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.
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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
This New Car Feature Uses AI to Keep You From Missing Your Exit
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Technologies
Hurry to Nab the Baseus Bowie MH1 Headphones for Over Half Off With This Early Black Friday Deal
This deal drops the price of this premium pair to just $47, but this discount ends soon.
High-quality noise-canceling headphones can cost a pretty penny, especially if you are after adaptive ANC, all-day comfort, and a reliable battery life. Most options with all these features sit well over $100, but we just found a way to score a premium pair for less than $50.
Amazon has a solid early Black Friday deal on the Baseus Bowie MH1 headphones. You can get them for 20% off right now, which drops the price to $80. But stack that with the $25 on-page coupon and use the promo code 8JWTGEUN at checkout, and you slash another $33 off. That brings the final price down to just $47, which is a steal considering all the features you are going to enjoy.
The headphones come with cloud-soft protein leather earcups with resilient memory foam for cloud-like comfort. The pair is capable of blocking up to 99.8% of noise with –48 dB deep noise cancellation, and it adapts to your surroundings as needed.
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The 36mm drivers and full-range LCP diaphragms give you clear, rich sound no matter what you listen to. In addition, with Baseus Immersive Spatial Acoustics, the audio surrounds you for a more natural listening experience. For clearer calls, the headphones also pack 5-mic sound sensors with AI-powered voice enhancement and wind-noise reduction. You won’t have to repeat yourself constantly.
Battery-wise, you get up to 80 hours of playtime with ANC off, and 55 hours with it on. A quick 10-minute top-up can also get you up to an additional 10 hours of playback, which is great for when you’re out and about.
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Why this deal matters
High-end audio gear doesn’t come cheap. This deal takes over 50% off a powerful pair of headphones, making the upgrade easy. It won’t last long, though, so it’s best to snap it up sooner rather than later.
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Technologies
Apple’s iPhone Pocket Is a $230 Gadget Mankini. We Tried It Out to Size It Up
The stretchy fabric satchel for your iPhone makes a fashion statement. CNET’s Bridget Carey wore it and waved it, and dubbed the iPhone Pocket «Apple’s Labubu.»
Remember iPod socks? Those brightly colored woolly wraps that swaddled your iPod like it was an infant? Apple sold them starting in 2004 for the better part of a decade. In things we did not have on our bingo card for 2025, Apple has decided now is the time to bring back the knitwear for the latest iPhones.
Meet the iPhone Pocket: a glorified yarn sling for your phone and whatever else you can cram in there without stretching the poor thing into oblivion. If we’re being catty, it does look a bit like a sweater you shrank in the wash and then tried to stretch out. Or maybe a mankini.
But hey, it could just be the zhuzh you’re looking for.
The iPhone Pocket is on sale now, but you can’t walk into just any old Apple Store and get it. Apple is selling it in 10 select shopping locales, like SoHo in New York, Regent Street in London, Marché Saint-Germain in Paris and Orchard Road in Singapore. Everyone else will just have to order it online like it’s from Temu.
High fashion does not come cheap. The short strap design will set you back $150, while the long strap version costs $230.
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Getting our hands on an iPhone Pocket
On Friday, the first day the iPhone Pocket went on sale, CNET’s Bridget Carey picked up one each of the long and short versions (blue and pink, respectively) at the Apple Store in fashion-centric SoHo, the only Apple retail store selling it in the US. Customers there could go hands-on with the woven slings, giving the Pocket a stretch or sample slipping their iPhones into it.
The longer, crossbody model held Carey’s phone securely, and she felt confident wearing it around New York throughout the day. She also put it through some impromptu testing. «I’ve been swinging it around and stuffing other items in it,» she said. «I’ve even tied it around my neck as a scarf and put it on my foot as a sock.»
So far, the Pocket has kept its shape. The material has some spring to it, and Carey thinks she could take it on errands with her kids and not have to worry. But it’s not tough enough for the washing machine. Instructions inside say the Pocket is to be hand washed and should not go in the dryer.
One of Apple’s suggestions for accessorizing with the iPhone Pocket, if you’re not doing crossbody, is to tie it onto the bag you’re carrying. That was not Carey’s first inclination. «I’m not sure I would feel comfortable hanging my phone like a keychain on my bag,» she said. «But I still wanted to get a short Pocket because, well, I wanted to have a bit of fashion history. And I love pink.»
If she does go the bag-Pocket route, Carey said, «I’ll hook my Labubu off it, too. After all, this is Apple’s Labubu now, a hard-to-find fashion accessory that hangs on your bag.»
The fashion sense of the iPhone Pocket
Apple designed the iPhone Pocket in collaboration with fashion brand Issey Miyake, the designer behind the endless supply of black turtlenecks worn by Steve Jobs (and an Apple employee uniform that almost happened).
I’m no fashion expert, but fashion writer Tiffany Lo is, and she told me «the design embodies Issey Miyake’s signature pleat pattern and the idea of crafting it from a single piece of fabric. It’s instantly recognizable.»
The iPhone Pocket is a stretchy 3D-knitted pouch with ribbed textures that hugs your iPhone. It’s see-through when you tug at it, so you can glimpse your lockscreen. But Apple wants you to put more than your iPhone in this accessory. You’re encouraged to slip in AirPods, lip balm, a key fob, breath mints or any other pocketable item. The shorter iPhone Pocket is more like a wristlet bag, while the longer one turns your iPhone into a crossbody accessory.
The wearable tech pouch is certainly a fashion statement if you decide to drape it across your torso, perhaps like a sash of questionable decisions. Whether you carry it in-hand, tie it to your bag, or sling it on like a fashion-forward postman, you will definitely get some looks, perhaps confused ones. The short strap version comes in eight colors: lemon, mandarin, purple, pink, peacock, sapphire, cinnamon and black. The long strap comes only in those latter three colors.
So who is the iPhone Pocket for? Lo says it «could appeal to younger generations thanks to the design that allows users to wear it as a crossbody.» Given that Apple released crossbody straps for all its iPhones earlier this year, maybe it has some insights into what Gen Z really wants. Is it worth the $230, or even $150? Yes or no, it’s a far cry from the $29 the iPod socks went for back in the day.
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