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Apple’s entire AirPods lineup is discounted, plus the rest of the week’s best tech deals

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The new iPad Pro and iPad Air — and the internet’s reaction to how they’ve been advertised — may have been the big Apple news of the week, but we’re turning our attention to AirPods for our latest deals roundup. More specifically, all four models in Apple’s wireless headphone lineup are currently on sale. The noise-canceling AirPods Pro and third-gen AirPods back down to lows of $180 and $140, respectively, while the entry-level earbuds and top-end AirPods Max are both cheaper than usual at $80 and $450. Beyond that, we’ve also found noteworthy discounts on Amazon’s Kindle, LG’s C3 OLED TV, Keychron’s budget-friendly C3 Pro keyboard and annual Paramount+ with Showtime subscriptions, among others. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today.

Photo by Billy Steele / Engadget

Apple’s AirPods Pro are back down to $180 at Amazon, Target, Walmart and Best Buy. That’s just a dollar more than their all-time low. Apple sells the noise-canceling wireless earbuds for $249, though they’ve frequently sold between $190 and $200 for the past few months on Amazon.

We gave the second-gen AirPods Pro a score of 88 in our review. They continue to offer a number of perks when used with other Apple devices, from faster pairing and hands-free Siri to Find My tracking and an adaptive EQ. We specifically recommend them to iPhone owners in our guide to the best wireless earbuds as a result. The pair’s sound quality and active noise cancellation (ANC) remain above-average as well, though its call quality and battery life are just OK. Note that this deal applies to the latest model with a USB-C charging case; if you have the older Lightning version and just want the new case, you can buy that separately for $99.

$180 at Amazon

Photo by Billy Steele / Engadget

The rest of Apple’s AirPods lineup is also on sale at various retailers, with the second-gen AirPods down to $80, the third-gen AirPods available for $140 and the over-ear AirPods Max on sale for $450. That ties the lowest price to date for the third-gen AirPods, coming in $10 to $20 below the pair’s usual going rate. The other two aren’t quite all-time lows but still match the best prices we’ve seen for each over the past several months.

We don’t recommend any of these as heartily as we do the AirPods Pro: The one-size-fits-all designs of the second- and third-gen AirPods won’t fit everyone comfortably, while the AirPods Max are still pricey and bulky next to the top picks in our wireless headphones buying guide. But each could make sense if you really want the usual spate of AirPods conveniences. The Max’s ANC and sound quality are still excellent, for one, while the third-gen AirPods remain one of the better-sounding options for those who prefer open-style earbuds that don’t dig into the ear canal. Just be aware that we may see updated versions of all three headphones later in 2024, according to past reports from Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman.

$450 at Amazon

Paramount+

From now until July 14, new and returning subscribers can get a year of Paramount+ with Showtime for $60. That’s half off the usual price of an annual plan. This is the premium tier of Paramount’s streaming service. It’s hard to call it “essential” given the sheer glut of content out there these days, but if you’ve been meaning to catch up on recent buzzy shows like Yellowjackets, The Chi, and Nathan Fielder’s The Curse — or just binge old episodes of Twin Peaks, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Dexter or Beavis and Butt-Head — here’s a good chance to save. (My mother is also a fan of that Halo adaptation, for whatever that’s worth, though she seems to be alone there.) Know that your subscription will be set to auto-renew by default, so you may want to set a reminder to cancel if you take the plunge. 

$60 at Paramount+

Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

The top budget pick in our mechanical keyboard buying guide, the Keychron C3 Pro, is down to $27.47 on Amazon. That’s a new low. The tenkeyless keyboard technically has a list price of $50, though it’s more commonly available for $37, so you’re really saving about $10 here. 

Regardless, the C3 Pro delivers a superb typing experience for the price. Presses have a soft, springy feel and a pleasing, clacky tone. Its ABS keycaps aren’t as high-quality as our top picks, it only has a red backlight and the switches on these discounted models aren’t hot-swappable, but it should be a welcome upgrade for those looking to make their first leap away from a laptop-style membrane keyboard. This deal applies to the variants with Keychron’s tactile Brown switches and linear Red switches.

$27 at Amazon

Photo by Billy Steele / Engadget

Getting back to the Apple-related headphone deals, the Beats Fit Pro is on sale for $160 at various retailers, including Amazon, Target and Best Buy. While not an all-time low, that equals the best price we’ve seen for most of the past year. The earbuds have been available for this price in a few colorways for much of 2024, but this deal applies to a wider selection of finishes. For reference, Beats normally sells the earbuds for $200.

The Fit Pro is the top workout pick in our wireless earbuds buying guide, as it provides many of the features you’d get with a set of AirPods in a sportier and more secure design. It pairs with and switches between Apple devices quickly, it lets you call on Siri hands-free and it works with Apple’s Find My network if you ever misplace it. Its IPX4 water-resistance rating should be enough for all but the sweatiest gym sessions, and its punchy sound plays well with most popular music. That said, this pair’s ANC is a step behind that of the AirPods Pro, it doesn’t support wireless charging and, like Apple’s other earbuds, it can’t connect to two devices at once. But it should do the job for iPhone owners who need wireless earbuds for the gym first and foremost. We gave the Fit Pro a review score of 87 back in 2021.

$160 at Amazon

Photo by Devindra Hardawar / Engadget

The entry-level configuration of Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Air is down to $1,150 at Amazon with a $49.01 on-page coupon. This notebook goes for $1,299 at Apple.com, though it’s generally sold for $50 to $100 less at Amazon since arriving in March. Either way, this is its best price to date.

The latest MacBook Air is the top pick in our laptop buying guide, and we gave this 15-inch version a score of 90 in our review. It ticks all the requisite design and performance boxes for a mainstream laptop, limited port selection aside. Apart from its more spacious display, the 15-inch model also has a robust speaker system than its 13-inch counterpart.

The key thing to note with this config, though, is that it only includes 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. Both are meager, so you shouldn’t count on this model for media editing and more involved workloads. If you can afford to at least double memory and storage, it’s worth doing so — those models are $150 off and down to $1,550 with a coupon as well. But if you’ll stick to more casual tasks, either option gives a decent chance to save.

Save $149 with $49.01 coupon

$1,150 at Amazon

Amazon

The Amazon Kindle is available for $80 at Amazon, Target and Best Buy, a $20 discount that represents the best price we’ve seen since last October. The base Kindle is the top budget pick in our guide to the best ereaders. Its 6-inch display is just as crisp as the screen on the pricier Kindle Paperwhite, it gets you access to the same giant ebook library and it’s all comfortable to hold. There are still trade-offs: It’s not waterproof, unlike the Paperwhite, and its front light isn’t as robust. You’ll also have to deal with lock screen ads unless you pay an extra fee. But if you just want a competent ereader for less than $100, this is a solid deal.

The Paperwhite, meanwhile, is also on sale for $115 this week. That’s not an all-time low, but it’s $35 below the device’s usual rate and the lowest price we’ve seen in 2024. That model has a more spacious 6.8-inch display and an adjustable warm light feature on top of the aforementioned waterproofing and improved brightness. We call the Kobo Clara 2E a better choice for around the same price in our buying guide, however.

$80 at Amazon

Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

The Astro A40 TR is our favorite gaming headset, and right now it’s on sale for $100 at Amazon, Logitech and B&H. That’s not the lowest price we’ve ever seen, but it’s still $30 off the pair’s usual street price. The A40 is a wired model that’s been around since 2019, but it continues to deliver a more spacious and enveloping sound profile than most dedicated gaming headsets we’ve tested. As an open-back headphone, it lets in and leaks outside noise fairly easily, so it’s not the best choice if you often play in a noisy room. Its built-in mic isn’t especially high-quality, either, and its design is largely plastic. But it’s comfy, and it sounds much less closed-off and boomy than most headsets specifically marketed for gaming. If you need a mic and audio quality is your chief concern, it’s a nice value.

$100 at Amazon

Photo by Malak Saleh / Engadget

If you and a friend happen to be in the market for an Android smartwatch, Samsung is running a rare BOGO (buy one, get one free) deal on its Galaxy Watch 6. Just scroll down and select the prompt that says “Get a second Galaxy Watch 6 on us” to see the deal at checkout. The offer applies to the 40mm and 44mm models in both LTE and non-cellular configurations, which cost between $300 and $380. The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic — which is built with stainless steel instead of aluminum and can be controlled with a rotating bezel mechanism — is not included in the deal, however.

The Galaxy Watch 6 is the top pick for Android users in our smartwatch buying guide. It offers a robust list of health-tracking features, and it does well to auto-detect and log your workouts accurately. Its OLED display is sharp and bright, its rounded design is understated but not ugly and its Wear OS software gives access to a fairly wide selection of apps. It’ll still work best with a Samsung phone, but it’s not nearly as closed off to other devices as an Apple Watch. This is only a deal if you need a second watch, though; other retailers currently have the device for as low as $230 on its own. Samsung, for its part, is angling the promo toward Mother’s Day. 

$300 at Samsung

LG

The 48-inch version of LG’s C3 OLED TV is down to $847.44 at eBay with the checkout code SPRING15OFF. That’s not its lowest-ever price, but it’s roughly $150 off the TV’s typical going rate over the last few months. This discount comes via Electronic Express, which LG lists as an authorized dealer on its website. eBay says the coupon will expire on May 12.

The C3 is a midrange OLED model from 2023, so it’s currently being phased out in order to make room for recently-launched C4. However, the 48-inch version of that newer set is going for $1,497 as of this writing and doesn’t look to be a night-and-day upgrade in practice. For most, the older model should be a better value when it’s discounted to this extent.

The C3 itself isn’t as bright or color-rich as a good QD-OLED panel from Samsung or Sony, so it’s not class-leading in any one regard. Still, if you’ve never owned an OLED set, its high contrast, deep black tones, wide viewing angles and smooth motion should delight. It has four HDMI 2.1 ports that can output up to 120Hz, which is the fastest refresh rate the PS5 or Xbox Series X will allow, and it supports Dolby Vision HDR, unlike rival sets from Samsung. Just be aware that 48 inches is on the smaller side for a modern TV, so this model may work best in a smaller room or on a desktop.

$847 at eBay

Photo by Billy Steele / Engadget

Amazon’s Echo Show 8 is down to $100 at Amazon, Target and Best Buy. We’ve seen this discount multiple times since the 8-inch smart display was released last September; it’s not an all-time low, but it’s $50 off Amazon’s MSRP, and it equals the best price we’ve seen in a couple of months.

The Echo Show 8 itself is generally the best blend of price, size and functionality in Amazon’s smart display lineup. It has a more spacious screen, faster processor and better camera than the Echo Show 5, but it’s far more affordable than the Echo Show 10. It can work with other smart home devices through Matter, Zigbee and Thread, plus it has a dedicated camera cover and mic mute button. (Though no smart device like this is especially privacy-conscious.) Google’s Nest Hub is a better choice if you heavily use Google services like Gmail and Google Calendar — or if you don’t just want another camera in your home — but if you prefer Alexa and want a display for video calls, recipes and the like, this is your best bet.

If you don’t need a display at all, meanwhile, the most recent Echo Dot is also on sale for $28. Again, we’ve seen better deals in the past, but this is a larger discount than usual, taking $15 or so off the smart speaker’s average street price over the last few months. We call the Echo Dot the best option for less than $50 in our guide to the best smart speakers.

$100 at Amazon

Adobe

Up until May 13, Adobe is offering a year of its individual Creative Cloud All Apps subscription for $36 per month, or $396 if you pay for the full 12 months upfront. Normally, Adobe says an annual plan would set you back $60 per month or $660 upfront, so this is a 40 percent discount. The offer is only available for first-time subscribers, though. As a refresher, this plan gives access to more than 20 Adobe apps, including Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Illustrator, After Effects and Lightroom. It also includes 100GB of cloud storage, among other perks. It’s far from a must for the vast majority of people, but this a relatively rare discount if you work in the visual arts professionally and have been eyeing a subscription. Just note that the plan will auto-renew at its standard rate after the discounted year.

$35.99/month at Adobe

Photo by Sam Rutherford / Engadget

Google took the wraps off its new Pixel 8a phone this week, and to sweeten pre-orders it’s bundling the handset with a $100 gift card at Amazon, Best Buy and its own online store. This deal applies to the base model, which costs $499 and has 128GB of storage, or a new 256GB variant, which costs $559. At Best Buy, the offers also include a month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (for some reason). The phone starts shipping on May 14.

We’ll have to fully review the Pixel 8a before we can truly say if it’s worth buying, but at first blush it appears to be a fairly straightforward upgrade over last year’s Pixel 7a, which we recommend in our guide to the best smartphones. You can read my colleague Sam Rutherford’s hands-on preview for a rundown of what to expect, but the highlights include a newer Tensor G3 chip, a faster 120Hz display and a promised seven years of software updates, the same as Google’s flagship phones. Again, we’d advise most people to wait for our full review before pulling the trigger, but if you’re already sold and you know you’ll use the Amazon, Best Buy or Google Store cash anyway, this isn’t the worst pre-order deal we’ve seen.

$499 at Amazon

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May 2024 update rolling out to the Galaxy S24 lineup

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Samsung is rolling out a new software update for its latest flagship phone lineup. The Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra started getting the May 2024 security update earlier today.

Samsung is taking longer than usual to release the latest security update for eligible devices, possibly because it was busy with One UI 6.1. The Galaxy S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra are the first Galaxy devices to get the May security update, though we should see more phones joining the party in the coming days.

Story continues after the video

The latest update for the Galaxy S24 series is available in the USA at the time of writing, with T-Mobile seemingly the first carrier to roll it out to its users. Some users complained about poorer battery life after the previous update, but it doesn’t seem like the new update brings any improvements other than the latest security fixes.

It shouldn’t be long before the Galaxy S24’s May update goes live in other countries. Once it is available in your country, you will be automatically notified, but you can also manually check for the update by opening the Settings » Software update menu on your phone and selecting Download and install.

Galaxy S24 May update



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Unraveling Apple’s messy Pencil lineup

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Earlier this week, Apple introduced a new top-end stylus, the Pencil Pro, but didn’t discontinue any older model. That means there are now four styluses to choose from, channeling the chaotic lineup energy of Apple Watch and iPad families over the years. Because not every Pencil works with every iPad, we explain the best choices.

TMATMA

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Just… don’t buy the first-gen one.

— Mat Smith

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OpenAI is reportedly working on a search feature for ChatGPT that could make the chatbot capable of things you’d normally use Google Search for. According to Bloomberg, it’ll be able to scour the web for answers to your queries and spit out results, complete with sourcing. ChatGPT could take information from Wikipedia or blog posts, for instance, and link to their original pages when you ask it questions.

Earlier this month, DataChaz on X, reported that OpenAI had created a new subdomain with the address search.chatgpt.com. It apparently briefly rerouted to the main ChatGPT page over the weekend.

Continue reading.

TMATMA

Disney

Marvel and Industrial Light & Magic just announced an Apple Vision Pro title based on Marvel’s What If…?, the current Disney+ show that just finished its second season. It’ll be an hour-long experience with interactive story elements where you choose the story’s direction. Imagine that: an alternate cinematic universe where I was a Vision Pro early adopter.

Continue reading.

Buying a new phone is slightly easier if you’ve already determined you only want an iPhone. (And even then, Apple’s lineup offers more options than ever.) However, if you’re looking for an Android device, there are even more options — and likely more questions. Do you want a camera that can zoom into extremely far-away subjects (Samsung’s Galaxy S series)? Or do you want intuitive AI to screen incoming calls for you? (May I interest you in Google’s Pixel series?) Or maybe it’s time to get into foldables…

Continue reading.



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The Apple Pencil lineup is a mess, so here’s a guide to which one you should buy

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Apple unveiled a slew of new iPads on Tuesday, and the updates have brought a bit more clarity to the company’s tablet selection. Yes, there are still six different models in total, but the lines separating those slates are more firmly drawn: You have a good option (the base iPad), a better option (the iPad Air) and a best option (the iPad Pro). Both the Air and Pro are available in 11- or 13-inch frames, but those SKUs are more or less identical outside of their size. The iPad mini, meanwhile, is still off to the side for the relatively small niche that prefers a compact tablet.

Within those announcements, however, the Apple Pencil became even more of a mess. Apple introduced a new top-end stylus, the Pencil Pro, but didn’t discontinue any older model. As a result, prospective shoppers now have four (4!) different styluses to choose from. Each has different features, two are the same price, and only the lowest-end model works with every iPad in Apple’s now-current lineup. And the highest-end version prior to yesterday is no longer compatible with the latest iPad Air or iPad Pro.

This is pretty bad! Exactly how Apple got here may stem from what the company calls a “new magnetic interface.” This is what the Pencil Pro uses to connect and charge with compatible iPads, which in this case only includes the new iPad Airs and iPad Pros. Those tablets have been redesigned to place their front-facing cameras on the long edge, which is a welcome change in a vacuum, but could have resulted in the devices no longer supporting the charging system used by the second-generation Pencil. Apple hasn’t formally confirmed any of this, however. When reached for comment, the company did not provide additional information aside from noting that the new Pencil charging and pairing interface was created to work with the latest tablets’ designs and accommodate their landscape front cameras.

It’s more than possible that we’re in an awkward transitional period, with the first- and second-gen Pencils on the way out whenever the entry-level iPad and iPad mini are refreshed. As it is today, though, it’d be hard for digital artists and note-takers to look at the Pencil lineup as anything but chaotic. That there’s a “lineup” at all, and not one product that just works with every iPad, feels like a condemnation in itself. But if you’re in the market for a new Pencil and not sure which one to get, we’ve broken down the current offerings below.

Apple

Who should get it?: Those who plan on buying the iPad Air (M2) or iPad Pro (M4) at any point in the near future (most likely).

Pros

  • Latest and most advanced Pencil, with squeeze gesture, gyroscope and Find My support
Cons

  • Only works with newest iPad Air and iPad Pro

$129 at Amazon

The Apple Pencil Pro is the newest and most technically advanced Pencil. It costs $129 and is up for pre-order now, with full availability starting on May 15. As noted above, it’s only compatible with Apple’s latest tablets: the 11- and 13-inch iPad Air (M2), and the 11- and 13-inch iPad Pro (M4).

To keep things simple, if you’re going to buy one of those iPads, this is almost certainly the stylus you should get. We still need to review it, but it’s essentially an upgraded version of the second-gen Pencil, which we previously recommended in our guide to the best iPad accessories. It has virtually the same comfortable shape and matte finish, though it’s technically 0.05 ounces lighter. It still supports pressure sensitivity, so your marks will be darker if you press down with more force, and tilt detection, so you can hold it at an angle for light shading and similar effects. It still pairs and charges magnetically, and it can still utilize a “double-tap” feature that lets you quickly swap between tools in certain apps. With certain iPads, a “hover” feature allows you to interact with elements on screen by holding the stylus just over the display.

The Pencil Pro has a few exclusive perks on top of that. You can squeeze it to open a contextual menu for changing colors, line weights and similar tools. A built-in gyroscope can detect when you roll the stylus, which should make it simpler to change the orientation of shaped pen and brush tools. There’s a haptic engine to deliver more tangible feedback as you use the pen. And, maybe most conveniently, it works with Apple’s Find My network, so it should be easier to locate if you ever misplace it.

Apple

Who should get it?: Those who own an older iPad Pro or iPad Air, or the current iPad mini, and will not upgrade to a new iPad anytime soon.

Pros

  • Accurate, comfortable and well-featured
Cons

  • Doesn’t support newest iPad, iPad Air or iPad Pro

$79 at Amazon

The second-generation Pencil was released in 2018 and remained Apple’s best stylus until this week. It, too, costs $129, though recent sales have dropped it as low as $79. It’s compatible with the following iPads: 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th gen), 11-inch iPad Pro (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th gen), iPad Air (4th and 5th gen) and iPad mini (6th gen).

To reiterate, Apple says it is not compatible with any of the iPad Airs or iPad Pros announced on Tuesday. Yes, paying $129 for a stylus only to be forced into replacing it a generation or two later is obnoxious.

The second-gen Pencil lacks the squeeze and “barrel roll” gestures, increased haptic feedback and Find My support of the Pencil Pro. Otherwise, it includes all of the same core features. If you own one of the compatible iPads listed above and do not plan on upgrading anytime soon, it’s the Pencil to buy, as it remains a significant upgrade over Apple’s lower-cost models. But if you plan to buy a new iPad Air or iPad Pro in the near future and don’t desperately need a stylus today, it’s worth holding off and buying the Pencil Pro alongside your new tablet, as much as that sucks.

Apple

Who should get it?: Those who must have an Apple stylus but can’t afford the Pencil Pro/second-gen Pencil and only care about casual writing. Also, iPad (10th gen) owners who don’t care about pressure sensitivity. Some third-party options may be a better value, however, depending on sale prices.

Pros

  • Less expensive than Pencil Pro and second-gen Pencil
Cons

  • Lacks pressure sensitivity and wireless charging

$69 at Amazon

The USB-C Apple Pencil was released late last year and effectively serves as Apple’s “budget” stylus. With a list price of $79, it’s still not outright cheap, though we’ve seen it go for $10 less with recent discounts.

This is the only Pencil that’s compatible with every iPad in Apple’s current lineup: the iPad Air (M2), iPad Pro (M4), iPad (10th gen) and iPad mini (6th gen). Besides those, it works with the the older 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd-6th gen), 11-inch iPad Pro (1st-4th gen) and iPad Air (4th and 5th gen).

However, it’s also a clear downgrade from the Pencil Pro and second-gen Pencil, as it lacks pressure sensitivity and magnetic charging support. The former means it’s less precise for illustrations, while the latter means you’ll need a USB-C cable handy when it comes time to recharge the device. You can still attach the USB-C Pencil to the side of iPads with magnetic holders, which is convenient, but it won’t power up. It doesn’t work with Apple’s double-tap feature, either, though it does support “hover” and basics like tilt sensitivity. It’s also slightly shorter than the higher-end models.

For most people who care about drawing or note-taking enough to buy an Apple Pencil in the first place, I’d recommend just paying up for the Pencil Pro or second-gen Pencil, depending on your iPad. But for those who really want to save cash and may only want a stylus for casual writing or generally navigating their device, the USB-C Pencil could make sense. This is especially the case for the iPad (10th gen), which doesn’t work with either of Apple’s superior models.

Apple

Who should get it?: Just about nobody, unless you plan to use the iPad (10th gen) or an older Lightning-based iPad for the foreseeable future and need pressure sensitivity for drawing.

Pros

  • Most affordable Pencil with pressure sensitivity
Cons

  • Ancient, and isn’t compatible with most new iPads

$79 at Amazon

The original Apple Pencil was introduced way back in 2015. Apple still sells it for $99, though these days it’s frequently available for $20 to $30 less at other retailers. Most people can safely ignore it: The only modern iPad it works with is the entry-level iPad (10th gen), but even then it requires a Lighting to USB-C adapter to charge, which looks ridiculous and gives you more things to potentially lose. It can’t attach magnetically, and it has a glossier, more rounded design that can more easily roll away on a flat table. It also lacks most of the more advanced features found in newer Pencils.

The one thing the first-gen Pencil does have over the USB-C model, though, is pressure sensitivity. Yes, even though it’s eight years older, it’s technically better in at least one meaningful way. So, if you own the iPad (10th gen) and are willing to deal with the dongle-ridden charging situation in exchange for a more precise drawing experience, there’s a world in which the first-gen Pencil is still justifiable. But most people in that situation should just step up to an iPad Air and the Pencil Pro.

Just for posterity, here’s the list of iPads that support the first-gen Pencil: 12.9-inch iPad Pro (1st and 2nd gen), 10.5-inch iPad Pro, 9.7-inch iPad Pro, iPad Air (3rd gen), iPad mini (5th gen) and iPad (6th-10th gen).

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Here’s the Apple Pencil Lineup With New Pro Model

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With the launch of the refreshed iPad Air and iPad Pro models, Apple introduced a new “Apple Pencil Pro.” No ‌Apple Pencil‌ options have been discontinued, which means there are now four total Apple Pencils to choose from.

Apple Pencil Pro
While the updated ‌iPad Pro‌ and ‌iPad Air‌ are compatible with the ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro and the USB-C ‌Apple Pencil‌, they do not work with the ‌Apple Pencil‌ 2. Older iPads are also not able to work with the ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro.

Apple Pencil Pro

  • M4 ‌iPad Pro‌
  • M2 ‌iPad Air‌

Apple Pencil USB-C

  • M4 ‌iPad Pro‌
  • ‌M2‌ ‌iPad Air‌
  • 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ (4th gen and later)
  • 11-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ (1st gen and later)
  • ‌iPad Air‌ (4th and 5th gen)
  • iPad mini (6th gen)

Apple Pencil 2

  • 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ (3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th gen)
  • 11-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gen)
  • ‌iPad Air‌ (4th and 5th gen)
  • ‌iPad mini‌ (6th gen)

Apple Pencil 1

  • 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ (1st and 2nd gen)
  • 10.5-inch ‌iPad Pro‌
  • 9.7-inch ‌iPad Pro‌
  • ‌iPad Air‌ (3rd gen)
  • ‌iPad mini‌ (5th gen)
  • iPad (6th gen and later)

The ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro and the ‌Apple Pencil‌ 2 are both priced at $129, while the ‌Apple Pencil‌ 1 is priced at $99 and the ‌Apple Pencil‌ USB-C is $79.

Compared to older ‌Apple Pencil‌ models, the ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro supports squeeze gestures, roll gestures, haptic feedback, and Find My.

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Apple at its “Let Loose” event today announced a new Magic Keyboard for the latest iPad Pro models, with a thinner, lighter design. Apple says the Magic Keyboard has been redesigned to be thinner and lighter, while maintaing the same floating design. Two colors are available that match the new iPad Pro. New features include a function row with screen brightness controls, an aluminum…

Apple Event This Week Expected to Last ‘About 35 Minutes’

Apple will be holding its first event of the year this Tuesday, May 7 at 7 a.m. Pacific Time, with a live stream to be available on Apple.com and on YouTube. How long will the event be? In his newsletter today, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said the video will have a runtime of “around 35 minutes.” Apple is expected to announce new iPad Pro and iPad Air models, along with updated Apple Pencil…

‘iPhone 17 Slim’ With Smaller Display Rumored to Launch Next Year

While the iPhone 16 series is still months away from launching, an early rumor about an all-new iPhone 17 model has now surfaced. In a research note with investment firm Haitong this week, analyst Jeff Pu said Apple is planning a so-called “iPhone 17 Slim” model that would replace the Plus model in the lineup. Pu said this model will feature around a 6.6-inch display, a slimmer design, an…

iOS 18 Rumored to Add New Features to These 16 Apps on Your iPhone

Apple is expected to announce iOS 18 during its WWDC keynote on June 10, and new features have already been rumored for many apps, including Apple Music, Apple Maps, Calculator, Messages, Notes, Safari, and others. Below, we recap iOS 18 rumors on a per-app basis, based on reports from MacRumors, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, and others: Apple Maps: At least two new Apple Maps features are…

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iPhone 16 Lineup Could Feature Slimmer MagSafe Components

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This year’s iPhone 16 lineup could see a slight change to the MagSafe alignment magnets compared to previous generations, according to images shared by French case company ShopSystem [Google Translate].

iphone 16 magsafe blue molds
Casemaking molds for the ‌iPhone 16‌ lineup appear to show a thinner design for the attachment ring magnets and for the single alignment magnet, relative to equivalent molds for the iPhone 15 lineup. The report suggests ‌MagSafe‌ accessory manufacturers may need to adapt their products to fit the new system, but this seems very unlikely as any updated ‌MagSafe‌ system will almost certainly be backwards compatible.

iphone 16 15 magsafe comparisoniphone 16 15 magsafe comparison
Presuming the thinner magnets depicted in these molds are accurate, it’s unclear if there are additional changes to ‌MagSafe‌ in the upcoming iPhone lineup that could extend to the charging technology. One rumor has, however, indicated the ‌iPhone 16‌ lineup could see increased MagSafe charging speeds with support for up to 20 watts compared to the current standard of 15 watts.

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iOS 18 Rumored to Add New Features to These 16 Apps on Your iPhone

Apple is expected to announce iOS 18 during its WWDC keynote on June 10, and new features have already been rumored for many apps, including Apple Music, Apple Maps, Calculator, Messages, Notes, Safari, and others. Below, we recap iOS 18 rumors on a per-app basis, based on reports from MacRumors, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, and others: Apple Maps: At least two new Apple Maps features are…

Check Out This Apple Watch iPad Demo Unit From 2014

With the 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch approaching, we thought it would be fun to take a look back at an interesting bit of Apple Watch history. After the Apple Watch was announced in 2014, and before it became available in 2015, Apple sent out custom Apple Watch iPad demo kiosks to retail stores. The Apple Watch and iPad units used for these devices were specially designed, had custom …

Will the New iPad Pro Really Have the M4 Chip?

While Apple’s upcoming iPad Pro models have been expected to feature the M3 chip for over a year, recent reports have unexpectedly suggested that the new devices will instead feature the as-yet-unannounced M4 chip. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Last week, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said that he now believes there is a “strong possibility” that the upcoming iPad Pro …

iOS 17.5 Includes ‘Repair State’ Option That Doesn’t Require Turning Off Find My for Service

With iOS 17.5, Apple is adding a “Repair State” feature that is designed to allow an iPhone to be sent in for service without deactivating Find My and Activation Lock. The fourth iOS 17.5 beta that came out today adds a “Remove This Device” option for all devices in Find My, and using it with an iPhone puts that iPhone into the new Repair State. Right now, sending an iPhone to Apple to be…

Report Examines GM’s Controversial Move to Abandon Apple CarPlay

An in-depth Bloomberg report today resurfaced General Motors’ decision to replace Apple CarPlay with its own software. Last year, GM announced that it planned to forgo Apple CarPlay in its new electric vehicles, starting with the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV. Instead, the automaker introduced a proprietary infotainment platform, aiming to control and customize the digital experience within its…

Amazon’s New Apple Sale Has Best-Ever Prices on AirPods Pro, Studio Display, Apple Pencil, and More

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Apple Announces ‘Let Loose’ Event on May 7 Amid Rumors of New iPads

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 …

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iPhone 16 Lineup Dummies Show How Four Model Sizes Compare

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One of the best looks yet at the rear design and increased size of Apple’s iPhone 16 models was today shared online.

iphone 16 lineup dummy models
The images, posted on X by Sonny Dickson, show four dummy models representing the ‌iPhone 16‌, iPhone 16 Pro, ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus, and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max. These units are designed to take the place of real devices for display or testing purposes.

The dummy models provide a clear look at the slightly larger size of the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max, which are expected increase from 6.1- to 6.3-inches and 6.7- to 6.9-inches, and how they compare to the other models in the lineup.

The ‌iPhone 16‌ and ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus are expected to stay at 6.1- and 6.7-inches like their predecessors, but they are rumored to receive a redesigned vertical camera array designed to accommodate spatial video capture. Starting with the iPhone 13, Apple’s two non-Pro iPhone models have had diagonally arranged dual rear cameras. The entire ‌iPhone 16‌ lineup is expected to launch as usual in the fall.

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iOS 18 Rumored to Add These 10 New Features to Your iPhone

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The MacRumors Show: Apple’s iPad Event Finally Announced!

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Apple Event Rumors: iPad Pro With M4 Chip and New Apple Pencil With Haptic Feedback

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 Announces ‘Let Loose’ Event on May 7 Amid Rumors of New iPads

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 …

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Google IO 2024 lineup confirmed – 5 new things we’re expecting to see, from Wear OS 5 to Gemini wizardry

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Google IO 2024 is approaching fast, with the big G’s festival for Android 15, Wear OS 5, Android TV and more kicking off on May 14. And we now have an official schedule to give us some hints of the software (and maybe hardware) announcements in the pipeline.

The Google IO 2024 schedule (spotted by @MishaalRahman on X, formerly Twitter) naturally doesn’t reveal any specifics, but it does confirm where we’ll see some big new software upgrades.



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Mophie Launches Juice Pack Battery Cases for iPhone 15 Lineup

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Mophie today announced the launch of Juice Pack battery cases that are designed to work with the iPhone 15 lineup. Like Mophie’s prior Juice Pack cases, the latest version attaches to the iPhone to provide a little extra battery life during daily use.

mophie juice pack
The case comes apart in two pieces so that the ‌iPhone‌ can fit inside, and as the ‌iPhone 15‌ models have USB-C ports, there is a USB-C charger inside that fits right in to the port. The case also has a USB-C port that can be used for charging the case and the ‌iPhone‌ inside.

Priority goes to the ‌iPhone‌ when charging, so if it’s plugged in, it’ll charge up first, and then the case itself will also charge. It’s a super simple solution for adding extra battery life to your phone on a long day.

The Juice Pack for the iPhone 15 Pro Max that we tested ahead of launch has a 3,000mAh battery, so it’s not able to charge an ‌iPhone‌ to full, but it is about an extra half charge. The 15 and 15 Pro Juice Pack models have a 2,400mAh battery inside because they’re smaller, but that also delivers about the same 50 percent battery charge. In my testing, I was able to get about an additional 45 percent battery out of the case once I had drained my ‌iPhone‌ battery, so Mophie’s estimate seems about right.

Mophie’s Juice Pack case is made from a soft-touch material that’s pleasant in the hand and it only comes in black. It offers a protective lip around the ‌iPhone‌’s display and camera, and covers all of the buttons and ports for additional protection. There’s a bump at the back for the battery, and while the case remains on the slimmer side is not too bulky, it does add some extra weight.

The case is meant to provide protection from a drop of up to six feet, and it feels rugged enough to be able to handle that kind of impact without damage to the ‌iPhone‌. Mophie says that the extra battery life provides up to 44 hours of talk time and music playback, or up to 11 hours of video playback.

There’s a button on the back to turn the Juice Pack on and off and to check charge level with the four LEDs. It’s handy to be able to turn it off to control when you want to use up the extra battery life rather than having it charge automatically, but note that you do need to hold it down for a few seconds to get charging to initiate. Mophie has Juice Pack cases for the ‌iPhone 15‌, ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌, and ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ Max, but there is not a model for the ‌iPhone 15‌ Plus.

The Mophie Juice Pack can be purchased for $99.95 starting today.

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Sony drops Samsung’s QD-OLED panel from its 2024 TV lineup

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Over the past couple of years, Sony has been using Samsung Display’s QD-OLED panels in its flagship TV models. However, that isn’t the case this year, and Sony has switched to a Mini LED panel for its flagship TV mode for 2024. While it still uses LG’s WRGB OLED panel in this year’s model, it isn’t pegged as the Japanese firm’s top-of-the-line TV.

Sony’s flagship TV for 2024 uses Mini LED panel instead of a Samsung QD-OLED

Sony TV Soundbar Lineup 2024

Sony’s new TV lineup for 2024 includes just four TV models: BRAVIA 3, BRAVIA 7, BRAVIA 8, and BRAVIA 9. These model names are much simpler to remember and understand than Sony’s previous naming scheme. The BRAVIA 3 is a regular LED-backlit (Direct LIT) LCD TV with no full array local dimming. The step-up is BRAVIA 7, which is a Mini LED TV, and it will be available in 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, and 85-inch sizes.

Sony BRAVIA 8 OLED TV 2024

The next step up is the BRAVIA 8, which comes in 55-inch, 65-inch, and 75-inch sizes and uses LG Display’s WRGB OLED panel. Compared to its predecessor (last year’s A80L), it has thinner bezels, and that’s about it. The BRAVIA 9 is Sony’s top-of-the-line TV for 2024, and it uses a higher-end Mini LED panel with a lot more local dimming zones, higher brightness, and better colors. It comes in 65-inch ($3,299), 75-inch ($3,999), and 85-inch ($5,499) sizes.

You can watch our hands-on video of Samsung’s QD-OLED TV lineup for 2024 below. It will compete with Sony’s BRAVIA 8 and BRAVIA 9 TVs this year.

Sony will continue selling last year’s A95L, which uses Samsung Display’s QD-OLED panel, but it isn’t clear if its stocks will last the entire year. So, if you want to get the Sony A95L, you should consider buying it sooner rather than later. As an alternative, you can buy Samsung’s S95C or the new S95D QD-OLED TV. The S95C is a lot cheaper than Sony’s A95L, while the S95D is cheaper and has a Glare-Free coating to prevent reflections.

The Japanese firm also launched two new soundbars, a five-speaker home theater unit, and a neckband “portable theater” called BRAVIA Theater U. Sony is using the term BRAVIA for its home theater and soundbar names for the first time. Its new soundbars have copied a few features from Samsung’s soundbars, including Active Voice Amplifier, SpaceFit Sound, and Q-Symphony.

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