I’ve reviewed quite a few active noise-canceling wireless earbuds for Cult of Mac, including the magnificent new second-gen AirPods Pro. And while the high quality and excellent features of Apple’s updated ANC buds make them a favorite as well as a benchmark, there are great alternative earbuds that do a nice job for a much lower cost.

What follows isn’t a “top 5 in the world” list, which would be an assortment of mostly super-pricey earbuds. It’s my favorite earbuds among those I’ve reviewed in the past year or so, mostly focused on high-value products, considering the quality you get for the cost.

Looking for some sweet holiday gifts that won’t break the bank? The Cult of Mac Store has a massive collection of affordable stocking stuffers, sure to put a smile on the face of any Apple fan, for less than $20 each.

You’ll find cases, screen protectors, bands, stands and more from our most popular vendors. And every product has been used and approved by us, so you can be confident you’re spending your hard-earned cash on great products.

Apple TV+’s Mosquito Coast, about a family uneasily fleeing terrorism charges by hiding in the jungle, is all about betrayal this week. Dina comes clean with Allie — and he almost ruins their relationship in return. Margot starts trying to get her family back to the states, but she’s going to need Richard to do it.

Meanwhile, Allie and William are back on a job. And every minute Charlie spends in the jungle makes him like the idea of returning to America a little less. It’s going to be a long Good Friday.

“These go to 11,” says lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel about his specially modded guitar amplifiers in music mockumentary classic This Is Spinal Tap. And today’s featured computer setup probably rocks just about that hard, too.

The Mac Studio, dual Studio Displays and array of killer audio gear in the home-basement setup belong to a working New York City-area rocker. Check out details about his chest-thumping rig, below.

Apple TV+ comedy Mythic Quest takes its annual journey to the past with a stunning episode about the origins of game designers Poppy Li and Ian Grim. We meet the geniuses when they were petulant kids who’d rather dream in nonexistent worlds than pay attention to the one they’re in.

Mythic Quest fans are in for a treat this week. This is a superb episode of this consistently well-played comedy series.

Packing is a great way of learning just how much room your necessities take up. Your clothes may look tidy in your closet, but throw them in a suitcase, and it starts getting pretty crowded. Save space on your next amazing vacation with a folding charger that can power three devices at once. For a limited time, you can purchase the MagStack Foldable 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station for $47.99 (regularly $74)

Apple TV+ limited series Shantaram comes to a thunderous close this week. The series, based on the novel by Gregory David Roberts about the travails of Aussie escaped convict Lindsay Ford, sees its hero making one last-ditch escape attempt while casting about for his last remaining friends in Bombay.

The Shantaram finale is riddled with questions. Will Abdullah, Prabhu, Lisa, Modena and Khan get out alive? Can Nightingale finally get his man? Will Shah win the war for the streets? And will Apple TV+ try to stretch Shantaram into a second season? We get answers to most of them.

While Apple is known for timeless hardware with relentlessly improving software, it’s hard to argue that it’s ahead of the curve when it comes to USB-C. That’s not a problem if all your gadgets still use Lightning, but if you have a MacBook or iPad with USB-C, you can’t share its cords with your iPhone.

A multi-connector charging cable like the InCharge X — which bundles Lightning, USB-C, USB-A and Micro USB into a single, streamlined package — can meet all your needs. And right now, it’s just $17.59 (regularly $29) with code WINTER20.

That’s not the only thing on sale, though. You can pick up more gadgets and apps for 20% off when using this coupon in our Winter Savings collection. But hurry! This event ends today.

Continuity Camera in macOS Ventura upgrades video calls by bringing the iPhone’s high-res camera to the Mac. It’s necessary to mount the iPhone on the computer though, but Belkin has just what’s needed for desktop Macs.

The accessory-maker released a very similar iPhone mount designed for MacBooks this fall.

Apple TV+ said Thursday its hit show Mythic Quest, a workplace comedy about a gaming company, will hatch a spinoff series called Mere Mortals.

Calling the new show an “extension series,” Apple TV+ said it “will explore the lives of employees, players and fans who are impacted by the game.”

Every distraction can seem so much more appealing when you should be sitting down to write. Whether it’s social media or finding the exact synonym for a word you’ve already used too many times, it’s easy to let your attention wander.

However, a dedicated writing app like MasterWriter can help you stay on track. And two-year licenses are just $79.20 when you use code WINTER20 at checkout. This discount is part of our Winter Savings event, which ends today. You can apply the same coupon on any deal in our collection to get 20% off.

Victrola Music Edition 1 is ready to go into a backpack to liven up a study session or even a small get together. Or just use it in your home for better quality music or podcasts than an iPhone alone can provide. And it’s ready to be used indoors or out.

I tested the portable Bluetooth speaker in my house and at a gathering of friends. Here’s why I like it.

The giveaway this week is slightly different, as we teamed up with Zagg to give five lucky winners the opportunity to choose their own prize from the extensive lineup of mophie products.

If you’re one of the randomly selected winners, you’ll get to select whatever you like from mophie’s many popular products, including wireless chargers, power banks and more. Read on to see some highlights from the mophie catalog — and to get your name in the hat for this roll-your-own giveaway.

What’s better than plugging in one device at a time for charging with a wall adapter? Why, charging two devices at the same time without having to plug them in at all, of course. You can do that with the handsome Momax 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand.

And right now, Cult of Mac readers can get a big discount of 20% off the stand, on top of another 15% off coupon, greatly reducing the regular price. That’s a great deal on a holiday gift or a present for yourself. See details below.

In a brief new trailer Apple TV+ dropped Thursday for an upcoming documentary, moist-eyed tennis legend Boris Becker more or less admits to the camera that his life might be as good as over. His sentencing took place just days later. He went to prison for hiding assets to avoid paying debts.

“It’s Wednesday afternoon,” Becker said in the interview. “Friday I will know the rest of my life.”

The interview footage, which you can watch at the link below, comes from an as-yet untitled, two-part film about Becker’s life made by two Oscar-winners — director Alex Gibney and producer John Battsek.

Travel is stressful enough without worrying about where you’re staying. It doesn’t happen often, but people find hidden cameras in hotels and Airbnbs often enough that it’s a valid concern.

If you’re worried about being watched, take a Scout Hidden Camera Detector on your next trip. This handy gadget can help you hunt down hidden cameras. And you can get one or two Scouts for an extra 20% off until December 15 if you use coupon code WINTER20.

Plus, the coupon applies to any deal in our Winter Savings collection!

A 15.5-inch MacBook Air is on Apple’s agenda for the first half of 2023, according to a reliable source.

This would be the first time the traditionally thin and light line of notebooks has expanded past the current 13.3-inch screen.

WhatsApp is finally catching up to FaceTime and adding support for video calls with up to 32 participants. You can also mute or message an individual on a group call.

Up until now, you could use WhatsApp for group voice calls with 32 people. Video calls were limited to 8 people.

And support for Picture-in-Picture is in testing.

Want to learn to code in 2023? On average, roles that require coding can pay $22,000 more than jobs that don’t, so learning a language or two can set you apart from the crowd. Plus, expert-led online learning courses that you can tackle at your own pace make studying convenient, especially if you have a busy schedule. And we’re offering a 14-part bundle with 244 hours of coding training for just $24.99.

Apple already began beta tests for the next versions of iOS, macOS, iPadOS and watchOS. These were seeded to developers on Wednesday, just a day after the public release of their predecessors.

Even with the holidays coming up, Apple continues working on its operating systems.

Apple’s M2-powered 2022 MacBook Air is down to its lowest-ever price of $999. That’s a massive discount of $200 from its retail price.

If you place your order today, you can get the MacBook Air before Christmas.

If you’re the proud owner of a car, you’re already dealing with maintenance, parking and other hassles. But you’ve got one less thing to worry about if you take advantage of the Cult of Mac Store’s SwitchEasy Flash Sale and pick up one of its handy car mounts for iPhone at 20% off the regular price.

They make it easy to see, access and charge your iPhone while you’re behind the wheel. And through December 21 you can get about $6 off your choice of the three of them with different mounting mechanisms. See below.

A computer setup run by a doctoral degree candidate had better be damned smart, and today’s featured setup doesn’t disappoint. It’s got a powerful M1 MacBook Pro, a recent (but not the latest) iPad Air, a very slick 4K display and a trio of whipsmart input devices boasting plenty of customization options.

And it’s got all that and pretty clever cable management, too. But does the future Ph.D.’s rig smoke a pipe and pretentiously hold forth on esoteric topics? No, it’s actually somewhat modest (down to the nice but not top-shelf headphones).

A new documentary series is coming to Apple TV+ January 13 — Super League: The War for Football. Its trailer, dropped Wednesday, makes it look like a spy thriller filled with betrayals is currently unfolding in the world of international soccer.

And it’s good timing on the streaming service’s part, promoting it during the world’s most-popular sport’s biggest event, the World Cup.

Job hunting may not be fun, but neither is living paycheck to paycheck. With prices on everything from gas to groceries higher than a year ago, it might be time to look for a better-paying job. And you can make your job search easier with LazyApply.

This time-saving app could help you apply to up to 150 jobs every day. Take advantage of this deal, and a bunch of other Winter Savings, by using coupon code WINTER20 until 11:59 p.m. PST on December 15.