With back-to-school season in full swing, it feels like we’re stumbling on great deals for students every day. From Kindles to MacBooks, many of our favorite gadgets are currently receiving a discount — including Sony’s latest noise-canceling headphones, the WH-1000XM6. Right now, you can pick them up at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target for around $428 ($20 off), which is a modest discount but also the best one we’ve seen outside of Amazon’s four-day Prime Day event in July.

The XM6 are some of the best noise-canceling headphones available. With upgraded drivers and a new chip, they deliver even better sound than the last-gen XM5, more powerful active noise cancellation, and clearer voice calls. You can also now (finally) charge the headphones while listening to them, though you’ll need to use two cables — one USB-C and a 3.5mm — since Sony still doesn’t support audio over USB-C. Sony has also resurrected the travel-friendly foldable design last seen on the XM4, while widening the headband to reduce pressure.

What’s more, Sony has included all the features we loved in previous models. The transparency mode sounds as natural as ever, and the battery life lasts an impressive 30 hours on a single charge with ANC enabled. You also get conveniences like multipoint Bluetooth support, making it easy for multitaskers to switch between devices. 

Read our Sony WH-1000XM6 impressions.

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A few more great deals

• Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart are all selling the Hori Piranha Plant Camera for the Nintendo Switch 2 for $39.99 ($20 off), which is a record low price. Specifically designed for the Switch 2, the 640×480 camera captures video at 30fps and supports GameChat, so you can video chat with friends while gaming and access other in-game features, some of which require a Nintendo Switch Online membership. It also features a closing mouth that you can use as a privacy shutter, along with an adjustable neck.
• Skylight is discounting a number of its smart calendars, starting with the 10-inch Skylight Calendar, which is on sale for $129.99 ($40 off) through August 11th. The connected calendar is a helpful tool for household organization, one that allows you to manage multiple schedules in one place. It syncs with popular cloud services like Google Calendar and iCloud, so you can quickly check your family’s availability with a quick glance. You can also use it to display chores, grocery lists, to-dos, and other notes. Read our Skylight Calendar Max review.
• Best Buy is selling the latest Amazon Fire TV Cube for $89.99 ($50 off), which is its best price to date. The snappy streaming box supports Wi-Fi 6E as well as 4K streaming in HDR formats like Dolby Vision. It also features an HDMI input for cable boxes or gaming consoles and acts as a decent-sounding smart speaker, one that integrates well with Alexa for hands-free voice control. Read our review.

The Nothing Headphone 1 is feature packed without being overly expensive, and it's got the best noise cancellation I've heard – Sony and Bose should watch out.

The Sonos Ace have dropped to just £269 at Amazon today.

Campfire Audio and Pro-Ject promise big audio upgrades in small packages, and with very reasonable prices

In which I gladly accept a set of AirPods Max with new USB audio and hook 'em up to various sources – and with a bit of patience, I reaped the rewards.

I went for a run this morning while holding my iPhone, which was connected to a cable that attached to my earbuds. I’ve exercised with wired headphones for years, but today, the cord, with its persistent jostling, was especially distracting.

That’s because I was previously running with a pair of Bluetooth earbuds, EPOS’s GTW 270. They came out in 2021 for $200, and I received them as a gift. They typically sat in a drawer until this spring, when I started running outside (rather than in a gym or not at all) for the first time in a couple of years. Without a place to store my phone, wired headphones felt cumbersome while running. I previously overlooked the GTW 270 because they are not as comfortable as my wired earbuds and tend to lose their connection (especially with my PC) if the audio stops playing momentarily. The latter problem proved less common when using the earbuds with my phone, though. Suddenly, I was enamored with a gadget that had spent most of its life forgotten in a drawer.

But after a few short months, one of my earliest concerns about wireless earbuds was realized: I lost the GTW 270’s case, which charges the earbuds and enables pairing.

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July's Prime Day sale is here, which means Amazon is offering sharp discounts on some of the best speakers money can buy. Whether you're after a portable bluetooth speaker, a compact yet powerful soundbar or a smart speaker to help around the house, something probably just dropped into your price range. Our audiophiles have combed through the sales and put together a list of discounted speakers that stand out from the herd, including top brands like Beats, Marshall, Bose and Sonos. So if you're sick of missing important dialogue in your shows, or you want to listen to music like it's live, check out the list below.

Best Prime Day Bluetooth speaker deals

Our portable bluetooth speaker picks are some of the best all-around mobile music devices to ever hit the shelves: smaller and lighter than a boombox, better audio than an iPod, and way easier in the long run than learning to play guitar. We've sifted through Prime Day offerings to find the best portable speakers in all shapes and sizes.

• Beats Pill for $98 (35 percent off): The Beats Pill is one of the few portable bluetooth speakers we liked enough to give it a full review. Those of you who love the classic Beats bluetooth speakers will be happy to know they're back in fine form. Nobody can beat the Pill for bass, and its sound is crisp and lossless at almost any frequency and volume. For some reason, only the Kim Kardashian branded version is on sale, but it's the exact same speaker.

• Soundcore Boom 2 for $90 (36 percent off): This lightweight but powerful indoor/outdoor speaker is highly customizable, with simple controls to balance for pounding bass or clear high-frequency audio. It's great at filling an area with an even proportion of sound. $90 is close to a record-low price.

• Soundcore Motion 300 for $53 (34 percent off): The Motion 300 is that rare portable speaker that outperforms at both high and low frequencies. Its upper range goes into 40 kHz, while its bass can deliver bone-shaking thumps even outdoors. All that in 1.7 pounds with 13 hours of battery life — and it's even partially waterproof.

• Anker Soundcore Motion+ for $75 (24 percent off): Tough, sturdy construction makes this speaker an excellent choice for home bluetooth. Its battery lasts for 12 hours in the wild, and it always sounds great, but it's a bit heavy for pedaling through the park. There's also an option for wired connections, and it even works as a backup soundbar.

• Anker Soundcore 2 for $28 (38 percent off): The Soundcore 2 is an older bluetooth speaker, but it holds up — fully waterproof, with 24 hours of battery life and bass you can hear on the other side of a pool. It's on sale for less than $30.

• Soundcore Select 4 for $19 (46 percent off): This 9.3-ounce speaker is a massive improvement over built-in smartphone audio. It can fill a room at a decent range of frequencies, and works well in room-sized outdoor spaces — plus, with IP67 waterproofing, it can survive a dip in the pool. It's currently almost half off.

• UE Everboom for $190 (30 percent off): If you want something stronger than the Wonderboom but the Hyperboom isn't portable enough, the Everboom is a great middle ground. Its ideal range is a little narrow, but it makes up for that with 360-degree sound and extreme durability (i.e. so waterproof it literally floats).

• JBL Xtreme 2 for $150 (17 percent off): The Xtreme 2 is an older model, dating back to 2018 — but as they say on the internet, it checks out. With a maximum output of 40 watts, it's actually more powerful than the Xtreme 4. Even better, this deal includes a pair of speakers that can work together through JBL connect+.

• JBL Boombox 3 for $400 (20 percent off): The JBL Boombox 3 is a great choice for getting a bit louder. It's tough, portable and ready to go right out of the box, although it would be a little overpriced without this Prime Day deal.

• JBL Pulse 5 for $197 (21 percent off): The Pulse 5 is JBL's latest and greatest party speaker, throwing out 360-degree light bursts that sync up to the music. There's substance behind the flash, too, with speakers designed around the bass frequencies and 12 hours of battery life.

• JBL Clip 5 for $60 (25 percent off): The JBL Clip 5 is a traveling speaker, coming with a carabiner-friendly design, 15 hours of battery life, and IP67-rated waterproofing and dustproofing. It's not exactly powerful, but it's way better than a phone speaker for driving, trekking or camping.

• Bose SoundLink Flex 2nd Gen for $99 (34 percent off): This mini speaker from Bose is one of our favorites on the list for hands-free phone calls. It supports both Google Assistant and Siri and runs up to 12 hours on one charge, all while being smaller than a clutch purse. It also kills as a portable music player, though the sound doesn't stretch far enough to fill a room.

• Bose Soundlink Revolve+ Series II for $179 (40 percent off): The Revolve series was Bose's first line of 360-degree outdoor speakers, and they're still a strong choice today. The Revolve+ weighs about two pounds and can run for 17 hours without recharging.

• Bose Soundlink Max for $299 (25 percent off): Bose's Soundlink Max marries a classic carrying-case design with audio that sounds like it's coming from a much bigger unit. It comes with a 20-hour battery and IP67-rated protection against the elements.

• Marshall Emberton II for $95 (47 percent off): Marshall has been making audio equipment for more than 60 years, and still has a thing or two to teach the young'ns. The Emberton II looks like a classic amp, but weighs a quarter of a pound and provides balanced sound for more than 30 hours per charge.

• Marshall Acton III for $200 (33 percent off): All right, so a six-pound speaker isn't exactly portable — but if you can stand lugging it around, the Acton III can be a highly versatile device. From music to outdoor parties to pulling double duty as a soundbar, this is a low-setup, low-overhead option for nearly all audio tasks.

• Sony Ult Field 1 for $88 (32 percent off): The Ult Field line is Sony's most bass-heavy sound tech yet, but it's also designed to move — waterproofing, a detachable strap and 12-hour battery life make it a good fit for any situation. It works just as well standing up or lying on its side.

• Ortizan X10 for $30 (41 percent off): Ortizan is a newer brand from China, but we like what we've seen from them so far. The X10 is the size of the Beats Pill but comes at the price of a belt-clip speaker like the JBL Go 3. If you do have a problem, Ortizan's customer service is highly responsive.

Best Prime Day smart speaker deals

Smart speakers aren't just about getting a disembodied voice to do your bidding (or at least as much of your bidding as Alexa can do without hands). On top of assistant support, the picks below serve up legitimately great audio quality alongside useful extra features. The only downside is that they're often overpriced, but that's what Prime Day is for.

• Amazon Echo Dot for $32 (36 percent off): Amazon may not have updated the Echo Dot since 2022, but that just goes to show how well this spherical smart speaker serves as the perfect host for Alexa. Both music and speech sound clear, and it's easy to integrate with other smart home devices. Right now, it's marked down more than a third.

• Amazon Echo Pop for $22 (45 percent off): The latest Echo Pop release continues the trend of making Alexa's best features available on a mini-sized, reasonably priced device. Its half-spherical design fits on any desk or shelf, and its sound output is consistently clear — and gets louder than you might believe.

• Sonos Era 100 for $179 (10 percent off): Smart speakers from the Amazon Echo line play perfectly good music, but true audiophiles in need of assistant support should look to Sonos. The Era 100 has tweeters and woofers precisely arranged for clear, full-room sound, and it's easy to hook up to your other audio gear. Just be warned it only supports Alexa, not Google Assistant.

• JBL Authentics 200 for $200 (47 percent off): JBL's Authentics line is modeled after a product it sold in the 70s. Its old-school bookshelf-friendly design belies its advanced feat of running Google Assistant and Alexa simultaneously (as opposed to other smart speakers where you have to pick just one).

• JBL Authentics 300 for $285 (37 percent off): The JBL Authentics 300 can host both Alexa and Google Assistant at the same time, which impressed us enough that we gave it a full review. While we had some issues — namely its tendency to over-emphasize vocals — we can't quibble with its high-range performance or retro design.

Best Prime Day soundbar deals

Flatter, lighter and larger TV screens are nice for visuals, but often sacrifice sound quality to lose weight. If you've found yourself turning on the subtitles for your shows more often lately, you might need a soundbar to augment your TV's built-in speakers. We found a few of the best on sale for Prime Day — Sonos leads this space, but it's not without competitors.

• Bose Smart for $400 (20 percent off): In our full review of the Bose Smart, we noted that two drivers in the center make its sound feel directional without any other speakers needed — simply cranking up those makes any audio more immersive. You can also link it to a pair of Ultra Open Earbuds (not included) for a private surround sound experience.

• Bose Smart Ultra for $700 (22 percent off): The Smart Ultra upgrades the Bose Smart with a more sophisticated calibration system which adjusts sound settings to fill whatever room it's in. If you want the Smart's personal surround experience for more than one person, the Smart Ultra is for you.

• Sonos Beam for $369 (26 percent off): The Sonos Beam is a fantastic choice for a mid-budget soundbar. It's one of the most accessible Dolby Atmos systems, and uses careful audio alterations to achieve a much more immersive sound than other bars of its size.

• Sonos Ray for $169 (15 percent off): If you're looking to pay a bit less, go with the Sonos Ray to maximize sound quality on a budget. The audio won't wrap around your room like it might from a more premium model, but it's still a vast improvement on nearly all built-in TV speakers.

• Amazon Fire TV Plus for $150 (40 percent off): Amazon's latest Fire TV soundbar is built for streaming TV and emphasizing dialogue. If you have any other Amazon TVs or streaming devices, you'll find it easy to integrate with your existing hardware — you can even use the same remote to control them all.

• Sony HT-S400 for $178 (41 percent off): Sony built the HT-S400 for everyone who wants a soundbar but not an entire home theater. It's a 2.1-channel system that still manages immersive surround sound and is easy to integrate with Sony TVs. Right now, it's 40 percent off, one of the best prices we've seen on any soundbar.

• Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 for $448 (31 percent off): One of Sony's newest audio products, the Bravia Theater Bar 6 is a 3.1.2 soundbar that can bend audio in more directions to fill your theater space. It can handle Dolby Atmos, and has an integrated AI feature that recognizes and clarifies human voices.

• VIZIO 2.0 for $78 (22 percent off): Vizio's budget soundbar makes a worthy alternative to the Sonos Ray. It punches above its weight and gets as close as possible to Dolby Atmos surround sound as a single unit can manage. For less than $100, you'll never mishear a line of dialogue again.

• JBL Bar 9.1 for $760 (37 percent off): The 9.1 is JBL's first sound bar to be compatible with Dolby Atmos, and it doesn't disappoint. Each unit comes with two wireless speakers you can move around your viewing room, and there's even a 4K passthrough input to ensure your sound system doesn't mess with image quality.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-best-prime-day-speaker-deals-last-chance-to-get-up-to-47-percent-off-on-jbl-bose-sonos-and-others-085948445.html?src=rss

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© Engadget

If you use screens for work and play, your child probably does too. These are the best pairs we’ve bought and tested for our own kids.

With a lethargic app and replaceable batteries, these hearing aids are a hard sell despite solid sound quality.

You no longer need to leave the house to be fitted with prescription hearing aids.

Plus: Sonos rolls out a software update for its Ace headphones.

Less than a month after making their debut, the WH-1000XM6 are on sale at Amazon in black, blue, and platinum with a $30 gift card for $448. It’s not a straight cash discount, sure, but if you were already debating picking up Sony’s latest pair of noise-canceling headphones, it makes the $50 price hike over the last-gen XM5 easier to stomach.

If you were to ignore the steep price hike, the new XM6 are a welcome improvement over the XM5 in every way. They’re outfitted with Sony’s latest noise-cancellation chip, which allows them to do a better job at drowning out the ambient noise you might encounter on the street, at your local coffee shop, or on your next cross-country flight. Their transparency mode is as natural-sounding as ever, too, and thanks to a new set of drivers, they deliver clearer vocals and the same dynamic, rich sound for which the XM series is known.

Design-wise, they also represent an excellent return to form, albeit with a few minor tweaks for added comfort and convenience. They sport a wider headband that’s designed to alleviate pressure during longer listening sessions, along with a redesigned power button that’s easier to distinguish from the onboard ANC button. More importantly, however, they once again collapse with the aid of a joint in each arm, allowing them to take up less room in the included carrying case. As someone who frequently travels with the XM5 — the only pair in the XM series that can’t fold down — I can say the change is greatly appreciated.

Read our hands-on impressions of the XM6.

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More ways to save this weekend

• 8BitDo’s Ultimate 2C Wireless Controller has fallen to its lowest price to date at Amazon, where you can grab it in green or purple for an all-time low of $25.49 (about $5 off). The 2C is a great little gamepad for Windows and Android, one you can connect via USB-C, Bluetooth, or a 2.4GHz dongle boasting a 1,000Hz polling rate. It’s also got an extra set of remappable shoulder buttons and Hall effect sticks / triggers, so you needn’t worry about the notorious “Joy-Con drift” that has plagued consoles like the Switch.
• When it comes to portable batteries, Anker and EcoFlow are the two biggest names that come to mind. Jackery is a close second, though, and now through June 18th, you can save up to $3,300 on various power solutions thanks to the company’s Father’s Day sale. There’s a lot on offer, but the highlight for me is the port-heavy Explorer 1000 power station, which is available for a limited time from Jackery and Amazon for just shy of $500 ($300 off).
• If you’re big on Android Auto but hate having to plug your phone into your car’s infotainment system, Motorola’s MA1 wireless car adapter is on sale at Best Buy for a new low of $34.99 (50 percent off). The Chromecast-looking USB dongle pairs with smartphones running Android 11 or higher via Bluetooth, allowing you to then transmit data over 5Ghz Wi-Fi. Just ensure your car or aftermarket head unit actually supports Android Auto in the first place.

Whether you’re buying your first pair of AirPods or replacing a well-used older pair, it’s easy to understand why so many iPhone owners prefer Apple’s earbuds and headphones over other options. Apple has spent years gradually adding new features that work best — and sometimes only work at all — within the company’s walled garden. These convenient tricks include audio sharing, automatic switching between Apple’s various devices, Apple TV integration, and more. 

There are four AirPods models to choose from, each with a distinct appeal and upside. You likely already know whether you’re more interested in earbuds or over-ear headphones, so that’s the first divide. In the case of headphones, your only choice is the AirPods Max. But in the earbuds category, Apple has three options: the AirPods Pro, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, and the plain old AirPods 4. 

The best AirPods overall

If you want the earbuds that guarantee you’ll get the latest and greatest software features from Apple, the second-generation AirPods Pro should be at the top of your list. They offer the whole gamut of ecosystem exclusives. And if you’re the type of person to misplace things, you’ll be thankful that the earbuds’ case has a U1 chip for pinpoint location finding. So whenever they go missing, you can track right where they are in the room using Apple’s Find My app.

The AirPods Pro deliver noise cancellation that’s effective at tamping down the volume of your surroundings in all but the most hectic environments. Their sound quality is on another level compared to the regular AirPods — helped in no small part by the in-ear seal you get from their silicone ear tips. 

In 2024, Apple introduced three major hearing health features, including a hearing test, automatic hearing protection, and the option to use the AirPods Pro as clinical-grade hearing aids if you have mild or moderate hearing loss. No other AirPods (including the AirPods Max) offer this functionality, so it definitely sets the Pros apart. And the same can be said of their volume controls; you just swipe on the stems to raise or lower the loudness of your music, which is a handy advantage that the similar-looking AirPods 4 lack. 

Read our full AirPods Pro 2 review.

The best if you don’t find ear tips comfortable

But not everyone likes the way ear tips feel. Even with venting and the other measures Apple has taken to improve comfort and reduce that clogged-up sensation, some people just prefer the regular, one-size-fits-most AirPods. Their open design means you’re never cut off from the outside world. The AirPods Pro have an impressive transparency mode, but the AirPods 4 don’t need to pipe in your surroundings; you can always hear what’s happening around you.

Apple sells two versions of the AirPods 4. No matter which you choose, you’ll get the same sound quality, microphone performance on voice calls, and IP54 water resistance. (The latter also applies to the AirPods Pro.) The more expensive pair features active noise cancellation and a more advanced charging case. You might be surprised by how well the noise cancellation works even with an unsealed design; it reduces office ambience and annoying hums, but louder sounds and voices still cut through the ANC. As for the case, the pricier AirPods 4 include wireless charging and Find My integration.

If you’re really interested in noise-canceling earbuds, you should consider saving a bit more and stepping up to the AirPods Pro 2. They offer much better audio quality, stronger ANC, and a better experience. I’d only steer you to the noise-canceling AirPods 4 if you’re really opposed to ear tips. 

Read my full AirPods 4 review.

The best for those who prefer headphones

I’ve gone back and forth recommending Apple’s $549 AirPods Max over the last few years. They have a standout design, but the good looks and premium feel come at the cost of weight. These headphones are considerably heavier than most competitors and can get fatiguing over extended use. But Apple has also made smart choices: the fabric ear cups on the AirPods Max are much more pleasant in warm weather than the pleather you’ll find on Bose and Sony products, and won’t get your ears sweaty. 

The AirPods Max provide impressive noise cancellation, and the transparency mode is clearer and more natural-sounding than any other set of headphones on the market. As for sound, Apple’s headphones have a pleasant sound signature that works well across a wide range of genres. They’re easy to listen to with an impressive soundstage for closed-back headphones. 

You lose some features — like conversation awareness and adaptive audio — that are included on the AirPods Pro; this is a side effect of the AirPods Max using Apple’s older H1 chip. But the company recently added lossless audio over USB-C, meaning these headphones offer the richest audio fidelity of the whole lineup. 

Read my full AirPods Max (Lightning) review.

Update, June 13th: Adjusted prices and availability.

Which are the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy in 2025?

This year’s WWDC kicks off in less than a week, which means Apple is likely to announce a string of software changes in short order, some of which are designed to improve Apple’s latest pair of premium earbuds. Thankfully, if you haven’t yet pulled the trigger on the second-gen AirPods Pro, they’re once again on sale at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy for around $169 ($70 off), matching their best price of the year.

If you’re an iPhone user, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better pair of noise-canceling earbuds than Apple’s latest AirPods Pro with USB-C. The second-gen model ratchets up the noise cancellation and sound quality, providing dynamic, rich sound and ANC that can go toe-to-toe with Sony’s XM5 and other like-minded rivals. Unlike the cheaper AirPods 4 with ANC, they also feature convenient swipe-based controls and four sets of silicone tips, whereas Apple’s entry-level earbuds still rely on an open-style design that allows more ambient noise in.

As for why they’re the perfect fit for iPhone users, well, that’s easy. The Pro are chock-full of Apple-only features, including head tracking spatial audio, robust Find My support, and automatic device switching. The included speaker-equipped charging case also features a U1 chip for more accurate tracking, and thanks to a software update in the fall, Apple’s high-end earbuds can now protect your hearing and serve as clinical-grade hearing aids. That makes them well-suited for those with mild to moderate hearing loss — or your next Turnstile concert.

Read our original AirPods Pro (second-gen) review.

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Other ways to save this weekend

• It’s by no means a necessity, but I’ve been ogling the Vestaboard Note ever since the spendy split-flap display went up for sale last month. The nostalgic 24.5-inch board is currently available for preorder from Vestaboard ahead of its December launch starting at $899 ($400 off), and while it only features 45 split-flap mechanisms (as opposed to 132 on the original), it still looks like a delightful way to showcase any message, pattern, or image you create using the accompanying web interface or mobile app.
• Ugreen’s FineTrack Smart Finder is available for just $9.99 (about $7 off) from Amazon and Ugreen right now, which is the best price we’ve seen on the inexpensive location tracker. Sure, it’s not quite as capable as an AirTag, but it still comes with a two-year replaceable battery, a built-in ringer, and the ability to tap into Apple’s extensive Find My network as necessary. Hell, it even comes with a lanyard hole, which isn’t something we can say about Apple’s tracker.
• Meta’s entry-level VR headset, the Meta Quest 3S, is on sale once again at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy, where you can pick it up with a copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow and a three-month trial of Meta Horizon Plus for an all-time low of around $269 ($30 off). It’s sort of the middle child in terms of Meta’s headset lineup, as it features the same chipset as the Quest 3 but remains reliant on the same lenses and field of view as the Quest 2. Still, it can play most of the same standalone games as the former, as well as PC-based virtual reality titles if you own a gaming PC. Read our review.

Groovz is offering a 40% discount on top of the lowered prices for its wireless earbuds and headphones, but you're going to have to hurry if you don't want to miss out on the savings.

The trade war between the U.S. and overseas countries like China no longer poses a theoretical risk of price increases on audio gear — those higher prices are here. Bose told Digital Trends that starting Monday, May 12, it will bump the price of its flagship QuietComfort Ultra Headphones from $429 to $449, while its […]

For the longest time, we considered the Beats Fit Pro to be the best gym earbuds around. However, with the arrival of the Powerbeats Pro 2 in February, Beats’ last-gen earbuds have become somewhat dated and a lot harder to recommend at full price. That’s especially true today, given the Powerbeats Pro 2 are now on sale at Amazon, Walmart, and B&H Photo in multiple colors for an all-time low of $199.95 ($50 off).

The Pro 2 are, by all accounts, some of the best wireless earbuds you can get. They still tout the signature ear hook design found on previous models, though the hooks themselves are noticeably smaller this time around (as is the wireless charging case). The comfortable earbuds also feature active noise cancellation and a natural-sounding transparency mode — both absent from the first-gen model from 2019 —so you can stay in sync with what’s going on around you while exercising.

As for other hallmarks, the fitness-focused Pro 2 sport IPX4 water resistance, easy-to-use physical buttons, and native support for both Android and Apple features — including head-tracking spatial audio, automatic device switching, and Find My integration for iPhone users. They also offer heart rate monitoring thanks to built-in sensors in each earbud; however, sadly, they can’t play music and broadcast heart rate to gym equipment at the same time when paired with an iOS device, which makes the Pro 2 a better heart rate monitoring alternative for Android users than iPhone users.

Thankfully, if bass-heavy sound is what you’re after and not necessarily the ability to track your heart rate, rest assured that this pair of Beats delivers great sound with enough low-end oomph to make the latest tracks from Kendrick Lamar and Saba shine. They can’t rival the latest AirPods Pro or Sony’s XM5, but that’s not really the point, is it?

Read our full Powerbeats Pro 2 review.

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More ways to save today

• The Google Pixel 9A, which is arguably the best budget phone you can buy right now, is available from Best Buy and Google for $499 with a free $100 gift card (or store credit, in the case of Google). The terrific midrange handset is outfitted with Google’s reliable Tensor G4 chipset and a 6.3-inch OLED screen, the latter of which is bigger and brighter than the panel on last year’s 8A. It also packs a robust IP68 rating and seven years of software updates — an impressive feat for a phone that retails for under $500. Read our review.
• Star Wars Day might technically be behind us, but you can still grab a Goliath Power Saber at Amazon for $15.28 (about $6 off), which is the best price we’ve seen. The lightsaber-like saber isn’t an official Star Wars toy — blame Hasbro — but it is the first light-up blade that can automatically extend and retract with the push of a button. It will also collapse when you press it against something, meaning you needn’t worry (too much) about giving it to a kid.
• If you’re looking for a cheap charger to take on the go, Anker’s 10,000mAh Zolo Power Bank is on sale at Amazon in a slew of colors for $12.94 ($13 off), matching its best price to date. The 30W battery pack isn’t the most robust in terms of capacity, though it can deliver up to two full charges to an iPhone 16 Pro; it also features an integrated 5.4-inch USB-C cable for added convenience.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Headphones are discounted to $330 from the $400 MSRP. But it’s only a matter of time before they go back to full price!

The Apple AirPods Max are discounted to $480 at Best Buy today. Treat yourself to excellent sound quality and some of the best noise-canceling in the business.