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The Morning After: The Amazon Prime Day deals worth your time and money

It’s back and here to ruin our savings and increase the gadgets in our homes. Yes, Amazon Prime Day isn’t entirely about headphones, tablets and wearables, but for Engadget staff… well, it feels like it is. Prime Day deals on tech are typically only matched by Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, making it a good time to pick up any devices you want – at a discount.

In the past, the best devices often weren’t given the Prime Day discount treatment, but this year has several things I not only bought myself but have recommended to friends and family. That includes $50 off the second-generation AirPods Pro (literally using them as I write this newsletter), last year’s Kindle e-reader, down from $100 to $65 and, my pick for the best smartphone under $500, the Google Pixel 7a, now a dollar shy of $450.

Our editors are looking out for subsequent bargains, as things have only just started. You can also follow Engadget Deals on Twitter for the latest news, and sign up for Engadget Deals newsletter – because you’re already subscribed to TMA, right?

– Mat Smith 

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Sarah Silverman sues ChatGPT owners and Meta over copyright infringement

The comedian alleges the companies didn't get her consent to use her work.

Reuters

Sarah Silverman is suing OpenAI, creators of ChatGPT, and Meta. On Friday, the comedian and author, alongside novelists Christopher Golden and Richard Kadrey, filed a pair of complaints against both companies. The complaints center around the datasets OpenAI and Meta allegedly used to train ChatGPT and LLaMA. In the case of OpenAI, while its Books1 dataset conforms approximately to the size of Project Gutenberg — a well-known copyright-free book repository — lawyers argue the Books2 dataset is too large to have derived from anywhere other than "shadow libraries" of illegally available copyrighted material. In one exhibit from the lawsuit, Silverman’s legal team asked the chatbot to summarize The Bedwetter, a memoir she published in 2010. The chatbot could not only outline entire parts of the book but also appeared to reproduce some passages verbatim.

Continue reading.

Google is testing its medical AI chatbot at the Mayo Clinic

Med-PaLM 2 can respond to medical questions, summarize documents and more.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Google is already testing its Med-PaLM 2 AI chat technology at the Mayo Clinic and other hospitals. It's based on the company's PaLM 2 large language model (LLM) that underpins Bard, Google's ChatGPT rival — and was launched just months ago at Google I/O.

During I/O, Google released a paper detailing its work on Med-PaLM2. On the positive side, it demonstrated features like "alignment with medical consensus," reasoning ability and even the ability to generate answers preferred by respondents over physician-generated responses. Less ideally, it showed the same accuracy problems we've seen on other Chat AI models – not what you’re looking for when in medical advice.

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This EV is basically an RC car, supersized

It can go over 60 MPH, costs $45k and will be street-legal in Europe.

The Little Car Company

UK-based The Little Car Company has built an adult-sized version of the Tamiya Wild One RC car, a toy that took the toy world by storm back in the 1980s. This is a fully electric vehicle with eight swappable battery packs that give an advertised 124 miles of range. The Tamiya Wild One Max was originally announced back in 2021, but the design has changed significantly since then. It’s bigger, more powerful and, of course, more expensive, as the original design was set to cost around $8,500. The new design also features a revised front suspension system, an interior for two occupants and a weight of 1,100 pounds.

Continue reading.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-the-amazon-prime-day-deals-worth-your-time-and-money-111513048.html?src=rss

The best Amazon Prime Day Apple deals on AirPods, MacBooks and more for 2023

Lots of Apple products are discounted for Amazon Prime Day, including the latest generation iPads, AirPods, MacBooks and Apple Watches. If you’ve had your eye on a brand new MacBook Air or want to get Apple’s budget SE smartwatch for even less, the sale is a good time to act. You won’t find new, unlocked iPhones or Apple’s HomePod speakers as Amazon doesn't tend to carry those, but most of Apple's current-model tech is seeing some of the best discounts so far this year. Here are the best Prime Day deals on Apple products we could find.

AirPods Pro (2nd gen)

Apple’s second generation AirPods Pro are on sale for $199 during Prime Day. That’s a $50 and the best price we've seen. They are our top pick for iPhone users in our earbuds guide and represent a big improvement over the first iteration, with better noise canceling and overall improved sound. They have an excellent transparency mode that lets you listen to music while still keeping aware of the sounds around you and they pair nicely with iPhones, iPads and Macs and make good use of Siri’s assistance.

AirPods (3rd gen)

Apple's updated AirPods have been discounted to $140 for Prime Day. Released in 2021, these wireless earbuds improve upon their predecessors in nearly every way. They have better sound quality, a more comfortable design and a longer battery life. They don't have ANC like the AirPods Pro do, but it's hard to beat the third-gen AirPods at this price for iPhone users.

AirPods (2nd gen)

The second-generation AirPods are down to $89 for Prime Day. These wireless earbuds are a bit old at this point, but if you have less than $100 to send and want a pair that work seamlessly with iPhones and other Apple devices, these are a good option. They fit similarly to Apple's EarPods and they have improved wireless range.

iPad Air

The latest iteration of Apple’s iPad Air is $500 after a $100 discount. We think it’s the best iPad for most people. It came out in 2022 and features Apple’s own M1 system-on-a-chip processor and a bright and sharp 10.9-inch display. We gave it a review score of 90, noting that the updated chip and 5G capabilities (on the cellular model) make it “almost future-proof.”

iPad (9th gen)

Apple's 9th-generation iPad is down to $250, which it's best price yet as it normally sells for $329. It’s the budget pick in our guide to the best iPads. Though it doesn’t have the thin bezels and as much accessory support as our favorite, the iPad Air, it's the most affordable way to snag an iPad. It’s a great couch companion that performs well for casual browsing, binge streaming and light gaming. 

The latest (10th) generation of Apple’s standard iPad in the 64GB size is down to $380 after a $70 discount. It’s got a slightly larger screen and a newer chip (though not Apple’s own M-series silicon). The latest gen also ditches the home button, which is nice, but does away with the headphone jack, which isn’t as great.

iPad mini

A smaller tablet like the iPad mini can do a lot of what your phone can while giving you more screen real estate. For Prime Day, Apple’s diminutive slate is $380 instead of its usual $499. We gave the mini an 89 in our review because of its fresh design and solid performance. It also pairs nicely with the second generation Apple Pencil, turning the mini into a portable digital notebook.

Apple Pencil (2nd gen)

The latest Apple Pencil is usually $129 but Prime Day is making it just $89. The second generation of the stylus works with the most recent models of the iPad mini, the iPad Air and both sizes of the iPad Pro. The standard iPad, even the latest iteration, still works with the first generation Apple Pencil, which is $79 right now. The Apple pencil lets you draw, sketch, take handwritten notes and even write in search boxes. The second gen pencil magnetically attaches to and charges from all compatible iPads.

Magic Keyboard

The Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air or the 11-inch iPad Pro is now just $250 as opposed to the $300 list price. The keyboard wraps around and magnetically attaches to your iPad, acting as a case when closed, then when it’s time to type, your tablet “floats”above the keyboard. It’s one of our favorite iPad accessories and in our review of the iPad Pro, we noted the Magic Keyboard “provides the best typing experience” for Apple’s tablets. The keyboard for the 12.9 inch iPad Pro is also on sale and going for $299 for Prime Day.

AirTags

Apple’s AirTags are discounted $90 for the four-pack. Compared to the usual $28.50 per-tag price, that’s a decent savings. We named the AirTags the best bet for iPhone users because they tap into Apple’s vast Find My network, pinging off nearby Apple phones to anonymously locate the tracker if it's ever lost out in the city.

Apple Watch Series 8

Apple’s flagship smartwatch is the Apple Watch Series 8 and Prime Day is giving it a $120 discount. Usually $399, the 41mm GPS model is now $280. The Series 8 is our favorite smartwatch thanks to its detailed health and fitness tracking along with a seamless integration with your iPhone’s apps and notifications. New features like temperature sensors, ECG and blood oxygen readings and improved sleep metrics give you more data than ever, while the crash detection can call for help if you’re ever in an accident. The upcoming WatchOS 10 will add widgets and expanded features including ways to track your mood in the Mindfulness app.

Apple Watch SE

The Apple Watch SE is Apple’s budget smart watch that’s usually listed at $250. Prime Day discounts are making it just $200 for the 40 mm size. The 44mm version is usually $270 but down to $230 for the sale. We called the SE “the best smartwatch $250 can buy” in our Engadget review. It makes surprisingly few sacrifices over the Series 8 and shares the same looks, processor and 50-meter water resistance. It doesn’t have an always-on display and lacks the sensors for blood oxygen, temperature and EKG readings. If you don’t need all that, you can still get scads of fitness and health data plus seamless integration with your iPhone.

MacBook Pro (M2, 14-inch)

The MacBook Pro offers music makers, video producers and other heavy users a lot of processing power with the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips. Amazon is selling the base model 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M2 Pro chip, 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage for $1,799, which is $200 off the usual $1,999. The base model 16-inch MacBook Pro with the same specs is down to $2,299 instead of $2,499. When the new MacBook Pros came out in January of this year, we gave the 14-inch model a 92 review score, praising the Liquid Retina XDR display, sturdy design and plethora of ports including three Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, HDMI, a headphone jack and a full-sized SD card slot.

The 2022 13-inch MacBook Pro is also on sale for $1,099 after a $200 discount, but we’re not as impressed with this machine. If you’re happy with a 13-inch screen, you’re probably better off going with the 13-inch MacBook Air.

AirPods Max

Apple’s over-ear headphones, the AirPods Max are on sale for $450, which is $100 off the usual $549. They earned an 84 in our review when they came out at the end of 2020. We liked the balanced sound, solid active noise cancellation and long 20-hour battery life with a unique low-power mode that leaves the headphones in standby so they’re ready to play as soon as you put them on.

Apple Studio Display

The usual $1,599 for the Apple Studio Display is pretty steep. Prime Day has brought the price down to $1,499, which makes it a little more palatable, but we still think the display is ideal only for true Apple devotees. The A13 Bionic chip inside makes it a little smarter than most displays, but the 60Hz refresh rate is disappointing. Still, it’s got a nice build with good speakers and a bright and accurate screen.

Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for the best Amazon Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In the Know. Hear from Autoblog’s car experts on must-shop auto-related Prime Day deals and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-prime-day-apple-deals-on-airpods-macbooks-and-more-110302021.html?src=rss

The best Amazon Prime Day headphone deals for 2023

Amazon Prime Day has brought several headphones and earbuds we recommend down to, or at least close to, the lowest prices we’ve tracked. If you’ve been looking to grab a new pair, now's a great time to. doso since Prime Day is typically only matched by Black Friday when it comes to sales on the latest headphones. We’ve rounded up the best Prime Day headphone deals we can find, covering models from Sony, Bose, Apple, Beats and several others.

Sony WH-1000XM5

The Sony WH-1000XM5 is down to $328 for Prime Day, which is a new all-time low and $70 off the noise-canceling pair’s list price. It's part of a larger Sony headphones sale that includes a number of solid models. The XM5 is the top pick in our guide to the best wireless headphones. We gave it a review score of 95 last year, praising its comfortable fit, effective active noise cancellation (ANC), crisp call quality and 30-ish hours of battery life. By default, they have a bass-forward sound that’s best suited for hip-hop and EDM, but you can customize the EQ through Sony’s companion app. Like many Sony headphones, they also come with a range of useful bonus features, such as Speak-to-Chat, which automatically pauses whatever you’re playing when the microphones detect you are speaking.

Sony WH-1000XM4

The XM5’s predecessor, the Sony WH-1000XM4, is also on sale for $248. That isn’t an all-time low, but it’s $100 off the pair’s MSRP and $30 below its typical sale price. Though we rate the XM5 higher, the XM4 still delivers powerful ANC, 30+ hours of battery life and a similar feature set. It can fold up, unlike its successor, and its headband has more plush padding. Some may also prefer to avoid the XM5’s adaptive ANC system, which adjusts automatically based on your environment. However, XM4 isn’t quite as adept at muting mid- and high-frequency noises, it sounds a little boomier out of the box and it doesn’t feel as light on the head. Its call quality is worse, too. But for less than $250, it’s still a great buy.

Bose QuietComfort 45

If you want a premium set of noise-canceling headphones for less than $200, the Bose QuietComfort 45 is another strong value at its Prime Day price of $199. That’s tied for an all-time low and roughly $110 below the pair’s average street price. We gave the QC 45 a review score of 86 in 2021 and call it a worthy alternative in our buying guide. It isn’t as fully-featured as the XM5 and only lasts around 20 hours per charge, but it has a more neutral sound by default, still-powerful ANC and a design that’s about as comfy yet doesn’t sacrifice the ability to fold up. They also use physical buttons instead of touch controls.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are on sale for $249, which is $20 more than its all-time low but still about $25 off its average street price. This is the “best noise cancellation” pick in our guide to the best wireless earbuds, and it earned a review score of 87 last year. Its ANC is among the strongest we’ve heard on any headphone, let alone a true wireless pair. It’s adept across low-, mid- and treble-range frequencies, so it can mute nearby voices, plane engines or the hum of an air conditioner with similar success. This pair is on the bulky side, however, and its lack of wireless charging and multipoint connectivity is disappointing at this price. It did gain single-bud support earlier this year, though.

Anker Soundcore Space A40

The Soundcore Space A40 was already our favorite pair of wireless earbuds for those on a budget, and now it’s even more affordable at $55. That’s $24 below its usual going rate. The Space A40 provides the kind of performance and features you’d expect from true wireless earbuds that cost twice as much: strong ANC, a small and light design, a warm sound that’s enjoyable out of the box but customizable through a companion app, a transparency mode, wireless charging, solid battery life around eight hours per charge and the ability to connect to two devices at once. It can’t auto-pause music when you remove an earbud, nor can it fully match the best premium pairs when it comes to ANC strength, sound quality or mic clarity. But it’s not far off, and it’s way easier on the wallet.

Apple AirPods Pro

The Apple AirPods Pro are available for $199, which is a deal we've seen for most of the last few months but still $50 less than Apple's list price. This set continues to be an excellent option for iPhone owners, as it connects easily with other Apple devices, bakes its controls directly into iOS, supports Find My tracking and lets you access Siri hands-free. Its ANC isn’t as broadly powerful as the QuietComfort Earbuds II, but it’s good, and its transparency mode is among the clearest we’ve heard. While you can’t manually customize the AirPods Pro’s sound, it’s pleasingly warm by default. That said, the six-hour battery life is just OK, the control scheme takes some getting used to, and you really need to be committed to the Apple ecosystem to get the most out of it. We gave the Pro a score of 88 last year and call it the “best for iOS” pick in our wireless earbuds guide.

Amazon Echo Buds (2023)

The latest Amazon Echo Buds are down to $35 for Prime members, which is a $15 discount and an all-time low. We recommend this pair in our budget wireless earbuds guide to those who prefer an open design instead of one that fully inserts into the ear canal. Its audio quality is solid for the price and form factor, and it supports features we don’t often see in this range, including auto-pausing, multipoint and EQ customization. It’s not sweat-resistant enough for the gym, but the design rests lightly in the ear. Naturally, it also has Alexa baked in. Don’t expect super rich sound or more than five hours of battery life, but if you can’t stand the feeling of in-ear headphones, the Echo Buds are a decent option at this price.

Apple AirPods (3rd gen)

The third-gen Apple AirPods are on sale for $140, tying its all-time low. Apple sells these earbuds for $169, though we often see them for $20 less on Amazon. It’s another open-back pair, but its balanced sound is a noticeable step up from the Echo Buds, with more bass depth than usual for unsealed earbuds (albeit not a ton). There’s no ANC, as expected, but you still get wireless charging, button-like touch controls and a host of Apple-friendly features. Just note that the earpieces are a little large, so they may not fit well with certain ear shapes. We gave the third-gen AirPods a review score of 88 in late 2021.

Apple AirPods (2nd gen)

The second-gen AirPods, meanwhile, are available for $90. That’s $10 off its typical street price. It’s hard to call this a great value in 2023: Its five-hour battery life is worse than the third-gen AirPods, the one-size-fits-all design can be finicky and you can get better sound for much less. But if you’re an iPhone user who wants the usual AirPods suite of software perks in an unsealed design, this older model may still work. The third-gen set gives a big upgrade in audio quality, but the thinner earpieces here may fit some better.

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2

The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 are down to $329, a $70 drop that matches the best price we’ve tracked. This is the runner up pick in our wireless headphones guide, and we gave it a score of 85 last year. It’s worth considering over the WH-1000XM5 if you’re willing to trade ANC strength for a more luxurious design. The hyped-up sound should particularly appeal to bass lovers, the battery lasts more than 30 hours per charge, and while the ANC can’t touch the best from Sony and Bose, it’s still useful. The XM5 offers better call quality and a wider range of software features, though, including a more extensive custom EQ tool.

Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT

Audio-Technica’s ATH-M20xBT are on sale for $55, which is a $24 discount and a new low. This is the budget pick in our wireless headphones guide, delivering a light fit, impressive battery life rated at 60 hours per charge, multipoint connectivity and good enough sound for the money. It has few bonus features, and its build quality isn’t exactly refined, but the M20xBT should fit the bill if you just want a no-frills wireless headphone on the cheap.

Anker Soundcore Life Q30

If you’re on a budget but don’t want to give up ANC, Anker’s Soundcore Life Q30 is another pair of wallet-friendly over-ears we like. It’s down to $56, which isn’t the best price we’ve seen but a $24 discount all the same. The Q30’s ample padding, 40 to 50 hours of battery life and multi-device pairing are nice, and though its ANC certainly isn’t top-tier, it’s beyond adequate at this price. Audio quality isn’t as nice as the M20xBT out of the box, as it massively inflates the bass, but you can rein it in somewhat through the Soundcore app. That said, the sound gets worse when ANC is off, and the plastic design is a little flimsy.

A couple of similar Soundcore headphones are also on sale for Prime Day, with the Soundcore Life Q35 down to $80 and the Soundcore Space Q45 down to an all-time low of $100. The former is $20 off its average street price, while the latter is a roughly $45 discount. The Q35 is a modest upgrade that improves call quality and adds support for the LDAC audio codec. The Q45 feels sturdier than either pair, improves the ANC and isn’t quite as bass-heavy by default. It also uses an adaptive ANC system. The Q45 is the best of the three for those willing to pay for it, though it trails the pricier options above, and the Q30 is the better bargain for those looking to spend as little as possible.

EarFun Air Pro 3

You can grab the EarFun Air Pro 3 for $50 when you use the code EAP3ANC1 at checkout. That’s $30 below its typical price. The Air Pro 3 is the runner up pick in our guide to the best budget wireless earbuds. It has a similar feature set to the Space A40, but its battery life and ANC are slightly worse, and it’s a little more amped in the bass and treble by default. Its mic quality and IPX5-rated water resistance are upgrades, however, so if you want to save a few bucks or just prefer an AirPods-style “stem” design, it’s a fine choice.

EarFun Free 2S

The EarFun Free 2S, meanwhile, are down to $27 with the checkout code FREE2SPD1, which is a $23 drop. We list the Free 2S as the “under $50” pick in our budget earbuds guide. It’s another one that’s heavy on the bass, but it’s a better example of a “fun” sound signature than most in its price range, and it’s comfortable to wear for hours at a time. It’s also fully waterproof. It lacks features like ANC, wear detection, multi-device pairing or a transparency mode, but for less than $30, its shortcomings are easier to accept.

JLab Go Air Pop

If you want a pair of competent wireless earbuds for the lowest amount possible, consider the JLab Go Air Pop. Right now it’s available for $16, which is a few bucks higher than its all-time low but $7 below its usual street price in recent months. We highlight the Go Air Pop in our budget wireless earbuds guide: For less than a Jackson, it provides a compact design, eight-ish hours of battery, IPX4 water resistance and a full set of functional touch controls. While there’s no app, JLab bakes three EQ presets into the earbuds themselves. The boomy sound is worse than the EarFun Free 2S, but this is a $16 set of earbuds that aren’t awful. As a backup for your main pair, you could do much worse.

Beats Studio Buds +

Prime Day has brought the first discount on the Beats Studio Buds +, as the recently released pair is $20 off at $150. We gave these earbuds a review score of 84 in May, praising their improved sound, ANC and call quality compared to the original Studio Buds. Like that pair, they’re tiny and comfortable, but they don’t use an Apple H1 or H2 chip, so they lack certain AirPods-style tricks such as automatic device switching and audio sharing. Others like fast pairing, Find My tracking and hands-free Siri are still available, though, and Beats supports similar features on Android. To be clear, the Studio Buds +’s ANC, battery life and audio quality slot behind the top picks in our buying guide, and their lack of auto-pausing and wireless charging is hard to swallow. But if you want a set of Apple earbuds that cost less than the AirPods Pro, they should have appeal.

For a cheaper alternative, the base Studio Buds are on sale for $90. They aren’t a better buy than the Space A40, but if you like the Studio Buds’ aesthetic, they’re still decent. We’ll also mention the Beats Fit Pro; that one isn't significantly discounted for Prime Day, but it’s our favorite true wireless pair for workouts and does utilize Apple’s H1 chip.

Sony LinkBuds S

The Sony LinkBuds S are on sale for $128, which matches their all-time low and sits about $35 below its average street price. This is an honorable mention in our wireless earbuds guide, as it delivers a small design that’s easy to wear over time, decent ANC and sound quality for the price and, like other Sony headphones, a useful suite of bonus features.

The top pick in our guide, Sony’s WF-1000XM4, is down to $198, but we’re hesitant to call it a good deal. The earbuds themselves are great, with better battery life, audio quality and ANC than the LinkBuds S (albeit in a larger frame). But severalrecentreports suggest that Sony will launch a follow-up in the near future. Most people should hold off on the current model for now, especially since we’ve seen this deal price for much of the last few months.

Google Pixel Buds Pro

The Google Pixel Buds Pro is down to $139, which is within $5 of the earbuds’ all-time low and roughly $45 off their typical going rate. This is the “best for Android” pick in our buying guide, since it offers AirPods-style integration with Google’s OS and Pixel phones in particular. Its ANC and punchy, V-shaped sound profile are pleasing (though not superlative), and it can get a good 11-ish hours of battery life with ANC off (or a decent seven hours with it on). Its call quality and transparency mode are mediocre, however, and the fit may be tricky for those with smaller ears. Still, this a decent mid-range option when it’s discounted to this extent. We gave the Pixel Buds Pro a score of 87 last year.

Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for the best Amazon Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In the Know. Hear from Autoblog’s car experts on must-shop auto-related Prime Day deals and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-amazon-prime-day-headphone-deals-163351574.html?src=rss

Apple Watch Series 8 falls to $280 for Prime Day

Apple’s latest and greatest smartwatch, the Series 8, has dropped to its lowest price ever, thanks to Prime Day. You can pick one up for $280, beating the previous low of $330. We called the Series 8 “well-rounded and full-featured” in our review last year, stating that it’s “arguably the best smartwatch around.”

To that end, the Series 8 is generally considered to be the best standard smartwatch available right now, thanks to solid fitness-tracking features, car crash detection, blood oxygen measurement tools, onboard music storage and so much more. The battery life is improved over the Series 7 and the build is extremely durable.

While the Series 8 is currently the best arm candy on the block, Apple’s likely to launch an improved Series 9 this fall. If you long for the newest tech, you might want to wait a few months, though the Series 9 will most likely cost a fair bit more than $280.

If $280 is a bit too rich for your blood, you can pick up the entry-level Apple Watch SE for just $200, thanks to a related Prime Day deal. The SE shares many features with its more expensive sibling, including crash detection, a Retina display and a durable aluminum casing.

Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for the best Amazon Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In the Know. Hear from Autoblog’s car experts on must-shop auto-related Prime Day deals and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-watch-series-8-falls-to-280-for-prime-day-103731788.html?src=rss

The best Amazon Prime Day Apple Watch and smartwatch deals for 2023

Whether you’re swapping out an aging wearable or are brand new to smartwatches, Amazon Prime Day is a good time to get a deal on an Apple Watch. The discounts extend to all three models in Apple’s current lineup, including the premium Apple Watch Ultra, the flagship Apple Watch Series 8 and the more affordable Apple Watch SE. Options from other brands like Samsung and Fitbit are also on sale. We’ve rounded up some of our recommended fitness trackers that are getting Prime Day discounts as well. Here are the best Prime Day deals on Apple Watches we could find.

Apple Watch Series 8

The Apple Watch Series 8 is the brand’s most recent flagship and usually sells for $399 for the 41mm GPS model. Prime Day brings it down to $280, which is the best price we've seen. The Series 8 is our top pick in our guide to smartwatches because it combines detailed health and fitness tracking with seamless iPhone integration. New features include temperature sensors, ECG and blood oxygen readings, crash detection, and improved sleep metrics. The upcoming WatchOS 10 will bump the utility even more with widgets plus expanded health, fitness and mindfulness features.

Apple Watch SE

The most affordable smartwatch in the lineup is the Apple Watch SE. Usually $250, Prime Day discounts are making it just $200 for the 40 mm size. The 44mm version is usually $270 but down to $230 for the sale. We called the SE “the best smartwatch $250 can buy” in our Engadget review. It uses the same processor, matches the 50 meter water resistance and looks nearly identical to the Apple Watch 8, though the SE lacks dust resistance and the always-on display. It also can’t give blood oxygen, temperature and EKG readings. But if you don’t need those things, you can save money while still getting plenty of fitness and health data along with seamless integration with your iPhone.

Smartwatches from other brands

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

Of course, Apple Watches only work with iPhones. For those who prefer Android devices, the Galaxy Watch 5 is our top recommendation in our smartwatch guide. Usually $280, it’s currently $160, which is 43 percent off. Samsung’s latest wearables run on Google’s Wear OS and gives you plenty of health data and fitness tracking along with sleep coaching and body composition analysis.

Fitbit Versa 2

The Fitbit Versa 2 is the budget pick in our smartwatch guide and down to $124 for Prime Day. Fitbit devices have always been fitness-focused and the Versa 2 tracks and auto-detects a slew of different workouts giving you plenty of data. But since it’s a smartwatch, it can play Spotify, has Alexa built in and brings your phone notifications and hundreds of apps to your wrist. It’s also device agnostic, pairing up with either iPhones or Android devices.

Fitness Trackers

Fitbit Charge 5

The Fitbit Charge 5 is our favorite overall tracker, and is currently $100 or $50 off its usual price. Fitness trackers aren’t as fully featured as smartwatches, but that typically means they have a longer battery life and cost a little less. We like the Charge 5 for its comprehensive activity tracking and health monitoring that comes in a thin profile with a multi-day battery life. It also pairs with both Apple and Android phones.

Fitbit Inspire 3

Our favorite budget fitness tracker is Fitbit’s Inspire 3 and Prime Day is making it even more affordable with a 20-percent discount that makes it just $80 rather than $100. It doesn’t have built-in GPS, but if you bring your phone along, its connected GPS capabilities will give you all the same data. It does offer monitoring for your heart rate, blood oxygen and skin temperature variations.

Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for the best Amazon Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In the Know. Hear from Autoblog’s car experts on must-shop auto-related Prime Day deals and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-watch-amazon-prime-day-deals-165228101.html?src=rss

Sony's WH-CH720N headphones are down to just $98 for Prime Day

Sony’s budget-friendly premium WH-CH720N headphones have sunken to their lowest price ever, $98, as part of a Prime Day deal. The regular price for these cans is $150, so this is a steep discount of over $50.

The WH-CH720N headphones are budget-friendly, but offer plenty of high-tech bells and whistles typically reserved for higher-priced models. In our review, we called out the pristine sound quality, decent battery life, comfortable fit and capable active noise cancellation (ANC). In other words, these headphones were a steal at $150, so the reduced price point puts them squarely in ‘impulse buy’ territory.

What are the downsides? These aren’t ultra-premium headphones, so they lack certain features. For instance, there’s no speak-to-chat tool that automatically pauses audio when you start talking. There’s also no accelerometers on-board, so the headphones won’t pause when you take them off. You have to exert energy and slap that pause button yourself. Oh, the horror.

Sony’s headphones do, however, include adaptive sound control features that automatically make adjustments depending on your location or activity. There’s also a manual EQ slider, DSEE upscaling and multipoint Bluetooth. The Amazon Prime Day is available for both the black and white versions.

Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for the best Amazon Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In the Know. Hear from Autoblog’s car experts on must-shop auto-related Prime Day deals and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sonys-wh-ch720n-headphones-are-down-to-just-98-for-prime-day-102315317.html?src=rss

Elizabeth Holmes has her 11-year prison sentence cut by two years

Elizabeth Holmes may be getting out of prison around two years earlier than expected. According to her profile on the Federal Bureau of Prisons website, Holmes' release date is now scheduled for December 29th, 2032. That means the time she'll serve is almost two years shorter than her original sentence, which was supposed to last for 11 years and three months. The agency has confirmed her shortened (nine years and seven months) sentence to The Guardian but didn't comment further, citing the privacy and safety of inmates. 

Holmes was indicted on charges of fraud back in 2018, a few years after a series of reports from the Wall Street Journal exposed that Theranos' proprietary "fingerprick" blood-testing technology was faulty. The publication had also reported that the company was aware of its issues but sent inaccurate test results to patients anyway. In 2022, Holmes was found guilty of defrauding investors and was sentenced to 135 months in prison, as well as three years of supervised release. 

The former Theranos chief, who had been out on bail from the time she was indicted, tried to convince the court to allow her to stay out of prison while she was appealing her case. She failed in her bid to stay out of prison, though, and reported to a minimum-security, all-female facility in Texas on May 30th. It's unclear why her sentence was quietly reduced, but factors like good conduct, the completion of assignments and rehabilitation programs, as well as the credits inmates receive for various activities could result in a shorter sentence. Based on the prison bureau's website, Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani, who was Theranos' former president, will also be released two years earlier than expected in April 2034. 

As for Holmes, she was ordered to pay $452 million in restitution to the fraud victims in addition to serving time in prison and going through supervised release. As Gizmodo notes, Holmes had an estimated net worth of $4.5 billion before Theranos' downfall. Forbes had lowered her estimated net worth to nothing a year later, and her lawyers argued that she could not afford to add $250 per month to her restitution schedule after she gets out. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/elizabeth-holmes-has-her-11-year-prison-sentence-cut-by-two-years-101541361.html?src=rss

The best Amazon Prime Day TV deals for 2023

Amazon Prime Day has begun, and it’s brought a number of TV discounts along with it. If you’ve been looking to pick up a new set, we’ve rounded up the best Prime Day TV deals we could find below. While we don’t formally review TVs at Engadget, we’ve pored over reviews from users and other sites we trust to ensure you don’t waste your money. The TV market itself is in a bit of a transition period, so be aware that many of our picks are 2022 models that are close enough to their successors but cost much less. And if you don’t need a new TV, we’ve also included a few Prime Day deals on media streamers.

Samsung S95B

The 65-inch Samsung S95B is on sale for $1,598, matching its all-time low. Typically, this highly-rated set has cost an extra $100 to $200 in recent months.

The S95B’s QD-OLED panel combines OLED tech with a quantum dot layer, allowing it to deliver high contrast and wide viewing angles without sacrificing as much as typical OLED TVs in terms of brightness and color saturation. This means it should provide a rich image even in brighter rooms. It can also play up to 4K 120Hz, which is handy for the PS5 or Xbox Series X, but like all Samsung TVs, it doesn’t support Dolby Vision HDR.

The S95B is a 2022 model, so it’s on the way out in favor of the new S95C. The latter supports a faster 144Hz refresh rate and runs its ports through an external box, which makes the design thinner. Other reviewerssay it can get a bit brighter, too. But the S95 currently costs $2,298 and $2,298 for a 55- and 65-inch model, respectively, and its upgrades don’t appear to be massive enough to justify that extra cost for most. If you’re in the market for a premium TV, the S95B should remain the better value while it’s still available.

LG C2

For a (relatively) more affordable OLED TV, the 55-inch LG C2 is down to $1,097, while the 42-inch model is available for $797. Neither offer is an all-time low, but they're each about $140 below their respective street prices. The C2 can't match the brightness and color range of a QD-OLED set like the Samsung S95B, but it still offers excellent contrast, deep black levels and wide viewing angles. It has four HDMI 2.1 ports that can play 4K at 120Hz, it supports gaming-friendly features like VRR and ALLM, and it comes in a wider range of sizes than the S95B. It works with all the major HDR formats, too, Dolby Vision included. It's just less ideal in a brightly-lit room. 

LG has rolled out a new C3 model for 2023, but it’s pricier, and manyreviewssuggest it’s only a marginal upgrade outside of adding support for DTS audio.

Sony A80K

If the LG C2 goes out of stock, the Sony A80K is another commendable OLED TV. It's down to $1,098 for a 55-inch model and $1,498 for a 65-inch model. Both deals mark new lows: The former is about $250 off its recent street price, while the latter is a roughly $300 discount. The C2 is broadly considered a better option thanks to its superior brightness levels and two extra HDMI 2.1 ports, but the A80K still gets you the core benefits of an OLED display. It also runs on Google TV, which some may prefer to LG's webOS platform. Like the C2, you'll get the most out of it if you stay away from glare. 

Sony’s 2023 follow-up, the A80L, should be a better buy when prices come down, but right now it starts at $1,698. At that price, most should be better off with the Samsung S95B.

Samsung QN90B

The Samsung QN90B is back down to $1,098 for a 55-inch model. If you’re looking for a smaller set, the 43-inch version is on sale for $898 as well. The QN90B is an LCD TV, so it can’t supply the near-perfect blacks and super wide viewing angles of an OLED panel, but it can get significantly brighter, and reviewssayitprovides better contrast than most non-OLED TVs thanks to its Mini LED backlight. There’s still no Dolby Vision, but it gives you four full HDMI 2.1 ports, 4K/120Hz support and multiple types of VRR. If you want a high-end TV for a room plagued by glare, it’s a good buy.

The new QN90C is out but costs much more, so again, last year’s set is still the better buy for now. If you opt for the 43-inch model, note that it has worse viewing angles than the larger variants but also supports a faster 144Hz refresh rate. That feature should be useful if you want a TV that can double as a gaming PC monitor.

Samsung The Frame TV

Samsung’s 55-inch The Frame TV is down to $988, which is a new low and about $450 off its typical street price. The Frame is a TV for those willing to trade some picture quality for classy aesthetics, as it’s designed to look like a piece of art you can mount against a wall. When you aren’t watching something, you can use it to display artwork and photos. A few pieces come included, while others are sold with a subscription. The Frame’s QLED panel lacks local dimming, so its contrast and HDR performance can’t really compete with the best options in its price range. It only has one HDMI 2.1 port, too. But the image is still far from poor, and its design does well to blend into a wall, as we’ve professed before.

Hisense U8H

For those on a tighter budget, the 55-inch Hisense U8H is a strong value at $600. That’s only $50 or so less than the price we’ve seen for most of the last few months, but it ties the TV’s all-time low. For the money, the U8H’s Mini LED backlight, quantum dots and full-array local dimming deliver impressive contrast, brightness and black uniformity. It supports both Dolby Vision and HDR10+, and its two HDMI 2.1 ports can play 4K content at a smooth 120Hz. It’s still a step down from the premium TVs above, particularly when it comes to viewing angles. But at this price, it’s hard to top, and it should work in bright or dark rooms.

The just-released Hisense U8K, meanwhile, promises a 144Hz refresh rate and more local dimming zones, but it currently starts at $800, and we can’t say how much of an upgrade it is in practice just yet.

TCL 6-Series R655

TCL’s 6-Series TV is down to $650 for a 55-inch model, which is $50 off its usual rate. This is a close competitor to the Hisense U8H: Its contrast and peak brightness aren’t as strong according to reviewsaround the web, but it still performs well for the price, and it might be worth a look if you prefer Roku OS to the U8H’s Google TV platform.

Several of TCL’s 2023 TVs are down to new lows as well, including the 55-inch Q6 for $400, the 55-inch Q7 for $550 and 65-inch flagship QM8 for $1,200. None of these are really a one-to-one replacement for the 6-Series, though. The Q7 is the closest, but it lacks the 6-Series TV’s Mini LED backlight. The QM8 does have Mini LED tech, but it’s priced to compete with OLED and higher-end LCD sets. We’ve yet to test the new TCL TVs and reviews elsewhere are sparse, so consider this a PSA more than a full recommendation.

Hisense A6H

The Hisense A6H is down to $228 for a 50-inch model and $198 for a 43-inch set. Both deals match all-time lows. The A6H is very much an entry-level 4K TV, so don’t expect especially high contrast or rich colors compared to pricier options. There’s no local dimming, and it’s limited to a 60Hz refresh rate. But for this price, its picture is perfectly fine. The 50-inch model’s VA panel should be particularly decent in a dark room, though it’ll have narrower viewing angles than the 43-inch set’s IPS display. And while it can be sluggish to navigate apps, its Google TV interface makes it easy to find things to watch. None of this will blow you away, but as a cheap secondary TV, the A6H should do the job.

If you’re looking for a middle ground between the A6H and U8H, consider the Hisense U6K. It costs $500 for a 55-inch model and offers Mini LED backlighting, which is rare for the cost. Recentreviews say it delivers better contrast control and color volume than most TVs in its price range as a result, though it’s still limited to 60Hz and doesn’t have the widest viewing angles. It’s not priced any lower than usual for Prime Day, either.

Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED Series

Amazon’s Fire TV Omni QLED Series is on sale in several sizes for Prime Day, with the 43-, 50-, 55- and 65-inch models down to $380, $400, $430 and $600, respectively. Those match the best prices to date for the 43- and 65-inch sets; the other two are $30 more than their previous lows. You’d get the Omni QLED if you’re especially fond of Amazon’s Fire OS, as its useful voice remote, hands-free Alexa support and tight integration with Amazon services are like having a Fire TV Cube baked into the TV. (You can turn off the mics with a built-in switch.) Its picture quality isn’t bad, either, but reviews say its brightness lags behind competing models from Hisense and TCL.

Roku Streaming Stick 4K

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is the top pick in our guide to the best media streamers, and right now it’s available for $35. While that’s $10 more than the lowest price we’ve tracked, it’s $15 below Roku’s list price and $5 less than the typical sale price we’ve seen this year.

The Streaming Stick 4K supports all the major apps and HDR standards, including Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG. Its compact design plugs directly into an HDMI port, while its remote has volume and power controls for your TV. The whole thing is quick to load apps, and for those with Apple devices, it also supports AirPlay 2. While Roku’s OS is blander than rivals from Google and Amazon, its grid-style UI is dead simple to navigate, and its search function does well to present shows from across streaming services.

Note that Roku also sells the Streaming Stick 4K+, which has an upgraded voice remote with a rechargeable battery, a lost remote finder and a headphone jack for private listening. (The Streaming Stick 4K can also do private listening, but only through the Roku mobile app.) The Plus model is better if you can afford it, but it’s not on sale as of this writing.

Roku Express 4K+

If you want a more affordable 4K Roku streamer, the Roku Express 4K+ is worth considering at its Prime Day price of $27. While that’s not an all-time low, it’s $13 off Roku’s MSRP. The Express 4K+ offers the same general experience as the Streaming Stick 4K, but it can’t plug directly into a TV, it doesn’t support Dolby Vision and it has slightly slower WiFi, so it may have more trouble if your internet is particularly finicky. The Streaming Stick 4K is the safer buy when both devices are on sale, but if you really want to save, this is a fine value.

Google Chromecast with Google TV (4K)

The Google Chromecast with Google TV is down to $40, which is a deal we’ve seen several times before but still comes in $10 below its list price. This is the runner-up pick in our buying guide: It’s getting a bit long in the tooth, but it’s worth grabbing over a Roku streamer if you want a device that’s more proactive about recommending shows you might like based on your viewing history. Compared to Roku OS, Google TV is centered more on content than apps (though it’s still easy to reach the latter), and it’s more nuanced when it comes to voice controls and searching for content. Naturally, it also works better with Google services like YouTube TV, though it doesn’t support AirPlay or Apple TV+.

Google makes an HD version of the Chromecast that outputs in 1080p but otherwise works like the 4K model. It’s not on sale now, but it’s a good choice if you like the Google TV experience and want to add streaming functionality to an older or smaller set.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is on sale for $25, which is $30 below its list price and $10 lower than the usual sale price we’ve seen. This is Amazon’s fastest streaming stick, and its remote comes with Alexa baked in. It supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG, and like the rest of the Fire TV lineup, it has just about all of the necessary streaming apps. Unlike the standard Fire TV Stick 4K, it includes a WiFi 6 radio, though you’ll need a compatible router and an unusually fast internet connection to see any advantage from that.

We generally prefer Roku’s and Google’s interfaces over Amazon’s Fire TV OS, which more aggressively displays ads on its home screen and prioritizes Amazon’s content throughout the UI. It lacks AirPlay support as well. But these issues might be easier to look past if you often use Alexa and Prime Video, especially when the upfront cost is this low.

Amazon Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick Lite

The standard Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick Lite are best used with older TVs, as they each top out at a 1080p resolution instead of 4K. Both lack Dolby Vision HDR – though they retain HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG – and can be more sluggish than the 4K Max when switching between apps as well. That said, the rest of the experience is similar. The main difference is that the base Fire TV Stick’s voice remote has app shortcuts and TV controls for volume and power, while the Fire TV Stick Lite’s remote does not.

Most people who really want a Fire TV streamer should just get the 4K Max, but if you want to upgrade an office or bedroom TV on the cheap, the Fire TV Stick is down to $17, while the Fire TV Stick Lite is down to $15. Both deals represent all-time lows.

NVIDIA Shield TV Pro

The NVIDIA Shield TV Pro is available for $170 this Prime Day, a $30 drop that matches the set-top box’s all-time low. This is the most niche player we recommend in our guide, as it released in 2019, still costs a ton and uses Android TV instead of the newer Google TV platform found on the Chromecast. We highlight it for gaming specifically, as its still-speedy Tegra X1+ chip plays well with NVIDIA's GeForce Now game streaming service and various Android games. If you’re looking to run a Plex media server or emulate older games, it makes sense there as well. The box itself is loaded with ports, and it uses upscaling technology to make 1080p content look crisper on 4K TVs.

It’s hard to call the Shield TV Pro a great value at this price in 2023, but if you’re an enthusiast who has had their eye out for a sale, this is a chance to save at least a little bit.

Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for the best Amazon Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In the Know. Hear from Autoblog’s car experts on must-shop auto-related Prime Day deals and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-amazon-prime-day-tv-deals-100719094.html?src=rss

Samsung’s entire Galaxy S23 lineup is cheaper than ever for Prime Day

Samsung makes some of the best high-end Android phones money can buy, and as it just so happens, Amazon has discounted a handful of the company’s flagships during Prime Day 2023. The highlight of the sale is the 256GB variant of the Galaxy S23+, which is down to an all-time low of $800. Normally, that version of the S23+ will set you back $1,000, though it’s been possible to find the handset on sale for $850 in recent months. Either way, the additional $50 off makes an already great phone even more compelling. Engadget awarded the Galaxy S23+ a score of 86 at the start of the year. Deputy Editor Cherlynn Low praised the phone for its solid battery life, excellent performance and vibrant display, but found the main camera could have performed better in low-light situations.

If you want the best slate device Samsung offers, it’s worth noting the Galaxy S23 Ultra is also on sale. At the moment, you can buy the 256GB model for $950, or $250 off MSRP. That too is an all-time low, with the S23 Ultra going on sale for $1,000 on a few occasions in the last year.

Amazon has also discounted Samsung’s foldables during Prime Day. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is currently $1,100. That’s a substantial discount from the $1,800 the device was at launch last year. It’s even a decent discount from the $1,350 the Z Fold 4 has sold for on occasion. Meanwhile, you can get the Galaxy Z Flip 4 for $800, a $100 discount from its previous all-time low of $900. Those are great prices for Samsung’s latest foldables, but I would advise against buying either the Z Fold 4 or Z Flip 4 right now. Samsung’s next Unpacked showcase is later this month, and the company has already said that it plans to unveil the next-generation of its foldables at the event.

Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for the best Amazon Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In the Know. Hear from Autoblog’s car experts on must-shop auto-related Prime Day deals and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsungs-entire-galaxy-s23-lineup-is-cheaper-than-ever-for-prime-day-100635179.html?src=rss

The best Amazon Prime Day camera and drone deals for 2023

If you're looking for a camera (or drone) for content creation, travel photography and more, Amazon Prime Day has some great deals, including rare sales on popular models. For example, Sony's latest A7 IV model is on sale for the first time at $2,400, or $2,600 with a 28-70mm kit lens — saving you $100 on each. DJI, which doesn't often discount its popular drones, is selling the Mini 3 Pro with DJI RC remote for $729. Meanwhile, Canon is selling its R50 creator's kit for $850 for a savings of $150, Panasonic has its full frame Lumix S5 on sale with two lenses (including a prime) for $1,700 (40 percent off) and OM System is selling the OM-D E-M1 Mark III mirrorless camera for just $1,300, for an impressive $500 discount. There are plenty of other deals as well, and if you don't find what you want at Amazon, some of the products come with the same discount elsewhere. 

Sony A7 IV

Sony’s A7 IV is a successful follow-up to its popular mainstream A7 III. Resolution is up considerably to 33 megapixels, and image quality is much improved overall. Video is now on par with rivals with 4K at up to 60p with 10 bit 4:2:2 quality. Autofocus is incredible for both video and stills, and the in-body stabilization does a good job. The biggest drawbacks are rolling shutter that limits the use of the electronic shutter and the relatively high price — but the $100 discount helps ease the latter a bit. The sale is on now, but extends to July 16th. 

Sony A7 III

When it first came out, I said that Sony's 24.2-megapixel A7 III was a "near-perfect all-around camera." That still applies. The already excellent 693-point hybrid phase detect autofocus system has been updated via firmware with the real-time eye and animal AF features introduced with the A6100/A6400 models. On top of that, you can shoot bursts at up to 10 fps with continuous autofocus and auto exposure. On the video side, however, it's been surpassed by the like-priced Z6 and S1 models from Nikon and Panasonic. As mentioned, the deals are good until July 16th, but act soon before stock runs out. 

DJI Mini 3 Pro drone with DJI RC screen remote

The DJI Mini 3 Pro is a lightweight drone under 250 grams, but it’s loaded with features found on bigger models like the Mavic 3. It has some of the best image quality specs on a lightweight drone, including 4K 60p, 1080 120p and 48-megapixel photos. It also offers most of the AI and tracking features found on the Mavic 3, like ActiveTrack, QuickShots and more. DJI also introduced the screen-equipped RC remote that’s more convenient than using a smartphone. The Mini 3 Pro is a bit expensive at $909 with the RC remote, but it's far more palatable at $729.

Canon R50 Content Creator Kit

Canon’s 24-megapixel EOS R50 is the company’s third APS-C camera to launch in the EOS R mount ecosystem. Weighing just 375 grams and packing a built-in flash, it’s extremely portable so it’s great for travel, parties, street photography and more. At the same time, it can shoot images at up to 15 fps, outputting high-quality, human-friendly photos. It’s capable for video as well, with 4K 30p supersampled from 6K, with 10-bit capability via HDR PQ. With features aimed at creators, you can grab it in a kit with a stereo microphone, tripod grip, wireless remote and an S18-45mm lens — saving you $150 on the kit. 

Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master full-frame zoom lens

Sony's FE 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master full-frame lens covers the standard zoom range, so it's great for all kinds of shooting. It offers incredible G Master optics, but it's currently on sale at $1,598, the lowest price we've seen to date. 

Panasonic Lumix S5 with two lenses

With the arrival of the Lumix S5 II, Panasonic is offering some stellar deals on its predecessor, the S5. It’s smaller and costs less than the Lumix S1, but it actually delivers better video features. That includes a flip-out display, five-axis in-body stabilization and 10-bit 4K recording at up to 60 fps. The autofocus is faster and more accurate than the S1, but not as good as Sony and Canon’s systems for video. Still, at this price, it's one of the best cameras currently available for content creators. 

OM System E-M1 Mark III

Despite being a few years old, the 20-megapixel OM System (formerly Olympus) E-M1 III is still one of the best wildlife photography cameras available. It offers excellent image stabilization, fast shooting speeds, a compact, weather-proof body, flip out screen and accurate colors. It's also a solid choice for content creators, with 4K 30p video and OM-Log mode to boost dynamic range. Best of all, powerful telephoto lenses are relatively inexpensive compared to other brands. It's now on sale for $1,299, saving you $500 over the regular price. 

Sony A7C

Sony’s 24.2-megapixel A7C is a slightly smarter version of the popular full-frame A7 III in the smaller body of the crop-sensor A6600. That means it’s easy to carry around, but has worse handling than the A7 III. It has very similar image quality, shooting speeds and video specs as the A7 III, but uses Sony’s latest AI smarts to improve autofocus tracking. The A7C isn’t quite as capable as recent cameras like the Canon R6, but it’s a bit cheaper. Overall, it’s a good choice for hybrid shooters that lean to the photo side who want a lightweight, modestly priced full-frame camera.

Sony A6600

As Sony’s flagship APS-C camera, the 24.2-megapixel A6600 has a lot to offer. It comes with features like real-time AF tracking, a pop-up screen, in-body stabilization, solid battery life and awesome photo quality. It's also a great travel camera thanks to the compact size. It is a bit old now, having come out in 2019, but it's an attractive option at this low price. 

These are the best deals we've found, but there are others as well. Sony in particular is active, with savings on no less than seven cameras and multiple lenses. For example, the 62-megapixel A7R IV is on sale for $2,998 (6 percent off). In addition, it's fastest prime lens, the FE 50mm f/1.2 model, is discounted $100 to $1,898. You can also grab the Panasonic S5 (body only) for $1,298 if you don't need the lenses, saving 35 percent off the regular price. 

There are some notable deals on accessories, too. Lexar's V60 II memory cards (250MB/s read and 120MB/s write) are up to 31 percent off, with the 128GB model priced at just $31 and the 256GB model at $62. The faster V90 II cards are marked down up to 44 percent, with the best deal on the 128GB card ($96). You can also grab deals on the company's microSDXC cards, with the best deal on the 1TB Play card ($63 or 52 percent off). And if it's a camera backpack you're looking for, LowePro's Slingshot Edge 250 AW is marked down to just $74, or 56 percent off the regular price. And one its best backpacks, the ProTactic 450 AW II is on sale for $205, for a savings of 45 percent. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-best-amazon-prime-day-camera-and-drone-deals-for-2023-100032590.html?src=rss