WIRED: A Review of Amazon Prime Day and AirPods Pro 2 Early Access Sale Deals from MIXED to GB, iMac, NEC, MS, Sony, and LG

There’s no question that both the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and second-generation AirPods Pro sound amazing. They both offer great sound quality with punchy bass, clear highs and full mids. If you listen to any genre of music, it will sound great.

Like their predecessors, the Pro 2 will still carry the same steep $249 price tag, but if you order right now on Amazon, you’ll save $10. It’s rare to get a brand new Apple drop with any markdown, so be sure to grab a pair now.

Is it another Amazon Prime Day sale? It’s not the second part of Prime Day. The Prime Early Access Sale is a sale. The game is the same regardless of the name and the WIRED team has combed through all the deals to find the good, bad and unmissable. Check out our top picks from companies such as Microsoft, Microsoft, and more.

The WIRED Gear team tests products year-round. We sorted through hundreds of thousands of deals by hand to make these picks. There are out of stock or discounted products. Our Amazon Prime Day coverage page and our Prime Day Shopping Tips will help you avoid bad deals. Check out our live blog to find the best Lightning Deals. A 1-year subscription to WIRED can be had for $5.

An IdeaPad Flex 5i, A Gaming Powerhouse at a Price Over $300 Off MS Windows Xperia? The Case for a 14-inch Laptop

The Surface Laptop range may not be as stylish as others of the brand’s, but most people need a laptop. This is our pick for the best Surface for most people. Microsoft’s flagship laptop offers 16gb of ram and a big amount of storage for under $1,000. This week, Microsoft is holding aSurface hardware event which could mean we could see a successor.

While gaming laptops can look pretty expensive, they’re not that expensive compared to consoles. But if you want strong PC specs and a great display in a portable package, they remain the only option. All this is offered at almost $300 off by this Dell G15. It packs in one of Intel’s latest gaming chips alongside 16 GB RAM, a 512-GB SSD, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060, which is an ideal combo for mid-tier PC gaming.

Entry-level gaming laptops can reach over $1,000. It is a miracle that the HP Victus is under that. This model gets a 512-gigabyte chip, 16 gigabytes of memory, and a video card that has a graphics card in it. The package doesn’t scream “gamer.”

The 14-inch Pavilion machine from HP is a great option if you want a cheap laptop with added flexibility. This sale has a strong 11th-Gen Intel Core i5 with 8 gigabytes of memory, and a 128-gigabyteSolid State Drive. It’s a good combo for productivity users, such as students. It’s a bit easier to watch videos on this laptop because of the 360-hinge.

Many people who want to push them hard are excited about the possibility of using the device for light web work. For that, the IdeaPad Flex 5i is our top choice for a ChromeOS powerhouse in our Best Chromebooks guide. There are many options for lower-power Celeron chips and sometimes 4 gigabytes of RAM, but a lot of performance can be obtained from the Intel Core i3 and 8 gigabytes of RAM. The display has an anti-glare finish.

The 2022 iPad Air ($8/10, WIRED Recommends) is the Lowest Price We’ve Ever Seeed

The Combo Touch from Logitech is compatible with a variety of 11-inch iPad Pro generations. It’s one of our favorite ways to get some light work done because it adds a keyboard and a trackpad. The slim case and good keys make the iPad Pro’s portable qualities clear, while the keyboard can be removed when you don’t need it.

The 2022 iPad Air (8/10, WIRED Recommends) now packs an M1 processor, the very same that powers the iPad Pro and the MacBook Air, making this hands-down the most powerful tablet for the money. This price is the lowest we’ve ever seen.

Most people like our current favorite iPad and this is a good deal. It’s the lowest price we’ve seen. Apple has updated the iPad over the past three years. There could be a new model out soon, and that new model could be on sale for Black Friday.

This is the one if you’re after a big Fire tablet. This 10-inch machine can be made more smart home friendly with Show Mode as it comes with a high resolution display. There is also the  Fire HD 10 Plus for $105 ($75 off) if you’re after the most powerful Amazon tablet.

The WIRED Recommends, the best phone in the world, comes from the Pixel 6A, and it is our top pick as the Best Cheap Phone. It is the lowest we have seen. Even when it’s not on sale, the Pixel 6A offers incredible value, with great performance, excellent cameras, impressive battery life, and a nice display. If you are trying to find a better deal on a phone, this is it. If you want a bigger device and better cameras, the Pixel 6 Pro is discounted to $649 ($250 off).

This is the lowest price we’ve ever seen for the S22 Ultra. This device has an S Pen built in, so it’s great for doodling or writing notes. It has a 10x optical zoom camera and you can take sharp pictures from far away.

It costs a fortune. But it folds! And believe it or not, that extra screen real estate really is nice. Android 12L also makes life on a bigger screen easier thanks to its improved multitasking. The battery life is good, and you get a bright, smooth screen.

The smaller of Samsung’s folding phones, the Z Flip4 feels like a “normal” phone when it’s unfolded, but fold it up and it’ll slip into some small pockets. It’s almost like a StarTak, but with a real screen. The battery will only last you a short time. This is the lowest deal we have seen for a folding phone.

If you’re shopping for a phone that isn’t typical from the others, you might want to check out this deal on the 128GB OnePlus 10 Pro. Amazon matched its lowest price yet, reducing the smartphones to $549.99. The 10 Pro doesn’t blow away the competition but offers some impressive specifications alongside all of the flagship features you’d expect at a relatively low price point. While the camera array isn’t quite as powerful as those seen on flagship phones from Samsung or Apple, the 10 Pro still offers excellent performance thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and 8GB of RAM. There aren’t many Android phones that can match the overall performance of the OnePlus 10 Pro at this price, making it worth a look if your current phone is falling behind the curve. Read the rest of our review.

This is a large discount for a TV of this caliber and it is one of the best you can buy for bright rooms. It might be the move for you and your family if you have a home with plenty of windows. It also has a 120-Hz refresh rate for gamers looking to get the most out of their consoles.

One of our favorite soundbars is now under $200, which is a big deal if you want to upgrade your TV setup. The Signa S4 is our top package if you’re looking to grab both a soundbar and a subwoofer. The combo has many features to get the right vibe. The addition of a subwoofer makes this ideal for when you want big sound, whether it’s a house party or your fave action flick.

The Sony EarFun Air Pro 3: The Best earbuds rankings for under $80$ and what better than the Air Pro 2$?

This is one of the best headphones that we have. The digital signal processing and advanced microphone array do a stellar job of blocking out noise and homing in on your voice. They’re also extremely comfortable and offer strong battery life. It is a great deal to get more than 100 off a top wireless noise-cancelers, because they are not cheap.

If you’re after the best overall headphones, then stick with Sony. The noise cancellation and sound of the WH 1000XM5 is amazing and they are very comfortable to wear.

EarFun has always held the top spot in our best earbuds rankings, because they have good sound, battery life, and noise cancellation for under $100, and the EarFun Air Pro 3 is on the way. These earbuds have advanced LE Audio technology, which will allow them to offer even better sound, more battery life, and better noise canceling than the already excellent Air Pro 2. The best part? All of this advanced audio can be yours for less than $80.

This is our favourite portable device. The SanDisk is super swift and also offers top protection with an IP22 dust and water resistance casing. This 2TB model is great for taking on the go.

A Comparison of Amazon Prime Day, Amazon Early Access, and Other Late-Time Deals: Top 10 Picks for Day 2 of the PEAS

TicWatch isn’t a well-known wearable brand, but we’re fans of this model’s top battery life (it’s in our Best Smartwatch guide). It employs Wear OS and is slated to get the Wear OS 3 update later this year. It’s responsive, delivers notifications, counts steps, and features 24/7 heart-rate monitoring, all with an AMOLED display and two-day battery life. There’s a new TicWatch Ultra coming and it uses the new Wearables Chipset fromQUALCOM.

The Apple Watch Series 8 is our top pick, it’s already on sale. (The 41-mm version is also on sale for $349.) Most people will be fine with the new second-generation Watch SE, but this model includes an electrocardiogram, an always-on display, a skin temperature sensor for better period tracking, a more accurate heart-rate monitor, and the ability to measure blood oxygen levels. Our Best Apple Watch accessories guide has more recommendations.

The label printer is a useful way to save on shipping and is included in our work-from- home guide. This printer uses heat to print, instead of using ink. You will get useful instructions to get the right size of your label when you are ready to go.

Other stores have started offering competing deals that don’t require an Amazon Prime membership (and others likely will). Here’s a list of merchants that may be getting in on the action.

Are you talking about another Amazon Prime Day sale? Don’t refer to it as Prime Day Part 2. This one has been dubbed the Prime Early Access Sale. Regardless of the name, the game is the same and the team at WIRED scoured all the deals to find the good, the bad and the unmissable. We’re now into Day 2 of the PEAS (great acronym, right?) The discounts are still going on. These are our top picks from the likes of Samsung, Microsoft, Razer, Google, and more.

The Best Amazon Prime Days Laptops Tech Deals: The Grand Unified Case of 8th Generating Processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, and Thunderbolt 4

In our Best Macbooks guide, we recommend this larger Pro version for its big and bright display and boosted battery life. It’s a great powerhouse for editing and 3D work. It’s been reduced to more than 2000 dollars in the Prime sale.

The first M1 MacBook Air (9/10, WIRED Recommends) was a revelation. The new device brought Arm to Apple’s laptops and it offered up a fanless design while still managing strong productivity performance as well as top battery. It’s now under $800.

We really like the AMD version (8/10, WIRED Recommends) of this laptop, and the Intel model offers much the same. It combines a 11th- generation Intel Core i7 chip, 8 GB of RAM, 512-GB SSD, and Thunderbolt 4 for an excellent productivity combo. The OLED display is bright and crisp too.

This is one of the newest and most powerful laptops in the world with a new chip from Intel. Our Best Laptops guide has a 16-inch version of this device. The smallest version of the Gram range is so light it will barely be noticed in your bag. The rest of the specs include 16 GB of RAM and a 512-GB SSD, a  strong combo for serious productivity.

It’s a good option if you want to work from a bed or couch. Our reviewer noted the ability to adjust part of the stand to a suitable angle while the offer section can stay nice and flat for note-taking or a hot morning coffee.

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/best-amazon-prime-day-laptop-tv-phones-tech-deals-2022-2/

An SATA Add-on to Your Dot Computes: From a Portable Monitor to a Smart TV Laptop (Amazon Prime Day)

You might not have thought about the idea of including an SSD in your dongle, but it’s a great way to kill two birds with one stone. The main thing that makes it stand out is the ability to add an M.2 solid state drive for on-the-go storage.

Many MacBooks still feature a limited number of ports, and this is a great add-on to expand your connectivity horizons. You can find all of the ports and slots on this site for just $50 at the moment.

If you got used to more than one display while WFH-bound during the pandemic but are now required to be on the go once again, a slim portable monitor is a great option. The model in our Work from Home guide is plasticky and the display is a little weak. It has a convenient kickstand and is reasonably priced.

The price of this laptop is not high but it is sleek. The Swift 3 comes with a high-end 11th Gen Core i7 chip, 8 gigabyte of RAM, and a 256 gigabyte solid state drive at a very low price. The battery life was good as well as a good selection of ports.

The new iPad Mini brought improved performance and thinner screen size compared to the older model. There’s also convenient Touch ID, USB-C charging, a front camera with Apple’s Center Stage, and support for the second-gen Apple Pencil.

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/best-amazon-prime-day-laptop-tv-phones-tech-deals-2022-2/

An Amazon Prime Day Lattice TV Phone Powered by MagSafe for Under $1099 MSRP (I): Charge and Charge your Watch and AirPods

The Google Pixel 7 officially launches tomorrow, but you can get a free $100 Amazon gift card if you preorder it from the retailer for the same $599 MSRP. You can read our review for our thoughts if you want, but we’ll have our review up soon.

It is great that many brands offer cheap alternatives to MagSafe. A fan is added to keep your device cool while you charge it. It will also charge your watch and AirPods. This pick gets an honorable mention in our 3-in-1 Apple chargers guide.

For those with MagSafe compatible phones, the MagGo range is delightful. You can use this to prop up the iPhone by using it as a stand, since the phone’s tiltable pad is at the top. There’s a place for AirPods to be charged.

WIRED reviewer Eric Ravenscraft loves this little cube and it’s easy to see why. It’s a simple way to expand your power options without taking up much room. The sockets and handy USB-A ports are extremely useful, and it’s all for under $20.

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/best-amazon-prime-day-laptop-tv-phones-tech-deals-2022-2/

Amazon Prime Day (Amazon Prime Day): Streaming Optical Devices at a Price: The A80J, the PS5 and PS5

The newer version of our favorite entry-level device is a larger version of the TCL model. It has a range of TV OS, including Pixar’s Brave and the TV OS from Disney. The small model is easy to use and has a deep contrast.

Amazon’s most powerful streaming stick boasts a speedy user interface, improved Wi-Fi 6, as well as support for Dolby Vision, HDR, and HDR10+. It is expected that you will have access to your favorite apps and devices from this remote.

Apple’s latest streaming device scored a strong review (8/10, WIRED Recommends) from us. It has improved its remote profile, as well as its ability to search across all of your subscriptions. This discount is worth a look because it is a pricey option.

The A80J is an example of a television that is an improvement on the X80J. For PS5 owners, there’s HDMI 2.1 onboard, letting you get the best out of your console.

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/best-amazon-prime-day-laptop-tv-phones-tech-deals-2022-2/

Review of the Asus ROG Strix line of motherboards for gaming: The Arctis Prime, GeForce 3060 Ti, and 5900X

Solid sound, easy to use voice controls, and a fast way to pair the Buds are what WIRED says about the 2nd Gen. You can get a comfortable and snug fit with a range of ear tips and fins. Convenient wireless charging is also included in the case.

The Arctis Prime Headset came in with great marks in our review. It’s one of our favorites, due to its comfortable ear cups, sleek look, and quality sound. It has a crystal clear microphone, essential for gaming.

Our favorite solid-state drives are the 980-series M.2. They’re quick, super small, and usually offer a substantial amount of storage space. One of our top picks for a PC build is the Pro version, which is quicker and more spacious.

The GeForce 3060 Ti is not a new graphics card anymore but it is still a good choice for mid-range gaming PC builds. They’ll have some trouble handling 4K content with all the settings cranked up, but as long as you keep your resolution between 1080p and 1440p, you should be good. It is a great graphics card.

The Asus ROG Strix lineup of motherboards has been on the list of our favorite gaming PC components for a while now. They’re user-friendly, packed with all the right ports, and even feature some subtle lighting.

The Asus Prime Z590 is the slightly cheaper version of the Strix Z590-E above. It has almost all the same features, except the M.2 slots don’t feature the same level of high-end cooling materials you get on the Strix. Otherwise, this one is just as good a pick.

The 5900X processor is a super-fast choice for anyone doing heavy video editing or putting together a huge gaming PC. With 12-cores and 24-threads it can handle just about anything you throw at it without breaking a sweat.

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/best-amazon-prime-day-laptop-tv-phones-tech-deals-2022-2/

The Amazon Prime Day Laptop Top Model: A Low-Price Night Light for a Kid’s Bedroom and a New TV

This is the biggest version of the standing show before the new picture- frame-like Show 15. As well as a big 10-inch display, you get improved audio quality and a screen that can rotate almost 360 degrees. This addition makes the top model a strong option for those who regularly use Alexa-supported devices for video calling or for following recipes.

This 15-inch screen is basically a blown-up smart display you can mount on your wall like a picture frame. It has a 5-MP camera that can be used to call friends and family. You also get full access to Alexa to control your smart home devices.

This is the lowest price we’ve seen for the night light for a kid’s bedroom. You will need to pair a separate Echo or use the Alexa app in order to use it. In the future, it is a smart way to manage your kid’s night light.

While Amazon announced a new 5th-gen Echo Dot, there’s no upgrade for the standard Echo just yet, so this 4th-gen model remains the best on offer. It’s got great sound and, despite dwarfing the Echo Dot, remains a size that isn’t all that obtrusive. A strong addition to your Alexa-laden home, or for starting a new one.

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/best-amazon-prime-day-laptop-tv-phones-tech-deals-2022-2/

WIRED’s Top 10 Favorites: Wireless Doorbell Cameras for iPhone, iPod and AirPods in the Apple / GoPro Hero Era

We were very impressed with the conclusion of the review of One RS (8-10) by WIRED. The GoPro Hero series is still our top pick as the Best Action Camera, but this one brings interchangeable modifications to the party, including—you guessed it—a dual-lens 360-degree camera.

This Blink video doorbell received an honorable mention in our Best Video Doorbell Cameras guide. It is one of the cheapest options around and has smart speaker compatibility. The bundle comes with an outdoor camera system to help expand your home network.

It’s a cheap and cheerful smart plug, and that’s about the long and short of it. It integrates with your Alexa app, letting you add timers and schedules as you please. There’s also Alexa Guard to provide the illusion that you’re home when you’re traveling or on vacation.

As an overall winner, we’d have to pick the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro thanks to their more comfortable design, wider soundstage and hi-fi audio support. Both sets of the AirPods Pro will suit you well.

According to Apple, the ANC is two times as good as the previous generation. When it’s on, the buds are so quiet you can’t hear anything but sound when it’s on.

Both the AirPods Pros and Buds 2 are compatible with MagSafe and Apple Watch chargers, as are the other wireless earbuds. There’s no fancy magnetic charging on the Galaxy Buds so you’ll have to make sure you line them up perfectly on your wireless charger. The earbuds from the two companies have the same cable but the AirPods do not ship with the Lightning cable.

If you own a Galaxy or some other Android phone, you’ll have a much better experience with the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro since those are the devices the earbuds are designed to work with. The AirPods Pro are perfect for iPhone owners. It is a bit of a sad situation, but what can you do?

The W1 wireless chip from Apple makes it easy for the Beats Studio 3 to connect and swap between any of their devices. The wireless, over-ear headphones connect via Bluetooth and also support 3.5mm for a wired connection.

The integrated wing tips help keep the Fit Pro earbuds secure during workouts. They also have excellent noise cancellation, and their sound has just the right amount of bass and kick to keep you motivated.

Deals on Audio and Video Streaming Controllers and the Nest Hub at Best Buy, Target and Amazon for Cyber Monday, and Google Photos for the Fourth of July

If you still have gifts to purchase, you need to hurry because it is the Monday before Christmas. We will help you do that without overspending. There is a good deal on the Sony’s dual-sense controller for the PS5 and PC. The best part of this deal, aside from the fact that you’re getting up to $25 off, is that every color of the DualSense is discounted.

stock white, midnight black, Cosmic red, nova pink, starlight blue, and even the most recent gray camouflage are some of the options you can choose from. The dualsense is an excellent controller for a variety of purposes, from a controller that stands out to one that blends in and adds tension to a game. Read the review.

There is a controller deal for those who play on the Xbox. The Recon Cloud controller is going to be just $69.95 for the first time, which is $30 off at Amazon or Turtle Beach. This controller has a wired controller for the XBOX and PC with a built-in wireless controller for theANDROID. The mount makes it easier to play games on the go. To that end, it’s a particularly great fit for anyone with an Xbox Game Pass subscription for cloud game streaming over Wi-Fi or cellular.

Apple’s second- generation AirPods Pro are on sale for $199.99 at Best Buy, Target, and Amazon. This $50 discount on the latest model brings them to back down to their Black Friday pricing, which is the lowest to date. Best Buy and Target have in-store pickup and may ship in time for Christmas, while Amazon is indicating on its page that it will ship after the holiday, so plan accordingly for timely gifts.

At both Best Buy and Target, the Nest Hub is being sold for $44.99, which is nearly its lowest price yet. This $55 discount is a one-day deal at both retailers, and it’s a great value even though it isn’t as cheap as the $39 price we saw during Black Friday.

The latest version of the Nest Hub makes a great gift for anyone who loves seeing family pictures since its Google Photos integration allows you to display photos from a shared album on its seven-inch touchscreen. The screen can be adjusted to look exactly like a real picture frame, by adjusting its color temperature. It comes with Google Assistant voice controls for controlling smart Home accessories, calling up some music to play on the small speaker, and getting the weather.

Personally, I bought a Nest Hub for my mom last year at this time for a similar deal, and it has been a hit. I’m obviously her favorite son (right?), and this may have played a small role. Read our review.

The Porto cat carrier: bringing the latest trends of cat-owning products to the Foreground and into Your cat’s room

CNN Underscored editors frequently highlight new product launches, including the next must-have sneaker, through announcements and in-depth reviews. What you don’t see: We sometimes know about these new products weeks, even months, in advance, and we eagerly wait until they’re shoppable to share them with you.

The below products were Chosen from a pool of nearly 100 upcoming launches, plus they came from brands that our editors trust and our readers love. We believe the selections will push their respective categories forward this year, and become a staple in your everyday life.

Tuft + Paw has long been our cat-owning editors’ go-to for beds, perches and other cat accessories that seamlessly blend in with home decor. Now the brand is translating its chic, well-designed feline furniture into something more portable: The Porto cat carrier is the brand’s first foray into carriers, and it boasts tons of useful features in addition to good looks. Porto is airline compliant and can be slid over the rollerboard suitcase handle when it is time for your feline companions to take to the skies, and seatbelt clips ensure kitty is secure. All of the time your cat will be comfortable with mesh windows and faux shearling bedding, and you will be as well. Once you’re back home, the carrier can be unzipped and collapsed for easy storage.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/home/new-product-launch-watch-list-2023?iid=CNNUnderscoredHPcontainer

A Load Out GoBox for Outdoor Adventures: The Bamboo Linen Box Quilt and Shams, the Legendary Classic Canteen, and Baby Joi

Yeti coolers and drinkware snagged top honors in their categories when we put them to the test, and now the outdoor-centric brand is branching out with a new collection meant to keep you organized when you’re out in the wilderness. The Load Out GoBox collection protects gear from the elements. Available in three sizes, the cases are dustproof, waterproof and built to withstand extreme impact — Yeti has always performed well in our own durability “drop tests” — so we think they’ll be a great option for adventurers at sea, at the campsite or just used as in your garage. And they’re thoughtfully made on the inside too: A removable caddy will allow you to keep smaller items in order, removable dividers will help keep everything in its place and a Pack Attic compartment (included in the GoBox 30 and 60) on the underside of the lid looks to provide an added layer of efficiency.

Stanley made a large 40-ounce Quencher H.20. The Flowstate water bottles have become famous for their convenient handles and large base that is suited to car cup holders. Soon, however, the brand will be throwing things back with a new vintage-inspired hydration accessory. The Legendary Classic Canteen will combine an old-school aesthetic with modern design elements like a handy strap and leakproof lid. It will launch in four different colors (hunter green, white, black andstainless steel), and while it doesn’t have the capacity of a Quencher, it’s stylish, portable and perfect for on-the-go use.

The brand is famous for luxurious bedding and loungewear made from bamboo that Oprah Winfrey likes and now it is branching out into bedrooms with its first-ever quilt. The Bamboo Linen Box Quilt and Shams will combine two of temperature-regulating fabrics for a set that gets softer with every wash and works in all seasons. Meanwhile, the box quilt pattern keeps everything looking casual cool in four colors: natural, white, light gray and charcoal.

We trust Sijo to keep us cool on summer nights with its eucalyptus bedding, and now the brand is branching out to make bedtime even better for little ones, too. Sijo’s new baby line, Joi, includes a fitted crib sheet and coordinating sleep sack in delightful-yet-calming hues and patterns. Both will be made from sustainable, temperature-regulating materials that also happen to be super soft, and they’re made to grow with your child through multiple stages of development (and to be handed down to younger siblings).

Source: https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/home/new-product-launch-watch-list-2023?iid=CNNUnderscoredHPcontainer

The Optimus Conical Burr Grains, Cabeau Evolution S3 and TNE S3: The Neck’s Evolution, Revisited

The maker of one of the best electric kettles is going to bring you your coffee beans with a completely reworked grinder. The Opus Conical burr grinder will have more than any other coffee grinder that we’ve tested, so whether you’re into espresso, pour over or French press, your beans will be just right. A volumetric dosing lid for measuring beans and timed auto-stop feature takes the guesswork out of your daily grind, while anti-static technology keeps the experience mess free. The grinder is on the high end of the spectrum, but still cheaper than the Baratza grinder. Not to mention, the sleek Opus will look really good sitting out on your countertop; aesthetically, it’s one of the nicest we’ve seen.

The PS5 owners will get a hassle-free virtual reality gaming experience, thanks to the improved Sony Virtual Reality 2. We found the Sony’s new headset to be more advanced than the previous one, with a number of new features, such as richer Displays, eye tracking, and new Controllable Devices that let you feel the sword hit and Trigger pull in real time. But it’s really all about the games, and whether you’re climbing the steep cliffs of Horizon Call of the Mountain, sneaking around the spooky hallways of Resident Evil Village or slashing to the rhythm of Beat Saber, you’ll have no shortage of great titles to get completely lost in.

The Cabeau Evolution S3 is our pick for best travel pillow based on a variety of factors. It’s firm enough to be supportive but soft enough to sleep on. It traveled very well as it shrunk down to half its size. It boasts smart features like a flat back that rests flush against an airplane seat and an adjustable front neck clasp. The newest neck pillow from Cabeau, TNE S3: The Neck’s Evolution, has one important new innovation, a chin strap that supports the head while you sleep, and is also the first neck pillow to have all of the attributes.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/home/new-product-launch-watch-list-2023?iid=CNNUnderscoredHPcontainer

Mejuri Diamond Collection and AirPods Max Noise-Cancelling Headphones for Optical Devices: The Beauty of Charlotte Tilbury

An entire week dedicated to diamonds? Yes, please. As the internet’s favorite affordable, cool-girl jewelry purveyor, Mejuri needs no introduction, and the brand is rewarding its loyal following with a collection of new, responsibly sourced diamond-encrusted styles: the Caviar ring featuring 5-carat oval, round and princess cut gems, a stunning pair of classic diamond studs and a few different pave styles — drop earrings, a bar bracelet and necklace and a lariat necklace. Best of all, for this week only, all of the pieces are 15% off.

Roam’s customizable suitcases aren’t just fun to design — you can mix and match the colors of your hardshell’s front, back, zipper, wheels, handle and more, making it especially easy to spot at baggage claim — they’re incredibly sturdy, lightweight and smooth to roll around. And now, the case has added yet another smart design element to the mix: a front pocket, which will be available on both the regular and expandable versions of the Carry-On and Large Carry-On. The new zipper adds at least three-fourths of an inch of extra expansion without stealing any space from the main packing area (great news for overpackers), and includes a foam-padded computer compartment, a phone and glasses pocket, a zipper pocket for your passport and a full panel mesh pocket in the lid.

In the world of makeup, Charlotte Tilbury is arguably the queen of viral products, a title that is sure to hold true with the brand’s latest release, an extension of the much-beloved Pillow Talk line. The Pillow Talk blushes are a liquid blush with a convenient built-in cushion. The blush is available in four pale pink shades and they are sure to sell out fast.

If you’re looking for the best sound quality you can get in a pair of noise-canceling headphones, we recommend the AirPods Max. The spatial audio feature of Apple allows for a more immersed experience when listening to compatible content and the headphones pair perfectly with other Apple devices. They claim to have the best transparent mode of the headphones on our list, and their design makes them look great because it opts for aluminum, steel, and fabric over plastic.

For those shopping for a stylish pair of noise-canceling headphones, you’ll certainly capture attention with Marshall Monitor II ANC. The gold joystick makes it easy to control your headphones, as the Monitor IIs stand out for their unique looks. They offer warm, textured sound and silence ambient noise adequately. They are able to last up to 45 hours with the noise cancellation turned off, even though they don’t match some of the other headphones on this list. With it on, they still last up to 30 hours, beating many of their rivals.

Microsoft’s Surface Headphones 2 have the same intuitive dial controls as the originals for volume and noise cancellation, but offer better sound quality and battery life at a cheaper price.

The Air Pro 3 contain the same kind of soft Silicone tips as the more expensive competitors from Apple and SAMSUNG. They’ve felt secure and comfy from the moment I first popped them in, and while they’re not quite as lightweight as my AirPods Pro, it was still easy to forget I was wearing them throughout long hours of working, walking and commuting. The new AirPods have four swappable ear tips and are on par with most big-name earbuds.

The latest buds from EarFun sound fantastic and hold up just as well as my usual mix of loud punk and sad, slow rock. Boygenius had three of their vocalists, one of which was me, I could easily pick out their voices as they swirled together during the emotional performance of “Emily I’m Sorry,” and I enjoyed plenty of bouncy bass and crisp guitars when jamming Paramore’s “This Is Why There was a noticeable boost in clarity and stereo separation when I went back to my AirPods Pro, but EarFun’s buds come admirably close for something that costs a fraction of their price.

Also, it’s a small nitpick, but I hate that the Air Pro 3 don’t automatically pause my music when I take them out of my ears (it won’t happen until they’re closed in the case). These days, the AirPods and most modern earbuds are smart enough to know when I don’t like the sound of certain genres of music and they keep playing until I don’t want them to.

The Game Mode is meant to reduce audiolatency while you are gaming, but it feels like a waste of time. While playing with and without the feature on I didn’t notice any change, it is possible that serious Call of Duty or PUBG players could benefit from the boost. I appreciated the quick access to help that came with the button that takes you to a doc of the instructions and not directly within the app, but I was amused that the button took you to a doc of the instructions.

The EarFun Experience Revisited: The Long-Term Audio Performance of the Air Pro 3 earbuds and its Charge Case

I’ve always found EarFun’s buds to be some of the longest lasting around — at any price range — and that continues to be the case with the Air Pro 3. I enjoy at least three to four days of heavy use before I get a low battery warning and that is in line with the earbuds’ rating of 9 hours from buds alone and 45 hours with a charging case. That’s a big leap from the AirPods Pro 2’s rating (six hours from the buds, 30 from the case), and lines up with my testing; I typically have to recharge my AirPods as frequently as every two to three days.

The same goes for the bulky charging case, which feels flimsy, takes up more pocket space than most of my other earbuds and accumulated quite a few scuffs and scratches after a few days on the road. This level of build quality is common among the budget buds I’ve tested, but it is worth noting that the Air Pro 3’s excellent, affordable audio comes at the expense of its aesthetics.