Tag Archives: author_name|Valentina Palladino

Amazon’s Echo Dot drops to $23 ahead of October Prime Day

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With Prime Big Deal Days being a little more than one week away, Amazon has kicked things off early by discounting most of its Echo smart speakers. You can get up to 69 percent off Echo devices and bundles right now, and that goes for any Amazon shopping — not just Prime members. Of note is the Echo Dot for $23, a record low that matches its July Prime Day price, and the Echo Dot bundled with a Kasa Smart Plug Mini for just about $1 more. Considering the Echo Dot is one of our favorite smart speakers and the Kasa accessory earned a spot on our list of best smart plugs, that bundle is an affordable way to get your smart home started.

The Echo Dot was not one of the many Amazon devices to receive an upgrade last month during Amazon's hardware event, which means you're getting the latest model of the speaker in this sale. Its orb-like design is quite attractive and it's small enough to fit on a nightstand or at the end of a desk, making it a good option if you have little space to spare. The Echo Dot impressed us with its solid audio quality, producing louder and clearer audio than we initially expected from such a small speaker. It has physical volume and mute bottoms on its top, but you can control it hands-free by using Alexa commands.

That's also where the Kasa Smart Plug Mini will come in handy. Since it works with Alexa, you could ask the voice assistant to turn on the coffee maker that's connected to the smart plug, kick-starting your morning routine without extra effort from you. Plugging a regular lamp into the Kasa accessory will let you turn on and off your lights without getting up from the couch, just by asking Alexa to do so. If you've been looking to add some IoT devices to your home, this could be a good place to start — it's a cheap way to introduce Alexa into the mix, and you can start off by turning one of your most used household devices into a smart one with the Kasa adapter.

The rest of Amazon's smart speaker lineups is also included in this early Prime Day deal. The even more affordable Echo Pop is on sale for $18, while the standard Echo has dropped to $55. There are also other bundles available, like the the Echo Dot with Clock plus a Philips Hue Color Smart Light Bulb for $47. All of these smart speakers have the same Alexa chops, and most of them have good audio quality given their size and price. But if you're looking for the speaker with the best audio quality possible, the Echo Studio has dropped to $155. That price is a record low and it matches the July Prime Day price we saw, as is the case for most of these Echo deals.

Your October Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Fall Prime Day deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazons-echo-dot-drops-to-23-ahead-of-october-prime-day-150502937.html?src=rss

Amazon’s Echo Dot drops to $23 ahead of October Prime Day

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With Prime Big Deal Days being a little more than one week away, Amazon has kicked things off early by discounting most of its Echo smart speakers. You can get up to 69 percent off Echo devices and bundles right now, and that goes for any Amazon shopping — not just Prime members. Of note is the Echo Dot for $23, a record low that matches its July Prime Day price, and the Echo Dot bundled with a Kasa Smart Plug Mini for just about $1 more. Considering the Echo Dot is one of our favorite smart speakers and the Kasa accessory earned a spot on our list of best smart plugs, that bundle is an affordable way to get your smart home started.

The Echo Dot was not one of the many Amazon devices to receive an upgrade last month during Amazon's hardware event, which means you're getting the latest model of the speaker in this sale. Its orb-like design is quite attractive and it's small enough to fit on a nightstand or at the end of a desk, making it a good option if you have little space to spare. The Echo Dot impressed us with its solid audio quality, producing louder and clearer audio than we initially expected from such a small speaker. It has physical volume and mute bottoms on its top, but you can control it hands-free by using Alexa commands.

That's also where the Kasa Smart Plug Mini will come in handy. Since it works with Alexa, you could ask the voice assistant to turn on the coffee maker that's connected to the smart plug, kick-starting your morning routine without extra effort from you. Plugging a regular lamp into the Kasa accessory will let you turn on and off your lights without getting up from the couch, just by asking Alexa to do so. If you've been looking to add some IoT devices to your home, this could be a good place to start — it's a cheap way to introduce Alexa into the mix, and you can start off by turning one of your most used household devices into a smart one with the Kasa adapter.

The rest of Amazon's smart speaker lineups is also included in this early Prime Day deal. The even more affordable Echo Pop is on sale for $18, while the standard Echo has dropped to $55. There are also other bundles available, like the the Echo Dot with Clock plus a Philips Hue Color Smart Light Bulb for $47. All of these smart speakers have the same Alexa chops, and most of them have good audio quality given their size and price. But if you're looking for the speaker with the best audio quality possible, the Echo Studio has dropped to $155. That price is a record low and it matches the July Prime Day price we saw, as is the case for most of these Echo deals.

Your October Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Fall Prime Day deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazons-echo-dot-drops-to-23-ahead-of-october-prime-day-150502937.html?src=rss

How to pre-order the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2

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While Microsoft's event on Thursday focused on AI, the company spent some time debuting a few new Surface devices as well. The new Surface Laptop Studio 2 is supposedly the most powerful Surface device Microsoft has made, with support for the latest Intel processor, NVIDIA RTX 40 series GPUs and the first Intel NPU on Windows to power AI effects. The Surface Laptop Go 3, on the other hand, is the company's newest small laptop and it's billed to have significant performance improvements and up to 15-hours of battery life. Here's how you can pre-order the new Surface Laptop Studio 2 and the Surface Laptop Go 3.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2

The updated Surface Laptop Studio 2 is even more powerful than the previous version, sporting 13th-gen Intel i7 H-class processors, NVIDIA RTX 4050 and 4060 GPUs and it can be configured to have enterprise-level RTX 2000 Ada Generation graphics as well. The 14.4-inch touchscreen tilts forward so you can use it in studio and stage modes (in addition to the standard laptop mode), and the machine has Dolby audio-powered speakers, a touchpad that supports adaptive touch and an included Surface Slim Pen 2. The latest model can be configured to have up to 64GB of RAM and up to 2TB of storage.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3

The new Surface Laptop Go 3 is the latest iteration on Microsoft's tiny notebook. Coming in at under 2.5 pounds, it has a 12.4-inch touchscreen, a fingerprint-toting power button for biometric logins and improved performance that should make it 88 percent more powerful than the original Laptop Go. Microsoft claims the Laptop Go 3 will have up to 15 hours of battery life and it will come in four colors: platinum, sage, sandstone and ice blue. It will run on Intel Core i5 processors and can be configured to have up to 16GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage.

Follow all of the news live from Microsoft’s 2023 Surface event right here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-to-pre-order-the-microsoft-surface-laptop-studio-2-152956033.html?src=rss

How to pre-order the new iPhone 15

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September typically brings crisper weather and new iPhones, and this year is no different. Apple recently unveiled the new iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, and as rumors suggested, the company has finally done away with its storied Lightning port in favor of a USB-C connector. While iPhone 15 models now support the Dynamic Island and come in fun colors, the iPhone 15 Pro handsets sport titanium designs and the new A17 Pro processor. Apple also revealed the latest models of its wearable, the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2, both of which sport an upgraded chipset for better performance. Here's everything you need to know about how to pre-order the new iPhone 15 and 15 Pro, along with everything else Apple announced today.

Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus

The latest iteration of the iPhone looks much the same as the previous model, with the biggest difference being the new USB-C charging port on its bottom edge that replaces the age-old Lightning socket. The USB-C ports support charging and data transfer, and practically, they allow users to power up most of their Apple devices — think MacBooks, iPads and now iPhone — using the same cable.

Another new feature for the base iPhones is Dynamic Island, which was previous only available on the Pro handsets. The floating black-pill section at the top of the iPhones' displays hides the front-facing camera and the FaceID sensor, while also showing things like alerts and animations unique to apps you're using.

Both the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus have the same screen sizes as their predecessors: 6.1 and 6.7 inches, respectively, and they both have Super Retina XDR displays that can reach up to 2,000 nits of brightness. The revamped camera array includes a 48-megapixel main rear camera with a 12MP telephoto lens, plus a TrueDepth front camera. Both models run on Apple's A16 Bionic chipset, the same found in last year's iPhone 14 series, and will support an all-day battery life.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max

As with the standard models, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max handsets eschew Lightning in favor of USB-C charging ports. But new for the Pro models only is a titanium design that makes both the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max much lighter than their predecessors. Apple claims it managed to shrink the overall dimensions of both handsets without affecting screen size; you'll find a 6.1-inch display on the iPhone 15 Pro and a 6.7-inch screen on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Another noticeable design change is the new Action button that replaces the side mute toggle switch. Apple essentially made it a more customizable tool on the iPhone, allowing users to pick the action they want associated with a button press. Muting the iPhone remains an option, but you can change it so a button press allow you to quick access to your phone's camera, flashlight, accessibility tools and more.

As far as cameras go, the iPhone 15 Pro models have a 48-megapixel main camera with a larger sensor than that found on the standard iPhone 15 models, and it provides improved low-light performance and the ability to shoot higher resolution photos at different focal lengths. There's also a 12MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom capabilities, which is the most on any iPhone yet. The entire rear array can also capture spatial video, which Apple is billing as a perk for those who want to get the Vision Pro when it becomes available next year.

The iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max run on Apple's latest A17 Pro chipset, a new GPU and a dedicated USB controller that's not present on the standard models. The new GPU is noteworthy for its six-core design and hardware-accelerated ray-tracing capabilities, both of which should improve overall gaming experiences on the new iPhones.

Apple Watch Series 9

If you were expecting a lot of changes on the latest Apple Watch, you'll unfortunately be disappointed. The new Apple Watch Series 9 is almost identical to last year's version, but it runs on a new S9 SiP, which is the biggest chipset upgrade for Apple's wearable since 2020. It will provide a general performance boost and things like smoother watchOS 10 animations and quicker Siri request processing. The Series 9 also has a new four-core neural engine that should help process machine learning tasks more quickly, and enable new features like the Double Tap gesture. The Watch will also be able to ping your iPhone and help you find it with on-screen directions and haptic feedback (aka Precision Finding) thanks to the new, built-in ultra wideband chip.

Otherwise, the Series 9 will be available in the familiar sizes, 41mm and 45mm, and come in pink, starlight, silver, midnight and Product Red aluminum case colors.

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Similarly to the Series 9, the Apple Watch Ultra got an incremental update for 2023. The new model runs on the updated S9 SiP and features all of the perks of the Series 9, including on-device Siri command processing and Precision Finding for iPhone with the new, built-in ultra wideband chip. The externals are mostly the same, but Apple changed the display architecture here so the Ultra 2's screen can hit up to 3,000 nits of brightness. That should make it even easier to view watch faces, complications and more in direct sunlight.

Otherwise, the Ultra 2 is the same GPS + Cellular, 49mm wearable as it was last year, with the biggest screen on any Apple Watch and the longest battery life of any Apple wearable too.

Apple AirPods Pro with USB-C

Apple didn't spend much time talking about the newest version of its Pro earbuds, probably because the major upgrade here is USB-C. The new AirPods Pro have a charging case that now features a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port, following the iPhones as another Apple gadget to ditch Lightning entirely. On top of the new connector, the upgraded earbuds will have improved dust resistance and lossless audio with Apple Vision Pro.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-to-pre-order-the-new-apple-iphone-15-apple-watch-series-9-120532354.html?src=rss

The best MacBook accessories for 2024

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Current MacBooks are powerful enough to serve as your daily productivity machine, but the keyboard and trackpad can feel cramped if you’re relying on them all week long. A few clever MacBook accessories can make your setup more ergonomic, improve your video calls and keep you powered up when you’re working out in the field. Some even make great Mac accessories, too, so you can use them with your desktop as well. We’ve tested dozens of gadgets and devices made for MacBooks — here are the ones we like best that may work for you as well.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-macbook-accessories-150014737.html?src=rss

The best MacBook accessories for 2023

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The right accessories can make an old MacBook feel new again, or level up your experience with a brand new laptop. For example, a good wireless mouse can be more comfortable on your longest work days than your MacBook’s trackpad, and it’s always handy to have a few extra chargers around. We at Engadget have tested out numerous MacBook accessories over the years, and the recommendations below are some of our favorites at the moment.

Logitech Brio 500

Our current favorite webcam will up the video quality of all of the conference calls you take. The Logitech Brio 500 records 1080p 30fps video, and its improved light correction will help you put your best face forward regardless of the environment in which you’re streaming. Much like Logitech’s other webcams, the Brio 500 is a plug-and-play solution — just connect it via one of the USB-C ports on your MacBook and start a call. But you can customize things further if you want using the LogiTune software, which lets you change things like field of view, contrast, brightness, autofocus and more. The Brio 500 also supports Logitech’s RightSight technology, which keeps you in the middle of the frame even when you move around, similar to Apple’s Center Stage feature on its iPads. Admittedly, an external webcam will be most useful for those working with an older MacBook that still has a 720p built-in camera, but even those with new MacBooks can get use out of the Brio 500 — and if you spend most of your days on video calls, you’ll want the extra bump in quality and superior customizations that Logitech’s accessory provides. — Valentina Palladino, Senior Commerce Editor

Yilador webcam cover

The built-in cameras on MacBooks may have gotten better over the past few years, but they still don’t include a cover for when you want a little extra privacy. Webcam covers like these from Yilador are cheap and effective — these are super thin at 0.027 inches and adhere right over your webcam, allowing you to slide a shutter over the camera when you’re not using it. They’re easy to install, and the adhesive is secure enough that the cover won’t fall off but you can also remove the cover and stick it onto a new laptop when you eventually upgrade. The standard black option is great if you want the cover to blend in with the bezels surrounding your MacBook’s display, or you can opt for a fun design that features pizzas, fruits or cute little characters. — V.P.

LapGear lap desk

If you take your MacBook from room to room with you, you’ve probably found yourself working in some less-than-ergonomic positions. When you want to relax on the couch or your favorite armchair and still get some work done, a lap desk like this one from LapGear can make it more comfortable. It has enough surface area to fit 13- and 15-inch MacBooks, with extra side space where you can use a Bluetooth mouse along with your notebook. The raised ledge towards the bottom will prevent your laptop from sliding off, and the two storage wells at the top are good places to store pens, sticky notes, snacks and more. — V.P.

Anker 555 USB-C Hub

The latest MacBook Pros may have a bevy of ports, but they’re the only Mac laptops that have that level of connectivity. Anker’s 555 USB-C hub and accessories like it will be a necessity for anyone working with a new Air or an older Mac model. Anker’s hub gives you eight ports: two USB-A ports, one HDMI port, SD and microSD card slots, one Ethernet jack and two USB-C ports, one of which provides 100W power to charge your MacBook. The USB-C and USB-A ports can handle 10 Gbps file transfers and you can connect a 4K/60Hz monitor to the HDMI slot. Anker’s accessory may be ultra-portable, but it has enough power and versatility to be the only laptop hub you need. — V.P.

Belkin 4-Port GaN 108W BoostCharge Pro

In our fast charger guide, Apple’s included 140W power adapter was the quickest to refill an M1 MacBook Pro, but it only has a single port. As our reviewer Sam Rutherford points out, that seems like a missed opportunity. Belkin’s four-port GaN BoostCharge Pro 108W charger gives you space for two USB-A and two USB-C cables and was the second fastest performer, getting the laptop from ten percent to 75 percent in about 45 minutes. The starting price is also about $10 cheaper than Apple’s. The BoostCharge Pro wasn't the top pick in our 100W-plus category because it lagged when powering an Android phone, but if you’re looking for a reliable wall charger for your MacBook, this will serve you well. — Amy Skorheim, Commerce Writer

Anker 100W USB-C charging cable

It would be nice if you could grab a random charging cable and have it work correctly with any device. But not all cables are the same: If you want to take advantage of a fast charging brick or the quick-charge port of a power bank, you’ll need a power delivery cable with a high wattage rating. Anker’s USB-C to USB-C 100W cable was the conduit of choice when Sam tested out fast chargers for our guide. It’s plenty long at 10 feet and it’s affordable at $16 (and we’ve seen it go on sale for less). While it supports data transfer, it’s not rated for video output. For that, you’ll want a video cable or one marked as Thunderbolt 3 or 4. — A.S.

Mophie Powerstation Pro AC

When you take your MacBook on the road, it’s nice to have a way to juice it back up if an outlet isn’t available. Mophie’s Powerstation Pro AC is a massive, 27,000mAh power bank with 20W USB-C and USB-A ports, a 60W USB-C power delivery port and a 100W AC plug. In our tests, it recharged a 16-inch MacBook Pro from ten percent to 75 percent in 89 minutes — and that’s while using WiFi, a VPN, Slack and multiple active tabs in Chrome. The 140W power brick that comes with that laptop is too power-hungry for the 100W AC port, but plugging the USB-C end of the MagSafe cable into the Powerstation worked great. — A.S.

Roost Stand

Hunching over a MacBook all day is murder on your back and neck, so it’s wise to make your everyday setup more ergonomic by using a stand paired with a separate keyboard and mouse. The Roost Stand adjusts to seven different heights and can accommodate up to a 16-inch MacBook Pro. It folds up to a slim stick and weighs just over six ounces, making it not only good for your desk, but also as part of your go-everywhere digital-nomad setup. Just be prepared: when I set mine up in public, I always get questions from strangers. — A.S.

Logitech Ergo mouse

There is a mouse graveyard in my office cabinet — devices I’ve tried and discarded because they didn’t help with my shoulder aches. The solution was a trackball mouse and Logitech’s MX Ergo is the best I’ve found. It tilts for a more natural “handshake” grip and has a slow-mo trackball button for more precise movements in Photoshop and other apps. The scroll wheel is speedy but precise and you can switch between two computers (or one MacBook and one iPad) with the pairing button. You can even program the various buttons to do app-specific things using Logitech’s software. My only gripe is the antiquated micro-USB charging port, but the battery lasts long enough that I only have to use it once every few months. It’s pricey at $100, so you may prefer the $70 Ergo Lift. It also offers a handshake grip, but without the roller ball, and has Bluetooth or USB dongle connectivity options. — A.S.

Magic KeyBoard with Numeric Keypad

We’ve already suggested you don’t work all day directly on your laptop, so along with your stand and external mouse, you’ll need a keyboard. Apple’s own Magic Keyboard with numeric keypad is a solid work-from-home or office option. It pairs quickly and reliably with any MacBook, and I appreciate the expanded key selection, which includes a forward delete key. Apple claims the battery lasts about a month with regular use, which jives with my experience, and you can recharge from your laptop while you work (a no-brainer feature the Magic Mouse doesn’t have). On the other hand, if you enjoy the pleasing clack of mechanical keys, consider some of our favorite 60-percent keyboards. — A.S.

Logitech K380

I’ve carried Logitech’s K380 keyboard for travel and coffee shop sojourns for five years (and I’m currently typing on it). It puts up with rough treatment and connects easily to a roster of machines, including Mac, iOS, Windows, Android and Chrome OS. It has a that critical forward delete key and three Bluetooth pairing buttons so you can switch quickly between different devices. It takes three AAA-cell batteries, but lasts for over a year on a set. The top-row function keys support a few Mac-specific shortcuts like volume, mute, playback control and the “expose” function that shows all your open apps at once. — A.S.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-macbook-accessories-150014737.html?src=rss

Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Air M2 models are up to $200 off right now

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It's early August and that means the back-to-school season is closing in on us fast. For those looking to invest in a new laptop for the upcoming semester, Amazon has a sale on the latest 15-inch MacBook Air that brings many models down to their lowest price yet. At the time of writing this, every color of the 256GB MacBook Air M2 is $200 off and down to $1,099, and the 512GB model in starlight is also $200 off and down to $1,299. Regardless of the size you get, the Air M2 is one of our favorite laptops at the moment, and it's even better when you can grab it on sale like this.

The 15-inch MacBook Air takes everything we loved about the 13-inch model and make it just a little bit bigger. Like it's smaller sibling, the 15-inch laptop has impressive performance thanks to Apple's M2 chipset, a comfortable keyboard and trackpad and a battery life that exceeded the 18 hours that the company promised in our video playback testing.

The bigger screen has a 2,880 x 1,864 resolution, but it shares the same pixels per inch (224) as that of the 13-inch version. Although it's not a mini LED display like you'll find on the MacBook Pros, it's still a lovely Liquid Retina panel with 500 nits of brightness and a 60Hz refresh rate. The extra screen space will definitely come in handy in a lot of different workflows, and since the 15-inch MacBook Air is nearly as thin and light as the 13-inch model, it's remains quite portable.

The biggest gripe with the 15-inch Air that we should call out, especially now, is that Apple's M2 chipset is one year old at this point and there's a possibility that we see new, M3-powered Macs debut this fall. This time of year, it's worth waiting to pick up a Mac if you absolutely must have the latest and greatest. However, it's likely that Apple will not retire the M2 MacBooks even if it launches M3 machines in the fall; the company currently sells the M1 MacBook Air alongside the M2 laptops, so we expect the M2 machines to stick around for a while even after the latest devices come out.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-15-inch-macbook-air-m2-models-are-up-to-200-off-right-now-135843112.html?src=rss

The best iPad cases for 2024

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Regardless of if you have an older iPad or a new iPad Pro, it’s a good idea to protect it with a case. That will be even more crucial if you use your iPad as a laptop replacement, or if you have kids constantly trying to steal the slab from you to binge-watch Bluey. While it’s impossible to protect your gear from every kind of hazard, you can give your iPad a stronger shell with which to protect itself against accidental drops, dings and falls. This is a crowded space — there are dozens of iPad cases available today, some of which focus more on aesthetics than protection. But sussing out which will provide you the right level of protection you need along with extra features like a built in keyboard and folio can be tricky. Here are the best iPad cases we’ve tried that will suit a variety of needs.

FAQs

Should you keep your iPad in case?

It’s almost always a good idea to keep your iPad in a case so it’s protected against hazards and accidents. The best iPads are expensive — even the most affordable model will set you back nearly $300 — so you’ll want to safeguard your gear as much as possible.

What is the difference between an iPad case and an iPad cover?

All iPad covers are cases, but not all iPad cases are covers — yes, it’s a bit confusing, but allow us to explain. Most iPad covers are cases that surround the back of your tablet and have a flap that covers the screen, so it provides protection for the body as well as its display. Plenty of iPad cases also have screen covers, but you don’t have to get one with that feature. Instead, you could just get a case that hugs the back of the tablet and nothing else. Those accessories will be marginally thinner and lighter than their cover-toting counterparts, and give your iPad a more svelte profile.

How often should I charge my iPad?

How often you charge your iPad will depend on how often you use it. Most iPads will last at least a regular work day with frequent usage, which is one of the reasons why many have opted to use their iPads as laptop replacements. But with heavy usage, like constant video streaming or gaming, will come more rapid battery drain. A good rule of thumb is to charge your iPad when you go to sleep each night, that way you’ll have a topped-up device waiting for you in the morning.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-ipad-cases-to-protect-your-tablet-130033533.html?src=rss

The best Amazon Prime Day deals for 2023 that you can still get today

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It's true, Amazon Prime Day is over. But some of the deals are still sticking around. While Amazon returned most of their own devices back to the original pricing, we did notice a deal on the Echo Show 5 and the Show 5 Kids edition for just a little more than they were for the big sale, but now it's not restricted to just Prime members. A few Apple deals are still live, including the secnd-gen AirPods Pro and the brand new 15-inch MacBook Air. Many sale prices on monitors from Samsung are holding out and the new Google Pixel 7a smartphone is still $449. Multiple storage cards and drives are still discounted as is Roku's Streaming Stick 4K. Here are the best Amazon Prime Day deals that are still live today.

Amazon Echo Show 5

Amazon's smallest smart display went for $5 less during Prime Day, but only Prime members could get it. Now anyone can get the Echo Show 5 for a discount. It's $40 off which is the second lowest price we've seen since this latest generation arrived in May. The smaller size might make the most sense as a bedside device, and there's even a snooze button up top to further the alarm clock comparison. The Kids version of the Echo Show 5 — which comes with a free year of Amazon Kids+, includes parental controls and offers kid-friendly Alexa responses — is also on sale. It's 40 percent off, which is $10 more than it was on Prime Day, but again, anyone, not just Prime members, can get the deal.

Apple AirPods Pro

Apple's second-generation AirPods Pro are on sale for $199 right now. These buds are a huge improvement over their predecessors, offering improved sound quality, ANC and transparency mode. We still consider these to be the best earbuds for iPhone users thanks to their Apple-specific features like quick pairing and switching and hands-free Siri.

Apple AirPods (2nd Generation)

The latest AirPods might have a few extra bells and whistles, but the second-generation Apple AirPods are a good choice for $99. This model mirrors its successor in having an H1 chip, Siri, automatic switching between devices and a lightning charging case. The biggest consideration is battery life, with these AirPods offering five hours of uninterrupted use and over 24 hours with the charging case.

Apple MacBook Air M1

The M1 MacBook Air released back in 2020, but it remains a worthy option if you want a Mac for light work and web browsing for as little cash as possible. The entry-level configuration is now on sale for $750, which is a new low. This model’s keyboard, trackpad, display and battery life continue to impress, and the quiet M1 chip is still fast enough for the essentials. This configuration is strictly for casual use, though, as it only has 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. You’ll have to live with a more basic 720p webcam, too, and you’ll miss out on the improved speakers and slimmer bezels of the M2 model. We gave the M1 Air a review score of 94 at launch.

Apple MacBook Air (15.3-inch)

The new, larger version of Apple’s MacBook Air M2 is down to $1,399 for a configuration with 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. That’s a modest $50 drop from its usual price on Amazon, but the notebook only just arrived last month, and it's $100 less than buying from Apple directly. The M2 Air is the top pick in our guide to the best laptops, and we gave it a review score of 96 in June. It checks just about all the requisite boxes for a mainstream notebook, with a thin and light design, bright and accurate display, comfortable keyboard, long-lasting battery, and more than enough performance for everyday use. This 15-inch model has all the same benefits of the prior 13-inch model, but adds a more powerful speaker system and slightly upgraded GPU alongside the bigger screen.

Google Pixel Buds Pro

Google's flagship wireless earbuds, the Pixel Buds Pro, are down to $150 at the moment, or $50 off their usual rate. Google took all of the lessons it learned when making previous earbuds and got a lot of things right with the Pixel Buds Pro. These will be great for Android users who want buds with punchy bass, good ANC, reliable touch controls and wireless charging.

Samsung Pro Plus microSD

The top pick in our best microSD cards guide, Samsung's Pro Plus in 256GB is on sale for $20 right now. It had some of the best overall speeds of any of the microSD cards we tested, and it has all of the important ratings that a good card should have: U3, V30 and A2. It'll be a great pick for your tablet, smartphone or Nintendo Switch, and it comes with a full-sized adapter in case you need to use it with a camera or connect it to your computer.

Samsung Evo Select microSD

Samsung's Evo Select microSD card has dropped to only $10. It's a step behind the top pick in our microSD card guide, mostly due to its slower sequential write speeds, but it's arguably the best value microSD card you can get right now.

Samsung T7 Shield

The Samsung T7 Shield SSD is still on sale for $75 at the moment. The T7 series as a whole includes some of our favorite SSDs, and the Shield is the most durable of the bunch. The portable drive has an IP65 rating for water and dust resistance, and it can withstand drops from up to 10 feet high. On top of that, its 1,050/1,000 MB/s read/write speeds should be enough for most people's needs.

Crucial MX500

Crucial's MX500 internal drive has been discounted to only $48 on Amazon. It has sequential read speeds of 560MB/s and a standard 2.5-inch design that should make it easy to swap in for your desktop's or laptop's used-up drive.

Kasa Smart light bulbs

TP-Link's Kasa Smart Bulbs are our favorite budget pick and right now they're within a dollar of the lowest price, which we saw during Black Friday last year. Just be sure to click the coupon on the product page; combined with the 5 percent discount, that brings the $40 four-pack down to $30. We like these bulbs because they offer a simple installation process and stayed reliably connected throughout our testing, plus the companion app is simple and clean.

There's also a hefty coupon for our top pick for smart strip lights. Govee's M1 RGBIC LED Strip Lights is WiFi connected (ie no hub required) and can produce a range of bright (or subtle) colors, adding a little ambiance to your office or gamer cave. With the coupon, the 16-foot strip drops to $70 instead of the usual $100.

Samsung S95B

The 65-inch Samsung S95B is on sale for $1,598, matching its all-time low. Typically, this highly-rated set has cost an extra $100 to $200 in recent months. The S95B’s QD-OLED panel combines OLED tech with a quantum dot layer, allowing it to deliver high contrast and wide viewing angles without sacrificing as much as typical OLED TVs in terms of brightness and color saturation. This means it should provide a rich image even in brighter rooms. It can also play up to 4K 120Hz, which is handy for the PS5 or Xbox Series X, but like all Samsung TVs, it doesn’t support Dolby Vision HDR.

Sony Bravia XR X90L 4K Ultra HD TV

As part of a larger sale on Sony TVs, Amazon is discounting the Bravia XR X90L in the 65-inch size by $200. The X90L is one of the more affordable models in Sony's 2023 lineup, which we had a chance to check out earlier this year. Overall, we were impressed by the clarity, brightness and sheer physical size (some models go up to 89 inches) of Sony's latest sets. 

Roku Streaming Stick 4K

Roku's Streaming Stick 4K is down to $34 right now, or $16 off its usual price. It's our favorite streaming device at the moment because it packs a ton of features into an affordable package. It streams 4K, HDR content with Dolby Vision, and it supports AirPlay 2 and private listening with headphones.

Google Pixel 7a

The Google Pixel 7a is on sale for $449 right now, or $50 off its usual rate and an all-time low. This is the best midrange phone you can get right now thanks to its speedy Tensor G2 chip, smooth 90Hz display and support for wireless charging. The 7a also has solid cameras and an IP67 water-resistant design.

Fitbit Inspire 3

Fitbit’s Inspire 3 is our favorite budget fitness tracker and Prime Day dropped it to $80 after a 20-percent discount. As of now, just the model with the orange band is still available for that price. The Inspire 3 doesn’t have built-in GPS, but if you bring your phone along, its connected GPS capabilities will give you all the same data. And it does offer monitoring for your heart rate, blood oxygen and skin temperature variations — and of course it'll count your steps and distance. 

Nest WiFi Pro - 3 Pack

The Google Nest WiFi Pro three-pack gives you all the same technology as the pair but with a wider range. With three routers, you can access WiFi across 6,600 square feet. At 25 percent off, the trio is $300, making each Nest WiFi Pro only $100 — it's a steal considering they typically retail for $200 each. As for color, get them all in Snow or get a mix of Snow, Fog and Linen.

 

Razer Blade 15

A configuration of the Razer Blade 15 with a Core i7-12800H processor, GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU, 240Hz QHD display, 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD is down to $1,923 at the moment. That’s about $375 off its usual street price in recent months. We gave the Blade 15 a review score of 86 last year, and we currently recommend it as a premium pick in our guide to the best gaming laptops. This config is a 2022 model – the latest version is largely a spec bump – but it’ll still be powerful enough to play most modern games at high settings and frame rates, particularly with DLSS. The main reason to pay the premium for any Blade laptop, though, is because it packs that power in a slim and premium-feeling aluminum design. Just note that it can run hot, and that its battery life is fairly short.

SAMSUNG M80B Smart Monitor (32-inch)

A big selection of Samsung monitors are on sale, including the Smart Monitor M80B for $400. That's not as low as the $380 it went for Prime Day, but is still a nearly $100 savings. The 32-inch display pulls triple duty as a monitor, smart TV and smart home hub. You can connect it to your computer just like any other external display, but it comes with Samsung's smart TV interface and a remote. It also has a built-in SmartThings hub so you can build out your IoT network from there with smart light bulbs and other compatible devices. 

There's a good number of Samsung monitors of all sizes on sale right now, some of which match the lows they saw for Prime Day, like some of the higher-end Odyssey gaming monitors — including the massive 49-inch Odyssey G9 curved gaming monitor for $400 off.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2

We reviewed the second generation of Samsung's entry-level buds when they came out in 2021, awarding them an Engadget score of 84. We liked the improved sound and premium features — like active noise cancellation wireless charging and an adjustable ambient sound mode — which are usually reserved for higher-end buds. You'll get the most out of them if you also have a Samsung phone, and these probably aren't the best pick for iPhone users. They also don't have the best water-resistance with just an IPX2 rating, but they're a budget way to get premium features — particularly when they're just $90. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-prime-day-deals-you-can-still-get-today-123525839.html?src=rss

The best Amazon Prime Day deals for 2023 that you can still get today

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It's true, Amazon Prime Day is over. But some of the deals are still sticking around. While Amazon returned most of their own devices back to the original pricing, we did notice a deal on the Echo Show 5 and the Show 5 Kids edition for just a little more than they were for the big sale, but now it's not restricted to just Prime members. A few Apple deals are still live, including the secnd-gen AirPods Pro and the brand new 15-inch MacBook Air. Many sale prices on monitors from Samsung are holding out and the new Google Pixel 7a smartphone is still $449. Multiple storage cards and drives are still discounted as is Roku's Streaming Stick 4K. Here are the best Amazon Prime Day deals that are still live today.

Amazon Echo Show 5

Amazon's smallest smart display went for $5 less during Prime Day, but only Prime members could get it. Now anyone can get the Echo Show 5 for a discount. It's $40 off which is the second lowest price we've seen since this latest generation arrived in May. The smaller size might make the most sense as a bedside device, and there's even a snooze button up top to further the alarm clock comparison. The Kids version of the Echo Show 5 — which comes with a free year of Amazon Kids+, includes parental controls and offers kid-friendly Alexa responses — is also on sale. It's 40 percent off, which is $10 more than it was on Prime Day, but again, anyone, not just Prime members, can get the deal.

Apple AirPods Pro

Apple's second-generation AirPods Pro are on sale for $199 right now. These buds are a huge improvement over their predecessors, offering improved sound quality, ANC and transparency mode. We still consider these to be the best earbuds for iPhone users thanks to their Apple-specific features like quick pairing and switching and hands-free Siri.

Apple AirPods (2nd Generation)

The latest AirPods might have a few extra bells and whistles, but the second-generation Apple AirPods are a good choice for $99. This model mirrors its successor in having an H1 chip, Siri, automatic switching between devices and a lightning charging case. The biggest consideration is battery life, with these AirPods offering five hours of uninterrupted use and over 24 hours with the charging case.

Apple MacBook Air M1

The M1 MacBook Air released back in 2020, but it remains a worthy option if you want a Mac for light work and web browsing for as little cash as possible. The entry-level configuration is now on sale for $750, which is a new low. This model’s keyboard, trackpad, display and battery life continue to impress, and the quiet M1 chip is still fast enough for the essentials. This configuration is strictly for casual use, though, as it only has 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. You’ll have to live with a more basic 720p webcam, too, and you’ll miss out on the improved speakers and slimmer bezels of the M2 model. We gave the M1 Air a review score of 94 at launch.

Apple MacBook Air (15.3-inch)

The new, larger version of Apple’s MacBook Air M2 is down to $1,399 for a configuration with 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. That’s a modest $50 drop from its usual price on Amazon, but the notebook only just arrived last month, and it's $100 less than buying from Apple directly. The M2 Air is the top pick in our guide to the best laptops, and we gave it a review score of 96 in June. It checks just about all the requisite boxes for a mainstream notebook, with a thin and light design, bright and accurate display, comfortable keyboard, long-lasting battery, and more than enough performance for everyday use. This 15-inch model has all the same benefits of the prior 13-inch model, but adds a more powerful speaker system and slightly upgraded GPU alongside the bigger screen.

Google Pixel Buds Pro

Google's flagship wireless earbuds, the Pixel Buds Pro, are down to $150 at the moment, or $50 off their usual rate. Google took all of the lessons it learned when making previous earbuds and got a lot of things right with the Pixel Buds Pro. These will be great for Android users who want buds with punchy bass, good ANC, reliable touch controls and wireless charging.

Samsung Pro Plus microSD

The top pick in our best microSD cards guide, Samsung's Pro Plus in 256GB is on sale for $20 right now. It had some of the best overall speeds of any of the microSD cards we tested, and it has all of the important ratings that a good card should have: U3, V30 and A2. It'll be a great pick for your tablet, smartphone or Nintendo Switch, and it comes with a full-sized adapter in case you need to use it with a camera or connect it to your computer.

Samsung Evo Select microSD

Samsung's Evo Select microSD card has dropped to only $10. It's a step behind the top pick in our microSD card guide, mostly due to its slower sequential write speeds, but it's arguably the best value microSD card you can get right now.

Samsung T7 Shield

The Samsung T7 Shield SSD is still on sale for $75 at the moment. The T7 series as a whole includes some of our favorite SSDs, and the Shield is the most durable of the bunch. The portable drive has an IP65 rating for water and dust resistance, and it can withstand drops from up to 10 feet high. On top of that, its 1,050/1,000 MB/s read/write speeds should be enough for most people's needs.

Crucial MX500

Crucial's MX500 internal drive has been discounted to only $48 on Amazon. It has sequential read speeds of 560MB/s and a standard 2.5-inch design that should make it easy to swap in for your desktop's or laptop's used-up drive.

Kasa Smart light bulbs

TP-Link's Kasa Smart Bulbs are our favorite budget pick and right now they're within a dollar of the lowest price, which we saw during Black Friday last year. Just be sure to click the coupon on the product page; combined with the 5 percent discount, that brings the $40 four-pack down to $30. We like these bulbs because they offer a simple installation process and stayed reliably connected throughout our testing, plus the companion app is simple and clean.

There's also a hefty coupon for our top pick for smart strip lights. Govee's M1 RGBIC LED Strip Lights is WiFi connected (ie no hub required) and can produce a range of bright (or subtle) colors, adding a little ambiance to your office or gamer cave. With the coupon, the 16-foot strip drops to $70 instead of the usual $100.

Samsung S95B

The 65-inch Samsung S95B is on sale for $1,598, matching its all-time low. Typically, this highly-rated set has cost an extra $100 to $200 in recent months. The S95B’s QD-OLED panel combines OLED tech with a quantum dot layer, allowing it to deliver high contrast and wide viewing angles without sacrificing as much as typical OLED TVs in terms of brightness and color saturation. This means it should provide a rich image even in brighter rooms. It can also play up to 4K 120Hz, which is handy for the PS5 or Xbox Series X, but like all Samsung TVs, it doesn’t support Dolby Vision HDR.

Sony Bravia XR X90L 4K Ultra HD TV

As part of a larger sale on Sony TVs, Amazon is discounting the Bravia XR X90L in the 65-inch size by $200. The X90L is one of the more affordable models in Sony's 2023 lineup, which we had a chance to check out earlier this year. Overall, we were impressed by the clarity, brightness and sheer physical size (some models go up to 89 inches) of Sony's latest sets. 

Roku Streaming Stick 4K

Roku's Streaming Stick 4K is down to $34 right now, or $16 off its usual price. It's our favorite streaming device at the moment because it packs a ton of features into an affordable package. It streams 4K, HDR content with Dolby Vision, and it supports AirPlay 2 and private listening with headphones.

Google Pixel 7a

The Google Pixel 7a is on sale for $449 right now, or $50 off its usual rate and an all-time low. This is the best midrange phone you can get right now thanks to its speedy Tensor G2 chip, smooth 90Hz display and support for wireless charging. The 7a also has solid cameras and an IP67 water-resistant design.

Fitbit Inspire 3

Fitbit’s Inspire 3 is our favorite budget fitness tracker and Prime Day dropped it to $80 after a 20-percent discount. As of now, just the model with the orange band is still available for that price. The Inspire 3 doesn’t have built-in GPS, but if you bring your phone along, its connected GPS capabilities will give you all the same data. And it does offer monitoring for your heart rate, blood oxygen and skin temperature variations — and of course it'll count your steps and distance. 

Nest WiFi Pro - 3 Pack

The Google Nest WiFi Pro three-pack gives you all the same technology as the pair but with a wider range. With three routers, you can access WiFi across 6,600 square feet. At 25 percent off, the trio is $300, making each Nest WiFi Pro only $100 — it's a steal considering they typically retail for $200 each. As for color, get them all in Snow or get a mix of Snow, Fog and Linen.

 

Razer Blade 15

A configuration of the Razer Blade 15 with a Core i7-12800H processor, GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU, 240Hz QHD display, 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD is down to $1,923 at the moment. That’s about $375 off its usual street price in recent months. We gave the Blade 15 a review score of 86 last year, and we currently recommend it as a premium pick in our guide to the best gaming laptops. This config is a 2022 model – the latest version is largely a spec bump – but it’ll still be powerful enough to play most modern games at high settings and frame rates, particularly with DLSS. The main reason to pay the premium for any Blade laptop, though, is because it packs that power in a slim and premium-feeling aluminum design. Just note that it can run hot, and that its battery life is fairly short.

SAMSUNG M80B Smart Monitor (32-inch)

A big selection of Samsung monitors are on sale, including the Smart Monitor M80B for $400. That's not as low as the $380 it went for Prime Day, but is still a nearly $100 savings. The 32-inch display pulls triple duty as a monitor, smart TV and smart home hub. You can connect it to your computer just like any other external display, but it comes with Samsung's smart TV interface and a remote. It also has a built-in SmartThings hub so you can build out your IoT network from there with smart light bulbs and other compatible devices. 

There's a good number of Samsung monitors of all sizes on sale right now, some of which match the lows they saw for Prime Day, like some of the higher-end Odyssey gaming monitors — including the massive 49-inch Odyssey G9 curved gaming monitor for $400 off.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2

We reviewed the second generation of Samsung's entry-level buds when they came out in 2021, awarding them an Engadget score of 84. We liked the improved sound and premium features — like active noise cancellation wireless charging and an adjustable ambient sound mode — which are usually reserved for higher-end buds. You'll get the most out of them if you also have a Samsung phone, and these probably aren't the best pick for iPhone users. They also don't have the best water-resistance with just an IPX2 rating, but they're a budget way to get premium features — particularly when they're just $90. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-prime-day-deals-you-can-still-get-today-123525839.html?src=rss