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iOS 26 has arrived with a massive selection of new features for iPhonesSome of the most interesting updates flew under the radarThese are five of the best iOS 26 features you might have missedApple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) saw the company announce a massive array of new features in iOS 26. But aside from all the best iOS 26 features that were highlighted, there are plenty more that flew under the radar.Here, we’ve picked out five of our favorite new iOS additions that you might not have spotted at WWDC. Each one will bring exciting new capabilities to your iPhone, so they’re well worth a look – and if you install the iOS 26 beta you’ll be able to give them a try.1. Battery boosts(Image credit: Future)Looking after your iPhone’s battery is vitally important for ensuring it chugs along for as long as possible. The good news is that just a few small tweaks here and there can make a big difference, and iOS 26 will help you do exactly that.Apple’s software update comes with a bunch of handy features that are all dedicated to preserving and extending your battery life. For instance, there’s a new Adaptive Power option in your iPhone battery settings, the purpose of which is to intelligently make small changes that can prevent your battery from draining too quickly. That includes lowering your screen brightness and permitting some tasks to “take a little longer,” according to Apple. It’ll also enable Low Power Mode when your battery hits 20%.Elsewhere, the battery section of the Settings app now comes with much more in-depth information, including how much usage time you’ve got left based on your current charge level, a more detailed breakdown of which apps are using significant battery power, and more. And when you’re charging up your phone, you’ll now see roughly how long you’ve got to wait until you hit 100%.2. Message filtering(Image credit: Apple)If you’re sick of sifting through a barrage of spam texts, there’s some good news in iOS 26: Apple is bringing message filtering to your phone. This can be found in the updated Messages app.Now, messages from unknown senders are automatically filtered out of your inbox and stored in a separate area. These texts cannot make it into your inbox until you approve their senders.You can allow time-sensitive messages through – for instance, tracking alerts for parcels or food delivery updates. There are different categories for filtered messages, including personal messages from businesses, transactions, promotions and more. Each group can be toggled individually.3. Background sounds(Image credit: Future)Background sounds have featured on iPhones for a little while now, but the number and type of sounds has been expanded in iOS 26. There are now options for rain on rooftops, airplanes, crackling fire, quiet nights, and more.These can provide a soothing ambient environment to help you work, sleep or concentrate. You can enable them in the Settings app, or add them to your Control Center for easy access.4. Dirty lens reminders(Image credit: Apple)The more you use your iPhone, the greater the chances of you accidentally smudging its camera lenses – given that they’re such large protrusions on the back of your phone, they’re pretty hard to avoid. But greasy fingerprints can ruin your photos in subtle ways that you might not even notice until the moment has long since passed.To avoid this scenario, iOS 26 can alert you when it thinks your lenses have been dirtied up, and let you know it’s time to give them a gentle clean.5. Improved flight features(Image credit: Apple)Whether you’re a frequent flyer or someone who just takes the occasional airline trip, you can benefit from iOS 26’s boarding pass upgrade. This makes it much easier to get your passes ready and track flights in real time.While you could previously store boarding passes in Apple’s Wallet app, this update now brings even more functionality to your iPhone. You’ll be able to see Apple Maps directions to get you to the right terminal, track your luggage with the Find My app, and more.There’s also a new Live Activity that displays relevant flight-tracking info, such as arrival terminal, baggage claim number, flight progress, plus other helpful details. This was previously available in apps like Flighty, but it’s the first time Apple has offered it as a native iOS feature.You might also likeWWDC 2025 as it happened: all the iOS 26, MacOS Tahoe, and iPadOS news, with live video from Apple ParkiOS 26 is official – here are the 5 biggest new features coming to your iPhoneiOS 26 compatibility – does your iPhone support it? Here's the full list of supported devices

It’s been confirmed that Intel Macs won’t be supported with macOS 27Only four Mac models with Intel CPUs are supported by macOS Tahoe anyway, but that’ll be the final upgrade for those machinesThose devices will at least receive security updates for a further three yearsIf you’ve got a Mac with an Intel CPU, we now know that macOS Tahoe 26 is the end of the line for your device (assuming that it supports macOS 26 in the first place, and you can check that here).TechRadar can confirm that information on Intel compatibility was provided at the WWDC Platforms State of the Union keynote, and macOS Tahoe will be the last version of Apple’s desktop OS to support any Mac with an Intel processor.Another way of putting this is that when macOS 27 arrives next year, it will only support Macs with Apple chips inside.However, while Intel Macs that can run macOS Tahoe 26 will be stuck with that operating system, those machines will continue to get security updates for a further three years.Analysis: That rushed out the door feeling(Image credit: Future)I had an inkling this might be coming, but I wasn’t fully convinced that Apple would actually push ahead and do this – or, perhaps more to the point, exclude MacBooks from as recently as 2020 with macOS Tahoe 26. It does feel like this hardware is being shoved out of the exit door a little hastily.In fact, only a small number of Macs with Intel CPUs are good to go with macOS Tahoe: the MacBook Pro 16-inch from 2019, MacBook Pro 13-inch from 2020 – but only the higher-end model with four ports (not the entry-level laptop with two ports) – along with the Mac Pro from 2019, and iMac 27-inch from 2020.Those Macs may be good for now, but they won’t get macOS 27, which will likely be announced and released next year, although at least they have a guarantee of three years of security updates going forward, to protect them against vulnerabilities popping up in the operating system that might be exploited.So, those devices will be covered for updates until late in 2029 (assuming the three years start from the release of macOS 27), which is nine or 10 years of updates in total. And to be fair, that’s in line with the coverage Microsoft has provided with Window 10, which has had a decade of support (that ends in October, of course).Of course, that wasn’t just security updates, but also new features, although the additions made to Windows 10 have been few and far between in recent times – but they’ve still kept coming.Microsoft is facing its own controversy with Windows 11 upgrades, though, and the steeper hardware requirements that Windows 10 users face.You might also like...macOS Tahoe 26: here’s everything we know about the release date, compatibility and all the new featuresHow to download the macOS 26 Tahoe developer betaMicrosoft accused of ‘tech extortion’ over Windows 10 support ending, by campaign urging people to upgrade to Linux

JBL reveals its new range of Dolby Atmos soundbars, the Bar MK2 seriesIt's headlined by the flagship JBL BAR1300MK2, an 11.1.4 channel soundbarFour other soundbars also feature in the rangeJBL has revealed its new range of Dolby Atmos soundbars, the Bar MK2 series.The range is headlined by the flagship JBL Bar1300MK2 – successor to the JBL Bar 1300X, one of the best soundbars we've tested in recent years – an 11.1.4 channel soundbar with a dual eight-inch compact sub and detachable rear wireless speakers with Bluetooth functionality, totaling a whopping 2,470W max power output.The other soundbars in the range include the JBL Bar1000MK2, JBL Bar 700MK2, JBL Bar 500MK2 and JBL Bar 300MK2.Check out the grid below for each soundbar's channel configuration, power output and subwoofer and rear speaker inclusion:SoundbarChannel configuration Total Power outputSubwoofer/rear speakersJBL Bar 1300MK211.1.42,470WDual 8" compact subwoofer / 2 detachable wireless rear speakers with Bluetooth functionality JBL Bar 1000MK27.1.4960W10" subwoofer/ 2 detachable wireless speakers JBL Bar 700MK27.1780W10" subwoofer / 2 detachable wireless speakersJBL Bar 500MK25.1750W10" subwoofer / no extra speakersJBL Bar 300MK25.0450WNo subwoofer or extra speakers The JBL Bar range is set to launch first in June 2025 with the Bar 1000MK2, Bar 700Mk2, Bar 500MK2 and Bar 300MK2 released during this time and the flagship JBL Bar 1300MK2 set to launch later in the year in October 2025.Pricing for the JBL Bar range is as follows – we don't yet have pricing for countries outside the US:JBL Bar 1300MK2: $1,699.95JBL Bar 1000MK2: $1,199JBL Bar 700MK2: $899JBL Bar 500MK2: $649JBL Bar 300MK2: $449JBL Bar range: FeaturesThe JBL Bar 1000MK2 will also feature detachable wireless speakers (Image credit: JBL )Every soundbar in JBL's Bar MK2 range will come with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect and Roon Ready features. All but the Bar 300MK2 will support Amazon Music HD, although the Bar 300MK2 will support Samsung's SmartThings.Every soundbar in the range will also support Dolby Atmos in some manner, with the flagship Bar 1300MK2 and Bar 1000MK2 supporting true Dolby Atmos, while the three step-down models will support virtual Dolby Atmos.It's also worth noting that only the Bar 1300MK2 and Bar 1000MK2 will support DTS:X at launch. The other three will receive DTS: Virtual X later in the year via an update.As for other technologies, all soundbars will support JBL's MultiBeam 3.0 tech, which is said to create an immersive, surround sound experience from a single soundbar. They will all support PureVoice 2.0 for enhanced dialogue and speech.All of the soundbars are also compatible with the JBL One Platform, compatible with the JBL One app, for streaming of hi-res and spatial audio from compatible music services.Putting flagship Dolby Atmos soundbars on notice?The Samsung HW-Q990D (pictured) is one of our top picks for Dolby Atmos soundbars, but how will the JBL Bar 1300MK2 fare against it and its successor, the Samsung HW-Q990F? (Image credit: Future)We've been spoilt for choice when it comes to the best Dolby Atmos soundbars in recent months. Both the Sonos Arc Ultra and Marshall Heston 120 have proved to be excellent all-in-one soundbars for under $1,000, earning 4-out-of-5 and 5-out-of-5-stars respectively in their reviews.Last year, the Samsung HW-Q990D cemented itself as our favorite multi-box system solution thanks to its incredible power and immersive, nuanced sound – and we're looking forward to getting our hands on its successor, the Samsung HW-Q990F, very soon.But, could the JBL Bar 1300MK2 and Bar 1000MK2 be about to put these soundbars on notice? In terms of features, both bars are jam packed with ready-made support for streaming services (although so are their rivals) but its the Bar 1300 MK2's detachable rear speakers that make it stand out: something we loved about its predecessor, the Bar 1300X when we reviewed it. It's a handy solution to keep your speaker setup neat when not in use.The Bar 1000MK2 may be a little pricier than the Sonos Arc Ultra and the Marshall Heston 120 ($200 more to be precise) but it has the added benefit of an included subwoofer that's likely to give it an advantage in the bass department.The JBL Bar 1300 MK2, priced at $1,699, looks set to launch at a similar price to the Samsung HW-Q990F, which has dropped to $1,599.99 recently, but offers 2,470W of total power to the Q990F's 756W, which would actually put it more in line with the JBL Bar 1000MK2.On paper, the JBL Bar's have all the potential of offering more power for the similar prices to a lot of rivals and if it can get the performance right, JBL could really shake up the Dolby Atmos soundbar market again.You might also like Owning a soundbar has been a game-changer for me – here are 5 cheap options I’d recommendI tested two mid-range Dolby Atmos soundbars side-by-side, and the battle for your money has never been more competitive‘I’ve been deaf since birth. What is “natural” sound?’ The inside story on how Sonos developed its new AI speech enhancer in partnership with a major hearing loss charity

At WWDC 2025, Apple showed off its upcoming macOS Tahoe 26 operating system for Macs, and amongst all the AI fluff and shiny new Liquid Glass design language, there was a relatively small addition that could have a big impact (for me, anyway): Clipboard History.Now, I’m very lucky that in my line of work I get to try out not only the best laptops in the world, but also the best MacBooks, and while I generally love Apple’s modern range of desktops and laptops, I always find myself returning to Windows 11 for writing because of the excellent Clipboard History feature that can be brought up by pressing Windows + V, allowing you to easily browse previously copied items, rather than pasting the last thing you copied.Since the feature was added to Windows 10, I’ve been relying on it constantly, so whenever I use a Mac, the feature’s absence in macOS meant I either had to install a third-party app to add the functionality myself, or I’d just switch back to using a Windows machine, even if that machine was otherwise worse than the Mac I was abandoning.Pasting in the spotlightThe fact that Apple is adding the feature to macOS (as part of a major overhaul of its Spotlight app) is very exciting to me, as having it integrated properly into the operating system should make it both more flexible and convenient.Saying Apple stole the idea from Microsoft is probably a bit strong – and I doubt Microsoft thought of this feature first – but it definitely feels like Apple was inspired by its competition. From what I’ve seen, Clipboard History in macOS Tahoe does exactly the same thing as the feature in Windows 11, and it even has the same name.Regardless of who copied (then pasted) whom, if this allows me to work on my M4 Mac mini rather than booting into Windows 11 on an aging work laptop, then I’m going to be very happy – and it could mean my Windows 11 devices will only be touched when I want to play a game.I’ll be looking forward to giving this new feature a go, either in the macOS Tahoe 26 public beta, which will launch in July, or when the final version is released later this year.You might also like15 things we learned at the Apple WWDC 2025 keynoteDoes your Mac support macOS Tahoe 26? Here’s the full list of compatible MacBooks and MacsiOS 19: new features, a new design, and everything you need to know

WWDC 2025 felt like a course-correction. Last year’s tech event season left me cold — all the AI-powered tools supposedly for consumers that Microsoft, Google and finally Apple were peddling felt like a lot of hype without much real benefit. And that was before Apple fumbled the development of its more advanced Siri, showing off pre-recorded demos that weren’t close to ready. Google I/O last month was more of the same, with seemingly infinite versions of Gemini and not a lot of things I felt like I would use day-to-day. And if you go back to 2023, the highlight of WWDC was the Vision Pro — most definitely not a product for most people.

But yesterday, Apple offered up a number of features that’ll actually likely be noticed and used by more people, whether we’re talking about the redesigned iPad multitasking system or a ton of new customization options for the iPhone. And when Apple Intelligence was mentioned, it felt less like fixes to problems no one has and more like smart tools that could actually make your life easier.

Live Translation is probably the best example of that. Apple Intelligence will be able to do things like automatically translate your messages, show live-translated captions in FaceTime calls and provide spoken translations on telephone calls. For anyone dealing with multi-lingual conversations, this could be extremely useful, something you couldn’t always say about many of the Apple Intelligence features from 2024.

Visual Intelligence is another Apple Intelligence standout. It’s quite similar to Google Lens, in that you pointed your phone’s camera at something and it would recognize what it was looking at and give you information about what was on your screen. This year, Apple’s building that right into the screenshot tool and using the information it recognizes in a variety of intriguing ways. (It’s worth mentioning that Google has offered features like these for a while now, though.) For example, you could screenshot an image of an event poster and Visual Intelligence can create a calendar event with its details. You can also take a screenshot of something and then ask ChatGPT about it. The example Apple gave was a screenshot of a picture of a mandolin; the user then asked ChatGPT to give some examples of rock songs that use the instrument.

And even the more frivolous Apple Intelligence features at least sounded more fun this year. The first real use of Apple Intelligence on the Apple Watch is Workout Buddy, a coach that can inspire you throughout a workout. Instead of just letting you know you’re halfway through a run, the Workout Buddy can see your whole workout history and offer more detailed insights — like giving you kudos on finishing your fastest 10K, for example. That said, none of this runs on the Apple Watch itself. You’ll need an iPhone with Apple Intelligence “nearby” to use it.

Beyond Apple Intelligence are a variety of features that I hope will meaningfully improve using Apple’s hardware. The new Liquid Glass design across all of the company’s products looks nice, but I’m more excited about the work that Apple is doing to minimize spam on the iPhone. Being able to screen for messages from unknown contacts should go a long way towards making the Messages app better — text spam is out of control (I got two spam messages while Apple was talking about spam messages), and anything to crack down on that now before it becomes as bad as phone spam is crucial. Apple is also adding some call screening features similar to something Android has had for more than five years now.

For me, though, the iPad updates Apple announced yesterday are probably the most exciting things I’ve seen. I’ve long been interested in trying to use one as my main device and I’ve gotten to the point where I can do almost anything I need or want to do on Apple’s tablet. But I also can’t deny that the software has almost always felt a step behind the power and cutting-edge technology the company puts in the iPad Pro lineup.

Apple answered that with what it called its biggest update to iPad multitasking ever, something that actually doesn’t feel like hyperbole. Apps still open in full screen, but you can resize them and layer them in whatever fashion you like. Stage Manager attempted this, but the new layout seems even more flexible than that. And, perhaps more importantly, it should remember sizing and arrangement better than before. There’s also a menu bar for easier access to power features, and the Files app lets you drop any folder you want in your dock for quick access. I’m not naive enough to think this will satisfy everyone who finds iPadOS to be lacking in some way, but it does feel like Apple has listened to a lot of the complaints power users have had with the iPad over the years.

Despite the theme of unification — in the platform names, with the new UI design and shared features, the event did feel a little like a rapid-fire feature drop that wasn’t always fully connected. Given that Apple broadly covered six platforms as well as Apple Intelligence in 90 minutes, it’s not surprising that things felt quick and also a bit scattered. But amidst the slightly chaotic bursts of news, there were plenty of things that caught my attention, and I’m sure there will be more as I dig further into what Apple is planning (there are always features that aren’t touched on in the keynote, after all). It feels like a bit of a throwback, and it made me enjoy this WWDC a good bit more than the last.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/wwdc-2025-was-a-return-to-smaller-scale-features-that-are-actually-useful-120027296.html?src=rss

The IMOU Doorbell 2S has a panning camera to track visitorsIts 180-degree field of view covers the whole front of your homeIt has AI person-detection and can alert you to individuals loitering outsideIMOU, a company that makes some of the best home security cameras we've tested here at TechRadar, has launched a new video doorbell with a rotating camera to track and follow visitors as they move across your property.The IMOU Doorbell 2S can be used wired or wirelessly, and comes bundled with an indoor chime that you can plug in anywhere in your home. The chime (known as the DS2S Gong) also holds an SD card for local video storage, and functions as a Wi-Fi extender.The IMOU Doorbell 2S has a 2K resolution, which isn't the highest around (many of the best video doorbells can now record in 4K), but its panning lens provides an extra wide field of view for monitoring the whole front of your house without blind spots.The panning tech also eliminates the need for an angled bracket, which is necessary for mounting some other doorbells on awkward doorframes.(Image credit: IMOU)Anti-loiteringThe new doorbell uses passive infrared (PIR) and smart human detection to help reduce false alarms, sending you real-time alerts when a person is at the door while ignoring animals and vehicles. It also has 'loitering detection' to warn you if someone is hanging around by your home to a long time.If you want to confront those suspicious individuals, the IMOU Doorbell 2DS even offers a voice changer so you can address them while protecting your identity.It's currently available in the UK from Currys for £79.99 (about $110 / AU$170). I've contacted IMOU to ask about availability in the US and Australia, and will update this article when I have more details.The IMOU Doorbell 2S can be used subscription-free, but if you want cloud storage as a backup, you can register for IMOU Protect for £3.49 (about $5 / AU$7) per month, or £34.99 (about $50 / AU$70) per year.You might also likeRoku's new wireless security cameras will guard your home for up to two years on a single chargeEufy's new smart lock reads the veins in your palm for touchless entry – even if your hands are dirtyYour Philips Hue cameras are getting a free upgrade to boost their battery life

Apple unveiled watchOS 26 at WWDC yesterdaywatchOS 26 is compatible with Apple Watches going back yearsBut some of its best features require a more recent deviceWhen Apple unveiled watchOS 26 at WWDC 2025 yesterday it showed off an operating system that had been upgraded with a welcome range of new features and abilities. If you’re hoping to try these out, though, you’ll want to check if your Apple Watch is compatible – because plenty of the most popular models won’t be.On the face of it, most of the best Apple Watch models will work with watchOS 26. Apple says it’s compatible with the Apple Watch Series 6 or later, the second-generation Apple Watch SE, plus every Apple Watch Ultra model; you’ve also got to pair your Watch with an iPhone 11 or later that’s running iOS 26. That’s a good range of devices going back many years.But there are several features that will only work if you pair your Watch with a much more recent iPhone. For a start, anything powered by Apple Intelligence will require an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or any device from the iPhone 16 range. That immediately raises the threshold for compatibility with Apple’s artificial intelligence (AI) platform.As well as that, some of the new features introduced in watchOS 26 have requirements of their own. The 'wrist flick' gesture, for example, needs an Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, or Ultra 2. Again, this excludes many of the older devices that can technically run watchOS 26.Check the small print(Image credit: Apple)Potential limitations like this show that it’s important to check device requirements before you get excited about downloading an update like watchOS 26. That one new tool that caught your eye might not work with your existing hardware.And it’s especially vital to do this before buying a device. You might have found a great deal on an older Apple Watch, for example, but if it can’t run the features you’re dying to try out, you’ll be out of luck.WatchOS 26 has a bunch of interesting new updates, including a Liquid Glass design overhaul, a Workout Buddy fitness assistant, improved Smart Stack algorithms, and more. If you want to give any of these a go, be sure to double-check if your Apple Watch is compatible.You might also likewatchOS 26: these are the 6 big updates coming to your Apple Watch soon – including an AI Workout Buddy and a Notes appWWDC 2025 as it happened: all the iOS 26, MacOS Tahoe, and iPadOS news, with live video from Apple ParkWorkout Buddy? Forget it: watchOS 26's most exciting addition was only hinted at

Sonos is selling a bunch of its speakers at a discount on its own site and Amazon. This includes the well-regarded Era 300 smart speaker, which is down to just $359. That's 20 percent off and notable because this particular speaker rarely goes on sale. It's a Sonos miracle!

The deal applies to both the black and white colorways. The Era 300 is a highly capable device that we praised in our official review, saying that it "sounds excellent." We went on to say that it offers a premium experience that far surpasses other products in the company's lineup, like the Era 100. This is also true when compared to rival speakers like Apple's HomePod.

It's simple to set up and offers the company's proprietary Trueplay tuning system. This feature optimizes the sound of the speaker to the unique acoustics of a room by leveraging an internal microphone. It measures how sound reflects off surfaces and adjusts the EQ to match. It's pretty nifty.

As for connectivity, it can pair with another Era 300 speaker for a true stereo experience. It also includes a Bluetooth receiver and line-in options. Of course, the speaker integrates with just about every streaming music service. The built-in mic also allows for voice assistant control, but only with Siri and Alexa. Google Assistant is left out of the party.

This speaker goes all-in on spatial audio, and the results are mixed. Sometimes it's sublime and sometimes it's kind of eh. This is more of a dig on the technology itself. It has serious potential but is still experiencing growing pains. The only real downside of this speaker is the exorbitant asking price, which has been slightly alleviated by this sale.

As previously mentioned, other Sonos products are available at a discount. This includes the Sonos Beam Gen 2 soundbar, which is 26 percent off at $369, and the Era 100, which is down to $179. These deals are also available via Sonos itself. There's also an ongoing sale on portable speakers that includes the Move 2 and the Roam 2.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/pick-up-the-sonos-era-300-while-its-on-sale-for-20-percent-off-150857678.html?src=rss

Apple is bundling its News+ subscriptions with a new game that users will be able to access when they get iOS 26. MacRumors has reported that Apple is calling it the "Emoji Game," because, well, it's all about using emoji to fill blanked-out letters in incomplete words and phrases. For the word "Disappear," for instance, you can use the "pear" emoji to complete it if the puzzle only shows its first five letters. For the phrase "rubbing elbows," you can use the "pink bows" emoji if the blank spaces correspond to "bows." The same emoji could have several meanings, as well: "Pear" can also be used to correspond to "fruit" in the word "fruitful," as an example.

It's a neat little game that people can play to pass the time, but it can only be accessed by those paying $13 a month for Apple News+. The subscription will give you access to magazines and newspapers, audio stories and regional publications, along with daily puzzles like the Emoji Game. It's pretty pricey, though like Apple's other services, users can share their subscription with up to six family members.

At the moment, only developers who already have iOS 26 beta will be able to play the Emoji Game. Apple's new mobile OS, which the company announced at WWDC, will be released to the public this fall. It will be compatible with all iPhones announced in 2019 or later, which means iPhone XR, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max owners won't be able to install it anymore. In addition to adopting a new naming convention that's based on the year it's released, the upcoming version of iOS has undergone a major visual overhaul, with translucent user interfaces inspired by the look of visionOS. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-news-subscribers-are-getting-an-emoji-game-with-ios-26-123056186.html?src=rss

Now's a good time to pick up a new pair of AirPods while the AirPods Pro 2 are on sale for $169 on Amazon. This is close to their record-low price and a 32-percent discount.

For those enmeshed in the Apple ecosystem, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better pair of wireless earbuds. These buds quickly pair with iPhones, iPads and Macs and switch seamlessly between them when you're multitasking. ANC is solid and Apple's transparency mode is one of the best we've tried.

They also sound great, thanks to a new amplifier, driver and transducer, in addition to updated algorithms. We found that they offered a "massively improved" experience over the first-gen version of these earbuds. Music even sounds better at lower levels here, which is something we noticed in our official review.

The battery life is just average, with six hours of listening per charge and 30 hours with the case. The major downside with these earbuds is the price. No matter how you slice it, $249 is a whole lot of money. Luckily, today's sale alleviates some of that sticker shock.

Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-airpods-pro-2-drop-to-169-on-amazon-154646829.html?src=rss