Posts with «technology & electronics» label

Apple Watch Series 7 hits new all-time low of $279 for Prime Day

Apple's most powerful smartwatch right now has dropped to the best price we've seen it. You can pick up the Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS only) for only $279, which is more than $100 off its normal price and $20 cheaper than we saw it during a sale at the start of June. GPS + Cellular models are also on sale starting at $379. While it is worth noting that we could see the next generation wearable, the Series 8, debut in September, this deal is the best around right now if you can't wait until then to get a new smartwatch.

Buy Apple Watch Series 7 at Amazon - $279Shop Apple Watch deals at Amazon

While Apple didn't change too much when going from the Series 6 to the Series 7, it did make a couple of meaningful updates. First and foremost, the Series 7's display is larger, making it easier to see text and graphics, plus you can use the on-screen keyboard to type out messages, too. In addition to that, the Series 7 has new overnight respiratory tracking and faster charging. The former is an interesting feature of the smartwatch's sleep tracking capabilities, although the device still lags behind competitors when it comes to the amount of data it tracks during sleep. Speedier charging is quite handy, as you'll get 10 percent power in just 10 minutes of charging.

Otherwise, the Series 7 has all of the same features you'll find on the Series 6. It tracks all-day heart rate and activity, plus it includes a built-in GPS, ECG tool, blood oxygen sensor, onboard music space and more. It can be used with Apple Pay to make NFC purchases and it supports features like fall detection and Emergency SOS. Not only is the Series 7 our current favorite smartwatch, but it's the most comprehensive Watch that Apple has ever made — so it's a no-brainer purchase when you can pick it up for $279. 

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Amazon's Fire TV Stick Lite drops to only $12 for Prime Day

Amazon has discounted all of its Fire TV devices for Prime Day this year, and the standout is the Fire TV Stick Lite for only $12. That's $18 off its normal price and the cheapest we've ever seen it. That's not surprising either, consider it's the most basic of Amazon's streaming dongles. But all of the more powerful models are less than usual, too. You can pick up the Fire TV Stick for $17, the Fire TV Stick 4K for $25, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max for $35 and the Fire TV Cube for only $60.

Buy Fire TV Stick Lite at Amazon - $12Shop Fire TV deals at Amazon

The Fire TV Stick Lite provides the most essential streaming technology, supporting 1080p content and voice commands with the basic remote that comes with it. You won't be able to control your TV with the included remote, but if that's a must-have for you, you can spend just a bit more for the standard Fire TV Stick. We like that you at least get an Alexa button on the remote, which allows you to ask the device to search for your favorite shows and movies. Ultimately, the Fire TV Stick Lite is best for those who want to outfit older TVs with streaming capabilities without dropping a ton of money.

If you're not committed to going for for the lowest-priced gadget available, we'd recommend the $35 Fire TV Stick 4K Max. Aside from the Cube set-top box, it's the most powerful of Amazon's streaming devices and it supports 4K HDR content, Dolby Atmos, Live Picture-in-Picture View and WiFi 6. Plus, the remote that it comes with has both the Alexa voice command button and TV controls as well.

For those who are looking for a new TV that already has streaming chops built in, Amazon's discounted most of its Omni Series Fire TVs, too. The cheapest of the bunch is the 43-inch Omni set, which is $170 off and down to $240 for Prime Day. But even the most advanced model, the 75-inch set, won't set you back too much: it's $350 off and down to $750 right now.

Buy 43-inch Omni Fire TV at Amazon - $240Buy 75-inch Omni Fire TV at Amazon - $750

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Apple's AirPods Pro drop to $170 for Prime Day

The AirPods Pro remain Apple's best sounding wireless earbuds, but they're also the priciest, too. Amazon Prime Day deals have knocked the earbuds down to a more manageable $170, which is $80 off their normal price and close to their all-time low. If you're on a tighter budget, you can pick up the 2nd-gen AirPods instead while they're on sale for $90.

Buy AirPods Pro at Amazon - $170Buy AirPods (2nd gen) at Amazon - $90

Even though the AirPods Pro are nearly three years old at this point, we still recommend them for Apple diehards who want the best sound quality possible along with conveniences offered by the H1 chipset. audio quality is stellar and it's only enhanced by the buds' strong ANC, which does a good job of blocking out surrounding noises. We also like that you can hop in and out of Transparency Mode when necessary, so you never miss an important conversation happening around you.

The AirPods Pro have a more comfortable design than regular AirPods, too, thanks to their interchangeable ear tips. They're also IPX4 water resistant, so they'll withstand your toughest, sweatiest workouts. Inside is Apple's H1 chipset, which enables things like hands-free Siri access and quick pairing and switching between Apple devices. The H1 chip is one of the biggest selling points for any pair of AirPods because it helps them work seamlessly with things like iPhones, MacBooks and other Apple gadgets. Another big perk to the AirPods Pro is that they now come with a MagSafe charging case, so you can wirelessly power them up using any compatible magnetic power accessory.

If you're willing to pass on features like ANC, you can save some money and opt for the 2nd-generation AirPods. They're just about the cheapest they've ever been at $90, and those who liked the fit of Apple's old-school EarPods will enjoy the design of these buds. Sound quality is decent and we liked their improved wireless performance and good battery life.

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The best Prime Day deals for Amazon devices that you can get

There's arguably no better time than Prime Day to buy a piece of tech made by Amazon. Echo speakers, Kindle e-readers, Fire TV devices and everything in between drop to record-low prices for the company's annual shopping event, and this year's no different. You'll find most of Amazon's gadgets are on sale for Prime Day, including the latest models of things like the Kindle Paperwhite and the Echo Show 8. Also, Amazon-owned devices, like Eero routers and Blink security cameras, are cheaper than ever, too. Here are the best deals on Amazon devices you can get for Prime Day 2022.

Echo

Nathan Ingraham / Engadget

Amazon's Echo smart speaker has dropped to $60. It earned a score of 89 from us for its solid audio quality, attractive design and its inclusion of a 3.5mm audio jack.

Buy Echo at Amazon - $60

Echo Dot

Engadget

The Echo Dot is on sale for $20 while the Echo Dot with Clock is down to $33. We like these tiny smart speakers for their good audio quality, compact design and tap-to-snooze feature.

Buy Echo Dot at Amazon - $20Buy Echo Dot with Clock at Amazon - $33

Echo Show 5

Nicole Lee / Engadget

The Echo Show 5 has dropped to $35, or $50 off its usual price. If you want a smart alarm clock, this is the smart display to get. We like its sharp 5-inch display, ambient light sensor, smart home controls and tap-to-snooze feature.

Buy Echo Show 5 at Amazon - $35

Echo Show 8

Amazon

The Echo Show 8 smart display is on sale for a record-low price of $75. It earned a score of 87 from us for its attractive design, stellar audio quality and improved camera for video calls. The first-generation Show 8 is also on sale and you can get a bundle with it and a Blink Mini camera for only $65.

Buy Echo Show 8 at Amazon - $75

Echo Show 10

Engadget

Amazon's swiveling Echo Show 10 has been discounted to $180. We gave it a score of 83 for its automatic panning and zooming during video calls, excellent audio quality and its ability to double as a security camera.

Buy Echo Show 10 at Amazon - $180

Echo Show 15

Engadget

The Echo Show 15 has been discounted to $180, or $70 off its usual price. Instead of propping this display up on a table or countertop, it can go on your wall and act as an interactive information board, providing access to things like calendar events, shopping lists and more.

Buy Echo Show 15 at Amazon - $180

Echo Frames

Amazon

The Echo Frames are on sale for $100 right now. We gave them a score of 76 for their lightweight design, hands-free Alexa capabilities and compatibility with prescription lenses.

Buy Echo Frames at Amazon - $100

Echo Buds (2nd gen)

Billy Steele/Engadget

The second-generation Echo Buds are down to $70 right now, while the model with a wireless charging case is on sale for $90. Amazon massively improved these wireless earbuds from the original versions and we gave them a score of 80 for their better sound quality, good ANC and smaller design.

Buy Echo Buds at Amazon - $70

Fire 7 (2019)

Engadget

The Fire 7 tablet is on sale for $30, or half off its normal price. If you're looking for a cheap tablet to bring with you everywhere or to give your kid without worry, this is a good option. While it doesn't have the Google Play Store, you can still use it to check email, watch videos, play music and more.

Buy Fire 7 at Amazon - $30

Fire HD 8

Valentina Palladino / Engadget

The Fire HD 8 tablet is half off and down to $45. We gave it a score of 81 for its decent performance, good battery life, wireless charging capabilities and USB-C port.

Buy Fire HD 8 at Amazon - $45

Fire HD 10

The Fire HD 10 has dropped to only $75 for Prime Day. It's the Fire tablet to get if you want the best performance possible. We like its 1080p display, 12-hour battery life and its Show Mode feature.

Buy Fire HD 10 at Amazon - $75

Fire 7 Kids Pro

Amazon

Amazon's Fire 7 Kids Pro tablet is down to $50, or 50 percent off its usual rate. It's the smallest of the company's affordable tablets and the kids version comes with a protective case, a two-year warranty and one year of access to Amazon Kids+.

Buy Fire 7 Kids Pro at Amazon - $50

Fire HD 8 Kids Pro

Amazon

The 8-inch version of Amazon's kids tablet is on sale for $70. This also comes with a protective case, a two-year warranty and a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+.

Buy Fire HD 8 Kids Pro at Amazon - $70

Fire HD 10 Kids Pro

Amazon

The Fire HD 10 Kids is also on sale for $120 right now. You're getting the same thing in this bundle — a protective case, a two-year warranty and a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+ — along with a larger tablet.

Buy Fire HD 10 Kids Pro at Amazon - $120

Fire TV Cube

Nicole Lee / Engadget

Amazon's Fire TV Cube has dropped to $60, or half off its regular price. It supports 4K streaming, Dolby Vision and Atmos, plus hands-free Alexa controls.

Buy Fire TV Cube at Amazon - $60

Fire TV Stick Lite

Amazon

You can pick up Amazon's most affordable streamer, the Fire TV Stick Lite, for only $12 right now. It supports 1080p streaming and gives you access to some of the most popular services like Netlfix and Disney+.

Buy Fire TV Stick Lite at Amazon - $12

Fire TV Stick

Amazon

The standard Fire TV Stick is on sale for $17. It supports 1080p streaming with Dolby Atmos and it comes with an Alexa Voice Remote that has power and volume buttons on it.

Buy Fire TV Stick at Amazon - $17

Fire TV Stick 4K

Amazon

The Fire TV Stick 4K is on sale for $25 for Prime Day. This one supports 4K streaming with Dolby Vision along with Dolby Atmos audio and Amazon's Fire TV OS.

Buy Fire TV Stick 4K at Amazon - $25

Fire TV Stick 4K Max

Amazon

The higher-end Fire TV Stick 4K Max has dropped to $35, which is $20 less than usual. On top of all of the features in the standard Fire TV Stick 4K, the Max version also supports WiFi 6 and live picture-in-picture viewing.

Buy Fire TV Stick 4K Max at Amazon - $35

Kindle

Engadget

Amazon's standard Kindle has dropped to $45, which is half off its normal price. We gave this e-reader a score of 91 for its improved contrast display, extra front lights and sleeker design.

Buy Kindle at Amazon - $45

Kindle Paperwhite

Engadget

The Kindle Paperwhite is on sale for $95, which is a new record low for the e-reader. The updated model has 17 front lights, a sleeker design, an adjustable warm light, weeks of battery life and Audible support.

Buy Kindle Paperwhite at Amazon - $95

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition

Nathan Ingraham / Engadget

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition has dropped to $135 for Prime Day. This is the best e-reader Amazon makes right now and we gave it a score of 97 for its larger screen, USB-C charging, automatic brightness adjustment and wireless charging support.

Buy Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition at Amazon - $135

Kindle Oasis

The Kindle Oasis is on sale for $175 right now, or $75 off its usual price. We gave this device a score of 89 for its thin and light design and improved backlighting system.

Buy Kindle Oasis at Amazon - $175

Kindle Kids

Amazon

The Kindle Kids edition has been discounted to $50. This is essentially a standard Kindle with a few extra perks including a protective case and one year of Amazon Kids+.

Buy Kindle Kids at Amazon - $50

Eero 6

Amazon

The Eero 6 dual-band mesh WiFi system has dropped to $71. One node can cover up to 1,500 square feet and it supports WiFi 6 and has a built-in Zigbee home hub inside.

Buy Eero 6 at Amazon starting at $71

Eero Pro 6

eero LLC

The Eero Pro 6 tri-band system starts at a discounted price of $148 for Prime Day. This system can cover up to 2,000 square feet with just one router and it supports WiFi 6 and has a built-in Zigbee home hub inside.

Buy Eero Pro 6 at Amazon starting at $148

Eero Pro 6E

Amazon

You can pick up the new Eero Pro 6E WiFi system for as low as $194 on Prime Day. Amazon recently launched this system and its the most capable WiFi 6 setup in the Eero family. It covers up to 6,000 square feed and supports speeds up to 2.3Gbps.

Buy Eero Pro 6E at Amazon starting at $194

Eero 6+

Amazon

The Eero 6+ system is down to $90 right now. This is Amazon's most budget-friendly WiFi 6 router set and the dual-band system supports speeds up to 1Gbps and a coverage area of up to 4,500 square feet.

Buy Eero 6+ at Amazon starting at $90

Amazon Smart Plug

Amazon

Amazon's smart plug is $12 off and down to $13. You can plug almost any "dumb" appliance into this accessory to make it a smart one that can be controlled via a companion app and with Alexa voice commands.

Buy smart plug at Amazon - $13

Amazon smart thermostat

Amazon

Amazon's smart thermostat is on sale for $42 right now. This affordable IoT gadget lets you control your home's temperature from anywhere and it can be adjusted via Alexa commands.

Buy smart thermostat at Amazon - $42

Blink Indoor

Amazon

The Blink Indoor camera is on sale for $55, or $20 off its normal rate. This accessory is totally wireless, so you can place it almost anywhere. It supports 1080p recording, motion alerts, two-way audio and temperature monitoring.

Buy Blink Indoor at Amazon - $55

Blink Outdoor

Amazon

Blink's Outdoor camera is $40 off and on sale for $60. It has all of the features of the Indoor model along with a weather-resistant design, so you can use it to monitor the outside of your home.

Buy Blink Outdoor at Amazon - $60

Blink Mini

Amazon / Blink

The Blink Mini has been discounted to only $30 for Prime Day, and you can get two of them for the price of one as well. This camera needs to be plugged in, but we like its compact design, 1080p recording, motion alerts and two-way audio.

Buy Blink Mini at Amazon - $30

Ring Video Doorbell

Ring

Amazon's Ring Video Doorbell is 25 percent off and down to $75. It records 1080p video and lets you see what's going on outside your front door. It also has two-way audio so you can speak to visitors, and a rechargeable battery.

Buy Ring Video Doorbell at Amazon - $75

Get the latest Amazon Prime Day offers by following @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribing to the Engadget Deals newsletter.

macOS Ventura preview: Stage Manager is the star of the show

It's rare for Apple to reshape the way people work on Macs, but that's precisely what the company is trying to do with Stage Manager in macOS Ventura. At first glance, it's just a quick visual way to swap between your recently used applications. But after testing the first Ventura public beta over the past week, I think it may also solve window management issues that have plagued Macs since OS X debuted 21 years ago. Or, maybe, I've just always hated Apple's Dock.

On top of Stage Manager, Ventura also has plenty of upgrades that should make life a bit easier for Apple users. Mail gets the biggest overhaul, but there's also better collaboration with Safari's Tab Groups, as well as much-needed features in Messages. At the very least, it's a far more expansive update than last year's Monterey.

Apple

Stage Manager: Making sense of the Mac madness

In my nearly two decades of using Macs — as a college student, IT support worker and tech journalist — I've never found OS X's Dock to be very useful. Sure, when it was first released, it was a huge visual upgrade over the simplistic taskbars in Windows and Linux. (I remember marveling at the fact that a Dock icon could show a running video.) But on its own, the Dock is a confusing mishmash of shortcuts and running application indicators, something reviews at the time also criticized.

If you want to find a specific Safari window, for example, you have to press Control, click on the Dock icon and then select it from the dropdown. In comparison, the far uglier Windows XP let me zero in on specific apps (and their sub-windows) with a single click on the task bar. Perhaps aware of this usability quirk, Apple introduced Exposé in 2003 as an easy way to see everything you're running all at once. Since then, I've religiously assigned hot corners on every Mac I've used to trigger specific Exposé functions (one corner shows everything that's open, another shows me windows just for my current app, while another brings me right to the desktop). Who needs a confusing Dock when you can get a God's-eye view of your entire system?

Fast-forward almost twenty years, and we have Stage Manager, yet another on-screen tool for jumping between your apps. But while it may just seem like additional screen clutter, its main function is to help you focus by actually decluttering your screen. When you select a recent app from Stage Manager, it centers that app on your screen and makes other windows disappear. Hit the app shortcut again, and you'll cycle through open windows.

While it seems restrictive at first, like an attempt at bringing an iPad-esque workflow onto Macs, Stage Manager also lets you group apps together and, crucially, remembers exactly where you position your windows. While writing this preview, I kept Safari and Evernote grouped together, so I could write and research without worrying about pings from Slack or WhatsApp. You could do something similar with Apple's Spaces virtual desktops feature, but I always found that hard to manage. Stage Manager makes it as easy as hitting a single icon on your screen.

If you're a Mac pro-user already set in your ways, you can ignore Stage Manager entirely (it can be turned on and off from the Title Bar, and disabled in System Preferences). But as someone who's struggled with Apple's attempts at window management over the years, I'm finding it to be a refreshing way to make sense of macOS. You can also automatically hide Stage Manager until you need to use it, just like the Dock. (Personally, I've found it to be most useful when I hide the Dock and leave Stage Manager running on the side.)

Apple

Other updates: Mail, Messages and more

I haven't used a desktop email application in years — it's just easier to hop into multiple Gmail accounts in a browser — but those who do will appreciate Apple's Mail updates in Ventura. For one, the search function has been entirely reworked, so it should be easier to locate a specific message. It's also finally getting some much-needed features, like scheduled send, undo sending, rich-text link embedding and alerts about missing attachments and recipients. Those are the sorts of features that have kept me glued to Gmail's web interface for years, so it's nice to see them finally make their way to the desktop. (But really, I'd love to know what took Apple so long.)

Similarly, I think everyone would appreciate the changes coming to Messages. That includes the ability to edit texts, delete them entirely, and mark them as unread. I wasn't able to test these features much, since they require your friends and colleagues to be running Monterey as well, but we're not expecting any major surprises with how they work. Monterey also treats older versions of macOS similar to Android users — when I edited a message to an iMessage group, my friends received a separate text notifying them of the changes. For me, it just appeared as an edit within the existing message.

Apple

Here are a few other notable changes in Monterey to look out for:

  • Continuity Camera: It lets you use your iPhone as a high-quality webcam. I haven't been able to get this feature working properly yet, but on paper it's a compelling way to beef up your video chats without investing in a more expensive webcam.

  • Shared Tab Groups in Safari: An easy way to collaborate with friends when planning for a trip, or any other group activity.

  • Passkeys in Safari: Instead of passwords, Passkey is a biometric way to authenticate with websites, and it's tied to your iCloud account. I wasn't able to test this yet, but theoretically it's far more secure than traditional passwords.

  • Strong password editing in Safari: Finally, there's a way to tweak Safari's auto-generated passwords to meet requirements from certain sites.

  • Collaboration through Messages: This will let you join up with friends to work together in Notes, Keynote and other Apple software, as well as some third-party apps.

  • Apple's Freeform app for collaboration: This isn't available to test yet, but it looks like an intriguing Apple spin on a whiteboard app.

Apple's iOS 16, macOS Ventura and watchOS 9 public betas are ready to download

We're a couple of months out from Apple officially rolling out the next major versions of its various operating systems. However, you can try out iOS 16, iPadOS 16, watchOS 9 and macOS Ventura right now. Apple has released a public beta, a few weeks after it offered up the first developer betas. To access them, you'll need to sign up for the Apple Beta Software Program and follow the directions.

Bear in mind that there may be some bugs that Apple hasn't detected and resolved. Be sure to back up your data before installing any beta (though backing up regularly is always a good practice). You'll have the option to remove your device from the public beta program and revert it to an older version of its OS.

You can get to grips with some of the new features in iOS 16. Among those are a revamped lock screen with more layout and customization options, such as dynamic wallpapers. Notifications and Focus Mode have been revamped too, while you’ll be able to keep on top of things like sports scores and transit rides with Live Activities. Face ID will finally work in landscape orientation and you'll no longer need an Apple Watch to use the Fitness app.

Apple

Also new are the option to edit missives after you send them in Messages, a way to report spam text messages, a Pay Later function in Wallet and an email scheduling option in the Mail app. There’s much more on the way too, including updates for Apple Maps, CarPlay and Family Sharing. Looking further ahead, an "extreme" security option for high-profile users will be available this fall.

As for iPadOS 16, improved multitasking options will grant you more control over how to resize apps with, for instance, overlapping windows. Some of the features are limited to M1-powered iPads, however. Elsewhere, there's support for external displays, Google Drive-style document collaboration and (later this year) SharePlay features in Game Center.

Apple has made multitasking a key focus for macOS Ventura as well. The Stage Manager tool can group windows on the side of your screen and organize them by app. There will be an undo send option in the Mail app, along with the option to share tab groups in Safari and a new security function called passkeys, which will use Face ID and Touch ID for authentication. You'll also be able to use an iPhone as a webcam for your Mac.

In watchOS 9, Apple is giving the fitness features a significant upgrade. You'll have access to distance and time intervals for workouts. There will also be a way to view which heart rate zones you're in during workouts and sleep. In addition, Apple is promising improved sleep tracking as well as medication reminders.

When it comes to tvOS 16, the updates are light compared with some of the other devices. One key update is the addition of full support for the Matter smart home standard. As seems to be the case on iOS 16, tvOS will support Nintendo's Joy-Con and Switch Pro controllers.

Apple is ending support for some older devices with this year's OS updates. To use iOS 16, for instance, you'll need an iPhone 8 or later.

Sony's new portable speakers are waterproof and better with calls

As it does every year around this time, Sony has introduced new entries in its wireless speaker lineup. The company debuted three new models today, all of which are designed to be used outside thanks to both portable sizing and the proper dust and moisture protections (IP67). The trio is also a part of Sony's X-Series, which features non-circular "X-Balanced" speakers for more sound pressure and less distortion.

First, the largest option in the group is the SRS-XG300. The combination of a tapered cylinder shape and a retractable handle give this speaker more of a boombox-like design in a much smaller package. To give you multiple sound options, the XG300 packs a Mega Bass feature that boosts the low-end response, ClearAudio+ for "the most balanced sound" and Live Sound Mode that simulates the effect of being at a venue. Plus, Sony's Music Center app gives you the ability to adjust the EQ how you see fit and the option of connecting multiple speakers for Party Connect or Stereo Pair modes 

Inside, two X-Balanced speakers, two tweeters and two passive radiators handle the audio while the company's trademark customizable light rings shine on either end. Sony says the XG300 will last up to 25 hours on a charge and you can get up to 70 minutes of use after plugging in for 10 minutes. The company has also included Echo Noise Cancelling for more natural sounding calls should you need the speaker for that purpose. This technology allows two people to talk at the same time without cutting each other off. The XG300 will be available July 12th in gray and black color options for $350. 

Sony SRS-XE300
Sony

Next up is the SRS-XE300. Sony opted for a pentagon shape for this mid-size model, or as the company describes it, an ergonomic "grab and go" design. The XE300 is equipped with what Sony calls a line-shape diffuser that gives the speaker a wider listening area for those X-Balanced drivers by blasting sound more evenly. Sony's Party Connect and Stereo Pair features allows you to sync multiple speakers for more sound and the on-board controls include a microphone mute button for calls. Echo Noise cancelling is onboard, too. In addition to the dust and waterproof IP67 rating, this speaker is also shockproof, adding another later of protection against drops. This speaker gives you up to 24 hours of battery life on a charge and plugging in for 10 minutes will give you 70 minutes of listening time. The XG300 will be available July 12th in gray, black and blue color options for $200.

Lastly, the most compact option of the three is the SRS-XE200. It's smaller than the XE300, but features the same shape and overall design. The only aesthetic difference is the XE200 has an attached carrying strap. Like the XE300, this model packs in a line-shape diffuser for a larger listening area and it's also shockproof in addition to its IP67 protections. You can link up multiple speakers via the company's Party Connect and Stereo Pair setups. Sony says you can expect up to 16 hours of listening and, once again, a 10-minute charge offers 70 minutes of use. For calls, Echo Noise Cancelling is here too, as is a handy mute button among the other on-board controls. The XG300 will be available July 12th in gray, black, blue and orange color options for $130.

Sony's LinkBuds S are cheaper than ever ahead of Prime Day

Sony released its LinkBuds S less than two months ago, but you can already pick up the true wireless earbuds for a solid discount on Amazon. Just ahead of Prime Day, they're down to $157. That's a drop of 22 percent from the regular price of $200. It's the lowest price we've seen to date for LinkBuds S and the discount applies to both the white and black variants.

Buy Sony LinkBuds S at Amazon - $157

The LinkBuds S have a more regular closed design rather than the open wear format of the standard LinkBuds that Sony unleashed earlier this year. The company claims the more recent model is smaller and lighter than other earbuds that have active noise cancellation (though it admits the ANC isn't as sturdy as on its WF-1000XM4 model).

The earbuds have a passthrough/transparency mode too, so you can hear "natural" ambient sound. With the Adaptive Sound Control feature, Sony says the LinkBuds S can learn your preferences over time and automatically tweak the sound settings based on your location or activity.

They have 5mm drivers that provide what Sony claims are "powerful bass and stunningly clear vocals." With the Integrated Processor V1, which is also found on Sony's WH-1000XM5 headphones, the company aims to bolster sound quality, mitigate distortion and boost ANC. There's support for high-resolution audio as well, powered by Sony's LDAC codec and DSEE Extreme upscaling.

In addition, LinkBuds S have Sony's Speak-to-Chat feature. The idea is that the earbuds will be able to automatically detect your voice. They will pause the audio and switch on the passthrough mode when you start talking. There's a feature called Auto Play as well. This allows LinkBuds S to play or resume audio based on your activity when you put them in or end a call. However, the functionality is somewhat limited for now — it currently works with Spotify and Endel.

Elsewhere, the earbuds have an IPX4 water resistance rating, so they should be able to withstand bad weather and workouts. There's built-in Alexa functionality too.

Sony says LinkBuds S have a battery life of six hours if ANC is switched on. You'll get another 14 hours of ANC listening time thanks to the charging case. Through a quick-charge function, you'll get up to an hour of extra use after five minutes of charging time.

Get the latest Amazon Prime Day offers by following @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribing to the Engadget Deals newsletter.

Apple's 11-inch iPad Pro drops to a record low of $699 at Amazon

If you've been waiting for a good deal on Apple's latest iPad Pro, you're in luck. Amazon dropped the price of the 11-inch space gray model to $699, which is $100 off its usual rate and the best price we've seen. That's how much you'll spend for the base, 128GB model, but you'll find decent sales on those with higher storage capacities, too. The 512GB version is also $100 off and down to $999, while the 1TB model is $250 off and down to $1,250.

Buy 11-inch iPad Pro at Amazon - $699

Apple didn't change too much about the iPad Pros' designs when it upgraded the tablets last year. That's because most of the improvements are internal — both the 11-inch and 12.9-inch models run on Apple's M1 chipset, making them the most powerful iPads the company has made to date. Apple also added things like 5G support and a USB-C port that doubles as a Thunderbolt connector with USB 4.0 compatibility to make the slabs more capable as laptop alternatives. With the right accessories, these iPad Pros could replace your aging laptop if you want something a bit more lightweight that still powerful enough to be your daily driver.

Both sizes of iPad Pro also have the new Center Stage camera system, which will keep you in frame during FaceTime calls. Ultimately, the biggest difference between the 11-inch and the 12.9-inch, other than overall size, is that the 12.9-inch iPad Pros have Apple's Liquid Retina XDR display. It's certainly a nice perk if you will use the tablet to watch a lot of videos, or even edit some of your own, but that doesn't mean you're getting a lackluster screen on the 11-inch version. On the contrary, the 2,388 x 1668 resolution Liquid Retina panel with True Tone and ProMotion is one of the best screens you'll find on a high-end tablet today.

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The Apple TV 4K falls to a new all-time low of $120

If you've been holding out for a Prime Day deal on the Apple TV 4K, there's no need to wait — the 32GB model has just dropped to $120 or 33 percent ($59) off the regular price. That's the cheapest we've seen yet on Apple's streaming device that offers features like 4K HDR, gaming, the Siri Remote and more. 

Buy Apple TV 4K at Amazon - $120

The latest Apple TV 4K model garnered a 90 score in our Engadget review. It's more refined that ever, thanks to the updated Siri Remote and a more powerful A12 Bionic chip that delivers HDR video at up to 60 fps, while also offering improved gaming performance. 

Though it's not the cheapest streaming box out there, it's the best premium device and a top choice for Apple users. Siri handles voice commands with aplomb, and it's equally easy to operate the remote manually. You can use AirPlay to share video, photos and more from your other Apple devices to your TV. There's the option to see a live feed of HomeKit-enabled cameras and to control smart home devices through Apple TV 4K, and, if you have the relevant subscription, an ever-growing library of games available through Apple Arcade.

Naturally, it also supports all manner of streaming content including Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon prime Video, Disney+, Hulu and more. As mentioned, the biggest drawback is the price, but the $59 discount makes it a very competitive option. 

Get the latest Amazon Prime Day offers by following @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribing to the Engadget Deals newsletter.