Quick Answer
The New York Times crossword clue “Tech release that’s not the finished product” has the answer “BETAAPP”, which is a 7-letter entry.
Clue: “Tech release that’s not the finished product”
Answer: BETAAPP
Length: 7 letters
Clue number and direction: 4-Down
Why BETAAPP Is the Right NYT Answer
- In software, a beta app is a version released for testing before the final product launches, so it’s literally a tech release that is “not the finished product.”
- NYT Mini helper sites all agree that the most recent 7-letter answer for this clue is BETAAPP at 4D on January 31, 2026.
- The structure of the grid slot (seven letters, starting with B per the hint) lines up perfectly with BETAAPP, and no other common tech term matches both the definition and the length.
What BETA APP Means in Plain English
- A beta app is a pre-release version of a software application that developers share with a limited group of users to test features, find bugs, and gather feedback.
- It comes after internal “alpha” testing and before the polished public release.
- Because beta apps can still have issues, they are clearly “not the finished product,” but they are close enough for real people to use and comment on in everyday conditions.
Crossword-Specific Help: Pattern, Crossings, and Recurrence
- While BETA by itself is a common crossword entry, combining it as BETAAPP is a more contemporary, tech-flavored answer that constructors use for variety.
- Crossings from the Across entries will confirm the uncommon double PP ending and the double A in the middle, making any doubt disappear once a few letters are in.
- Similar clue patterns that can lead to BETAAPP or BETA include “Pre-release software,” “Test version of a program,” or “Early app build.”
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- When you see “not the finished product” in a tech context, think of ALPHA, BETA, BETA APP, or BETA TEST and then match the letter count.
- For 7-letter entries beginning with B and clearly about software, BETAAPP is a strong candidate, especially in modern Minis that favor tech vocabulary.
Use crossings to confirm those doubled letters: B E T A A P P looks odd at first glance, but clean crosses will reassure you it’s right.
More NYT Mini Crossword Answers for January 29, 2026
| Clue | Answer | |
| 1A | Lifeguard’s skill, for short | View Answer |
| 4A | Health measure calculated using height and weight: Abbr. | View Answer |
| 7A | “I’ve cracked the code!” | View Answer |
| 8A | Long, long time | View Answer |
| 9A | Like a desert’s climate | View Answer |
| 1D | Header on a company’s website, perhaps | View Answer |
| 2D | Opponent of a Met or Marlin, in the N.L. East | View Answer |
| 3D | Halves of diameters | View Answer |
| 4D | Tech release that’s not the finished product | View Answer |
| 9D | Words from someone hoping to be friends on Facebook | View Answer |
