The Sonos Ace Ultra includes a feature that I wish all headphones had.

      Sonos is making another attempt at high-end headphones, but what's particularly intriguing about the new Ace Ultra isn't solely the sound quality; it's the functionality when you set your phone aside.

      The Sonos Ace Ultra represents the company’s latest top-tier over-ear headphones, featuring a new 40mm driver, enhanced Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), and up to 35 hours of battery life with ANC activated. While these enhancements are appreciated, Sonos also aims to make the Ace Ultra feel more like an extension of your home audio system, rather than just another set of Bluetooth headphones.

      Now, your Sonos system can accompany you through your headphones.

      The Ace Ultra incorporates a new hardware feature, Headphone Engine 2, which enables direct connection to a Sonos system. Currently in Early Access, this feature is quite straightforward. For instance, if you’re playing music through your Sonos speakers and need to exit the room discreetly, simply press a button on the Ace Ultra to transfer the audio directly to the headphones. Pressing it again reverts the sound back to the Sonos system.

      Importantly, Sonos states that you do not need to keep your phone nearby for this feature to function. This capability makes much more sense if your home already has Sonos speakers placed throughout, which appears to be the main idea. Sonos envisions the Ace Ultra as part of a unified audio system instead of merely standalone headphones.

      A few more tricks up its sleeve

      Sonos hasn’t ignored the fundamentals while pursuing this connected ecosystem. The Ace Ultra features a Sonos-designed 40mm driver and an Adaptive ANC system supported by 10 microphones. Battery life extends to 35 hours with noise cancellation on, which should adequately cater to extended flights or several days of regular use. Multiple connection options are available as well, including direct Sonos integration, USB-C, and a standard 3.5mm jack. TrueCinema can also calibrate the headphone experience to suit your room when audio is streamed from a compatible Sonos soundbar.

      All these features come with the launch of Sonos 27, the company's upgraded audio platform that places an even stronger emphasis on making its speakers, soundbars, and headphones operate as a cohesive system. The Sonos Ace Ultra is priced at $449, with preorders beginning on September 1 through Sonos and select retailers, and official availability starting September 29. At this price point, Sonos is reentering a highly competitive premium headphone market, but this time it appears to be banking on the acoustic systems already installed in homes as its strongest asset.

      Shimul is a contributor at Digital Trends and has over five years of experience in the technology sector.

      Ultrahuman aims to enhance its Ring by utilizing your sleep data for personalized health insights.

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      Modern health wearables, especially rings, have long had a notable limitation. Much of the data analysis for their scores is based on a small, controlled demographic.

      Ultrahuman presents a solution, perfectly timed for IFA 2026: Pulsomics. This initiative transforms the sleep data of Ring users into research information at a scale that could genuinely benefit all users.

      Meta introduces a handy feature from the Ray-Ban Display to its standard smart glasses.

      Ray-Ban Meta users can now initiate turn-by-turn walking navigation using a simple voice command.

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      A smartwatch that measures actual blood pressure levels is set to be released soon, and it looks sleek.

      A more streamlined version of the medical-grade blood pressure monitoring smartwatch will debut next week.

      Huawei recently showcased its upcoming blood pressure watch, which abandons the bulky appearance that has characterized the category since 2021. The Watch D3 made an unexpected revelation at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Munich this week, days prior to its official unveiling on September 2. Unlike most smartwatches that estimate blood pressure using wrist sensors, this device provides genuine readings.