IT General

Admittedly, SATA SSDs don't have too many uses anymore; they're nearly obsolete for many people. When faced with a choice, pretty much anyone will pick an NVMe, which offer significantly faster speeds and have done so for many years.

When it comes to the best streaming services out there, one that I’ve always loved to talk about is Apple TV. There’s a lot you can do with an Apple TV subscription, but for me, I’m always checking out the television shows on it. Whether it’s Severance or For All Mankind, there are so many different series to check out.

Vinyl sales are near all-time highs, and their popularity has revived a conversation that has raged for decades: why does vinyl sound better than digital? Where is the magic in vinyl that digital lacks? But there is no magic—vinyl isn’t better.

The best Amazon Big Spring Sale Apple deals still live: Best AirPods deal AirPods Pro 3 $199 (save $50) Get Deal Best AirTag deal Apple AirTag (1st Gen, 4-Pack) $59.99 (save $39.01) Get Deal Best iPad deal Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) $749 (save $50) Get Deal Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $949 (save $250) Get Deal Best Apple Watch deal Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $329 (save $70) Get Deal

Amazon's Big Spring Sale, in its third consecutive year, dropped an abundance of deals on us this past week. The sale is now officially over (as of March 31), but we're still keeping a watchful eye out to see if any of those deals are still hanging around.

Many of the best Apple deals have vanished; either stock has dried up or prices started creeping back up. But not all of them. Thankfully, a few deals are still holding strong.

Apple has kept us very busy so far in 2026. We've been hard at work testing the first-ever budget Neo MacBook, as well as the upgraded MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros, a new iPad Air, and the iPhone 17e. Next on our Apple to-do list: the AirPods Max 2.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Spring Sale is almost over — these are the top 10 deals to shop before midnight

With so many new Apple products, we've seen a bunch of first-time discounts during the Amazon Spring Sale, as well as new record-low prices on last-gen models like the Apple Watch SE 2 and M4 MacBook Air. Most of our favorite deals on last-gen products have gone in and out of stock throughout the week at Amazon, but competitors still have them in stock.

If the model you want is no longer available, be sure to check at Best Buy and Walmart. These retailers are matching (or within a few dollars of) many of the best Spring Sale deals and tend to have more transparent pricing.

We're still tracking prices below on AirPods, MacBooks, and iPads post sale. Just a heads-up: if you see a deal crossed out below, it means it has either sold out or the price has gone back up.

Best AirPods deal Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199 at Amazon
$249 Save $50   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart Why we like it

We've always been fans of the AirPods Pro, but the third generation really takes them to new heights. Mashable's reviewer called them, "without a doubt, one of the best products of the year" in 2025.

The latest premium buds feature outstanding noise cancellation (twice as good as the Pro 2), a solid eight hours of battery life with ANC on, and new foam-infused tips that come in five sizes to find the perfect fit. Apple also brought the heart rate monitoring tech from the Powerbeats Pro 2 (our favorite earbuds for working out) and Fitness app compatibility to the new AirPods Pro 3, and introduced a live translation feature.

While we've seen the buds drop as low as $184 in the past, this Amazon spring sale discount is still worth grabbing — and still hanging on a day after the sale.

More AirPods deals

• Apple AirPods 4 — $114.95 $129 (save $14.05)

• Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) — $155.99 $179 (save $23.01)

• Apple AirPods Max (1st Gen, USB-C) — $449 $549 (save $100)

• Apple AirPods Max (2nd Gen) — $529 $549 (save $20)

Best AirTag deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag (1st Gen, 4-Pack) $59.99 at Walmart
$99 Save $39.01   Get Deal Why we like it

This four-pack of Apple's Bluetooth trackers has gone in and out of stock at Amazon over the last week, but luckily, Walmart's stock has stayed consistent. Right now, get a 4-pack of 1st gen AirTags for just $59.99, the lowest price ever on the bundle. You wind up paying just $15 per AirTag. As of April 1, this pack of AirTags is out of stock at Amazon, but still available for $59.99 at Walmart and Best Buy.

Best iPad deal Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) $746.50 at Amazon
$799 Save $52.50   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Just launched last month, the 13-inch M4 iPad Air is already on sale. The base configuration with WiFi connectivity and 128GB of storage is now just $749 (normally $799). Mashable's tech editor took the M4 iPad Air for a spin and found it pretty impressive — too impressive for the average user, even. "It delivers iterative updates that improve an already stellar tablet," he writes in his review.

More iPad deals

• Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB) — $299 $349 (save $50)

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) — $559 $599 (save $40)

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) — $559 $599 (save $40)

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) — $649.99 $699 (save $50)

• Apple iPad Pro, 13-Inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,149 $1,299 (save $150)

• Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,199 $1,299 (save $100)

Best Amazon Big Spring Sale MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $949 at Best Buy
$1,199 Save $250   Get Deal Why we like it

Apple released its new MacBook Air with the M5 chip last month, but honestly, they're not a whole lot different than the M4 Airs. The main differences are the upgraded processor and a new wireless chip. You can save some money by grabbing the M4 model with 16GB RAM and 512GB of storage, which is currently down to just $949 at Best Buy. Amazon had the same deal at the start of the Big Spring Sale, but it's since gone out of stock multiple times and jumped up to $999.

More MacBook Air deals

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $999 $1,199 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,049 $1,099 (save $50)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,099 $1,399 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,299 $1,599 (save $300)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,449 $1,499 (save $50)

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,449.99 $1,499 (save $49.01)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,649 $1,699 (save $50)

MacBook Pro deals

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,549 $1,699 (save $50)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,799 $1,999 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,799 $1,899 (save $100)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,049 $2,199 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro with 15-core CPU/16-core GPU, 24GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $2,449.99 $2,599 (save $149.01)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro with 15-core CPU/16-core GPU, 24GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $2,549.99 $2,599 (save $49.01)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,549.99 $2,699 (save $50)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro with 18-core CPU/20-core GPU, 24GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $2,649.99 $2,799 (save $49.01)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Pro, 48GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,899.99 $3,099 (save $199.01)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $3,449.99 $3,599 (save $149.01)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $3,699.99 $3,899 (save $199.01)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Max, 48GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $4,199.99 $4,399 (save $199.01)

Best Apple Watch deal Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $329 at Amazon
$399 Save $70   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

The Apple Watch Series 11 offers significant battery improvements over its predecessor. For that reason alone, it's worth the upgrade. It also features a tougher build with durable glass that's twice as resistant to scratches, 5G capability for quicker connectivity, and a Sleep Score and hypertension tool that can flag chronic high blood pressure. It's not a major upgrade (is anything in 2026?), but as Mashable's reviewer put it: "Buy it for the battery life." Now $70 cheaper, it's an even better value.

More Apple Watch deals

• Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) — $219 $249 (save $30)

• Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular, 41mm) — $448 $828 (save $380)

• Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS + Cellular, 42mm) — $399 $499 (save $100)

Apple Pencil deals

• Apple Pencil (USB-C) — $69 $79 (save $10)

• Apple Pencil Pro — $99.99 $129 (save $29.01)

I've tested and reviewed dozens of smartphones over the years, but my daily driver has remained a Samsung since the Galaxy S4 launched in 2013. Sure, I've run with a Pixel or OnePlus for months at a time, but I always end up returning to Samsung.

Smart cameras are only as good as how reliably you can access them, and they have remained as one of Matter's trickiest challenges. The Connectivity Standards Alliance is addressing this with Matter 1.5.1, an incremental but meaningful update focusing on refining device performance and improving flexibility across ecosystems. The latest version is aimed at cameras and video doorbells that joined the Matter ecosystem last November.

A gigabit internet plan is more than enough for just about every household. But what do you do if, despite paying a lot of money for an expensive plan, your connection is still disappointing? Investigate, of course.

We know there is an awful lot going on in the world right now, but we shouldn't forget that humans are actually heading back into space. That's a big deal.

To mark the launch of NASA’s Artemis II mission — the first crewed flight to the Moon in over 50 years — Krispy Kreme has dropped a limited-edition doughnut that looks out of this world. It's a classic Original Glazed doughnut that's dipped in blue vanilla-flavored icing and topped with OREO crunch and white nonpareil stars. It's finished with a cookies-and-cream buttercream dollop and a red icing chevron — a sweet nod to the NASA logo.

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You can find these limited-edition doughnuts in-shop at participating shops nationwide or you can order for pickup or delivery through the Krispy Kreme app and website. The Artemis II doughnut is available through April 2 — don't miss out on this chance to celebrate this momentous occasion.

A24's latest look at David Lowery's upcoming film Mother Mary gives us more of an idea of what to expect when you blend Anne Hathaway and FKA twigs into a pop star dream.

In the trailer above, you can hear Hathaway's vocals on the film's second single, "My Mouth Is Lonely For You," written by the iconic English singer-songwriter; the first track "Burial" was unveiled in March. It's a bit of a moment for pop star-related A24 films right now, with the Mother Mary soundtrack not only including tracks written by FKA twigs but also Charli xcx and Jack Antonoff. The Mother Mary: Greatest Hits album arrives Apr. 17, just before the film releases, and I'll personally be blasting it loud enough to either help or very much hinder the marketing team's work.

Of course, the visuals mean everything here too, as the trailer shows The Devil Wears Prada 2 headliner as eponymous pop star Mother Mary, who reconnects with her best friend, costume designer Sam Anselm (Michaela Coel), before returning to the stage after a hiatus. Hathaway and Coel lead a formidable cast including Hunter Schafer, Atheena Frizzell, Sian Clifford, Kaia Gerber, Jessica Brown Findlay, Isaura Barbé-Brown, and Alba Baptista.

Mother Mary hits cinemas April 24.

So you've bought a multicolor 3D printer, or you've added an upgrade kit to your existing model to give it the ability to make lovely 3D prints with multiple filaments. It's one of the biggest leaps you can take with 3D printing, and these machines are finally affordable for everyone.

VPN marketing has really pushed the dangerous idea that the second you hit connect, you're totally invisible and untraceable. It makes VPNs seem like a bulletproof shield or some kind of way to hide from those who want your data. It promises you total anonymity just by hiding your IP address, but that is not true. For real defense against tracking, you need more than just a VPN. You actually need to understand how the browser you use every day can work against you, because it's giving up your information, whether you use a VPN or not.

April Fools' Day is a minefield of fake announcements and pranks, but Dunkin’ is offering some much-needed digital sincerity (and generosity) this year.

For the second year in a row, Dunkin’ is giving away an enormous number of free coffees to celebrate April Fools' Day. How many, we hear you ask. Last year, Dunkin' promised to give away a million free coffees, but a lot of people thought it was a prank. In an effort to prove how serious they are about this special occasion, Dunkin' is going one better and giving away 1,000,001 free coffees this year.

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Rewards members simply need to open the Dunkin’ app and enter the promo code STILLNOTAJOKE to qualify for this promotion. The giveaway is valid while supplies last and excludes extra-large and cold brew coffees. Not already a member? Don't worry, it's free to join.

The free coffee redemption is valid in your app for seven days, so you don't actually need to leave the house today. You can redeem your free cup and pick your moment to cash in.

What's great about this free giveaway is that it's actually free. There's no qualifying purchase or sneaky catch that requires you to jump through hoops. You just need to enter a code and away you go. That's how it should be.

Today, April 1, 2026 (no joke), is Apple's 50th birthday.

The company was launched by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne on this day in 1976, essentially to market Wozniak's visionary Apple I personal computer.

Since then, it's grown into one of the largest, most successful companies ever created, with Apple products an important part of the lives of billions of people worldwide.

SEE ALSO: Everything Apple stopped selling in March. See the list.

To mark the occasion, the company did a little takeover of its own website, which now features a colorful animation highlighting some of Apple's most important products, from the earliest Macs all the way to the new Vision Pro.

"At 50 years, it’s only natural to look back. But Apple has always looked forward, building tools and delivering experiences that enrich people’s lives. As we celebrate how far we’ve come, we’re inspired by where we’ll go — together," says the text accompanying the animation.

SEE ALSO: Apple to issue emergency patch to protect iPhones from DarkSword spyware

Of course, this is by no means all that Apple is doing to celebrate. The company recently announced that the festivities will be held over several weeks. So far, Apple has made good on that promise with a series of surprise concerts, including a performance by Alicia Keys at Apple Grand Central in New York City.

A Plex media server doesn't have to be the most complicated thing ever. But it often does get complicated when you take into account the fact that you need to choose storage, and not just any storage. While you're at it, here's all the storage formats that you should not use on your server.

Are you tired of looking at expensive smart home projects and just want to build some yourself, but don’t know where to start? The ESP32 is the ultimate option for both beginners and enthusiasts for DIY smart home gear, and the best module costs just $5.

Back in the day, when it was still called Windows Explorer, File Explorer was one of the best apps Microsoft included with Windows. It was fast, intuitive, and as stable as a rock.

Not only are the fumes potentially harmful, but certain parts of your 3D printer get hot enough to melt hard plastic. In a worst-case scenario, these parts could malfunction and cause damage to your printer or even start a fire.

There may be a war going on, but Donald Trump appears to be more concerned with ballrooms, past dining experiences, and even pens.

That's the vibe given in clips from Thursday’s cabinet meeting, presented by Jon Stewart in the monologue above, and the Daily Show host is less than impressed.

"That's a cabinet meeting during a f***ing war," says Stewart, after showing a montage of Trump waffling on about pens. "Don't tell us what you used to draw the map, just draw the f***ing map! All we keep hearing from this administration is why the American people have to sacrifice for Trump's vision of America's greatness. That these temporary disruptions are just part of the process. And why can't we be patriots? We have to be patient. We have to suck it up, whether it's high gas prices, or whimsical tariff inflation, or Draconian ICE raids, or temporary Bill of Rights suspensions. It's on us to understand. But Trump gets to be just the same old, 'Ain't I a stinker?', utterly self-absorbed, 'Remember-when-I-used-to-want-to-f*** hot girls?', twat self.

"Can you imagine any other president, let alone a wartime president, be this f***ing self indulgent?"

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The No Kings protest continued over the weekend, with thousands of people gathering together across the US to protest President Donald Trump and his administration.

And as always, people came with signs.

In the clip above, Stephen Colbert runs through some notable examples, including a large banner reading "Jimmy Kimmel has higher ratings than you!" ("I like that one," Colbert says) and a gigantic defecating inflatable of the president.

"Perhaps most impressive of all was this inflatable Trump pooping directly onto the constitution," says Colbert, playing footage of the impressive balloon. "That is mwah. Spectacular craftsmanship, above all else. Whoever made that should be proud, because one day their grandchild will ask them how they resisted the rise of American fascism, and they can proudly say: 'Well Tyler, your grandma and I worked round the clock with a team of fellow patriots to answer the eternal question of democracy, Can we make an angry balloon that looks like it's pooping fire? Yes, you can.'"

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Spring is on the horizon, and with it comes a fresh slate of Netflix titles. This April, you can expect to stream a long list of movies, including Netflix's collection of older releases that are made available on the first day of the month.