Behold! A device with an actual headphone jack. | Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge Amazon Prime Day officially kicks off on July 11th, and while we’re expecting to see steep discounts on Amazon’s line of inexpensive Fire tablets, it’s safe to say that Amazon’s latest slates still can’t match an iPad when it comes to design and performance. Fortunately, the 2021 iPad is currently on sale at Amazon in the 64GB / Wi-Fi configuration for $249.99 ($79 off) at checkout — a price we haven’t seen since March of last year. On the whole, Apple’s ninth-gen slate remains the best budget iPad you can buy, even with the introduction of the 10th-gen model last year. The entry-level tablet…

Apple’s MacBooks remain the primary driver of its computer sales, according to a new report from CIRP. The research firm found that MacBook Air and MacBook Pro made up 77% of the company’s computer sales in the 12 months ending March 2023. This is an increase of 3% from last fall. The report also found that the most popular Mac is the MacBook Air, which accounted for 46% of sales. The MacBook Pro was the second most popular Mac, with 29% of sales. The desktop models, including the iMac, Mac mini, and Mac Pro, accounted for the remaining 23% of sales. Michael Potuck for 9to5Mac: CIRP’s results showed 43% of respondents saying they had a MacBook Pro with 34% reporting…

The new 15-inch MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro powered by Apple silicon are now available. Beginning today, Tuesday, June 13th, the new 15-inch MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro powered by Apple silicon are now available. With an expansive 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display, the performance of M2, and all-day battery life in a thin and light, fanless design, the new MacBook Air is the world’s best 15-inch laptop. With M2 Max and the new M2 Ultra, Mac Studio is a performance powerhouse in a compact design. The new Mac Pro combines the incredibly powerful M2 Ultra with PCIe expansion, and also marks the completion of the Mac transition to Apple silicon. For Intel-based Mac users, every Mac…

Who needs 15W charging when you can have these murdered-out looks and $30 left in your pocket? | Image: Nomad Want a fancy-looking charger for your MagSafe-compatible iPhone but don’t want to pay such a hefty premium price? Nomad is offering a new pair of chargers that do just that, and the key is cutting out Apple’s true MagSafe compatibility and its required Made for iPhone tax. The $70 Nomad Base and $80 Nomad Stand launching today are nearly identical to the existing Base One and Stand One, but unlike those models, these new chargers are not officially “Made for MagSafe.” Instead, they are simply wireless Qi with magnets for alignment, and they top out at 7.5W rather than the…

Illustration by Samar Haddad for The Verge As connected becomes the default for every household appliance — from TVs and washing machines to ovens and vacuums — we break down exactly what makes a home ‘smart’ and help you decide if it’s the right fit for you. I find the simplest way to explain the concept of a smart home is that it’s a natural evolution of our homes. A smart home isn’t fundamentally different from a “regular” home — it’s just the improvement of one. In the same way that electricity made our homes better and more functional, so is connectivity improving the way we live in and use our homes. I’ve lived in a smart home for a…

Illustration by Samar Haddad for The Verge As connected becomes the default for every household appliance — from TVs and washing machines to ovens and vacuums — we break down exactly what makes a home ‘smart’ and help you decide if it’s the right fit for you. I find the simplest way to explain the concept of a smart home is that it’s a natural evolution of our homes. A smart home isn’t fundamentally different from a “regular” home — it’s just the improvement of one. In the same way that electricity made our homes better and more functional, so is connectivity improving the way we live in and use our homes. I’ve lived in a smart home for a…