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When Apple revealed its colorful new budget laptop, the MacBook Neo, to the world earlier this year, I predicted Apple would sell millions of them. (Ten million, by some counts.)

Less than two months later, 9To5Mac reports that Apple has sold out its April supply of the MacBook Neo, with the $599 MacBook Neo backordered until May. While you can still find the MacBook Neo in stock at Amazon and Best Buy, rumor has it that after selling out its initial stock, Apple was forced to place rush orders with its manufacturers earlier this month.

The MacBook Neo has an unbeatable price for its feature set, and students and educators can get the laptop for just $499 by taking advantage of the Apple Store's education offer. (That might be why the laptop is backordered at Apple but still available elsewhere.) A version with Touch ID and 512GB of storage is available for $699, or $599 with education pricing.

As I explained in my MacBook Neo review, this laptop has no true competitor. Windows laptops and Chromebooks at that price point have much weaker displays, speakers, and overall specs — and that's before you factor in the Apple status symbol and cool factor as well.

So, if you can't get your hands on the MacBook Neo or prefer Windows, what should you buy instead? All of these MacBook Neo alternatives come with some tradeoffs, but they won't break your budget or slow you down too much.

Your best bet: Wait for more inventory

Honestly, unless you prefer Windows or need a gaming laptop, we recommend waiting until the MacBook Neo is available again at the Apple Store. And if you don't qualify for education pricing, you can still find the Neo in stock at Amazon and Best Buy, for now.

Apple MacBook Neo, 13 inches (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $589.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Apple MacBook Neo, 13 inches, Touch ID (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $689.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Best for Windows users: Windows 11 Ultimate College Bundle

Last week, Microsoft released a new savings offer for college students that seems designed to compete with MacBook Neo shoppers. Microsoft recently raised prices on its Microsoft Surface devices, and has no true competitor to the Neo. However, this offer does come with a lot of perks for students.

When you buy a Windows 11 laptop, the company will also give you one year of Microsoft 365 Premium, one year of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and an Xbox Wireless Controller for free, a more than $500 value.

The offer includes popular cheap laptops like the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x and the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop. (See all offers at the Microsoft store.)

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x Copilot+ PC, 15.3 inchesSnapdragon X, 16GB Memory, 256GB SSD) $449.99 at Best Buy
$799.99 Save $350   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop, 15.6 inches (Intel Core i7, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $999.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Best for AI users: Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514

Acer's popular Chromebook Plus Spin 514 will cost you more than the MacBook Neo, but it comes with 12 months of the Google One AI Premium plan, which includes 5TB of cloud storage. It's also a 2-in-1 convertible laptop with a touchscreen, so if offers more versatility than a MacBook. In terms of spec, you also get more RAM and a larger display, though you'll lost out on the MacBook Neo speakers and Retina display.

Again, if you had your heart set on the MacBook Neo, we'd recommend waiting until it's back in stock at Apple or shopping through Amazon in the meantime.

Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 (MediaTek Kompanio Ultra, 12GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749
+12 months of the Google One AI Premium plan Get Deal

Also consider: The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14, a Mashable Choice product available at Best Buy for $699.

Best Apple alternative: The M1 MacBook Air

In our performance tests, the new MacBook Neo's A18 Pro chip performed almost exactly like the original M1 chip on the Geekbench 6 benchmark test. The M1 MacBook Air was also one of the most award-winning laptops ever, and while it's no longer officially sold, you can still find it in stock at Walmart. However, you can grab it refurbished at Amazon and Best Buy for under $500, which is the most we'd pay for this old model.

The M1 chip is ancient compared to the new M5 chips, but it holds up surprisingly well given its age. There's a reason Apple silicon has been so disruptive in the laptop market.

Don't forget: Because this laptop is six years old, it won't be supported with updates for as long as a newly designed device.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13 inches (M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) Refurbished models starting at $439 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13 inches (M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $618.19 at Walmart
  Get Deal

Save $31.99: Take 10% off the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds at Amazon as of April 20. This brings them down to $298, instead of their list price of $329.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WF-1000XM6 $298 at Amazon
$329.99 Save $31.99   Get Deal

As a headphones reviewer, I get plenty experience testing out the latest and greatest audio has to offer. As a budget-buys lover, I don't always see the point of increasingly high price points.

Then, I tried the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds. At $329.99, these earbuds aren't cheap, sitting at an even higher price than Bose's flagship earbuds and the Technics EAH-AZ1000, another Mashable favorite. However, as of April 20, the Sony buds are down to a slightly better $298, marking a return to their lowest price ever.

Don't get me wrong — I get that $300 isn't exactly chump change. That said, I consider these earbuds an investment for anyone who wants the absolute best blend of sound, comfort, and noise cancellation. To be clear, I still think the Bose QC Ultra 2 buds lead the category on the comfort scale, but between the best noise cancellation and sound I've tried on a pair of earbuds, I get why these are priced the way they are.

SEE ALSO: Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2) vs. Sony WH-1000xM6: Which headphones should you buy?

As these are Sony buds, the companion app also offers great customization, with a 10-band equalizer for finding the sound that's just right. At eight hours per charge, their battery life is also competitive with other noise-cancelling favorites of Mashable's, like the Apple AirPods Pro 3.

I loved the XM6 earbuds when I first reviewed them earlier this year, and I continue to love them months later. Unless the audio space throws a real curveball, I imagine these will be one of the best releases of the year.

Most of Excel's functions and tools ignore the difference between capital and lowercase letters, which is fine until a case-sensitive ID breaks your workflow. The FIND function is a strict gatekeeper for your data, treating casing as a critical data point rather than a suggestion.

SAVE 20%: As of April 20, you can get the Sony QD-OLED 77-inch BRAVIA XR A95L Series 4K Ultra HD TV for $3,999.99, down from $4,999.99. That's a 20% discount or $1,000 savings.

Sony QD-OLED 77-inch BRAVIA XR A95L Series 4K Ultra HD TV $3,999.99 at Amazon
$4,999.99 Save $1,000   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart

Hooking up a PlayStation 5 to a mediocre screen is a quick way to ruin the graphics you paid for. If you want your games to look the way they were intended, you need a TV that can keep up with the console.

SEE ALSO: What's the best time of year to buy a TV? Yes, there's an answer.

Right now, you can get the Sony QD-OLED 77-inch BRAVIA XR A95L Series 4K Ultra HD TV for $3,999.99 at Amazon, down from $4,999.99. That's a 20% discount, or $1,000 in savings.

Since Sony makes both the console and the TV, you'll get exclusive features like Auto HDR Tone Mapping that optimize the picture quality while you play. It has HDMI 2.1 for 4K gaming at 120Hz, so you don't have to deal with lag, and there's a dedicated Game Menu to adjust your settings on the fly. When you put the controller down, the QD-OLED screen gives you pure blacks and bright colors for movie night, with Google TV built in so you have all your streaming apps in one place.

SAVE $120: As of April 20, the DJI Mini 3 beginner-friendly drone is on sale at Amazon for only $299 with an on-page coupon. That's nearly 30% in savings and its best price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 3 $299 at Amazon
$419 Save $120 with on-page coupon Get Deal

Everyone from real estate agents to marketing managers to casual Instagrammers could use a drone to capture more enticing footage. But drones don't typically come with the most affordable price tags, which is why we're highlighting this deal we spotted on the DJI Mini 3. At nearly 30% off, it's the cheapest we've ever seen it.

As of April 20, the beginner-friendly DJI Mini 3 is down to $299 with an on-page coupon at Amazon. That's $120 off its list price of $419 and just the second time we've seen the price drop this low. Just be sure to check the box that says "coupon price" to score the discount.

Weighing in at just half a pound, the DJI Mini 3 is true to its name. It folds up to an even more compact size for transport. It captures 4K HDR video and its innovative gimbal design allows for true vertical shooting and dynamic angles. Translation: you'll be able to snap some truly epic shots for social media. You'll get about 38 minutes of flight time before you need a charge or battery swap, but you can extend that to up to 51 minutes if you purchase the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus (sold separately).

The Mini 3 is level 5 wind-resistant, so you can still take flight and capture footage in less than ideal conditions. Plus, intelligent features like auto takeoff, RTH (return to home), and precise hovering help beginners get started without a steep learning curve.

It's not every day the popular DJI Mini 3 goes on sale for $120 off. If you're in the market for a beginner-friendly drone, click on that coupon box and snag it while you can.

The list of new movies from last week was much smaller in scale compared to what's arriving in the coming days. Netflix's sweet comedy, Roommates, and the raunchy Prime Video movie, Balls Up, would not make our top 3. That's a testament to this week's quality of streaming movies.

A world half-marathon record was broken at a race in China this weekend. But the winner wasn't an Olympian or even a competitive racer. It was a bright red humanoid robot. Nickname? Lightning.

The autonomous robot was competing in a robot versus human half-marathon race in Beijing, China, an annual event featuring the country's top robotics companies in a foot race test against their human counterparts.

SEE ALSO: Tariff refund site: What it is, how to use it

Lightning was built by Honor, a Chinese robotics and smartphone maker. The company tested other running robot variants at the race, including the bots that took home second- and third-place titles.

Mashable got an early look at Honor's new line of AI-powered humanoid bots at the latest Mobile World Congress. The bots had an impressive stability (many of these two-legged bots are prone to tumbling) and even a crowd-pleasing dance performance. The company also debuted a new "Robot Phone," featuring a robotic eye and arm that juts out from the smartphone to take photos and respond to requests.

During Sunday's race, the company showed that the new era of humanoid robots aren't just dancers, but competitive athletes, with Lightning taking home the gold in a 50-minute and 26-second sprint — that's six minutes quicker than the fastest human and nearly two hours faster than its time in last year's race. Honor engineers explained that the robot's fast upgrade came from modeling its design after top athletes, including elongated legs and an internal liquid-cooling system.

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Chinese robotics companies have been accelerating their development of humanoid robots over the last several years in direct competition with U.S. manufacturers. Lightning's record-breaking win was taken as a sign that the country's investments may be paying off.

Still, many of the robots needed assistance to cross the finish line. In addition to starting line stumbles and a few falls, about 60 percent of the competing bots were remotely operated by their human teams.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

There was once a time when Nova Launcher was the best Android launcher in the world. If you bought the premium version, you might very well feel compelled to continue using it. Sadly, now is the time to let go.

SAVE 33%: As of April 20, you can get the 65-inch Toshiba Class Z670R Series Smart Fire TV for $999.99, down from $1,499.99, at Amazon. That's a 33% discount or $500 savings.

65-inch Toshiba Class Z670R Series Smart Fire TV $999.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $500   Get Deal at Amazon

Replacing your living room TV can be expensive, which is exactly why people put up with a dying screen or terrible speakers for years. But you don't have to spend a ridiculous amount of money just to get a good picture. Toshiba's 65-inch Mini-LED 4K TV gives you all the high-end specs you want without the usual sticker shock.

SEE ALSO: What's the best time of year to buy a TV? Yes, there's an answer.

Right now, you can grab this 2026 model for $999.99 at Amazon, down from $1,499.99. That's a 33% discount or an extra $500 in your wallet for a soundbar, or important things, like bills.

This QLED screen uses Mini LED technology and full-array local dimming to keep blacks deep and highlights bright. It has a native 144Hz refresh rate to keep motion looking smooth, and with a built-in Fire TV, you won't need an extra streaming dongle to access your live channels or apps. Toshiba also included a REGZA Power Audio Pro system with a dedicated bass woofer, so you get resonant audio straight out of the box.

Mechanical keyboards are a massive upgrade over standard membrane ones. They offer a level of customization that goes far beyond typing feel alone. One of the biggest advantages of hot-swappable mechanical keyboards is that you can easily mix and match switches and keycaps to build something unique.

Save 42%: As of April 20, you can grab a four-pack of first generation Apple AirTags on sale for $56.99 at Woot. This sale slashes their price down $42.01 from $99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTags, first generation (4-pack) $56.99 at Woot
$99 Save $42.01   Get Deal

Sometimes, shopping in the off-season can get you the best deals on a product (think space heater in the middle of summer). And sometimes, as is the case with this Apple deal, products go on sale at the perfect time.

Just in time for spring and summer travel, a four-pack of the first generation Apple AirTags are on sale at Woot for $56.99. That comes out to just $14.25 per AirTag, compared to the $29 a single AirTag will run you. It's also the best price we've ever seen on the Bluetooth trackers, besting their record-low of $59.99 they hit in March.

SEE ALSO: Apple AirPods Max 2 review: Same great style with the tiniest of upgrades

Of course, a Bluetooth tracker can be useful year-round, not just during travel season. AirTags are small enough to be slipped in your purse, wallet, on a keychain, and for some people, even as a collar for their pets. A new generation of AirTags did just hit the market in February, but in comparing the two generations side by side, Mashable's Stan Schroeder found that the differences between the two trackers weren't vast, with the first generation especially reigning superior for older iPhone compatibility.

The newer trackers have a better tracking range, and a louder signal. Still, it's hard to beat value, and at this sale price, the first generation AirTags are undeniably offering that.

The Google Pixel 10a is fresh out of the oven, taking the fight to the iPhone 17e, which launched alongside Google’s latest budget Pixel offering. The phone is widely praised for its fantastic camera (at least in the ~$500 price segment), but the Pixel 10a is much more than just a great camera in an affordable package. It has plenty going for it, with one of its standout features being its bright, vibrant display.

The dating app Tinder wants more women on the platform, its CEO said.

"Winning women is critical to us," Spencer Rascoff, who joined Tinder's parent company, Match Group, last year and also took the helm of Tinder in July 2025, told the Financial Times in an interview published Sunday.

SEE ALSO: App fatigue is real. I tested the best dating apps of 2026 to find the ones that really work.

Rascoff continued that reaching "gender parity is very challenging, but we absolutely need to do a better job of driving outcomes for women, and when we do that, more women will choose to use our apps."

Tinder's user gender split isn't public, but 2022 Pew Research Center data found that 34 percent of American men said they've used a dating site or app, compared to 27 percent of American women. Around 75 percent of Tinder users are male, according to data insights website Demandsage.

Seeing as Tinder's direct revenue and paying users have decreased year-over-year both in 2024 and 2025, Rascoff has been working to reverse that trend. Shortly before he joined the app last year, he said he wanted to move Tinder away from its "hookup reputation" to attract Gen Z, a generation known for not wanting to participate in "hookup culture."

Featured Video For You My awkward first date with an AI companion

Rascoff also told Financial Times that Match's board has given him leeway to prioritize investments in new products and advertising, and now he's trying to increase the total number of people on Tinder as opposed to solely focusing on increasing paid users, as he figures the more people use the app, a segment would decide to pay for it.

He also bucked the notion that people have swiped left on dating apps entirely. "It's ridiculous to say people don’t like dating apps," he said. "That's just not true, people don’t like dating apps that are ineffective."

While dating app users themselves may disagree, as fatigue and cynicism for dating apps have been increasing over the past few years, one Match Group property keeps rising: Hinge. While Tinder's direct revenue and paying users have declined, Hinge's have risen in both 2024 and 2025.

The interview comes weeks after Tinder announced a suite of new features, including an AI-driven matchmaker called Chemistry.

April 20 has become the day to celebrate cannabis culture in the United States. We're not going to tell you how you should celebrate this occasion, but we are going to point out the fact that a number of popular restaurants are offering food deals on this date. You never know when the munchies are going to hit, so it's best to stay prepared.

You can find limited-time food offers from the likes of Wingstop, Chipotle, Subway, and Taco Bell, and more. We've checked out everything on offer to bring you the very best 4/20 food deals.

BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse

On April 20, score a Pizookie for only $4.20.

Blazed Pizza

On April 20, Blaze Pizza is offering its BFF Bundle for $25.99. This deal is online only.

Chipotle

On April 20 at participating restaurants, score a Buy One Get One Free entree by wearing a hockey jersey.

Del Taco

Score a Buy One Get One Free deal on Carne Asada Fries from April 17-20. You can also get free delivery on orders over $20.

Dog Haus

Rewards members can get a free cheeseburger slider for spending $4.20 or more on April 20.

Insomnia Cookies

On April 20, Insomnia Rewards Members can buy four classic cookies and get two for free. This offer is available for in-store and pickup orders only.

KFC

On April 20, score a Pot Pie Combo for only $4.20, a Chick N’ Nug Meal for only $20, and two for $2.95 Original Recipe, Extra Crispy Chicken, or Hand-breaded Tenders. This offer is only available in-app or online.

Subway

Sub Club members can get a Buy One, Get One Free Footlong deal with the promo code FLBOGO.

Taco Bell

Spend $20 or more through DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Postmates and get a large Nacho Fries for free.

Wingstop

On April 20, Wingstop is giving away 420 limited‑edition collectible trays at select locations in Los Angeles, San Jose, New York City, and Atlanta. This is available with the purchase of a Hot Box while supplies last.

SAVE $250: The Roborock Qrevo robot vacuum and mop is on sale at Amazon for $399.99, down from the list price of $649.99. That's a 38% discount and the same sale price we saw last month during the Amazon Big Spring Sale.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Qrevo robot vacuum and mop $399.99 at Amazon
$649.99 Save $250   Get Deal

Robot vacuums used to be something that needed babysitting. They would stumble down the stairs or get stuck under furniture and cry (beep) for help. But these days, we have smarter robot vacuums and ones that can mop your home, too. If you're in the market for a powerful robot vacuum and mop that doesn't cost a fortune, check out this Amazon deal.

As of April 20, the Roborock Qrevo robot vacuum and mop is on sale at Amazon for $399.99, marked down from the standard price of $649.99. That's a 38% discount that shaves $250 off the price. It's the same sale price we saw last month during the Amazon Big Spring Sale.

With 8,000Pa suction power, an anti-tangle brush, and an all-in-one charging dock, the Roborock Qrevo robot vacuum and mop would like to take over the tasks of vacuuming and mopping your home. The suction is designed to rid your floors of hair, fur, dust, crumbs, and other debris on any surface.

SEE ALSO: Normally over $1,000, the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 power station is $698.99 for a limited time

In terms of mopping, the Roborock Qrevo uses high-speed rotation to clean any mess. With 30 levels of water floor, even a sticky spill should get cleaned with the 200rpm dual spinning mop pads. The obstacle avoidance makes this model suitable for all homes and it can map up to four floors.

While it's back at the same price we saw during the Amazon Big Spring Sale, upgrade your home's cleaning routine with the Roborock Qrevo robot vacuum and mop. Many combo vacuum and mop models can cost hundreds more, so this is a great chance to score a dual-cleaning robot for less.

If you're wondering just how long different storage media can store your data, either because you’re looking for a long-term storage solution or are just curious, you've come to the right place since this piece talks just about that. Let’s see which storage media can keep your data around the longest.

If you're clicking and dragging in Excel to create long lists of data, you're still in old-school mode. The SEQUENCE function is a modern dynamic array tool that generates entire series of values from a single formula, making it a powerful tool for automated headers and complex grids.

Performance and refinement are usually expected to come with a premium price tag, especially in the midsize sedan world where European badges often dominate the conversation. But every so often, a car arrives that quietly delivers far more than its price suggests—offering the kind of speed, comfort, and road presence that makes far more expensive rivals feel difficult to justify.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be launching a tariff refund site for international importers on Monday, April 20.

The current tariff situation is, frankly, confusing. First, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in February that President Donald Trump does not have the power to unilaterally impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA), striking down one of the president's signature policies. After the ruling, Trump called the justices "fools" and "lapdogs" and pledged to implement a 10-percent global tariff.

As a result of the ruling, many importers will be eligible for refunds for the unconstitutional tariff fees levied against them.

What is the new tariff refund site?

The tariff refund site will be administered through U.S. Customs and Border Protection and is scheduled to launch on Monday, April 20.

The new Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) portal will be available through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) website. More information can be found in a regularly updated CBP blog post.

"CAPE is designed to consolidate refunds of IEEPA duties including interest rather than processing refunds on an entry-by-entry basis," the website states.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Who is eligible for refunds?

The CAPE portal is designed for companies who paid tariff fees, importers of record, and authorized customs brokers. These entities will need to submit a declaration through the CAPE portal.

"Importers and authorized brokers should anticipate that valid IEEPA refunds will generally be issued within 60-90 days following acceptance of the CAPE Declaration, unless a compliance concern requires further CBP review," the CBP writes.

Can American consumers get refunds, too?

While the CAPE portal is designed for importers, companies like Costco and FedEx have pledged to pass along refunds to affected customers, according to Axios.

If you're hoping for prices to come down as a result of the Supreme Court ruling, as we reported at the time, this is unlikely.

"Consumers shouldn’t see meaningful price relief soon," Ravin Gandhi, CEO of GMM Nonstick Coatings and an expert on tariffs, told Mashable in February.

"Tariffs were just one piece in the overall pricing structure — and businesses don’t typically lower prices immediately when a cost input disappears — especially with so much inflationary pressure," Gandhi said. "Even though the ruling is legally significant, the short-term economic impact may not happen as fast as the headlines are suggesting."

SAVE 25%: As of April 20, you can get the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses for $224.25 at Amazon, down from $299. That's a 25% discount or $74.75 savings.

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses (Gen 1) $224.25 at Amazon
$299 Save $74.75   Get Deal at Amazon

If you're tired of your earbuds falling out during calls or reaching for your phone every time it dings, you might want to consider a smart wearable like the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses.

SEE ALSO: Apple is reportedly working on an AI pin wearable that is AirTag-sized

Right now, you can get 'em for $224.25, down from $299, at Amazon. That's a 25% discount, or $74.75 in savings, and the lowest price we've seen these smart glasses go for yet.

You wouldn't know it just by looking at them, but these frames have a lot going on. Mashable's former East Coast Tech Editor, Kimberly Gedeon, tested them out on her commute and called the open-ear audio "crisp, full, and rich — total ear candy." They also feature an ultra-wide 12MP camera for hands-free photos and 60-second videos, plus a built-in Meta AI that can answer questions or translate languages in real-time.

And, if wearing a microphone and camera on your face sounds a little intimidating, you can easily tweak the privacy settings or turn off voice commands whenever you want.