Latest news with #AirpodsPro2
NBC News
24-03-2025
- Business
- NBC News
Walmart Super Savings Week is happening now — here are the deals actually worth shopping
Spring sales are in full swing, and Walmart shoppers are especially in luck: Walmart Super Savings Week has officially begun, and with it come deals on tech, appliances, cleaning essentials and more. The sale runs online only through April 1, with free shipping available for Walmart Plus members. I've been covering deals and sales across retailers for two years. Below, I rounded up the best Walmart Super Savings Week deals worth knowing about. Best Walmart Super Savings Week deals All of my recommendations below are based on our previous coverage and reporting. I also included a few products NBC Select editors have tried and loved. 4.3-star average rating from 2,609 reviews at Walmart Dyson is a favorite brand of NBC Select staff, and this cordless vacuum is designed with advanced filtration to better pick up allergens like pet hair and dust, according to the brand. It comes with a fluffy cleaner head for hard floors and a motorcar cleaner head that works for deeper cleaning on all floor types. It also includes tools specifically for crevices and pet hair and can transform into a handheld vacuum when needed. Apple Airpods Pro 2 The Airpods Pro 2 are some of our favorite workout headphones for their secure, comfortable fit and great sound quality. They have strong noise cancelling capabilities, and have a battery life of up to 30 hours when using the charging case, according to the brand. These headphones are also dust, sweat and water-resistant. 4.4-star average rating from 293 reviews at Walmart This pizza oven is made with Cordierite stone, which helps keep the oven at a high heat for crispier crusts, according to the brand. It has six pizza presets, including Neapolitan, New York, Thin Crust, Pan, Frozen and Manual, and can be operated indoors. The oven also has a countdown timer and an interior light to help you check your pizza's progress. Apple Airpods 4 4.5-star average rating from 1,754 reviews at Walmart NBC Select reporter Harry Rabinowitz tested the Apple Airpods 4 over two months and likes the earbuds' easy controls and noise-cancelling features. According to the brand, they're compact and lightweight and include a charging case with wireless charging capabilities. 4.7-star average rating from 9,466 reviews at Walmart This mirror is one of my all-time favorite purchases for my bedroom because of its affordable price and durability. It has an arched design and a thin frame that comes in gold, black or silver. It can be either hung from the wall or stood up on the floor. 4.6-star average rating from 1,341 reviews at Walmart According to the brand, these over-ear headphones have up to 40 hours of battery life and can get up to four hours of playback from a 10-minute charge. They have both active noise-cancelling and transparency listening modes and one-touch pairing for easy connectivity. The headphones also come with a USB-C charging cable and a woven carrying case. Keurig K-Supreme Plus Coffee Maker 4.3-star average rating from 9,250 reviews at Walmart You can customize your morning cup of coffee using this Keurig coffee machine 's strength and temperature settings, which also let you save brewing preferences for up to three users, according to the brand. The coffee maker can brew cup sizes ranging from four to 12 ounces, and allows you to brew up to nine cups before having to change the water reservoir. The machine is compatible with any K-Cup pod. Ktaxon 110V Window Air Conditioner 4.5-star average rating from 784 reviews at Walmart This air conditioner is designed to help cool rooms of up to 550 square feet, according to the brand. It has a temperature range of 61 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit, and an LED digital display that lets you control the mode, fan speed, timer and more. The unit also includes a remote. The Pink Stuff Bathroom Foam Spray 4.5-star average rating from 1,761 reviews at Walmart The Pink Stuff makes top-rated cleaning products, and you can save over 50% off on the brand's bathroom cleaner during this sale. It's formulated to help remove stubborn stains and grime by using a foam that helps break down dirt, according to the brand. It can be used on bathroom surfaces like tiles, showers, faucets, toilets and more. Best Walmart Super Savings Week sales Up to 55% off Crocs Up to 40% off home office essentials Up to 40% off spring apparel Up to 50% off handbags Up to 30% off patio and garden Why trust NBC Select? I'm an associate SEO reporter for NBC Select who's been covering deals and sales for over a year, including major sale events like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday/Cyber Monday and more. To round up the best Walmart Super Savings Week sales, I found highly-rated, discounted products across categories, including NBC Select staff favorites and products previously recommended by experts.
Telegraph
01-03-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
5 signs you need hearing aids – and how to fix it
How often do you find yourself watching the television, wondering why you seem to be the only one struggling to hear? Or at a party, having to awkwardly ask a person to repeat their latest witty anecdote, after all the laughter has died away? Whilst some of us struggle infrequently with these moments of impaired hearing, there are now 12 million people in the UK who suffer from debilitating hearing loss – eight million of whom are aged 60 and over. As an invisible disability, it often goes unnoticed, with only two million people in the UK bothering to use hearing aids in the first place. Yet now even the tech giants, Apple, have cottoned on to the increasing need for this type of device, recently launching a new feature on their Airpods Pro 2 which means users can turn them into 'clinical grade' hearing aids. The earbuds already have an ability that allows users to take a five-minute hearing test. But now, if the test indicates mild to moderate hearing loss, users can switch on a function to boost their hearing at the touch of a button. Sue Falkingham, an audiologist and hearing therapist, says the feature could make using aids more mainstream and give more people an opportunity to try them, at a low cost. Hearing aids usually range from £500 for a basic model to upwards of £3,000 for the flashier kind 'Hearing aids still have a stigma attached to them,' says Falkingham, 'so if they encourage people to take their hearing health more seriously, I think they can only be a good thing.' Here are the five signs that you may need to cast off any embarrassment and try some out. FAQs Average prices of hearing aids 1. Difficulty distinguishing voices in a loud environment Struggling to hear, or understand speech when there is background noise, is often an early symptom of moderate hearing loss. It indicates a reduced ability for the brain to separate speech from lower-pitched background noise, making it hard to focus on a single voice when surrounded by other sounds. It can be particularly challenging if someone is speaking to you on the side you are suffering hearing loss, and you are unable to see them, and cannot understand what they are saying. 'What I've seen with many of my patients is that their hearing loss affects the people around them more, so sometimes there is a tendency to not immediately do anything about it,' says Dr Krisham Ramdoo, an ENT Surgeon and founder of TympaHealth. 'It generally takes people around five to seven years to take action when they have a problem.' 2. Needing the television turned up If you constantly need the television turned up, so loud it's uncomfortable for others in the room, it may be time to consider hearing aids. Presbycusis is the most common type of hearing loss and is associated with ageing, usually beginning around the age of 60 and gradually progressing over time. As we get older, our hearing naturally deteriorates due to changes in the inner ear structure. Whilst this type of hearing loss is permanent, it can often be supported by hearing aids. 'The extent to which your hearing loss is affecting your day-to-day life is very important,' Falkingham advises. 'Ears do age and wear out over time, but if hearing loss is affecting your life significantly, if there are any sudden changes, or if there are differences between your ears, it may be time to seek help.' The NHS offers free hearing tests, as do some private providers, including Boots Hearing Care. They are pain-free and often include tests, such as listening to sounds at different pitches, and scans that examine the health of the ear canals and ear drums. To slow the decline of hearing loss, try to protect your ears from loud noises, and take care of your general health, including managing blood pressure and diet. Blood flow to the ears is very important for healthy hearing. Controlling blood pressure helps to ensure adequate flow to the sensitive structures and vessels in the inner ear which are susceptible to damage in a state of hypertension, according to various studies. Meanwhile, maintaining a healthy diet and eating a range of essential nutrients and antioxidants helps our overall cardiac health and, in turn, promotes healthy blood flow – all essential to our hearing. 3. Constantly asking people to repeat themselves Frequently asking people to repeat themselves during a conversation is a strong indicator that you might be experiencing hearing loss. Sometimes, for someone with hearing issues, it may sound like a person is mumbling when they are speaking normally. Dr Ramdoo clarifies that, while these symptoms occurring persistently may mean hearing aids are needed, there could also be other factors at play. 'You could have an ear infection, or one of the most common causes could be ear wax blocking the ear canal,' he says. 'That's why it's important to see a professional that can do a very quick assessment to confirm what is going on.' 4. Struggling to hear high-pitched sounds If you struggle to hear high-pitched sounds, it could indicate a condition called 'high-frequency hearing loss'. It is one of the most common types of hearing loss and normally affects older people and those who have been frequently exposed to loud noises. Those with high-frequency hearing loss may struggle to hear consonants such as s, h and f, the birds chirping in the morning, or women's and children's voices. To prevent this, Rob Ormerod, audiology director at Bayfields Opticians and Audiologists, advises using hearing protection. 'Invest in earplugs or earmuffs when you know you'll be exposed to loud noise,' he says. 'And keep your volumes in check – when using headphones or earbuds, follow the 60-60 rule where you listen at 60 per cent volume for no more than 60 minutes at a time.' 5. Finding it hard to keep up with a conversation People with hearing loss may find it more difficult to follow a conversation, as listening and talking takes up more mental energy and focus. This can be demoralising as well as a sign that you need hearing aids. 'As their hearing loss gets worse, it is not uncommon for people to avoid these situations altogether as they find them tiring or frustrating,' Ormerod says. 'This can lead to social isolation.' He advises regularly cleaning your ears (with a warm, damp flannel to clear any debris from the outside or over-the-counter oil-based ear drops to soften wax within the canal), and having frequent check-ups to ensure your hearing stays strong for as long as possible. FAQS: Do hearing aids help tinnitus? Those suffering from tinnitus experience an internal perception of sound – often ringing – in one or both of their ears. Hearing aids can be beneficial for tinnitus sufferers as they can make external sounds louder which in turn quiets the internal noise. Around 80 per cent of people with severe hearing loss experience tinnitus and most find they cope better when their hearing aids are switched on, according to the British Tinnitus Association. How to choose the right hearing aids It is worth researching the costs of different types and brands. With a GP referral, basic hearing aids are available through the NHS. They are also available through a number of private providers including Boots Hearing Care, Specsavers Hearcare, and Amplifon. The more modern styles, such as the invisable kind, are only available privately. Falkingham recommends finding an independent audiologist who is happy to work through the different types of hearing aids with you. 'One size does not fit all,' she explains. 'Some shapes may not be comfortable for certain ears, some have better noise reductions, and others have better adjustability.' How to put hearing aids in properly Your hearing care professional will show you how to fit your hearing aids. 'Custom made in-the-ear hearing aids have the advantage of being easier to fit, but most people can fit any hearing aids with enough practice,' Ormerod says. The most common hearing aids – behind-the-ear – are fitted by sliding the mould into the ear canal, pressing it into the ear, twisting it into place, lifting the aid over the top of the ear, and securing the case in place. The increasingly popular invisible hearing aids are fitted by gently pulling the earlobe down and outward while positioning the tip at the entrance of the ear canal. Carefully push it in, twisting slightly if necessary, and following the natural contour of the canal. Average prices of hearing aids Hearing aids can be a significant investment, but they play a crucial role in improving quality of life for those with hearing loss. In the UK, prices for hearing aids vary widely depending on the technology, features and whether they are purchased privately or accessed through the NHS. Understanding the average costs can help you make informed decisions about hearing care options.
