Google is launching another feature drop for Pixel phones and the Pixel Watch. The updates include faster nighttime photography and the broader availability of Magic Eraser, Health Connect and Direct My Call+.

Night Sight, Google’s low-lit photography feature, is now faster for Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro users. The company chalks up the speed boost to “new and improved algorithms” for the Tensor chip inside the phones. Additionally, the company says Magic Eraser is now available on all Pixel handsets. The highly marketed feature scrubs unwanted people or objects from photos, filling in the backgrounds behind them (usually) seamlessly. Magic Eraser launched as an exclusive feature to the Pixel 6, but the company recently expanded it to older Pixels and Google One.

In addition, Google’s Health Connect app, a hub for storing health and fitness data from various apps, will now come pre-installed on Pixels. Finally, Direct My Call+ arrives on the Pixel 4a and older models. This feature lets you see businesses’ call menu trees before they’re spoken, allowing you to skip the most tedious part of dialing customer service.

Additionally, Google reiterated its addition of Fall Detection on the Pixel Watch (it began rolling out last month). Similar to the Apple Watch feature of the same name, it can detect a hard fall and call emergency services if you’re unresponsive. At that point, it will play an automated message to the dispatcher or let you speak to them live.

Unlike the iOS ecosystem, where Apple is the only game in town, one of the best things about the Android phone market is the wide range of different devices and manufacturers to choose from. That said, when it actually comes time to upgrade, that wealth of options can make it a bit more difficult to choose the right handset for you. If you’re looking for a new phone and don’t know where to start, we’ve got you covered with a selection of the best Android phones for every budget.

What to look for in a new Android phone

Performance

When it comes to picking our favorite Android phones, the main things we look for are pretty straightforward: good performance (both compute and AI), a nice display, solid design, sharp cameras, long battery life and a significant commitment to ongoing software support. For performance, not only do we look at benchmarks and other metrics, but we also evaluate phones based on responsiveness. Regardless of whether you’re reading, browsing social media or playing a game, no one wants a device that feels sluggish.

Display

Sam Rutherford/Engadget

When it comes to displays, we generally prefer OLED panels that can produce rich, saturated colors with at least 600 nits of brightness, though many of our top mid-range and high-end phones can hit 1,000 nits or more. And more recently, most of our favorite devices also support screens with fast refresh rates of 90Hz or 120Hz, which adds an extra level of smoothness and fluidity.

Design

Now we will admit there is a bit of subjectivity when deciding which phones look the best, but there are other design aspects like dust and water resistance or screen durability that can make a big difference to long-term survival. It’s also important to consider things like support for wireless charging, power sharing (aka reverse wireless charging) and UWB connectivity, which can have an impact on how your phone interacts with your other devices.

Cameras

Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Obviously, for photos we’re looking for sharp, colorful shots in both bright and low-light conditions. And we want video clips with high dynamic range, rich audio and smooth image stabilization. Extra cameras for ultra-wide and zoom lenses are a plus. It’s also important to consider features like dedicated night modes, support for various video recording resolutions, and additional photo modes like timelapse, slow motion and more.

Battery and software

Finally, in terms of battery life, we’re looking for all-day longevity on devices that also delivered great results on our local video rundown test (at least 16 hours on a charge, but more is obviously better). And with people holding onto their phones longer than ever, we like to see companies commit to at least three years of software support and regular security patches.

Best Android phone overall: Google Pixel 7 Pro

The Pixel 7 Pro and the standard Pixel 7 might not be the absolute fastest phones on the market, but what they lack in pure performance they make up for with thoughtful software. Thanks to Google’s Tensor G2 chip, the Pixel 7 series features powerful AI and machine learning capabilities that support things like on-device language recognition and real-time translation. You also get gorgeous OLED displays and the best overall camera quality of any smartphone available today. And with the standard Pixel 7 starting at just $600, Google’s latest flagship is an incredible value too. The main differences between the two are that the Pixel 7 Pro has a larger 6.7-inch screen and features a third rear camera with a 5x optical zoom. But regardless of whether you prefer a smaller or larger device, you can’t really go wrong with either the Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro.

Best mid-range Android phone: OnePlus 11

For those who want a phone with a big screen, solid cameras and great performance, but for less than a traditional flagship, the OnePlus 11 strikes a good balance between budget phones and more premium devices. In a lot of ways, the OnePlus 11 is like a more affordable Galaxy S23+. Not only do you get a similar 6.7-inch 120Hz display, it also features a speedy Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and a big 5,000 mAh battery. Meanwhile, thanks to OnePlus’ blazing 100-watt wired charging, it juices up faster than any phone from Google or Samsung. And on the camera side, the company’s ongoing partnership with Hasselblad has resulted in notable improvements in image quality.

The main shortcomings of the OP11 are that its IP64 rating for dust and water resistance falls short of what you get from competing devices, and the camera’s 2x optical zoom lens feels a bit on the short side. But with OnePlus adding wider carrier compatibility and committing four years of OS upgrades and five years of security patches, the OP11 is a well-equipped option that costs significantly less than its rivals.

Best budget Android phone: Google Pixel 6a

If you just want a simple phone for a good price, the Pixel 6a can’t be beat. Starting at just $449, you get a vibrant 6.1-inch OLED and Google’s Tensor chip along with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. But the thing that separates the Pixel 6a from other budget phones are its cameras which, thanks to Google’s superior image processing, produce pictures that are sharper and more accurate than competitors twice its price. Meanwhile, Google’s commitment to software updates means you should get at least three years of OS support and five years of security patches. And thanks to all of the Pixel-specific software features like Call Screener, Hold For Me and the Pixel Recorder app, you can get a very affordable device with a ton of smarts.

Best premium Android phone: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Starting at $1,200, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is very expensive, but it has practically everything you could ever want or need in a smartphone. It has a huge 6.8-inch OLED display with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, a total of five cameras (main, ultra-wide, 3x zoom, 10x zoom and a selfie shooter) and a built-in S Pen for drawing and note-taking. It also features a huge 5,000 mAh battery that delivers some of the longest runtime we’ve seen on any phone. And with Samsung’s renewed commitment to software support, you can expect a minimum of four major OS upgrades and five years of regular security patches.

Best foldable Android phone: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

While the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is arguably the most stylish and compact phone on the market, the bigger and more expensive Z Fold 4 is like three devices in one, which makes it a unicorn among mobile devices. When you just need to respond to a text or look up an address quickly, its 6.2-inch exterior cover screen makes that a cinch. But when you want to sit down to watch a movie or play a game, you can open up the Fold to reveal a stunning 7.8-inch flexible display. It’s compact when you need it to be, while providing an immersive viewing experience when you don’t. And thanks to support for stylus input, you even can use one of Samsung’s S Pens designed specifically for the Fold to quickly draw or jot down a note. On top of all that, its OLED display makes the Z Fold 4 great for reading books and comics. And unlike practically any other non-Samsung foldable, the Fold also has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. In a lot of ways, this thing is the Swiss Army knife of phones. Sure, it’s a bit bulky, and at $1,800 it’s not what anyone would call affordable. But its ability to serve as a phone, a tablet, an e-reader and more depending on the situation puts the Z Fold 4 in a category of its own.

If you're looking to purchase a decent speaker, now may be the time. The Anker Soundcore Motion+ Speaker is currently 30 percent off on Amazon — down from $107 to $75 — as part of a wider Amazon sale on Anker's portable speakers. 

Engadget rated the Soundcore Motion+ as one of the best portable speakers for 2023 thanks to its level of sound quality for the price. It creates a clear bassy sound while also allowing for customization with six EQ modes controllable from your phone. The Bluetooth 5.0 speaker has a battery life of 12 hours, long enough for any late nights. Plus, it also offers with a 3.5mm AUX input for further listening options. The Motion+ is IPX7 waterproof, meaning it can keep pumping out tunes even if submerged in water for a half hour.

It's round, thin frame certainly makes it one of the sleeker options of the Anker Soundcore family. Though right now only the black style is on sale, with the red and blue editions each available for $111. 

Two other Anker Soundcore speakers are also on sale if you're looking for something a bit cheaper. The Anker Soundcore Mini has a small discount, down from $24 to $20. Its features include 15 hours of playtime, FM-radio, and a noise-cancelling microphone. Plus, it's size makes transporting it a little more convenient than the Motion+ if you plan to regularly be on the go. 

For a little more money you can get the Anker Soundcore Flare Mini at $30. For an extra $10, it's probably the better option of the two if you plan on having a lot of outdoor parties this summer, especially near water, since this speaker is also IPX7 waterproof. Plus, it has nice LED lights and 360 degree sound. 

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Apple's Beats Fit Pro wireless earbuds are a good option for folks who dislike the fit of regular AirPods, but don't want to pay the price for AirPods Pro. If you've been waiting for a deal on them, now's the time to act because they're back on sale at an all time low price of $145 (28 percent off) at Woot. 

The Beats Fit Pro scored a solid 87 Engadget review score based on their excellent ANC performance, good sound quality and comfort. For the latter, the "fit wing" tip can bend to a wide range of ear shapes while keeping the buds firmly in place. They also offer physical buttons to answer calls, control volume, play/pause music and skip tracks.

The sound quality is "balanced and powerful" with punchy bass as you'd expect with Beats earphones, while also offering great clarity. They support Apple's spatial audio, giving you the ability to listen to Dolby Atmos Music content in Apple Music, or TV/movies on Apple TV. They also have Adaptive EQ that adjusts low- and mid-range frequencies depending on ambient sound to keep audio quality consistent. The ANC is powered by Apple's H1 chip and does a good job of blocking distractions.

The main downside is the $200 price, double that of the regular AirPods, but at $145, they're one of the cheaper wireless ANC earbuds from a major brand. Bear in mind that while Woot is owned by Amazon, it doesn't have the same return policy. If you do want a pair of 2nd-gen Apple AirPods Pro wireless ANC earphones, those are still on sale for $200 at Amazon.

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If you’ve been waiting for Apple’s second-generation AirPods Pro to go on sale, your patience has paid off. On Amazon, the earbuds are currently $50 off, making them just $200. That’s a return to the all-time low price they hit at the start of February.

Despite similar appearances, the second-generation AirPods Pro feature some notable upgrades over their 2019 predecessor. To start, the inclusion of Apple’s new H2 chip means the earbuds boast better noise cancellation performance and a more functional transparency mode. Audio quality is similarly improved, as is integration with Apple products. They also come with touch controls, a feature missing from the original model, and modestly improved battery life.

Of course, they’re not perfect. The touch controls can take a while to master, and battery life, despite improvements, is not as good as some competing models. You also need an iPhone or iPad to get the most out of the AirPods Pro, making them less compelling options for Android users. Still, they’re an excellent option for iOS users, especially when you can get them for less than their usual street price.

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

Amazon’s evolution from omnipresent shopping platform to omnipresent surveillance platform continues apace, having drastically expanded its line of Ring security camera systems in recent years. Nowadays, the company offers video doorbells, exterior cameras, interior cameras, flying cameras, lighting systems, alarm systems and vehicle security packages — the lattermost of which is why we are here today. I put a Ring camera in my car.

That’s not to say that the Ring Car Camera is a poorly designed or manufactured product — far from it! The $250 Car Camera features dual-facing (pointing both at the road and into the cabin), IR-capable 1080p imaging sensors, optional LTE connectivity, Alexa-driven voice commands, and remote vehicle monitoring through the Ring mobile app.

In fact, I was surprised by how quickly and easily I was able to get the system set up. The camera assembly itself is a single piece that wedges into the bottom edge of the windshield-dashboard horizon and sticks to the glass with a high-strength adhesive. It’s not strong enough to keep a car thief from yanking it out but it’ll keep the camera in place as you travel over and through America’s crumbling highway infrastructure system. One sticking point I could see arising is the camera needs access to a home wi-fi connection during the setup/app pairing sequence. I was able to pull around my driveway until I was at the exterior of the wall from my house’s router but if you live in an apartment complex, things might get dicey.

“If you are unable to connect to your home Wi-Fi during setup, you can set up the device using LTE through Ring Protect Go,” a Ring rep told Engadget. “Just skip the ‘set up with Wi-Fi’ step in the set up flow and follow the on-screen instructions. Each new customer will have a free 30-day trial of Ring Protect Go, which provides LTE connectivity.”

I was not at all a fan of the camera’s wired power connection to the vehicle’s OBDII port, which also monitors the battery’s voltage so that the camera can turn itself off before fully exhausting the power supply. For one, that physical requirement limits the vehicles this system can work with to only those with OBD ports located to the left of the steering column. For another, I now have a 6-foot long cable snaking its way across my previously immaculate dashboard, draping down my driver side door panel to connect with the OBDII port just over my brake pedal. Even with the included 3M-adhesive cable stays (which, I might add, were immediately foiled by the tiny crags and crinkles of my dashboard’s surface), I can hear the cord shifting and sliding around during turns, I’m constantly aware of it when swinging my legs out of the car lest I accidentally catch it on a toe and tear the connector from the port. Which I did the very first time I drove after installation — and then the next as well.

Andrew Tarantola / Engadget

The other issue is that not every car has an OBDII port located in the passenger cabin and for those vehicles the Ring Car Cam will not work. Neither will any of the vehicles on this rather expansive list of incompatible models for one reason or another — some cut power to the port when the key is removed and Teslas, for their part, don’t even use the OBDII interface. What’s more, if your dongle is already in use, whether for an insurance tracker or an interlock device, you’re SOL with using the Car Cam. Same if you buy it in a jurisdiction that limits the use of dashcams — except then you also go to jail.

Andrew Tarantola / Engadget

At 1080p, the Car Cam’s video quality is just fine for what the average driver would presumably be using it for and the interior-facing IR sensor will ensure that you get a good look at whoever’s rifling through your center console at three in the morning. But, since it’s mounted on the dash itself and not suspended from the rearview mirror like the commercial-grade ones you find in Ubers and Lyfts, you won’t get much of a view of the interior below chest level. Accessing those videos takes a hot second as well, as the clips aren’t transferred directly to your phone (if using Protect Go). They have to first be uploaded and processed in the cloud before you can watch them.

The camera offers a variety of recording options. You can set it for continuous use, as you would a traditional dash cam — and if you don’t want it recording you, the unit thankfully incorporates a physical lens cover for the interior-facing camera. You can also use it specifically for traffic stops with the verbal “Alexa, Record” command, in which the system will record uninterrupted for 20 minutes even after the ignition has been turned off. Finally, there’s Parking Protection mode that activates the camera if it detects motion or an impact when the vehicle is parked.

Andrew Tarantola / Engadget

All of the recorded data — up to seven hours worth — is saved locally on the device and made available once the camera is back in range of a Wi-Fi connection. Again, that’s not great if a thief or cop rips out the unit before the information can be uploaded. Also, there’s no loop recording so if something important happens when you’ve got 6 hours and 56 minutes of video already saved, you better hope the matter resolves itself in under 4 minutes, otherwise the recording will simply be cut off.

To get around that, you’ll need cloud access and to spend $6 a month (or $60 a year) for the Ring Protect Go subscription service for it. In addition, Protect Go unlocks access to the camera’s onboard LTE connection enabling two-way view and talk, notifications and GPS tracking from anywhere with cell service. Without that subscription access, those features are only available over Wi-Fi.

Andrew Tarantola / Engadget

Ring’s business decisions have made very clear that it is on the side of the police — even if the homeowners themselves aren’t — freely volunteering data to, and often partnering with, law enforcement agencies around the country. When asked whether safeguards have been put in place to prevent law enforcement from surreptitiously spying through the Car Cam, Ring’s spokesperson noted, “Ring builds products and services for our customers, not law enforcement. When parked, Car Cam only records when the smart sensors detect an incident (such as a collision or broken window) or if the device owner or Shared User initiates Live View.” What happens to that data once it's off the device and in Ring’s cloud servers was not made clear.

Even if I could put aside Ring’s cozy relationship with police, $250 for what the Car Cam offers is a big ask, especially with that $6-a-month cherry on top to get anything to work outside of your driveway. Granted, if you’re already part of the Ring ecosystem, you like what it offers and want to extend that platform to your vehicle, absolutely give the Car Cam a shot. But if you’re in the market for a standalone vehicle security system, there are plenty of options available to choose from that offer many of the same features as the Ring at a fraction of the price and without the baggage — or that blasted power cable.

March Madness will return in just a few days, as the First Four play-in games start on March 14th. There will be even more ways to take in the tournament this year. For the first time, there will be a multiview streaming option on the web. You’ll be able to watch up to four games simultaneously.

Fans still have the option to stream two games at the same time on Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, Google TV and Xbox One. Fans apparently only wanted two simultaneous streams on connected devices. There’s a picture-in-picture option on mobile, tablet and desktop as well. 

The web multiview option should help make sure that you don’t miss any of the action in the early rounds — especially if you happen to be working at the time. If your manager happens to approach while you're watching March Madness games at the office, you'll be able to smack the Boss Button to hide your tracks. This time around, hitting the button will bring up an AI chatbot interface called BossGPT. Maybe the NCAA isn't entirely behind the times after all.

Games will stream in 1080p resolution with 5.1 surround sound. The NCAA, CBS Sports and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports (which manage the NCAA March Madness Live apps) say they've optimized the video player for improved performance across a swathe of devices, including older ones.

If you happen to be on the road while your team’s playing, you’ll have another way to stay up to date. The NCAA March Madness Live app will offer live game audio through CarPlay and Android Auto. This is powered by Westwood One national feeds. A Spanish audio option will be available for the Final Four and championship games.

Moreover, the app will harness the Live Activities feature on iOS 16. You can receive interactive notifications and have a faster way to start enjoying live games from your iPhone lock screen. You'll have to tap an icon on the app's scores page to activate Live Activities.

You'll be able to watch any game that airs on CBS on the web and mobile for free through Paramount+ without having to log in. However, you will need to sign in to stream games being broadcast on TBS, TNT and truTV digital platforms.

Along with having access to every game from the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship, there will be some coverage from the concurrent women's tournament on the NCAA March Madness Live app and the NCAA website. That includes "game updates, legends of the game and greatest Final Four moments," according to a press release. You'll need to hop over to ESPN to watch games from the women's tournament, though.

Meanwhile, the Fast Break feature, which provides live whip-around coverage during the first two rounds of March Madness, will be available on more devices, including set-top boxes, consoles and smart TVs. It was previously only on mobile and the web. Fast Break offers highlights, real-time analysis and breakdowns of key stats.

For the past few years, Nintendo has celebrated March 10 as Mario Day, a celebration of the company's beloved hero, plumber, kart racer, boxing ref, doctor and lead mascot. (Mar10 = Mario, you see.) This is mostly just a clever marketing campaign, but for those looking to pad their Switch libraries, Nintendo is using the "event" to discount several games starring the little mustachioed man, with hits like Super Mario Odyssey and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on sale for $40. We have a full breakdown of the sale below. And beyond Mario matters, our latest deals roundup includes Amazon's Fire TV 4K Max on sale for an all-time low of $35, the Apple Pencil down to $89, a $50 discount on Bose's QuietComfort Earbuds II and more. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today.

Mario Day Nintendo Switch game sale

As part of its annual Mario Day celebration, Nintendo has dropped a number of Switch games starring (or at least tangentially related to) its most famous mascot down to $40. The deals are available at multiple retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, Target, GameStop, Best Buy and Nintendo's own online store. With most of the games on sale, these deals don't represent an all-time low, but steeper discounts on first-party Switch games are still relatively rare. 

Here's a list of the games included in the sale:

• The recently updated kart racer Mario Kart 8 Deluxe 

• The essential 3D platformer Super Mario Odyssey

• The co-op-friendly double-pack Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

• The underrated Wii U port New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

• The chaotic party game Mario Party Superstars

• The arcade golfer Mario Golf: Super Rush

• The level creation toy Super Mario Maker 2

• The gorgeous 2D platformer Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

• The adorable ghost-capturing adventure Luigi's Mansion 3

• The accessible platformer Yoshi's Crafted World

Beyond those, the tactical strategy game Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope is down to $30, while the AR-based racer Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is about $30 off at $60.

Nintendo says these deals will be available at retailers until March 11. If you can only grab a couple of games, Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, 3D World and Tropical Freeze are likely the best of the bunch, though each game in the sale can offer a good time depending on what you're looking for. 

Mario Day Nintendo Switch console bundle

Nintendo has also introduced a new Switch bundle for Mario Day. Starting Friday, you can grab the $300 base version of the console with a download code for either Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario Odyssey or New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. Each of those games typically retails around $50 outside of sales like the one happening this week, so that's what you're saving here. As of this writing, the bundle is available at Walmart, Target, Best Buy and Nintendo's online store.

It's hard to call this a great deal: The Switch is almost certainly in its twilight years, and the newer Switch OLED is a pretty firm upgrade for only $50 more. Still, there's no power difference between the two models, and if you just want to save a few bucks, this is a chance to grab a good starter game for no extra cost. 

Xbox Series X

The Xbox Series X is down to $450 at Verizon. That's just a $50 discount, but deals of any kind for the Microsoft's most powerful Xbox have been exceedingly rare since the console arrived in late 2020. The Series X itself is still lacking in must-play exclusives, but its hardware handles 4K gaming with ease, and Xbox Game Pass remains a superb value for those who like to sample lots of new releases. We gave the console a review score of 87 back at launch.

For a cheaper route into the Xbox ecosystem, Microsoft has the Xbox Series S available for $240. That's technically $60 off the device's list price, though this is a deal we've seen several times in recent months. The Series S lacks a disc drive and isn't designed for 4K resolutions like the Series X, but it can still play all the same games as its bigger sibling, its SSD is still quick for loading, and its diminutive design is easier to squeeze on a desk or TV stand. Our review gave that one a score of 85.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K Max is back down to $35, which matches its all-time low and comes in roughly $10 below the device's average street price in recent months. Though we think Roku's Streaming Stick 4K and Google's Chromecast are better for most in need of an affordable 4K media streamer, the Fire TV Stick 4K still runs quick, supports all the major apps and HDR formats, and features integrated voice controls through the Alexa assistant. The caveat, as with most Amazon devices, is that it tends to advertise the company's own content and services above everything else, so you'll get the most out of it if you already subscribe to Amazon Prime and often use Prime Video.

Amazon Fire HD 8

Amazon's Fire HD 8 is on sale for $60, which is about $25 off the tablet's usual street price and only $5 more than its all-time low. This 8-inch slate can't touch a good iPad in terms of speed or build quality, and it'll saddle you with lock screen ads unless you pay extra, but it's durable, its display is decently bright, and it lasts a good 10 or so hours per charge. If you just need a bigger screen for light reading, streaming and web browsing, it should be enough. Just don't expect much more, and remember that all Amazon tablets lack access to the Google Play Store and official Google apps by default.

Anker 622 Wireless Magnetic Battery

Anker's 622 Magnetic Battery is back on sale for $45, which is about $12 off its typical going rate on Amazon. Though we've seen this discount a number of times before, it's still only $5 more than the lowest price we've tracked. We've previously recommended the 622 as a worthwhile buy for those who want a wireless power bank that supports MagSafe charging with iPhones. Like all wireless chargers, it won't refill your phone as quickly as a good wired option, and its 5,000mAh capacity is only enough to charge an iPhone 14 to about 80 percent. Still, it's compact, and being able to recharge without any extra cables is convenient on the go. The 622 also has a built-in kickstand, which you can use to prop up your phone while you're at your desk. If you need more juice, Anker's 633 Magnetic Battery is a more powerful alternative, though it's neither as cheap nor as easily pocketable.

Apple Pencil (2nd Gen)

The second-gen Apple Pencil is on sale for $89, which is a discount we've seen before but still matches the iPad stylus' all-time low. Typically, the device has averaged closer to $110 in recent months. A recommendation from our guide to the best iPad accessories, the second-gen Pencil is a consistently responsive and accurate tool for digital artists and heavy note-takers. Unlike third-party alternatives, it offers pressure sensitivity across iPadOS, and unlike the first-gen Pencil, it can attach and charge against the edge of a tablet magnetically. Just make sure your iPad is compatible if you decide to buy.

Crucial MX500 SSD

The 2TB model of Crucial's MX500 SSD is down to a new low of $103, which is about $35 below its typical street price. If you need more space, the 4TB variant is available for a low of $228. You shouldn't buy a SATA SSD like this to improve storage performance on a modern PC (get an NVMe drive instead), but for older desktops or laptops with sluggish HDDs, it can still provide a noticeable speed boost on the cheap. The MX500 itself is the top SATA pick in our guide to the best SSDs.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are once again down to $249, which is $20 more than their all-time low but still $50 below Bose's list price. This is the "best noise cancellation" pick in our guide to the best wireless earbuds, and indeed, no other pair we've tested is more adept at muting the outside world. The slightly bass-boosted sound should work for most people as well, and the design, while somewhat bulky, should provide a comfortable fit. The five- to six-hour battery life is just okay, however, and there's no multipoint connectivity or wireless charging support. Still, if ANC is your top priority, the is the true wireless pair to get. We gave the earbuds a review score of 87 last September.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

Microsoft's Surface Laptop Go 2 is down to $600 for a configuration with a Core i5-1135G7 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. This is another deal we've seen before, but it still matches the lowest price we've tracked and represents a roughly $70 discount off this model's usual street price. We gave this 12.4-inch notebook a review score of 86 last June, and we highlight it in our guide to the best cheap Windows laptops. You can get better performance, more ports and a sharper display for the money, but the Surface Laptop Go 2's lightweight design has a more premium feel than most options in this price range, and its performance and battery life should be enough for casual use. The lack of keyboard backlighting is a pain, however.

Around this time next year, you may have to make a decision whether or not to buy a new type of HomePod that comes with a display. According to notable Apple analyst Ming-Chu Kuo, the tech giant might unveil the next-gen HomePod with a 7-inch panel within the first half of 2024. The display, which will be manufactured by Chinese supplier Tianma, "could enable tighter integration with Apple's other hardware products." That signifies a "significant shift in the company's smart home strategy," he said. 

Kuo's prediction echoes earlier reports by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman that the company is developing a kitchen accessory that combines an iPad with a speaker. Just this January, Gurman reiterated that Apple is working on a slate of smart home devices in a bid to compete with Amazon's and Google's offerings. One of the products it's reportedly developing is a low-end iPad that can control various IoT devices, such as thermostats and lights, and can be used for video chats. It remains to be seen whether that's also the display that would come integrated with the HomePod.

By launching a speaker with a smart display, Apple will finally be able to offer a direct competitor to Google's Nest Hub and Amazon's Echo Show models. Apple is lagging behind its peers when it comes to smart home devices — its smart speaker, for instance, came years later than the Echo. Bloomberg said way back in 2017 that it's because Apple's executives had a hard time figuring out where it would fit into its product ecosystem. 

Since Apple is clearly still in the midst of catching up with its competitors in the space, users can either choose between the HomePod mini and the newer 2nd-gen HomePod that was launched in January for now. The new model has a touch panel at the top, but it has limited capabilities that include adjusting the volume, skipping tracks and summoning Siri. 

Who’d have thought anyone would use Bing in 2023? By choice! Bing has crossed 100 million daily active users a month after the launch of its chatbot AI, according to Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft's VP for Modern Life, Search and Devices. He said the company is fully aware it's still just "a small, low, single-digit share player," but hey, there was a time when Bing wasn't even a part of the conversation.

Around a third of Bing's daily preview users have been using its chat AI for their queries. On average, Microsoft is seeing three chats per session, with over 45 million chats since it introduced the new Bing. Microsoft took advantage of packaging advanced chatbot AI into its search engine, but dominant player Google is rushing to catch up: It introduced its own chat AI, Bard, last month. And as you’ll see from today’s newsletter, it’s been a busy 24 hours for OpenAI and chatbots.

– Mat Smith

The Morning After isn’t just a newsletter – it’s also a daily podcast. Get our daily audio briefings, Monday through Friday, by subscribing right here.

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Raspberry Pi adds a camera for machine vision

It offers distortion-free capture of sports and fast-moving industrial processes.

Raspberry Pi

Raspberry Pi is offering a 1.6-megapixel global shutter camera module, providing a platform for machine vision, hobbyist shooting and more. Global shutter sensors with no skew or distortion have been promised as the future of cameras for years now, but so far only a handful of products have appeared. Like other global shutter sensors, the new Raspberry Pi sensor pairs each pixel with an analog storage element, so light signals can be captured and stored by all pixels simultaneously. The Global Shutter Camera is now available to purchase for $50.

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Grammarly adds AI-powered writing tools to its proofreading app

GrammarlyGo generates text based on contextual cues.

Grammarly is also getting into generative AI, with GrammarlyGo. Its auto-composition features help the proofreading software keep up with companies adding the ChatGPT API (or different generative AI backends) to their products. The feature can use context like voice, style, purpose and where you’re writing to determine its approach. So it can spit out email replies, shorten passages, rewrite them for tone and clarity, riff or choose from one-click prompts. The company says it will soon add the AI writing feature to its Premium, Business, Education and Developer plans – and free plans “in select markets.” The GrammarlyGo beta will begin rolling out in April.

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With the help of OpenAI, Discord is adding conversation summaries

And a chatbot.

Discord is partnering with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT. There’s a chatbot, obviously, but the company also plans to use machine learning in a handful of more novel and potentially useful ways. Starting next week, a public experiment will augment Clyde, the built-in bot Discord employs to notify users of errors and respond to their commands with conversational capabilities. The most interesting feature uses OpenAI tech to offer conversation summaries. When it arrives in a few servers next week, the feature will create an overview of chats you may have missed while away.

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Roku's first self-made TVs hit Best Buy stores today

They range from basic sets to more advanced TVs with QLED and Dolby Vision.

Earlier this year, Roku announced its own TVs; now you can pick one up at Best Buy. Roku Select sets range from 24 to 75 inches, and Roku Plus televisions come in 55-, 65-, and 75-inch sizes, all powered by its streaming platform. The Select TVs will start at $149 (with a potential drop to $120 this summer), and the Plus models below $500 – similar to TCL and other partners. You’ll probably be more interested in the Roku Plus series, which has QLED panels, local backlight dimming for better contrast, 4K Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos-approved speakers.

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