Apple is great M2-powered Mac Mini in its expanded configuration with 512GB of storage is sells for $689.99 on Amazon. That’s a huge savings of $110 over the small desktop, making it an easy recommendation for anyone who needs a basic computer for their home. The M2 Mac Mini looks like most other Mac Minis, but it uses the same processor as the latest MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro. Like those laptops, you get two Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C ports, but the Mini also gives you two USB-A ports, an ethernet port, and an HDMI port — oh, and it’s cheaper. It has the same eight-core CPU and 10-core GPU as the base configuration, but the more spacious 512GB of storage makes life more convenient before you’re forced to rely on external storage.
Just remember you need to BYO monitor, keyboard, and mouse. So this deal is good if you have those, or you can put the money saved on the necessary peripherals. Read our review.
These iPad Pro-powered M1s are very similar to the newer M2 models, and in many ways, they’re the smarter buy right now. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro of 2021 has an efficient Mini LED panel, like the newer model, and the M1 chip is still very fast. The only major thing you’re missing is a new hover feature for the second-gen Apple Pencil, which is pretty small. If you want an iPad as a laptop replacement, these great iPads make a lot of sense — especially since their LTE connections give them a slight edge over comparable MacBooks. Read our review.
There seems to be something in the water when it comes to 1TB M.2 SSDs — prices keep dropping. First, the 1TB Samsung 980 Pro with heatsink down to $86.66 (a new low) on Amazon, and now the 1TB Adata XPG S70 Blade is saying “hold my beer” as it drops to $69.99 ($40 off) at Best Buy and Amazon.
The XPG S70 Blade is a fast SSD compatible with the Sony PlayStation 5 if you want to expand your console’s storage — making it a very affordable way to more than double the built-in storage. It doesn’t come with a durable heatsink like pricier models, but its built-in heat spreader is enough to keep the temperature down. However, if you want extra, extra peace of mind, you can always install a heatsink like this one for $10.99.
The Anker 563 11-in-1 USB-C hub is on sale for $55.99 ($24 off) at Amazon and direct from Anker (the latter requires you to enter a code WS7DUWNDTL at checkout). The 563 is a pretty all-encompassing port, as it sports both an HDMI port and a DisplayPort connection that outputs up to 4K / 60Hz. You don’t always see DisplayPort offered on these hubs, and the generous USB ports on offer include two USB-C (one for power and one for data) and three USB-A. Sadly, none of these are faster than the 10Gbps spec, but if none of your peripherals require that high throughput, then this is a great value for a versatile adapter.
