This Week The Trend (Issue 67)

How I’d spend $500: Beats 360

If the new sweat-proof wireless headphones from Beats are tempting for your workouts, they've dipped in price. The true functionality of the Beats 360 is in their ear cup design. The cups are made to be removed and switched out for dry ones, or just to mix up the style with different colors.

The audio quality is full and punchy. The ANC performance is robust and decent for clearing background noise at the gym. All in all, these are a solid pair that can do pretty much anything.

Value Score: Fair

As all headphone prices creep up, the $350 retail price for the 360 headphones isn't outrageous. So, even a modest price drop is worth pulling the trigger, if you've had your eye on them.

How I’d spend $150: Twelve South AirFly View

It seems like I find myself recommending a model of the Twelve South AirFly every few months, either because it's on sale or a new model is out. The device is a Bluetooth transmitter and receiver, so you can use your own headphones on planes, gym equipment, and more. The latest version adds a display for easier navigation.

The previous AirFly models are so useful that it didn't matter that they could be hard to use if you hadn't pulled them out of your bag in a while—trying to remember which buttons to press. The AirFly View will show connection instructions on the screen and even display battery life. The new version even has Auracast for more ways to connect with more Bluetooth devices.

Value Score: Poor

While this probably isn't the version I would recommend to most people, it is the nicest model with the nicest affordances. If you travel enough to justify the cost, then the display should feel like a luxury.

How I’d spend $50: Apple AirTag (2nd Gen)

It feels second nature to toss a Bluetooth tracker in a suitcase or backpack nowadays to keep tabs on it. Apple's newest 2nd Gen AirTag is a good device for this, with expanded Precision Finding on iPhones and Apple Watches. The second version also includes a 50% louder speaker with a new, distinctive chime.

Value Score: Good

Normally, the AirTag 2nd Gen retails for $29, so even though $6 isn't much, it is a 21% discount. If you prefer the 4-pack, Best Buy has that for $69 at the moment.

The winning pick: Apple AirTag (2nd Gen)

The AirTag 2 is a small but worthy upgrade over the original that offers more assistance in finding lost items through more precision and a louder speaker. Discounts on the latest version are still uncommon, which makes this a worthy purchase if you're in the market for one, or more.

Are you looking for even more picks this week? Here are a few things worth considering.

An expensive pick: Amazon Echo Show 16

If you want a TV in your kitchen...oops, I mean a large personal assistant, then the Echo Show 16 could be that device. This all-encompassing smart home screen brings together all your home information for a central family hub. All the things Alexa+ and Echo could do before, this one can do those too. Of course, it does have Fire TV built in, so it is actually a small television.

The standard wall-mounted version starts at $500, but you can add nanomatte to the screen for an extra $100. If you want a matte screen and an iMac-like stand, that raises the price to nearly $700. Wowzers.

Media pick: Small Prophets (Apple TV)

This week's media pick has to be Small Prophets on Apple TV. This is a quirky British drama filled with hilarious dry wit. The underlying plot revolves around grief, so it isn't all laughs. But the show is a perfect blend of several genres, including fantasy, so it never really gets too dark.

Five out of the six total episodes are available now. But by the time you finish those, the finale on Nov. 4th should be out.

This week's other interesting deals and product news

• The new Amazon Echo Time is a smart speaker with a display, made to be an alarm clock.
• Amazon's Alexa Photo Frame is a new 10-inch digital picture frame that uses AI to curate your photos.
• Apple announced a new iPad mini with an OLED display that's thinner and waterproof (IP68-rated)
• The new HomePod mini 2 is now available in stores.
• The previous M4 Mac mini is down to $649, from $799.
• The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are down to $199.
• Apple's new touchscreen MacBook Pro is available to pre-order and starts at $2,899.

This week's published stories

• Small Prophets review [Yahoo]
• Rocco Essential mini fridge review [Yahoo]
• The iPhone Duo app with a special trick [Yahoo]

You can follow This Week The Trend directly on Yahoo by clicking the "follow" button on that landing page. You can also follow videos on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.