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Labor Day weekend isn't known as an especially fruitful time for tech deals, but we've found a few notable discounts on good gear ahead of the holiday anyway. Both the 13- and 15-inch versions of Apple's M2 MacBook Air are down to all-time lows, for one, as are Hisense's well-reviewed U6K and U8K TVs. The new Beats Studio Buds + are $40 off, while Solo Stove is running a sale on its popular smokeless fire pits. We're also seeing deals on Xbox gift cards, Roombas and Amazon's Echo Show 8, among others. Here are the best Labor Day tech sales we could find.

Apple MacBook Air

Apple's 15-inch MacBook Air with an M2 chip is down to $1,099 at Amazon, while the 13-inch model is available for $899 at Best Buy. Both represent all-time lows. These prices apply to the entry-level configurations with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, so they're better suited for casual tasks than more involved work. Some reports suggest Apple may introduce a refreshed 13-inch Air later this year, too. Nevertheless, if you need a new notebook right now, the M2 MacBook Air should continue to check all the necessary boxes. Currently, it's top pick in our guide to the best laptops. 

Solo Stove Labor Day Sale

Solo Stove has discounted a number of its (mostly) smokeless fire pits for Labor Day, including the Bonfire 2.0 on sale for $240. While that's not an all-time low, it's still $160 off the stainless-steel pit's list price. We've sung the praises of Solo Stove's 2.0 fire pits in the past, and we recommend them in our guide to the best outdoor gear for the fall thanks to their sturdy frames, efficient burning and easy cleaning mechanisms. The Bonfire 2.0 is the company's medium-sized model, but at 23 pounds, it's still light enough to stash away when you're not using it.

Hisense U6K

The 55-inch Hisense U6K is available for an all-time low of $398, which is about $90 off its average street price in recent months. The 65-inch model is down to a low of $548. While we haven't reviewed the U6K ourselves, this TV has receivedpraise elsewhere for offering quantum dots, full-array local dimming and, most notably, a Mini LED backlight for a budget-level price. Its picture quality will still be a step behind the better options up the price bracket, and it doesn't have HDMI 2.1 ports, but it should deliver better contrast and color than most alternatives on the cheap. 

Elsewhere, the 55- and 65-inch versions of the TCL Q6 are down to new lows of $378 and $498, respectively. This is a notable budget TV for gamers, as it can play at a faster 120Hz refresh rate (albeit in a 1080p or 1440p resolution, not 4K). It lacks local dimming and Mini LEDs, however.

Hisense U8K

If you're willing to pay more for a TV upgrade, the Hisense U8K is down to $748 for a 55-inch model and $998 for a 65-inch model. We'll inevitably see the TV drop further over time, but for now, both of these prices represent all-time lows. The U8K has received consistentlyhighmarks for delivering brightness, contrast and colors that belie its mid-range price. It has a host of gaming-friendly features as well, including the ability to play up to 144Hz in 4K. It only has two HDMI 2.1 ports, though, and most reviews say its viewing angles are mediocre. In general, it won't be as vibrant as a good OLED TV. But if you want to stay under $1,000, or if you need a LED set for a brightly-lit room, this looks to be one of the better TV values of 2023. 

Amazon Echo Show 8

The Amazon Echo Show 8 is back down to $75. We've seen this deal several times over the last few months, and it's not an all-time low, but it's $55 off the smart display's list price either way. We recommend the Echo Show 8 in our guide to the best smart displays: If you prefer Alexa over the Google Assistant, it generally offers the best mix of price, performance and all-purpose size in Amazon's Echo Show lineup. Its 8-inch, 1,280 x 800 resolution display is comfortable enough for making video calls and viewing photos, while its built-in speakers can get loud enough to fill a room. And though no smart display like this is ideal for the privacy-conscious, this model at least has a physical camera shutter and mic mute button. We gave the Echo Show 8 a review score of 87 back in 2021.

Beats Studio Buds +

The Beats Studio Buds + are on sale for $130 at various retailers, which is an all-time low. Normally, Beats sells the true wireless earbuds for $170. We gave the Studio Buds + a review score of 84 in May, praising their improved sound, active noise cancellation (ANC) and call quality compared to the original Studio Buds. Find My tracking, fast pairing and hands-free Siri are nice to have, too, and they play nicer with Android phones than any set of AirPods. That said, they lack wear detection and wireless charging, and because they don't use an Apple-made chip, they don't have AirPods-style features like automatic device switching and audio sharing. Many of the picks in our wireless earbuds buying guide generally perform better. But if you like the Studio Buds +'s styling and want a cheaper set of Apple ANC earbuds than the AirPods Pro, they're a decent value at this price.

$100 Xbox Gift Card

As of this writing, Amazon is selling $100 digital Xbox gift cards for $90. There isn't much explanation required for this deal: If you already planned on picking up Starfield, a few months of Xbox Game Pass, Xbox-related accessories from Microsoft's online store or any of the titles in our list of the best Xbox games, it essentially gives you an extra $10 for free.

iRobot Roomba 694

The iRobot Roomba 694 is down to $179, which is a deal we've seen before but still comes within $5 of the device's all-time low. We consider this the best robot vacuum for those on a budget. It navigates semi-randomly instead of following a set path, so it'll bump into furniture around the house, but it cleans effectively, it's sturdily built and its companion app makes it easy to operate. iRobot says it can last 90 minutes on a charge, though you may get less depending on what surfaces you need to clean. 

Logitech K380

The Logitech K380 is on sale for $24, which isn't quite an all-time low but matches the lowest price we've seen this year. A version with a Mac-specific layout is available for the same price. Normally, the wireless keyboard retails around $30. We recommend the K380 in our MacBook accessories buying guide: Its compact frame is easy to transport, and it can pair with and quickly swap between three devices at a time, be it a desktop, tablet, smartphone or Apple TV. While it requires two AAA batteries for power, it can last around two years on a charge. It lacks backlighting, and the flat rounded keys aren't as luxurious as a good mechanical keyboard — but for a slim travel model, it's pleasant enough. 

Dashlane Premium

A good password manager is a simple way to enhance your online security and reduce the number of login credentials you need to remember. Dashlane is one of the services we recommend in our buying guide, particularly for those who often need to share passwords with others. If you think this might be worthwhile, new users can get a year of Dashlane's Premium service for $36 when they use the code LD40 at checkout. That's a $24 discount. While Dashlane does have a free tier, a Premium subscription lets you use the service across multiple devices. Dashlane says the deal will run through September 4.

TP-Link Deco XE75

The TP-Link Deco XE75 is the top pick in our guide to the best mesh WiFi systems: It doesn't have one immediate standout feature, but it struck the best balance of whole-home performance and user-friendliness of all the devices we tested. In our full review, we gave the WiFi 6E system a score of 87. If you're looking to improve the connection speeds in a larger home, TP-Link is selling a two-pack of the Deco XE75 for $210 with the checkout code 20DECOWIFI. That's about $35 below this config's average street price in recent months. If stock runs dry at TP-Link, you can get the two-pack for $10 more at Amazon; just make sure to clip the on-page coupon.

Sony HT-A7000

Sony's HT-A7000 soundbar is back down to $998, which certainly isn't cheap but matches the lowest price we've tracked. On average, the device has retailed closer to $1,150 over the past few months. The A7000 is the premium recommendation in our guide to the best soundbars. It's a powerful 7.1.2-channel unit with support for Dolby Atmos and Sony's own virtual surround sound tech. It can passthrough 4K HDR video at 120Hz, so it's fairly well-equipped for game consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, plus it can receive audio via AirPlay, Chromecast and Spotify Connect. Unfortunately, its high cost doesn't get you a distinct subwoofer, but this deal helps lessen that blow a little bit. 

If you want to spend a little less, the Sony HT-A5000 is available for $798. That's not a particularly notable deal, but this model offers a similar feature set as the A7000 in a 5.1.2-channel configuration. 

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

While not every camera mount needs to have six degrees of freedom, one or two can be extremely helpful in the photographic world. In order to make time-lapse shots with some motion or shots that incorporate some parallax, a moving camera mount or dolly is needed, and this small one builds upon a pre-existing, although non-motorized, camera slider.

The slider is an inexpensive model from everyone’s favorite online warehouse, with rails that are at least coated in carbon, if not made out of it entirely, to ensure smooth camera motion. To add the motorization to automatically move the camera, a stepper motor with a belt drive is used which is controlled by an Arduino. A few limit switches are added, letting the dolly perform different movement patterns automatically, and a pair of potentiometers for fine and coarse speed control are included as well, letting the camera take both time-lapse and video while using this mount at various controllable speeds.

With everything tucked into a relatively small box at one end of the dolly, the build is both accessible and functional. The code for the microcontroller is also available on the project’s GitHub page for anyone looking to replicate or build upon the project. And, for those looking to add more degrees of freedom to their camera setups, take a look at this DIY pan and tilt mount.

As it turns out, time travel can be filthy work. It seems the DeLorean Doc Brown and Marty McFly use to visit various historical periods is particularly mucky and you’ll soon have the chance to clean it up. That’s because a Back to the Future expansion is on the way to PowerWash Simulator, a self-explanatory game that turned out to be one of 2022’s biggest surprise hits. 

It’s PowerWash Simulator’s latest notable crossover, following Final Fantasy VII, Tomb Raider and SpongeBob SquarePants DLC. A Warhammer 40K expansion is on the way too.

The classic time machine isn’t the only thing you’ll get to clean with a virtual high-pressure blast of water in the upcoming DLC. It also features Doc Brown’s van, the Hill Valley Clocktower, the Holomax Theatre and the Time Train. There will be 10 more achievements or trophies to snag too. The Back to the Future expansion will arrive later this year. It will cost $8.

It wouldn’t be the end of summer if we weren’t gearing up for another iPhone launch! This week, Devindra and Cherlynn are joined by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the purveyor of many Apple rumors, to discuss what we expect from the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro. Based on Gurman’s reporting so far, the iPhone 15 will likely get Apple’s Dynamic Island and improved tech from last year’s Pro phone. The iPhone 15 Pro, meanwhile, will see thinner bezels, a titanium frame and a periscope camera for the Pro Max.

You can also expect Apple to finally move over to USB-C for both of these phones, which should improve data (and potentially charging) speeds. Be sure to subscribe to Mark’s Bloomberg newsletter, Power On, to follow his reporting.

Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News!

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Topics

• Apple iPhone 15 event preview with Bloomberg’s Apple leaker-in-chief Mark Gurman – 1:46

• Tech events season is in full swing with more events from Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Intel – 28:23

• Meta removed a large Chinese propaganda ring on Facebook – 36:23

• Have you seen Windows 11’s weird popups while using Google? – 47:06

• India is the first country to land a probe on the Moon’s South Pole – 52:04

• Working on – 54:12

• Pop culture picks – 59:40

Credits
Hosts: Cherlynn Low and Devindra Hardawar
Guest: Mark Gurman
Producer: Ben Ellman
Music: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien

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BMW has announced its fifth-generation Mini Cooper, and it's the first Mini EV to get a unique design that doesn't completely mirror its combustion counterparts. The first model is the Mini Cooper E, with a 135 kW/184 hp motor, 290Nm of torque and an acceleration from zero to 62 miles per hour in 7.3 seconds. It boasts a much higher range, stretching from 145 miles to 190 miles. 

That distance jumps to 250 miles for the Mini SE and includes higher outputs, such as a max torque of 330Nm, 160 kW/218 hp and a jump from 0 to 62 miles per hour in 6.7 seconds. The batteries can also charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in under a half hour.

Looks-wise, the fifth-gen Mini had adopted something the company is calling "Charismatic Simplicity" to emphasize the car's main, modern features. "Inspired by our history, we have developed our own new design language, defining our DNA." Oliver Heilmer, head of Mini Design, said in a statement. "The idea behind it is a design that gives each new MINI model a strong, individual character and is characterized by a clear, reduced design language intuitively focused on the essentials of the brand."

Externally, this new design features larger wheels, flush door handles and the removal of fender flares. The interior takes inspiration from the original 1959 Mini that had a "round instrument cluster" front and center, with toggles below it. The modern update features a 9.5-inch high-resolution OLED display that introduces the Mini Operating System 9 and offers everything from media to apps. The Mini also features the brand's first "intelligent personal assistant," in the form of an animated Mini or Spike, the blue and white English Bulldog helper first announced in April, popping up right on the round OLED display. Either way, you can control navigation, entertainment and more through the push-to-talk button or simply saying, "Hey Mini."

Additional features in the fifth-generation Mini include an optional Parking Assistant Plus (with 12 sensors and four cameras) and Green Mode, which can extend battery life. Plus, it has four new trim options: Essential, Classic, Favored and JCW.

BMW also announced its third-generation Mini Countryman. It's the first time the crossover SUV will be available as an all-electric model, coming in a few inches higher and five inches longer than its predecessor. The Mini Countryman E delivers a 287-mile range, 150 kW/204 hp output and 250Nm of torque. The Mini Countryman SE has a bit more oomph, with 230 kW/313hp and 494Nm, but a slightly shorter range at 269 miles. 

Additional features include a revamped toggle bar with five switches, improved aerodynamics and wider wheel arches. There have been rumors of an all-electric Countryman since 2021, a shift that aligns with BMW's goals for Minis to be fully electric by 2030.

This is Bethesda's highest-profile game since being bought by Microsoft. It’s also a high-profile game for the console maker, as the acquisition turned it into an Xbox exclusive. Starfield is here with vast gameplay options, stories and quests. According to Engadget’s Jessica Conditt, every player will find a gameplay aspect that resonates with them. Bethesda claims it will take hundreds of hours to interact with everything in Starfield, and according to Jessica, “40 hours and one New Game Plus later, this doesn’t feel like a lie.”

Bethesda

Combat is one of Starfield’s weak points. While gun battles are central to the game’s core loop, they often feel unnecessary and occasionally monotonous. The scale is grand, but it feels like a mix of other sci-fi games and references. However, if you liked Cyberpunk and you liked No Man’s Sky, there’s certainly a bit of both in Starfield.

– Mat Smith

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JLab's insanely small wireless earbuds cover the basics for $40

And attach to a keyring.

JLab

JLab's extremely affordable earbuds already strike a solid balance of value and performance, but the company set out to "drastically" reduce size and weight with its latest model. Announced back in December, the JBuds Mini is a set of insanely tiny wireless earbuds with a charging case smaller than a car key fob. While the $40 earbuds lack more advanced features, like active noise cancellation (ANC), there are touch controls, transparency mode and more.

Continue reading.

Philips Hue gets into home surveillance with its new Secure cameras

The brand's new product category puts it in competition with Ring.

Signify, the Philips spinoff known for its Hue lighting products, has announced a new range of security cameras, putting it in direct competition with companies like Ring and Nest. The new Hue Secure cameras are for indoors or outdoors, and you can prop up the wired version with its companion desktop stand. Both will be available this fall, with the wired camera a bit cheaper at $218 (€200) than the $273 (€250) battery variant. The Philips Hue lineup also has contact sensors, so you can stick them on doors, windows and other places, to get notified if somebody opens them.

Continue reading.

Lenovo Legion Go hands-on

A more Switch-like handheld gaming PC.

Engadget

For fans of handheld gaming PCs, 2023 keeps getting better. Following the release of ASUS’ ROG Ally earlier this year, Lenovo is entering the category with the Legion Go. Some of the Legion Go’s highlight features are to do with its screen. It’s an 8.8-inch 2,560 x 1,600 IPS panel with a 144Hz refresh rate and listed at 500 nits of brightness. That makes it the biggest screen on pretty much any device in this category. Other specs include an AMD Z1 Extreme chip, 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage.

Continue reading.

Sony has unveiled the Xperia 5 V smartphone with some nice high-end features and one fewer camera, along with a slightly lower price tag. The company also promises an "extraordinary music and video experience" thanks to the HDR display, updated speakers and more — all at a slightly lower price than the previous Xperia 5 IV model. 

Sony smartphones are all about the cameras, and there's good news in that regard, despite what looks like a worse camera array. The Xperia 5 V (yes that's "five five") has the same 52-megapixel Exmor T backside illuminated (BSI) Type 1/1.35-inch stacked sensor as the Xperia 1 V, meaning it's very fast and very good in low-light. In addition, Sony has improved the AI-powered "bokeh mode" to get pictures "closer to the standards of interchangeable lens cameras," the company said. 

Sam Benard for Sony

As the photo above shows, though, there's now only two rear cameras — the 48-megapixel Exmor T and a 12-megapixel 16mm ultrawide — rather than three as on the Xperia 5 IV. However, the primary sensor has much higher resolution than the previous 12-megapixel telephoto camera, and can dynamically switch between 24mm and 48mm (around 48mm and 96 mm 35mm equivalent) focal lengths, so you still get an equivalent 2X optical (lossless) zoom that should take much sharper images.

As before, you can shoot 4K video at up to 120fps in HDR, and it comes with optical image stabilization, along with 5-axis gyro-powered electronic stabilization for maximum smoothness. Other features include HDR recording, eye-tracking, "Creative Look" color presets and a new Video Creator app that automatically creates a final video based on your choice of shots and music. And for audio creators, it has a dedicated voice recording mic "that picks up your voice even with other voices and environmental sounds in the surroundings," Sony says. 

Sony

It's also designed as an entertainment machine, starting with the 6.1-inch OLED HD+ (1,080 x 2,520) display (the same specs as the last model). For watching movies, it comes with Sony's TV Bravia X1 image quality engine for mobile, along with a newly developed front stage speaker system that offers "powerful deep bass" and negates the need for external speakers, Sony claims. And thanks to the power-saving tech, the 5,000mAh battery can go over 24 hours on a charge and maintain 80 percent or higher capacity after three years, according to the company. (That's a subtle dig at Apple's iPhone 14, in case you didn't notice.)

The Xperia 5 V should also be solid for gaming, thanks to the flagship-level Snapdragon 8 Gen2 processor, 120Hz display refresh rate and a larger heat diffusion sheet (it's available with 8GB or 12GB of RAM, plus 128GB of expandable storage). Meanwhile, the game enhancer adds features like an audio equalizer, voice chat mic and a screen recording function.

Despite a small drop in price in Europe, the Xperia 5 V isn't cheap. It's priced at £849 / €999 in the UK / Europe, with availability in "late September." There's no word on US pricing or availability, but we should hear something soon — and as a reminder, the Xperia 5 IV cost $1,000 at launch. 

There's a new Rugrats game coming out next year, and you can play it with graphics that make it look like it was developed for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The Mix Games and Wallride have unveiled Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland, which you can play either in HD cartoon mode or in 8bit mode, if you're feeling nostalgic. It's a puzzle platformer where you have to control the Rugrat of your choice — Tommy, Chuckie, Phil and Lil — as they pretend that they're inside a game. 

Its official page says: "Through the power of imagination, the babies transform Tommy's house into a video game world full of action, excitement, and adventure!" The game features multiple levels with different themes and bosses, and each Rugrat has unique abilities of their own that you can use to navigate the environment and to defeat enemies. You can also play solo or in a two-player coop if you want to enjoy the game with friends. 

According to the developers' announcement, the game is making its way to PC and consoles sometime next year. They didn't say which consoles exactly, but Mix confirmed on Twitter that it will be playable on NES hardware. The game will most likely be available as a software download, but the developers are also planning to release physical versions of the title via Limited Run Games. 

You can watch a trailer of Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland below:

Tesla's refreshed Model 3 has finally gone on sale in China, Europe and elsewhere after leaking out here and there over the last year. It has a mild redesign, more range and an updated interior with new materials — along with a higher price tag in some regions. It's supposed to start shipping in Europe next month, and US buyers could see it on the company's ordering website soon. 

In a tweet from Tesla Europe, the company posted pictures showing the styling changes, particularly in the front end, which is sleeker and less bulbous than before. That in turn helps it travel farther on a charge. 

"Go up to 629 km (390 miles) on a single charge with updated exterior styling optimized for max aerodynamics," a caption reads. That's based on Europe's WLTP range, though, which equates to 10-12 percent better range compared to the previous model. Given the 272 mile/333 mile EPA range of the current base/long range Model 3, that means US range could rise to about 300 miles/365 miles. 

Tesla

Tesla is also promising "more refined & relaxed ride quality, thanks to a combination of a stiffer body & updated suspension tuning." Two new colors (ultra red & stealth grey) are on offer for €2,000 over the base white color, and are designed to change subtly based on viewing angle and lighting. 

The interior has been refreshed as well (with physical controls still nowhere to be seen). Tesla is promising "more sophisticated materials, ventilated seats & customizable ambient lighting," along with a rear touchscreen that gives entertainment and climate controls to backseat riders. Meanwhile, the the main touchscreen has more usable screen space thanks to the smaller bezels, and also "brighter, higher contrast & more responsive," Tesla wrote. 

Tesla

The Model 3 was already relatively quiet, but its silent electric operation also makes every exterior noise more pronounced. To that end, the new version has "360 degree acoustic glass [that] ensures silence inside the cabin no matter what's happening around you" with significantly less road and wind noise, Tesla promised. It also comes with a better sound system that now has up to 17 speakers, dual subwoofers and dual amplifiers. "Obviously goes to 11," Tesla said (read that in Elon Musk's voice). 

Tesla has already made significant updates to the Model 3 since it was first released in 2018 (via firmware updates and minor physical changes), but the new version appears to make it more sophisticated and efficient — likely in response to polished EVs from Kia, Mercedes and others. It may also make the Model 3 cheaper to produce, according to rumors from last year. 

However, the new Model 3 could cost more when it arrives in the US. In China, the base model is now around $35,800, or 12 percent more than the previous version, according to The Wall Street Journal. At the same time, the base model is the same price in Norway, but the long range version is about $950 more. As mentioned, Tesla's configurators are now live in Europe, with deliveries expected in October — and it should arrive in the US soon.