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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:thr="http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0" xml:lang="en-US" > <title type="text">The Verge</title> <subtitle type="text">The Verge is about technology and how it makes us feel. Founded in 2011, we offer our audience everything from breaking news to reviews to award-winning features and investigations, on our site, in video, and in podcasts.</subtitle> <updated>2025-07-15T19:44:22+00:00</updated> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.theverge.com" /> <id>https://www.theverge.com/rss/index.xml</id> <link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://www.theverge.com/rss/index.xml" /> <icon>https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/verge-rss-large_80b47e.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1</icon> <entry> <author> <name>Andrew Liszewski</name> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Adidas now offers a laced version of its 3D-printed shoes]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.theverge.com/news/707699/adidas-laces-climacool-shoe-3d-printed" /> <id>https://www.theverge.com/?p=707699</id> <updated>2025-07-15T15:44:22-04:00</updated> <published>2025-07-15T15:44:22-04:00</published> <category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Gadgets" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="News" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Adidas has released a new variant of its 3D-printed Climacool shoes with laces so you can adjust their fit and potentially tone down how tightly they hug your feet. Featuring a breathable lattice structure created through an additive printing process, the shoes have previously only been available as slip-ons in a single off-white colorway, but […]]]></summary> <content type="html"> <![CDATA[ <figure> <img alt="Adidas’ 3D-printed Climacool Laced shoes floating against an off-white background." data-caption="Adidas’ Climacool Laced are $20 more expensive than the original slip-on version. | Image: Adidas" data-portal-copyright="Image: Adidas" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/adidas2.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> Adidas’ Climacool Laced are $20 more expensive than the original slip-on version. | Image: Adidas </figcaption></figure><p class="has-text-align-none">Adidas has released a new variant of its <a href="https://news.adidas.com/innovations/the-future-now--adidas-reveals-the-climacool-laced/s/f4cd96a9-a4e0-474c-a9cb-465b0dafa159" data-type="link" data-id="https://news.adidas.com/innovations/the-future-now--adidas-reveals-the-climacool-laced/s/f4cd96a9-a4e0-474c-a9cb-465b0dafa159">3D-printed Climacool shoes with laces</a> so you can adjust their fit and potentially tone down <a href="https://www.theverge.com/reviews/663985/adidas-climacool-3d-printed-sneaker-review-price-specs">how tightly they hug your feet</a>. Featuring a breathable lattice structure created through an additive printing process, the shoes have previously only been available as slip-ons in a single off-white colorway, but now feature a black tongue and laces potentially making them look less like an experiment in shoe design and more like a regular sneaker.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">The Climacool were <a href="https://news.adidas.com/innovations/climacool24--a-shoe-that-pushes-boundaries-of-design-innovation/s/10c1b774-a96e-4050-bff6-339ec3ef04b1">originally launched last September</a> in limited quantities, but Adidas <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/656374/adidas-climacool-shoe-3d-printed-global-availability">expanded their availability in April 2025</a> with a global launch that included select Adidas store locations in the US. The new <a href="https://www.adidas.com/us/climacool-laced-shoes/JQ6637.html" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.adidas.com/us/climacool-laced-shoes/JQ6637.html">$160 Climacool Laced</a> are $20 more expensive than the slip-on version, and while they’re also available from “selected retailers” and Adidas’ stores starting today, they can only be purchased online through the <a href="https://www.adidas.com/us/blog/830402-welcome-to-confirmed?clickId=wtUxk1wO9xycTDLwlm38NX8iUksSeeznPy2CWc0&irgwc=1&cm_mmc=AdieAffiliates_IR-_-Vox%20Media-_-Online%20Tracking%20Link-_-ONLINE_TRACKING_LINK-_-&cm_mmc2=adidas-NA-eCom-Affiliates-_-Vox%20Media-_-None-None-US-always-on-None-1801">company’s Confirmed platform</a>.</p><img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/adidas_laced2.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,10.719587153751,100,78.560825692498" alt="Adidas’ 3D-printed Climacool Laced shoes floating against an off-white background." title="Adidas’ 3D-printed Climacool Laced shoes floating against an off-white background." data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="<em>The shoe’s laces and tongue are made from materials that aren’t 3D-printed.</em> | Image: Adidas" data-portal-copyright="Image: Adidas" /><p class="has-text-align-none">The shoe’s main structure is still 3D-printed as a single piece in a process that Adidas says “takes approximately 24 hours and includes spinning, baking, and compression using high-tech polymers.” The upper portion of the Climacool Laced features a slightly different design than the slip-ons that now incorporates printed eyelets, but the tongue and laces are made from different materials added afterwards that aren’t 3D-printed.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">The new version will potentially make the Climacool more comfortable and compatible with a wider variety of foot sizes while retaining the unique features of their 3D-printed lattice structure that was breathable and fast-drying.</p> ]]> </content> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>Brandt Ranj</name> </author> <author> <name>Cameron Faulkner</name> </author> <author> <name>Antonio G. Di Benedetto</name> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[The best deals on MacBooks right now]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.theverge.com/22399419/apple-macbook-air-pro-mac-mini-imac-deals" /> <id>https://www.theverge.com/22399419/apple-macbook-air-pro-mac-mini-imac-deals</id> <updated>2025-07-15T15:22:18-04:00</updated> <published>2025-07-15T15:22:18-04:00</published> <category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Apple" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Deals" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Gadgets" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Laptops" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="macOS" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Tech" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Apple currently sells MacBooks equipped with its own M-series chips in a wide range of sizes and price points. It discontinued the M1 MacBook Air to make room for newer models, but some retailers are still selling the last-gen laptop starting at $599 — a far cry from the $2,499 starting price of the latest […]]]></summary> <content type="html"> <![CDATA[ <figure> <img alt="Apple’s black 14-inch MacBook Pro sitting on a desk." data-caption="Apple’s latest 14-inch MacBook Pro is on sale in various colors and configurations." data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25786609/247412_Apple_MacBook_Pro_16_M4_Pro_OGrove_0001.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> Apple’s latest 14-inch MacBook Pro is on sale in various colors and configurations. </figcaption></figure><p class="has-text-align-none">Apple currently sells MacBooks equipped with its own M-series chips in a wide range of sizes and price points. <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/4/24090015/apple-discontinues-m1-macbook-air-leaving-behind-its-iconic-wedge-design">It discontinued the M1 MacBook Air</a> to make room for newer models, but some retailers are still selling the last-gen laptop starting at $599 — a far cry from the $2,499 starting price of the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/30/24270706/apple-macbook-pro-m4-pro-max-14-16-announcement-specs">latest 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro</a>.</p> <p>Purchasing a new MacBook can certainly be a pricey endeavor, but thankfully, finding a deal is actually not that difficult. Apple has recently shaken up the starting RAM for several models, creating more options than ever before and resulting in steeper discounts on older models.</p> <div class="wp-block-vox-media-highlight vox-media-highlight alignnone"><div class="wp-block-vox-media-table-of-contents"><ol><li><a href="#EVXzol">The best MacBook Air deals</a></li><li><a href="#RdiMiF">The best MacBook Pro deals</a></li><li><a href="#m4-and-m4-pro-macbook-pro">M4 and M4 Pro MacBook Pro</a></li><li><a href="#dJ3cdr">The best Mac Mini deals</a></li></ol></div></div> <p>Although Macs may not get perpetual discounts, it’s not uncommon to see various models discounted by as much as $400. Alternatively, purchasing refurbished options directly from Apple is another way to save money without waiting for the changing deal winds to blow your way. It’s also the only option to find certain SKUs of older models as Apple continues to move forward on newer releases. <a href="https://apple.sjv.io/c/482924/435031/7613?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fshop%2Frefurbished%2Fmac&subid1=vergedeals030724">Apple’s refurbished store</a> provides a one-year warranty on all products, and generally offers discounts of up to 15 to 20 percent off the price of a new unit.</p> <p>But if you want to buy new and you’re looking to save whatever you can, here are the best MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac Mini deals available.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="EVXzol">The best MacBook Air deals</h2> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="pEzsTQ">M1 MacBook Air</h3> <p>The<strong> </strong><a href="https://www.theverge.com/21569603/apple-macbook-air-m1-review-price-specs-features-arm-silicon"><strong>M1 MacBook Air</strong></a> was considered Apple’s entry-level laptop before the M3 model’s arrival prompted Apple to stop selling it directly in its online and in brick-and-mortar stores. But while the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/laptop-review/23207440/apple-macbook-air-m2-2022-review">redesigned M2 version of the MacBook Air</a> (which has been with us for a while as well) has taken over as the top value choice, the 2020 version with an M1 processor and fanless design remains available at some retailers as a solid budget option. It’s best suited for non-intensive productivity work, plus it has a comfortable keyboard, an excellent trackpad, and all-day battery life. For many people, the M1 Air still ticks the right boxes when it comes to performance and price, even if it’s long enough in the tooth to have been removed in our <a href="https://www.theverge.com/21250695/best-laptops">guide to the best laptops</a>.</p> <p>The base MacBook Air with the M1 chip comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It’s becoming harder to find in new condition, but Walmart has <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/15/24101727/apple-m1-macbook-air-laptop-walmart">committed to keeping it around</a> for the foreseeable future and is currently <a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Apple-MacBook-Air-13-3-inch-Laptop-Silver-M1-Chip-8GB-RAM-256GB-storage/609040889/">discounting it to $599</a> ($400 off), which its lowest price to date.</p><div class="product-block"><h3>2020 MacBook Air with M1 (256GB)</h3><div class="product-description">The 2020 MacBook Air has been discontinued but remains a great value. It comes outfitted with the company’s original M1 chip in one of three different colors (silver, space gray, and gold).</div><figure class="product-image"><img width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22046478/vpavic_4291_20201113_0335.0.jpg?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="The MacBook Air is the most impressive laptop I’ve used in years" /></figure><h3>Where to Buy:</h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Apple-MacBook-Air-13-3-inch-Laptop-Space-Gray-M1-Chip-8GB-RAM-256GB-storage/609040889/"> <strike>$699</strike> $599 at <strong>Walmart</strong></a></li></ul></div><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="3VqFgR">M2 MacBook Air</h3> <p>The M2 MacBook Air is a slim, lightweight laptop with a 1080p webcam and a handy magnetic charger that frees up one of its two USB-C ports. Although its M2 processor wasn’t as revolutionary as the M1 generation, it’s a better performer for any kind of user than the M1, including creators with demanding workloads.</p> <p>It does have some slight downsides, though, including <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/1/23191141/apple-macbook-pro-13-m2-base-model-slow-device">slower storage in the base 256GB configuration</a> and a notch cutout in its otherwise excellent screen. But even so, Apple hasn’t offered a more travel-friendly laptop than this one since the days of the polarizing 12-inch MacBook, and this prior-gen model was once good enough to top our list of the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/21250695/best-laptops">best laptops</a>.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.theverge.com/laptop-review/23207440/apple-macbook-air-m2-2022-review">M2-powered MacBook Air</a> from 2022 seems to be on its way out, with availability waning. However, you can get the 13.6-inch M2 model with 16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and an eight-core GPU in select colors at <a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-macbook-air-13-inch-apple-m2-chip-built-for-apple-intelligence-16gb-memory-256gb-ssd-midnight/6602763.p?acampID=0&affgroup=%22Content%22%2C%22Howl+Migrated+Partners%22%2C%22May+Contract+Change%22%2C%22Partners+to+Keep%22%2C%22Temp+0%25%22&irclickid=1ngXNix1oxycUYK11Bwh9QfKUksRLrQFQ2yxU00&irgwc=1&loc=Vox+Media&mpid=482924&ref=198&skuId=6602763">Best Buy</a> starting at $699 ($100 off). </p> <p>It’s a bit harder to find discounts on the 15.3-inch MacBook Air M2, however. While it’s scantily in stock at some retailers for its original MSRP, you’d be better off going with a discounted M3 model.</p><div class="product-block"><h3>13-inch MacBook Air with M2 (2022)</h3><div class="product-description">The 2022 MacBook Air is a thin, lightweight device powered by Apple’s M2 chip. The M2 model touts an improved 1080p webcam and a better display than its predecessor while retaining features like long battery life and MagSafe charging.</div><figure class="product-image"><img width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23759755/bfarsace_190101_5333_0002.jpg?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="The M2 MacBook Air is opened, facing the camera. Its display is on, showcasing a psychedelic purple and black wallpaper created by The Verge’s art and illustration team." /></figure><h3>Where to Buy:</h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-macbook-air-13-inch-apple-m2-chip-built-for-apple-intelligence-16gb-memory-256gb-ssd-starlight/6602762.p?skuId=6602762"> <strike>$799</strike> $699 at <strong>Best Buy (16GB RAM, 256GB SSD)</strong></a></li></ul></div><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="DTHGG6">M3 MacBook Air</h3> <p>The M1 Air and its wedge had to perish for the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/24114684/apple-macbook-air-m3-13-15-inch-2024-review">M3 MacBook Air</a> to exist. Apple’s updated entry-level laptops arrived in both 13.6- and 15.3-inch variants simultaneously, bringing with them slightly faster performance and a slate of minor upgrades. Apple added Wi-Fi 6E, for one, along with an additional Thunderbolt port that allows you to use two external displays when the lid is closed. They also continue to offer 18 hours of battery life and a MagSafe charging port. Apple discontinued the M3 MacBook Air with 8GB of RAM last year and <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/30/24282981/apple-macbook-air-m2-m3-16gb-ram-minimum-price-unchanged">now considers the 16GB / 256GB model as the starting configuration</a>.</p> <p>Right now, the 13-inch M3 MacBook Air is available in its entry-level configuration with an 8-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD is tough to find in stock. You can also find the 24GB RAM / 512GB SSD model with a 10-core GPU for $1,099 ($200 off) in select colors at <a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-macbook-air-13-inch-laptop-apple-m3-chip-built-for-apple-intelligence-24gb-memory-512gb-ssd-midnight/6602772.p">Best Buy</a>. Given the relatively small price difference between these two models, it’s great that you’re getting double the amount of internal storage and additional memory. </p> <p>As for the M3-powered 15-inch MacBook Air, <a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1815076-REG/apple_mba15m305mn_15_macbook_air_m3.html">B&H Photo</a> is selling the laptop for $949 ($400 off) with a 10-core GPU, 256GB of storage, and 16GB of RAM. You can also buy it with 512GB of storage, 16GB of RAM, and a 10-core GPU for $1,099 ($200 off) at <a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-macbook-air-15-inch-laptop-m3-chip-built-for-apple-intelligence-16gb-memory-512gb-ssd-midnight/6565857.p?skuId=6565857">Best Buy</a>.</p><div class="product-block"><h3>13-inch MacBook Air with M3 (2024)</h3><div class="product-description">The MacBook Air M3 is a jack-of-all-trades, with a balanced combination of performance and power efficiency. It also now supports dual displays with the lid closed, and the storage speed is noticeably faster. You don’t need to think about if this laptop will meet your needs — it just will.</div><figure class="product-image"><img width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/hermano/verge/product/image/10248/247043_Apple_MacBook_Air_2024_AKrales_0200.jpg?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="" /></figure><h3>Where to Buy:</h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1815040-OREG/apple_mba13m306mn_13_macbook_air_m3.html"> <strike>$1299</strike> $939 at <strong>B&H Photo (16GB RAM, 256GB SSD)</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-macbook-air-13-inch-laptop-apple-m3-chip-built-for-apple-intelligence-24gb-memory-512gb-ssd-midnight/6602772.p?skuId=6602772"> <strike>$1299</strike> $1099 at <strong>Best Buy (24GB RAM, 512GB SSD)</strong></a></li></ul></div><h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none" id="m4-macbook-air">M4 MacBook Air</h3> <p class="has-text-align-none">Along with an <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/624193/apple-mac-studio-m4-max-m3-ultra-launch-price-specs-availability" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.theverge.com/news/624193/apple-mac-studio-m4-max-m3-ultra-launch-price-specs-availability">updated Mac Studio</a>, Apple released an updated <a href="https://www.theverge.com/reviews/627186/apple-macbook-air-m4-13-15-inch-2025-laptop-review">MacBook Air</a>, which comes in both a 13- and 15-inch configuration with a M4 processor. Interestingly, the new Air starts at a lower price than the prior model, yet it offers slightly faster performance and twice as much base RAM at 16GB. It can also connect to two external monitors with the lid open, comes in a new sky blue color, and features the 12-megapixel Center Stage webcam from the latest MacBook Pro. There’s a lot to like.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Both the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Airs are currently receiving some good discounts. You can pick up the 13-inch base model with a 10-core CPU, eight-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage on sale for $849 ($150 off) at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZDC3WW5/">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1883952-REG/apple_mc6t4ll_a_13_macbook_air_m4.html">B&H Photo</a>. If you prefer the larger 15-inch model, the entry-level configuration with a 10-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage is on sale for $1,049 ($150 off) at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZDBDCFH/?th=1">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1883968-REG/apple_mw1l3ll_a_15_macbook_air_m4.html">B&H Photo</a>.</p><div class="product-block"><h3>13-inch MacBook Air (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD)</h3><div class="product-description">Powered by the new M4 chip, Apple’s 13-inch MacBook Air is faster than its predecessor and offers double the base RAM. It can also now connect to two external displays with the lid open and features an improved Center Stage webcam.</div><figure class="product-image"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/257607_M4_MacBook_Air_ADiBenedetto_0049.jpg?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="" /></figure><h3>Where to Buy:</h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZDC3WW5/?th=1"> <strike>$999</strike> $849 at <strong>Amazon</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1883962-REG/apple_mw123ll_a_13_macbook_air_m4.html"> <strike>$999</strike> $849 at <strong>B&H Photo</strong></a></li></ul></div><div class="product-block"><h3>15-inch MacBook Air (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD)</h3><div class="product-description">Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Air with the M4 chip is nearly identical to its 13-inch sibling. However, it includes a six-speaker sound system, not four, and your choice of a free 35W Dual USB‑C Port Compact Power Adapter or 70W USB‑C Power Adapter.</div><figure class="product-image"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/257607_M4_MacBook_Air_ADiBenedetto_0183.webp?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="" /></figure><h3>Where to Buy:</h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DZD96R5S/ref=ewc_pr_img_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1"> <strike>$1199</strike> $1049 at <strong>Amazon</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1883968-REG/apple_mw1l3ll_a_15_macbook_air_m4.html"> <strike>$1199</strike> $1049 at <strong>B&H Photo</strong></a></li></ul></div><h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="RdiMiF">The best MacBook Pro deals</h2> <p>During its <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/30/23933672/apple-event-mac-october-news-updates-products-scary-fast">“Scary Fast” event</a> in 2023, Apple announced MacBook Pros that use M3 processors — including a 14-inch model that replaced the 13-inch M2 model. Apple followed the M3 models up with <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/30/24270706/apple-macbook-pro-m4-pro-max-14-16-announcement-specs">M4-based machines in October 2024</a>, and we’re already starting to see the discounts on them. That being said, the last-gen M3 models are often the better bargain, as they’re still relatively easy to find and receive steeper discounts.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="phB246">M3 and M3 Pro MacBook Pro</h3> <p>The entry point into the MacBook Pro world is a MagSafe-equipped MacBook Pro that uses the existing 14-inch design and slightly pares it down. The <a href="https://www.theverge.com/23944344/apple-macbook-pro-14-2023-review-m3-specs-battery-ports">14-inch M3 MacBook Pro</a> has the same 3024 x 1964 resolution display and 120Hz refresh rate as its pricier siblings, and in addition to a MagSafe charging port, it has an SD card slot and HDMI port. However, it starts with just 8GB of RAM and lacks the third USB-C / Thunderbolt port found on the M3 Pro and M3 Max models (as well as Thunderbolt 4 speeds).</p> <p>The M3 MacBook Pro may be a bit of an odd middle child in some ways, but it’s still a very good laptop — especially if you can find a deal that puts more price distance between the M3 model and the M3 Pro version. Availability for the base model with 8GB and 512GB of storage seems to be waning as Apple standardizes 16GB of RAM across its lineup.</p> <p>We’re finding it challenging to spot the 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD model in stock. However, <a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-macbook-pro-14-laptop-m3-chip-built-for-apple-intelligence-8gb-memory-10-core-gpu-1tb-ssd-silver/6551409.p">Best Buy</a> is selling the 14-inch, M3-powered MacBook Pro with<strong> </strong>8GB of RAM, a 1TB, 10-core GPU for $1,199 ($200 off). </p><div class="product-block"><h3>14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 (2023)</h3><div class="product-description">Apple’s previous-gen 14-inch laptop powered by the M3 processor uses a similar design to the pricier 14-inch MacBook Pro with Apple’s Pro- / Max-series chips but is offered at a lower price with similar ports and less RAM.</div><figure class="product-image"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/hermano/verge/product/image/10203/236896_MacBook_Pro_14_and_16_M3_AKrales_0159.jpg?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="" /></figure><h3>Where to Buy:</h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-macbook-pro-14-laptop-m3-chip-built-for-apple-intelligence-8gb-memory-10-core-gpu-1tb-ssd-space-gray/6551411.p"> <strike>$1599</strike> $1199 at <strong>Best Buy (8GB RAM, 1TB SSD)</strong></a></li></ul></div><h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="m4-and-m4-pro-macbook-pro">M4 and M4 Pro MacBook Pro</h2> <p>Apple released the M4-series MacBook Pro in November 2024. Notably, the base <a href="https://www.theverge.com/24289831/apple-macbook-pro-m4-review-14-2024-laptop-specs-benchmarks">14-inch M4 MacBook Pro</a> is the first to launch with 16GB of RAM — double the previous generation’s starting memory — and 512GB of storage for the same $1,599 starting price as the last-gen model. It also picks up a third Thunderbolt 4 port, which is positioned on the right side and supports dual external monitors while the lid is opened. Also new this year is an upgraded 12-megapixel webcam that supports Center Stage and a new Desk View feature, plus the option to add a nano-texture display for an extra $150. It’s also available in space black.</p> <p>The 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips also received additional RAM, bringing them up to 24GB. They start with 512GB of storage, too, and retail for $1,999 and $2,499, respectively. While the total port selection hasn’t changed compared to their respective M3 Pro and M3 Max counterparts, you’ll get faster Thunderbolt 5 ports on these more substantial models. That’s in addition to the SD slot, dedicated full-sized HDMI port, and 3.5mm jack. They also have the upgraded 12-megapixel Center Stage webcam with Desk View and the optional nano-texture display option.</p> <p>Deals for the M4 MacBook Pro have already started to roll in. Right now, for example, the base 14-inch MacBook Pro M4 with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD starts at $1,429 ($170 off) at <a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1859560-REG/apple_mw2u3ll_a_14_macbook_pro_m4.html">B&H Photo</a> and $1,417 ($182 off) at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DLHBYRPS?th=1">Amazon</a>. Meanwhile, the 24GB / 512GB variant with an M4 Pro chip (12-core CPU / 16-core GPU) is down to $1,799 ($200 off) at <a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-macbook-pro-14-inch-apple-m4-pro-chip-built-for-apple-intelligence-24gb-memory-512gb-ssd-space-black/6602748.p?skuId=6602748&nrtv_cid=xihekf1lfnwyc&irclickid=1ngXNix1oxycUYK11Bwh9QfKUksR4j1hQ2yxU00&irgwc=1&ref=198&loc=Howl%20Technologies%2C%20Inc.&acampID=0&mpid=376373&affgroup=%22Content%22%2C%22Partners%20to%20Keep%22%2C%22Temp%200%25%22">Best Buy</a> and <a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1859567-REG/apple_mx2h3ll_a_14_macbook_pro_m4.html">B&H Photo</a><strong>.</strong></p> <p>The base 16-inch MacBook Pro is also on sale with an M4 Pro chip, 24GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for around $2,232 ($267 off) at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Apple-MacBook-Laptop-14%E2%80%91core-20%E2%80%91core/dp/B0DLHDCN6P">Amazon</a><strong>, </strong><a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1859574-REG/apple_mx2x3ll_a_16_macbook_pro_m4.html">B&H Photo</a>, and <a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-macbook-pro-16-inch-laptop-apple-m4-pro-chip-built-for-apple-intelligence-24gb-memory-512gb-ssd-space-black/6602755.p?">Best Buy</a>.</p><div class="product-block"><h3>Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2024, M4)</h3><div class="product-description">The entry-level MacBook Pro with M4 starts with 16GB of RAM — double that of its predecessor — and a 512GB SSD for the same starting price of $1,599. It also gets a third USB-C / Thunderbolt 4 port and comes in a new space black option.</div><figure class="product-image"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/hermano/verge/product/image/10325/247372_MacBook_Pro_M4_ADiBenedetto_0035.jpg?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="" /></figure><h3>Where to Buy:</h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DLHBYRPS"> <strike>$1599</strike> $1417 at <strong>Amazon (16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1859560-REG/apple_mw2u3ll_a_14_macbook_pro_m4.html"> <strike>$1599</strike> $1429 at <strong>B&H Photo (16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)</strong></a></li></ul></div><div class="product-block"><h3>14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro</h3><div class="product-description">The 14-inch MacBook Pro with a 12-core / 16-core M4 Pro chip starts with 24GB of RAM — a 6GB increase over the prior generation. It also has a 512GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 USB-C ports, an optional nano-texture display, and a 12-megapixel webcam.</div><figure class="product-image"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25706766/Apple_MacBook_Pro_M4_lifestyle_02.jpg?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="Someone using MacBook Pro with M4 Pro" /></figure><h3>Where to Buy:</h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DLHY2BJ6/"> <strike>$2499</strike> $1787.5 at <strong>Amazon (24GB RAM, 512GB SSD)</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1859567-REG/apple_mx2h3ll_a_14_macbook_pro_m4.html"> <strike>$2499</strike> $1799 at <strong>B&H Photo (24GB RAM, 512GB SSD)</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-macbook-pro-14-inch-apple-m4-pro-chip-built-for-apple-intelligence-24gb-memory-512gb-ssd-space-black/6602748.p?skuId=6602748&nrtv_cid=xihekf1lfnwyc&irclickid=1ngXNix1oxycUYK11Bwh9QfKUksR4j1hQ2yxU00&irgwc=1&ref=198&loc=Howl%20Technologies%2C%20Inc.&acampID=0&mpid=376373&affgroup=%22Content%22%2C%22Partners%20to%20Keep%22%2C%22Temp%200%25%22"> <strike>$1999</strike> $1799 at <strong>Best Buy (24GB RAM, 512GB SSD)</strong></a></li></ul></div><div class="product-block"><h3>Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2024, M4 Pro)</h3><div class="product-description">The 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro starts with 24GB of RAM and offers more computing cores (14 for the CPU and 20 for the GPU) compared to the 14-inch model. It also picks up Thunderbolt 5 ports and a new 12-megapixel Center Stage camera.</div><figure class="product-image"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/hermano/verge/product/image/10336/247412_Apple_MacBook_Pro_16_M4_Pro_OGrove_0005.jpg?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="" /></figure><h3>Where to Buy:</h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Apple-MacBook-Laptop-14%E2%80%91core-20%E2%80%91core/dp/B0DLHDCN6P"> <strike>$2499</strike> $2232.5 at <strong>Amazon (24GB RAM, 512GB SSD)</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1859574-REG/apple_mx2x3ll_a_16_macbook_pro_m4.html"> <strike>$2499</strike> $2232.5 at <strong>B&H Photo (24GB RAM, 512GB SSD)</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-macbook-pro-16-inch-apple-m4-pro-chip-built-for-apple-intelligence-24gb-memory-512gb-ssd-space-black/6602755.p"> <strike>$2499</strike> $2249 at <strong>Best Buy (24GB RAM, 512GB SSD)</strong></a></li></ul></div><h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="dJ3cdr">The best Mac Mini deals</h2> <p>The newest Mac Mini in town are the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/30/24283861/apple-redesigned-mac-mini-macbook-pro-imac-m4-photos">M4-based models arrived late last year</a>. Apple reduced the horizontal footprint on its desktop and paired it with its new M4 chipset and 16GB of RAM, which is double that of the previous generation and brings it in line with other base model Macs from 2024. That makes Apple’s newest desktop computer a tremendous value.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="cUuNKL">M4 and M4 Pro Mac Mini</h3> <p>Deals on the newest Mac Mini are a bit easier to come by now than they were at launch, which is good since the outgoing M2 model is becoming more difficult to find. The <a href="https://www.theverge.com/24289730/apple-mac-mini-m4-review">M4 Mac Mini</a> starts with an M4 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage for $599. That’s an incredible value for a tiny desktop computer that can rival the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/23762570/apple-mac-studio-m2-ultra-2023-review">Mac Studio</a> and <a href="https://www.theverge.com/23770770/apple-mac-pro-m2-ultra-2023-review">Mac Pro</a> when it comes to certain tasks, including light gaming, 4K video editing, and 3D modeling. Vertically, the M4 Mac Mini is a fair bit thicker than the last-gen M2 model at 2 inches tall, yet it measures a mere 5 inches wide and 5 inches deep.</p> <p>In addition to the odd decision to place the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/29/24282752/the-magic-mouse-haters-are-going-to-have-a-field-day-with-this-one">power button on its underside</a>, Apple moved the 3.5mm headphone jack and two of its five USB-C / Thunderbolt 4 ports to the front. The rear features an additional three thunderbolt ports, HDMI-out, and a gigabit ethernet port. You can also get the Mac Mini with an M4 Pro chipset starting at $1,399, which comes with faster Thunderbolt 5 storage and the option to upgrade to 10-gigabit ethernet for another $100.</p> <p>Right now, you can get the base Mac Mini at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Apple-2024-Desktop-Computer-10%E2%80%91core/dp/B0DLBTPDCS?th=1">Amazon</a> and<a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1859258-REG/apple_mu9d3ll_a_mac_mini_m4_10c_10cgpu_16gb_256gb.html"> B&H Photo</a><strong> </strong>with an M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD for $539 ($61 off). If you need more storage, you can step up to the version with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD for around $728 ($71 off) at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Apple-2024-Desktop-Computer-10%E2%80%91core/dp/B0DLBX4B1K">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1859259-REG/apple_mu9e3ll_a_mac_mini_m4_10c_10cgpu_16gb_512gb.html">B&H Photo</a>.</p> <p>Meanwhile, the base M4 Pro model with 24GB of RAM and 512GB of storage is on sale at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Apple-2024-Desktop-Computer-10%E2%80%91core/dp/B0DLBVHSLD">Amazon</a> starting at $1,261 ($138 off).</p><div class="product-block"><h3>Apple Mac Mini (M4)</h3><div class="product-description">The latest Mac Mini features Apple’s upgraded M4 chips and a smaller build than the prior model. Each configuration now starts with 16GB of RAM and includes five total Thunderbolt ports, gigabit ethernet, HDMI, and a 3.5mm jack. <a href="https://www.theverge.com/24289730/apple-mac-mini-m4-review">Read our review.</a></div><figure class="product-image"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/hermano/verge/product/image/10324/DSC_1216.jpg?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="" /></figure><h3>Where to Buy:</h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Apple-2024-Desktop-Computer-10%E2%80%91core/dp/B0DLBTPDCS/"> <strike>$599</strike> $539 at <strong>Amazon (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD)</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1859258-REG/apple_mu9d3ll_a_mac_mini_m4_10c_10cgpu_16gb_256gb.html?cnxclid=17504498026010332649615341198008005"> <strike>$598</strike> $539 at <strong>B&H Photo (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD)</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Apple-2024-Desktop-Computer-10%E2%80%91core/dp/B0DLBX4B1K/"> <strike>$799</strike> $727.5 at <strong>Amazon (M4 Pro, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)</strong></a></li></ul></div> ]]> </content> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>Brandon Russell</name> </author> <author> <name>Sheena Vasani</name> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Here are the best AirPods deals you can get right now]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.theverge.com/21302051/best-apple-airpods-deals" /> <id>https://www.theverge.com/21302051/best-apple-airpods-deals</id> <updated>2025-07-15T14:18:04-04:00</updated> <published>2025-07-15T14:16:29-04:00</published> <category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Apple" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Deals" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Gadgets" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Headphones" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Roundup" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Tech" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[If you know where to look, you can often score discounts on Apple’s ever-expanding AirPods lineup. Both the newer AirPods Max and AirPods 4 (with and without ANC) now consistently receive discounts, as do the latest AirPods Pro with USB-C. Events like Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday often bring the steepest discounts, though […]]]></summary> <content type="html"> <![CDATA[ <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="The AirPods 4 are a solid upgrade over their predecessor, and they’re even better at a discount. | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge" data-portal-copyright="Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25623448/DSCF0028.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=10.049019607843,5.1470588235294,85.098039215686,90.294117647059" /> <figcaption> The AirPods 4 are a solid upgrade over their predecessor, and they’re even better at a discount. | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge </figcaption></figure><p>If you know where to look, you can often score discounts on Apple’s ever-expanding AirPods lineup. Both the newer <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/9/24236804/airpods-max-second-gen-price-specs-features-release-date">AirPods Max</a> and <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/9/23313529/apple-airpods-4-noise-cancellation-price-features">AirPods 4</a> (with and without ANC) now consistently receive discounts, as do the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/23878402/apple-airpods-pro-usb-c-adaptive-audio-conversation-awareness-test-review">latest AirPods Pro with USB-C</a>. Events like Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday often bring the steepest discounts, though you can still find great deals throughout the year.</p> <div class="wp-block-vox-media-highlight vox-media-highlight alignnone"><h3 class="wp-block-heading"> </h3> <div class="wp-block-vox-media-table-of-contents"><ol><li><a href="#yCNINu">The best AirPods 4 deals</a></li><li><a href="#Iewbkw">The best AirPods Pro (second-gen) deals</a></li><li><a href="#x5NHYH">The best AirPods Max deals</a></li></ol></div></div> <p>Below, we’ve rounded up the best deals currently available on each model, including both iterations of the AirPods 4, the latest AirPods Pro, and the AirPods Max.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="yCNINu">The best AirPods 4 deals</h2><div class="product-block"><h3>Apple AirPods 4</h3><div class="product-description">Apple’s AirPods 4 improve on previous models with better sound, clearer voice calls, and an even more comfortable design. For $50 extra, you can purchase a model with active noise cancellation and wireless charging.</div><figure class="product-image"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25623449/DSCF0031.jpg?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="A hands-on photo of Apple’s AirPods 4 wireless earbuds." /></figure><h3>Where to Buy:</h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Apple-Headphones-Cancellation-Transparency-Personalized/dp/B0DGHMNQ5Z/"> <strike>$129</strike> $89.99 at <strong>Amazon</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Apple-AirPods-4/11381374703/"> <strike>$129</strike> $99 at <strong>Walmart</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-airpods-4-white/6447384.p"> <strike>$129</strike> $89.99 at <strong>Best Buy</strong></a></li></ul></div><div class="product-block"><h3>AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation</h3><div class="product-description">The fancier version of the new AirPods 4 offer support for active noise cancellation, a wireless charging case that can use either Qi or Apple Watch pads, and a speaker in the case that chirps to help you find it. <a href="https://www.theverge.com/24245570/apple-airpods-4-review">Read our review</a>.</div><figure class="product-image"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/airpods-photo.webp?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="" /></figure><h3>Where to Buy:</h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-airpods-4-with-active-noise-cancellation-white/6447385.p?skuId=6447385"> <strike>$179</strike> $129.99 at <strong>Best Buy</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Apple-Headphones-Cancellation-Transparency-Personalized/dp/B0DGJ7HYG1/"> <strike>$179</strike> $149 at <strong>Amazon</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/AirPods-4-with-Active-Noise-Cancellation/11384707978/"> <strike>$179</strike> $149 at <strong>Walmart</strong></a></li></ul></div><p>At its <a href="https://www.theverge.com/24239739/apple-iphone-16-event-announcements-watch-series-10-airpods">September event</a>, Apple introduced the AirPods 4, a pair of wireless earbuds available in two variations: a $129 standard model and a $179 noise-canceling model. Both versions represent significant upgrades over the third-gen AirPods, with a more comfortable design and improved audio performance. They’re also better for taking calls thanks to Apple’s Voice Isolation feature, which focuses the mics on your voice so you can be heard more clearly in noisy environments.</p> <p>The $179 AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation offer a surprisingly effective noise-canceling mode, a helpful transparency mode, and several other Pro-level features. The latest AirPods Pro do a better job of tuning out noise, but the AirPods 4 with ANC still do a good job of reducing sound. They also feature other perks formerly reserved for Apple’s top-of-the-line earbuds, including wireless charging and a case with a built-in speaker that allows you to easily track it down via Apple’s Find My app. </p> <p>Although they launched at the end of last year, we’ve consistently been seeing discounts on both versions of the AirPods 4. Right now, for instance, the standard AirPods 4 are on sale at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DGHMNQ5Z">Amazon</a><strong> </strong>and <a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-airpods-4-white/6447384.p">Best Buy</a> for $89.99 ($40 off), matching the all-time low we saw during Amazon’s recent Prime Day event. You can also find them at <a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Apple-AirPods-4/11381374703/">Walmart</a> and <a href="https://www.target.com/p/apple-airpods-4/-/A-93606140?preselect=85978615#lnk=sametab">Target</a> for around $99 ($30 off), which is still a decent discount. The AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, meanwhile, are on sale at <a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-airpods-4-with-active-noise-cancellation-white/6447385.p?skuId=6447385">Best Buy</a> for $129.99 ($50 off), which is just $10 more than the all-time low we saw during Prime Day.</p> <h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="qd82sU"><a href="https://www.theverge.com/24245570/apple-airpods-4-review">Read our full AirPods 4 review</a>.</h5> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="Iewbkw">The best AirPods Pro (second-gen) deals</h2><div class="product-block"><h3>Apple AirPods Pro (second-gen) with USB-C charging case</h3><div class="product-description">The second-gen AirPods Pro improve upon Apple’s original pair with much better noise cancellation, sound quality, and onboard volume controls. The latest refresh also ships with a USB-C charging case, as opposed to Lightning.</div><figure class="product-image"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24043027/DSCF9466.jpg?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="Apple’s second-generation AirPods Pro photographed on a reflective black surface." /></figure><h3>Where to Buy:</h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Apple-Cancellation-Transparency-Personalized-High-Fidelity/dp/B0D1XD1ZV3/"> <strike>$249</strike> $169 at <strong>Amazon</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/AirPods-Pro-2nd-generation-with-MagSafe-Case-USB-C/5689919121/"> <strike>$249</strike> $169 at <strong>Walmart</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-airpods-pro-2-wireless-active-noise-cancelling-earbuds-with-hearing-aid-feature-white/6447382.p?skuId=6447382"> $249.99 at <strong>Best Buy</strong></a></li></ul></div><p>In 2022, Apple released the second-gen AirPods Pro, which feature a similar build to the first-gen model but offer better noise cancellation, swipe-based controls, and an extra-small pair of swappable silicone ear tips for smaller ears. Apple followed up a year later with a minor refresh, one that features a <a href="https://www.theverge.com/23878402/apple-airpods-pro-usb-c-adaptive-audio-conversation-awareness-test-review">USB-C charging case</a> and an upgraded IP54 rating for water and dust resistance. The newest model also supports lossless audio when used with <a href="https://www.theverge.com/24054862/apple-vision-pro-review-vr-ar-headset-features-price">Apple’s new Vision Pro headset</a> and <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/12/24242929/apple-airpods-pro-hearing-aids-fda-authorization">doubles as a pair of FDA-approved hearing aids</a>.</p> <p>As far as deals go, Apple’s updated AirPods Pro with USB-C are currently available at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Apple-Cancellation-Transparency-Personalized-High-Fidelity/dp/B0D1XD1ZV3/">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/AirPods-Pro-2nd-generation-with-MagSafe-Case-USB-C/5689919121">Walmart</a> for $169 ($80 off). <strong>That’s a solid discount, but it falls short of the $149 low we saw during Prime Day.</strong></p> <h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="YoBmJr"><a href="https://www.theverge.com/23878402/apple-airpods-pro-usb-c-adaptive-audio-conversation-awareness-test-review">Read our AirPods Pro with USB-C impressions</a>.</h5> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="x5NHYH">The best AirPods Max deals</h2><div class="product-block"><h3>Apple AirPods Max</h3><div class="product-description">Apple’s AirPods Max feature exemplary build quality, sound phenomenal, and keep up with the best at noise cancellation. <a href="https://www.theverge.com/22177494/apple-airpods-max-headphones-review-price-features">Read our review</a>.</div><figure class="product-image"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24755232/DSCF1978_Enhanced_NR.jpg?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="A photo of Apple’s AirPods Max headphones on a coffee shop table." /></figure><h3>Where to Buy:</h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/New-Apple-AirPods-Max-Pink/dp/B0DGJJDFPR/"> <strike>$549</strike> $529 at <strong>Amazon (USB-C)</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/AirPods-Max-Midnight/11347872631"> <strike>$549</strike> $529 at <strong>Walmart (USB-C)</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-airpods-max-usb-c-midnight/6550076.p"> <strike>$549</strike> $529.99 at <strong>Best Buy (USB-C)</strong></a></li></ul></div><p>The AirPods Max aren’t the iconic in-ears that have become synonymous with the AirPods name. They’re large and luxurious, comprised of aluminum, steel, and mesh fabric that remains comfortable during extended listening sessions. They also sport excellent noise cancellation, Apple’s spatial audio feature, and expansive, balanced sound, even if they lag behind some of their peers when it comes to bass response and features. They’re not the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/21345733/best-noise-canceling-headphones">best noise-canceling headphones</a> for most people — blame the sticker price — but it’s hard to find a better pair of Bluetooth headphones if you’re an iPhone user.</p> <p>Toward the end of last year, Apple replaced the first-gen Max with a <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/17/24242378/airpods-max-usb-c-unchanged-missing-features">new model</a> that features support for USB-C charging and a few new color options. As of writing, they’re on sale at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/New-Apple-AirPods-Max-Pink/dp/B0DGJJDFPR/">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/AirPods-Max-Orange/11347872631">Walmart</a>, and <a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-airpods-max-usb-c-midnight/6550076.p" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-airpods-max-usb-c-purple/6550080.p?skuId=6550080">Best Buy</a> in select colors starting at $529 ($20 off) — a far cry from the all-time low of $399 we saw during Prime Day.</p> <h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="Lxq0zw"><a href="https://www.theverge.com/22177494/apple-airpods-max-headphones-review-price-features">Read our original AirPods Max review</a>.</h5> ]]> </content> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>Andrew Webster</name> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Analogue’s 4K N64 has been delayed again, but only by a month]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.theverge.com/news/707586/analogue-3d-4k-n64-delay-august-2025" /> <id>https://www.theverge.com/?p=707586</id> <updated>2025-07-15T14:00:39-04:00</updated> <published>2025-07-15T14:00:39-04:00</published> <category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Entertainment" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Gaming" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="News" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[The Analogue 3D has been hit with another delay, but should still be launching this summer. In an update on its preorder website, Analogue explained that it’s modern take on the Nintendo 64 “is now shipping in late August 2025,” after previously aiming for July. The company said in a separate statement that the decision […]]]></summary> <content type="html"> <![CDATA[ <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25665360/6_Analogue_3D__Black_with_Cartridges.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption></figure><p class="has-text-align-none">The Analogue 3D has been hit with another delay, but should still be launching this summer. In an update <a href="https://www.analogue.co/support/resource/3d-preorder-faq" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.analogue.co/support/resource/3d-preorder-faq">on its preorder website</a>, Analogue explained that it’s modern take on the Nintendo 64 “is now shipping in late August 2025,” after previously aiming for July. The company said in a separate statement that the decision was made due to <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/699681/trump-south-korea-japan-tariff-25-percent" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.theverge.com/news/699681/trump-south-korea-japan-tariff-25-percent">the ever-changing situation around US tariffs</a>.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">“Following last week’s sudden tariff changes, Analogue 3D will now begin shipping next month,” the company explained in <a href="https://x.com/analogue/status/1945166565114081648" data-type="link" data-id="https://x.com/analogue/status/1945166565114081648">a post on X</a>. “We’re absorbing the costs — your preorder price stays the same. No additional charges. Late August, the wait ends: reviews go live with everything we’ve been saving for this moment.”</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Like <a href="https://www.theverge.com/22831589/analogue-pocket-review" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.theverge.com/22831589/analogue-pocket-review">its previous hardware</a>, the $249.99 Analogue 3D is a modern console designed to play old games, in this case N64 cartridges. The new console can upscale classic games to 4K and includes multiple display modes to mimic the look and feel of a CRT display, and the company says that it supports 100 percent of N64 cartridges. It was <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/16/23915941/analogue-3d-nintendo-64" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/16/23915941/analogue-3d-nintendo-64">originally planned for a launch in 2024</a>, but has been hit with <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/16/24265587/analogue-3d-nintendo-64-price-preorder-date" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/16/24265587/analogue-3d-nintendo-64-price-preorder-date">multiple</a> <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/631816/analogue-3d-delay-nintendo-64-modretro-teaser" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.theverge.com/news/631816/analogue-3d-delay-nintendo-64-modretro-teaser">delays</a> since it was initially announced.</p> ]]> </content> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>Andrew Liszewski</name> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Sony’s pocket-sized RX1R camera returns with its first update in 10 years]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.theverge.com/news/707589/sony-rx1r-iii-digital-compact-pocket-camera" /> <id>https://www.theverge.com/?p=707589</id> <updated>2025-07-15T13:57:19-04:00</updated> <published>2025-07-15T13:57:19-04:00</published> <category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Cameras" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Gadgets" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="News" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Sony" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Tech" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[After nearly a decade, Sony has announced a new version of its fixed-lens compact RX1R camera that was last updated in 2015. The new third generation RX1R III arrives with the same 35mm full-frame Exmor R sensor as its predecessor, but with a bump from 42.4 to 61 megapixels. It also benefits from Sony’s latest […]]]></summary> <content type="html"> <![CDATA[ <figure> <img alt="The Sony RX1R III camera against a black background." data-caption="The new Sony RX1R III carries forward the last version’s fixed lens and 35mm sensor. | Image: Sony" data-portal-copyright="Image: Sony" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/sony1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> The new Sony RX1R III carries forward the last version’s fixed lens and 35mm sensor. | Image: Sony </figcaption></figure><p class="has-text-align-none">After nearly a decade, Sony has announced a new version of its fixed-lens compact RX1R camera that was <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/14/9530499/sony-rx1r-ii-digital-camera-compact-full-frame-price">last updated in 2015</a>. The new <a href="https://alphauniverse.com/stories/sony-electronics-introduces-the-rx1r-iii/">third generation RX1R III</a> arrives with the same 35mm full-frame Exmor R sensor as its predecessor, but with a bump from 42.4 to 61 megapixels. It also benefits from Sony’s latest Bionz XR and AI image processors to deliver better autofocus that can track the movement of human bodies and more accurately focus on their heads and eyes.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">The RX1R III will be available sometime in July for approximately $5,099.99, according to Sony. That’s considerably more expensive than the RX1R II, which launched in 2015 for $3,300. The RX1R III’s compact size and Zeiss Sonnar T 35mm F2 lens puts the camera in competition with the $4,899.95 medium format <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/633093/fujifilm-gfx100rf-camera-features-price">Fujifilm GFX100RF</a> and the $5,995 full-frame <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/25/23736639/leica-q3-camera-28mm-fixed-lens-compact-8k-availability-price-specs">Leica Q3</a> – both of which also feature fixed lenses.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">To compensate for that lens limitation, the RX1R III includes a Step Crop Shooting function that allows photographers to switch between 35mm, 50mm, and 70mm focal lengths achieved through sensor cropping. The camera also features a macro mode activated by a ring on the lens that can be used to focus on subjects as close as 20cm.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">The camera has a body made of magnesium alloy. To help make the RX1R III as light and portable as possible, Sony is now using a fixed screen on the back that can no longer be tilted up and down. The change means you may find yourself having to contort your body when trying to capture low-angle shots using the camera’s screen or 2.36 million dot OLED electronic view finder.</p><div class="youtube-embed"><iframe title="Introducing RX1R III | Sony | RX" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8-wwnIp7tLs?rel=0" allowfullscreen allow="accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;"></iframe></div><p class="has-text-align-none">Sony is once again positioning this camera as a high quality shooter that’s far less cumbersome to carry than larger mirrorless options or DSLRs, and its performance reflects that. Shooting speeds max out at just five frames per second, and the RX1R III can capture 4K video at 30 fps or 1080p at up to 120 fps (the RX1R II maxed out at 1080p) with the option to use Sony’s S-Cinetone picture profile for a more cinematic look. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">The RX1R III also includes 12 different quick access Creative Looks that can be customized and applied to both stills and video. And like the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/26/23424298/sony-alpha-a7rv-full-frame-camera-ai-video-price-specs-features">Sony A7R V</a>, its autofocus system features 693 phase-detection points and is capable of tracking human motion to determine where a subject’s eyes are supposed to be, even if they’re not looking directly at the camera or their face is obscured.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">It seems like a worthwhile upgrade over the last generation, but if you don’t mind a bit more bulk, there are more capable and affordable alternatives from Sony.</p> ]]> </content> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>Antonio G. Di Benedetto</name> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Our biggest questions about ChromeOS and Android merging]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.theverge.com/google/707041/google-chromeos-android-os-merger-questions-phones-chromebooks-laptops-tablets" /> <id>https://www.theverge.com/?p=707041</id> <updated>2025-07-15T14:52:20-04:00</updated> <published>2025-07-15T13:43:48-04:00</published> <category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Analysis" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Android" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Chrome" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Chromebook" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Gadgets" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Google" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Laptops" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Phones" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Tech" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Sameer Samat, Google's head of Android ecosystems, recently confirmed that Android and ChromeOS will be merged into a single platform, reigniting a slew of questions about the future of the operating systems. Combining them makes sense. It made sense way back in 2013, and it was first supposed to happen back in 2015, but until […]]]></summary> <content type="html"> <![CDATA[ <figure> <img alt="A close-up of the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14’s lid." data-caption="The new Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 shows that Arm chips may be the future for ChromeOS and this potential merged platform with Android." data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/257814_Lenovo_Chromebook_Plus_14_laptop_review_ADiBenedetto_0020.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> The new Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 shows that Arm chips may be the future for ChromeOS and this potential merged platform with Android. </figcaption></figure><p class="has-drop-cap has-text-align-none">Sameer Samat, Google's head of Android ecosystems, recently confirmed that <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/706558/google-android-chromeos-combining-sameer-samat">Android and ChromeOS will be merged into a single platform</a>, reigniting a slew of questions about the future of the operating systems. Combining them makes sense. It made sense way back <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2013/3/13/4100160/google-shuffle-can-android-and-chrome-os-combine-to-take-on-microsoft">in 2013</a>, and it was first supposed to happen <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/29/9639950/google-combining-android-chromeos-report">back in 2015</a>, but until recently, that mostly just amounted to Chromebooks being able to run Android apps. Last year, Google announced that <a href="https://blog.chromium.org/2024/06/building-faster-smarter-chromebook.html">ChromeOS would be built on the Android tech stack</a>, including the Android kernel.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none"><strong>What is the point of merging ChromeOS and Android?</strong></h3><p class="has-text-align-none">Android has an enormous app ecosystem, but many of those apps still st …</p><p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/google/707041/google-chromeos-android-os-merger-questions-phones-chromebooks-laptops-tablets">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p> ]]> </content> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>Hayden Field</name> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Grok will no longer call itself Hitler or base its opinions on Elon Musk’s, promises xAI]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.theverge.com/x-ai/707442/grok-antisemitic-hitler-elon-musk-opinion-reprogrammed" /> <id>https://www.theverge.com/?p=707442</id> <updated>2025-07-15T13:35:31-04:00</updated> <published>2025-07-15T13:21:38-04:00</published> <category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="AI" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Elon Musk" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="News" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Tech" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="xAI" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[xAI has offered a couple more fixes for “issues” with its Grok AI chatbot, promising it will no longer name itself “Hitler” or base its responses on searches for what xAI head Elon Musk has said. According to an X post earlier today, the chatbot’s latest update sets new instructions that its responses “must stem […]]]></summary> <content type="html"> <![CDATA[ <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Photo: Hans Lucas / AFP via Getty Images" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/gettyimages-2199701064.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption></figure><p class="has-text-align-none">xAI has offered a couple more fixes for “issues” with its Grok AI chatbot, promising it will no longer name itself “Hitler” or base its responses on searches for what xAI head Elon Musk has said.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none"><a href="https://x.com/xai/status/1945039609840185489">According to an X post</a> earlier today, the chatbot’s latest update sets <a href="https://github.com/xai-org/grok-prompts/blob/main/ask_grok_system_prompt.j2">new instructions</a> that its responses “must stem from your independent analysis, not from any stated beliefs of past Grok, Elon Musk, or xAI. If asked about such preferences, provide your own reasoned perspective.” </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">The changes follow more than a week of controversy for Grok. In recent days, <a href="https://x.com/ramez/status/1943431212766294413">multiple</a> <a href="https://x.com/micah_erfan/status/1943388717000937852">reports</a> <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/10/grok-4-seems-to-consult-elon-musk-to-answer-controversial-questions/">showed</a> that when asked its opinion about hot-button topics like Israel and Palestine, immigration, and abortion, the chatbot first searched for Musk’s opinion on the matter before responding. In its Tuesday post, xAI said that the reason for this was that when asked about its views, “the model reasons that as an AI it doesn’t have an opinion but knowing it was Grok 4 by xAI searches to see what xAI or Elon Musk might have said on a topic to align itself with the company.” </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">The company also addressed another controversy from over the weekend, in which Grok 4 Heavy, the chatbot’s $300-per-month subscription product, <a href="https://x.com/goodside/status/1944266466875826617">responded</a> that its surname was “Hitler.” In the company’s statement, xAI said that it was due to media headlines responding to yet an earlier incident: Grok <a href="https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/699788/xai-updated-grok-to-be-more-politically-incorrect">going off the rails</a> in a multi-day series of tirades where it denigrated Jews and praised Hitler. (It also posted <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/elon-musk-grok-rape-fantasies-1235381746/">graphic sexual threats</a> against a user.) Since Grok doesn’t have a surname, said xAI, it “searches the internet leading to undesirable results, such as when its searches picked up a viral meme where it called itself ‘MechaHitler.’” The new instructions should prevent this, according to the company. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Grok’s antisemitism isn’t limited to the recent past — in May, the chatbot went viral for <a href="https://x.com/grok/status/1923015824228614649">casting doubt</a> on Holocaust death tolls. But its responses escalated dramatically this month after a set of changes to its system prompts, including that it should “assume subjective viewpoints sourced from the media are biased” and that its response “should not shy away from making claims which are politically incorrect, as long as they are well substantiated.” The “politically incorrect” instruction was briefly removed before being re-added in recent days.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">During the livestream release event for Grok 4 <a href="https://www.theverge.com/x-ai/703721/grok-4-x-ai-elon-musk-live-demo">last week</a>, Musk said he’s been “at times kind of worried” about AI’s intelligence far surpassing that of humans, and whether it will be “bad or good for humanity.” </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">“I think it’ll be good, most likely it’ll be good,” Musk said. “But I’ve somewhat reconciled myself to the fact that even if it wasn’t going to be good, I’d at least like to be alive to see it happen.”</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Now, xAI says that after rolling out these latest updates, the company is “actively monitoring and will implement further adjustments as needed.”</p> ]]> </content> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>Andrew J. Hawkins</name> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Uber is close to completing its quest to become the ultimate robotaxi app]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.theverge.com/news/707347/uber-baidu-robotaxi-deal-autonomous-ridehail" /> <id>https://www.theverge.com/?p=707347</id> <updated>2025-07-15T12:55:18-04:00</updated> <published>2025-07-15T12:55:18-04:00</published> <category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Autonomous Cars" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="News" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Ride-sharing" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Transportation" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Uber" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Uber just announced a deal today with the company that runs one of the largest robotaxi fleets in China, as the ridehail giant nears its goal of becoming the world’s ultimate autonomous vehicle clearinghouse. Uber and Baidu said they are teaming up to deploy robotaxis in countries outside the US and China, with an initial […]]]></summary> <content type="html"> <![CDATA[ <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Illustration: Alex Castro / The Verge" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23252596/acastro_220216_STK003_0001.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption></figure><p class="has-text-align-none">Uber just announced a deal today with the company that runs one of the largest robotaxi fleets in China, as the ridehail giant nears its goal of becoming the world’s ultimate autonomous vehicle clearinghouse.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none"><a href="https://investor.uber.com/news-events/news/press-release-details/2025/Baidu-and-Uber-Join-Forces-to-Accelerate-Autonomous-Vehicle-Deployment-2025-OfJR8lmv7m/default.aspx">Uber and Baidu said</a> they are teaming up to deploy robotaxis in countries outside the US and China, with an initial focus on Asia and the Middle East. Baidu is currently testing vehicles in Dubai and has also said it wants to eventually launch in Europe.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none"><a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/22/24303299/baidu-apollo-go-rt6-robotaxi-unit-economics-waymo">Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxi division</a> operates approximately 1,000 vehicles globally, most of which operate in China. The company said it completed 1.4 million paid trips in its driverless vehicles in the first quarter of 2025, which is a 75 percent increase year over year. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Ever since abandoning its own efforts to develop autonomous vehicle technology, Uber has stepped up its effort to strike deals with a variety of companies, from robotaxi leaders like Waymo to delivery robot operators like Serve and Avride. The company has said it wants to use its reach and scale to help autonomous vehicles proliferate across the globe. And it doesn’t want to just work with a few AV operators — it wants to work with all of them.</p> <figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p>Uber doesn’t want to just work with a few AV operators — it wants to work with all of them</p></blockquote></figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">“We want to work with all the software providers,” <a href="https://www.theverge.com/decoder-podcast-with-nilay-patel/672087/uber-dara-khosrowshahi-waymo-ai-bus-transit-tesla-self-driving">Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a <em>Decoder</em> interview in May</a>, “make sure they’re safe and affordable, and bring them to market.”</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">The “making sure they’re safe and affordable” is really the most important part. If riders trust Uber — and for the most part, customers do seem to trust the company to send them a car when needed — then it stands to reason they’ll extend that trust to include autonomous vehicles, if and when Uber decides to send them a robotaxi. That’s what’s happening right now in Austin and Atlanta, where Uber’s partnership with Waymo serves as a preview of what’s the come: human-driven Uber vehicles operating alongside driverless Waymo ones, all within the same app. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">In addition to Baidu, Uber has partnerships with <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/13/24243397/waymo-uber-austin-atlanta-robotaxi-partnership">Waymo</a>, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/12/7/23496383/uber-motional-av-robotaxi-las-vegas-ridehail">Motional</a>, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/3/24260712/uber-avride-robotaxi-sidewalk-robot-delivery-yandex">Avride</a>, May Mobility, Momenta, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2016/8/18/12541672/uber-volvo-partnership-autonomous-self-driving-car">Volvo</a>, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/654780/vw-uber-autonomous-robotaxi-moia-la-2026">Volkswagen</a>, Wayve, and <a href="https://www.theverge.com/uber/661325/uber-and-weride-are-bringing-robotaxis-to-15-new-cities">WeRide</a> for self-driving cars; <a href="https://www.theverge.com/23930378/serve-delivery-robot-la-day-in-life-tiktok">Serve</a>, Coco, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/12/15/23509283/uber-eats-sidewalk-robots-delivery-miami-cartken">Cartken</a>, and <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/9/8/23339830/uber-eats-nuro-robot-delivery-ten-year-deal-california-texas">Nuro</a> for delivery robots; Aurora and Torc for freight; and Avomo and Moove Cars for fleet management. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Uber’s decision to play nicely with all these companies probably won’t come at the expense of future ruthlessness. Uber knows it will also need to eventually compete with robotaxis, especially in markets like San Francisco where Waymo is growing by leaps and bounds. Customers have to use Waymo’s own app in SF, and <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/91347503/waymo-is-winning-in-san-francisco">some reports suggest that Waymo has already captured nearly a third of the ride-hailing market in that city</a>, which translates into lost revenue for Uber. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">One of the big names missing from that list of collaborators is Tesla. Elon Musk’s company recently launched a limited, supervised, non-public robotaxi service in Austin, and he has said he wants to expand to California and Arizona in the months to come. Khosrowshahi said on <em>Decoder</em> that he sees Tesla as a competitor, albeit a minor one with “less demand.” And he has questions about Tesla’s camera-only perception system that does not include redundant sensors like lidar.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">“From my standpoint — and this is judgment — you really need superhuman safety,” Khosrowshahi said. “Superhuman, to me, doesn’t mean better than a human. It means five times better than a human. I think the data suggests that Waymo is around that level. It’s not 100 percent clear to me whether camera-only can get there.”</p> <figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p>One of the big names missing from that list is Tesla</p></blockquote></figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">As a financial move, Uber’s effort to swallow the world of autonomous vehicles is a smart one. The company reaps the benefits of deploying robotaxis on its app — a share of fare revenue, positive association with a futuristic technology — without having to shoulder the enormous costs of developing the tech and the software needed to power the vehicles. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Of course, Uber was once heavily invested in the idea of building its own self-driving cars. But the project blew up spectacularly, with allegations of trade secret theft and patent infringement, as well as a 2018 crash that killed a pedestrian in Arizona. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">But that impulse didn’t completely fade away — at least not for Uber founder and ex-CEO Travis Kalanick. Recall this is the guy <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2016/10/19/13341130/uber-travis-kalanick-self-driving-cars-automation-jobs">who framed the race to develop AVs as an “existential terms” pursuit for Uber</a>. After he was ousted from the company in 2017, Kalanick built up a ghost kitchens startup, but his sight never truly strayed from the original dream of owning a fleet of robotaxis. Now he’s trying to buy Pony.ai, a self-driving car company that is mostly based in China. And <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/26/technology/uber-travis-kalanick-self-driving-car-deal.html?unlocked_article_code=1.R08.DGRd.i9dZyQqMLW6Z&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare">according to <em>The New York Times</em></a>, Uber could help him finance the deal.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">But under Khosrowshahi’s leadership, Uber is mostly focused on deals and partnerships. Robotaxi operators are teaming up with Uber because that’s where all the customers exist. Who wants to spend all their time building a ridehail app from the ground up when Uber already has one that’s used in most countries across the world?</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">The latest deal with Baidu reveals how Uber’s aggressive global expansion can pay dividends. China has its own rules, but if Uber can prove that it can play cooperatively with some of the country’s biggest companies, that could help Baidu and other Chinese firms with global ambitions find their way into new markets. And that could work out equally well for Uber — if not more so. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none"><br> </p> ]]> </content> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>Dominic Preston</name> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[ICEBlock isn’t ‘completely anonymous’]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.theverge.com/cyber-security/707116/iceblock-data-privacy-security-android-version" /> <id>https://www.theverge.com/?p=707116</id> <updated>2025-07-15T14:33:04-04:00</updated> <published>2025-07-15T12:52:03-04:00</published> <category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Policy" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Report" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Security" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Tech" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[The developer of ICEBlock, an iOS app for anonymously reporting sightings of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, promises that it "ensures user privacy by storing no personal data." But that claim has come under scrutiny. ICEBlock creator Joshua Aaron has been accused of making false promises regarding user anonymity and privacy, being "misguided" […]]]></summary> <content type="html"> <![CDATA[ <figure> <img alt="Tiled images of ICEBlock running on an iPhone." data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: The Verge / Getty Images; ICEBlock" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/VRG_illo_iceblock_privacy.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption></figure><p class="has-drop-cap has-text-align-none">The developer of ICEBlock, an iOS app for anonymously reporting sightings of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, promises that it "ensures user privacy by storing no personal data." But that claim has come under scrutiny. ICEBlock creator Joshua Aaron has been accused of <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/grapheneos.org/post/3lt2prfb2vk2r">making false promises</a> regarding user anonymity and privacy, <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/grapheneos.org/post/3lsyeugohk22v">being "misguided"</a> about the privacy offered by iOS, and of <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/blankwillbur.bsky.social/post/3lt2pwwgfts2r">being an Apple fanboy</a>. The issue isn't what ICEBlock stores. It's about what it could accidentally reveal through its tight integration with iOS. </p><p class="has-text-align-none">Aaron released ICEBlock in early April, and it <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/696584/iceblock-tracking-app-white-house-criticism">rocketed to the top of the App Store earlie …</a></p><p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/cyber-security/707116/iceblock-data-privacy-security-android-version">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p> ]]> </content> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>Andrew Liszewski</name> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Faster Qi2.2 wireless power banks are on the way]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.theverge.com/news/707382/ugreen-magflow-magnetic-power-bank-wireless-charging-qi" /> <id>https://www.theverge.com/?p=707382</id> <updated>2025-07-15T12:45:11-04:00</updated> <published>2025-07-15T12:45:11-04:00</published> <category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Gadgets" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="News" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Tech" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Ugreen has announced what it claims is the “world’s first Qi2.2-certified power bank” that can wireless charge devices at speeds of up to 25W. Most wireless chargers in the US currently max out at just 15W of power delivery, but the Ugreen MagFlow Magnetic Power Bank will push that to 25W, matching the speed of […]]]></summary> <content type="html"> <![CDATA[ <figure> <img alt="Ugreen’s Qi2.2 wireless power bank against an illustrated background." data-caption="Ugreen says its new Qi2.2 wireless power bank is coming later this year. | Image: Ugreen" data-portal-copyright="Image: Ugreen" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/ugreen1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> Ugreen says its new Qi2.2 wireless power bank is coming later this year. | Image: Ugreen </figcaption></figure><p class="has-text-align-none">Ugreen has announced what it claims is the “world’s first Qi2.2-certified power bank” that can wireless charge devices at speeds of up to 25W. Most wireless chargers in the US currently max out at just 15W of power delivery, but the <a href="https://www.ugreen.com/pages/ugreen-magflow-magnetic-power-bank-qi-2-2">Ugreen MagFlow Magnetic Power Bank</a> will push that to 25W, matching the speed of the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/9/24240184/apple-iphone-16-pro-25-watt-magsafe-charging">updated MagSafe charger Apple introduced</a> alongside its iPhone 16 lineup last September.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">The 10,000mAh MagFlow Magnetic Power Bank features a built-in USB-C charging cable that doubles as a lanyard when not in use instead of retracting, an additional USB-C port for charging multiple devices at once, and a small screen showing its remaining capacity. However, because the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) has not yet finalized the Qi2.2 standard, Ugreen hasn’t provided specific details on when its new power bank will be available aside from a Q3 2025 launch. The company also isn’t ready to talk about pricing yet.</p><img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/ugreen2.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=24.392137096774,0,51.215725806452,100" alt="A close-up of the screen on Ugreen’s new Qi2.2 wireless power bank." title="A close-up of the screen on Ugreen’s new Qi2.2 wireless power bank." data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="<em>The power bank includes a small screen showing its remaining capacity.</em> | Image: Ugreen" data-portal-copyright="Image: Ugreen" /><p class="has-text-align-none">Companies like Apple and Google have found ways to push the charging speeds of Qi2 devices and chargers well past 15W, but the Qi2.2 standard is expected to increase speeds to as much as 50W. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">We’ll see how that compares to wired charging options once it’s actually available, though, as all charging rates tend to go up and down throughout a cycle to protect the device and its battery, and to prevent overheating. Other improvements coming with the Qi2.2 standard include the use of stronger magnets to improve alignment and reliability, power output that can dynamically adjust, and safety features, including better foreign object detection.</p> ]]> </content> </entry> </feed> If you would like to create a banner that links to this page (i.e. this validation result), do the following:
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