AMD has announced that it's releasing its newest Ryzen X3D processors on March 12. The Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Ryzen 9 9900X3D were both introduced back at CES 2025, and are currently the most powerful gaming-focused processors the company sells.
The 9950X3D has 16 Zen 5 CPU cores, a max boost speed of 5.7GHz and second-generation 3D V-Cache tech for more efficient performance. In contrast, the 9900X3D comes with a more modest 12 CPU cores and a max boost speed of 5.5GHz. AMD's 3D V-Cache tech is still the standout feature on these chips. The company introduced 3D V-Cache as a method of packaging cache modules on top of each other to provided less RAM-intensive performance. The tech was added to desktop processors first, before coming to laptop processors in 2023.
The 9950X3D's 3D V-Cache packaging allows it to be 20 percent faster than Intel's Core i9 285K across 40 different games, according to stats AMD shared when it announced the chip. It's also supposed to be at least 10 percent faster across certain content creation apps, too. When you take into account AMD's recently released Radeon 9070 GPUs, the company has the pieces you need to make a pretty compelling gaming PC.
The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Ryzen 9 900X3D will be available to order on March 12. The Ryzen 9 9950X3D will start at $699 and the Ryzen 9 9900X3D starts at $599.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/amd-is-releasing-its-latest-ryzen-x3d-processors-on-march-12-195656335.html?src=rss
The Nintendo Switch 2 is officially on the way, and more details are starting to trickle out. FCC filings have revealed that the console will support WiFi 6 and NFC, according to reporting by The Verge.
This means that the WiFi in the Switch 2 should be much speedier when compared to the OG model, as that console only supported WiFi 5. The filings do indicate that the Switch 2 wont offer support for WiFi 6E. Additionally, the FCC only mentioned tests for 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, and not the faster 6GHz band.
WiFi 6 isnt the latest wireless standard. Thatd be WiFi 7. Nintendo very rarely adopts the newest technologies in its products. However, this matches the standard PS5, though the PS5 Pro supports WiFi 7. The Xbox Series X/S consoles only support WiFi 5.
More FCC data for the Nintendo Switch 2. Given that BEE-014 is the Right Joy-Con, it looks like it has NFC (Amiibo) support. pic.twitter.com/nnkoSIoPFF BrainwaBrain (@brainwabrain) March 6, 2025
NFC support likely means one thing and one thing only. Nintendos upcoming console will probably continue integration with those cute lil Amiibo figurines. The filings even specify that the RFID feature will be located in the right Joy-Con, just like the first Switch. Thats great news for people with plenty of shelf space. For the uninitiated, these figures wirelessly unlock content in games.
The FCC filings indicate one final juicy nugget. It looks like players will be able to charge the Switch 2 via either the bottom USB-C port or the brand-new top USB-C port. This is the first real confirmation that charging would be available on both ports.
We dont know when the Switch 2 will be released, other than sometime this year, or what the launch lineup will look like. The reveal trailer showed off something that could be a new Mario Kart game, but well have to wait until April's Nintendo Direct to learn more. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/the-nintendo-switch-2-will-feature-wifi-6-and-offer-nfc-support-per-the-fcc-192242046.html?src=rss
It's your lucky day if you're looking for good deals on Apple devices. We've highlighted discounts on MacBook Air models, the base iPad and AirPods Pro 2. In addition to those, the Apple Watch Series 10 is on sale for its lowest price to date. The smartwatch has dropped back down to its record-low price of $299. That's a $100 discount.
The Apple Watch SE got a discount too. The device typically retails for $249, but you can snap it up for $169.
The Apple Watch Series 10 is our pick for the best smartwatch overall. That may not necessarily apply if you're an Android user, since you need an iPhone to actually use an Apple Watch.
In any case, we gave the Apple Watch Series 10 a score of 90 in our review. Apple's current flagship smartwatch has a bigger screen, making it easier to see your notifications and health data (it's a pretty dang great device for wellness and fitness tracking). The thinner frame makes it more aesthetically pleasing too. On the downside, losing the blood oxygen feature from previous models is a bummer, but that issue was out of Apple's hands to a certain extent.
It's perhaps not quite worth an upgrade if you have a Series 8 or 9 already. Apple isn't exactly reinventing the wheel here. Plus the sleep apnea detection feature that debuted alongside the Series 10 is also available on the Series 9 and Ultra 2. Still, if you're an Apple Watch newcomer or upgrading from an even older model, the Series 10 is likely your best option, especially for the sake of future proofing.
Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-apple-watch-series-10-falls-to-a-record-low-price-184918237.html?src=rss
With US stocks unstable, consumer confidence in the economy plunging and whispers of a potential recession growing less muted, the economy under President Donald Trump's second term has been about as stable as a recovering addict's first week back on blow. With that turbulence as a backdrop, the cryptocurrency industry hoped Thursday's executive order establishing a federal Bitcoin reserve would at least spur a surge in the blockchain ecosystem. Instead, Bitcoin's value has dropped sharply, and one crypto-focused hedge fund founder called Trump's order "the most underwhelming and disappointing outcome we could have expected for this week."
After Trump posted in January that he would sign an executive order to establish a crypto stockpile, the market responded enthusiastically and prices rose accordingly. Bitcoin spiked to an all-time high of over $109,000 in January (after surpassing the $100,000 mark for the first time in early December).
On Friday, at its lowest point following Trump's executive order, Bitcoin fell by around five percent to $85,000. It had recovered a bit at the time of publication but was still only hovering at around $88,000, a nearly 20 percent nosedive from its January high (and down over 2.2 percent on the day).
'Just a fancy title for Bitcoin holdings that already existed'
Much of the underwhelming reaction stems from the reserve's use of shares already owned by the government through seizures or civil asset forfeitures. Although the order leaves the door open to possible government Bitcoin purchases in the future, White House crypto czar David Sacks clarified that the executive branch was only "authorized to develop budget-neutral strategies for acquiring additional Bitcoin, provided that those strategies impose no incremental costs on American taxpayers."
That wasn't what the crypto bros were hoping for. "This is the most underwhelming and disappointing outcome we could have expected for this week," Charles Edwards, founder of the crypto-focused hedge fund Capriole Investments, posted on X (via Reuters). "No active buying means this is just a fancy title for Bitcoin holdings that already existed with the Govt. This is a pig in lipstick."
In addition, the executive order also calls for a "US Digital Asset Stockpile" for other crypto tokens, which Trump has said will include Ether, XRP, Solana and Cardano.
Potential conflicts of interest
Crypto industry executives are holding a summit at the White House on Friday to, among other topics, get a better lay of the land regarding future regulatory enforcement. Among the attendees is Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, whose company was one of several that recently had enforcement cases dropped by Trump's SEC. (Convenient!) Reuters reports that analysts believe the market needs a reason to become bullish again, like a clearer pro-crypto regulatory policy or signs that the US Federal Reserve plans to cut interest rates.
Trump successfully courted the industry in his 2024 campaign. In addition to pledging to create a federal crypto reserve, he promised to make America "the crypto capital of the planet" and fire SEC Chair Gary Gensler on day one. (In November, he announced he would resign the moment Trump took office on January 20.)
The 47th US President also has a stake in crypto, which has set off alarms (if not blaring sirens) of potential conflicts of interest. First, he and First Lady Melania Trump have memecoins, currently down 80 and 90 percent, respectively, from their all-time highs right before his inauguration. Trump also has a stake in the crypto platform World Liberty Financial, which reportedly bought over $20 million worth of cryptocurrencies including over $10 million in Ether, $9.9 million in Bitcoin derivative WBTC and $1.68 million in MOVE ahead of Friday's White House summit.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/trumps-federal-bitcoin-reserve-order-leaves-the-crypto-market-unenthused-184135436.html?src=rss
Apple is delaying its updated version of Siri that understands personal context and can take action inside of apps, according to a statement the company shared with Daring Fireball.
The company didn't offer a date as to when the upgrades to Siri will actually launch beyond that they're "rolling them out in the coming year." Here's the full statement reproduced below:
Siri helps our users find what they need and get things done quickly, and in just the past six months, weve made Siri more conversational, introduced new features like type to Siri and product knowledge, and added an integration with ChatGPT. Weve also been working on a more personalized Siri, giving it more awareness of your personal context, as well as the ability to take action for you within and across your apps. Its going to take us longer than we thought to deliver on these features and we anticipate rolling them out in the coming year.
A revamped, more powerful Siri was a core part of Apple's original pitch for Apple Intelligence. Way back when the company first detailed its plans, it claimed that Siri would not only understand what's happening on your phone, but also be able to take action in apps for you. So far, the main pieces of that new Siri Apple has shipped are the ability to type requests rather than speak them out loud, the ability to understand and explain Apple product features, a new animation for when Siri is activated and integration with ChatGPT.
Bloomberg was the first to report that the updated Siri was facing problems and potential delays. Apple's plans to connect Siri to a large language model that would give the assistant even more capabilities is also reportedly years away.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/apple-is-delaying-its-smarter-more-personal-siri-183513424.html?src=rss
Apples AirPods Pro 2 earbuds are on sale for just $170 via Amazon. This essentially ties a previous record-low price for 2025, which was $169. This purchase comes with the earbuds, four pairs of silicone tips in different sizes, a charging case, a lanyard loop and a USB-C cable.
We heaped a fair amount of praise on these earbuds in our official review, calling them "a worthwhile update." The sound is better-than-ever, thanks to new drivers, amplifiers, transducers and audio algorithms. The transparency mode is absolutely stellar, largely helped by the companys proprietary H2 chip.
The ANC is solid, particularly for earbuds. This is also thanks to that H2 chip, which allows the AirPods Pro to cancel twice as much noise as the first-gen model. These earbuds are made for Apple devices, so theres seamless switching between, say, iPhones, iPads and Macs.
The touch gesture controls are neat, but there's a learning curve. Give it a few days before throwing in the towel. The battery life is just average, but the charging case helps keep the music going. The primary downside here is age. The AirPods 2 Pro earbuds came out in 2022, so a refresh is likely on the horizon.
Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/airpods-pro-2-are-back-on-sale-for-170-180055678.html?src=rss
It's been a busy week of Apple announced news, with the company refreshing its Mac and iPad lineups. As a result, there are deals aplenty on older models as part of an apparent clear out. Take, for instance, the 10th-gen iPad. It's $89 off at $260, bringing the tablet back down to its record-low price.
The biggest discount is on the blue and silver colorways. The pink one will run you an extra $9, while the yellow one is $279.
The 10th-gen iPad arrived in late 2022. At least until we put the new model through its paces, this is our current pick for the best budget iPad a recommendation that automatically becomes a little stronger whenever it gets this kind of discount.
We gave this model a score of 85 in our review. We felt that the screen was somewhat lacking compared with those found in the likes of the iPad Air. However, we appreciated several updates such as the switch to a USB-C charging port and improved performance compared with the previous base iPad. Apple also moved the front-facing camera to the landscape edge, making video calls much more palatable when you're using the tablet in that orientation.
If you just want an iPad to help you catch up on reading and email, control your smart home devices, watch videos and stream music, this is probably the one to go for. More resource-intensive tasks will require a more powerful tablet, but this one will handle the basics.
Meanwhile, if you're interested in picking up the latest base iPad, you can pre-order one now. Our explainer details just how to do that. Apple has upgraded the chipset to an A16 and doubled the base storage to 128GB, but there's no support for Apple Intelligence in the 11th-gen iPad.
Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-10th-gen-ipad-is-back-on-sale-for-an-all-time-low-price-of-260-171121705.html?src=rss
The second lunar lander by Intuitive Machines has made its way to the Moon, but not without incident. The Athena vehicle may not be upright, which is what happened to the companys Odysseus lander upon touchdown back in February. CEO Steve Altemus said during the post-landing news conference that he doesnt believe that Athena is in the correct attitude on the surface of the Moon yet again.
Altemus said that the company will know for sure in the coming days once the team gets a picture from the lunar reconnaissance orbital camera from above. Data from the landers inertial measurement unit does seem to indicate a sideways orientation. We do know that Athena has touched down approximately 100 miles from the lunar south pole, which is where it's supposed to be.
Athena is part of the companys IM-2 mission, which is a partnership with NASA to (finally) bring crewed missions back to the Moon. The lander also carries a bevy of payloads and scientific instruments designed to look for evidence of water on the lunar surface.
The companys previous lander Odysseus was the first privately owned spacecraft to reach the Moons surface, though it toppled over. Rival company Firefly Aerospace successfully landed its own Blue Ghost spacecraft onto the lunar surface earlier this week, and this one landed upright.
As for Athena, its currently charging on the surface and is communicating with the mission team here on Earth. However, performance seems to be sub-optimal. Were not getting everything that we had asked for in terms of power generation and communications, Altemus said. This could impact the lifespan of the landers ten-day mission, though the company has done some power conservation steps as prudent measures to see how long and what objectives we can accomplish in the mission going forward.
When the orientation is confirmed, the team can start figuring out how many of the payloads and instruments are in working order. These include a drill that searches for ice and a hopping drone vehicle that the company has scheduled to explore a permanently shadowed crater.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/intuitive-machines-second-moon-mission-seems-to-have-gone-as-well-as-the-first-162637189.html?src=rss
One of the best things about Apple upgrading one of its devices is that you can find better deals on older, still very capable models. Just days after the company announced the M4-powered MacBook Air, a version of the laptop with the M2 chipset has dropped to a new record low of $699. Thats $300 off the regular price.
This is a variant with 16GB of RAM rather than the base models 8GB. That's really the bare minimum of RAM you should be looking for these days (and we were pleased to see Apple start giving the MBA 16GB of RAM as standard). You'll also get 256GB of SSD storage in this system.
This discount is quite transparently an effort to clear out M2 MBA stock ahead of the M4-powered models impending arrival. And while we currently rank the M3 MBA as the best MacBook and best laptop overall, the M2 version isnt anything to sniff at especially at this price.
In our 2022 review, we called the M2 MBA a near-perfect Mac and awarded it a score of 96. We liked the performance (which of course has been surpassed by the M3 system), thin form factor and terrific display and audio.
The M2 MBA should still be more than capable of handling most everyday tasks. It also supports Apple Intelligence features, for those who are interested in that sort of thing. So this is a great deal on a killer, if a little older, laptop.
Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-m2-macbook-air-with-16gb-of-ram-drops-to-a-new-low-of-699-154743334.html?src=rss
Its obvious that Apple products are some of the most sought-after in the tech world that means sales are fewer and farther between than other gadgets, and theyre often the first things to sell out when discounts do arrive. But it would be a mistake to assume youre doomed to always pay full price on things like iPads and Apple Watches. Apple deals do exist, if you know where to look.
Engadget keeps track of deals like these on a regular basis, so we can help you there. Below, weve collected the best Apple deals you can get right now on items like AirPods, MacBooks, iPads and more. Arguably the biggest caveat to note about Apple sales is that youre almost never going to see discounts directly at Apple.com. Unless you shop refurbished, youll always pay top dollar direct at Apple, and for some things (like iPhones), that might be best. But youll find more discounts more often if youre willing to shop at retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target and others.
Before we get to the deals, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention the new devices Apple launched recently. There are two new iPads, a new entry-level iPad with the A16 chip and 128GB of base torage, and a new iPad Air powered by the M3 chipset. You can order those now starting at $349 and $599, respectively. On the Mac side of things, the MacBook Air got an upgrade to include the latest M4 processor. That's also available to order now starting at $999.
Best AirPod deals
AirPods 4 with ANC for $169 ($10 off): These buds have ANC, but they dont have the interchangeable ear tips youll find on the AirPods Pro 2. Even so, they have an improved fit over the last version, plus good sound quality and a heap of advanced features.
AirPods 4 without ANC for $117 ($12 off): Skip ANC to get the AirPods 4 for a bit less. These have the same design as the models with ANC along with the same advanced features and solid sound quality.
Best Apple accessories deals
Apple Pencil Pro for $99 ($30 off): The most advanced Apple Pencil includes a gyroscope, plus support for the squeeze gesture and Find My. Its essentially an upgraded version of the second-gen Pencil, complete with pressure support and magnets so it can snap to the side of your iPad for safe keeping.
Apple Pencil USB-C for $69 ($10 off): This more affordable Apple Pencil doesnt support pressure sensitivity, but makes for a good stylus overall. If youre a casual note-taker and can handle connected charging, youll save a few dollars by picking this one up.
Best iPad deals
iPad mini (A17 Pro) for $399 ($100 off): This is the iPad to get if you prefer small tablets, akin to ereaders. The latest mini is equipped with an A17 Pro chipset, an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display and Apple Intelligence. We consider it to be the best small tablet, period, and we appreciate its Apple Pencil Pro support, 128GB of storage on the base model and compact design.
iPad Pro (M4, 11-inch) for $850 ($150 off): The most powerful iPad is the iPad Pro, and its the one to get if youre even toying with the idea of using your new slab as a laptop replacement. Both the 11- and 13-inch models have gorgeous displays, thinner and lighter designs, a repositioned front camera and the excessively powerful M4 chip inside.
Best Apple Watch deals
Apple Watch SE for $169 ($80 off): Those on tighter budgets can opt for the Apple Watch SE and know theyre getting the core Apple wearable experience with few compromises. We consider it to be the best smartwatch for newbies
Apple Watch Ultra 2 for $769 ($30 off): Apples most premium smartwatch, the Ultra 2 has a killer 36-hour battery life, a handy Low Power mode for extended use and cellular connectivity by default. It also has a compass app, water temperature gauge and a loud onboard siren that you can trigger in emergencies.
Best MacBook deals and Mac discounts
MacBook Air (M3, 13-inch) for $899 ($200 off): The M3 MacBook Air builds upon the solid foundation of the M2 model, meaning its more than enough computer for most people. It earned a score of 90 in our review thanks to its speedy performance, sturdy yet sleek design, excellent keyboard and trackpad and good speaker system. If you want a slightly larger display, grab the 15-inch model instead
MacBook Pro (M4, 14-inch) for $1,399 ($200 off): Both the 14- and 16-inch M4 MacBook Pros are some of the fastest laptops you can get right now, ideal for content creators, video editors and anyone who needs a notebook that can handle pretty much anything they throw at it. They have bright, bold displays, improved webcams and long battery lives, plus some models have Thunderbolt 5 ports.
Mac mini M4 for $529 ($70 off): If you prefer desktops, the upgraded M4 Mac mini is one that wont take up too much space, but will provide a ton of power at the same time. Not only does it come with an M4 chipset, but it also includes 16GB of RAM in the base model, plus front-facing USB-C and headphone ports for easier access.
iMac (M4, 24-inch) for $1,179 ($120 off): For an all-in-one solution, the M4 iMac is a good pick thanks to its powerful performanc, standard 16GB of RAM and improved webcam. Just note that it only comes in the 24-inch screen size option.
Read more Apple coverage:
The best AirPods
The best Apple Watches
The best MacBooks
The best iPhones
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/best-apple-deals-150020110.html?src=rss
