Author Archives: Carol Edwards

The iPhone’s home button lives on.

Apple dropped its newest iPhone SE at its “Peek Performance” event Tuesday and we got a preview of the “budget” phone that arrives March 18.

The iPhone SE first arrived in 2016, and then was updated in 2020. Now two years later, the compact, affordable smartphone is back once again. Let’s look at what’s changed since 2020.

Price

2020: $399

2022: $429

This is the biggest change. The starting price for 64GB has gone up. The most expensive SE is now $579, while it used to be $549 for the 256GB configuration.

The next cheapest iPhone is the 64GB iPhone 11 for $499.

It’s worth noting, however, that according to usinflationcalculator.com, the buying power of $399 in 2020 equaled a little over $429 in today’s money — about $433.44. So in this one very real sense the iPhone SE has actually gotten slightly cheaper.

Colors

2020: Black, White, and Product Red

2022: Midnight, Starlight, and Product Red

The same color options, but now black and white have fancier names.

Same colors, new names.
Credit: Apple

Chip

2020: A13 Bionic chip

2022: A15 Bionic chip

At the time the A13 Bionic chip inside an iPhone 8 shell was powerful. It gave you the same chip in the iPhone 11. Now the 2022 version has caught up to the iPhone 13 with the same 15.8 trillion operations per second processing power. Sounds like a lot.

Another big game changer with the A15 Bionic chip is access to the full capability of iOS 15 including advanced camera modes and Live Text. The iPhone 8 can’t do that.

Size

2020: 4.7 inches

2022: 4.7 inches

It’s still the same size, which is an iPhone 8. And the home button with Touch ID and haptic feedback is still there.

It feels so good.
Credit: Apple

Display

2020: Retina HD display with 1,334 by 750 pixel resolution

2022: Retina HD display with 1,334 by 750 pixel resolution

This is the same screen, but maybe with the more souped-up insides it’ll seem shinier?

Camera

2020: Single 12-megapixel wide-angle rear sensor (f/1.8 aperture) with LED flash. Front is a 7-megapixel selfie camera.

2022: Single 12-megapixel wide-angle rear sensor (f/1.8 aperture) with LED flash. Front is a 7-megapixel selfie camera.

The camera arrangement stayed simple with a single lens (unlike the three on iPhone 13) and a selfie camera. But thanks to that A15 Bionic chip you now have access to camera features like Smart HDR 4, Photographic Styles, Deep Fusion, and (finally!) Portrait Mode.

Battery life

2020: 13 hours of video playback

2022: 15 hours of video playback

Better battery! The new SE will last longer and still offers wireless charging.

Connectivity

2020: No 5G, dual SIM card

2022: 5G-enabled, dual SIM card

2022 has ushered in the age of 5G connectivity and the new iPhone SE can join in. It’s just a matter of finding an available 5G network…

Preorders for the iPhone SE (2022) start on Friday.

UPDATE: Mar. 8, 2022, 4:30 p.m. EST This story has been updated to include the best International Women’s Day deals on sex toys.

• The We-Vibe Tango is a bullet vibe but better — $59 $79 (save $20)

• The Lelo Sila is a luxury suction vibrator that just got more affordable — $143.65 $169 (save $25.35)

• The Fleshlight Go Stamina Training Unit Lady Pack is an enticing offer from one of the best masturbation sleeve brands in the biz — $69.95 $81.85 (save $11.90)

We’re not saying that treating yourself to some new sex toys will almost certainly improve your life, but we’re also not not saying that. Spending some money on upping your solo sesh game or adding a little spice with a partner is well worth the investment. Though we do believe in springing for well-made toys since you’ll be putting them in, on, and around your genitals, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to drop a ton of cash. Every week, we’ll be rounding up the best deals directly from manufacturers and online sex shops alike, so you can find a toy you’ll love, at prices you’ll love (almost) as much. Check out our finds from this week below.

Vibrator deals

Why we like it

Read more from Mashable about the We-Vibe Tango.

Think bullet vibrator, but better. The We-Vibe offers the perfect pinpointed vibrations, with a flat-topped lipstick-shaped head that’s better than the rounded design you’ll find on most bullet vibes. It’s also waterproof and rechargeable, making it clear why Mashable culture reporter Anna Iovine deemed the Tango “the best bullet vibrator I’ve tried.”

More vibrator deals:

• Pleasure Works Pirouette Waterproof Vibrator — $22.39 $27.99 (save $5.59 with code WOMENSDAY)

• Satisfyer Magic Bunny Vibrator — $29.98 $79.99 (save $50.01 with code BLOOM)

• Adam & Eve Intimate Curves Rechargeable Wand — $34.98 $69.95 (save $34.97)

• Mantric Rechargeable Remote Control Panty Vibrator — $34.99 $69.99 (save $35)

• Joy 10 Function Powerful G-Spot Rabbit Vibrator — $35.99 $44.99 (save $9)

• We-Vibe Tango — $59 $79 (save $20)

• Fifty Shades of Grey Greedy Girl Rabbit Vibrator — $56 $139.99 (save $83.99)

• Original Magic Wand — $69.95 $99.99 (save $30.04 with code BLOOM)

• We-Vibe Touch — $79 $99 (save $20)

• Fifty Shades of Grey Greedy Girl Real-Feel Rabbit Vibrator — $111.99 $139.99 (save $28)

• MysteryVibe Crescendo — $171.75 $229 (save $57.25)

Clitoral stimulator and suction toy deals

Why we like it

Check out Mashable’s review of the Lelo Sila.

Lelo’s sex toys fall firmly into the luxury category, and their prices reflect that. But with its sonic wave pulsations, the Lelo Sila might just justify its price, especially since it’s enjoying a nice discount at the moment. If you’ve been waiting to treat yourself with something extra fancy, the time might just be now, with a toy that our reviewer deemed “one of the most worthwhile, standout innovations in the suction toy category in quite a while.”

More clitoral stimulator and suction toy deals:

• Satisfyer Twirling Joy Clitoral Vibrator — $39.99 $49.95 (save $9.96)

• Satisfyer Pro 2 Next Generation — $39.99 $59.99 (save $20)

• Womanizer Starlet — $55.99 $79.99 (save $14)

• Better Love Tap Dancer — $69.99 $175.99 (save $106)

• Lelo Sona Cruise — $90.01 $137.99 (save $47.98)

• We-Vibe Tango and Satisfyer Pro 2 bundle — $96.99 $148.99 (save $52)

• Le Wand Deux — $103.96 $124.99 (save $21.03 with code BLOOM)

• Womanizer Classic — $103.99 $129.99 (save $26)

• Lelo Sona Cruise 2 — $111.20 $139 (save $27.80 with code BLOOM)

• Lelo Sila — $143.65 $169 (save $25.35)

• Womanizer Premium — $159.99 $199 (save $40)

Dildo deals

Why we like it

When it comes down to it, everyone will have their own preferences when it comes to dildos (or any sex toys, for that matter), but here’s why this one is worth a second look. The silicone material gives the dildo some flex, so you can find those just-right angles (which can feel even better thanks to its approachable size). The circular base doubles as a suction cup too, making this dildo easy to hold, fit into a harness, or stick on to the non-porous surface of your choosing.

More dildo deals:

• Mr. Swirly 6.5-inch G-Spot Glass Dildo — $14.36 $17.95 (save $3.59 with code BLOOM)

• Adam & Eve Cool Curve Jelly Dildo — $14.95 $24.95 (save $10)

• Adam & Eve Twisted Love Glass Dildo — $21.97 $39.95 (save $17.98 with code AESAVE45)

• Colours 5-inch Silicone Realistic Dildo — $21.97 $39.95 (save $17.98 with code AESAVE45)

• Lifelike Lover Classic Girthy Realistic Vibrator 8 Inch — $26.99 $44.99 (save $18)

• Blush Impressions N5 Vibrating Dildo with Suction Cup — $39.99 $69.99 (save $30)

• Kingcock Strap-on Harness with 8-inch Dildo — $49.47 $89.95 (save $40.48 with code AESAVE45)

• Le Wand Hoop — $115.96 $129.99 (save $14.03 with code BLOOM)

Deals on sex toys for penises

Why we like it

When it comes to sex toys specifically for people with penises, Fleshlight might just be the most recognizable name out there, and for good reason — they’re masters at the masturbation sleeve. Fleshlight’s sleeves have made our favorites list before, and this bundle comes with a compact version of one of the brand’s most popular sleeves, the Stamina Training Unit, as well as lube and cleaner.

More deals on sex toys for penises:

• Ass-Gasm Penis Ring Plug — $10.97 $22.95 (save $10.33 with code AESAVE45)

• Super Head Honcho Masturbator — $16.47 $29.95 (save $13.48 with code AESAVE45)

• Lovehoney Power Play 7 Function Male Massage Wand — $44.99 $89.99 (save $45)

• Satisfyer Men Vibration Masturbator — $49.95 $84.99 (save $35.04)

• Buy 2 Fleshlight sleeves, get one free — $99.90 $149.85 (save $49.95)

• Lelo F1S V2 penis sleeve — $194.65 $229 (save $34.35)

• Tenga Flip Zero Rechargeable Vibrating Male Masturbator — $199.99 $249.99 (save $50)

• MysteryVibe Tenuto wearable vibrator — $211.65 $249 (save $37.35)

• Fleshlight Quickshot Launch Vantage Pack — $221.95 $246.85 (save $24.90)

Anal toy deals

Why we like it

From a glance alone, this Bump pick looks like a pretty good plug — it’s not too big, not too small, has a nice tapered edge and a wind end for keeping things where you want them, and is silicone-smooth so it slides right in without friction. Once you realize it has 10 different vibration modes and can be submerged safely in water, well, you may just feel like you’ve won the butt plug lotto.

More anal toy deals:

• PinkCherry Triple Trainer Anal Kit — $19.95 $59.99 (save $40.04 with code BLOOM)

• Kink Trainer Kit — $27.47 $49.95 (save $22.48 with code AESAVE45)

• Bump Rechargeable Anal Vibe — $27.47 $49.95 (save $22.48 with code AESAVE45)

• Satisfyer Lolli Plug — $27.99 $39.99 (save $12)

• Sono No. 78 Anal Stimulator — $27.99 $59.99 (save $32)

• Je Joue Nuo Vibrating Butt Plug — $79 $139 (save $60)

• B-vibe Vibrating Snug Plug — $85 $100 (save $15)

Even more sex toy deals:

• Black Furry Hand Cuffs — $4.95 $19.99 (save $15.04 with code BLOOM)

• Sex! Card Game — $6.39 $12.99 (save $6.60 with code BLOOM)

• Temptasia Harness Strap-on Briefs — $16.99 $29.99 (save $13)

• Under the Bed Restraint System — $55.99 $69.99 (save $14 with code WOMENSDAY)

Explore related content:

• What to look for when buying a sex toy

• Where to buy sex toys online (even at Target)

• The best budget-friendly sex toys under $50

PREORDER: The new Apple iPad Air (2022) is set for release on March 18, though you can reserve one ahead of time directly through the Apple Store beginning at 5 a.m. PST on March 11. The standard version (with just WiFi) starts at $599, while the WiFi + Cellular model will cost you at least $749.

The iPad Air is getting an M1 makeover.

Tim Cook dedicated a portion of Apple’s “Peek Performance” keynote event Tuesday to the latest iteration of its slimmest tablet, which will feature the company’s custom-made silicon chip (previously exclusive to the 2021 iPad Pro) for “a massive leap in performance.”

That M1-powered iPad Air will go up for preorder on the Apple website at 5 a.m. PST this Friday, March 11 before its official debut on March 18, with prices starting at $599 for the WiFi-only model and $749 for the version with cellular connectivity.

Other notable upgrades to the fifth-gen iPad Air include 5G support (on cellular models) and a new Ultra Wide 12MP front camera with Center Stage, a feature that automatically keeps you in the frame while you’re on FaceTime. (This brings it up to speed with all of the other current iPad models, which already come equipped with Center Stage.) You can also take your pick from two new colors: There’s now a lighter blue hue and a trendy pastel purple in addition to space gray, starlight, and pink.

Storage-wise, the new iPad Air starts at 64GB but goes up to 256GB if you need more room for apps and downloads.

Explore related content:

• Apple goes green with ‘bold’ new colors for its iPhone 13, iPad Air models

• Apple launches Mac Studio with powerful, new M1 Ultra chip at 2022 event

• Apple unveils new iPhone SE with 5G and A15 Bionic chip

Apple’s first event of 2022, curiously titled “peek performance,” was packed with information.

The releases appealed to a range of customers: from everyday users looking for an upgraded yet affordable iPhone all the way to specialists in need of professional-grade hardware. During the event Tim Cook wore a subtle tribute to Ukraine, and Apple’s celebration of women on International Women’s Day was criticized on Twitter for being hollow.

As for the actual products, well there was a lot of news there too. Here’s everything that was announced today.

iPhone 13…in shades of green

Getting the minor news out of the way, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced new shades of earthy green for the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro. Cook described the shade of green for the iPhone 13 as “bold” and the iPhone 13 Pro shade as “sophisticated.” If we may be so “bold,” they’re extremely similar-looking, but maybe we’re not “sophisticated” enough to distinguish them.

Are you “bold” or “sophisticated”? The choice is yours.
Credit: Apple

iPhone SE 3

As anticipated, the third generation of Apple’s most affordable iPhone was announced Tuesday. Mashable’s Alex Perry writes, “It essentially packs some iPhone 13 tech into an iPhone 8’s body.” That includes a home button, which still has a cult following, an A15 bionic chip, and yes, 5G. The only slight surprise of the iPhone SE announcement is the price bump. It is selling for $429 instead of the previous iPhone SE which cost $399. Still, for a powerful iPhone with advanced features, that’s not a bad deal.

Availability: Pre-order Friday, March 11 with availability starting March 18.

Price: $429

FWIW, people still love the home button.
Credit: Apple

iPad Air 5

The latest iPad Air has been upgraded with an M1 chip, which suddenly makes it an appealing rival to the iPad Pro, which also has an M1 but costs nearly twice as much. In addition to the powerful new Apple Silicon processor, the iPad Air 5 has a 12MP ultra-wide camera with Center Stage so the lens can follow you around while you’re on video, 5G compatibility, an upgraded USB-C port for faster file transfer. It comes in space gray, starlight, pink, purple, and a new pastel blue.

Availability: Pre-order Friday, March 11 with availability starting March 18.

Price: Starting at $599

The new iPad Air has some major upgrades.
Credit: Apple

Mac Studio

There’s a new desktop on the block and it’s called the Mac Studio. Positioned between the Mac Mini and the Mac Pro, the Mac Studio looks like a taller version of the Mac mini, but it comes equipped with M1 Max or the new M1 Ultra chip which Mashable’s Stan Schroeder describes as “essentially two M1 Max chips rolled into one,” making it Apple’s most powerful chip.

The Mac Studio is built for professionals which explains its impressive connectivity. In the back it has four Thunderbolt 4 ports, 10GB Ethernet port, two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack, and two more USB-C ports, and an SD card slot in the front. The Mac Studio also has built-in Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0. Maxed out on all specs the Mac Studio goes for a whopping $8,000.

Availability: Pre-order today with availability starting March 18

Price: $1,999 with the M1 Max chip, and $3,999 with the M1 Ultra chip

The new Mac Studio looks like a taller version of the Mac mini.
Credit: Apple

Studio Display

Described as a perfect complement to the Mac Studio, Apple also announced its new Studio Display. It has a 27-inch screen, 5K resolution, 600 nits of brightness, and over a billion colors. The display has its own A13 chip which means it offers advanced video/audio quality and features Center Stage even when not used with the Mac Studio. Studio Display has three USB-C ports, a Thunderbolt port, and can connect to any other Mac.

Availability: Pre-order today with availability starting March 18

Price: 1,599+

The Mac Studio/Studio Display is geared towards professionals.
Credit: Apple

For more insight into the Event, check out Mashable’s Chris Taylor break down exactly why “peek performance” wasn’t for everyone.

It was not the briefest event Apple has ever held; that distinction goes to 2021’s 50-minute unintentional self-parody. But at a mere 58 minutes, the “peek performance” unveiling was all business, without so much as a $19 cloth or a Craig Federighi dad joke to make us chuckle and/or roll our eyes.

Gone were the themes of the past: no hymn to California; no 420 references; barely any zooming in, out or around the dystopian Apple spaceship. CEO Tim Cook has previously opened these videos by briefly acknowledging the pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests. In 2022, any mention of important events in the wider world had to be inferred from his clothes (Ukrainian flag colors, if you happened to spot his yellow Apple Watch wristband) or found in his tweets (where Cook mentioned International Women’s Day, to the chagrin of some users).

In place of those attempts to make Apple look like it stands for and is accessible to everyone, we got a series of pitches that aimed a blizzard of buzzwords directly at elite users. Can’t afford the eye-watering price tags on these high-powered products? Don’t worry, they’re not for you — especially not if the phrase “new M1 chip” doesn’t make you salivate.

For starters, there was time enough for Cook to open the event talking about Apple TV+, but crowd-pleasing series like Ted Lasso were barely mentioned. Cook wanted to focus on the award-nominated movies on the platform, which makes sense given that members of the Academy are filling out their Oscar ballots as we speak. This is Apple doing its “for your consideration” advertising for the LA crowd.

The majority of the event was given to the new Mac Studio, a bulked-up Mac Mini (or slimmed-down Mac Pro), which starts at $3,999 for the M1 Ultra version. There’s a $1,999 version with the M1 Max chip, but Apple spent much of its time hyping the Ultra version — which, it boasted, can play back 18 streams of 8K video at once. You might wonder who needs that many simultaneous streams. It’s a game changer for artists, app engineers, musicians, and video producers, Apple said, showcasing each of these creative types in their own minimalist and perfectly manicured houses.

If you’re in these groups, you have permission to get excited — especially if you have an extra $1,599 to shell out on the new 27-inch studio display. (Which, bafflingly, showcased its 5K resolution, even though Apple has given us 5K since its 2014 iMac.) And you could spend as much as $8,000 on your Mac Studio setup before you even get to the monitor. This isn’t exactly computing for the masses.

So yes, the Mac Studio is powered by the newer, faster M1 Ultra chip. That means Apple’s M1 lineup starts with the Max, continues with the Pro, and has reached its ultimate form (for now) in the Ultra. Just to confuse the non-techies even further, the M1 Ultra is two M1 Maxes stuck together. It’s double maximum power! I can’t have been the only viewer to have pictured a Spinal Tap guitarist adding an “11” to his amp’s volume.

Tweet may have been deleted

Apple’s crack marketing team could have solved the confusion by naming the higher-powered chips M2 and M3 respectively; presumably that doesn’t sound high-powered enough. There’s a kind of fetishizing of the M1 architecture at play here. The ad for the Studio drove this home by featuring a tiny designer exploring the box like it was some vast and terrifying alien artifact out to kill her; the twist is that she was asleep at her desk the whole time. Mac Studio: for any nightmare creative project that causes sleep deprivation and fears that technology is out to get you.

To be fair, there were two upgrades announced to Apple’s more plebeian products. Its cheapest iPhone, the SE, entered its third generation — one that happens to bump up the price to $429. That upgrade was all under the hood, with a new A15 bionic chip and 5G capability for those lucky few whose carriers have turned on 5G service in their areas.

Plus, the iPad Air entered its fifth generation with its new M1 chip; it’s priced from $599 to $899, not counting the smart keyboard and second-generation Pencil that the event tried hard to upsell us on. Like the iPad Pro, which can be maxed out with such bells and whistles at more than $2,300, the iPad Air may be the company’s best machine when it comes to walking out of the Apple Store with way less money in your wallet than you expected.

It’s no surprise that this $2.5 trillion company knows how to raise its prices and sell you peripherals, of course. Apple products have long counted as aspirational luxury items. What Tuesday’s event suggests, however, is that the company is done playing to anyone but its relatively wealthy tech-obsessed base. And for that level of honesty — and brevity — we should be grateful.

UPDATE: Mar. 8, 2022, 11:59 a.m. AEDT The original version of this story incorrectly stated that the new iPhone SE will be available in the just-announced forest green colour. This is not the case. Mashable regrets the error, and also that Tim Cook won’t let those of us on a budget have nice things.

Another Apple Event has come and gone, which means it’s time for my favorite post-show activity: Checking out the bonkers pricing for the completely maxed out spec version of Apple’s latest computer device, the Mac Studio, on the Apple Store.

If you’d like to know right upfront without any of the specific spec details, here it is: $8,000. No monitor included.

This particular Apple Event was all about the Mac Studio, the latest new line in the company’s Mac computer series. Spec wise, this device fits right between the new M1 iMac and the Mac Pro, the last of the Mac computers that haven’t been refreshed with Apple’s M1 chip. It fits in that pro-user space all while looking like a big Mac Mini or roughly three Mac Minis stacked on top of each other.

Of course, Apple didn’t just announce a bigger Mac Mini at this event. Along with the Mac Studio, Apple announced its most powerful processing chip, the M1 Ultra. And, at least for now, the Mac Studio will be the only Mac that comes with the M1 Ultra inside. According to what Apple was promoting at the event, this bad boy can come with 128GB of RAM, which is quite frankly insane.

Apple announced a $1,999 starting price for the Mac Studio with the M1 Max at the event. But, come on. Why would you get the same chip you can get in a Macbook Pro? The point of the Mac Studio is the M1 Ultra!

The point of the Mac Studio is the M1 Ultra!

If you’re looking to purchase a Mac Studio with the M1 Ultra chip, then you’re looking at a starting point of $3,999. At this price, the Apple M1 Ultra comes with with 20-core CPU, 48-core GPU, and 32-core Neural Engine. But, again, why not max it out and go big? For an extra $1,000, you can upgrade your Mac Studio with the Apple M1 Ultra with 20-core CPU, 64-core GPU, 32-core Neural Engine! More GPU cores!

Furthermore, Apple focused on the fact that you can install up to 128GB of memory in this thing! So, why stick with 64GB when you can double it for $800 more and get the same exact device that Apple was promoting at the event?

What about storage? The default Mac Studio model comes with 1TB. But what if you max it out with an 8TB internal SSD? That’ll cost you an extra $2,200.

So the total for a completely maxed out Mac Studio with the M1 Ultra, maxed out GPU cores, memory, and storage comes out to $7,999. Don’t worry, Apple did throw in a power cable.

Credit: Apple

And yes, that’s $8,000 before taxes. Before you add a monitor. (Throw in $1,599 if you also want the new Apple Studio Display monitor, or $1,899 for the Studio Display with nano-textured glass. And that doesn’t even include the stand.) For comparison, the last time I did this with a maxed out 16″ Macbook Pro with an M1 Max chip, the total cost was $6,099.

That may sound like a lot…and it is. But, wait for it. Remember how I mentioned the Mac Pro earlier? The one Mac that still hasn’t been refreshed with the M1 chip? That’s Apple’s top tier Mac computer, usually its most expensive. Apple teased at the event that it would be refreshing that one as well in the near future.

So, yeah, $8k for the new Mac Studio maxed out? That may sound like a bargain by the time the next Apple Event rolls around.

UPDATE: Mar. 8, 2022, 3:15 p.m. EST We’ve updated this post with the latest deals from across the Apple universe following the latest releases from Apple’s “Peek Performance” event.

• BEST MAC DEAL: The MacBook Pro (M1 Pro, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) is a high-powered MacBook that can handle hefty tasks — $2,399 $2,499 at Amazon (save $100)

• BEST IPAD DEAL: 2020 iPad Air (WiFi, 64GB), a lightweight tablet that’s about to be replaced by a newer model — $539 $599 at Walmart (save $60)

• BEST IPHONE DEAL: The iPhone 13 Mini (64GB) at Verizon 400 is a mini phone with plenty of storage space and a battery life worth bragging about — $0 with select trade-ins or BOGO with any unlimited plan $699.99 (save up to $699.99)

• BEST APPLE WATCH DEAL: The Apple Watch Series 7 (41mm, GPS) 400 has a bigger, better watch face and multiple color options on sale — $349 $399 (save $50)

• BEST ACCESSORIES DEAL: The AirPods (second-gen) 400 are a good pair of wireless buds at a better value than the latest iteration of Apple’s earbuds — $109.99 $159 (save $50)

You could really kill some time trying to dissect the iron grasp Apple has on the general population, but when it comes down to it, its products look good, work well, and stay cutting-edge — of course people like them. Whether your favorite day of the year is its annual September reveal event or you just want a solid computer no matter the brand, Apple’s got you covered. Sure, it is a little notorious for its higher prices, but we’ve rounded up the best deals on iPads, AirPods, and more to help you out. Check them out below.

Mac and MacBook deals

Why we like it

Check out Mashable’s official review of the 2021 MacBook Pro.

That Mac Studio with the M1 Ultra chip announced at the March 8 Apple event looked pretty powerful, but it also starts at $4,000 — and that’s excluding the price of the monitor you’ll need to buy. Thankfully, Apple also has other powerful Macs for creatives looking to invest, including the latest 16-inch MacBook Pro, which is enjoying a $100 discount this week. Its M1 Pro chip, 10-core CPU, and 16-core GPU still make it a mighty machine that retains the easy portability. It’s not quite the $200 markdown we saw mid-February, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed for a future dip.

More Mac and MacBook deals

2021 MacBook Pro, 14-inch

• MacBook Pro (M1 Pro, 16GB RAM, 1 TB SSD) — $2,389.95 $2,499 at Amazon (save $109.95)

2021 MacBook Pro, 16-inch

• MacBook Pro (M1 Pro, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $2,399 $2,499 at Amazon (save $100)

2020 MacBook Pro, 13-inch

• MacBook Pro (M1, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,349.99 $1,499 at Amazon (save $150)

2020 MacBook Air, 13-inch

• MacBook Air (M1, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,149 $1,249 at Amazon (save $100)

More Macs

• 2020 Mac Mini (M1, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $779 $899 at Amazon (save $120)

• 2021 24″ iMac (M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB, 7-core GPU) in pink — $1,199 $1,299 at Amazon (save $100)

Refurbished Macs and MacBooks

• Refurbished 2017 13″ MacBook Air (Intel Core i5, 128GB) — $358.98 at Walmart

• Pre-owned 2015 13″ MacBook Air (Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) — $499.99 at Best Buy

iPad deals

Why we like it

It’s official — we’re getting a new iPad Air, meaning the iPad Pro is no longer the only Apple tablet with an M1 chip. The new model is available for pre-order on March 11 starting at $599, but if you just can’t wait, want to save before then, or are perfectly happy with an A14 chip, then we recommend nabbing the 2021 model while it’s still available at Walmart and Amazon. Though it’s no longer the latest and greatest, we still think it’s a pretty solid tablet for content creators.

More iPad deals

• 2021 iPad (WiFi, 256GB) in space gray — $455.05 $479 at Amazon (save $23.95)

• 2020 iPad Air (WiFi, 64GB) — $539 $599 at Walmart (save $60)

• 2020 iPad Air (WiFi, 64GB) — $539 $599 at Amazon (save $60)

• 2021 iPad Mini (WiFi, 256GB) — $599 $649 (save $50)

• 2021 12.9″ iPad Pro (WiFi, 128GB) — $999 $1,099 at Amazon (save $100)

iPhone deals

Why we like it

Check out Mashable’s official review of the iPhone 13 Mini.

If you’re picking up some new phones for more than one person, it’ll be difficult to find a better deal than this buy one, get one on the iPhone 13 Mini at Verizon. Though this model looks quite similar to its predecessor, its starting storage of 128GB and improved battery life definitely justify the upgrade.

More iPhone deals

• iPhone 12 Mini (64GB) at AT&T — $8.75 per month on an installment and unlimited plan with no trade-in required (save $315)

• iPhone 12 (64GB) at AT&T — $10.14 per month on an installment and unlimited plan with no trade-in required (save $365)

• iPhone 13 Mini (128GB) at AT&T — $0 with an eligible trade-in on an unlimited plan $699.99 (save up to $700)

• iPhone 13 (128GB) at AT&T — $0 with an eligible trade-in on an unlimited plan $799.99 (save up to $799.99)

• iPhone 13 Pro (128GB) at AT&T — $0 with an eligible trade-in on an unlimited plan $999.99 (save up to $100)

• iPhone 13 Mini (64GB) at Verizon — $0 with select trade-ins or BOGO with any unlimited plan $699.99 (save up to $699.99)

• iPhone 13 (128GB) at Verizon — $360 with a new line an unlimited plan or BOGO with any unlimited plan $799.99 (save $439.99)

• iPhone 13 Pro (128GB) at Verizon — $0 with select trade-ins on an unlimited plan $999.99 (save up to $999.99)

• BOGO with the iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro, or iPhone 13 Pro Max on an eligible 5G unlimited plan at Verizon

Apple Watch deals

Why we like it

The price of Apple’s latest smartwatch keeps going up and down. Though it’s not quite as on sale as we’ve seen it in weeks past, it’s only $10 away from its lowest price ever on a watch with a larger face, increased support for biking workouts, better durability. Plus, every in-stock color is available at this discounted price. You can also score these savings at Walmart.

More Apple Watch deals

Series 7

• Apple Watch Series 7 (41mm, GPS) — $349 $399 at Amazon (save $50)

• Apple Watch Series 7 (41mm, GPS) — $349 $399 at Walmart (save $50)

• Apple Watch Series 7 (45mm, GPS) — $379 $429 at Walmart (save $50)

• Apple Watch Series 7 (41mm, GPS + cellular) — $449 $499 at Amazon (save $50)

• Apple Watch Series 7 (45mm, GPS + cellular) — $479 $529 at Amazon (save $50)

SE

• Apple Watch SE (40mm, GPS) — $244 $279 at Walmart (save $35)

• Apple Watch SE (40mm, GPS) — $249 $279 at Amazon (save $30)

• Apple Watch SE (44mm, GPS) — $279 $309 at Amazon (save $30)

• Apple Watch SE (44mm, GPS) — $279 $309 at Walmart (save $30)

Series 3

• Apple Watch Series 3 (38mm, GPS) — $159 $199 at Walmart (save $40)

• Apple Watch Series 3 (42mm, GPS) — $199 $229 at Walmart (save $30)

Refurbished

• Refurbished Apple Watch Series 6 (40mm, GPS + Cellular) — $292.95 $349.99 at Amazon (save $57.04)

• Renewed Apple Watch Series 5 (44mm, GPS) — $229 $421.73 at Amazon (save $192.73)

Apple accessories deals

Why we like it

Check out Mashable’s official review of the second-generation AirPods.

Sure, you could spend more on the third-gen AirPods that didn’t really give us anything to write home about. Or, you could opt for the second-gens, which come with an H1 chip for easy pairing, a nice long battery life, and the honor of being a Mashable Choice pick back in their day.

More Apple accessories deals

• AirPods (second gen) — $109.99 $129.99 at Amazon (save $50)

• AirPods (third gen) — $169 $179 at Amazon (save $10)

• AirPods Pro — $189.99 $249 at Amazon (save $59.01)

• AirPods Pro — $189.99 $249 at Walmart (save $59.01)

• AirPods Max— $471.74 $549 at Amazon (save $77.26)

• Powerbeats Pro Totally Wireless Earphones — $169.95 $249.95 at Amazon (save $80)

• Beats Studio 3 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $199.95 $349.95 at Amazon (save $150)

• Apple TV 4K 32GB — $169 $179 at Amazon (save $10)

• Apple Pencil (first gen) — $89 $99 at Amazon (save $10)

• Apple Pencil (second gen) — $119.99 $129 at Amazon (save $9.01)

• Apple Pencil (second gen) — $119.99 $129 at Walmart (save $9.01)

Explore related content:

• 8 monitors to take your MacBook Pro to the next level

• MacBooks aren’t the only great laptops — and this list proves it

• Best headphones for iPhone owners: Think outside the (AirPods) box

The people of Twitter are reminding Tim Cook that when it comes to equity in the workplace, actions speak louder than words.

Apple held a Spring product event Tuesday, which also happened to be International Women’s Day (IWD). Apple CEO Tim Cook marked the occasion with a tweet honoring “women who are charting the course for a more equitable future,” while Apple also featured all female developers in a promotional video for its new M1 Ultra processor.

Tweet may have been deleted

Some applauded that visibility for female engineers, especially since it was not conspicuously showcased as a PR stunt the company was doing because of IWD. Instead, it was simply that all the developers were women.

Tweet may have been deleted

But people who identified themselves as former and current employees, as well as others on Twitter, pointed out a problem: Apple’s own treatment of its female employees, and alleged lack of responsiveness when it comes to sexism in the workplace.

Tweet may have been deleted

Tweet may have been deleted

Tweet may have been deleted

Cher Scarlett, a leader of the #AppleToo movement who ended up leaving Apple amid online harassment and alleged retaliation after she collected a survey of the positions, demographics, and salaries of Apple employees, tweeted “Video representation is great, but it’s not enough.”

Tweet may have been deleted

Allies in the workplace equity fight also called out Apple. Timnit Gebru, the AI ethicist who ended up getting fired by Google for challenging corporate requests she found to be unethical, tweeted about the “audacity” of Apple to pat themselves on the back for International Women’s Day while allegedly mistreating women in the workplace. 

“Solidarity with the women who’ll be dealing with a day of incessant gaslighting today,” Gebru wrote in a quote tweet of Tim Cook’s IWD post.

Tweet may have been deleted

Tweet may have been deleted

Others showed support for #AppleToo organizers, including Scarlett, who were allegedly disciplined and retaliated against for workplace activism meant to make Apple more equitable. 

Tweet may have been deleted

Tweet may have been deleted

Tweet may have been deleted

There are currently labor movements happening at multiple levels of Apple, from engineers to Apple Store employees to factory workers abroad. If Apple wants to truly “celebrate women,” perhaps it should take their appeals to reform an allegedly sexist workplace seriously.

PREORDER: Announced at Apple’s “Peek Performance” event, the new iPhone SE (2022) will start at $429 when it launches on March 18. You can reserve one directly through the Apple Store beginning at 5 a.m. PST on Friday, March 11.

The rumor mill nailed it: We’re getting a new iPhone SE for 2022.

Tim Cook unveiled the updated version of Apple’s most affordable smartphone during the company’s “Peek Performance” event Tuesday (which also brought us a green iPhone 13, a new iPad Air, and the beefy Mac Studio). It’ll make its debut on Friday, March 18, but if you want to reserve one ahead of time, set an alarm for a week prior: Preorders will go live on the Apple website at 5 a.m. PST this Friday, March 11.

The new iPhone SE will start at $429 for the base model (though you can get anywhere from $100 to $650 off by trading in an iPhone 8 or newer). That’s $30 more than what Apple charged for the 2020 model, but it’s easily worth it for added 5G support and a zippier A15 Bionic chip. According to Mashable’s Alex Perry, the latter “should provide faster performance and access to some of the features you see on iPhone flagships, like better battery life and improved performance in mobile games.”

Take your pick from three storage options (64GB, 128GB, or 256GB) and three colorways: midnight, starlight, or (PRODUCT)RED.

Explore related content:

• Apple goes green with ‘bold’ new colors for its iPhone 13, iPad Air models

• Apple unveils a new iPad Air with M1 chip at 2022 event

• Apple launches Mac Studio with powerful, new M1 Ultra chip at 2022 event

On the matter of user privacy, Telegram’s founder has spoken. And we’re more confused than ever.

Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov posted an account in his public Telegram channel Monday about his history of protecting user data from the Russian government. He ends the post saying, “I stand for our users no matter what. Their right to privacy is sacred. Now — more than ever.”

He also tweeted a link to the post that said he had no regrets about his past actions standing up to the government and that he would “do it again without hesitation.”

Tweet may have been deleted

But what Durov doesn’t give on either Telegram or Twitter is an assurance that Telegram’s user data is safe. It’s possible that there is a translation issue at play: Durov speaks both Russian and English, so perhaps he used a Google translate-like tool to help compose the post. But taking his posts at face value, the statements “I stand for our users” and “their right to privacy is sacred” are not the same thing as an unequivocal promise to not hand over data to the Russian government, nor are they an assurance that user data is safe from hacking and leaks.

Durov is the founder of what is still the dominant social network in Russia, VK. Durov writes in his post that in the early 2010s, the Russian government pressured him to hand over the data of Ukrainians opposing the Russia-friendly Ukrainian leader at the time. Durov refused, and ended up losing control of VK and fleeing the country (he’s currently a French citizen). Today, VK is controlled by the state. 

He later founded Telegram, a platform that has both one-to-one and group messages, as well as public “channels,” which are ways people can broadcast views and news, and which can act like forums. In 2018, the Russian government moved to shut down Telegram, but ended up dropping the initiative in 2020. Today, it’s Russia’s second largest messaging platform after WhatsApp, with 38 million monthly active users in the country as of 2020.

So Durov does in fact have a history of protecting user data, even at great personal risk. But experts worry that the fact that Telegram is not an end-to-end encrypted platform makes it vulnerable. Users have to continue to trust that Telegram won’t give government regimes data. It’s also possible that Telegram’s infrastructure could be hacked, or user data could be released by someone on the inside.

Durov specifically calls out alleged concerns by some that the fact of him previously living in Russia might compromise Ukrainians’ security. That is presumably why he tells the story of the VK conflict, and shares that he is himself Ukrainian on his mother’s side.

It’s helpful to hear from the founder considering that Telegram has become the dominant messaging platform for discussing the war in Ukraine and Russia, according to experts. But the post doesn’t go far enough to assuage concerns about user privacy completely.