**2024 Was Fantastic for Audio! Here’s What I Want in 2025**
2024 proved to be an outstanding year for audio technology, introducing innovations that transformed our listening experiences, communication, and interactions with devices. With revolutionary earbuds and improvements in Bluetooth standards, the year was filled with features that thrilled both audiophiles and everyday listeners. However, as we set our sights on 2025, there remains ample opportunity for further development and enhancement. Below is an overview of what made 2024 remarkable and what we aspire to see in the next year.
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### **2024: A Year of Audio Breakthroughs**
Driven by rising consumer interest and technological advancements, 2024 delivered some of the most thrilling audio products ever. Whether it was Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 Pro launching offline voice control or the emergence of open-ear audio solutions, the year was characterized by releases that challenged the status quo.
#### **Offline Voice Control: A Revolutionary Feature**
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 Pro established a new benchmark with their offline voice control capability. Users could carry out simple tasks like changing the volume or skipping tracks without needing a wake word or internet access. For those who enjoy hiking, exercising, or cooking, this hands-free feature was incredibly useful.
#### **AI-Powered Real-Time Translation**
Another highlight was Samsung’s AI-enhanced live translation during phone conversations. This technology facilitated real-time, two-way translation, simplifying communication across different languages. While alternatives exist, Samsung’s smooth integration into their earbuds marked a significant advancement in making this technology more user-friendly.
#### **Open-Ear Audio at the Forefront**
Fitness lovers and outdoor enthusiasts celebrated the major progress in open-ear audio. Products such as Nothing’s Ear Open and Bose’s Ultra Open Earbuds provided a safer method to enjoy music while remaining conscious of one’s environment. These developments also reached XR platforms and smart eyewear, suggesting a future where immersive audio seamlessly fits into our everyday routines.
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### **What We Desire in 2025**
While 2024 offered plenty of excitement, there’s still a list of features and enhancements we hope to see in 2025. Here’s what’s on the horizon:
#### **1. Widespread Auracast Compatibility**
Auracast, a feature of Bluetooth LE Audio, has the potential to transform audio sharing. Envision one smartphone streaming music or a podcast to multiple pairs of earbuds at once. This technology could also aid the hearing-impaired community by integrating with hearing aids for public address announcements in venues like airports or gyms. With Google planning to add Auracast to Android 16, 2025 might be the year this tech becomes commonplace.
#### **2. Accessible Hi-Res Audio**
High-resolution audio codecs such as LDAC, LHDC, and aptX Lossless gained popularity in 2024, but their widespread use is still lacking. To truly make hi-res audio accessible to all, streaming leaders like Spotify must fulfill promises of lossless streaming. With budget-friendly earbuds like the Nothing Ear and Liberty Pro 4 supporting these codecs, 2025 could usher in the era of mainstream hi-res audio.
#### **3. Universal Audio Sharing**
Presently, audio-sharing features are restricted within ecosystems—Apple’s Share Audio functions only with Apple devices, while Samsung’s Dual Audio is exclusive to its own ecosystem. A universal audio-sharing standard, potentially enabled by Auracast, would simplify how users enjoy shared content, regardless of device brand.
#### **4. Advanced AI Integration**
Generative AI is set to take on a larger role in 2025, from creating voiceovers for articles to enhancing navigation and recommendations. However, current technologies fall short of the capabilities of traditional assistants like Google Assistant. For instance, AI agents such as Gemini Live can recommend restaurants but cannot yet access Google Maps to navigate you there. Closing this gap is vital for AI to become truly essential.
#### **5. Enhanced Open-Ear Audio Experience**
Open-ear audio has demonstrated its benefits, yet there’s potential for improvement. In 2025, we hope to see enhanced bass response, better noise isolation, and wider applications across XR platforms and smart eyewear. The aim is to develop open-ear solutions that compete with traditional earbuds in sound quality.
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### **Obstacles Ahead**
Not all audio trends are entirely positive. The advent of Android Automotive OS is one example. As car manufacturers like GM transition away from Android Auto and CarPlay, they are implementing subscription-based models for in-vehicle operating systems. This change could impose additional charges on consumers, who might need to pay for features they already subscribe to, such as music streaming services.
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### **The Audio Landscape Ahead**
2024 set a remarkable standard for audio technology, but 2025 offers even greater possibilities. With advancements in Bluetooth standards, AI integration, and the spread of hi-res audio, the forthcoming year could significantly reshape how we enjoy audio experiences.
