I keep rubbing my eyes, thinking my vision must be off, but these wireless earphones are already on sale for less than the Jackson. This is correct Skullcandy Pocket True 2 Bluetooth earphones for only $16.99 ($23 off) at Amazon in a gray and blue color combination. These affordable buds often retail for around $24, but that new low price makes them an easy choice for a kid or anyone on a budget looking for wireless convenience.
The Jib True 2 aren’t going to win any awards in the audio department, but while their predecessors were a bit over-the-top, they were more than serviceable for the low price. In addition, this new model has a built-in tile tracking feature to help locate a missing bud should it ever go missing. So it is not only for kids but also for those who have memories of losing expensive earphones in the past.
Samsung’s new mid-range smartphone is very similar to its flagship Galaxy S23 line but costs much less. It may not have a high-end processor or low-light camera chops like its more expensive sibling, but the A54 prioritizes two of the most important things you interact with every time you use it — its screen and its battery life. The A54 has a large 6.4-inch 1080p OLED screen with a fast 120Hz refresh rate and a large battery to power you through the day. Plus, Samsung has said it will offer five years of security updates for the A54, so if the processor and battery last, it could be a good investment for a lot less money than most competitors. Read our review.
One of my favorite MagSafe chargers for home use is the Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 which I affectionately call the “charging tree.” Although they are cool, they are also very expensive. If you have a MagSafe compatible iPhone that charges your AirPods wirelessly, it’s best to buy now Belkin’s BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charger with MagSafe, which retails for $54.99 ($45 off) at Best Buy and Amazon. Magnetically charges your iPhone at a maximum speed of 15W, and holds it at a convenient angle – either vertically or horizontally.
Apple’s Mac Mini remains the best value for a basic desktop computer today, as long as you don’t mind saving your own monitor, keyboard, and mouse, of course. Right now, B&H Photo sells a M1 Mac mini From 2020 for $479 ($220 off original MSRP) and also this year M2 Mac mini For $529 ($70 off).
Both are base models with 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. Neither has the broadest port selection, with just two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports, but they outpace Mac laptops by having two USB-A, HDMI 2.0, and ethernet ports. You really can’t go wrong with either machine at these prices if you’re just doing basic work and everyday tasks, although if you can justify the extra $50, the M2 version will perform better and be the better investment in the long run.