Today Apple announced its new leasing program, Apple Upgrade which is undergirded by Klarna for iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad.

The program lets customers sign up for a plan, similar to how you would lease a car, for fixed 12-, 24- and 36-month terms depending on the device. There are options to upgrade to a new device early or return it at the end of the lease.

Apple called the new plan a "more flexible way to pay for products."

It's possible this does offer some flexibility from paying an upfront lump sum or tying yourself to an onerous contract via a network carrier like Verizon or T-Mobile.

However, experts I spoke with think the Upgrade plan is meant to cover rising component costs.

"By shifting the focus to lower monthly payments, it helps mask the effect of rising hardware costs and makes premium devices feel more affordable and attainable for a broader range of consumers," Jitesh Ubrani, a director at IDC, said.

They added that it could entice people who don't want to pay the higher upfront costs, as even Apple has hiked prices recently. It also gives Apple a "steady stream of trade-ins" that the company can resell to expand its customer base.

"Many people are effectively leasing their phones already through carrier plans; leasing a watch or a Mac -- when you know that these are also devices that have upgrade cycles -- can make sense," Techsponential's Avi Greengart told Tom's Guide. "it's still a lease, so you won't be able to use it until it dies unless you buy out the lease, and it may not be the absolute most economical approach."

Beyond upfront prices, is Apple Upgrade better for you? Let's take a look at how the program works.

How Apple Upgrade works

Apple Upgrade offers 12- or 24-month lease terms for eligible iPhones and Apple Watches. For those seeking a Mac or iPad, there are 24- or 36-month options.

Prices start as low as $11.99 per month for the Apple Watch and iPad, depending on size and storage capacity. iPhones start at $17.99, while Macs can be leased starting at $24.99 a month.

You can sign up online or at an Apple Store, where you will be approved by Klarna, which does require a soft credit check that should not impact your credit score.

At the end of the lease term, you can return the device or upgrade to a newer generation or purchase it with a one-time payment.

Compared to the outgoing iPhone Upgrade program, the Apple Upgrade Program does not include AppleCare, which is a separate subscription price and varies in price depending on your device.

Per MacRumors, if you miss a payment, it will be rolled into the next month's payment with no late fees. However, if you miss three consecutive payments, the lease will end, and you will have to pay the full outstanding balance, minus the value of the device when returned. If Klarna can't collect, a debt collection agency will be sent your information.

Apple Upgrade prices

Apple is offering the entire iPhone 17 lineup, plus the iPhone Air, both the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 and three iPad options, including the iPad Air, iPad Pro and iPad mini.

For Macs, you can lease the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac Studio.

Apple defaults to the 24-month leasing option, so we'll share that. The other options can lower or raise your price. Additionally, higher storage capacity or chip versions will also increase the monthly price.

Finally, the price does not include taxes and fees.

Here's how much the base model of each device will cost you.

We've separated the iPads and Macs out because these devices can have the longer 36-month term. Again, the prices below are for the base model of each device and the 24-month term.

No leasing entry-level devices

You may have noticed several Apple devices aren't eligible for the upgrade program. It includes the vanilla iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, as well as the entry-level models of almost every device category.

Here's the full list of Apple products you can't lease:

• iPhone 16
• iPhone 16 Plus
• Apple Watch SE
• MacBook Neo
• Mac mini
• iPad (A16)
• Studio Display

Availability

Apple Upgrade is available now for all of the listed devices. Apple says that a security deposit is not required and that a trade-in device could reduce monthly payments.

I will note that if you end a lease early, you could see termination fees. Also, if you don't do anything at the end of the lease, you'll be charged the purchase fee.

Lastly, hidden in the fine print, upgrading a device could increase your monthly payments, which is true for both higher-capacity versions of devices and more expensive models when new generations launch in the coming years.

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Priced at $629, the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft is one of the best e-readers you can buy. We called it the "Cadillac of Kindles" because it has a crisp 11-inch screen that's capable of displaying your books in black and white or color and includes a stylus with a built-in eraser tool.

For a limited time, Best Buy has the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft on sale for $479. It's one of my favorite Best Buy Black Friday in July sales this week and an excellent way to get Amazon's premium Kindle for less.

In our Kindle Scribe Colorsoft review, we said Amazon's premium tablet is well-suited for anyone who expects to read and write a lot and likes to do so in color. We were hesitant about its high price, but now that it's on sale it's a great Kindle we recommend for just about anything.

We love the large e-paper display that makes reading documents and comic books easier than on any other Kindle. It also gives you enough room to work on documents while opening the expandable margin to take notes. There's also an included stylus (Kindle Premium Pen) that comes with the Colorsoft, which magnetically attaches to the side of the device. It has a screen-sensitive rear end you can use to "erase" what you've written, as well as a shortcut button on the side you can customize to your liking.

Even on sale, the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft is still an expensive purchase. However, if you're a Kindle fan who's already used to working within Amazon's ecosystem and want the added option to write, doodle, and read in color — Kindle Scribe Colorsoft is for you.

“It’s been a while since I properly sat down and read a book.” A sentence I said, and probably many of you have uttered in the age of short-form content. With the $419 Boox Go 10.3 Gen II and 25,000 miles worth of flights in two weeks, I’ve got the chance to lose myself in many good reads.

Did this e-reader hold up to the Kindle Scribe? Kind of — it depends on what your priorities are. If it’s a high-quality reading experience, Boox is the way to go.

The screen has fantastic sharpness and contrast that makes the text pop off the screen; the soft, evenly spread backlighting makes it easier on the eyes for late-night reading.

But more than that, this tablet runs Android 15, which, beyond the Play Store’s selection of reading apps, makes it far more open to different eBook file formats. Way more open than you’d find on any Kindle! Throw in stellar battery life, and you’re onto a winner.

However, if you really want to take advantage of all that note-taking capability, that’s where the Kindle wins out. Not to say the Boox doesn’t allow you to doodle — there’s a stylus and a touchscreen, after all. But the supplied pen tip feels a little awkward to drag across the screen, and the slight latency, paired with ghosting when taking notes, can create a disconnect between your hand and the paper that your brain takes a beat to process.

So it very much depends on what your goals are with an e-reader like this. For me, someone who leans more toward reading with a casual side order of jotting things down, the Boox is more than enough and a global daily driver I was happy to have in my daily carry.

Boox Go 10.3 Gen II: Cheat sheet

• What is it? This is an e-reader/notetaking tablet hybrid.
• Who is it for? This one's for the bookworms and daily jotters/doodlers.
• What does it cost? The standard model without a backlight costs $419, and you'll pay an extra $30 for the Lumi model with illuminated screen.
• What do we like? This is a featherweight, premium-feeling ereader in the hand with a great battery life, super sharp display with even backlighting, and Android 15 gives you a far more open experience than you'd find on a Kindle.
• What don't we like? The writing experience isn't quite as good as you'd find on the Scribe, and that internal power can be a little slow to open apps and books.

Boox Go 10.3 Gen II: Specs

Boox Go 10.3 Gen II: The ups

The first leg was a big one — Heathrow to Taipei. Keeping yourself entertained with a short attention span is tricky, but popping open a good book on the Boox seemed to be the key to watching the hours fly by.

A good-looking read

Let’s start with the hardware, which feels great in the hand thanks to its metallic construction and that nicely textured fabric case. At around 360g and 4.6mm thin, it’s a featherweight with evenly distributed weight across its body. And yet, it still feels durable enough to be stashed in an airplane seatback pocket or chucked into your backpack.

Throw in the longevity of that 3,700 mAh cell giving me a full week of use easily, and it’s a worry-free device from most angles.

Display looks like a page of a book

Now for the display. That 10.3-inch monochrome panel sports 300 pixels-per-inch, which really brings out the crispness of text in whatever you’re reading. Throw in a decently deep contrast ratio, too, and that brings real definition to each character on that page or image in a web article.

And when the refresh rate needs to be upped for things like web browsing or drawing, it does so at a respectable rate. It may not be LCD or OLED levels of fluid, but it's fluid enough for the essentials.

Quality-wise, this is up there with what the Kindle Scribe can provide — especially when you loop in that nice even Lumi backlighting. It sucks that you’ve got to pay an additional $50 for this feature, but for those bookworm night owls or those on long-haul flights, that glow is just right.

Android 15 opens the door

Let’s be real — books aren’t the only thing you want to read on an e-reader. There are also textbooks, short stories, PDFs, web articles, and more. On top of that, all of these different types of reading can come in all sorts of file formats.

On a Kindle, you can absolutely find backdoors to force files onto it, but in general, you’re locked down to Kindle books for reading and a few very specific avenues. However, the Boox is running Android 15 in all its glory.

That means the Play Store for different reading/content consumption apps. But most importantly, that means compatibility with pretty much every file format for text and image. The Boox software is a cinch to use, so you can easily upload a file to your reader via a desktop browser.

It was a dream scenario to upload all of my press releases ahead of Computex 2026 and circle the key points with my pencil — all on the same device I could tuck into Lord of the Rings or read the latest longform reporting or biographies too.

Boox Go 10.3 Gen II: The downs

Juicing it back up to full, it was time for my next two big flights — one over the Pacific to LAX, and a final hop back to London. Reflecting on my time doodling notes, reading away and browsing Android on this slate, I did remind myself of a couple of key frustrations.

A bit sluggish

Inside, you’ve got an octa-core CPU running at 2.4GHz with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, which is just enough to avoid too many problems.

However, it can be slow on startup, and if you try to stretch it to app downloads (thanks to Android 15), you may run into some issues and slowdowns. Especially on startup, rendering the book or opening anything takes a short while, and it seems to chug into gear.

Once it's all warmed up, responsiveness does come back, but in the clutch moments where you’re trying to get something up fast, it can get frustrating.

Penmanship is lacking

Then let’s turn our attention to the note-taking experience, which I’d consider just about fine for my uses. If you’re just a casual jotter, what I’m about to talk about won’t be a massive issue. But if you want to use this more than casually, you’ll feel the pain points here.

The surface of the screen causes friction with this wider pen tip that, at best, can feel like you’re dragging the pen more than writing with it, and at worst, the sound is mildly like nails on a chalkboard.

And there’s a small bit of latency. Not game-breaking in and of itself, but paired with some ghosting of the lines you lay down, it can create a disconnect between your brain and the page, making writing things down a start-and-stop experience.

Boox Go 10.3 Gen II: Bottom line

And as I finally touched down at London Heathrow, I felt more enlightened after my time with the Boox Go 10.3 Gen II. I could’ve gone down a content wormhole that would’ve strained my attention span, or I could’ve read a book. Ultimately, I made a good decision for my mind with a damn good device.

Obviously, there are considerations based on how you will use this. If you want a better balance between a reader and a note-taking workhorse, the Kindle Scribe is definitely better on the notation side, with more responsive performance.

However, if you only need to jot things down casually and want a better, more open reading experience for uploading all your content, this is a well-built, long-lasting way to go.

The best Kindles have been my primary way to read books for the better part of a decade. Thanks to Amazon’s e-reader, I’ve read more books in the past seven years than in the nearly four decades prior. Not only is the device easy to hold and read on, but its integration with the Kindle app and store gives me more books than I could read in a single lifetime.

Though I adore my Kindles, I don’t read comic books on them. Even after the introduction of the Kindle Colorsoft, which finally let me read comics in color, I still can’t bring myself to read comics full-time on Amazon's hardware. Why? Because, as a lifelong comic book fan, I get a much better experience on the best iPads. Here’s why.

Display size

Digital comic apps like Marvel Unlimited and DC Universe Infinite offer a guided view mode that zooms in on individual panels and text. This can be immersive, especially for those new to the medium. While guided mode works as advertised, I prefer seeing an entire comic page rather than breaking it up piece by piece.

On the base Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite, you almost have to use guided mode because of their small screens. For comics, I prefer reading on the iPad Pro. The 13-inch model’s screen is slightly larger than a physical comic book page. Not only do single pages look fantastic, but double-page spreads look incredible when you rotate the tablet to landscape orientation.

Another problem with using guided view or pinch-to-zoom on Kindles is the device’s low refresh rate. This causes the e-reader to lag and flash to clear previous image artifacts (ghosting). While this has improved with the latest Kindle models, the refresh rate is still sluggish compared to iPads, which handle panning and zooming instantly and smoothly.

Returning to screen size, the Kindle Scribe features a roomier 10.2-inch display. While that’s still smaller than the 11-inch iPad Pro and iPad Air models, it’s a good size for reading full comic book pages. There’s a specific reason I don’t use the Scribe for traditional color comics (which I’ll cover next), but for black-and-white manga, it’s legitimately great. However, since I don’t read much manga, that point is mostly moot for me.

When it comes to reading single pages and double-page spreads of a traditional American comic book, the iPad is simply the way to go.

Colorsoft is still too muted

The Kindle Colorsoft and Kindle Scribe Colorsoft are arguably the best color e-readers out there right now. If you mainly read traditional novels, having full-color book covers, maps, and other design elements is a nice perk. Naturally, comics are in color on these devices, but there is one major drawback—the hues are decidedly muted.

In fairness, muted colors can sometimes be preferable. For instance, if you’re reading older comics printed before the late ‘90s, the e-reader screen delivers an experience closer to reading them on original newsprint, which is much duller than the glossy paper used today. If you’re a comic purist who doesn’t like how vibrant classic comics look on modern paper or on an iPad, you might actually prefer the Colorsoft's presentation.

With all that said, I want my comics, classic and modern, to look as bright and bold as possible, which is why I prefer the iPad's display. Again, the color Kindles do a decent job, but the presentation is far too washed out for my tastes.

Ecosystems and storage

iPads give you access to excellent dedicated comic reader apps like Panels and Chunky, along with major subscription platforms like Marvel Unlimited, DC Universe Infinite, and Shonen Jump. Conversely, Kindles mostly confine you to Amazon’s storefront, Comixology, and Kindle Unlimited. Sideloading your own files can also be a chore.

On that note, if you have a large library of digital comic files (.CBR, .CBZ, and high-res PDFs), you’re going to hit a storage cap much faster on a Kindle than on an iPad. Apple’s tablets offer storage tiers up to 1TB and can easily connect to cloud storage like Google Drive or iCloud to offload your libraries. Kindles top out at 64GB of storage on the Scribe and don’t natively support common comic book formats without converting the files first.

Bottom line

Don't get me wrong — Kindles still hold the crown for battery life and portability. Throwing a lightweight Paperwhite into a bag for a week-long trip without needing to pack a charger is fantastic, and it remains my go-to choice for novels.

But while Kindles are perfectly serviceable for most everyday reading, I get a much richer experience reading comics on the iPad. With a larger display for viewing full layouts, bolder colors, and seamless performance, I'll choose Apple's tablet for my graphic novels every single time.

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Apple will reportedly launch the first OLED iPad mini. That’s according to Bloomberg reporter and Apple tipster Mark Gurman, whose sources claim this updated iPad mini could arrive as early as this October. If true, this would be the biggest upgrade for the company’s smallest tablet. This has me both excited and worried.

The iPad mini was last updated in October 2024 with the iPad mini 7. Besides the A17 Pro chip, it retained the same design introduced in 2021.

This reported 8th-generation iPad mini model, currently code-named J510, would presumably have a faster chip along with the OLED panel. The report doesn’t specify if the tablet will receive other design upgrades, like thinner bezels.

Gurman’s report also discusses other upcoming iPad models. This includes an updated entry-level iPad, code-named J581, reportedly set for release early next year, according to Gurman’s sources. New iPad Air models, in both 11- and 13-inch variants, code-named J807 and J837, are allegedly dropping in Spring of 2027, along with new iPad Pro models around the same time.

Regarding the other iPads, Gurman doesn’t say whether or not the iPad Air line will get the same OLED upgrade as the iPad mini 8. If the iPad Air keeps the same Liquid Retina display, it would be the only iPad model without an OLED panel.

The iPad mini 7 currently starts at $599, which is $100 more than its original cost, thanks to Apple price hikes. Given the volatility of prices thanks to the ongoing RAM crisis, it’s difficult to say how much the iPad mini 8 could cost. However, the introduction of an OLED panel would naturally make this tablet more expensive.

Outlook

Though Mark Gurman has a stellar track record for Apple scoops, it’s best to take this report with a grain of salt, as Apple has yet to officially announce the new iPad mini or new iPads in general. We’ll keep our ears to the ground on this one, so stay tuned for more as we hear it.

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The Motorola MotoPad (2026) is a light, thin, and affordable tablet with powerful audio, a vibrant display, and all-day battery life. While its MediaTek Dimensity 6300 CPU isn’t winning any benchmarking awards, it is powerful enough to handle light research, web browsing and email management.

Unfortunately, Motorola also positioned the MotoPad as capable of casual gaming. Which only highlights its dismal graphics performance, as the Arm Mali G-57 integrated GPU struggles with any game more demanding than Candy Crush.

Despite the MotoPad’s grim graphics performance, it's a great tablet to use as a work or school sidecar in addition to a traditional laptop, and it’s fantastic as a streaming device for your next movie night. But is that enough to make it onto our best tablets list? Let’s take a closer look.

Motorola MotoPad: Cheat sheet

• What is it?: The Motorola MotoPad is an affordable tablet for every-day use.
• Who is it for?: Students and professionals who need a lightweight, portable tablet for work, class, or relaxation.
• What does it cost?: The Motorola MotoPad (2026) comes in one $249 configuration.
• What do we like?: The MotoPad has a lightweight, easily portable build, and sports a unique bronze green color aluminum chassis. It’s got powerful audio, all-day battery life, and it's affordable.
• What don’t we like?: The MotoPad is advertised as capable of casual gaming, but its graphics are underpowered for anything beyond puzzle games.

Motorola MotoPad: Specs

Motorola MotoPad: The ups

The MotoPad has plenty going for it, from its lightweight, stylish design to its robust audio system and crisp display, to its all-day battery life. Combined with its affordable price, the MotoPad is a fantastic bargain.

Lightweight, stylish design

The Motorola MotoPad (2026) comes in a striking Pantone Bronze Green aluminum chassis with modern detailing and a glass camera hub on the back panel that makes it feel like a more premium tablet.

The MotoPad is also incredibly lightweight at just 1.06 pounds with a thickness of 0.28 inches, making it a lightweight fashion statement that’s easy to slot into a bag or backpack to take to work or school, or even to fit into your carry-on for inflight entertainment on your next vacation.

The only real drawback in the MotoPad’s design is its lack of ports, as it features just one USB-C port and one 3.5mm Audio Jack. So you’ll need to use bluetooth accessories if you plan to charge the MotoPad while also connecting a keyboard or mouse to it. Then again, most people tend to use bluetooth accessories these days, so that’s not as much of a drawback as it would have been a few years ago.

The MotoPad also comes with a MicroSD card reader, so you can expand your device storage up to 2TB from the 128GB base storage option. Which is a nice addition for a budget tablet. But the real star of the MotoPad’s design is that unique Pantone Bronze Green colorway, which gives the MotoPad a sense of identity that most budget tablets lack.

Affordable pricing

The MotoPad has only one configuration, boasting a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 CPU with integrated Arm Mali G-57 graphics card, 8GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD, and an 11-inch, 90Hz, 2,560 x 1,600, LCD display. That configuration costs just $249, making it one of the more affordable Android tablets on the market.

It’s a whole $100 cheaper than our best budget tablet pick, the Apple iPad 11, and it's less than half the price of our favorite Android tablet, the OnePlus Pad 3. Of course, the MotoPad takes a significant performance hit over the OnePlus Pad, but the price differential is nothing to scoff at. In fact, only our favorite budget Android tablet, the Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) is cheaper at $139. And the Fire HD 10 has some serious drawbacks like middling performance and Amazon’s poor app selection holding it back.

Like most tablets, the MotoPad’s $249 price tag doesn’t include a case or the Moto Pen Ultra ($99). So if you want to protect your tablet and get the most use out of its touchscreen display, you’ll need to invest at least another $100. But even then, you’re still saving compared to the iPad 11 and OnePlus Pad 3.

Ideal audio and display for a video binge

While the MotoPad does have a 3.5mm audio jack, if you’re just relaxing at home you likely don’t want to use headphones or earbuds. And that’s where the robust quad-speaker system comes in.

The MotoPad has speakers on both the top and bottom sides of the tablet which gives you great sound balance when held in landscape mode, however the speakers are powerful enough you can use the tablet as a set of portable speakers in either orientation. In fact, I found the most comfortable listening range was at about 20-30 percent rather than the tablet’s full volume.

That powerful audio combined with the MotoPad’s crisp LCD display, make it an ideal streaming companion for a movie night or Netflix binge session.

While not the most impressive display we’ve ever tested, the MotoPad’s LCD display does cover 112% of the sRGB color space, which is more than enough vibrancy for most content. And at 430-nits of average brightness, the MotoPad can cut through most indoor glare. Unfortunately, the MotoPad isn’t equipped with HDR, so it’s not the best option to binge the Battle of Winterfell during the final season of Game of Thrones, but most other shows and movies will play just fine on the MotoPad.

All-day battery life

Battery life is as key for a tablet as it is for a laptop, though most tablets haven’t come close to the 24-hour battery life mark the way some recent laptops have. However, you still want at least 8 hours of web surfing battery life on a tablet if you plan to use it for school or for work. And the MotoPad exceeds that threshold handily.

On our web surfing battery test, the MotoPad (2026) lasted a solid 10 hours and 31 minutes on Wi-Fi, while its battery life dropped down to 10 hours and 1 minute while using LTE data. The Apple iPad 11 lasted 11 hours and 25 minutes on WiFi, and the OnePlus Pad 3 lasted 16 hours and 21 minutes using its adaptive refresh rate setting. The Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) lasted 12 hours and 39 minutes. While this does put the MotoPad at the bottom of the pack, it's still more than enough battery to last for an 8-hour work day or a full day of classes.

Motorola MotoPad: The downs

While the MotoPad’s general performance is nothing to write home about, the tablet’s graphics performance is the real let-down.

Middling performance

The MotoPad is on the below-average side of things in terms of performance. The MediaTek Dimensity 6300 is an 8-core, 6nm CPU so it’s not going to be as powerful as the iPad 11’s A16 processor or the OnePlus Pad 3’s Snapdragon 8 Elite. The iPad 11 gets nearly 3x the multicore performance of the MotoPad, while the OnePlus Pad 3 hits nearly 4x the performance on benchmarks like Geekbench 6 or Adobe Premiere Rush.

But the MotoPad does have enough computing power to handle web browsing, light research tasks, email management, and casual puzzle games. Which does make it a bit more powerful than the Amazon Fire HD 10, which can slow down when running more intensive tasks.

The MotoPad is just fine for your average day-to-day computing tasks, but it’s nothing special. And it’s not going to drastically speed up your work or school life.

Dismal graphics performance

Unfortunately for Motorola, gaming was part of the MotoPad’s marketing. The MotoPad’s integrated Arm Mali G-57 MC2 graphics card is great for puzzle games like Candy Crush or Block Blast which come pre-installed.Unfortunately, running any game more graphically intense than a puzzle game results in slowdowns, graphics stuttering, and unplayable frame-rates. This is particularly true with action titles like Genshin Impact or Fortnite. If I wasn’t intimately familiar with the controls of both games, I wouldn’t even be able to navigate the menus well enough to do any kind of combat, and even that was a struggle at under 30fps on the lowest possible graphics and resolution presets.

Granted, I wasn’t expecting much considering the MotoPad barely scraped past 7fps on the 3DMark Wild Life benchmark and was a 2fps slideshow on Wild Life Extreme. So if you want to do any kind of real gaming on the MotoPad, I would highly recommend downloading a game streaming app like Nvidia GeForce Now, because it’s the only way you’ll get decent performance.

Considering Motorola advertised the MotoPad for “casual gaming,” the grim graphics performance is more of a detriment than if gaming never even made it into the MotoPad’s marketing. While you could argue that Genshin and Fortnite are too intensive on mobile to be considered casual games, they are two of the most popular mobile titles on the market and are considered casual games by the gaming industry. Thus, calling the MotoPad’s casual performance abysmal feels earned.

Motorola MotoPad review: Verdict

The Motorola MotoPad (2026) is an ideal work or school companion, and it makes for a fantastic streaming experience thanks to its colorful display and powerful audio system. Its lightweight, bronze green chassis makes it easy to fit into a backpack or bag alongside your work or school laptop, but it also works as a standalone Android device if you just want to watch a few movies and maybe read a book while on vacation. That experience alone is worth praise, but at just $249, it’s an incredible bargain.

The only pitfall with the MotoPad is its underpowered GPU, but there are ways around that. Game streaming services like Nvidia GeForce Now are available on the Play Store, which will get you a much smoother gaming experience than the native GPU performance. Plus, tablets aren’t exactly a high-performance gaming device anyway.

If you thought Apple raising prices on Macs and iPads would be the end of it, you were sorely mistaken. The company has now raised AppleCare+ prices for various Macs and iPads, with prices rising by $0.50 cents a month, or $5 for those people on annual plans.

However, there is a caveat to this change. For starters, this will only affect new purchases, so those of you who are already paying for AppleCare+ won't suddenly be asked to pay more money. AppleCare One, which offers care for up to three devices, is similarly unaffected.

Bloomberg notes that the cost of covering a 13-inch MacBook Air has risen from $7.49 a month to $7.99 a month, while an annual plan is now $80 a year instead of the $75 you'd have paid last week. The price hikes are affecting all Mac, MacBook and iPad devices the same, but so far, all other Apple products seem to have escaped this particular form of inflation.

I wouldn't expect that to last long, though. As the cost of components goes up, so too will the cost of repairs. While there is no confirmation that AppleCare+ prices will go up for the likes of the iPhone or Apple Watch, odds are that it will happen in the near future. Especially if the iPhone 18 Pro prices increase this year, as they are widely expected to do.

In other words, if you have been putting off signing up for AppleCare+ and want to make sure your Apple devices are protected against damage, you might want to sign up as soon as possible. Although the damage is already done for Macs and iPads, so you folks have all the time in the world to mull over that decision.

Spreading out your iPad payments

AppleCare+ price hikes aren't the only financial changes happening at the App Store, either. Apple has just launched new 36-month carrier financing for cellular-capable iPads, which joins the existing 12-month interest-free financing option.

Like the 12-month finance option, this new 3-year payment plan is interest-free. However, it's provided by the carrier rather than Apple itself. However, you will need to sign up for a data plan, and so far, Apple is only offering this particular payment plan if you're connecting to AT&T or Verizon.

The carrier financing option is also available to existing customers "when connecting to a new line of service." You'll be taken through that process of setting up a new line before you check out, and obviously, this means you will be on the hook for monthly data payments. Though it doesn't make sense to buy a cellular iPad if you're not planning on getting a data plan too.

Considering how much the cost of some iPads has risen due to recent Apple price hikes, it makes sense for a longer interest-free payment plan to be available. For example, an 11-inch iPad Pro with cellular is now $1,399, which is $289 more than the original $1,110 price tag. It's a lot of money to spend on a tablet, but if you split the cost over three years, you end up paying just shy of $39 a month.

Of course, this means you are on the hook for paying that every single month for three years — regardless of how your life and circumstances might change. So there's a trade-off to those low monthly payments. But if you want an iPad Pro and plan on keeping it for the long term, it is a good way to avoid dropping several hundred dollars in one go.

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Apple is expected to launch iPadOS 27 this Fall, but you can try the upcoming operating system right now via the public beta. While the OS is still a work in progress, it has most of the essential new features coming to the best iPads.

Like iOS 27 and macOS 27, iPadOS 27 is focused on overall system refinements and deeper AI integration. That last bit is especially noteworthy, as there is now a dedicated Siri AI app that functions like a standard chatbot. Beyond answering questions, Siri AI can also take actions on your behalf since it’s integrated into the operating system and works with Apple’s applications.

Though iPadOS 27 isn’t a monumental update, features like the overhauled Siri AI, the Liquid Glass slider, and other quality-of-life improvements make it worthwhile. Here are my impressions of the upcoming iPad operating system and its new features.

iPadOS 27 hands-on preview: Compatible iPads

Here are all the iPads that support iPadOS 27.

• iPad Pro (M4 and later)
• iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (4th generation and later)
• iPad Pro 11‑inch (2nd generation and later)
• iPad Air 13-inch (M2 and later)
• iPad Air 11-inch (M2, M3, and M4)
• iPad Air 11-inch (4th generation and later)
• iPad (A16)
• iPad (9th generation and later)
• iPad mini (A17 Pro)
• iPad mini (6th generation)

iPadOS 27 hands-on preview: New features

Siri AI

Apple Intelligence is finally ready for prime time on the company’s devices. Thanks to the new Siri AI app, you can now interact with Apple’s virtual assistant the same way you would with a chatbot like ChatGPT or Google Gemini. Apple Intelligence runs on both servers and your device to offer better image understanding and more.

There is now a dedicated Siri AI app, which looks and functions like a regular chatbot app. In this window, you can ask Siri questions or have it perform tasks for you. For example, I used Siri to send a message to one of my iMessage group chats, and it did so after my approval. Sure, I could have just done this directly in the group chat, but it’s a good demonstration of what the new Siri can do.

Siri AI also understands what it sees on your screen. When I had the Tom’s Guide homepage open on Google Chrome, it correctly detailed what was on the screen, including all the articles. It couldn’t open the articles or read them out loud (despite saying it could), but given that I’m testing a beta version, I’ll give it an A for effort, even if it failed to complete the task.

Siri is most useful when you’re using Apple’s own apps and programs. It can create events on your calendar, set reminders, play music, and more. For example, when you’re looking at a schedule, you’ll see an “add to calendar” button pop up. When you right-click certain folders, files, or apps, you’ll see an “Ask Siri” option at the bottom. Selecting this will open a window where you can start texting or talking with Siri.

Though Siri can’t yet interact with most third-party applications (such as those from Google), it’s a huge improvement over the old Siri.

Liquid Glass improvements

Liquid Glass hasn’t gone anywhere, as Apple is leaning more into the UI with its latest operating system updates. However, Apple is now giving you greater control over how it looks thanks to a new slider that adjusts the opacity. You can’t eliminate the Liquid Glass look, but you can severely minimize it.

There are other improvements, such as how complex background visuals now appear more diffuse so that text stands out more. You’ll also notice that the edges of icons are more pronounced to help further separate them from the background. The uniform corner radius of all app windows also helps them stand out more.

Even if Liquid Glass hasn’t gone anywhere, even detractors should find the updates tolerable since they do greatly improve overall readability and visibility. The Liquid Glass slider is a nice touch.

I've never had a problem with Liquid Glass because I think it’s an interesting visual effect. That said, I’m glad that folks can now fine-tune it to their liking. The slider is especially neat because it’s easy to use and makes it clear how much of a difference there is when you go from one extreme to the other.

Child safety features

If you’re a parent, you’ll be happy to know that Apple is expanding its parental control features with iPadOS 27. This way, you can let the kiddo use Apple’s tablet without worrying too much about the kind of content they’re watching and for how long they’re using the slate.

Some of these updates include a redesigned and more intuitive Screen Time Dashboard that offers one-tap controls and expanded safeguards. There is also Time Allowances for app categories, Ask to Browsw website approval, Communication Safety that blurs gore or violence, and one-tap access management. You can tailor these features to suit your child.

I don’t have kids but I did find the child safety features simple enough to use and customize. Given how much kids love iPads, it’s smart for Apple to continue making adjustments to these safety features.

iPadOS 27 hands-on preview: Other features

Spatial Reframing: As the name suggests, you can now reframe a photo after it’s been taken thanks to this feature. You can also expand your shots with the Extend Tool and remove objects with the Clean Up tool.

Upgraded Image Playground: Image Playground can now generate higher quality images than before. You can also modify and transform existing images by describing what you want.

Siri in Notes: Siri AI can assist with your handwritten or typed notes in the Notes app by (for example) organizing bullet points into a formatted agenda or turning handwritten lectures into a detailed study guide.

Safari updates: In Safari, tabs can now be automatically grouped by topic to make related pages easier to find. With Safari Notify Me, you can receive an alert if there’s a price change or a restock for an item you’ve been eyeing.

Describe Shortcuts: Instead of manually building complex workflows, you can now describe what you need, and Shortcuts connects actions across multiple apps to make it happen. This is useful if you want to set specific routines, such as launching a specific app when you connect a peripheral.

iPadOS 27 hands-on preview: Outlook

iPadOS 27 won’t set the world on fire with revolutionary new features, but the upgraded Siri AI and deeper Apple Intelligence integrations help make iPads that support the update more useful. This is especially true if you frequently use Apple’s own apps.

Keeping in mind that iPadOS 27 is still a work in progress, I think it’s a smart update that finally sees Apple’s AI ambitions bear fruit. Things could change between now and when the expected Fall launch, but right now, Apple has delivered on its promises for a more helpful and intuitive iPad experience.

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You don’t have to wait to try iPadOS 27, as you can try it out now via the public beta. Even if this version of the operating system isn’t groundbreaking, its emphasis on AI should make for a more personal and customized experience.

As with iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate, the main attraction is the reinvented Siri, which finally lives up to its potential. Siri AI, as it’s now called, is context-aware and understands what’s on your screen. Because it’s built into the OS, it can directly control and manage apps. There are also new child safety features, improved readability for Liquid Glass, new photo-editing tools, and more.

While public betas are generally safer than developer betas, it’s best to proceed with caution, as there may be bugs that could harm your iPad. If you’re not bothered by that (I’ve never had issues in all my years of running these Apple betas), then here’s how to download the iPadOS 27 public beta.

How to download the iPadOS 27 public beta

Before you install the beta, make sure to back up your iPad, just in case anything goes wrong and you need to return to iPadOS 26.

You’ll then need to enroll in the Apple Beta Software Program. You may already be enrolled from prior years, but if not, visit the sign-up page to get the ball rolling. You’ll need to log in with your name and address, then set your entity type as an individual. When the payment screen appears, back out, and you’ll be on the free developer tier.

Here is the full list of iPads that are compatible with iPadOS 27:

• iPad Pro (M4 and later)
• iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (4th generation and later)
• iPad Pro 11‑inch (2nd generation and later)
• iPad Air 13-inch (M2 and later)
• iPad Air 11-inch (M2, M3, and M4)
• iPad Air 11-inch (4th generation and later)
• iPad (A16)
• iPad (9th generation and later)
• iPad mini (A17 Pro)
• iPad mini (6th generation)

And that's how you download the iPadOS 27 public beta! You should be safe using the beta, but if you don’t want to risk it, you can always wait for the full release this Fall.

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Amazon released its most recent update to the Fire HD 10 tablet in 2023, and it was starting to feel pretty dated with only 3GB of RAM under the hood. Amazon, deciding to forgo the fanfare, has quietly released a new version of the tablet with an extra 1GB of RAM, bringing it more in line with modern budget-friendly tablets.

Of course, with a new model and more memory comes a slightly higher price tag. Instead of $139.99, Amazon has pushed the price to $154.99. While $15 isn't necessarily enough to break the bank, for an affordable tablet like this, it could be the difference between being within someone's budget and not.

There's a bit of confusion on Amazon's website. You can see the new Fire HD 10 on the company's website, and everything looks normal there. But if you go to the older model, it says, "You’re viewing the newest model of this product — see what's new" right on the front page.

Lots of potential buyers aren't looking at the latest tech news to see when Amazon quietly launches upgraded tablets, so they might just search for Fire HD 10 (or even a cheap tablet) on Amazon and stumble on the three-year-old version and think it's the newest one. That extra 1GB of RAM could significantly improve overall performance.

It's possible Amazon still considers the 2023 version to be the newest model, since it's the only one that offers 3GB of RAM, and it's showing the 4GB version as a separate model, not a replacement, but that would be an odd distinction to have between models, and I have to assume the 3GB version will be phased out.

Both tablets have 32GB of storage, and the 64GB upgrade is only available on the older model. Perhaps Amazon has decided that the extra space isn't needed in a tablet at this low price point.

If you're in the market for an affordable Amazon device, and you think you'll benefit from the extra memory (and I'm pretty sure you will), be sure to get the actual latest version. Hopefully, Amazon removes the "newest model" tag from the 2023 Fire HD 10 to avoid confusion, as I'm sure this was just an error and not an attempt to trick shoppers. But even if it's a mistake, it could still lead to confusion and wasted money.

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I don’t think anyone is purposely trying to spend more time on their smartphone these days. Instead, we’re all trying to use them less, even as social media algorithms, vertical videos, and online shopping conspire to draw us back in. I’m just as guilty as anyone — but I may have finally found a way to keep my doomscrolling at bay. All it took was a teensy, tiny e-reader.

Now I’ll admit, I was caught up in an endless scroll through YouTube Shorts when I first discovered Xteink’s X4. This small, surprisingly simple, single-use device immediately captured my attention. A few days later, Amazon Prime Day was in full swing. While looking for deals to cover, it popped up right in my feed, on sale no less.

I’m no stranger to trying out new devices. Just like with the Playdate handheld, I decided to buy an Xteink X4 ($70, Amazon) just to experience this now-viral gadget for myself. I’m glad I did. It wasn’t just a fun piece of tech to play around with; it actually got me reading again, albeit in small spurts when I normally would have been scrolling.

Here’s what it’s been like using a tiny, open-source, barebones e-reader for a week — and why it just might be the missing puzzle piece to break your endless scroll.

Trading smarts for buttons

Unlike one of the best Kindles or even TCL’s NXTPAPER tablets, Xteink designed the X4 to be as simple as possible. It doesn’t have a touchscreen, and you can’t even read in the dark since there’s no backlight. Instead, you’re getting an incredibly simple e-reader that’s for reading and nothing else. Heck, you can’t even make annotations or look up unfamiliar words using a built-in dictionary.

At 4.49 x 2.72 x 0.23 inches, the X4 is an incredibly small device. Sure, it’s slightly bigger than its predecessor, the X3, but compared to a modern day smartphone, it’s light as a feather at just 74 grams. Unlike many of the best smartphones, you actually get a few accessories in the box, including a microSD card reader for your computer, a screen protector, and a few magnetic rings in case, like me, you’re not using an iPhone. Surprisingly, it also comes with a microSD card pre-installed. Even at 16GB or 32GB, this is still more than enough space for thousands of ebooks.

Given the lack of a touchscreen, the X4 relies on a series of physical buttons on the front and sides to navigate. Underneath the screen, you'll find navigation buttons used to scroll through the menus on the home screen or flip pages while reading. Then on the right side, in addition to another dedicated set of page-turn buttons, there’s a sleep button and a recessed reset button sitting right above the device’s microSD card slot.

The left side of the X4 is button-free. Instead, it houses a USB-C charging port, a tiny LED charging indicator light, and a lanyard loop cutout. Meanwhile, the top and bottom edges of the device are completely bare.

That initial YouTube video I saw was impressive enough to convince me to pick up my own X4, but after holding it in my hands, I’m even more impressed with its simple, understated design. With my unboxing out of the way, it was time to power the X4 on, load up some ebooks and start reading.

A page at a time

Now with the X4, you won’t be heading to Amazon's Kindle Store or another ebook shop on the device itself to load up some books. Instead, this is a BYOB — bring your own books — situation. You can certainly buy your own ebooks and put them on the X4 if they’re in the EPUB format. However, you can also download free ones and load them onto the device.

I read through all of the classics available from Project Gutenberg back when I first started e-reading on my old iPod touch. However, one of my favorite modern sci-fi authors, Cory Doctorow, also offers several of his novels for free under Creative Commons licenses. So I downloaded the novel Eastern Standard Tribe to try re-reading it on the X4 along with one of his books I hadn’t read yet, Makers.

From there, I just copied the EPUB files onto the X4’s included microSD card, powered the device on, and I was good to go. Since I had a medical appointment downtown, I decided to bring the X4 with me to do a bit of reading in the waiting room. Once that was done, I took it outside to see how well its 4.3-inch screen handled direct sunlight. It did so surprisingly well, remaining perfectly legible even in direct glare.

Since my wife and I were already downtown and planned on cooking Korean BBQ at home this weekend, we swung by H Mart to pick up all the ingredients we needed. Just for fun, I pulled the X4 out while we grocery shopped to see if I could squeeze in a few paragraphs here and there. On the compact screen, those paragraphs turned into pages incredibly fast, and before I knew it, I was a full chapter in.

A trip to H Mart is always a good excuse to pick up your favorite ramen alongside a bowl or two of flavors you haven’t tried before. While my wife browsed through some of the more outrageous options, I woke up the X4 and got back to reading. While you can’t read at night unless you get one of those old-school, clip-on reading lights, this little e-reader was incredibly clear under the harsh, overhead lights of a supermarket.

Before I knew it, we were at the register checking out and I had made serious progress in my book. That’s really the beauty of the X4. Since it isn’t bogged down with loads of extras, it wakes up from sleep instantly. There is nothing to distract you; one second it's in sleep mode, and the next, you’re right back into the paragraph where you left off.

Magnetic to a point

Now, before you rush out and pick up an Xteink X4 after watching a vertical video like I did, there are some limitations you need to be aware of. Yes, the device itself is magnetic and you can attach it to the back of your smartphone to bring this tiny e-reader everywhere you go. However, your mileage can — and likely will — vary.

For instance, in the video I watched, the person filming had the X4 attached perfectly to their phone. Since I’m still daily driving a Nothing Phone 2, I borrowed my wife’s iPhone 14 Pro Max to test this out. As you can see, the X4 does magnetically attach to her phone, but not in the way you’d think.

On that older Pro Max model, it only attaches sideways, which is less than ideal for slipping both devices into your pocket. I tried this with a standard iPhone 15 later on, and it aligned perfectly. Surprisingly, just like with the Google Pixel Tablet, I was also able to stick my X4 directly onto the front of my fridge without any modifications. Then again, you do get a two-pack of adhesive magnetic rings in the box, so regardless of what phone you use, you should be able to make things work.

Besides the lack of a backlight, the other big limitation is the X4’s stock software. Fortunately, there’s a very easy fix for that. The community that’s sprung up around this tiny e-reader has created its own custom firmware called CrossPoint, which drastically improves the reading experience. Flashing it onto my device took less than five minutes. Afterward, I even went back onto my computer and loaded some custom wallpapers onto the SD card. Let me know in the comments below if you’d like a step-by-step walkthrough on how to install CrossPoint and customize the X4.

There is an X4 Pro on the horizon that adds a touchscreen, but for me, that defeats the purpose of this tiny e-reader’s charm. I like not accidentally turning pages. The tactile, analog feeling of pressing a physical button to flip to the next page is something I’m sure users of older Kindles still miss to this day.

At its $70 full price — or the $55 discounted price I paid — the Xteink X4 is an absolute steal that could very well reignite your love for reading just like it did for me. Just don’t go into it expecting a tiny Kindle Scribe, and I bet you’ll be incredibly pleased with this little, single-purpose device too.

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As smartphones have gotten bigger and bigger, you might find yourself wondering if you even need a tablet anymore. With a standard 10-inch tablet, you’re not really getting that much more screen real estate, but that couldn’t be further from the truth with the TCL NXTPAPER 14.

It sports a massive 14.3-inch display, and when turned sideways to watch a movie or a TV show, the device feels more like a portable monitor than a tablet. Then in portrait mode, I really felt like I was holding a clipboard in my hand in the best kind of way.

What really sets the TCL NXTPAPER 14 apart from the best iPads and other tablets though is its display. With the push of a button on the side, you can switch between three viewing modes: Regular Mode, Color Paper Mode and Ink Paper Mode.

With Ink Paper Mode enabled, the NXTPAPER 14 transforms from a standard Android tablet into a black and white slate that offers a reading experience on par with one of the best Kindles but supersized. Doing so also helps save battery life, but with a 10,000 mAh battery under the hood, finding a charger isn’t something you’re going to have to worry about all that often.

Having tried both the NXTPAPER 14 and the smaller yet more powerful NXTPAPER 11 Plus, one thing I really like about TCL’s unique tablets is that they come with a case and a stylus right in the box. You don’t get a screen protector, but I wouldn’t use one with a NXTPAPER device anyways since their matte displays feel great under your fingertips. The stylus recharges via USB-C and attaches to the included case magnetically so you don’t have to worry about misplacing it.

Not the only NXTPAPER

If you haven’t figured it out by now, this super-sized tablet is part of TCL’s wider NXTPAPER ecosystem. Sure, there are other NXTPAPER tablets, but there are also smartphones that come equipped with this same display tech to make reading a lot easier on your eyes. At the same time, you also won’t have to worry about glare when you’re outside since their matte screens aren’t reflective at all.

If the NXTPAPER 14 is a bit too big for your hands — or your use case — don’t worry, as you can still find plenty of great deals on the rest of TCL’s NXTPAPER devices right now.

Quick Links

• TCL NXTPAPER 11 Gen 2: was $249 now $179 @ Amazon
• TCL NXTPAPER 60 XE: was $284 now $229 @ Amazon
• TCL NXTPAPER 11 Plus: was $369 now $259 @ Amazon
• TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro: was $329 now $299 @ Amazon
• TCL NXTPAPER 14: was $469 now $369 @ Amazon
• TCL Note A1: was $599 now $549 @ Amazon

NXTPAPER tablet and phone deals

The next iteration of the iPad Pro is likely to be focused on refining and improving performance rather than any radical design changes. But alongside faster chips and battery efficiency, it could also pack a somewhat overdue feature to keep it among the best tablets you can buy.

According to Bloomberg, Apple may introduce vapor cooling to the iPad Pro "to improve sustained performance and reduce overheating." The site is also claiming we could see four new iPad Pro models arrive with the generational refresh in spring 2027. This would likely be the variants we're familiar with: 11 and 13-inch options, with each one coming in either a Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi+Cellular configuration.

If you're not familiar with vapor cooling, it involves a sealed cavity within the device filled with a network of metal strands and a small amount of fluid. In the case of the iPhone 17 Pro Max (which arrived with the upgrade back in September), the fluid is deionized water that evaporates and moves to the cooler side of the chamber when the phone heats up. As it does this, it takes some of the heat energy with it and, once it condenses, it flows back to the warmer part of the chamber to start the cycle again.

Adding proper thermal management to the iPad Pro (more on that down below) is one thing, but I wouldn't be surprised to see an M7 processor on the next iPad Pro as a one-two punch performance upgrade.

There's some strong suggestion Apple will skipping the M6 Pro and M6 Max and go straight to an M7 MacBook Pro next year. Considering the base M5 processor debuted simultaneously on the 14-inch MacBook Pro and the iPad Pro in 2025, it's seriously likely we could see the same thing occur next spring.

The trade-off Apple needs to make

When Apple launched the iPad Pro last fall, it went all-in on making it the thinnest device it had ever made. And it did so without an advert that created enough backlash it had to be pulled off the air. But while getting the iPad Pro down to a razor-thin 5.1mm is a remarkable achievement, it came at the cost of thermal throttling.

Consider the fact you have a desktop-grade processor inside a wafer-thin aluminum slab, and it's not surprising you start running into some heat during pro workloads.

I'm no industrial designer, but if a thicker iPad Pro chassis was needed to accommodate a vapor cooling system, I'd approve of the change. Anyone prepared to pay for the iPad Pro wants top-level performance, peak graphics and AI processing without worrying about overheating.

Those Apple customers who prioritize a thin and light device will still have the iPad Air ready and waiting for them. Which, incidentally, is still the best tablet we recommend for most people.

Would you be happy to sacrifice a bit of portability for performance in the next iPad Pro? Let me know your thoughts below.

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A few days ago, Apple finally confirmed that the "unprecedented challenge" of the RAM crisis had forced it to hike the prices of some of its hardware, with some devices now costing as much as $1,300 more than they did this time last week.

Question is, are these latest price hikes a fair trade-off for quality devices being manufactured at a time when the AI boom is eating up mountains of RAM, and the Strait of Hormuz shipping disruption has put further commercial pressures on manufacturers, or is Apple being greedy?

Tom's Guide member relh didn't hold back, commenting, "I can understand why Apple had to make an increase but I am not planning to help them maintain their huge profit margin (which I understand is north of 30%). For the first time since 1984 when I bought my first Mac (yes, the very expensive 128K model) I am thinking about bailing on Apple."

This comment made me feel both nostalgic for the first Apple product I used, and sympathetic to the user's point.

In response to our recent poll asking "At what point do you usually give up and buy a new Mac?", relh continued, "My answer to the survey used to be 'when hardware can’t run latest system software'. This would have applied this year when my Intel iMac could not run new macOS BUT this year the ridiculous increase of more than 30% for a Mac Studio put a stop to that. I had planned to upgrade on Friday but the price increase I saw on Thursday was more than I could tolerate."

What do you think? Let us know in the below poll, and in the comments section.

Apple Increases

Apple has raised the cost of MacBooks, desktop Macs, iPads, Vision Pro and even the less-memory-hungry devices like Apple TV 4K and Homepod... and has hinted that this is just the beginning. Among the full list of Apple price hikes are these notable ones:

• Apple TV 4K: $199 (up from $129, $70 increase)
• HomePod: $349 (up from $299, $50 increase)
• iPad: $449 (up from $349, $100 increase)
• MacBook Neo: $699 (up from $599, $100 increase)
• iMac: $1,499 (up from $1,299, $200 increase)
• M5 Pro MacBook Pro: $2,499 (up from $2,199, $300 increase)
• Vision Pro: $3,699 (up from $3,499, $200 increase)
• M5 Max MacBook Pro: $4,099 (up from $3,599, $500 increase)
• M3 Ultra Mac Studio: $5,299 (up from $3,999, $1,300 increase)

The UK prices mirror the above US prices.

Apple users reactions

Our members weren't the only ones expressing their opinions on Apple's price hikes, with Redditors also feeling hot under the collar. On a thread in r/macbook, a user named Up_Beat_Argument wrote, "I feel like I watched the entire ripple effect work its way through the market, and it was surreal. Like being in a nightmare you can’t wake up from... And I guess the worst part is that it’s going to get worse before it gets better."

Among the 140 comments in that thread, users echoed sentiments about the new prices being too steep, mused that they may need to downgrade their tech in order to afford a new device, and echoed concerns about Apple's profit margins being an unspoken driver behind the costs.

Watching the Apple price hike unfold was surreal from r/macbook

Are these Redditors being too cynical, or do you think there's more than a grain of truth there?

On another thread, SwampYankee said, "I’d be surprised if they didn’t raise iPhone prices soon." This matches up with what analysts told my colleague Tom Pritchard about iPhone 18 price hikes likely being worse than we thought.

Comment from r/apple

To which perthguppy added, "Also, announce unpopular stuff from the outgoing CEO now, and give the new CEO a better honeymoon period."

They may have a point.

Comment from r/apple

Users on a thread titled 'Wall Street isn't buying Apple's unprecedented price hikes on products', though still generally disgruntled at the soaring RRPs, speculated that perhaps the increase was so steep because Apple had held off increasing prices for a couple of years, to avoid bad publicity.

Whatever the future holds for Apple prices (and let's face it, it's super unlikely to be any permanent reductions), perhaps it's time to consider shopping second-hand and refurbished Apple products for the time being.

How do you feel about the price hikes? Let us know in the comments below.

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The best tablets let you watch videos, take photos, sketch, or surf the web wherever you go. While these devices can be great right out of the box, you can get more use out of them with the right accessories.

For instance, a sturdy case can protect your tablet from accidental drops, while a screen protector defends against scratches. Other accessories, like tablet stands or car holders, make it easier to use, while a stylus lets you draw or write as with a regular pencil.

Here are 9 tablet accessories to make your tablet experience even better.(For more last-minute recommendations, check out our Prime Day deals live blog).

Amazon Prime Day is the absolute best time to buy one of the company’s popular Kindle devices, and that remains true for the latest sales event. You can’t go wrong with any Kindle, but one particular model is especially enticing.

Right now, the Kindle Colorsoft is just $159 on Amazon. That’s the standard price of the Kindle Paperwhite, or $35 more than that e-reader’s current discounted price. While the latter delivers a clearer image overall, it’s purely a black-and-white e-reader, whereas the Colorsoft’s name tells you what it’s all about.

The Kindle Colorsoft is the best color e-reader, and my preferred device for reading digital books. If you’re a bookworm, you don’t want to miss out on this deal. Here’s why.

In my Kindle Colorsoft review, I called the company’s first color Kindle a winner and the Kindle I’ve always wanted. One of the best parts is that you don’t just have to read color text, like comic books, to take full advantage of Colorsoft’s display. While the Paperwhite does a better job of displaying black-and-white text thanks to its stronger contrast, the Colorsoft’s monochrome performance remains strong.

Other features include an 8-week battery life, IPX8 water resistance, 16GB of storage, and the aforementioned paper-like display, which delivers a more book-like experience than the glossy, smooth touchscreen displays on tablets and smartphones.

Naturally, since this is an Amazon device, you instantly get full access to the Kindle library. This includes any digital book you’ve bought from the Kindle Store or through the $12 a month Kindle Unlimited subscription. If you devour a lot of books a month, Kindle Unlimited can start paying for itself fast.

I love the various Kindles I use, but the Kindle Colorsoft is the most comfortable to use for everyday reading. If you’re looking to upgrade from a non-color Kindle, this is your chance!

We all knew this day was coming. Apple has officially confirmed in statements to publications like CNBC that the RAM crisis has come for its devices and that MacBook and iPad devices are going up in price by as much as $500. Some high-end devices are going up by more than $1,000.

That's a significant bump for anyone looking to get their hands on Apple's latest hardware.

Apple's online store went down for a few minutes and came back with higher prices on many of its devices.

Of course, it wasn't done silently, as Apple offered a statement explaining the difficult decision to increase prices: "The consumer electronics industry is facing an unprecedented challenge. The rapid expansion of AI data centers has created an extraordinary surge in demand for memory and storage. We have never seen a component price increase this much, this quickly."

New Mac prices

Price increases are hitting across both U.S. and U.K., and since it's the same number on both sides of the pond, I can't help but feel especially hard done by in Britain given it's an apples-to-apples significantly larger number!

U.S. Increases

• MacBook Neo: $699 (up from $599, $100 increase)
• 13-inch MacBook Air: $1,299 (up from $1,099, $200 increase)
• 15-inch MacBook Air: $1,499 (up from $1,299, $200 increase)
• M5 MacBook Pro: $1,999 (up from $1,699, $300 increase)
• M5 Pro MacBook Pro: $2,499 (up from $2,199, $300 increase)
• M5 Max MacBook Pro: $4,099 (up from $3,599, $500 increase)
• iMac: $1,499 (up from $1,299, $200 increase)
• M4 Max Mac Studio: $2,499 (up from $1,999, $500 increase)
• M3 Ultra Mac Studio: $5,299 (up from $3,999, $1,300 increase)

U.K. increases

• MacBook Neo: £699 (up from £599, £100 increase)
• 13-inch MacBook Air: £1,299 (up from £1,099, £200 increase)
• 15-inch MacBook Air: £1,499 (up from £1,299, £200 increase)
• M5 MacBook Pro: £1,999 (up from £1,699, £300 increase)
• M5 Pro MacBook Pro: £2,499 (up from £2,199, £300 increase)
• M5 Max MacBook Pro: £4,099 (up from £3,599, £500 increase)
• iMac: £1,499 (up from £1,299, £200 increase)
• M4 Max Mac Studio: £2,499 (up from £1,999, £500 increase)
• M3 Ultra Mac Studio: £5,299 (up from £3,999, £1,300 increase)

New iPad prices

U.S. Increases

• iPad: $449 (up from $349, $100 increase)
• 11-inch iPad Air: $749 (up from $599, $150 increase)
• 13-inch iPad Air: $949 (up from $749, $200 increase)
• 11-inch iPad Pro: $1,199 (up from $999, $200 increase)
• 13-inch iPad Pro: $1,499 (up from $1,299, $200 increase)
• iPad mini: $599 (up from $499, $100 increase)

U.K. Increases

• iPad: £429 (up from £329, £100 increase)
• 11-inch iPad Air: £749 (up from £599, £150 increase)
• 13-inch iPad Air: £949 (up from £749, £200 increase)
• 11-inch iPad Pro: £1,199 (up from £999, £200 increase)
• 13-inch iPad Pro: £1,499 (up from £1,299, £200 increase)
• iPad mini: £599 (up from £499, £100 increase)

Apple TV, HomePod and Vision Pro

U.S. Increases

• Apple TV 4K: $199 (up from $129, $70 increase)
• HomePod: $349 (up from $299, $50 increase)
• HomePod mini: $129 (up from $99, $30 increase)
• Vision Pro: $3,699 (up from $3,499, $200 increase)

U.K. Increases

• Apple TV 4K: £199 (up from £129, £70 increase)
• HomePod: £349 (up from £299, £50 increase)
• HomePod mini: £129 (up from £99, £30 increase)
• Vision Pro: £3,499 (up from £3,299, £200 increase)

That's a lot of money, especially for ultra-high-end devices like the Mac Studio, which is up to $2,499/£2,499. For MacBooks, the largest increase comes to the M5 Max MacBook Pro, which is going up by $500/£500. In those cases, it's a matter of ultra-expensive devices becoming even more expensive.

While not the biggest increase, the MacBook Neo's $100/£100 price jump could be the most impactful. The Neo is Apple's attempt to target more budget-conscious laptop shoppers who would otherwise opt for a cheap Windows laptop or Chromebook. An extra $100 there could potentially put the laptop out of reach for some buyers.

Thankfully, iPhone prices are unchanged with this adjustment, but who knows for how long that will last. Perhaps the company will hold off until the iPhone 18 Pro hits the market.

More from Tom's Guide

• Windows fans mocked MacBook Neo’s 8GB RAM — my testing shows why that’s wrong
• I ditched the MacBook Air for a MacBook Neo for 48 hours — and I'm shocked
• MacBook Neo vs. Chromebooks: Which budget laptop is right for you?

I still remember the first time I laid eyes on one of TCL’s NXTPAPER tablets at a mall in Taiwan. What caught me off guard was that despite the bright overhead lighting, its screen was completely glare free. However, it wasn’t until I pressed the NXTPAPER button on the side that I realized what made this tablet truly unique.

Unlike one of the best iPads, TCL’s NXPAPER tablets are designed to prevent eye-strain while giving you an improved reading experience. With the push of a button on the side, you can switch between three viewing modes: Regular Mode, Color Paper Mode and Ink Paper Mode.

With Ink Paper Mode enabled, the device transforms from a standard Android tablet into a black and white slate with a reading experience on par with one of the best Kindles. This also extends the tablet’s battery so you can keep reading even longer.

I’ve been using both the TCL NXTPAPER 11 Gen 2 and the much larger TCL NXTPAPER 14 since the beginning of the year. While I love them both, the 11-inch one is great for slipping in a bag while the 14-inch one is perfect when you want a bigger screen at home.

These tablets aren’t just for reading though, as they also come with a stylus in the box for drawing or taking handwritten notes. Likewise, I’ve heard that many musicians like using the larger NXTPAPER 14 for reading sheet music while they practice.

Right now, you can save up to 39% on TCL’s NXTPAPER tablets thanks to Prime Day. If you’ve been looking for a more budget-friendly iPad alternative or don’t want to be bothered keeping a separate e-reader charged, they’re definitely worth checking out. And at this price, there’s never been a better time to give NXTPAPER a try for yourself.

Quick Links

• TCL NXTPAPER 11 Gen 2: was $249 now $169 @ Amazon
• TCL NXTPAPER 11 Plus: was $369 now $223 @ Amazon
• TCL NXTPAPER 14: was $459 now $312 @ Amazon
• TCL Note A1: was $599 now $449 @ Amazon

Prime Day NXTPAPER Tablet Deals

You're in luck if you're hunting for one of the best iPads, as the entire line is currently discounted for Amazon Prime Day. Whether you want the regular iPad or the powerful MacBook Pro, you can save big.

For instance, the 11-inch iPad with the A16 chip is currently on sale for $50 off. If you're looking for something a little more premium but still affordable, the 11-inch iPad Air M4 is $80 off right now. Those who want the most powerful Apple tablet yet can check out the 13-inch iPad Pro M5 with 512GB for $250 off.

Keep scrolling to check out the latest iPad deals at Amazon and other vendors. And if you're looking for more savings, check out our best Apple deals guide. Also, take a look at this week's top AirPods sales and MacBook deals. Plus, bookmark our Apple Store coupons page for the best promo codes on all Apple devices.

Quick links

• shop all iPads on sale at Amazon
• 11" iPad (A16, 128GB): was $349 now $299 @ Amazon
• Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro, 128GB): was $499 now $399 @ Amazon
• 11" iPad Air (M4, 128GB): was $599 now $519 @ Amazon
• 11" iPad Pro (M5, 256GB): was $999 now $899 @ Amazon
• 13" iPad Pro (M5, 256GB): was $1,299 now $1,199 @ Amazon
• 13" iPad Pro (M5, 512GB): was $1,499 now $1,249 @ Amazon

Best iPad deals

Best iPad Air deals

Best iPad Pro deals

Best iPad deals accessories

I recently got the brand-new Kindle Colorsoft 2026, and it's definitely one of the best e-readers I've tried. In true bookworm style, I devoured fantasy novel after fantasy novel — but I had to buy every book. I didn't realize I could get 3 months free of Kindle Unlimited with my new e-reader.

Kindle Unlimited is effectively a refillable soda for books... or just a library card. Instead of buying each book individually, you pay a flat $11.99 a month, and you can "borrow" unlimited books per month. You can only have 20 Kindle Unlimited books downloaded at a time, but you can easily swap these out. It truly is "unlimited".

But you have to order a specific version of the Kindle to take advantage of this. The basic version is just 1 free month, so here's how you can triple that. Unfortunately, these deals are only for Prime Members. This deal is both U.S. and U.K.

The best US Kindle Prime Day deals

How to get 3 months free Kindle Unlimited

Snagging 3 months free Kindle Unlimited is so easy, I'm kind of beating myself up over not getting it for myself.

Here's exactly how you do it.

When you go to Amazon, scroll down. There are two secret tabs underneath the price information.

Make sure you have selected "With 3 months of Kindle Unlimited" before you check out.

Obviously, this is only a "trial," and you will have to pay $11.99 after your first three months. But saving $36 is awesome, especially if you've already saved $90 on the brand-new Kindle Colorsoft.

I wish I had known this when I bought my Kindle — now I'm stuck paying $11.99 each month!

We're tracking all the best Prime Day home appliance deals

Amazon Prime Day is always a great time to shop for the best Kindles. The retail giant has slashed the prices of all available Kindle models, making it easier to find one that suits your preferences and budget.

Right now, Kindles and bundles are on sale at Amazon with up to 50% off. For instance, the standalone Kindle Colorsoft is $90 off, while the standard Kindle is only $84 total. You can also save big on Paperwhite and Scribe bundles.

Here are the best Kindle deals happening right now for Prime Day. For more deals, check out our Prime Day deals live blog.

Quick Links

• shop all Prime Day deals
• shop all Kindle deals
• Kindle (16GB): was $109 now $84
• Kindle Paperwhite Essentials Bundle: was $161 now $106
• Kindle Colorsoft (16GB): was $249 now $159
• Kindle Colorsoft Kids (16GB): was $269 now $179
• Kindle Paperwhite Signature Essentials Bundle: was $276 now $179
• Kindle Colorsoft Signature Essentials Bundle: was $362 now $244
• Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle (64 GB): was $549 now $452

Prime Day Kindle deals

Is the Kindle Colorsoft 2026 good enough to be one of the best e-readers? Yes, definitely. This is the King of e-readers — and it knows it. With a bright, 7-inch display (1 inch bigger than its nearest rival, the Kobo Clara Color) and up to 8 weeks of battery, the Kindle Colorsoft 2026 is here to stay.

But because it’s the King of e-readers, it’s priced like it. The Kindle Colorsoft 2026 is $90 pricier than the closest Kobo alternative, an increase of 56%, and I’m… not really sure why. Yes, the Kindle library is bigger than Kobo’s, and Kindle Unlimited is better than Kobo’s, but does that justify a price increase of 56%? The initial $250+ cost might put off newcomers.

The Kindle Colorsoft 2026 is a fantastic e-reader, though — just an expensive one. I thoroughly enjoyed my time testing this device. It’s easy to use, lovely to look at, and has bright color for comic books. Want to find out more? Keep reading this Kindle Colorsoft 2026 review.

All images showing e-books have been blurred for copyright. Screen is sharp and detailed in real life.

Kindle Colorsoft 2026 review: Specs

Kindle Colorsoft 2026 review: Price & availability

There are two models of the Kindle Colorsoft 2026: 16GB and 32GB. I tested the 16GB model, which can hold almost 6,000 books (depending on length, images, and the like). The 16GB model is $249 from Amazon U.S. and £239 from Amazon U.K.. The 32GB model is an extra $30/£30, making it $279 in the U.S. and £269 in the U.K..

Kindle also makes the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition, which is not this product. If you want the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition, that’s $279 from Amazon U.S. (yes, the same price, annoyingly). The Signature has automatic brightness adjustment and wireless charging.

I recently tested the Kobo Clara Colour, which is $159/£169. Honestly, if you want a great e-reader for as little money as possible, I’d go for the Kobo. Of course, the library isn’t as large — the Kindle Store has a near-incomprehensible 15 million titles, and a much wider self-published selection — but I’ve been able to find every book on my TBR on the Kobo store.

The Kindle Colorsoft Gen 1, 2024, launched at $279/£269, so no price increase there, which I like to see.

Kindle Colorsoft 2026 review: The ups

There are so many things to like about the Kindle Colorsoft 2026, including its speed, screen, and library size.

Processor go Brr!

The Kindle Colorsoft is faster than the Kobo Clara Colour. Not by much — it’s more “blink and you miss it” than countable seconds — but every little helps, right? When I turned both e-readers on at the same time, the Kindle displayed the reading material a touch faster than the Kobo.

Kindle store is a modern-day Library of Alexandria

As much as I loved testing the Kobo — and I think it works much harder than the Kindle — the Kobo store is nowhere near as large as Amazon’s. The Kobo store is still fantastic, don’t get me wrong, with millions of books available for purchase, and a Kobo Unlimited subscription too.

However, it just can’t compete with Kindle’s whopping 15-million-plus titles. This is an incomprehensible number. I couldn’t even imagine 15 million plotlines if I spent the rest of eternity locked in a dark room.

But Kindle has everything, including obscure self-published books penned by Susan who lives down the street. If you’re the kind of reader who absorbs books like they’re going out of fashion, then you might be better off with the Kindle.

With my purchase, I also got 3 months free of Kindle Unlimited and 1 month free of Audible, which is great and something other e-reader brands simply can’t compete with.

Kindle Unlimited is better than Kobo Plus

I’ve tried Kobo Plus and Kindle Unlimited, and what they say is true: Kindle offers a wider range of books, both big-name authors and midlist novels alike. Unlike Kobo’s library, KU isn’t just self-published/thriller type books. You’ve got huge names, like Holly Black, Colleen Hoover, Freida McFadden, and more. Kobo Plus just doesn’t have this range.

Kindle Unlimited is $11.99 for literally unlimited books, magazines, and audio, whereas Kobo Plus is $7.99/$9.99 (for books and audio).

Night mode for those tired eyes

Just like the Kobo Clara Colour, the Kindle Colorsoft 2026 has a warm filter. Although any electronic light source can interrupt sleep, research has shown that front-lit e-ink screens with warm filters interfere less than blue light devices (like phones).

You can access the display settings easily by scrolling down on the left margin, much like the Kobo Clara Colour.

Although I don’t have any scientific, quantitative data detailing my improved sleep quality, I can report that my sleep was no more interrupted than normal after reading before bed. I read before bed every single night, e-reader or paper, and didn’t notice any difference.

Direct sunlight? No problem

As the Kindle Colorsoft uses a front-lit e-ink screen, which means the screen is lit from the front rather than the back, it is visible even in direct sunlight. As you can see from the photos throughout this review, the screen looks vibrant under strong sun.

This performance is identical to the Kobo Clara Colour, both of which offer natural, e-ink screens with fantastic visibility.

IPX8 rating for bathtub adventures

Like the Kobo Clara Colour, the Kindle Colorsoft 2026 is IPX8 rated. In real terms, this means it will survive if you accidentally leave it on the hood of your car before going through the car wash. Or something less ridiculous, like accidental dips in the bathtub.

Kindle Colorsoft 2026 review: The downs

Although there’s lots to love about the Kindle Colorsoft 2026, it’s not perfect. It isn't as customizable rivals, and it's much pricier, too.

Not as customizable as Kobo

One of my favorite aspects of the Kobo Clara Colour is that you can change the screen layout. You can also do this on the Kindle, but it’s more restrictive. On the Kindle, you can change orientation and font size, margins, and text alignment, but on Kobo, you can customize the actual layout of the menus.

On Kobo, you can change the ‘home’ button (the area of the screen you tap to bring up the main menu) depending on your preferences. By default, it’s set to: center tap brings up the menu, and then you turn the page forward or back by tapping the edge of the screen. I set mine so I have to click on the bottom of the screen to bring up the menu and 75% of the screen turns to the next page. I think this feels more natural because I’m left-handed and naturally tap to turn the page on the left side of the screen (don’t ask).

On Kindle, you can’t actually do this at all. You’re stuck with tapping on the top of the screen to bring up the menu, and 50% of the screen turns the page in its corresponding direction.

If there is a way to adjust this on Kindle, it’s not in the ‘Settings’ tab or in any of the device options menus, which is a con in and of itself.

Much more expensive than Kobo

Now, this is the biggest con there is. In our current, seemingly endless cost of living crisis, you need to save every penny you can get — or at least, I do.

The Kindle Colorsoft 2026 starts from $249, which is $90 more expensive than the Kobo Clara Colour. I don’t think the benefits justify the price increase.

The Kindle grants you access to Amazon’s huge library, which is a pro, and… that’s it? The other great features (front light, IPX8 rating, color, e-ink screen, long battery life, night mode) are all present on the Kobo. I totally recommend the Kindle, don’t get me wrong, but if you’re serious about saving every dollar you can, then I’d go for the Kobo.

Kindle Colorsoft 2026 review: Verdict

I really enjoyed testing the Kindle Colorsoft 2026. It’s got everything you’d want in an e-reader: a frontlit e-ink screen visible even in direct sunlight, and has night mode for those tired eyes. The battery life matches the Kobo Clara Colour — “up to” 8 weeks, but mine’s at 37% as we speak because I’m always using it — and the IPX8 rating means it’ll survive a dunk in the tub.

The only thing holding it back is the price. $249 is $90 more than Kobo’s competitor, which is an increase of 56%. Sure, the Kindle has a larger screen, but it’s not noticeably brighter. You can make the text on the Kobo as large as you want. The only main thing is the Kindle has a larger library, but whether or not this is a dealbreaker is something only you can decide.

At the end of the day, the new Kindle Colorsoft 2026 is a great e-reader, and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed by it at all. I thoroughly enjoyed reading on this device.

Microsoft’s latest Surface devices won’t be cheap. As Windows Central reports, consumer versions of the Surface Laptop 8 and Surface Pro 12 powered by Snapdragon X2 chips have just been unveiled. Though these models are more affordable than the current enterprise models powered by Intel, they still cost significantly more than their respective predecessors.

The Surface Laptop 8 starts at $1,599, while the Surface Pro 12 starts at $1,499. Those prices sting on their own, but it’s made worse when you consider that they both started at $999 in 2024. Yes, the new devices pack the more powerful Snapdragon X2 Plus chip and more storage, but their respective price tags still sting.

One saving grace is that Microsoft is offering incentives. For instance, buying the Surface Pro 12 between now and June 30 gets you a free Surface Pro keyboard. Preordering the Surface Laptop 8 gives you a free Surface Arc Mouse and a 50% offer for Microsoft Complete. The free keyboard with the Surface Pro is especially useful since it's essential for using the tablet like a laptop. You can also save up to $900 when trading in an older Surface device for a new one.

I reviewed the business model of the Surface Laptop 8 with an Intel Core Ultra X7 chip and found it to be an overall excellent, if expensive, notebook. I haven’t tested the Snapdragon X2 consumer model yet, but it has the same design as the Surface Laptop I reviewed. Microsoft says the new Surface devices offer 53% faster graphics performance over last gen, and up to 15 to 20 hours of battery life.

Thanks to the ongoing RAM crisis driving up the cost of electronics, I can’t say that I’m surprised that the latest Surface devices cost so much more than the 2024 models. This is a story we’ve seen over and over again this year. However, thanks to the incentives and freebies Microsoft is offering, you might save by choosing to upgrade. The consumer versions of the Surface devices are available now.

More from Tom's Guide

• Snapdragon X2 Elite vs Snapdragon X Elite: Here's what's new
• I downsized to a mini PC years ago and I’ve never been happier
• Microsoft is killing the master password in Edge browser today

The next Prime Day event launches on June 23, which means it’ll be your opportunity to save some cash on your next tablet. While the big sales haven’t hit just yet, some worthwhile deals are happening right now.

For instance, you can save $80 off the TCL Tab A1 Plus and $40 off the Lenovo Tab M11 if you’re looking for an Android tablet. Want an iPad instead? Well, the base iPad 11 is currently $50 off, while the 11-inch iPad Pro M5 has been discounted by $62.

There isn’t much to choose from at the moment from well-known brands, but I’ll update this post with the latest deals as we get closer to Prime Day, when we’ll surely see better offerings. Now, here are 5 early Prime Day deals to check out.

Also, if you’re not yet an Amazon Prime member, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial at Amazon and students can get a 6-month free trial. For more ways to save, check out the Tom's Guide Savings Squad as well as our list of the best Amazon promo codes this week.

Quick Links

• Lenovo Tab M11: was $249 now $209 @ Amazon
• TCL Tab A1 Plus: was $299 now $279 @ Amazon
• 11" iPad (A16): was $349 now $299 @ Amazon
• 11" iPad Air (M4): was $599 now $559 @ Amazon
• 11" iPad Pro (M5): was $999 now $937 @ Amazon

Early Prime Day tablet deals

Even before ChatGPT went mainstream Siri has been the butt of jokes for not being very smart. And it’s been justified. Trying anything beyond the basics — playing music, getting the weather, setting timers — has been an exercise in futility. That (hopefully) changes with Siri AI, which is coming to iPhones, iPads and Macs with iOS 27.

I had a chance to see some in-person demos of the new Siri AI in action, and while these were very much rehearsed, there’s real potential here to save you time and make your life easier. However, the new Visual Intelligence is no Gemini Live, and Siri can take its time with certain tasks (at least in the beta stage). Here’s what I like so far, and what needs work.

Siri AI on iPhone

The first thing you should know about Siri AI is that it understands personal context. So you can ask questions about pretty much anything on your device, and the assistant is smart enough to dig through apps for you to surface the right info.

During one demo, an Apple rep asked “Which podcast did my sister recommend recently.” And Siri AI then pulled up the answer from a text message. Even better, you can just say “Play it” and Siri will fire up Apple Music and help you dive right in. (Apple will open up this capability to other developers in case you have another favorite music or podcast app.)

Siri can also get stuff done on your behalf across multiple apps, including performing multiple tasks with a single prompt.

The second demo started with just a couple of items on a camping list, but an email from a friend had a lot more recommendations. You can just say “add this stuff to my camping gear list and remind me to pack for my trip when I get home.”

Siri then got to work, updating the list in the Notes app and then setting a location-based reminder. However, it did take a while to complete these tasks. Hopefully, the final Siri will be faster.

I was pretty impressed by the improved Visual Intelligence experience, too. You can now access it via a dedicated Siri mode within the camera app, so you don’t have to use the Camera Control button shortcut. I think that’s huge for ease of use and discoverability.

During the demo, an iPhone captured an image of two books. You could then ask which book you should read first if you really liked Hyperion and Siri gave its recommendation. The Apple rep then asked which of these books had been turned into a movie and Wool had been adapted into the ‘Silo’ TV series. Cool, yes, but yeah I told you it was canned.

What’s not clear is whether this works with live video and I’m following up on that.

Siri AI on Mac

Accessing Siri AI on Mac is as easy as just pulling up Spotlight or typing command + Shift + Space. When you start typing Spotlight will know what sorts of queries should go to Siri versus say just launching apps.

Let’s say you’re looking for vacation spot and type “What’s the best Hawaiian Island for a young family.” Siri will get to work and pull up recommendations in a new window, which you can then expand and park on either side of the screen.

You can then ask follow-up questions like “Which is best for sea turtles” to narrow your selections. From there you can hit a button in the top right corner to bring you into the dedicated Siri app.

The dual-pane app will have your chat in the right window and your history of all Siri chats in the left window. It’s pretty easy to navigate.

To help you save time on productivity tasks, you can use Siri AI wherever you can use a cursor. The demo showed how you can be looking at a messy note with a bunch of info and then use a secondary click to bring up the Ask Siri menu.

After typing “Draft an email that summarizes this and include the action items,” Siri did just that. It’s definitely a timesaver. I just wish it worked with Gmail as well Apple Mail. Google would have to plug into Siri AI’s framework.

My favorite Siri AI on Mac demo came when a mock summer schedule appeared on screen with dates, times and locations for the matches. You can use Command + Shift + Space and then click the Add to Calendar button that automatically appears.

From there Siri AI will let you add all of the games to your calendar. Or you could tell Siri to only add the home games to your calendar if you wanted. Where was this when my kids were playing sports?

Siri on iPad

Last but not least, Siri AI on iPad works in much the same that it does on the iPhone, but having a larger canvas has its benefits.

You can access Siri AI at any time just by swiping down from the top middle of the display. As you begin to type “Who are the top golfers in the PGA right now,” the text “Ask Siri” appears right after it because Apple’s assistant knows that it can help.

Siri AI will then tap into Apple’s Broad World Knowledge and bring back answers, complete with citations you can click on.

Apple’s Siri AI can also help you plan a trip and you make the query pretty specific, like “What are the best national parks to visit in the US in July with my family? Recommend something that’s not too hot or crowded.”

Siri AI recommended where to go, including North Cascades National Park in Washington. You can then pop into the full Siri app if you like to ask follow-up questions, or use the Slide Over feature to keep the Siri conversation just a swipe away.

Siri AI outlook

Overall, Siri AI isn't just a rebranding for Apple. It’s a much more capable and personal assistant that's more deeply integrated into the apps you use.

I’m especially impressed by Siri AI’s use of personal context, and the ability to complete multiple actions at once. And while Visual Intelligence doesn’t seem quite as robust as Gemini Live in terms of having a real-time conversation about whatever’s in your camera view or on your screen, it’s certainly much improved.

In addition to a bit more speed, I just want to see what happens when developers get their hands on Siri AI so that you’re not just locked into Apple’s own apps.

More from Tom's Guide

• Apple just completely rebuilt Siri AI — here are the 7 biggest upgrades coming to your iPhone
• iOS 27 is official: All the new upgrades and features announced at WWDC 2026
• macOS Golden Gate: The biggest updates coming to Macs

WWDC 26 is in the books (or at least, the keynote is), and as is tradition, we got a good look at OS updates across the Apple ecosystem.

iPadOS 27 is one such release, and developer beta 1 is out as of right now. Here’s what’s new, and why you might want to give it a try — and why you might want to skip it for now.

What’s new in iPadOS 27?

As with iPhone and Mac, the big draw here is the reinvented Siri, which is now much more capable. It’s context-aware, understands what’s on your screen, and can search through your data via on-device processing to find key data from your contacts, messages, Mail, and more.

There are also new child safety features like allowed apps, and a laundry list of tweaks under the hood to things like memory usage, display rendering, and more granularity over the Liquid Glass interface, which debuted last year.

A word of warning

As with any beta, iPadOS or otherwise, you should be wary of features (both new and old) working inconsistently. It’s not uncommon for even a tech giant like Apple to go through multiple rounds of testing before the public beta, which tends to be a little more stable (at least historically speaking).

It’s also possible that running the beta will cause a drop in your battery expectancy. If you find yourself needing to charge more regularly, it could be because you’re on the beta.

Supported iPadOS 27 models

iPadOS 27 is compatible with the following devices:

• iPad Pro 2nd Gen or later
• iPad Air 4th Gen or later
• iPad Mini 6th Gen or later
• iPad 9th Gen or later

It’s worth noting that the new Siri AI features are only supported on M4 or later iPad models.

How to get the iPadOS 27 beta

With those considerations out of the way, the process of enrolling your iPad is very similar to that in prior years.

First, you’ll need to enroll in the Apple Developer Program. You may already be enrolled from prior years, but if not, visit the sign-up page to get the ball rolling.

You’ll need to log your name and address, then set your entity type as an individual. When the payment screen appears, back out, and you’ll be on the free developer tier.

With that done, open your iPad and follow these instructions:

• Open Settings > General > Software Update
• Tap Beta Updates
• Select ‘iPadOS 27 Developer Beta’
• Then download it and install via the on-screen instructions

More from Tom's Guide

• iOS 27 is official: All the new upgrades and features announced at WWDC 2026
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Apple's annual developer conference, WWDC 2026, is happening right now, and there are plenty of announcements covering all of the company's major operating systems.

Apple recently switched to an annual naming convention with its operating systems, naming them after the following year. That includes iPadOS 27, which runs on the company's incredibly popular tablets.

Apple is constantly moving ahead with the iPad, and we know that WWDC 2026, which is likely to be outgoing CEO Tim Cook's last, will feature news and info on the latest version of Apple's slate OS.

The company's big focus with iPadOS 27 seems to be on improvements rather than adding new features, which makes it less exciting at first, but will be great for longtime users with sticking points.

Liquid Glass improvements

Liquid Glass is one of Apple's most divisive design choices in recent memory, and the company is showing no signs of ditching it in iPadOS 27. Instead, the company is leaning into it more with more Liquid-focused icons.

However, Apple is also adding a slider that provides better control over Liquid Glass, allowing you to go more transparent or increase the tint so it's barely transparent.

This seems like a smart design move for iPadOS 27 (and other Apple operating systems), as it allows people who really love the transparent look and feel to lean into it, while everyone else can limit it.

Child Safety features

Apple is making a massive expansion to its parental controls features for iPadOS 27. Screen management time is getting some notable upgrades, and developers will have better access to parental control tools within their apps.

"At Apple, our mission has always been to create technology that empowers people and enriches their lives, while helping keep them safe,” said Sumbul Desai, M.D., Apple’s vice president of Health and Fitness. “Our approach to helping families create safer digital experiences is grounded in the belief that every child is unique."

Apple Intelligence

Apple is running new models that will run both on a server and on your device, which Apple says will offer powerful image understanding and more. The most powerful version of its on-device model will only support iPad devices with M4 chips, so older and more affordable iPads will be left out.

The biggest change here for iPad users is that everything is integrated into the OS, including the new Siri, so you can use speech to find what you're looking for. And of course, it can also go online to find answers and then provide them (much like ChatGPT and other AI chatbots).

Siri AI is Apple's name for its new personal assistant, which seems like the obvious choice. Apple promises more conversational features, a dedicated Siri app and a new visual design for the personal assistant.

The new Siri is more conversational, so you can go back and forth with it to get what you need done. Apple demonstrated how to use the conversation feature to plan a World Cup watch party, including a match schedule, menu items, and even searching conversations to find a suggestion from his daughter.

On iPadOS, Apple showcased a pop-out window showing a conversation with Siri and the Siri AI app. It also showed cross-platform conversations, so if you use an iPad, iPhone or other Apple devices, you can switch between them and keep your AI queries going.

On-screen awareness, a feature discussed previously, sounds useful, but Apple didn't go into much detail on how it will work.

Siri AI will also offer writing advice and a proofreading system-wide, which sounds useful if you write on an iPad.

Apple says privacy is a major focus for its AI features on iPad, which is important.

iPadOS 27 release date

Apple appears to be following its typical release schedule, with Tim Cook rounding out the keynote citing a Fall release date for the latest version of its iPad operating system and the beta is scheduled to launch

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WWDC 2026 is upon us, which means we’re about to learn all the upgrades coming to various Apple operating systems. Naturally, one of these will be iPadOS 27. If rumors are correct, we won’t get major iPad-specific upgrades as we saw with iPadOS 26. However, there should be plenty for iPad users to get excited about.

The biggest upgrade should be for Siri and Apple Intelligence, which is also expected for iOS 27 and macOS 27. Apple has lagged in the current AI race, but with Google Gemini powering Siri and Apple Intelligence, Cupertino might finally catch up. We also expect some enhancements to core apps, along with some performance updates.

We’ll officially learn what Apple has been cooking when WWDC kicks off on June 8. For now, here are the three biggest iPadOS 27 announcements we expect.

Siri and Apple Intelligence overhaul

Similar to iOS 27 and macOS 27, iPadOS 27 should see an Apple Intelligence overhaul, specifically targeting Siri.

One of the biggest rumored upgrades is Apple turning Siri into a full-fledged chatbot capable of complex, multi-turn dialogue. This will be possible thanks to Apple’s partnership with Google, which will use Google’s Gemini model to power Apple Intelligence. Expect advanced text- and image-generation features.

We should also see on-screen awareness, which will allow Siri to understand what is happening on your iPad screen. For example, if you’re looking at a document or photo, you can ask Siri to edit it or send it to a specific contact without manually dragging and dropping.

Similarly, Siri should also gain the ability to execute multi-step actions across different apps, such as cross-referencing information in Calendar and drafting an email response in Mail.

Core app enhancements

As with iOS 27, expect some core app upgrades. One such app is Photos, which is expected to receive a major Apple Intelligence boost. A new Extend tool will use generative AI to fill in background scenery beyond a photo's original crop. Meanwhile, a Reframe tool will let you manipulate the perspective of spatial photos.

Apple is also reportedly adjusting system-wide app layouts to better leverage the iPad’s large display. To that end, apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and Apple TV will see their navigation sidebars and tab bars consolidated, merging the search function right into the main navigation interface.

Performance and stability

Since iPadOS 27 is more of an iterative update than a substantial one like iPadOS 26, Apple’s engineers have focused most of their efforts on under-the-hood optimization.

For example, the team is reportedly removing outdated code, squashing long-standing bugs, and improving battery life efficiency and system responsiveness.

Liquid Glass was the major UI overhaul last year, and it’s expected to stick around. However, Apple is reportedly expanding its custom layout tools. This includes a system-wide opacity slider that lets you precisely adjust the appearance of interface elements to your liking.

iPadOS 27: Outlook

Even if iPadOS 27 isn’t as monumental as iPadOS 26, features like a smarter Siri, easier search, and a more stable operating system should make using iPads smoother.

Naturally, this is all based on rumors and reports, so we’ll have to wait until WWDC kicks off on Monday, June 8, to see what Apple has in store for us. Stay tuned!

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As the first half of 2026 winds down, it feels as though Apple has been relatively quiet while we wait for the big Fall product releases. WWDC 2026 is right around the corner in June and as is often the case, it marks the shift between the barren Apple months and the fruitful ones.

With that in mind, based on rumors and leaks, I expect Apple to debut at least 15 new devices between now and the end of the year.

Some like the iPhone and Apple Watches are your typical annual updates (save the over-rumored iPhone Fold), and potential updates to the MacBook Pro lineup. Others, like Apple's long-awaited smart home lineup, all depend on whether Apple has finally figured out Siri 2.0.

All of these devices could give us an idea if the recently reported hardware shakeup is ready to bear fruit.

So, here are the 15 Apple devices we could see this year in order of potential release date.

iPhone 18 Pro models and iPhone Fold - September

On the whole, the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max probably won't be a big divergence from the iPhone 17 versions. A new color, a better chip, possibly a revamped Camera Control button and a smaller Dynamic Island are all on the table. Decent updates, but not terribly exciting.

The iPhone 18 is, we expect, a gap year until 2027's 20th anniversary iPhone, which could truly shake up the iPhone design.

However, the bigger news is that Apple is expected to split the iPhone 18 release with the Pro models this year and the iPhone 18, 18 Plus, and 18e launching in the new spring window next year.

If it launches, and there is debate about that, the iPhone Fold (or Ultra) will be the headline stealer as Apple finally steps into the foldable phones market.

The allegedly crease-free foldable could feature a squat 7.7-inch inner display that is reminiscent of an iPad mini. Apple is reportedly developing iOS 27 to be tailored for the folding iPhone. We'll most likely hear more about that at WWDC 2026, depending on how coy Apple wants to be.

Apple Watches - September

Unlike the iPhone 18 family, there has been a dearth of rumors regarding the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. They typically launch in September alongside the iPhone.

Here's what we know so far.

The Series 12 could feature new holistic sensor tech on the bottom of the watch, including a new eight-sensor array. If true, this could indicate that new health metrics might be coming to the Series 12, or at the very least, more accurate ones. The big change might be an overhauled Health app featuring an AI-powered, personalized wellness concierge.

Otherwise, it should be largely the same as the Series 11, though it might feature Touch ID, which has been disputed.

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 may or may not launch this year, the rumors are unclear on this part. If not, we might see the Ultra 4 in 2027.

As for the design, rumors hint at a thinner case, fingerprint scanner and improved Hypertension Alerts. But that's about it for now.

iPads - September/October

The iPad mini is one of the best tablets available today and the eighth iteration could launch this year. Apple hasn't had a consistent release schedule for its tiny iPads, but most rumors suggest the iPad mini 8 could launch around October, maybe late September.

It's rumored to get the A20 Pro, the same chip as the iPhone 18 Pro series. It could also be the first iPad mini to feature an OLED display.

As for the larger entry-level iPad 12, it could launch this year with an A19 chipset. It's looking like it will be a simple refresh with Apple Intelligence features and possibly Apple's N1 wireless chip. Design-wise I expect it to look the same as its predecessor. Outside of that, I only have speculation on possible increases in RAM and storage but with the memory crisis, that may take a back seat.

OLED MacBook Pro M6 and other Macs - October

If they launch this year, I expect to see at least four Mac devices, most likely in October.

The most interesting one is the potential MacBook Pro M6 feature an OLED display.

• Mac Studio
• Mac mini
• iMac
• MacBook Pro M6

Beyond the MacBook, all of the other devices will likely just be chip upgrades going from their current versions to the M5 family.

The Pro model might get a new name the MacBook Ultra, which is meant to differentiate it from the MacBook Neo acting as an even higher-end counterpart to the Pro. It should feature an OLED display and the new M6 chipset.

The design should be similar to previous Pro models. The big upgrades will be the display with a touchscreen and the chipset.

Smart Home devices with a catch

Apple has been rumored to be developing its own suite of smart home devices, including the overhauled HomePod. This could come in the form of a new HomePod mini, a new HomePod 3 and the Home Hub.

The long-awaited Apple TV 4K set-top box update would be part of this update, with new features meant to connect it to your smart home. We're expecting Apple to kit out the next Apple TV with an upgraded chip, possibly an A17 Pro chip, though that rumor is nearly a year old now, so a potentially more powerful chip could be in the cards. The device could also get the N1 chip for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

Here's the thing, though, this all depends on whether Apple has finally figured out Apple Intelligence and Siri. Using AI to control your smart home with your voice and other tools is supposed to be a main part of the experience. That promise could finally arrive with the Gemini-powered version of Siri that is supposed to launch this year.

Additionally, Apple may have a smart security camera and Face ID doorbell in the works. Apple was reportedly in the early stages of development of those at the end of 2024, but it's not clear where Apple is regarding that now.

If Apple finally reveals the new HomePod and other smart home devices, it likely won't happen until after Siri 2.0 actually launches this fall.

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Apple has started sending out invites for the WWDC 2026 keynote on June 8 and it could have some hints about the future of Siri. The image, seen above, is clearly Apple Park, but the glowing symbol and the taglines like "coming bright up" give a hint at a potential visual overhaul for Siri.

It's two years late, but Siri 2.0 is finally supposed to arrive this year. Most rumors have hinted at Siri's potential capabilities, but this little teaser suggests that Siri could also get a visual overhaul.

Here's how Siri could be evolving.

iOS 27 and Gemini

Notably, Apple and Google have already promised that Gemini-powered Siri will debut this year with iOS 27. Google could help turbocharge Siri by offering the same multimodal performance that can be found in other AI chatbots.

With Gemini Live already available on some of the best Android phones, we already have an idea of how Siri could perform. For instance, the Galaxy S26 got advanced task automation to perform complex actions like placing a Dunkin’ Donuts order through DoorDash via voice.

Since the rocky launch of Apple Intelligence in 2024, Apple has been scrambling to refine what already exists rather than introducing new features. Still, this is the system that's supposed to undergird Siri, so new features are likely to be announced that would presumably integrate with Apple's virtual assistant.

That could include AI-based photo editing tools and things like the Galaxy S26’s Now Nudge.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has previously said that Siri 2.0 will offer a more "chatbot-like experience" acting as more of an on-device agentic AI for your iPhone.

However, he's also noted that Apple is making privacy a centerpiece of Siri, which would stand out from AI rivals like OpenAI's ChatGPT.

WWDC 2026: When and how to watch

Apple's latest iteration of its Worldwide Developers Conference runs from June 8 to 12, with the keynote starting on Monday, June 8.

Apple hasn't confirmed the exact start time, but the presentation usually starts around 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. As usual, the event will take place at Apple Park in Cupertino, CA.

The live keynote has generally been streamed on the Apple website, the Apple Developer app and its YouTube channel.

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Six years after Apple dropped Intel in favor of its own M-series processors, the two tech giants are reportedly partnering again on new silicon.

Last week, The Wall Street Journal that Apple and Intel had struck a preliminary deal to produce chips after a year of bargaining. That report did not include what devices those processors would fill.

But now a new report from supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that Apple and Intel have already started initial production of processors for iPhones, iPads and some Macs. Per Kuo, roughly 80% of the chips are meant for iPhones.

Prior to 2020, Apple had a long history with Intel having switched to the company's chips in 2006. Intel-based Macs only just stopped receiving Apple support last year with the release of macOS 26. When macOS 27 drops later this year, it will not support any Intel Macs.

Kuo's report is a read and mostly covers how the Intel deal will impact Apple's partnership with TSMC which makes all of Apple's CPUs currently. But there are some noteworthy bits about where the Intel chips could end up.

The Intel chips are based on the 18A nodes which are used in the company's Panther Lake silicon. This deal apparently is using the chips for Apple's "low-end/legacy" devices.

Kuo's phrasing likely means that Intel is building chips for older models that are still on sale. TSMC would still "retain 90% of supply share" for Apple's more high-end processors.

If the deal works out, I expect we'll see a split between higher-end TSMC Apple devices like the Pro model iPhones and MacBooks. Intel would feature in the more budget-friendly devices like the e-series iPhones and the new MacBook Neo which is already struggling to keep up with demand due to a lack of chips.

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Looking to upgrade your Apple tech? We're seeing some pretty great iPad deals right now. Whether you’re after the power of the iPad Pro or the portability of the iPad mini, Amazon is slashing prices ahead of Memorial Day.

Right now, you can save up to 30% across Apple’s iPad lineup, including $50 off the new 11" iPad Air (WiFi/128GB). And although it's an older model, you can save $250 on the 11" iPad Air (M3/256GB). You can also snag $100 off the iPad Pro M5 11".

There are plenty more deals where those came from! Keep scrolling to check out the best iPad deals on Amazon. Plus, bookmark our Apple Store coupons page for the best promo codes on all Apple devices.

Quick Links

• shop all iPads on sale at Amazon
• 11" iPad (A16): was $349 now $319 @ Amazon
• 11" iPad Air (M4): was $599 now $551 @ Amazon
• 11" iPad Air 5G (M3): was $849 now $599 @ Amazon
• 13" iPad Air (M4): was $799 now $749 @ Amazon
• 11" iPad Pro (M5): was $999 now $899 @ Amazon
• 13" iPad Pro (M5): was $1,299 now $1,182 @ Amazon

Best iPad Deals

After buying my Kindle Colorsoft during Prime Day last October, I've become attached. My Kindle goes everywhere with me — be it the office, commuting, to any kind of appointment and is easily accessible in moments of doomscroll boredom.

I love it so much that I have very few complaints — it's my first e-reader, so it beats carrying around heavy physical books, and I've even invested in a holder and wireless scroller for easier reading in bed. That said, I fear I may be starting to regret my purchase, thanks to the Australian launch of the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, Amazon's 2-in-1 notetaker and colour e-reader.

The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft launched globally in other markets last year, touting similar specs to the Kindle Scribe, but with a full colour 11-inch screen. The e-reader scored a tidy 4 stars in our review, with my colleague Alex dubbing it "the Cadillac of Kindles" thanks to its bright display, premium stylus and notetaking features, which is pretty huge praise for an e-reader.

Alongside the slightly larger, e-paper display, the new model features an adjustable warm light, up to 8 weeks of battery life on a single charge, 40% faster page turns and writing responsiveness, and comes in either a Graphite or Fig colourway with an accompanying stylus. You can also choose your preferred storage capacity, at either 32GB or 64GB. It also has improved Google Drive and OneDrive support for easy document import and annotated PDF export, and features a new AI-powered search so you can check your notes more effectively.

The only thing stopping me from immediately pulling the plug right now, you ask? The inflated price tag. The 32GB model will set you back AU$999, whereas the 64GB model will cost AU$1,099. Both models are currently available to preorder on Amazon ahead of the June 10 release.

More new Kindle Scribes incoming

While its pricing is indeed a tough pill to swallow for most right now — the models cost the same as the latest 2026 iPad Air and don't feature the same capabilities as a tablet would — not all hope is lost on the new Kindles front.

Amazon is also updating the Scribe as we know it, with a new 2026 model starting at AU$849 (32GB) and AU$949 (64GB). In terms of notable upgrades, the 2026 model is ultra-thin, measuring just 5.4 mm, and is extremely light, weighing just 400g. The Scribe (2026) also features the same AI-capabilities, Google Drive and OneDrive support as the Scribe Colorsoft.

Alternatively, if you'd prefer an e-reader or notetaker without a bright screen, Kindle is also introducing the Scribe without a frontlight for just AU$699, with the same components but at a smaller storage size of 16GB.

All of the new Kindle Scribe models are available to preorder now on Amazon, with shipping expected from June 10, 2026. And not that it's anyone's business, but I may be waiting at my front door that day for a delivery… if you catch my drift. 👀

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Outside of signing checks at a restaurant, I haven’t regularly written by hand since the early 2000s. My handwriting was always terrible, so when keyboards (both physical and digital) became the standard, I never went back to “real” writing again. As you can imagine, my handwriting has only gotten worse over the decades. Hence, testing the new ReMarkable Paper Pure has been an interesting experience.

In case you don’t know, ReMarkable has made a name for itself with its digital paper tablets designed for writing, sketching, and reading—all without distractions. The company is best known for the ReMarkable 2 and the color-enabled Paper Pro. Now, it is releasing the ReMarkable Paper Pro, which is effectively a spiritual successor of the ReMarkable 2.

I’ve used the new ReMarkable Paper Pure for the better part of a week, and I find that it lives up to its promise of being a distraction-free way to write digitally. There’s a lot to like here if you’re looking for such a device. However, if you’re used to keyboards, it might feel like technological regression. Here’s what I think of the ReMarkable Paper Pure.

What’s new with the ReMarkable Paper Pure?

The Paper Pure is the back-to-basics entry in ReMarkable’s 2026 lineup, sitting right under the more expensive, back-lit Paper Pro. This 10.3-inch monochrome tablet is essentially a digital version of a high-end legal pad. It’s just about as slim and light, weighing 0.79 pounds and thin enough to carry easily in your backpack.

Don’t mistake this for one of the best iPads or best Android tablets, as it has no color, web browser, and perhaps most importantly, no backlight. Because of that, you’ll need to be in a well-lit room or other light source to see what you’re doing. I’ll expand on this last bit shortly.

Another interesting aspect is that this device is made with 38% recycled materials and features a new, repairable design that’s held together with screws rather than glue. Thanks to that, it’s relatively easy to repair, which makes it more future-proof than traditional tablets on the market.

The writing experience

As I mentioned above, I haven’t handwritten for any serious length of time since I finished college in the early 2000s. Because of that, my first hour with the Paper Pure was admittedly a struggle. I’ll freely admit that it didn’t take long for my hands to cramp—something I wasn’t exactly prepared for. But I persisted, and the device slowly began winning me over.

I wouldn’t say that writing on the Paper Pure feels like writing on actual paper, but the amount of friction I feel when I put stylus to screen is satisfyingly tactile. In fact, I like the experience much more than using the Apple Pencil on an iPad Pro since it doesn’t feel like I’m writing on glass. It legit feels much closer to using a ballpoint pen.

Thanks to its 21-millisecond latency, the digital ink appears almost instantly on the screen. I say “almost” since you do see the delay, but it’s not egregiously long. And that’s fine, since I had to slow down anyway for my scribblings to resemble actual words. The intentionality of writing each letter took me back decades, which is likely why many still prefer to write by hand. You’re forced to slow down—something that’s almost unheard of in this fast-paced age we live in.

As for the lack of a backlight, I honestly didn’t find it an issue. I purposefully turn off the backlight on my Kindle Paperwhite to spare my eyes from yet another screen burning my retinas, so using the Paper Pure near a light source came naturally to me. I know some might legitimately need a backlit display, but I feel that would ruin what the Paper Pure’s attempt to function more like actual paper.

Useful features

Since we live in a digital world, the Paper Pure lets you transfer or upload files to and from the device. And if your handwriting is as bad as mine, you can even use some of the built-in AI features to clean things up. Don’t worry, as this is good AI that doesn’t get in the way.

With a Connect subscription, you can tap a button and watch your messy scribbles turn into a clean document. There is also an “Action Items” feature that scans your notes and automatically creates a separate to-do list, if necessary. I find this extremely useful, especially if I want to send a note to someone and don’t want them to spend unnecessary time deciphering my handwriting. This feature is also helpful if you take notes during meetings.

Speaking of meetings, you can sync your Outlook or Google Calendar, and the Paper Pure will pre-populate a note template with the date, time, and attendees of your next meeting. I wasn’t able to try this feature because my work account wouldn’t let me sync with my reMarkable account, but I can see it being handy.

Bottom line

Though I’m not yet ready to return to analog writing, I love what ReMarkable is doing overall. With so much digital noise around us, I appreciate that a device like the ReMarkable Paper Pure exists to deliver a more grounded and distraction-free experience.

Sometimes, it’s not all about how productive you can be, but how engaged you are with your work. If you agree with that sentiment, do yourself a favor and check out the ReMarkable Paper Pure. No pun intended, but it truly is a remarkable device—even for keyboard warriors like myself.

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Kindles make it easier (and more enjoyable) to read — especially now as spring book clubs and summer beach reads come into view. Although the popular e-readers rarely go on sale, Amazon just so happens to be slashing the prices on select Kindle models as we speak.

Kindle Colorsoft, Paperwhite and Scribe models and bundles are currently on sale at Amazon, with up to 31% off. One of my favorite deals is on the standalone Kindle Colorsoft ($60 off), or you can grab the Colorsoft bundled with a protective case and a power adapter.

Kindles also make the perfect Mother's Day gift for the moms who love to read. So if you're hoping to grab a new Kindle for Mom (or yourself) this spring, now is the perfect time to snag one with a generous markdown. Keep scrolling to see my favorite Kindle deals.

Quick Links

• shop all Amazon deals
• Kindle Paperwhite (16GB): was $159 now $134
• Kindle Paperwhite Essentials Bundle: was $161 now $140
• Kindle Paperwhite Kids (16 GB): was $179 now $154
• Kindle Colorsoft (16GB): was $249 now $189
• Kindle Colorsoft Kids (16GB): was $269 now $209
• Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition Essentials Bundle (32GB): was $287 now $216
• Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition Essentials Bundle: was $367 now $321
• Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle (64 GB): was $549 now $465

Kindle Deals

From the Nexus 7 to the iPad mini, I’ve always preferred smaller tablets you can hold in one hand and easily slip into a bag, which is why I was so surprised when I found myself reaching for an absolutely massive 14.3-inch slate instead.

Unlike other tablets where specs and sheer power are the main draw, the screen itself is why you’d choose a device like the TCL NXTPAPER 14 over something more conventional. Its specs are nothing to scoff at either though, with 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage and a whopping 10,000 mAh battery under the hood. However, the paper-like feel of its matte display and how you can go from a dedicated black and white ink mode to color paper mode with the push of a button is the kind of thing you truly have to see for yourself.

Although I tested out its smaller, more powerful sibling the TCL NXTPAPER 11 Plus, it was the NXTPAPER 14 that first caught my eye. Even under harsh direct lighting, its larger screen remained completely glare and reflection-free. Now, I finally had a chance to use it in the real world and not just at a mall in Taiwan.

I’ve been using the NXTPAPER 14 for the past few months and while it may not end up being my daily driver, there’s certainly a place for larger tablets like this one — especially if you’d rather carry something more substantial under your arm.

From tablet to portfolio

One thing I immediately appreciated about the NXTPAPER 14 is how TCL provides you with everything you need right in the box. You get a folio-style case with a magnetic cover, a lengthy charging cable and more surprisingly, a pressure-sensitive, active stylus with a USB-C port on the side for charging.

Even with many of the best tablets, you often find yourself hunting for accessories like a case or screen protector after the fact. TCL takes the guesswork out of protecting and making full use of its NXTPAPER tablets, so you can instantly go from unboxing to enjoying them. And while there isn’t a screen protector in the box, I wouldn’t recommend using one since that would mean missing out on the paper-like feel of the NXTPAPER 14’s matte display.

I’m no digital artist but I like having a stylus on hand for scrolling and signing the occasional document. TCL’s T-Pen is quite capable too with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and around 100 hours of battery life on a single charge. What I like most about using it though is how the combination of its active tip and the matte texture of the NXTPAPER 14’s display feels. You don’t get that same drag when using a stylus like the Apple Pencil or the Surface Pen on a glass tablet.

Another thing I really enjoy about the NXTPAPER 14 is how it feels under my arm when carrying it from room to room around my house. With a screen slightly larger than your standard sheet of printer paper and an aluminum back, it really feels like I’m holding a clipboard folio that’s ready for any task.

Made to scroll

As someone who’s constantly checking the news, it almost feels like I scroll for a living when I’m not hammering away on my keyboard. With 7.9 inches from top to bottom horizontally or an even larger 11.9 inches vertically, the NXTPAPER 14 just feels great for scrolling. It’s almost like going from a budget laptop to one of the best laptops with a much larger trackpad.

TCL doesn’t let the NXTPAPER 14’s extra screen real estate go to waste either. Not only can you have two apps running side by side, but you can also have one app in floating window mode while another runs full-size behind it—great for having a calculator or a quick chat window just a tap away.

Going all the way back to your app drawer can be a hassle on a massive tablet like this one, which is why TCL added its Edge Bar feature. By swiping in from the edge and briefly holding, you bring up a customizable mini dock with useful shortcuts and tools, but you can also add your own apps to the mix.

As an avid reader, using the NXTPAPER 14 in portrait mode feels even better, at least for me. Whether I’m scrolling through a Google Doc or even the recently redesigned Tom’s Guide home page, I still can’t get over how much I can see at a time on this tablet’s larger display.

Though I covered this in more depth with the NXTPAPER 11 Plus, don’t forget that you aren’t limited to your standard reading modes here either. With a push of its namesake NXTPAPER Key, you can switch from the default Regular Mode to either Color Paper Mode or Ink Paper Mode. Both have their upsides, but I particularly like how using Ink Paper Mode on the NXTPAPER 14 extends its battery life significantly. There’s just something about seeing your remaining battery estimate jump from double to triple-digit hours with the push of a button.

If reading isn’t your thing, you’re still in luck because at 14.3 inches, the NXTPAPER 14 is around the same size as a portable monitor.

A smarter portable monitor

You won’t have any trouble running the respective apps for any of the best streaming services on the NXTPAPER 14. However, when I first used it to stream video content, I did so a bit differently. I was wrapping Christmas presents in the sitting room where we don’t have a TV and wanted to put on something in the background. Instead of Netflix, I opened the app for the Ugreen NAS I recently added to my home network and watched one of my favorite holiday movies to help deal with the fact that I’m terrible at wrapping presents.

As I recently had a chance to test out Genki’s new Covert Dock 3 with my Switch 2, I wanted to see if I could get some more demanding games running on the NXTPAPER 14. With its octa-core MediaTek MT8781 processor, you can play some simple games, but you won’t be playing the mobile version of Red Dead Redemption anytime soon. That’s where Genki’s ShadowCast 3 Pro comes in.

I hooked up the Covert Dock 3 under my desk, but instead of plugging in an HDMI cable to go out to my TV, I used the ShadowCast 3 Pro to get the video feed from my Switch 2 on the NXTPAPER 14. I did have to buy and download the Noir Pro: USB Camera app for $9, but that’s a small price to pay to play my Switch 2 on a tablet.

As I recently had a chance to test out Genki’s new Covert Dock 3 with my Switch 2, I wanted to see if I could get some more demanding games running on the NXTPAPER 14. With its octa-core MediaTek MT8781 processor, you can play some simple games, but you won’t be playing the mobile version of Red Dead Redemption anytime soon. That’s where Genki’s ShadowCast 3 Pro comes in.

I hooked up the Covert Dock 3 under my desk, but instead of plugging in an HDMI cable to go out to my TV, I used the ShadowCast 3 Pro to get the video feed from my Switch 2 on the NXTPAPER 14. I did have to buy and download the Noir Pro: USB Camera app for $9, but that’s a small price to pay to play my Switch 2 on a tablet.

Not quite prime real estate

The NXTPAPER 14 remains just as impressive after using it for several months now as it did when it literally stopped me in my tracks while walking through that mall in Taiwan. I always thought smaller was best when it comes to tablets, but after spending some quality time with its massive display, I now appreciate all that extra screen real estate.

Compared to more premium tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra or the iPad Pro, the NXTPAPER 14 does struggle at times with more demanding tasks. However, not only are you paying half or even a third less than those flagship prices, but you also don’t have to budget for the extra cost of accessories like a case or a stylus — TCL gives you the whole "clipboard folio" kit right in the box.

Given that TCL was kind enough to send over both the NXTPAPER 14 and the 11 Plus, I’m going to use the latter when I need portable power and the former when sheer screen size is most important. Still, you can’t go wrong with either of these more affordable tablets, especially as they pack in plenty of unique features you just won’t find anywhere else.

Who knows? Maybe TCL will go even larger with its next NXTPAPER tablet. Even if it doesn’t, though, I’d love to see a second-generation NXTPAPER 14 with just a bit more power under the hood to match its massive potential.

More from Tom's Guide

• I use these 3 tricks with all my tablets so they don’t just feel like a bigger phone
• These are the best budget tablets under $500
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra vs. iPad Pro M5 — which tablet should you buy?

With spring in full swing and summer beach reads in your near future, now is the perfect time to grab a new Kindle. And while e-readers make it easier (and more fun) to read, it's no secret that they rarely go on sale. Luckily, Amazon is slashing the prices on select Kindle models as we speak.

In fact, Kindle Colorsoft and Paperwhite models and bundles are currently on sale with up to 31% off at Amazon. One of the cheapest deals is on the standalone Kindle Colorsoft ($60 off), or you can grab the Colorsoft bundled with a protective case and a power adapter. Plus, a Kindle makes the perfect Mother's Day gift for the moms who love to read.

If you're hoping to grab a new Kindle this spring, now is the perfect time to snap one up with a markdown. Keep scrolling to see my favorite Kindle deals.

Quick Links

• shop all Amazon deals
• Kindle Paperwhite (16GB): was $159 now $134
• Kindle Paperwhite Essentials Bundle: was $161 now $140
• Kindle Paperwhite Kids (16 GB): was $179 now $154
• Kindle Colorsoft (16GB): was $249 now $189
• Kindle Colorsoft Kids (16GB): was $269 now $209
• Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition Essentials Bundle (32GB): was $287 now $216
• Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition Essentials Bundle: was $367 now $321

Kindle Deals

The iPad Air is, to my mind, the perfect iPad for most people. It has just the right blend of price to performance to make it the Goldilocks device in Apple's tablet line-up. The iPad Pro is overkill, and the base iPad 11 lacks features for those wanting more than a content consumption device.

So when the iPad Air M4 arrived last month, I was primed to head down to my nearest Apple store and trade in my aging 2020 Air for the new model. But one thing has given me pause: the iPad Air still lacks an OLED screen.

According to a new report from ETNews citing an industry source, Samsung Display (which manufactures panels for Apple's tablets) is set to begin mass-producing new displays for an iPad Air OLED expected to be announced in March 2027.

Moving to an OLED display would presumably bring with it a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate. Apple finally brought that feature to the regular iPhone 17 last September, so I'd be mighty glad to see the iPad Air get the same treatment.

Currently, if you want the best display on an iPad, you need to go for the iPad Pro for those deeper blacks, enhanced contrast and more vibrant colors. Anyone who uses an iPad for video or photo editing will likely see the value in opting for an OLED device.

It's no secret to me (or probably you either) why Apple is dragging its heels on granting the iPad Air an OLED upgrade. The company wants to keep the best features fenced off to persuade people to go for the Pro models. But in a world where affordable Android tablets have been shipping with OLED screens for a couple of years now (case in point: Honor MagicPad 2), Apple withholding it from the iPad Air feels like gatekeeping gone too far.

The unnamed source in the ETNews report claims the next iPad Air "will feature an OLED with lower specifications and manufacturing costs." Which presumably means it will continue to be distinct from the iPad Pro in terms of performance, storage or certain features.

What will it do to the price?

Apple is riding high on credibility when it comes to affordable tech right now, thanks to the excellent MacBook Neo. But adding OLED to the iPad Air could easily lead to a price increase beyond the current $599/£599 MSRP.

The iPad Pro starts at $999 / £999, so I would hesitate to say an iPad Air OLED would cost north of $749, but with the current situation around RAM pricing, nothing is certain.

Would an iPad Air with an OLED screen tempt you to upgrade? Let me know in the comments.

More from Tom's Guide

• Samsung Galaxy Z fold 7 deal just defied RAMageddon with $400 price cut
• The most common charging habit is actually killing your phone — here's the fix
• I've found 5 secret iPhone 17 deals at Verizon — get up to a $270 gift card now

Less than a week after increasing the price of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, Samsung quietly hiked up the price of more devices — including phones (via Phone Arena). This time, the price hikes affect Galaxy Z Flip 7, Galaxy S25 Edge, Galaxy S25 FE, and a whole list of Galaxy Tabs that are too numerous to list here.

Like the Z Fold 7 before it, the Galaxy Z Flip 7's cheapest variant, which costs $1,099 for 256GB of storage, isn't getting a price increase. Sadly, the 512GB model is now $80 more expensive, with prices rising from $1,219 to $1,299.

It's the same situation with the Galaxy S25 Edge, with the 512GB model also increasing by $80 to $1,299. The Galaxy S25 FE's 256GB model is now $749, up from $709, with the 128GB model staying at the same $649 price tag as before.

On the tablet side, there are 17 separate price hikes across various Galaxy Tab models and storage variants. The most notable of these is the 1TB Galaxy S11 Ultra, which has risen from $1,619 to $1,899 — an increase of $280. The 512GB Galaxy Tab S11 has also risen by $220, from $979 to $1,199. You can see a full list of all the price hikes in the table below.

Samsung hasn't released any statements or information about this price increase, but it's not the only company to quietly raise prices like this. Motorola recently raised the price of a bunch of its 2026 phones, Microsoft raised Surface laptop prices earlier this week, and Asus hiked up the price of the Zenbook A14 and A16 hours after announcing totally different prices.

The less we talk about gaming handhelds, the better, because those prices are really getting out of control.

Financial pressures on the tech industry are clearly to blame for all this. RAMageddon means that lots of crucial components are now in short supply, on account of AI companies buying up all the RAM and flash storage for their data centers. Not to mention the fact that tariffs are still a thing, and the constant uncertainty surrounding those charges isn't helping matters.

So if you were on the fence about buying a piece of tech, and weren't planning on waiting for the major sales seasons like Black Friday, you should probably pull the trigger now. Because odds are, the price could be going up without any advanced warning.

More from Tom’s Guide

• Everyone is focusing on the wrong iPhone Fold specs — including Apple itself
• I’ve tested the iPhone 17 lineup — here’s why I’m holding out for the iPhone 18
• Freecash promised you could earn money playing mobile games, but Apple just removed it from the App Store for deception

Today is World Art Day, and while I'm not remotely artistic, I do have very talented friends who are.

To celebrate and offer guidance to those looking to finally leap into creating digital art, I asked my friend Robert for his advice. Robert is a professional illustrator with over seven years of experience working for clients such as Apple, Red Bull, EA, Nike, and now he works on AAA video games.

Combined with my tech expertise, we came up with three product tiers for those looking to get started with digital art, and honestly, I'm kind of tempted to start drawing myself after checking out some of these products.

This guide starts small, but gets pretty expensive quickly, and Robert wanted me to make sure that I emphasize the best way to start creating digital art is with whatever tools you've got access to.

You don't need the best to make amazing artwork, but sometimes treating yourself makes it that little bit easier. So celebrate World Art Day 2026 by treating your passions to a brand new way to draw and get creative, with expertise from a professional illustrator.

A great place to start

Robert says, " A Wacom Android tablet gives you everything you need to start making digital art." And that's why he recommends the Wacom MovinkPad 11. It has similar technology to Wacom's most impressive drawing tablets and grants you access to Clip Studio Paint, an excellent platform to get started drawing digitally.

If you already own a computer, buying a drawing tablet without a display to create with popular apps like Photoshop is a great option too.

And finally, if you want a multipurpose product, you can't get better than a standard iPad, granting you access to the Apple ecosystem and Procreate, one of the best apps for digital art out there. Robert says Procreate excels because "it's simple and intuitive," although at this price point, an entry-level iPad is only 11 inches, and the standard Apple Pencil has no pressure sensitivity.

Oh, and of course, Rob says it's always a good idea to still sketch offline and get inspiration from the outside world, so grabbing some markers is always advised.

Ready to spend a little more

So you're already creating digital art, but you want to take the next step and treat yourself to some excellent products that will enhance your passion.

If you're looking for an iPad, the 13-inch Air is the best bang for buck because you get a larger display to draw on and compatibility with the Apple Pencil Pro (yes, it has pressure sensitivity).

I've also included the best drawing stand, because Rob often tells me about his sore shoulder, and one of the best ways to combat Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) is to have good posture and a more comfortable drawing experience.

Some Pros actually opt for Wacom over the Apple ecosystem, and the MovinkPad Pro 14 has an OLED display with vivid colors that some will tell you is the best drawing experience on the go.

The Wacom Intuos Pro is the favorite of many digital artists, especially if you have access to a computer (hence my inclusion of the MacBook Neo), because you can have a way more comfortable posture when not drawing directly on a screen. Rob says he loves his Intuos Pro, especially when he's got body aches.

Your parents believe in you (and you've got money to spend)

The final tier of products are for those who (or already) draw professionally. In fact, some of these prices are so eye-watering, that unless you know you need a $3,500 Wacom display, you probably shouldn't even consider it.

Rob says the iPad Pro is one of the best displays for drawing, because it looks beautiful and colors pop from the screen. You can combine it with the Apple Pencil pro listed above to get barrel rotation and hover functionality.

He's also included the Tour Box which is excellent for streamlining artistic workflows, and can be combined with the best Wacom tablets on the market.

If you're serious about graphic design and digital art, the products listed below will serve for years to come, although an iPad Pro is maybe more realistic than spending a large mortgage payment on a 27 inch Cintiq Pro.

The Kobo Clara Colour is a godsend. Combining the best features of all of Amazon’s flagship e-readers, the Clara Colour has it all: color screen, warm night lighting, a touchscreen, 49-hour battery life, full waterproofing, and native Libby e-book borrowing. And my favorite part? It’s $90 cheaper than the Kindle equivalent, the Colorsoft.

But is this enough to make the Clara Colour one of the best e-readers you can get? Heck yeah! I love my Clara Colour. It’s everything I could ever want in an e-reader. The screen is paperlike and visible even in direct sunlight, and when I’m reading on a plane or car at night I can up the brightness without needing to turn on a separate light.

However, the Kobo library is considerably smaller than the Kindle library — which, personally, is a non-issue as every book I’ve tried to purchase has been available on Kobo — but if you’re a KU self-pubbed kind of reader, you might want to stick with the larger library. To find out the full story (pun intended), keep reading this Kobo Clara Colour review.

Kobo Clara Colour review: Cheat sheet

• Who is it for? If you want an e-reader without paying the Kindle tax
• What does it do well? It’s $90 cheaper than the Kindle Colorsoft and does everything just as well
• What are its weaknesses? The Kobo library doesn't have as many books, but this is a non-issue for readers like me
• What should you use it for? Um, getting back into reading like the insatiable little bookworm you are

Kobo Clara Colour review: Specs

Kobo Clara Colour review: Price & availability

I blurred all book text to protect copyright. The Kobo Clara Colour display is clear and distinguished in real life.

Interestingly, the Kobo Clara Colour is spelled the same in the U.K. and the U.S., despite “colour” being the British/Canadian/Australian variant. In the U.S., you’ll find the Clara Colour for $159 at Amazon, and for £149 in the U.K..

Even so, the clue’s in the name: the Clara Colour is the color version of the BW model, which is $139/£139. This is Kobo’s entry-level e-reader: if you want a Kindle Scribe ($449) equivalent, you’d be looking at the Kobo Libra Colour ($229) or Kobo Elipsa 2E ($399).

The Kobo Clara Colour is considerably cheaper than the Kindle equivalent — the Colorsoft is $249, $90 pricier than the Clara Color. Similarly, the BW Clara is $139, whereas the Kindle Paperwhite is $159. True, the basic Kindle is just $109 — but this doesn’t have a warm light setting (unlike the Kobo Clara), so you can’t switch to night-safe reading.

Kobo Clara Colour review: The ups

The Kobo Clara Colour has so much going for it: night mode, the display clarity, the bright color, IPX8 rating, super lightweight feel, scrollable library, and more.

Night mode!

Unlike the basic Kindle, which lacks a night mode/warm setting, the Kobo Clara Colour offers both daytime and nighttime display. You can either select night mode to come on automatically, or you can manually adjust.

When I first started testing the Clara Colour, I set my bedtime at 9:00PM (yes, I am a grandma). You can choose between 9:00PM-3:00AM, which I think is a bit crazy. Who’s out here going to be at 3:00AM? In a perfect world, I think it’d make more sense for bedtime to align with your location’s sunset and sunrise times — but this isn’t a major issue, as you can just manually turn on night mode whenever the sun sets in your area.

But even if you’re reading at nighttime in a dark environment — think of being on a plane where you don’t want to disturb your neighbor by turning on the overhead light — you can just up the brightness while in night mode. While not completely blue light free, reading a frontlit e-reader with a warm filter isn’t overly detrimental to your melatonin production.

Paperlike display

As touched on briefly above, the Clara Colour uses a frontlit display rather than the LED, backlit display you might be used to. Generally, smartphones and tablets utilize backlit, blue-light displays, which are both difficult to read in the sun and can be detrimental to your melatonin production.

The Clara Colour has a frontlit display, meaning it uses tiny LEDs that illuminate across the screen itself rather than up into your eyes. This is also a paperlike display — I genuinely think it looks 99% like real paper.

Take a look at the screen in direct sunlight.

As you can see, the text is clearly legible, even in strong, direct sunlight. I don’t think the screen is grainy at all, nor suffers from leftover shadows (A.K.A “ghosting”) like the Kindle Paperwhite is known to, either.

Pool-safe, dunk-in-the-tub-surviving IPX8 rating

The Clara Colour is IPX8 rated, which means it’ll survive up to 60 minutes in up to 2 meters of water. The Kindle Colorsoft and Kindle Paperwhite have the same IPX8 rating, but the Kindle basic has zero waterproofing.

In real terms, this means you’ll be able to accidentally drop your Clara Colour in the bathtub or dry off from the pool beside it without it saying goodbye forever.

E-book renting — local library dependent, of course

If your local library uses Libby (Overdrive), you can rent e-books like you would borrow normal books. Unfortunately, my local library uses BorrowBox, which isn’t directly available on the Kobo store. However, I can still download ebooks from BorrowBox and manually load them onto my Kobo using Adobe Digital Editions and a USB-C cable.

I’d like to see Kobo introduce direct BorrowBox compatibility soon, as it’s much, much more widely used than Libby in the U.K., where I live.

If you’re in the U.S., though, you’re in luck. Libby is used by 22,000 libraries across the United States, so your local library might just be one of them. In this case, you can select Libby directly in your Clara Colour and browse available ebooks.

As you can see, the app is native to your e-reader itself, so don’t worry about downloading books onto your computer and manually installing onto the Kobo.

Manga, audiobooks, Kobo Unlimited, oh my!

If you’re a manga reader, audiobooks listener, or Kindle Unlimited devourer, don’t worry. Kobo has you covered. You can still get manga on the Kobo Store — and it looks fantastic. The clarity is incredible, and the full color cover is gorgeous.

As you can see, the color cover is beautiful, with no grainy, faded, or blurry areas. This is easily Kindle Colorsoft-equalling, and you save $90 in the process. Despite being on a 6-inch screen, I was able to read all the text on this manga, and I was never struggling to make out smaller words. Of course, you read manga right-to-left, so remember to tap the left side of the screen to change page.

In the Kobo Store, you can also browse tons of audiobooks. You’ve got the big names — think Stephen King, Sarah J. Maas, Terry Pratchett — but also books I’d never heard of by authors I’d never heard of. Of course, you can check Kobo’s ebook and audiobook store online without going through an e-reader.

Finally, if you’re coming from a Kindle, you’re in luck! Kobo also offers Kobo Plus, an unlimited service, where you pay a subscription for unlimited books each month. Kindle Unlimited is $11.99 a month for unlimited books and e-books. Kobo Plus is $7.99 for either just ebooks and just audiobooks, or $9.99 for both.

Kindle offers 5 million books, whereas Kobo offers 1.5 million books — this may or may not be an issue, depending on what kind of reader you are, which I’ll get into now.

Kobo Clara Colour review: The downs

As much as I’m enamored with my Kobo Clara Colour, there’s one thing that might hold me back from recommending it for everyone.

Kindle library is much bigger

Now, this one is a little weird for me. I think it depends on what kind of reader you are. Personally, I mostly read traditionally published books, and all of the books I’ve tried to buy from the Kobo Store have been available.

If you’re the Kindle Unlimited self-published kind of reader, you might be better off sticking to the bigger library. This is not to say that Kobo’s bookstore is lacking or threadbare, but more so that the Kindle bookstore had a wider variety of lesser-known, self-published books.

However, if you’re the kind of person who buys books from Barnes & Noble and your local independent bookstore, you’re probably going to be fine with the Kobo Store. As I said, every book I’ve tried to buy has been available, so this is a total non-issue for me.

Kobo Clara Colour review: Verdict

Would I recommend the Kobo Clara Colour to 99% of the population? Without a shadow of a doubt. I flew through every book I was reading on the Clara Colour because it was so easy to read everywhere — in bed, at the park, on the bus, you name it. The sleep cover also has a magnetic kickstand, so I could prop the Clara Colour up to read hands-free.

All that being said, if you’re predominantly a Kindle Unlimited self-published book lover, you might want to stick with the bigger library. Kindle offers millions of indie books, whereas Kobo offers just one million.

Even so, this is a non-issue for me. Every book I’ve looked up on the Kobo Store has been instantly available. If you’re the same kind of reader, you’ll be just as obsessed with the Kobo Clara Colour as I am.

Amazon is making a slew of older Kindle devices obsolete starting in May. This means that you won't be able to download new books unless you find a workaround or purchase a newer model.

As reported by The Verge (and elsewhere), starting on May 20th, 2026 Kindle e-readers and Kindle Fire tablets released in 2012 and before will "no longer be able to purchase, borrow, or download new content via the Kindle Store."

Any books you already have on those devices will still be accessible. And you can still access your accounts and purchases via the Kindle mobile app, Kindle site and newer models. Additionally, if your older Kindle is factory reset or deregistered, you won't be able to re-register after May 20.

Here's the complete list of Kindle devices losing support going back to the original Kindle, which launched in 2007.

• Kindle 1st Generation (2007)
• Kindle DX (2009)
• Kindle DX Graphite (2010)
• Kindle Keyboard (2010)
• Kindle 4 (2011)
• Kindle Touch (2011)
• Kindle 5 (2012)
• Kindle Paperwhite 1st Generation (2012)
• Kindle Fire 1st Gen (2011)
• Kindle Fire 2nd Gen (2012)
• Kindle Fire HD 7 (2012)
• Kindle Fire HD 8.9 (2012)

The youngest devices on that list is 14 years old at this point.

According to the report, Amazon will send out emails to impacted Kindle owners before the deadline which will outline what your devices can and cannot do. The pre-2012 Kindle Fire devices won't be able to download new books, but other Amazon services and apps you have shouldn't be updated.

Amazon is offering a 20% discount on new Kindle devices and a $20 ebook credit that will arrive on your account after the upgrade. The credit only lasts a month valid through June 20, 2026 at 11:59 pm PT.

Up until now, Amazon has largely left owners of older Kindles alone, letting them purchase and download ebooks as desired. There was a 2016 software update that maintained access to the Kindle Store.

Before last February, you could have gotten around this restriction by downloading your books on your computer and transferring them using the USB port. However, Amazon killed that function.

What are your options?

If you insist on keeping your older Kindle, especially if it's still working well, you could consider jailbreaking it. I won't tell you how to do it here, but there are ways.

If you want to upgrade, currently, Kindles start at $110 for the entry-level version. The Kindle Paperwhite will set you back $160, while the color-screen Kindle Colorsoft is $250. At the high-end, there is the giant Kindle Scribe writing tablet, which starts at $400 for the non-color version.

If you need help deciding, check out our guide to the best Kindles. We've also included recommendations for some non-Amazon ereaders if you're looking to get out of the Amazon ecosystem.

More from Tom's Guide

• Best DIY home security systems
• Amazon has a hidden button that connects you with a real customer service agent — here's where to find it
• I used ChatGPT to shop smarter on Amazon — and I finally stopped overpaying

It's Apple's 50th anniversary today, and that means I get to find awesome ways of celebrating the old by decorating the new.

2026 has ushered in a whole host of retro revivals, and there's something deeply satisfying about seeing the classic Apple aesthetic make a comeback. The rainbow logo, the beige plastics, the Macintosh silhouette — it all hits different when you realize half a century has passed since Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak started building computers in a garage.

Right now, there's a wave of beautifully crafted retro-styled accessories for your iPhone, Mac, AirPods, and Apple Watch that pay tribute to Apple's design history while working perfectly with your modern devices. I'm talking classic Macintosh-shaped Mac docks, rainbow Apple logo skins, AirPods cases that look like the original iPod, and watch bands inspired by the candy-colored iMac G3.

I've rounded up my favorite retro Apple accessories available right now. Whether you're a longtime Apple fan who remembers the "Think Different" era, or you just love the vintage aesthetic, these are the products that'll make your setup stand out all year, not just for Apple's 50th anniversary.

Retro iPhone Accessories

There's something special about dressing your iPhone up in a design that nods back to where it all began. These cases all tap into the nostalgia you have for retro Apple products, such as the iconic Bondi Blue iMac G3.

Retro Apple Watch Accessories

If there's one retro Apple accessory that genuinely makes me smile every time I see it, it's the Elago W3 Nightstand Stand. It turns your Apple Watch charger into a miniature classic Macintosh, and I just love the way it looks.

Retro AirPods Accessories

Elago's Classic Monitor case transforms your AirPods into a tiny version of the iconic Macintosh monitor, but my personal favorite might actually be the Music Player case, which turns your AirPods case into a miniature click-wheel iPod.

Retro Mac Accessories

DBrand's retro skin collection lets you wrap your MacBook in designs inspired by the original beige Macintosh plastic, while I just love the look of RayCue's retro dock that sits on your desk pretending to be a Mac from 40 years ago.

Every accessory on this list lets you celebrate the old, while upgrading the new, and I absolutely can't get enough of this nostalgic aesthetic. So pick up a retro AirPods case, slap a rainbow logo on your MacBook, and enjoy the best of both eras. After all, it's not every day a tech company turns 50 — and it's even rarer that its original aesthetic still looks this good.

April 1st 2026, marks a massive milestone for Apple: The company's 50th birthday. From a garage in Los Altos to the most valuable company on the planet, Apple has spent half a century shaping how we live, work, and create.

One brand that wants to cherish the history of Apple's innovations over the years is Grid Studio, which is making some of the best Apple-themed display pieces I've ever seen.

Grid Studio takes old Apple products and repurposes them in beautiful frames that showcase the components of some of the world's most iconic tech devices. From the original iPhone to the famous MacBook Air Steve Jobs pulled out of an envelope, Grid Studio offers a unique way to celebrate the Cupertino company.

For Apple's 50th anniversary, I've pulled together my favorite Grid Studio Apple frames, so you can add some nostalgia to your home decor. Better yet, Grid is offering some pretty large discounts to commemorate such a momentous occasion, with some display pieces up to 40% off.

Think of this as the ultimate Apple birthday gift — for yourself.

iPhones through the years

iPads, Macs, and more

Why I love my Grid Studio frame

Happy 50th, Apple. Here's to 50 more years of innovation. Whether you're treating yourself or buying a gift for the Apple fan in your life, Grid Studio makes excellent products that instantly upgrade your home decor.

I've owned an original iPad frame for over four years, and I love the way it looks in my office. I often look at the iPad and get nostalgic about a simpler time when teenage me saved up to buy one at launch.

The cool thing about Grid Studio frames is that they keep every element of the Apple product, which not only repurposes broken devices that would otherwise end up in landfill but also lets you see every component that, combined, made the device behind the glass.

For many of us now working in technology, the love for tech stemmed from Apple, and these Grid Studio frames are a thoughtful and tasteful way to celebrate the company without totally breaking the bank.

If you want to turn your iPad Air into a productivity machine, you’re probably going to need a keyboard case. When I reviewed the iPad Air M4, Apple sent along its Magic Keyboard Case for me to test too, and while it’s a great accessory — I was able to type nearly as fast as my regular keyboard — I couldn’t get over the fact that it costs $269, nearly half as much as the iPad Air itself. And, Apple’s keyboard lacks backlighting, making it much harder to use in darker conditions.

Fortunately, there are dozens of companies who make iPad Air keyboard cases that cost far less than Apple’s, so I rounded up eight models to see which is the best accessory for your tablet. On each, I used the Speed Typer iPad app, and timed myself three times to get an average score for both speed and accuracy.

I rated each on three criteria (design, price and typing speed) on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best), to see which can really turn your iPad into a laptop replacement.

Belkin Pro Keyboard Case with Magnetic Stand

Like Logitech and Zagg, Belkin’s case was one of the more expensive models I tested (but still about $100 less than Apple’s). I liked its soft-touch cover and overall look and feel; at 1 pound 7 ounces, it fell in the middle of the pack weight-wise.

The Belkin case has five rows of keys, so you need to press the function button to access iPad-specific controls. There’s only one color for the backlighting, but you can adjust its brightness via a dedicated button to the left of the arrow keys. The backlighting was nice and even, though not as refined as Logitech’s.

On the typing test, I averaged an excellent 61 words per minute, with a 99 percent accuracy rate — the best among all the cases I tested, Apple included. However, one thing I thought was a plus — the extra large touchpad — proved to be a bit of a detriment, as my hands brushed against it, frequently causing the cursor to jump and open windows by accident. I had to restart the typing test several times because I would inadvertently open another window by mistake.

Price: 1
Design: 7
Typing speed: 10
Total score: 18

Dancesoul Keyboard Case for iPad Air 11 inch

This is one of dozens of no-name Chinese brands selling iPad accessories; while the Amazon listing says “Dancesoul,” the spacebar and enclosed materials are all branded Wiwu. Still, the price is right, the build quality is sturdy, and the exterior of the case has a nice soft-touch finish. Outwardly, this keyboard case most closely mimics Apple’s own case, right down to the oval-shaped hinge and embedded USB-C port.

I also like that there’s a dedicated sixth row of keys for iPad-specific controls. The case is somewhat heavy at 1.2 pounds, but that’s right in the middle. The keyboard backlighting can be switched between seven colors. However, it’s not the brightest. Instead of a dedicated on/off switch, like on some of the other cases I tested, this one turns on automatically when you open the lid. It’s a nice feature to have.

Sadly, I averaged just 50 words per minute, with a 96 percent accuracy rate, the lowest score among the cases I tested.

Price: 7
Design: 5
Typing speed: 1
Total score: 13

ESR for iPad Air 11 Inch Case with Keyboard

ESR’s case has a unique, and really clever feature: the upper portion of its case can be removed from the keyboard section, and rotated to either portrait or landscape mode. The case also has a small slot to store a stylus, another nicety. The detachable section was very light, so it won’t offer the protection of a Zagg case, but won’t get in the way, either.

The exterior of the ESR case has a leather-like feel that’s very close to Apple’s own case, and the keyboard deck itself also has a nice soft-touch finish. At $112, this case fell in the middle of the ones I tested - it was neither the cheapest, nor the most expensive.

The backlit keyboard has five rows of keys; it took me a few minutes to get the feel for the keyboard, but I eventually averaged 61 words per minute with a 98 percent accuracy rate, which tied Belkin for the fastest overall score.

Price: 6
Design: 9
Typing speed: 10
Total score: 25

Logitech Combo touch

At $169, this is one of the most expensive options on the market (though still $100 less than Apple’s own case). Logitech’s case comes in two sections, an upper part that encases the iPad, and the keyboard. The two halves connect magnetically. It’s a neat idea — it’s easy to simply leave the keyboard behind — but it has one main drawback. In order to prop the iPad up, you have to extend a stand out at the back of the case, which takes up a lot more space than the other cases, which have stiff hinges. I couldn’t see myself using this easily on a plane, for instance.

Still, Logitech makes good use of all that room, adding a sixth row of iPad keys and the most spacious touchpad I’ve seen on a keyboard case. It’s even larger than the one on the official Apple case. However, I found that I was more prone to accidentally brushing part of my left hand against it, which made the cursor jump around.

It’s also the only keyboard that has an app - once installed, it updated the keyboard’s firmware. But, unlike Logitech’s gaming keyboards, there’s no customization options, so the app is kind of useless otherwise.

This keyboard has the nicest backlighting of the group — it’s bright and even — but the keys had the least amount of travel of the bunch. I averaged 56 words per minute and 98% accuracy, which was in the middle of the pack.

Price: 1
Design: 8
Typing speed: 5
Total score: 15

RuneLK keyboard

The RuneLK case looks like it came off the same assembly line as Belkin’s model; the two are nearly identical, save for a few minor things like branding and the font on the keys. It has a nice soft-touch exterior and a circular hinge that lets you tilt the iPad back about 130 degrees, similar to the other cases. Unlike others, it only has five rows of keys, so iPad functions, like adjusting the brightness, are part of the number row.

It only has one color backlighting — white — but there’s a dedicated key for adjusting the brightness, which I liked (other keyboards require you to press Function plus another button). The backlighting was nice and bright, too.

On the typing test, I averaged 56 words per minute with a 97 percent accuracy rate, which ranks in the middle of the pack. This case was also one of the heavier models at 1.7 pounds, but didn’t feel too weighty.

Price: 7
Design: 7
Typing speed: 5
Total score: 19

Tolpeiksoy Magnetic Keyboard Case with Stylus Pen for iPad Air 11-inch

Of the keyboard cases I tested, this is the only one that also came with a stylus — though there’s no loop to connect it to the keyboard, a strange oversight. Still, that’s another $80 you won’t have to spend buying the Apple Pencil. And, the company also includes a membrane cover for the keyboard to keep it clean. However, this was also the heaviest case I tested, at 1 pound, 8.7 ounces.

This case has a nice faux-leather type finish on the outside, one of the more pleasing ones I felt. Instead of it being wake-to-open, it has an on/off switch, but there’s no dedicated row of iPad keys - they’re added as functions with the number row.

You can choose between seven colors for the backlighting, but I found it a bit distracting, owing mainly to the fact that the keys were white, so the light bled through; I found that red turned up the best. I only averaged 51 words per minute, with an accuracy rate of 96% — the second-lowest among the cases I tested. Curiously, I had the greatest variation in speeds, going from a low of 43 wpm to a high of 62 wpm.

Price: 3
Design: 5
Typing speed: 2
Total score: 10

typecase Touch Keyboard Case for iPad Air

While all of the keyboard cases I tested let you use your iPad to type, they all require you to remove the iPad if you want to use it as a standalone tablet. Typecase’s unique swivel design lets you rotate the Air in the case and fold it flat against the keyboard, which is pretty clever. And, there's even a holder for a stylus, something you don't get with a lot of these cases.

However, the entire thing is plasticky — it was the cheapest-feeling of the group — and there’s a bit of flex in the keyboard itself. Considering its design, I was expecting this case to weigh the most of the group, but it was about average, tipping the scales at 1.3 pounds.

I like that the keyboard has a separate sixth row for iPad controls. The keyboard’s backlight color can be changed between 11 colors or just a plain white, and you can have it automatically cycle between the colors, as well as adjust the brightness. The backlighting was even and bright, one of the best from the group. Using the Speed Typer test, I averaged 58 words per minute with a 99 percent accuracy rate, which was one of my better performances of the group.

Price: 10
Design: 6
Typing speed: 8
Total score: 24

Zagg Pro Keys Connect

Zagg’s case was the heaviest of the bunch I tested, coming in at 1.7 pounds. However, that’s because Zagg’s case is rated for a 6.6-foot drop protection, so this could be the model for those who are clumsier.

Like the Logitech case, you can detach the keyboard. The two halves connect magnetically, but there’s one extra element to the Zagg case that makes it less convenient: you have to connect a USB-C plug into the iPad itself to power the case. Logitech makes things simpler by using the three metal contact points on the rear of the iPad itself.

Also like Logitech’s case, Zagg’s uses a rear kickstand to prop itself up, which takes up more desk space than the other models in this roundup. I do like, though, that there’s a small clip on the front where you can attach a stylus.

While the backlit keyboard and touchpad are very spacious, the keys themselves felt small and too smooth for my liking; my fingers often slipped, and as a result, I got a fairly middling score on the typing test, averaging 53 words per minute with a 96% accuracy rate.

Price: 2
Design: 6
Typing speed: 5
Total score: 13

Scorecard

Bottom line

Overall, the ESR case was my favorite among the iPad Air cases I tested, scoring 25 out of a possible 30 points. While it wasn’t the least expensive model, nor was it the priciest, and I liked the fact that it not only had a slot for a stylus, but also let me use the Air in both landscape and portrait mode.

If you’re looking for a budget model, the typecase tied the ESR for overall points; its design isn’t as refined, but it was still reasonably light, and let me swivel the tablet around a full 360 degrees. And, I notched my second-highest typing score. The fact that it costs less than $70 makes it even more appealing.

If you’re looking for durability, Zagg’s is the best option, though I wasn’t enamored with the design of its keys, nor how the iPad connected to the case itself.

While the iPad Air might not be the cheap productivity machine that is the MacBook Neo, you can still use it to get work done — and you don’t have to pay Apple’s prices to do so.

I’ve owned an iPad since 2022, and I’ll be honest, I haven’t gotten much use out of it — until recently. I just tested the Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL that has turned my iPad into a gaming powerhouse and, honestly, has breathed new life into it. The Kishi V3 Pro XL is a powerful mobile gaming controller with fantastic TMR thumbsticks, four extra buttons, and clicky triggers, all packed into an ergonomic body.

Featuring full-sized triggers and thumbsticks as well as passthrough charging, this is the only controller you need if you’re a fan of on-the-go gaming. But is it perfect? Sadly not quite. The lack of rumble and haptics on Apple devices will make its premium price tag very difficult to stomach for iOS/iPadOS users.

To find out if this is the best mobile game controller for you, read my full Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL review.

Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL review: Specs

Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A gaming controller for iPads and USB-C tablets
• Who is it for? Anyone who enjoys gaming on the go and wants a comfortable controller
• How much does it cost? The Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL is available for $199 / £164
• What do we like? The ergonomic design, TMR thumbsticks, passthrough charging, and compatibility with many tablets
• What don’t we like? No rumble or haptics on iOS/iPadOS and the premium price tag

Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL review: The ups

From its ergonomic design and passthrough charging, to its powerful TMR thumbsticks and clicky triggers, the Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL is an absolute must-have accessory for iPad owners.

Extremely comfortable and ergonomic

I’ve tested and used my fair share of mobile and tablet gaming controllers. Some have been good; some have been bad; and a few have been peerless in the comfort department. The Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL falls into the third category as it’s one of the comfiest controllers I’ve used — despite its big footprint.

The Kishi V3 Pro XL’s plate where the tablet sits measures 12.91 x 4.36 x 2.54 inches when the controller is outstretched, enabling it to accommodate a 13-inch iPad Pro. Even so, it doesn’t feel unwieldy to handle. It weighs 10.97oz without a tablet inserted, and with my iPad Air 10.9-inch slotted in, the controller weighs 1.73lbs, and I haven’t found it too heavy to hold. Having used the controller for a six-hour straight gaming stint, my hands didn’t feel fatigued or like they were cramping from the controller’s design.

This is also partly due to the ergonomic, chunky grips which feel similar to the ones you’ll find on the likes of the Xbox Elite Wireless 2 ($179). In fact, the Kishi V3 Pro XL feels like what you’d get if you sliced a Razer Wolverine V3 Pro ($199) down the middle and slotted a tablet in between the two grips. That itself speaks volumes about the Kishi V3 Pro XL as the Wolverine V3 Pro is undoubtedly the best premium PC game controller on the market.

I love the full-sized thumbsticks and triggers too which, again, feel like the ones on the Wolverine V3 Pro. I’m a big fan of offset thumbsticks as they feel more ergonomic to me (and something I always miss on my PlayStation DualSense). All in all, the Kishi V3 Pro XL is an excellent, ergonomic controller designed for all-day play.

Compatible with many tablets

If you already own an iPad or an Android tablet, the Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL is the right choice for you. It’s compatible with the iPad Pro (11 and 13 inches), the iPad Air (11 and 13 inches), the standard iPad (10.9 inches), and USB-C Android tablets. You can connect it to your PC too, thanks to the included cable, and use it as a regular gamepad.

Included in the box are two sets of rubber bumpers for adjusting the controller to your device size, alongside two swappable thumbstick caps (one tall concave and one short convex). I found the rubber bumpers super easy to replace, and I’d recommend trying out the different sizes to ensure that your tablet fits snugly.

Powerful TMR sticks

The Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL boasts outstanding gaming performance, thanks to its TMR thumbsticks, mouse-like analog triggers, high polling rate, and more. I tested the controller with my iPad 10.9-inch, as I mentioned earlier, and played my favorite PS5 games via the PS Remote Play app. First, its polling rate can be set to either 1,000Hz or 4,000Hz, adjustable via the Razer Nexus companion app. Having tested both, I didn’t experience any latency issues or input lag.

Next, the TMR thumbsticks. Tunnel Magneto Resistance (TMR) sensors are superior to Hall Effect ones (which are also great in their own right), as they use weak electromagnetic waves rather than strong ones. This means that smaller adjustments and minute movements are picked up by the sensors, and the boost to accuracy in racing and FPS titles is certainly noticeable.

I tested this out by playing Need for Speed Heat, and I instantly noticed the performance difference between playing the game on my DualSense versus the Kishi V3 Pro XL. Thanks to the latter’s TMR sticks, I was able to not only maintain a straight line while driving, I could also go right up to the rear bumper of the car ahead of me and overtake right before making contact. This gave me a bit of a competitive advantage. I found the thumbsticks very comfortable too (I used the short convex caps), and thanks to how responsive they were, I was able to easily navigate down the winding mountain roads and turn tight corners.

I also appreciated being able to make minute adjustments in FPS titles, such as Cyberpunk 2077. With my sniper rifle pointed at a group of NPCs in the distance, I could move the right stick ever so slightly to choose the correct target, even though several of them were standing close together. It made me feel like I was in a James Bond movie, to be honest.

Mouse-like triggers and face buttons

Another thing I absolutely adore on the Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL is how the triggers and face buttons feel. The controller features analog triggers so while they aren’t as customizable as Hall Effect ones on the likes of the GameSir G8 Plus ($99), I’d be lying if I said they didn’t feel darn good to play with.

The triggers, along with the face buttons, two extra shoulder buttons and back buttons, feel mouse-like to press, similar to the ones on the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro. They’re extremely responsive and straight out of the box, they didn’t feel stiff at all. I jumped right into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to try them out. Each button and trigger press was instantaneously registered, and I appreciated the tactile feedback I got as well. I also found it handy that I didn’t need to press the buttons or triggers too hard for my commands to register. I was able to execute perfectly timed parries and dodges in Expedition 33, which helped me win crucial boss battles.

Drifting and braking in Need for Speed Heat was a walk in the park thanks to the triggers as well. They’re full-size which means that there’s plenty of room for your fingers to sit atop the longer R2 and L2 triggers. Again, I didn’t find it fatiguing to hold down L2 in drift challenges. I also appreciate the addition of four extra clicky buttons (two on top, two around the back). I remapped the M1 button on the back as the nitro (N2O) button so all I had to do was use my right middle finger to toggle it when I needed a speed boost, which freed up my thumb to remain on the right thumbstick.

User-friendly companion app

As I alluded to before, the Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL is accompanied by the Razer Nexus app which is free to download on iOS, iPadOS and Android. Razer Nexus sports a clean user interface and is your one-stop shop for all the games installed on your device, and for launching apps like PS Remote Play, Steam Link, and even emulators. It’s easy to navigate and there are no intrusive pop-ups that deter from the experience.

Razer Nexus is also your hub for customizing the Kishi V3 Pro XL. Within the app — which can be quickly accessed by hitting the Nexus button located under the right thumbstick — you can customize the four extra buttons, remap the others, adjust the TMR sticks’ deadzone, swap between analog and digital triggers, and adjust the controller’s polling rate. Simple enough to do, and thanks to native compatibility, you can even adjust a few of these settings from the iPad’s Settings menu too.

Passthrough charging

Last but certainly not least, the Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL features passthrough charging. It’s important to note that the controller doesn’t feature a built-in battery and is instead powered by your tablet, so passthrough charging is a must. This basically means that you can charge your iPad or Android tablet while it’s slotted into the Kishi V3 Pro XL. The USB-C port is located on the right grip.

Passthrough charging has quickly become a non-negotiable for me, and I hate it when a controller doesn’t feature it — the GameSir G8 Plus and the Scuf Nomad ($99), for instance. It’s also something we’ve seen on the Backbone Pro ($169) and the GameSir X5 Lite ($34) and, in all honesty, if Razer didn’t include passthrough charging at this price (more on that shortly) I would’ve been flabbergasted.

Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL review: The downs

Alas, the Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL isn’t perfect. There’s no rumble or haptics on Apple devices, and the price tag is a little difficult to stomach.

No rumble or haptics on Apple devices

One of the most disappointing things about the Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL, and perhaps a dealbreaker for some, is the fact that its rumble and haptics don’t work on iOS and iPadOS devices. You’d best believe it when I say that I let out the biggest sigh possible when I plugged in my iPad and there was no rumble in the games I played. Razer does state this on the official product page, but in small print that might get missed by most people as it’s accompanied by bold letters stating “Next-Gen Tactile Feedback” and “RAZER SENSA HD HAPTICS” in all caps.

This is a limitation confined to iOS and iPadOS (as the rumble works with Android tablets), but Apple added rumble support on iPadOS 15, so Razer isn’t off the hook here.

Even if it were an issue stemming from iPadOS or the PS Remote Play app, it would’ve been nice to have the incompatibility warning a little more prominent. I’ve seen many people complain about the lack of haptics on iPadOS on r/razerkishi and r/razer subreddits, and many have stated that they’ve ended up returning their Kishi V3 Pro XLs for this reason. I won’t lie, it’s certainly disappointing especially given that the controller is advertised as one designed for iPads.

But I’d also like to note that rumble and haptics aren’t found on that many mobile controllers. These are missing from the GameSir G8 Plus and the Backbone Pro, for instance, and are a limitation of iOS and iPadOS. I really can’t think of any other iPad controller that does feature haptics. This is a major pre-purchase consideration for you to chew over, and the only drawback of using the Kishi V3 Pro XL and other controllers with an iPhone or iPad. In the meantime, I’ve reached out to a Razer representative to get a clearer picture and understanding.

Costs a premium

While the Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL is an excellent iPad controller, there’s no sugarcoating the fact that it’s quite expensive. It retails for $199 / £164 at Amazon, making it the most expensive mobile controller I’ve tested so far (at the time of writing). This makes the Kishi V3 Pro XL as expensive as the PlayStation Portal ($199). The standard, smaller Kishi V3 Pro model designed for smartphones is a little cheaper at $149, but is the $50 price difference justified, especially when rivals like the GameSir G8 Plus ($99) are available for far less?

But the Kishi V3 Pro XL doesn’t have many other competitors. Most other controllers compatible with the iPad take the shape and form of your regular gamepad, like the PlayStation DualSense (which works just fine with the iPad). The biggest difference is, of course, the fact that you need to prop your iPad up on a table to use a standard gamepad, which you don’t need to do with the Kishi V3 Pro XL. It is, then, perhaps justified that the controller costs so much, but the fact that rumble and haptics don’t work as intended leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL review: Verdict

Razer knows how to make a good gaming peripheral, and the Kishi V3 Pro XL is one of the best iPad accessories you can buy today, especially if you’re a gamer. The controller is ergonomically designed with full-size thumbsticks and triggers, making it perfect for all-day gaming. Passthrough charging also means that you don’t have to worry about your tablet running out of charge mid-gaming.

I love the TMR thumbsticks and mouse-like analog triggers and extra buttons. They’re all highly responsive in FPS, racing and RPG titles, and they can be customized via the user-friendly app too. But is all of this worth nearly $200, especially when there’s no haptics or rumble on Apple devices? Kinda. The Kishi V3 Pro XL has carved out a niche for itself, and if it’s an ergonomic iPad mobile game controller you need, it’s really the only one to get.

Apple announced a bunch of incredible new hardware at the start of the year, including the iPad Air M4 and the $599 MacBook Neo. But there was one rumored device that never made an appearance — the entry-level iPad 12. Those of you eagerly anticipating a new version of Apple's cheapest tablet are in luck; it sounds like it's still on the way.

We know that thanks to accessory-maker ESR Tech, which posted a listing for an iPad-12 compatible screen protector (via GSMArena). The listing has since been removed, but it specifically referred to the tablet as the iPad 11" (A18) 2026, so it's absolutely clear which version of the device this screen protector was for. The iPad 11 was released last year and was powered by the A16 chipset, for reference.

The listing did confirm that the new model has the same dimensions as the iPad 11, so you'd be forgiven for not being able to tell the difference between the two. However, apparent confirmation that the tablet will feature an A18 chip is going to dampen all the rumors suggesting the iPad 12 would have an A19 chip.

There's not a whole lot more the listing can tell us, but the fact that this page has gone up — even accidentally — might suggest that the iPad 12 launch isn't very far away. The only question is when? Mark Gurman at Bloomberg claims that the tablet is "coming soon" and could launch alongside the iPad mini 8. Sadly, this vague release window doesn't tell us much about when to expect either device.

Since the iPad 12 isn't a product that's high-profile enough to warrant a dedicated Apple event, it means the tablet could literally drop at any time. We're just going to have to be patient and see what happens, and whether Apple will deliver either tablet before WWDC 2026 in June.

There's not a whole lot we know about the iPad 12 right now, other than the fact that it might be the first entry-level iPad to support Apple Intelligence. That would mean an increased amount of RAM, since Apple's AI features require at least 8GB of memory to function.

We probably shouldn't expect a lot, though. Entry-level iPads are usually pretty barebones compared to the best iPads, including iPad Air and iPad Pro, offering far fewer opportunities for upgrades. Though, as the proud owner of an iPad 10, I would love it if Apple could add a glare-resistant screen and higher brightness in a future model. Trying to use my tablet in a bright place is nearly impossible.

More from Tom's Guide

• 'I am not a fan of AI' — Apple's Steve Wozniak is unimpressed and thinks it can't replace humans
• Future iPhones could pack a 200MP camera — here's what that means for you
• This Apple Music feature is my favorite upgrade in iOS 26.4 — here’s why

I love buying physical books, especially the fancy ones that look nice on a shelf and show off how you're not just a phone addict who spends their days watching TikTok. But actually reading them isn't always practical, especially if you want to keep them in good condition. That's where e-readers like the Kindle Colorsoft come in.

The Kindle Colorsoft is a full-color e-reader from Amazon, letting you load up on books to read whenever you're not admiring that hardback copy of your favorite novel. It just so happens that this Kindle is now back to its lowest ever price in the Amazon Spring Sale. That means you can pick up a Kindle Colorsoft (16GB) for just $169 at Amazon. That's 32% off the normal price, and a total saving of $80.

If you've been sick of having to use boring black and white e-reader screens, then the Kindle Colorsoft might be the best Kindle for you. It packs in a sharp 7-inch full-color display and offers a comfortable design that helps you read all your favorite titles on the go.

Plus, being part of the Amazon ecosystem gives it full access to the Kindle library. That includes any ebooks you've purchased from the Kindle Store, ot the $12 a month Kindle Unlimited subscription. It sounds pricey, but it gives you unlimited access to the millions of ebooks in Kindle's library — which could save a bunch of money if you read a lot.

Other helpful features include an 8-week battery life, IPX8 water resistance, 16GB of storage and a crisp paper-like display. None of the glossy, smooth touchscreen displays you get on tablets and smartphones. There's no wireless charging, though. If you want that you'll have to upgrade to the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition, which is currently on sale for $229.

One thing you do need to be aware of is that sideloading third-party ebooks (those not purchased from the Kindle store) is partially broken. You can still load those files onto the Colorsoft and read them as normal, but the actual cover page won't display correctly. So instead of fancy, colorful artwork, you get a page with the title and the author's name. As one Tom's Guide writer put it, it makes your ebooks look like "boring PDF files."

The power button is also situated on the side, which means you might accidentally hit it while you're reading. No, we're not sure why it's not on the top either, but that's the design Amazon has been sticking with. At least you know to try to avoid pressing it unintentionally.

If you're after the best Amazon deals this week, make sure you check in on our Amazon Big Spring Sale live hub for the latest updates.

Winter is finally over, which means it’s time for the Amazon Big Spring Sale event. While the deals bonanza doesn’t officially kick off until March 25, Amazon is already slashing prices across the board, including on electronics. To that end, if you’ve had your eye on the new iPad Air M4, you’re in luck, as Apple’s latest tablet has just received a nice discount.

Right now, the 11-inch iPad Air M4 is $559 ($40 off), while the 13-inch iPad Air M4 is $735 ($64 off) at Amazon. Given how they normally cost $599 and $799 (respectively), you're saving a decent amount of cash. While a nominal upgrade over the iPad Air M3, anyone still using an old iPad might want to upgrade—especially if they use their iPad as a MacBook replacement. Here’s why you should consider getting the new iPad Air M4.

Apple didn’t rock the boat with the iPad Air M4. Aside from a spec bump to the Apple M4 chip and an upgraded wireless chip that allows Wi-Fi 7, you’re getting the same tablet as before. Again, those with the M3 model don’t need to rush out to get this new M4 variant. That said, this is still a fantastic tablet that hits the sweet spot of (relative) affordability and performance.

As before, this is a thin, lightweight tablet that’s easy to carry wherever you go. Measuring 0.24 inches thick and weighing just 1.05 pounds, you’ll barely even notice it in your backpack.

Then there are the still-sharp 12MP cameras, which are great for snapping photos and taking video calls. The 2360 x 1640 resolution on the Liquid Retina display is equally sharp, and in our testing, it nearly reached the advertised 500 nits of brightness, which is excellent. Speaking of testing, the 11-inch iPad Air M4 lasted for 9 hours and 44 minutes, meaning you can use it for a good chunk of the day without a recharge.

I expect this sale will last for most of the week. However, I can’t ensure there will be stock available, so if you’re in the market for a new iPad, you should take advantage of this deal while it lasts. I promise you won’t regret it.

Kindles make it easier (and more fun) to read — but it's no secret that they rarely go on sale. Luckily, Amazon is slashing the prices on select models ahead of this week's Big Spring Sale.

In fact, Kindles and bundles are currently on sale with up to 40% off at Amazon. One of the cheapest deals is on the standalone Kindle Colorsoft ($80 off), or you can grab the Colorsoft bundled with two different protective cases for a whopping 40% off. There are also discounts on the Paperwhite and Scribe bundles.

If you're hoping to grab a new Kindle this spring, now is the perfect time to snap one up with a markdown. Keep scrolling to see my favorite Kindle deals.

Quick Links

• shop all Amazon deals
• Kindle Paperwhite Essentials Bundle: was $161 now $125
• Kindle Colorsoft (16GB): was $249 now $169
• Kindle Colorsoft Clear Case Bundle: was $286 now $171
• Kindle Colorsoft Kids (16GB): was $269 now $189
• Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition Essentials Bundle: was $276 now $211
• Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition Essentials Bundle: was $362 now $271
• Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle (64 GB): was $549 now $481

Kindle deals