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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
For the past couple of years, Samsung has been putting out better and better wireless earbuds with every iteration. This year was no different with the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, which we consider to be the best Samsung buds yet. Normally priced at $230, you can pick up Samsung's latest buds for only $155 right now at Amazon. That's the first discount we've seen since they came out at the end of last month, making it a great time to pick up a pair if you've been eying them since launch.
Samsung refined the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro by making them 15 percent smaller than the previous versions, covering them in a matte coating and giving them an IPX7 water-resistance rating. Touch controls a little hard to get used to, but they work just fine once you get the hang of them. Sound quality is good and ANC is even better than it was on the previous versions, blocking out most environmental noises around you. You'll also be able to switch between ANC and ambient sound mode whenever you want.
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro work with Samsung's Galaxy Wearables app for Android, and there's no real iOS equivalent. So while you can use the buds with an iPhone, you won't have access to all of the features that Android users will. In the app, you can control things like Voice Detect, the feature that will automatically pause sound when the buds detect you speaking, 360 Audio, earbud finder and more. The app also has customizable controls for EQ presets, hands-free Bixby access, ambient sound during calls and other more advanced features. There's a lot you can play around with, provided you're using a Samsung phone or another Android handset.
Battery life is pretty standard on the Buds 2 Pro. You'll get five hours of listening time, plus another 18 hours with its charging case. While it could be better, that battery life estimate is in line with other flagship earbuds from companies like Apple, Google and others. Overall, Samsung did a good job making significant updates to the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro that push them well above their predecessors. If you have a Samsung phone and are in need of a new pair, these are the ones to get.
It's September, and that means new iPhones are coming right around the corner. Apple announced its latest smartphones are its "far out" event today, ushering in the era of the iPhone 14. Fans will have four options this time around: the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus, along with the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, with the latter two showcasing all of the latest hardware improvements you can get on an Apple handset today. The company also announced the much-rumored Apple Watch Ultra, a more durable, outdoorsy version of the classic smartwatch, as well as a slightly updated versions of the standard Apple Watch, Apple Watch SE and AirPods Pro. You'll be able to get your hands on all of these gadgets soon, so here's everything you need to know about how to pre-order the iPhone 14, the iPhone 14 Pro and all of the other devices announced today.
iPhone 14
Apple
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus will be available for pre-order starting on September 9th and will cost $799 and $899, respectively. The iPhone 14 will be more widely available on September 16th, while the iPhone 14 Plus will be more widely available on October 7th.
Both the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus offer minor improvements over last year's iPhone 13 series. The iPhone 14 has a 6.1-inch display while the 14 Plus has a 6.7-inch display, and both use Apple's Liquid Retina XDR panel technology. Both run on last year's A15 Bionic chipset, and Apple claims the iPhone 14 Plus has the best battery life of any iPhone to date. The company gave the cameras a slight upgrade as well: both smartphones have a new 12MP main camera with a larger sensor and faster aperture, while the front-facing camera has been updated to a 12MP TrueDepth shooter with autofocus. The main camera also supports a new feature called Action Mode, which makes videos with a lot of movement look smoother and more stabilized.
iPhone 14 models support 5G connectivity and enhanced eSIM capabilities. All US models lack physical eSIM trays, which means you can more easily connect to your cellular service provide using eSIM technology. As for new safety features, the iPhone 14 will support crash detection, which can detect when you've been in a car crash and automatically contact emergency services on your behalf, plus a new feature called Emergency SOS via Satellite. The latter will help you contact emergency services even when you're in an outdoor dead zone. That feature is coming in November and will be free for two years for those that buy an iPhone 14.
iPhone 14 Pro
Apple
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will be available for pre-order starting on September 9th and will start at $999 and $1,099, respectively. They will be more widely available on September 16th.
This year, the Pro phones have a noticeably different design than previous iPhones. The rumors about a pill-shaped cutout turned out to be true — the screen notch is now gone and has been replaced by this pill-shaped space that houses the front-facing cameras as well as Apple's privacy dots, which turn on when apps use your camera or microphone. From a software standpoint, that space is dubbed the "Dynamic Island" as it will change and expand to adapt what you're doing on your iPhone, notifications you receive and more.
The iPhone 14 Pro has a 6.1-inch display while the Pro Max has a 6.7-inch screen, and they're always-on for the first time ever. Apple designed the panel to be as power efficient as possible, dynamically adjusting the refresh rate down to as low as 1Hz when necessary. The new Lock Screen in iOS 16 will show a bunch of things on the display like the time, widgets, live activities and more, and the Pro screens will do things like automatically dim to preserve power while continuing to show you relevant information, Lock Screen photos and backgrounds and more.
As expected, the Pro handsets run on Apple's new A16 Bionic chip and they have an updated rear camera array along with a new TrueDepth front-facing camera. The rear setup includes a new 12MP telephoto lens, a 12MP ultra wide camera and a 48-megapixel main shooter that has a 65-percent larger sensor than that in the iPhone 13 Pro. The Pro phones will also support all of the new features found on the standard iPhone 14 models, including 5G and eSIM connectivity, crash detection, Emergency SOS with Satellite and more.
Apple Watch Ultra
Apple
The Apple Watch Ultra will be available to order starting today and will cost $799. It will be more widely available starting on September 23rd.
The new Apple Watch Ultra is designed for those that are avoid outdoor adventurers, water sport athletes and endurance trainers. It has a refined design with a larger, sapphire crystal display that sits flat against the Watch's 49mm titanium case. Apple added a new action button to the side of the case that's in a noticeable orange color, and can be customized to suit each user's quick-action preferences. The Digital Crown is larger as well, and the other side button protrudes a bit from the Watch's edge, and all of these hardware charges are supports to make the Ultra easier to use with gloves on.
The Apple Watch has been water resistant for quite some time, but the Ultra takes this up a notch with WR100 water resistance and a new built-in depth gauge that helps it be a tool for tracking activities like scuba diving. Apple also redesigned the compass app to be easier to use and show more precise locations, and the Ultra has a built-in siren that can alert others to your location from up to 600 feet away.
All Apple Watch Ultra models come with cellular connectivity built in, plus this model has the biggest battery of any Apple Watch to date. The company promises up to 36 hours of battery life on a single charge, and up to 60 hours of total battery life when using a "battery optimization setting" that's coming later to watchOS 9.
Apple Watch Series 8
Apple
The Apple Watch Series 8 will be available to order today and starts at $399 for the GPS-only models and $499 for the GPS + Cellular models. It'll be more widely available on September 16th. Those who order a new Apple Watch will also receive three months of Apple Fitness+ for free.
The Apple Watch Series 8 isn't as big of a departure from the Series 7 as the new Ultra model is. The Series 8 looks largely the same as the last year's model, but it now includes two temperature sensors that could help detect when you're running a fever and it will come in handy with Apple's new ovulation tracking features. The Watch will take your temperature on a regular basis and record that data in the Health app, and it'll provide alerts that show when you were likely ovulating based on that data and additional cycle data. In addition to new ovulation tracking, the Series 8 with watchOS 9 will also support possible cycle deviation alerts.
Another new feature available on the Series 8 (as well as the Ultra) is crash detection. This builds upon the existing emergency services features found on previous generations: the Watch can detect when you've been in a car crash, and when it does, it'll automatically alert your emergency contact as well as contact emergency services and provide them your location.
Otherwise, it's much the same as the Series 7 with an always-on display that reaches almost to the border of the case, a dust-proof and crack resistant design. It also still supports an all-day, 18-hour battery life, but it will also have a new low-power mode that can extend battery life to up to 36 hours in total. What's better is that low-power mode will be available on Apple Watch Series 4 and higher that run watchOS 9, so even if you have an older Watch, you'll be able to make use of this new feature.
Apple Watch SE
Apple
The new Apple Watch SE will be available to order today starting at $249 for the GPS-only models and $299 for the GPS + Cellular models. It'll be more widely available on September 16th.
Apple's minor update to its entry-level Watch brings the same SiP that's in the Series 8 to the more affordable smartwatch. The new SE will also support high heart rate alerts, fall detection and crash detection thanks to the upgraded sensors inside of the device.
AirPods Pro (second-generation)
Apple
The second-generation AirPods Pro will be available to order starting on September 9th and will cost $249. They'll be more widely available on September 23rd.
If you were hoping for drastically different AirPods here, you may be disappointed. Apple's latest AirPods Pro look almost identical to the previous model as most of the changes are internal. The buds have an updated H2 chip that enable features like personalized spatial audio and advanced computational audio. Apple's also promising up to two times better active noise cancellation on these earbuds when compared to the previous generation. The new buds also now support touch controls thanks to a new capacitive sensing layer on their stems, plus a longer, six-hour base listening time.
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