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Apple’s M3 and M2 MacBook Airs have never been cheaper

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We consider Apple’s newest MacBook Air to be the best laptop for most people, and it’s now dropped to a new low of $999 at Amazon and B&H. This discount is for the entry-level 13-inch model, so you’ll have to make do with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, but it’s $100 less than buying from Apple directly and $50 less than the sale price we’ve seen on Amazon for the past couple of weeks. Just note that the deal only applies to the Midnight and Space Gray finishes, and that Amazon’s listing is showing a shipping delay. B&H says the offer will run through March 28.

Photo by Devindra Hardawar / Engadget

This is a new low for the entry-level version of Apple’s latest MacBook Air. 

$999 at B&H Photo

A few other configurations are also on sale. For one, B&H has a model with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD for $1,399, which is another $100 discount. If you’d prefer a bigger display, Amazon is also selling the 15-inch version of the M3 Air for $1,204. That deal has been around for the past few days, but it’s still a $95 discount and the best price we’ve tracked for this entry-level config since the new notebooks were released earlier this month.

If you can accept an older processor, meanwhile, B&H has the last-gen MacBook Air with Apple’s M2 chip on sale for $849. That’s another all-time low and $150 off Apple’s list price. Again, the retailer says this deal will only run through March 28. Lastly, a config of the 15-inch M2 Air with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD is down to a low of $1,499 as well.

We gave the both versions of the M3 MacBook Air a score of 90 in our review. Like the M2 Airs before them, they’re slim, light and sturdy slabs, with comfortable keyboards and trackpads, accurate displays, 1080p webcams and more than enough battery life for a typical workday. Now, they have a slightly faster chip, Wi-Fi 6E support and the option to connect to two external monitors (albeit only when the laptop itself is closed). Between the two sizes on sale, the 15-inch model has a slightly stronger GPU and more robust speakers alongside its roomier display. The port selection isn’t great on either, but there are two Thunderbolt USB-C ports, a MagSafe charging port and a headphone jack.

As my colleague Daniel Cooper has noted, though, the best thing about the new notebooks might be that they’ve made the M2 versions cheaper. The difference between the M2 and M3 Airs isn’t hugely noticeable in day-to-day use, so if you really want to save $150, the older model might be the better deal, especially if you’re upgrading from a more dated Air with an Intel chip. (Those coming from an M1 model will probably be better off jumping to the M3.) The base M3 Air technically has a faster SSD than its predecessor, however, so it may be worth it if you often work with large files. That said, you should only get these 8GB RAM/256GB SSD configurations if you’ll mostly stick to less demanding tasks. Go beyond that and they can start to run hot.

It’s worth noting that 2020 M1 version of the notebook is now going for $699 at Walmart, which is a great price. Unless you just want a competent MacBook for as little as possible, though, the M2 version is enough of an upgrade to be worth the extra cost for most. We’ll also highlight a hardware-level security exploit that was recently discovered for all M-series Macs, though the real-world risk of falling victim to that flaw is generally low. In any case, if you’re looking to make a MacBook upgrade, this looks like a decent time to take advantage.

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



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Our favorite budget wireless earbuds from Anker are cheaper than ever during the Amazon Spring Sale

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Even though it’s not technically another Prime Day, the Amazon Spring Sale includes a number of decent deals on gadgets we’ve recommended. Case in point: You can pick up the top pick in our best budget wireless earbuds guide, the Anker Soundcore Space A40, for an all-time low of $49. That’s a dollar less than the noise-canceling pair’s previous record low and $10 below its typical street price over the last couple of months. This deal is sold by Anker directly and applies to the black model; if you’d prefer a different finish, the blue and white versions are also on sale for a dollar more.

Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

This is the lowest price to date for Anker’s wallet-friendly wireless earbuds.

$49 at Amazon

We like the Space A40 for blending pleasant sound with strong active noise cancellation (ANC) and most of the features you’d find on more expensive earbuds. That ANC isn’t quite as powerful as higher-end pairs like Sony’s WF-1000XM5, especially when it comes to muting voices and other treble-range sounds, but it still punches well above its price range. It’ll automatically adapt to the noise level of your surroundings by default, though you can manually set it to different intensity levels as well.

While this isn’t the most detailed-sounding set of earbuds you can buy, it’s a more pleasant listen than most budget-level options we’ve tested. It boosts the upper-bass range out of the box, but it doesn’t come off as bloated or sloppy. If you don’t like the default sound profile, you can pick from one of several EQ presets or customize the EQ curve yourself through Anker’s companion app.

The actual earpieces are light and comfortable, with an IPX4 water-resistance rating that’s enough to survive most workouts. They last around eight hours per charge, with another 40-ish hours available through a compact case that supports wireless charging. They can also connect to two devices at once. There are still some trade-offs: The mics are mediocre for phone calls; the touch-based controls are a little limited; and there’s no wear detection, so your music won’t pause automatically when you take out an earbud. But at this price, the pros should outweigh the cons.

This discount comes as part of a wider sale on Anker headphones that includes the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC, the runner up in our guide, on sale for $74.50. That’s a $25 discount. The Space A40 is a better value, but that pair offers most of the same benefits for those who prefer a more AirPods-style design. Other in-ear and over-ear models are also discounted.

Your Spring Sales Shopping Guide: Spring sales are in the air, headlined by Amazon’s Big Spring sale event. Our expert editors are curating all the best spring sales right here. Follow Engadget to shop the best tech deals from Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, hear from Autoblog’s car experts on the best spring auto deals on Amazon, and find spring sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

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Cheaper Galaxy Z Fold 6 could be launched later to compete with iPhone 16

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Last month, we exclusively reported that Samsung will hold its next Galaxy Unpacked event in July 2024. At this event, the company will launch its next-generation foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Some reports claim that Samsung will also launch a cheaper version of the Galaxy Z Fold 6, but its launch could be delayed by a few months.

Cheaper Galaxy Z Fold 6 launch could happen in September or October 2024

According to a new report from The Elec (via @Tech_Reve), Samsung will start the production of the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the Galaxy Z Fold 6 two to three weeks earlier than usual. So, the launch of those two upcoming foldable phones will likely happen two to three weeks earlier. This report lines up with our earlier report about an early launch. So, the launch of the cheaper Galaxy Z Fold 6 will happen around the launch of the iPhone 16 series.

The mass production of Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 components will reportedly begin in early May 2024. Last year, Samsung ordered the mass production of Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 5 components in late May 2023. Samsung has reportedly set a sales target of 200,000 to 300,000 units for the cheaper Galaxy Z Fold 6. While the shipment numbers aren’t high, it will divert consumer attention from the iPhone 16.

Cheaper Galaxy Z Fold 6 will lack S Pen and could be thinner than standard version

The report claims that the costlier version of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will have a built-in S Pen slot, but the cheaper one doesn’t. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is said to be thinner and lighter than the Galaxy Z Fold 5, and the cheaper version will be even thinner.

Another report claimed that the affordable version of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be priced at just $800, which makes it an enticing product. The standard Galaxy Z Fold 6 could have better cameras, a brighter screen, a faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, and a slightly bigger battery.

The combined sales target of Samsung’s upcoming foldable phones is around 10 million. The estimated sales figure for the Galaxy S24 series is around 35 million. So, the total sales of Samsung’s high-end phones could be around 40-45 million units, an improvement over last year.

Author’s Note: Samsung could launch the Galaxy Z Fold 6 FE with an $800 price tag. It could have a weaker processor, a dimmer screen, and a smaller battery than the regular Galaxy Z Fold 6. Since a $1,800 foldable phone is too much for most people, a $800 foldable phone with a big screen could attract a lot of people, and some people might consider buying their first foldable phone. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Galaxy Z Fold 5-like specifications for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 FE.

On the other hand, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will most likely have the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, more RAM, improved cameras, and a bigger battery.



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Our favorite budget wireless earbuds are cheaper than ever right now

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The Anker Soundcore Space A40 tops our guide to the best budget wireless earbuds, and right now Amazon has the noise-canceling pair on sale for a new low of $49. That’s a buck less than the previous low we saw around the holidays last year. Anker sells the earbuds for $100, though they’re often available for less than that; for the last two months, they’ve typically gone for $59 on Amazon. This offer is sold by Anker directly and comes a couple days ahead of Amazon’s wider “Big Spring Sale” sales event.

Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

This is the lowest price to date for Anker’s wallet-friendly wireless earbuds.

$49 at Amazon

We like the Space A40 for blending pleasant sound with strong active noise cancellation (ANC) and most of the features you’d find on more expensive earbuds. That ANC isn’t quite as powerful as higher-end pairs like Sony’s WF-1000XM5, especially when it comes to muting voices and other treble-range sounds, but it still punches well above its price range. It’ll automatically adapt to the noise level of your surroundings by default, though you can manually set it to different intensity levels as well.

While this isn’t the most detailed-sounding set of earbuds you can buy, it’s a more pleasant listen than most budget-level options we’ve tested. It boosts the upper-bass range out of the box, but it doesn’t come off as bloated or sloppy. If you don’t like the default sound profile, you can pick from one of several EQ presets or customize the EQ curve yourself through Anker’s companion app.

The actual earpieces are light and comfortable, with an IPX4 water-resistance rating that’s enough to survive most workouts. They last around eight hours per charge, with another 40-ish hours available through a compact case that supports wireless charging. They can also connect to two devices at once. There are still some trade-offs: The mics are mediocre for phone calls; the touch-based controls are a little limited; and there’s no wear detection, so your music won’t pause automatically when you take out an earbud. But at this price, the pros should outweigh the cons.

This discount comes as part of a wider sale on Anker headphones that includes the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC, the runner up in our guide, on sale for $80. That’s a $20 discount. The Space A40 is a better value, but that pair offers most of the same benefits for those who prefer a more AirPods-style design. Other in-ear and over-ear models are also discounted.

Your Spring Sales Shopping Guide: Spring sales are in the air, headlined by Amazon’s Big Spring sale event. Our expert editors are curating all the best spring sales right here. Follow Engadget to shop the best tech deals from Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, hear from Autoblog’s car experts on the best spring auto deals on Amazon, and find spring sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

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Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 is cheaper than ever right now

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Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 is , which is a discount of $120. This is a record low price for the well-regarded tablet. The S9 is the most recent iteration and there likely won’t be a refresh on the horizon until at least September.

Samsung

Now onto some specs. The standard S9 boasts an 11-inch AMOLED screen, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and 12GB of RAM. It also comes with the company’s S Pen stylus, . The $680 price tag gets you a device with 128GB of internal storage, but 256GB and 512GB models are also on sale.

The Galaxy Tab S9 easily made our list of the , and for good reason. We loved the gorgeous AMOLED screen, the powerful speakers and the tablet’s surprisingly useful Dex multitasking mode. For the uninitiated, this mode basically turns the tablet into a PC, complete with standard windows, folders and a taskbar, with the ability to drag and drop files.

The 11-inch screen is a joy to behold and probably the best fit for most people. The S9+, which is also on sale, boasts a particularly large 12.4-inch AMOLED display. Those with small hands should probably demo that unit before making the splurge.

This is part of a larger Amazon sale on a . There’s the aforementioned S9 tablets with more hard drive space, but also discounts on the entire A9+ line and the S9 FE+. There are no deals, however, for the .

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



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Cheaper Apple TV+ With Ads Plan a Possibility, Recent Job Hires Suggest

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Apple could be accelerating plans to introduce an ad-supported Apple TV+ tier, based on a number of recent hires by the company.

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Business Insider reports that Apple recently recruited Joseph Cady, who worked as an ad executive for NBCUniversal for over 14 years. Cady’s focus was on data-driven and targeted advertising, including responsibility for the Comcast subsidiary’s partnerships with Amazon, Google, TikTok, and others, according to the report.

Cady is expected to work with Winston Crawford, Apple’s head of global ad sales. Apple’s TV+ team reports to Crawford, who also helped lead Apple’s Major League Soccer ad sales pitch with Todd Teresi, lead of Apple’s ads division.

The report also mentions several other recent recruits to Apple’s ads team, such as Chandler Taylor (formerly a video ads account manager with Peacock), Jacqueline Bleazey from FanDuel’s ad sales team, and Jason Brum, who has worked for DirecTV, NBCUniversal, and more.

Apple has not indicated one way or the other whether an ad-supported tier for TV+ is in the works, but it would make sense given that Netflix, Disney+, and Max all now offer ad-based plans at a discounted price.

Apple increased its TV+ subscription prices in October to $9.99 a month from $6.99 a month, while the annual subscription price increased from $69 per year to $99 per year, so a more affordable option would make sense from a competitive perspective.

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