Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2: A Beloved Choice, Now $50 Discounted

Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2: A Beloved Choice, Now $50 Discounted

Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra 2 earbuds are presently the leading noise-canceling earbuds on the market. They are currently available at a $50 reduction, aligning with the best pricing typically seen outside major sales occasions like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. While waiting until November may lower the price back to $200, $250 still represents a sensible deal—particularly since the price frequently rises back to $300. The reduced price applies to all five color variants, including Black, Deep Plum, Desert Gold, Midnight Violet, and White Smoke, which is unusual as typically only the vibrant colors receive discounts.

These earbuds excel at blocking out distracting sounds, whether you’re trying to concentrate by looping 10 hours of Coconut Mall or dealing with aircraft noise such as wailing infants or strange noises. The active noise cancellation greatly improves your audio experience.

Featuring advanced noise cancellation, Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra 2 earbuds also deliver remarkable sound quality with a custom profile designed for your unique ear shape, and an app is available for EQ adjustments, touch controls, and spatial audio configurations. They offer around six hours of battery life, or 24 hours with the charging case. The earbuds come equipped with an Aware mode that allows outside sounds in while dampening the loudest noises, making it ideal for being aware of your environment without unexpected interruptions.

These earbuds are highly proficient, providing crystal-clear call quality, exceptional audio, and a contemporary aesthetic, although they may not be comfortable for those with very small ears. In summary, they offer substantial value at their full price, so saving $50 is an additional perk.

For anyone considering other headphone alternatives, supplementary guides on the finest wireless earbuds, workout headphones, noise-canceling headphones, and open earbuds are available to assist in finding the ideal pair for your requirements.

Top Meta Glasses for 2026: Ray-Ban, Oakley, AR

Top Meta Glasses for 2026: Ray-Ban, Oakley, AR

Every time I talk about Meta’s AI-powered glasses, the question I’m frequently faced with is: Why do you want them? What’s the appeal of smart glasses that can play music or inaccurately identify plants with enthusiasm? As a fan of Ray-Ban Wayfarers and a user of Meta for WIRED, I prefer Meta glasses for the integrated experience they offer—sunglasses combined with workout headphones.

In 2025, Meta achieved sales of over 7 million units. These glasses have gained popularity at outdoor and sporting events for documenting experiences to share on social media. The partnership with EssilorLuxottica has rendered these glasses both stylish and accessible, prompting competition from companies like Google and Apple. After the unsuccessful launch of the Apple Vision Pro, Apple is pivoting towards more straightforward, fashionable options devoid of displays.

Nevertheless, it’s wise to proceed with caution when using these glasses given Meta’s dubious privacy policies. Even for those unbothered by facial recognition, the notion of being potentially recorded at any moment is quite disconcerting.

Social attitudes pose a notable challenge; donning these glasses might be perceived as defying social norms, leading to monikers like Zuckerberg’s “pervert glasses.” Yet, brands like Oakley and Ray-Ban still offer fantastic sunglasses that perform well, even if their AI capabilities aren’t utilized.

If you’re inclined to give them a shot, here’s what to look for. If not, check out our purchasing guides for the top smart glasses or workout headphones.

Meta has upgraded the classic Ray-Ban Wayfarers, now offering entry-level glasses featuring various lens options, including clear, prescription, transition, or original sunglass lenses, in addition to assorted fits. The enhancements include a 12-MP camera and up to eight hours of battery life, although writer Boone Ashworth found it to last between five to six hours in practical use.

Smart Plug Manual (2026): When to Utilize and When to Steer Clear

Smart Plug Manual (2026): When to Utilize and When to Steer Clear

A smart plug is a multifunctional device that lets you manage electrical appliances via a connected outlet. By converting standard outlets to smart ones, a smart plug offers remote control of power to devices, allowing them to be activated or deactivated from any location, whether you’re at home or elsewhere. Utilize it for controlling appliances, scheduling lighting, or even automating a coffee maker or other simple gadgets.

For those looking to control basic devices that require only power, smart plugs serve as a superb choice. Among the leading options are TP-Link’s smart plugs, which have been particularly well-liked over time. The TP-Link Tapo Matter-Certified Smart Plug Mini (P125M) is a handy option, providing integration with your chosen smart home hub through the Matter protocol. For outdoor applications, the Cync Outdoor Smart Plug, equipped with dual outlets for $17, is built to endure outdoor conditions.

Wondering if a smart plug can improve your non-smart devices? From advice on their applications to compatibility evaluations, explore guidance on whether they meet your requirements. Also, check out other smart-home suggestions like Best Smart Bulbs, Best Security Cameras, Best Smart Speakers, and Best Smart Displays.

Updated April 2026: Now featuring the Ikea Grillplats Smart Plug, along with insights on energy monitoring.

What is a Smart Plug? Able to transform ‘dumb’ devices into smarter ones, a smart plug links devices (such as a lamp or coffee maker) to a home Wi-Fi network, enabling control via schedules, apps, or voice commands through a smart speaker. They allow you to set times for lamps, automate coffee makers, or control TVs from afar. However, power does not always mean the device is operational, as many remain inactive until manually switched on.

Best Device Pairings for Smart Plugs: Perfect for simple switch-operated devices, smart plugs shine with lamps and basic outdoor decorations. Scheduling features enable pre-set times for turning on or off, creating the appearance of being present at home or promoting timely sleep by automatically shutting down the TV.

Devices Unsuitable for Smart Plugs: They are not effective for devices that require activation through buttons or settings, like electric kettles or certain coffee machines. While they can cut power to TVs, they cannot automatically reactivate them after power is restored.

Other Capabilities: In addition to controlling devices, smart plugs track energy consumption, offering insights into usage patterns and assisting in managing electricity consumption. Advanced models like the Kasa EP25 are currently being evaluated for these features.

Our Top Smart Plug Picks: Through extensive testing, favored models include TP-Link’s Tapo Matter-Certified Smart Plug Mini for compact indoor use, and Cync’s Outdoor Smart Plug for outdoor environments, ensuring reliable performance across various conditions.