As expected, Apple’s WWDC keynote came and went without Tim Cook & Co. announcing a new set of AirPods (though, we did get a few new Macs). This means we’re not likely to see a new pair of wireless earbuds from Apple this year until at least the fall, if at all, making now as good a time as any to pick up Apple’s third-gen AirPods — which are on sale right now at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy for around $149 ($20 off).
Despite being situated in an odd spot in Apple’s lineup, the latest entry-level pair of AirPods still offer plenty of appeal. They don a more subtle design than the prior model thanks to their shorter stems and IPX4 sweat and water resistance, which makes them a more suitable gym companion and puts them in line with many of our favorite workout earbuds. What’s more, they’re a notable upgrade over the second-gen model when it comes to voice quality and sound, rendering them just as suitable for listening to SZA as late-night convos with your bestie.
Read our Apple AirPods (third-gen) review.
With Apple’s recently announced AR headset having taken up all the oxygen this week, it’s easy to forget that there are other competitors in the space making headsets that are far more affordable than the $3,500 price tag associated with the Apple Vision Pro. Case in point? The Meta Quest 2, which you can pick up at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart starting at $299 now that Meta’s promised price cuts have officially gone into effect.
Along with the forthcoming Quest 3, the gaming-centric Meta Quest 2 is likely going to be Apple’s primary competitor, even if it doesn’t offer the high-end build quality or lofty specs associated with Apple’s forthcoming headset. The standalone device remains one of the more affordable entry points into VR, with a sharp screen, intuitive controllers, and a trove of content given you can download titles from both the Meta Quest Store and SteamVR libraries. Meta also plans to increase the CPU and GPU performance with an upcoming software update, which, Meta claims, will result in smoother gameplay and a more responsive UI. Now, here’s hoping the update hits the Quest 2 sooner rather than later.
Read our original Meta Quest 2 review.
Whether we’d like to admit it, a single router usually doesn’t cut it if you’re hoping to blanket your home with steady Wi-Fi. In those instances, it’s often best to spring for a mesh networking system, which is often better than simply moving your router or opting for a Wi-Fi extender. Thankfully, you can grab a pair of Google’s white Nest Wifi Pro routers at Amazon and Best Buy today for $239.99 ($60 off), which matches the lowest price we’ve seen on a two-pack since the router launched late last year.
In terms of specs, the Google Nest Wifi Pro represents a pretty big step up from the prior Nest Wifi system. Google doesn’t paywall certain features the way Eero and other competitors do, nor is its shiny mesh router particularly challenging to set up and use. Moreover, it boasts support for Wi-Fi 6 and 6E as well as Thread and Matter smart home protocols. It’s a bit lacking when it comes to parental controls, and the ethernet ports are limited to 1Gbps, sure, but if you can look beyond those faults, a pair should provide you with up to 4,400 square feet of solid coverage.
Read our Google Nest WiFi review.
A few more midweek deals and discounts
- If you’re looking for a competent gaming headset for your Xbox One or Series X / S for under $100, Microsoft’s Xbox Wireless Headset is still available for $85 ($15 off) at Amazon and Walmart. The budget-friendly Bluetooth headset boasts intuitive dial controls and an attractive matte black design, along with support for concurrent wireless connections so you can pair it with your console and phone at the same time. Read our review.
- Lego’s Bonsai Tree, an adorable staple found in many of our gift guides, is back down to $39.99 ($10 off) at Amazon and Target. That’s the second-best price we’ve seen on the 878-piece kit, which, as you might expect, is far easier to tend to than an actual Japanese cherry tree.
- Marshall’s Monitor II ANC headphones are currently on sale at Best Buy, Electronic Express, and direct from Marshall for $199.99 ($120 off). Their noise cancellation can’t keep up with the best offerings from Bose or Sony, but they offer Google Assistant support, a staggering 45 hours of battery life, and a stylish design that pays tribute to Marshall’s heritage.
- Logitech’s premium MX Vertical has hit an all-time low of $71.84 ($28.15) on Amazon. The design admittedly takes some getting used to; however, the unique mouse is one of the more ergonomic options available if you’re someone who wants to reduce muscle strain or movement. Plus, it features a 4,000 DPI sensor and four customizable buttons that make carrying out repetitive tasks a breeze, regardless of the application you’re working in.
- Eneba is selling a $50 iTunes gift card for $41.99 until Friday, June 9th, when you use offer code GetApples. Despite the outdated name, an iTunes gift card functions the same as a traditional Apple gift card, meaning you can put it toward subscriptions, services, goods, and pretty much everything that falls under the Apple umbrella (including the new 15-inch MacBook Air). Just be aware that the exact cost might fluctuate ever so slightly as a result of currency exchange rates, as Eneba is based in Europe.
