Amazon has ereaders aplenty on sale for Black Friday. You can get the entry-level Kindle for $80, close to a record low. In addition, the retailer has its higher-end Kindle Paperwhite for $120, the Kindle Scribe for $240 and the Kindle Oasis for $180.
The latest Kindle, Engadget’s pick for the best budget reader in 2023, has a 6-inch display with a crisp 300ppi pixel density. Its screen is glare-free with a front light you can adjust to match your environment’s brightness. It’s also Amazon’s lightest and most compact Kindle, weighing only 5.56 oz (158 g) — about 23 percent lighter than the Paperwhite.
Typically $100, the Kindle’s $80 sale price approaches its all-time low of $65 from July Prime Day 2023. The device ships in black and denim (blue), includes a charging cable (but not a wall plug) and lasts an estimated six weeks per charge. Its sale price includes lock-screen ads: Although they’re pretty unobtrusive and won’t disturb your reading, you can pay more upfront or change your mind later and pony up (usually $20) to remove them through your Amazon account.
Kindle Paperwhite
Although the budget model will offer enough features for most people, the pricier Kindle Paperwhite adds a few extra perks. Its screen is bigger, at 6.8 inches. Its front light has more LEDs (17) for more even coverage, and it lets you adjust its warmth, making the illumination more yellowish or white to match your surroundings. It also adds IPX8 water resistance, meaning it can handle up to two meters of submersion for up to 60 minutes. In addition, its battery lasts an estimated 10 weeks. Usually $150, Amazon’s Black Friday sale has the Kindle Paperwhite for just $120.
Kindle Scribe
If you want a larger device that doubles as a digital notebook, the Kindle Scribe is also on sale. It has a 10.2-inch display and a bundled stylus for creating notes and annotating PDFs or books. Although its limited cloud syncing abilities have frustrated some customers, the device is cheaper than direct rivals like the reMarkable 2 and Boox’s various e-ink tablets — while including access to the Kindle Store. Typically $340, you can get the Kindle Scribe now for $240.
Kindle Oasis
Although the Kindle Oasis hasn’t been updated in a while, the 2019 model is still an option for those who like using physical page-turn buttons instead of tapping the screen. The 7-inch, 300 ppi ereader has a warm light (similar to the Paperwhite) to adjust its front light from white to amber. Like the Paperwhite, it’s also rated IPX8 for water resistance, and its design and weight distribution make it exceptionally comfortable for one-handed use. The typically $250 Kindle Oasis is on sale for Black Friday for $180, making it easier to justify paying for a (still lovely) four-year-old product.
Some folks genuinely need a high-powered iPad to boost their productivity and help with tasks such as video editing and image processing. But many others are content to have an Apple tablet just so they can browse the web, catch up with friends and stream movies and TV shows.
If you're in the latter camp, or you're looking for an entry-level iPad for another reason, it's worth considering a slightly older model that's on sale for Black Friday. The ninth-generation iPad currently starts at $230 for a model with 64GB of storage at Target and Amazon. That's $99 off the regular price of $329. This is the best price we've seen for the tablet all year.
This is our pick for the best budget iPad and we gave it a score of 86 in our 2021 review. Sure, the design is pretty dated, but the 9th-gen iPad is still more than capable of handling casual tasks thanks to its A13 Bionic chip. That's the same chipset Apple used in the iPhone 11.
The 9th-gen iPad has a 10.2-inch display, but it's unfortunately somewhat susceptible to glare. Unlike newer iPads, which have switched to a USB-C charging port, you'll still need a Lightning cable to top up this one's battery. It's one of the last iPads to feature a Home button and while the 12MP front-facing camera is capable enough, it's positioned along a portrait edge of the screen, which makes video calls a little more awkward. One major plus point of this model: it's the only iPad still on sale that features a headphone jack.
If you're looking for something with extra power and a more refined design (but aren't ready to pony up for an iPad Air or Pro), consider snagging the 10th-gen iPad. That's $100 off for Black Friday as it's down to $349 for a configuration with 64GB of storage. This tablet has Apple's A14 Bionic chip. Other pros include USB-C charging and the front-facing camera moving to the landscape edge of the screen. We gave this model a score of 85 in our review.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-black-friday-deals-the-9th-gen-ipad-is-99-off-and-down-to-a-record-low-price-100000164.html?src=rss
If you've wanted a couple more AirTags to keep track of your keys, wallet or luggage, now's a good time to grab them. An Amazon Black Friday deal has brought the price of a four pack down to $80, which is close to a record low. That also brings the price per AirTag down to $20 each, which is a great price. If you really only have need for one extra Bluetooth tracker, you can buy one AirTag for $24.
Apple's AirTags leverage the company's Find My network that's powered by all of its devices around the world. You'll need to pair them with an iPhone or an iPad to be able to track them, of course, but as long as they're within range of another Apple device, you'll know where they currently are or what their last location was. The Find My map will be able to guide you, so you can find your purse, suitcase, wallet, or whatever it is you're tracking.
You can make an AirTag play a sound on its built-in speaker through your phone or tablet to make it easier to find, or you can ask Siri to do it for you. If you have an iPhone 11 or later that supports Ultra Wideband, you'll have access to the Find Nearby feature that displays the distance to and the direction information for your AirTag. Your phone will also vibrate the closer you get to the tracking device. And if you want to be notified as soon as it's spotted by Apple's Find My Network, all you have to do is put the device in Lost Mode. When it comes to maintenance, you don't have to do much: The AirTag is water and dust resistant, and it runs on a coin battery that you only have to replace once a year or so.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/a-four-pack-of-apple-airtags-is-down-to-80-on-amazon-for-black-friday-2023-183636656.html?src=rss
Most of Apple’s current-generation devices went on sale for Black Friday — and most of those deals look like they’ll carry over through the weekend and into Cyber Monday. That means if you were otherwise occupied on Friday, you can still save on iPads, Apple Watches, MacBooks, AirPods and more. Some of the prices are new lows and many others match the record prices we’ve seen previously. We’ve tested and reviewed nearly every device below, so check out the links to our full reviews and guides if you need help deciding which deals to snag. These are the best Apple Black Friday deals you can still get today from retailers like Amazon, Target, Best Buy and B&H Photo.
AirPod Black Friday deals
AirPods Pro (2nd gen, USB-C)
When Apple announced the new iPhone 15 and its conversion to USB-C charging, the company also revealed the second generation AirPods Pro with the same connector. That version has dropped to $190 at Amazon, Target, Best Buy. They’ve gone or as low as $189 recently, so this is within a dollar of that price. Other than the port, the hardware hasn’t changed so you’re still getting the earbuds we named the best pick for iPhone users in our guide. In addition to pairing well with Apple’s handsets, the buds also offer one of the best transparency modes on the market along with solid ANC and richer fuller sound than the previous generation Pros. The Lightning version is on sale for $169 at Walmart and $185 at Verizon.
The over-ear AirPods Max are normally far too expensive for us to recommend. But now they're down to $450, which is a new low price and $30 cheaper than Prime Day in October. Get the deal at Amazon or Best Buy. They're $519 at B&H Photo. They are well-designed, comfortable, and implement all of the helpful Siri integrations. We also like the great noise cancellation and Spatial Audio. While they’re a little heavy, the fit is still comfortable and the on-device controls, while unique, are simple and “a joy to use.”
AirPods (3rd gen)
The third generation AirPods with the Lightning charging case are down to $140 at Amazon, Target and Best Buy. They carry a list price of $169 but often sell for closer to $150, so this is $10 off the usual. These non-Pro AirPods came out in 2021 and got a review score of 88 from us. They pair quickly with iPhones and are a good complement to Siri’s helpfulness. They don’t have ANC however — you’ll need to go for the AirPods Pro for that feature — but they do have Adaptive EQ which monitors and adapts sound in real time. The fit is comfortable and they’re water-resistant so they can handle workouts or the weather.
MacBook Black Friday Day deals
MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2023, M3)
The base model, 14-inch MacBook Pro with the new M3 chip just came out in October but is already$150 off for Black Friday. After testing the new chip, we think the base model with 8GB of RAM may quickly get bogged down. If it's within your budget, we recommend the model with 16GB of RAM, which is $150 off at B&H photo. And if you upgrade to a model with the M3 Pro chip for an even speedier experience — you'll get a $200 discount as it's down to $2,199 at B&H Photo. We gave the new M3 MacBook Pros an appreciative review and named them the best option for creatives in our buyer’s guide.
The 15-inch MacBook Air arrived in June and added a little more screen real estate to an already great machine. It’s down to $1,049 for Black Friday at Amazon and Best Buy. That’s the same as the all-time low it’s hit a few times these past couple of months. It's $200 off at B&H Photo. We gave it a 96 in our review and liked how the bigger screen let you get the most out of the M2 processor.
Now that the M3 MacBook Pros have arrived, we’re guessing Apple will come out with M3-enabled Air models in 2024. Still the M2 has plenty of processing power and will serve you well as both a casual machine for playing games and watching shows, but can also hold its own with productivity tasks.
MacBook Air (13-inch, 2022, M2)
The M2-powered, 13-inch MacBook Air is on sale for $929 at B&H Photo. It’s our top recommendation for a MacBook and beat out all brands in our laptop guide. The M2 chip is impressively fast and capable, the design is solid and the display is lovely. It’s more than capable for both work and play and should give you years of dependable use. But, again, the M3-enabled Airs are likely on their way in 2024. So if you know you’re drawn to the newest thing, you might want to wait.
MacBook Air (13-inch, 2020, M1)
The MacBook Air with the M1 chip is a couple years old at this point, but still officially part of Apple’s laptop lineup. It dropped to an all-time low of $750 for October’s Prime Day at Amazon and now Amazon and Best Buy are selling it for the same price. It’s the budget pick in our guide to MacBooks and the top pick in our guide to budget laptops. Check out our review from when it first came out in which we praised its quick speeds, excellent screen and good battery life.
Apple Watch Black Friday deals
Apple Watch Ultra 2
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is now $730 with an attached coupon, which is $69 off and a new low price. Get the deal at Amazon or without the coupon at Best Buy for $739. The Ultra 2 has the same new chip as the Apple Watch Series 9 so it can perform the new Double Tap trick, but also sports a more robust build and outdoor-specific features that make it suited to adventurers. There’s a siren to alert people to your presence as well as a dive meter, waypoint setting capabilities and night mode to preserve your low-light vision. It's our recommended Apple Watch for adventurers.
The new Apple Watch Series 9 is seeing a $70 discount that brings it to $330 at Amazon, Target and Walmart. That's a new low for the wearable. It debuted alongside the iPhone 15 back in September and the big change this time around is a new SiP (system in package) chip that allows for a Double Tap feature that lets you tap your thumb and forefinger together to answer calls and more. It also allows for the onboard processing of Siri requests, making simple demands (like starting a timer or a workout) happen faster.
The Series 9 has an always-on display and when paired with the Sport Loop is a carbon neutral product. As has been the case for many years now, the Apple Watch is an excellent fitness companion, offering comprehensive health and activity data. It also happens to be our favorite smartwatch for most people.
The most affordable smartwatch in the lineup is the Apple Watch SE, which is now down to $179. It has a list price of $249 but has regularly sold for $220 lately. We called it the best smartwatch money can buy in our review when it came out in 2022. It lacks an always-on display and a few of the more specialized health sensors, like the blood oxygen app, but the fitness features and tracking data are well-rounded, plus the notifications and integrations are particularly convenient for iPhone users.
Apple iPad Black Friday deals
iPad (9th generation)
Apple’s ninth generation standard iPad dropped to a new all-time low of $249 during Amazon’s October Prime Day sale and then hovered at the price for the next few weeks. Now it’s down to $230 at Amazon and Target. It’s not the newest slate, but it’s the recommended budget pick in our guide to the best Apple Tablets because it’s powerful enough for couch surfing, playing Apple Arcade games and watching Netflix — plus it's the most affordable way to get an iPad.
iPad (10th generation)
The tenth generation iPad is on sale for $349 at Amazon and Target, which is $100 off the list price. It has often sold for $399 lately so this is still $50 off the typical street price. We don’t think it’s a wild improvement over the previous generation, though it does orient the camera to the landscape edge, which is much better for video calling. The USB-C charging is more modern than the Lightning connector on the 9th gen iPad, but for some reason this model still works with the first generation Apple Pencil (even though the slate came out after the second-gen stylus).
iPad Air
The base model of the latest generation of the iPad Air has an MSRP of $599 and is now down to $499, a price its hit quite a few times in 2023. This is the iPad we recommend for most people because it’s speedy, has a great screen and works with current-generation accessories. It can act as a rather powerful entertainment option for games and streaming, but is powerful enough to serve as a productivity device when paired up with a stylus or mouse and a keyboard. Now that the M3 chip has been loosed upon the world, the iPad Air, which houses the M1 chip, is primed for an update, which will likely come next year (along with a potential price increase).
iPad mini
For a more portable iPad experience, the iPad mini offers a bigger screen than your phone, but is barely as easy to carry around with you. It’s listed at $499, but has dropped as low as $400 many times this year. Now it’s back down to that low at Amazon, Target and Best Buy. The smaller iPad got a refresh last year, adding a new Liquid Retina screen, a Touch-ID top button instead of a Home button, and a USB-C charging. The performance is snappy and the integration with the second-generation Apple Pencil makes it excel as a digital notebook. As we said in our review, with the mini, Apple “quashes notion that ‘smaller’ means ‘lesser.’”
Apple accessories Black Friday deals
$100 Apple Gift Card + $15 Amazon credit
If you purchase an Apple gift card totaling $100 or more from the retailer, you can get $15 in Amazon store credit for no extra cost. Just use the code APPLET5USA at checkout to see the offer. The deal applies to the digital version of the card; as of this writing, you can get the credit with a physical Apple gift card as well by using the code APPLET5USAP, though you may not want to clip the coupon on those cards' product page, as Amazon's listing says that will only give you a $10 credit. As a reminder, you can use an Apple gift card for App Store credit, subscription services like Apple Music or iCloud, and/or purchases made at a physical Apple store.
Magic Keyboard
Apple's Magic Keyboard is our pick for one of the best iPad accessories you can buy. It's a pretty pricey add-on but now that it's down to $215 at Amazon, it's a little easier to justify. It magnetically attaches to the latest iPad Pros and keeps them “floating” above the keyboard (which also has a trackpad). We found it comfortable for typing and like that it acts as a cover when closed.
A four-pack of Apple AirTags is $80 right now at Amazon, thanks to a 19 percent discount. They go for $29 each at full price, so the deal will save you $9 a pop. AirTags are our top picks for Bluetooth trackers for iPhone users as they tap into Apple’s disturbingly vast FindMy network, using other Apple mobiles to find your lost stuff. If you want just a single AirTag, you can grab one for $24 (a $5 discount) at Walmart and Target.
Apple Pencil
Apple now makes three different Apple Pencils. The original recharges via Lightning. The second generation recharges wirelessly and the new USB-C looks a lot like the first generation, but charges via USB-C instead of lighting. Each one has different iPad compatibility with iPads. While that part is confusing, the pencil itself is rather elegant and one of the best accessories for your iPad. The 1st gen pencil is on sale for $73 at Amazon, while the 2nd generation stylus is down to $89. The USB-C model has an MSRP of $79 but is down to $71 at Amazon.
Apple TV 4K
The Apple TV 4K is our favorite premium streaming device and is currently $125 at B&H Photo. That's not a huge discount, but the streaming box rarely goes on sale. We gave it a 94 in our review because it’s fast, has an excellent Siri remote and integrates seamlessly with Apple’s overall ecosystem. Navigation is clean and easy to use, plus the device can stream in 4K, HDR and Dolby Vision.
Mac Mini M2
The base model of Apple diminutive desktop computer, the Mac mini, is currently on sale for $100 off for Black Friday at Amazon, B&H Photo, Best Buy. It earned an 86 in our review because it packs a lot of processing power, using the same M2 chip as the two current-model MacBook Airs — but it’s much cheaper than either laptop. If you need a little more storage, you can get it with 512GB of SSD for $699 at B&H Photo.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-deals-on-airpods-ipads-apple-watches-and-more-are-still-available-today-with-black-friday-discounts-212202218.html?src=rss
Amazon’s flagship Fire Max 11 tablet is back down to its previous all-time low price just in time for Black Friday. The retailer has discounted the base model with 64GB of internal storage and lock screen ads to $150 or 35 percent off its $230 MSRP. For those that had their eye on the other variants of the Fire Max 11, the 128GB model is sold out at the moment, as is the productivity bundle — though you can still buy the ad-free model for $165, or $80 off its usual $250 sticker price.
The Fire Max 11 is Amazon’s most powerful tablet to date. It features an 11-inch, 2,000 x 1,200 LCD screen, a MediaTek octa-core processor that is about twice as fast as any other Amazon tablet, 4GB of RAM, Wi-Fi 6 support and a fingerprint sensor that’s built directly into the device’s power button. Compared to most of the company’s other tablets, which often skew toward being kid-friendly and built primarily for consuming content, the Fire Max 11 sports a more refined design. It weighs about a pound and features slimmer bezels. Most of all, Amazon went with more premium aluminum. The internal battery is good for about 14 hours of use on a single charge.
On the software front, the Max 11 runs Fire OS 8, the latest version of Amazon’s Android fork. It offers a built-in split screen and picture-in-picture features that are perfect for those who frequently use their tablets to watch video. If you want to use the device for productivity, Amazon offers optional stylus and keyboard case accessories.
Engadget hasn’t had a chance to review the Fire Max 11, but for $230, the tablet offers plenty of value for those looking for a no-frills device that’s great for media consumption and light productivity work. When you consider competing 2-in-1 tablets from the likes of Samsung, Microsoft and Apple will typically set you back far more than Fire Max 11, Amazon’s offering is a great budget option.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-black-friday-deals-the-fire-max-11-tablet-hits-a-record-low-of-150-011030793.html?src=rss
All of Google's latest smartphones have been discounted for Black Friday. Of note is the Google Pixel 7a, which is 25 percent off and down to a record low of $374. The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro are also on sale for $549 and $799, respectively, while the high-end Pixel Fold is a whopping $400 off. The Pixel 7a is a great option for anyone who wants a capable smartphone at a very low price — it's our current favorite midrange phone, but at this sub-$400 price, it's a steal.
At $499, the Pixel 7a was already a great value. Budget phones often involve some compromises, but with the 7a, those are few and far between. The phone comes with Google’s previous generation Tensor G2 chip. What’s more, the company didn’t cut back on memory — the 7a features 8GB of RAM, just like the Pixel 7. Subsequently, the Pixel 7a offers performance on par with its more expensive sibling.
Google didn’t skimp in other areas either. The 7a features a vibrant 6.1-inch OLED screen. And for the first time on one of the company’s A-series phones, the 7a boasts a 90Hz refresh rate, meaning interactions like scrolling will feel faster and more responsive than on 60Hz phones. The 7a even comes with wireless charging, a feature that’s frequently hard to find on other phones in the 7a’s price range. Add to that an excellent 64-megapixel main camera with Google’s best-in-class photography software, and there’s not much the 7a doesn’t have going for it.
In fact, when Engadget Senior Reporter Sam Rutherford reviewed it earlier this year, he found little to fault with the 7a. “The Pixel 7a delivers everything I like about the regular Pixel 7 for $100 less,” he wrote in his 90 review of the device. “So if you’re the kind of person who just wants a solid phone for a great price, the Pixel 7a has everything you need.”
For those with more to spend, it’s worth noting the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are also on sale. After a 21 percent discount, the former is $549 for the 128GB model, with all three colorways — hazel, obsidian and rose – included in the promotion and in stock. Meanwhile, the 128GB Pixel 8 Pro is $799 following a 20 percent discount. Once again, all three colorways — bay, obsidian and porcelain — are part of the sale and available.
Considering the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro only hit the market at the start of October, this is a great opportunity to buy a brand new device. Engadget awarded the two handsets scores of 90 and 93 respectively, calling them Google’s most compelling phones in years. The inclusion of Google’s new Tensor G3 chip, genuinely useful AI features and an unprecedented seven years of software support should make the new Pixels compelling to anyone in the market for a new flagship smartphone.
If you're interested in diving into the world of foldable phones, the Pixel Fold is down to a record low of $1,399 right now. It earned a spot on our best foldable phones list thanks to its easy-to-use exterior display, its thin, IPX8 water resistant design and its handy Google-specific software like Hold for Me, Call Screener and more.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-black-friday-deals-the-pixel-7a-is-25-percent-off-and-cheaper-than-ever-223006599.html?src=rss
With Black Friday deals popping up all over the place for the last week or so, perhaps you've already treated yourself or a loved one to a new iPad. It may be that you (or the recipient) is someone who would like to sketch or take notes on the tablet. As such, you may be looking to pick up an Apple Pencil. There's some good news in that case — all three Apple Pencil models are on sale on Amazon for Black Friday.
Of the trio, the second-gen Apple Pencil has the widest array of features. That model has dropped to a new record low price of $82, which is $47 off. The previous best price we've seen was $85.
The second-gen Apple Pencil is one of the best iPad accessories around. Apple designed it (and the other two models) specifically to work with the iPad, and it's the best stylus you can snap up for the company's tablets.
The second-gen model has a double-tap feature that you can customize to switch between preferred tools and it offers low latency. Other features include tilt sensitivity, pressure sensitivity and what Apple claims is "pixel-perfect precision."
One big advantage that the second-gen Apple Pencil has over its two siblings is wireless charging. It attaches magnetically to the side of a compatible iPad while it recharges. This Apple Pencil works with iPad Pro 12.9-inch (third-gen and later), all iPad Pro 11-inch models, iPad Air (fourth and fifth generation) and the sixth-gen iPad mini.
The other two Apple Pencils are on sale too. The USB-C model, which Apple only started selling this month, has fallen from $79 to $71.10. It works with every iPad that has a USB-C charging port. It has some, but not all of the capabilities of the second-gen Apple Pencil, such as support for a hover feature on M2-powered iPads. This lets you sneak a peek at any mark you plan to make before it's applied to your sketch, annotation or notes. You can also magnetically attach the USB-C Apple Pencil to the side of supported iPads, but it won't charge wirelessly.
If you happen to have an older iPad that isn't supported by those styluses, you can opt for the original Apple Pencil, which is on sale for $72.88. That's 26 percent off the usual price of $99. It supports low latency, tilt sensitivity and pressure sensitivity.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-black-friday-deals-the-second-gen-apple-pencil-drops-to-a-new-low-of-82-160056239.html?src=rss
Ereaders like the Kindle Paperwhite make great gifts — especially when they're on sale. The Paperwhite adds a few perks over the standard Kindle, including a warm backlight, a waterproof build and a larger screen. As part of Amazon's Black Friday sale, it's now $20 off the list price, bringing it down to $120. This is the 8GB model with lockscreen ads, which usually promote Kindle books.
Other Amazon ereaders are also on sale, including the standard Kindle, which is down to $80. That's $15 more than the members-only price during Prime Day in July, but the lowest it's sold for since. We tested a number of ereaders for our guide and named the standard Kindle the best budget pick. It doesn't have a warm backlight and isn't waterproof, but it the 300ppi screen is crisp and clear and it grants access to local library books, audiobooks and Kindle's own ebook trove, which is the largest out there thanks to Kindle Exclusive titles that you can't find elsewhere.
The read/write Kindle Scribe is also discounted, down to $240 for the 16GB model with the Basic Pen. That's $100 discount and the lowest price ever, beating it's members-only Prime Day price by $15. We gave the Scribe an 85 review score, praising the roomy, 10.2-inch screen and premium build. It's also our favorite E-Ink tablet that's does double duty as an ereader. We particularly liked how low the latency is between the pen and the tablet.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazons-kindle-paperwhite-drops-to-120-for-black-friday-140004428.html?src=rss
Amazon has a hefty price cut on the Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro / Air. The Black Friday deal drops the (typically $299) accessory’s price to $215, which represents a 28 percent discount. Initially launched in 2020, the Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad provides an easy and seamless way to jump between tablet and laptop(-ish) modes. Attach your iPad magnetically to the accessory’s back (it appears to “float”), and Apple’s software immediately recognizes it for typing and cursor control — no Bluetooth pairing or cables required. Engadget recommended it as one of the best iPad accessories.
Its (scissor mechanism) keys feel similar to those of recent Mac keyboards, and its trackpad, although smaller than those on MacBooks, gives you desktop-like cursor control and swipe-based multitasking gestures in iPadOS. The accessory supports USB-C passthrough charging, so you can juice up your iPad while plugging an external drive or monitor into the tablet’s port. The accessory is available in black and white.
This model is only compatible with recent iPad Pro and iPad Air models. Specifically, it supports the 11-inch iPad Pro (1st generation through the current 4th-gen model) and iPad Air (4th and 5th generations). If you have the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, there’s a separate Magic Keyboard model for it that’s also on sale: You can grab that one for $299 (it’s usually $349).
If you've already got a keyboard that works for your iPad setup, a few of our other favorite iPad accessories are on sale as well. The second-gen Apple Pencil has dropped to $89 for Black Friday, and Tablift's iPad holder is on sale for $32 for Amazon Prime members as well.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-apple-magic-keyboard-for-ipad-is-28-percent-off-in-an-amazon-black-friday-deal-175522472.html?src=rss
Android 14, the latest version of Google’s mobile operating system, arrived on October 4. Since then, it has slowly started rolling out to some newer phones, tablets and foldables. Android 14’s user-facing enhancements broadly fall into four categories: accessibility, customization, privacy and security. Below, is a list of all of the update’s biggest features, along with instructions on how to access and enable them.
To compile this how-to, I used a Pixel 8, so what follows reflects how things are done on stock Android. On some phones and tablets, certain options may be located in other parts of the operating system or require a slightly different process to turn on. Even if that’s the case, the instructions here should help you find your way around.
And if you want to find out when (or if) Android 14 will arrive on your device, check out our dedicated guide. In short, many manufacturers, including OnePlus and Nothing, are still finalizing their first stable Android 14 builds, and they may need more time to complete bug and quality assurance testing.
At the bottom of this how-to, you will also find information about Google’s ongoing QPR betas, which include bug fixes and enhancements the company is testing ahead of its first Android 14 Pixel Feature Drop.
Accessibility
Flash notifications
Screenshots by Igor Bonifacic / Engadget
New to Android 14 are flash notifications, a feature that allows the OS to trigger your phone’s camera flash or brighten the screen when notifications arrive or an alarm goes off. This is particularly helpful to people who may be hard of hearing. Previously, support for flash notifications was spotty on Android, with some manufacturers – most notably Samsung – offering it while others did not.
Users can enable flash notifications from their device’s Settings menu. Swipe down from the top of your phone’s screen to access the Notification Shade, then swipe down again to expand the Quick Settings. Tap the cog icon on the bottom of right of the screen to access the main Settings menu. From there, tap “Notifications,” then “Flash notifications.”
Two toggles allow you to enable camera and screen flashes independently of one another, and, if you tap “Screen flash,” you can also tweak the color of the flash, with Pixel phones offering 12 different options.
Improved support for hearing aids
Screenshots by Igor Bonifacic / Engadget
Flash notifications aren’t the only new Android 14 feature for those who may be hard of hearing. In Android 13 and prior, Google grouped hearing aids in with other Bluetooth devices. Now, the former have their own dedicated page within Android 14’s settings.
To access the page, open the Settings app, scroll down and tap “Accessibility,” then scroll down and tap “Hearing devices.” Here you will find an option for pairing new hearing aids with your phone, and a toggle that allows you to add dedicated shortcuts for said device. On Pixel devices, users can both add an accessibility button that lives on the side of their phone’s screen, and configure the volume buttons so that when you hold down both, your phone will take you directly to the hearing devices menu. There’s also a toggle that Google notes should improve compatibility with telecoils and reduce unwanted noise.
Larger fonts
Screenshots by Igor Bonifacic / Engadget
For visually impaired users, Google has added support for larger fonts and smarter scaling. On Pixel devices, Android can now make text up to 200 percent larger where before the maximum was 130 percent. The new system is built around non-linear scaling, so text that is already big – such as titles and headings – won’t increase in size as much as other, smaller elements.
To increase the size of text and interface elements on your phone, open the Settings menu, then tap “Display,” followed by “Display size and text.” In addition to two sliding scales that allow you to change the size of fonts and everything on screen, this page features two toggles that you can turn on to bold all text and enable high contrast fonts.
The first time you tweak your phone’s font size settings, Android 14 will automatically add a font size settings option to the final page of the quick settings menu. You can access this menu by swiping down from the top of your phone’s screen to bring down the notification shade. Swipe down again to see the full quick settings menu. To edit the order in which menu items appear, tap the pencil icon that appears when the full quick settings menu is on screen, and then hold and drag the tiles you wish to move.
Better pinch to zoom functionality
Screenshots by Igor Bonifacic / Engadget
In addition to more robust font scaling, Android 14 features a redesigned magnifier tool that allows users to quickly customize how much of the screen they’d like to see enlarged. The panel offers four different magnifier sizes and the option to enable diagonal scrolling. It also includes a scale you can use to increase or decrease the zoom level. To enable the panel, open the Settings menu, tap “Accessibility” followed by “Magnification. As with flash notifications, you can bind the magnifier tool to an on screen accessibility button or both volume buttons.
Customization
More wallpaper and lock screen customization
Screenshots by Igor Bonifacic / Engadget
Although technically not new to Android 14, it’s more than likely that the two wallpaper features Google previewed at I/O 2023 will arrive on most non-Pixel handsets alongside Android 14. The new features allow users to create custom wallpapers with up to 14 of their favorite emoji or with the help of a built-in AI image generator.
The new customization settings are accessible directly from the homescreen. Long press the home screen and tap the top option, “Wallpaper & style” to open the relevant menu. From there, you can find the new AI and Emoji wallpaper options by tapping “More wallpapers.” Both options are situated at the top of the interface.
The AI option has a few limitations worth keeping in mind. To start, you must select a theme. As of this article, there are 12 on offer. Additionally, Google doesn’t currently allow you to write a prompt from scratch. Instead, each theme comes with a few parameters that the user can define, and here again the options are limited to the ones Google gives you.
The new lock screen customization options are accessible from the top of the “Wallpaper & style” screen. Tap “Lock screen,” and then drag your finger or thumb either left or right to scroll through the different options. To tweak the color and size of the clock, tap “Clock color & size.” For additional tweaks, including the new option to add up to two shortcuts to your phone’s lock screen, scroll down the interface.
Regional preferences
If you’re an American who lives abroad (or a foreigner who finds themselves frequently visiting the US), Android 14 allows users to set system-wide preferences for whether apps should display temperatures in Celsius or Fahrenheit or treat Sunday or Monday as the start of the week. Additionally, once you set those preferences, Android 14 knows to carry them over between backups. Separately, the OS offers more robust support for gendered languages like French and German.
To set your regional preferences, open the Settings menu, tap “System,” then “Languages,” followed by “Regional preferences.” When I sat down to write this story, searching for “Regional preferences” using the Settings app’s built-in search feature did not point me in the right direction. If you run into a similar issue, follow the menu flow described above.
Privacy and security
Data protection
Android 14 makes it easier to see how advertisers and other third parties are using your data – and thereby decide if you want to restrict your app permissions – with a new monthly notification that details any data sharing changes the apps on your phone may have made in the past 30 days. You don’t need to enroll in these to start seeing them, though a footnote on Google’s website notes this feature is only available for certain apps.
End of support for older apps
Android 14 doesn’t allow users to install apps that make use of application programming interfaces (APIs) that date back to and before Android 5.1. Google’s reasoning for this is that a lot of malware programs target vulnerabilities found in older and outdated APIs. In practice, this is mostly likely to affect older games that haven’t been updated in more than a few years. That said, if you have a Lollipop era app or game installed on your phone when you go to download Android 14, it will continue to work even after your phone starts running the new OS.
More nuanced photo and video sharing
Screenshots by Igor Bonifacic / Engadget
Borrowing a page from iOS, Android 14 adds more nuanced sharing options for photos and videos. Now, when an app requests access to your media files, you can choose to give it access to all, none or only some of your photos and videos. Previously, this was an all or nothing proposition. You should see a new prompt reflecting the redesigned permissions the first time an app asks for access to your photos and videos.
If at any point you change your mind, you can review all of your app permissions from the Settings app. After opening the menu, tap “Apps,” then tap the name of the program you want to review (you may need to tap “See all apps” to find the specific one you’re looking for), followed by “Permissions” and then “Photos and videos.” If you plan to change the permissions for more than one app, there’s a helpful “See all apps with this permission” option that will appear toward the bottom.
Separately, Google has also tweaked Android’s Share Sheet. With Android 14, developers can add custom share targets to the interface, and the OS can pull in more app data to better inform the priority of actions. In theory, this should make the Share Sheet more consistently useful.
PIN enhancements
With Android 14, the humble pin has received a pair of enhancements. First, there’s a new option that allows you to disable the animation that plays on the lock screen when you input your PIN. In theory, this should make it harder for onlookers to spy your code. Second, there’s a new auto-confirm option that makes it so you don’t need to tap “Ok” after tying out your PIN, thereby reducing the time it takes to open your phone. For security reasons, this is only available with six-digit PINs.
Both options are found in the “Enhanced PIN privacy” section of the “Security” settings menu. The auto-confirm unlock is enabled by default when you set a six-digit PIN.
Everything else
Battery life
Android 14 doesn’t include any tentpole battery-related features like Marshmallow did with Doze. Nonetheless, Google claims the OS should be less of a power hog, thanks to refinements the company made to how the software handles background tasks, downloads and uploads.
Health Connect integration
Google
In late 2022, Google released Health Connect, a platform it jointly developed with Samsung to enable health and fitness apps to more easily share data between one another without compromising on user privacy. With Android 14, Health Connect is integrated directly within the operating system’s Settings. It’s accessible from the “Privacy” page of the dashboard.
Ultra HDR
Lastly, Android 14 includes built-in support for Google’s new Ultra HDR picture format. The format embeds a high dynamic range tone map directly within the metadata of an image. On devices with HDR-compatible displays, Google says Ultra HDR will produce images with more vibrant colors and contrast. The nifty thing about the format is that it’s fully backward compatible with most devices. thanks to the fact it makes use of the .jpg extension. On devices with SDR displays, the viewer will see a regular SDR image.
What about the next two Pixel Feature Drops?
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
As mentioned above, Google is currently conducting two quarterly platform release (QPR) betas. For the uninitiated, these see the company testing tweaks that will eventually arrive as part of future Pixel Feature Drops. Google is expected to release the first one before the end of the year and the one after that in March. You can take part in the QPR1 and QPR2 betas by enrolling in the Android Beta for Pixel program.
Once the first Android 14 Pixel Feature Drop arrives, I’ll update this article to detail what’s new – since the release timing of specific features can change. In the meantime, what follows is a non-exhaustive list of the changes Google has been testing. Credit for spotting many of these goes to former XDA Developers reporter Mishaal Rahman.
QPR1
The highlight of the first beta is a redesigned “Software updates” page that is easier to find and brings together system, app and Play Store updates in one place. Considering the amount of taps it currently takes to manually check for updates, this is a welcome change.
Another notable enhancement sees Google tweaking the Pixel’s built-in Clock app to add weather information to the world clock page. This change is carried over to the app’s optional widgets.
QPR2
As for the second beta, the highlight here is a per-app screen recording option. This is a change Google has been teasing for a while, and it looks like it’s finally on its way early next year. Elsewhere, QPR2 adds an outline to the volume slider, making it easier to see just how loud your phone is at any given moment. Some people have also reported that QPR2 reduces the amount of time it takes to install software updates anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/android-14-googles-release-dates-new-features-and-everything-else-you-need-to-know-150057490.html?src=rss