Beats | The Verge The Verge is about technology and how it makes us feel. Founded in 2011, we offer our audience everything from breaking news to reviews to award-winning features and investigations, on our site, in video, and in podcasts. 2026-03-30T17:38:08+00:00 https://www.theverge.com/rss/beats/index.xml https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/verge-rss-large_80b47e.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1 Cameron Faulkner <![CDATA[Beats’ gym-friendly Powerbeats Fit are $30 off for Amazon’s Big Spring Sale]]> https://www.theverge.com/?p=903373 2026-03-30T13:38:08-04:00 2026-03-30T13:38:08-04:00
Every color of the Beats Powerbeats Fit are discounted. | Image: Apple

For iPhone owners, the AirPods Pro 3 are a fantastic all-around set of wireless earbuds, even for working out. Their value is especially tough to beat at $199.99; however, even with five sizes of silicone tips, they aren’t the best fit for some people, or for some kinds of workouts. If earbuds tend to fall out of your ears, the Beats Powerbeats Fit are worth considering now that they’re on sale as part of Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, which drops them to an all-time low of $169.99 ($30 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo.

Beats Powerbeats Fit

Where to Buy:

The Powerbeats Fit, which launched in September, offer similar functionality for iPhone users as AirPods (namely, easy connectivity and hands-free Siri support), but their built-in silicone fin and ear tips should ensure a snug fit that you won’t get with a traditional pair of Apple earbuds. Like several recent Beats models, the Powerbeats Fit work great with Android, too, and charge via USB-C.

The Powerbeats Fit debuted after the Beats Fit Pro and stellar Powerbeats Pro 2, yet some complaints we had with the first-gen model remain. For instance, the Fit use Apple’s H1 wireless chip, not its newer H2 chip, which offers capabilities like better noise cancellation, adaptive audio, and conversation awareness in headphones that have it (the aforementioned Pro 2 have it). Also, its charging case is still quite large — even if it is smaller than the case that came with the original — and it doesn’t support wireless charging, which is a standard feature we expect to see in wireless earbuds at this price point.

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2

Where to Buy:

Those disadvantages won’t bother everyone, though. But if they bother you, there are a couple of alternatives to consider. If you’re on Android (and using a Pixel device, specifically), I suggest checking out the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, which are also currently on sale for $169.99 ($60 off) as part of Amazon’s sale event. Otherwise, spending an extra $30 (for a total of $199.99) will be enough to get the aforementioned Powerbeats Pro 2, which are the company’s best, most comfortable, and most feature-packed workout earbuds yet.

]]> Brandon Widder <![CDATA[The Beats Studio Pro are nearly $200 off ahead of Amazon’s big spring sale]]> https://www.theverge.com/?p=896279 2026-03-17T16:38:08-04:00 2026-03-17T16:38:08-04:00 A product photo of the Beats Studio Pro noise-canceling headphones.

Earlier this week, Apple unveiled the AirPods Max 2. The forthcoming over-ear headphones build on their predecessor with an H2 chip that powers a range of new features; however, they still don’t offer the sort of cross-OS compatibility you’ll get with a modern pair of Beats headphones — including the Beats Studio Pro, which are on sale at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy for an all-time low of around $169.95 ($180 off) in the run-up to Amazon’s annual Big Spring Sale.

Beats Studio Pro

A product photo of the Beats Studio Pro noise-canceling headphones.

Where to Buy:

Although they’re undoubtedly getting a little long in the tooth — the Beats design hasn’t fundamentally changed since 2017 — the Beats Studio Pro remain a solid pair of platform-agnostic headphones, particularly at this price. They offer one-touch pairing with both iOS and Android devices, along with support for Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find Hub networks, allowing you to locate them a little easier should you ever misplace them. Apple users get hands-free Siri access and support for head-tracking spatial audio, while Android folks get an AirPods-like audio switching trick that lets you effortlessly jump between different Android devices (phones, Chromebooks, etc.).

As far as sound quality is concerned, the Studio Pro aren’t going to rival that of newer options like Bose’s latest QuietComfort Ultra or Sony’s WH-1000XM6 (or even the last-gen XM5, for that matter). Their custom 40mm drivers don’t deliver anything exceptional, but their signature is balanced and decent enough, even if it sheds some of the low-end oomph for which Beats was once known. Plus, they offer an excellent transparency mode for piping outside noise and support lossless playback over USB-C, letting you leverage 24-bit / 48kHz  audio from compatible platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. Now, if only USB-C playback didn’t disable all access to their noise cancellation and transparency modes when active.

Read our full Beats Studio Pro review.
]]> Brandon Widder <![CDATA[The gym-friendly Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are 20 percent off right now]]> https://www.theverge.com/?p=891550 2026-03-10T11:47:42-04:00 2026-03-10T11:23:27-04:00

Beats may have recently redesigned the Beats Fit Pro to be more comfortable and secure, but the company’s latest offering is still no match for its other pair of fitness-centric earbuds: the Powerbeats Pro 2. Luckily, the latter in-ears are on sale at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy for around $199.95 ($50 off), their second-best price to date.

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2

Where to Buy:

As you might have guessed, the Powerbeats Pro 2 have been one of our favorite pairs of earbuds for sports and working out since they arrived on the scene early last year. They feature smaller, more comfortable earhooks than the prior model and boast wireless charging, along with an array of updated microphones that do a great job masking unwanted noise while listening to music and taking calls. Their marquee feature, however, is their heart rate monitoring, which leverages built-in sensors on each earbud and integrates well with apps from Nike, Runna, Open, Peloton, and others. Unsurprisingly, you can also quickly view various metrics in Apple Fitness Plus, such as heart rate and calories burned.

Like other Beats earbuds, the noise-canceling Powerbeats Pro 2 are also platform-agnostic, at least to a degree. They do support a handful of Apple-only features — most notably, dynamic head tracking for spatial audio, hands-free Siri access, and Find My integration — but Android users do get a subset of features, including one-touch pairing and some simple customization when it comes to controls. Sadly, though, they only carry an IPX4 rating, which falls short of the IP57 rating found on Apple’s newer AirPods Pro 3. That means that, while water- and sweat-resistant, they don’t offer any dust resistance.

Nonetheless, when you pair the Pro 2 with all the features you do get — as well as their easy-to-use physical controls and terrific transparency mode — you’re left with a well-rounded pair of fitness earbuds that should suit pretty much everybody, regardless of their OS of choice.

Read our full Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review.

More deals and discounts of note

  • To celebrate National Sleep Awareness Week — aka Sleep Week — the Hatch Restore 3 is on sale at Amazon and Hatch’s online storefront for an all-time low of $144.99 ($25 off) through March 22nd. The TikTok-friendly smart alarm / sunrise lamp / sound machine is a worthy successor to the Restore 2, with new physical controls and a brighter design that should wake you up more easily. There’s a lot of great content available by default, though be aware that you will need a Hatch Plus account ($4.99 month / $49.99 a year) to access the full suite of sounds and dynamic lighting.
  • The PlayStation 5 remaster of Final Fantasy Tactics, one of the seminal games from my youth, is currently available at Amazon for $29.32 (about $21 off), its best price to date. I’ve been itching to play the PlayStation-era strategy title since it made its debut last year with fully voiced dialogue and improved visuals, along with other quality-of-life improvements. I will most certainly be heading back to Ivalice later this week, though I haven’t decided if I’ll opt for the updated game or the OG version from ‘98, which is also included here. Decisions, decisions. Read our review.
  • The Apple Watch SE 3 is the Apple Watch we’d recommend for most folks, but now through March 12th, Woot is actually offering the last-gen Apple Watch Series 9 in select LTE configurations starting at just $229.99 ($270 off). The two watches are similar, but with the Series 9, you’re getting a few more advanced health sensors for $10 less, along with a bigger, brighter 2,000-nit display. Just try not to be alarmed when it shows up from Woot in a brown bag — it still packs a standard one-year Apple warranty. Read our review.
]]> Sheena Vasani <![CDATA[The Beats Studio Buds Plus are on sale for less than $100 for Presidents Day]]> https://www.theverge.com/?p=878951 2026-02-13T17:02:09-05:00 2026-02-13T15:00:56-05:00 A photo of Beats’ translucent Studio Buds Plus earbuds.

If you like how well AirPods work with iPhones but want something more colorful and flexible, the Beats Studio Buds Plus are a nice middle ground. They’re platform-agnostic and are on sale for $99.95 ($70 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart for Presidents Day. The deal includes the eye-catching translucent option and is just $10 shy of the buds’ best price to date. 

Beats Studio Buds Plus

A photo of Beats’ translucent Studio Buds Plus earbuds.

Where to Buy:

Unlike Apple’s AirPods, the Beats Studio Buds Plus play well with both iOS and Android devices, which is why they’re among our favorite wireless earbuds. You don’t get every ecosystem perk, but you do get a lot of the essentials. Apple iPhone owners, for example, get hands-free Siri, Find My support, one-step pairing, and Control Center integration. You miss out on AirPods-exclusive features like automatic device switching and spatial audio head-tracking, but in exchange, Android users get native support for Google’s Find Hub platform, Fast Pair, and audio switching.

Aside from software perks, the Beats Studio Buds Plus also sound excellent and deliver good noise cancellation that works well, even if not as impressively as the AirPods Pro. The tiny wireless earbuds are also among the most comfortable you can buy. Beats includes four swappable ear tips for a more secure fit. It’s a shame they lack wireless charging, but they can last up to 9 hours on a single charge, with up to 27 hours total with the case. Plus, they offer IPX4 water resistance, so they can handle sweat and light rain. 

Read our Beats Studio Buds Plus review.
]]> Brandon Russell <![CDATA[Beats’ Powerbeats Pro 2 are nearly matching their best price to date]]> https://www.theverge.com/?p=789188 2025-10-27T12:33:44-04:00 2025-10-27T13:00:00-04:00 The Powerbeats Pro 2 in purple displayed on a table.
The discount is available for every color, including the purple and orange shades. | Photo: Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

If you’re in the market for workout earbuds, now’s your chance to make a move. The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are back down to $199.99 ($50 off) in multiple colors at Amazon and Walmart. Although we saw the wireless earbuds drop to $179 earlier this year, they weren’t discounted during Amazon’s most recent Prime Day sale, making today’s promo a great opportunity to get a jump on your holiday shopping.

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2

Where to Buy:

The Powerbeats Pro 2 remain our favorite pair of earbuds for sports and working out thanks to their secure fit, effective noise cancellation, and helpful transparency mode, which pipes outside noises in. The updated mics do a solid job of filtering out ambient noise during phone calls, too, while the on-ear buttons provide tactile feedback when controlling playback. They also support hands-free voice control via Siri, allowing you to play / pause music, set reminders, and answer calls.

The standout feature in the Powerbeats Pro 2 is heart rate monitoring for workouts. Both earbuds contain LED optical sensors that measure blood flow, integrating that information with apps from Nike, Peloton, and others. Several features have also been added with the release of iOS 26, including the ability to monitor your heart rate in real time via the Apple Fitness app while engaging in 50 different workout types. Additionally, they now work with Apple Fitness Plus — allowing you to quickly view metrics such as heart rate and calories burned — and heart rate monitoring can be achieved with a single earbud during workouts. You’ll even receive notifications on how to potentially improve the fit, which should result in greater accuracy.

Unsurprisingly, the earbuds feature earhooks that are noticeably smaller than their predecessor, making them more comfortable to wear, and they come with a wireless charging case. The only real downside of the Powerbeats Pro 2 is their IPX4 rating, which falls short of the IP57 rating found on the newer AirPods Pro 3. That means Beats’ earbuds don’t offer any dust resistance whatsoever, while the Pro 3 are dust-protected.

Read our full Powerbeats Pro 2 review.
]]> Andrew Liszewski <![CDATA[Beats redesigned its new Powerbeats Fit’s wing tip to be more comfortable and secure]]> https://www.theverge.com/?p=788663 2025-09-30T16:59:09-04:00 2025-09-30T13:10:38-04:00 A photo of the spark orange version of the Beats Powerbeats Fit wireless earbuds.
Like the iPhone 17 Pro, the new BEats Powerbeats Fit earbuds come in orange. | Image: Beats

Beats has announced a new version of the Fit Pro wireless earbuds that launched in late 2021, which are now called the Powerbeats Fit. The most notable upgrade is a redesigned wing tip that Beats says is 20 percent more flexible, improving comfort while also keeping the earbuds more securely anchored in your ear. The company says that the new wingtip provides as much stability as the over-ear hook used on the Powerbeats Pro 2, while keeping the price point under $200.

The Powerbeats Fit are available for purchase starting today through Apple's online store, Amazon, and Best Buy for $199.99 in jet black, gravel gray, power pink, and spark or …

Read the full story at The Verge.

]]> Andrew Liszewski <![CDATA[The Powerbeats Pro 2 are getting heart rate monitoring updates with iOS 26]]> https://www.theverge.com/?p=777289 2025-09-12T11:20:51-04:00 2025-09-12T11:20:51-04:00 A close-up of the Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds in their charging case.
The Powerbeats Pro 2 are getting many of the heart monitoring features announced for the AirPods Pro 3.

Apple will release iOS 26 on September 15th and along with new iPhone features like the company's new Liquid Glass design language and live translation capabilities, the update will bring new features to the Powerbeats Pro 2. Released earlier this year, they were Apple's first earbuds with heart rate monitoring but after next week's big iPhone update their functionality will closely match the new AirPods Pro 3 announced earlier this week at Apple's "Awe dropping" event.

You'll now be able to monitor your heart rate in real time through the Apple Fitness app during 50 different workout types while wearing the Powerbeats Pro 2 - a feature onl …

Read the full story at The Verge.

]]> Sheena Vasani <![CDATA[The translucent Beats Studio Buds Plus are half off]]> https://www.theverge.com/?p=764316 2025-08-22T12:05:41-04:00 2025-08-22T12:05:41-04:00

Noise-canceling earbuds are great productivity tools, blocking out noisy roommates and busy coffee shops so you can focus on studying or work. While there are a number of great options these days, few are as eye-catching like the translucent Beats Studio Buds Plus. And right now, you can buy the stylish wireless earbuds for just $84.99 from Woot — a 50 percent discount and the best price we’ve seen outside of a brief drop to $63 earlier in June.

The wireless earbuds are some of our favorites, and not just because they look cool. Despite the fact Apple owns Beats, they play well with both iOS and Android devices. They don’t support every software feature — like Apple’s automatic device switching — but they still offer perks like one-tap pairing and integration with each platform’s respective Find My networks. Their sound quality also comes close to matching the latest AirPods Pro, and their active noise-cancellation does a good job of tuning out distractions — even if it’s not as powerful as Apple’s premium earbuds.

The Beats Studio Buds Plus are also comfortable, arriving with four swappable silicone ear tips. You also get IPX4 water resistance, as well as up to six hours of battery life on a single charge with ANC enabled. While we wish they also offered wireless charging and multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, all in all they’re a well-rounded option that can help you focus while looking good — especially if you own both iOS and Android devices.

Read our Beats Studio Buds Plus review.

Beats Studio Buds Plus

The Beats Studio Buds Plus sport an eye-catching translucent option and build upon the original with improved sound, better voice quality, and more effective ANC. They also include swappable silicon ear tips and support for native iOS and Android features. Read our review.
A photo of Beats’ translucent Studio Buds Plus earbuds.

Where to Buy:

Some more ways to save

  • You can buy the Hoto Flashlight Lite for $31.99 ($8 off) at Amazon, which matches its best price to date. The portable flashlight offers multiple adjustable brightness settings that reach up to 1,000-lumens. It also supports USB-C recharges and sports a useful zooming feature that lets you switch between a floodlight and a spotlight mode, which reaches up to 200 meters when focused.
  • The latest Blink Video Doorbell is on sale for $39.99 ($30 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, which is its second-best price to date and $10 shy of its all-time low. The basic video doorbell is a solid upgrade over the original, adding a wide 150-degree field of view, a better 1440p image resolution, and a 1:1 aspect ratio so you get a head-to-toe view of whoever is on your porch. The doorbell also comes with a Sync Module so you can store clips locally and, if you pay for $3 monthly subscription, adds person detection.
  • As a part of its new Labor Day sale, MasterClass is offering new and returning subscribers up to 50 percent off one year of its annual membership through September 1st. The membership typically starts at $120, so that means you’ll be paying as low as $60 instead. The deal also applies to higher tiers, which grant access to offline mode and streaming on multiple devices. The platform offers over 200 classes taught by world leaders, celebrities, and various experts across tech, sports, business, entertainment, health, games, food, and more.
]]> Brandt Ranj <![CDATA[Apple’s latest MacBook Pro with M4 is down to its lowest price to date]]> https://www.theverge.com/?p=758044 2025-08-13T11:18:12-04:00 2025-08-12T11:00:00-04:00 The MacBook Pro 14 (2025, M4) on a green and purple background.
The MacBook Pro 14 (2025, M4) is currently on sale for $1,299.99 ($300 off) at Amazon and Best Buy.

The MacBook Pro 14 with M4 is one of our top laptop recommendations for students, and it’s currently $1,299 ($300 off), an all-time low price at Amazon and Best Buy. In our tests, Apple’s entry-level pro laptop was powerful enough to process high-resolution raw files in Adobe’s Lightroom Classic without slowing down. It also easily clears the system requirements to play last month’s port of Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate to MacOS. 

Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2025, M4)

Where to Buy:

The laptop has a 14.2-inch high resolution (3024 x 1964) 120Hz Mini-LED display and runs on Apple’s M4 processor, its latest chip. It has 16GB of RAM, which should be enough memory to keep the laptop running smoothly when you have dozens of tabs open, want to edit 4K video, or play games. Its 512GB of storage is sufficient for keeping some larger files on your computer instead of keeping them in the cloud, or constantly transferring them to and from a portable SSD.

One distinct advantage the MacBook Pro has over the thinner and lighter MacBook Air is its port selection. The laptop is equipped with three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, and SD Card slot to connect to monitors, memory cards, and other accessories without a dongle. It also has a MagSafe port, so you don’t have to unplug an accessory to charge the laptop.

Speaking of charging, the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4’s battery lasted a little over 12 hours of moderate to heavy usage when we reviewed it. The apps you use and your preferred screen brightness level will heavily impact the laptops’s battery life, but you should be able to get through the school or work day without having to plug it in.

A few more great deals 

  • If you need a new pair of workout earbuds, Beats’ Powerbeats Pro 2 are currently $199.95 ($50 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. In our tests the earbuds were comfortable to wear (even with glasses), stayed in place during runs, lasted around 10 hours per charge and sounded pretty good. Each bud has an optical heart rate sensor, and both iOS and Android users can log information from their workouts when using a compatible app. 
  • The Kindle Paperwhite is one of the best e-readers we’ve tested, and you can get one in Like-New condition for $106.99 ($37 off) at Amazon. The e-reader impressed us with its 7-inch high-resolution screen, faster page turn speed, and adjustable warm white frontlight, which can be tinted to be easier on the eyes at night. It also has IPX8 water resistance, so you can safely read by the water. Amazon certifies it’s put the Kindle through diagnostic tests, cleaning and inspection, software updates, and a full data wipe.  
  • Summer is almost over, but if you’re squeezing in a last-minute trip outdoors, the BougeRV Telescopic Camping Light is good to have and is on sale for $45.99 ($44 off) at Amazon or $49.99 ($40 off) from BougeRV. The battery-powered lamp weighs 2.3 pounds, and can last up to 60 hours per charge depending on your brightness settings. It can be extended from a backpack-friendly 10.6 inches to 64.57 inches. The light is mounted on a tripod stand to keep it steady, but has a hook that allows you to hang it on the top of your tent.
]]> Brandon Russell <![CDATA[The Powerbeats Pro 2 are down to their best price yet for Prime Day]]> https://www.theverge.com/?p=703235 2025-07-09T16:50:53-04:00 2025-07-09T19:30:00-04:00 A close-up image of the Powerbeats Pro 2 in purple sitting side-by-side on a table.
Heart rate monitoring, here we come.

The Powerbeats Pro 2 are only a few months old, but they’re already on sale for an all-time low of around $179.95 ($70 off) at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy. We’ve seen the wireless earbuds drop in price here and there since launching in February, but Amazon is currently one-upping the previous low by a cool $20 for Prime Day. The earbuds aren’t quite as cheap as Apple’s second-gen AirPods Pro, which are down to $149 ($100 off) at Amazon, but if you want a pair specifically for working out, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are the ones to get.

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2

Where to Buy:

It took beats nearly six years to release a sequel to the original Powerbeats Pro — and it was worth it. The latest model is our favorite pair of earbuds for sports and working out thanks to features like active noise cancellation, heart rate monitoring, and a handy transparency mode that pipes outsides noises in. The updated mics do a solid job of filtering out ambient noise, too, while on-ear buttons provide tactile feedback when controlling playback. They even support hands-free voice control via Siri.

What makes the Powerbeats Pro 2 stand out among other Beats and Apple earbuds, however, is that they support heart rate monitoring. Each earbud features an optical heart rate sensor and accelerometer, which is the same tech found in the Apple Watch. The collected data integrates with apps from Nike, Runna, Peloton, and others, giving you insight into your performance. If you don’t already rely on a fitness tracker to track your workouts, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are a decent alternative.

The earbuds are also more comfortable to wear over extended periods. For instance, the ear hooks are 50 percent smaller, while the buds themselves are 20 percent lighter than the original model. Heck, even the case has shrunk by 33 percent. Despite their smaller size, though, the Powerbeats Pro 2 offer about 10 hours of battery life — or up to 45 hours with the included charging case. And in typical Beats fashion, the earbuds deliver thumping base, though the overall sound quality falls short of the latest AirPods Pro.

Read our Powerbeats Pro 2 review.
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