Technologies

AirPods Pro 2 Just Hit an All-Time Low at $200 as Black Friday Deals Heat Up

This Black Friday deal knocks $50 off the price of a set of AirPods Pro 2, bringing them down to a new all-time-low. Buy them now before they sell out.

The refreshed, second-gen AirPods Pro just hit shelves in September. They’re Apple’s most advanced earbuds on the market. With Black Friday just hours away, deals are already in full swing at major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart and more.

For AirPods Pro 2 specifically, you can get your hands on a pair for less than ever before.

Amazon, Target, Walmart and Best Buy all have these cutting-edge Apple earbuds on sale for $200, which is the lowest price we’ve seen since they were released and saves you $49 compared with the Apple store price. There’s no clear-cut expiration at any of the retailers, but deals on the latest Apple devices rarely last for long. We’d recommend getting your order in sooner rather than later if you’re hoping to grab a pair at this price.

Read more: Best Wireless Earbuds for 2022

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The 2022 AirPods Pro offer better noise cancellation, an adaptive transparency mode, a longer battery life and a speaker in the charging case (which also works with Apple’s Find My app). There’s also a new personalized spatial audio feature along with swipe gestures for controlling playback.

Other neat additions over the 2019 AirPods Pro include a loop for attaching a lanyard to the case as well as the ability to charge the AirPods Pro 2 using an Apple Watch cable (as well as via Lightning or MagSafe), reducing the number of cables you need to pack when traveling.

CNET’s David Carnoy wrote in his review of the AirPods Pro 2 that he was impressed with how much Apple was able to improve the noise cancellation, sound quality and battery life of these already-popular devices. And if you’re looking to save on a different pair of Apple earbuds, you can check up our roundup of all the best AirPods deals you can take advantage of right now.

Technologies

iPhone 17 Preorders Spike and Overall Phone Sales Aren’t Slowing Down Despite Tariffs

Global smartphone shipments saw a notable increase in the third quarter of 2025. Plus, preorders for Apple’s new iPhone 17 beat out the iPhone 16.

Despite tariffs and market uncertainty, global smartphone shipments increased 2.6% in the third quarter of 2025, compared to the same time last year, according to the International Data Corporation. Additionally, preorders for the iPhone 17, which launched last month, outpaced last year’s iPhone 16.

These increased sales include premium phones like the latest iPhones and Samsung foldables, suggesting yet again that pricier phones still sell in periods of economic strain. It’s a remarkable achievement, says IDC senior research director Nabila Popal, citing shrewd financing options as the reason people keep buying these high-end phones, which cost anywhere from $800 to nearly $2,000.

«[Phone makers] have mastered the art of innovation not only in hardware and software to entice upgrades but also in removing purchase friction. They have flawlessly combined cutting-edge devices with innovative financing models and aggressive trade-in programs that make the upgrading decision a ‘no-brainer’ for consumers,» Popal said in an IDC press release.

Apple sold 58.6 million iPhones this quarter, an increase of 2.9% over the same period in 2024, with more preorders for the iPhone 17 series than its predecessor. But Samsung wasn’t far behind, with its Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 selling better than all of the company’s prior foldables. The company still reigns atop the phone market with 61.4 million phones sold, representing 19% of the market in the third quarter of this year — an increase of 6.3% from the same period last year. Meanwhile, Apple lands slightly behind Samsung with 18.2% market share this quarter.

The other phone makers trailing Apple and Samsung are, in order: Xiaomi, with 13.5% of the market; Transsion, with 9%; and Vivo with 8.9%. The remaining companies in the phones industry, from Chinese stalwarts like Oppo and Honor to Motorola and Google, make up the remaining 31.4% of the market for the quarter. All told, 322.7 million phones were sold, up from 314.6 million in the third quarter of 2024, according to IDC.

IDC’s findings for the third quarter continue the small but steady growth of phone sales over the year, including a modest 1% increase in the preceding three months — which includes the April deadline when President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping tariffs. In the second quarter, IDC cited midrange devices like Samsung’s Galaxy A36 and other phones that started incorporating AI. But even persistent tariffs haven’t slowed down people’s appetites for pricier phones in the third quarter.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Tuesday, Oct. 14

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Oct. 14.

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.

Today’s Mini Crossword has an odd vertical shape, with an extra Across clue, and only four Down clues. The clues are not terribly difficult, but one or two could be tricky. Read on if you need 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.