Technologies
Labor Day Deal: My AirPods Died, Beats Saved Me — and This $150 Discount Could End Any Minute
I replaced my AirPods with these over-ear headphones, and I’ve never looked back. Now, you can get them for 43% off in certain colors.

Labor Day’s over, but this deal hasn’t vanished yet — and it’s the one that got me to finally move on from my AirPods. After they gave up on me midweek (no warning, no revival), I needed something fast. I landed on the Beats Studio Pro, and honestly, they’ve been solid for long workdays, calls and zoning out on the train.
Right now, they’re down to $200 on Amazon — $150 off the original $350 price. That’s one of the lowest prices we’ve seen, and it’s not likely to stick around. If you’re still debating between these and something like the AirPods Max, our headphone guide breaks it down.
I didn’t expect to fall in love with a pair of headphones so quickly, especially because I loved my Apple buds so much. I was just hoping for solid noise cancellation and good sound quality.
The Beats delivered so much more. Today, they’re an essential part of my daily routine, practically an extension of my ears, and I get a lot of mileage out of them. Whether I’m writing, commuting, doing chores or taking my pup for a walk, the Beats Studio Pro are there with me.
And now for Labor Day, several colors are on sale for $200 (down from their usual $350 sticker price) on Amazon.
Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.
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$300 (save $51)
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$299 (save $151)
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Here’s how the Beats Studio Pro work
Let’s start with the specs. The Beats Studio Pro are premium over-ear headphones that bring serious upgrades to the iconic Beats design. Think of these as the grown-up, more refined cousin of the Beats Solo series. They’re still stylish, still punchy, but with significantly better sound quality and comfort. Here are some key features of the Beats Studio Pro:
- Active noise cancellation and transparency mode: Two core features that let you tune out the world or stay aware, depending on your mood. The ANC is excellent, especially for this price, and it’s great for navigating travel, open offices or city streets.
- USB-C lossless audio: A game-changer for audiophiles. With USB-C, you can listen to lossless audio directly from your device — no compression, just crystal-clear sound.
- Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking: This creates an immersive, surround-sound-like experience.
- Custom 40mm drivers: Deliver balanced sound, with punchy bass, crisp mids and smooth highs.
- Battery: Up to 40 hours with ANC off or 24 hours with it turned on. That’s more than enough to get you through several workdays or even a full international flight without scrambling for a charger.
- Built-in microphones and voice-targeting beamforming tech: Your voice will sound clear on calls, even in a noisy space.
They also pair effortlessly with both Apple and Android devices, thanks to support for Find My, Google Fast Pair and one-touch pairing.
CNET’s audio expert David Carnoy reviewed these earphones and found both the sound quality and voice-calling performance impressive.
«The noise canceling is quite effective,» Carnoy wrote in his review. «It’s the adaptive variety, so it’s not a fixed setting, and occasionally I’d hear it shift in strength as it adjusted to the ambient noise around me, whether I was on the subway or walking the streets of New York.»
Why I’m obsessed with my Beats
There are plenty of great headphones out there. So what sets these apart for me?
First and foremost, I love the comfort. I’ve worn lots of over-ear headphones that start to ache or feel heavy after an hour or so. I also have several ear piercings — five in my left ear and three in my right — and many over-ear headphones push the earring into my skin, digging in until it’s quite painful.
Not these. The earcups are plush, the clamping force is just right, and the memory foam actually makes a difference. I can wear them for hours without fatigue, which is saying something when you log multiple hours a day in them.
The sound quality is also great. Beats used to have a reputation for overly bass-heavy tuning, but the Studio Pro strikes a beautiful balance. There’s still that satisfying low-end thump when I’m listening to pop, hip hop or K-pop, but it doesn’t overpower the vocals or mids. Whether I’m streaming Hozier for the umpteenth hour, catching up on podcasts or listening to a new audiobook, everything sounds great.
Finally, the ANC and transparency mode are shockingly good. I’ve used my Beats in loud coffeeshops, on airplanes and while vacuuming, and they efficiently block out noise like a champ. But when I need to hear what’s going on (like when I run into one of my neighbors while I’m walking my dog), a quick button press switches me into transparency mode, and I can hear them clearly. It’s seamless.
I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention their style. Frankly, they just look cool. I know that’s not the most important thing, but the sleek matte finish, the minimalist design and the range of colors make these headphones feel like a fashion accessory as much as a tech device. I have the «Earth» color headphones, and they look gorgeous with any outfit. My one request (Beats execs, I’m sure you’re reading this!) would be to make these in a sage green color. Pretty please?
They’d make a great gift for any audiophile
Buying tech for someone else can be tricky, but the Beats Studio Pro are a pretty safe bet.
For one, they work across platforms, so it doesn’t matter if your gift recipient is team iPhone or Android. The intuitive pairing process, native device integration and wide compatibility make these user-friendly for just about anyone.
They’re also great for all types of use cases. Daily commuters? Check. Frequent flyers? Definitely. College students pulling all-nighters, or music lovers who want to hear every nuance of a track? Absolutely. These can suit really any type of person, day in and day out.
The Beats just feel premium, too. This is the kind of tech someone might not splurge on for themselves, but they would certainly be grateful to receive as a gift, no matter the occasion. If you’re shopping for a summer birthday or anniversary, these are a hit waiting to happen.
Why this Beats deal matters
Let’s get down to numbers. The Beats Studio Pro normally sell for $350 or $450, depending on the color you select. That’s pretty pricey. But right now, several colors are down to about $200.
I keep a pretty close eye on tech deals, and huge discounts don’t come around often, especially on newer, high-demand models. I don’t expect a much bigger sale on this product anytime soon. Considering the quality, durability and features packed into these headphones, you’re getting a lot for your investment, including flagship-level ANC, excellent sound and cross-platform support for less than the cost of most premium earbuds.
My final thoughts on my Beats Studio Pro headphones
In a world full of flashy gadgets and fleeting trends, the Beats Studio Pro are the real deal. They’ve become an essential part of my everyday life, not because they’re trendy or hyped, but because they work. They’re reliable, comfortable and sound fantastic. If this discount puts them in your price range, it’s a great time to buy them.
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Technologies
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Monday, Oct. 20
Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Oct. 20.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? It was a tough one for a change! That 1-Across is going to slyly trick you as to what a mouse is. So if you need the answers, read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword
Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: Sound from a mouse
Answer: CLICK
6A clue: Many-headed serpent killed by Hercules
Answer: HYDRA
7A clue: View from a cruise ship window
Answer: OCEAN
8A clue: «See ya later!»
Answer: PEACE
9A clue: Animal whose antlers can grow up to an inch per day
Answer: ELK
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: Dice, e.g.
Answer: CHOP
2D clue: French for «high school»
Answer: LYCEE
3D clue: 10 out of 10
Answer: IDEAL
4D clue: Sound from a bat
Answer: CRACK
5D clue: «Citizen ___»
Answer: KANE
Technologies
Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Oct. 20, #392
Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Oct. 20, No. 392.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.
Today’s Connections: Sports Edition has a category for all the Windy City residents out there. If you’re struggling but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.
Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.
Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta
Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Deep-dish pizza, anyone?
Green group hint: Duke it out.
Blue group hint: College division.
Purple group hint: «Go to your ____!»
Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Yellow group: Chicago teams.
Green group: With «weight,» combat sport divisions.
Blue group: American Conference teams.
Purple group: ____ room.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is Chicago teams. The four answers are Bears, Bulls, Cubs and Sky.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is with «weight,» combat sport divisions. The four answers are bantam, feather, fly and heavy.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is American Conference teams. The four answers are Blazers, Chanticleers, Green Wave and Pirates.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is ____ room. The four answers are dressing, film, green and locker.
Technologies
Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for Oct. 20, #862
Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for Oct. 20, No. 862.

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.
Today’s NYT Connections puzzle has a tricky purple category, but that almost always goes without saying. If you need help, you’re in the right place. Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.
The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.
Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time
Hints for today’s Connections groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: What’s the matter?
Green group hint: Stars at night.
Blue group hint: Science info.
Purple group hint: On the cob.
Answers for today’s Connections groups
Yellow group: Affliction.
Green group: Represented by constellations.
Blue group: Periodic table symbols.
Purple group: ____ corn.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections answers?
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is affliction. The four answers are bugbear, complex, demon and hang-up.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is represented by constellations. The four answers are big bear, centaur, hunter and lyre.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is periodic table symbols. The four answers are AS, BE, I and K.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is ____ corn. The four answers are a, capri, pop and uni. (Acorn, Capricorn, popcorn and unicorn.)
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