Plus, deals on true wireless earbuds and iPads
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Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
Discounts don’t usually arrive quickly for the latest Apple tech, but you can enjoy a steep price cut on Apple’s latest iPad Air, which has the M1 processor and a generous 256GB of storage. It normally costs $749 for that tablet configuration, but Walmart and Amazon are selling it for $679. It’s worth noting that this price cut is limited to the space gray colorway at both retailers.
In our recent review of the 2022 iPad Air, the features that make it worth buying include its fast performance, an excellent combo of speakers and display, and its all-day battery life. My colleague Dan Seifert actually recommends spending extra to get this very 256GB model, as the default 64GB just isn’t enough for how much this tablet costs.
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The latest iPad Air retains the iPad Pro-esque redesign of the 2020 model but does away with the A14 Bionic processor in favor of Apple’s lightning-fast M1 chip. It also comes in five colors and boasts a 12MP front-facing camera with support for Apple’s Center Stage feature.
If you’ve been on the market for a pair of noise-canceling earbuds, the OnePlus Buds Pro are one of our favorites and are currently available at a 2022 all-time low. Regularly $149.99, right now you can buy a pair in either white or black alongside a wireless charging case for $119.99 from OnePlus.
As we noted in our review, the OnePlus Buds Pro boast better noise cancellation than the more expensive AirPods Pro. They’re also a great pick if you use your earbuds to make calls, as their voice call performance is superior to most earbuds that cost around $150. We were also impressed by the fact it comes with an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance, which is something not even the AirPods Pro offer, and a lightweight design that feels just as comfortable as Apple’s popular earbuds.
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The OnePlus Buds Pro offer a lot for a fair value proposition. They’re lightweight and comfy, with solid active noise cancellation — available in both matte black and glossy white finishes.
If you don’t mind that it only supports the first-gen Apple Pencil and lacks USB-C support unlike more expensive models, Apple’s iPad is a great option if you’re looking for a more affordable iPad than the iPad Air. It’s an even more attractive buy today given that the 256GB model is available at its best price yet. Amazon is currently selling the 256GB model with Wi-Fi for $429, a $50 discount, which is an Amazon all-time low also matched at Walmart.
Apple’s entry-level iPad offers a new A13 Bionic CPU that’s much faster than its predecessor. Like some of the more premium models in the lineup, the iPad’s 12MP front-facing camera also supports Apple’s Center Stage feature, so it will automatically follow you in the frame during video calls. Plus, unlike the more expensive iPads, this one still comes with a 3.5mm audio jack so you can connect your headphones. For more details about how the iPad compares to the rest of the lineup, you can check out our comparison here.
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Apple’s latest, entry-level iPad represents a slight update, with a new A13 Bionic chip and a 12MP front camera that supports Apple’s Center Stage feature.
Speaking of more budget-friendly alternatives, if the OnePlus Buds Pro true wireless earbuds are too expensive and you don’t require active noise cancellation, Anker’s Soundcore Liberty Air 2 are among the best budget alternatives. They’re even more budget-friendly today now that you can buy a pair for $42.99 instead of $49.99 from Woot through Amazon, which is an all-time low.
In comparison to others in this price range, we found that the Liberty Air 2s boast the best microphone performance, as they offer long stems like the AirPods. While we found the tap controls could be finicky sometimes, these earbuds also have long battery life and good sound quality.
Right now, the Fitbit Luxe – the most stylish fitness tracker on the market – is currently available for just a little less. Normally $129.95, Amazon is selling the tracker for $109.95 in black and white, while Walmart has the white colorway for the same price.
If you’re looking for a tracker you can monitor overall activity levels with and wear at the gym or a party, this is the best option for you. The Luxe comes with features like continuous heart rate monitoring and SpO2 sensors while boasting a colorful OLED touchscreen display and slim design that’s perfect for those with petite wrists. However, note that while we think it’s one of the best fitness trackers, it’s not the most accurate when it comes to distance. Plus, unlike other Fitbits — like our top pick, the $229.99 Fitbit Versa 3 — it doesn’t come with contactless payments or access to a digital assistant. Still, it’s an overall good tracker for monitoring the essentials that can help you track your fitness levels for just under $110.
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The Fitbit Luxe looks more like a piece of jewelry. It boasts a colorful OLED touchscreen display and tracks a variety of statistics, including your heart rate, sleep, exercise, and more.
Here are some other great deals happening today:
- Amazon is selling TP-Link’s Kasa KP200 Smart Outlet for $20.99, a price you’ll see at checkout if you clip the coupon on the product page. That’s a $9 discount and the best price we’ve seen this year on the smart outlet, which makes it possible to turn on bulbs, plugs, switches, and more with either a smartphone app or Alexa and Google Assistant voice controls.
- GameStop launched a new sale similar to Amazon’s where you can buy two select games and get the third one free when you purchase them online. The promotion consists of a variety of both new and pre-owned Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch games, including titles like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and a pre-owned version of Elden Ring. Read our Elden Ring review.
- Right now, you can save $200 on Apple’s 14-inch MacBook Pro equipped with an M1 Pro chip, an 8‑core CPU and 14‑core GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for $1,799 from Amazon. That’s the second-best discount we’ve seen on Apple’s latest MacBook Pro, which we gave a rare 9.5/10 because the laptop boasts impressive performance and a beautiful display. Read our review.
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