Posts with «author_name|valentina palladino» label

How to pre-order the Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro

Google's Pixel event today delivered exactly what we expected: a couple of new smartphones and a brand new Pixel Watch. The previously teased Google Pixel 7 was officially debuted, and while it doesn't look dramatically different from its predecessor, it includes a number of important changes. Key among them is Google's new Tensor G2 chipset, which promises speedier performance, improved efficiency and more for both the Pixel 7 and its larger sibling, the Pixel 7 Pro. As for the Pixel Watch, it looks right at home next to the new smartphones and it takes a lot of health-and-fitness prowess from Googled-owned Fitbit. Here's how to pre-order the Pixel 7, the Pixel 7 Pro and the Pixel Watch.

Google Pixel 7

Google

Google's Pixel 7 smartphone is available for pre-order today starting at $599. It comes in three colors — snow, obsidian and lemongrass — and it'll be widely available on October 14th.

Pre-order Pixel 7 at Google - $599Pre-order Pixel 7 at Amazon - $599

The company's latest flagship doesn't look too different from last year's model, but the changes Google made are nothing to scoff at. The Pixel 7 features an always-on 6.3-inch FHD, 90Hz display made with scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass Victus, plus an IP68-rated body made of recycled aluminum. It runs on Google's new Tensor G2 chipset, which promises better machine learning capabilities, increased efficiency and improved photography features like Night Sight. It'll also come with 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of storage.

The cameras on the Pixel 7 have been updated to include a 10.8-megapixel front shooter, which is now the same as the front-facing camera on the higher-end Pixel 7 Pro. There's also a new feature called Guided Frame, which helps those with low vision take better selfies by using audio and haptic prompts. As for the rear array, that includes a 50MP wide camera and a 12MP ultrawide lens. Google promises improved Real Tone photography and low-light images, plus better video features like Cinematic Blur, 4K Cinematic Pan and 240fps slo-mo.

Google also promises five years of security updates for the Pixel 7, plus an "adaptive battery" feature that will let the handset last for over 24 hours. Extreme Battery Saver adds to that, allowing the phone to last up to 72 hours.

Google Pixel 7 Pro

Google

Google's Pixel 7 Pro is available for pre-order today starting at $899. It comes in three colors — snow, obsidian and hazel — and it'll be widely available on October 14th.

Pre-order Pixel 7 Pro at Google - $899Pre-order Pixel 7 Pro at Amazon - $899

As to be expected, the Pixel 7 Pro is an upgrade from the standard model in a few ways. It's larger, with an always-on 6.7-inch QHD+, 120Hz display and a body with the same IP68 durability level as the Pixel 7. It also runs on the new Tensor G2 chipset and it has an upgraded triple rear camera system that includes a 50MP wide camera, a 12MP ultrawide lens and a 48MP telephoto shooter with a 5x optical zoom and support for up to 30x Super Res Zoom. Other internal specs include 12GB of RAM and a choice of 128GB, 256GB or 512GB of onboard storage.

The other difference between the Pixel 7 Pro and the standard model is that the 7 Pro has a slightly larger battery (5,000mAh) than the regular handset (4,355mAh), but both share the same battery life estimates. Both also support fast charging that provides 50 percent juice in just 30 minutes when using Google's 30W power adapter, which you can pick up separately.

Google Pixel Watch

Google

The new Google Pixel Watch is available for pre-order today starting at $350 for the WiFi models and $400 for the WiFi + LTE models. It's available in three colors and will be widely available on October 14th.

Pre-order Pixel Watch at Google - $350Pre-order Pixel Watch at Amazon - $350

Google's first smartwatch in the Pixel family takes a lot of design nods from its phones and health-tracking chops from Fitbit. The circular case has a nearly invisible bezel along with an always-on 320ppi AMOLED, slightly domed display. It has a 294mAh battery built in that Google claims will last for 24 hours before it needs a recharge, and the watch comes with a USB-C magnetic charging cable. The Pixel Watch runs on an Exynos 9110 SoC and has sensors including a heart rate monitor, GPS, accelerometer, altimeter, gyroscope and others built in.

Many of those sensors power the watch's health and fitness tracking abilities, all of which build upon Fitbit's expertise in that area (Google completed its purchase of Fitbit back in 2021). The Pixel Watch tracks daily activity and sleep, plus it has 40 workout modes and an ECG app for additional measurements. Those familiar with Fitbit will notice that the watch also supports metrics like Daily Readiness Score, Active Zone Minutes and more, plus it works with the paid service Fitbit Premium. Also, Google plans on bringing fall detection to the Pixel Watch in the coming months.

Follow all of the news from Google's Pixel 7 event right here!

iRobot's Roomba 694 is on sale for $199 right now

Those who have a robot vacuum on their gift list this year can pick up a few iRobot machines for less right now. Arguably the best for most people is the Roomba 694, which is 27 percent off at Amazon (which now owns iRobot) and down to only $199. While this model has dropped to $179 in the past, this is the best deal we've seen on it since June. Also discounted are the higher-end Roomba j7+ and Roomba s9+, which are going for $599 and $799, respectively.

Buy Roomba 694 at Amazon - $199Buy Roomba j7+ at Amazon - $599Buy Roomba S9+ at Amazon - $799

The Roomba 694 topped our list of best budget robot vacuums because it combines all of the essential features you'd expect in one of these machines with a relatively slick design and an easy-to-use mobile app. It cleans both hard and carpeted floors well, and it'll run for about 90 minutes (depending on floor surfaces) before it automatically returns to its dock to recharge. Its three-stage cleaning system did a pretty good job sucking up dirt, debris and even pet hair, and it navigates around furniture well, too.

You can control the device using the physical buttons on it, but the iRobot app is where you'll have more customization options. In it, you can check on the status of the robot's current job, plus set cleaning schedules, manually send the robot home and more. And when you don't even want to lift a finger, you can use Alexa or the Google Assistant to control the machine. While the Roomba 694 doesn't have the bells and whistles of the brand's more expensive devices, it has all the necessities and will be easy for first-time users to figure out.

If you're looking to invest in something more powerful, or just know you'll need stronger suction power, either the Roomba j7+ or the s9+ would be great picks. The j7+ is the newer of the two, debuting last year, and it has advanced obstacle avoidance that should help it navigate around a robo-vac's worst enemy — pet poop. It also has 10x the suction power of a standard Roomba and smart mapping abilities, plus it comes with a clean base into which it automatically empties its bin after every job. The Roomba s9+ takes it even further with 40x the suction power, a more corner-friendly design, obstacle detection, smart mapping and an included clean base.

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

Samsung's 256GB Galaxy Z Flip 4 is on sale for $900 right now

If you've been intrigued by Samsung's foldable phones, now's the time to grab the Galaxy Z Flip 4 for less. The 256GB model is 15 percent off and down to a record low of $900 at Amazon. While that's still a lot of money, you're essentially getting the 256GB model for the price of the base, 128GB version, making it a pretty good deal for those who know they need the extra storage space.

Buy Galaxy Z Flip 4 at Amazon - $900

Samsung didn't radically redesign the Z Flip 4, but it made some subtle refinements and added new software features that make this version more practical than its predecessor. The thin-and-tall smartphone has a smaller, yet sturdier, hinge, shinier edges and a more durable exterior that resists scratches well. Considering the Flip is quite small when folded up, making it easy to toss into a bag or back pocket, that extra durability should keep the device looking better for longer.

The crease in its 6.7-inch main display remains noticeable, but it's not as bad as it was on the previous model. Samsung didn't change the 1.9-inch cover display too much, but it made it much more useful by allowing you to do things like send quick replies with just a few taps, set alarms, control music apps like Spotify and more. Flex Mode also makes using the device semi-folded much easier. It'll open with compatible apps and do things like turn the lower half of the screen into a touchpad, allowing you to swipe through photos while showing you those photos on the top half of the screen.

Add those improvements on top of solid overall performance and an improved battery life, and you have a foldable that's quite practical and fun to use. Our biggest gripes with the Z Flip 4 were with its low-light photos, which could have been better, and our persistent questions about how the device will hold up after months or years of use. But if you're excited to dive into the world of foldable photos and want a device that likely won't feel too different from a standard smartphone, the Z Flip 4 is a good option.

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

Everything you need to know about Amazon's Prime Early Access Sale

For the first time, Amazon’s having a second Prime Day sales event in October. If you missed out on the original Prime Day that took place in July, this new two-day event, called the Prime Early Access Sale, will be your next opportunity to grab things like gadgets, clothing, shoes, household necessities and even early holiday gifts for less. Engadget will cover all of the best tech deals you’ll be able to get during the event, but there are some useful tidbits to keep in mind as you think about what you may want to pick up during this year’s Prime Early Access Sale.

When is the Amazon Prime Early Access Sale?

Amazon's Prime Day "part two" of sorts will begin on October 11th and will run through the end of the day on October 12th. In typical Prime Day fashion, you’ll have to be a Prime subscriber to get access to all of the deals available during this event. Thankfully, Amazon still offers a 30-day free trial to new members, so you can start your free trial now ahead so you’ll be all set when the event arrives.

If you don’t pay for Prime and have no intention of doing so, you should still check out Amazon on Prime Day for sales that are available to all shoppers. Those were few and far between during the original Prime Day back in July, but they did exist. Also, since Amazon is likely using this event to kick off the holiday shopping season, we expect to see other retailers follow suit; you may be able to get the same discounts and additional sales during the same time period at Target, Walmart, Best Buy and other stores.

What deals can we expect?

As with Prime Day earlier this year, we expect Amazon to kick things off a little bit early by knocking down the prices of some of its own gadgets. Early Prime Day deals typically include discounts on Echo speakers, Fire TV gadgets, Eero routers and more, so keep an eye out over the next few weeks for those items to drop in price.

Typically, Prime Day is only matched by Black Friday when it comes to record-low prices on these gadgets. That means you can either choose to pick up Amazon devices during the two-day event or take your chances and wait until Black Friday the following month. There’s a good chance the sale prices we see during this event will come back for Black Friday – however, due to lingering supply chain issues and high demand around the holiday shopping period, there’s a chance you’ll have to wait longer to receive your items if you wait until the last minute to buy them.

Amazon devices will not be the only items on sale during this second Prime Day. The online retailer usually discounts things like household goods, clothing, shoes, books, appliances, beauty items and more for Prime Day, along with a plethora of gadgets. We expect to see a lot of the original Prime Day deals come back for this October event, so there’s a good chance you’ll be able to get headphones, laptops, TVs, gaming accessories, SSDs, robot vacuums and more for record-low prices.

How to prep for the Prime Early Access Sale

Our advice for this fall sale is much the same as ours for the original event – go into it knowing exactly what you want to buy. Amazon’s homepage will be one big distraction on October 11th and 12th and it’ll be easy to get sidetracked by deals that probably aren’t worth your time or money. Instead of falling into that trap, make a list of the things you hope to get at a discount for both yourself and for other people if you’re doing some early holiday shopping.

You can either use Amazon’s wish list feature to collect all of your desirables in one place online, or write it all down the old-fashioned way on a sticky note. We like Amazon’s wish list feature because it’ll show if something dropped in price after you added it to your list. That essentially makes the wish list a one-stop shop for you on Prime Day – it’ll have all of the items you want to buy, and it’ll show you how much of a discount you can get on it during the two-day event.

We also recommend using a price tracker like CamelCamelCamel to check out the price history for any items you plan on buying during the Prime Early Access Sale. That will help you decide if Amazon’s deal on that particular item is good enough for you to buy it.

Engadget will surface all of the best tech deals available during this Prime Day, so if you have a lot of gadgets on your list, be sure to check the site during the two-day event. You can also follow the @EngadgetDeals Twitter account and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter to stay up to date on the latest discounts.

Amazon will hold a Prime Early Access Sale on October 11th and 12th

After weeks of rumors, Amazon has officially announced that it plans to hold a second sales event this fall exclusively for Prime members. The second Prime Day of the year, dubbed "Prime Early Access Sale," will be held on October 11th and 12th in the US, UK, Canada and 12 other countries, following the same two-day format as the original event.

Amazon Prime Day has historically been an annual event in which Prime members have access to thousands of sales from the online retailer. It's been not only a way for Amazon to increase sales during the summer months, but also helps the company to drum up more subscribers for Prime. This year's Prime Day on July 12th and 13th brought a plethora of discounts on things like household essentials, clothing, electronics and more, and most of them were reserved for Prime members. However, like years past, there were select sales available to anyone on Prime Day as well.

Since Amazon has not had a second Prime Day in one year before, it's hard to anticipate what this new sales event will bring. Since it'll be held in the middle of October, we expect it to unofficially mark the start of the holiday shopping season for Amazon. It's also possible that the discounts available to Prime members only during this sales event may not come back around for everyone until Black Friday or Cyber Monday. That may encourage some shoppers to stock up on holiday gifts as early as they can snag them on sale.

Engadget will cover all of the best tech deals we can find during this second sales event, held in 15 countries including the US, Canada, the UK, much of Europe, and Turkey. If you plan on taking advantage of those sales, be sure to check Engadget for more information leading up to the event, and follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and sign up for our Engadget Deals newsletter so you never miss the latest news.

The 2021 Apple TV 4K drops to $120, plus the rest of the week's best tech deals

If you're an Apple or Samsung fan, you have a lot of discounted gadgets to choose from this week. Apple's base iPad remains on sale for $280, or you can pick up the 12.9-inch iPad Pro for a record low of $900. On the Samsung side, the 1TB T7 Shield SSD is back on sale for only $100, and you can still get up to $200 off the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. And if you're on the market for a new smart display, Amazon has discounted both its Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 5 models. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today.

2021 Apple TV 4K

Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

The Apple TV 4K is down to a near record low of $120 right now. It's our favorite high-end streaming device thanks to its support for 4K HDR content with Dolby Vision, plus its excellent, redesigned Siri remote.

Buy Apple TV 4K at Amazon - $120

10.2-inch iPad

Apple's entry-level iPad has dropped to an all-time low of $280. We gave it a score of 86 for its solid performance, excellent battery life and improved Center Stage cameras.

Buy iPad at Amazon - $280

12.9-inch iPad Pro

Chris Velazco/Engadget

The latest 12.9-inch iPad Pro remains on sale for $200 off, so you can grab one for as low as $900. We gave the tablet a score of 87 for its M1 chipset that provides incredible performance, its gorgeous screen and the new Center Stage cameras.

Buy iPad Pro (128GB) at Amazon - $900

MacBook Air M1

Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

If you're willing to go for an older model, the MacBook Air M1 is on sale for $850 right now, which is close to its all-time-low price. As one of Apple's first machines with the M1 chipset, it impressed us when it first came out with its blazing fast performance, excellent keyboard and trackpad, plus its lack of fan noise.

Buy MacBook Air M1 at Amazon - $850

AirPods Max

Apple's AirPods Max are $120 off and down to $429, which is the cheapest price we've seen them on Amazon. We gave the headphones a score of 84 for their excellent sound quality, comfortable fit and strong ANC.

Buy Apple AirPods Max at Amazon - $429

Amazon Echo Show 8

Amazon

Amazon's mid-sized smart display is down to a near record low of $80. We gave it a score of 87 for its improved cameras for video chatting, its solid sound quality and its minimalist design.

Buy Echo Show 8 at Amazon - $80

Amazon Echo Show 5

Amazon

The Echo Show 5 is more than half off right now and down to only $40. This is one of our favorite small smart displays, in part because its size makes it a great alarm close. We like its simple design, good sound quality and its tap-to-snooze feature.

Buy Echo Show 5 at Amazon - $40

Samsung T7 Shield

The 1TB model of the Samsung T7 Shield SSD is back on sale for $100, which just about the best we've ever seen. This rugged drive has a tough exterior that can withstand drops from nearly 10 feet, plus an IP65 rating for dust- and water-resistance. It also has the same read/write speeds of the other T7 models and works with a bunch of devices including PC, Mac, Android and even some game consoles.

Buy T7 Shield (1TB) at Amazon - $100

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 4 is already $200 off at Amazon, bringing it down to $1,600. The Z Flip 4 also has a discount of $100, so you can pick that one up for as low as $900. Both of these foldables just came out and we gave the Z Fold 4 and the Z Flip 4 scores of 86 each.

Shop Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 deals at Amazon

HBO Max

HBO Max has discounted its annual plan, so you can save 30 percent if you sign up and pay for one year upfront. If you can deal with ads, the service will cost $70 for 12 months, down from the usual $100. to get an ad-free experience, you'll pay $105, which is $45 off the usual rate.

Subscribe to HBO Max

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

Apple's 10.2-inch iPad drops to $280, plus the rest of the week's best tech deals

A number of our favorite gadgets dropped in price this week across the web. Apple's base iPad remains on sale for the best price we've seen it — only $280. Many GPS + Cellular models of the Apple Watch Series 7 are on sale, some for as low as $379. Considering how minor the updates are to the Series 8, it may be worth it to grab a Series 7 while they're deeply discounted instead. Google's Pixel Buds Pro are back on sale for $175, while Samsung's Galaxy Watch 4 is $50 off its usual price. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today.

10.2-inch iPad

Nathan Ingraham / Engadget

Apple's entry-level iPad has dropped to a new all-time low of $280. We gave it a score of 86 for its solid performance, excellent battery life and improved Center Stage cameras.

Buy iPad at Amazon - $280

Apple Watch Series 7

Apple

Most 45mm Apple Watch Series 7 models are on sale, so you can pick one up for as low as $300. While the Series 8 just came out, the differences between last year's Watch and the latest one are slim. If you're willing to skip the Series 8, you can pick up a Watch that has all of the same major features for much less.

Shop Apple Watch Series 7 deals at Amazon

2021 Apple TV HD

Apple

Apple's latest HD set-top box is 34 percent off and down to a record low of $99. It may not be the most affordable media player available, but it's the cheapest way to get tvOS into your home, which comes with the ability to play Apple Arcade games on your TV, share content from your iPhone to your TV via AirPlay and more. If you're willing to spend extra, you can still pick up the Apple TV 4K for only $120 at Amazon right now.

Buy Apple TV HD (2021) on Amazon - $99Buy Apple TV 4K at Amazon - $120

MacBook Air M2

Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

The silver MacBook Air M2 with 256GB of storage is $100 off and down to $1,099 right now, matching a deal we saw last month. We gave the updated laptop a score of 96 for its excellent performance, gorgeous display and. ultra-thin design.

Buy MacBook Air M2 (256GB) at Amazon - $1,099

AirPods Max

Apple's AirPods Max are $120 off and down to $429, which is the cheapest price we've seen them on Amazon. We gave the headphones a score of 84 for their excellent sound quality, comfortable fit and strong ANC.

Buy Apple AirPods Max at Amazon - $429

Google Pixel Buds Pro

Billy Steele/Engadget

Google's Pixel Buds Pro are back on sale for a record low of $175. We gave them a score of 87 for their deep, punchy bass, reliable touch controls and solid ANC.

Buy Google Pixel Buds Pro at Amazon - $175

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

Engadget

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 4 is already $200 off at Amazon, bringing it down to $1,600. The Z Flip 4 also has a discount of $100, so you can pick that one up for as low as $900. Both of these foldables just came out and we gave the Z Fold 4 and the Z Flip 4 scores of 86 each.

Shop Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 deals at Amazon

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4

David Imel for Engadget

Samsung has discounted the Galaxy Watch 4 to $200, which is $50 off its usual price. The differences between the Watch 4 and this year's Galaxy Watch 5 are pretty minimal, so you could save a ton by picking up last year's model. We gave it a score of 85 for its attractive design, comprehensive health tracking capabilities and handy WearOS features.

Buy Galaxy Watch 4 at Samsung - $200

Anker Eufy RoboVacs

Anker

Amazon Prime members can save hundreds on Eufy RoboVac robot vacuums right now. The X8 Hybrid mop and vacuum in one is down to $400, or $250 off its normal rate, while the budget-friendly RoboVac 11S is on sale for $140.

Shop Eufy RoboVac sales at Amazon

Samsung T7 Shield

The 1TB model of the Samsung T7 Shield SSD is on sale for $110, which is close to a record-low price. This rugged drive has a tough exterior that can withstand drops from nearly 10 feet, plus an IP65 rating for dust- and water-resistance. It also has the same read/write speeds of the other T7 models and works with a bunch of devices including PC, Mac, Android and even some game consoles.

Buy Samsung T7 Shield at Amazon - $110

Disney+

In honor of Disney+ Day, the House of Mouse has discounted its streaming service to $2 for the first month for new and returning subscribers. That's 75 percent off the normal monthly rate, which is one of the best discounts we've seen even if it only applies to one month of membership. After that first month, your subscription will go back up to $8. You have until September 19th to get this deal.

Subscribe to Disney+ for $2/month

Hulu + Live TV

Hulu's latest promotion knocks $20 off its Live TV subscription service for three months for new and returning customers. That means you'll pay $50 per month for the service instead of the usual $70 for the first three months that you're subscribed. You can take advantage of the offer through October 5th, and with it you get live TV access along with standard Hulu streaming as well as access to Disney+ and ESPN+ libraries.

Subscribe to Hulu + Live TV - $50/month

HBO Max

HBO Max has discounted its annual plan, so you can save 30 percent if you sign up and pay for one year upfront. If you can deal with ads, the service will cost $70 for 12 months, down from the usual $100. to get an ad-free experience, you'll pay $105, which is $45 off the usual rate.

Subscribe to HBO Max

ThermoWorks Warehouse deals

ThermoWorks

ThermoWorks has a bunch of warehouse deals available now that are worth considering. The Thermapen is on sale for just over $62, while the cuter, smaller ThermoPop is down to only $21. These are some of our favorite instant-read thermometers, and we like both of them for their attractive yet practical designs and their accurate temperature readings.

Shop ThermoWorks Warehouse deals

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

Samsung's Galaxy Watch 4 drops to a new low of $130

Android users looking for a new smartwatch might want to go all in on Samsung's new Galaxy Watch 5, but the company's latest sale on the previous generation may give them pause. Samsung's currently selling the Galaxy Watch 4 for only $130, which is, by far, the best price we've ever seen it. Typically priced at $250 (and often on sale for $200), the Galaxy Watch 4 had been our favorite wearable for Android users until the successor came around last month, but the differences between the two models are actually quite minimal.

Buy Galaxy Watch 4 at Samsung - $130

There are only a few major differences between the Galaxy Watch 4 and this year's Watch 5. The newer model has a Sapphire Crystal glass display, which makes it more resistant to cracks and scratches, and it has a unique curvature to the underside of its case, which should help provide more accurate health sensor readings. The Galaxy Watch 5 also has a new skin temperature sensor, but it wasn't active at launch.

Because we enjoyed our experience with the Watch 5, we now consider it to be the best smartwatch for Android users. But make no mistake, the Galaxy Watch 4 is a very similar device, and you wouldn't be giving up many new features by opting to pick it up while it's on deep discount. The Galaxy Watch 4 earned a score of 85 from us for its attractive design that's also durable with protections like an IP68-rating, 5ATM of water resistance and MIL-STD-810H for durability. It has a 3-in-1 biometric sensor that enables a ton of health tracking features, including body mass scans and continuous blood oxygen detection during sleep.

We also like that it runs WearOS with One UI, so users will still feel like they're using Samsung's Tizen but they'll still reap the benefits of Google's wearable operating system. You can download apps directly from the Watch 4 from the Play Store, and One UI supports gesture controls that will let you do things like answer or dismiss calls with a flick of the wrist or a lift of the arm. Overall, if you're on a tight budget or simply don't want to spend at least $280 on the Galaxy Watch 5, you can still get most of the same features in the Galaxy Watch 4 right now for much less.

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

What we bought: How the Blue Yeti Nano finally earned a spot on my desk

Despite primarily working from home for years before the pandemic hit, I hadn’t thought too much about my WFH setup before 2020. I went as far as investing in a solid monitor, mostly because I was sick of squinting at a 13-inch laptop screen for eight hours each day. It actually wasn’t until earlier this year that I decided to upgrade my workspace in a meaningful way.

I chalk this up to being someone who constantly talks themselves out of buying things. I’m a fairly frugal person, but I have no problem buying things that I know will make a big impact on my day-to-day life. So, I invested in a good pair of ANC headphones when I could snag them on sale; a full-sized mechanical keyboard for a more comfortable (and more fun) typing experience and the Blue Yeti Nano microphone for increasingly more frequent video calls.

I’ll admit the Yeti Nano was probably the lowest priority item out of those three things, despite being a long-time favorite in the microphone space. However, it’s proven to be a smart investment, mostly because I have more video meetings now than ever. In pre-pandemic times, I had maybe one video conference per week, and that was during the busiest of times. But now, for many reasons ranging from the wide acceptance of remote work and the progression of my own career, I typically have a number of video calls each day. And I believe in putting my best face (and voice) forward as much as possible: I try to turn my Logitech Streamcam on for most every video call I take and I wanted the quality of my voice to match that of my video feed.

Valentina Palladino / Engadget

The Yeti Nano mic delivers on this in a fantastic fashion. In my initial messing around after I unboxed the thing, I could immediately hear the difference in my audio when I recorded a few test samples in Audacity. My voice sounded clearer and stronger and the audio lacked the subtly fuzzy quality that I typically hear when I use my laptop’s microphone.

The Yeti Nano supports cardioid and omnidirectional polar patterns, but I usually keep mine on the former since I’m the only one using it on the daily. However, I like the fact that I have the option to start a roundtable podcast in the future without needing to spend more money on a better mic. I also like that the Yeti Nano will come in handy during the few times a year I get to be a guest on the Engadget podcast. Previously for those occasions, I would use an external mic that I acquired years ago, but it didn’t come with a sturdy base like the Yeti Nano. It would be a struggle to get that mic in the right position on my desk for optimal podcast performance, and I don’t anticipate the same struggle with the Yeti Nano.

I have known for a while how popular Blue microphones are with budding podcasters, game streamers, remote workers and the like, so the brand was the first I turned to when I went looking for an upgrade. Out of the many devices in the company’s lineup, I ultimately decided to buy the Yeti Nano in part because of its design. It’s just compact enough to sit on my standing desk converter next to my monitor without obscuring the screen too much, and it’s still in a great spot for video calls. Initially I waffled between the Nano and the full-sized Yeti, but I ultimately decided that the few extra bells and whistles that come with the latter – namely stereo and bidirectional modes – weren’t necessary for my regular use. I was also able to pick up the Yeti Nano while it was on sale at Amazon, so instead of spending $100, I only dropped $80 on it. That means I can put a few extra dollars toward the next piece of tech that I decide will make my desk setup even more functional.

Apple's iPad mini is $100 off, plus the rest of the week's best tech deals

This week's tech news may have been dominated by the launch of the iPhone 14, but there are many good deals on existing gadgets that you can pick up right now, too. Apple's iPad mini is $100 off and down to its best price ever, while the AirPods Max remain on sale for $429. A few Samsung storage devices have dropped in price, and you can still pick up Solo Stove fire pits for up to 45 percent off. Plus, you can save a bunch on streaming services right now as Disney+, Hulu + Live TV and HBO Max are all running sales on their subscription plans. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today.

iPad mini

Valentina Palladino / Engadget

Apple's iPad mini is $100 off and down to $400 right now, which is the cheapest we've seen it. We gave the tablet a score of 89 for its powerful performance, refined design and USB-C charging.

Buy iPad mini (64GB) at Amazon - $400Buy iPad mini (256GB) at Amazon - $550

Apple iPad

Apple's entry-level iPad has dropped to a new all-time low of $280. We gave it a score of 86 for its solid performance, excellent battery life and improved Center Stage cameras.

Buy iPad at Amazon - $280

Apple TV 4K

The Apple TV 4K is back in stock at Amazon and on sale for $120. While not quite as cheap as it was on Prime Day in July ($109), this remains one of the best prices we've seen no our favorite high-end set-top box. We gave the device a score of 90 for its fast performance, Dolby Vision and Atmos support, HomeKit integration and much-improved Siri remote.

Buy Apple TV 4K at Amazon - $120

AirPods Max

Apple's AirPods Max are $120 off and down to $429, which is the cheapest price we've seen them on Amazon. We gave the headphones a score of 84 for their excellent sound quality, comfortable fit and strong ANC.

Buy Apple AirPods Max at Amazon - $429

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 2

Billy Steele/Engadget

Samsung's latest wireless earbuds, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, are on sale for the first time and down to $155. That's $75 off and a great deal on what we consider to be the company's best earbuds to date. We gave them a score of 86 for their solid sound quality, improved ANC and better fit.

Buy Galaxy Buds Pro 2 at Amazon - $155

Samsung Smart Monitor M8

Samsung

Samsung's Smart Monitor M8 is $110 cheaper than usual, bringing it down to $590. The company came out with this all-in-one display earlier this year and it's designed for those that want one screen that can do a lot of things. It works as a standard monitor, but it also comes with streaming technology built in, so you can use it as a smart TV as well.

Buy Samsung Smart Monitor M8 at Amazon - $590Buy Samsung Smart Monitor M8 at Samsung - $590

Samsung T7 Shield

Samsung

The 1TB model of the Samsung T7 Shield SSD is on sale for $110, which is close to a record-low price. This rugged drive has a tough exterior that can withstand drops from nearly 10 feet, plus an IP65 rating for dust- and water-resistance. It also has the same read/write speeds of the other T7 models and works with a bunch of devices including PC, Mac, Android and even some game consoles.

Buy Samsung T7 Shield at Amazon - $110

Solo Stove

Solo Stove's fire pits and bundles remain discounted right now. The Ranger 2.0, Bonfire 2.0 and Yukon 2.0 are down to $200, $230 and $430, respectively, and you can save on most bundles, too, including the Bonfire Backyard Bundle 2.0 that gives you a spark shield, stand, shelter, carrying case and lid along with the aforementioned fire pit. The sale also includes the new Mesa tabletop fire pit, which has been discounted from $120 to $80.

Shop fire pits at Solo Stove

Disney+

David Peperkamp via Getty Images

In honor of Disney+ Day, the House of Mouse has discounted its streaming service to $2 for the first month for new and returning subscribers. That's 75 percent off the normal monthly rate, which is one of the best discounts we've seen even if it only applies to one month of membership. After that first month, your subscription will go back up to $8. You have until September 19th to get this deal.

Subscribe to Disney+ for $2/month

Hulu + Live TV

Hulu

Hulu's latest promotion knocks $20 off its Live TV subscription service for three months for new and returning customers. That means you'll pay $50 per month for the service instead of the usual $70 for the first three months that you're subscribed. You can take advantage of the offer through October 5th, and with it you get live TV access along with standard Hulu streaming as well as access to Disney+ and ESPN+ libraries.

Subscribe to Hulu + Live TV - $50/month

HBO Max

HBO Max has discounted its annual plan, so you can save 30 percent if you sign up and pay for one year upfront. If you can deal with ads, the service will cost $70 for 12 months, down from the usual $100. to get an ad-free experience, you'll pay $105, which is $45 off the usual rate.

Subscribe to HBO Max

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