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.

If you’re on the hunt for a good pair of new wireless earbuds or headphones, you might want to head on over to Woot. Now through February 19th, the retailer is offering steep discounts on some excellent earbuds and over-ears we’ve reviewed from brands like Beats, Samsung, Sennheiser, and more. There’s plenty of good stuff on sale, but the Beats Fit Pro and Samsung Galaxy 3 Buds Pro deals particularly stand out. Both are down to new all-time low prices, with the Beats Fit Pro going for $129.95 ($70 off) in multiple colors. The Samsung Galaxy 3 Buds Pro are also down to $134.99 ($65 off).

The Beats Fit Pro remain a good pair of fitness-friendly earbuds, though they lack features like wireless charging and heart-rate monitoring found in the new Beats PowerBeats Pro 2. They deliver terrific sound and noise cancellation, along with an IPX4 rating for water resistance. The Beats Fit Pro don’t have ear hooks like the PowerBeats Pro 2, but their built-in wing tips still do a good job of keeping them securely in place during vigorous workouts. And, just like the PowerBeats Pro 2, they work well with Android devices but also offer a range of Apple-centric features including support for automatic device switching, FindMy, and head-tracking spatial audio.

As for Samsung’s Galaxy 3 Buds Pro: these buds are our top pick if you own a Samsung Galaxy phone. They’re Samsung’s best-sound wireless earbuds yet, granting Galaxy phone owners exclusive features like immersive head-tracking spatial audio and automatic switching between Samsung devices. The buds also deliver even better noise cancellation and call quality than their predecessor, along with new AirPods-like elongated stems that allow for gesture-based swipes. Woot is selling the international version of the Galaxy 3 Buds Pro, which are identical to the American buds but lack Samsung’s one-year warranty. Woot is throwing in a 90-day limited warranty, at least.

Read our reviews of the Beats Fit Pro and Samsung Galaxy 3 Buds Pro.

A few more good deals from Woot’s sale:

• Woot is also selling the see-through Beats Studio Buds Plus for a new record low price of $99.99 ($70 off). The noise-canceling wireless earbuds rival the AirPods Pro in sound quality and offer native support for both iOS and Android features. That said, compared to the Beats Fit Pro, they lack some Apple features like automatic device switching, as they’re built with a different chip. They also lack built-in wing tips, but they do offer IPX4 water resistance. Read our review.
• The “Pride” edition of Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 Wireless headphones are on sale for $169.99 ($210 off) at Woot, which is their best price to date. The over-ears headphones are amongst our favorites, lasting a whopping 60 hours on a single charge. They’re also exceptionally comfortable to wear while delivering detailed, clear sound and excellent noise cancellation. Read our review.
• You can also buy the original Google Pixel Buds Pro for $99.99 ($100 off) at Woot, which is an all-time low. Before the smaller Pixel Buds Pro 2 took their place, the Pixel Buds Pro were our favorite pair of wireless earbuds for Pixel phone owners. They can’t quite match the newer buds in terms of noise cancellation and sound, but they still sound good and tune out noise well. The buds also support many Pixel-exclusive features like head tracking spatial audio and native control, though you can only access Google’s Gemini AI assistant directly via the Pixel Buds Pro 2. Read our Pixel Buds Pro review.

Thanks to the one-two punch that is Valentine’s Day and Presidents Day, there are plenty of sales to take advantage of throughout the month of February. And while both holidays are officially behind us, Amazon, Walmart, and plenty of other retailers are still discounting a range of tech, including some of the gadgets and gizmos we often fawn over at The Verge.

Right now, for instance, the Apple Watch Series 10 is down to its best to date. You can also find discounts on noise-canceling headphones like Sony’s WH-1000XM5, versatile USB-C chargers, streaming services, and more. To make sifting through what’s still available a little easier, we’ve rounded up the best deals below.

• You can grab a four-pack of AirTags for $69.99 ($30 off) at Amazon right now, which matches the bundle’s best price to date. Apple’s ultra wideband trackers are our No. 1 pick for iPhone users, as they allow you to track your keys, bag, and other belongings within inches of their location using Apple’s extensive Find My network. They also feature replaceable batteries, carry an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, and offer tracking alerts to help prevent stalking. Hell, you can even now share their location with a handful of airlines, courtesy of a recent iOS 18 update. Read our original review.

• Sony’s WH-1000XM4 are available for around $248 ($100 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. The last-gen pair of headphones remain a solid alternative to the XM5 thanks to their fantastic noise cancellation and overall call quality. They last up to 30 hours per charge, support Google Fast Pair and Find My on Android devices, and feature multipoint Bluetooth connectivity. They also support 360-degree spatial audio and, unlike the latest model, tout a foldable design that’s far more portable. Read our review.

• The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are matching their all-time low of $229 ($70 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and directly from Bose. They’re a solid pair of wireless earbuds if you want to enjoy music without completely plugging your ear canals. Unlike bone-conduction headphones, which send vibrations through your skull for similar open-ear benefits, the Open Earbuds clip onto your ear lobe. Bose’s so-called OpenAudio technology then directs audio toward your eardrums. They’re an interesting alternative that might be more ideal for workouts than other products, but by nature, they don’t perform as well as traditional earbuds. Read our review.

• NBA 2K25 is down to $24.99 ($45 off) — an all-time low — at Amazon for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X / S (you can also get it for $19.99 for the Nintendo Switch). The current promo on the basketball simulator comes just in time for the NBA all-star weekend. It’s updated within days of the league-wide roster changes, with realistic lineups reflected across Play Now and GM modes. You can also build a fantasy squad through MyTeam’s collectible card experience, or create a MyPlayer character to act out your own rags to riches story in the NBA.
• The 49-inch Odyssey G95SD OLED is available for $1,499.99 ($400 off) from Samsung’s online store. That’s a record-low price on Samsung’s newest G9 monitor, though you can get the similarly impressive G95SC from 2023 for $948.99 (about $651 off) at Amazon. The QHD-equivalent, ultra-wide curved OLED monitors sport a 240Hz refresh rate and a .03-millisecond response time. The glare-free panel should make it a blast for playing games in most lighting conditions, while adaptive brightness tech detects static on-screen elements and lowers the local brightness to protect the display from burn-in. Both models also feature an RGB ring on the rear that can change dynamically based on what’s happening in your game.
• You can get the 55-inch Samsung Odyssey Ark (second-gen) for $1,799.99 ($900 off) at Best Buy, B&H Photo, and direct from Samsung. It’s an absolutely unhinged 4K Mini-LED curved display that supports up to 165Hz refresh rate, and you can flip it vertically into “cockpit” mode for a new perspective while gaming or for whatever hardcore productivity needs you might have. Also aiding your productivity is an improved Multi View feature that lets you view up to four independent HDMI or DisplayPort sources simultaneously. It includes a built-in KVM switch and a dedicated control dial for managing its various settings.

Update, February 18th: Adjusted pricing, removed expired deals, and updated copy to reflect the fact Presidents Day is over.

Wish there was a magic wand for quickly covering up your grays? L’Oreal’s Colorsonic might be as close as it gets, and today, it’s a little more affordable thanks to the skincare company’s latest promo. For a limited time, you pick it up directly from L’Oreal Paris for $99 ($25 off), which matches its lowest price to date.

Our reviewer, Victoria Song, was shocked by how easy the Colorsonic was to use. The whole process takes about 15 minutes — just insert the cartridge, click the button, and brush — though you might need to repeat the process several times if you find your gray hairs to be particularly stubborn. Even then, it’s not likely that all your grays will disappear. It’s still a good option for dyeing your entire head or simple root touchups, though, especially since we found it to be nowhere near as messy a process as using over-the-counter box dyes.

Unsurprisingly, L’Oreal currently only offers a fairly natural shade range, and you’ll have to buy the cartridges separately for about $20 apiece. That can add up quickly depending on how many you use per session, making the high-tech wand a relatively pricey endeavor. That being said, it’s still probably a cheaper — and quicker — alternative to visiting your local salon. That’s got to count for something, right?

Read our L’Oreal Colorsonic review.

A few more deals worth checking out

• Best Buy is offering a rare deal on Apple’s black HomePod Mini, dropping it to just $79.99 ($20 off). The Siri-based smart speaker delivers good sound and a lot of bass for its size, along with deep integration with Apple’s ecosystem, allowing you to send texts via your iPhone or locate items you’ve set up via the Find My app. The speaker also features temperature and humidity sensing, as well as Matter compatibility, meaning it supports all major smart home platforms. Read our original review.
• Now through February 15th, Target is offering Circle members a 50 percent discount on a wide range of board games, movies, and books when they buy a second item of equal or greater value. Highlights include excellent tabletop games like Wingspan and Azul, as well as shows and films like The Last Of Us, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Lord of the Rings: Motion Picture Trilogy, and more.
• If you could use a (relatively) cheap gaming headset for PlayStation or PC, Sony’s InZone H3 is on sale at Amazon, B&H Photo, and Best Buy for an all-time low of $48 ($42 off). The wired headset doesn’t have noise cancellation or some of the more advanced features found in the rest of the InZone lineup, but it does feature a handy flip-to-mute mic, decent sound quality for the price, and earcups that allow you to comfortably game for up to 32 hours.

If you’re wondering what to gift the bibliophile in your life for Valentine’s Day, Amazon’s ongoing President’s Day sale is worth a look. The Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition has returned to its best price to date, while the latest Kindle Paperwhite has received its first discount since the holidays. Right now, the ad-supported Paperwhite, one of our go-to gift recs for Valentine’s Day, has dropped to $134.99 ($25 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, which is just $5 shy of the all-time low we last saw during Black Friday.

The Kindle Paperwhite is one of our favorite e-readers, particularly for people who own a lot of Kindle books. It’s waterproof, unlike the cheaper entry-level Kindle, and features an adjustable warm white frontlight, which makes it easier to read at night. It also offers a larger seven-inch display, sharp 300ppi resolution, and rich contrast levels that make for a crystal-clear reading experience.

In addition to offering an easy-to-read screen, it’s the first Paperwhite to use a dual-core processor. That makes it faster and more responsive than prior models, something that’s particularly noticeable while opening large PDF files and cycling through pages. The newer e-reader also lasts up to a month on a single charge and retains USB-C support, which allows for relatively fast charging.

As for the Kindle Colorsoft, it’s almost identical to the Paperwhite, only with a seven-inch color E ink screen that drops to 150ppi resolution while displaying color. The resulting hues are somewhat muted in comparison to, say, an iPad or a glossier tablet, but they’re more vibrant than those on rivals like the Kobo Libra Colour. Plus, you get wireless charging, 32GB of storage, and — like the step-up Paperwhite Signature Edition — no lockscreen ads.

Read our Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Colorsoft reviews.

Sony can be somewhat stingy about offering discounts on first-party accessories like the PlayStation Portal, which is why the latest PlayStation sale is worth checking out. Now through February 19th, PlayStation Plus members can buy two PlayStation 5 accessories and get 20 percent off purchases over $100. If you aren’t a PS Plus member, you can still save if you sign up for a subscription, which starts at $9.99 a month.

The ongoing promo applies to any accessory listed on this landing page marked with Sony’s “Deal” badge, which includes the PlayStation Portal ($199.99), the Sony DualSense Edge ($199.99), and a handful of items that rarely receive discounts. The sale also includes a handful of cheaper accessories you can add to bring the cost down on the pricey gadgets, such as the DualSense Charging Station ($29.99), Link USB adapters ($24.99), a Media Remote ($29.99), and various console covers ($54.99).

In case you need a refresher, the PlayStation Portal is a handheld device with a crisp, eight-inch 1080p LCD display you can use to stream games from your PS5 over Wi-Fi or the cloud. It’s a nice, all-in-one device that supports DualSense haptics, so you can take advantage of adaptive triggers and tilt controls. That said, while it’s great for playing PS5 games around the house, we wouldn’t recommend it for titles with a lot of latency, including online shooters and fighting games. Sony’s remote player also doesn’t work with any old pair of Bluetooth headphones either, so you’ll need to either dig up your wired headphones or pick up Sony’s Pulse Explore earbuds or Pulse Elite headset (which are also included in the sale).

The DualSense Edge, meanwhile, offers impressive software integration with the PS5, allowing you to customize settings like stick sensitivity and rear button controls for up to four profiles. The pro-grade wireless gamepad also boasts all of the same features and haptics found on Sony’s standard DualSense Wireless Controller, along with adjustable hair triggers, swappable stick tops, function shortcuts, and two styles of rear buttons.

The Apple Watch Series 10 is a great smartwatch for iPhone owners, but it’s overkill if you want to track the basics and little else. In those instances, the latest Apple Watch SE might be the better buy, especially when you can get it at a steep discount. Fortunately, Apple’s entry-level watch is available at Amazon and Best Buy in its 40mm base configuration starting at $169 ($80 off), which is $20 shy of its all-time low.

The second-gen SE can track all the essentials, allowing you to keep tabs on your daily steps, your heart rate, and your sleep quality. It offers several safety features, too, including fall/crash detection and emergency calling. It’s got Apple Pay and Family Setup for greater parental control, and if you update the wearable to watchOS 11, you can take advantage of the new Vitals app and enjoy rest days, which allows you to pause your Activity Rings when you need a reprieve. This is all powered by the same chip found in the Apple Watch Series 8, which remains snappy enough despite being a few years old.

Of course, there are some features you’ll miss out on if you buy the SE over last year’s Series 10. The latter boasts a larger, wide-angle OLED display, for example, along with a faster chip that enables Apple’s newer double tap feature. The Series 10 also lets you track more metrics with the help of temperature, EKG, and depth and water temperature sensors. But if you don’t need a bunch of advanced health and fitness features, the Apple Watch SE is a great gateway smartwatch.

Read our Apple Watch SE (second-gen) review.

Three more deals worth a look

• You can grab a physical copy of Star Wars Outlaws for the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X starting at $39.20 ($30 off) right now, which remains one of the best prices we’ve seen. The open-world adventure title had its fair share of problems upon its debut — ahem, forced stealth — but Ubisoft has continued to refine the game through a series of welcome updates. Plus, the visuals and storyline remain classic Star Wars, making it a fun way to experience Tatooine and other iconic locales. Read our review.
• Anker’s Zolo Power Bank is on sale at Amazon for $12.94 ($13 off) when you clip the on-page coupon, which nearly matches its best price to date. The compact 10,000mAh battery pack supports passthrough charging and comes with a built-in USB-C cable, so you don’t need to purchase one separately. It also delivers 30W of power to phones and other electronics, including tablets and handheld consoles like the Nintendo Switch.
• Now through February 14th, Casetify is taking 20 percent off when you purchase two accessories and use offer code VDAY25. The promo applies to a range of MagSafe accessories and colorful, artsy cases for various tablets, earbuds, laptops, and phones. This includes customizable phone and laptop cases, a heart-laden bracelet you can tie to your phone, and other items that would make for a great V-Day gift.

If you’d like to catch up on Oscar-nominated films like The Wild Robot ahead of the awards show next month, you might want to check out Peacock’s latest promotion.  

Through February 18th, new and lapsed subscribers can get one year of ad-supported Peacock Premium for $29.99 if you sign up now. That’s over half off its typical price of $79.99, and a $50 discount overall. It’s easy to get the deal: if you already have a free Peacock account, you’ll just need to apply the code WINTERSAVINGS. If you don’t already have an account, simply click on GET OFFER on the Peacock home page and set one up. Current Peacock Premium and Premium Plus subscribers are not eligible for this deal, unfortunately.

Along with The Wild Robot, Peacock’s library includes current and past Oscar nominees like Conclave, 2023’s Oppenheimer, and (soon) Wicked. Peacock also grants access to hundreds of other great films and shows ranging from Twisters, Yellowstone, and  Teacup to  live sports and next-day programming from NBC. Just be sure to mark your calendars, as the annual Premium plan will automatically renew for $79.99 once the promotion period’s over.

Other deals and discounts of note

• You can purchase the Blink Video Doorbell with a Sync Module 2 for $34.99 ($35 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. The battery-powered video doorbell is our top pick if you’re on a budget. It’s a basic 1080p doorbell that gets the job done, offering essentials like motion detection, night vision, two-way audio, and a long two-year battery life. The included Sync Module 2 in this deal also allows for free local storage and on-demand live views. 
• Dune fans can buy Lego’s Ornithopter for about $150 at ($15 off) Amazon and Target, which is one of the best prices we’ve seen on the set. Based on the Ornithopter design used by House Atreides, the set comes with 1,369 Lego pieces so you can assemble the winged flying machine complete with retractable wings, landing gear, and a cockpit. The set also includes Minifigs of various characters, including Paul Atreides, Chani, Baron Harkonnen, and more.
• The Sonos Ace headphones are matching their all-time low price of $349 ($100 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Sonos’ online storefront. Sonos’ first pair of wireless headphones sound great and offer superb noise cancellation as well as a natural-sounding transparency mode.  The stylish headphones also support TV Audio Swap, so you can pair them with soundbars like the Sonos Arc, Sonos Beam, and Sonos Ray. Read our review.

Apple raised the cost of its monthly AppleCare subscription prices for iPhones by 50 cents, MacRumors reports. The 50 cent price hike applies to both standard AppleCare Plus and AppleCare Plus with Theft and Loss monthly plans for Apple’s current iPhone lineup. So, for example, the standard AppleCare Plus for the iPhone 16 will cost $10.49 per month instead of $9.99.

Apple will also no longer let US customers pay for two years of AppleCare Plus for iPhones as a one-time upfront fee in its physical stores or from the AppleCare menu, according to Bloomberg. Instead, customers will have to subscribe for a monthly plan or an annual plan. Theft and Loss coverage will also be included by default in these recurring plans, increasing the price even more.

However, Apple still offers the fixed two-year plans from its online store. You can also get AppleCare Plus without Theft and Loss online as well.

Apple has increasingly been increasingly focused on its services and subscriptions business in the past few years. In its last quarter, Apple reported that its services revenue reached an all-time high.

If you missed out on the steep AirPods discounts we saw during Black Friday, now is your chance. Right now, the second-gen AirPods Pro with USB-C are on sale at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy starting at $169 ($81 off), which is just $16 shy of their all-time low. Meanwhile, the AirPods 4 have dropped to a record low of $99.99 ($30 off) at Amazon, Target, and Best Buy, with the noise-canceling variant going for around $148.99 ($31 off) at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy.

If you want the best sound and active noise cancellation you can get in a pair of Apple earbuds, you’ll likely want to pick up the second-gen AirPods Pro. The in-ears offer a few features you won’t find in their cheaper siblings, including intuitive swipe-based controls, more robust water resistance, and multiple silicone ear tips for a customizable fit. Thanks to a recent iOS 18 update, they also now double as FDA-approved hearing aids.

That being said, both the entry-level AirPods 4 and the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation are excellent earbuds in their own right. They both deliver exceptionally clear voice call quality and produce the same high-quality sound, which benefits from a thicker layer of bass than Apple’s previous models despite their open design. The main difference is that the step-up AirPods 4 offer several Pro-like features, including ANC and a wireless charging case that features a built-in speaker and support for tracking via Apple’s Find My app.

Read our AirPods Pro and AirPods 4 reviews.

A few more ways to save

• Speaking of Apple, you can also subscribe to Apple Music for relatively cheap right now. Apple is offering new and eligible subscribers six months of Apple Music for just $2.99 through February 27th. An individual subscription typically costs $10.99 per month, so the current promo equates to about $63 in savings. The streaming service grants ad-free access to more than 100 million songs, along with spatial audio and Dolby Atmos tracks for a more immersive experience.
• You can pick up a second-gen Blink Mini 2 for just $19.99 ($20 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, which matches its all-time low (Amazon is also selling it with a Weather Resistant Power Adapter for $29.98). The newest Mini is a compact 1080p security camera with support for motion alerts and two-way audio, much like its predecessor. However, unlike the original, the latest model comes with on-device person detection and IP65 waterproofing, so you can use it outside if you purchase Blink’s optional outdoor adapter. Read our review.
• Amazon is currently selling three Eero Pro 6E routers for $499.99 ($150 off) with a $100 Amazon gift card, which is one of the best deals we’ve seen on the tri-band mesh routers. You can also buy them in a two-pack for $299.99 ($100 off) or a standalone unit for $184.99 ($65 off). While the newer Eero 7 routers outshine the Pro 6E spec-wise, they’re also much pricier. The last-gen models support the Wi-Fi 6E band, and a two- or three-pack of them can cover most homes (each router covers up to 2,000 square feet). Read our review.

If you’re tired of watching your heating bill soar every month, now is a good time to invest in Google’s latest Nest Learning Thermostat. Normally $279.99, right now Amazon, Best Buy, and Google are selling the smart thermostat in all three color options for $239.99 ($40 off), which is just $10 shy of its lowest price to date.

Google’s fourth-gen smart thermostat is the smartest on the market — full stop. It can learn your preferences and habits over time, much like previous models, and automatically adjusts your heating and cooling schedule based on how you go about using it, ensuring you’re always comfortable. It also supports the newer Matter standard, so you can connect it to any major smart home platform once you set up using the Google Home app, paving the way for native controls in Apple Home and Amazon Alexa. What’s more, it comes with a remote temperature sensor so that you can focus on heating and cooling specific rooms in your home, not just the room in which the thermostat resides.

Despite its host of smart capabilities, the stylish thermostat is relatively simple to set up and use. It features a large, customizable display that functions much like an oversized Pixel Watch, one shows basic info like the time, weather, and temperature settings. What’s cool is that it provides more detailed insights up close, letting you quickly view the humidity or the outdoor air quality index score, among other data points.

Read our Google Nest Learning Thermostat review.

A few more deals and discounts

• You can currently grab a pair of Technics’ EAH-AZ80 starting at $185.37 ($115 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, which is an all-time low. The wireless earbuds impressed us with their unique ability to pair with three devices simultaneously, making them a good choice for multitaskers. They also feature terrific sound and noise cancellation, along with a feature-packed companion app that lets you preview your voice call quality, adjust various EQ settings, and dial in the helpful transparency mode. Read our review.
• Lego’s Bouquet of Roses, one of our V-Day gift guide picks from last year, is down to its all-time low price of $47.99 ($12 off) at Amazon, Target, and Walmart. The clever set comes with enough pieces to assemble a dozen red roses and four sprigs of baby’s breath — all in bloom — which you can then drop in whatever vase you have lying around when you’re done, just like an actual bouquet.
• The 2022 Tile Mate is on sale at Amazon for $14.99 ($10 off), which is just $2 shy of its best price to date. The 2024 Tile Mate features a wider Bluetooth range, but the 2022 model still accurately tracks items within a respectable range of 250 feet. And, just like Tile’s newer location trackers, the last-gen model is both platform-agnostic and water-resistant.

Looking for a way to speed up your weekly cleaning? It might be worth investing in a robot vacuum that can also mop up your floors, like the Dreame L20 Ultra. The hybrid robot vacuum / mop is one of our favorites, and has currently dropped to an all-time low price of $614.99 ($785 off) at Amazon when you clip the on-page coupon.

The L20 Ultra’s packed with all kinds of features that make it easy to clean up quickly. It’s got 7,000Pa suction for sucking up dirt deep in your carpets, while its mop is capable of extending itself to reach areas that are usually hard for robovacs to clean. Once it’s finished with your floors, the bot is capable of automatically removing its own mop pads to keep your carpets dry. It’s also smart enough that it can automatically empty its own dustbin and refill its water tanks, so you don’t need to spend a lot of time cleaning the bot itself up.

The hybrid bot also boasts AI-powered obstacle avoidance so it can move around stuff on the floor like shoes. Plus, it’s compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts so you can control it with just your voice for an almost hands-free cleaning experience.

Missed out on all the terrific TV deals we saw during Black Friday and Cyber Monday? That’s okay, because the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl have historically been one of the better times of the year to snag a discounted set. In fact, Amazon, Best Buy, Woot, and a number of retailers are already discounting a variety of TV sets ahead of the big game on February 9th. Many of the current promos aren’t Super Bowl-specific, mind you, but there are still some great options if you’re on the hunt for a budget-friendly QLED TV for your viewing party or a gamer-friendly OLED that can serve your entertainment needs year-round.

We’ll keep an eye out for more 4K TV deals as we get closer to the big day and update this post accordingly, so be sure to keep checking back in the run-up to Super Bowl LIX.

LG C4 OLED TV

If you’re looking for an OLED TV, LG’s exceptional C4 is currently down to one of its best prices to date. Right now, for instance, you can buy the 65-inch model for about $1,496.99 ($1,203 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. The 77-inch model is also available for around $2,196.99 ($1,503 off) from Amazon, Best Buy, and LG, the latter of which is offering up to $200 off select LG soundbars with your purchase through March 2nd.

The C4 offers a bright, vibrant display with the kind of inky blacks that characterize OLED panels, along with support for both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. The last-gen TV remains an excellent option for gaming, too, with four HDMI 2.1 ports, a 144Hz refresh rate, and support for AMD FreeSync Premium as well as Nvidia G-Sync. It even comes with a Wii-like Magic Remote, which, in many instances, we’ve found to be easier to navigate with than the remote’s arrow keys.

LG C3 OLED TV

The last-gen LG C3 OLED is also still a fantastic television if you can’t quite stretch for the LG C4. Best Buy and Walmart’s current sale price of around $1,669 (about $600 off) on the 77-inch model isn’t quite as good as the $1,500 price tag we saw during a recent flash sale, but it’s still an incredible value for a massive OLED TV that offers a similar experience to the LG C4.

Although LG’s newer flagship can achieve around 1,000 nits of peak brightness before enhancements, the C3 isn’t exactly dim, with a peak HDR brightness of just over 800 nits. LG’s Brightness Booster feature helps push it quite a bit further, too, with an estimated 40 percent improvement. The last-gen TV is capped at a 120Hz variable refresh rate but otherwise boasts many of the same features as the C4, including support for both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. It also runs on LG’s webOS, works with the wand-like Magic Remote, and features a game mode that improves input latency and prevents burn-in.

LG B4 OLED TV

If you’re looking for a more affordable OLED, LG’s entry-level B4 TV is on sale at Best Buy in the 48-inch size starting at just $599.99 ($200 off), matching its all-time low. It’s discounted in larger configurations, too, with the 55-inch going for $999.99 ($400 off) at Best Buy and LG’s online storefront and the 65-inch selling for around $1,296.99 ($200 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and direct from LG.

The TV isn’t as bright or powerful as the aforementioned C4 series — it’s outfitted with an older A8 processor, as opposed to LG’s newer A9 chip — but it’s still relatively snappy and slated to receive several more years of webOS updates, ensuring the navigation and user experience should be dialed in for the foreseeable future. It also features a buttery 120Hz refresh rate, four full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports, and support for Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision. And like the LG C4, it includes support for both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Sony Bravia A95L QD-OLED

Sony’s Bravia A95L is also receiving a steep discount ahead of the Super Bowl. Right now, you can buy the 65-inch model for around $2,998 at Amazon and Best Buy, which matches its Black Friday price. Other sizes are on sale, too, including the 55-inch, which is going for around $2,498 ($300 off) at Amazon and Best Buy.

The Sony A95L was arguably the best TV we saw last year, largely due to its vibrant, lifelike picture quality. The bright 4K QD-OLED TV includes support for Dolby Vision and HDR10 as well, along with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, a pair of HDMI 2.1 inputs, and support for Google’s excellent TV platform.

Samsung OLED S95D TV

The Samsung OLED S95D is another terrific OLED set that’s also down to one of its best prices to date in multiple configurations. Right now, for example, you can purchase the 55-inch model for around $1,899.99 ($700) at Amazon, Best Buy and Samsung’s online storefront. The 65-inch panel, meanwhile, is available from Amazon, Best Buy, and Samsung for around $2,299.99 ($1,100 off). If you purchase directly from Samsung, you’ll also be eligible for a discount on select Samsung soundbars, with the exact discount dependent on which model you choose.

The S95D comes with a glare-free display that does an excellent job of minimizing unwanted reflections, allowing it to provide rich colors and contrast at high brightness levels. It lacks support for Dolby Vision, but it does offer a 144Hz variable refresh rate, four HDMI 2.1 ports, and support for Alexa and Google Assistant. It also comes with Samsung’s One Connect Box, which lets you connect your gaming console, set-top boxes, and other devices to your TV with a single cable, as opposed to a mess of wires. And, of course, Samsung’s Tizen OS lets you stream from a wide selection of apps, including Netflix, Apple TV Plus, Disney Plus, and Max.

Samsung Frame TV (2024)

Samsung’s Frame TV doesn’t offer the pristine image quality found in OLED displays, but it’s unique in that the TV showcases artwork when idle. Combined with its anti-glare matte display, it makes for a stylish 4K TV that looks more akin to a canvas painting than a black void. It’s a shame it doesn’t offer Dolby Vision or VRR support, but it still has a range of solid specs, including a speedy 120Hz refresh rate, HDMI 2.1 support, and compatibility with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. Just bear in mind, you’ll need to pay for a subscription ($4.99 a month / $49.90 annually) to get unlimited access to all of the artwork available in the Samsung Art Store.

Now through 1AM ET on February 9th, Woot is offering the best prices we’ve seen on Samsung’s last-gen Frame TV. Right now, for instance, the 55- and 65-inch models are on sale for $867.99 ($630 off) and 1,247.99 ($752 off), respectively, which are all-time lows. Samsung, meanwhile, is discounting the TV through February 9th while offering an additional $50 off its Music Frame speaker or an HW-S700D Dolby Soundbar. The 55-inch model is on sale at Samsung’s online storefront for $899.99 ($600 off) or at Amazon and Best Buy without the aforementioned perks for the same price.

TCL QM85 TV

If you’re looking for something cheaper, TCL makes some excellent budget-friendly 4K TVs, one of which is the TCL QM85. The 2024 flagship is steeply discounted right now, with the 65-inch model going for around $897.99 (about $600 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. Larger configurations are on sale, too, with the 75-inch panel going for $1,299.99 ($700 off) at Amazon and Best Buy.

The TV’s bright QD-Mini LED panel offers sharp, vibrant image quality with a speedy 144Hz variable refresh rate. Along with support for Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X, it comes with an integrated subwoofer for a fuller, more immersive audio experience. Other notable features include support for the Google TV interface, along with compatibility with Alexa, Apple Home, and Google Home.

Hisense U8N QLED TV

Hisense is another brand that sells terrific, budget-friendly TVs. And right now, you can buy the 65-inch U8N — the company’s 2024 flagship QLED TV — for just $899.99 ($600 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, which is about $2 shy of its best price to date.

The U8N offers a lot of features you’d typically find in pricier TVs. That includes a 144Hz variable refresh rate and two high-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports (one of which supports eARC), along with support for both Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision. There’s no OLED display, but you do get a Mini LED backlight with support for up to 3,000 nits of brightness. You also get full-array local dimming, which allows it to deliver punchy colors alongside rich contrast and deep black levels. The TV additionally supports Google’s excellent TV software as well as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa for hands-free voice control.

Hisense U7N LCD TV

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly alternative to the U8N, you can buy Hisense’s 55-inch U7N on sale at Amazon and Best Buy for $498 ($200 off), which is one of its better prices to date. A few other sizes are also on discount right now, including the massive 75-inch panel, which you can purchase for around $899.96 ($600 off) at Amazon and Best Buy.

The 4K LCD TV shares a lot in common with the U8N, including support for a 144Hz variable refresh rate and a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports. The U7N also runs on Google’s TV interface, offers support for all the major HDR formats, and works with all the same voice assistants (Alexa, Google Assistant, etc.). The main difference between the two TVs is that the Mini LED panel on the U7N doesn’t offer the same contrast or brightness levels as the U8N, which maxes out at 3,000 nits as opposed to 1,500. That being said, it’s still a good display with full-array local dimming and nearly all the same features.

More Super Bowl TV deals worth a look

• If you’re working with a tighter budget, the TCL Q6 QLED is on sale in multiple sizes as well. You can, for instance, grab the 65-inch model at Amazon and Best Buy for $369.99 ($180 off), which is $2 shy of its lowest price to date. The 4K TV lacks more advanced bells and whistles, but it still supports Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and Google’s terrific interface. It has a 60Hz refresh rate, though, it does allow for 120Hz upscaling via TCL’s “Game Accelerator 120” feature. That being said, if you want buttery smooth frame rates, you could also pick up the 85-inch panel for $798, which does sport a native 120Hz refresh.
• Samsung’s OLED TVs can be expensive, but you can save a bit by opting for an older model. Take the S90D OLED, for example, which is on sale in several sizes, including a 65-inch configuration that’s available from Amazon, Best Buy, and Samsung starting around $1,496.99 ($200 off). That’s just $100 more than the lowest price we’ve seen on the 4K TV. The 2024 model is only a slight downgrade from the S95D — it lacks the glare-free panel found on the newer set — but you still get sharp picture quality and a slew of gaming features, including a 120Hz variable refresh rate.
• On paper, Amazon’s latest Fire TV Omni TVs are some of the most impressive the company has ever produced. And right now, you can get a 65-inch model for $959.99 ($130 off) at Amazon, which matches its all-time low. That’s a fair price for a sharp QLED model that can support 144Hz gaming with Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10 Plus. The Mini LED TV also offers an adaptive, AI-powered feature that can adjust your TV’s settings to match the ambient lighting in your room. Needless to say, it’s your best option if you’re a Fire TV fan looking for an all-in-one solution to access Amazon’s Alexa-powered user experience.

Update, February 7th: Adjusted pricing and added several deals, including those for the LG C3, Samsung’s S90C, and Amazon’s 2024 Fire TV Omni QLED.

Valentine’s Day might seem like any other commercial holiday given the abundance of candy and the sheer number of cards lining store shelves, but if you put in a little effort and a lot of heart, it can be about so much more. After all, at its core, February 14th is about celebrating love in all its forms, with or without sweet treats.

One way to show your appreciation for your loved one — whether it be your partner, sister, parent, or best friend — is with a gift that speaks to who they are. Luckily, if you need some inspiration, the Verge staff has pooled together a list of thoughtful gift ideas. Some of these, such as the AirPods 4 and latest Kindle Paperwhite, are gadgets we use on the daily, while items like Amazfit’s Active 2 and Soundcore’s latest speaker are more recent finds we’re still putting through their paces.

We’ve also sprinkled in a few ideas for those who could use a little less tech in their lives, so there should be something for everybody on your list. After all, nothing says “I love you” quite like a scratcher.

The latest iPad Pro is the most powerful iPad on the market, and as such, it comes at a high cost. Thankfully, you can currently pick up the 11-inch iPad Pro at Amazon with Wi-Fi and 256GB of storage starting at an all-time low $849 ($150 off) at checkout, or at Best Buy for the same price if you’re a My Best Buy Plus or Total member. The 13-inch variant is also on sale at Amazon and Best Buy starting at $1,099 ($200 off), which matches the larger tablet’s lowest price to date.

As the highest-end iPad in Apple’s lineup, the iPad Pro comes with a number of premium features. It runs on Apple’s powerful M4 processor, allowing it to accommodate demanding games and video-editing software, and it’s the first iPad to feature Apple’s new “Tandem OLED” setup, which essentially pulls together two OLED panels to create gorgeous colors and deep, inky blacks. Both size configurations are also remarkably thin and lightweight — the 13-inch model is a mere 5.1mm thick (!) — making them extremely portable.

In addition to the new hardware, both models also support Apple Intelligence, so you can take advantage of AI-generated text and email summaries, make your own emoji, add events to your calendar using a photo, and easily access ChatGPT, among a litany of other features. Both tablets are also compatible with the Apple Pencil Pro, which, unlike the USB-C Apple Pencil, offers pressure sensitivity and a “Barrel Roll” gyroscope, so you can quickly turn your digital brush or pen by twisting the stylus as you draw.

Read our 13-inch M4-powered iPad Pro review.

Three more deals worth a look

• Eufy’s SmartTrack Card is available from Amazon and Eufy (with code WS24SP1T87B2) for $16.88 ($13 off), matching its all-time low. The wallet-friendly location tracker can tap into Apple’s massive Find My network, allowing iPhone owners to easily keep tabs on their cash, cards, and other items. Bear in mind, however, that it lacks the rechargeable battery found in Eufy’s newer SmartTrack Card E30, which also happens to be on sale for $23.99 ($11 off) via Eufy’s online storefront with code WS24SP1T87B1.
• Fujifilm’s Instax Mini Link 3 is on sale at Amazon, Target, and Best Buy in multiple colors for around $89.95 ($10 off), which matches its best price to date. The pocketable photo printer lets you create high-quality, credit-card sized prints directly from your phone in seconds. You can also edit photos via Fujifilm’s companion app, which lets you add background effects, colorful borders, and other fun tweaks.
• Now until February 4th, Woot is selling 8BitDo’s Retro Mechanical Keyboard for $59.99 ($40 off) in multiple stylings, including the NES-inspired N Edition and the IBM-like M Edition. The two keyboards are identical — well, aside from their retro aesthetics — and feature 87 hot-swappable, programmable keys with clicky Kailh Box V2 White switches. They also comes with a pair of customizable “Super Buttons” and multiple connectivity modes, so you can choose between Bluetooth, 2.4GHz wireless, or USB-C.