Lauren Dragan

Los Angeles

Audio Tech writer + Voice Actor. Tweet opinions my own. Vegan mom from Philly making good in the City of Angels. Pronouns: she/her Instagram:@laurenldragan

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Articles

Our Favorite JBL Headphones Just Got an Exciting New Upgrade

2 days ago | nytimes.com | Lauren Dragan

I test hundreds of headphones every year, and not every pair arrives with a sense of anticipation. But JBL’s Tour One M3 — the updated version of our top pick for the best Bluetooth wireless headphones — was one pair that warranted immediate unboxing.
The Best Skin-Care Advice I Ever Got Came From My Grandmother

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Lauren Dragan

My grandmother Elinor’s wisdom was earned—she lived through both World Wars and earned a degree in fashion design. Elbows! To a young person in the “not a girl, not yet a woman” phase of life, the idea that my elbows might need tending to had not even occurred to me. I examined the pointy bends of my arms and, to my horror, discovered that my elbows were, in fact, dry. At this time, for me, any physical flaw was a possible point of weakness upon which the vultures of mean girls would feed.
There’s No Evidence That Noise-Cancelling Headphones Cause Auditory Processing Disorder

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Lauren Dragan

“Noise-canceling headphones may be linked to brain condition.” That headline, and variations of it, dominated my inbox last week, due to a BBC report stating that British audiologists are concerned that noise-cancelling headphones could be associated with a condition called auditory processing disorder. Within a few days, more articles repeated the claim. As Wirecutter’s headphone reviewer, I read the article with great interest—and I got a lot of emails from curious and concerned readers.
How Good Are the AirPods Pro 2 As Hearing Aids? We Tested Them to Find Out.

Dec 10, 2024 | nytimes.com | Lauren Dragan

Hearing health is having a moment, and Apple has played a big part in that. iPhones can alert you when your music is too loud. Apple Watches ping you when it’s time to wear hearing protection. And now, in many countries, the AirPods Pro 2 earbuds can function as over-the-counter hearing aids.
How Good Are the AirPods Pro 2 As Hearing Aids? We Tested Them to Find Out.

Dec 10, 2024 | flipboard.com | Lauren Dragan

4 hours agoGift a pair of AirPods Pro 2 for $79 off at Walmart right nowThe AirPods Pro 2 are our pick for the best AirPods you can buy, and can turn into a hearing aid -- and they're on sale ahead of the holidays. Apple …1 hour agoThe 12 Best Gifts for Your Favorite Private FlierFrom a powerful mini-massager to Bose noise-cancelling earbuds, these gifts are designed for those who want to maximize cabin enjoyment.
The Wirecutter Show Episode 16: Last-Minute Thanksgiving Tips

Nov 27, 2024 | nytimes.com | Christine Cyr Clisset |Caira Blackwell |Rosie Guerin |Abigail Keel |Hannah Morrill |Rose Maura Lorre | +7 more

Listen and follow The Wirecutter ShowApple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube | iHeartRadio | Other platforms Thanksgiving is (almost) here, and this week Wirecutter experts share their best last-minute tips to make your holiday a success.
The Wirecutter Show Episode 11: Life Is Too Loud

Oct 23, 2024 | nytimes.com | Christine Cyr Clisset |Caira Blackwell |Rosie Guerin |Abigail Keel |Lauren Dragan

Listen and follow The Wirecutter ShowApple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube | iHeartRadio | Other platforms More than 100 million Americans are exposed to unhealthy levels of noise daily. This episode we discuss how to determine if you’re at risk of hearing loss and what you can do about it.
I’ve Tested Nearly 2,000 Pairs of Headphones and Earbuds. These Are the Best Ones to Buy This Prime Day.

Oct 8, 2024 | nytimes.com | Lauren Dragan

If new headphones or earbuds are on your wish list, I have good news: Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days event, also known as October Prime Day, is actually one of the best times to buy. During the holiday season, headphone companies want to focus on selling their newest—and priciest—models. That means clearing out inventory to make space. So in years past, we’ve seen many brands offering great deals on last year’s models, less popular colors, or pairs that were too expensive to sell well.
AirPods 4 Review: An Improvement, But We Still Don’t Recommend AirPods

Sep 16, 2024 | nytimes.com | Lauren Dragan

At an event on September 9, Apple announced two new pairs of AirPods—the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. Both versions are available for preorder, and they will be available in stores on September 20. We spent several days testing them, and here are some early impressions you should know about before you hit preorder. If you didn’t catch the event, here’s what has changed. The new earbuds have a sleeker, more ergonomic design.
Apple’s iPhone 16 Event Recap: New iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods

Sep 9, 2024 | nytimes.com | Caitlin McGarry |Roderick Scott |Lauren Dragan

Apple’s fall event brought new iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods, including new iPhone 16 models with updated cameras and a new side button that lets you snap photos and videos with one hand. Wirecutter was on the ground at Apple Park in Cupertino to cover all the news. In addition to Apple Watches with larger, thinner displays, we’re also looking forward to testing an upcoming software update that will bring hearing aid features to the AirPods Pro 2.