Technologies

The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 Headphones Are Fantastic for Gaming, With One Big Compromise

I love everything about these headphones… but I hate using them in public.

Turtle Beach is no stranger to good gaming headsets. As far as my friends were concerned, they were essential if you wanted to be considered a «serious» gamer. The company’s Stealth 700 Gen 3 sits just below its Stealth Pro line and offers an impressive range of features for $200. For starters the headphones has big, 60mm drivers, plus multiple wireless transmitters as well as Bluetooth. The PC version even includes the option for 24-bit audio, sadly at the cost of Xbox compatibility.

Speaking of compatibility, the non-24-bit version will work with PC, Xbox, PlayStation and any Bluetooth device like a phone or Nintendo Switch. The CrossPlay button on the right earcup lets you instantly switch between the wireless transmitters. You can even stream audio from a Bluetooth-connected device and the wireless transmitter simultaneously so you can listen to an epic playlist from your phone while dominating on the battlefield.

What I like about the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3

The ear cups are quite comfortable. The cushions are memory foam and covered in a leatherette material that never got uncomfortable or hot for me while wearing them for long periods. Turtle Beach also has what they call «ProSpecs» technology, which is supposedly glasses-friendly. As a spectacle-clad gamer, I appreciated how comfortable they were while wearing my glasses. Other headsets I’ve worn were not as accommodating.

The mic is cleverly hidden away in the left ear cup, and when you pull it down, it automatically unmutes. For the Gen 3, Turtle Beach has added AI-assisted noise reduction to the microphone, which worked very well for me during video calls. I don’t play many multiplayer games, so I wasn’t able to test it out during gameplay. Judging by my experience on several video calls I’d say it works well. I wouldn’t say it’s significantly better than what any other company is doing, but it’s good at what it does.

The left earcup also houses the power button, USB-C charging port, two control wheels — one of which is remappable. There’s also a remappable Mode button which by default toggles Turtle Beach’s Superhuman hearing mode which increases the sounds of gunshots and footsteps. On the right earcup is the Bluetooth pairing button, Bluetooth volume control wheel and CrossPlay button for switching between sources.

What I don’t like about the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3

As my colleague Lori Grunin pointed out in her Stealth Pro review, having a single Bluetooth button can be a double-edged sword. Since Bluetooth headphones automatically connect to the most recently connected device the headphones are always jumping back and forth between devices. So this might take a moment to remedy at the start of a play session.

To be honest, with all the buttons and controls on the Stealth 700, it took me a while to learn them all. At times it became annoying. I’d have to remember which wheel controlled volume for which device. Sometimes I’d hit one when trying to readjust the headset. What I’d really have liked was a master volume wheel that decreased everything at once.

Oddly, I noticed that the power indicator light around the power button would blink rapidly while it was on instead of remaining solid green. It wasn’t a deal-breaker for me since I couldn’t see it, but it seemed the opposite of what a blinking light means on other gear.

There’s a bit of a downside to those big drivers and extra cushiony ear cups: the Stealth 700 is a bit heavy. It never became uncomfortable or painful, but I would instantly feel them with even the slightest head movement. I was always conscious that they were on my head and I always had to be careful of never moving my head too quickly.

What might be a bigger dealbreaker for some, and became more of an issue for me the longer I used them, is the lack of any sort of active noise cancellation. With lots of far cheaper headphones offering noise canceling, albeit not gaming headsets, that seems a drawback for the price of the Stealth 700s. I also liked these headphones enough to use them as my daily headphones, but trying to work in a coffee shop without any noise cancellation can be tough.

The lack of noise cancellation likely helps Turtle Beach’s claim that the Stealth 700 gets up to 80 hours of battery life. That’s pretty impressive for a gaming headset like this. While 80 hours may be technically achievable, you’ll likely never see battery life that high. For me, while gaming an average of 2 to 3 hours a day, a charge lasted about two weeks. Turtle Beach also claims it can fast charge to give you 3 hours of gaming time in about 15 minutes.

Customization of the buttons and EQs takes place in the Turtle Beach Swarm II app, which also lets you adjust mic levels, chat settings and most other typical gaming adjustments. The software can be a bit confusing, even glitchy, at times though. It had trouble recognizing the 700 headset a few times, especially when connected via Bluetooth.

Should you buy the Stealth 700 Gen 3?

The third generation of the Stealth 700 headset is a significant upgrade from the Gen 2 and it offers quite a few more substantial features than other headsets at this price. If you’re in the market for a new gaming headset, the Stealth 700 will give you just about everything you could ask for and then some… except noise canceling.

Lastly, there are three versions of the Stealth 700 Gen 3. The Xbox version is compatible with every platform. The Playstation is compatible with PC and the PC versions is capable of 24-bit audio as well as being compatible with PlayStation. All versions can also connect to Bluetooth devices.

Technologies

Facing Billions in DMA Fines, Apple Lets EU iPhone Users Install Apps Outside the App Store

A last-minute rule change lets European iPhone owners download apps from rival stores and developer websites, while introducing new fees that Apple hopes will satisfy regulators in Brussels.

In a scramble to sidestep penalties that could soar into the billions, and with Brussels regulators watching closely, Apple has agreed to let Europeans download iPhone apps from outside its own App Store.

With just hours left before an EU compliance deadline, the company said residents of the 27-nation bloc will soon be able to grab apps from rival marketplaces or straight off a developer’s website. The change rolls out later this year with iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6, and also lets users set a different browser engine and choose a third-party wallet at checkout.

For everyday EU iPhone owners, that means the download button could pop up in more places than just Apple’s storefront. After you select the new setting, iOS shows a one-time permission sheet confirming you’re leaving Apple’s marketplace. The app then passes a quick notarization scan meant to weed out malware. Apple notes that off-store downloads work only inside the EU, and disappear if you stay outside the bloc for more than 30 days.

Cost to developers

Developers do gain fresh distribution freedom, but there’s a price tag. A new two-tier Store Services fee asks for 5% of outside sales in exchange for basic services like app reviews and support in what’s called Tier 1, or 13% for the full bundle of perks, including automatic updates and App Store promotions in Tier 2.

Apple will take a 5% «Core Technology Commission» on any purchase made outside its own payment system. That new cut will phase out the current €0.50-per-download fee and become the sole charge across the EU when a unified pricing model arrives on Jan. 1, 2026.

Apple insists «more than 99%» of devs will pay the same or less under the revamped math.

Why now?

In April, the European Commission fined Apple €500 million ($585 million) for blocking developers from steering users to cheaper payment options, and warned that daily penalties of up to 5% of global revenue could follow if it failed to comply.

Throughout the back-and-forth, Apple has accused the commission of «moving the goalposts» on what counts as compliance, with a spokesperson saying the company has invested «hundreds of thousands of hours» to meet the EU’s evolving demands.

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney blasted the 5% tier as a «malicious compliance scheme» that «makes a mockery of fair competition.»

If regulators decide Apple still hasn’t gone far enough, the iPhone maker could face steeper sanctions, or even be forced to separate its App Store business.

Technologies

Today’s Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for June 27, #1469

Here are hints — and the answer — for today’s Wordle No. 1,469 for June 27. Some players need a new starter word now.

Looking for the most recent Wordle answer? Click here for today’s Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Wordle puzzle isn’t too tough, but somehow, it has a starting letter I never seem to guess. Some posters on Reddit say it was one of their starter words, so now they’re in the market for a new way to begin the game. If you need a new starter word, check out our list of which letters show up the most in English words. If you need hints and the answer, read on.

Today’s Wordle hints

Before we show you today’s Wordle answer, we’ll give you some hints. If you don’t want a spoiler, look away now.

Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats

Today’s Wordle answer has no repeated letters.

Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels

There are two vowels in today’s Wordle answer.

Wordle hint No. 3: First letter

Today’s Wordle answer begins with P.

Wordle hint No. 4: Placement

The two vowels are next to each other.

Wordle hint No. 5: Meaning

Today’s Wordle answer can refer to something that is not decorated and is simple.

TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER

Today’s Wordle answer is PLAIN.

Yesterday’s Wordle answer

Yesterday’s Wordle answer, June 26, No. 1468 was OFFER.

Recent Wordle answers

June 22, No. 1464: THRUM

June 23, No. 1465: ODDLY

June 24, No. 1466: ELITE

June 25, No. 1467: COMFY

Will Wordle run out of words?

When Wordle began, creator Josh Wardle used a list of five-letter words he’d shared with his partner, picking only the words they recognized. While that’s more than 2,000 words, more than half of them have already been used.

Wordle editor Tracy Bennett admitted that the game will eventually have to come to grips with the fact that the word list is not eternal.

«One possibility is that we could recycle old words at some point, like when we get close to the end,» Bennett told a Wordle player on TikTok.

She also said the editors might throw all the words back in and reuse them, or allow plurals, or past tense, something that’s not done now.

Technologies

Why Smart Travelers Are Switching to eSIMs This Summer

Save 20% on Nomad eSIMs and use your phone all you want around the world without spending a fortune on roaming fees and data add-ons.

Higher prices are looming for just about everything, but they’re not stopping people from planning more summer travel than ever.

Deloitte’s 2025 summer travel survey found that despite the gloomy economy, more Americans will travel this year than they did last year. And young people are especially ready for some self-care elsewhere: a survey by Allianz found that a whopping 70% of Americans under 35 are planning to take a vacation this summer.

If you’re one of the many people thirsty for a summer getaway, there’s a good chance you’re also looking to cut costs where you can. Maybe you’re opting for a cheaper mid-week flight rather than heading out on Friday, or heading somewhere off the beaten path instead of a tourist-packed metropolis.

Another smart way to trim your travel budget is to use an eSIM. You don’t have to pay pricey roaming or add-on data fees to look up local spots, post pics and check your email while you’re out of the country. Nomad eSIM, one of the most affordable options, gives you the data to do all that and more from over 200 countries. And right now you can get 20% off your first Nomad data plan with the code NOMCNET20.

What is an eSIM?

If you’ve ever upgraded your phone or switched carriers, you’re likely familiar with what a SIM card is: It’s that tiny chip in your phone that essentially connects it to your mobile carrier.

A digital eSIM is different in that it’s downloaded from the web directly into your phone. You can activate it using an app and switch carriers without the fuss of having to swap out your physical SIM card.

An eSIM can be a smart choice for travelers who want to use their phone while abroad. Because eSIMs are data-based, you’ll be able to send emails, browse the web, scroll your socials, stream videos and make data-based voice and video calls — all without having to pay the expensive roaming and data fees of your regular US-based carrier.

How a Nomad eSIM helps you save on international data

Nomad eSIM is different from the other eSIMs in that it offers an affordable plan lineup for every type of trip. Whether you’re going to Costa Rica for a week-long retreat or backpacking around Europe all summer, you can pick a plan that works for your specific needs — and budget.

If you’re visiting one destination, Nomad has you covered with daily, weekly and monthly data plans ranging from 1GB to more than 20GB with coverage in over 200 countries. Travelers can also choose daily unlimited plans for a week, and there are local plans for single-country trips or regional plans for multi-destination travel. Current prices on plans include hotspots like Thailand ($0.18/GB) and Iceland ($1/GB).

Get data plans tailored to your travel needs — and budget

If you’re exploring more than one country, the Nomad Global plan has weekly and monthly plans ranging from 1GB to 5GB and coverage in up to 112 countries. While global in reach, Nomad has intentionally focused coverage on the most popular travel destinations, helping to keep global plan costs more affordable. A 1GB, one-week Global plan starts at just $12, ideal for the occasional check-ins with loved ones and social media posts. Or you can opt for a 3GB or a 5GB Global plan starting at $26 or $36 respectively, and the data is good for one month.

eSIMs are great for frequent flyers and digital nomads, too

For backpackers, students abroad and digital nomads, the Nomad Global-EX plan offers handy six-month and year-long options that are good in up to 82 countries.

The highly affordable Global-EX offers a 10GB, six-month plan starting at just $30 and a 20GB, one-year plan starting at $50, plus the option to expand your data limit to 30GB or 50GB as needed. This plan eliminates the hassle of having to reactivate your eSIM for each trip, and it’s more affordable than other eSIM brands that offer similar data allowances for shorter durations.

And for those who prefer unlimited data, Nomad has recently expanded its offerings with 21 new unlimited plans. Perfect for travelers who don’t want to worry about running out of data or topping up, these plans start as low as $11 USD for 3 days of unlimited usage.

eSIMs provide instant, hassle-free connectivity

No matter which plan you choose, the Nomad eSIM is a snap to use. Simply download the app and activate the eSIM on your unlocked iOS or Android eSIM-compatible phone so you can get online the minute you land. There’s no physical SIM card, no contracts and no hassle.

Lock in a new Nomad plan today and score 20% off with the discount code NOMCNET20.