💡 __The Buying Game consists of me selecting three products worth buying at different price points. Each product is given a__ __Value Score__ __—based on price and function—and then one is crowned the winner at the end. Affiliate links may be used.__ ## How I’d spend $500: Sony WF-1000XM6 Sony's latest premium wireless earbuds compete with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and Apple's AirPods Pro 3. In terms of active noise cancellation and audio quality, the 1000XM6 go toe-to-toe with each of those, and in some areas, best those two. I've used the 1000XM6 for a couple of weeks and like what I've heard. If you want Sony's latest audio gear, then the earbuds work well. **Price:** $330 (link) **Value Score:** Poor While the 1000XM6 earbuds have great ANC and audio quality, they're also some of the most expensive consumer buds. Bose's QC Ultra Earbuds retail for $300, and Apple's AirPods Pro 3 retail for $250. That value isn't good at the moment, but I would expect these to go on sale sooner or later. ## How I’d spend $150: Eero Signal The Eero Signal is solving a very interesting problem of what to do when your home internet goes out. The Signal is a backup cellular connection that pipes directly into your existing home network. So, if your cable or fiber connection goes down, a cellular one can kick in. With Eero's Plus subscription, you get 10 GB of data per year. You can get up to 100 GB of backup data per month with the more expensive plans. **Price** : $99 (link) **Value Score** : Good A 5G version is coming later, but it retails for $199. However, if this is being used as a backup and is only used a couple of times per year, then I'm inclined to recommend the cheaper 4G LTE option. Save some money while still having an internet fallback. ## How I’d spend $50: Abxylute M4 Despite plenty of mobile games working just fine with touch controls, a physical controller will improve the gameplay most of the time. This Abxylute M4 is small enough to toss in a backpack or even carry in a jeans pocket. That means it'll probably get used more often. It has buttons and a D-pad, as well as two joysticks. It uses Bluetooth for gaming, but also connects magnetically to an iPhone to hold it in place. **Price** : $50 (link) **Value Score** : Fair The Abxylute M4's $50 pricing is a bit of a splurge compared to some console controllers. But if it works as expected, then its clever functionality and compact size might be worth the extra cash. ## The winning pick: Eero Signal I've tried T-Mobile's home internet service and it was okay, at best. Relying on cellular connectivity full-time, for all of your home streaming and gaming, isn't ideal or practical for a lot of people. However, I really like the idea of having a cellular option that seamlessly starts working when your regular connection goes down. You will need Eero routers to use this, but those have become fairly common in recent years. * * * _Are you looking for even more picks this week? Here are a few things worth considering._ ## An expensive pick: Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 The Solix c200 Gen 2 is a big backup battery. It has 10+ outputs, including five AC outlets. It can also accept six different input methods, so you shouldn't run out of ways to recharge this power source. Despite having a capacity of 2,048Wh and being powerful with 2,400 watts (4,000W peak), it only weighs about 40 pounds. It may be too late to get you out of a winter jam this year, but this is the type of investment that most homeowners should consider. **Price** : $799 regularly $1,499] ([link) ## Media pick: _Rooster_ Creating a good comedy series is like walking a tightrope. The jokes, overall tone, characters, and emotional resonance all need to be spot on, with confident footing, or it wobbles and falls off. While it's hard to tell if _Rooster_ on HBO Max will be that series, it certainly appears to be, based on this two-minute trailer. This seems like an excellent role for Steve Carell. ## This week's other interesting deals and product news * T-Mobile is rolling out live translation to any phone on its network, without the need for an app. It can translate to different languages in near real-time. * YouTube TV is launching new plans, including one focused on sports. The Sports Plan costs $64.99 per month, $18 per month less than the regular YouTube TV, and offers access to FS1, NBC Sports Network, all of the ESPN networks. * Anker's portable 25W Prime Wireless Charging Station just launched and is down to $120 with the Amazon coupon. * The Google Pixel 9a phone is down to $399, from $499, right now. * Apple launched its new version of Xcode 26.3 with support for agentic coding. ## This week's published stories * Sony WF-1000XM6 wireless earbuds review [Business Insider] * Ranking this year's tech Super Bowl ads [Yahoo] * Taylor Swift's "Opalite" music video is one of her best [Yahoo] * Anker Prime Wireless Charging Station review [Yahoo] * Topo Designs is having a sale on travel and laptop bags [Yahoo]

The Anker Prime Wireless Charging Station (25W) is one of the most powerful 3-in-1 portable chargers out now. The device fits in the palm of your hand but features 25 watts for a phone and spots for an Apple Watch and AirPods. I’ve been using the Prime Charging Station for a few weeks and it might be one of the best travel options for sale right now. Beyond its power, its compact size and durable build quality are the real stars of the show. ## It has a small size with big power Prime Wireless Charging Station fits in the palm of a hand(Tyler Hayes) The Prime Charging Station isn’t overly flashy. It isn’t packed with a screen or superfluous features. It features Qi2.2 25W power and three charging spots, but that’s pretty much it. I think most people will find that satisfactory. I haven’t wanted it to do much more. The streamlined feature set means that the unit can stay small. On a technical level, the Charging Station measures 3.74 by 2.38 by 1.22 inches. A more casual assessment is that it’s palm-sized. It should fit in a small travel pouch, which makes it great for taking on vacation or work trips. The Belkin UltraCharge 3-in-1 Foldable is one of the other tiny Qi2.2 25W 3-in-1 devices to consider. The Belkin one is just a hair shorter than Anker’s when both are lying flat. But the Anker one is shorter in length than Belkin’s. ## There aren’t many considerations iPhone 17 Pro charging(Tyler Hayes) You can use the Prime Charging Station lying flat, folded up, to charge just an iPhone. To charge an Apple Watch and AirPods, you’ll need to unfold it. I found the hinge to be strong. It wasn’t too hard to lift and stayed upright, even when putting on and taking off the phone. I had no trouble fitting my iPhone 17 Pro vertically on the stand, but it’s great for using horizontally for StandBy mode. It’s worth noting that there is a fan for active cooling. Anker says that it’s only about 19 decibels in volume. For most people, that should be inaudible. I can’t promise that it won’t bother anyone, but I couldn’t hear it from a foot away. To get the full 25 watts of power, you’ll need to use a 45W charger. Thankfully, the charger comes with one in the box—along with a five-foot USB-C cable. ## Is the Anker Prime Wireless Charging Station worth spending money on? Fan vent above the USB-C port(Tyler Hayes) As a travel charger, the Anker Prime Wireless Charging Station is close to ideal. Its size is small enough to fit in most pouches. It's powerful enough to fast-charge the latest iPhones. Plus, it has spots for all your Apple devices. Its sleek design and power combination demand a premium price. But that’s fairly common among these types of products. The Prime Wireless Charging Station retails for $150, but has a launch price of $120, thanks to an Amazon coupon. After using this charger daily for several weeks, I feel confident that it's durable enough to use every day on a nightstand or pack infrequently for travel. My biggest concern about this charger was the fan for active cooling. After spending time with it, however, it hasn’t bothered me like some other 25W chargers have. It could still be an issue for people who are ultra-sensitive to sound, but most people shouldn’t worry. If you really don’t want any fan in your 3-in-1 travel charger, then you can look at Belkin’s Belkin UltraCharge 3-in-1 Foldable.

Taylor Swift’s new music video for “Opalite” centers around two people who don’t know they’re searching for each other. Both were seemingly content to suffer through life with hard and prickly companions. That is, until Opalite spray changes everything. It’s a near-perfect music video, but maybe not for the reasons you think. The video’s concept is deeper than it has any right to be. But beyond the storyline, it’s just fun, from start to finish. The cast was plucked from Swift’s appearance on the _Graham Norton_ show. Was it fate or a coincidence? The wardrobe choices and set design for the video are also sights to behold. Malls and clothes from the 80s and 90s are truly capnit for Millennials. I’m sure there are lots of Easter Eggs for those with keen eyes. It’s not any of the individual pieces that make this one of, if not the best, music videos that Swift has ever made. It succeeds more deeply because of its total package. The “Opalite” video is audio and video mashed into a feeling. It’s a cohesive montage that makes you feel the song in a more meaningful way. Once you’ve seen this video, it will be hard to ever hear the song without picturing it. While it’s hard to pick out the scenes because they all mesh together so well, there are a few shots that stick out as the glue pieces. These are the ones that pull you in, crystallize everything about the scene, and make you feel like you’re there. _You can also check out the “Opalite” music video on_ _Apple Music_ _or_ _Spotify_ _._ ## The best shots of the “Opalite” video Early scene, swinging with a rock(Taylor Swift) There are two parts at the beginning of the video where Swift seems happy to have the rock friend and be with it. The first is on the swing. The rock falls off and she jumps off without a second thought to rescue it. That shot as she scrambles to pick it up is great. The next part is when she’s sitting on the bed, making a friendship bracelet. She looks over at the rock and smiles. Without context, it’s a silly visual, but in the moment of the scene, it’s warm and comforting. Making a friendship bracelet(Taylor Swift) One of the most important moments in the whole video is subtle and quick. It’s when Domhnall Gleeson mouths, “Oh, I love this game,” and a smile creeps onto Swift’s face. That’s the turning point and the second you know these two people are right for each other. Pick one of the poses from the photoshoot in the mall because any of them could be a highlight. The same is true for the final dance number. But, if the scene at the table is the most important to the video, then I think the best shot is when the two are coming down the escalator. They touch hands, and then you see Swift smile and look away. The photo session(Taylor Swift) It’s not easy to show some of these exact shots because computers will black out the content for copy protection when grabbing screenshots. Still, watch “Opalite” again with an eye for those moments throughout. It’s the attention to these small details that make this video truly great. “The Fate of Ophelia” is technically impressive. It’s a lot of fun. But “Opalite” is an ideal representation. ## The other music videos Over the years, I’ve come across a few other music videos that carry a similar quality. If you’re interested in some other music videos that capture exactly what the song intends you to feel, these are worth your time. ### Novo Amor - “Opaline” ### Gracie Abrams - “Risk” ### Rhye - “Open”

Some people watch the Super Bowl to see which football team is the best in the NFL. Other people watch it to see which company spent the most on their Super Bowl ad or which company has the best marketing team. Over the years, the types of companies advertising during the most-watched sporting event have shifted. There aren’t many car companies advertising this year, for example. There remain plenty of food and beverage commercials, as evident by spots for Pringles, Nerds, and beer. In recent years, tech companies have begun to use the airtime during the Super Bowl to get their products and messages in front of a large audience. This year, as the New England Patriots take on the Seattle Seahawks, tech companies are trying to appeal to the more human side, making us laugh or, in Google’s case, cry. I’ve been covering the technology industry for over a decade. So, I went through the ads below and ranked the tech-related Super Bowl commercials from best to worst. ## Anthropic Anthropic, with its Claude AI assistant, is having a moment right now. Its coding tools are more popular than ever and considered the best. Probably for that reason, the company took this opportunity to tell the world how OpenAI will ruin ChatGPT by including advertising. OpenAI’s Sam Altman fired back that ChatGPT won’t be doing ads in the way Anthropic depicts. There’s not one, but four commercial variations. On first watch, they're funny. But on the second and third watch, the ads highlight how dystopian _all_ AI is right now. So, these commercials are good for a laugh and good as a warning sign about all the artificial intelligence companies—mission accomplished, Anthropic. That’s why these are among the best tech commercials at the 2026 Super Bowl. They’re a comedy and horror, all in one. ## Google Gemini If you’re not careful, Google’s Gemini commercial will have you teary-eyed by the end of it. The ad spot shows off the AI assistant’s ability to create images and reimagine existing photos. Google has used this format for its ads in the past, but it continues to be effective. Instead of cracking a joke like Anthropic did, Google went for a sentimental approach, trying to sell people on AI’s potential in their lives. I don’t know if a football commercial can fully achieve that, but this one is solid. I’d argue the ad is good enough to make you forget it’s about AI—briefly. It’s a much better AI ad than Alexa. ## Ramp Ramp is an AI tool for business customers looking for help managing finances. I had no idea about this company or what it did prior to this Super Bowl ad. But using _The Office_ character Kevin Malone to get his job done, with the help of Ramp, was effective and clever. This commercial gets high marks for the chili sequence at the end. ## Xfinity Although Xfinity hasn’t done itself any favors with customer service or pricing, this year’s commercial reimaging of _Jurassic Park_ isn’t bad. Apparently, plugging in the cable company’s modem could have avoided all the chaos that ensued in the movie. The extended version is rewatchable to try and pick up on where the old blends with the new. But ultimately, Jeff Goldblum’s “…Wi-Fi finds a way” is the icing on the cake. ## Squarespace Squarespace’s ad about finding a domain name is odd. Are domain sales that lucrative to deserve spending on a Super Bowl ad? Or maybe the idea is that once you have a domain name, you’ll need to build a website. Regardless, this ad entirely succeeds on the back of Emma Stone and the moody black-and-white style. The content itself is superfluous. But in the end, it’s a decent attempt to make the concept of buying a domain name memorable. ## T-Mobile A good ad has multiple layers. First, there’s the broad appeal of featuring a well-known band or celebrity. Then there’s an attempt at humor, such as changing the lyrics or highlighting over-dramatic fans. All of those things are present in T-Mobile’s ad. It’s fine, if not a little boring and overly predictable. But thankfully, there’s a surprise punchline at the end to elevate it slightly. ## Oakley Meta smart glasses This Oakley Meta ad for smart glasses is quintessential Meta. The company has been the definition of average and comfortable with the masses. The company can’t grow to the size it has without becoming watered down and perceived as playing it safe. The Oakley Meta ad didn’t flop. It might pique someone’s interest. But it’s also not one you ever come back to. It’s just straightforward and plain. ## Bosch Guy Fieri’s transformation to “just a guy” had been teased before any commercial appeared online. The concept for the ad is good, but I don’t think it was utilized fully. I would go as far as to say that Bosch’s push for its power tools and home appliances fell way short of its potential. This one flopped much harder than it needed to. ## Amazon Alexa+ The whole ad for the advanced Alexa+ is showing how an AI assistant would have someone killed, theoretically, of course. Even at first glance, the optics aren’t good. But mostly, the payoff isn’t big enough, and so you’re just left wondering if Alexa will actually start sabotaging things around your home. It’s not a good look. Even the ad’s “scary good” name could have used a rethink. Google’s sentimental approach plays much better than this one. ## Ring For me, Ring’s Super Bowl ad was the worst of any tech company. There are two major problems with it. The first is that the founder insists on being in Ring’s high-profile ads. This isn’t charming or personable. It makes the ads more boring than they need to be. The second, much bigger problem is that this ad for finding lost dogs clearly demonstrates how your Ring camera, which you think is private, really isn’t. Features like Search Party are what convince me not to buy a Ring product. Of course, Search Party is available for free—a statement declared at the end. Ring needs everyone to share what their cameras see with the company, all the time, even when there aren’t lost dogs.

<div class="kg-card kg-callout-card kg-callout-card-grey"><div class="kg-callout-emoji">💡</div><div class="kg-callout-text"><i><em class="italic" style="white-space:pre-wrap">The Buying Game consists of me selecting three products worth buying at different price points. Each product is given a </em></i><a href="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/value-score/" rel="noreferrer"><i><em class="italic" style="white-space:pre-wrap">Value Score</em></i></a><i><em class="italic" style="white-space:pre-wrap">—based on price and function—and then one is crowned the winner at the end. Affiliate links may be used.</em></i></div></div><h2 id="how-i%E2%80%99d-spend-500-dreame-aero-pro-vacuum-mop">How I’d spend $500: Dreame Aero Pro Vacuum Mop</h2><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-05-bpWW1TSJ@2x.png" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1266" srcset="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w600/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-05-bpWW1TSJ@2x.png 600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1000/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-05-bpWW1TSJ@2x.png 1000w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1600/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-05-bpWW1TSJ@2x.png 1600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w2400/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-05-bpWW1TSJ@2x.png 2400w" /></figure><p>If you've never tried a wet-dry vacuum mop, then you're missing out. The ability to roll over spilled cereal, pet hair, or orange juice is great. While robot vacuums and mops are getting good at this type of thing, products like the Dreame Aero Pro offer more powerful suction and downward force. One of the things that's key for this unit is its hot water and air drying dock. You won't have to mess with taking the roller off and rinsing it, or smelling it after the fact. </p><p><strong>Price: </strong>$380 [with Amazon coupon] (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G4W2GMRS?&amp;linkCode=ll2&amp;tag=thisweekstren-20&amp;linkId=20153a7f80951232d7e76a6a06e14689&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl" rel="noreferrer">link</a>)<br /><strong>Value Score: </strong>Fair</p><p>The Aero Pro retails for $450, but as part of its launch, it's on sale for $380 with the coupon on Amazon's site. For that lower price, a fraction of a robot version, this is a great cleaning option.</p><h2 id="how-i%E2%80%99d-spend-150-dexom-stelo">How I’d spend $150: Dexom Stelo</h2><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-05-uwDfcbhd@2x.png" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1217" srcset="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w600/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-05-uwDfcbhd@2x.png 600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1000/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-05-uwDfcbhd@2x.png 1000w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1600/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-05-uwDfcbhd@2x.png 1600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w2400/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-05-uwDfcbhd@2x.png 2400w" /></figure><p>There are plenty of ways to check your glucose, but none of them have been that great or easy. Dexcom's Stelo is a glucose sensor that you can buy online, apply yourself, and get continuous readings for 15 days. The device connects to an app on your phone and can integrate with Apple Health and Oura Ring to bring even more insights into your glucose readings. I used Stelo for about a month and had a good experience with it.</p><p><strong>Price</strong>: $99 (<a href="https://amzn.to/4rKtfr5" rel="noreferrer">link</a>)<br /><strong>Value Score</strong>: Fair</p><p>The $99 price includes two sensors, which will last you a month. If you don't need to monitor your glucose, that can get costly. But if you do need to keep an eye on your levels, then this is an easy-to-use solution.</p><h2 id="how-i%E2%80%99d-spend-50-bellroy-cinch-pouch">How I’d spend $50: Bellroy Cinch Pouch</h2><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-05-EFRopLZR@2x.png" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1339" srcset="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w600/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-05-EFRopLZR@2x.png 600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1000/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-05-EFRopLZR@2x.png 1000w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1600/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-05-EFRopLZR@2x.png 1600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w2400/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-05-EFRopLZR@2x.png 2400w" /></figure><p>Bellroy has a bunch of new small pouches. My favorite of the bunch is the Cinch Pouch. It's big enough to hold a power adapter, USB-C cable, earbuds, Chapstick, and several other odds and ends. It could work well for daily use to throw in a tote bag or clip on to a backpack. I plan to use it in my airplane travel bag as a place to throw all the gadgets I use frequently.</p><p><strong>Price</strong>: $25 (<a href="https://amzn.to/4rnOLS3" rel="noreferrer">link</a>)<br /><strong>Value Score</strong>: Poor</p><p>If the Cinch Pouch isn't the right shape or size, Bellroy also has its new Lite Pocket Trio, which comes with three small pouches. I've tried all these, and despite their tiny appearance, they are quite useful.</p><h2 id="the-winning-pick-dexcom-stelo">The winning pick: Dexcom Stelo</h2><p>A sensor to monitor your glucose level might not be the most glamorous pick, but I do think it's an important one. After spending several weeks wearing Stelo, I have a new appreciation for people who need to keep a close eye on this aspect of their lives. This product is a convenient way to do that. The nice thing is that if you just want to check it out to get more insight into your body, you don't need to do anything other than click buy.</p><hr /><p><em>Are you looking for even more picks this week? Here are a few things worth considering.</em></p><h2 id="an-expensive-pick-tp-link-deco-7-pro-be17000">An expensive pick: TP-Link Deco 7 Pro BE17000</h2><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/2026/02/61nbnyWwbAL._AC_SL1500_.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1084" srcset="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w600/2026/02/61nbnyWwbAL._AC_SL1500_.jpg 600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1000/2026/02/61nbnyWwbAL._AC_SL1500_.jpg 1000w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/2026/02/61nbnyWwbAL._AC_SL1500_.jpg 1500w" /></figure><p>TP-Link's newest Wi-Fi mesh networking system, the Deco 7 Pro BE17000, is a powerful way to ensure your entire home has wireless connectivity. Of course, it might provide a little more than the average home needs, up to 8,500 square feet, but depending on how often you plan on upgrading your Wi-Fi system, this might be worth the splurge. This particular pack comes with three units, each of which has 10 Gbps, 2.5 Gbps, and 1 Gbps ports. As more computers and phones support the Wi-Fi 7 protocol, all the Multi-Link and other features will continue to improve speed and performance.</p><p><strong>Price</strong>: $699 [normally $799] (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Deco-HomeShield-BE77-3-Pack/dp/B0G87WR6FT?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.jWUoqeubb49JKaAqzlD1-SplQWldRgVRY4Oo34FEghKXFMYFdab0mJ7__YpoPtt633OY7eFdFI6LA_n4E9D6AlXt99iU0xaeM--5o-8rsBKBoo5bDH9STIBukd_uAgZ65MgesJziQhR5WzO141sVNOCL8kDjysghfyROIjIU7J-oFnRhSGuZZR2zl-1x8BdSYF7cKnsJJbQlpkn70A5pqk87-XLLCnoCVJJw2LX9IP0.Vndn0m5WV_0xMy453gVpJXeqGFUExikww_8ylpY0OiQ&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=be17000&amp;qid=1770345111&amp;sr=8-2&amp;ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.5998aa40-ec6f-4947-a68f-cd087fee0848&amp;linkCode=ll2&amp;tag=thisweekstren-20&amp;linkId=1a33ab4619e0c65c0b244a57e2de3756&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl" rel="noreferrer">link</a>)</p><h2 id="media-pick-the-muppet-show">Media pick: <em>The Muppet Show</em></h2><figure class="kg-card kg-embed-card"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hSLE5Psfs6U?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen title="The Muppet Show | Official Trailer | Disney+"></iframe></figure><p><em>The Muppet Show</em> is back, kinda. At least a test run episode is out now. It seems like how well it's received will determine whether it gets a full season. While I haven't seen this new episode yet, all the reviews have been off-the-charts positive. It seems like Seth Rogen's flavor of humor and wit has translated well to The Muppets. You can stream the episode now on Disney+.</p><h2 id="this-weeks-other-interesting-deals-and-product-news">This week's other interesting deals and product news</h2><ul><li>Google <a href="https://store.google.com/us/?" rel="noreferrer">announced</a> that its Pixel 10a phone is coming on February 18.</li><li>All the exclusive vinyl records for <a href="https://consequence.net/2026/02/record-store-day-2026-the-45-must-have-releases/" rel="noreferrer">Record Store Day</a> have been announced.</li><li>The <a href="https://electronics.woot.com/offers/bowers-wilkins-fp42927-px7-s2-recertified-black-black" rel="noreferrer">Bowers &amp; Wilkins Px7 S2</a> headphones typically retail for several hundred dollars, but are on sale for $99—while they last.</li><li>Alexa+ is <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/873702/amazon-alexa-plus-ai-assistant-now-available" rel="noreferrer">now available</a> on all supported Echo devices. It's free for Prime subscribers and $20 for non-Prime members.</li><li><a href="https://9to5mac.com/2026/02/03/apple-music-replay-2026-now-live-heres-how-to-find-it/" rel="noreferrer">Apple Music's Replay</a> is now available for 2026. This feature will show you stats from your monthly listening.</li><li><a href="https://sonos.com" rel="noreferrer">Sonos</a> is having a Super Bowl sale with 20% most speakers.</li><li>Google announced <a href="https://labs.google/projectgenie" rel="noreferrer">Project Genie</a>. It's AI-generated worlds that you can explore. It's kind of like creating your own video game in real-time.</li></ul><h2 id="this-weeks-published-stories">This week's published stories</h2><ul><li>A first look at Legoland's new Glacticoaster [<a href="https://www.pcmag.com/articles/legolands-new-galacticoaster-requires-a-lesson-in-teamwork-before-blasting" rel="noreferrer">PCMag</a>]</li><li>A preview of Apple TV's 2026 releases [<a href="https://creators.yahoo.com/lifestyle/story/must-see-apple-tv-just-unloaded-previews-of-the-years-most-anticipated-shows-and-movies-020100980.html" rel="noreferrer">Yahoo</a>]</li><li>9 iPhone tricks that will change how you use your phone [<a href="https://creators.yahoo.com/lifestyle/story/these-9-iphone-tricks-will-change-how-you-use-your-phone-every-day-234000141.html" rel="noreferrer">Yahoo</a>]</li><li>Soundcore Aerfit 2 Pro review [<a href="https://creators.yahoo.com/lifestyle/story/these-open-earbuds-can-switch-to-noise-canceling-and-might-be-an-athletes-dream-000100188.html" rel="noreferrer">Yahoo</a>]</li><li>Bellroy Lite Pocket Trio review [<a href="https://creators.yahoo.com/lifestyle/story/are-tiny-pouches-the-new-packing-trend-i-tried-several-sizes-to-see-how-they-travel-235600669.html" rel="noreferrer">Yahoo</a>]</li><li>Soundpeats Cove Pro headphones review [<a href="https://creators.yahoo.com/lifestyle/story/i-found-good-wireless-anc-headphones-for-under-70and-theyre-not-even-on-sale-yet-235900989.html" rel="noreferrer">Yahoo</a>]</li></ul>

<p>The <a href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=179e17fc-174d-4d38-8428-4b655a48c3d4&amp;siteId=us-y4c&amp;pageId=1p-autolink&amp;contentUuid=a7b766e5-f3c0-4e5d-abf1-0cb9db0db535&amp;featureId=text-link&amp;merchantName=soundcore&amp;linkText=Soundcore+Aerofit+2+Pro&amp;custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5zb3VuZGNvcmUuY29tL3Byb2R1Y3RzL2EzODc1LWFlcm9maXQtMi1wcm8tb3Blbi1lYXItZWFyYnVkcy13aXRoLWFuYyIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiYTdiNzY2ZTUtZjNjMC00ZTVkLWFiZjEtMGNiOWRiMGRiNTM1Iiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5zb3VuZGNvcmUuY29tL3Byb2R1Y3RzL2EzODc1LWFlcm9maXQtMi1wcm8tb3Blbi1lYXItZWFyYnVkcy13aXRoLWFuYyJ9&amp;signature=AQAAAb8YsMyH_cVQzbgLLs_3H6HW114IwW6RsYyaSlwem-4O&amp;gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.soundcore.com%2Fproducts%2Fa3875-aerofit-2-pro-open-ear-earbuds-with-anc&amp;spaceId=1197809816&amp;uuid=EFNaeguanykNfJr10215" rel="nofollow noopener">Soundcore Aerofit 2 Pro</a> earbuds can go from an open-ear design to a closed ANC one with a twist. The dual style makes them versatile for exercising outside, where you want to hear your surroundings, to the gym, where you need to block out some distractions.</p><p>I’ve been using the Aerofit 2 Pro for a couple of weeks, and I’m happy with their performance so far. They’re easy to adjust, even while on the move. It’s also nice that they have physical buttons to control audio playback. The biggest downside is that the ANC isn’t super strong. These won’t be good for an airplane. Still, if you’ve been considering open earbuds but are hesitant to commit, now you can have both in this 2-in-1 design.</p><h2 id="these-earbuds-pack-plenty-of-features">These earbuds pack plenty of features</h2><p>The dual form in-ear and open styles are the main draw of these wireless earbuds. That doesn’t mean Soundcore has forgotten about the other specs. They feature 11.8 mm drivers, IP55 water and dust resistance, and an average of 6 hours of battery life per charge (29 hours average with case). Charging them for 10 minutes will get you more than three hours of use. The case wireless charges too.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-embed-card"><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width:605px;min-width:325px"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@thisweekthetrend" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekthetrend?refer=embed">@thisweekthetrend</a> <p>Hands-on Soundcore Aerofit 2 Pro earbuds <a title="running" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/running?refer=embed">#running</a> <a title="tech" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/tech?refer=embed">#tech</a> <a title="audio" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/audio?refer=embed">#audio</a> <a title="headphones" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/headphones?refer=embed">#headphones</a> <a title="earbudswireless" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/earbudswireless?refer=embed">#earbudswireless</a> @AnkerOfficial @soundcore by Anker </p> <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - ThisWeekTheTrend" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7602688541277129502?refer=embed">♬ original sound - ThisWeekTheTrend</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async></script></figure><p>The Aerofit 2 Pro buds use Bluetooth 6.1, they have four mics, and can use a Multi-point connection. If you have an Android device (and a supporting music service), then you can use LDAC.</p><p>Most of these features are fairly standard. I had a few glitches with the Bluetooth connection to my Apple Watch while out running, but I’ve chalked that up to using the device pre-launch. Using it with my iPhone, I haven’t heard the same brief connection blips.</p><p>One nicety of these buds that’s easy to overlook is the case design. Although the case is a bit big to fit in a jeans pocket, it has enough space for the ear hooks to remain in place while charging. They can stay at whatever angle you have them adjusted to.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/2026/02/DSCF7840.jpeg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1334" srcset="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w600/2026/02/DSCF7840.jpeg 600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1000/2026/02/DSCF7840.jpeg 1000w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1600/2026/02/DSCF7840.jpeg 1600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w2400/2026/02/DSCF7840.jpeg 2400w" /></figure><h2 id="the-aerofit-2-pro-buds-sound-good-in-both-modes">The Aerofit 2 Pro buds sound good in both modes</h2><p>I’ve been happy with the sound quality from nearly all Soundcore headphones and earbuds. Especially over the last few years, there’s not much to complain about in the sound department. These follow suit and are fantastic for consumer-level music streaming.</p><p>When the earbuds are in ANC mode, the bass is strong and has a mild resonance to it. The vocals and mid-range are clear. I had no trouble picking out different instrumentation. While they don’t carry the same oomph when rotated up in open mode, I still found the audio quality to be fine and got enough energy from songs while running.</p><p>I used the Aerofit 2 Pro to listen to music while out running, but a lot of the time I also used them to listen to podcasts. When using them in open mode next to a busy road, I needed to turn the volume up nearly to 100%. But I could still hear the conversation. Rotating them down into ANC mode made it much easier to hear the talking around a 50% volume level.</p><h2 id="there-are-some-downsides%E2%80%94for-some-people">There are some downsides—for some people</h2><p>The Aerofit 2 Pro don’t use silicone or foam eartips, so they can’t create a true seal. This is the biggest reason that the ANC isn’t as strong as traditional in-ear ones. These are more like AirPods 4 with ANC. Those don’t have a seal either.</p><p>While the Aerofit 2 Pro won’t be ideal for airplanes or really noisy environments, the active noise-blocking tech can still be useful to take the edge off. If you’ve ever found the hum at the gym to be just a little too loud or distracting, these might help with that.</p><p>When I’m running next to a busy street, I’ll sometimes rotate the buds down to stick in my ears more. This helps keep podcasts audible without needing to turn the volume up too loud.</p><p>The nice thing is that each bud is independent, so sometimes I’ll just adjust one or the other. This helps alleviate the feeling of having my ears plugged up too much.</p><p>Aside from the lack of strong ANC, the other downside is the fit when the earbuds are fully angled into my ears. The ear hooks are a little large for my ears when all the way in ANC form. This isn’t an issue when I’m sitting at my desk. But when out running, they’re less secure. In the open form, they’re much more secure.</p><h2 id="are-the-soundcore-aerofit-2-pro-earbuds-worth-spending-money-on">Are the Soundcore Aerofit 2 Pro earbuds worth spending money on?</h2><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/2026/02/DSCF7844.jpeg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1333" srcset="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w600/2026/02/DSCF7844.jpeg 600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1000/2026/02/DSCF7844.jpeg 1000w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1600/2026/02/DSCF7844.jpeg 1600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w2400/2026/02/DSCF7844.jpeg 2400w" /></figure><p>There is a growing number of open earbuds, from the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds to the <a href="https://creators.yahoo.com/lifestyle/story/sony-linkbuds-clip-open-earbuds-are-ideal-for-running-but-fall-short-in-practice-160034550.html">Sony Linkbuds Clip</a>. However, none of them quite do what the Soundcore Aerofit 2 Pro do, by switching back and forth. Ones like the <a href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&amp;itemId=amazon_B0DGLL5CWK&amp;siteId=us-y4c&amp;pageId=1p-autolink&amp;contentUuid=a7b766e5-f3c0-4e5d-abf1-0cb9db0db535&amp;featureId=text-link&amp;merchantName=Amazon&amp;linkText=Nothing+Ear%28Open%29&amp;custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwREdMTDVDV0svcmVmPWNtX3N3X3JfYXNfZ2xfYXBpX2dsX2lfOU5FNVA3SjI1N0NDOEI1SjFUSzI_dGFnPXk0Yy1zaG9wcGluZy0yMCIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiYTdiNzY2ZTUtZjNjMC00ZTVkLWFiZjEtMGNiOWRiMGRiNTM1Iiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwREdMTDVDV0svcmVmPWNtX3N3X3JfYXNfZ2xfYXBpX2dsX2lfOU5FNVA3SjI1N0NDOEI1SjFUSzIiLCJkeW5hbWljQ2VudHJhbFRyYWNraW5nSWQiOnRydWUsInNpdGVJZCI6InVzLXk0YyIsInBhZ2VJZCI6IjFwLWF1dG9saW5rIiwiZmVhdHVyZUlkIjoidGV4dC1saW5rIn0&amp;signature=AQAAAREf-GnXQK_Hlgxr6H-tiRbCC-vPQiyMW8T06OAyI9i7&amp;gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0DGLL5CWK%2Fref%3Dcm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_9NE5P7J257CC8B5J1TK2&amp;spaceId=1197809816&amp;uuid=byyHJKAU7ZM6Gtow1215" rel="nofollow noopener">Nothing Ear(Open)</a> that sit on top of your ears might be the closest to having it both ways.</p><p>Ultimately, the Aero 2 Pro are an ideal pair of earbuds for runners, gym rats, and athletes of all kinds. They aren’t perfect for every listening situation, but they are versatile enough that they can fit a lot of people’s needs across active situations.</p><p>The $180 retail price is a decent value, but for under $150, like their launch sale, makes them much more attractive.</p>

<p>Bellroy’s new <a href="https://amzn.to/45IQr0g" rel="noreferrer">Lite Pocket Trio</a> features three small pouches, two of which are the size of a coin purse. Initially, I thought they’d be too tiny to be useful. But after going hands-on with them, I’ve come around to the idea that a few packable mini pouches might be good for organizing cables, power adapters, and other small electronics.</p><h2 id="how-small-can-a-packing-pouch-be">How small can a packing pouch be?</h2><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/2026/02/DSCF7788.jpeg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1333" srcset="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w600/2026/02/DSCF7788.jpeg 600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1000/2026/02/DSCF7788.jpeg 1000w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1600/2026/02/DSCF7788.jpeg 1600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w2400/2026/02/DSCF7788.jpeg 2400w" /></figure><p>The Lite Pocket Trio comes with three pouches for $39. They’re made from the company’s Dura Lite Nylon material. They feel durable in the hand but are ultra-lightweight. They’re easy to squeeze down flat. They come with a small carabiner that can be switched around to be used on any of them.</p><p>The largest of the bunch is rectangular and measures 3.5 by 6.7 by 1.8 inches. It’s big enough to hold sunglasses, pens, and all kinds of cables and power adapters. I could probably make my iPhone 17 Pro inside, without a case, but it would be tight.</p><p>The other two smaller ones are nearly the same size, but slightly different. The smaller of the two is curved and measures 2.8 by 4.1 by 1.4 inches. Despite fitting in the palm of my hand, the smallest square one can still hold credit cards, AirPods, adapters, and an AirTag. It’s like a fat, flexible wallet.</p><h2 id="versatility-is-the-key-to-packing-small">Versatility is the key to packing small</h2><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/2026/02/DSCF7804.jpeg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1333" srcset="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w600/2026/02/DSCF7804.jpeg 600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1000/2026/02/DSCF7804.jpeg 1000w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1600/2026/02/DSCF7804.jpeg 1600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w2400/2026/02/DSCF7804.jpeg 2400w" /></figure><p>While the small, curved pouch might be the least functional, I don’t think it’s useless. An Insta360 Go camera fits inside. It’s still capable of holding an <a href="https://creators.yahoo.com/lifestyle/story/this-tiny-45w-charger-can-bend-to-fit-any-outlet-and-has-enough-power-for-your-laptop-145501982.html">Anker Nano Charger</a> and USB-C cable, too. Having that clipped inside or outside a backpack might be all you need.</p><p>I do think the other two pouches will be the most used, at least in my packing. Particularly, I like the largest rectangle one. It’s an ideal size to put all those fiddly things I use on an airplane. I could put a charger, cable, small MagSafe battery, Moft stand, Bose Earbuds, and even a few extras like Chapstick.</p><p>Versatility is the key to making the most of these pouches though. Once you get to your destination, that rectangle pouch can then be your carrying case for sunglasses, a hotel key, cash, a small tube of sunscreen, or things like that. Then it can be hooked to a backpack. All of these are small enough that they can easily be emptied and switched around for different uses.</p><h2 id="the-other-small-bellroy-pouches">The other small Bellroy pouches</h2><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/2026/02/DSCF7793.jpeg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1333" srcset="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w600/2026/02/DSCF7793.jpeg 600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1000/2026/02/DSCF7793.jpeg 1000w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1600/2026/02/DSCF7793.jpeg 1600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w2400/2026/02/DSCF7793.jpeg 2400w" /></figure><p>If the Lite Pocket Trio interests you but are too small, then I would check out the company’s new <a href="https://amzn.to/4keSwqC" rel="noreferrer">Cinch Pouch</a>. I’ve tried this travel accessory too, and I love its shape and size.</p><p>It’s more of a cylinder and measures 5.9 by 3.9 by 3.9 inches—0.8 liters. It seems downright spacious compared to the Trio, without being big or bulky. This pouch would also make a great airplane companion with cables, a power adapter, earbuds, and all kinds of extras. It has a dedicated AirTag slot inside to track it down if it gets lost.</p><p>The Cinch Pouch gets its name from the drawstring closure. No zippers, just yank it closed. This one is versatile as well. You could fold the sides down and use it as a catchall on your hotel nightstand to collect coins, receipts, and other trinkets that always get strewn about.</p><p>For people who want to keep their accessory bags small but still want just a little bit more room, there’s the <a href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=3a8ee27e-ede5-433b-be86-c7b2742ab647&amp;siteId=us-y4c&amp;pageId=1p-autolink&amp;contentUuid=3acaa56c-71a8-4cc3-8f38-eed77cab95fb&amp;featureId=text-link&amp;merchantName=Bellroy&amp;linkText=Laneway+Daily+Pouch&amp;custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL2JlbGxyb3kuY29tL3Byb2R1Y3RzL2xhbmV3YXktZGFpbHktcG91Y2g_Y29sb3I9ZmF3biZtYXRlcmlhbD1zZWF3ZWF2ZV9zaGVlbiNzbGlkZS0wIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiIzYWNhYTU2Yy03MWE4LTRjYzMtOGYzOC1lZWQ3N2NhYjk1ZmIiLCJvcmlnaW5hbFVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYmVsbHJveS5jb20vcHJvZHVjdHMvbGFuZXdheS1kYWlseS1wb3VjaD9jb2xvcj1mYXduJm1hdGVyaWFsPXNlYXdlYXZlX3NoZWVuI3NsaWRlLTAifQ&amp;signature=AQAAAXuEI5r7WaBh02hBUwigSSMqOQ8-syCPCGOKZhkOMKrO&amp;gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fbellroy.com%2Fproducts%2Flaneway-daily-pouch%3Fcolor%3Dfawn%26material%3Dseaweave_sheen%23slide-0&amp;spaceId=1197809816&amp;uuid=bDKZXYrODDf7oYT85777" rel="nofollow noopener">Laneway Daily Pouch</a>. It can be used for travel or just daily use. It can be a toiletry bag or one for electronics. Its simple internal organization allows it to be anything, to anyone.</p><p>The variety of incremental sizes is great for people who know exactly what they want to pack. It can make choosing one over another a little challenging. For my needs of carrying a few tech accessories, the Cinch Pouch is among my favorites. It can be stretched out when need be, but it doesn’t allow me to overpack and bring more gear than I should.</p>

<p>You can find wireless ANC headphones at all price points. From very cheap options to very expensive ones. However, not all headphones are created equal. After spending some time with the <a href="https://amzn.to/4bAUrnh" rel="noreferrer">Soundpeats Cove Pro</a>, I found these to be a worthy pair. They feature a mix of good sound quality and robust ANC performance at a reasonable price.</p><p>I tend to cover and review more expensive headphones. Both the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/sony-wh-1000xm6-headphones-review" rel="nofollow noopener">Sony WH-1000XM6</a> and the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/bose-quietcomfort-ultra-headphones-2nd-gen-review" rel="nofollow noopener">Bose QC Ultra Headphones</a> are among the best for active noise cancellation. Each of those has great audio quality for consumer-level wireless listening. But the Cove Pro have still impressed me in my initial hands-on time with them.</p><p>They retail for $69.99, but are at least as good as any wireless headphones costing $150, over twice their price. The Cove Pro could save you a lot of money and get you most of what you want in a pair of headphones.</p><h2 id="the-features-of-cheap-wireless-headphones">The features of cheap wireless headphones</h2><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/2026/02/IDG_20260201_102712_643.jpeg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1499" srcset="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w600/2026/02/IDG_20260201_102712_643.jpeg 600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1000/2026/02/IDG_20260201_102712_643.jpeg 1000w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1600/2026/02/IDG_20260201_102712_643.jpeg 1600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w2400/2026/02/IDG_20260201_102712_643.jpeg 2400w" /></figure><p>The standout feature of the Cove Pro is the adaptive ANC. Soundpeats says they can lower external noise by 56 decibels. That’s a lot. Based on my testing, that number seems generous. These aren’t better than Bose or Sony’s excellent, and costly, premium headphones. But the Cove Pro are effective and will quiet your surroundings.</p><p>I used them to help quiet household sounds like kids watching TV and robot vacuums running. Testing them against pre-recorded airplane cabin noise, the Cove Pro headphones were able to reduce that type of sound too. While I haven’t used them for air travel yet, I suspect they'll work well in that scenario.</p><p>The Soundpeats app offers the ability to alter the ANC level. If you are susceptible to an uneasy feeling with a heavy dose of noise-cancellation tech, then you can change it based on different presets, including adaptive, which will adjust to your environment.</p><p>I tested the Cove Pro in black. The design of the headphones is more plain than anything. I didn’t find them offputting but they also didn’t elicit a second thought. Their look can be described as inconspicuous. That’s fine that they aren’t as attractive as the <a href="https://creators.yahoo.com/lifestyle/story/i-have-good-news-for-anyone-who-likes-square-retro-headphonesand-cheap-phones-155337160.html">Nothing Headphone (1)</a>, few devices are. Importantly, however, the Cove Pro are lightweight, around 250 grams, and comfortable to wear for long stretches.</p><p>The foam on the earcups and headband is squishy and responsive. I try a lot of headphones, and these rank well on the comfort scale. Again, these headphones are overly distinct or unique, but they do mostly disappear while wearing them. That’s what I’m looking for in terms of comfort.</p><h2 id="basic-headphones-can-still-sound-good">Basic headphones can still sound good</h2><p>The default, out-of-the-box sound of the Soundpeats Cove Pro is solid. There’s plenty of low-end bass, but it doesn’t overpower the other frequencies. The sound is full and fairly even across the spectrum. The mid-range isn’t as clear as some high-end headphones from companies like Sony, but it’s less obvious if you’re not directly comparing products back to back. The mid-range isn’t muddy or anything.</p><p>I had no qualms about the audio quality while streaming music from Spotify or Apple Music. If you want to pump up the bass or try to craft the audio to your preference, then you can use the Soundpeats mobile app to tweak the EQ.</p><h2 id="are-the-soundpeats-cove-pro-headphones-worth-spending-money-on">Are the Soundpeats Cove Pro headphones worth spending money on?</h2><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/2026/02/IDG_20260201_102817_336.jpeg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1500" srcset="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w600/2026/02/IDG_20260201_102817_336.jpeg 600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1000/2026/02/IDG_20260201_102817_336.jpeg 1000w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1600/2026/02/IDG_20260201_102817_336.jpeg 1600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w2400/2026/02/IDG_20260201_102817_336.jpeg 2400w" /></figure><p>The <a href="https://amzn.to/4bAUrnh" rel="noreferrer">Soundpeats Cove Pro</a> headphones strike a nice balance between solid, respectable sound and a value price. These are basic in a lot of ways, such as not coming with a case in the box, but the active noise cancellation is good enough to warrant skimping on some extras.</p><p>These would make great travel headphones for people prone to breaking or losing them. While $70 isn’t exactly dirt cheap, I wouldn’t lose sleep over these if something happened to them.</p><p>For wireless headphones that have all the basics in place, these are hard to beat. These probably won’t compete with headphones that retail for over $200, but if you’re thinking of spending between $100 and $200, then I would consider these first and save yourself some money without sacrificing ANC, comfort, and battery life.</p>

<div class="kg-card kg-callout-card kg-callout-card-grey"><div class="kg-callout-emoji">💡</div><div class="kg-callout-text"><i><em class="italic" style="white-space:pre-wrap">The Buying Game consists of me selecting three products worth buying at different price points. Each product is given a </em></i><a href="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/value-score/" rel="noreferrer"><i><em class="italic" style="white-space:pre-wrap">Value Score</em></i></a><i><em class="italic" style="white-space:pre-wrap">—based on price and function—and then one is crowned the winner at the end. Affiliate links may be used.</em></i></div></div><h2 id="how-i%E2%80%99d-spend-500-apple-airpods-pro-3">How I’d spend $500: Apple AirPods Pro 3</h2><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/2026/01/61solmQSSlL._AC_SL1500_.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="932" srcset="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w600/2026/01/61solmQSSlL._AC_SL1500_.jpg 600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1000/2026/01/61solmQSSlL._AC_SL1500_.jpg 1000w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/2026/01/61solmQSSlL._AC_SL1500_.jpg 1500w" /></figure><p>This week would be a good time to pick up the newest AirPods Pro 3, if you've been waiting for the ANC earbuds to go on sale. I've tested several premium wireless earbuds, and the Pro 3 compare well for blocking noise and audio quality. I haven't had much use for their live language translation feature, but it seems like it could be compelling as a way to get a sense of what's going on around you in a foreign location.</p><p><strong>Price: </strong>$199 (<a href="https://amzn.to/3NTcbjJ" rel="noreferrer">link</a>)<br /><strong>Value Score: </strong>Good</p><p>Even at the full $249 price, these compare favorably to Sony's and Bose's premium buds. At $199, these are great for air travel or just noisy workspaces. This is the lowest price that these earbuds have been since their release.</p><h2 id="how-i%E2%80%99d-spend-150-satechi-onthego-7-in-1-adapter">How I’d spend $150: Satechi OntheGo 7-in-1 adapter</h2><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-29-b9lvhoJ4@2x.png" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1680" height="944" srcset="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w600/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-29-b9lvhoJ4@2x.png 600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1000/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-29-b9lvhoJ4@2x.png 1000w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1600/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-29-b9lvhoJ4@2x.png 1600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-29-b9lvhoJ4@2x.png 1680w" /></figure><p>As computers and devices get thinner, they lose more of their ports. The OntheGo 7-in-1 solves that by adding a variety of connections over a single USB-C cable. There are USB-A ports, HDMI, ethernet, and SD Card slots. This can be used on a Mac, Windows, iPad, and even iPhone. The form factor utilizes a magnet to stick to the back of MagSafe iPhones, but also comes with an adhesive magnetic ring so it can be stuck to the back of other devices.</p><p><strong>Price</strong>: $60 (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Satechi-OntheGoTM-Magnetic-Multiport-Ethernet/dp/B0FWR19DW7?crid=1HTY7EAUSTJ86&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.RavFn8MEKMlJHaB1nwjoXU6_6QUFEstFaGr3iRuubMeOULFuebgGDRAyZF6zcdlN5sEosnmZ4wbziw39kLogtva18Xnmhfizjlm9ueDGB6LqobwAmVT28VSJtnCHh7M_GOBWz2LRJ0eQCnp-mIDixkkhzEmMllqSKxeG0NBLZZuaGYnPQabJbx607r5z3-jD6d6MMWEcfxGk978Dthhid1foJU1T73YF3jntviZYQ_E.rFiQCz1Hd5-ktrduRQYKg3za8yG2WjgB21pxSwdXzVM&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=OntheGo%E2%84%A2+7-in-1+Multiport+Adapter&amp;qid=1769446657&amp;sprefix=cr2032+coin+cell+battery%2Caps%2C334&amp;sr=8-3&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=thisweekstren-20&amp;linkId=aac4fe853d43c86987d4283bf4af5b32&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl" rel="noreferrer">link</a>)<br /><strong>Value Score</strong>: Fair</p><p>This isn't the only magnetic USB-C adapter that can work for a laptop or iPhone. Anker has one to allow SD Cards to be imported into iPhones, for example. But I like the extended range of uses all these ports offer.</p><h2 id="how-i%E2%80%99d-spend-50-airversa-waterless-oil-diffuser">How I’d spend $50: Airversa Waterless Oil Diffuser</h2><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-29-5QWjMuzU@2x.png" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1526" height="982" srcset="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w600/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-29-5QWjMuzU@2x.png 600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1000/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-29-5QWjMuzU@2x.png 1000w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-29-5QWjMuzU@2x.png 1526w" /></figure><p>Traditional oil diffusers use water, so the tank needs to be managed more closely. It also needs more attention in general. I've been using the Airversa Waterless Oil Diffuser for nearly a year and the only time I touch it is when pressing the power button and the timer button so it turns off automatically. This unit is small enough to place anywhere. Because it runs on a rechargeable battery, it can actually be placed anywhere. This is a great addition for an office.</p><p><strong>Price</strong>: $27 (<a href="https://amzn.to/4qWlGgY" rel="noreferrer">link</a>)<br /><strong>Value Score</strong>: Good</p><p>I turn mine on a few times a week for an hour each time, and the battery life has lasted more than six months. As a nice touch, it uses a USB-C port for power. If you want a recommendation for an essential oil, I like one inspired by the <a href="https://amzn.to/3ZLFDL7" rel="noreferrer">Ritz-Carlton hotel</a>.</p><h2 id="the-winning-pick-apple-airpods-pro-3">The winning pick: Apple AirPods Pro 3</h2><p>While it's easy to recommend AirPods at any point throughout the year. I think this first major sale of AirPods Pro 3 warrants them being highlighted. $50 or 20% off is nothing to dismiss. If you're still on the fence, you can check out my initial review for all the details about the latest high-end earbuds from Apple.</p><hr /><p><em>Are you looking for even more picks this week? Here are a few things worth considering.</em></p><h2 id="an-expensive-pick-samsung-galaxy-z-trifold">An expensive pick: Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold</h2><figure class="kg-card kg-embed-card"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iWi1grPS3pA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen title="A Laptop In Your Pocket? Galaxy Z TriFold Review"></iframe></figure><p>The Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold isn’t cutting-edge on the processor or camera front, but it is the future of display technology. Although the screen only <em>folds</em> twice, it does have three (tri) panels and can expand into a full 10-inch tablet. This isn’t a device for the masses yet, but it is an enthusiast’s dream. The video above gives a good look at what the phone is like to actually use. If you are crazy enough to be interested, the TriFold is out today, available exclusively from Samsung to start.</p><p><strong>Price</strong>: $2,899 (<a href="https://www.samsung.com/us/smartphones/galaxy-z-trifold/" rel="noreferrer">link</a>)</p><h2 id="media-pick-bruce-springsteen">Media pick: Bruce Springsteen</h2><figure class="kg-card kg-embed-card"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wWKSoxG1K7w?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen title="Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)"></iframe></figure><blockquote>By the dawn’s early light<br />Citizens stood for justice<br />Their voices ringing through the night<br />And there were bloody footprints<br />Where mercy should have stood<br />And two dead left to die on snow-filled streets<br />Alex Pretti and Renee Good</blockquote><h2 id="this-weeks-other-interesting-deals-and-product-news">This week's other interesting deals and product news</h2><ul><li>Apple released a <a href="https://creators.yahoo.com/lifestyle/story/hands-on-with-apples-airtag-2-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-find-my-tracker-235256861.html" rel="noreferrer">second-generation AirTag</a> this week.</li><li>Apple's Creator Studio subscription, for apps like Final Cut Pro, is now live.</li><li>There's a new season of <a href="https://ew.com/jury-duty-season-2-premiere-date-premise-revealed-11895326" rel="noreferrer"><em>Jury Duty</em></a> coming to Amazon Prime in March.</li><li>Sonos unveiled its new <a href="https://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/amp-multi" rel="noreferrer">Amp Multi</a>—a multi-zone, all-in-one amp. It's only being sold through professional installers, but it'll likely retail for $2,500 or more.</li><li>The <a href="https://amzn.to/45Gb39n" rel="noreferrer">Soundcore Motion X500</a> portable Spatial Audio speaker is on sale for $69, down from $169.</li><li>Netflix paid Alex Honnold <a href="https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/cheryl-thompson/alex-honnold-reveals-netflix-payday-skyscraper-live" rel="noreferrer">how much</a> to climb Taipei 101?</li></ul><h2 id="this-weeks-published-stories">This week's published stories</h2><ul><li>Take a Look Through My Junk Drawer. How Many of These Failed Gadgets Have You Owned? [<a href="https://www.pcmag.com/articles/junk-drawer-finds-how-many-of-these-failed-gadgets-have-you-owned-remember" rel="noreferrer">PCMag</a>]</li><li>Best Bluetooth record players (2026) [<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/best-bluetooth-record-players" rel="noreferrer">Business Insider</a>]</li><li>Hands-on Apple's new AirTag [<a href="https://creators.yahoo.com/lifestyle/story/hands-on-with-apples-airtag-2-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-find-my-tracker-235256861.html" rel="noreferrer">Yahoo</a>] </li><li>Spoiler-free <em>Hijack</em> season 2 review [<a href="https://creators.yahoo.com/lifestyle/story/hijack-season-2-on-apple-tv-doesnt-quite-know-where-its-being-taken-spoiler-free-review-151603165.html" rel="noreferrer">Yahoo</a>]</li><li>Forget <em>Severance</em> and <em>Pluribus</em>, first-time Apple TV subscribers should start with these 3 shows [<a href="https://creators.yahoo.com/lifestyle/story/forget-severance-and-pluribus-first-time-apple-tv-subscribers-should-start-with-these-3-shows-020100130.html" rel="noreferrer">Yahoo</a>]</li><li>The iPhone has a hidden feature that can remind you to call someone back [<a href="https://creators.yahoo.com/lifestyle/story/the-iphone-has-a-hidden-feature-that-can-remind-you-to-call-someone-back-160535973.html" rel="noreferrer">Yahoo</a>]</li></ul>

<p>I hate it when I say I’ll call someone back and then just completely forget to do it. Almost always, it’s because of forgetfulness, rather than not having the time. If you’re in this boat, then there’s a feature hiding in the Phone app on Apple’s iPhone that will alleviate this exact problem.</p><p>In the latest iPhone software, iOS 26, which was released in 2025, you can swipe left on a recent or missed call and instantly set a reminder to call that person back. If you’re using the <a href="https://tidbits.com/2025/11/10/comparing-the-classic-and-unified-views-in-ios-26s-phone-app/" rel="nofollow noopener">new Phone interface</a>, then the reminder will even show at the top of the app.</p><p>There’s not much to the feature to use it, but there are a few things to know to make the most of it. Here’s a short overview of how it works, as well as a few other neat tricks for making the most of Reminders—and where you can swipe around.</p><h2 id="how-to-use-reminders-in-the-phone-app">How to use Reminders in the Phone app</h2><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/2026/01/reminderphone.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1500" srcset="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w600/2026/01/reminderphone.jpg 600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1000/2026/01/reminderphone.jpg 1000w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1600/2026/01/reminderphone.jpg 1600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w2400/2026/01/reminderphone.jpg 2400w" /></figure><p>To set up a call-back reminder, all you need to do is open the <strong>Phone app</strong> and select the <strong>Calls</strong> section along the bottom row.</p><p><strong>Swipe left</strong> on one of the incoming, outgoing, missed calls, or voicemails. Tap on the <strong>blue clock icon</strong>. Select the time you would like to be reminded to call this person: 1 hour, Tonight, Tomorrow, or Remind Me Later.</p><p>After you select a time, you should see it appear at the top of the list.</p><p>If you swipe left on the contact again, you can either <strong>Edit In Reminders</strong> or <strong>Mark As Complete</strong>.</p><p>This feature might look like a Phone feature, but as the “edit” mention suggests, it’s really a feature of Apple’s Reminders app. Changing the time or date of the task in Reminders will also change it in the Phone app.</p><p>Be aware, this call reminder will show up as a notification from Reminders. It won’t pop up with the Phone icon.</p><h2 id="be-reminded-of-a-task-in-messages">Be reminded of a task in Messages</h2><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/2026/01/messagesreminder.jpeg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1499" srcset="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w600/2026/01/messagesreminder.jpeg 600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1000/2026/01/messagesreminder.jpeg 1000w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1600/2026/01/messagesreminder.jpeg 1600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w2400/2026/01/messagesreminder.jpeg 2400w" /></figure><p>The Phone app integration is neat, but it’s not the only way to remind you when communicating with someone. You can also set a task in Reminders to send you a notification when you’re messaging a contact.</p><p>First, create an item in Reminders. Then tap on the <strong>circled “i” icon</strong> to the right of the new reminder.</p><p>Scroll down to <strong>Places &amp; People</strong>. Tap on <strong>When Messaging</strong> and select a person from your contacts.</p><p>Then, the next time you send this person a message, a Reminders notification should pop up with your task item.</p><h2 id="other-swiping-features-around-communication">Other swiping features around communication</h2><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/2026/01/mailreminder.png" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1499" srcset="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w600/2026/01/mailreminder.png 600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1000/2026/01/mailreminder.png 1000w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1600/2026/01/mailreminder.png 1600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w2400/2026/01/mailreminder.png 2400w" /></figure><p>I was reminded of the callback feature <a href="https://daringfireball.net/linked/2026/01/28/comparing-the-classic-and-unified-views-in-ios-26s-phone-app" rel="nofollow noopener">recently</a>. But remembering that feature also reminded me that there are other communication apps you can swipe left and right in.</p><p>For example, if you use Apple’s Mail app for email on iOS, then you can set a similar reminder for email messages at a later time or date.</p><p>I say <em>similar</em> because, although the icon looks the same, if you swipe <em>right</em> on an email, it does not add it to the Reminders app. It will simply keep that reminder in Mail.</p><p>If you use Mail on a Mac, you should see a <strong>Remind Me </strong>section in the left sidebar. This will be synced between your devices that are running the latest software.</p><p>(For Gmail app users, you can “Snooze” a message to show up in your inbox later.)</p><p>While the Messages app doesn’t share the reminder feature. You can swipe left or right on message threads to reveal more features. Swiping left in iOS 26 will reveal mute and delete icons. If you swipe right, you can mark threads as read or unread faster than opening each one.</p>

<p>It’s hard to get excited by a new $29 Bluetooth tracking device. The <a href="https://amzn.to/4t6ws5p" rel="noreferrer">second-generation AirTag</a> may have increased the tracking range and made the beeping volume louder, but after you’ve connected it to your iPhone, there’s not much to do with it except toss it in a backpack or suitcase and wait for it to go missing.</p><p>The quarter-sized AirTag is a lot like buying insurance. It’s good to have, but there’s not much to do with it until something bad happens. Though you can now share AirTag tracking information with <a href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=4130e2f0-a14f-4c5e-bdab-cd52ac7d8e79&amp;siteId=us-y4c&amp;pageId=1p-autolink&amp;contentUuid=08f7cb2d-7372-45a6-964e-06ad407f1414&amp;featureId=text-link&amp;merchantName=Apple&amp;linkText=some+airlines&amp;custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hcHBsZS5jb20vbmV3c3Jvb20vMjAyNC8xMS9hcHBsZXMtZmluZC1teS1lbmFibGVzLXNoYXJpbmctbG9jYXRpb24tb2YtbG9zdC1pdGVtcy13aXRoLXRoaXJkLXBhcnRpZXMvIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiIwOGY3Y2IyZC03MzcyLTQ1YTYtOTY0ZS0wNmFkNDA3ZjE0MTQiLCJvcmlnaW5hbFVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFwcGxlLmNvbS9uZXdzcm9vbS8yMDI0LzExL2FwcGxlcy1maW5kLW15LWVuYWJsZXMtc2hhcmluZy1sb2NhdGlvbi1vZi1sb3N0LWl0ZW1zLXdpdGgtdGhpcmQtcGFydGllcy8ifQ&amp;signature=AQAAAZ-lyJOv5ZvjqWBvjsayVjBF2gspIM0eWdccAalN8AtH&amp;gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fnewsroom%2F2024%2F11%2Fapples-find-my-enables-sharing-location-of-lost-items-with-third-parties%2F&amp;spaceId=1197809816&amp;uuid=KpqJ1kapFUQlSIdF0730" rel="nofollow noopener">some airlines</a> to help them track down your luggage.</p><p>I got my hands on the brand new AirTag from Apple to see whether it was worth the upgrade. Should you be buying new AirTag ‘Find My’ trackers to replace existing ones before tragedy strikes?</p><h2 id="what%E2%80%99s-new-with-apple%E2%80%99s-airtag-2">What’s new with Apple’s AirTag 2?</h2><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/2026/01/IDG_20260128_141108_680.jpeg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1500" srcset="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w600/2026/01/IDG_20260128_141108_680.jpeg 600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1000/2026/01/IDG_20260128_141108_680.jpeg 1000w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1600/2026/01/IDG_20260128_141108_680.jpeg 1600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w2400/2026/01/IDG_20260128_141108_680.jpeg 2400w" /></figure><p>It’s nearly impossible to tell whether you have a new AirTag or an older one, just from looking at it. If you pull out a magnifying glass, you can see that the text on the back is now capitalized. But mostly, the exterior is exactly the same. That’s okay because it means that any accessories you bought previously will still work with the new version.</p><p>Along with the familiar appearance, the AirTag still has a 12-month battery life. There’s still a user-replaceable CR2032 coin cell battery. It still only comes in white.</p><p>What is new is a longer range for Ultra Wideband Precision Finding. This is where your iPhone will show you an exact distance and direction to find the AirTag once you get semi-close to it. Owners of Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 or newer can do Precision Finding now too. I tried it, and it worked as advertised. (Be sure to upgrade watchOS to the latest version!)</p><p>Apple claims the speaker is about 50% louder in this second-generation AirTag. That’s nice for a couple of reasons. It will make finding your lost item easier if it’s outside or in a busy area. But the increased volume will also be a better anti-stalking deterrent.</p><p>An AirTag will alert you with beeps and other measures if it’s been traveling with someone for too long who didn’t set it up.</p><p>In practice, I did notice the louder sound of the new one, compared to the first-generation device. It sounds slightly different too. Apparently, the beeping or chirping is in a different key. The volume upgrade is good, but not revolutionary. If it could play music and stream songs, that would be a different conversation—but it can’t.</p><h2 id="should-you-replace-your-old-airtag-with-a-new-one">Should you replace your old AirTag with a new one?</h2><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/2026/01/IDG_20260128_143515_358.jpeg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1500" srcset="https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w600/2026/01/IDG_20260128_143515_358.jpeg 600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1000/2026/01/IDG_20260128_143515_358.jpeg 1000w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w1600/2026/01/IDG_20260128_143515_358.jpeg 1600w, https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz/content/images/size/w2400/2026/01/IDG_20260128_143515_358.jpeg 2400w" /></figure><p>If you need an <a href="https://amzn.to/45CGNvY" rel="noreferrer">AirTag</a>, then I would recommend buying the new one. It’s very similar, but just improved in a few areas. There’s no reason not to buy it if you want the Precision Finding feature UWB offers. Because there are other ‘Find My‘ trackers—some cool ones—but those won’t point you in the exact direction like an AirTag will.</p><p>On the other hand, I wouldn’t rush out to buy a new AirTag to replace an existing one. Unless you’re often in sparsely populated areas and need the absolute longest range, then keep your old AirTags for now. The new ones are better, but not significantly enough that you need to go out and replace perfectly good location trackers.</p>

<p>The first season of <em>Hijack</em> was an explosive seven-part series. It glossed over some character development and played it fast and loose with a few plot points, but overall, the fast-paced thriller was full of <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/897226/hijack-on-apple-tv-plus-review/" rel="nofollow noopener">exciting tension</a>. Bouncing between the people in the sky and those on Earth felt dramatic. Plus, Idris Elba gave credibility to his cool-talking, elusive character. Instead of recreating some of that magic, season two of <em>Hijack</em> feels much more manufactured. It suffers and pays the price for the first season’s faults.</p><p>That doesn’t mean the new season of <em>Hijack</em> isn’t watchable or should be skipped. It just means you should temper your expectations. The train is worth boarding, but it’s less satisfying a ride than the first trip.</p><h2 id="the-cast-of-the-second-season-is-lacking">The cast of the second season is lacking</h2><p>Although season one leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to figuring out who Idris Elba’s character, Sam Nelson, is, it did a decent job of getting us to care about the supporting cast. Christine Adams as Marsha, Max Beesley as Daniel, and Jude Cudjoe as Kai were easy characters to root for.</p><p>Season two gives a lot less screen time to Beesley, Adams, and completely omits Cudjoe. Almost immediately, it’s clear that the show could have used more of those characters. It feels like a huge missed opportunity to let the momentum those three had coming out of the first season be mostly erased. If you look closely enough, it seems like an attempt by the show’s production to get around scheduling conflicts. They’re all separated on screen and only communicate remotely.</p><p>New characters fill in, and all their performances are compelling enough, but there’s still not quite the tension or stakes as the first time. Season one had a compelling story to tell in the sky, but it also had one on the ground that was able to keep pace. Season two loses that second piece. If Elba isn’t on screen, then it’s much easier to lose focus. In fact, I’m not quite sure why Max Beesley is even in the show anymore, because Daniel is a complete afterthought.</p><p>It’s worth noting that a lot of the dialogue is in German, so there are a lot of subtitles to read if you don’t speak the language. I had just visited Berlin a few months before watching the new season, so I was fascinated by the different U stations and landmarks. Those items won’t appeal the same way for most people who haven’t been to the city, however.</p><h2 id="is-hijack-season-2-worth-watching">Is <em>Hijack</em> season 2 worth watching?</h2><p><em>Hijack</em> was a concept show from its inception. Season one took place in near real-time, showing a seven-hour flight being taken across seven one-hour episodes. Season two feels much less cohesive. It lacks that theme or concept holding all the pieces together.</p><p>Maybe it’s that the show takes place on a train this time, but I can’t help but compare it to the <em>Speed</em> and <em>Speed 2 </em>movies. What if you’re on a bus and it can’t stop or slow down or it will blow up? Where do you go? That’s a great concept. It holds the story together. The same idea applied to a cruise ship, like in <em>Speed 2</em>. Now, that’s reaching.</p><p>If you watched season one and enjoyed it, then your time shouldn’t be wasted going through these new episodes. There’s enough momentum here to keep the train going until the end. But if you weren’t on the edge of your seat for season one, then it’s probably better to skip season two, instead of giving up after a couple of episodes.</p><p>While I think the show has run its course now, I do wonder: How wacky would a third season be? Surely, Elba’s character can’t get hijacked for a third time. Right?</p>

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