The generic title of the new Netflix action-comedy Back in Action could refer to both the movies pedestrian story and to the entirely unrelated reason that people might be interested in watching it. Our protagonists are Emily and Matt, two romantically involved CIA super-operatives who retire into anonymity due to Emilys pregnancy, only to be drawn back into spy-movie shenanigans years later. But thats all reminiscent of bits and pieces of better movies, including Kill Bill Vol. 2 and Mr. & Mrs. Smith. The real lure is in whos playing this in-from-the-cold couple: Cameron Diaz, coming out of a decade-long retirement from acting, and Jamie Foxx, who largely sat 2024 out following the stroke that delayed the production and release of Back in Action. In other words, two major movie stars have returned and reteamed for some popcorn entertainment. Too bad this particular piece of popcorn entertainment may not ultimately muster even as much excitement as Diaz and Foxxs two previous movies together.That those two previous Diaz/Foxx projects were a sports drama (Any Given Sunday) and a musical (the 2014 remake of Annie) may indicate why Back of Actions subtext about glamorous professionals returning to what they do best falls a little flat. Yes, both stars appeared in their share of lightweight entertainment, like the winkingly cartoonish Charlies Angels or the caper-like Horrible Bosses (directed, like Back in Action, by Seth Gordon). But their eclectic careers havent been dominated by the kind of star-studded, instantly forgotten sorta-action sorta-comedy that has flourished on streaming in recent years. (Think Red Notice, Ghosted, Role Play, The Union, and Argylle.) These streaming spy movies all try for a mix of escapism and laughs by juxtaposing cartoonishly high-tech espionage with humdrum day-to-day life. Back in Action is more adept at depicting the latter, as the couple struggles with their tech-savvy younger son Leon (Rylan Jackson) and especially their rebellious older daughter Alice (McKenna Roberts). Emily is the more overprotective parent, while Matt does his best to stay laid back, a dynamic that the two stars play with an easy, affable chemistry. Theyre sweetly believable, in a sitcom sort of way, and its novel to see the once-indomitable secret weapon of Diazs megawatt charm her distinctively sunny grin fail to penetrate the armor of a pitiless teenager. When the couples old boss (Kyle Chandler) resurfaces looking for a long-lost McGuffin (one of those all-purpose digital keys that can unlock anything on the grid, and so on), pursued by a group of nefarious henchmen, the family must go on the run. This prompts Gordon and co-writer Brendan OBrien to engineer a whole lot of clumsily directed chases and fights, the latter repeatedly scored with musty pop hits as some kind of jokeless running gag. Like other streaming spy movies, Back in Action aspires to Bondian globe-trotting, and winds up with a meager range of green-screen-friendly locations: Atlanta suburbs, a petrol station at night, and a generic mansion to name three. The climax does hit up the Tate Modern in London, but only briefly. Back in Action GalleryEarly on, in moments where violent self-defense seems to unlock something Emily and Matt suppressed during parenthood, Back in Action seems poised to unpack the idea that enjoying this kind of work involves a degree of sociopathy. But Gordon and co-writer Brendan OBrien dont seem interested in anything that thorny, and so their characters ass-kicking is quickly recategorized as purely righteous. The mayhem is so frictionless that it appears to go entirely unnoticed. Endless machine-gun rounds are fired through a suburban neighborhood in broad daylight. A car chase minutes later sends vehicles soaring through the air. Matt wields a gas pump as a flamethrower in full view of multiple civilians, and nobody ever bats an eye or alerts the authorities.Back in Action isnt going for naturalism, but the interchangeable locations and vacuum-sealed action make the movie feel smaller without leaving room for it to be funnier. The best bits in its second half involve Nigel (Jamie Demetriou), a bumbling MI6 trainee whos shacked up with Emilys estranged ex-spy mother, played by Glenn Close. Nigels open-hearted enthusiasm has a daft originality that the rest of the characters conspicuously lack as they learn predictable lessons about parent-child understanding. Far from a window into an exotic world of subterfuge and life-or-death stakes (or any analogues in the lives of Hollywood A-listers like Diaz and Foxx), the algorithmically generated plot points and robotic sequel-seeding of Back in Action wind up feeling like another day at the corporate offices.

The words Back in Action are as much a promise as they are a title. After all, anyone who considers themselves a fan of Jamie Foxx or Cameron Diazand Netflixs algorithm clearly thinks there are a lot of us out therewill know theyve been away from screens for serious reasons. Its been almost two years since Jamie Foxx experienced a stroke that left him hospitalized and initially unable to walk. So seeing him dance, kick, and float across soundstages again is the kind of rare catharsis that even AI analytics can never genuinely quantify.While Diazs own reasons for stepping away from the screen were more voluntary, theyre no less significant. Since the performer chose to retire from acting after 2014s Annie, she has not appeared in a new film for more than a decade. Yet here she is again, back in action and dancing, kicking, and bantering with Foxx like no time has passed for either of them. (In truth, Diaz has told the press her off-screen friendship with Foxx is a key reason Back in Action marked her return to the movies.)The more outside knowledge you bring to the film, then, the more satisfying it is to see them doing their thing. Because otherwise one cannot help but wish they were doing it in something better than this anodyne, innocuous, and wholly disposable piece of fluff that was blatantly designed to be a second-screen time-waster.The films premise is easy enough to digest, even when youre looking at your phone during the many expository scenes: Diaz and Foxx are introduced in a sequence set fifteen years ago when they were still hot-shit spies at the CIA. They steal WMDs from terrorists and bad men, drink champagne on their own private planes, and survive said planes crash while barely sustaining a scratch. However, right before the aircraft went blasting into the Alps, the pair also learned Diazs Emily is pregnant, and her partner Matt (Foxx) is the papa. So they use the close call with oblivion to Irish-goodbye the spy game and fake their own deaths.Cut to the present and the pair are living a painfully recognizable form of suburban American normalcy. Matt coaches his daughters soccer team; Alice gets her kids ready for school and dreams of moms movie Mondays; and said youngins, teenage Alice (McKenna Roberts) and tween Leo (Rylan Jackson) think their parents are hopelessly lame. That might begin to change though after the olds go viral on TikTok by beating the clout out of some college twerps hitting on their underage daughter. They unfortunately end up back on the radar of old friends like CIA handler Chuck (Kyle Chandler) and bad mercenaries who want the MacGuffin they stole in that plane crash. Road trip hijinks ensue with the children in the back and on the way to MI6 grandmamas house.Back in Actions metaphor for a suburban midlife crisis through the prism of spy games and mirthful action movie clichs is not a new one. James Cameron made one of his frothiest (and perhaps most problematic) movies out of it in True Lies. In that one, it was Jamie Lee Curtis bored housewife who realized her hunky husband (Arnold Schwarzenegger) wasnt getting those muscles from selling computer monitors on the road. A little later, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie fatefully sizzled up the concept in a double-header where it turns out the non-communicative spouses were both spooks for rival agencies in Mr. & Mrs. Smith.Back in Action tweaks the premise again. Husband and wife are still both spies, but now theyre aware of their shared history, even as theyve kept their past adventures secret from the kids. It is an amusing enough wrinkle for any parent whos ever realized their children believe Mom and Dad never had a life before they were bornand that old folks have always been lame. Director and co-writer Seth Gordon (Horrible Bosses, Baywatch) might not be reinventing the wheel, but plenty of entertaining studio comedies of yore, including Horrible Bosses, have started from less.Alas, Back in Action is less studio comedy than modern streaming content. The action is largely pedestrian and obligatory, lazily hanging on popular needle drops that range from Frank Sinatra to Etta James; the jokes and plot twists are obvious; and the overall effect ultimately being adequate. It is meant to be consumed but never experienced, and even the thrill of seeing Foxx and Diaz back in action fizzles quickly.Both actors who broke out in the 1990s and 2000sand spend much of this movie explaining to these Gen-Alpha youths that theyre not Boomershave a nice easygoing rapport, but never one youd mistake as romantic or sizzling. The pair come across like old college chums who still like to hit the pub once in a while. Its more work-wife and work-husband than the real marital thing, to use a term Gen-Xers wont be offended by.They just seem happy to be here and go through the paces and martial arts paces that is a far cry from what they were doing back in Charlies Angels or Miami Vice heyday, never mind Being John Malkovich or Collateral. Unfortunately, the paces the movie gives them so barely register a reaction that its remarkable how quickly the running time gets stolen from them by Glenn Close and Jamie Demetriou as an unlikely May-December pair of grandparents.There are moments of bemusement to be had from the leads, particularly whenever the film reuses the beat of them astonishing their kids by beating the stuffing out of bad guys time and again. Mom and Dad got moves?! Were sure plenty of real-life Gen-X and older Millennial parents will revel in the fantasy of showing the perpetually online generation how things were done back in the day before social media came along. But its all in service to a streamer that threw in this movies towel to the smartphone screen before a punch was ever rehearsed. In other words, on family movie night, this one is more for the olds. The kids can (and will) keep scrolling.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!Its still nice to have Diaz and Foxx back, but next time lets hope they return for more than a Silicon Valley paycheck.Back in Action starts streaming on Netflix on Friday, Jan. 17.

Benjamin and Chance react to Mark Zuckerbergs recent comments about Apple having not done anything good recently as we also look forward to everything Apple is set to announce this year. Apple gets in hot water about Enhanced Visual Search, and the iOS 18.3 beta cycle continues, if a little bare.And in Happy Hour Plus, as Apple ramps up its marketing effort for Severance, Benjamin tries to convince Chance to give the show another chance. Subscribe at9to5mac.com/join.Sponsored by HelloFresh: Americas #1 meal kit! Get up to 10 FREE meals and a free high protein item for life atHelloFresh.com/happyhour10fm.Sponsored by Shopify: Grow your business no matter what stage youre in. Sign up for a $1 per month trial atshopify.com/happyhour.HostsChance Miller Benjamin MayoSubscribe, Rate, and Review9to5Mac Happy Hour PlusSubscribe to 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus! Support Benjamin and Chance directly with Happy Hour Plus! 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus includes:Ad-free versions of every episodePre- and post-show contentBonus episodesJoin for $5 per month or $50 a year at9to5mac.com/join.Feedback Submit #Ask9to5Mac questions on Twitter, Mastodon, or ThreadsEmail us feedback and questions to happyhour@9to5mac.com LinksAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

SpaceX's Starship has exploded into countless pieces of space junk as it reentered the atmosphere over the Caribbean.The company's seventh test flight has ended in what could turn out to be a disaster, with videos taken from the West Indian islands of Turks and Caicos showing massive streaks of reentering pieces of Starship rocket blazing across the evening sky.SpaceX called the event a "rapid unscheduled disassembly," a tongue-in-cheek term denoting a rocket explosion, "during its ascent burn," in a statement posted to X-formerly-Twitter."Teams will continue to review data from today's flight test to better understand root cause," the company wrote. "With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and todays flight will help us improve Starships reliability."SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has yet to comment on the mishap.It's still unclear if anybody was hurt following the event. Given the proximity of the debris to the Caribbean islands, it's not out of the question."Starship debris raining from space after its explosion 8.5 mins into flight," Reuters space reporter Joey Roulette tweeted."Scary or beautiful?" Ars Technica reporter Stephen Clark wrote. "Hopefully, no harm or damage. Yikes."The company's seventh test flight initially appeared to have gone smoothly, with Starship's Super Heavy booster being caught by SpaceX's "chopsticks" arms-equipped tower.But despite having sent several Starship prototypes successfully into orbit and having them slow their descent before dropping into the Pacific, the company's latest attempt appears to have been a major step backward."This is probably the most significant setback for Starship since SpaceX started full-stack test flights in 2023," Clark tweeted. "The [Federal Aviation Administration] will likely require a mishap investigation."Other onlookers saw the situation as a glass half full."Lots to learn for SpaceX from these Starship disintegration videos, unfortunately," former Canadian astronaut legend Chris Hadfield tweeted. "Hopefully no one hurt. Glad the first stage was successfully caught. Onwards to improvements for Flight 8."Other observers were just puzzled."Are those shooting stars?" one onlooker can be heard saying in one of the videos. "What are those?"More on Starship: SpaceX Spotted Scooping Pieces of Starship Out of Ocean After ImpactShare This Article

Job Title: Lead DevOps EngineerLocation: Remote, USDepartment: Product EngineeringType: Full-Time, ExemptExperience: Senior (8+ years)Salary Range: $175,000 - $215,000 base (+ bonus, equity, and benefits)Core Hours: 9 AM - 1 PM PST / 12 - 4 PM ESTRole SummaryAs tvScientific's Lead DevOps Engineer, your primary focus will be streamlining software development and deploying scalable infrastructure solutions. Day to day, you'll lead the team that builds out IaC, optimizes processes, drives platform consistency, maintains CI/CD pipelines, and resolves system issues, collaborating with our cross-functional teams. (We're biased but our teams are awesome!)Using your expertise in automation tools, cloud platforms, and CI/CD methodologies, you'll own the responsibility of ensuring smooth software delivery and high system availability. Success in this role requires that you simplify processes, proactively address challenges, and ensure system reliability, measured by decreased deployment times, reduced system downtime, and improved overall performance.What You'll DoCollaborate across teams to optimize software development.Implement and maintain scalable, reliable, and secure infrastructure as code practices.Design, build, and manage CI/CD pipelines for automated testing and deployment.Evaluate and recommend tools for improved DevOps efficiency.Provide technical leadership and mentorship for continuous improvement.Proactively address bottlenecks, performance issues, and security vulnerabilities.Participate in on-call rotations and incident response for system reliability.Monitor system metrics and troubleshoot issues for optimal performance.How We'll Define SuccessEffectively leading the team that owns all of our infrastructure.Empowering other teams with platform observability.Implementing scalable infrastructure practices effectively.Ensuring smooth operation of CI/CD pipelines.Driving towards platform and tool consistency.Introducing tools for improved DevOps practices.Proactively resolving issues.Maintaining high system availability.Optimizing system performance continuously.Youll Be Successful in This Role if You Have/AreStrong proficiency in automation tools and scripting languages (Python, Bash).Extensive experience with cloud platforms (especially AWS) and infrastructure as code (Terraform, CloudFormation).In-depth knowledge of CI/CD tools (Jenkins, Github Actions) and practices.Familiarity with containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes) and orchestration.Familiarity with deployment methodologies (e.g. Blue-Green, Canary) and tools (e.g. Argo Rollout).Experience with monitoring and logging tools (CloudWatch, OpenTelemetry, Grafana, Prometheus, ELK stack).Solid understanding of networking concepts and security best practices.Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.Strong communication and collaboration abilities, especially in cross-functional teams.Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.You May Also HavePrevious experience in a leadership or mentoring role.SecOps experience: We are Soc 2 Type 2 compliant and undergo annual audits.FinOps: Need someone with an ownership mindset that monitors and optimizes infrastructure costs.Adtech or CTV experience.Advanced degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.Culture and BenefitsAt tvScientific we believe people do their best work when they feel challenged and engaged by their day to day responsibilities, when theyre surrounded by smart, hard working people, and when they have a healthy work life balance. Our company culture and benefits package reflects these beliefs.Full health, dental, and vision insurance - up to 95% funded by the company for employees.Employee stock option program.Company-sponsored retirement plan with a matching contribution program.12 annual paid holidays (including 2 flexible days).Generous PTO policy (get your work done and take the time you need).A remote-first environment that allows employees flexibility to work from most places in the US.As tvScientists We Are...Big Thinkers: We believe in setting audacious goals and envisioning transformative change.Radically Transparent: We value transparency in all aspects of our business. We foster a culture of open communication, honesty, and accountability.Performance-obsessed: We are passionate about achieving exceptional results. We strive for excellence in everything we do and set high standards for ourselves.Data-driven: We embrace the power of data, science, and technology as crucial drivers of our success.Trust Builders: We prioritize building and nurturing trust with our stakeholders. We understand that trust is the foundation of successful relationships and business partnerships. Through our actions, integrity, and commitment to delivering on promises.Forever Students: Challenge assumptions to look for solutions. We create a safe environment for experiments and risk-taking by our customers and employees.

When youve designed a character concept and want to transform it into a 3D model, a detailed turnaround sheet in my experience, is super helpful to have.Did you know you can create one directly in Blender? Using Blenders Grease Pencil, you can draft to scale, refine your characters details, and hand off a comprehensive blueprint to a modeler with all the information they need.This article gives you an insight into what you need to know to create a character turnaround sheet in Blender. To dive deeper into the process please check out my Blender Course TURNAROUND now streaming for CG Cookie Members.This course was created in Blender 4.2 LTS. A few things have changed since, but the fundamental principles covered are evergreen.Why Use Blender for Turnaround Sheets?Blender offers unique advantages for creating turnaround sheets:Precision: Work at real-world scales using Blenders metric or imperial units.Efficiency: Leverage tools like modifiers, keyframes, and compositors for quick changes.Integration: Combine 2D and 3D elements seamlessly with Grease Pencil.By working in Blender, youre not just sketching; youre creating a blueprint ready for the next stage of production.Step 1: Refine Your Concept for Missing DetailsBefore drafting a turnaround sheet, revisit your character concept to ensure it covers all necessary details. For example:What does the character look like from all angles?Are there hidden features, like the back of a costume or under armor, that need to be clarified?In Lunas case, the back of her armor was missing in the initial concept. Adding these details ensured the modeler had all the information they needed.Step 2: Setting Up Scale in BlenderBlenders Grease Pencil is pre-configured for 1:1 scale, making it easy to create accurate blueprints. Working at a 1:1 scale ensures that proportions are consistent and realistic, simplifying the workflow for modelers who rely on precise references. Heres how to set it up:Choose Units: Select metric or imperial units in Blenders scene settings.Adjust Grid: Use the grid to ensure consistent proportions across sketches.Verify Scale: Double-check that your drawings align with real-world measurements.Step 3: Sketching Views with Grease PencilStart sketching the front, side, and back views of your character. Grease Pencil allows you to:Create rough sketches first, then refine them with clean lines and colors.Use layers to separate details like limbs, armor, or accessories, which enhances clarity and makes collaboration with modelers more effective.Add separate sketches for arms or features that might obscure other parts of the design, ensuring that no critical details are missed.Step 4: Advanced Tools for EfficiencyBlenders additional tools can save you time and enhance your turnaround sheet:Modifiers: Quickly adjust proportions or replicate elements.Keyframes: Create variations of your sketches for alternate poses or features.Compositor: Render-focused images to highlight specific details.In ConclusionBlenders Grease Pencil isnt just for sketching, its a powerful tool for creating detailed, scalable turnaround sheets. By taking advantage of Blenders built-in tools like modifiers, keyframes, and compositors, you can produce professional-quality blueprints efficiently. These integrated tools not only streamline the creation process but also enable quick adjustments, ensuring flexibility and consistency throughout your workflow.Thanks for reading! Ready to learn Grease Pencil in Blender? Become a free member today to begin streaming the entire DRAW course.

Two weeks into the new year, Verizon is planning to raise prices on some of its plans. Those affected include select plans with five or more lines as well as those still using the no-longer-available New Verizon Plan options.While these plan price hikes may not affect the majority of Verizon users, it still reduces affordability for customers trying to keep prices down. In February, customers on the current myPlan accounts with five or more lines will see a monthly $3 per line increase in their bill as early as Feb. 20, as Droid Life first reported.Also, customers who were locked in to the no-longer-available New Verizon Plan in any of the S, M, L, XL and XXL varieties will see their single phone line rates go up $4 per line per month. Those with multi-phone line accounts will have rates increase by $15 per month, while data overage fees will also increase from $15 to $20 per gigabyte, according to a Verizon support page."We can confirm we've adjusted pricing on some mobile plans for select customers," the carrier said in a statement. "Verizon is committed to delivering unparalleled network reliability, experiences and choices our customers love and expect. These price adjustments allow us to continue to provide our customers top-tier products and services, with a focus on ultra-reliable connectivity."Verizon had increased one of its ancillary monthly fees, the Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge, by 20 cents per line last month, up to $3.50 per voice line for phones, or $1.60 per data line for tablets and hotspots.Carriers hiked prices of different plans and fees last year. In January 2024, AT&T increased its unlimited plans by 99 cents per line, followed by Verizon raising prices for some older unlimited plans in March and T-Mobile upping rates on older plans in June. The latter two efforts by Verizon and T-Mobile included messaging to nudge those with older plans to upgrade to currently available ones. Watch this: The Coolest Mobile Gadgets We Saw at CES 02:29

Is the cake a lie?Hollow Knight fans have been waiting over five years now for Silksong, so when will we hear more about it? While the best guesses have been shared time and time again, the next date fans have discovered actually lines up with Nintendo's Switch 2 Direct.Hollow Knight fan and YouTuber 'fireb0rn' highlights how a member of Team Cherry has changed their social media profile to a picture of chocolate cake after also teasing in a post how "something big is coming". Long story short, someone ended up reverse image searching the picture of the cake and the first search result was for a recipe with the date "2nd April" at the top of the page. See where this is going here?Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Apple launched its dedicated Apple Store app in India on Friday, deepening its retail presence in the worlds most populous country as the iPhone-maker seeks to capitalize on growing consumer demand.The app, available for download on Indias App Store, lets customers purchase Apple products directly while receiving personalized shopping recommendations, the company said in a statement. Through the app, users can also customize their Mac with more powerful chips, extra memory or additional storage features long sought by Indian customers and arrange for delivery or pickup of their purchases.The move comes as Apple works to strengthen its foothold in India, where it opened its first physical stores in Mumbai and Delhi in 2023. The company plans additional four stores in tech hub Bengaluru, Pune and other parts of Delhi and Mumbai. (Apple launched its online store in India in 2020.)At Apple, our customer is at the centre of everything we do, and we are thrilled to introduce the Apple Store app to reach even more users in India, further deepening our connections, said Karen Rasmussen, Apples head of retail online, in a statement. The app features separate tabs for products, personalized recommendations and post-purchase support including online setup sessions with Apple specialists. Customers can also sign up for free training sessions at physical Apple stores and learn about Apple trade-in and financing options as well as add free engravings to devices such as AirPods and iPads in eight languages.India, the worlds second largest smartphone market, is slowly becoming a significant geography for Apple as it looks to expand its manufacturing bases outside of China. The company began assembling iPhones in India in 2017 and has since expanded production through partners including Foxconn and Indian conglomerate Tata.

The problem with Apple products -- includingMacBooks, iPads, andApple Watches-- is that they usually carry a hefty price tag and are rarely on sale. And with Black Friday and holiday sales in the rearview, you may be thinking you've missed out on a chance to save. But there are always deals and discounts, even outside of sales events, if you know where to look.Apple frequently refreshes its product ranges -- one of the latest being the iPad lineup -- and this can open the path to discounts in the form of new, promotional deals for the latest gadgets alongside price reductions for older designs as retailers seek to move old stock. Typically, third-party retailers such as Walmart, Best Buy, Newegg, B&H Photo, and Amazon are the best places to find a discount on many Apple products.Below, you'll find the best sales and discounts on several Apple products, including MacBooks, Apple Watch, AirPods, and more for the month of January.Best Apple deals of January 2025Apple Pencil Pro: $99 (save $30 at Best Buy)Apple AirPods Pro 2: $199 (save $50 at Walmart)Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen), 40mm GPS: $199 (save $50 at Walmart)Apple Watch Series 9, 41mm GPS: $309 (save $90 at Amazon)Apple Watch Series 9, 45mm GPS: $279 (save $50 at Walmart)Apple Watch Series 10, 42mm GPS: $383 (save $16 at Amazon)Apple Watch Series 10, 46mm GPS: $412 (save $17 at Amazon)Apple AirPods 4: $119 (save $10 at Amazon)Apple MacBook Pro: $1,490 (save $109 at Amazon)Apple Studio Display: $1,439 (save $160 at Amazon)Apple AirTag 4-Pack: $70 (save $29 at Amazon) Kayla Solino/ZDNET Current price: $309Original price: $329If you're looking to purchase one of Apple's latest smartwatches, there's a deal over at Walmart worthy of your consideration. You can save $120 on an Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS) 45mm, with a Midnight band. Deals on smartwatches tend to come along every month or so, and this remains one of our favorites.Also: Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Series 8: Which model should you buy? Show more View now at Best Buy Apple Current price:$1,490Original price:$1,599Over at Amazon, you can take advantage of a $150 discount on an Apple MacBook Pro. Powered by Apple's M3 chip, this laptop sports a 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display, 8GB RAM, and 512GB SSD storage. Show more View now at Amazon Jason Cipriani/ZDNet Current price: $399Original price: $549If you want to take advantage of a discount on Apple AirPods Max earbuds, Best Buy is offering $150 off the premium product line.Apple's AirPods Max lightning headphones are stylish, over-ear, and wireless. For those who like the design, you'll enjoy personalized spatial audio options, active noise canceling, and the power provided by Apple's H1 chip. You can expect up to 20 hours of use on a single charge. Show more View now at Amazon Jason Cipriani/ZDNet Current price: $264Original price: $329One of the best deals we could find for an iPad is at Amazon. You can save $65 on a ninth-gen iPad equipped with a 10.2-inch Retina display, A13 chip, front and back-end cameras, and 64GB SSD storage. Show more View now at Amazon Kerry Wan/ZDNET T-Mobile has a great deal for customers hoping to grab the latest iPhone. Right now on most plans, if you add a voice line and trade in an eligible device, you'll score the iPhone 16 for free.Full terms per T-Mobile: "Limited-time offer; subject to change. Qualifying credit, service, and trade-in (e.g., Save $830: Apple iPhone 11 Pro / Save $415: Apple iPhone 6) required. If you have cancelled lines in past 90 days, you may need to reactivate them first. Up to $830 via bill credits; line with promo must be active and in good standing to receive credits; allow 2 bill cycles. Max 4 discounted devices per account. May not be combinable with some offers or discounts." Show more View now at T-Mobile June Wan/ZDNET You can order an iPhone 15 directly from Apple, which is an excellent option if you don't want a carrier lock.The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are thinner than their legacy counterparts. They come equipped with a USB-C port, 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays, and the Dynamic Island camera design. The Apple iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max come with Apple's new A17 Pro CPU, a faster neural engine, and camera improvements, including a 5X telephoto lens on the Pro Max.You can receive up to $514 in credit when you trade in an older device and purchase through Apple. Apple Card cashback is also available. If your device doesn't meet trade-in standards, Apple will do the legwork to ensure you can recycle your device for free. Show more View now at Apple Apple We can't expect many deals to appear for the newer 2024 Apple iPad Pro, powered by the firm's M4 chip. However, it's worth noting any savings.Right now, you can save $80 at B&H Photo, and snag the M4 Wi-Fi only version of the M4 iPad Pro for $919.Also: iPad Pro (2024) vs. iPad Pro (2022): Which flagship Apple tablet should you buy? Show more View now at B&H Photo More Apple deals Can I buy an iPhone without a plan? Yes, but you must ensure that your new iPhone is not locked to a specific carrier. You can buy unlocked iPhones, both new and pre-owned, from sources including Apple itself, Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. Show more What is the cheapest Apple product? Apple's AirTag, a tracking device that connects to your account and allows you to find lost objects such as your keys, is Apple's cheapest product. Typically, a single AirTag retails for $29, whereas you can also purchase four-packs for around $99 outside of sales and promotions. Show more Is there a monthly fee for Apple iPads? This depends on the type of iPad you decide to purchase. If you opt for a Wi-Fi-only iPad -- regardless of whether you have bought a classic iPad, iPad mini, or iPad Pro -- then there will be no monthly fee or subscription.However, if you choose an iPad with Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity, then you will need to pay for a mobile data plan to take advantage of the iPad's cellular features. Show more How did we choose these Apple deals? While researching the best Apple deals, we scoured the web and checked out promotional prices offered by major US retailers, including Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and Walmart.We wanted to ensure we found the best deals on Apple products, including MacBooks, iPads, and iPhones, so we've shown you the latest discounts available -- but remember that stocks can be limited and sales pulled at any time.Factors influencing our recommendations include:Price: The main factor we consider is the price. If the discount isn't noteworthy relative to the original price point, we don't consider it worthy of inclusion.Use cases: We have included a range of Apple devices on sale suitable for different uses, including work, study, entertainment, and sports.Variety: Here at ZDNET, we want to provide you with various products and accessories in the Apple ecosystem. We've selected deals spanning laptops and smartphones to smartwatches and more.Availability: If we come across a great Apple deal but only a few units are in stock unless it is a stellar saving you only see once in a blue moon, we will discount it and select a product with better stock levels instead. Show more When will these deals expire? Deals are subject to sell out or expire at any time, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We're sorry if you've missed out on a deal, but don't fret -- we're constantly finding new chances to save and sharing them with you atZDNET.com. Show more ZDNET Recommends