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Today — 7 October 2026Culture

The Best Apple Watch for Most People Is $50 Off During October Prime Day

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6 October 2026 at 20:06
By: Jake Peterson

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

Last month, Apple released two new smartwatches: the Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4. These wearables offer brand-new features like a heart rate monitor that takes your pulse every five seconds; "Audio Intelligence," that can display a transcript of the last 15 seconds of an in-person conversation; and Apple's new S11 chip, its fastest wearable processor yet.

Despite all these perks, neither the Series 12 nor the Ultra 4 is the best Apple Watch for most people. That title goes to the Apple Watch SE 3, which is currently as cheap as $199 for October Prime Day.

The Apple Watch SE 3 doesn't have Apple's latest and greatest features, nor does it have its biggest and best display. It doesn't have to: The SE 3 comes with all the features and options most people expect from an Apple Watch. It is available in two sizes, 44mm or 40mm, both with Always-On OLED displays and brightness up to 1,000 nits. The SE 3 has a heart rate monitor and can track both workouts and your sleep. It supports the Vitals app, which can report on heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, and sleep duration. It can track menstruation cycles and predict both period windows and ovulation estimates.

While it doesn't support Audio Intelligence, it does support Apple Intelligence—including the company's new Siri AI assistant. If the AI-powered Siri is important to you, you'll be able to use it with the SE 3 and your AI-capable iPhone. This watch also supports Emergency SOS, as well as fall and crash detection. That means your watch can call emergency services on your behalf if you become unresponsive after a fall or a collision. If you take the SE 3 swimming, you can dive as deep as 50m before you should worry about water resistance.

This watch doesn't have Apple's newest S11 chip, but it does come with last year's S10 chip, which should be plenty powerful for running watchOS for the foreseeable future. It gets up to 18 hours of screen-on time, and up to 32 hours when in Low Power Mode. You can fast charge the watch up to 80% in 45 minutes with the right charger, or get eight hours of use in as little as 15 minutes of charging.

Really, some of the bigger misses here won't matter to most people. The SE 3 doesn't have an ECG monitor, nor can it detect your blood oxygen levels or send you hypertension alerts. Its screen isn't as bright as the one on the Series 12 (2,000 nits) or Ultra 4 (3,000 nits), nor does it have Emergency SOS via satellite. It doesn't support Precision Finding for iPhone, nor does it have as long a battery life as Apple's other watches (24 hours on the Series 12, and 50 hours on the Ultra 4). But for everything save battery life, most users likely aren't going to be swayed, especially when you consider the price difference

Speaking of which, the SE 3 starts at $199 right now for the 40mm option. If you want the 44m option, you'll spend an extra $30, or $229. This watch also comes in a cellular option, which can connect to 5G speeds when available. The 40mm cellular option is currently $279 on Amazon, while the 44mm model is $279.

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The AirPods Pro 3 Are $70 Off for October Prime Day

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6 October 2026 at 18:15
By: Jake Peterson

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

AirPods Pro are Apple's "premium" earbuds, but that definition isn't as clear-cut as it used to be. Active Noise Cancellation used to be a "Pro" feature, but now, Apple's standard AirPods come with it, too. So why spend $249 on the Pros when you can get AirPods with ANC for about half that? Tough question, but during October Prime Day, Amazon is making it a bit easier to answer, as right now, you can take $70 off the AirPods Pro 3, bringing the price down to $179. That's $10 more than the all-time low of $169 they hit back in June.

The new AirPods 5 may come with Active Noise Cancellation, but it's not quite as good as that on the AirPods Pro 3. According to Apple, the Pros can cancel sound up to three times more effectively than AirPods 5, which makes them the better choice for noisy environments like airplanes. Part of that may be due to the seal created by the Pros' silicone ear tips. While some prefer the one-size-fits-all approach of the AirPods 5, AirPods Pro 3 come with different-sized tips, so you can choose the size that fits your ears best.

Another "Pro" feature is the built-in heart rate sensor. If you don't have a fitness tracker, or just want to leave it at home, you can use your AirPods to keep tabs on your heart rate during workouts. While you shouldn't go swimming with them, the Pros are IP57 rated against dust and water, so working out in the rain shouldn't be a problem.

The Pros are also the only AirPods in Apple's lineup that are FDA-certified hearing aids. As part of that feature, you can take a hearing test with the AirPods Pro to learn more about your personal hearing health. In addition, the Pros come with hearing protection features, which can help block out loud sounds that might otherwise damage your hearing. AirPods Pro 3 also come with Adaptive Audio, which automatically blends Transparency and Active Noise Cancellation based on how loud or quiet your environment is. There's also Conversation Awareness, which automatically lowers the volume of your audio when you start speaking. A few seconds after you stop speaking, your AirPods will bring your audio back up again.

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Apple's AirPods Max 2 Are 22% Off During October Prime Day

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6 October 2026 at 17:30
By: Jake Peterson

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

I love my AirPods Max, but I have a hard time recommending them. They sound great, pair seamlessly with my other Apple devices, and offer excellent Active Noise Cancellation, so they're my go-to for long flights and travel days. And yet, I can't in good conscience advise most people to buy them, because of the price. $549 is way too much for any pair of headphones, even if they are my favorite pair I've ever used.

I have good news, however. For October Prime Day, Amazon has discounted the latest model of the priciest AirPods. The AirPods Max 2 are now $429, down 22%, or $120, from the $549 list price. According to Keepa, that's the best price since August. While the headphones are still wildly expensive, it's much easier to recommend them at this price point than at their normal MSRP.

The AirPods Max 2 aren't expensive for nothing. They come jam-packed with features that make them Apple's best over-the-ear headphones yet. Apple says these AirPods support up to 1.5 times more Active Noise Cancellation than the original AirPods Max, though the benefits also extend to Transparency mode. These are Apple's first AirPods Max to come with Adaptive Audio, which automatically adjusts the loudness of sounds coming in through Transparency mode, as well as Conversation Awareness, which lowers audio when your AirPods detect that you're speaking. (The audio levels rise once the headphones note you've stopped speaking for a length of time.)

While these headphones sound great when used wirelessly, they're worth using with a USB-C cable, too. With it, you can listen to lossless music through a service like Apple Music, which offers more detail than lossy music over a Bluetooth. Apple says you can expect 20 hours of battery life on one charge when using Active Noise Cancellation, and although the company doesn't specify, you can presumably extend that usage with ANC or Transparency mode turned off. You can also get 90 minutes of playback on just five minutes of charging.

Like all AirPods, these headphones work best when you already have other Apple products. That's personally my favorite thing about AirPods in general: You can use your AirPods Max with your iPhone, then play a video on your Mac, and your AirPods will automatically switch to the new audio source. They're also easy to pair with an Apple TV, which makes for a great way to watch movies and shows without bothering others around you.

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You Can Save $160 on Apple's Latest MacBook Pro During October Prime Day

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6 October 2026 at 15:41
By: Jake Peterson

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There's a reason the MacBook Pro is so expensive. Apple saves its most premium features for this product line—mini-LED displays, built-in fans, HDMI and SD ports, and, depending on the model, the most powerful chips. None of these comes cheap, and, after recent RAM-related price hikes, the MacBook Pro now starts at a steep $1,999. That's not the case during October Prime Day, however: Right now, you can take a decent chunk off many MacBook Pro models, and even more if you opt for one of Apple's M5 Pro or M5 Pro Max devices.

You can save $160 on the M5 MacBook Pro

Let's start with the standard M5 MacBook Pro. This uses a similar M5 chip to the one found in the MacBook Air, though the Pro does come with 10 GPU cores (that costs extra on the Air). Other than that, these are the same processors, running the same 16GB of RAM—though the M5 MacBook Pro comes with 1TB of storage standard. You also get most of the hardware perks of the other MacBook Pro devices, without venturing into $2,499 and up territory, including three USB-C ports, the HDMI and SD card ports, a 14.2-inch mini-LED display, and a 12MP FaceTime camera. Typically, that'd cost you $1,999. But on Amazon, you can pick this machine up today for $1,869.

Save $155 on the 14-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro

This is a great price for this MacBook, but it's not the only savings you'll find on MacBook Pros this October Prime Day. If you upgrade to the M5 Pro MacBook Pro, you can save $155 off its retail price, bringing the machine down to $2,345 from $2,499. With this laptop, you get all the perks of the M5 MacBook Pro, but with the M5 Pro chip, which is much more powerful. This chip comes with a 15-core CPU and 16-core GPU, along with 24GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. It also supports Wi-Fi 7, while the M5 MacBook Pro only supports Wi-Fi 6E.

Amazon also has the M5 Pro MacBook Pro with an 18-core CPU and 20-core GPU $150 off. But the biggest discounts are on Apple's most expensive 14-inch MacBook Pros. If you're in the market for a souped-up M5 Pro model, or one of Apple's M5 Max configurations, Amazon has huge discounts:

Save $150 on the 16-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro

Similarly, Amazon has big discounts on the 16-inch version of these MacBook Pros. The best option for most people in this category is going to be the base model 16-inch, which comes with the M5 Pro with an 18-core CPU and 20-core GPU, as well as 24GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.

But as with the 14-inch MacBook Pros, the biggest deals are on the most expensive 16-inch Pros. Here's how much you can save:

October Prime Day FAQ

When is Prime Day in October?

Amazon Prime Day is an annual event held in June or July. Amazon's October Prime Day event, known as Prime Big Deal Days, is a two-day sale that starts Oct. 6 and ends on Oct. 7.

What goes on sale during October Prime Day?

Since Prime Big Deal Days happens in the fall, you're likely to see more deals on gaming and indoor gym equipment. Amazon has already announced some of the 35 categories that will be on sale, including beauty, tech, kitchen, fashion, and home. Some brands Amazon has already mentioned are: Shark, Princess Polly, Soundcore by Anker, UGG, Nest New York, Sony, Tarte, Adidas, and Barefoot Dreams.

Is Prime Day once a year?

Prime Day happens every summer. Prime Big Deal Days (or October Prime Day) happens every October. Amazon's Big Spring Sale happens every spring.

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The New Apple Watch Series 12 Is Already on Sale for October Prime Day

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5 October 2026 at 21:15
By: Jake Peterson

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

You don't expect to see Apple's latest and greatest products on sale, especially not weeks after their initial release. While there are plenty of discounts on Apple products this October Prime Day, including on some Apple Watches, I certainly wouldn't have predicted that Apple's latest flagship would get a price cut. And yet, here we are. The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399. But during October Prime Day, Apple has the watch $50 off. With the discount, it now starts at $349, a fantastic price for a watch with all of Apple's latest wearable perks.

The Apple Watch Series 12 comes with Apple's newest wearable processor, the S11 chip. This processor is what powers things like Siri AI and Apple Intelligence, as well as the new "Audio Intelligence," which can give you a text recap of the last 15 seconds of an in-person conversation—a feature that has generated a bit of controversy. It also comes with a new heart rate sensor, which can notably check your pulse every five seconds, or 20 times a minute. This model supports up to 24 hours of battery life on a single charge, and its Ceramic Shield 2 display should prevent more scratches and cracks than past Apple Watches in this category. Lifehacker Senior Health Editor Beth Skwarecki thinks the Series 12 is worth the upgrade at its original MSRP, so this is a bit of a no-brainer if you were already interested.

The only caveat here is that the Series 12 isn't the only Apple Watch discount worth considering this October Prime Day. While the Apple Watch Ultra 4 isn't on sale, the Apple Watch SE 3 is. This isn't a "new" watch, per se, but it is Apple's best watch for most people. You don't get any of the above perks of the Series 12, but you do get the capable S10 chip, Apple's standard heart rate monitor, sleep and exercise tracking, and the ability to send and receive texts. There's a host of fitness and health crossover here, and if you opt for the cellular model, you'll connect to the same 5G network as the cellular Series 12. While $349 is a great starting price for the Series 12, the SE 3 currently starts at $199 for October Prime Day. That's a tough price to beat.

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During October Prime Day, You Can Get a MacBook Air for What It Cost Before the RAM Crisis

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5 October 2026 at 20:51
By: Jake Peterson

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If you bought one of Apple's M5 MacBook Airs at launch, it would have cost you $1,099 for the base model. Then, the memory crisis took its toll, and all of a sudden, that same machine shot up in price by $200 without any new features or changes. The MacBook Air, which for years has started at $999 and jumped to $1,099 with the M5 (while also giving you more storage, at least), now starts at $1,299. If you want more storage, or to upgrade to the 15-inch model, it'll only cost you more.

These prices only push customers towards Apple's less expensive MacBook Neo. That's not necessarily a bad thing: the Neo comes with most of the features that people are looking for in an Apple laptop, at about half the cost of the MacBook Air. But these are not identical machines. Users choosing the Neo over the Air lose out on a bigger, higher-quality display; a processor made for macOS; a backlit keyboard; and MagSafe charging, just to name a few perks. These are all excellent features, but it's tough to justify the additional $600. But what if you could save $200? That makes those perks a bit more worth the upgrade.

For October Prime Day, Amazon has an excellent deal on the 13-inch M5 MacBook Air, taking $200 off Apple's new and beefier MSRP, bringing the cost down to...well, the M5's launch price. If you've been kicking yourself for not buying one of these machines between March and June, now's your chance to turn back the clock.

This MacBook Air comes with a 13.6-inch display (Apple calls it the "13-inch" for marketing purposes), with a resolution of 2560 by 1664 and a maximum brightness of 500 nits. You get the M5 chip, which, according to Geekbench, outperforms the MacBook Neo's A18 Pro by nearly 22% in single-core tasks and 134% in multi-core tasks. That extra $400 isn't just going towards an "Apple tax," as you'll notice real-world performance increases for your money. You'll also get a 12MP Center Stage camera for video conferencing and FaceTime calls, Touch ID built into the keyboard, and support for MagSafe charging—though you can also charge using either of the two USB 4 ports.

Importantly, this model comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. That should be plenty for most users, but Amazon is also hosting discounts on both the 1TB model ($1,399 instead of $1,599), as well as the 1TB model with 24GB of RAM ($1,599 instead of $1,799). But again, most people will make do just fine with the base configuration. And for $1,099, it's a fantastic deal.

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You Might Need to Replace Your iPhone 18 Pro Max

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5 October 2026 at 15:00
By: Jake Peterson

Your iPhone 18 Pro Max can do a lot. It has a variable aperture that lets you control the amount of light that hits the camera sensor; it can charge up to 50% of its battery in 15 minutes (with the right adapter, of course); and it can run all of Apple's latest AI features, thanks to the new A20 processor. But the 18 Pro Max is still, above all, a phone. If it can't connect to the cellular network, you no longer have an iPhone, but a glorified iPod touch.

Unfortunately, that's the situation some iPhone 18 Pro Max users find themselves in. Despite being "the best" iPhone Apple has ever made, Apple confirmed that a "small number" of 18 Pro Max units—specifically on the AT&T carrier network—can no longer connect to cellular service, with the devices only displaying an "SOS" icon at the top of their screens. That's a pretty glaring issue: Without cellular service, you'll need a wifi connection to use any apps or features that require the internet and you'll lose the ability to make calls over cellular entirely. It's so bad that some users may not even be able to call 911.

What if my iPhone 18 Pro Max can connect to cellular service right now?

If your iPhone 18 Pro Max has the ability to connect to cellular service, that doesn't mean you're in the clear. Just because there's nothing wrong with your unit yet, you can still be affected by the glitch, and you'll need to install the latest update, iOS 27.0.1, as well as the latest carrier update from AT&T, to ensure your 18 Pro Max won't be affected by these mysterious cellular issues in the future. That's what Apple told 9to5Mac in the following statement: “We have identified an issue affecting a small number of iPhone 18 Pro Max users on the AT&T network that may cause a device to lose service and be unable to make calls. We released iOS 27.0.1 earlier this week and strongly encourage all iPhone 18 Pro Max users to update now, and are also issuing a carrier settings update today. These updates together are meant to help prevent this issue from occurring.”

While you can always install iOS 27.0.1 from Settings > General> Software Update, Apple says that the carrier update will install on its own at some point over the next 14 days. However, I'd advise manually installing it by heading to Settings > General > About. There won't be any confirmation that the carrier update installs, but rest assured, this process will ensure that it has.

What if my iPhone 18 Pro Max cannot connect to cellular?

Unfortunately, if your iPhone is already experiencing issues connecting to cellular service, there is no fix. The updates above only help with prevention; they cannot patch an iPhone 18 Pro Max that already can't reach the network. Unfortunately, the only solution is to swap out the unit with either Apple or AT&T. The good news is your store will make the trade for you free of charge, as it is a hardware defect covered under warranty.

It's not clear why this issue is only affecting iPhone 18 Pro Maxes and not the standard iPhone 18 Pro, nor is it evident why only AT&T devices appear to be experiencing it. A possible point of failure: The iPhone 18 Pro Max uses a Qualcomm modem, while the iPhone 18 Pro uses Apple's proprietary C2 modem. Perhaps there's some flaw with Qualcomm's hardware specifically on the AT&T network.

That's not to say the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro has been otherwise drama-free—far from it. As it happens, the 18 Pro (along with the 18 Pro Max) has also experienced three other public-facing issues since Apple launched the devices last month. First, there was an issue with phones randomly rebooting following a failed Face ID attempt; next, some users noticed their devices emitting a cracking or popping sound through the speakers. Finally, some units also appear to be losing their exterior color. If you've upgraded, I hope your fancy new iPhone is doing well.

Before yesterdayCulture

Apple Wants to Make It Harder to Run Agentic AI on Your Mac

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2 October 2026 at 20:30
By: Jake Peterson

It appears agentic AI is all the rage: OpenAI's new agents, "Dots," rolled out this week, while Meta's Muse just passed five million downloads. Rather than just chatting with or using them to generate images, AI companies want users to start asking their bots to do things on their behalf, from managing their inboxes to ordering dinner.

But agents aren't just the next logical step for AI as a technology. When implemented poorly, they can be wildly dangerous. AI agents are designed to run on their own, and, in order to do that, they often need near-total access to your devices and their data. Some people are now giving agents full use of their computers, including all of their messages, files, passwords, and accounts. That's a lot of trust, especially when it's not that difficult to "hack" one of these agents for malicious purposes with a poisoned prompt hidden on a website, which could lead your AI agent to hand hackers the keys to your bank accounts. That's no good.

Apple is making it much more difficult for you to put yourself in this situation

How does Apple feel about this? The company is famously behind on the software side of AI—it only rolled out its AI-powered version of Siri in September—but its AI hardware business is booming. When the AI agent craze first took off with projects like Moltbot, customers bought Mac minis in droves in order to run those programs. Now, Apple advertises its various Macs with AI at the forefront: It doesn't offer its own models like OpenAI or Anthropic, but it's making plenty of money selling you the hardware to run those models.

Perhaps that's why Apple seems quite concerned about the AI agent trend, particularly when it comes to the data users are exposing to run these programs. Apple is all about privacy and security, and as such, I can only imagine the company watching in horror as so many users willingly hand their Macs (and all of their data) over to automated AI bots.

Against that backdrop, the company posted an update on its developer forum entitled "Updates to Full Disk Access in macOS." In it, the company highlights the dangers of developers asking users to grant "Full Disk Access" permissions to an app. Apple says this function has been traditionally reserved for backup apps that need to access the entire disk to function. (After all, if your backup app can't access your entire Mac, how can it back up your entire Mac?) But now, Apple says developers are asking users to expose everything on their Macs, including messages, mail, browsing history, and more, without those users fully understanding the consequences. Apple even argues the privacy implications extend beyond the user, as communication apps that demand Full Disk Access compromise the people the user is chatting with, too.

And Apple appears to be doing something about it: While details are slim, the company says it will introduce "additional controls to ensure that users who genuinely wish to grant an app this extraordinary level of access can only do so with very explicit user action." I'm guessing this means that in the future, once you download an agent to your Mac, you'll have to click through a series of warnings and settings to "prove" to macOS that you really want to expose your entire Mac to the app and its AI. The company says it's doing this now, as the threat will only grow as AI agents improve and become more autonomous.

The risks of AI are increasing across the board

I'm all for additional safeguards when it comes to AI. In the past, you needed some level of technical expertise to install an AI agent on your Mac. As such, you likely understood the risks involved, or willfully ignored all the warnings in order to do so. Now that running agents is as easy as installing Muse on your Mac, the barrier to entry is minimal. Anyone can do it, even if they don't fully understand what they are actually doing. As the AI industry reckons with the risks its technology poses to humanity, companies like Apple should indeed be figuring out how to protect their users from AI's current dangers—even if users can still choose to ignore those warnings.

Changing This Setting May Extend Your Battery Life on iOS 27

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2 October 2026 at 19:30
By: Jake Peterson

If you've updated your iPhone to iOS 27, you might have already put Siri AI to the test or tried out some of Apple's AI-powered photo editing features. But you may have also noticed something else: Your iPhone's battery isn't lasting as long between charges. While I can't say this is a universal experience (I'm don't believe my iPhone is dying faster on iOS 27 than it did on iOS 26), some users are adamant the update has had a detrimental effect on their battery life. And while there are many possible factors here, some think they have found the culprit: a feature called Connectivity Assist.

What is Connectivity Assist?

Connectivity Assist's mission is noble. The feature is designed to tap into cellular data any time your wifi connection grows too weak. In theory, it should be particularly useful when you're leaving an area with wifi; rather than deal with the slow loading times a weak wifi connection forces you to endure before it disconnects outright, your cellular network would kick in to maintain your speed. (Once you've left wifi range, you'd be back on cellular completely either way, of course.)

Technically, this feature isn't new. Before iOS 27, Apple called it "Wi-Fi Assist," but it worked a bit differently. In iOS 26, Wi-Fi Assist simply switches over to cellular when your wifi signal is too weak. With iOS 27's Connectivity Assist, it seems your iPhone can tap into both networks at the same time. If so, that may play some role in why this rejiggered feature seems to be dragging down people's batteries more than it used to.

There's another new addition with Connectivity Assist that could also be part of the problem: Unlike Wi-Fi Assist, Connectivity Assist sends DNS requests over cellular data, which can bypass the rules that ad blockers put in place to stop pop-ups from making their way into your iPhone. As such, even Apple recommends that you disable Connectivity Assist if you use an ad blocker. So, if your iPhone is constantly sending out DNS requests while on cellular data, bypassing your active ad blockers, that could be putting extra strain on your battery, too.

How to disable Connectivity Assist in iOS 27

Reddit user ZoteTheMitey shared their experience on the r/iPhone subreddit, claiming that their iPhone 15 Pro Max, with 89% battery health, was only lasting for three to four hours following the switch to iOS 27. Once they disabled Connectivity Assistant, they claim their battery usage time jumped to seven hours. Some users in the thread shared similar experiences, and one even claimed disabling the feature fixed an issue with their device overheating.

If you want to try the potential solution yourself, here are two ways to disable Connectivity Assist: First, you can disable it on a per-network basis. To do so, head to Settings > Wi-Fi, then tap the (i) next to your network name. Here, scroll down, and make sure the toggle next to "Use Connectivity Assist" is turned off. That was, you can make sure your battery isn't experiencing faster drain when you're away from a charger—say, at a cafe you frequent.

If you'd rather disable the feature globally for your iPhone, head back to the Wi-Fi settings page and ensure the toggle next to "Connectivity Assist" is set to off. Note: if this feature was previously enabled, you'll be able to see the amount of cellular data the feature has used to date, which will give you an idea of how often it has been active on your device. More data could mean more potential battery drain.

Four Major Issues Are Plaguing the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max

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5 October 2026 at 14:00
By: Jake Peterson

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On paper, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are Apple's best smartphones yet. They run the new A20 chip, feature cameras that use a revolutionary variable aperture, and, according to Apple, have the longest battery life of any iPhone ever. And yet, the iPhone 18 Pro's launch has been a rocky one, beset by glitches and hardware issues that range in severity. Some have been fixed by simple software updates, while others remain unresolved.

None of this is to encourage you to return your iPhone 18 Pro or discourage you from buying one if you have your sights set on Apple's newest Pro phones. However, it's important to note that this has hardly been a drama-free rollout. As of this article, these are the four major problems I've seen with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.

iPhone 18 Pros were randomly rebooting

The first iPhone 18 Pro issue that I saw was random reboots. Users complained that, after a failed Face ID attempt, their iPhones would freeze up and, after a short period of time, reboot. Curiously, Apple's newest Apple Watches, the Series 12 and Ultra 4, had similar reboot issues. While annoying, this was clearly just a glitch with Apple's newest iPhones running iOS 27 and Apple Watches running watchOS 27. The company quickly released patches for all devices in iOS 27.0.1 and watchOS 27.0.1, each of which only mentioned this singular patch in the release notes.

iPhone 18 Pro Max might not be able to dial 911

While Apple says iOS 27.0.1 only patches this reboot glitch, AT&T says otherwise. The company sent alerts to iPhone 18 Pro Max users last week urging them to update to this latest version of iOS, warning that iPhone 18 Pro Max users might not be able to text, call, or connect to data at times, including when dialing 911. The full message reads: "Hi, it's AT&T. Action needed: An important Apple software update for your iPhone 18 Pro Max is available. Some phones may be unable to complete calls/text/data, including to 911. Update to iOS 27.0.1 immediately — Settings > General > Software Update. Please contact AT&T or Apple if you have questions."

As it happens, iPhone 18 Pro users are not included in this alert. As MacRumors speculates, it might have something to do with the iPhone 18 Pro Max's modem. This is the only new iPhone this year to ship with a Qualcomm modem rather than Apple's own C2 modem. As MacRumors notes, affected iPhone 18 Pro Max users can lose service, forcing their phones to drop into SOS mode.

What's more, this update may only be effective at preventing the issue, not solving it. In a statement to 9to5Mac, Apple said: "We have identified an issue affecting a small number of iPhone 18 Pro Max users on the AT&T network that may cause a device to lose service and be unable to make calls. We released iOS 27.0.1 earlier this week and strongly encourage all iPhone 18 Pro Max users to update now, and are also issuing a carrier settings update today. These updates together are meant to help prevent this issue from occurring.” If your iPhone 18 Pro Max has already lost the ability to connect to cellular, however, 9to5Mac says you will need to swap it out for an entirely new phone with either Apple or AT&T.

Some iPhone 18 Pros have a cracking or popping noise

Some iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max users are reporting strange "cracking" or "popping" noises coming from their new smartphones' speakers. This Redditor shared that the sound comes intermittently from the upper speaker, and sounds like someone pulling an aux cable out of a headphone jack. Users in the thread concurred: One user complained of a light buzzing when the volume is set to 100%, while another said their iPhone has a crackling sound when on calls with "mono speaker." According to one Redditor, updating to iOS 27.0.1 didn't fix the issue.

While the thread is full of users complaining of similar issues, not everyone has the same experience. Some Redditors say they haven't heard the sounds on their iPhone 18 Pros, including multiple Mashable reporters. Another user noted that they're experiencing the issue on their iPhone 16 Pro Max since they updated to iOS 27.

Some iPhone 18 Pros are already losing their color

As Mashable highlights, some iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max users are noticing that the finish on their devices is starting to wear away, particularly around the camera lens. It seems the majority of the complaints, if not all of them, are from users with burgundy and black iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max devices, and it's not clear how widespread the issue is. Some users have claimed that cleaning the affected area with a Q-tip is enough to fix the issue, while others say the finish itself has worn away.

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These Are the Best Laptop Deals From the October Prime Day Sale

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6 October 2026 at 14:49
By: Jake Peterson

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

There's good news and bad news when it comes to laptop deals ahead of Amazon's October Prime Day sale. The good news: You'll find no shortage of discounts on these devices right now. The bad news? Most of those deals aren't worth your time. While you might see some massive price cuts on laptops, either the brand isn't reputable, or the machine is actually pretty old. Sure, it may technically be 40% off the original price, but that doesn't mean much when the original retail price is from five years ago.

As such, I've been searching for deals that are actually worth your money; even on sale, a laptop is a big purchase, so I don't want you to buy something that will fail you shortly after it arrives. Here's what I've found so far, including some smaller discounts on MacBooks and significant savings on specific MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models. There are also some good deals on Windows laptops, for basic users and gamers alike.

M5 MacBook Air (13-inch)

If you're in the market for a new MacBook Air, you can save quite a bit by buying through Amazon. Let's start with the 13-inch model. Right now, Amazon is taking $200 off all its storage and RAM variants, but for most people, the base 16GB RAM/512GB SSD will be plenty. That means a laptop that retails for $1,299 now only costs $1,099. If you've been thinking about picking up a new MacBook, I personally think this is the way to go.

M5 MacBook Air (15-inch)

While Apple wants you to spend $1,499 on the 15-inch M5 MacBook Air, Amazon will take $200 off that price. That's also true if you opt for the model with 24GB RAM, but the 15-inch MacBook Air's base model will be plenty of computer for most people. With it, you get Apple's M5 chip, a 15.3-inch display, 512GB of storage, and 16GB of RAM.

M5 MacBook Pro

If you're looking for a more "premium" MacBook without spending upwards of than $2,000, the M5 MacBook Pro might be the move. It uses the same M5 chip as the MacBook Air, but comes with the hardware perks of the Pro line, including a 14.2-inch mini-LED display, built-in fans, an HDMI port, and an SD card reader. It offers the best of both MacBook worlds, but at a better price than the Pros: Right now, Amazon will sell you one with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage for $1,839, $160 off the retail price of $1,999.

M5 Pro MacBook Pro

If you need more power, you'll find great deals on Apple's Pro MacBooks as well. The cheapest option right now is the M5 Pro with 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, which Amazon currently sells for $2,299, but you'll find other M5 Pro models have been discounted. That includes the upgraded M5 Pro with an 18-core CPU and 20-core GPU, which Amazon is selling for $2,699, or $500 off its retail price. If you're looking for a larger display, the 16-inch model is currently $2,749, or $250 off, while the upgraded model with 48GB of RAM, an 18-core CPU, and a 20-core GPU is $300 off at $3,299.

M5 Max MacBook Pro

If you want the best Apple has to offer, there's M5 Max. These laptops are anything but cheap, even with their pre-October Prime Day discounts, but if you're already looking at these models, any deal will be appreciated. This 14-inch M5 Max MacBook Pro, with 36GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, is 15% off at $3,499, down $600. That's the best deal in this category. Looking at the larger models, this 16-inch M5 Max MacBook Pro is $3,899, down $500, for 36GB of RAM and 2TB of storage. If you upgrade to the 48GB RAM model, which adds two extra GPU cores to the mix, you'll spend $4,499, also $500 off the list price.

HP OmniBook Ultra 14

CNET's favorite overall Windows laptop, the HP OmniBook Ultra 14, is currently $500 off—at least, if you buy it through HP. You'll need to apply the discount code "PREMIUM500" at checkout, but it brings the price down from $1,819.99 to $1,319.99. That said, you can choose one of the more powerful configurations and still take $500 off, but this cheapest option comes with an Intel Core Ultra 7 356H chip, 16GB of RAM, a 512BGB SSD, and a 14-inch 3K OLED display.

Dell 15.6-inch Touchscreen Laptop

If you need a Windows laptop with a large screen that can churn through basic tasks like email, web browsing, and office work, this option from Dell might be worth your time. This machine comes with a 15.6-inch 1080p display with 8GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and an Intel 13th Generation Core i5 chip. Its retail price of $849.99 is a bit steep for what you get, but right now, Best Buy has the laptop $380 off. For $479.99, this is a great choice for most computing needs—though if you know you'll have more demanding work, this likely isn't the machine for you.

Gigabyte Gaming A18

This gaming laptop from Gigabyte is a great pickup. In fact, it's PCMag's choice for the best midrange gaming laptop of 2026. The outlet praises the performance you get for the money, especially with an 18-inch display at 165Hz. It even ekes out some solid battery life, though you typically get the most out of a gaming laptop when it's plugged into power. While this Gigabyte laptop retails for $2,099.99, Amazon currently has it for 13% off that price, or a $263.01 discount.

Acer Swift Go 16 AI

The Acer Swift Go 16 AI has a mouthful of a name, but that doesn't mean it's not a great laptop. This is Wirecutter's favorite big Windows laptop, with a sharp 16-inch 1200p OLED touchscreen display, an Intel Core Ultra 5 Series 3 2026 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. This machine typically retails for a solid $999.99, but Best Buy currently has it $100 off. If you need a larger Windows laptop with more power than the Dell listed above, this is a great choice for $899.

October Prime Day FAQ

When is Prime Day in October?

Amazon Prime Day is an annual event held in June or July. Amazon's October Prime Day event, known as Prime Big Deal Days, is a two-day sale that starts Oct. 6 and ends on Oct. 7.

What goes on sale during October Prime Day?

Since Prime Big Deal Days happens in the fall, you're likely to see more deals on gaming and indoor gym equipment. Amazon has already announced some of the 35 categories that will be on sale, including beauty, tech, kitchen, fashion, and home. Some brands Amazon has already mentioned are: Shark, Princess Polly, Soundcore by Anker, UGG, Nest New York, Sony, Tarte, Adidas, and Barefoot Dreams.

Is Prime Day once a year?

Prime Day happens every summer. Prime Big Deal Days (or October Prime Day) happens every October. Amazon's Big Spring Sale happens every spring.

You Could Lose Your Access to 'Old Reddit' Forever, but There's a Workaround

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1 October 2026 at 16:00
By: Jake Peterson

"Old Reddit" is the only way I use Reddit. That's not the case for most of the tech in my life. I don't make a point of only using an iPhone from a decade ago, or avoid playing video games with more than 64 bits. But, in my view, Old Reddit is the only proper way to use the website. While "new" Reddit has more "features," it's bloated and slow. Old Reddit might be extremely basic, and looks about the same as it did when I first started "redditing," but it works. Unfortunately, most of us likely won't be able to experience Old Reddit for much longer.

On Wednesday, Reddit announced a series of infrastructure changes on its r/modnews subreddit. Normally, these updates wouldn't make tech headlines—I can't say Reddit "mod news" often finds its way into my feeds. But as part of these changes, Reddit confirmed a rather massive deprecation: Users will lose access to Old Reddit unless they've used the platform sometime in the last six months. It's not enough to use Reddit itself, mind you: Unless you use Old Reddit at least once in a six-month period, you'll lose access for good.

This builds on a previous Old Reddit change the company rolled out over the summer, which requires users to be logged in in order to access this version of Reddit. While we don't have a true deadline for when these new changes take effect, the new announcement makes it clear that, "in the next few months, we’ll further limit access for logged-in users to only those who have used Old Reddit in the last six months (which covers the vast majority of all Old Reddit users).” The only exception is for moderators.

Why is Reddit going after Old Reddit?

According to Reddit, these changes are designed to prevent abuse on its platform. By forcing users to log in to use Old Reddit, the company says it prevents unauthenticated access, its "largest source of abusive scraping and automated traffic." By blocking accounts that haven't accessed Old Reddit in the past six months, Reddit says it's solving another problem: Now, bad actors won't be able to make Reddit accounts for the sole purpose of accessing (and scraping) Old Reddit and its content.

In Reddit's view, these changes don't affect Old Reddit users. If you rely on Old Reddit, the company thinks you'll be using it frequently enough to bypass these new rules. As such, Reddit believes the vast majority of affected users will only be those trying to abuse Old Reddit, not those who actively use it.

The problem is, not everyone who uses Old Reddit is so steadfast. These new rules mean you can no longer take an extended break from Old Reddit and expect to return in the future. Sure, Reddit will always be there, but you'll lose access to the "best" version of the platform, as so many believe it to be. As this is the second change to Old Reddit in a short period of time, it begs the question: Is Reddit trying to shut down Old Reddit? That's what Ars Technica asked the company, and received the following in response:

"As [Reddit CEO Steve Huffman previously] confirmed, Reddit is continuing to work on the future of Old Reddit. This change is about limiting unauthenticated access and reducing automated abuse—not removing Old Reddit for people and moderators who rely on it. We want to preserve Old Reddit for the real people that use it, not let it be a vector for automated abuse."

How to continue using Old Reddit

Per the rules, the easiest way to continue using Old Reddit is to simply keep using it. If you've never done so before, you can head to old.reddit.com and sign into your account when prompted. As long as you access this version of the site at least once every six months, you'll maintain your access—assuming Reddit doesn't change the rules again.

But if you want a more permanent fix without having to worry about visiting Old Reddit twice a year, become a mod. Moderators don't have the same requirements; simply being a mod gives them perpetual access to the site. The easiest way to become a mod is to simply start your own subreddit. If you have access to Old Reddit, you'll see this on the front page as "Create your own subreddit." If you're on new Reddit, you'll see this as "Start a community" under the three-lined menu. Reddit will walk you through the rest, asking you to answer questions or fill out responses about your new community. Assuming the subreddit isn't already taken, you'll be able to create it at the end, at which point you will automatically become a mod of your new subreddit.

One Tech Brand Will Get the Biggest Discounts During October Prime Day

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30 September 2026 at 20:30
By: Jake Peterson

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Amazon's October Prime Day is nearly here, and with it comes a surge of discounts and savings. While Amazon wants you to think each and every deal you come across is worth your time and attention, the truth is that few of these deals are actually that great.

All the chaos overwhelms even the most seasoned online shopper, making it hard to know if you’re really saving money at all. But there’s one category that will undoubtedly stand out on October Prime Day by design: tech made by Amazon itself. That means items like Fire tablets, Fire TV Cubes, and anything else specifically made by Amazon.

For typical tech sales, most retailers want you to buy whatever they can convince you to plunk down money for, be it an iPhone or an Android, a Mac or PC, Xbox or PlayStation. They want as much of your money as possible, and so traditional shopping events like October Prime Day see deals across the spectrum of brands and manufacturers. But Amazon is different.

Amazon is both a store and a manufacturer

While the company sells tons of products from a wide variety of manufacturers, it also makes its own tech. If you’re looking for a new smart TV, Amazon makes one; if you just want the smart TV streaming device, Amazon makes that as well. For home security, there are both Blink and Ring products. Alexa powers so many of these devices, so why not get one of its smart speakers or screens operated via the personal assistant (including the new Alexa+)? Amazon Basics even makes plenty of accessories, from USB cables to batteries.

Amazon now makes so much tech, it only makes sense that the company would prefer to sell you its version of a product over that of the competition. Instead of a Roku, buy a Fire TV stick. Instead of a Nest Mini, buy an Echo Pop. It seems Amazon has comparable products in almost every category. The quality of these products compared to the competition is certainly up for debate, and I encourage you to do your own research before buying any tech product—made by Amazon or otherwise. But whenever you search for a tech product on Amazon—especially during October Prime Day—you’re going to be served up an Amazon alternative. It’s only in the company’s best interest to use the event to run big deals on its own products.

Amazon is still a market, and it’s good for them when you buy anything, so if you end up going with a Samsung TV over an Amazon TV, that’s still a sale. That's why you’ll still find plenty of deals throughout October Prime Day for non-Amazon devices. But Amazon products will be pushed the hardest and likely see the biggest discounts and promotions.

Don’t impulse-buy during October Prime Day

Eye-grabbing discounts and tempting product bundles aside, don’t buy an Amazon device just because it looks like a killer deal. If you are in the market for a specific Amazon-made product and it goes on sale, great. That’s a smart purchase. If you were more interested in a non-Amazon device but the Amazon version is now significantly cheaper, though, it’s not necessarily worth chasing value over getting the product you actually want to buy.

Take the time to research the difference between Amazon’s version and the competition. If you do find an Amazon device you want to buy, you can set alerts to be notified when the product hits the price you're looking for. That’s good general advice for any Prime Day deal (or any big-ticket purchase), but considering how hard Amazon will be pushing its own products soon, it’s especially important to keep in mind. If you buy anything during October Prime Day, I hope you get deals on the best devices for you, whether Amazon made them or not.

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These Are the Best Deals on Apple Tech From the October Prime Day Sale

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6 October 2026 at 14:00
By: Jake Peterson

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

Apple products are infamously expensive, but that doesn't mean those prices never come down. While Apple doesn't typically offers discounts of its own, retailers frequently cut prices MacBooks, AirPods, and iPads, and such is the case with Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days sale.

M5 MacBook Air (13-inch)

The MacBook Air has long been the best choice for most people. While many would likely benefit from the simpler, budget MacBook Neo, there are plenty of perks for those who upgrade to the M5 MacBook Air: a bigger, better display; the M5 chip, which is much more powerful than the Neo's A18 Pro chip; Touch ID by default; and MagSafe charging, to name a few. Right now, Amazon has the 13-inch MacBook Air at $1,099, $200 below its newly inflated list price of $1,299.

M5 MacBook Air (15-inch)

Apple's 15-inch MacBook Air is a good option for users who want more screen real estate without having to pay "Pro" prices. Following recent price hikes, Apple's 512GB model retails for $1,499, but ahead of October Prime Day, you can save $200 on the laptop when buying through Amazon. According to Keepa, this is the 15-inch MacBook Air's best price since early August. With this MacBook Air, you get a 15.3-inch display, Apple's M5 chip with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 512GB of storage, 16GB of RAM, and up to 18 hours of battery life (according to Apple).

M5 Pro MacBook Pro (14-inch)

Apple's "Pro" MacBook Pro line used to start at $1,999. No longer: Apple's MSRP for the M5 Pro MacBook Pro is now $2,499. Expensive, but for many, worth it, since you get a powerful Mac chip with Apple's most feature-filled MacBook design. If you've been eyeing this model, good news: Best Buy is currently taking $150 off. For $2,349, you can get a 14.2-inch MacBook Pro with a mini-LED display, the M5 Pro chip with 15-core CPU and 16-core GPU, 24GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD. If you're looking for even more power, Best Buy has a number of M5 Pro configurations discounted, including the 18-core CPU/20-core GPU model with a 2TB SSD ($2,699, down from $3,199).

M5 Max MacBook Pro (14-inch)

While the M5 chip in the MacBook Air is more than enough to handle most computing tasks, Apple's M5 Max is on a whole other level. For users who do intense graphics work or AI processing, there are few chips better than the one found in this 14-inch MacBook Pro. Of course, all that power comes at a cost: Apple's MSRP for this particular configuration is $4,099. But right now, Best Buy has it discounted by $600. For $3,499, you get a 14.2-inch mini-LED display, the M5 Max chip with an 18-core CPU and 32-core GPU, 36GB of RAM, and a 2TB SSD.

AirPods Max (USB-C)

As much as I love my AirPods Max, I have a hard time recommending them because of the price—$549 is expensive for wireless headphones, and it's tough to ignore other excellent options that cost hundreds of dollars less than Apple's. However, they become easier to recommend when they're on sale. Right now, you can pick up Apple's AirPods Max 2 for $429—still expensive, but a bit more reasonable. These are Apple's latest AirPods Max, with "new" features like Live Translation and Adaptive Audio.

AirPods Pro 3

Apple's third-generation AirPods Pro are excellent, but they're also pricey. For $249, you get Apple's best earbuds, with Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Transparency, a built-in heart rate monitor, and interchangeable tips to fit the buds to your ears. While these earbuds are arguably worth their MSRP, they're especially worth it on sale: Right now, you can take $70 off the price of the AirPods Pro 3, as Amazon is currently selling them for $179. Apple also offers cheaper AirPods with similar features, so unless you need the Pros' exclusive perks, you can save even more with the new, full-featured AirPods 5 ($149 for the version with the wireless charging case).

AirPods 4

If you're looking for a pair of AirPods at the lowest possible price, look at this deal from Best Buy. The retailer has the Apple AirPods 4 for just $79, down from their original list price of $129.99. These are one generation old at this point, and this model doesn't have Active Noise Cancellation, but for the price, this deal is an excellent way to get the AirPods experience.

iPad (A16)

Apple's basic iPad—sometimes called iPad (A16)—is the best iPad for most people. Most of us only need an 11-inch tablet with a chip capable of running iPadOS, with 12MP cameras on the front and back of the tablet. While there are iPads with bigger displays, including some with OLEDs, as well as more powerful chips and better cameras, this iPad will generally be more than enough. Right now, Amazon has the 128GB model discounted by 11%, bringing the price from $449 to $399. If you think you might need more storage, Amazon has smaller discounts on the 256GB and 512GB options, as well as on the 128GB and 256GB cellular models.

iPad mini (A17 Pro)

If you've been waiting for a good time to buy Apple's smallest iPad, now might be it. Apple's latest iPad mini is currently 17% off on Amazon, bringing the price from $599 to $499. This iPad mini comes with Apple's A17 Pro chip, an 8.3-inch display, 128GB of storage, and 12MP cameras on the front and back of the tablet. 128GB isn't much, though it can go a long way if you mostly keep your files in the cloud. If you think you need more storage, Amazon is taking $100 off all models, so you can still save on the 256GB and 512GB models—not to mention the cellular iPad minis, too.

M5 iPad Pro (11-inch)

Apple's 11-inch iPad Pro is powered by the same M5 chip as the MacBook Air—though it still runs iPadOS. Despite missing perks you get with a laptop, like a built-in keyboard, trackpad, and macOS support, this iPad Pro isn't too far off from the MacBook Air's price tag. Typically, this unit retails for $1,199, but Amazon has it listed at $60 off. Not a big discount, but you could apply those savings towards an Apple Pencil Pro—currently 23% off—or take a chunk off of Apple's Magic Keyboard. This model comes with an 11-inch OLED display, the M5 chip, and two 12MP cameras—one on the front and one on the back.

Apple Watch SE 3

The Apple Watch SE 3 is the best Apple Watch for most people. Despite the existence of bigger and "better" Apple Watches, the SE 3 does everything most people want their Apple Watches to do. It tracks your workouts, lets you send and receive texts, keeps tabs on your sleep habits, and checks your heart rate. It may be missing perks like an ECG reader, the latest S11 chip, and Apple's new persistent heart rate monitor, but most of us don't need these extra features. What's more, the SE 3 is currently 20% off on Amazon. You can pick up a new SE 3 for as little as $199 for the 40mm model, or $229 for the 44mm option. The cellular models start at $249 for the 40mm, or $279 for the 44mm option, both down $50.

Apple Watch Ultra 3

Apple just launched the Apple Watch Ultra 4, so big discounts aren't likely this fall. Instead, you can save $200 by opting for Apple's last-gen Ultra wearable. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is still a capable watch, with the S10 chip, 5G support, up to 42 hours of battery life, and water resistance up to 100m. You'll be missing out on the S11 chip, "Audio Intelligence," and Apple's new persistent heart rate monitor, but the savings may be worth the small sacrifice.

Apple Watch Series 12

While the Ultra 4 might not be on sale yet, the equally new Series 12 already has a discount. For October Prime Day, Amazon is taking $50 off Apple's latest flagship Apple Watch. That means the Series 12 now starts at $349 on Amazon instead of $399, or $399 for the 46mm instead of $449—though it does seem the sales are only for some colors. The Series 12 comes with Apple's latest S12 chip, as well as the new heart rate sensor that takes a reading once every five seconds, or 20 times a minute.

AirTags

Apple's AirTags are excellent trackers for anyone in the Apple ecosystem. Once set up, you can place AirTags on or in any of your possessions (bags, bikes, keys, etc.) and track those items through Find My. While AirTags cannot connect to the internet themselves, they communicate with other Find My-enabled devices out and about. Those devices then securely and privately update your AirTags' locations. Right now, Amazon is taking $10 off a pack of four, or $5 off an individual AirTag.

Magic Mouse

People often make fun of Apple's Magic Mouse for its odd charging port location (since it's on the bottom, you can't use the mouse while it's charging) as well as its less-than-ergonomic design. But despite this, it's often the best mouse choice for Mac users, if for no other reason than its easy pairing and compatibility with macOS gestures. If you're looking for a new mouse for your Mac—or even your iPad—you can save 24% on the Magic Mouse at Amazon, bringing the price to $59.99 from $79.

The US Government Just Launched an AI Chatbot

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29 September 2026 at 21:42
By: Jake Peterson

AI is virtually everywhere in 2026; that now includes U.S. government websites. On Tuesday, the Trump administration launched "America.gov," a new website that uses AI to answer questions about the government. While the experience currently feels like ChatGPT running U.S. government-themed instructions, the plan is for America.gov to eventually let you take action as well.

What is America.gov?

America.gov "combines" the nearly 30,000 websites under the umbrella of the U.S. government into one set of sources. Rather than invite you to browse those tens of thousands of pages to answer your questions, that dataset serves as the basis for the site's proprietary chatbot. You ask the chatbot a question about the U.S. government, and the AI sifts through those websites to generate an answer. It's like ChatGPT, but if the model only had access to U.S. government websites and sources.

You could ask the site how to replace your Social Security card, renew your passport, or register to vote in your state. You could ask for information on changing your address with the USPS, when Medicare open enrollment dates are, or upload a PDF of a government form for assistance. The site says any personal information will be automatically removed, though the privacy policy clarifies that it "will make a best-effort attempt in your browser to remove any private details using Rampart (an open-source classifier system to detect some types of PII, such as Social Security Numbers, phone numbers, email addresses, and credit card numbers)."

The website currently supports three languages—English, Spanish, and French—as well as voice commands, if you prefer speaking to your chatbots rather than typing to them. You don't need an account to use it, nor is there a fee or subscription, and there are no ads.

What America.gov might be able to do in the future

In its current form, America.gov is a simple chatbot. But the site has bold claims for future features. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced plans to let users apply for and renew their passports directly through the site, including a dynamic progress tracker to keep tabs on your documents. Other future abilities could include enrolling in Medicare or finding a job with the federal government.

But as with all claims, take these with a grain of salt. The government says these features are coming in early 2027, but this is a tall order for such a project. A single website that lets you complete complex government processes with the simplicity of a chatbot sounds great, but it would need to be accurate and reliable for all possible tasks and functions. It would certainly take significant proof of security and dependability for me to trust such a program with renewing my passport or helping me enroll in health care.

America.gov is full of ironies

It's impossible to discuss America.gov without acknowledging the administration that is spearheading the project. One would assume that an AI-powered government website developed by this administration would be biased towards Trump and his many falsehoods. And yet, the tool is astoundingly neutral, to the point where I can only imagine how frustrated Trump would be by some of these answers.

The first question many tested America.gov with was "Who won the 2020 election?" Donald Trump famously and frequently says that the election was stolen from him, but his new website plainly states that Joseph R. Biden Jr. won. The bot does sometimes tie the answer to the electoral count, stating that Biden won 306 votes to Trump's 232, but I was surprised to see "Joseph R. Biden Jr. won the 2020 presidential election under the official Electoral College count" as an answer on this site.

The site will also tell you that Donald Trump was president when diesel prices hit their highest historic price ($6.529 per gallon as of Sept. 21, 2026.), and that prices are high, in part, due to "military action" affecting the Staight of Hormuz. It will also say that grocery prices were higher in August than they were a year ago, which contradicts Trump's claims that prices have come down under his term.

Of course, Trump-influenced information that appears on official government sites will appear here. Ask it what the body of water that abuts Texas is called, and it will say the Gulf of America, formerly the Gulf of Mexico. Ask it what lake borders Toronto, Canada, and the bot will say Lake America, formerly Lake Ontario. In both cases, it will refer to the executive orders that changed those names.

Typically, I'd be worried about an AI tool hallucinating its answers and providing incorrect information to users. That's still a concern here, of course. But by creating a chatbot that only pulls information from official government sources, Trump has inadvertently created an official government fact-checker. And unless Trump starts injecting these sites with the same falsehoods he tells in interviews and on Truth Social, America.gov may be a reasonably reliable source of information.

OpenAI Just Announced 'Dots,' a New Type of Personalized AI Agent

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29 September 2026 at 19:30
By: Jake Peterson

Not only are AI agents all the rage in the tech world, but they're becoming more mainstream by the week. Apple recently upgraded iOS and macOS with Siri AI, while earlier this month, Meta also launched "Muse," an agent that can perform tasks on your behalf—and potentially expose your private information. Now, it's OpenAI's turn to launch an AI agent, but its take on the trend is a bit different, and less accessible, at least at launch. The company is calling it "Dots."

What are OpenAI "dots?"

"Dots" isn't a single AI agent platform. Rather than having all OpenAI users tapping into the same "Dots" system, users create their own individual "dot" for a specific purpose. OpenAI says dots are always-on agents powered by the company's GPT-6 Astra model that learn over time based on your responses. They can connect to over 4,000 apps at launch, including ChatGPT (of course), Slack, and Teams.

According to OpenAI's pitch, you won't always have to instruct your dot to do things for you; instead, the agent will take anticipatory action, guessing what you need done based on previous experience. That might mean identifying a bug in the app you're developing and deploying a fix without being asked. One early dots tester reportedly forgot to file an invoice for work, and their dot prepared one on his behalf, only sending it after gaining his go-ahead.

Dots run on their own cloud computer. OpenAI says you can view this computer at any time to check what it's up to and what it has done. Dots can connect to other devices, including your laptop, if you grant it permission first. OpenAI says you can continue adding to its workload without worrying about slowing your bot down: It can supposedly handle many concurrent tasks. Maybe you're working on an app, and you task the dot with monitoring customer feedback and fixing small issues with code. Perhaps you're a content creator, and your dot analyzes interview transcripts for clippable segments, while drafting up social media posts.

Like other AI agents, dots are chat-based. The idea is to simulate the experience of texting a friend or colleague. You text them in ChatGPT, Slack, or Teams, and they text you back with updates and questions. They can even text you first when there's been a development. At launch, OpenAI says you can create a "primary" dot. You can give it a name and "make it your own," though it's not clear exactly what that means.

Are OpenAI's dots safe to use?

OpenAI says that dots build on ChatGPT's security systems "with additional safety and privacy safeguards." The company says all dots work on their own cloud computer, separate from your own machine—unless you choose to connect the two. The company claims that dots can sign you into accounts using saved passwords without actually exposing those passwords to the AI model. In fact, when you sign into an account, the AI model pauses working until sign-in is complete. Your dot will then resume its activity.

Dots will work in the background as part of its "proactive research" feature, but it will only connect to apps you've already permitted it to, using tools that cannot make changes. While prompt injection is always a risk with agentic AI, OpenAI says that dots have built-in safeguards to protect against malicious instructions. If the AI detects something suspicious, it will stop the dot from proceeding. In addition, you can set up custom rules to ensure the bot will never perform a task you don't want it to, such as sending emails.

Dots also operate on a system called "Auto-review," which compares upcoming steps against your instructions, rules, and safety requirements. If it detects an issue, it stops itself. The dot can then investigate further on its own or come to you with the problem. However, OpenAI acknowledges that dots can still make mistakes.

Who can use dots?

Unlike Meta, which is actively pushing Muse on all users, OpenAI's dots are not as widely accessible as of this writing. At launch, dots are only available to paying users, including ChatGPT Pro, Business Premium, and Enterprise users. What's more, you can only set up one dot right now, though OpenAI says you'll be able to set up multiple dots in the future.

Spotify and Claude Are Both Down

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29 September 2026 at 14:48
By: Jake Peterson

If you're having trouble getting your Spotify playlists up and running this morning, you're not alone. The music streaming platform is currently down for tens of thousands of users, at least. Downdetector is showing roughly 40,000 reports since 9:31 a.m. ET, with the last batch of reports coming in at 10:24 a.m. Spotify confirmed the issue in a post on X, writing: "We're aware of some issues right now and are checking them out!"

Curiously, Spotify's outage comes at the same time as an outage with Claude, the AI platform from Anthropic. Downdetector shows tens of thousands of user reports here as well, and Anthropic confirmed an ongoing issue with Claude: "We are investigating reports of degraded performance affecting claude.ai, platform.claude.com, the Claude API, Claude Code, and Claude Cowork. We will provide an update as soon as possible."

It's not clear why these services are down this morning, or if they are related. But in all likelihood, Spotify and Anthropic will get their platforms back up and running soon. Typically, these occasional outages are resolved in hours, if not minutes, barring a widespread problem, like an outage with a cloud hosting provider. Last year's AWS outage "broke the internet," as did November's Cloudflare outage. There's no reason to think that's the case with these outages at this time.

These Are the Best Tech Gifts Under $50

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28 September 2026 at 21:30
By: Jake Peterson

Tech products can get expensive fast. When you factor in the historic demand from the ongoing memory crisis, you might find yourself spending more than you'd like for the people on your list. It doesn't have to be this way. There's a surprising variety of products you can pick up for $50 or less. While not everything in the tech world can be found at this price point (at least, not with any expectation of quality), you can buy name-brand speakers, headphones, trackers, and more. If someone on your gift-giving list is looking for a new gadget, these under $50 products may just be it.

Best portable speaker under $50 to gift: JBL Go 4

If your giftee wants a portable speaker, it's tough to beat the JBL Go 4 at this price point. This is a great portable (emphasis on portable) speaker from a company that makes excellent audio equipment. It has up to seven hours of battery life on one charge and an IP67 rating against water and dust, which makes it as good of a speaker to bring to the beach as it is for your shower. As it happens, one of my favorite things about this speaker is the fact that it's made by JBL: For less than $50, you get a speaker that can pair with any other compatible JBL speaker, big or small. I've found it to be a lifesaver for parties, events, or when traveling: Usually, someone else in the group has a JBL speaker (if not multiple people), which makes setting up an impromptu sound system easy. Better yet, outlets like Amazon often have these speakers on sale, which means you can pick it up well under its already-reasonable MSRP.

Longest-lasting portable speaker to gift under $50: Soundcore Select 4 Go

If you're looking for something even less expensive for your gift, Anker's Soundcore Select 4 Go is a great option. It, too, has an IP67 water and dust resistance rating, though its main advantage is its 20-hour battery life. You can pair two of these speakers together to create a stereo system, and, depending on available discounts, you may be able to buy two for under $50—though its MSRP is $34.99.

Best wireless mic under $50 to gift: DJI Mic Mini

Wireless microphones are often pricey, and "cheap" options are often not worth the money. However, if you need wireless lav mics on a budget for someone on your list, DJI's "Mic Minis" might be the move. This particular option comes with two mini mics and one USB-C receiver. You can connect the receiver to any smartphone (iOS or Android) that supports USB-C, and mic up two different subjects to capture remote audio. Your subjects can move up to 300 meters away from the receiver while recording, and each mic supports noise cancellation.

Best smartphone game controller to gift under $50: 8BitDo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller

Dedicated portable handheld gaming consoles, like the Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck, are great, but most of us already own capable game systems of our own: our smartphones. The problem is, playing on a touchscreen doesn't come close to matching the experience of a physical controller, which is why smartphone game controller accessories are such a great buy for any gamer on your list. One of the best—$50 or under, anyway—is 8BitDo's Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller. This device turns your giftee's iPhone or Android into a Switch or Steam Deck, complete with an Xbox-designed button and joystick layout.

Best game controller to gift under $50: 8BitDo Ultimate 2C

Let's switch gears slightly. If your giftee wants a great gaming controller but for PC, console, or to wirelessly connect to a mobile device, the Ultimate 2C from 8BitDo is also an excellent option. Unlike other gaming controllers that can get expensive fast, the Ultimate 2C retails for $29.99—but Amazon reviews note that it doesn't feel "cheap." The build quality feels solid, the connections are snappy, and there are even three sets of triggers, in case you find yourself needing to assign extra functions in your games. While third-party game controllers have had poor reputations over time, 8BitDo's products seem to offer a lot of value at these price points.

Best tracker to gift under $50: Apple AirTags

There's really no beating AirTags when it comes to keeping tabs on your stuff—assuming your giftee has other Apple products already. AirTags work with Apple's Find My network: While they don't have the ability to connect to the internet on their own, they can communicate securely and privately with other internet-connected Apple devices in the wild, which then update the AirTag's location on the Find My network. In addition, if your giftee is within Bluetooth range of their AirTag, their compatible iPhone or Apple Watch can use Precision Finding to guide them to its location. These retail for $29.99, but when they're on sale, you can pick up two for under $50.

Best earbuds to gift under $50: Soundcore P30i by Anker Noise-Cancelling Earbuds

Wireless earbuds are not cheap, especially if your friend or family member wants them to come with noise cancellation. Anker's Soundcore P30i earbuds, however, retail for $49.99 and come with both noise cancellation and transparency mode. Anker says you can get up to 10 hours of playtime on one charge (or six hours with noise cancellation turned on). The charging case even doubles as a phone stand, which is quite clever—especially at this price point.

Best earbuds to gift Apple users under $50: Beats Flex Wireless Earbuds

You may want to consider these wireless earbuds from Beats for the Apple users in your life. The Beats Flex wireless earbuds come with Apple's W1 chip. That means your giftee can quickly switch between their various Apple devices (iPhone, Mac, Apple TV, etc.) and their Beats will follow, all without having to repair them at each juncture. While they retail for over $50, Amazon hasn't listed them at that price in three months, according to Keepa. As such, I'm recommending them here, if for no other reason than to offer the Apple users in your life an Anker alternative.

Best headphones to gift under $50: Soundcore Anker Life Q20

Similar to the Beats Flex, the Soundcore Anker Life Q20 retail for more than $50. However, Amazon has had them priced well below that for the past three months, which makes them an excellent over-the-ear headphone purchase. RTings says these headphones have "an excited sound profile," with nearly 50 hours of battery life between charges. These headphones have noise cancellation, transparency mode, as well as 40mm drivers in each earcup. Your giftee can also pair them to two Bluetooth devices at once, so they can quickly switch between both when they need to.

Best portable charger to gift under $50: Anker 622 Magnetic Battery (MagGo)

Whenever I travel, I always have the same two thoughts concerning my iPhone: I wish I could prop it up, and I worry about when I can charge it up. This MagSafe power bank from Anker solves both those problems. It attaches magnetically to your iPhone, giving you extra battery life, while also serving as a stand, so you can use it hands-free. That's perfect for planes, trains, though perhaps not automobiles—assuming the latter doesn't offer a seatback tray-table equivalent. Anker says this 5,000mAh charger is typically good for one full charge at a time, which should mean your giftee can double their iPhone's total battery life.

Best streaming device to gift under $50: Amazon Fire TV 4K

If your giftee needs a new streaming device, but you don't have more than $50 to spend, the Amazon Fire TV 4K Select may be your best bet. As the name implies, this device can stream in 4K, but it's also compatible with HDR10+. Amazon is happily advertising this device's Alexa+ capabilities, which add the company's generative AI assistant to the streaming device. But even if your giftee just need something to stream Apple TV, HBO, or Netflix in 4K, this stick can handle it. Plus, as of this article, the device is heavily discounted, making it an excellent deal.

Best gaming mouse to gift under $50: SteelSeries Rival 3 gaming mouse

If your giftee needs a new gaming mouse, but the "best" options are giving you sticker shock, consider the Rival 3 from SteelSeries. This is one of CNET's picks, and despite its $35 price tag, it comes with the same switches as some of SteelSeries' premium mice, as well as a 8,500 DPI sensor. It's lightweight at 77g, and while that might not be surprising at this price point, it could make for a convenient travel mouse, as well as a dedicated gaming option.

Best Razer gaming mouse to gift under $50: Razer DeathAdder Essential

If your giftee is more of a Razer fan, the company has its own affordable gaming mouse. The DeathAdder Essential is the budget version of its more expensive DeathAdder mouse, but it comes with a 6,400 DPI sensor, five programmable buttons, and support for up to 10 million clicks. As of this article, Razer is offering this mouse for just over $20, an excellent price for a capable gaming mouse.

If Your iPhone 18 Pro Is Randomly Rebooting, There's a Fix

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28 September 2026 at 18:00
By: Jake Peterson

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Apple released a bunch of new devices this month. The Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 support new health-tracking features and Siri AI, while the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max introduce the A20 chip and variable aperture for the first time on Apple's smartphones. But while all these new products are objective upgrades over their predecessors, they all have one issue in common: They keep randomly rebooting.

What is Apple's rebooting problem?

As reported by 9to5Mac, some iPhone 18 Pro users are noticing that their smartphones are freezing up after a failed Face ID scan. When this happens, you won't be able to interact with your iPhone, even if the "Try Face ID Again" button appears onscreen. Instead, after a few moments, the iPhone will reboot. It's not a catastrophic issue, but it is annoying, and it's affecting a number of users, as this Reddit thread shows.

It's a similar story with the latest Apple Watches. While the Series 12 and Ultra 4 obviously don't use Face ID, users are still experiencing random reboots—emphasis on "random." Unlike the iPhone 18 Pro users, affected Apple Watch users aren't doing anything in particular when their watches reboot. They could be in the middle of a workout, chatting with Siri AI, or using the Maps app, when all of a sudden, the Apple logo appears. Some analyses showed that the Neural Engine was at fault, but Apple never confirmed the exact issue.

Apple just released a fix for iPhone 18 Pro users

Apple did find solutions to the reboot issues on all of these devices. Apple released watchOS 27.0.1 exclusively for Series 12 and Ultra 4 users on Wednesday, Sept. 23, which it says should fix random reboots going forward. Then, on Monday, Apple released iOS 27.0.1 for iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max. This update doesn't only fix rebooting issues, either. Apple also patched a bug that could add a color artifact on photos shoot at 2x at f/1.48 aperture, as well as a glitch that would freeze the display when opening Notification Center and Control Center at the same time. Here are the full release notes:

  • iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max may unexpectedly restart when Face ID fails to authenticate.

  • A color artifact may appear on photos captured at 2x under certain lighting conditions at f/1.48 on a small number of iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max devices.

  • Opening Notification Center and Control Center simultaneously may cause the touchscreen to become unresponsive.

As such, don't feel the need to take your new iPhone 18 Pro to the Apple Store if your only issue is covered by one, two, or three of the above. While some Apple Store employees have swapped out affected units, this software update should be enough to take care of the issue. To update, head to Settings > General > Software Update.

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