Brighter days and warmer weather indicate spring and summer are around the corner, meaning now is the time to start prepping for vacation. Investing in a Bluetooth tracker is one way to do so, as it helps you keep tabs on your luggage and various checked bags while you travel. Thankfully, the 2024 Tile Pro — one of our favorite location trackers — is on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target starting at $24.49 (about $11 off), an all-time low.

The water-resistant Tile Pro is our No. 1 pick for Android device owners, though it works just as well with iOS devices, making it perfect for mixed households. It features the loudest ring and widest range of any item tracker Tile currently sells, too, allowing you to keep tabs on a wide range of valuables from 500 feet away — including suitcases, keys, bikes, parked cars, and even pets. Plus, it can tap into both the Tile Network and Amazon Sidewalk, which aren’t as extensive as Apple’s Find My network but still let you track items beyond the quoted Bluetooth range. 

As of right now, the Tile Pro is the only Tile that comes with a replaceable CR2032 battery, meaning you won’t need to buy a new tracker when the battery inevitably dies after a year or so. Conveniently, it also can double as a panic button, allowing you to send SOS alerts to loved ones and Tile’s emergency dispatch center with a simple triple-tap of the button. Your phone will still need to be nearby and you’ll have to pay a $14.99 monthly subscription to take advantage of the feature, but hey, nobody says you can’t cancel your membership once you return from your trip.

A few more ways to save

• If you record a lot of video, Anker’s MagGo USB-C Adapter is a useful gadget that’s currently available at Amazon starting at $21.99 ($3 off). That marks a new low on the MagSafe-compatible device, which functions as an SD and microSD card reader for laptops and other electronics. The USB-C port offers up to 42.5W of power output, and if you have a compatible iPhone 15 or 16 and a memory card that supports at least 220MB/s write speeds and 256GB capacity, it can even capture ProRes 4K recording at 60fps.
• You can pick up the Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 at Amazon, Target, and Best Buy starting at $69.95 ($10 off), which is its second-best price to date. The Mini 12 is great for all ages because it’s easy to use, highly portable, and captures great photos, which are just a few of the reasons we consider it to be the best instant camera for most people. It doesn’t offer as much creative control as its pricier rivals, but it’s still fun to use thanks to a built-in selfie mirror and a handy Close-Up mode.
• The second-gen Theragun Mini is on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target for $149 ($50 off), which is $20 shy of its best price to date. The powerful three-speed massage gun can quickly melt away tension and comes with three swappable attachments that allow you to target certain areas, including your lower back. The compact USB-C device is highly portable and pairs with a companion app, too, letting you tap into personalized wellness routines in the Therabody app.

Happy Mario Day! To celebrate the world’s most iconic plumber, Nintendo has all sorts of treats for fans, including a new Nintendo Switch bundle, a new Mario Kart Lego set, and a new theme for its cutesy Alarmo clock. Nintendo has also launched a massive sale in commemoration of so-called “MAR10 Day,” which will run through March 16th and includes dozens of both new and classic Mario titles — some of which are down to their lowest price to date.

Nintendo’s list of discounted titles is pretty extensive, so to save you some time, we went ahead and rounded up the highlights below (including picks from Amazon, Walmart, and other retailers). It’s not just games that are on sale, either; we’ve also sprinkled in a few of our favorite deals on Lego sets and other Mario-related gear.

The best Mario Day deals on Nintendo Switch games

• Super Mario RPG is on sale at Walmart, Amazon, and Target starting at around $38 ($23 off), which is one of its better prices to date. The 2023 game is an excellent remake of the beloved SNES RPG, with adorable new visuals and the same Final Fantasy-style turn-based battles. Read our review.
• Target, GameStop, and Walmart are selling Princess Peach: Showtime! for $39.99 ($20 off), which is its all-time low. The first Mario game starring Peach as the main protagonist in nearly 20 years is both playful and clever. It’s a bit simplistic, but it still represents a significant improvement over its predecessor, Super Princess Peach, with Peach showing a lot more personality. Read our review.

• Now through March 21st, Woot is selling Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury for $41.99 ($18 off), which is one of its better prices to date. The remake of the Wii U classic takes the base game and adds Bowser’s Fury, a new open-world expansion that has players going up against a kaiju-like Bowser. It also includes 82 different courses you can complete with up to three other players. Read our review.

• Yoshi’s Crafted World is available for $39.99 ($20 off) from Walmart, GameStop, and Nintendo. The simple adventure game features a pretty leisurely pace and stars a woolly version of Yoshi in a papercraft world, one that must eat enemies and solve puzzles in order to progress. Read our review.

• Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is down to a new low of around $40 ($20 off) at Walmart, Best Buy, and GameStop. Released last year, the ghost-hunting adventure game is a remake of the 2013 game Luigi’s Mansion 2: Dark Moon. It offers the same storyline and gameplay, but features improved HD visuals and audio as well as some new features, including a new gallery and bestiary function.

• Mario vs. Donkey Kong is on sale for around $30 ($20 off) at Walmart and GameStop. The game is a remake of the 2004 Game Boy Advance classic, in which players must jump through various side-scrolling puzzles to retrieve miniature Mario toys stolen by Donkey Kong.

Other Mario Day promos

• You can buy the Super Mario Bros. Wonder bundle from Nintendo, Walmart, and Best Buy for $349.99. The bundle includes a Nintendo Switch OLED along with a digital download of Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Nintendo is also throwing in a three-month individual subscription to Nintendo Switch Online, which, when all is said and done, saves you about $68.
• Amazon is discounting a few Mario-themed PowerA Wireless Controllers to $33.74 ($11 off), including models that take after Bowser, Princess Peach, and Mario. The wireless gamepads feature remappable buttons and motion controls, as well Bluetooth support. You don’t get HD Rumble or some of the more advanced features found on Nintendo’s official Switch Pro Controller, but they’re a nice budget-friendly alternative.

• Now through the end of today, March 10th, Best Buy is discounting a couple of Mario-centric Lego sets, including Bowser’s 458-piece Muscle Car Expansion Set, which includes a race car and Bowser brick figure for $25.49 (about $5 off). You can also grab the 173-piece Goombas’ Playground set for $10.99 ($4 off), which comes with three Goomba figures, a buildable tree trunk, and a seesaw.
• The Art of Super Mario Odyssey is on sale for $28.49 ($21 off) at Amazon. The 368-page tabletop book features concept art, preliminary sketches, and notes from the 2017 Mario game.

Apple might have just updated the Mac Studio with M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips, but if all you need is a good daily driver, they’re completely overkill. The M4-powered Mac Mini is probably the better option in most instances, especially since the desktop is currently matching its all-time low of $529 ($70 off) at Amazon with 256GB of storage. You can also pick up the 512GB configuration for $699 ($100 off), which remains the best price we’ve seen on the step-up model.

Even at its full price of $599, the latest Mac Mini offers exceptional value. The tiny desktop machine is less than half the size of the 2023 Mac Mini, yet it manages to rival the M4 iMac and MacBook Pro in terms of power thanks to its 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU. The base-model Mini also now comes with 16GB of RAM by default, rendering it more than capable of powering through everyday tasks. 

In addition, the new Mini boasts can run up to three displays at once, up from two on the previous model. It also has an excellent port selection that includes three Thunderbolt 4 (USB 4) ports, a gigabit ethernet jack, and an HDMI port. It sports a pair of 10Gbps USB-C ports (USB 3) and a 3.5mm audio jack on the front as well, providing easy access when you need it. That, combined with its futureproof support for Wi-Fi 6E, makes it an all-around great investment if you don’t mind supplying your own monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

Read our full M4 Mac Mini review.

Other ways to save today

• As our friends over at Polygon recently pointed out, Barnes & Noble is offering hundreds of films from Paramount Pictures for 50 percent off through April 6th, allowing you to save on DVDs and Blu-ray discs. There are a lot of great films on sale, but some standouts include The Godfather Trilogy ($25.99), the Indiana Jones: 4-Movie Collection ($29.99), and 4K steelbook versions of all seven Mission: Impossible films. There are also discounted theme collections, like the horror-centric Paramount Scares: Volume 1 ($39.49), which includes Rosemary’s Baby (1968), Pet Sematary (1989), Sweeney Todd (2007), Crawl (2019), and Smile (2022).
• Now through 1AM ET on March 9th, Woot is slashing prices on a slew of Nintendo Switch titles — including The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, both of which are discounted to $44.99 ($25 off). The so-called Spring Video Game Sale also features deals on a number of excellent peripherals, including 8BitDo’s Ultimate Wired Controller for Xbox (now $24,99), which just dethroned the PowerA Advantage Wired to become our favorite budget controller thanks to its inclusion of Hall effect sticks and programmable rear buttons.
• Apple’s 11th-gen iPad is set to arrive on March 12th, but unless you’re really excited about an upgraded A16 chip, it’s a pretty minor spec bump over the previous model. Thankfully, the 10th-gen iPad is on sale at Amazon and Walmart in select colors for $259.99 (about $90 off), which remains its second-best price to date. The last-gen model has a modern design with USB-C and an A14 Bionic chip, which, frankly, is more than enough power for browsing, streaming Netflix, and doing most tablet things. There’s a reason we consider it the best iPad for most people. Read our review.

Brandon Widder also contributed to this post.

If you’re planning on giving your desk or workspace a good spring cleaning, Anker’s MagGo Magnetic Charging Station (8-in-1) is a relatively affordable way to rid your life of excess cable clutter. That’s especially true right now, as Anker’s versatile charging gadget is down to an all-time low of $49.99 ($20 off) at Amazon in select colors.

Anker’s orb-shaped gadget can supply power to up to eight devices, so you don’t need to keep multiple chargers lying around. The speedy Q2-compatible charger is capable of delivering 15W wireless speeds to MagSafe-equipped iPhones and functions as a relatively sturdy stand, keeping your phone securely in place via magnets. It’s also a great way to make use of Apple’s StandBy mode, which lets you use your phone as an ad hoc smart display to showcase the time, calendar events, and other information when your phone is placed horizontally.

As alluded to previously, Anker’s latest MagGo station also functions as an 8-in-1 power strip, one that can support up to 67W total power output across a pair of USB-C and USB-A ports. It’s also equipped with three AC outlets, allowing you to power everything from lamps to fans to beefy external monitors. That’s pretty good for a gadget that’s roughly the size of Apple’s HomePod Mini.

Read our hands-on impressions.

Looking for a way to drown out noise during your daily commute? The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds — our favorite pair of noise-canceling earbuds on the market — might just do the trick. And now through March 31st, you can pick them up for a new low price of $219 ($80 off) from Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Bose.

In addition to offering best-in-class noise cancellation, Bose’s QC Ultra Earbuds boast a crystal-clear transparency mode that allows you to pipe outside noise in. They deliver lively, rich sound, with support for Bose’s proprietary take on spatial audio, which can add a greater sense of depth when listening to select tracks. If you’ve got a compatible Android device, they also support the aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec for better audio fidelity. Voice call quality is also noticeably sharper than on their predecessor, the QuietComfort Earbuds II, and the silicone wings have been revamped with new grooves to fit more comfortably and securely.

What’s nice, too, is that Bose added multipoint support via a software update last year, so you can now pair them with two devices simultaneously. It’s a shame they still don’t offer wireless charging, but if you really want that, Bose does sell a $49 case that adds Qi compatibility.

Read our full QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review.

Shortly after introducing the new iPad and iPad Air, Apple has announced a slew of new Macs. The M4-powered MacBook Air starts at $999 in its 13-inch configuration, while the 15-inch variant starts at $1,199. You can also buy the new Mac Studio with an M4 Max chip starting at $1,999 or an M3 Ultra-powered model starting at $3,999.

The new 13- and 15-inch MacBook Airs run on Apple’s M4 chip, which Apple claims is twice as fast as the M1 chip found in the 2020 model. Both laptops also now support up to two external displays, even with the lid still open, and boast the same 12-megapixel Center Stage webcam found in the latest MacBook Pros. Design-wise, they’re identical to their M3-powered predecessor, but Apple’s now added a sky blue color option.

As for the new M4 Max Mac Studio, Apple says the desktop machine is “up to 3.5x faster” than the original M1 Max model from 2022. Compared to its outgoing predecessor, the M2 Max Studio from 2023, it offers a maximum 128GB of RAM, up from 96GB. The Mac Studio’s four rear USB-C ports have been upgraded from Thunderbolt 4 to Thunderbolt 5.

Apple claims the Mac Studio with an M3 Ultra chip is twice as fast as the M4 Max for GPU- and CPU-demanding workloads. Apple also says the system boasts “50 percent more performance cores” than its M2 Ultra predecessors. It, too, can be configured with up to 512GB of RAM and 16TB of storage, up from its outgoing predecessor’s maximum of 192GB of RAM and 8TB of storage. The front USB-C ports on the M3 Ultra Mac Studio also support Thunderbolt 5, unlike the ones on the M4 Max version, and it can support up to eight displays, as opposed to the cheaper Studio’s five.

Where to preorder the M4-powered MacBook Air

The new MacBook Air will be available in stores on March 12th in sky blue, black, silver, and a “starlight” cream shade. You can preorder the 13-inch base model with a 10-core CPU, eight-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage starting at $999 from Apple, Best Buy, and B&H Photo. You can also preorder the laptop with a 10-core CPU and GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for $1,199. Meanwhile, the model with 24GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a 10-core CPU and GPU goes for $1,399.

Apple also lets you upgrade storage and RAM. Upgrading to 512GB of storage will cost you an extra $200, 1TB an extra $400, and 2TB an extra $800. You can also preorder the laptop with 24GB of RAM for $200 more, while 32GB of RAM costs $400 extra. If you opt for 512GB of storage or more, you have the option to purchase a 35W Dual USB‑C Port Compact Power Adapter or 70W USB‑C Power Adapter for $20 extra.

The 15-inch MacBook Air is identical to its 13-inch sibling, aside from size and the fact that it comes with a six-speaker system instead of four. You can preorder the base model with a 10-core CPU and GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage starting at $1,099 from Apple, Best Buy, and B&H Photo. If you fork out $1,399, you can preorder it with an expanded 512GB of storage, while paying $1,599 will get you 24GB of RAM in addition to 512GB of storage.

If you want additional storage and RAM, you can upgrade to 512GB of storage for $200 more, 1TB for an extra $400, and 2TB for an extra $800. In terms of memory, you can choose between an extra 24GB of RAM for $200 more or 32GB of RAM for $400 more. Apple will also throw in either a 35W Dual USB‑C Port Compact Power Adapter or a 70W USB‑C Power Adapter for free.

Where to preorder the Mac Studio with the M4 Max chip 

The new Mac Studio is sold with either the M4 Max chip or the beefier M3 Ultra chip. You can preorder the base Mac Studio with an M4 Max chip, a 14-core CPU, a 32-core GPU, 36GB of RAM, a 16-core neural engine, and 512GB of storage from Apple, Best Buy, and B&H Photo starting at $1,999. For $2,499, you can preorder the M4 Max Studio with 48GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, a 16‑core CPU, a 40‑core GPU, and a 16‑core Neural Engine. You can upgrade to 64GB of RAM for $200 more or 128GB for an extra $1,000. 

Apple also lets you upgrade storage on either configuration if you pay extra. You can upgrade to 1TB of storage for $200 more, while the 2TB model costs $600 extra. You can also buy the 4TB configuration for $1,200 more or the 8TB model for $2,400 extra. 

Where to preorder the M3 Ultra-powered Mac Studio

Meanwhile, the base M3 Ultra-powered Mac Studio with a 28-core CPU, 60-core GPU, a 32-core Neural Engine, 96GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage starts at $3,999 at Apple, Best Buy, and B&H Photo. Upgrading to 256GB of RAM costs an extra $1,600.

Alternatively, you can preorder it with a 32-core CPU, 80-core GPU, 32-core Neural Engine, 96GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage for $5,499. Again, upgrading to 256GB of RAM costs an additional $1,600, but you also have the option of adding 512GB of RAM for $4,000 more.

No matter which M3 Ultra-powered Mac Studio configuration you buy, you can upgrade to 2TB of storage for $400 extra or 4TB for $1,000 more. Upgrading to 8TB of storage will cost you $2,200 extra, while 16TB will cost you an additional $4,600.

As predicted, Apple announced not one but two new iPads this week. The new entry-level iPad starts at $349, while the 11-and 13-inch iPad Airs start at $599 and $799, respectively. Both tablets are set to arrive on March 12th, though you can already preorder them from Amazon, Apple, and Best Buy starting this week.

Unsurprisingly, both tablets represent pretty minor upgrades over prior models. The 11th-gen iPad has twice as much base storage as its last-gen predecessor (128GB vs. 64GB); however, it also remains the only tablet in Apple’s current lineup that lacks support for Apple Intelligence. It doesn’t run on Apple’s silicon, either, but Apple says the upgraded A16 chip is nearly 30 percent faster than the A14 chip found in the 10th-gen iPad. 

As for the new 11- and 13-inch iPad Air, both run on Apple’s M3 chip. The last-gen processor isn’t as powerful as the M4 chip found in the latest Pro models, but Apple claims the Air should be twice as fast as the M1-powered Air released in 2022. The M3 chip also introduces GPU upgrades, including dynamic caching support, which improves the performance of demanding apps by optimizing the device’s memory usage.

As for accessories, both tablets support the Apple Pencil USB-C, but only the Air supports the Apple Pencil Pro, which offers built-in Find My support and a gyroscope sensor. The M3-powered Air is also compatible with the new Magic Keyboard, which boasts a larger trackpad and a new 14-key function row so you can quickly adjust the volume and other settings. The keyboard starts at $269 for the 11-inch model and $319 for the 13-inch model.

Where to preorder the new iPad

The new iPad will be available on March 12th in four colors: blue, pink, yellow, and silver. You can currently preorder the base model with Wi-Fi and 128GB of storage from Amazon, Apple, Best Buy, and B&H Photo starting at $349. If you prefer more storage, you can get the 256GB model for $449 or the 512GB version for $649. LTE-equipped versions are also available starting at $499 for 128GB of storage, $599 for 256GB of storage, and $799 for 512GB of storage.

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Where to preorder the new iPad Air

As mentioned previously, the iPad Air comes in two flavors: a smaller 11-inch variant and a 13-inch model. Both sizes also come in four colors: dark gray, blue, purple, and a “starlight” cream shade.

You can preorder the 11-inch iPad Air with Wi-Fi and 128GB of storage from Amazon, Apple, Best Buy, and B&H Photo starting at $599. You can also reserve it with 256GB of storage for $699, 512GB of storage for $899, or 1TB of storage for $1,099. If you want cellular connectivity, you can get the 11-inch Air starting at $749 with 128GB of storage, $849 for 256GB, $1,049 for 512GB, and $1,249 for 1TB. 

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As for the 13-inch iPad Air, it’s available for preorder from Amazon, Apple, Best Buy, and B&H Photo starting at $799. You can also buy the tablet with 256GB of storage for $899, the 512GB model for $1,099, and the 1TB version for $1,299. The LTE-equipped model, meanwhile, starts at $949 for 128GB of storage, $1,049 for 256GB, $1,249 for 512GB, and $1,449 for 1TB. 

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Update, March 5th: Added preorder links for Amazon.

If you’re looking for a top-notch gaming mouse you can use for both work and play, Logitech’s G Pro X Superlight 2 is a great option that’s currently on sale for its best price to date. Right now, you can buy it at Walmart in select colors starting at $113.99 ($45 off) or at Best Buy starting at $114.99 ($44 off); it’s also on sale at Amazon starting at $119.99 (about $39 off).

The wireless gaming mouse is Logitech’s fastest, with a Hero 2 sensor that tracks at 500 inches per second (and up to 32,000 DPI) and a 4kHz polling rate. At just 60 grams (2.1 ounces), it’s also Logitech’s lightest, making it easy to move quickly and accurately. It also boasts an attractive matte plastic design, meaning it won’t look out of place at the office, even if it is perfectly suitable for tournament-level play. 

Despite the lightweight build, the Superlight 2 features clicky hybrid optical / mechanical switches and five programmable buttons, which can be customized via Logitech’s companion software. The mouse also offers up to 95 hours of battery life, boasts USB-C charging, and supports both the original Logitech Powerplay mousepad and the upcoming Powerplay 2, which can keep your mouse continuously charged at $20 less than the original pad.

Read our hands-on impressions.

Some more ways to save

• Now until March 9th, Anker’s 2-in-1 USB-C to USB-C Cable is on sale for $17.99 ($8 off) at Amazon and directly from Anker (with promo code WS7DV2FVJTOY).  The four-foot cable comes with a pair of USB-C attachments, allowing you to charge two devices simultaneously. It also offers 140W of total output but can intelligently share power, automatically adjusting power distribution based on the connected gadget.
• Apple will likely introduce a new iPad this week, but if you’re looking for something smaller, the latest iPad Mini is on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart with Wi-Fi and 128GB of storage starting at $399 ($100 off), matching its best price to date. The 8.3-inch Mini is the smallest tablet in Apple’s lineup, rendering it the ideal form factor if you use your tablet to read a lot. Its A17 Pro chip isn’t as powerful as the processors in the M4-powered iPad Pro or M2-powered Air, but it’s faster than that of the base iPad; it also supports Apple Intelligence, unlike the entry-level tablet. Read our review.
• Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo are selling Amazon’s latest Fire TV Cube for $109.99 ($30 off), which is one of its better prices to date. The third-gen Cube is Amazon’s highest-end streaming device, one that comes with Wi-Fi 6E support and an HDMI input for connecting both cable boxes and gaming consoles. It also offers support for 4K streaming in multiple HDR formats — including Dolby Vision — while continuing to double as an Alexa-powered smart speaker you can use to play music, control smart home devices, and carry out other tasks. Read our review.

Update, March 3rd: The Google Pixel 7 Pro has sold out at Best Buy.

It may be a few years old at this point, but the Google Pixel 7 Pro is still a good investment given it currently costs less than some of the best budget phones on the market. Right now, you can pick up an unlocked 7 Pro for $199.99 with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage at Best Buy. That’s the lowest price we’ve seen on the last-gen smartphone, which initially launched at $999.

The Pixel 9 Pro is a better phone, but Best Buy’s latest Google promo is still an excellent deal on a smartphone with flagship specs that typically costs considerably more. For just $200, you get a 6.7-inch screen with a speedy 120Hz refresh rate and an impressive triple camera array, one that includes a 48-megapixel telephoto lens. The last-gen smartphone also offers all-day battery life and a robust IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, along with a handful of Pixel-exclusive features, including spam call blocking and the transcribing Recorder app.

There are some caveats to bear in mind, though. The Pixel 7 Pro doesn’t offer some of the AI camera tricks found on Google’s newer phones, and it runs on Google’s slower (y …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Planning on spending your Sunday watching the 97th annual Academy Awards or catching up on the latest episode of Severance? If you don’t already own a smart TV, Amazon’s latest Fire TV Stick 4K Max can make setup easy and inexpensive, especially now that it’s down to just $39.99 ($20 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. That’s just $7 shy of its lowest price to date and the best price we’ve seen this year.

Amazon’s newest 4K-capable streaming device functions a lot like its predecessor, only with a few added benefits. It features an upgraded processor for faster performance, for one thing, along with twice the storage (16GB vs. 8GB) and support for Wi-Fi 6E. It also can function more akin to an Echo Show when idle, allowing you to check the weather, gloss reminders, and view a host of widgets at a glance. You can also have it display famous works of art or a series of AI-generated images, which you can personalize with a simple Alexa prompt.

Additionally, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max provides access to a wide selection of streaming apps and Dolby Atmos, allowing for more immersive audio. It offers broad HDR support — including support for Dolby Vision and HDR10 Plus — and works impressively well with Alexa, to the point where you can make commands as specific as “Alexa, turn to ESPN on Sling TV” via the included Alexa remote. Admittedly, the interface is too Prime-centric for some of us at The Verge, but hey, they can’t all be as slick as Google’s TV Streamer.

More deals and discounts

• All eyes were on Framework’s 4.5-liter gaming desktop this week, but if you could care less for customizable aesthetics and AMD’s Strix Halo, Apple’s M4 Mac Mini is on sale at Amazon with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage starting at $557 ($42 off). The step-up M4 Pro model offers faster Thunderbolt 5 storage and the option to upgrade to 10-gigabit ethernet; however, the compact entry-level configuration remains a fantastic value with outstanding performance and plenty of I/O. Read our review.
• Nomad’s annual Overstock Sale is in full effect, giving you a chance to save up to 70 percent on chargers, cables, cases, and a variety of other goods through Monday, March 3rd. Personally, I’m partial to the Modern Leather Foio case for the iPhone 16 (now $49 $70) and the second-gen Stand One charger (now $88 $110), the latter of which features a hefty metal-and-glass design and can provide up to 15W of power to MagSafe-equipped iPhones. That being said, Nomad is also discounting a ton of “vintage” accessories, meaning you’re in luck if you’ve been holding out for a premium leather case for your *checks notes* Google Pixel 4.
• I’ve been eagerly awaiting Thomas Ricker’s review of the forthcoming Aurzen Zip, which is still available on Kickstarter for $299 ($100 off) thanks to early bird pricing. The tri-fold projector — which is slated to launch later this month — can mirror your iPhone or Android device in portrait or landscape orientation, yet it’s compact enough that you can place it just about anywhere. It also offers 100 lumens of brightness and up to 80 minutes of battery life, though, sadly, it can’t stream from services like Netflix, Disney Plus, or Amazon Prime due to DRM restrictions.

From Monster Hunt Wilds to Ninja Gaiden 4, there are a ton of great Xbox Series X / S games coming out this year. Luckily, if you need more storage to play them all, Western Digital’s officially licensed WD_Black C50 Storage Expansion Card for Xbox is down to its best price since Black Friday, with the 1TB model going for $109.99 ($48 off) at Amazon, B&H Photo, and SanDisk’s online storefront. You can also pick up the 2TB configuration from Amazon, B&H Photo, and SanDisk for $199.98 (about $50 off), which — like the 1TB version — is just $10 more than its lowest price to date.

Like Seagate’s Storage Expansion Cards, Western Digital’s NVMe-based expansion cards are one of the few on the market that not only store games but also let you play them directly from your console’s storage (no data transfer required). They offer speeds that are nearly as fast as your console’s built-in storage, too, so you don’t need to worry about running into any performance issues like you would if you were to use a traditional external hard drive or other USB-based storage solutions. 

What’s nice, too, is that they support many of the quality-of-life features found on Microsoft’s latest consoles, including the handy Quick Resume function, which allows you to run multiple titles simultaneously and quickly switch between suspended games in an instant. The compact plug-and-play cards are also incredibly easy to install — just insert them into one of the dedicated ports on your console, and you’re all set. 

It’s shaping up to be a good week to be a Sonos fan. First, Sonos launched a sale for existing customers that includes steep discounts on soundbars, speakers, and headphones, and now the Sonos-ready Victrola Stream Onyx is more than 50 percent off. Now through February 28th, you can buy the two-speed, belt-driven turntable at Woot for just $249.99 ($350 off), which is a new low price.

The Onyx is the entry-level model in Victrola’s Works with Sonos turntable lineup. Like its pricier siblings — specifically the $799.99 Stream Carbon, $799.99 Stream Pearl, and $1,299.99 Stream Sapphire — it lets you play your vinyl records over your Sonos speaker without requiring you to install any extra equipment. It looks nearly as sleek as the more premium models, too, thanks to a relatively compact design, a metal platter, and a charming illuminated knob found on the front that allows you to control the volume while playing vinyl.

To keep costs down, Victrola made the Onyx from cheaper, thick molded plastic as opposed to higher-quality materials such as metal or wood. The Onyx also comes with a less expensive Audio-Technica VM95E cartridge and, unlike the Sapphire, won’t let you stream records to non-Sonos devices via Wi-Fi. But if you just want a simple, cheap(ish) way to listen to your favorite vinyl records via your Sonos speakers, you probably won’t miss the extra perks.

More ways to save today

• Anker’s Soundcore Sport X20 earbuds are on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart for $63.99 ($16 off), which is their second-best price to date. The fitness-friendly buds are a lot like the Sport X10 — which were once our favorite budget earbuds for the gym — only they offer longer battery life, a more robust IP68 water resistance rating, and multipoint support. They also supposedly offer better noise cancellation and continue to sport an adjustable ear hook, which is a boon if you’re someone who struggles with keeping traditional earbuds in during intense gym sessions.
• The OnePlus 12R is available at Best Buy with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $399.99 ($100 off) as a result of a recent price cut. The 12R remains one of the better midrange phones on the market, with an impressive 6.78-inch OLED display, great build quality, and superfast 80W wired charging. It uses an older chipset than the $599.99 OnePlus 13R and lacks the updated 50-megapixel main shooter, but it’s still snappy enough and comes with a decent camera array. Read our review.
• As we noted yesterday, Apple’s AirTags are down to their lowest price to date. If you’re embedded in Samsung’s ecosystem, however, the Galaxy SmartTag2 is a better bet. Luckily, Samsung’s handy item tracker is on sale at Amazon and Chewy starting at $15.96 ($14 off), an all-time low. The UWB-equipped tracker works with Samsung’s Galaxy Find network, allowing Galaxy device owners to locate their misplaced valuables. Each tracker also includes a battery that can last up to 700 days and a robust IP67 rating for water and dust resistance.

Since its app fiasco last year, Sonos has been busy slowly rebuilding its reputation with customers. This latest sale, which is exclusive to existing customers, seems to be a part of that strategy — and we’re not complaining, because the deals are solid. Through March 2nd, Sonos is taking 25 percent off one select Sonos product up to $2,500, though you’ll have to sign in (or create an account) to see the discounted prices. To qualify, you must have registered a Sonos product by February 19th, 2025.

The Sonos sale includes a wide range of audio gear, many of which are down to new all-time low prices. For example, the Sonos Ace is cheaper than ever at $336.75 ($112.25 off). Along with delivering good sound and noise cancellation, the Ace supports TV Audio Swap so you can pair it with Sonos soundbars for private listening. That includes the latest Sonos Beam and Sonos Ray, both of which are also on sale for some of their best prices at $374.25 ($124.75 off) and $209.25 ($69.75 off), respectively. The Beam is the larger, more capable of the two, with support for Dolby Atmos as well an eARC HDMI port. That said, the entry-level Sonos Ray also produces balanced, dynamic sound for its size, even if it’s not on the same level.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for a powerful yet portable speaker, the Sonos Move 2 is down to $336.75 ($112.25 off). The six-pound speaker features stereo sound that can fill up any outdoor patio or room, and also comes with a built-in handle for greater portability. If you prioritize portability over power, though, the smaller and waterproof Sonos Roam 2 is also on sale for $134.25 ($44.75 off).

Last but not least, the Sonos sale also includes its newest smart speakers. You can, for example, buy the Sonos Era 100 and Sonos Era 300 for an all-time low of $186.75 ($62 off) and $336.75 ($112.25 off), respectively. Both speakers offer support for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth audio, and line-in playback via an optional 3.5mm to USB-C adapter. The Sonos Era 300, however, is designed to deliver an excellent spatial audio experience with Dolby Atmos support.

Online education company Chegg filed a lawsuit on February 24th against Google claiming that the company’s AI-generated summaries of search results have hurt its traffic and revenue, Reuters reports. It’s believed to be the first antitrust lawsuit filed by a single company over the AI Overviews feature, Reuters says.

Chegg claims Google uses its power as a monopoly to coerce companies into using their content for AI Overviews, “reaping the financial benefits of Chegg’s content without having to spend a dime,” CEO Nathan Schultz says in prepared remarks for investors. Chegg, which offers textbook rentals and homework help, is now considering getting acquired and going private as a result.

“Our lawsuit is about more than Chegg – it’s about the digital publishing industry, the future of internet search, and about students losing access to quality, step-by-step learning in favor of low-quality, unverified AI summaries,” Schultz says.

“Every day, Google sends billions of clicks to sites across the web, and AI Overviews send traffic to a greater diversity of sites,” says Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda in a statement to Reuters.

The lawsuit comes as a number of media outlets have expressed concern over how Google’s AI summaries have impacted traffic. Last year, the News/Media Alliance — an organization that represents over 2,000 news publishers — published a press release saying its impact will be “catastrophic.”

Twelve South’s PlugBug is a compact USB-C wall charger that also happens to function as a location tracker, making it a particularly useful gadget if you prefer to pack light while traveling or commuting. And right now, you can buy the space-saving device for its best price to date at Amazon, with the 50W configuration going for $49 ($21 off) and the 120W variant retailing for a cool $79.35 ($41 off).

Unlike your average wall charger, both versions of the PlugBug can tap into Apple’s robust Find My network, letting you easily keep tabs on the charger via your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. That means you can keep tabs on whatever bag you’ve stowed it in, too, along with any gadget you intend to charge with it. They also beep to help you locate them faster, and can alert you should you ever forget them at home or the office.

As for connectivity, each GaN-powered PlugBug features multiple USB-C inputs, saving you from having to carry multiple chargers while on the go. The 50W PlugBug offers a pair of side-by-side USB-C ports for charging a phone and tablet simultaneously — or slow-charging a laptop — while the 120W variant boasts four, making it better suited for charging a multitude of smaller devices or beefier electronics.

A few more deals and discounts

• Now through 12:59AM ET on February 22nd, you can grab a pair of Samsung’s Galaxy Buds FE at Woot for an all-time low of $49.99 ($50 off) as part of the retailer’s ongoing audio sale. The wireless earbuds deliver good ANC and sound for their price, making them a solid pair of entry-level buds for those already embedded in Samsung’s ecosystem. They also borrow the wing tip design of the older Galaxy Buds Plus, which could provide for a more secure fit depending on the shape of your ears. Read our review.
• The 65-inch LG C3 OLED TV has returned to its best price to date, selling for just $1,196.99 ($302 off) at Amazon. Newer models like the C4 and C5 may offer a brighter panel and a faster 144Hz refresh rate, but you’re not missing out on much by opting for the last-gen model. LG’s C3 has excellent specs for the price, including a stunning OLED display with deep blacks, vivid color, and a speedy 120Hz refresh rate. It also sports four HDMI ports, along with support for Dolby Vision, HDR10 Plus, and Dolby Atmos.
• You can pick up a copy of Dragon’s Dogma II for the PlayStation 5 at Amazon or Target for $39.99 ($6 off), which matches the game’s best price to date. The long-awaited action RPG doesn’t really reinvent the formula established by the original — it’s still set in a medieval fantasy world teeming with secrets to discover and adorable, human-like pawns — but it does build upon it with a great narrative and a truly excellent combat system. Read our review.

Following months of rumors, Apple has finally announced the iPhone 16E, a spiritual successor to the last-gen iPhone SE that’s set to launch on February 28th. Preorders for Apple’s forthcoming handset start at $599 with 128GB of storage and began Friday, February 21st.

Like the most recent iPhone SE models it’s replacing, the iPhone 16E offers flagship-level performance in an older form factor at a cheaper price than its contemporaries. Apple outfitted an iPhone 14-like body with the Apple Intelligence-ready A18 chip from last year’s iPhone 16. That means it’s lost the physical home button but gains a bigger edge-to-edge 6.1-inch OLED display with a notch to house the front-facing camera and Face ID sensors.

Its net button count hasn’t changed, however, as the new iPhone SE now has a customizable Action Button, though there’s no dedicated Camera Control button. The lone 48-megapixel camera can capture 24-megapixel photos with up to 2x optical zoom, supports 4K video recording up to 60 frames per second with Dolby Vision, and offers spatial audio with post-recording Audio Mix adjustments. The Lightning port has been swapped out for USB-C as well, and you get 7.5W Qi wireless charging (no MagSafe, sorry). Notably, it’s the first iPhone with Apple’s homegrown C1 modem, which supports 5G but lacks the speeder mmWave radios.

Looking to buy? Keep reading for all your preorder options.

Where to preorder the iPhone 16E

You can preorder the iPhone 16E from Apple, Best Buy, and Target ahead of its February 28th release date. The 128GB base model retails for $599, but you can also get it with 256GB of storage for $699 or 512GB of storage for $899.

The iPhone 16E will be available in either matte black or matte white at launch, with five official silicone cases — including blue, fuchsia, green, black, and white options — available for $39 apiece.

Carrier deals

• Verizon is offering up to $600 off when you trade-in an eligible device and sign up for a new line on an Unlimited plan. Verizon also offers another deal that involves applying $419.99 promo credit to your account over the span of 36 months (so you’d be paying $5 per month instead of $16.66) when you’re on an unlimited line.
• You can the iPhone 16e from AT&T starting at $5.99 a month for 36 months when you sign up for any of its unlimited plans. This offer is available in the form of monthly bill credits.
• T-Mobile is offering the iPhone 16e for free when you trade-in a device on an eligible Magenta Max, Go5G Plus/Next, or Go5G plan, or offering a $500 discount when trading in qualifying devices on Go5G or most plans. These offers are available via 24 monthly bill credits. Metro by T-Mobile customers will also get the smartphone for free if they join Metro Flex Up or Metro Flex Plus and pay 12 months of service credits.
• Boost Mobile is offering the iPhone 16e for $200 when you sign up for the Unlimited Premium plan.

Update, February 21st: Updated the post with preorder links to retailers and carriers like Best Buy and Verizon.

If the iPhone 16 is out of your budget, Apple now has a more affordable, pared-down version for you to consider. The company on Wednesday announced the new iPhone 16E, a budget-friendly option that costs $599 and features Apple’s first in-house 5G modem, the C1. It will be available on February 28th, though you can preorder it starting on February 21st.

Like the iPhone 16, the 16E comes with a 6.1-inch OLED screen, Face ID, and a USB-C port. It also runs on the A18 chip, which allows the phone to support Apple Intelligence features. It has the same customizable Action Button on the left-hand side. And Apple claims it offers even better battery life, with up to 26 hours of video playback — four hours more than the iPhone 16.

Of course, there are some iPhone 16 features it lacks. You don’t get an ultrawide camera, for example, or the Camera Control button. The 16E also lacks MagSafe compatibility and the sleeker Dynamic Island design.

That’s just a glimpse of some of the main differentiators. If you want to dive even deeper, we’ve rounded up all the major specs in the table below so you can see for yourself how exactly the models stack up.

Category	iPhone 16E	iPhone SE (2022)	iPhone 16	iPhone 16 Plus	iPhone 16 Pro	iPhone 16 Pro Max
Operating system	iOS 18	iOS 18	iOS 18	iOS 18	iOS 18	iOS 18
Apple Intelligence support	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Display	6.1-inch (2532 x 1170) OLED	4.7-inch LCD	6.1-inch (2556 x 1179) OLED	6.7-inch (2796 x 1290) OLED	6.3-inch (2622 x 1206) OLED	6.9-inch (2868 x 1320) OLED
Display refresh rate	60Hz	60Hz	60Hz	60Hz	Up to 120Hz	Up to 120Hz
Peak brightness	1,200 nits	625 nits	2,000 nits	2,000 nits	2,000 nits	2,000 nits
Always-on display	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Glass display	Ceramic Shield front	Glass front and back	Latest-gen Ceramic Shield front	Latest-gen Ceramic Shield front	Latest-gen Ceramic Shield front	Latest-gen Ceramic Shield front
Dimensions	71.5 x 146.7 x 7.8mm	67.3 x 138.4 x 7.3mm	71.6 x 147.6 x 7.8mm	77.8 x 160.9 x 7.8mm	71.5 x 149.6 x 8.25mm	77.6 x 163 x 8.25mm
Weight	167g	144g	170g	199g	199g	227g
Battery capacity	Up to 26 hours of video playback	Up to 15 hours of video playback	Up to 22 hours of video playback	Up to 27 hours of video playback	Up to 27 hours of video playback	Up to 33 hours of video playback
Wireless charging	Yes (Qi-compatible)	Yes (Qi-compatible)	Yes (MagSafe / Qi2)	Yes (MagSafe / Qi2)	Yes (MagSafe / Qi2)	Yes (MagSafe / Qi2)
Fast charge-capable	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Processor	A18	A15 Bionic	A18	A18	A18 Pro	A18 Pro
RAM	8GB (expected)	4GB	8GB	8GB	8GB	8GB
Storage	128GB / 256GB / 512GB	64GB / 128GB / 256GB	128GB / 256GB / 512GB	128GB / 256GB / 512GB	128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB	256GB / 512GB / 1TB
Ports	USB-C	Lightning	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C
Rear cameras	48-megapixel (f/1.6) main camera	12MP (f/1.8 OIS) wide	48-megapixel (f/1.6) main camera / 12-megapixel (f/2.2) ultrawide	48-megapixel (f/1.6) main camera / 12-megapixel (f/2.2) ultrawide	48-megapixel (f/1.78) main camera / 48-megapixel (f/2.2) ultrawide /12-megapixel telephoto (f/2.8)	48-megapixel (f/1.78) main camera / 48-megapixel (f/2.2) ultrawide / 12-megapixel telephoto (f/2.8)
Macro mode	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Front cameras	12-megapixel	7MP (f/2.2)	12-megapixel	12-megapixel	12-megapixel	12-megapixel
Video recording	Up to 4K at 60fps	4K at 24 / 25 / 30 / or 60fps 1080p HD at 25 / 30 / or 60fps with 120 and 240fps slow-mo	Up to 4K at 60fps	Up to 4K at 60fps	Up to 4K at 60fps (ProRes with external recording)	Up to 4K at 60fps (ProRes with external recording)
Biometrics	Face ID	Touch ID	Face ID	Face ID	Face ID	Face ID
SIM support	Dual eSIM (no physical SIM)	Dual eSIM and physical SIM	Dual eSIM (no physical SIM)	Dual eSIM (no physical SIM)	Dual eSIM (no physical SIM)	Dual eSIM (no physical SIM)
Action Button	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Camera Control button	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Dynamic Island	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi 7	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bluetooth version	5.3	5.0	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.3
Satellite SOS feature	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Messages via satellite	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Crash Detection	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Apple Pay	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
IP rating	IP68	IP67	IP68	IP68	IP68	IP68
Starting price	$599	Discontinued (was $429)	$799	$899	$999.00	$1199
Colors	Black / white	Black / white / red	Black / white / teal / ultramarine / pink	Black / white / teal / ultramarine / pink	Black titanium / white titanium / natural titanium / desert titanium	Black titanium / white titanium / natural titanium / desert titanium

It being winter and all, there’s a high probability that many of us are spending more time bingeing TV shows and movies indoors than we might otherwise. And while it’s true that most streaming services don’t cost much in comparison to most of the tech we cover, we all know monthly subscription fees have a way of adding up. Before you know it, you’re spending as much on streaming as you would on cable.

However, if you’re trying to cut down on your expenses (and who isn’t these days?), you don’t necessarily need to unsubscribe from everything. In fact, we’ve found a few ways for you to save on your monthly subscriptions. It turns out a variety of platforms are offering ongoing promos, some of which are even available to new and returning subscribers alike. Below, we’ve curated some of the best deals going on right now, so you can enjoy streaming your favorite show or movie without worrying about breaking the bank.

Quick note: keep an eye out for free trials and student discounts

Most streaming services offer free trials that typically last from a week to a month, whether you sign up for an annual membership or just a monthly subscription. In all instances, however, you will have to provide your credit card information in advance. You will also automatically be charged once your trial is over, so make a note in your calendar to cancel your subscription if you’re unhappy with the service.

Some platforms, though not all, also offer student discounts. These include Hulu, Paramount Plus, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime, and more. You’ll have to prove your eligibility and typically be enrolled in an accredited Title IV college or university to take advantage of these deals.

The best Peacock deals

Peacock is NBCUniversal’s streaming service, one that offers next-day programming from NBC (and Bravo). The platform also provides access to live sports programming, including Sunday Night Football and WWE, as well as movies and shows like The Wild Robot, Conclave,  Twisters, Oppenheimer, Yellowstone, Teacup, The Office, Saturday Night Live, and Rian Johnson’s Poker Face.

The platform currently offers two distinct plans: an ad-supported Peacock Premium tier for $7.99 a month (or $79.99 a year) or the ad-free Peacock Premium Plus tier for $13.99 a month (or $139.99 a year). Only the latter lets you download content for offline viewing, however.

In terms of discounts, new and lapsed subscribers can get a year of ad-supported Peacock Premium for $29.99 ($50 off), so long as they sign up before February 19th. Current Peacock Premium and Premium Plus subscribers are not eligible for this deal; however, those with free Peacock accounts are able to take advantage of the ongoing promo when they use code WINTERSAVINGS.

If you’re not eligible for the current Peacock promo, you can also grab a complimentary subscription when you sign up for a year of Instacart Plus ($99 annually or $9.99 a month). You can also get free access if you’re an Xfinity Internet customer with gigabit speeds or you’re a Diamond or Platinum Rewards member.

The best Sling TV deals

Sling TV is a streaming service that functions as a more affordable alternative to YouTube TV and Hulu with Live TV. With it, you can watch a range of streaming services as well as live and on-demand channels — including ESPN, CNN, Fox, NBC, Comedy Central, and Cartoon Network — on multiple devices.

Sling offers an ad-supported free tier — Sling Freestream — which provides access to more than 500 live channels as well as more than 40,000 on-demand movies and TV shows. The platform also offers three paid plans, all of which come with 50 hours of DVR storage: Sling Blue ($50.99 a month); Sling Orange ($45.99 a month); and Sling Orange and Blue ($65.99 a month). Sling also lets you subscribe to Max as an add-on for a discount, or you can buy an ad-free subscription to Max as a standalone service for $16.99 a month.

If you’re into sports, you may want to opt for Sling Orange over Blue as it grants access to ESPN channels — but only on one device. Sling Blue, however, offers a number of channels Sling Orange lacks, including Fox News, MSNBC, E!, Discovery, Bravo, and local NBC or Fox affiliates. You can also subscribe to a bundle that includes both Sling Orange and Sling Blue, which offers all of the channels the first two plans feature.

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Sling is taking $10 off the first month of Sling Orange or Blue through February 28th. The service is also throwing in a complementary month of Max (valued at $16.99 a month) and unlimited DVR storage (an extra $5 a month), as well as access to AMC Plus for the rest of the year. This deal is available to both new customers, as well as past Sling TV subscribers who haven’t been a subscriber within the past 12 months.

In summary, new subscribers can get a month of Sling Orange with a free month of Max and unlimited DVR storage for just $35.99 for their first month, which equates to a $42 discount. If you subscribe to Sling Blue, you’ll pay $40.99 ($32 off) for your first month, or $55.99 ($32 off) if you subscribe to both plans.

The best Apple TV Plus deals

Apple TV Plus is a service owned by Apple that streams original shows and movies in 4K HDR, including Ted Lasso, The Morning Show, Silo, Severance, Finch, Coda, For All Mankind, and Napoleon. The platform also is the streaming home to Major League Soccer, and currently costs $9.99 a month.

There are a couple of promos to make note of when it comes to Apple TV Plus. For instance, new and returning subscribers can currently get three months of Apple TV Plus for free at Best Buy. You can also get a free three-month subscription when you buy an Apple device, though you’ll have to redeem the offer within 90 days.

Apple TV Plus is also included in Apple One, which lets you bundle up to four other Apple services for a single monthly subscription starting at $19.95. You’ll also get a free month of Apple TV Plus if you buy it as a part of Apple One. In addition, eligible individuals who sign up for the student Apple Music subscription, which starts at $5.99 per month, can get Apple Music for 50 percent off with a free Apple TV Plus subscription.

As far as carrier deals go, T-Mobile offers discounts on Apple TV Plus, as well as other streaming services. For instance, the wireless carrier is currently offering customers in the US complimentary access to Apple TV Plus when they subscribe to a qualifying Go5G Next line.

The best Disney Plus deals

With Disney Plus, you can stream a wide range of shows and movies, including Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Deadpool & Wolverine, X-Men ‘97, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, and Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour film. A monthly Disney Plus subscription currently costs $9.99 a month with ads or $15.99 a month without (or $159.99 annually).

As far as bundles go, Disney also offers an ad-supported, $10.99-a-month Disney Bundle Duo Basic subscription that brings together Disney Plus and Hulu, which you can get ad-free for an extra $9 per month. There’s also the $16.99-a-month Disney Bundle Trio Basic bundle, which includes the ad-supported Hulu and ESPN Plus (paying an extra $10 a month nets you the ad-free version of Hulu and Disney Plus). That’s cheaper than subscribing to all three streaming services individually, and is the wisest route to take if you plan on subscribing to all three.

That being said, there are other ways to save. For instance, those currently on one of Verizon’s Unlimited plans can get the Legacy Disney Bundle for $10 a month. The bundle — which includes ad-free Disney Plus, Hulu with ads, and ad-supported ESPN Plus — typically costs $21.99 a month, so you’re effectively saving $11.99. Note, however, that the deal is only available to existing subscribers who enrolled in this plan before it was discontinued.

The best Hulu deals

Hulu offers both ad-supported and ad-free plans. No matter which you buy, you’ll be able to access all of Hulu’s TV shows and movies on multiple devices, including originals like The Handmaid’s Tale and Sand Land, as well as non-Hulu content like Shogun, The Bear, Futurama, and The Veil. The service also allows two people to stream simultaneously, and you can have up to six user profiles. However, subscribing to the ad-free plan means you won’t have to deal with commercials; you’ll also be able to watch downloads offline.

Right now, the ad-supported plan runs $9.99 per month, while the ad-free plan costs $18.99 a month. Hulu also sells ad-free and ad-supported bundles that include Disney Plus and / or ESPN Plus, which are cheaper than subscribing to each service individually. With the Hulu with Live TV, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus bundle, you’ll be able to access more than 90 live sports, news, and entertainment channels, as well as Hulu, ESPN Plus, and Disney Plus content. You’ll also be able to record live shows with unlimited DVR storage and take advantage of the same features the standard, ad-free, and ad-supported Hulu plans offer. The ad-supported Hulu with Live TV subscription is $82.99 a month, while the ad-free tier is $95.99 a month.

However, if you just want Hulu and don’t need the live TV version, you can subscribe to the ad-supported Disney Bundle Duo Basic, which includes Disney Plus, for $10.99 a month. You can also add ESPN Plus for $16.99 per month, or get rid of ads and add live sports for $26.99 a month.

In terms of deals, students can subscribe to the ad-supported version for $1.99 a month or a bundle that combines Spotify Premium, Showtime, and ad-supported Hulu for $5.99 a month. Some wireless carriers are also offering customers discounts when they buy premium phone plans. As mentioned previously, Verizon grants you access to the Legacy Disney Bundle for $10 a month when you opt for one of Verizon’s Unlimited plans. That bundle includes ad-free Disney Plus, Hulu with ads, and ad-supported ESPN Plus. However, the deal is only available to existing subscribers who were already enrolled in this plan. T-Mobile, meanwhile, is offering complimentary access to Hulu’s ad-supported tier when you maintain a qualifying Go5G Next line. 

The best Max deals

Max, formerly known as HBO Max, is home to Game of Thrones and its spinoff, House of the Dragon, along with shows and movies like Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Dune: Prophecy, The Last of Us, Wonka, Euphoria, Hacks, Scavenger’s Reign, The Batman, Succession, and even content from Discovery Plus.

The platform offers an ad-supported tier that costs $9.99 a month and two ad-free plans that start at $16.99 a month. Unlike the ad-supported plan, the standard ad-free tier also lets you download 30 shows or movies for offline viewing. Max also offers a $20.99-a-month Premium plan, which allows you to stream in 4K Ultra HD and supports Dolby Atmos with select content. The latter plan also lets you stream on four devices simultaneously and download a maximum of 100 shows or movies to watch on the go.

Max also offers an annual subscription and various bundles, both of which drop the price. The ad-supported plan costs $99.99 a year, saving you a modest $19 over the course of 12 months, while subscribing to the annual ad-free base plan for $169.99 saves you $33. You can also save about $41 by subscribing to the annual Ultimate Ad-Free plan for $209.99. Lastly, you can opt for the ad-supported bundle that contains Max, Disney Plus, and Hulu for $16.99 a month, or pay $13 extra a month to get rid of ads. The combined total is cheaper than subscribing to all three individually, thus saving you some money in the long run.

Max isn’t currently offering a discount, but multiple wireless carriers are offering deals. You can, for instance, get a year of both Netflix and Max when you purchase a 5G Home Plus, LTE Home Plus, Fios 1 Gig, or the Fios 2 Gig Verizon Home Internet (VHI) plan. AT&T also includes complimentary access to ad-free Max when you subscribe to select AT&T Unlimited Choice or Plus plans, which start at $60 a month. If you opt for Cricket’s Unlimited Plus 15GB Mobile Hotspot phone plan, which starts at $60 a month, you’ll also be able to get the ad-supported version of Max for free. Finally, you can get two months of Max free with DirectTV Stream or Satellite TV services.

The best Netflix deals

A Netflix subscription grants you access to thousands of movies and TV shows, as well as a limited number of mobile games. Notable shows and movies include Squid Game, Dan Da Dan, Baby Reindeer, The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep, Cobra Kai, Stranger Things, The Killer, and Arcane, among countless others.

The well-known streaming service currently offers three plans: Standard with ads ($7.99 per month), Standard without ads ($17.99 per month), and Premium ($24.99 per month). The premium tier allows for higher resolution, lets multiple users watch content on four devices at the same time as opposed to just two, and lets you download on six devices at a time as opposed to just two. It’s also the only plan that supports 4K Ultra HD content, as well as spatial audio.

Netflix isn’t currently offering a discount, but T-Mobile is offering the ad-supported plan for free to those on qualifying Go5G Next and Go5G Plus lines. This deal is also available to those on qualifying Magenta Max lines, or for those who sign up to two or more Go56 and Magenta lines. As mentioned previously, you can also get a year of both Netflix and Max when you purchase one of the following Verizon Home internet plans: a 5G Home Plus, LTE Home Plus, Fios 1 Gig, or the Fios 2 Gig Verizon Home Internet (VHI) plan.

The best YouTube TV deals

YouTube TV grants subscribers access to live sports and a number of major news and entertainment channels, including PBS, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, NBC, ABC, Fox, CNN, and more. It also comes with unlimited recording for a maximum of six accounts, all for $82.99 per month. You can buy optional add-ons as well, which range between $2 and $65 a month and include access to services like Max, Starz, and NBA League Pass. The service also offers a separate Spanish-only plan.

Now through March 31st, new subscribers can sign up for the YouTube TV Base Plan for $69.99 ($13 off) a month for the first six months. You’ll also receive a weeklong trial of Max when you sign up.

The best Paramount Plus and Showtime deals

Paramount Plus and Showtime provides access to live sports and 24/7 live news with CBS News. It also grants access to the entire Paramount Plus catalog, including shows like Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Yellowstone spinoff 1923, as well as films like Gladiator II and Top Gun: Maverick. You’ll also get access to Showtime’s library, which includes originals like Billions, Dexter: Resurrection, and Yellowjackets, as well as movies like Talk To Me and Past Lives.

If you want to subscribe to both Paramount Plus and Showtime, you can sign up for the ad-free Paramount Plus with Showtime package for $12.99 a month. Alternatively, if you’re willing to pay upfront, you can save about $36 over the course of a year when you subscribe to the annual plan for $119.99 per year.

Alternatively, you can subscribe to Paramount Plus as a standalone service when you pay for Paramount Plus’ ad-supported Essential plan, which costs $7.99 per month. The annual plan, meanwhile, costs $59.99 per year, saving you $36 over the course of 12 months if you’re willing to pay upfront. Just bear in mind this plan offers less live sports than the Paramount Plus with Showtime package, and won’t let you download content for offline viewing.

In terms of deals, Walmart Plus subscribers can currently get the Essential plan for free as part of their subscription. College students can also subscribe to the Essential plan for $5.99 ($2 off) a month, while seniors with an AARP membership can get a 10 percent discount on the Essential plan or Paramount Plus with Showtime plan. Lastly, military members can get a 50 percent discount on a year of the Essential or Paramount Plus with Showtime plans.

The best Starz deals

With Starz, you can stream a variety of shows and movies, including John Wick: Chapter 4, M3GAN, and Asteroid City, as well as originals like Outlander and Sweetpea. The platform only offers a single ad-free plan that runs $10.99 a month, and you can stream on up to four devices at a time and download content for offline viewing. Right now, however, some subscribers can get three months of Starz for $3 a month. Alternatively, you can get six months for $17.99 instead of $45.99.

The best Amazon Prime Video deals

Amazon Prime Video is an on-demand streaming service owned by Amazon. Its library includes a range of movies, some live content, and shows like Fallout, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, The Boys, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and more. You can also watch certain titles in 4K and take advantage of deals on rentals and purchases not included in the subscription. There’s also an option to add extra channels with Prime Video channels, or go ad-free for an additional $2.99 a month.

Amazon Prime Video is included with an Amazon Prime membership, though you can sign up for the service without a membership for $8.99 a month with ads or $11.98 without. Right now, customers of Metro By T-Mobile’s unlimited plan can also get a free Amazon Prime membership, which provides access to Prime Video and other benefits, for free.

Looking for a robot vacuum or mop that won’t set you back a few hundred dollars? Right now, Verge readers can pick up the Roomba Combo i5 — the upgrade to our top budget pick, the Roomba i3 Evo — from Wellbots for a new low of $189 ($160 off) with offer VERGE160. The Roomba Combo j5, which is nearly identical to the i5, is also down $239 ($290 off) at Wellbots when you use promo code 210VERGE. Both deals run through the end of tomorrow, February 15th.

Like the aforementioned Roomba i3 Evo, both robot vacuums offer wide, dual rubber brushes that do a terrific job of sucking up dirt and debris from both hardwood and carpets. They’re also packed with features that speed up and simplify the cleaning process, even if they lack the optional auto-empty dock. For instance, both offer vSLAM mapping tech and room-specific cleaning, which lets you program them to clean specific rooms at specific times. You can also control them using either an app or your voice, thanks to their support for virtual assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. And, like all Roombas, they’re relatively easy to repair, so you don’t have to worry about buying a new model each time you run into an issue.

Additionally, both the Combo i5 and j5 offer basic mopping capabilities, though you’ll need to swap out the rear dustbin for one that includes a water tank and a reusable pad when it’s time to do so. The Combo j5 offers a few other enhancements — including AI-powered obstacle avoidance, which is typically reserved for higher-end Roombas like the Roomba Combo j9 Plus. The step-up model also allows for keep-out zones and no-mop zones, two features the i5 and i3 Evo lack.

A few more deals and discounts

• You can currently pick up the 8BitDo Pro 2 Bluetooth Gamepad starting at $38.39 ($11 off) at Amazon, which is an all-time low. The excellent wireless controller features drift-free Hall effect sticks and boasts two customizable paddles, along with three custom profiles and USB-C for relatively fast charging. It also supports Bluetooth connectivity, meaning you can pair it with consoles like the Nintendo Switch, PC, Android, and plenty of other devices.
• The Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam is available for $59.99 ($20 off) from Amazon, Best Buy, and Ring, which is $10 shy of its best price to date. It features a rotating head that automatically tilts and offers 360-degree panning, ensuring you can see every corner of your room. The wired 1080p HD camera also features support for two-way talk, color night vision, a built-in siren, and a manual privacy shutter that blocks all audio and video. You can also get motion alerts with person detection and recorded video if you opt for a Ring Protect Plan, which starts at $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year. Read our hands-on impressions.
• JBL’s Tour Pro 3 are on sale for $249.95 ($50 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and directly from JBL, which matches their lowest price to date. The wireless earbuds offer good sound and noise cancellation, though it’s the included charging case that differentiates them the most. The latter features a 1.57-inch touchscreen display that lets you see who’s calling or the current song, along with other info; it also doubles as a Bluetooth transmitter, so you can pair the earbuds with in-flight entertainment systems or other wired sources.

If you’re on the market for an excellent Android phone, multiple retailers are offering some of the best prices we’ve seen on some of Google’s devices.

The last-gen Pixel 8 (8GB RAM/128GB storage) starts at $399 ($300 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, for example, but the real highlight is the Pixel 9 lineup. Right now, the Pixel 9 (12GB RAM/128GB storage) starts at $649 ($150 off) at Google, Amazon, and Best Buy, while the Pixel 9 Pro (Best Buy, Google) and Pixel 9 Pro XL (Amazon, Best Buy, and Google) with 16GB of RAM and 128GB of storage are both $200 off at $799 and $899, respectively.

If you’re on a tight budget, Google’s 6.2-inch Pixel 8 could be worth a look. Like the Pixel 9 devices, it offers seven years of software support and 120Hz display. It also boasts wireless charging and an IP68 rating for protection against water immersion. The camera system isn’t quite as great as the Pixel 9’s, but it’s still very good for $399.

If you can afford to spend a bit more, though, the Google Pixel 9 is the Android phone we’d recommend most people buy. The 6.3-inch phone offers a 120Hz OLED display too, but it also comes with 12GB of RAM and runs on the faster Tensor G4 processor. Its dual rear camera system is more advanced than the Pixel 8A’s, with an improved 48-megapixel ultrawide sensor and better low-light performance. Like the Pixel 9 Pro devices, the phone also offers a slightly more robust IP68 dust and water resistance rating.

Finally, the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL are the most capable phones in the Pixel 9 lineup. They offer 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage, along with a third rear camera (a 48-megapixel telephoto). Both offer sharper and brighter screens and 8K video recording as well. The main difference, though, is that the Pixel Pro XL offers a larger 6.8-inch OLED display,  faster wired charging, and a bigger, 5,060mAh battery.

Read our reviews of the Google Pixel 8, Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL.