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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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 Saturday, Feb. 21
Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Feb. 21.
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’s the long Saturday version, and some of the clues are stumpers. I was really thrown by 10-Across. Read on for all the answers. 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: «Jersey Shore» channel
Answer: MTV
4A clue: «___ Knows» (rhyming ad slogan)
Answer: LOWES
6A clue: Second-best-selling female musician of all time, behind Taylor Swift
Answer: MADONNA
8A clue: Whiskey grain
Answer: RYE
9A clue: Dreaded workday: Abbr.
Answer: MON
10A clue: Backfiring blunder, in modern lingo
Answer: SELFOWN
12A clue: Lengthy sheet for a complicated board game, perhaps
Answer: RULES
13A clue: Subtle «Yes»
Answer: NOD
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: In which high schoolers might role-play as ambassadors
Answer: MODELUN
2D clue: This clue number
Answer: TWO
3D clue: Paid via app, perhaps
Answer: VENMOED
4D clue: Coat of paint
Answer: LAYER
5D clue: Falls in winter, say
Answer: SNOWS
6D clue: Married title
Answer: MRS
7D clue: ___ Arbor, Mich.
Answer: ANN
11D clue: Woman in Progressive ads
Answer: FLO
Technologies
Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Feb. 21, #516
Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Feb. 21, No. 516.
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 is a tough one. I actually thought the purple category, usually the most difficult, was the easiest of the four. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle 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 appear in the NYT Games app, but it does 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: Old Line State.
Green group hint: Hoops legend.
Blue group hint: Robert Redford movie.
Purple group hint: Vroom-vroom.
Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Yellow group: Maryland teams.
Green group: Shaquille O’Neal nicknames.
Blue group: Associated with «The Natural.»
Purple group: Sports that have a driver.
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 Maryland teams. The four answers are Midshipmen, Orioles, Ravens and Terrapins.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is Shaquille O’Neal nicknames. The four answers are Big Aristotle, Diesel, Shaq and Superman.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is associated with «The Natural.» The four answers are baseball, Hobbs, Knights and Wonderboy.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is sports that have a driver. The four answers are bobsled, F1, golf and water polo.
Technologies
Wisconsin Reverses Decision to Ban VPNs in Age-Verification Bill
The law would have required websites to block VPN users from accessing «harmful material.»
Following a wave of criticism, Wisconsin lawmakers have decided not to include a ban on VPN services in their age-verification law, making its way through the state legislature.
Wisconsin Senate Bill 130 (and its sister Assembly Bill 105), introduced in March 2025, aims to prohibit businesses from «publishing or distributing material harmful to minors» unless there is a reasonable «method to verify the age of individuals attempting to access the website.»
One provision would have required businesses to bar people from accessing their sites via «a virtual private network system or virtual private network provider.»
A VPN lets you access the internet via an encrypted connection, enabling you to bypass firewalls and unblock geographically restricted websites and streaming content. While using a VPN, your IP address and physical location are masked, and your internet service provider doesn’t know which websites you visit.
Wisconsin state Sen. Van Wanggaard moved to delete that provision in the legislation, thereby releasing VPNs from any liability. The state assembly agreed to remove the VPN ban, and the bill now awaits Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers’s signature.
Rindala Alajaji, associate director of state affairs at the digital freedom nonprofit Electronic Frontier Foundation, says Wisconsin’s U-turn is «great news.»
«This shows the power of public advocacy and pushback,» Alajaji says. «Politicians heard the VPN users who shared their worries and fears, and the experts who explained how the ban wouldn’t work.»
Earlier this week, the EFF had written an open letter arguing that the draft laws did not «meaningfully advance the goal of keeping young people safe online.» The EFF said that blocking VPNs would harm many groups that rely on that software for private and secure internet connections, including «businesses, universities, journalists and ordinary citizens,» and that «many law enforcement professionals, veterans and small business owners rely on VPNs to safely use the internet.»
More from CNET: Best VPN Service for 2026: VPNs Tested by Our Experts
VPNs can also help you get around age-verification laws — for instance, if you live in a state or country that requires age verification to access certain material, you can use a VPN to make it look like you live elsewhere, thereby gaining access to that material. As age-restriction laws increase around the US, VPN use has also increased. However, many people are using free VPNs, which are fertile ground for cybercriminals.
In its letter to Wisconsin lawmakers prior to the reversal, the EFF argued that it is «unworkable» to require websites to block VPN users from accessing adult content. The EFF said such sites cannot «reliably determine» where a VPN customer lives — it could be any US state or even other countries.
«As a result, covered websites would face an impossible choice: either block all VPN users everywhere, disrupting access for millions of people nationwide, or cease offering services in Wisconsin altogether,» the EFF wrote.
Wisconsin is not the only state to consider VPN bans to prevent access to adult material. Last year, Michigan introduced the Anticorruption of Public Morals Act, which would ban all use of VPNs. If passed, it would force ISPs to detect and block VPN usage and also ban the sale of VPNs in the state. Fines could reach $500,000.
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