigger brother, with 52dB of ANC and a 54-hour battery life, but trims the price down to just ₹3,099. So, when OPPO called asking if I’d like to test the Enco Air 5, I said yes, of course. For some context, I have been using the buds for almost a month, during which I’ve taken them to countless gym sessions, gone on evening walks while listening to my favorite music, and even taken them with me to cover an esports tournament in Jaipur. If you can’t be bothered to read the full review, then yes, they are worth the price. Here’s why. OPPO Enco Air 5 ReviewHisan KidwaiSummaryEverything about the Enco Air 5 feels well balanced. The design is understated yet premium, the comfort is good enough for hours of use, and the companion app is packed with genuinely useful features. The sound tuning gives every part of a track room to breathe without letting one frequency overpower another. Even the ANC does a commendable job of cutting out everyday noise. Design & Comfort What does it take to design a great pair of earbuds? To some brands, it’s about a fun design that stands out amongst others, even if that comes at the cost of comfort. I could name a dozen such earbuds, but the truth is, the ones I keep using after reviews are those that don’t stand out. I don’t care whether you have a brand-new design or a new LED light strip. An earbud needs to be sophisticated yet stylish enough not to look cheap. And no other brand does that better than OPPO. The new Enco Air 5 are no exception. They feature the same oval-shaped case that I have come to love. While the dimensions are almost identical to the 5 Pro, the finish is indeed different. I got the Lavender Purple variant, which I’d say looks quite good. It adds a pop of color in an otherwise bland earbud world. Even though it’s very difficult to put the feel of the finish into words, I’ll try anyway. The finish reminds me of those large chalky medicine tablets. The matte finish is a little rougher than the 5 Pro, and it held up quite well in my regular use. I didn’t see any smudges, nor was there any damage to the case when I dropped it at the airport while taking out my boarding pass. The case can be opened with one hand, and there’s also a satisfying click every time you close the lid. There’s also a physical pairing button, which is always appreciated. As for the earbuds themselves, they are shiny this time around, so a bit more difficult to keep clean. Comfort is a tricky thing to answer, since everyone’s ears are different. My ears are small, so bigger earbuds like the Noise Master Buds 2 were difficult to manage. Fortunately, the Enco Air 5 were not the same. They fit perfectly inside my ear canals, without causing any discomfort. For my 6 AM flight, I put them on before leaving home, and after 4 hours of travel, they were still sitting comfortably. Still, if the regular medium-sized tips are not to your taste, there are several bundled inside the box. So, experiment to find the best fit. The earbuds are also IP55 rated, and survived my gym sessions in the brutal Indian summers just fine. Sound Quality & ANC The Enco Air 5 earbuds come with a 12mm dynamic driver featuring a titanium-coated PET diaphragm, AAC and SBC codecs, and Bluetooth 6.1. During my testing, I used the Ultimate Sound preset, but if that’s not your jam, there are Thundering Bass and Pure Vocals, along with a full equalizer, which we will talk about soon enough. On tracks such as “After Hours,” “The Pina Colada Song,” and “Runaway,” the earbuds sounded very well balanced. The sound tuning is fantastic: the highs don’t feel sharp, the mids/vocals sound very clear, and the lows are there. Don’t get me wrong, you won’t get the rumble of a big headphone, but the Enco Air 5 in the bass boost mode packs a punch. Despite the lack of high-res audio support, I found the instrument separation decent and the soundstage wide enough, though not quite as expansive as on the more expensive Enco Air 5 Pro. If you’d like your instruments placed all around the room, like at a concert, OPPO has its Live Audio feature. It’s not my favorite thing in the world to experience music with, but it works very well to place different elements perfectly around you. I believe the best way to appreciate this is with a movie, and I watched the first episode of Silo season 3 with these connected to my MacBook. The latency was pretty minimal, and the audio was super clean. Even the call quality has been upgraded compared to the previous generation. On the topic of ANC, I was headed to Jaipur to attend a BGMI esports event. If you’ve seen such events, then you’d know they can get loud—really loud. And what better place to test the ANC capabilities of the Enco Air 5? I’ll be straight: you won’t cancel every noise there is, but that doesn’t mean the ANC is bad. In the event, the earbuds suppressed about 80% of the crowd noises, which was great news. On the flight, most of the jet engine rumble was canceled, without any music on. If you do have music running, it’s very easy to cut off the world for a moment of peace. OPPO claims about 13 hours of battery life on a single charge for the earbuds without ANC on and about 6.5 hours with ANC. I can confirm those numbers are accurate, since I got roughly 5.5 hours with ANC turned on at all times. The case provides a couple of extra charges, so the total output should be around 24-25 hours, depending on your use case. Still, battery life is great overall. Controls & Companion App While many people ignore them, controls are a major factor when choosing earbuds. This is because poor controls can be frustrating. Very fortunately, that’s not the case with the Enco Air 5 earbuds. They keep things simple and functional. You get the basics like double-tap to play/pause the music, triple-tap to skip forward/rewind, and tap and hold to turn on ANC. All of these can be customized to your liking using the HeyMelody app on Android and iOS, or just the Bluetooth settings page if you have an OPPO/OnePlus device. The app has always been great, and you also get Spotify Tap. It connects to your Spotify app and plays a song based on your listening habits whenever you tap your earbuds. I’m an Apple Music user, so I couldn’t test it much, but from what I’ve heard, it’s a great addition. Beyond that, there’s Sound Space, a collection of sounds that help you concentrate better or get work done among the annoying people who watch reels at high volume. Finally, there’s a full 10-band equalizer that lets you tune the sound output precisely to your liking. Verdict At ₹3,099, the OPPO Enco Air 5 are another pair of super-easy-to-recommend earbuds. There are no headline features, but everything about the Enco Air 5 feels well balanced. The design is understated yet premium, the comfort is good enough for hours of use, and the companion app is packed with genuinely useful features. The sound tuning gives every part of a track room to breathe without letting one frequency overpower another. Even the ANC does a commendable job of cutting out everyday noise. #OPPO #Enco #Air #Review #Budget #Earbuds #People #BuyOppo

What does it take to design a great pair of earbuds? To some brands, it’s about a fun design that stands out amongst others, even if that comes at the cost of comfort. I could name a dozen such earbuds, but the truth is, the ones I keep using after reviews are those that don’t stand out. I don’t care whether you have a brand-new design or a new LED light strip. An earbud needs to be sophisticated yet stylish enough not to look cheap. And no other brand does that better than OPPO. The new Enco Air 5 are no exception. They feature the same oval-shaped case that I have come to love.

While the dimensions are almost identical to the 5 Pro, the finish is indeed different. I got the Lavender Purple variant, which I’d say looks quite good. It adds a pop of color in an otherwise bland earbud world. Even though it’s very difficult to put the feel of the finish into words, I’ll try anyway. The finish reminds me of those large chalky medicine tablets. The matte finish is a little rougher than the 5 Pro, and it held up quite well in my regular use. I didn’t see any smudges, nor was there any damage to the case when I dropped it at the airport while taking out my boarding pass. The case can be opened with one hand, and there’s also a satisfying click every time you close the lid. There’s also a physical pairing button, which is always appreciated.

A person holding the earbud

As for the earbuds themselves, they are shiny this time around, so a bit more difficult to keep clean. Comfort is a tricky thing to answer, since everyone’s ears are different. My ears are small, so bigger earbuds like the Noise Master Buds 2 were difficult to manage. Fortunately, the Enco Air 5 were not the same. They fit perfectly inside my ear canals, without causing any discomfort. For my 6 AM flight, I put them on before leaving home, and after 4 hours of travel, they were still sitting comfortably.

Still, if the regular medium-sized tips are not to your taste, there are several bundled inside the box. So, experiment to find the best fit. The earbuds are also IP55 rated, and survived my gym sessions in the brutal Indian summers just fine.

Sound Quality & ANC

Different earbuds

The Enco Air 5 earbuds come with a 12mm dynamic driver featuring a titanium-coated PET diaphragm, AAC and SBC codecs, and Bluetooth 6.1. During my testing, I used the Ultimate Sound preset, but if that’s not your jam, there are Thundering Bass and Pure Vocals, along with a full equalizer, which we will talk about soon enough.

On tracks such as “After Hours,” “The Pina Colada Song,” and “Runaway,” the earbuds sounded very well balanced. The sound tuning is fantastic: the highs don’t feel sharp, the mids/vocals sound very clear, and the lows are there. Don’t get me wrong, you won’t get the rumble of a big headphone, but the Enco Air 5 in the bass boost mode packs a punch. Despite the lack of high-res audio support, I found the instrument separation decent and the soundstage wide enough, though not quite as expansive as on the more expensive Enco Air 5 Pro.

If you’d like your instruments placed all around the room, like at a concert, OPPO has its Live Audio feature. It’s not my favorite thing in the world to experience music with, but it works very well to place different elements perfectly around you. I believe the best way to appreciate this is with a movie, and I watched the first episode of Silo season 3 with these connected to my MacBook. The latency was pretty minimal, and the audio was super clean. Even the call quality has been upgraded compared to the previous generation.

Enco Air 5 on a table with the buds out

On the topic of ANC, I was headed to Jaipur to attend a BGMI esports event. If you’ve seen such events, then you’d know they can get loud—really loud. And what better place to test the ANC capabilities of the Enco Air 5? I’ll be straight: you won’t cancel every noise there is, but that doesn’t mean the ANC is bad. In the event, the earbuds suppressed about 80% of the crowd noises, which was great news. On the flight, most of the jet engine rumble was canceled, without any music on. If you do have music running, it’s very easy to cut off the world for a moment of peace.

OPPO claims about 13 hours of battery life on a single charge for the earbuds without ANC on and about 6.5 hours with ANC. I can confirm those numbers are accurate, since I got roughly 5.5 hours with ANC turned on at all times. The case provides a couple of extra charges, so the total output should be around 24-25 hours, depending on your use case. Still, battery life is great overall.

Controls & Companion App

While many people ignore them, controls are a major factor when choosing earbuds. This is because poor controls can be frustrating. Very fortunately, that’s not the case with the Enco Air 5 earbuds. They keep things simple and functional. You get the basics like double-tap to play/pause the music, triple-tap to skip forward/rewind, and tap and hold to turn on ANC.

All of these can be customized to your liking using the HeyMelody app on Android and iOS, or just the Bluetooth settings page if you have an OPPO/OnePlus device. The app has always been great, and you also get Spotify Tap. It connects to your Spotify app and plays a song based on your listening habits whenever you tap your earbuds. I’m an Apple Music user, so I couldn’t test it much, but from what I’ve heard, it’s a great addition. Beyond that, there’s Sound Space, a collection of sounds that help you concentrate better or get work done among the annoying people who watch reels at high volume. Finally, there’s a full 10-band equalizer that lets you tune the sound output precisely to your liking.

Verdict

A person holding the Enco air 5

At ₹3,099, the OPPO Enco Air 5 are another pair of super-easy-to-recommend earbuds. There are no headline features, but everything about the Enco Air 5 feels well balanced. The design is understated yet premium, the comfort is good enough for hours of use, and the companion app is packed with genuinely useful features. The sound tuning gives every part of a track room to breathe without letting one frequency overpower another. Even the ANC does a commendable job of cutting out everyday noise.

#OPPO #Enco #Air #Review #Budget #Earbuds #People #BuyOppo">OPPO Enco Air 5 Review: The Budget Earbuds Most People Should Buy OPPO’s Enco earbud series has time and again delivered some of the best value devices, and for good reason. Take last month’s Enco Air 5 Pro as an example. They combined well-balanced audio and strong ANC capabilities into a package that cost ₹4,999. While we still think they are great value, I’d also admit that spending that much isn’t feasible for many budget-conscious buyers. Keeping that in mind, OPPO has just announced the non-Pro version, the Enco Air 5. It follows the same recipe as its bigger brother, with 52dB of ANC and a 54-hour battery life, but trims the price down to just ₹3,099. So, when OPPO called asking if I’d like to test the Enco Air 5, I said yes, of course. For some context, I have been using the buds for almost a month, during which I’ve taken them to countless gym sessions, gone on evening walks while listening to my favorite music, and even taken them with me to cover an esports tournament in Jaipur. If you can’t be bothered to read the full review, then yes, they are worth the price. Here’s why. OPPO Enco Air 5 ReviewHisan KidwaiSummaryEverything about the Enco Air 5 feels well balanced. The design is understated yet premium, the comfort is good enough for hours of use, and the companion app is packed with genuinely useful features. The sound tuning gives every part of a track room to breathe without letting one frequency overpower another. Even the ANC does a commendable job of cutting out everyday noise. Design & Comfort What does it take to design a great pair of earbuds? To some brands, it’s about a fun design that stands out amongst others, even if that comes at the cost of comfort. I could name a dozen such earbuds, but the truth is, the ones I keep using after reviews are those that don’t stand out. I don’t care whether you have a brand-new design or a new LED light strip. An earbud needs to be sophisticated yet stylish enough not to look cheap. And no other brand does that better than OPPO. The new Enco Air 5 are no exception. They feature the same oval-shaped case that I have come to love. While the dimensions are almost identical to the 5 Pro, the finish is indeed different. I got the Lavender Purple variant, which I’d say looks quite good. It adds a pop of color in an otherwise bland earbud world. Even though it’s very difficult to put the feel of the finish into words, I’ll try anyway. The finish reminds me of those large chalky medicine tablets. The matte finish is a little rougher than the 5 Pro, and it held up quite well in my regular use. I didn’t see any smudges, nor was there any damage to the case when I dropped it at the airport while taking out my boarding pass. The case can be opened with one hand, and there’s also a satisfying click every time you close the lid. There’s also a physical pairing button, which is always appreciated. As for the earbuds themselves, they are shiny this time around, so a bit more difficult to keep clean. Comfort is a tricky thing to answer, since everyone’s ears are different. My ears are small, so bigger earbuds like the Noise Master Buds 2 were difficult to manage. Fortunately, the Enco Air 5 were not the same. They fit perfectly inside my ear canals, without causing any discomfort. For my 6 AM flight, I put them on before leaving home, and after 4 hours of travel, they were still sitting comfortably. Still, if the regular medium-sized tips are not to your taste, there are several bundled inside the box. So, experiment to find the best fit. The earbuds are also IP55 rated, and survived my gym sessions in the brutal Indian summers just fine. Sound Quality & ANC The Enco Air 5 earbuds come with a 12mm dynamic driver featuring a titanium-coated PET diaphragm, AAC and SBC codecs, and Bluetooth 6.1. During my testing, I used the Ultimate Sound preset, but if that’s not your jam, there are Thundering Bass and Pure Vocals, along with a full equalizer, which we will talk about soon enough. On tracks such as “After Hours,” “The Pina Colada Song,” and “Runaway,” the earbuds sounded very well balanced. The sound tuning is fantastic: the highs don’t feel sharp, the mids/vocals sound very clear, and the lows are there. Don’t get me wrong, you won’t get the rumble of a big headphone, but the Enco Air 5 in the bass boost mode packs a punch. Despite the lack of high-res audio support, I found the instrument separation decent and the soundstage wide enough, though not quite as expansive as on the more expensive Enco Air 5 Pro. If you’d like your instruments placed all around the room, like at a concert, OPPO has its Live Audio feature. It’s not my favorite thing in the world to experience music with, but it works very well to place different elements perfectly around you. I believe the best way to appreciate this is with a movie, and I watched the first episode of Silo season 3 with these connected to my MacBook. The latency was pretty minimal, and the audio was super clean. Even the call quality has been upgraded compared to the previous generation. On the topic of ANC, I was headed to Jaipur to attend a BGMI esports event. If you’ve seen such events, then you’d know they can get loud—really loud. And what better place to test the ANC capabilities of the Enco Air 5? I’ll be straight: you won’t cancel every noise there is, but that doesn’t mean the ANC is bad. In the event, the earbuds suppressed about 80% of the crowd noises, which was great news. On the flight, most of the jet engine rumble was canceled, without any music on. If you do have music running, it’s very easy to cut off the world for a moment of peace. OPPO claims about 13 hours of battery life on a single charge for the earbuds without ANC on and about 6.5 hours with ANC. I can confirm those numbers are accurate, since I got roughly 5.5 hours with ANC turned on at all times. The case provides a couple of extra charges, so the total output should be around 24-25 hours, depending on your use case. Still, battery life is great overall. Controls & Companion App While many people ignore them, controls are a major factor when choosing earbuds. This is because poor controls can be frustrating. Very fortunately, that’s not the case with the Enco Air 5 earbuds. They keep things simple and functional. You get the basics like double-tap to play/pause the music, triple-tap to skip forward/rewind, and tap and hold to turn on ANC. All of these can be customized to your liking using the HeyMelody app on Android and iOS, or just the Bluetooth settings page if you have an OPPO/OnePlus device. The app has always been great, and you also get Spotify Tap. It connects to your Spotify app and plays a song based on your listening habits whenever you tap your earbuds. I’m an Apple Music user, so I couldn’t test it much, but from what I’ve heard, it’s a great addition. Beyond that, there’s Sound Space, a collection of sounds that help you concentrate better or get work done among the annoying people who watch reels at high volume. Finally, there’s a full 10-band equalizer that lets you tune the sound output precisely to your liking. Verdict At ₹3,099, the OPPO Enco Air 5 are another pair of super-easy-to-recommend earbuds. There are no headline features, but everything about the Enco Air 5 feels well balanced. The design is understated yet premium, the comfort is good enough for hours of use, and the companion app is packed with genuinely useful features. The sound tuning gives every part of a track room to breathe without letting one frequency overpower another. Even the ANC does a commendable job of cutting out everyday noise. #OPPO #Enco #Air #Review #Budget #Earbuds #People #BuyOppo

as an example. They combined well-balanced audio and strong ANC capabilities into a package that cost ₹4,999. While we still think they are great value, I’d also admit that spending that much isn’t feasible for many budget-conscious buyers. Keeping that in mind, OPPO has just announced the non-Pro version, the Enco Air 5. It follows the same recipe as its bigger brother, with 52dB of ANC and a 54-hour battery life, but trims the price down to just ₹3,099.

So, when OPPO called asking if I’d like to test the Enco Air 5, I said yes, of course. For some context, I have been using the buds for almost a month, during which I’ve taken them to countless gym sessions, gone on evening walks while listening to my favorite music, and even taken them with me to cover an esports tournament in Jaipur. If you can’t be bothered to read the full review, then yes, they are worth the price. Here’s why.

OPPO Enco Air 5 Review

Hisan Kidwai

Summary

Everything about the Enco Air 5 feels well balanced. The design is understated yet premium, the comfort is good enough for hours of use, and the companion app is packed with genuinely useful features. The sound tuning gives every part of a track room to breathe without letting one frequency overpower another. Even the ANC does a commendable job of cutting out everyday noise.

Design & Comfort

OPPO Enco Air 5 Review: The Budget Earbuds Most People Should Buy OPPO’s Enco earbud series has time and again delivered some of the best value devices, and for good reason. Take last month’s Enco Air 5 Pro as an example. They combined well-balanced audio and strong ANC capabilities into a package that cost ₹4,999. While we still think they are great value, I’d also admit that spending that much isn’t feasible for many budget-conscious buyers. Keeping that in mind, OPPO has just announced the non-Pro version, the Enco Air 5. It follows the same recipe as its bigger brother, with 52dB of ANC and a 54-hour battery life, but trims the price down to just ₹3,099. So, when OPPO called asking if I’d like to test the Enco Air 5, I said yes, of course. For some context, I have been using the buds for almost a month, during which I’ve taken them to countless gym sessions, gone on evening walks while listening to my favorite music, and even taken them with me to cover an esports tournament in Jaipur. If you can’t be bothered to read the full review, then yes, they are worth the price. Here’s why. OPPO Enco Air 5 ReviewHisan KidwaiSummaryEverything about the Enco Air 5 feels well balanced. The design is understated yet premium, the comfort is good enough for hours of use, and the companion app is packed with genuinely useful features. The sound tuning gives every part of a track room to breathe without letting one frequency overpower another. Even the ANC does a commendable job of cutting out everyday noise. Design & Comfort What does it take to design a great pair of earbuds? To some brands, it’s about a fun design that stands out amongst others, even if that comes at the cost of comfort. I could name a dozen such earbuds, but the truth is, the ones I keep using after reviews are those that don’t stand out. I don’t care whether you have a brand-new design or a new LED light strip. An earbud needs to be sophisticated yet stylish enough not to look cheap. And no other brand does that better than OPPO. The new Enco Air 5 are no exception. They feature the same oval-shaped case that I have come to love. While the dimensions are almost identical to the 5 Pro, the finish is indeed different. I got the Lavender Purple variant, which I’d say looks quite good. It adds a pop of color in an otherwise bland earbud world. Even though it’s very difficult to put the feel of the finish into words, I’ll try anyway. The finish reminds me of those large chalky medicine tablets. The matte finish is a little rougher than the 5 Pro, and it held up quite well in my regular use. I didn’t see any smudges, nor was there any damage to the case when I dropped it at the airport while taking out my boarding pass. The case can be opened with one hand, and there’s also a satisfying click every time you close the lid. There’s also a physical pairing button, which is always appreciated. As for the earbuds themselves, they are shiny this time around, so a bit more difficult to keep clean. Comfort is a tricky thing to answer, since everyone’s ears are different. My ears are small, so bigger earbuds like the Noise Master Buds 2 were difficult to manage. Fortunately, the Enco Air 5 were not the same. They fit perfectly inside my ear canals, without causing any discomfort. For my 6 AM flight, I put them on before leaving home, and after 4 hours of travel, they were still sitting comfortably. Still, if the regular medium-sized tips are not to your taste, there are several bundled inside the box. So, experiment to find the best fit. The earbuds are also IP55 rated, and survived my gym sessions in the brutal Indian summers just fine. Sound Quality & ANC The Enco Air 5 earbuds come with a 12mm dynamic driver featuring a titanium-coated PET diaphragm, AAC and SBC codecs, and Bluetooth 6.1. During my testing, I used the Ultimate Sound preset, but if that’s not your jam, there are Thundering Bass and Pure Vocals, along with a full equalizer, which we will talk about soon enough. On tracks such as “After Hours,” “The Pina Colada Song,” and “Runaway,” the earbuds sounded very well balanced. The sound tuning is fantastic: the highs don’t feel sharp, the mids/vocals sound very clear, and the lows are there. Don’t get me wrong, you won’t get the rumble of a big headphone, but the Enco Air 5 in the bass boost mode packs a punch. Despite the lack of high-res audio support, I found the instrument separation decent and the soundstage wide enough, though not quite as expansive as on the more expensive Enco Air 5 Pro. If you’d like your instruments placed all around the room, like at a concert, OPPO has its Live Audio feature. It’s not my favorite thing in the world to experience music with, but it works very well to place different elements perfectly around you. I believe the best way to appreciate this is with a movie, and I watched the first episode of Silo season 3 with these connected to my MacBook. The latency was pretty minimal, and the audio was super clean. Even the call quality has been upgraded compared to the previous generation. On the topic of ANC, I was headed to Jaipur to attend a BGMI esports event. If you’ve seen such events, then you’d know they can get loud—really loud. And what better place to test the ANC capabilities of the Enco Air 5? I’ll be straight: you won’t cancel every noise there is, but that doesn’t mean the ANC is bad. In the event, the earbuds suppressed about 80% of the crowd noises, which was great news. On the flight, most of the jet engine rumble was canceled, without any music on. If you do have music running, it’s very easy to cut off the world for a moment of peace. OPPO claims about 13 hours of battery life on a single charge for the earbuds without ANC on and about 6.5 hours with ANC. I can confirm those numbers are accurate, since I got roughly 5.5 hours with ANC turned on at all times. The case provides a couple of extra charges, so the total output should be around 24-25 hours, depending on your use case. Still, battery life is great overall. Controls & Companion App While many people ignore them, controls are a major factor when choosing earbuds. This is because poor controls can be frustrating. Very fortunately, that’s not the case with the Enco Air 5 earbuds. They keep things simple and functional. You get the basics like double-tap to play/pause the music, triple-tap to skip forward/rewind, and tap and hold to turn on ANC. All of these can be customized to your liking using the HeyMelody app on Android and iOS, or just the Bluetooth settings page if you have an OPPO/OnePlus device. The app has always been great, and you also get Spotify Tap. It connects to your Spotify app and plays a song based on your listening habits whenever you tap your earbuds. I’m an Apple Music user, so I couldn’t test it much, but from what I’ve heard, it’s a great addition. Beyond that, there’s Sound Space, a collection of sounds that help you concentrate better or get work done among the annoying people who watch reels at high volume. Finally, there’s a full 10-band equalizer that lets you tune the sound output precisely to your liking. Verdict At ₹3,099, the OPPO Enco Air 5 are another pair of super-easy-to-recommend earbuds. There are no headline features, but everything about the Enco Air 5 feels well balanced. The design is understated yet premium, the comfort is good enough for hours of use, and the companion app is packed with genuinely useful features. The sound tuning gives every part of a track room to breathe without letting one frequency overpower another. Even the ANC does a commendable job of cutting out everyday noise. #OPPO #Enco #Air #Review #Budget #Earbuds #People #BuyOppo

What does it take to design a great pair of earbuds? To some brands, it’s about a fun design that stands out amongst others, even if that comes at the cost of comfort. I could name a dozen such earbuds, but the truth is, the ones I keep using after reviews are those that don’t stand out. I don’t care whether you have a brand-new design or a new LED light strip. An earbud needs to be sophisticated yet stylish enough not to look cheap. And no other brand does that better than OPPO. The new Enco Air 5 are no exception. They feature the same oval-shaped case that I have come to love.

While the dimensions are almost identical to the 5 Pro, the finish is indeed different. I got the Lavender Purple variant, which I’d say looks quite good. It adds a pop of color in an otherwise bland earbud world. Even though it’s very difficult to put the feel of the finish into words, I’ll try anyway. The finish reminds me of those large chalky medicine tablets. The matte finish is a little rougher than the 5 Pro, and it held up quite well in my regular use. I didn’t see any smudges, nor was there any damage to the case when I dropped it at the airport while taking out my boarding pass. The case can be opened with one hand, and there’s also a satisfying click every time you close the lid. There’s also a physical pairing button, which is always appreciated.

A person holding the earbud

As for the earbuds themselves, they are shiny this time around, so a bit more difficult to keep clean. Comfort is a tricky thing to answer, since everyone’s ears are different. My ears are small, so bigger earbuds like the Noise Master Buds 2 were difficult to manage. Fortunately, the Enco Air 5 were not the same. They fit perfectly inside my ear canals, without causing any discomfort. For my 6 AM flight, I put them on before leaving home, and after 4 hours of travel, they were still sitting comfortably.

Still, if the regular medium-sized tips are not to your taste, there are several bundled inside the box. So, experiment to find the best fit. The earbuds are also IP55 rated, and survived my gym sessions in the brutal Indian summers just fine.

Sound Quality & ANC

Different earbuds

The Enco Air 5 earbuds come with a 12mm dynamic driver featuring a titanium-coated PET diaphragm, AAC and SBC codecs, and Bluetooth 6.1. During my testing, I used the Ultimate Sound preset, but if that’s not your jam, there are Thundering Bass and Pure Vocals, along with a full equalizer, which we will talk about soon enough.

On tracks such as “After Hours,” “The Pina Colada Song,” and “Runaway,” the earbuds sounded very well balanced. The sound tuning is fantastic: the highs don’t feel sharp, the mids/vocals sound very clear, and the lows are there. Don’t get me wrong, you won’t get the rumble of a big headphone, but the Enco Air 5 in the bass boost mode packs a punch. Despite the lack of high-res audio support, I found the instrument separation decent and the soundstage wide enough, though not quite as expansive as on the more expensive Enco Air 5 Pro.

If you’d like your instruments placed all around the room, like at a concert, OPPO has its Live Audio feature. It’s not my favorite thing in the world to experience music with, but it works very well to place different elements perfectly around you. I believe the best way to appreciate this is with a movie, and I watched the first episode of Silo season 3 with these connected to my MacBook. The latency was pretty minimal, and the audio was super clean. Even the call quality has been upgraded compared to the previous generation.

Enco Air 5 on a table with the buds out

On the topic of ANC, I was headed to Jaipur to attend a BGMI esports event. If you’ve seen such events, then you’d know they can get loud—really loud. And what better place to test the ANC capabilities of the Enco Air 5? I’ll be straight: you won’t cancel every noise there is, but that doesn’t mean the ANC is bad. In the event, the earbuds suppressed about 80% of the crowd noises, which was great news. On the flight, most of the jet engine rumble was canceled, without any music on. If you do have music running, it’s very easy to cut off the world for a moment of peace.

OPPO claims about 13 hours of battery life on a single charge for the earbuds without ANC on and about 6.5 hours with ANC. I can confirm those numbers are accurate, since I got roughly 5.5 hours with ANC turned on at all times. The case provides a couple of extra charges, so the total output should be around 24-25 hours, depending on your use case. Still, battery life is great overall.

Controls & Companion App

While many people ignore them, controls are a major factor when choosing earbuds. This is because poor controls can be frustrating. Very fortunately, that’s not the case with the Enco Air 5 earbuds. They keep things simple and functional. You get the basics like double-tap to play/pause the music, triple-tap to skip forward/rewind, and tap and hold to turn on ANC.

All of these can be customized to your liking using the HeyMelody app on Android and iOS, or just the Bluetooth settings page if you have an OPPO/OnePlus device. The app has always been great, and you also get Spotify Tap. It connects to your Spotify app and plays a song based on your listening habits whenever you tap your earbuds. I’m an Apple Music user, so I couldn’t test it much, but from what I’ve heard, it’s a great addition. Beyond that, there’s Sound Space, a collection of sounds that help you concentrate better or get work done among the annoying people who watch reels at high volume. Finally, there’s a full 10-band equalizer that lets you tune the sound output precisely to your liking.

Verdict

A person holding the Enco air 5

At ₹3,099, the OPPO Enco Air 5 are another pair of super-easy-to-recommend earbuds. There are no headline features, but everything about the Enco Air 5 feels well balanced. The design is understated yet premium, the comfort is good enough for hours of use, and the companion app is packed with genuinely useful features. The sound tuning gives every part of a track room to breathe without letting one frequency overpower another. Even the ANC does a commendable job of cutting out everyday noise.

#OPPO #Enco #Air #Review #Budget #Earbuds #People #BuyOppo">OPPO Enco Air 5 Review: The Budget Earbuds Most People Should Buy

OPPO’s Enco earbud series has time and again delivered some of the best value devices, and for good reason. Take last month’s Enco Air 5 Pro as an example. They combined well-balanced audio and strong ANC capabilities into a package that cost ₹4,999. While we still think they are great value, I’d also admit that spending that much isn’t feasible for many budget-conscious buyers. Keeping that in mind, OPPO has just announced the non-Pro version, the Enco Air 5. It follows the same recipe as its bigger brother, with 52dB of ANC and a 54-hour battery life, but trims the price down to just ₹3,099.

So, when OPPO called asking if I’d like to test the Enco Air 5, I said yes, of course. For some context, I have been using the buds for almost a month, during which I’ve taken them to countless gym sessions, gone on evening walks while listening to my favorite music, and even taken them with me to cover an esports tournament in Jaipur. If you can’t be bothered to read the full review, then yes, they are worth the price. Here’s why.

OPPO Enco Air 5 Review

Hisan Kidwai

Summary

Everything about the Enco Air 5 feels well balanced. The design is understated yet premium, the comfort is good enough for hours of use, and the companion app is packed with genuinely useful features. The sound tuning gives every part of a track room to breathe without letting one frequency overpower another. Even the ANC does a commendable job of cutting out everyday noise.

Design & Comfort

OPPO Enco Air 5 Review: The Budget Earbuds Most People Should Buy OPPO’s Enco earbud series has time and again delivered some of the best value devices, and for good reason. Take last month’s Enco Air 5 Pro as an example. They combined well-balanced audio and strong ANC capabilities into a package that cost ₹4,999. While we still think they are great value, I’d also admit that spending that much isn’t feasible for many budget-conscious buyers. Keeping that in mind, OPPO has just announced the non-Pro version, the Enco Air 5. It follows the same recipe as its bigger brother, with 52dB of ANC and a 54-hour battery life, but trims the price down to just ₹3,099. So, when OPPO called asking if I’d like to test the Enco Air 5, I said yes, of course. For some context, I have been using the buds for almost a month, during which I’ve taken them to countless gym sessions, gone on evening walks while listening to my favorite music, and even taken them with me to cover an esports tournament in Jaipur. If you can’t be bothered to read the full review, then yes, they are worth the price. Here’s why. OPPO Enco Air 5 ReviewHisan KidwaiSummaryEverything about the Enco Air 5 feels well balanced. The design is understated yet premium, the comfort is good enough for hours of use, and the companion app is packed with genuinely useful features. The sound tuning gives every part of a track room to breathe without letting one frequency overpower another. Even the ANC does a commendable job of cutting out everyday noise. Design & Comfort What does it take to design a great pair of earbuds? To some brands, it’s about a fun design that stands out amongst others, even if that comes at the cost of comfort. I could name a dozen such earbuds, but the truth is, the ones I keep using after reviews are those that don’t stand out. I don’t care whether you have a brand-new design or a new LED light strip. An earbud needs to be sophisticated yet stylish enough not to look cheap. And no other brand does that better than OPPO. The new Enco Air 5 are no exception. They feature the same oval-shaped case that I have come to love. While the dimensions are almost identical to the 5 Pro, the finish is indeed different. I got the Lavender Purple variant, which I’d say looks quite good. It adds a pop of color in an otherwise bland earbud world. Even though it’s very difficult to put the feel of the finish into words, I’ll try anyway. The finish reminds me of those large chalky medicine tablets. The matte finish is a little rougher than the 5 Pro, and it held up quite well in my regular use. I didn’t see any smudges, nor was there any damage to the case when I dropped it at the airport while taking out my boarding pass. The case can be opened with one hand, and there’s also a satisfying click every time you close the lid. There’s also a physical pairing button, which is always appreciated. As for the earbuds themselves, they are shiny this time around, so a bit more difficult to keep clean. Comfort is a tricky thing to answer, since everyone’s ears are different. My ears are small, so bigger earbuds like the Noise Master Buds 2 were difficult to manage. Fortunately, the Enco Air 5 were not the same. They fit perfectly inside my ear canals, without causing any discomfort. For my 6 AM flight, I put them on before leaving home, and after 4 hours of travel, they were still sitting comfortably. Still, if the regular medium-sized tips are not to your taste, there are several bundled inside the box. So, experiment to find the best fit. The earbuds are also IP55 rated, and survived my gym sessions in the brutal Indian summers just fine. Sound Quality & ANC The Enco Air 5 earbuds come with a 12mm dynamic driver featuring a titanium-coated PET diaphragm, AAC and SBC codecs, and Bluetooth 6.1. During my testing, I used the Ultimate Sound preset, but if that’s not your jam, there are Thundering Bass and Pure Vocals, along with a full equalizer, which we will talk about soon enough. On tracks such as “After Hours,” “The Pina Colada Song,” and “Runaway,” the earbuds sounded very well balanced. The sound tuning is fantastic: the highs don’t feel sharp, the mids/vocals sound very clear, and the lows are there. Don’t get me wrong, you won’t get the rumble of a big headphone, but the Enco Air 5 in the bass boost mode packs a punch. Despite the lack of high-res audio support, I found the instrument separation decent and the soundstage wide enough, though not quite as expansive as on the more expensive Enco Air 5 Pro. If you’d like your instruments placed all around the room, like at a concert, OPPO has its Live Audio feature. It’s not my favorite thing in the world to experience music with, but it works very well to place different elements perfectly around you. I believe the best way to appreciate this is with a movie, and I watched the first episode of Silo season 3 with these connected to my MacBook. The latency was pretty minimal, and the audio was super clean. Even the call quality has been upgraded compared to the previous generation. On the topic of ANC, I was headed to Jaipur to attend a BGMI esports event. If you’ve seen such events, then you’d know they can get loud—really loud. And what better place to test the ANC capabilities of the Enco Air 5? I’ll be straight: you won’t cancel every noise there is, but that doesn’t mean the ANC is bad. In the event, the earbuds suppressed about 80% of the crowd noises, which was great news. On the flight, most of the jet engine rumble was canceled, without any music on. If you do have music running, it’s very easy to cut off the world for a moment of peace. OPPO claims about 13 hours of battery life on a single charge for the earbuds without ANC on and about 6.5 hours with ANC. I can confirm those numbers are accurate, since I got roughly 5.5 hours with ANC turned on at all times. The case provides a couple of extra charges, so the total output should be around 24-25 hours, depending on your use case. Still, battery life is great overall. Controls & Companion App While many people ignore them, controls are a major factor when choosing earbuds. This is because poor controls can be frustrating. Very fortunately, that’s not the case with the Enco Air 5 earbuds. They keep things simple and functional. You get the basics like double-tap to play/pause the music, triple-tap to skip forward/rewind, and tap and hold to turn on ANC. All of these can be customized to your liking using the HeyMelody app on Android and iOS, or just the Bluetooth settings page if you have an OPPO/OnePlus device. The app has always been great, and you also get Spotify Tap. It connects to your Spotify app and plays a song based on your listening habits whenever you tap your earbuds. I’m an Apple Music user, so I couldn’t test it much, but from what I’ve heard, it’s a great addition. Beyond that, there’s Sound Space, a collection of sounds that help you concentrate better or get work done among the annoying people who watch reels at high volume. Finally, there’s a full 10-band equalizer that lets you tune the sound output precisely to your liking. Verdict At ₹3,099, the OPPO Enco Air 5 are another pair of super-easy-to-recommend earbuds. There are no headline features, but everything about the Enco Air 5 feels well balanced. The design is understated yet premium, the comfort is good enough for hours of use, and the companion app is packed with genuinely useful features. The sound tuning gives every part of a track room to breathe without letting one frequency overpower another. Even the ANC does a commendable job of cutting out everyday noise. #OPPO #Enco #Air #Review #Budget #Earbuds #People #BuyOppo

What does it take to design a great pair of earbuds? To some brands, it’s about a fun design that stands out amongst others, even if that comes at the cost of comfort. I could name a dozen such earbuds, but the truth is, the ones I keep using after reviews are those that don’t stand out. I don’t care whether you have a brand-new design or a new LED light strip. An earbud needs to be sophisticated yet stylish enough not to look cheap. And no other brand does that better than OPPO. The new Enco Air 5 are no exception. They feature the same oval-shaped case that I have come to love.

While the dimensions are almost identical to the 5 Pro, the finish is indeed different. I got the Lavender Purple variant, which I’d say looks quite good. It adds a pop of color in an otherwise bland earbud world. Even though it’s very difficult to put the feel of the finish into words, I’ll try anyway. The finish reminds me of those large chalky medicine tablets. The matte finish is a little rougher than the 5 Pro, and it held up quite well in my regular use. I didn’t see any smudges, nor was there any damage to the case when I dropped it at the airport while taking out my boarding pass. The case can be opened with one hand, and there’s also a satisfying click every time you close the lid. There’s also a physical pairing button, which is always appreciated.

A person holding the earbud

As for the earbuds themselves, they are shiny this time around, so a bit more difficult to keep clean. Comfort is a tricky thing to answer, since everyone’s ears are different. My ears are small, so bigger earbuds like the Noise Master Buds 2 were difficult to manage. Fortunately, the Enco Air 5 were not the same. They fit perfectly inside my ear canals, without causing any discomfort. For my 6 AM flight, I put them on before leaving home, and after 4 hours of travel, they were still sitting comfortably.

Still, if the regular medium-sized tips are not to your taste, there are several bundled inside the box. So, experiment to find the best fit. The earbuds are also IP55 rated, and survived my gym sessions in the brutal Indian summers just fine.

Sound Quality & ANC

Different earbuds

The Enco Air 5 earbuds come with a 12mm dynamic driver featuring a titanium-coated PET diaphragm, AAC and SBC codecs, and Bluetooth 6.1. During my testing, I used the Ultimate Sound preset, but if that’s not your jam, there are Thundering Bass and Pure Vocals, along with a full equalizer, which we will talk about soon enough.

On tracks such as “After Hours,” “The Pina Colada Song,” and “Runaway,” the earbuds sounded very well balanced. The sound tuning is fantastic: the highs don’t feel sharp, the mids/vocals sound very clear, and the lows are there. Don’t get me wrong, you won’t get the rumble of a big headphone, but the Enco Air 5 in the bass boost mode packs a punch. Despite the lack of high-res audio support, I found the instrument separation decent and the soundstage wide enough, though not quite as expansive as on the more expensive Enco Air 5 Pro.

If you’d like your instruments placed all around the room, like at a concert, OPPO has its Live Audio feature. It’s not my favorite thing in the world to experience music with, but it works very well to place different elements perfectly around you. I believe the best way to appreciate this is with a movie, and I watched the first episode of Silo season 3 with these connected to my MacBook. The latency was pretty minimal, and the audio was super clean. Even the call quality has been upgraded compared to the previous generation.

Enco Air 5 on a table with the buds out

On the topic of ANC, I was headed to Jaipur to attend a BGMI esports event. If you’ve seen such events, then you’d know they can get loud—really loud. And what better place to test the ANC capabilities of the Enco Air 5? I’ll be straight: you won’t cancel every noise there is, but that doesn’t mean the ANC is bad. In the event, the earbuds suppressed about 80% of the crowd noises, which was great news. On the flight, most of the jet engine rumble was canceled, without any music on. If you do have music running, it’s very easy to cut off the world for a moment of peace.

OPPO claims about 13 hours of battery life on a single charge for the earbuds without ANC on and about 6.5 hours with ANC. I can confirm those numbers are accurate, since I got roughly 5.5 hours with ANC turned on at all times. The case provides a couple of extra charges, so the total output should be around 24-25 hours, depending on your use case. Still, battery life is great overall.

Controls & Companion App

While many people ignore them, controls are a major factor when choosing earbuds. This is because poor controls can be frustrating. Very fortunately, that’s not the case with the Enco Air 5 earbuds. They keep things simple and functional. You get the basics like double-tap to play/pause the music, triple-tap to skip forward/rewind, and tap and hold to turn on ANC.

All of these can be customized to your liking using the HeyMelody app on Android and iOS, or just the Bluetooth settings page if you have an OPPO/OnePlus device. The app has always been great, and you also get Spotify Tap. It connects to your Spotify app and plays a song based on your listening habits whenever you tap your earbuds. I’m an Apple Music user, so I couldn’t test it much, but from what I’ve heard, it’s a great addition. Beyond that, there’s Sound Space, a collection of sounds that help you concentrate better or get work done among the annoying people who watch reels at high volume. Finally, there’s a full 10-band equalizer that lets you tune the sound output precisely to your liking.

Verdict

A person holding the Enco air 5

At ₹3,099, the OPPO Enco Air 5 are another pair of super-easy-to-recommend earbuds. There are no headline features, but everything about the Enco Air 5 feels well balanced. The design is understated yet premium, the comfort is good enough for hours of use, and the companion app is packed with genuinely useful features. The sound tuning gives every part of a track room to breathe without letting one frequency overpower another. Even the ANC does a commendable job of cutting out everyday noise.

#OPPO #Enco #Air #Review #Budget #Earbuds #People #BuyOppo
Dan Da Dan anime studio Science SARU’s adaptation of The Ghost in the Shell is finally streaming on Prime Video, and its pilot episode looks like a ’90s anime fever dream in the best way possible. Major Motoko Kusanagi kicks all the ass, its soundtrack is a bop, and its action sequences are a chef’s kiss. Don’t just take our word for it; check out the trailer below and see for yourself how Science SARU cooked once again.

Ahead of its premiere, io9 got to chat with director Mokochan and character designer Shuhei Handa at Anime Expo about how their vision for Masamune Shirow’s seminal cyberpunk manga came to be, as well as a couple of pointed fandom-centric questions for fans who’ve been dying to see Major Motoko Kusanagi realized in all her goofy glory. 

‘The Ghost in the Shell’ Director, Character Designer on Keeping Motoko True to the Manga Dan Da Dan anime studio Science SARU’s adaptation of The Ghost in the Shell is finally streaming on Prime Video, and its pilot episode looks like a ’90s anime fever dream in the best way possible. Major Motoko Kusanagi kicks all the ass, its soundtrack is a bop, and its action sequences are a chef’s kiss. Don’t just take our word for it; check out the trailer below and see for yourself how Science SARU cooked once again. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahZn4dVCbvs[/embed] Ahead of its premiere, io9 got to chat with director Mokochan and character designer Shuhei Handa at Anime Expo about how their vision for Masamune Shirow’s seminal cyberpunk manga came to be, as well as a couple of pointed fandom-centric questions for fans who’ve been dying to see Major Motoko Kusanagi realized in all her goofy glory.  Left: Shuhei Handa, right: Mokochan. © Isaiah Colbert/io9 This interview was edited for clarity.  Isaiah Colbert, io9: From Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, Devilman Crybaby, Inu-Oh, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, and Dan Da Dan to Sanda and Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia, Science SARU has built an impressive portfolio and reputation for making bold, expressive, and experimental anime. What about The Ghost in the Shell made it feel like a natural fit as the studio’s next project? Mokochan: For all of the works done by Science SARU, using animation to do storytelling is very important. That’s why we use a lot of hand-drawn animation in it. For The Ghost in the Shell, the most important thing is to use the visuals to capture its world. It’s the same policy with other series as well. TVアニメ「#攻殻機動隊 THE GHOST IN THE SHELL」⋱ご視聴ありがとうございました⋰ ◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢ 第01話より草薙素子と荒巻大輔の出会い 👩🏻 🐵迫力の原画を大公開！ 原画｜小島崇史 さん ◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢https://t.co/wICYD3OlUm pic.twitter.com/6rNlJdXZZk — サイエンスSARU (@sciencesaru) July 7, 2026 io9: From the jump, The Ghost in the Shell marks a stark tonal shift—a return—towards Masamune Shirow’s lighter, more mischievous vision of the cyberpunk epic. What led Science SARU to pivot away from the austere, military tone that Mamoru Oshii’s 1995 film would go on to cement as the franchise’s vibe for decades? Mokochan: We didn’t intentionally try to change the tone from how director Mamoru Oshii did previously because the concept for making this new series is to base it on the original manga, so we already had our own way of making this one. © Masamune Shirow/Kodansha io9: In an era when people often use AI to cheaply mimic retro anime aesthetics, the new Ghost in the Shell feels like a deliberate rejection of AI’s pervasiveness in the arts—where every frame in the trailers looks unmistakably hand‑crafted. It’s a phenomenon that’s certainly paradoxical, considering that the manga prophesied how such technologies would be utilized in the not-so-far-off year of 2029. What’s Science SARU’s stance on AI, and what specific animation techniques did it use most to capture the show’s aesthetic through the power of collective human artistry? Mokochan: One of the concepts of the original manga is about the mysterious part of the human being. So we wanted to honor how the original creator captured the world and how we express all of the story in the original manga. So we wanted to follow the same concept using the same method to show humanity by using hand-drawn art. We prefer to just use our arms to draw all of the animation. Handa: It’s because the main concept is about the human body, so that’s why we prefer hand-drawn art over AI. © Science SARU io9: Major Kusanagi has long been read as a bisexual icon in the West, especially because of Shirow’s famous island-escapade chapter with her gal pals, which has been lost in some Western reprints of the original manga. She’s also considerably goofier in the manga, a trait fans lovingly call a “bisexual disaster.” In what ways was it important for Science SARU to depict Kusanagi’s inherent goofball nature and her queerness in this adaptation, and what does portraying that side of her mean for a global audience in 2026? Mokochan: During the process of making the new series, we were actually very surprised by it because, compared to the original manga, a lot of the thoughts about sexuality are very advanced, exploring many possibilities. It’s not just about sexuality; it’s also about the human being, technology, and many other things. [The manga] accepts everything in the world. That was a very big surprise. We didn’t intend to modernize the content to make it fit the new era. © Science SARU [The Ghost in the Shell producers’ note in regard to Science SARU’s adaptation of Motoko’s vacation scene from the original manga: “We had to adjust the depictions in the original work to match the rating.”] Handa: When we portray Kusanagi’s character, we like to bring out all the comical parts because they’re in the original manga. It’s kind of different how director Oshii portrays her in the previous series because, in those series, Kusanagi was not that expressive. We prefer to keep the authentic parts of the original manga, so we thought we definitely needed to keep the comical parts in the character, so that’s why we included that content. © Science SARU © Science SARU © Science SARU © Science SARU io9: As a fan of the series, I’ve seen Ghost in the Shell go through different iterations, reinterpretations, and reboots. And in that, Motoko’s design has changed in a way that reflects how different people interpret her. But while her outer shell is different, the themes—the ghost in the original story—remain in each adaptation. For Science SARU’s newer adaptation of The Ghost in the Shell, which themes from the original manga feel more prescient now than when it first came out? Mokochan: Because the original intent of this project is to follow the original manga—not just Kusanagi, but also all the content and the world’s concept—we didn’t try to modernize any part of it. The creative team, all of whom are also big fans of the original manga. So, for the world, the story, the characters, and the theme, it’s all the same because we want to honor the original manga. ｳｵｵｵ攻殻機動隊1話にLOと作画監督で参加させていただきました！憧れの攻殻機動隊に関わることができて感激です🔥LOはセンターの子供が撃たれるあたりから脱走するところまで、作監は冒頭からOP前あたりまでです。少佐かっこよくて可愛かった〜！こちら担当LOのうちの1カットです🙏🏻#攻殻機動隊 pic.twitter.com/zUlxgD9fin — 宮かなえ (@miyakanae_) July 7, 2026 The Ghost in the Shell is streaming now on Prime Video. io9 is on the ground at Anime Expo 2026. We’ll be bringing you updates on all the biggest panels, screenings, and announcements, plus exclusive one-on-one interviews with the people behind some of the best and most popular anime around. You can check out all of io9’s Anime Expo coverage here. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. #Ghost #Shell #Director #Character #Designer #Keeping #Motoko #True #MangaAnime,Anime Expo,Science Saru,The Ghost in the Shell
Left: Shuhei Handa, right: Mokochan. © Isaiah Colbert/io9

This interview was edited for clarity. 

Isaiah Colbert, io9: From Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, Devilman Crybaby, Inu-Oh, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, and Dan Da Dan to Sanda and Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia, Science SARU has built an impressive portfolio and reputation for making bold, expressive, and experimental anime. What about The Ghost in the Shell made it feel like a natural fit as the studio’s next project?

Mokochan: For all of the works done by Science SARU, using animation to do storytelling is very important. That’s why we use a lot of hand-drawn animation in it. For The Ghost in the Shell, the most important thing is to use the visuals to capture its world. It’s the same policy with other series as well.

io9: From the jump, The Ghost in the Shell marks a stark tonal shift—a return—towards Masamune Shirow’s lighter, more mischievous vision of the cyberpunk epic. What led Science SARU to pivot away from the austere, military tone that Mamoru Oshii’s 1995 film would go on to cement as the franchise’s vibe for decades?

Mokochan: We didn’t intentionally try to change the tone from how director Mamoru Oshii did previously because the concept for making this new series is to base it on the original manga, so we already had our own way of making this one.

Ghost In The Shell Shirow Masamune Kodansha (1)
© Masamune Shirow/Kodansha

io9: In an era when people often use AI to cheaply mimic retro anime aesthetics, the new Ghost in the Shell feels like a deliberate rejection of AI’s pervasiveness in the arts—where every frame in the trailers looks unmistakably hand‑crafted. It’s a phenomenon that’s certainly paradoxical, considering that the manga prophesied how such technologies would be utilized in the not-so-far-off year of 2029. What’s Science SARU’s stance on AI, and what specific animation techniques did it use most to capture the show’s aesthetic through the power of collective human artistry?

Mokochan: One of the concepts of the original manga is about the mysterious part of the human being. So we wanted to honor how the original creator captured the world and how we express all of the story in the original manga. So we wanted to follow the same concept using the same method to show humanity by using hand-drawn art. We prefer to just use our arms to draw all of the animation.

Handa: It’s because the main concept is about the human body, so that’s why we prefer hand-drawn art over AI.

The Ghost In The Shell image of Motoko Kusanagi.
© Science SARU

io9: Major Kusanagi has long been read as a bisexual icon in the West, especially because of Shirow’s famous island-escapade chapter with her gal pals, which has been lost in some Western reprints of the original manga. She’s also considerably goofier in the manga, a trait fans lovingly call a “bisexual disaster.” In what ways was it important for Science SARU to depict Kusanagi’s inherent goofball nature and her queerness in this adaptation, and what does portraying that side of her mean for a global audience in 2026?

Mokochan: During the process of making the new series, we were actually very surprised by it because, compared to the original manga, a lot of the thoughts about sexuality are very advanced, exploring many possibilities. It’s not just about sexuality; it’s also about the human being, technology, and many other things. [The manga] accepts everything in the world. That was a very big surprise. We didn’t intend to modernize the content to make it fit the new era.

The Ghost In The Shell still of Kusanagi kissing a woman.
© Science SARU

[The Ghost in the Shell producers’ note in regard to Science SARU’s adaptation of Motoko’s vacation scene from the original manga: “We had to adjust the depictions in the original work to match the rating.”]

Handa: When we portray Kusanagi’s character, we like to bring out all the comical parts because they’re in the original manga. It’s kind of different how director Oshii portrays her in the previous series because, in those series, Kusanagi was not that expressive. We prefer to keep the authentic parts of the original manga, so we thought we definitely needed to keep the comical parts in the character, so that’s why we included that content.

io9: As a fan of the series, I’ve seen Ghost in the Shell go through different iterations, reinterpretations, and reboots. And in that, Motoko’s design has changed in a way that reflects how different people interpret her. But while her outer shell is different, the themes—the ghost in the original story—remain in each adaptation. For Science SARU’s newer adaptation of The Ghost in the Shell, which themes from the original manga feel more prescient now than when it first came out?

Mokochan: Because the original intent of this project is to follow the original manga—not just Kusanagi, but also all the content and the world’s concept—we didn’t try to modernize any part of it. The creative team, all of whom are also big fans of the original manga. So, for the world, the story, the characters, and the theme, it’s all the same because we want to honor the original manga.

The Ghost in the Shell is streaming now on Prime Video.

io9 is on the ground at Anime Expo 2026. We’ll be bringing you updates on all the biggest panels, screenings, and announcements, plus exclusive one-on-one interviews with the people behind some of the best and most popular anime around. You can check out all of io9’s Anime Expo coverage here.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

#Ghost #Shell #Director #Character #Designer #Keeping #Motoko #True #MangaAnime,Anime Expo,Science Saru,The Ghost in the Shell">‘The Ghost in the Shell’ Director, Character Designer on Keeping Motoko True to the Manga Dan Da Dan anime studio Science SARU’s adaptation of The Ghost in the Shell is finally streaming on Prime Video, and its pilot episode looks like a ’90s anime fever dream in the best way possible. Major Motoko Kusanagi kicks all the ass, its soundtrack is a bop, and its action sequences are a chef’s kiss. Don’t just take our word for it; check out the trailer below and see for yourself how Science SARU cooked once again. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahZn4dVCbvs[/embed] Ahead of its premiere, io9 got to chat with director Mokochan and character designer Shuhei Handa at Anime Expo about how their vision for Masamune Shirow’s seminal cyberpunk manga came to be, as well as a couple of pointed fandom-centric questions for fans who’ve been dying to see Major Motoko Kusanagi realized in all her goofy glory.  Left: Shuhei Handa, right: Mokochan. © Isaiah Colbert/io9 This interview was edited for clarity.  Isaiah Colbert, io9: From Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, Devilman Crybaby, Inu-Oh, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, and Dan Da Dan to Sanda and Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia, Science SARU has built an impressive portfolio and reputation for making bold, expressive, and experimental anime. What about The Ghost in the Shell made it feel like a natural fit as the studio’s next project? Mokochan: For all of the works done by Science SARU, using animation to do storytelling is very important. That’s why we use a lot of hand-drawn animation in it. For The Ghost in the Shell, the most important thing is to use the visuals to capture its world. It’s the same policy with other series as well. TVアニメ「#攻殻機動隊 THE GHOST IN THE SHELL」⋱ご視聴ありがとうございました⋰ ◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢ 第01話より草薙素子と荒巻大輔の出会い 👩🏻 🐵迫力の原画を大公開！ 原画｜小島崇史 さん ◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢https://t.co/wICYD3OlUm pic.twitter.com/6rNlJdXZZk — サイエンスSARU (@sciencesaru) July 7, 2026 io9: From the jump, The Ghost in the Shell marks a stark tonal shift—a return—towards Masamune Shirow’s lighter, more mischievous vision of the cyberpunk epic. What led Science SARU to pivot away from the austere, military tone that Mamoru Oshii’s 1995 film would go on to cement as the franchise’s vibe for decades? Mokochan: We didn’t intentionally try to change the tone from how director Mamoru Oshii did previously because the concept for making this new series is to base it on the original manga, so we already had our own way of making this one. © Masamune Shirow/Kodansha io9: In an era when people often use AI to cheaply mimic retro anime aesthetics, the new Ghost in the Shell feels like a deliberate rejection of AI’s pervasiveness in the arts—where every frame in the trailers looks unmistakably hand‑crafted. It’s a phenomenon that’s certainly paradoxical, considering that the manga prophesied how such technologies would be utilized in the not-so-far-off year of 2029. What’s Science SARU’s stance on AI, and what specific animation techniques did it use most to capture the show’s aesthetic through the power of collective human artistry? Mokochan: One of the concepts of the original manga is about the mysterious part of the human being. So we wanted to honor how the original creator captured the world and how we express all of the story in the original manga. So we wanted to follow the same concept using the same method to show humanity by using hand-drawn art. We prefer to just use our arms to draw all of the animation. Handa: It’s because the main concept is about the human body, so that’s why we prefer hand-drawn art over AI. © Science SARU io9: Major Kusanagi has long been read as a bisexual icon in the West, especially because of Shirow’s famous island-escapade chapter with her gal pals, which has been lost in some Western reprints of the original manga. She’s also considerably goofier in the manga, a trait fans lovingly call a “bisexual disaster.” In what ways was it important for Science SARU to depict Kusanagi’s inherent goofball nature and her queerness in this adaptation, and what does portraying that side of her mean for a global audience in 2026? Mokochan: During the process of making the new series, we were actually very surprised by it because, compared to the original manga, a lot of the thoughts about sexuality are very advanced, exploring many possibilities. It’s not just about sexuality; it’s also about the human being, technology, and many other things. [The manga] accepts everything in the world. That was a very big surprise. We didn’t intend to modernize the content to make it fit the new era. © Science SARU [The Ghost in the Shell producers’ note in regard to Science SARU’s adaptation of Motoko’s vacation scene from the original manga: “We had to adjust the depictions in the original work to match the rating.”] Handa: When we portray Kusanagi’s character, we like to bring out all the comical parts because they’re in the original manga. It’s kind of different how director Oshii portrays her in the previous series because, in those series, Kusanagi was not that expressive. We prefer to keep the authentic parts of the original manga, so we thought we definitely needed to keep the comical parts in the character, so that’s why we included that content. © Science SARU © Science SARU © Science SARU © Science SARU io9: As a fan of the series, I’ve seen Ghost in the Shell go through different iterations, reinterpretations, and reboots. And in that, Motoko’s design has changed in a way that reflects how different people interpret her. But while her outer shell is different, the themes—the ghost in the original story—remain in each adaptation. For Science SARU’s newer adaptation of The Ghost in the Shell, which themes from the original manga feel more prescient now than when it first came out? Mokochan: Because the original intent of this project is to follow the original manga—not just Kusanagi, but also all the content and the world’s concept—we didn’t try to modernize any part of it. The creative team, all of whom are also big fans of the original manga. So, for the world, the story, the characters, and the theme, it’s all the same because we want to honor the original manga. ｳｵｵｵ攻殻機動隊1話にLOと作画監督で参加させていただきました！憧れの攻殻機動隊に関わることができて感激です🔥LOはセンターの子供が撃たれるあたりから脱走するところまで、作監は冒頭からOP前あたりまでです。少佐かっこよくて可愛かった〜！こちら担当LOのうちの1カットです🙏🏻#攻殻機動隊 pic.twitter.com/zUlxgD9fin — 宮かなえ (@miyakanae_) July 7, 2026 The Ghost in the Shell is streaming now on Prime Video. io9 is on the ground at Anime Expo 2026. We’ll be bringing you updates on all the biggest panels, screenings, and announcements, plus exclusive one-on-one interviews with the people behind some of the best and most popular anime around. You can check out all of io9’s Anime Expo coverage here. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. #Ghost #Shell #Director #Character #Designer #Keeping #Motoko #True #MangaAnime,Anime Expo,Science Saru,The Ghost in the Shell

 anime studio Science SARU’s adaptation of The Ghost in the Shell is finally streaming on Prime Video, and its pilot episode looks like a ’90s anime fever dream in the best way possible. Major Motoko Kusanagi kicks all the ass, its soundtrack is a bop, and its action sequences are a chef’s kiss. Don’t just take our word for it; check out the trailer below and see for yourself how Science SARU cooked once again.

Ahead of its premiere, io9 got to chat with director Mokochan and character designer Shuhei Handa at Anime Expo about how their vision for Masamune Shirow’s seminal cyberpunk manga came to be, as well as a couple of pointed fandom-centric questions for fans who’ve been dying to see Major Motoko Kusanagi realized in all her goofy glory. 

‘The Ghost in the Shell’ Director, Character Designer on Keeping Motoko True to the Manga Dan Da Dan anime studio Science SARU’s adaptation of The Ghost in the Shell is finally streaming on Prime Video, and its pilot episode looks like a ’90s anime fever dream in the best way possible. Major Motoko Kusanagi kicks all the ass, its soundtrack is a bop, and its action sequences are a chef’s kiss. Don’t just take our word for it; check out the trailer below and see for yourself how Science SARU cooked once again. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahZn4dVCbvs[/embed] Ahead of its premiere, io9 got to chat with director Mokochan and character designer Shuhei Handa at Anime Expo about how their vision for Masamune Shirow’s seminal cyberpunk manga came to be, as well as a couple of pointed fandom-centric questions for fans who’ve been dying to see Major Motoko Kusanagi realized in all her goofy glory.  Left: Shuhei Handa, right: Mokochan. © Isaiah Colbert/io9 This interview was edited for clarity.  Isaiah Colbert, io9: From Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, Devilman Crybaby, Inu-Oh, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, and Dan Da Dan to Sanda and Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia, Science SARU has built an impressive portfolio and reputation for making bold, expressive, and experimental anime. What about The Ghost in the Shell made it feel like a natural fit as the studio’s next project? Mokochan: For all of the works done by Science SARU, using animation to do storytelling is very important. That’s why we use a lot of hand-drawn animation in it. For The Ghost in the Shell, the most important thing is to use the visuals to capture its world. It’s the same policy with other series as well. TVアニメ「#攻殻機動隊 THE GHOST IN THE SHELL」⋱ご視聴ありがとうございました⋰ ◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢ 第01話より草薙素子と荒巻大輔の出会い 👩🏻 🐵迫力の原画を大公開！ 原画｜小島崇史 さん ◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢https://t.co/wICYD3OlUm pic.twitter.com/6rNlJdXZZk — サイエンスSARU (@sciencesaru) July 7, 2026 io9: From the jump, The Ghost in the Shell marks a stark tonal shift—a return—towards Masamune Shirow’s lighter, more mischievous vision of the cyberpunk epic. What led Science SARU to pivot away from the austere, military tone that Mamoru Oshii’s 1995 film would go on to cement as the franchise’s vibe for decades? Mokochan: We didn’t intentionally try to change the tone from how director Mamoru Oshii did previously because the concept for making this new series is to base it on the original manga, so we already had our own way of making this one. © Masamune Shirow/Kodansha io9: In an era when people often use AI to cheaply mimic retro anime aesthetics, the new Ghost in the Shell feels like a deliberate rejection of AI’s pervasiveness in the arts—where every frame in the trailers looks unmistakably hand‑crafted. It’s a phenomenon that’s certainly paradoxical, considering that the manga prophesied how such technologies would be utilized in the not-so-far-off year of 2029. What’s Science SARU’s stance on AI, and what specific animation techniques did it use most to capture the show’s aesthetic through the power of collective human artistry? Mokochan: One of the concepts of the original manga is about the mysterious part of the human being. So we wanted to honor how the original creator captured the world and how we express all of the story in the original manga. So we wanted to follow the same concept using the same method to show humanity by using hand-drawn art. We prefer to just use our arms to draw all of the animation. Handa: It’s because the main concept is about the human body, so that’s why we prefer hand-drawn art over AI. © Science SARU io9: Major Kusanagi has long been read as a bisexual icon in the West, especially because of Shirow’s famous island-escapade chapter with her gal pals, which has been lost in some Western reprints of the original manga. She’s also considerably goofier in the manga, a trait fans lovingly call a “bisexual disaster.” In what ways was it important for Science SARU to depict Kusanagi’s inherent goofball nature and her queerness in this adaptation, and what does portraying that side of her mean for a global audience in 2026? Mokochan: During the process of making the new series, we were actually very surprised by it because, compared to the original manga, a lot of the thoughts about sexuality are very advanced, exploring many possibilities. It’s not just about sexuality; it’s also about the human being, technology, and many other things. [The manga] accepts everything in the world. That was a very big surprise. We didn’t intend to modernize the content to make it fit the new era. © Science SARU [The Ghost in the Shell producers’ note in regard to Science SARU’s adaptation of Motoko’s vacation scene from the original manga: “We had to adjust the depictions in the original work to match the rating.”] Handa: When we portray Kusanagi’s character, we like to bring out all the comical parts because they’re in the original manga. It’s kind of different how director Oshii portrays her in the previous series because, in those series, Kusanagi was not that expressive. We prefer to keep the authentic parts of the original manga, so we thought we definitely needed to keep the comical parts in the character, so that’s why we included that content. © Science SARU © Science SARU © Science SARU © Science SARU io9: As a fan of the series, I’ve seen Ghost in the Shell go through different iterations, reinterpretations, and reboots. And in that, Motoko’s design has changed in a way that reflects how different people interpret her. But while her outer shell is different, the themes—the ghost in the original story—remain in each adaptation. For Science SARU’s newer adaptation of The Ghost in the Shell, which themes from the original manga feel more prescient now than when it first came out? Mokochan: Because the original intent of this project is to follow the original manga—not just Kusanagi, but also all the content and the world’s concept—we didn’t try to modernize any part of it. The creative team, all of whom are also big fans of the original manga. So, for the world, the story, the characters, and the theme, it’s all the same because we want to honor the original manga. ｳｵｵｵ攻殻機動隊1話にLOと作画監督で参加させていただきました！憧れの攻殻機動隊に関わることができて感激です🔥LOはセンターの子供が撃たれるあたりから脱走するところまで、作監は冒頭からOP前あたりまでです。少佐かっこよくて可愛かった〜！こちら担当LOのうちの1カットです🙏🏻#攻殻機動隊 pic.twitter.com/zUlxgD9fin — 宮かなえ (@miyakanae_) July 7, 2026 The Ghost in the Shell is streaming now on Prime Video. io9 is on the ground at Anime Expo 2026. We’ll be bringing you updates on all the biggest panels, screenings, and announcements, plus exclusive one-on-one interviews with the people behind some of the best and most popular anime around. You can check out all of io9’s Anime Expo coverage here. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. #Ghost #Shell #Director #Character #Designer #Keeping #Motoko #True #MangaAnime,Anime Expo,Science Saru,The Ghost in the Shell
Left: Shuhei Handa, right: Mokochan. © Isaiah Colbert/io9

This interview was edited for clarity. 

Isaiah Colbert, io9: From Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, Devilman Crybaby, Inu-Oh, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, and Dan Da Dan to Sanda and Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia, Science SARU has built an impressive portfolio and reputation for making bold, expressive, and experimental anime. What about The Ghost in the Shell made it feel like a natural fit as the studio’s next project?

Mokochan: For all of the works done by Science SARU, using animation to do storytelling is very important. That’s why we use a lot of hand-drawn animation in it. For The Ghost in the Shell, the most important thing is to use the visuals to capture its world. It’s the same policy with other series as well.

io9: From the jump, The Ghost in the Shell marks a stark tonal shift—a return—towards Masamune Shirow’s lighter, more mischievous vision of the cyberpunk epic. What led Science SARU to pivot away from the austere, military tone that Mamoru Oshii’s 1995 film would go on to cement as the franchise’s vibe for decades?

Mokochan: We didn’t intentionally try to change the tone from how director Mamoru Oshii did previously because the concept for making this new series is to base it on the original manga, so we already had our own way of making this one.

Ghost In The Shell Shirow Masamune Kodansha (1)
© Masamune Shirow/Kodansha

io9: In an era when people often use AI to cheaply mimic retro anime aesthetics, the new Ghost in the Shell feels like a deliberate rejection of AI’s pervasiveness in the arts—where every frame in the trailers looks unmistakably hand‑crafted. It’s a phenomenon that’s certainly paradoxical, considering that the manga prophesied how such technologies would be utilized in the not-so-far-off year of 2029. What’s Science SARU’s stance on AI, and what specific animation techniques did it use most to capture the show’s aesthetic through the power of collective human artistry?

Mokochan: One of the concepts of the original manga is about the mysterious part of the human being. So we wanted to honor how the original creator captured the world and how we express all of the story in the original manga. So we wanted to follow the same concept using the same method to show humanity by using hand-drawn art. We prefer to just use our arms to draw all of the animation.

Handa: It’s because the main concept is about the human body, so that’s why we prefer hand-drawn art over AI.

The Ghost In The Shell image of Motoko Kusanagi.
© Science SARU

io9: Major Kusanagi has long been read as a bisexual icon in the West, especially because of Shirow’s famous island-escapade chapter with her gal pals, which has been lost in some Western reprints of the original manga. She’s also considerably goofier in the manga, a trait fans lovingly call a “bisexual disaster.” In what ways was it important for Science SARU to depict Kusanagi’s inherent goofball nature and her queerness in this adaptation, and what does portraying that side of her mean for a global audience in 2026?

Mokochan: During the process of making the new series, we were actually very surprised by it because, compared to the original manga, a lot of the thoughts about sexuality are very advanced, exploring many possibilities. It’s not just about sexuality; it’s also about the human being, technology, and many other things. [The manga] accepts everything in the world. That was a very big surprise. We didn’t intend to modernize the content to make it fit the new era.

The Ghost In The Shell still of Kusanagi kissing a woman.
© Science SARU

[The Ghost in the Shell producers’ note in regard to Science SARU’s adaptation of Motoko’s vacation scene from the original manga: “We had to adjust the depictions in the original work to match the rating.”]

Handa: When we portray Kusanagi’s character, we like to bring out all the comical parts because they’re in the original manga. It’s kind of different how director Oshii portrays her in the previous series because, in those series, Kusanagi was not that expressive. We prefer to keep the authentic parts of the original manga, so we thought we definitely needed to keep the comical parts in the character, so that’s why we included that content.

io9: As a fan of the series, I’ve seen Ghost in the Shell go through different iterations, reinterpretations, and reboots. And in that, Motoko’s design has changed in a way that reflects how different people interpret her. But while her outer shell is different, the themes—the ghost in the original story—remain in each adaptation. For Science SARU’s newer adaptation of The Ghost in the Shell, which themes from the original manga feel more prescient now than when it first came out?

Mokochan: Because the original intent of this project is to follow the original manga—not just Kusanagi, but also all the content and the world’s concept—we didn’t try to modernize any part of it. The creative team, all of whom are also big fans of the original manga. So, for the world, the story, the characters, and the theme, it’s all the same because we want to honor the original manga.

The Ghost in the Shell is streaming now on Prime Video.

io9 is on the ground at Anime Expo 2026. We’ll be bringing you updates on all the biggest panels, screenings, and announcements, plus exclusive one-on-one interviews with the people behind some of the best and most popular anime around. You can check out all of io9’s Anime Expo coverage here.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

#Ghost #Shell #Director #Character #Designer #Keeping #Motoko #True #MangaAnime,Anime Expo,Science Saru,The Ghost in the Shell">‘The Ghost in the Shell’ Director, Character Designer on Keeping Motoko True to the Manga

Dan Da Dan anime studio Science SARU’s adaptation of The Ghost in the Shell is finally streaming on Prime Video, and its pilot episode looks like a ’90s anime fever dream in the best way possible. Major Motoko Kusanagi kicks all the ass, its soundtrack is a bop, and its action sequences are a chef’s kiss. Don’t just take our word for it; check out the trailer below and see for yourself how Science SARU cooked once again.

Ahead of its premiere, io9 got to chat with director Mokochan and character designer Shuhei Handa at Anime Expo about how their vision for Masamune Shirow’s seminal cyberpunk manga came to be, as well as a couple of pointed fandom-centric questions for fans who’ve been dying to see Major Motoko Kusanagi realized in all her goofy glory. 

‘The Ghost in the Shell’ Director, Character Designer on Keeping Motoko True to the Manga Dan Da Dan anime studio Science SARU’s adaptation of The Ghost in the Shell is finally streaming on Prime Video, and its pilot episode looks like a ’90s anime fever dream in the best way possible. Major Motoko Kusanagi kicks all the ass, its soundtrack is a bop, and its action sequences are a chef’s kiss. Don’t just take our word for it; check out the trailer below and see for yourself how Science SARU cooked once again. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahZn4dVCbvs[/embed] Ahead of its premiere, io9 got to chat with director Mokochan and character designer Shuhei Handa at Anime Expo about how their vision for Masamune Shirow’s seminal cyberpunk manga came to be, as well as a couple of pointed fandom-centric questions for fans who’ve been dying to see Major Motoko Kusanagi realized in all her goofy glory.  Left: Shuhei Handa, right: Mokochan. © Isaiah Colbert/io9 This interview was edited for clarity.  Isaiah Colbert, io9: From Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, Devilman Crybaby, Inu-Oh, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, and Dan Da Dan to Sanda and Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia, Science SARU has built an impressive portfolio and reputation for making bold, expressive, and experimental anime. What about The Ghost in the Shell made it feel like a natural fit as the studio’s next project? Mokochan: For all of the works done by Science SARU, using animation to do storytelling is very important. That’s why we use a lot of hand-drawn animation in it. For The Ghost in the Shell, the most important thing is to use the visuals to capture its world. It’s the same policy with other series as well. TVアニメ「#攻殻機動隊 THE GHOST IN THE SHELL」⋱ご視聴ありがとうございました⋰ ◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢ 第01話より草薙素子と荒巻大輔の出会い 👩🏻 🐵迫力の原画を大公開！ 原画｜小島崇史 さん ◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢https://t.co/wICYD3OlUm pic.twitter.com/6rNlJdXZZk — サイエンスSARU (@sciencesaru) July 7, 2026 io9: From the jump, The Ghost in the Shell marks a stark tonal shift—a return—towards Masamune Shirow’s lighter, more mischievous vision of the cyberpunk epic. What led Science SARU to pivot away from the austere, military tone that Mamoru Oshii’s 1995 film would go on to cement as the franchise’s vibe for decades? Mokochan: We didn’t intentionally try to change the tone from how director Mamoru Oshii did previously because the concept for making this new series is to base it on the original manga, so we already had our own way of making this one. © Masamune Shirow/Kodansha io9: In an era when people often use AI to cheaply mimic retro anime aesthetics, the new Ghost in the Shell feels like a deliberate rejection of AI’s pervasiveness in the arts—where every frame in the trailers looks unmistakably hand‑crafted. It’s a phenomenon that’s certainly paradoxical, considering that the manga prophesied how such technologies would be utilized in the not-so-far-off year of 2029. What’s Science SARU’s stance on AI, and what specific animation techniques did it use most to capture the show’s aesthetic through the power of collective human artistry? Mokochan: One of the concepts of the original manga is about the mysterious part of the human being. So we wanted to honor how the original creator captured the world and how we express all of the story in the original manga. So we wanted to follow the same concept using the same method to show humanity by using hand-drawn art. We prefer to just use our arms to draw all of the animation. Handa: It’s because the main concept is about the human body, so that’s why we prefer hand-drawn art over AI. © Science SARU io9: Major Kusanagi has long been read as a bisexual icon in the West, especially because of Shirow’s famous island-escapade chapter with her gal pals, which has been lost in some Western reprints of the original manga. She’s also considerably goofier in the manga, a trait fans lovingly call a “bisexual disaster.” In what ways was it important for Science SARU to depict Kusanagi’s inherent goofball nature and her queerness in this adaptation, and what does portraying that side of her mean for a global audience in 2026? Mokochan: During the process of making the new series, we were actually very surprised by it because, compared to the original manga, a lot of the thoughts about sexuality are very advanced, exploring many possibilities. It’s not just about sexuality; it’s also about the human being, technology, and many other things. [The manga] accepts everything in the world. That was a very big surprise. We didn’t intend to modernize the content to make it fit the new era. © Science SARU [The Ghost in the Shell producers’ note in regard to Science SARU’s adaptation of Motoko’s vacation scene from the original manga: “We had to adjust the depictions in the original work to match the rating.”] Handa: When we portray Kusanagi’s character, we like to bring out all the comical parts because they’re in the original manga. It’s kind of different how director Oshii portrays her in the previous series because, in those series, Kusanagi was not that expressive. We prefer to keep the authentic parts of the original manga, so we thought we definitely needed to keep the comical parts in the character, so that’s why we included that content. © Science SARU © Science SARU © Science SARU © Science SARU io9: As a fan of the series, I’ve seen Ghost in the Shell go through different iterations, reinterpretations, and reboots. And in that, Motoko’s design has changed in a way that reflects how different people interpret her. But while her outer shell is different, the themes—the ghost in the original story—remain in each adaptation. For Science SARU’s newer adaptation of The Ghost in the Shell, which themes from the original manga feel more prescient now than when it first came out? Mokochan: Because the original intent of this project is to follow the original manga—not just Kusanagi, but also all the content and the world’s concept—we didn’t try to modernize any part of it. The creative team, all of whom are also big fans of the original manga. So, for the world, the story, the characters, and the theme, it’s all the same because we want to honor the original manga. ｳｵｵｵ攻殻機動隊1話にLOと作画監督で参加させていただきました！憧れの攻殻機動隊に関わることができて感激です🔥LOはセンターの子供が撃たれるあたりから脱走するところまで、作監は冒頭からOP前あたりまでです。少佐かっこよくて可愛かった〜！こちら担当LOのうちの1カットです🙏🏻#攻殻機動隊 pic.twitter.com/zUlxgD9fin — 宮かなえ (@miyakanae_) July 7, 2026 The Ghost in the Shell is streaming now on Prime Video. io9 is on the ground at Anime Expo 2026. We’ll be bringing you updates on all the biggest panels, screenings, and announcements, plus exclusive one-on-one interviews with the people behind some of the best and most popular anime around. You can check out all of io9’s Anime Expo coverage here. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. #Ghost #Shell #Director #Character #Designer #Keeping #Motoko #True #MangaAnime,Anime Expo,Science Saru,The Ghost in the Shell
Left: Shuhei Handa, right: Mokochan. © Isaiah Colbert/io9

This interview was edited for clarity. 

Isaiah Colbert, io9: From Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, Devilman Crybaby, Inu-Oh, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, and Dan Da Dan to Sanda and Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia, Science SARU has built an impressive portfolio and reputation for making bold, expressive, and experimental anime. What about The Ghost in the Shell made it feel like a natural fit as the studio’s next project?

Mokochan: For all of the works done by Science SARU, using animation to do storytelling is very important. That’s why we use a lot of hand-drawn animation in it. For The Ghost in the Shell, the most important thing is to use the visuals to capture its world. It’s the same policy with other series as well.

io9: From the jump, The Ghost in the Shell marks a stark tonal shift—a return—towards Masamune Shirow’s lighter, more mischievous vision of the cyberpunk epic. What led Science SARU to pivot away from the austere, military tone that Mamoru Oshii’s 1995 film would go on to cement as the franchise’s vibe for decades?

Mokochan: We didn’t intentionally try to change the tone from how director Mamoru Oshii did previously because the concept for making this new series is to base it on the original manga, so we already had our own way of making this one.

Ghost In The Shell Shirow Masamune Kodansha (1)
© Masamune Shirow/Kodansha

io9: In an era when people often use AI to cheaply mimic retro anime aesthetics, the new Ghost in the Shell feels like a deliberate rejection of AI’s pervasiveness in the arts—where every frame in the trailers looks unmistakably hand‑crafted. It’s a phenomenon that’s certainly paradoxical, considering that the manga prophesied how such technologies would be utilized in the not-so-far-off year of 2029. What’s Science SARU’s stance on AI, and what specific animation techniques did it use most to capture the show’s aesthetic through the power of collective human artistry?

Mokochan: One of the concepts of the original manga is about the mysterious part of the human being. So we wanted to honor how the original creator captured the world and how we express all of the story in the original manga. So we wanted to follow the same concept using the same method to show humanity by using hand-drawn art. We prefer to just use our arms to draw all of the animation.

Handa: It’s because the main concept is about the human body, so that’s why we prefer hand-drawn art over AI.

The Ghost In The Shell image of Motoko Kusanagi.
© Science SARU

io9: Major Kusanagi has long been read as a bisexual icon in the West, especially because of Shirow’s famous island-escapade chapter with her gal pals, which has been lost in some Western reprints of the original manga. She’s also considerably goofier in the manga, a trait fans lovingly call a “bisexual disaster.” In what ways was it important for Science SARU to depict Kusanagi’s inherent goofball nature and her queerness in this adaptation, and what does portraying that side of her mean for a global audience in 2026?

Mokochan: During the process of making the new series, we were actually very surprised by it because, compared to the original manga, a lot of the thoughts about sexuality are very advanced, exploring many possibilities. It’s not just about sexuality; it’s also about the human being, technology, and many other things. [The manga] accepts everything in the world. That was a very big surprise. We didn’t intend to modernize the content to make it fit the new era.

The Ghost In The Shell still of Kusanagi kissing a woman.
© Science SARU

[The Ghost in the Shell producers’ note in regard to Science SARU’s adaptation of Motoko’s vacation scene from the original manga: “We had to adjust the depictions in the original work to match the rating.”]

Handa: When we portray Kusanagi’s character, we like to bring out all the comical parts because they’re in the original manga. It’s kind of different how director Oshii portrays her in the previous series because, in those series, Kusanagi was not that expressive. We prefer to keep the authentic parts of the original manga, so we thought we definitely needed to keep the comical parts in the character, so that’s why we included that content.

io9: As a fan of the series, I’ve seen Ghost in the Shell go through different iterations, reinterpretations, and reboots. And in that, Motoko’s design has changed in a way that reflects how different people interpret her. But while her outer shell is different, the themes—the ghost in the original story—remain in each adaptation. For Science SARU’s newer adaptation of The Ghost in the Shell, which themes from the original manga feel more prescient now than when it first came out?

Mokochan: Because the original intent of this project is to follow the original manga—not just Kusanagi, but also all the content and the world’s concept—we didn’t try to modernize any part of it. The creative team, all of whom are also big fans of the original manga. So, for the world, the story, the characters, and the theme, it’s all the same because we want to honor the original manga.

The Ghost in the Shell is streaming now on Prime Video.

io9 is on the ground at Anime Expo 2026. We’ll be bringing you updates on all the biggest panels, screenings, and announcements, plus exclusive one-on-one interviews with the people behind some of the best and most popular anime around. You can check out all of io9’s Anime Expo coverage here.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

#Ghost #Shell #Director #Character #Designer #Keeping #Motoko #True #MangaAnime,Anime Expo,Science Saru,The Ghost in the Shell
Smart glasses company Solos has long focused on audio-only smart glasses. On Tuesday, it announced two new pairs of glasses, one of which has a camera—but you can buy a separate accessory to hide the camera for privacy’s sake.

Solos’ new smart glasses are the audio-only AirGo A6 and the second iteration of its camera-enabled glasses, the Solos AirGo V2. The latter was first announced last year as an effort to directly “outshine Meta.” These $299 glasses do just about everything you’d expect from Meta’s new $299 Meta Smartglasses, including photo and video capture, playing music, and interacting with an AI-powered assistant that can see what you see. They can be fitted with prescription lenses and have a 10- to 12-hour battery life.

The AirGo V2 glasses can also be paired with a new Privacy Kit, a set of clip-on accessories that let wearers control what their camera glasses can access. The clip-on privacy shield blocks the cameras from view and from recording the world, allowing you to keep wearing the glasses in audio-only mode. There’s also a clip-on polarized lens, and the full kit of modular options costs $79.

Selling a privacy kit as a clip-on accessory is perhaps not the most effective way to stave off concerns about people running around with small, discreet cameras on their faces. Having to buy a separate item, then clip it on and off every time you want to use or disable the camera, is a lot of extra steps that will likely keep people from bothering with privacy at all. Also, there isn’t anything stopping bad actors from removing the clip-on blockers later in an interaction—say, after entering an event that prohibits camera recording.

Image may contain Cutlery Fork Blade Razor and Weapon

Courtesy of Solos Smartglasses

Solos’ first camera-enabled glasses, the Solos AirGo Vision, launched in 2024. WIRED put them in the “Don’t Bother” section of our Best Smart Glasses gallery, citing some decent design choices, albeit ones held back by middling media capture quality, frustrating touch controls, and a power-hungry app that demands too many permissions. All in all, the glasses haven’t quite reached the standard Meta has set with its popular smart glasses.

Meta has been the dominant force in the smart glasses market, but other big companies are trying to fill in the cracks. Google and Samsung have a partnership to build out Google’s Android XR platform, with new glasses arriving later this year from eyewear brands Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. Apple has reportedly been building its own smart glasses as well.

Some smaller companies are adjusting their target markets to counter Meta, like Even Realities and its camera-free glasses. Solos’ reemphasis on privacy comes after a period of widespread criticism of Meta’s glasses. The devices have been called creepy “pervert glasses” and were criticized after the company silently added face recognition code to its glasses, then quickly removed it after public outcry following a WIRED report. Meta hasn’t done itself any favors since then, announcing last week that it will start charging for features on its smart glasses that have previously been free.

Meta has acknowledged that a market for audio-only smart glasses exists, as CTO Andrew Bosworth said in a private Q&A session with media that he thinks there is “market demand for that product for sure.” But Meta hasn’t moved away from its camera-forward spectacles yet. It may very well make audio-only glasses in the future. Until then, companies like Solos are eager to chip away at that market.

#Smart #Glasses #Solos #Privacy #Shield #Camerascameras,design,smart glasses,wearables,artificial intelligence,meta">These New Smart Glasses From Solos Come With a Privacy Shield for the CamerasSmart glasses company Solos has long focused on audio-only smart glasses. On Tuesday, it announced two new pairs of glasses, one of which has a camera—but you can buy a separate accessory to hide the camera for privacy’s sake.Solos’ new smart glasses are the audio-only AirGo A6 and the second iteration of its camera-enabled glasses, the Solos AirGo V2. The latter was first announced last year as an effort to directly “outshine Meta.” These 9 glasses do just about everything you’d expect from Meta’s new 9 Meta Smartglasses, including photo and video capture, playing music, and interacting with an AI-powered assistant that can see what you see. They can be fitted with prescription lenses and have a 10- to 12-hour battery life.The AirGo V2 glasses can also be paired with a new Privacy Kit, a set of clip-on accessories that let wearers control what their camera glasses can access. The clip-on privacy shield blocks the cameras from view and from recording the world, allowing you to keep wearing the glasses in audio-only mode. There’s also a clip-on polarized lens, and the full kit of modular options costs .Selling a privacy kit as a clip-on accessory is perhaps not the most effective way to stave off concerns about people running around with small, discreet cameras on their faces. Having to buy a separate item, then clip it on and off every time you want to use or disable the camera, is a lot of extra steps that will likely keep people from bothering with privacy at all. Also, there isn’t anything stopping bad actors from removing the clip-on blockers later in an interaction—say, after entering an event that prohibits camera recording.Courtesy of Solos SmartglassesSolos’ first camera-enabled glasses, the Solos AirGo Vision, launched in 2024. WIRED put them in the “Don’t Bother” section of our Best Smart Glasses gallery, citing some decent design choices, albeit ones held back by middling media capture quality, frustrating touch controls, and a power-hungry app that demands too many permissions. All in all, the glasses haven’t quite reached the standard Meta has set with its popular smart glasses.Meta has been the dominant force in the smart glasses market, but other big companies are trying to fill in the cracks. Google and Samsung have a partnership to build out Google’s Android XR platform, with new glasses arriving later this year from eyewear brands Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. Apple has reportedly been building its own smart glasses as well.Some smaller companies are adjusting their target markets to counter Meta, like Even Realities and its camera-free glasses. Solos’ reemphasis on privacy comes after a period of widespread criticism of Meta’s glasses. The devices have been called creepy “pervert glasses” and were criticized after the company silently added face recognition code to its glasses, then quickly removed it after public outcry following a WIRED report. Meta hasn’t done itself any favors since then, announcing last week that it will start charging for features on its smart glasses that have previously been free.Meta has acknowledged that a market for audio-only smart glasses exists, as CTO Andrew Bosworth said in a private Q&A session with media that he thinks there is “market demand for that product for sure.” But Meta hasn’t moved away from its camera-forward spectacles yet. It may very well make audio-only glasses in the future. Until then, companies like Solos are eager to chip away at that market.#Smart #Glasses #Solos #Privacy #Shield #Camerascameras,design,smart glasses,wearables,artificial intelligence,meta

Solos’ new smart glasses are the audio-only AirGo A6 and the second iteration of its camera-enabled glasses, the Solos AirGo V2. The latter was first announced last year as an effort to directly “outshine Meta.” These $299 glasses do just about everything you’d expect from Meta’s new $299 Meta Smartglasses, including photo and video capture, playing music, and interacting with an AI-powered assistant that can see what you see. They can be fitted with prescription lenses and have a 10- to 12-hour battery life.

The AirGo V2 glasses can also be paired with a new Privacy Kit, a set of clip-on accessories that let wearers control what their camera glasses can access. The clip-on privacy shield blocks the cameras from view and from recording the world, allowing you to keep wearing the glasses in audio-only mode. There’s also a clip-on polarized lens, and the full kit of modular options costs $79.

Selling a privacy kit as a clip-on accessory is perhaps not the most effective way to stave off concerns about people running around with small, discreet cameras on their faces. Having to buy a separate item, then clip it on and off every time you want to use or disable the camera, is a lot of extra steps that will likely keep people from bothering with privacy at all. Also, there isn’t anything stopping bad actors from removing the clip-on blockers later in an interaction—say, after entering an event that prohibits camera recording.

Image may contain Cutlery Fork Blade Razor and Weapon

Courtesy of Solos Smartglasses

Solos’ first camera-enabled glasses, the Solos AirGo Vision, launched in 2024. WIRED put them in the “Don’t Bother” section of our Best Smart Glasses gallery, citing some decent design choices, albeit ones held back by middling media capture quality, frustrating touch controls, and a power-hungry app that demands too many permissions. All in all, the glasses haven’t quite reached the standard Meta has set with its popular smart glasses.

Meta has been the dominant force in the smart glasses market, but other big companies are trying to fill in the cracks. Google and Samsung have a partnership to build out Google’s Android XR platform, with new glasses arriving later this year from eyewear brands Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. Apple has reportedly been building its own smart glasses as well.

Some smaller companies are adjusting their target markets to counter Meta, like Even Realities and its camera-free glasses. Solos’ reemphasis on privacy comes after a period of widespread criticism of Meta’s glasses. The devices have been called creepy “pervert glasses” and were criticized after the company silently added face recognition code to its glasses, then quickly removed it after public outcry following a WIRED report. Meta hasn’t done itself any favors since then, announcing last week that it will start charging for features on its smart glasses that have previously been free.

Meta has acknowledged that a market for audio-only smart glasses exists, as CTO Andrew Bosworth said in a private Q&A session with media that he thinks there is “market demand for that product for sure.” But Meta hasn’t moved away from its camera-forward spectacles yet. It may very well make audio-only glasses in the future. Until then, companies like Solos are eager to chip away at that market.

#Smart #Glasses #Solos #Privacy #Shield #Camerascameras,design,smart glasses,wearables,artificial intelligence,meta">These New Smart Glasses From Solos Come With a Privacy Shield for the Cameras

Smart glasses company Solos has long focused on audio-only smart glasses. On Tuesday, it announced two new pairs of glasses, one of which has a camera—but you can buy a separate accessory to hide the camera for privacy’s sake.

Solos’ new smart glasses are the audio-only AirGo A6 and the second iteration of its camera-enabled glasses, the Solos AirGo V2. The latter was first announced last year as an effort to directly “outshine Meta.” These $299 glasses do just about everything you’d expect from Meta’s new $299 Meta Smartglasses, including photo and video capture, playing music, and interacting with an AI-powered assistant that can see what you see. They can be fitted with prescription lenses and have a 10- to 12-hour battery life.

The AirGo V2 glasses can also be paired with a new Privacy Kit, a set of clip-on accessories that let wearers control what their camera glasses can access. The clip-on privacy shield blocks the cameras from view and from recording the world, allowing you to keep wearing the glasses in audio-only mode. There’s also a clip-on polarized lens, and the full kit of modular options costs $79.

Selling a privacy kit as a clip-on accessory is perhaps not the most effective way to stave off concerns about people running around with small, discreet cameras on their faces. Having to buy a separate item, then clip it on and off every time you want to use or disable the camera, is a lot of extra steps that will likely keep people from bothering with privacy at all. Also, there isn’t anything stopping bad actors from removing the clip-on blockers later in an interaction—say, after entering an event that prohibits camera recording.

Image may contain Cutlery Fork Blade Razor and Weapon

Courtesy of Solos Smartglasses

Solos’ first camera-enabled glasses, the Solos AirGo Vision, launched in 2024. WIRED put them in the “Don’t Bother” section of our Best Smart Glasses gallery, citing some decent design choices, albeit ones held back by middling media capture quality, frustrating touch controls, and a power-hungry app that demands too many permissions. All in all, the glasses haven’t quite reached the standard Meta has set with its popular smart glasses.

Meta has been the dominant force in the smart glasses market, but other big companies are trying to fill in the cracks. Google and Samsung have a partnership to build out Google’s Android XR platform, with new glasses arriving later this year from eyewear brands Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. Apple has reportedly been building its own smart glasses as well.

Some smaller companies are adjusting their target markets to counter Meta, like Even Realities and its camera-free glasses. Solos’ reemphasis on privacy comes after a period of widespread criticism of Meta’s glasses. The devices have been called creepy “pervert glasses” and were criticized after the company silently added face recognition code to its glasses, then quickly removed it after public outcry following a WIRED report. Meta hasn’t done itself any favors since then, announcing last week that it will start charging for features on its smart glasses that have previously been free.

Meta has acknowledged that a market for audio-only smart glasses exists, as CTO Andrew Bosworth said in a private Q&A session with media that he thinks there is “market demand for that product for sure.” But Meta hasn’t moved away from its camera-forward spectacles yet. It may very well make audio-only glasses in the future. Until then, companies like Solos are eager to chip away at that market.

#Smart #Glasses #Solos #Privacy #Shield #Camerascameras,design,smart glasses,wearables,artificial intelligence,meta

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