Latest news with #MikeAndronico
CNN
13-06-2025
- Business
- CNN
Beats' new Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds just went on sale for the second time at $50 off
One of the best pairs of workout earbuds received a long-awaited update earlier this year. Back in February, Beats finally launched a follow-up to its beloved fitness earbuds after making runners wait over five years. If you've been waiting a little longer to upgrade to the Powerbeats Pro 2 without paying full price, several retailers have launched discounts for only the second time. Take $50 off at Amazon and Best Buy with these all-time low tech deals. Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 One of the most eagerly awaited sequels in the world of tech just went on sale. The Powerbeats Pro 2 upgrade the most beloved workout earbuds on the market and come in four new colors. Mike Andronico's glowing review is convincing me to ditch the Bose Ultra Open buds I use when working out in favor of these newer buds, which are $50 off for only the second time. In the world of workout earbuds, there's one brand that has consistently released the most popular options: Beats. Its headphones have been topping the charts at CNN Underscored for ages, and its new Powerbeats Pro 2 should be following suit. Andronico has been covering consumer electronics for over a decade. So when he was impressed by the company's latest, I knew these earbuds were the real deal. Today's offer makes that endorsement even better. It's only the second time these Beats headphones have gone on sale since launching in February. The first and only other discount was back during the Memorial Day festivities, a deal that was so popular it quickly sold out. So, if today's rehash of that all-time low from the holiday weekend catches your eye, it'll be worth adding to your cart sooner rather than later. Shipping times are already beginning to slip, but there's a chance you'll still be able to have these delivered as a last-minute Father's Day gift. Our senior deals editor, Rikka Altland, spotted the price drop this morning while searching for the best finds of the week. She has worked in service journalism for nearly a decade and is an expert at deal hunting and price-history analysis. Altland also regularly reviews tech for a living, frequently collaborating with CNN Underscored's team of testing experts.
CNN
06-06-2025
- Business
- CNN
I found the best Apple AirPods deals to shop right now, starting at $100
All four of the latest Apple AirPods just went on sale at Amazon. Ask just about anyone at CNN Underscored which earbuds they use, and most of the time, they'll pull out some flavor of AirPods. Whether you're shopping for true wireless earbuds or noise-canceling headphones, I found the best deals on Apple products you can shop right now. Apple AirPods Pro 2 With USB-C I've tried every other pair of popular earbuds out there, and nothing comes close to the AirPods Pro 2. The active noise cancellation is unmatched, and the sound quality offered by Apple's Spatial Audio tech is as immersive as it is rich. This $79 discount makes the whole listening experience even better at within $1 of the best-ever our review Apple AirPods 4 At the opposite end of the spectrum, Apple's new AirPods 4 offer many of the same features as the Pro versions of the earbuds for far less. My colleague and senior tech editor Mike Andronico adored these from his hands-on experience. Right now, they're also within $1 of the all-time low our review Apple AirPods 4 With Active Noise Cancellation Between the baseline AirPods 4 and the AirPods Pro 2, this pair of upgraded earbuds comes with added active noise cancellation tech. I recommend taking advantage of this deal if you don't particularly care about the silicone ear tips offered by the Pro series. Read our review Apple AirPods Max With USB-C AirPods Max have been a favorite of mine for half a decade. The new and improved version brings USB-C into the mix for the first time. These may have recently lost their accolade as the best over-the-ear Apple headphones, but I still believe they deserve the title. The price may be steep, but you won't find a better-sounding pair. Today's discounts take $69 off all five colors. Read our review If you've been searching for the best way to save on a new pair of AirPods, today's deals have you covered regardless of how much you're hoping to spend or which features matter most. Everything from Apple's most affordable true wireless earbuds to its flagship over-ear headphones is included in the savings. Today's sale combines a great variety of AirPods along with some of the best discounts ever. All three of the true wireless AirPods are down to the best offers of the year, while the over-ear AirPods Max are within $1 of their best-ever discount. Our senior deals editor Rikka Altland spotted the price drop this morning while searching for the best finds of the week. She has worked in service journalism for nearly a decade and is an expert at deal hunting and price-history analysis. Altland also regularly reviews tech for a living, frequently collaborating with CNN Underscored's team of testing experts.
CNN
27-05-2025
- Business
- CNN
Apple's newest iPad is also its most affordable with this $50-off all-time low discount
One of the best Apple Memorial Day deals is still live after the holiday weekend. It's rare to see one of the newest releases from Apple at its all-time low price, but that's the case for the new 11-inch iPad with A16 chip. Courtesy of Amazon, it's down to the best price ever in all four colors. Apple 11-Inch iPad A16 The new version of our pick for the best iPad landed at its best price ever over Memorial Day weekend. It's such a good deal that I'm back to highlight Apple's latest tablet for $50 off the usual price. It even comes in all four of the new our review Echoing the advice of my colleagues and tech experts, Henry T. Casey and Mike Andronico, the best iPad that most people can buy just so happens to be the most affordable tablet Apple sells. As far as our current standings go, the previous-generation version of this 11-inch iPad currently holds the top spot. But that won't be the case for long. The newest iteration improves upon our best-tested pick with some enhanced internal specifications. While the improved A16 chip means that it will do a better job at handling tasks in the present, it also means that the tablet will keep working for years to come into the future. Normally, I'd hold back on recommending that you buy the latest and greatest version of any product. But when a deal like this comes around, it's the only offer that makes sense to recommend. I know that not everyone needs the current model, but think of it this way: Today's $50 discount means you can score the most future-proof offering in Apple's lineup for less. The previous-generation model is no longer sold anywhere, so this is your best bet at an affordable tablet. Today's tech deal checks all the boxes. It's an all-time low price, for starters, and means you can score the latest release from Apple for less than ever before. The iPad A16 also comes in four colors, all of which are marked down at Amazon — so this isn't one of those deals where you have to buy one of the overstocked styles to save. This isn't just the most notable offering from Apple, but it's also one of the best tablets on the market, period. The only reason I wouldn't recommend this is if you're shopping for something outside of Apple's ecosystem, in which case, I'd suggest pursuing our guide to the best Android tablets. Our senior deals editor Rikka Altland spotted the price drop this morning while searching for the best finds of the week. She has worked in service journalism for nearly a decade and is an expert at deal hunting and price-history analysis. Altland also regularly reviews tech for a living, frequently collaborating with CNN Underscored's team of testing experts.
CNN
27-05-2025
- Business
- CNN
I don't leave the house without this portable charger, and you shouldn't either
I can't remember the last time I worried about my phone's battery life. No matter if I'm on a trip, cheering at a live event or just enjoying a night out on the town, I've always got enough juice to keep scrolling. I don't constantly micromanage my charge before I leave the house, either: I just pack the Anker Nano Power Bank. This portable charger basically lives in my fanny pack, and it's small enough to fit in my pocket or a bag if the evening calls for different attire. Look at the Anker Nano and you'll begin to understand its allure pretty quickly. Its built-in USB-C cable makes recharging your phone easy and convenient. On top of that, its 10000mAh capacity means I don't have to recharge it often and that it's got more than enough juice for me and a friend on a night out. Plus, it has additional USB-C and USB-A ports, so I can refuel my noise-canceling headphones and Apple Watch at the same time if I need to. Anker Nano Power Bank An ingenious looped USB-C cord design and enough juice to recharge multiple phones makes this portable charger an essential for everyone on the go. Those looking to charge the iPhone 14 or older should get the version with a Lightning cable. I've lost count of the number of times my colleague and senior tech editor Mike Andronico has asked if he could borrow my Anker Nano because his phone was running low on juice. It's not that he's bad at recharging his phone; he just knows I keep this portable charger on me. I'm not the only one either, as our senior deals editor Rikka Altland also praises and rocks this pocketable power bank in her daily carry. If someone didn't know better, they'd think this small, colorful plastic rectangle were vital to my life the way I clutch it so covetously. Let me tell you why I'm so addicted to Anker's take on portable power. With over a decade of experience writing product reviews, I've tested a lot of laptops, tablets and other gadgets that didn't exactly wow me. Companies love to claim that new technologies such as 5G cellular connections and generative AI will change our lives, but the former feels forgettable and the latter continues to fail to impress. Instead, I've noticed that the most important new products tend to be the little gadgets that make things easier to do, thanks to one little tweak that feels obvious in retrospect. That's what happened with the Anker Nano Power Bank, which I've relied on for over a year and a half. The Anker Nano Power Bank doesn't get my vote just because it's kept me in the green for months and months. It recently thrived in competition as I tested it against 10 other popular power banks while revamping our best portable chargers guide. Not only did I measure charging speeds but it also won points for its ease of use and ports. This is not to say that the Anker Nano Power Bank is a piece of rechargeable perfection, as it didn't win every single category. But no other charger under $50 proved as convenient to use, and it also provided some of the fastest phone charging times in the field. A great design that puts the rest to shame Most portable chargers are essentially the same rectangular power supply we've all kept in a pocket or purse. As much as we're happy for the juice they provide, we're not exactly thrilled to use them, especially when they often require you to pack a charging cable and are useless without one. Not to mention the awkward aesthetic of a cable snaking out of a back pocket and into a phone — 'tourist chic,' as I call it. Then there are the slightly better portable chargers that have one or more cables that snap to the charger's sides. Unfortunately, many of these juice boxes are a bit too bulky and pricey, without offering a substantial difference, and I'd only recommend them to the folks who value the convenience of charging via both Apple's Lightning port and the USB-C port at the same time. (Speaking of Apple's port, if you use an iPhone 14 or earlier, you would need get the compatible Anker Nano Power Bank with a Lightning cable.) The Anker Nano Power Bank gives you everything you need and nothing that you don't, though. That starts with its built-in USB-C charging cable, which helps it refuel everything from most Android phones and modern iPhones to tablets, PS5 controllers, many wireless headphones (including my beloved Sony WH-1000XM6) and more. Oh, and unlike most chargers, the Anker Nano comes in five colors: black, white, purple, blue and green. I've seen both the blue and green models in person and appreciate both their hues, not to mention the option to match your tech to your wardrobe. The Anker Nano Power Bank's cable isn't just built-in either; it's designed so you can charge your phone while you use it on the go. It's all thanks to a convenient little metal bar that makes it so the USB-C cable is always sticking out, like a loop. I simply slide one or more of my fingers into that loop, and the tip of the charging cable extends upward to plug into my phone. And that's how I'm holding my phone while it's charging, so I can make immediate use of this replenishing power by checking emails, sending texts and reading the news. This leaves my other hand free to use an umbrella, drink a beverage or any number of other things. You shouldn't have to expend too much effort when you're charging your phone, and the Anker Nano Power Bank's proven that to me. Long after I found and became fond of the Anker Nano Power Bank, I was given the assignment of revising CNN Underscored's best portable chargers guide. This meant I tested 11 of the most popular and beloved portable chargers on the market, seeing how fast they refuel an iPhone 16 and a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, among other devices. The Anker Nano Power Bank's 30W charging power enabled strong performance when refueling an iPhone 16, adding more than 50% of a charge in 30 minutes (only one percentage point off the high score for this category). For those curious, the Mophie Powerstation Plus 10K won that round, but it costs twice as much. And while the environmentally conscious Nimble Champ also offers high-speed charging, it costs $20 more and has no built-in cables. The Nano also posted a stellar score on the S25 Ultra charging test, with nearly half of its battery refueled in the half hour, beating about half of the chargers in our testing pool. But if charging speed is your number-one concern, you may want the 10,000mAh Iniu portable charger, which also packs a built-in USB-C cable. Its iPhone 16 charging score was fantastic (and it did even better on the S25 Ultra), but its cable isn't as conveniently designed, and it failed to recharge the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+. Everyone shopping for a portable charger wants two things above all else: ease of use and charging power. Anker's chargers, as a whole, do a great job of balancing both and always offer solid build quality with materials that feel durable and reliable; this isn't unique to just the power bank I'm recommending here. Anker also sells a smaller 22.5W Nano Power Bank that swaps the built-in cable for a foldable USB-C connector that folds in and out of its top. This portable charger is pretty good, but it might not be right for you if you don't like the idea of having a 'taller' phone. Plugging it into the port at the bottom of your phone basically extends your device's height. If you're looking to refuel laptops and tablets, I need to tell you about one of the more exciting products that came from the CES 2025 Anker launch: The new 165W Anker Laptop Power Bank will refuel your tech quickly, and it's got two built-in USB-C cables. One doubles as a wrist strap, and the other is a 2.5-foot retractable cord that hides inside its frame. There's nothing bad about this charger, but its dimensions are a bit too big to easily fit in any pocket or bag on the average night out. That said, if your night out typically involves camping and checking out the stars, consider the mighty Anker Solix C300 DC. In the end, though, I say go for the 30W Anker Nano Power Bank. It's much more portable than the Laptop Power Bank, and it charges faster than its smaller counterpart. Plus, you get a 10,000mAh battery that's twice the capacity of what you get in its baby brother (while still being a TSA-approved power bank). This is probably a great time to tell folks that certain airline power bank rules have changed recently, so you might want to double-check before your next flight. All three of these portable chargers could be your own all-star, but I'm pretty sure the 30W Anker Nano Power Bank I pack is the best for most people. For anyone like me who is constantly on their phone, the Anker Nano Power Bank will be one of those purchases you'll never regret. You'll also probably wonder how you ever lived without it. Not only does it keep my phone from hitting low battery but it's easy to use while I'm tapping out a text or email, scrolling the web or watching yet another video. You'll never have to even think about learning how to ask for a charger in another language on your next vacation, and you'll be able to focus on everything else during your next night out. How fast can the Anker Nano Power Bank charge a device? How fast can the Anker Nano Power Bank charge a device? That depends on your device, but it refueled 56% of an iPhone 16 in 30 minutes and 45% of a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra in the same amount of time. Are there any devices the Anker Nano Power Bank isn't compatible with? Are there any devices the Anker Nano Power Bank isn't compatible with? Because the standard Anker Nano Power Bank has its own USB-A and USB-C ports, it can charge nearly all your devices. If your devices use a Lightning port, there is an Anker Nano version for that too. It doesn't deliver enough power to recharge laptops, though, but we don't think most people would expect a pocket-sized portable charger to refuel a MacBook. Can you charge your device with the Anker Nano Power Bank when your device has a case on? Can you charge your device with the Anker Nano Power Bank when your device has a case on? Yes, and I do it all the time when my iPhone 16 Pro Max is in its Nomad Rugged Case. CNN Underscored thoroughly tests the products we review and provides full transparency about our testing methodology. We're made up of skilled writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. This article is the culmination of more than a decade spent trying to find the right portable charger, as our electronics writer Henry T. Casey tried everything from cases with built-in batteries to MagSafe power bricks. When he isn't refueling his devices, he's testing tablets, phones, laptops, headphones and so much more.
CNN
08-05-2025
- Business
- CNN
I found the best Apple AirPods deals to shop right now, starting from $99
All four of the latest Apple AirPods just went on sale at Amazon. Ask just about anyone at CNN Underscored which earbuds they use, and most of the time, they'll pull out some flavor of AirPods. Whether you're shopping for true wireless earbuds or noise-cancelling headphones, I found the best deals on Apple products you can shop right now. Apple AirPods Pro 2 With USB-C I've tried every other pair of popular earbuds out there, and nothing comes close to the AirPods Pro 2. The active noise cancellation is unmatched, and the sound quality offered by Apple's Spatial Audio tech is just as immersive as it is rich. This $80 discount makes that whole listening experience even better. Read our review Apple AirPods 4 At the opposite end of the spectrum, Apple's new AirPods 4 offer many of the same features as the Pro versions of the earbuds for far less. My colleague and our senior tech editor Mike Andronico adored these from his hands-on experience. Right now, they're also matching the all-time low price at $100. Read our review Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation Between the baseline AirPods 4 and the AirPods Pro 2, this pair of upgraded earbuds comes with added active noise cancellation tech. I recommend taking advantage of this deal if you don't particularly care about the silicone ear tips offered by the Pro series. Read our review Apple AirPods Max With USB-C AirPods Max have been a favorite of mine for half a decade. The new and improved version brings USB-C into the mix for the first time. These may have recently lost their accolade for the best over-the-ear Apple headphones, but I still believe they deserve the title. The price may be steep, but you won't find a better-sounding pair. Today's discount takes as much as $69 off to help. Read our review If you've been searching for the best way to save on a new pair of AirPods, today's deals have you covered regardless of how much you're hoping to spend or which features matter most. Everything from Apple's most affordable true wireless earbuds to its flagship over-ear headphones is included in the savings. Today's sale combines a great variety of AirPods along with some of the best discounts ever. All three of the true wireless AirPods are down to the best offers of the year, while the over-ear AirPods Max are within $1 of its best-ever discount. Our senior deals editor Rikka Altland spotted the price drop this morning while searching for the best finds of the week. She has worked in service journalism for nearly a decade and is an expert at deal hunting and price-history analysis. Altland also regularly reviews tech for a living, frequently collaborating with CNN Underscored's team of testing experts.
