Technology

When you think of a backyard pool, you probably think of relaxation, cooling off, or maybe a bit of spirited splashing if the kids get involved. It’s generally not the right type of pool if you want to do some serious swim training. Even if you’re lucky enough to have a spacious residential pool, it’s probably nowhere near large enough for training.

There's a point in your drive's life when it will just give out. It's not a question of if, but when—some will only take longer than others.

GET A $100 GIFT CARD: As of March 5, Best Buy kicked off a major savings event on Apple products. The sale includes savings on the recently released MacBook Neo, Air, and Pro models. Right now, get the Apple MacBook Neo for $599 and get a $25 gift card with your purchase.

The best deals from the Best Buy Apple Shopping Event: Best MacBook Neo Deal Apple MacBook Neo (A18, 8GB RAM, 256GGB SSD) Get $25 gift card with purchase of MacBook Neo Get Deal Best MacBook Air Deal Apple MacBook Air (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) Get $50 gift card with purchase of MacBook Air Get Deal Best MacBook Pro Deal Apple MacBook Pro (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) Get $100 gift card with purchase of MacBook Pro Get Deal Best iPad Deal Apple iPad (M4, 128GB, WiFi) $559 (save $40) Get Deal

It's been a big week for Apple. The brand had a week of announcements, dropping six new or upgraded products. Among the new products announced were the iPhone 17e and MacBook Neo, two brand new and budget-friendly devices. To cap off all the excitement, Best Buy is launching a massive Apple sale event (live until March 8), marking down the brand's products across multiple categories.

The deals from Best Buy aren't just on previous MacBook and iPad generations. In fact, there are special savings on nearly all of the devices announced this week. So while Apple's latest products aren't technically available until March 11, pre-ordering now guarantees you some extra savings.

Here are all the best deals to shop during the Best Buy Apple Shopping Event.

Best MacBook Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Neo (A18, 8GB RAM, 256GGB SSD) $599 at Best Buy
Get $25 gift card with purchase of MacBook Neo Get Deal Why we like it

This week, Apple dropped an array of new devices across categories: iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks. While most of the drop was upgraded existing models, there was one totally new product: the MacBook Neo. With an A18 chip, it's the most affordable MacBook yet, the same starting price as the iPad Air. If you're eager to get your hands on the new budget-friendly MacBook then Best Buy has the best deal.

During Best Buy's Apple sale event, when you purchase the new MacBook Neo for $599, receive a $25 gift card. So while the laptop itself isn't technically discounted, that $25 gift card is basically free money.

More MacBook and Best Buy gift card deals

• Apple MacBook Air (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — Get $50 gift card with purchase of MacBook Air

• Apple MacBook Pro (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — Get $100 gift card with purchase of MacBook Pro

Best iPad Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad (M4, 128GB, WiFi) $559 at Best Buy
$599 Save $40   Get Deal Why we like it

This week, Apple finally gave the iPad Air the M4 treatment. Now, its midrange tablet is as powerful as the MacBook Air, just in a more compact device. Unlike the new MacBooks, which Best Buy is running a gift card deal on, the new iPad Air is discounted outright. Apple didn't raise the price of the new iPad Air with M4 chip, so it still starts at $599.

However, during Best Buy's Apple event, you can preorder the new iPad Air with M4 chip for just $559. That saves you $40 off, the new iPad's first discount.

More Apple deals at Best BuyAirPods deals

• Apple AirPods 4 — $99.99 $129.99 (save $30)

• Apple AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation — $149.99 $179.99 (save $30)

• Apple AirPods Pro 3 — $219.99 $249.99 (save $30)

Apple accessory deals

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

• Apple AirTag 4-pack — $69.99 $99 (save $29.01)

• Apple Pencil Pro — $99 $129 (save $30)

Apple Watch deals

• Apple Watch Ultra 2 (GPS + Cellular) — $599 $799 (save $200)

iMac deals

• Apple iMac, 24-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,149 $1,299 (save $150)

iPad deals

• Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, 128GB, WiFi) — $329 $349 (save $20)

• Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro, 128GB, WiFi) — $399 $499 (save $100)

iPhone deals

• Apple iPhone 15 (128GB, unlocked) — $529.99 $629.99 (save $100)

• Apple iPhone Air (256GB, unlocked) — $949.99 $999.99 (save $50)

MacBook deals

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $899 $999 (save $100)

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,099 $1,199 (save $100)

Nothing officially announced the Headphone (a) on March 5, at Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona.

The headphones, launched alongside the Phone 4 (a), are the third-ever pair of over-ear headphones from the British tech brand, which made a name for itself with retro-style earbuds and smartphones. Last year, Nothing released its first over-ear model, the $299 Nothing Headphone (1), and shortly followed them with the Headphone Pro from their sub-brand CMF. The brand first teased out the launch of the Headphone (a) earlier this week.

The Headphone (a) stand out for their mid-range price point at $199, and still offers a similar look to the more expensive Headphone (1). They're available for preorder as of March 5, and will be generally available on March 13 in the white, black, and pink colorways. The limited-edition yellow colorway will be available starting April 6.

SEE ALSO: The 11 best headphones of 2026 — see the top contenders from Sony, Apple, Bose, and Beats

Mashable just received a review unit ahead of the official launch. I'll have a full review in the coming weeks, but I've already gathered everything you need to know, including specs, feature comparisons, and my first impressions.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing Nothing Headphone (a) $199 at Nothing
  Pre-order Here Nothing Headphone (a): Price and specs

The Nothing Headphone (a) cost $199. They feature:

• Adaptive and manually adjustable ANC

• 40 mm RF drivers

• 135-hour battery life without ANC, 75 hours with ANC

• Quick charge with eight hours of playback after five five-minute charge

• Eight band equalizer

• Spatial audio, including concert and cinema mode

• Bluetooth 5.4

• Codecs: AAC, SBC, LDAC

• Four mics, with two hybrid ANC mics

• IP52 dust- and water-resistance

• Available in white, black, pink, and yellow

Nothing Headphone (a) vs. Headphone (1): What's different?

There's a $100 price difference between the Nothing Headphone (a) and Headphone (1), making it worth understanding whether you'd be satisfied with the newer and cheaper model, or whether the upgrades on the Headphone (1) are worth the extra cash. No matter which you choose, these headphones both have a battery life that outlasts the best headphones in the world.

The Nothing Headphone (a) bear a strong resemblance to the Headphone (1). Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable The same design, kind of

Out of the box, you can immediately see where Nothing scaled back on the Headphone (a). Instead of the hardshell case found on the Headphone (1), the (a) come with a carrying pouch, which isn't ideal if you plan to travel a lot.

Design-wise, they retain the same iconic rectangular look established by the Headphone (1), but swap some features — a plastic decal replaces the transparent one of the older headphones, with the transparency featuring along the perimeter. The Headphone (1) ditch plastic in their ear cups, offering aluminum CNC components instead, which lends to an overall more premium feel. That said, they are noticeably heavier — 329 grams compared to the Headphone (a) 310 grams. In my experience so far with the cheaper cans, that translated to a slightly more comfortable fit.

Rounding out the design, Nothing kept the exact same tactile designs between the two models, which I am personally thrilled to see. Both myself and Mashable contributor Alex Bracetti were impressed by the Headphone (1) on-ear controls. Consisting of a roller for volume and playback, paddle for changing through tracks, action button, and dedicated Bluetooth button on the inside of the ear cup, these buttons — all found on the right ear cup — feel innovative, incredibly functional, and are hands-down some of the best you can find on a pair of headphones. These controls are maybe the only ones that make me feel like I can truly keep my phone out of reach.

SEE ALSO: Nothing’s new, eye-grabbing headphones are impressive, but not in the ways you expect Listening experience

Beyond design, there's a pretty hefty battery life disparity. The Headphone (1) offer 35 hours with ANC, and 80 hours without. As a reminder, the Headphone (a) offer 75 hours with ANC, and 135 hours without. I should note that's not a typo. These headphones really do promise 135 hours of listening time.

While I haven't had a chance to test how they play side by side just yet, it is worth noting the Nothing collaborated with the hi-fi audio brand KEF on the Headphone (1) to give them an extra boost in performance. That said, I do find the sound to be relatively well-rounded and plenty customizable with the app upon my first couple of listens with the Headphone (a). Like their more expensive counterpart, they also offer manually adjustable and adaptive ANC.

Nothing Headphone (a) first impressions

I've spent less than 24 hours with the Headphone (a), so my opinions are subject to change. That said, I don't remember feeling this immediately impressed with the Headphone (1) when I tried them out last year.

Largely, I contribute to that to not noticing a huge difference in the performance between the two headphones, even though the (a) headphones are $100 cheaper. While great mid-range and budget headphones certainly exist, typically, there's a pretty obvious caveat: the design isn't great, the ANC falters, or the app sucks. So far, I haven't been able to identify the obvious flaw of the Headphone (a). The design is way more unique than I'd expect for this price point, the sound is relatively clear and well-rounded, the ANC and sound profile are customizable, and the app is easy to navigate.

And to top it all off, they have the best battery life I've seen on the market — topping the 70 hours of the Marshall Monitor III and the 55 hours of the significantly more expensive Dyson OnTrac headphones.

Where to buy the Nothing Headphone (a)

The Nothing Headphone (a) are available for preorder on Nothing's website in the white, pink, and black colorways, and will be available starting March 13. The yellow pair is limited edition, and will be available starting April 6.

Where to buy the Nothing Headphone (a) Nothing.tech Nothing Headphone (a) $199 Pre-Order Here

Milwaukee is one of the most popular and recognizable names in power tools, and users love its extensive collection of M12 and M18 options. We all know its power tools are heavy hitters, but did you know Milwaukee also makes some excellent hand tools?

Remember when phones ditched the headphone jack, and we were all annoyed that phone makers had just taken away such a useful feature? Well, streaming boxes have lost an important connection too, but for some reason people didn't raise the same level of protest.

FREE $100 GIFT CARD: As of March 5, you can get a free $100 gift card when you pre-order the new Apple MacBook Pro with the M5 Pro or M5 Max chip at Best Buy. The premium laptops will begin shipping on March 11.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro (M5 Pro) Starting at $2,199 + free $100 gift card Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro (M5 Max) Starting at $3,599 + free $100 gift card Pre-order Here

As you've likely seen by now, Apple had a big week. The company dropped a batch of new products, from the first-ever budget MacBook to an even more powerful MacBook Pro. The latter is pretty darn expensive, but if you lock in a preorder at Best Buy, you'll get a little relief in the form of a free gift card.

As of March 5, when you pre-order the new MacBook Pro with either the M5 Pro or M5 Max chip at Best Buy (in any configuration), you'll get a free $100 e-gift card to spend however you please. The laptops will begin shipping on March 11 and you'll receive an email with your free gift once the laptop is in your possession.

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The new M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros come in two sizes, 14 or 16 inches, and are essentially more powerful versions of the already stellar M5 MacBook Pro. The M5 Pro variants start at $2,199 for the 14-inch laptop and $2,699 for the 16-inch laptop and come with 1TB of base storage. They're built for folks "running complex workflows, like coders optimizing algorithms and photographers processing massive image libraries," according to Apple.

The M5 Max variants are for "those pushing the absolute limits," meaning they're totally overkill for the common laptop user. They start at $3,599 for the 14-inch model and $3,899 for the 16-inch model and come with a base storage of 2TB.

Both the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros also feature Apple's N1 chip for WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support. Other than that, their specs are virtually the same as their predecessors.

If you want the best of the best when it comes to Apple laptops, these are it. While both models are certainly a pricey investment, the $100 gift card preorder bonus helps to ease a tiny bit of that blow.

If you’re like me, you probably have a wide range of accessories spread throughout your smart home. Chances are, they aren’t all from the same manufacturer either; instead, they come from a mix of different brands.

TL;DR: Live stream Cuba vs. Panama in the 2026 World Baseball Classic for free on Tele Rebelde, Tubi, or Venevision. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first round of 2026 World Baseball Classic fixtures includes some fascinating matchups, including Cuba vs. Panama. Both teams will fancy their chances of advancing from a competitive Group A. Puerto Rico, Canada, and Colombia are the other teams in this group, with only the top two making it through to the knockout rounds.

If you want to watch the 2026 World Baseball Classic for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Cuba vs. Panama?

Cuba vs. Panama in the 2026 World Baseball Classic starts at 11 a.m. ET on March 6. This fixture will take place at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium.

How to watch Cuba vs. Panama for free

The 2026 World Baseball Classic is available to live stream for free on a number of platforms:

• Cuba — Tele Rebelde

• USA — Tubi (six games from the pool stage)

• Venezuela — Venevision

These streaming platforms are geo-restricted, but anyone can access for free with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can unblock free streaming sites from anywhere in the world.

Access free World Baseball Classic live streams by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access

4. Visit Tele Rebelde, Tubi, or Venevision

5. Live stream the 2026 World Baseball Classic for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every game from the 2026 World Baseball Classic before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for live sport?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Cuba vs. Panama in the 2026 World Baseball Classic for free with ExpressVPN.

Everywhere you can pre-order the Apple MacBook Neo: The Apple Store Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $599 (save $100 with education discount) Pre-Order Here Amazon Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $599 Pre-Order Here Best Buy Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $599 + free $25 gift card Pre-Order Here Target Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $599 Pre-Order Here Walmart Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $599 Pre-Order Here

Apple finally announced its long-rumored budget MacBook Wednesday, and it's called the MacBook Neo. Its starts at just $599, or $500 less than the latest 13-inch MacBook Air, and preorders are now open. Education buyers save $100 by ordering it directly through the Apple Store. At Best Buy, it comes with a free $25 gift card.

The MacBook Neo will begin shipping on March 11 alongside a slew of other new devices, including new iPhone 17e, M4 iPad Air, M5 MacBook Airs, M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros, and Studio Displays. Apple announced them earlier this week, and their preorders are also live.

We're still waiting to get our hands on a MacBook Neo for testing, but in the meantime, let's take a closer look at its specs. They were heavily leaked ahead of time, so if you've kept up with the rumors, most of what you're about to read will sound very familiar.

Meet the MacBook Neo The MacBook Neo comes in (left to right) blush, indigo, citrus, and silver finishes. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

The MacBook Neo is technically Apple's first dedicated budget laptop. It informally succeeds the M1 MacBook Air, which Apple sold through Walmart for around $699 from March 2024 to early this year. But instead of an M-series chip, the MacBook Neo runs on the A18 Pro chip, the same processor inside the iPhone 16 Pro. This is the first time Apple's ever put an iPhone chip inside a laptop.

The MacBook Neo has a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with a 60Hz refresh rate and 500 nits of brightness chassis. It's configurable with 256GB of storage or 512GB of storage and Touch ID; both options have 8GB of RAM.

The MacBook Neo includes WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 6, two USB-C ports, a MagSafe charging port, and a headphone jack. Its aluminum chassis comes in four colors: silver, indigo, blush, and citrus.

The new MacBook Neo is now available for preorder at the Apple Store, Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart.

Just three percent of UK adults can correctly identify the anatomy of the clitoris, according to sex toy and lingerie shop Lovehoney.

A survey of 2,000 UK adults — what Lovehoney is calling "The Great British Cliteracy Test" — found an alarming gap between confidence and knowledge of the anatomy. Ninety percent of participants stated they know where the clitoris is, but only 30 percent could correctly locate it on a diagram. Women were only one percent more likely than men (30 percent to 29 percent) to find it.

SEE ALSO: Bumble announces AI-powered Profile Guidance and Photo Feedback

And a mere three percent were able to identify its full internal structure.

When shown a diagram of a vulva, 24 percent thought it was a heart, 13 percent thought it was a vagina (which is the internal organ, not external as the vulva is), and 10 percent believed it to be ovaries.

This is shocking, but it may not be as surprising as when we consider people's lack of sex education. Sixty-six percent of participants said they were never formally educated about the clit, and 78 percent said sex ed failed to properly cover female pleasure. As Lovehoney notes, the complete structure of the clitoris was only fully mapped in 1998 — less than 30 years ago. For much of history, this anatomy wasn't wholly understood.

What's more is that 16 percent of women say they've never learned about female sexual anatomy, and 16 percent taught themselves. Twenty-two percent of men said they learned most from their partner, while 13 percent said porn taught them the most.

Some are even turning to AI to learn about clit stimulation (more male, 23 percent, than female, 13 percent, unsurprisingly).

SEE ALSO: Top 5 NSFW sites to learn what porn didn't teach you

Sex education "should include comprehensive information about female anatomy and sexual health," Lovehoney's sexual health and wellness expert, Sarah Mulindwa, stated in the press release, as "understanding one's body is a fundamental aspect of health literacy."

Not only is this an educational problem, but it's a problem of pleasure. The orgasm gap between men and women in heterosexual pairings is real, and stimulating the clit is the main way most women O. Yet, 23 percent of men believe their partners orgasm every time during penetrative sex, according to Lovehoney's survey. Eleven percent of women say they do.

SEE ALSO: I've tested 100+ sex toys. Here are the 15 most mind-blowing toys I've ever owned.

"Women need and often prefer their clitoris touched, stroked and stimulated in some way to orgasm," sexual and reproductive health expert, Dr. Suzanne Belton, stated. "The findings of the 'Great British Cliteracy Test' demonstrate that on paper at least, two-thirds of men and women cannot point to a clitoris."

Sad, but true. Hopefully now, these participants — and everyone else — will educate themselves.

Desktop Linux can often be a great choice for revitalizing old hardware, but some hardware is still too old. Not even Debian with a lightweight desktop environment could make my 2009 netbook a usable computer, so I tried again with a completely different operating system: Haiku OS.

The Handmaid's Tale may have concluded in 2025, but our time in Gilead is far from over thanks to Hulu's sequel series The Testaments.

Based on Margaret Atwood's 2019 novel of the same name, The Testaments is the coming-of-age story of June (Elisabeth Moss) and Luke's (O-T Fagbenle) baby Hannah. Taken from her parents at the beginning of the Gilead regime, she was renamed Agnes and adopted by a Commander.

By the time The Testaments begins, Agnes (One Battle After Another breakout Chase Infiniti) is a teenager. She and the other daughters of high-ranking Gilead officials are in training to become wives at an elite preparatory school run by Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd).

The Testaments' first trailer presents Agnes and her fellow students as being just like any other high schoolers. They complain about their plum-colored uniforms, play games at recess, and stroll down the hallways in tight-knit friend groups. That, coupled with the use of The Cranberries' hit "Dreams," gives The Testaments a slight Derry Girls vibe — if Derry Girls were full of murder, religious fanaticism, and sexual violence, that is.

Agnes's world changes with the arrival of Daisy (Lucy Halliday), a convert from Canada who's been taken into Gilead. However, as the trailer reveals, Daisy is actually an undercover operative trying to save the young women at the school. Could she be working alongside June, who ended The Handmaid's Tale with a promise to keep fighting Gilead? Moss is not confirmed to be starring in the show, but she is an executive producer, so a June return may be in the cards.

The Testaments premieres Apr. 8 on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.

Lee Sung Jin's Beef is back, and this time, the proverbial shit hits the fan within an exclusive country club.

Though Season 1's Ali Wong and Steven Yeun don't star in this round, Season 2 has one hell of a cast: Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho, Cailee Spaeny, and Charles Melton.

The teaser doesn't give away much, only fleeting glimpses of couples across generations and a hectic moment between Isaac and Mulligan's characters captured by Spaeny and Melton.

Considering the edge to which Lee pushed the last season of Beef, we're in for a wild ride.

Beef Season 2 lands on Netflix April 16.

Everywhere you can pre-order Apple's new M5 MacBook Air: The Apple Store Apple MacBook Air (M5) Starting at $1,099 (save $100 with education discount) Pre-Order Here Amazon Apple MacBook Air (M5) Starting at $1,099 Pre-Order Here Best Buy Apple MacBook Air (M5) Starting at $1,099 + free $50 gift card Pre-Order Here

Apple has lightly refreshed its MacBook Air with the M5 chip, and it launches on March 11. Preorders are now available through the Apple Store, Amazon, and Best Buy (where it includes a free $50 gift card).

The M5 MacBook Air is available in 13- and 15-inch sizes, with starting prices of $1,099 and $1,299, respectively. Those numbers dip to $999 and $1,199 with Apple's education discount.

The base M5 MacBook Airs come with 512GB of storage, or double that of their M4 predecessors. (The 256GB configuration option is no longer available.) They'll max out with 4TB of storage, up from a limit of 2TB.

Notably, the base M5 MacBook Airs are $100 cheaper than the M4 models with 512GB of storage, making them a better value than before. In the previous generation, you'd pay $1,199 or $1,399 for that much SSD space.

Here's a complete rundown of the new M5 MacBook Airs' spec sheets. Chip and storage aside, their only other upgrade is a connectivity bump to WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Otherwise, they're basically the same laptops as the M4 MacBook Airs (which isn't necessarily a bad thing — we loved them).

• Sizes: 13- and 15-inch models

• Starting prices: $1,099 and $1,299, respectively

• Processor: M5 with 10-core CPU and up to a 10-core GPU

• Display: Liquid Retina display with 60Hz refresh rate and 500 nits of brightness

• Memory: 16GB to 32GB RAM

• Storage: 512GB to 4TB SSD

• Connectivity: WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6

• Battery life: Up to 18 hours

• Webcam: 12MP Center Stage camera

• Ports: Two Thunderbolt 4 ports, MagSafe 3 charging port, and a headphone jack

• Colors: Sky blue, midnight, starlight, and silver

Preorders for Apple's just-announced iPhone 17e, M4 iPad Air, Studio Displays, upgraded MacBook Pros, and all-new budget MacBook Neo are also now open.

FREE $25 GIFT CARD: As of March 5, you can get a free $25 gift card when you preorder the new Apple MacBook Neo for $599 at Best Buy. The budget laptop will begin shipping on March 11.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $599 at Best Buy
+ free $25 Best Buy e-gift card Pre-order Here

Preorders are officially open for Apple's new budget laptop: the MacBook Neo. Announced Wednesday during "special Apple experiences" in New York, London, and Shanghai, the long-rumored MacBook marks Apple's first foray into the low-cost laptop space. Not only does it start at just $599 (that's $500 cheaper than the MacBook Air), but if you lock in a preorder at Best Buy, you'll also get some free cash to spend.

As of March 5, when you pre-order the new Apple MacBook Neo at Best Buy, you'll get a free $25 e-gift card to spend at your leisure. The laptop will begin shipping on March 11 and you'll get an email with your gift card after you receive your product. Triple check that you enter the correct email address to ensure you collect your free gift.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

The MacBook Neo comes in two storage configurations, 256GB or 512GB, and four colors: silver, indigo, blush, and citrus. The gift card preorder deal is valid for all configurations.

Besides being the first budget MacBook in Apple's lineup, the Neo is also the first MacBook to run on an iPhone chip, the A18 Pro (the same as the iPhone 16 Pro). According to Apple, it can "fly through tasks" everyday tasks like streaming and web browsing 50 percent faster and run on-device AI workloads like advanced photo effects up to three times faster than PCs with the latest Intel Core Ultra 5 chip.

Other specs include a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with a 60Hz refresh rate and 500 nits of brightness, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 6, 8GB of RAM, two USB-C ports, a MagSage charging port, and a headphone jack.

Apple is anticipating high demand for its new wave of devices, so lock in your MacBook Neo preorder (and $25 gift card) ASAP.

FREE $50 GIFT CARD: Pre-order any model of the new Apple MacBook Air from Best Buy and receive a free $50 Best Buy e-gift card. The 2026 M5 MacBook Air starts at $1,099.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple M5 MacBook Air (13-inch, 16GB, 512GB) $1,099 at Best Buy
get a free $50 Best Buy e-gift card Get Deal

It's an exciting week for Apple fans. We have a new budget phone, the iPhone 17e, a $599 MacBook Neo, and an upgraded model of the MacBook Air. While these products aren't shipping out quite yet, now is a great time to pre-order to get a deal. If you plan on grabbing a new M5 MacBook Air, check out this deal from Best Buy.

As of March 5, preorders for the new M5 MacBook Air come with a free $50 Best Buy e-gift card. The cheapest option for the M5 MacBook Air comes in at $1,099 for the 13-inch model with 512GB storage.

The MacBook Air is waving goodbye to the M4 chip. Earlier this week, Apple announced the new M5 MacBook Air with the upgraded chip and more storage. The M4 MacBook Air started with 256GB of storage while the new M5 MacBook Air comes with at least 512GB. Surprisingly, we didn't see a price hike for this new model. In fact, it's $100 less than its predecessor M4 MacBook Air models.

SEE ALSO: How to preorder the iPhone 17e, Apple's new budget phone

If you were already planning on ordering the new M5 MacBook Air, it could be wise to pre-order from Best Buy. Every order comes with a free $50 Best Buy e-gift card, delivered via e-mail after your order is fulfilled.

Apple has the launch date set for March 11 and Best Buy is offering both pickup at your local brick-and-mortar store or shipping. Keep in mind the shipping option says it'll arrive by release date. The updated MacBook Air comes in a 13 and 15-inch version with prices starting at $1,099 and $1,299, respectively. All models come with 16GB RAM and storage options range from 512GB to 4TB. Colorway options include sky blue, midnight, starlight, and silver.

Get your preorder in today for the new M5 MacBook Air to get a free $50 gift card, and reassurance you'll have a new laptop on March 11.

I still remember it like it was yesterday—I was watching homelabbing YouTube and scrolling the r/homelab subreddit, wishing my homelab could look like those “real” homelabs. I told myself that, one day, I would have a “real” homelab like those guys. I later realized that those Reddit homelab upgrades aren’t actually necessary at all to have a real homelab, and I wish I would have avoided some of them.

Everywhere you can pre-order Apple's new M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros: The Apple Store Apple MacBook Pro (M5 Pro) Starting at $2,199 Pre-Order Here The Apple Store Apple MacBook Pro (M5 Max) Starting at $3,599 Pre-Order Here Amazon Apple MacBook Pro (M5 Pro) Starting at $2,199 Pre-Order Here Amazon Apple MacBook Pro (M5 Max) Starting at $3,599 Pre-Order Here Best Buy Apple MacBook Pro (M5 Pro) Starting at $2,199 + free $100 gift card Pre-Order Here Best Buy Apple MacBook Pro (M5 Max) Starting at $3,599 + free $100 gift card Pre-Order Here

Apple is launching updated MacBook Pros with new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips and double the starting storage, the company announced Tuesday. They'll start shipping on Wednesday, March 11, and preorders are open now. FYI: All configurations include a free $100 gift card at Best Buy as part of its Apple Shopping Event, live through Sunday, March 8.

The new MacBook Pros will be available in 14- and 16-inch sizes. The M5 Pro variants will start at $2,199 and $2,699, respectively, with discounts of up to $200 for education shoppers who buy direct. They come with 1TB of base storage. Apple recommends them "for users running complex workflows, like coders optimizing algorithms and photographers processing massive image libraries," according to a company press release.

SEE ALSO: Apple announces new MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, raises MacBook starting prices

The 14-inch M5 Max model starts at $3,599 (or $3,299 for students), while the 16-inch size starts at $3,899 (or $3,599 for students). Both models have 2TB of base storage. They're aimed at "those pushing the absolute limits, such as engineers running rigorous simulations," Apple said.

Credit: Apple

While the starting prices of both new MacBook Pro variants are higher than their predecessors', the latter's base models had half the storage. When configured identically, with the same amount of storage and RAM, their prices haven't changed:

• 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro/M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,199

• 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro/M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,699

• 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max/M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $3,599

• 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max/M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $3,899

In keeping with this pattern, Apple has also announced that it's updating the starting configuration of its entry-level MacBook Pro, the 14-inch model with the regular M5 chip (an October 2025 release). It now has 1TB of base storage and a starting price of $1,699. It used to start at $1,599 with 512GB of storage, with a 1TB bump costing $200 extra, so that's actually a better deal than before.

The updated MacBook Pros aren't the only new Apple gadgets available for preorder this week. Shoppers can also reserve the new M5 MacBook Airs, a new budget iPhone 17e, an M4 iPad Air, new Studio Displays, and the all-new budget MacBook Neo ahead of their collective March 11 launch.

M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro specs: What else is new Credit: Apple

Both updated variants of the MacBook Pro feature Apple's N1 chip, which adds support for WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6, some newer wireless connectivity standards. Other than that, they're basically identical to their predecessors. Here's a rundown of the M5 Pro models' spec sheets:

• Sizes: 14- and 16-inch models

• Starting prices: $2,199 and $2,699, respectively

• Processor: M5 Pro with up to an 18-core CPU and up to a 20-core GPU

• Display: Liquid Retina XDR display with up to a 120Hz refresh rate and 1000 nits of SDR brightness (1,600 nits peak for HDR content); optional nano-texture finish

• Memory: 24GB to 64GB RAM

• Storage: 1TB to 4TB

• Connectivity: WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6

• Battery life: Up to 24 hours of video streaming

• Webcam: 12MP Center Stage camera

• Ports: Three Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 charging port, and a headphone jack

• Colors: Space black and silver

And here's a breakdown of the M5 Max variants' components:

• Sizes: 14- and 16-inch models

• Starting prices: $3,599 and $3,899, respectively

• Processor: M5 Max with an 18-core CPU and 32-core GPU

• Display: Liquid Retina XDR display with up to a 120Hz refresh rate and 1000 nits of SDR brightness (1,600 nits peak for HDR content); optional nano-texture finish

• Memory: 36GB to 128GB RAM

• Storage: 2TB to 8TB

• Connectivity: WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6

• Battery life: Up to 22 hours of video streaming

• Webcam: 12MP Center Stage camera

• Ports: Three Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 charging port, and a headphone jack

• Colors: Space black and silver

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