It’s times like this we envy folks who waited to buy. Photo: Apple
With new iPads expected right around the corner at Apple’s May 7 “Let Loose” event, you can expect discounts on older models. Check out Monday’s great deal at Best Buy — the lowest price on M1 iPad Air 5 (64GB, Wi-Fi) at $399. That’s a whopping $200 off.
And that’s not the only iPad deal at Best Buy going on right now. See others below.
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Best Buy drops M1 iPad Air 5 to lowest-ever price
Many recent deals have sprung up on iPads, as a new batch appears to be just about to launch. But do you really need the latest and greatest? Some people insist on it, but others wait for just this kind of bargain to come along.
But when it’s the lowest-ever price as far as we can tell, don’t be surprised if you don’t get tons of choices.
This 2022 M1 iPad Air 5 is the 64GB model with Wi-Fi only and it’s available in one color only, starlight. But still, that’s a nice tablet.
I’ve been the proud owner of an M1 iPad Air with 256GB unified memory since they came out in 2022, and I have no complaints. The tablet has become my frequent companion, especially for reading news and books, but also for music and video. If you don’t want to pay full price for the latest models coming out, this is a great option.
When choosing a new phone charger today, there is a giddying amount to choose from, and deciding which one is right for you isn’t always straightforward.
Anker is a popular and affordable brand that many opt for, well-regarded for its USB cables and chargers. But there is still an overwhelming number of options even within this one company’s line-up.
Don’t worry, I’ve done the hard work – I tested a load of USB-C chargers, including Anker’s, to see which offer the best value, and I’ve picked out three from Anker I think are great buys, covering different prices and needs. So if you’re after one of the best iPhone chargers or best Android chargers, you’ll be happy with these. They’re all available in both the US and the UK – my pictures are from the UK version, and the designs may be slightly different in the US. Some models are available in Australia, where the design is closer to the US models.
Anker Prime 67W GaN 3-Port Charger
(Image credit: Future)
The Anker Prime 67W is at the premium end of the brand’s wall chargers. It features three ports (two USB-C and one USB-A), which can be used simultaneously to charge devices ranging from phones to laptops, thanks to its maximum of 67W output.
Anker’s PrimeGaN technology claims to offer ultra-fast charging while being more efficient and running at lower temperatures than previous tech. Based on my tests, that seems to be the case. The charging times I experienced via all ports were fast, and while the unit became warm to the touch, it certainly didn’t feel worrying or like a danger.
The build quality is high here, with a durable construction, which is something I found to be common among Anker’s products (I compared them to competitors, too, and Anker’s usually felt better). The pins also fold flat, making it more convenient to travel with, and the hinge mechanism feels tight and precise too.
Anker 323 33W 2-Port USB C Charger
(Image credit: Future)
The Anker 323 is a step down from the Prime in terms of spec, coming with two ports (USB-C and USB-A) instead of three. It also only offers 33W of single-port charging (32W max when using both simultaneously), making it ideal for phones and tablets, as well as low-power laptops, such as the MacBook Air M3.
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Another difference is that the 323 uses Anker’s PowerIQ 3.0 technology, whereas the Prime uses 4.0. Although both standards offer the same maximum output capacity, IQ4 also features dynamic power distribution, which detects the voltage output of connected devices and makes adjustments accordingly, in order to further optimize charging speeds.
However, during my tests, charging speeds were still fast with the 323, so the difference in real-world terms seems to be negligible in most cases.
As with the Prime, the 323 has a sturdy build and the mechanism of the folding pins feels like it will stand the test of time. The profile is also very small, adding to its pedigree as a travel accessory.
Anker Nano USB-C Charger 30W
(Image credit: Future)
The Anker Nano is one of the most basic chargers the company offers. It has a single USB-C port capable of 30W, so it’s sufficient for smaller devices or a single lightweight laptop.
Like the 323, the Nano utilizes Anker’s PowerIQ 3.0 technology. As with my tests of other products, though, the difference between the 3rd and 4th generation seems marginal in actual applications.
Despite having fewer ports and less power than the 323, the form factor is slightly larger (at least in the UK version that I tested – the US versions have slightly different designs). The color is also slightly off-white – and the faceplate is almost cream or gold in certain lights – so if you’re looking for a charger to match the pristine appeal of Apple’s devices, then you may want to stick with Apple’s own, very similar equivalent to this (though that’s only 20W).
Conclusion
The Anker Prime is the best premium wall charger of the pack, but it may be overkill for some and its relatively high price might put others off as well.
The Nano is at the other end of the spectrum: it offers single-port USB-C charging for your smartphones and tablets, and some laptops. The only luxury is the travel-friendly folding pins. But despite being so spartan, it’s still the same size, if not larger, than wall chargers with more ports.
That’s why I’d choose the Anker 323 instead, which is a great mid-point between the aforementioned Prime and the more basic, single-port competitors in this field.
Whichever one you opt for, though, Anker has a great reputation for making robust, safe and reliable chargers for all kinds of devices and requirements, and that seems to be well deserved from the testing I’ve done.
Best Buy today has discounted Apple’s M1 iPad Air (64GB Wi-Fi) to a new all-time low price of $399.99 in the Starlight color option, down from $599.99. Best Buy says this deal will last through the end of the day, and it’s only available in one color at this record low price.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
This is $50 cheaper than the previous all-time low price on the M1 iPad Air. Prices on the 2022 tablet continue to get discounted as we get closer to next week’s Apple event, which is expected to include the announcement of an updated iPad Air lineup.
If you’re looking for an even cheaper entry-level Apple tablet, Best Buy also has record low prices on the 10th gen iPad. The 64GB Wi-Fi iPad is on sale for $349.00 and the 256GB Wi-Fi model is on sale for $499.00, both of which are $100 discounts.
Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we’ve been tracking over the past week.
Apple is set to unveil iOS 18 during its WWDC keynote on June 10, so the software update is a little over six weeks away from being announced. Below, we recap rumored features and changes planned for the iPhone with iOS 18. iOS 18 will reportedly be the “biggest” update in the iPhone’s history, with new ChatGPT-inspired generative AI features, a more customizable Home Screen, and much more….
There are widespread reports of Apple users being locked out of their Apple ID overnight for no apparent reason, requiring a password reset before they can log in again. Users say the sudden inexplicable Apple ID sign-out is occurring across multiple devices. When they attempt to sign in again they are locked out of their account and asked to reset their password in order to regain access. …
Apple used to regularly increase the base memory of its Macs up until 2011, the same year Tim Cook was appointed CEO, charts posted on Mastodon by David Schaub show. Earlier this year, Schaub generated two charts: One showing the base memory capacities of Apple’s all-in-one Macs from 1984 onwards, and a second depicting Apple’s consumer laptop base RAM from 1999 onwards. Both charts were…
On this week’s episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss the announcement of Apple’s upcoming “Let loose” event, where the company is widely expected to announce new iPad models and accessories. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos Apple’s event invite shows an artistic render of an Apple Pencil, suggesting that iPads will be a focus of the event. Apple CEO Tim…
In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman outlined some of the new products he expects Apple to announce at its “Let Loose” event on May 7. First, Gurman now believes there is a “strong possibility” that the upcoming iPad Pro models will be equipped with Apple’s next-generation M4 chip, rather than the M3 chip that debuted in the MacBook Pro and iMac six months ago. He said a …
Apple has announced it will be holding a special event on Tuesday, May 7 at 7 a.m. Pacific Time (10 a.m. Eastern Time), with a live stream to be available on Apple.com and on YouTube as usual. The event invitation has a tagline of “Let Loose” and shows an artistic render of an Apple Pencil, suggesting that iPads will be a focus of the event. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more …
The time has never been better to consider a new mid-range graphics card now that AMD made its latest GPU available worldwide. Naturally, potential buyers are going to compare the RX 7900 GRE vs RTX 4070, given their close proximity in price, but it’s also important to consider what they each offer in terms of performance, features, and overall value for your money.
The AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE is a curious graphics card, launching in February 2024 after being launched exclusively in China back in June 2023, but it’s now available to the rest of the world and offers phenomenal performance for a far more palatable price tag than many of the best graphics cards on the market right now. With the promise of the Big Navi 31 die and 16GB VRAM under the hood, it even proves itself to be one of the best 4K graphics cards for those who are on a tighter budget but want some of that sweet, sweet 2160p gaming (with appropriate settings tweaks).
The RTX 4070 has had something of a resurgence recently, having been effectively replaced by the RTX 4070 Super back in January of this year. The latter card offered 20% more CUDA cores at the same $599 price point, essentially getting you significantly more performance without the need to splash out. But that release also dropped Nvidia‘s suggested retail price of the Nvidia RTX 4070 by about 10%, making it an even stronger contender for the title of best 1440p graphics card.
But there’s more to it than all that, and while we’re fond of both mid-range GPUs, we wouldn’t be TechRadar if we didn’t dig deep into our test bench to put each of these fan-favorites to our extensive battery of performance tests to find out which one comes out on top.
RX 7900 GRE vs RTX 4070: Price
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
When weighing up a mid-range graphics card, the pricing is always paramount. The brand new RX 7900 GRE comes in clutch with an advantage straight out of the gate with its recommended retail price of just $549 / £529.99 / AU$929. In contrast, the RTX 4070 launched at $599 / £589.99 / AU$999 for the Founders Edition model, but has also dropped down to $549 / £529.99 / AU$929 in February.
What’s particularly aggressive about the RX 7900 GRE is how it slots into the current RDNA 3 lineup, being just $50 more than the excellent AMD RX 7800 XT from last year. In comparison, the RTX 4070 is quite the jump up from its sibling, the Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti, which starts at $399 in the US.
On price alone, then, this would appear to be a tie between the RX 7900 GRE vs RTX 4070, but price isn’t the same thing as value, and in the case of the RX 7900 GRE, it’s overall performance-to-price ratio after our testing reveals that it gives you more for that investment, giving it the decisive edge here.
Winner: AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE
RX 7900 GRE vs RTX 4070: Specs
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
AMD’s RX 7900 GRE immediately stands out as a mid-range GPU by offering 16GB GDDR6 VRAM on a 256-bit memory bus. It’s built on the AMD Navi 31 die with a total of 5,120 Stream Processors. By comparison, the RTX 4070 is built on the AD104 die with a total of 5,888 CUDA cores and 12GB GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit memory bus.
There we see the immediate architectural differences between mid-range RDNA 3 and Ada respectively. The former opts for a larger memory bus with a higher amount of slower memory, compared to the latter’s lower memory pool that’s considerably quicker. Despite their differences, the two models are remarkably close in total bandwidth available with the GRE boosting 576 GB/sec to the RTX 4070’s 504.2 GB/sec.
That slight lead in bandwidth comes at the price of increased power draw, however. That’s because the 7900 GRE has a 260W TDP compared to the 4070’s 200W TDP, for a difference of 30%. Ada’s architecture is therefore considerably more efficient than its rival. With that said, the red corner wins favor by fitting its latest GPU out with the standard two 8-pin PCIe connectors with no need for the likes of a 16-pin adapter, though.
The design languages of both are similar at base level. The 7900 GRE and 4070 are both dual-slot GPUs which means they should be ideal for a smaller form factor mini-ITX build just as much as a wider tower.
It’s worth noting that the GRE uses the same chip as the AMD RX 7900 XT and AMD RX 7900 XTX, just with substantially less VRAM and a smaller memory bus to utilize, and the memory interface matches that of the RX 7800 XT, even with slightly slower memory speed. It’s interesting to see how Team Red has effectively repurposed the Navi 31 silicon for a value play, though.
In the end, then, AMD’s offering has more VRAM, a larger memory bus, and a higher bandwidth for less money, so for that reason, we’re giving Team Red the edge here.
Winner: AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE
RX 7900 GRE vs RTX 4070: Performance
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
It all comes down to performance as to whether you should invest in either an RX 7900 GRE or the RTX 4070, and here we’ve done an unhealthy amount of benchmarking and testing on these two cards and collected reams of data to help highlight what you can expect from each. Measuring their general performance using synthetic benchmarks, some things become pretty clear right out the gate.
The lead taken by the RX 7900 GRE extends into our industry-standard synthetic benchmarks as well.
Taking 3DMark Sky Diver and Fire Strike Extreme as prime examples, AMD’s GPU achieved scores of 169,170 and 27,595 when compared to Nvidia’s offering of 120,719 and 20,457, trailing behind by quite a significant margin.
This is also true with the ray tracing-focused Port Royal with the RX 7900 GRE scoring 11,768 against the RTX 4070’s 10,415. The RTX 4070 does manage to score well ahead of the RX 7900 GRE when it comes to raw compute performance though, so data scientists and ML researchers are going to want to opt for the Nvidia RTX card.
Where we deviate from the script somewhat is with creative workloads where the Nvidia GPU pulls out some very solid wins.
This is most evident in Blender 4.0 with the Monster, Junkshop, and Classroom benchmarks with respective scores of 2,657, 1,267, and 1,332. There’s no other way to phrase this, the GRE just can’t match the output with scores of 1,252, 623, and 618, respectively.
In AdobePhotoshop, AMD does manage a better showing, with the RX 7900 GRE beating the RTX 4070 in the PugetBench for Creators 1.0 Photoshop benchmark, 10,650 to 9,695, though the RTX 4070 beats the RX 7900 GRE in Adobe Premiere, getting a score of 12,317 to the RX 7900 GRE’s 11,200 in PugetBench. The RX 7900 GRE also manages to encode 4K video into 1080p about 10 FPS faster than the RTX 4070, though both still perform exceptionally well in this test.
But these are really gaming graphics cards at the end of the day, and putting the RX 7900 GRE vs RTX 4070 across several gaming benchmarks really did surprise us.
These cards have more than enough resources to game well above 1080p, but for those who might be using older monitors or might want to bring things down to full HD to take advantage of faster frame rates will have a lot to like about both cards, but the RX 7900 GRE still comes out well ahead of the RTX 4070.
In Cyberpunk 2077 at max settings without RT or upscaling enabled, the RX 7900 GRE manages to pull out a blazing fast 151 FPS compared to the RTX 4070’s 97 FPS, a difference of about 55% in the RX 7900 GRE’s favor. The RX 7900 GRE is even able to match the RTX 4070’s ray-tracing performance in Cyberpunk 2077 (both scoring 46 FPS with Psycho RT on Ultra quality), though notably, the RX 7900 GRE’s minimum FPS is nearly twice that of the RTX 4070’s, so you’ll get much smoother gameplay overall.
In total, the RX 7900 GRE averages about 111 FPS at 1080p, compared to the RTX 4070’s 82 FPS, a difference of about 35% in the RX 7900 GRE’s favor.
Starting with AMD’s latest offering, the RX 7900 GRE was able to achieve 60 FPS average in Metro Exodus with Extreme settings, as well as 102 FPS average in Cyberpunk 2077 at Ultra. Impressively, this streak continued in Returnal with 121 FPS average at Epic settings, and Tiny Tina’s Wonderland at 116 FPS on Badass.
The RTX 4070 is no slouch either. The mid-range Ada also got an average of 60 FPS in Metro Exodus on the Extreme preset but just 65 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 when set to Ultra. Scores are similar with Returnal and Tiny Tina’s Wonderland, with averages of 88 FPS and 97 FPS, falling just short of what the RX 7900 GRE was able to output. This is likely due to the smaller memory pool available.
Neither card flourishes in 4K, sadly, so if you’re considering either GPU you’ll want to keep things locked to QHD for the most part.
Looking at Metro: Exodus, you’re going to get around half the framerate with the GRE pulling in only 35 FPS; playable, but far from ideal. It’s a similar story with Cyberpunk 2077 with the RX 7900 GRE scoring 43 FPS on average. Returnal fared better with 68 FPS on average and Tiny Tina’s Wonderland keeping rock solid at 60 FPS. Playing at 2160p is possible with the RX 7900 GRE, but your results will be less consistent unless you tinker with the settings some.
The RTX 4070 falls well short of the RX 7900 GRE at 4K. You’re looking at quite the reduction in Metro: Exodus and Cyberpunk 2077 with an average of just 29 FPS apiece, falling just short of playability. Returnal does a bit better at 51 FPS but is well behind the 4K@60+ offered by the RX 7900 GRE. Tiny Tina’s Wonderland also lags behind with 50 FPS – a full 10 FPS deficit – or about 18% slower.
In the end, its not really all that close, with the RX 7900 GRE outperforming the RTX 4070 across all but a few benchmarks, and it only gets soundly beaten in Blender 4.0 3D rendering, a test that Nvidia has a natural advantage thanks to it being tied so heavily to Nvidia’s CUDA graphics language.
Other than that, though, the RX 7900 GRE scores nearly 27% better than the RTX 4070, which is incredible considering that they are both the same price. In Nvidia’s favor though, it’s taking a lot of power for the RX 7900 GRE to pull this off, so if efficiency and sustainability are important to you, the Nvidia RTX 4070 gets a lot of performance with much lower power.
Winner: AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE
Which one should you buy?
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Which GPU you should buy will ultimately come down to your needs.
If you primarily want a mid-range graphics card for gaming first and foremost, then you’re going to be better served by the AMD RX 7900 GRE. AMD’s card performs better and more consistently in 1080p, 1440p, and even 4K.
However, if gaming is more of a secondary activity and you want a graphics card for creativity and productivity then there’s a case to be made for the RTX 4070 here. If you’re looking to get into 3D modeling on the (relative) cheap, Nvidia’s midrange card can get you a lot farther than AMD’s, but this is honestly a very narrow advantage, and most people are going to want to get the RX 7900 GRE. Considering there’s no difference in price between the two, it’s an easy call to make on this one.
This article is part of a series of sustainability themed articles we’re running to observe Earth Day 2024 and promote more sustainable practices. Check out all of our Sustainability Week 2024 content.
If the idea of a refurbished Apple Watch as a way to get one of the smartest wearables on your wrist is appealing, it’s worth giving it some thought. Sure, it represents a way to make a saving on what is a pricey device – and you may be able to save money while still enjoying the peace of mind that comes with buying direct from Apple – but is that all there is to it?
Aside from saving you money, a refurbished Apple Watch can be a more responsible choice, as the materials in the device are being reused rather than wasted. Plus, it offers a way to get an older model that may no longer be sold by Apple.
But with refurbished models available from third parties as well as from Apple, and some variation around what constitutes a refurbished Apple Watch, it’s worth knowing what’s what before you commit to spending your money.
The terminology here is important in understanding what you’re going to get when you pay for a refurbished Apple Watch. The name may leave you thinking this is a used model that’s been given a spit and polish before being flogged on – and in the case of some Amazon sellers that’s not far wrong. But by and large, if you’re buying from Apple or a reputable third-party like Best Buy, Music Magpie or newer names like BackMarket, you’ll get a clear description.
Be sure to read the description of service, as it will give you an idea of the grade of watch you’re getting. At one end of the spectrum this could be a returned Watch that wasn’t even taken out of the box, while at the other this could be a well used model with screen marks and a battery that’s coming to the end of its life.
So be sure to know what you’re getting before you dive at what appears to be a cheaper-than-most price. There’s likely a reason for that.
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What to check on a refurbished Apple Watch
Two of the main concerns when buying a watch that’s not new are screen quality and battery health. Screen quality is often graded, so you’ll know if there are any marks on the display, like scratches or worse. Battery health isn’t always listed, but it’s important.
An Apple Watch will top out at a day of decent use, and needs charging nightly, so you don’t want one that’s going to struggle to even offer that meagre usage. You’ll want battery health, if listed, to be above 80% as a minimum. Once it drops below that level, which it will after a certain number of charge cycles, it will begin to degrade, which means the battery never charges fully, and only gets weaker as time goes on.
General marks to the case and strap are also worth considering. Again, this will likely be rated in most cases, but since it can be general – for example, A, B or C categories – you may not know the exact degree damage. So it’s worth keeping in mind how perfect you want your watch to look relative to how much you are willing to spend.
(Image credit: Apple)
Should I buy my refurbished Apple Watch directly from Apple?
You do get some reassuring clarity when buying directly from Apple, and in some cases you might not even pay much more than you would if buying from third-party sellers.
As standard with all Apple Certified Refurbished watches you get a one-year warranty, free delivery and – crucially – free returns up to 14 days, if you’re not happy with what you get. The watch will have been tested by Apple, cleaned, and upgraded to the most recent compatible version of the operating system. If any defective parts were found they’ll have been replaced with genuine Apple components.
All watches also come in a new box, and with all the accessories and cables you’d expect to get when buying new. You can also pay extra for an Apple Care policy for longer-term cover (up to three years) for your product on top of the warranty.
If you’re not buying direct from Apple, be sure to check that your seller is putting used watches through the same processes as above, or similar ones, to be sure you’re getting a device that’s in the best possible condition.
Who can refurbish an Apple Watch?
This is a tricky one, as technically a refurbished watch is simply one that’s been brought back to a certain standard of quality. That standard is decided by the company selling it, which is why it’s so important to know exactly what that is.
Many companies work to a grading system, with A denoting a watch that’s usually near new, with no visible imperfections – these will be the most expensive refurbished models. Grade B devices will generally have some signs of wear, but these will be mostly minor, and shouldn’t affect the watch’s usability. Grade C watches will usually show signs of wear, such as scratches or scuff marks on the screen and/or casing, but, again, they should be fully functioning in terms of software and hardware.
The above is only a rough guide, and it’s important to carefully check the returns and warranty policy of the company you’re buying from. Ideally, you should have the option to return your watch if you’re not happy.
(Image credit: Apple)
Is a refurbished Apple Watch sustainable and affordable?
Undoubtedly, buying a refurbished Apple Watch will save you money over splashing out on the latest model. Since updates are often incremental, and given that a lot of new features are added to existing models via software updates, it can make sense to get an older model, particularly if you’re not likely to use some newer features – for example improved water resistance – that could end up being a waste of money. If you’re also getting a warranty and returns support, buying refurbished becomes an appealing alternative to buying new.
It’s also a smart move when it comes to sustainability, as you’re reusing a product that might otherwise be discarded. However, the reality is that this isn’t going to do a great deal to slow down the production of new watches from Apple, and a refurbished watch still needs to be packaged and shipped, which consumes resources. Overall, though, it’s a win both for your wallet and for the planet.
Where can I buy a refurbished Apple Watch?
Aside from Apple itself there’s an ever-growing selection of third-party resellers offering refurbished Apple Watches. These include:
Best Buy is discounting a collection of M3 MacBook Pro computers today, this time focusing on the 14-inch version of the laptop. Every deal in this sale requires you to have a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership, although non-members can still get solid second-best prices on these MacBook Pro models.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Only M3 models are being discounted to notable all-time low prices during this sale, although the higher-end M3 Pro and M3 Max MacBook Pros are seeing a few second-best prices. In terms of the 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro, there are three total models on sale right now at Best Buy. The cheapest model is the 512GB M3 model at $1,399.00, down from $1,599.00.
Note: My Best Buy Plus/Total membership required to see final deal price.
For anyone who doesn’t have My Best Buy Plus or Total, you can still get $150 off the 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro. These MacBook Pro models launched last October, featuring mini-LED displays, MagSafe fast charging, Wi-Fi 6E, a six-speaker sound system, and more.
Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.
Apple has announced it will be holding a special event on Tuesday, May 7 at 7 a.m. Pacific Time (10 a.m. Eastern Time), with a live stream to be available on Apple.com and on YouTube as usual. The event invitation has a tagline of “Let Loose” and shows an artistic render of an Apple Pencil, suggesting that iPads will be a focus of the event. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more …
Apple has dropped the number of Vision Pro units that it plans to ship in 2024, going from an expected 700 to 800k units to just 400k to 450k units, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Orders have been scaled back before the Vision Pro has launched in markets outside of the United States, which Kuo says is a sign that demand in the U.S. has “fallen sharply beyond expectations.” As a…
Apple today released several open source large language models (LLMs) that are designed to run on-device rather than through cloud servers. Called OpenELM (Open-source Efficient Language Models), the LLMs are available on the Hugging Face Hub, a community for sharing AI code. As outlined in a white paper [PDF], there are eight total OpenELM models, four of which were pre-trained using the…
Apple is finally planning a Calculator app for the iPad, over 14 years after launching the device, according to a source familiar with the matter. iPadOS 18 will include a built-in Calculator app for all iPad models that are compatible with the software update, which is expected to be unveiled during the opening keynote of Apple’s annual developers conference WWDC on June 10. AppleInsider…
The upcoming iOS 17.5 update for the iPhone includes only a few new user-facing features, but hidden code changes reveal some additional possibilities. Below, we have recapped everything new in the iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 beta so far. Web Distribution Starting with the second beta of iOS 17.5, eligible developers are able to distribute their iOS apps to iPhone users located in the EU…
Best Buy this week has steep $100 discounts on every M1 iPad Air model, with prices starting at $499.99 for the 64GB Wi-Fi tablet. These deals follow in the wake of Apple’s announcement of an event coming in May, which is expected to include refreshed iPad Air models with M2 chips.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
As is typical when new product generations are set to launch, we’re now seeing prices consistently dip on the outgoing generation of iPad Air. In addition to the 64GB Wi-Fi tablet, Best Buy also has the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad Air for $649.99, as well as both cellular models on sale.
Best Buy has every color available on sale for every configuration of the fifth generation iPad Air. Across the board, these prices are all solid second-best prices on the iPad Air. If you’re a My Best Buy Plus/Total member, you can also save 25 percent on the Logitech Crayon stylus when purchasing an iPad.
Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we’ve been tracking over the past week.
Apple has announced it will be holding a special event on Tuesday, May 7 at 7 a.m. Pacific Time (10 a.m. Eastern Time), with a live stream to be available on Apple.com and on YouTube as usual. The event invitation has a tagline of “Let Loose” and shows an artistic render of an Apple Pencil, suggesting that iPads will be a focus of the event. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more …
Apple has stopped production of FineWoven accessories, according to the Apple leaker and prototype collector known as “Kosutami.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kosutami explained that Apple has stopped production of FineWoven accessories due to its poor durability. The company may move to another non-leather material for its premium accessories in the future. Kosutami has revealed…
Apple has dropped the number of Vision Pro units that it plans to ship in 2024, going from an expected 700 to 800k units to just 400k to 450k units, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Orders have been scaled back before the Vision Pro has launched in markets outside of the United States, which Kuo says is a sign that demand in the U.S. has “fallen sharply beyond expectations.” As a…
The upcoming iOS 17.5 update for the iPhone includes only a few new user-facing features, but hidden code changes reveal some additional possibilities. Below, we have recapped everything new in the iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 beta so far. Web Distribution Starting with the second beta of iOS 17.5, eligible developers are able to distribute their iOS apps to iPhone users located in the EU…
Apple is finally planning a Calculator app for the iPad, over 14 years after launching the device, according to a source familiar with the matter. iPadOS 18 will include a built-in Calculator app for all iPad models that are compatible with the software update, which is expected to be unveiled during the opening keynote of Apple’s annual developers conference WWDC on June 10. AppleInsider…
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While the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra may be the latest flagship from the South Korean tech giant, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is still a stellar phone that is well worth your consideration – especially at a discounted price. Right now, you can grab a refurbished Galaxy S23 Ultra for $849 at Best Buy, which shaves a very healthy $530 off the original price of $1,379.
As you’ll see in our Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review, the phone builds upon its impressive predecessor by offering more power, improved cameras, and better base storage, alongside a myriad of small changes. While Samsung didn’t push the envelope with the phone’s design, it arguably didn’t need to, as the Galaxy S22 Ultra was a slim and neat rectangle with a gently curved screen.
Now, with a big chunk off its launch price, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is a bit of a flagship phone bargain. You’ll not only get more than enough power for pretty much any tasks or game you can throw at the phone, but there’s a quartet of rear cameras, including a 3x and 10x telephoto zoom, that deliver some excellent photos and a glorious 6.8-inch AMOLED 2X display with a refresh rate that goes from 120Hz to 1Hz in order to save on battery life.
Not in the US? Scroll down for the best Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra deals in your region.
Don’t miss this great Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra deal
While the Samsung Galaxy S24 series may have stolen headlines with its Galaxy AI smart features, those abilities are also rolling out to older-generation phones, so you’ll be able to take advantage of them on the S23 Ultra. In short, for this discounted price, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is hard to beat.
Both Amazon and Best Buy are selling unlocked models of Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra with 256GB of storage for $200 off the list price. That brings the smartphone down to $1,100 and marks the lowest price we’ve seen yet (outside of trade-in and carrier offers). Last month, all three handsets in the S24 lineup were on sale, with the base model going for $100 off and the S24+ and S24 Ultra both getting $150 discounts. This time, the top-end Ultra has an even bigger price cut and the S24+ is the same $150 off. The base model Galaxy S24 is only nine percent off, however, which is about $25 more that it was during that last sale.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Our recommendation for a premium Android phone is $200 off, which is its lowest price yet.
We named the S24 Ultra the best premium Android smartphone in our guide and gave it a review score of 89 when it came out at the beginning of this year. This generation got a new titanium frame, one upgraded camera and, like everything else in 2024, a whole bunch of AI accoutrements. It has a snappy Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and a battery that lasted through 24 hours-plus of continuous video playback in our rundown tests and went for a good two days of regular use.
The four rear cameras stayed much the same as on the S23 Ultra, with the exception of the old 10x lens getting replaced with a 5x optical zoom and a higher-res 50-MP sensor, a move we found created a lens that was more practical in a wider variety of situations. The AI tools can proofread your texts, edit images and transcribe recordings. The display is one of the sharpest and brightest we’ve tested. Plus the built-in stylus is handy.
But even with a $200 discount, the S24 Ultra remains a very expensive phone. Our overall pick for an Android smartphone, Google’s Pixel 8 Pro, starts at $999, and is currently 20 percent off at Amazon and directly from Google, making it just $799. Engadget’s Sam Rutherford gave the Pixel 8 Pro a score of 93 upon its debut last October, praising its bright screen, speedy performance and “genuinely useful AI features.”
The Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A52s are two of Samsung’s most long-standing mid-range phones, and many fans of these aging devices released in 2021 still exist. There are many people who aren’t in a rush to upgrade to one of Samsung’s newer models, and if you’re among them, you might be happy to know that some third-party case manufacturers continue to support these devices.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a Galaxy A52 or Galaxy A52s official case at a Samsung store in 2024. However, brands like Spigen, OtterBox, URBANITE, and others, still offer cases and accessories for these now-iconic 2021 mid-range devices. Here are a few of our favorite accessories for the Galaxy A52 and A52s you can still buy today.
The best Galaxy A52/A52s accessories in 2024
If you’re in the market for a new case for your old Galaxy A52 or A52s, these are our top picks for 2024 so far:
Spigen Thin Fit for the Galaxy A52 or A52s — available at Amazon for $13.99 after a 30% discount. The Spigen Thin Fit is available in Black, it’s lightweight and pocket-friendly and is made out of TPU and polycarbonate.
OtterBox Defender Series Case for the Galaxy A52 — available at Amazon for only $17.99 after a massive 70% discount. It comes in Black and it’s made from polycarbonate. For extra durability, it has a multi-layer design featuring a solid inner shell and a soft outer cover. It also comes with an OtterBox limited lifetime warranty.
URBANITE Dual Layer SHockprof case with Kickstand for the Galaxy A52 and A52s — available at Amazon for $15.99. It is the most industrial-looking case on our list, and it is available in a few color options. The URBANITE case offers full body protection and comes with a kickstand as well as a screen protector.
Last but not least, if you’re looking specifically for a Galaxy A52 screen protector without a case, you can buy one at Amazon for about $7.99 at a discount and get an easy alignment frame along with it.
If you want to continue using the Galaxy A52 and A52s, these accessories will help you keep your phone safe from scratches and cracks. However, external factors aside, you will eventually want to upgrade to a newer model.
The Galaxy A52 and A52s will stop being supported next year. The Galaxy A52 will be the first to drop from Samsung’s security patch support list early next year, and the Galaxy A52s will follow a few months later. You can continue protecting the exterior of your phone, but the software will become a vulnerability once support is dropped.
The good news is that modern mid-range Samsung phones are even better than the Galaxy A52 and A52s. And next year, Samsung will release another wave of mid-range Galaxy A devices to outperform the 2024 models. As always, we’ll be here to let you know which phones you might want to pick once you’re ready to move on to a new generation.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
