My favorite product launches this week: Technics, Pokémon, HexClad and more | CNN Underscored

All of CNN Underscored is amping up for Amazon’s October Prime Day sale next week, myself included. In between sharing the best early deals today, I am taking a break from checking price history and browsing page after page of Amazon offers to scope out all the new products that were released this week. For the first week of October, I’m taking a closer look at why I’m ditching my current favorite pair of headphones for the newest pair from Technics, ripping open some packs of the new Pokémon TCG 30th Anniversary set and offering some first impressions on HexClad’s new Hybrid Bakeware. All that and more down below. Technics EAH-A1000 ANC Headphones My new favorite headphones cost half as much as the previous pair For the past year, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 have been the best pair of over-ear headphones I’ve used, even with such a hefty $799 price tag attached. My colleagues and CNN Underscored’s electronics experts, Mike Andronico and Henry T. Casey, also found that to be the case after putting them to the test, especially for anyone shopping for audiophile-grade audio quality. But this week, a new pair of headphones emerged from Technics that offer many of the same features and much of the same hi-fi sound for roughly half the price. I’ve been using the new Technics EAH-A1000 ANC Headphones for the past few weeks, putting them to the test to see if they really are too good to be true. On paper, they check all the boxes I want from over-ear headphones at any price point, but with one of the most competitive MSRPs for a pair that sounds this good. The story with the Technics A1000 starts with the company’s proprietary magnetic fluid driver. Yes, you read that right. These headphones have fluid in them — a concoction similar to what you’ll find in the brand’s flagship true wireless earbuds. The magnetic fluid replaces the air that would typically surround the drivers in these headphones, helping to eliminate distortion. Whether you actually care about the innovation here (we certainly do, as we get closer to announcing the winners of the 2027 CNN Underscored Innovation Awards), this approach leads to less distortion and far more accurate sound quality. That really is the biggest selling point here: Your favorite songs and albums will all sound closer to the way that the original recording artist intended. This is something I’ve put to the test over the past several weeks. Aside from some trips to the gym where I reached for more a workout-friendly solution, the A1000 have been the only headphones (or earbuds) I’ve used since getting them back in September. In the time since, I’ve listened to over 2,000 songs across as many genres as possible. That includes the beautiful vocals of singer-songwriters like Carly Rae Jepsen, the moody melodies of composers like Hiroyuki Sawano, lossless versions of dance anthems from Daft Punk, bass-forward beats from Joey Valence & Brae and far, far too many House hits. No matter what type of music I threw at the A1000, the headphones performed incredibly well. I will admit that I listen to more electronic and bass-heavy tunes than the average person, at least according to my Last.FM profile, and that may make these Technics headphones the perfect options for my own listening habits. But no matter the genre or artist you prefer, the lack of distortion offered by this over-ear pair is just so shockingly good. Everything else about the Technics EAH-A1000 headphones is great too. Battery life is quite impressive, with as much as 90 hours of listening time per charge. That varies, depending on the settings you use: Turning on the reliable active noise cancellation drops playback time to a solid 45 hours, using the audiophile-quality LDAC codec with supported devices will drop it down to 40 hours, and wired ANC playback hits a respectable 30 hours of listening. The build quality is another area where these shine, with a lightweight, aluminum design that includes faux leather ear cups and padding that comes in either a simple Black or Platinum Greige design. At $449, the Technics EAH-A1000 are easily the best value around in the headphone market right now. They sound just as good as a pair that costs nearly twice as much, deliver reliable multiday battery life, do a solid job at blocking out ambient audio and sport a polished and premium design. If you value how the music you listen to sounds, then there isn’t a pair of over-ear headphones that I’d recommend more than the A1000 — and that’s saying something, coming from someone who has tried hundreds of headphones over the years. For the money, these will easily go head-to-head with Apple AirPods Max, Sony XM6, Bose QuietComfort series and even higher-end options from Bowers & Wilkins. They officially begin shipping later this month and are now available for preorder directly from Technics and at other retailers like Amazon. Pokémon TCG 30th Anniversary Set Celebrating 30 years of catching them all with 30 new Pikachu cards Throughout 2026, I’ve been periodically checking into the latest from Pokémon as it celebrates its 30th anniversary. The year has brought with it one of CNN Underscored’s favorite new Nintendo Switch games with Pokopia, unexpected collaborations with brands like Maison de Sabré, the very first official Lego sets and so much more. But this week, I’m checking in on the new trading card game (TCG) collection that celebrates the milestone of 30 years of catching them all. Pokémon has released quite a few expansions to the TCG this year, but this one is unique in that instead of focusing primarily on new cards, it includes reprints of iconic artwork from the past three decades. The set comes with over 150 cards that are split between 30 rereleases from the Classic Collection and completely fresh full-art illustrations. But my favorite part of the new Pokémon TCG 30th Anniversary Set is the 30 new Pikachu cards. Pikachu, after all, is the mascot of the entire franchise. So what better way to get in on the fanfare than release some new, collectible cards around centered around the lovable electric mouse? Each pack from the collection is guaranteed to come with one of these new Pikachu cards, which you can see in the loop above. They all have a unique holographic pattern alongside a 30th anniversary stamp. After opening 20 packs for myself, I was able to pull 15 unique artworks. Just from my anecdotal data, being able to get around three unique Pikachu cards in every four packs is a solid pull rate. I’ll have to track down some additional packs in the future in order to get the complete lineup of all-new Pikachus, but it’s not a bad start to have gotten so many different designs. Whether you’re hunting down a specific card for yourself or just looking for a great place to jump into collecting Pokémon cards, the 30th anniversary set is a perfect starting point. I had a similar experience with the Pokémon Celebrations set five years ago, and hope that new TCG fans will be born out of this celebratory expansion in the same way that the 25th anniversary series kickstarted my own journey with collecting cards. Orders are live today at various retailers like Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart. Twelve South AirFly Drive Cut the cord on your wired CarPlay and Android Auto setup Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are some of the best features on modern vehicles and their infotainment systems. But oftentimes, you’re limited to using a wired connection in order to use either of the specialized programs on your car’s dashboard screen. There have long been wireless adapters that help bridge the gap, but having tried many of the top contenders out there, they were never reliable enough to actually recommend. Twelve South is trying to remedy that with its new AirFly Drive, an adapter that cuts the cord on your CarPlay experience. If there’s one company out there that knows a thing or two about wireless transmitters, it’s Twelve South. It has been making one of CNN Underscored’s favorite travel gadgets, the AirFly, for years now, and it’s looking to apply that same reliability to your car. The little adapter plugs into the USB port you would typically use to establish a wired connection from your smartphone to your vehicle and allows you to enjoy the same music playback, GPS visuals and all the other perks of either CarPlay and Android Auto without having to plug anything in. As someone who has fully embraced MagSafe charging at home, it has always been so frustrating to go back to relying on a cable when it came time to listen to music on a road trip. And because you can’t charge your phone with a wired connection and use a wireless charger at the same time, it normally meant deciding between CarPlay or using a magnetic car mount (such as the model CNN Underscored recommends that can even cool down your smartphone while it charges). The AirFly Drive fixes that, allowing you to enjoy the best of both worlds. It’s now available for $40, and it can be purchased directly from Twelve South’s official storefront as well as other retailers like Amazon. HexClad Hybrid Bakeware Collection Nonstick performance for all your fall baking Fall is practically synonymous with baking, which is why HexClad’s new Hybrid Bakeware collection couldn’t have launched at a better time. CNN Underscored readers may know HexClad as the maker of the best performing nonstick pan we’ve used, but this week, the brand is carrying over that editor-favorite seal of approval to a new collection of bakeware. It uses the company’s same combination of stainless steel and nonstick coating that has impressed our team time and time again with a tri-ply aluminum core and its signature hexagonal stainless peaks. Included in the new six-piece set are a rectangular cake pan, a square pan, two round pans, a medium baking sheet and a matching cooling rack. And while the set is geared mostly towards making cakes, pumpkin bread, holiday cookies and other baked goods, I personally can’t wait to put it to use with some heartier dishes. One of my favorite dinners to eat during the fall is baked salmon and crispy potatoes, but it also happens to be one of the most annoying dishes to actually make. It’s always just a little more tedious to clean up the pan I’ve been using for years than I’d like, which is exactly where the HexClad’s nonstick prowess will come into play. Not having to fuss with scrubbing off remnants of burnt-on salmon will be practically priceless to me, though the actual price tag is worth chatting more about. As of now, you’ll have to buy the full bakeware bundle for $399 to add this to your kitchen. I’d love for HexClad to sell the individual pieces eventually, but at the very least, you’re getting the full assortment of what a baker would need to tackle all kinds of treats. Ninja Prepi The perks of our favorite air fryer come to a new food processor Ninja has been on a mission to make the best appliance for every use case in your kitchen. It won over our editors with its innovative and versatile Crispi air fryer, frozen drink makers and more. Now, it’s coming for food processors. The Ninja Prepi applies many of the same ideals visible in the Crispi into a new category, converting what is typically a large appliance into a far smaller footprint that also doubles as a food storage container. The Prepi, like many other food processors, can chop, slice, shred and purée. It can also handle the more novel accomplishment of making crinkle cuts, as well. That 5-in-1 feature set isn’t the most impressive on its own, but there’s the added perk of being able to remove the food processor from the bottom bowl and then reuse it for serving and storing the food you just made. The only downside to the Ninja Prepi is that it seems to use different bowls than the Ninja Crispi, although I know being able to use them with both might be too much to ask from the two appliances with such different uses. It likely won’t be long until CNN Underscored editors get their hands on the Ninja Prepi to see how it stacks up against the other best food processors they’ve tested. If it performs anywhere close to the same level as the Ninja Crispi did, there will be a lot to like about the new kitchen appliance, even if it does carry a steep $180 starting price tag. You’ll find it directly from Ninja’s own website, as well as retailers like Amazon. Away Series 3 Luggage Some of our favorite suitcases just got an upgrade Away makes some of the best luggage CNN Underscored editors have tested. I’ve been able to verify that for myself, relying on the brand’s carry-on for dozens of trips over the years. The lightweight yet durable design has earned its suitcases one of CNN Underscored’s Buy It For Life seals of approval, and this week, the company launched a new collection with some improvements. The new Away Series 3 luggage lineup isn’t completely reinventing the wheel by any means, just refining the travel essentials that our team has been recommending for years. None of these new additions should impact the actual build quality, durability or reliability of its suitcases, but instead, add some quality of life adjustments. So let’s dive in! First up on the list of new features is the StopLock Brakes. These added wheel brakes help keep your suitcase from rolling around. Whether you’re waiting for a family member to pick you up from the airport on a sloped surface that your bag would otherwise roll down or you’re just parking your luggage outside the terminal as you wait to board, brakes are an appreciated new addition. Speaking of the wheels, Away contends that its new Series 3 suitcases will make less noise as you roll around the airport. The suitcases’ handles can now be locked upright in a wider range of heights, and they include a hidden hook to hold a hat or jacket as you navigate to and from your destination. That isn’t the only hidden feature, either, as Away includes a stealthy Bluetooth tracker pocket to add some extra peace of mind those who travel with an AirTag. The biggest update for someone who tends to overpack, like myself, is that Away has adjusted how its suitcases expand. The Series 3 lineup can now expand from both sides, instead of just a single side like on the previous models. This gives you an extra two inches of space on the inside, and it pairs with Away’s internal compression system to make the most out of every inch inside your bag. I’m a bit too stubborn when I travel, and I almost always refuse to check a bag. That means I rely far too much on a carry-on, even for week-long trips. So out of all the new adjustments to Away’s suitcases, this is the one that I’ll get the most use out of. Each of the new Away suitcases are available for preorder directly from its online storefront. There are still several sizes to choose from, including both checked bags and carry-ons, with prices starting at $328 across all ten designs. Miele Triflex HX3 Plus Aqua This new cordless stick vacuum is also a heavy-duty mop One of the largest trends in the world of cleaning this year has been vacuum makers branching out into hybrid wet and dry floor cleaners. We’ve seen Dyson release several updated mops, iRobot debut its first non-robotic cleaner, which uses electrolyzed water as a commercial-grade disinfectant cleaning solution, and Philips take a more sustainable approach with the OneUp 5000’s reusable, machine-washable pads. Now it’s Miele’s turn. CNN Underscored typically covers Miele when we talk about the best canister vacuums on the market, and several of its models have impressed our staffers over the years. Now the brand is turning its attention towards giving Dyson a run for its money. The new Triflex HX3 Plus Aqua is a clear competitor to the recent V16 Piston Animal Submarine from Dyson, with wet and dry vacuuming capabilities. While the specifications of the new Miele release ensure it’ll likely live up to our glowing impressions of the company’s other dry vacuums, there is something entirely new added to the HX3: its AquaTwister cleaning head. This is the most notable addition to the stick vacuum’s cleaning arsenal, and it allows you to switch from a typical brush roller to one that includes two rotating mop pads to help lift dried-on dirt from your floor. That added cleaning power isn’t going to be cheap, however. The new Miele Triflex HX3 Plus Aqua may be competing against Dyson on features, but its price tag is right in-line with what we’ve seen from the brand in the past. It starts at $1,049 for the most affordable package, with a higher-end $1,249 option that includes some extra accessories. Why trust CNN Underscored As deals editors at CNN Underscored, we are some of the first people to hear about the latest product news from reader-favorite brands. We provide a unique perspective in the service journalism field by covering every stage in a product’s life cycle. That means our senior deals editor, Rikka Altland, follows a product from the moment it’s announced through testing it herself and then circling back once it begins going on sale. Our goal here is to save you money, and by considering the entire journey of a product, we can offer better thoughts on if it’s worth your cash. Altland has been doing just that for nearly a decade, and that kind of experience extends to the rest of our deals team. Being an advocate for buyers to make sure we’re only recommending the best prices on the best products is what we’re all about, and that focus comes across in our work.