The week’s best tech deals: from the Amazon Kindle Scribe to the Beats Fit Pro

In a rapidly changing world, technology continues to play a key role in our daily lives. This week, the tech sector featured a number of exciting deals and discounts, ranging from Amazon devices to new Google smartphones and the ever-present Apple products. From the renowned review platform Engadget, we bring you this week’s best tech deals, analyzing their strengths and highlights. Get ready to find out how to make the most of these unmissable discounts to enhance your tech experience.

The Amazon Kindle Scribe returns at its lowest price ever

Let’s start with the most enticing news: the AmazonKindle Scribe, Amazon’s hybrid ereader/tablet e-paper, is back at its lowest price ever. After a 29 percent discount, the base model with 16 GB of storage is now available for only 240 euros. For comparison, the device has been hovering between full price and 245 euros for much of the past few months. The offer also includes the Base Pen.

A bundle combining the high-capacity model, a leather cover, and the Premium Pen, equipped with an eraser and a programmable button, is on sale for 340 euros. This price is about 6 euros higher than that achieved during the Christmas period.

Engadget gave theKindle Scribe a score of 85 in its review, praising its premium design and smooth, low-latency writing experience. The Scribe is also our current choice for an e-ink tablet that can serve as an ereader in our e-ink tablet guide. We appreciate the excellent integration with Amazon’s extensive Kindle library and the spacious screen that allows ample room for note-taking and ideas. Although we would have liked the pen to be able to write in the margins of multiple books (instead of just creating sticky notes) and for the device to be waterproof, the Scribe remains a versatile e-paper device-even more attractive when it’s on offer.

Beats Fit Pro on discount

The Beats Fit Pro, Beats’ flagship sports earbuds, are on sale for 160 euros at Amazon, Target, and Best Buy, a price they have reached several times in the past. The 40 euro discount does not represent an all-time low, but it is still one of the best prices seen in the past year.

These earbuds are our favorite choice in our guide to wireless earbuds, thanks to their ability to stay put during workout sessions and the many features typical of a set of AirPods, but in a sportier design. You can read our full review, in which Engadget’s Billy Steele gave them a score of 87 in 2021.

The discount is part of a wider offer on Beats products on Amazon, where the Beats Studio Buds are 47 percent off at €80, while the Powerbeats Pro are 36 percent off, bringing them to €160.

Google Pixel 8a offer with gift certificate

Google launched the new Pixel 8a smartphone earlier this week in conjunction with its I/O developer conference. Units are already shipping, but Amazon, Best Buy, and Google’s website are still offering the benefits that were available during pre-order: each store will give away a €100 gift certificate to spend on their site if you order the device by Sunday, May 15.

The offer applies to the base model, which costs 499 euros and has 128 GB of storage, or to the new 256 GB variant, on sale for 559 euros.

Before covering Google’s artificial intelligence conference, Engadget’s Sam Rutherford took time to thoroughly review the Pixel 8a, giving it a score of 90. He was impressed with the screen, battery life, and sleek design. In addition, the new device has a processor capable of handling Google’s new artificial intelligence tricks. The only reservation is that the more powerful Google Pixel 8 is often sold for about 549 euros – only 50 euros more than the 8a. But at the moment the more powerful phone is at full price and it is not known when it will be discounted again. If all you need is a mid-range Android phone with excellent performance, the 8a is, as Sam says, “a really good deal.” Especially if you can take advantage of a free gift certificate.

Discounts on Apple’s iPads

Apple’s new iPad Air with M2 chip is currently 30 euros off if you order it through Amazon. Last week, Apple updated its iPad range and now the new iPad Air is powered by an M2 chip and is offered in two sizes. The discount makes the basic 11-inch model with 128 GB of storage only 570 euros in all colors except Starlight. You can also save 50 euros on the model with the larger 1 TB capacity, bringing it down to 1,049 euros, again in any color except Starlight. Also on offer are some variants of the 13-inch iPad Air, including the 512 GB model in Purple at 1,049 euros, another 50 euros off.

Engadget’s Nathan Ingraham reviewed the new iPad Air and gave it a score of 91. After also testing the new iPad Pro M4, he said that ultimately the new iPad Air is the one to buy.

Compared to the previous generation, the new Air has a faster M2 chip that replaces the M1, is compatible with the new Apple Pencil Pro, the front-facing camera has been moved to the horizontal edge, and it starts with 128 GB of storage (twice as much as the previous model). What this means is that this is a capable tablet with a great screen that can smoothly handle browsing, gaming, media playback and daily productive tasks.

And to be clear, it’s not that he didn’t like theiPad Pro, in fact, Nate called it “really nice” in his review – the screen is luxurious, the performance is incredible, and the thinness of the device seems almost impossible. But it is expensive. Amazon is currently reducing the price of the 11-inch Pro model slightly, bringing the 256 GB model in Silver down from €999 to €949.

Deals on Apple’s other iPads

With the announcement of the new iPad Pro M4 and iPad Air M2, Apple’s tablet lineup looks a bit different. Indeed, the company has discontinued the ninth-generation iPad and reduced the price of the tenth-generation model to 349 euros. But now this standard tenth-generation iPad with 64 GB of storage is on sale for 334 euros on Amazon-the lowest price ever.

Engadget’s Nathan Ingraham gave the 10th-generation iPad a score of 85 in his review when it was launched in 2022, praising the USB-C charging port and the landscape-facing front-facing camera for better framing of video calls. It is also our recommendation for an inexpensive iPad in our guide on which Apple models work best for certain needs.

Now that the new iPad Air has arrived, the previous fifth-generation iPad Air has been discontinued by Apple and has lost its place in our ranking of the best iPads. Almost certainly for this reason Amazon is selling off models at a discount of 200 euros off the list price.

Despite being replaced by something shinier, the fifth-generation iPad Air remains a powerful and capable tablet that we called “future-proof” when it debuted. It has a gorgeous screen and a lightweight design that is easy to hold. And the M1 chip is fast enough for virtually any compatible app or game.

For comparison, the new sixth-generation iPad Air has a faster M2 chip, the camera has been moved to the horizontal edge, is compatible with the new Apple Pencil Pro, and starts with 128 GB of storage (twice as much as the previous model) while maintaining the same starting price of 599 euros. But, of course, the brand new Air is not on offer at 399 euros like this one.

OnePlus 12 on offer

When the OnePlus 12 came out earlier this year, Engadget’s Sam Rutherford pointed out in his review that the phone had a starting price 200 euros lower than the similarly equipped Galaxy S24+. Now the OnePlus 12 is enjoying a 100 euro discount, bringing the base model to 700 euros and the 12 GB/512 GB version to 800 euros. The offer is valid directly from OnePlus, as well as from Amazon and Best Buy.

For reference, right now Samsung is offering a promotion on the Galaxy S24+ with a free storage upgrade, bringing the high-capacity model to 1,000 euros, while Amazon is selling the base model for 850 euros. This makes the OnePlus 12 150 euros cheaper at the moment than the S24+.

Yes, that’s a lot of numbers to keep in mind. In summary, you may want to consider the OnePlus 12 as your next smartphone if you are looking for a simple, well-built device with a nice screen, good cameras, good performance, and excellent battery life. A phone that doesn’t burden your system with a myriad of artificial intelligence tricks and glitter. As Sam said, “the OnePlus 12 is a simple alternative [to the big names] that handles all the most important things with ease.”

Other offerings of the week

Roku Streaming Stick 4K at a discount

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is on sale for 34 euros on Amazon, a 32% discount that represents one of the best prices of the year. It is on our list of the best streaming devices because of its intuitive interface and the numerous free and live content available on the Roku channel and elsewhere.

The Roku interface also organizes paid subscriptions well, with a simple, clean design. The 4K version supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, as well asApple AirPlay 2 for streaming audio and video from a tablet or phone.

Anker Soundcore Motion 300 on offer

The Anker Soundcore Motion 300, one of our favorite portable Bluetooth speakers, is on sale for 20 percent off on Amazon or with a coupon to click on Anker’s site. This brings the price of the speaker down to 64 euros, a 20 percent discount that equals the all-time low reached a couple of times this year.

We appreciate the bright, punchy sound of the Soundcore Motion 300. Although it is not super rich in bass, its 30-watt output is still loud and rhythmic for its size. It is also IPX7 rated, so it can withstand submersion, and the Anker Soundcore app allows for good customization with equalization settings.

Deals on Solo Stove outdoor pizza ovens.

For many, the arrival of warmer weather means cooking outdoors. If you fall into this category, take a look at the deals Solo Stove is currently offering on its outdoor pizza ovens for Memorial Day. They are part of a sitewide sale with discounts of up to 30 percent, including the Ultimate Pi bundle that includes the dual-fuel (wood or gas) oven, plus a stand, two paddles, a thermometer, a cover, and other accessories for 600 euros instead of 880. A bundle with the wood-only version of the oven costs 480 euros, a discount of 270 euros off the full price of 750 euros.

One thing to note is that although this is a Memorial Day sale, the units will not ship until June 3, after the holiday. That still leaves you about a month to practice for your Fourth of July pizzas.

Solo Stove Pi ‘s gas-and-wood model is the runner-up in our guide to the best mixed-fuel outdoor pizza oven. It can reach temperatures up to 850 degrees Fahrenheit (about 450 degrees Celsius) when using wood and 900 degrees Fahrenheit (about 480 degrees Celsius) with gas, according to Solo Stove.

Offerings on Solo Stove braziers

Will this be the year you finally purchase that brazier you’ve been thinking about? If so, you may want to check out the Memorial Day sale already active on Solo Stove.

The sale includes discounts of up to 30 percent on some of the company’s most popular braziers, which reduce the amount of smoke emitted thanks to a double outer shell that recirculates particles, allowing them to recombust and thus produce less smoke in your face.

The offers include 30 euros off the Ranger 2.0, which brings the price to 200 euros instead of 230. This is the smallest model on the ground, suitable for taking with you to a party or placing it in a smaller outdoor space.

The Mesa XL tabletop brazier is 30 percent off at 79 euros, representing the deepest discount. It works with pellets or small pieces of wood.

The company’s second largest brazier, The Yukon 2.0, which measures 27 inches in diameter, is better suited as a fixed element in your outdoor space. It costs 100 euros less, at 399 euros. While the Bonfire 2.0, which strikes a good balance between portability and potential for gathering around the fire, costs 70 euros less, at 230 euros.

An earlier version of one of our favorite meat thermometers, the Meater Plus, is on sale for 70 euros, a 30 percent discount representing its lowest price ever. You can find the same deal on Amazon or directly from the Meater website.

The Meater 2 Plus, a newer model, is our choice in our latest guide to the best grill equipment, as it offers some upgrades such as a waterproof design for use in deep frying and vacuum cooking. But the original Meater Plus is still amply capable, allowing you to monitor temperatures with your smartphone up to 300 meters away-as long as there is a relatively obstacle-free path. It can also provide detailed step-by-step instructions, alerts based on weather and temperature, and notifications on your phone, tablet or smartwatch.

There is a wider offering going on Amazon for Blink-branded home security devices. One notable offer is on Blink Outdoor 4 cameras, with discounts of up to 50 percent. The deepest discount is on a 5-camera set, usually sold at 400 euros, now at 200 euros. The set includes mounting brackets, the necessary Sync Module and batteries for the cameras, which should power them for two years before they need to be replaced.

If you only need one camera, the one-camera system is 40 percent off and is on offer at the lowest ever price of 60 euros. For longer battery life, the Outdoor 4 one-camera system can also be purchased bundled with an additional battery pack that extends its life from two to four years. This version costs 80 euros after a 33 percent discount.

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