Tag Archives: author_name|Jeff Dunn

Apple Prime Day deals on AirPods, Apple Watches, iPads, MacBooks and more that are still available today

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Amazon’s fall Prime Day sale has brought a handful of decent discounts on Apple devices, from the AirPods Pro 2 to the Apple Watch SE to the latest MagSafe Charger. If you’ve been waiting to take the plunge and don’t want to hold out until Black Friday, here are the best Apple deals we could find from the Prime Big Deal Days event. We’ll update this post if we find anything new. As a refresher, the sale runs through the end of the day today, and you’ll need to subscribe to Prime to view some of the deals.

AirPods Pro (2022) review
The AirPods Pro 2.
Billy Steele/Engadget
MacBook Air 15-inch (2024)
The 15-inch Apple MacBook Air with an M3 chip.
Photo by Devindra Hardawar / Engadget

  • Apple iPad (9th gen) for $199 ($130 off): This model has technically been discontinued, and we've seen this discount for much of the last couple of months, but it bears repeating that $199 is a great price for an iPad that's still perfectly competent for casual media consumption. You'll have to put up with thicker bezels, the antiquated Home button and a meager 64GB of storage, but you get (almost) the same clean software and expansive app library as any other Apple tablet.

  • Apple iPad mini (6th gen) for $350 ($149 off): To be clear, this is a bad time to buy the iPad mini, as Apple is expected to launch a long-overdue refresh before the end of the year. But if you don’t care about owning the latest and just want a small iPad for (relatively) cheap, this is about $30 less than the 8.3-inch slate’s typical street price over the last few months.

  • Apple Pencil Pro for $96 ($33 off): This is the biggest drop to date for Apple's top-end stylus; just make sure you own (or plan on buying) one the latest iPad Airs or iPad Pros before taking the plunge.

  • Apple MagSafe Charger (25W) for $32 ($7 off): While not a huge discount, this is the lowest price we’ve seen for the company’s newest MagSafe charger, which now supports wireless charging speeds up to 25W with the iPhone 16 (and an appropriate power brick).

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-prime-day-deals-on-airpods-apple-watches-ipads-macbooks-and-more-that-are-still-available-today-072544277.html?src=rss

Prime Day gaming deals for 2024: Save big on the PS5, headsets, mice, board games and more

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Amazon's October Prime Day sale is nearing the finish line, but many of the event's actually decent gaming deals are still kicking. The standard and digital versions of Sony's PlayStation 5 are each $50 off, for instance, while several of the mice, headsets, controllers and board games we recommend in our various buying guides are at or near their lowest prices to date. 

If you've been looking to upgrade your setup and don't want to wait until Black Friday, we've sorted through the sale and picked out the best Prime Day gaming deals we could find below. As a refresher, Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days event (as it's officially called) is scheduled to conclude at 3AM ET, and you'll need to be a Prime member to access some (but not all) of the discounts. 

The Astro A40 TR gaming headset rests on a white stand on an outside table, with its built-in microphone extended.
The Astro A40 TR gaming headset.
Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

  • PlayStation 5 (slim) for $449 ($51 off MSRP): While this isn’t the best PS5 deal we’ve ever seen, steeper discounts for Sony’s console have been infrequent, so this isn’t the worst time to hop aboard. If nothing else, it’s a better value for most than the PS5 Pro.

  • PlayStation 5 Digital Edition (slim) for $400 ($50 off): If you’re 100 percent sure you’ll only buy games digitally, the version of the PS5 without a disc drive is also on sale for $50 less. Annoyingly, this was the standard going rate for the original PS5 Digital Edition, but Sony hiked the console’s MSRP by $50 when it introduced these “slim” models last year. NOTE: This deal has gone in and out of stock at Amazon, but it's also available at Walmart and Best Buy.

  • Xbox Series X (1TB) + $25 Best Buy gift card for $450 ($75 off): This is neither an Amazon deal nor an all-time low, but those who'd prefer an Xbox can also take $50 off a new console at Best Buy. The retailer will throw in a $25 digital gift card with your purchase. 

  • Astro A40 TR gaming headset for $90 ($40 off): It’s several years old, but the open-back Astro A40 TR remains a top wired gaming headset thanks to its spacious sound and comfy design. The built-in microphone is pretty mediocre, however. This deal checks in $10 below the usual discount price we’ve seen over the course of this year.

  • Corsair Virtuoso Pro gaming headset for $140 ($60 off): The Virtuoso Pro is another wired open-back pair we recommend in our gaming headset guide. It’s not quite as good of a value as the Astro A40 TR, but it has a clearer mic, and we found its sound profile to work better with some (but not all) games. This deal matches the lowest price we’ve tracked.

  • Sennheiser HD 560S headphones for $126 ($104 off): If you don't need a built-in mic, the HD 560S is a quality pair of open-back headphones with the kind of wide, detailed sound that can help you feel immersed in most games. It's another pick from our gaming headset guide. This discount matches the lowest price we've seen in well over a year.

A black video game controller, the 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller, rests on a white shelf in front of a row of several red Nintendo Switch video game cases.
The 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller.
Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

  • Razer Basilisk V3 wired gaming mouse for $40 ($30 off): We recommend the Basilisk V3 in our guide to the best gaming mice for those who prefer a more ergonomic, right-handed shape and don't mind connecting over a cable. This deal matches the device's all-time low. It's worth noting that Razer announced an updated version of this mouse with an improved sensor just last week — we plan to test that model soon, but the upgrades appear to be fairly minor in practice.

  • Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro wireless gaming mouse for $110 ($40 off): If you'd rather go wireless, the DeathAdder V3 Pro is another favorite from our gaming mouse guide, blending a superlight, gently contoured shape with top-shelf performance. This is only a $10 drop from the mouse's recent street price, but it still represents an all-time low.

  • Corsair Scimitar Elite Wireless MMO gaming mouse for $90 ($40 off): The Scimitar Elite is the wireless version of the top MMO pick in our buying guide. It offers 12 customizable side buttons that make it easier to pull of complex commands in MOBAs or MMOs like Final Fantasy XIV. This is the second-largest discount we’ve seen.

  • 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller for $50 ($20 off): While not an all-time low, this discount takes $10 off the usual street price for 8BitDo's wireless Switch/PC gamepad, which we've raved about before. It's a bit on the smaller side, but it's comfortable, with durable Hall effect joysticks that should avoid the "drift" sensation that's plagued Nintendo's Joy-Cons. If you don't need Bluetooth support, another model that only connects over a USB dongle is on sale for $10 less. That variant also uses Xbox-style face buttons instead of Switch ones.

  • Backbone One (USB-C, 2nd gen) for $70 ($30 off): The Backbone One is an easy-to-use mobile game controller that we’ve recommended before. This 30 percent discount ties the lowest price we’ve seen for the second-gen model. A PlayStation-branded model — which supports Sony’s official Remote Play app on Android and iOS, instead of just the latter — is available for the same price, as are the versions that connect over Lightning.

The ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless gaming keyboard rests on a light brown wooden table.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless gaming keyboard.
Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

  • ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless gaming keyboard for $142 ($38 off): This honorable mention from our guide to the best gaming keyboards offers a stellar typing experience, with a sturdy case, layers of sound-dampening foam and crisp PBT keycaps. The stock switches in this configuration are great, but they're also hot-swappable if you ever want to change things up. This deal is only about $15 off the keyboard's usual going rate, but it's still the second-best price we've tracked.

  • Keychron C3 Pro mechanical keyboard for $25 ($12 off): If you just want to pay as little as possible for a mechanical keyboard that still feels great, we recommend the C3 Pro. This iteration uses cheaper ABS keycaps and lacks hot-swappable switches, but it feels and sounds remarkably pleasant for something so cheap. This deal marks another all-time low. A hot-swappable version is also on sale for $13 more.

  • Keychron V3 Max mechanical keyboard for $89 ($11 off): The V3 Max is another recommendation from our gaming keyboard guide, specifically for those who want a more traditional look without any "gamer-y" embellishments. This is a modest discount, but we haven't seen the board fall this low super often. If you need a numpad, the full-size V6 Max is similarly discounted at $95.

  • 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard (Fami Edition) for $76 ($24 off): This wireless keyboard should appeal to anyone looking for a "vintage tech" aesthetic, as its keycaps and color accents are inspired by Nintendo's old Famicom console. It feels great for typing, too, though the default switches are somewhat noisy, so you may not want to use it in an office setting. This discount isn't an all-time low, but we normally see the device retail between $90 and $100.

  • WD Black C50 Xbox Expansion Card (1TB) for $121 ($37 off): It’s a pain in the neck, but the only way to fully expand the storage of an Xbox Series X/S is to use a proprietary expansion card such as the C50. This deal isn’t an all-time low, but it’s $10 to $20 cheaper than the typical street prices we’ve seen over the last several months.

  • Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card (2TB) for $199 ($50 off): If you want to add 2TB to your Xbox, meanwhile, this is the best price to date for Seagate's expansion card. There's little performance difference between this and the C50, so which one is best simply comes down to how much space you need.

  • Crucial P310 (2TB) for $168 ($97 off): The P310 is a small-size SSD you can slot into handheld gaming PCs like the Steam Deck or ASUS ROG Ally. It uses cheaper QLC memory, not the more performant TLC, but reviews suggest it'll still run well in something like the Deck. This is the lowest price we've seen for the 2TB variant.

  • Alienware M18 R2 gaming laptop for $2,300 ($500 off): The M18 R2 is the latest version of the top 18-inch pick in our guide to the best gaming laptops. It’s an absolute hoss of a notebook, but it’s built well, and this model with an RTX 4080 GPU, 32GB of RAM and a Core i9-14900HX chip is powerful enough to play modern games in 1080p or 1440p at high-ish settings. While not cheap, this matches the config’s best price to date.

The WD Black C50 Xbox Storage Expansion Card slotted into the back of a white Xbox Series S console, with its cover off to the side on a black desk.
The WD Black C50 Storage Expansion Card for Xbox consoles.
WD

  • Assassin’s Creed Mirage for $23 ($27 off): Mirage is a something of a throwback to older Assassin’s Creed games, one that’s smaller in scope than the more recent open-world entries. We called it a “warm, bloody hug from an old friend” in our review — in video game land, that’s a good thing. These days we usually see the game retail around $30.

  • Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 for $19 ($21 off): This collection includes (lightly) remastered versions of the first three Metal Gear Solid games, which remain more subversive and self-assured than most games that have hit in the decades since. A few of the series’ classic 8-bit entries are here, too, and Konami has done well to rectify most of the set’s technical issues since launch. We’ve seen this price before, but it ties an all-time low.

  • Madden NFL 25 for $43 ($27 off): Madden is in pretty dire need of a creative reset, but at the end of the day, it’s Madden, and it works fine enough if you just want to scratch the pro football game itch. This is the second-best price we’ve seen for the latest entry.

  • EA Sports College Football 25 for $43 ($27 off): If you’re more of a college sports fan, EA brought back the series formerly known as NCAA Football back from an 11-year hiatus this past summer, and it generally received higher marks than its pro counterpart. This discount is the largest we’ve seen since launch.

  • WWE 2K24 for $28 ($32 off): If you prefer powerbombs and Hell in a Cell matches to touchdowns and bowl games, the latest WWE 2K game is also down to the best price we’ve seen (for a console copy, that is). It’s a 2K game, so there’ll be some bugs, but it received solid reviews at launch — something we cannot say for Cody Rhodes’ neck tattoo. Keep in mind that this game is available for free with a PlayStation Plus subscription during October, so there’s no need to buy if you plan on keeping that service for a while.

  • Azul board game for $18 ($22 off): We highlight this award-winning tile-laying game in our board game gift guide, calling it "a great gift for those who are new to gaming or just anyone who enjoys strategic puzzles." This deal comes within a couple bucks of the lowest price we've tracked and marks a $14 drop from the game's common street price in recent months.

  • King of Tokyo board game for $25 ($20 off): Essentially Yahtzee with monsters, King of Tokyo is another pick from our board game gift guide. We recommend it for kids and newbie board gamers in particular. This deal isn't an all-time low, but it does match the best price we could find in more than a year.

  • Ticket to Ride board game for $30 ($25 off): This is the lowest price we've seen all year for the ever-popular train-themed strategy game.

  • Catan board game for $30 ($30 off): Another ultra-popular one, Catan is a competitive strategy game in which you gather resources to build roads, cities and settlements. There's a non-zero chance it'll lead you and your loved ones to argue about sheep. The game has typically retailed around $43 over the last few months.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/prime-day-gaming-deals-for-2024-save-big-on-the-ps5-headsets-mice-board-games-and-more-075455534.html?src=rss

Prime Day TV deals include sets from LG, Samsung, Sony and more at record-low prices

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Amazon's October Prime Day sale is into its second and final day, and it still looks to be a decent chance to save if you need a new TV right away. While Black Friday remains the best time to grab a new set on the cheap, Amazon's event has brought several well-reviewed options from LG, Samsung, Sony, Hisense and TCL down to their lowest prices to date. There are a few good deals on media streamers on top of that. 

To make things easier for you, we've weeded out the junk and rounded up the Prime Day TV deals that are actually worth your attention below. As a reminder, the sale ends tonight at 3AM ET, and you need to be a Prime subscriber to access some (but not all) of the discounts.

Samsung The Frame
Samsung's The Frame TV.
Amy Skorheim

  • Samsung S90D (55") OLED TV for $1,298 ($500 off MSRP): The S90D is premium TV with a QD-OLED panel, which blends the typical advantages of an OLED display with a layer of quantum dots. That helps it display a wider gamut of more vibrant colors and broadly improve brightness. This discount marks a new low for the 55-inch model and takes $100 off the street price we've seen over the past couple of months. The 65-inch version is also discounted for a low of $1,498. If you want a smaller or extra large size, be aware that the 42-, 48- and 83-models use an inferior WOLED panel, so they won't look as nice. 

  • LG C4 (55”) OLED TV for $1,297 ($703 off): LG’s midrange OLED isn’t quite as bright or color-rich as a QD-OLED TV like the Samsung S90D, but it still offers a superb image with deep black tones, high contrast, clear motion, wide viewing angles and 4K/144Hz support. Its main advantage over the S90D is its support for the popular Dolby Vision HDR format, which isn't available on any Samsung TV. This drop has been available for a few weeks, but it ties the lowest price we’ve found. The 65-inch set is available for $200 more, though that's not quite the best price we've seen.

  • LG C3 (65") OLED TV for $1,297 ($203 off): The C3 is the predecessor to the C4, having launched in 2023. It should be a slight downgrade from the C4 in terms of brightness and color performance, and it tops out at a 120Hz refresh rate instead of 144Hz, but it isn't a big drop-off on the whole. If you really want to save a couple hundred bucks on a high-quality 65-inch OLED TV, it's likely the better value. This discount is about $200 off the typical street price we've seen in recent months.

  • LG B4 (55”) OLED TV for $997 ($300 off): The B4 is the entry-level model in LG’s 2024 OLED lineup. It gets you most of the same features as the C4, but it’s less bright across the board, so it’ll work best away from direct sunlight and glare. This deal marks the best price we’ve seen for the 55-inch model. Other sizes are down to all-time lows as well, including the 48-inch set for $700 at Best Buy.

  • Samsung The Frame TV (55”) + bezel for $998 ($668 off): Samsung’s The Frame series has always been for people who care about their TV’s aesthetic more than its picture quality, as it’s designed to resemble a framed piece of wall art. It’s still pricey for a TV with no local dimming or Dolby Vision HDR, but this deal nevertheless represents the best price we’ve seen for the bundle that includes colored bezel covers. Other sizes are also on sale.

  • Hisense U7N (65”) QLED TV for $748 ($352 off): The Hisense U7N looks to be one of the better values among this year’s crop of TVs. According to various reviews around the web, it pumps out impressive brightness and contrast for the money, plus it can play in 4K at a 144Hz refresh rate. Its image can wash out when viewed from the side, though, and for gamers, it’s limited to two HDMI 2.1 ports. We saw this deal a couple of times over the summer, but it’s still the lowest price to date for the 65-inch variant.

The LG C3 OLED TV.
The LG C3 OLED TV.
LG

  • Sony Bravia 7 (75”) QLED TV for $1,998 ($502 off): The Bravia 7 is a relatively premium non-OLED TV with a mini LED backlight to improve contrast and quantum dots to boost colors. If other Sony TVs are any indication, it should deliver solid color accuracy out of the box and good image processing for lower-resolution content. It only has two HDMI 2.1 ports, its viewing angles are narrow, and it can’t provide the deep black tones of a good OLED set, but it does get brighter. This deal marks a new low for the 75-inch set.

  • Samsung QN90D (55") QLED TV for $1,298 ($500 off): The QN90D is another premium LED TV for those willing to trade the contrast, colors and viewing angles of an OLED set for much higher brightness. Reviews suggest it's a close rival to the Bravia 7: It lacks Dolby Vision and may not be as accurate, but it has two more HDMI 2.1 ports, which is helpful for gamers with multiple consoles. This deal beats the 55-inch model's previous low by $200.

  • TCL QM8 (65”) QLED TV for $998 ($502 off): The latest TCL QM8 appears to be a decent alternative to the Hisense U8N — a step-up model from the U7N that’s available for the same price but isn’t significantly discounted as of this writing — if you just want a TV that’s extremely bright, though it has slightly worse contrast according to reviews. This is another discount that ties the lowest price we’ve tracked.

  • TCL QM7 (55”) QLED TV for $498 ($302 off): The QM7, meanwhile, is more of a competitor to the Hisense U7N. It’s still worth looking to that set’s 55-inch model first, as it should perform better in well-lit rooms. But if you see that the U7N is significantly more expensive, this matches the lowest price we could find for TCL’s model.

  • TCL Q65 (65”) QLED TV for $430 ($120 off): The TCL Q65 is a fairly basic LED TV in terms of picture quality, though it might appeal to gamers since it can play at a 120Hz refresh rate if you drop the resolution down to 1080p or 1440p. It technically supports Dolby Vision HDR, too, though it doesn’t have the contrast or brightness levels to truly take advantage of it. Still, for a low of $430, the 65-inch model is a decent value. Other sizes are discounted as well; just note that these sets use Amazon’s Fire TV interface.

  • TCL S5 (55”) LED TV for $265 ($65 off): The S5 is an even more rudimentary set with a 60Hz refresh rate, no local dimming and no HDMI 2.1 ports, but it should be OK if all you need is a usable second (or third) set for the basement or back bedroom. This deal on the 55-inch version comes with $5 of an all-time low and beats the set’s usual street price by $15 or so. It’s another one that ships with the Fire TV interface as standard.

  • Roku Select Series (55”) LED TV for $260 ($70 off): The Roku Select Series has a similarly budget-level image as the TCL S5, but it might be worth a look if you’d prefer your dirt-cheap TV to run Roku’s OS instead. This is another low, and other sizes are also on sale. NOTE: This deal looks to be out of stock at Amazon, but Best Buy has the set for the same price.

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max rests on a brown wooden tabletop next to its included remote.
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max.
Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

  • Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max for $35 ($25 off): All Fire TV devices tend to promote Prime Video and other Amazon services above all else, but if you can live with that, the 4K Max runs fast, works with the major HDR formats and supports all the requisite apps. It also performs surprisingly well as a retro gaming device. This deal matches an all-time low.

  • Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K for $25 ($25 off): If you really want to save $10, the standard Fire TV Stick 4K offers the same core experience as the Max, just with a slightly slower processor, half the internal storage (8GB) and Wi-Fi 6 instead of 6E. This is another joint-low.

  • Roku Ultra (2024) for $79 ($20 off): Roku’s streamers have a more neutral interface than rivals like the Fire TV Stick; the company’s newest set-top box includes a faster processor, a backlit voice remote and Wi-Fi 6 support on top. This discount represents an all-time low.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/prime-day-tv-deals-include-sets-from-lg-samsung-sony-and-more-at-record-low-prices-074335351.html?src=rss

October Prime Day is over but these SSD deals are still available

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The latest Amazon Prime Day sale is over, but you can still get some decent savings on storage gear right now. If you’re looking to add more space to a camera, tablet or gaming console ahead of Black Friday, we’ve rounded up the best discounts we could find on internal and external SSDs, microSD cards, thumb drives and other storage equipment that you can still get post Amazon October Prime Day.

The Kingston XS1000 against a light blue background.
The Kingston XS1000 portable SSD.
Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

  • SK Hynix Platinum P41 (1TB) for $76 ($19 off MSRP): This matches the lowest price we’ve seen in a year for SK Hynix’s speedy PCIe 4.0 internal SSD. It’s a fine option for PCs or the PlayStation 5 — just note that it doesn’t come with a heatsink.

  • WD Black SN850X (2TB) for $143 ($47 off): If you want a similar performing drive but need more capacity, this deal should fit the bill. The SN850X is the top PCIe 4.0 pick in our guide to the best SSDs. This discount isn’t an all-time low, but it’s about $10 to $15 below the 2TB model’s usual going rate over the past several months. The 4TB model is about $45 off at $264 as well, though we've seen that one go for much less in the past.

  • Crucial P310 (2TB) for $177 ($88 off): The P310 is a small-size SSD for more compact devices like the Steam Deck or ASUS ROG Ally. It uses cheaper QLC memory, not the more performant TLC, but reviews suggest it'll still run well in something like the Deck. This is the lowest price we've seen for the 2TB variant. 

  • Crucial X9 Pro portable SSD (1TB) for $85 ($10 off): The X9 Pro is the top pick in our guide to the best portable SSDs, combining dependable performance with a rugged compact design. We've seen this 1TB model go for much less in previous sales, but it's sat in the $90 to $100 range for almost all of the past year. This discount marks the lowest price we've tracked since January.

  • Kingston XS1000 portable SSD (2TB) for $100 ($40 off): The diminutive Kingston XS1000 is the runner up pick in our guide, and this deal takes about $20 off the 2TB drive's average street price as of late.

  • Lexar SL500 portable SSD (1TB) for $85 ($45 off): This is another USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 model, so most people can safely skip it for a cheaper USB 3.2 Gen 2 SSD or, if you need more performance, a faster USB4 drive. If the SL500 fits into your setup, though, this discount is about $5 to $10 less than the 1TB model’s usual street price.

A silver and black Lexar Professional 1066x microSD card and its black SD card adapter rest on top of a brown wooden shelf above a white window sill.
The Lexar Professional 1066x microSD card.
Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

  • Samsung 990 Pro w/ heatsink (4TB) for $266 ($214 off): The Samsung 990 Pro is widely rated as one of the fastest PCIe 4.0 drives on the market. This variant comes with a heatsink, so it’s PS5-ready from the jump, though it’s probably overkill for more casual tasks, and it’s always possible to save cash by adding your own heatsink to a cheaper SSD. That said, if you don’t want to bother with that and you need a ton of space, this is an all-time low.

  • Crucial T705 (2TB) for $228 ($172 off): Most people don’t need to pay extra for an ultrafast PCIe 5.0 drive like the T705, but if you have heavy-duty performance needs and you own a compatible motherboard, this is about $45 off the 2TB model’s average going rate.

  • SK Hynix Beetle X31 portable SSD (1TB) for $65 ($70 off): The similarly pocketable Beetle X31 should do the job if you only need 1TB of space. This deal comes within a couple bucks of the lowest price we’ve seen and takes about $25 off the drive’s usual street price.

  • Crucial X10 Pro portable SSD (2TB) for $147 ($43 off): You need a device that supports USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 to take full advantage of it, but the X10 Pro is essentially a faster version of the X9 Pro above. Again, this discount isn’t an all-time low, but the 2TB model has typically retailed around $190 in recent months.

  • SanDisk microSDXC Card for Nintendo Switch (128GB, 2-pack) for $28 ($12 off): SanDisk’s Switch-branded microSD card isn’t the fastest we’ve used, but it’s perfectly suitable for most use cases, and this is a solid value for a two-pack.

  • SanDisk Ultra microSD card (1.5TB) for $89 ($61 off): If you don’t care about performance so much and just want a big chunk of space for as little cash as possible, this deal should work. You’ll have to deal with slower transfer speeds, but the discount takes roughly $20 off this 1.5TB card’s typical going rate in recent months.

  • WD Black C50 Xbox Expansion Card (1TB) for $121 ($37 off): It’s a pain in the neck, but the only way to fully expand the storage of an Xbox Series X/S is to use a proprietary expansion card such as the C50. This deal isn’t an all-time low, but it’s $10 to $20 cheaper than the typical street prices we’ve seen over the last several months.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/october-prime-day-is-over-but-these-ssd-deals-are-still-available-074908512.html?src=rss

How to pre-order the Meta Quest 3S VR headset

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Meta has announced a new virtual reality headset, and it's called the Quest 3S. As rumored, this is a lower-cost variant of the Meta Quest 3, which we consider the best VR headset for most people. At $300, it looks to be a suitable entry-level replacement for the popular but aging Quest 2. Meta is aiming it squarely at VR newbies, those upgrading from an older headset and anyone else who's been holding out for a more affordable option — if you're thinking about taking the plunge, here's what to know before you pre-order.

To make way for the new headset, Meta has discontinued the Quest 2 and more expensive Quest Pro. The company says both headsets will remain available either through the end of the year or until stock runs out. It plans to sell official accessories for the two "for a bit longer," though. 

The Quest 3, meanwhile, will now include 512GB of storage at its standard $500, giving it another advantage over its new sibling. Previously, the higher-capacity Quest 3 cost $650, while the base model came with 128GB of space. Meta will now sell that 128GB model for $430, but only while supplies last. If you order a 512GB Quest 3 by April 30, you can get the same Batman: Arkham Shadow bundle included with the Quest 3S.

Catch up on all the news from Meta Connect 2024!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/how-to-pre-order-the-meta-quest-3s-vr-headset-171958398.html?src=rss

How to pre-order the Meta Quest 3S VR headset

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Meta has announced a new virtual reality headset, and it's called the Quest 3S. As rumored, this is a lower-cost variant of the Meta Quest 3, which we consider the best VR headset for most people. At $300, it looks to be a suitable entry-level replacement for the popular but aging Quest 2. Meta is aiming it squarely at VR newbies, those upgrading from an older headset and anyone else who's been holding out for a more affordable option — if you're thinking about taking the plunge, here's what to know before you pre-order.

To make way for the new headset, Meta has discontinued the Quest 2 and more expensive Quest Pro. The company says both headsets will remain available either through the end of the year or until stock runs out. It plans to sell official accessories for the two "for a bit longer," though. 

The Quest 3, meanwhile, will now include 512GB of storage at its standard $500, giving it another advantage over its new sibling. Previously, the higher-capacity Quest 3 cost $650, while the base model came with 128GB of space. Meta will now sell that 128GB model for $430, but only while supplies last. If you order a 512GB Quest 3 by April 30, you can get the same Batman: Arkham Shadow bundle included with the Quest 3S.

Catch up on all the news from Meta Connect 2024!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/how-to-pre-order-the-meta-quest-3s-vr-headset-171958398.html?src=rss

Apple iPhone 16 Pro vs. the competition: Bigger, with more buttons

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Apple unveiled a quartet of iPhones on Monday, including the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. As expected, the updates are largely iterative. The standard models now have the programmable Action button from last year's Pro series, slightly improved battery life and an updated camera module that's stacked vertically instead of diagonally. 

The Pro phones, meanwhile, feature bigger displays with slimmer bezels, improved battery life and a handful of camera upgrades, including a 5x optical zoom for the smaller Pro and a sharper ultrawide camera. The standard models run on Apple's new A18 silicon, while the Pro models, fittingly, use a faster and more efficient chip called the A18 Pro.

The most notable hardware change across the board might be a new touch-sensitive "Camera Control" button that makes capturing photos and video a little more DSLR-like. Mostly, though, these phones don't look to be massive departures from the iPhone 15s before them. Much of Apple's sales pitch will come down to how helpful its "Apple Intelligence" AI tools are out in the wild. 

We already have a hands-on preview for the iPhone 16 Pro up on the site, and we'll have full reviews for the entire iPhone 16 lineup in the near future. But if you're thinking about pre-ordering right away, we've broken down how the new iPhone 16 Pro compares to two of its most prominent rivals in the $1,000 price bracket, the Google Pixel 9 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24+, on the spec sheet. Per usual, raw specs won't tell the full story — you'd probably buy an iPhone because you want iOS and an Android phone because you prefer Android — but if you're wondering what a $1,000 smartphone gets you in 2024, here's how Apple's latest handset stacks up. 

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

Google Pixel 9 Pro

Samsung Galaxy S24+

Pricing (MSRP)

$999 (128GB), $1,099 (256GB), $1,299 (512GB), $1,499 (1TB)

$999 (128GB), $1,099 (256GB), $1,219 (512GB), $1,449 (1TB)

$1,000 (256GB), $1,120 (512GB)

Dimensions

5.9 x 2.8 x 0.3 inches

6 x 2.8 x 0.3 inches

6.2 x 3 x 0.3 inches

Weight

7.03 ounces

7 ounces

6.9 ounces

Screen size

6.3 inches

6.3 inches

6.7 inches

Screen resolution

1,206 x 2,622 (460 ppi)

1,280 x 2,856 (495 ppi)

1,440 x 3,120 (512 ppi)

Screen type

OLED

Up to 120Hz (1-120Hz)

Up to 2,000 nits (peak brightness)

Ceramic Shield

LTPO OLED

Up to 120Hz (1-120Hz)

Up to 3,000 nits (peak brightness)

Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2

Dynamic AMOLED 2X

Up to 120Hz (1-120Hz)

Up to 2,600 nits (peak brightness)

Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2

SoC

Apple A18 Pro (6-core)

Google Tensor G4 (8-core)

NA/China: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (8-core)

Int'l: Samsung Exynos 2400 (10-core)

RAM

Not specified

16GB RAM

12GB RAM

Battery

"Up to 27" hours video playback

4,700 mAh

"24+ hours" with mixed usage

4,900mAh

"Up to 29" hours video playback

Charging

Wired: not specified

25W wireless (with MagSafe charger; up to 15W with Qi2 chargers)

27W wired

21W wireless (with Pixel Stand; up to 12W with other Qi chargers)

45W wired

15W wireless

Storage

128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB (1TB only available with Obsidian model)

256GB, 512GB

Rear camera

Main ("Fusion"): 48 MP, f/1.78

Ultrawide: 48 MP, f/2.2, 120° FOV

Telephoto: 12 MP, f/2.8, 5x optical zoom

Main: 50 MP, f/1.68, 82° FOV

Ultrawide: 48 MP, f/1.7, 123° FOV

Telephoto: 48 MP, f/2.8, 5x optical zoom

Main: 50 MP, f/1.8, 85° FOV

Ultrawide: 12MP, f/2.2, 120° FOV

Telephoto: 10MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom

Front camera

12 MP, f/1.9

42 MP, f/2.2, 103° FOV

12 MP, f/2.2, 80° FOV

Video capture

Rear: 4K at 24/25/30/60/100/120 fps, 1080p up to 240 fps

Front: 4K at 24/24/30/60 fps, 1080p up to 120 fps

Rear: 8K at 30 fps, 4K at 24/30/60 fps, 1080p up to 240 fps

Front: 4K at 30/60 fps

Rear: 8K at 24/30 fps, 4K at 30/60 fps, 1080p up to 240 fps

Front: 4K at 30/60 fps

Water and dust resistance rating

IP68

IP68

IP68

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi 7

Wi-Fi 7

Wi-Fi 6e

Bluetooth

Bluetooth 5.3

Bluetooth 5.3

Bluetooth 5.3

OS

iOS 18

Android 14

Android 14

Colors and finish

Glass front, glass back, titanium frame

Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium

Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame

Porcelain, Rose Quartz, Hazel, Obsidian

Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame

Cobalt Violet, Amber Yellow, Onyx Black, Marble Gray, Jade Green, Sandstone Orange, Sapphire Blue

Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-iphone-16-pro-vs-the-competition-bigger-with-more-buttons-194622608.html?src=rss

Here’s how the new AirPods 4 compare to the rest of Apple’s headphone lineup

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Apple gave its AirPods lineup a makeover on Monday, introducing two different pairs of wireless earbuds dubbed the AirPods 4, a minor refresh for the over-ear AirPods Max and some new features for the existing AirPods Pro. Both models of the fourth-generation AirPods look like slightly smaller versions of the third-gen model from afar, though Apple says the shape has been refined to improve overall comfort. They also feature Apple's H2 chip, smaller charging cases with USB-C and promised improvements to sound quality. 

The higher-end version of the two AirPods comes with active noise cancellation (ANC), which was previously limited to the AirPods Pro and Max. Its case also supports wireless charging and has a speaker that should make the whole thing easier to find if it's ever misplaced.

The revised AirPods Max, meanwhile, now charge over USB-C and come in a few new colors. Finally, while there aren't all-new AirPods Pro, Apple says the current model will receive new software features centered on hearing health, including the ability to function as a "clinical-grade" hearing aid.

Of course, the best way to figure out how much these updates matter is to actually listen to the new headphones. Unsealed earbuds like the AirPods 4 tend to naturally let in lots of outside noise, for instance, so we'll be eager to see how well its ANC feature works over time. We have some early impressions of the new AirPods 4 up now, but we'll have full reviews in the coming days. If you're already dead-set on upgrading in some fashion, however, we've put together a quick and dirty breakdown of how the updated AirPods lineup stacks up. 

AirPods 4

AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation

AirPods Pro (2nd gen)

AirPods Max

Pricing (MSRP)

$129

$179

$249

$549

Design type

Earbud (unsealed)

Earbud (unsealed)

In-ear (sealed)

Over-ear

Active noise canceling

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Transparency mode

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Adaptive Audio

No

Yes

Yes

No

Multipoint connectivity

No

Automatic device switching with Apple devices only

No

Automatic device switching with Apple devices only

No

Automatic device switching with Apple devices only

No

Automatic device switching with Apple devices only

Battery life (rated)

Up to 5 hours

Up to 5 hours (with ANC off; up to 4 hours with ANC enabled)

Up to 6 hours

Up to 20 hours

Total battery life with case (rated)

Up to 30 hours

Up to 30 hours

Up to 30 hours

N/A

Wired charging

USB-C (cable not included)

USB-C (cable not included)

USB-C (cable included)

5 mins in case = around 1 hour of listening time

USB-C (cable included)

5 mins charge = around 1.5 hours of listening time

Wireless charging

No

Yes

Yes

No

Water and dust resistance

IP54

IP54

IP54

No

Size and weight

1.19 x 0.72 x 0.71 inches

0.15 ounces

1.19 x 0.72 x 0.71 inches

0.15 ounces

1.22 x 0.86 x 0.94 inches

0.19 ounces

7.37 x 6.64 x 3.28 inches

13.6 ounces

Case size and weight

1.82 x 1.97 x 0.83 inches

1.14 ounces

1.82 x 1.97 x 0.83 inches

1.22 ounces

1.78 x 2.39 x 0.85 inches

1.79 ounces

4.74 ounces

Chip(s)

Apple H2

Apple H2

Apple H2

Apple U1 in charging case

Apple H1

Bluetooth

Bluetooth 5.3

Bluetooth 5.3

Bluetooth 5.3

Bluetooth 5.0

Bluetooth codecs

AAC, SBC

AAC, SBC

AAC, SBC

AAC, SBC

Spatial audio

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Control type

Touch controls with force sensor

Touch controls with force sensor

Touch controls with force sensor and swipes

Digital Crown dial + Noise control button

Mics and sensors

Dual beamforming microphones

Inward-facing microphone

Optical in-ear sensor

Motion-detecting accelerometer

Speech-detecting accelerometer

Dual beamforming microphones

Inward-facing microphone

Optical in-ear sensor

Motion-detecting accelerometer

Speech-detecting accelerometer

Dual beamforming microphones

Inward-facing microphone

Skin-detect sensor

Motion-detecting accelerometer

Speech-detecting accelerometer

Nine microphones total: eight ANC mics, three mics for voice pickup (two shared for ANC)

Optical sensor

Position sensor

Case-detect sensor

Accelerometer

Gyroscope

Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/heres-how-the-new-airpods-4-compare-to-the-rest-of-apples-headphone-lineup-190150611.html?src=rss

A four-pack of Apple’s AirTags falls back to $75, plus the rest of the week’s best tech deals

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It's a bit of a slow week for tech deals, if we're honest, as many of the better offers we're seeing this Friday are leftovers from last week's Labor Day sales. Still, there are a few discounts worth checking out: A four-pack of Apple's diminutive AirTag trackers are $24 off Apple's list price, for instance, while Keychron's C3 Pro, our favorite mechanical keyboard for those on a budget, is still at an all-time low of $25. Other picks from our guides to the best microSD cards and affordable wireless earbuds are on sale as well, as is Sonos' bag-friendly Roam 2 speaker and Elgato's new Stream Deck Neo control panel. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still buy today. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/a-four-pack-of-apples-airtags-falls-back-to-75-plus-the-rest-of-the-weeks-best-tech-deals-160757509.html?src=rss

A four-pack of Apple’s AirTags falls back to $75, plus the rest of the week’s best tech deals

Posted on by

It's a bit of a slow week for tech deals, if we're honest, as many of the better offers we're seeing this Friday are leftovers from last week's Labor Day sales. Still, there are a few discounts worth checking out: A four-pack of Apple's diminutive AirTag trackers are $24 off Apple's list price, for instance, while Keychron's C3 Pro, our favorite mechanical keyboard for those on a budget, is still at an all-time low of $25. Other picks from our guides to the best microSD cards and affordable wireless earbuds are on sale as well, as is Sonos' bag-friendly Roam 2 speaker and Elgato's new Stream Deck Neo control panel. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still buy today. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/a-four-pack-of-apples-airtags-falls-back-to-75-plus-the-rest-of-the-weeks-best-tech-deals-160757509.html?src=rss