14 Across
NYT Daily • August 20, 2025
Electronic setting on a floor model
Answer:
DEMOMODE
Hint:
A display’s temporary configuration might include this shortened retail preview state.
Explanation:
This clue plays on the idea of a "floor model," which is a display item in a store, often set to a special mode to show off features without full functionality. "Electronic setting" hints at a mode, and "demo" is short for demonstration—the kind of mode these models run in. Combine "demo" with "mode," and you get "DEMOMODE," a straightforward term for that display setting. The wordplay is simple: no tricks, just a direct blend of common tech and retail language.