A few minutes before 2PM Eastern on Monday, the crew of Artemis II broke a record set 56 years ago by the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission - at over 248,655 miles, they have now traveled further from Earth than any humans before them. They marked the occasion with a crater naming ceremony that left the whole crew embracing each other in lunar orbit.
The Artemis II crew …
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It’s 2026, and that means Apple sells MacBooks equipped with not just its capable M-series processors but A-series chips that were previously exclusive to the iPhone. With the MacBook Neo starting at $599, the company now offers a wider range of options with more sizes and price points than ever before, all of which run the company’s newest operating system, macOS 26.
Purchasing a new MacBook is easy if all you want is an affordable laptop. But if you have more specific needs and use cases that require a lot of power, or if you want to connect multiple 6K displays, it gets more complicated. That said, finding a deal on a relatively speedy model is surprisingly easy if you know where to look.
These days, it’s not uncommon to see various MacBooks discounted by up to $800, although the quality of deals fluctuates frequently. Alternatively, purchasing refurbished options directly from Apple is another way to save some money without waiting for the changing deal winds to blow in your favor. It’s also the only option to find certain configurations of older models as Apple continues to launch newer versions. Apple’s refurbished store offers a one-year warranty and generally discounts units by up to 20 percent off their original prices.
But if you want to buy new and you’re looking to save whatever you can, here are the best MacBook Neo, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac Mini deals available.
Apple recently launched the MacBook Neo, a 13-inch laptop that aims to take on premium Chromebooks and midrange Windows laptops. Its design is somewhat similar to other MacBook models, but there are a handful of differences, ranging from the placement of the headphone jack and speakers to the thickness of the screen’s bezel (there’s also no keyboard backlighting). The most notable difference, however, is what powers it: the Neo runs on Apple’s A18 Pro chipset, which debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro. It also comes with either 256GB or 512GB of storage, although it’s capped at 8GB of RAM. If you’re curious about how it stacks up to Apple’s pricier MacBooks, our full review is chock-full of benchmarks and insights.
There are currently no big cash discounts available on the budget laptop — unless you count Amazon’s paltry $10 discount on the 512GB configuration.
In March, Apple released an updated 13.6- and 15.3-inch MacBook Air with an M5 processor. In almost every way, there’s nothing new here, except for the processor, the starting price, and the amount of storage you get in the base model. The most affordable option retails for $1,099 — $100 more than the cheapest M4 model — but it offers twice as much storage at 512GB. Not just that, Apple says its SSD is faster than the last-gen model (the company claims its read / write speeds are twice as fast). It also supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 7, which are spec improvements that may or may not matter to you, or yield noticeable improvements over the previous model.
The smaller of the two models with an M5 processor (10-core CPU, 8-core GPU), 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD is down to an all-time low of $949 or so ($150 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. Meanwhile, the larger version — which is similar but offers a 10-core GPU, a larger battery, and a slightly higher-res screen due to its size (but with the same 224 pixels-per-inch clarity) — is on sale at Amazon and Best Buy starting at $1,149 (also $150 off).
Apple’s latest revision of the 14.2-inch MacBook Pro has the M5 processor. The generational leap will be felt most by those who have an older MacBook Pro, not those upgrading from the M4, unless you use specific AI apps that tap into the chip’s new Neural Accelerators. As for other design changes and upgrades to the inside and outside of this MacBook Pro, there really aren’t any major ones to note; in fact, it’s so similar to the M4 model that our reviewer Antonio Di Benedetto had to write “M5” on a sticky note just to be able to tell them apart. That being said, it’s still an amazing laptop, one that’s just now starting to get minor discounts.
The 14.2-inch base model with the M5 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage is down to $1,580 ($120 off) at Amazon, which is $80 shy of its best price to date. It’s worth picking over the M4 MacBook Pro, though, especially since that model is tough to find in stock and, more importantly, currently costs more than the newer, better version.
Apple’s recent announce-a-thon included the debut of M5 Pro and M5 Max versions of its MacBook Pro lineup, giving content creators new machines to lust over. Like the other laptops introduced for 2026 (except the Neo), not much has changed on the outside compared to the last-gen version. However, prices for each configuration have gone up; the M5 Pro model starts $200 higher than the M4 Pro, while the M5 Max is $400 more than the starting M4 Max. Similarly, they’re available in 14- and 16-inch configurations, and each starts with 1TB of storage and 24GB of RAM, with plenty of upgrade paths for those with deep pockets.
Amazon and Best Buy are both offering a $150 discount on most configurations featuring the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, regardless of size. For instance, the base 14.2-inch MacBook Pro with an M5 Pro chip, 24GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD is down to $2,049.99. Meanwhile, the upgraded 2TB version is on sale for around $2,449 ($150 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, while the base M5 Max variant with a 2TB SSD and 36GB RAM is going for $3,449.99 at Amazon, down from $3,599. The 16-inch configurations are $150 off, too, starting with the base M5 Pro model, which is available for $2,549.99 at Amazon.
The 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips launched with a big increase in RAM over the previous generation, bringing them up to 24GB. While the total port selection didn’t change compared to their respective M3 Pro and M3 Max counterparts, these more substantial models brought faster Thunderbolt 5 ports. That’s in addition to the SD slot, a dedicated full-sized HDMI port, and a 3.5mm jack. They also had the upgraded 12-megapixel Center Stage webcam with Desk View, as well as the optional nano-texture display option.
As of right now, the M4 Pro-equipped MacBook Pro is the only model receiving significant discounts. For example, the 14-inch M4 Pro with a 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage is available at Amazon starting at $1,808.99 ($190 off) in space black. It’s a solid discount, especially considering that Apple’s most affordable M5 Pro model currently costs nearly $250 more.
The newest Mac Minis in town are the M4-based models that arrived in 2024. Apple reduced the desktop’s horizontal footprint and paired it with its M4 chipset and 16GB of RAM, which is double that of the previous generation and in line with other base-model Macs from 2024. That makes Apple’s newest desktop computer a tremendous value.
The M4 Mac Mini starts with an M4 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage for $599. That’s an incredible value for a tiny desktop computer that can rival the Mac Studio and Mac Pro when it comes to certain tasks, including light gaming, 4K video editing, and 3D modeling. The M4 Mac Mini is a fair bit thicker than the last-gen M2 model at 2 inches tall, yet it measures a mere 5 inches wide and 5 inches deep.
In addition to the odd decision to place the power button on the underside, Apple moved the 3.5mm headphone jack and two of its five USB-C / Thunderbolt 4 ports to the front. The rear features an additional three Thunderbolt ports, HDMI-out, and a gigabit ethernet port.
In the past, we’ve seen the base Mac Mini drop to as low as $469, but right now, the sales aren’t particularly noteworthy. The base model of Apple’s Mac Mini is available at Amazon and Apple for $599, its regular price. The M4 Pro model that comes with faster Thunderbolt 5 ports, 24GB RAM, and 512GB storage starts at $1,399 at Apple.
Update, April 6th: Updated to reflect current pricing / availability, as well as the last-gen M4 models.
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If you regularly create content for TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube on the go, bad sound quality can easily take away from an otherwise great video. DJI’s Mic Mini helps you record clear, reliable sound for videos without carrying around bulky, expensive gear, and it’s currently down to its all-time low price. You can buy the mic with two transmitters for $59.99 ($20 off) at Amazon.
Built for on-the-go creators, the Mic Mini makes it easy to capture clearer audio than your phone or camera alone. It weighs just 10 grams, so it’s comfortable enough to wear all day, whether you clip it to your clothing or use a magnetic mount or lanyard. DJI also includes two transmitters, allowing you to record from farther away, with a range of up to about 400 meters.
To give you more control over your sound, the receiver offers five adjustable volume levels, along with two noise cancellation modes. A basic setting works well for quieter indoor recordings, while the other is best suited for louder, crowded environments. It can also automatically lower the volume if things get too loud, so your sound stays clean and natural.
It also supports USB-C and Bluetooth, and can work with older Apple devices using a Lightning adapter, though that’s sold separately. The transmitter can last up to 11.5 hours, while the receiver runs for up to 10.5 hours on a single charge, which is more than enough for longer shoots, interviews, or livestreams.
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Autonomous vehicle companies are refusing to disclose key details about their use of remote assistance teams, including how often these workers are forced to intervene to help their self-driving cars.
Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) had asked robotaxi companies to disclose the information as part of an investigation by his office into the use of remote assistance operators (RAO). The senator's office sent letters to seven robotaxi companies - Aurora, May Mobility, Motional, Nuro, Tesla, Waymo, and Amazon's Zoox - seeking information about the use of remote workers to monitor the driverless vehicles and occasionally intervene when the vehicles need h …
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Humans haven’t stepped foot on the Moon since NASA’s Apollo 17 mission in 1972. Now, the space agency is racing to get back to the lunar surface under the umbrella of its Artemis program — a nod to the Greek goddess and twin sister of Apollo, whose name was given to NASA’s first program to send humans to the Moon.
The program has been plagued by years of delays, development mishaps, and billions of dollars in budget overruns, but the mission is unquestionably ambitious. The goal of Artemis is to create a sustainable presence near the Moon, instead of just sending humans to plant flags and make footprints. The agency also aims to send the first woman to the Moon through the Artemis program.
Artemis I successfully completed its uncrewed mission in 2022. On April 2nd, 2026, Artemis II launched from Kennedy Space Center carrying four astronauts in its Orion capsule. The plan is to travel around the Moon before returning to Earth in 10 days’ time. They’ll test out the hardware and systems that could soon see humans standing on the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years in the Artemis IV mission scheduled for 2028.
On Monday, April 6th, NASA’s livestream is broadcasting on YouTube and on Netflix as the Artemis II astronauts break the record for the farthest distance humans have traveled away from Earth, and during a planned drop in communications as Orion passes behind the Moon.
Netflix has made family-friendly titles a key part of its current games strategy, and now it's pushing a little harder with the launch of a new app. Called Netflix Playground, the app is focused on games aimed at kids aged eight and under, and, like the rest of Netflix's gaming lineup, Playground games are included as part of a Netflix subscription, and feature no ads or in-app purchases.
Playground is available now in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, the Philippines, and New Zealand, and will be rolling out to the rest of the world on April 28th. The launch lineup primarily consists of titles based on popular kids shows like Peppa Pig and Se …
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Samsung's S27 lineup, expected next year, might include a new member, the Galaxy S27 Pro, which would be a second premium option between Samsung's Ultra and Plus models, as first reported by ETNews.
The new Pro model reportedly won't support the S Pen but will feature Samsung's Privacy Display, which is currently only available on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. The Privacy Display allows users to limit the viewing angle on their phone so that the content on the screen is only visible when they're looking directly at it. According to ET News' sources, Samsung is aiming to launch two phones with this premium display tech in its next-gen lineup, which …
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Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has published a video threatening OpenAI's planned Abu Dhabi data center if the US follows through on threats to attack the country's power plants, as reported earlier by Tom's Hardware. The video, which was published to an Iranian state-backed news outlet's X account on April 3rd, says the IRGC will carry out the "complete and utter annihilation" of US-linked energy and technology companies in the region, before showing an image of OpenAI's $30 billion in-progress Stargate facility in the United Arab Emirates.
OpenAI's overarching $500 billion Stargate project includes investments from Oracle …
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On April 15th, 1970, Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert set a distance record when Apollo 13 traveled 248,655 miles from Earth. Nearly 56 years later, the crew of Artemis II is expected to break that record by several thousand miles when the Orion spacecraft reaches a maximum distance of 252,757 miles away from Earth later today as it completes its flight around the far side of the Moon.
NASA's coverage of the lunar flyby begins at 1PM ET today if you want to follow along at home, while the astronauts are expected to set the new distance record from Earth at 1:56PM ET. The trip around the far side of the Moon will take about six hours …
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If you’re shopping for a wireless mouse that’ll help you multitask more easily, Logitech’s MX Master 4 is easily one of the best and most comfortable options available. It’s rarely discounted, but the black version is currently down to $99.99 ($20 off) at Newegg with code TRWF233. While it offers similarly quiet clicks and long battery life to the MX Master 3S, its direct predecessor, the newer model touts haptic feedback that offers tiny, satisfying jolts when you press its thumb rest to bring up Logitech’s Action Ring overlay.
The MX Master 4 works just as well on Windows as on macOS, and it includes a USB-C Bolt transmitter (previous models in the lineup included a USB-A version of the Bolt). I think this mouse is worth buying based on the hardware alone, though the additional features bundled with Logi Options, its companion app for desktop, add even more value. Clicking the thumb rest launches Action Rings, some of which are tailor-made for certain apps, such as Photoshop. Alternatively, you can customize your own Action Rings in the software, letting you quickly execute commands without mousing all over your screen(s).
