Apple’s AirPods pro have long been one of CNET’s favorite pairs of true wireless earbuds. And now they’re even better thanks to the upgraded second generation, which hit shelves back in September. The new and improved generation has earned a top spot on our list of the best earbuds overall for 2022, and right now you’ve even got a chance to pick some up for less.
Amazon, Best Buy and Target currently have them on sale for $200, which saves you $49 compared to the Apple price. There’s no set expiration, but deals on Apple devices rarely last for long. We’d recommend you get your order in soon if you don’t want to miss out on these savings and plan to have a pair under the tree this year.
These headphones feature up to twice the active noise cancellation of the first-gen AirPods Pro, adaptive transparency and personalized spatial audio with dynamic head tracking for immersive sound. They have four different-sized eartips and provide up to 6 hours of listening time.
Touch controls let you swipe to adjust volume, press to direct media playback, answer or end calls and switch between listening modes. The earbuds and charging case are both sweat- and water-resistant, and the charging case is MagSafe with a lanyard loop.
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The holidays are here, and if you’re struggling to think of the perfect gift for your loved ones, why not make it easier on yourself? These online service holiday gift ideas are an easy way to please everyone on your list, and they’ll never need to know that you shopped at the last minute.
Ahead, we’ve rounded up a list of great subscription service gifts for all the people you still need to check off your list. And as a bonus? These gift ideas definitely won’t go out of stock. We’ve linked either to the service’s page where you can buy directly, or the appropriate website to buy a gift card.
Disney Plus offers new releases like Andor, plus classic Star Wars, Pixar and Marvel movies, as well as Disney Vault movies and fun documentaries. Disney Plus is currently offering a one-year gift subscription offer for new subscribers.
Music streaming app Spotify is packed with songs and podcasts, and it’s just launched an expansive new audiobooks offering. In addition to recommendations based on your listening history, it creates personalized playlists for you, keeps you updated on new releases from your favorite artists, lists where they’re currently touring and more. You can gift your loved one an ad-free Spotify subscription by buying a gift card. Gift cards only work with Premium Individual plans and not Premium Student, Premium Family, Premium Duo or trial offers. We found multiple options through Best Buy.
Apple Music is the in-house music and video streaming service from Apple. Like on Spotify, you can listen to music and playlists on-demand, access internet radio and more. The fun part about Apple’s gift cards is that you’re not locked into any particular service by buying one.
Apple Arcade is Apple’s $5 a month ($60 annually) gaming subscription service. The service has hundreds of games with new titles added every week, as well as in-app events and game updates. The service includes Arcade Originals, App Store Greats and Timeless Classics playable across Apple devices without in-app purchases or ads.
Xbox Game Pass is an all-you-can-play video game subscription for $10 a month. The service offers a few different plans to best suit your gaming style. You can choose between Game Pass for console, Game Pass for PC (which includes a subscription to EA Play). Or there’s the Game Pass Ultimate, which offers games for PC, console and the EA Play subscription, as well as the Xbox Live Gold and Microsoft’s cloud gaming beta service.
The Calm app offers a wide range of guided meditations to assist in relaxation. The sessions — which range from three to 25 minutes in length — can also help with developing a daily meditation practice. Calm also includes soundscapes, sleep stories read by celebrities, wellbeing check-ins, breathing exercises and more.
In addition to subscriptions, Calm’s online shop also features weighted blankets, meditation cushions, journals and other mindful gifts.
Fitness app Aaptiv is audio-only, so it’s like having a coach in your ear or a workout buddy. The app supports outdoor workouts including running and cycling, or workouts with treadmills, exercise bikes and ellipticals. You can also explore over 4,000 workouts like yoga, strength training classes and more based on difficulty, time and music.
Aaptiv usually costs $15 monthly, or you can subscribe annually for $99 and get a seven-day free trial. Currently, the app is running a special offer to gift a year on the app for $50.
Sunbasket is a healthy meal kit delivery service that uses fresh, organic ingredients while catering to different diets and nutrition plans. You can check out plans for vegetarians, vegans, keto, paleo and more. Sunbasket is a bit pricier than other meal kit services because it uses a higher quality ingredient, but new signups can get a discount. Also, if you want to share the Sunbasket goodness with a loved one, you can gift the service as well.
NYC-based triple-threat coffee company Bean & Bean — included on CNET’s list of favorite coffee subscriptions — lets you pick your favorite roast, grinds the coffee beans to your desired consistency, or keeps the beans whole. Bean & Bean also has tea, matcha, instant coffee, honey coffee and other products to shop.
You can also check out CNET’s lists for tea and wine delivery subscriptions.
Get an early start on your New Year’s resolution to learn something new with a gifted subscription to Masterclass. The online learning service has over 100 classes to choose from taught by A-list celebrities with new content released every month. You can dive into cooking with Gordon Ramsay, filmmaking with Martin Scorsese, writing with R.L. Stine, science with Neil deGrasse Tyson, self expression with RuPaul and more.
You can give three different annual subscription tiers through the Masterclass website — Individual ($180), Duo ($240) or Family ($276).
Stitch Fix is a clothing delivery service that you can customize to arrive at a frequency that best fits your schedule. Clothes shopping was stressful enough before the pandemic and Stitch Fix lets you do it from the comfort of your home. You can either sign up to get boxes delivered regularly, request a box for a special occasion or shop in the Stitch Fix online store.
Stitch Fix also has a gift card program that you can use in the online store or apply to items selected by their stylist. For more ideas, check out our favorite clothing subscription boxes.
If there’s a true crime fan in your life, Hunt a Killer is the closest they’ll get to cracking a decades-old cold case. You can either choose a mystery or horror plan. Each mystery breaks down into about six boxes delivered to your house once a month. Boxes include letters, photos, maps, evidence, police and forensics reports and more. My husband and I first tried out Hunt a Killer last year, and it’s one of our favorite activities now.
Book of the Month Club sends five books to your door every month (you can customize the frequency). Then you can pick a book (or books) you want to keep and send the rest back. Book of the Month gives great, new recommendations for an affordable price and offers the choice to skip a month.
Apple devices often score highly in our reviews and its flagship products top our best phone and best smartwatch lists as we approach the end of the year. Sleek design and impressive performance comes at a premium, though, meaning Apple gear is often more expensive than devices from competing brands. However, if you don’t mind a preowned device, you can save a ton of cash this side of Christmas this one-day sale at Woot. You can choose from a massive selection of refurbished Apple Watches and iPhones and save big compared to buying from Apple directly.
All the devices you’ll find at this sale are “scratch and dent” refurbs. According to Woot, that means that you can expect these items to show moderate signs of wear and tear, but they have all been thoroughly inspected to ensure they’re in full working condition. Though none of the latest iPhone 14 or Apple Watch Series 8 models are on sale, many of these previous-generation devices are still great buys.
Last year’s iPhone 13 is included in the sale with prices starting at $570. Considering Apple still sells this device from $700, it’s a rare chance to save on a really recent model. Similarly, this sale offers some solid savings on 2021’s Apple Watch Series 7 with models available there from $260. Where you can find a Series 7 brand new these days you’re still regularly looking at prices north of $300 at best.
For those wanting to spend a little less, the iPhone 12 is still an excellent phone that’s more than sufficient for most users thanks to its 5G capabilities, OLED display and powerful A14 Bionic chip. It’s a great value starting at just $360, which is $239 less than buying new from Apple directly, or $340 for the iPhone 12 mini. In our iPhone 14 review, CNET’s Patrick Holland stated that there isn’t really a compelling reason to upgrade to the iPhone 14 from the iPhone 12 meaning it’s still a great phone for a lot of folks today.
On the smartwatch side, the Apple Watch Series 6 is a good choice from as little $190, offers many of the same features as the Series 7 at a lower price. Or, you can spend a little less with Series 4 and Series 5 models starting at just $150 — ideal for someone just testing the waters with their first Apple Watch.
Older phones like the iPhone SE and iPhone XR start at $160 for those looking for the cheapest devices, and Apple Watch Series 3 is also available from as little as $80.
Overall, these are some of the best value Apple deals you’ll find right now — but the sale expires tonight at 9:59 p.m. PT (12:59 a.m. ET), or when these refurbished models sell out, so we recommend acting sooner rather than later.
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Final Fantasy 7 fans got ready to eat well back in the mid-noughties, as developer Square Enix released several spinoffs expanding the universe of the legendary 1997 PlayStation RPG. Unfortunately, most of the new stories — like PS2 shooter Dirge of Cerberus and CGI movie Advent Children — turned to be fast food compared to the delicious and nutritious meal that was Final Fantasy 7.
The sole exception was the excellent 2007 action-RPG Crisis Core. This prequel cast you in the role of Zack Fair, a character with a small but crucial role in Final Fantasy 7’s main story, and explored his career as a member of megacorporation Shinra’s Soldier paramilitary group.
It offered roughly 25 hours of main story gameplay, a solid chunk of side missions and an inevitable emotional gut-punch of an ending that seared itself into fans’ brains.
The problem: It was only on PlayStation Portable, aka the PSP, and remained marooned on Sony’s now-obsolete handheld for more than 15 years. However, after the 2020 Final Fantasy 7 Remake and its downloadable content hinted at Zack’s playing a bigger part in the upcoming Rebirth, Square Enix is finally letting a new generation of gamers dive into Crisis Core.
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion hit PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, Nintendo Switch and PC on Tuesday. I’ve played a chunk of the game on PS5, and found this remastered classic to be a nostalgic joy.
Initially, I thought this was just the PSP game with some modern flourishes — 3D character models, upgraded environments and the ability to finally play it on a massive TV screen (or mirror the handheld original on Switch). Some of the prerendered cutscenes aren’t as well remastered, with graphical artifacts occasionally marring the image.
Iconic summon Ifrit is the first of many you’ll encounter.
Square Enix
As I played, it became increasingly clear that Square Enix had made more subtle changes as well; developers have brought the combat closer to the Remake’s beautiful flow. Chaining physical, magical attacks and summoning god-like beings who perform super attacks feels natural and smooth — partially because all the modern systems’ controllers have more buttons to use than the PSP — making for a far more pleasant experience than it was in 2007.
You also have a new way to interrupt your most powerful enemies’ biggest attacks, by doing as much damage as possible when they’re charging up. It might not seem like a major addition, but it adds a layer of strategy to boss encounters you might otherwise have played defensively.
The slot machine-style Digital Mind Wave system that periodically gives you bonuses or summons an ally in combat remains inscrutable as ever — it also determines when Zack and his abilities level up. Rest assured that this isn’t random, so it seems that way you just can’t see how much experience points you have. Its link to Zack’s emotional effect also used to great narrative effect at a few key points.
Admittedly, Sephiroth becomes less chill after a certain point.
Square Enix
All the cutscenes are fully voice acted now — chunks of the original were text-only — with the Remake’s excellent cast back in their roles. That includes Superman & Lois’ Tyler Hoechlin as future villain Sephiroth, who’s a pretty chill (if a bit aloof) dude for much of this game.
However, for good or ill, Crisis Core Reunion is fundamentally the same game we got in 2007. It’s still divided into easily digestible story chapters where Zack goes out on assignments for Shinra, unlocking bite-size missions along the way — it can’t quite shake off its roots as a portable game designed for quick sessions.
It feels a little stop-start in the early hours, especially as the game’s various systems are introduced to you, but you’ll soon get into the groove.
The DMW on the top left of the screen will be your constant companion in battle.
Square Enix
The gameplay loop of doing a chapter, then blasting through a bunch of unlocked missions and talking to the various characters in the hub around Shinra headquarters is satisfying — similar to Mass Effect, another classic 2007 RPG. It’s basically a few rooms and streets, greatly enhanced by the game’s magnificent art direction (without the slow loading of the PSP version).
Zack is also an ultra-charismatic protagonist, and his enthusiasm is a breath of fresh air compared to Final Fantasy 7’s moody Cloud. Fans who know about the relationship between these two will find getting to know Zack particularly rewarding.
The other characters are a mixed bag — Zack’s Soldier mentor Angeal is so stiff that I practically drift off whenever he’s on screen, and main villain Genesis is a dorky Sephiroth wannabe. The voice actors do their best, but the writing around these two just isn’t compelling. However, Cloud and Aerith make up for it when they enter the story.
And seeing the early adventures of these gaming icons, and how Zack helped to shape them, is the best reason to play Crisis Core Reunion. It’s still a 2007 PSP game at heart (as evidenced by the beautiful mid-noughties flip phones), but Square Enix’s ambition made it one of the best games on that system. I’m so glad it’s not trapped there any more. It’s a game every Final Fantasy 7 fan needs to play before Rebirth arrives late next year.
Robots may be the future, but robotic arms are apparently no good at using the good ol’ barcode. Barcodes can be hard to find and can be affixed to oddly shaped products, something robots can’t troubleshoot very well.
Using pictures of items in Amazon warehouses to train a computer model, the e-commerce giant has developed a camera system that can monitor items flowing one-by-one down conveyor belts to make sure they match their images. Eventually, Amazon’s AI experts and roboticists want to combine the technology with robots that identify items while picking them up and turning them around.
“Solving this problem, so robots can pick up items and process them without needing to find and scan a barcode, is fundamental,” said Nontas Antonakos, an applied science manager in Amazon’s computer vision group in Berlin. “It will help us get packages to customers more quickly and accurately.”
The system, called multi-modal identification, isn’t going to fully replace barcodes soon. Products in Amazon warehouses will need to have barcodes as long as outside companies that make and ship them rely on the technology to identify and track stock. Amazon’s new system is currently in use in facilities in Barcelona, Spain, and Hamburg, Germany, the company said, adding that it’s already speeding up the time it takes to process packages there. The technology will be shared across Amazon’s businesses, so it’s possible you could one day see a version of it at a Whole Foods or another Amazon-owned chain with in-person stores.
Amazon has built computer vision into other products. You can ask an Echo Show smart display, “Alexa, what am I holding?” to get help recognizing objects around the house. The feature is called Show and Tell and was designed with vision impaired people in mind. Smart phone makers and social media companies have also included AI features in camera and photo apps, categorizing photos automatically, for example.
The problem that the system eliminates — incorrect items coming down the line to be sent to customers — doesn’t happen too often, Amazon says. But even infrequent mistakes add up to significant slowdowns when considering just how many items a single warehouse processes in one day.
Amazon’s AI experts had to start by building up a library of images of products, something the company hadn’t had a reason to create prior to this project. The images themselves as well as data about the products’ dimensions fed the earliest versions of the algorithm, and the cameras continually capture new images of items to train the model with.
The algorithm’s accuracy rate was between 75% and 80% when first used, which Amazon considered a promising start. The company says the accuracy is now at 99%. The system faced an initial hiccup when it failed to catch color differences. During a Prime Day promotion, the system couldn’t distinguish between two different colors of Echo Dots. The only difference between the packages was a small dot that was either blue or gray. With some retooling, the identification system can now assign confidence scores to its ratings that only flag items it’s very sure are incorrect.
Amazon’s AI team says it will be a challenge to fine-tune the multi-modal identification system to assess products that are being handled by people, which is why the ultimate goal is to have robots handle them instead.
This year isn’t quite over, but rumors about new phones are already buzzing. While it’s hard to know what’s exactly in store for the smartphone industry in 2023, it’s possible to make some educated guesses since companies like Apple, Google and Samsung mostly stick to the same launch routine each year.
The iPhone 15 lineup, for example, is expected to arrive in September — possibly with USB-C charging for the first time. If Samsung maintains its typical release cycle, the Galaxy S23 will be one of the first new phones we see in 2023.
Such launches would come after the smartphone space took subtle but important steps forward in 2022. The iPhone, for example, gained satellite connectivity for emergencies and car crash detection, while Google found more ways to make use of its custom Tensor chip in the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro. Samsung, meanwhile, gave its flagship Galaxy S lineup a fresh look and an upgraded camera.
Here are the new phones we’re likely to see in 2023 based on previous launch cycles, rumors and reports.
Apple iPhone 15 lineup
The iPhone 14 lineup.
James Martin/CNET
What we’re expecting: Apple’s new iPhone family usually launches in September, and we have no reason to believe 2023 will be any different. The adoption of USB-C charging is one of the biggest changes we’re expecting to see on Apple’s next-generation iPhones. The European Union recently mandated that all new phones sold in the region must support USB-C charging by 2024. Apple said it would comply with these rules, but did not specify whether that means we’ll see a shift to USB-C starting in 2023. It’s also not confirmed if a USB-C iPhone would get a global release, or if it would remain solely as a European model.
Otherwise, we’re likely to see routine changes such as some camera upgrades and a new processor. TF International Securities Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who is known for making predictions about upcoming Apple products, also says Apple may do more to distinguish the iPhone 15 Pro from the regular iPhone 15.
It already made a step in that direction with the iPhone 14 generation by keeping features like the Dynamic Island and new A16 Bionic processor exclusive to the Pro line. What’s more interesting, however, is the idea that Apple could further differentiate the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max from the smaller iPhone 15 Pro, according to Kuo. The main difference between the regular Pro and Pro Max comes down to screen size. Giving the Pro Max some extra perks could further convince shoppers to splurge on Apple’s biggest (and most expensive) iPhone. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also believes Apple could change the name of the iPhone Pro Max to the iPhone Ultra in the future to better align with other products like the Apple Watch Ultra.
Why I’m excited about it: The iPhone’s long-anticipated transition to USB-C is arguably the biggest reason to get excited about Apple’s next smartphone. The switch means iPhone users will finally be able to charge their iPhone, iPad and Mac with the same type of charging cable, reducing friction and making the iPhone that much more convenient. I’m also looking forward to seeing whether Apple further distinguishes the iPhone 15 Pro Max from the iPhone 15 Pro. I’ve argued that Apple needs to give its supersized iPhones more functionality that takes advantage of their larger screens, similar to the iPad.
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Samsung Galaxy S23 Lineup
Samsung’s Galaxy S22 lineup.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
What we’re expecting: Based on the rumors, Samsung’s Galaxy S23 could bring some noteworthy upgrades to the camera and design — two areas that have traditionally been a big focus for the South Korean tech giant.
The rumored Galaxy S23 Ultra could include a 200-megapixel main camera, according to a prolific leaker who goes by the name Ice Universe on Twitter. That sounds like a huge jump from the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s 108-megapixel main sensor on paper. But it’s important to remember that factors like sensor size and speed also play a very important role in image quality. The new 200-megapixel sensor is only said to be slightly larger than the iPhone 14 Pro’s and is reportedly a bit smaller than other Android flagships, according to Ice Universe.
Samsung may also give the regular Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus a tweaked design that more closely matches that of the Ultra model. Images from reliable leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer suggest Samsung will eliminate the camera bump from the S23 and S23 Plus, replacing it with the protruding lenses found on the Galaxy S22 Ultra. The images were published on the tech blogs Digit and Smartprix in partnership with Hemmerstoffer.
Although we don’t know precisely what to expect in terms of performance, Samsung usually puts Qualcomm’s latest mobile chip in the new version of its phones that launch in the United States and certain other markets. That means we will likely see the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in Samsung’s next Galaxy phone. The new chip offers better power efficiency, ray tracing for improved aesthetics in mobile games and upgraded AI that can better separate you from your Zoom background, among other enhancements. The analyst Kuo even believes Samsung could ditch its own Exynos processors and rely solely on Qualcomm for the Galaxy S23.
Why I’m excited about it: Smartphone cameras have already gotten so sophisticated that I’m curious to see whether Samsung’s 200-megapixel sensor actually makes a meaningful difference. Either way, it’ll be interesting to see how Samsung pushes the camera experience forward in the S23 lineup given the increased competition from Google’s Pixel series in recent years. I’m also in favor of the Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus’ rumored design change to more closely resemble the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Based on the renders, it looks cleaner and sleeker compared to the Galaxy S22’s camera bump.
Google Pixel 7A
The Google Pixel 6A.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
What we’re expecting: If Google maintains its tradition, we could see a cheaper version of the Pixel 7 known as the Pixel 7A launch in the spring or summer time frame. Rumors about the Pixel 7A are scarce right now. But developer Kuba Wojciechowski claims to have found details possibly pertaining to the Pixel 7A in the Android codebase, suggesting that some fairly significant upgrades are in store.
Wojciechowski’s findings indicate the Pixel 7A could have a screen with a higher refresh rate of 90Hz and wireless charging — two characteristics that are noticeably absent from the Pixel 6A. Leaked renders from Hemmerstoffer that were once again published on Smartprix also suggest the Pixel 7A will have a very similar design as its predecessor.
The Pixel 7A could also include the same Tensor G2 processor that powers the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro as well as a camera setup that includes wide and ultrawide sensors. That’s if the Pixel 7A follows in the same footsteps as the Pixel 6A, of course.
Why I’m excited about it: Google’s A-series Pixel phones are seriously impressive from a value standpoint. That’s why the Pixel 6A has received a CNET Editors’ Choice award and is our favorite Android phone under $500. If Google manages to address the Pixel 6A’s very few shortcomings while maintaining the same price of $449, it’ll be an even more formidable challenger to Samsung in the affordable phone space.
Google Pixel 8 Lineup
The Pixel 7 Pro (left) and Pixel 7 (right).
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
What we’re expecting: Google’s Pixel 7 and 7 Pro are only a couple months old, but rumors have already started to surface about the Pixel 8 family. German tech blog WinFuture claims to have found references to two unreleased Pixel smartphones in publicly available code. The findings indicate that these two devices are codenamed “Shiba” and “Husky” and that they’re powered by a new processor codenamed “Zuma.” The code also suggests these devices will run on Android 14 and include 12GB of RAM, according to WinFuture.
Why I’m excited about it: There haven’t been many rumors about the expected Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, which means there isn’t too much to get excited about yet. But what I’m most interested in is what new features Google’s next-generation chip will bring to its future phones. Google’s current Tensor chips have enabled features that seem practical and useful in everyday life, such as Magic Eraser and Face Unblur for improving photo quality and the ability to add speaker labels to transcripts in the Recorder app. That makes me excited about where Google could take things next.
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
What we’re expecting: Samsung may be best-known for its Galaxy S devices, but its series of Galaxy A phones are worth your attention if you’re shopping on a tighter budget. The next phone in this series is expected to be called the Galaxy A54 5G, following the Galaxy A53 5G’s launch last spring.
Based on the few leaks that have surfaced so far, the Galaxy A54 5G will be a modest improvement over the A53 5G. It’s expected to have a 6.4-inch screen, which is slightly smaller than the A53’s 6.5-inch display, and a triple rear camera. That’s according to the leaker Hemmerstoffer, who shared renders claiming to show the Galaxy A54 5G’s design with the tech blog 91Mobiles. A report from the Dutch tech site Galaxy Club also suggests the A54 5G could have a slightly larger battery than its predecessor.
Why I’m excited about it: When I tested the Galaxy A53 5G around the time of its launch, I thought it felt much more expensive than it actually was. It’s not perfect, but Samsung provides a well-rounded package for the price with the Galaxy A53 5G. I’m hoping the success of Google’s Pixel A series motivates Samsung to up its budget phone game even further.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4.
James Martin/CNET
What we’re expecting: Even though foldable phones are still new to most people, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold will be on its fifth generation in 2023. The next version of Samsung’s phone-tablet hybrid could have a slot for storing Samsung’s S Pen stylus, a lighter design and a less noticeable crease, according to Korean news outlet The Elec. The report didn’t definitively say the Z Fold 5 will have these improvements, but did say Samsung has cited them as barriers that must be overcome to make foldable phones more popular.
Otherwise, we can probably expect to see routine improvements to the camera and processor in the Galaxy Z Fold 5. Samsung also added some new multitasking features to the Z Fold 4 this year, such as the ability to use the bottom portion of the screen as a mini trackpad when the display is folded halfway. So there’s a chance we’ll see other software enhancements in the future, too.
Samsung typically releases its new foldable phones in August, meaning we’re likely to see the next Z Fold around that time next year.
Why I’m excited about it: The Galaxy Z Fold 5 needs a lot more than an included S Pen to bring foldables into the mainstream. But making the S Pen a bigger part of the experience could go a long way in further defining who the Z Fold is for and why it exists in the first place. Samsung is promoting the Z Fold 5 as a productivity-oriented device, so having an embedded S Pen seems like a natural move. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Fold 3 are both compatible with the S Pen, but they must be purchased separately.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
The new Galaxy Z Flip 4 looks nearly identical to last year’s Z Flip 3.
Patrick Holland/CNET
What we’re expecting: Samsung’s next flip phone may have a larger cover screen and a less noticeable crease, according to Ross Young, co-founder and CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants. Ross recently tweeted that the Z Flip 5 will have a cover display measuring around three inches and a new hinge design that could make the crease more subtle. That would represent a sizable increase from the current Z Flip 4’s 1.9-inch cover screen. Like the Z Fold 5, there’s a chance we’ll see general improvements to camera quality and software as well as a new processor, too.
Why I’m excited about it: Making the cover screen slightly larger would address one of the Z Flip’s biggest shortcomings. As my colleague Patrick Holland wrote in his review of the Z Flip 4, the cover screen is the biggest area where Samsung could be doing more. I’m also hoping to see longer battery life from the Z Flip 5 considering that’s another area where Samsung’s current flip phone could use some improvement.
OnePlus 11
OnePlus 10 Pro.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
What we’re expecting: One of the biggest changes coming to the OnePlus 11 could be its redesigned circular camera module, according to renders from Hemmerstoffer published on the blog GadgetGang. It’s a standout look that could help distinguish the OnePlus 11’s design from other Android devices, much as the camera bar has done for the Pixel 6 and 7 series.
Hemmerstoffer also reports that the phone will feature a 6.7-inch screen, Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, up to 16GB of RAM and a 5,000 mAh battery with 100-watt charging. The camera would include 50-megapixel, 48-megapixel and 32-megapixel sensors. The charging speed is particularly notable since it represents an increase from OnePlus’ already speedy 80-watt charging, although unfortunately that’s capped at just 65 watts in the US.
Why I’m excited about it: For a company that made its name as the “flagship killer,” OnePlus’ prices have inched closer to those of the rivals it aims to undercut in recent years. That said, OnePlus still has a reputation for selling reasonably priced devices that pack a lot of high-end features such as superfast charging. The OnePlus 10 Pro came really close to being a superb iPhone competitor, as my colleague Andrew Lanxon wrote when he reviewed the device. But a slightly disappointing camera and restrictions such as a lack of 80-watt charging in the US held it back from being as great as it could be. Hopefully OnePlus addresses these criticisms in its next-generation device.
It seems like some of the biggest improvements we’re expecting to see across the board on new smartphones in 2023 have to do with improving the battery and charging experience as well as making camera and design upgrades. We’ll know more throughout the year as Samsung, Apple, OnePlus and Google release new devices.
If you’ve got a small business or organization with multiple employees, it can be tough to make sure everyone has easy access to all the files and data they need to keep working smoothly. You don’t want to risk your data falling into the wrong hands, but it’s just not practical to send each file individually over email. Cloud storage services are one option, but they tend to be limited and pricey when you’re looking at high-capacity plans. So if you’re looking for a simple and cost-effective long-term solution, you should consider a network attached storage, or NAS, drive.
A NAS drive essentially functions as a self-contained cloud, with one or more high-capacity storage drives that anyone on the network can access. While they can be costly up front, they’re one of the more efficient ways to keep your organization’s data assembled, secure and accessible. Plus, you can often find models on sale for hundreds less than their list prices. We’ve rounded up some of the best NAS drive deals out there at the moment, and we’ll continue to update this page as offers come and go, so be sure to check back often.
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If your organization primarily uses Windows, this 8TB Buffalo network attached storage drive is a great pick. It’s powered by Windows Server IoT 2019, which means it’s designed to seamlessly integrate into a Windows environment. Plus, it has Hyper-V and DHA, which offer increased data protection capabilities.
With 32TB of included storage and at over $700 off its usual price, this is one of the best-value NAS drives you’ll find out there at the moment. It’s equipped with 4GB of ECC memory as well as a 10GB Ethernet port for lightning-fast data transfer, and the 256-bit AES encryption ensures that your data can’t be accessed from anyone outside your network. It also supports integration with popular third-party cloud services such as Dropbox and Microsoft Azure for an extra offsite backup of your data in case something happens to the physical drive.
With an 8TB capacity, this WD drive is primarily designed for home use and personal storage. It plugs directly into your home Wi-Fi router, and allows you to access your data from anywhere with an internet connection using the companion My Cloud Home apps. The drive’s Mirror Mode keeps your data secure by automatically duplicating any files stored on one drive and backing it up on the other. Just note that you’ll have to activate the instant coupon on the product page to get the full discount.
With 8TB of storage, this WD My Cloud EX2 Ultra is great for both individuals with serious storage needs, and for smaller businesses looking for a budget-friendly pick. With 1GB of DDR3 memory, it boasts impressive data transfer speeds, and the built-in USB 3.0 ports allow you to transfer photos or videos from a camera or flash drive with the touch of a button. It’s also compatible with Apple Time Machine so you can back up your files, and with 256 AES volume encryption, you can be confident that your data is safe from prying eyes.
At less than $200, this Synology drive is the most affordable on this list. However, that price comes with a catch. This is a two-bay drive with 512MB DDR4 of memory, but it doesn’t come with any storage drives included. That allows you to pick and choose how much capacity you’d like to have, but it does mean you’ll have to purchase the drives separately. Fortunately, you can also find plenty of drives on sale like this Seagate IronWolf Pro 12TB drive, which is $140 off right now. There’s a few more steps involved, but being able to piece this drive together with discounted hardware makes it a good value if you’re willing to do a little legwork.
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Having a gamer on your list makes gift shopping pretty easy. And if you’re on the hunt for some last-minute stocking stuffers, we’ve got a deal you won’t want to miss. Right now, Target is offering up to 60% off video games for Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, as well as up to 35% off accessories like headsets and controllers. There are even some deals on next-gen consoles like the compact Xbox Series S. There’s no set expiration for this sale, but deals are coming and going pretty fast as we get closer to Christmas. We’d recommend getting your order in sooner rather than later if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.
Target also recommends getting your order in by Tuesday, Dec. 20, if you want it to arrive before Christmas Eve.
You can pick up tons of this year’s most popular titles for less at this sale. That includes 50% or more off next-gen games like Madden 23, Halo Infinite, Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla and much more. There are even some deals on next-gen consoles if you’re looking to upgrade. You can snag the Xbox Series S, the lite version of the full-size Series S, on sale for just $250, $50 off the usual price. Or you can check out the exciting world of VR with this $350 Meta Quest 2 bundle, which saves you $50 and comes with Resident Evil 4 and Beat Saber included. You can even find some rare discounts on next-gen accessories like the new PlayStation 5 DualSense wireless controller. All colors are on sale for $50 right now, which saves you up to $25. Or save $50 on the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max headset, an upgraded version of one of our favorite gaming headsets for both PlayStation and Xbox, which drops the price down to $150.
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Just about everyone has heard of or used Microsoft Office at some point in their life, but not everyone may own a copy of it on their own computer. There are some alternatives that work online and while that can help in a pinch, it’s not a great long-term solution. If you find yourself spending more time creating documents, sending emails and fixing up PowerPoints, you’re going to want to check this out.
You can ditch the subscription (with recurring charges) and snag a lifetime license of access to Microsoft’s Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher and Access for just $30 instead. That’s back at the lowest-ever price we’ve seen, and a whopping 91% off the usual price of $349. However, this deal expires in just a few days, so be sure to get your order in soon.
The offer, from StackSocial, applies to both the Windows and Mac version of the software.
This wildly popular offer for a Microsoft Office lifetime license is still available for $30. It’s available for both Mac and Windows, so be sure to grab the right one for the computer that you use regularly.
While the price almost seems too good to be true, we tried it ourselves, and it worked like a charm. (The two big caveats: You get a single key — which only works on a single computer — and there’s no Microsoft OneDrive Cloud Storage included.) In fact, Stack has been offering a version of this deal since the beginning of 2022. But this lowest-ever price won’t last, so take the plunge while you can.
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Bigger is better, and the phone industry has made its feelings very clear with flagship phones featuring 6.5-inch-plus screens. While we once considered Samsung’s first-generation Galaxy Note a goliath at 5.3 inches, today’s top phones almost all measure in at 6 inches or more. Apple’s new iPhone 14 Pro measures in at 6.03 inches, the Pixel 7 Pro is 6.7 inches and Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra takes that even further to 6.8 inches.
Those bigger displays certainly have their advantages. Top specs and stellar cameras are often packed into those massive bodies, while the sheer size of the screens make them great for watching videos on the move. But there’s no escaping the fact that the increase in size has made them more cumbersome to hold and use for anyone with hands smaller than continents. And that’s to say nothing of the embarrassing bulge caused when you try to shove one into the pocket of your skinny jeans.
While bigger phones can be better for those of you really into your videos or playing lots of mobile games on the move, there are many of us that would still prefer a smaller phone that’s easier to type with one-handed.
Your options are, I’m sorry to say, limited and getting more so all the time — especially as Apple opted not to refresh its iPhone Mini line this year. But there are still some smaller phones to consider. Everyone’s definition of “small” is different, and a comfortable size for you may feel uncomfortably large to someone else. If you’re worried about the size, it’s worth trying to get hands-on with a phone at your nearest store.
While Apple didn’t release an iPhone 14 Mini this year, essentially putting a nail in the coffin of the Mini line, the iPhone 13 Mini is still officially on sale directly from Apple. Its 5.4-inch display makes it a fair bit smaller than any in the iPhone 14 range, and actually qualifies it as the physically smallest phone Apple makes. Sure, the iPhone SE 2022 has a smaller display, but it has large bezels around the edges, which makes the whole phone slightly larger.
With pricing that starts at $599, you’ll be paying extra money over the iPhone SE for that more modern design, along with a dual rear camera system that adds an excellent ultra-wide angle to the standard view. It’s a shame Apple hasn’t updated the Mini range this year, but while it’s still being officially sold by Apple, the iPhone 13 Mini is the best smaller phone to consider right now.
Launched earlier in 2022, Apple’s iPhone SE packs a solid single camera, a potent A15 Bionic chip and 5G support into a body with a display that measures only 4.7 inches. That’s a huge size difference compared with the gargantuan 6.69 inches of the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Using an older design, its large bezels actually mean it’s physically slightly larger than the iPhone 13 Mini, despite having a smaller display.
At $429 it’s the cheapest iPhone Apple makes, but you will have to sacrifice some features including the more impressive multi-camera arrays found on the higher-end models as well as things like Face ID. Still, if you’re after a solid everyday small phone that won’t break the bank, it’s the phone to go for.
At 6.1 inches, the Google Pixel 6A isn’t exactly small, but it’s still one of the smallest Android phones you can buy, undercutting the 6.3 inches of the more recent Pixel 7 and lopping a huge amount off the similarly priced 6.5-inch Samsung Galaxy A53 5G.
CNET’s Lisa Eadicicco called it the “best Android phone under $500” in her Pixel 6A review, calling out how it keeps the same Tensor chip seen in the $599 Pixel 6 and many of its features. It includes 5G connectivity, solid all-round performance and a dual camera system that can take great photos in daylight and at night.
With a 6.7-inch screen size, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4’s screen is way too big to be on this list. But before you slam your fists into your keyboard at my incompetence, hear me out. As one of Samsung’s foldable phones, the Z Flip 4 folds in half, turning that massive screen into a small, square puck that quite comfortably fits into a jacket pocket.
An outer display will alert you to incoming notifications, meaning you only need to unfold it to its full size when you actually want to reply. Sure, it might not be the perfect solution, and with a starting price of $1,000 it’s hardly cheap, but its innovative hinge design might offer you the best of both worlds: a compact form when it’s sitting in your pocket, but a big screen for when you want to use it.
