Technologies

1-Day Deal Drops AirPods 4 to a New $85 Low Before Black Friday

The best budget AiPods are cheaper than ever before — but they won’t be for long.

Black Friday is almost here and the deals are already picking up steam. If you’re in the market for Apple deals, it’s one of the best events of the year to score real savings — — but you don’t have to wait until after Thanksgiiving to score a record-low price on AirPods.

You can pick up the entry-level AirPods 4 for just $85 right now. That’s thanks to a one-day sale at Best Buy that Amazon is matching, knocking $45 off the usual price and dropping the AirPods 4 lower than ever before weeks ahead of Black Friday proper.

Apple’s AirPods 4 are available in two formats, and this is the version without active noise cancellation. These AirPods will usually run you $129 (the ANC model typically retails for $179), but with this discount, you’ll pay only $85. These AirPods have been redesigned so they fit more comfortably. Apple’s H2 chip allows for voice isolation whenever you’re in situations that require you to take calls in a noisy environment. The AirPods 4 also offer personalized spatial audio and a battery life of up to 20 hours.

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These latest AirPods are dust- and waterproof and include a smaller case for easier carrying. You can also use them with Siri for added voice control options, which lets you start calls or choose your audio. Plus, you can now shake your head or nod to respond to any prompts received.

Looking for deals on other new Apple devices? We’re rounding up the best iPhone 17 and Apple Watch Series 11 deals, too.

HEADPHONE DEALS OF THE WEEK

Beats Studio Pro Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones (Black):

$200 (save $151)
Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones:

$199 (save $150)
Apple AirPods Max ANC Wireless Headphones (USB-C Charging, Midnight):

$500 (save $50)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones:

$329 (save $100)
Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones (Black):

$328 (save $72)

Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.

Why this deal matters

Apple makes superb audio gear, and the AirPods offer good sound quality and a comfortable fit for most people. «They may not be quite as cheap or as small as the AirPods 2, but they sound a lot better and have a lot more features,» says CNET’s audio expert David Carnoy, who thought $100 would be a good price for them. These AirPods don’t have noise-canceling features, but for just $85, this is a deal you should seriously consider.

If these Apple earbuds aren’t quite what you’re looking for, check out our early Black Friday deals with plenty of offers across tech. Plus, we also have a list of all the best headphone deals available now for even more savings on other brands.

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Technologies

This Black Friday Deal Saves You 50% Off JBL’s Tune 510 Headphones

You can even choose from three gorgeous colors.

A great pair of ANC headphones can be a costly investment, but sometimes you just need a basic pair for listening to podcasts and audiobooks in peace. That’s where the JBL Tune 510T headphones excel, and this Black Friday deal makes them a stellar pickup at just $25. This is close to the lowest price we’ve seen these headphones retail for, so now is definitely the time to act.

This deal isn’t only available on the one color nobody wants, either. Amazon is offering the black, pink and white versions of the JBL Tune 510BT at this low, low price. Just make sure to pick your favorite color before placing your order.

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All of these headphones are the same under the hood. You can expect up to 40 hours of battery life per charge and the built-in microphone is perfect for placing calls and joining meetings. The foldable design makes them great traveling headphones.

HEADPHONE DEALS OF THE WEEK

Beats Studio Pro Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones (Black):

$200 (save $151)
Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones:

$199 (save $150)
Apple AirPods Max ANC Wireless Headphones (USB-C Charging, Midnight):

$500 (save $50)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones:

$329 (save $100)
Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones (Black):

$328 (save $72)

Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.

Why this deal matters

These headphones don’t have a ton of features that you’ll never use, and that’s why they usually sell for a respectable $50. But this deal slashes that by 50% to just $25, making these headphones an even better deal. Just make sure to place your order before this limited-time deal draws to a close.

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Get hand-picked deals from CNET shopping experts straight to your phone.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Nov. 11 #618

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for Nov. 11, No. 618.

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

Today’s NYT Strands puzzle is a fun one, especially for fans of certain fables and childhood stories. If you need hints and answers, read on.

I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: Aesop’s animals.

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Stories with morals.

Clue words to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:

BEND, MOLE, BLAM, BRAN, PAIL, FALL, MULE, RIOT, RISE, ROSE, RAMBLE, SORT

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:

BULL, GNAT, HARE, LION, WOLF, CRANE, MOUSE, TORTOISE

Today’s Strands spangram

Today’s Strands spangram is FABLEDPAIR. To find it, look for the F that’s three letters to the right on the top row, and wind down.

Toughest Strands puzzles

Here are some of the Strands topics I’ve found to be the toughest in recent weeks.

#1: Dated slang, Jan. 21. Maybe you didn’t even use this lingo when it was cool. Toughest word: PHAT.

#2: Thar she blows! Jan.15. I guess marine biologists might ace this one. Toughest word: BALEEN or RIGHT.

#3: Off the hook, Jan. 9. Similar to the Jan. 15 puzzle in that it helps to know a lot about sea creatures. Sorry, Charlie. Toughest word: BIGEYE or SKIPJACK.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Tuesday, Nov. 11

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Nov. 11.

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.

I admit, I was stumped by 8-Across in today’s Mini Crossword, but I figured out the other answers, and the letters just filled in. Need help to solve it? 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.