Time’s running out to get a free gift card when you preorder a new MacBook
This has been a week to remember here at The Verge. MWC 2026 in Barcelona lead straight into Apple’s week of product announcements. There was truly something for everyone, whether you’ve been wanting a company to make a phone that can start fires, or had your fingers crossed for a brand-new MacBook model that costs just $599.99. It was also a great week for gaming, with the launch of Slay the Spire 2 on Steam as an early access game, plus Pokémon Pokopia on Nintendo Switch 2, and Marathon on PC and PS5. It was also a pretty good week when it comes to deals, especially if you’re in the market for new hardware. You can nab a free gift card with a preorder of early 2026’s most anticipated tech launching on March 11th, including Apple’s new MacBooks, plus Samsung’s lineup Galaxy S26 phones. Let’s not forget that Google’s Pixel 10A launched this week, and the gift...
This has been a week to remember here at The Verge. MWC 2026 in Barcelona lead straight into Apple’s week of product announcements. There was truly something for everyone, whether you’ve been wanting a company to make a phone that can start fires, or had your fingers crossed for a brand-new MacBook model that costs just $599.99. It was also a great week for gaming, with the launch of Slay the Spire 2 on Steam as an early access game, plus Pokémon Pokopia on Nintendo Switch 2, and Marathon on PC and PS5.It was also a pretty good week when it comes to deals, especially if you’re in the market for new hardware. You can nab a free gift card with a preorder of early 2026’s most anticipated tech launching on March 11th, including Apple’s new MacBooks, plus Samsung’s lineup Galaxy S26 phones. Let’s not forget that Google’s Pixel 10A launched this week, and the gift card promo for that is happening through March 11th. Here are this week’s best deals.March 11th is a big day for tech launches. That’s when every product that Apple announced this past week will ship and hit shelves, including its M5-powered MacBook Air, its MacBook Pro models equipped with the M5 Pro and M5 Max processors, its affordable new MacBook Neo, the M4 iPad Air, plus two new Studio Displays. But wait, there’s more! Samsung’s Galaxy S26, the S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra launch that day, too.With a couple exceptions (the Studio Displays and the iPad Air), you can get a gift card when you buy any of those products right now. Best Buy is the source for gift cards on most of Apple’s latest gear (including $25 with the MacBook Neo, $50 with the MacBook Air, or $100 with the MacBook Pro), while you can get one with any of Samsung’s new Galaxy S26 phones at Amazon (ranging from $100 to $200, depending on the model). Let’s not forget about the Google Pixel 10A, which launched March 5th and includes a $100 gift card through March 11th at Best Buy and Amazon.
MacBook Neo (with $25 e-gift card)
For a limited time, you can get a $25 gift card at Best Buy when you preorder the MacBook Neo.
Where to Buy:
$599 at Best Buy (256GB)
$699 at Best Buy (512GB)
$599 at Amazon (256GB, no gift card)
Spring is in the air, and that means the return of many things: warmer weather, beautiful green leaves on trees, and bugs. Alright, I’m not excited about bugs, but I am excited about the return of the creatures who feast a lot of them — birds! I’m tempted to get a camera-equipped bird feeder this year, in part to let my toddler get a close look at hummingbirds, and one of the most appealing models out there is 37 percent off. Birdbuddy’s Smart Hummingbird Feeder Pro Solar is down to $189 at Birdbuddy and just $10 more at Chewy.This model is powered by its solar panel, which works even on cloudy days (it can be recharged via USB-C if where you place it doesn’t get enough sun). Its motion-activated camera can capture 5-megapixel stills, slow motion footage, and HDR video of hummingbirds doing their thing. While these birds are often too quick to fully appreciate with the naked eye, this feeder will give you access to view them leisurely from the company’s companion app. There’s a Birdbuddy Premium subscription that starts at $69.99 per year that lets you name birds and track returning visitors, plus other features, but the base bird-viewing experience doesn’t cost extra.
Birdbuddy Smart Hummingbird Feeder Pro Solar
Where to Buy:
$299 $189 at Birdbuddy
$299 $239 at Amazon
$299 $199 at Chewy
If you’re into first-person shooters, you’ve probably heard of — and possibly already own — Marathon, Bungie’s anticipated PvPvE multiplayer t**le that’s a modern remake of one of the studio’s first games in the 1990s. The game just launched on PlayStation 5 and PC for $39.99, and you can get a small deal on the Steam PC version. Fanatical is selling Steam keys for $34.39, which is a 14 percent discount. Nothing huge, but it’s a nice price cut.Several of us here at The Verge are playing Marathon, and are digging it so far. Its art style is unlike any other game, and admittedly, it has me strongly considering buying an OLED gaming monitor to enjoy. I need to see those neon colors pop.
Marathon
Where to Buy:
$39.99 $34.39 at Fanatical (Steam)
Other great deals you might have missed this week
There’s a new M4-equipped iPad Air coming out on March 11th. While you won’t get a gift card for preordering one, you can save a bit of money off the retail price. Right now, the 128GB / Wi-Fi model is available at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart starting at $559 ($40 off), while the LTE config is selling for $709 ($40 off) at Best Buy. If you want more storage space, Amazon and Walmart are also both selling the 11-inch model with 256GB and Wi-Fi for $649 ($50 off). The larger 13-inch variant, meanwhile, can be found at the same retailers, including Amazon and Walmart, in its base configuration with Wi-Fi and 128GB of storage starting at $749 ($50 off).
Over the Garden Wall is a beloved cartoon with narrative ties to Dante’s Inferno that ran on Cartoon Network in 2014. At long last, it’s coming to Blu-ray on April 7th, and you can save a smidge on preorders through Gruv if you’re a first-time customer. Use the offer code FIRSTGRUV15 at checkout to knock the cost from $19.99 to $17. The cast is stacked, with voices provided by Elijah Wood, Melanie Lynskey, and Christopher Lloyd, to name a few.
Bose’s Ultra Open earbuds are down to their lowest price at Amazon, selling for $199 (originally $299). Unlike most earbuds, these clip around your lower ear, with the audio driver leaving your inner ear partially exposed so you can hear outside noises. This Ultra Open is great for people who want to go for a walk or run outside without cutting themselves off to hearing potential oncoming hazards, and they provide better sound quality than bone conduction headphones, which don’t cover your ears at all. This is a price that I bet my former colleague Chris Welch would have been happier with when he reviewed the Ultra Open in early 2024.
The BenQ RD280UG convinced me that 3:2 displays are the future of productivity
I use ultrawide monitors most of the time, so the first few minutes using this 3:2 display from BenQ was an adjustment. But once I got over the initial shock, I discovered how much nicer it is to read text. Or should I say rediscovered, because I grew up on...
I use ultrawide monitors most of the time, so the first few minutes using this 3:2 display from BenQ was an adjustment. But once I got over the initial shock, I discovered how much nicer it is to read text. Or should I say rediscovered, because I grew up on 4:3 and 3:2 monitors, and I'd forgotten how much the added vertical space helps with productivity.F
Olivia Miller Seattle
Published by: aplhsindia.in
My phone runs an AI a**istant entirely offline, and I stopped uploading my documents to cloud chatbots
Using a chatbot that doesn't let you upload documents is almost unheard of these days - the document workflow is integral to an AI workflow now. And they've gotten really good at working with documents. However, the docs that would actually benefit the most from the summary-and-query treatment are also...
Using a chatbot that doesn't let you upload documents is almost unheard of these days - the document workflow is integral to an AI workflow now. And they've gotten really good at working with documents. However, the docs that would actually benefit the most from the summary-and-query treatment are also the ones you probably shouldn't be uploading to a cloud bot. A bank statement, legal doc, or medical test is exactly the kind of thing those of us who aren't legal or medical experts need help understanding.
Edinéia Jesus Brazil
Published by: aplhsindia.in
5 features Claude used to make you pay for that are now free
Almost four years ago, the idea of paying $20 a month for an AI chatbot that simply responded to your queries would have sounded ridiculous. ChatGPT was the tool that introduced millions of people to the concept of generative artificial intelligence, and paying a recurring subscription just to talk to...
Almost four years ago, the idea of paying $20 a month for an AI chatbot that simply responded to your queries would have sounded ridiculous. ChatGPT was the tool that introduced millions of people to the concept of generative artificial intelligence, and paying a recurring subscription just to talk to an AI was hardly something most of us had budgeted for.
Daniel Martinez Dallas
Published by: aplhsindia.in
RetroArch’s Netplay feature is why it’s still the best emulation frontend
Emulation is the easiest and most convenient way to experience a lot of classic titles these days, but for many games, there's something missing. Many classic titles relied on multiplayer support for their value, but they were designed to be played on the same console, not over the internet.
Emulation is the easiest and most convenient way to experience a lot of classic titles these days, but for many games, there's something missing. Many classic titles relied on multiplayer support for their value, but they were designed to be played on the same console, not over the internet.
Viktorija Vuksanović Serbia
Published by: aplhsindia.in
My most important backup lives on a drive I unplug, and that’s the entire reason it still works
It's very easy to preach about a 3-2-1 backup scheme, but actually doing it takes time. It's not particularly difficult, but the money and effort requirement are often what keep most from actually implementing one. Since growing my family and beginning to move more things to the self-hosted realm, I...
It's very easy to preach about a 3-2-1 backup scheme, but actually doing it takes time. It's not particularly difficult, but the money and effort requirement are often what keep most from actually implementing one. Since growing my family and beginning to move more things to the self-hosted realm, I realized that a cold storage backup for my NAS was now mission-critical.
Emily Brown Houston
Published by: aplhsindia.in
I stopped force-shutting down my PC after Windows 11’s August update fixed this one thing
I confess I don’t turn off my main PC that often, but the times I have over the last year have felt like a struggle. It’s set to shut down when I press the power button because I don’t use hibernate or sleep on my desktop. But I’ve pressed the...
I confess I don’t turn off my main PC that often, but the times I have over the last year have felt like a struggle. It’s set to shut down when I press the power button because I don’t use hibernate or sleep on my desktop. But I’ve pressed the button and wondered whether my PSU or front-panel connector was failing, since the fans kept spinning even as my peripherals and screen went dead. The only thing that got it back was a ten-second press of the power button for a hard reset, and that’s not my intended behavior.
Sophia Wilson Atlanta
Published by: aplhsindia.in
I turned my Raspberry Pi Pico into a leverless fightstick, and it was surprisingly easy
Leverless fightsticks have been the craze of the fighting game community for the past few years, with many variations being released. Many of them could get quite expensive, but after learning a bunch about electronics, I realized they’re actually quite simple. I’m not serious enough about fighting games to buy...
Leverless fightsticks have been the craze of the fighting game community for the past few years, with many variations being released. Many of them could get quite expensive, but after learning a bunch about electronics, I realized they’re actually quite simple. I’m not serious enough about fighting games to buy an expensive leverless fightstick. Thankfully, I made a legitimately competitive one for cheap — and customized to my hands!
John Doe New York
Published by: aplhsindia.in
Plex is asking to share your data for ads, but your opt-out might not be sticking
It's always good to know where your data is going and who's selling it. If you use Plex, there's a good chance you'll see, or have already seen, a big data collection consent screen pop up that asks if you're okay with personalised ads. And while you can opt out...
It's always good to know where your data is going and who's selling it. If you use Plex, there's a good chance you'll see, or have already seen, a big data collection consent screen pop up that asks if you're okay with personalised ads. And while you can opt out of this data collection from this screen, users are reporting that Plex will sometimes opt them back in seemingly by itself.
Daniel Martinez Dallas
Published by: aplhsindia.in
The cat-and-mouse game over 3D-printed guns has begun
The creator of the world's first 3D-printed gun claims he's developed a way to thwart government-mandated software meant to block 3D printers from making firearms. It's an opening volley in what's shaping up to be an evolving battle between regulators trying to stem the tide of ghost guns and individuals...
The creator of the world's first 3D-printed gun claims he's developed a way to thwart government-mandated software meant to block 3D printers from making firearms. It's an opening volley in what's shaping up to be an evolving battle between regulators trying to stem the tide of ghost guns and individuals trying to create workarounds. Cody Wilson, who claims to have made the detection-defying tool, is calling it "Hochulization" as a direct jab at New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who pushed through the nation's first law mandating gun file detection software on new printers earlier this year. "New York is trying to reach into the internet and pol …Read the full story at The Verge.
John Doe New York
Published by: aplhsindia.in
Open-source maintainers are drowning in AI-generated garbage, and it’s getting worse
Artificial intelligence has been around in one form or another for decades, but it's quickly growing in scope with the rise of the language models (LLMs). These tools are trained on massive amounts of text to understand, summarize, and generate human-like language. LLMs power hosted tools such as ChatGPT and...
Artificial intelligence has been around in one form or another for decades, but it's quickly growing in scope with the rise of the language models (LLMs). These tools are trained on massive amounts of text to understand, summarize, and generate human-like language. LLMs power hosted tools such as ChatGPT and Claude, while some models are released with downloadable weights that can be run locally (with the right hardware). They're great when used appropriately, but they can cause issues for software development.
Daniel Martinez Dallas
Published by: aplhsindia.in
I retired my Fire TV Stick after a week with a real Android TV box, and the difference is hard to ignore
I've owned many Fire TV Sticks over the years. They were a viable option until Amazon released the new Fire TV Stick with Vega OS. The locked-down, Linux-powered OS doesn't support sideloading Android apps, so I decided to graduate to a real Android device.
I've owned many Fire TV Sticks over the years. They were a viable option until Amazon released the new Fire TV Stick with Vega OS. The locked-down, Linux-powered OS doesn't support sideloading Android apps, so I decided to graduate to a real Android device.
Sophia Wilson Atlanta
Published by: aplhsindia.in
Lenovo confirms Legion Go issues after gamers report bricked devices
Cursed BIOS. | Photo by Sean Hollister / The Verge When a company's software update turns your computer into a useless brick, should fixes be free? Framework, the modular computer startup, apparently thinks so. But it's not clear that computing giant Lenovo will go that far. Three weeks after a...
Cursed BIOS. | Photo by Sean Hollister / The Verge When a company's software update turns your computer into a useless brick, should fixes be free? Framework, the modular computer startup, apparently thinks so. But it's not clear that computing giant Lenovo will go that far.Three weeks after a Redditor presented a nearly $300 repair bill for their handheld gaming PC - among other reports of damage and high repair bills - the company is breaking its silence. It says, in short: try holding down the power button longer, and if that fails, contact customer support.Here's the statement Lenovo provided to The Verge, via communications director Jeff Witt:Lenovo is aware that some Legion Go d …Read the full story at The Verge.
