Tech
I’ve used the Sony WH-CH720N headphones for 2 years, and they’re still an exceptional buy at under $200
Mid-range headphones aren’t popular right now. That’s because consumers are finding more value in budget and high-end models. In the case of the Sony WH-CH720N, you’re looking at mid-range headphones that offer the best of both worlds — premium hallmarks at an attainable price point.
The Sony WH-CH720N have been fluctuating in price recently. At retail, they go for $179.99, which is still a great price, but in the past week, we've seen them as low as $128. As of publication, the black colorway is now $149. These price drops have bargain shoppers questioning whether to pick up a pair or hold out for the brand’s pricier entries. I won’t lie, the slightly upgraded WH-1000xM4 are absurdly enticing at the current sale price of $228. The critically acclaimed WH-1000xM5 and WH-1000xM6 also deserve serious consideration, though their steep MSRPs ($399.99 and $449.99, respectively) will likely have frugal spenders doing an about-face.
Well, if your funds are tight and you need a headphone upgrade, I adamantly recommend the WH-CH720N for many reasons. Scroll down to get the full deets on these special cans.
Sony WH-CH720N headphones specs and setup
The Sony WH-CH720N have a bigger spec sheet than most competitors. This includes:
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Speaker Driver Unit: 30mm
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Frequency Response: 7 Hz – 20,000 Hz
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Active noise cancellation with 20-level ambient listening
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Sony’s proprietary technologies (e.g., 360 Reality Audio, DSEE)
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Compatible with Sony Sound Connect app (Android/iOS)
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Google Fast Pair and Find My Device support
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35 hours with ANC on and 50 hours with ANC off
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3-minute quick charging equals 3 hours of listening time
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Colors: Black, pink, white
All Sony headphones and earbuds pair seamlessly to Android and iOS/macOS devices; the former grants users convenient Google wireless features like Find My Device and one-tap Fast Pair. Downloading the Sony Sound Connect app will let you personalize the headphones in various ways. Their Bluetooth range extends up to 50 feet before dropout occurs, and multipoint technology can be enabled to pair the WH-CH720N with two media devices simultaneously.

Credit: Alex Bracetti
The headphones come with motion, physical, and voice controls. Each button produces solid tactility to employ assigned functions. Wear detection works reasonably well for auto-pausing music when removing the headphones. Google Assistant and Siri can also execute hands-free voice commands with ease.
Everything the Sony WH-CH720N headphones get right
Noise cancellation on the WH-CH720N doesn’t measure up to Sony’s latest version on the WH-1000xM6. However, it suppresses a heavy amount of ambient noise. It helped silence chatty pedestrians, construction tools, household appliances, and my loud toddler. High-frequency sounds (e.g., crying babies, sirens) occasionally entered the soundscape, though none were distracting. Sony’s 20-level transparency mode was terrific for increasing situational awareness. Wearing the headphones outside kept me alert to emergency vehicles and runners, plus it allowed me to have clear-sounding conversations.
Audio was exactly how I remembered it during my first test run: crisp and vibrant. Drums and synths have an impactful presence that doesn’t muddy up the soundstage, leaving room for mids and highs to shine. Vocals and high-frequency instruments sound rich. You have the option to customize sound via the adjustable EQ with well-engineered presets. The Find Your EQ setting is also available to create a sound profile tailored to your hearing needs. Both features work well. Turning on DSEE upscales audio by raising fidelity on tracks stored in your media player or streamed on platforms like Apple Music and Spotify. The difference in clarity is huge. Sony’s spatial audio format, 360 Reality Audio, does a decent job of making music and movies more immersive.
A full battery generates up to 50 hours of listening time, with noise cancellation decreasing it to 35 hours. That is higher than some luxury ANC headphones; the AirPods Max (20 hours) and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (24 hours) come to mind. A 3-minute charge nets you 1 hour of playtime. I used the headphones moderately (3 to 5 hours daily) for a week before recharging.

Credit: Alex Bracetti
What the Sony WH-CH720N headphones get wrong
A non-foldable design means less protection and more bulk in your everyday bag. It’s worth buying a third-party case to keep these headphones from breaking (we found one for $4 at Walmart). Sony’s smart controls — Quick Attention and Speak-to-Chat — didn’t make the cut in this model, which is disappointing because they would have enhanced usability.
Omissions like hi-res LDAC codec support, real-time ANC, and touch controls are understandable when factoring in price.
Are the Sony WH-CH720N headphones worth it?
Much of the WH-CH720N’s functionality is anchored by the company’s advanced technologies, which blend dynamic audio output with effective noise cancellation. Playtimes surpass many of the best noise-canceling headphones out there. Then there is the extensive feature suite that’s missing a few prime perks, but hosts essentials like Aware Sound Control and DSEE.
My only serious complaint is their design. The headphones lack flair and require a carry case for optimal protection. Thankfully, the pros outweigh the cons by a 3:1 ratio.
The Sony WH-CH720N deliver much of the same performance as the WH-1000xM6, and for $270 less, at retail. You can purchase the Sony WH-CH720N at online retailers like Amazon and Best Buy (which has a blue colorway we haven't found elsewhere) or directly from Sony.
_________________________________________________________________________
Sony WH-CH720N
$149 at Amazon (Black) ($30.99 off)
$179.99 at Amazon (Pink) (MSRP)
$179.99 at Amazon (White) (MSRP)
Tech
NYT Strands hints, answers for April 24, 2026

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're rowdy.
Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Hullabaloo
The words are related to sound.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained
These words describe ruckus.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?
Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
NYT Strands spangram answer today
Today's spangram is Lets Get Loud.
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NYT Strands word list for April 24
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Shout
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Holler
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Clamor
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Lets Get Loud
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Bellow
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Whoop
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Caterwaul
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!
Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.
Tech
Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 24, 2026

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love a good drink.
If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What's the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:
Intoxicated.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today's Wordle is…
DRUNK
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.
Tech
FCC challenges gender identity themes on kids TV

The Federal Communications Commission is using the presence of "controversial gender identity issues" in children's television programming as a pretense for questioning how TV ratings are developed and enforced, according to a notice published Wednesday by the federal agency.
The notice generally assesses TV ratings, but specifically points out that these industry guidelines have rated shows featuring "transgender and gender non-binary programming" as appropriate for children. It argues that parents aren't provided this information, "thereby undermining the ability of parents to make informed choices for their families."
In the document, the FCC poses a series of open-ended questions about TV ratings development, including whether the board responsible for the guidelines is "sufficiently balanced" with viewpoints outside of the entertainment industry and if faith-based organizations should be represented in the body.
"What more could the board do to include family-oriented perspectives — which are not well represented in the media industry — in its ratings process?" the notice asks.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced the public notice on X, explaining that "parents have raised concerns with the industry's approach." He added that these parents believe "New York & Hollywood programmers" promote objectionable content in kids programming without disclosing that to parents. Carr didn't mention gender identity in his X post.
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TV parents guidelines can include both a rating as well as descriptors for content that includes crude language, sexual situations, and violence.
LGBTQ+ advocates criticized the public notice, arguing that it amounted to discrimination and censorship.
"Trump's FCC is trying to turn transgender people into a warning label," Tyler Hack, executive director of the transgender rights advocacy group Christopher Street Project, said in a statement. "It is dehumanizing, and it is part of a broader political strategy to stigmatize LGBTQ+ people in every corner of public life."
Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD, described the notice as government overreach.
"Media companies must be allowed to create and broadcast stories that reflect one-quarter of their audience without interference from a government agency with its own anti-transgender political agenda," Ellis said in a statement.
This isn't the first time Carr has been accused of censorship. Carr has claimed broadcasters air "hoaxes" and "news distortions" that also happen to be unfavorable to President Trump. Carr has suggested the licenses of such broadcasters won't be renewed.
In March, dozens of free speech experts argued in an open letter to Carr that his threats against broadcasters are "unlawful jawboning" and his vague characterization of "fake news" violates the First Amendment. The authors called on Carr to "withdraw" his threats.
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