The 13-inch M2 MacBook Air is a great back-to-school deal at just $699
The M2-powered MacBook Air remains an excellent jack-of-all-trades, with more than enough power for work, casual gaming, and even a bit of light video editing. It also brings a few welcome upgrades over the M1 model, including faster performance and a much better 1080p webcam that's noticeably sharper. Design-wise, it's thinner and lighter, with slimmer bezels and a brighter, slightly bigger display. It also includes an improved keyboard and a MagSafe port for charging, while retaining features like a long battery life that should last a full work day.
That said, as an older laptop, you'll miss out on newer features. Apple's latest MacBook Air runs on a more powerful chip, for one thing, can connect to two external displays as opposed to just one, and offers an even more impressive 12-megapixel Center Stage webcam. But if all you care about is buying a fast, reliable laptop for everyday work and play, the M2-MacBook Air is a great investment to make at this price.The 2022 MacBook Air is a thin, lightweight device powered by Apple's M2 chip. The M2 model touts an improved 1080p webcam and a better display than its predecessor, while retaining features like long battery life and MagSafe charging. Read our review.
Sign up for Verge Deals to get deals on products we've tested sent to your inbox weekly.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Social Security Claims Spiking — 5 Reasons To Follow Suit
There's no one-size-fits-all approach to claiming Social Security benefits. Retirees face various circumstances that impact when to take benefits. A recent surge in claims may prompt more retirees to ponder whether now is the time to begin payouts. Be Aware: Check Out: The Social Security Administration (SSA) reported an 18% increase in claims between January and May 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to NPR. Worse yet, the SSA recently reported trust funds will deplete by 2034, a year sooner than previously stated. Concerned Americans may want to take action now to receive benefits. Here are five reasons why. You're Concerned About the Solvency of Social Security Waiting to claim Social Security is typically beneficial for most, as monthly benefits increase for each year they wait until reaching 70. That makes spikes in claims concerning. 'Because for most individuals, it's financially smart for them to postpone claiming as long as they're financially able to,' Jack Smalligan, senior policy fellow at the Urban Institute, said to NPR. However, if you're concerned about potential insolvency, that increase may mean nothing. Claiming benefits now, even reduced, may provide peace of mind in receiving monthly payouts. Be aware, though, that if we incur a worst-case scenario, benefits may be reduced once trust funds are drained. Trending Now: You Can Grow the Funds Now Choosing to delay Social Security can be a wise move for retirees not needing the funds. After all, monthly benefits grow until you reach 70. Such people may be high-earners able to live on other resources. Increases in claims can call that strategy into question. 'The analysis in late April by Social Security Administration staff found that the uptick in Social Security claims was especially pronounced among high-earning 62-year-olds,' according to NPR. Taking benefits now may allow you to grow the money more. Work with a financial advisor to identify growth opportunities. Health Is a Concern for Your Family Health concerns are often a decision-driver in claiming benefits. Although delaying claims increases benefits, that may be fruitless for retirees currently facing significant medical concerns. Receiving benefits now may help retirees manage the rising costs of medical care. A reported 22% of people aged 65 and over have medical debt, and 44% of those aged 50-64 have such debt, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). Getting monthly payouts now could mean the difference between indebtedness and peace of mind. You're Facing Credit Card Debt Growing credit card debt is a concern at any age. Facing it at retirement is problematic, as there may be less income to repay credit cards. More older Americans are dealing with high-interest debt, with 52% of those aged 50 to 64, 42% of those aged 65 to 74, and 35% of those over 75 facing credit card indebtedness. While a last resort option, claiming benefits now can help retirees repay debt. Paired with wise money management, receiving monthly payouts now can provide breathing room to manage other responsibilities. Cost of Living Is a Concern The rising cost of living is a concern for all Americans, but moreso for retirees, as their ability to earn more is limited. Claiming Social Security benefits now can help financially strained retirees avoid high-interest debt without sacrificing the things they need. Inflation may not be rising meteorically, but cost of living has dramatically increased in recent years. Taking Social Security now, and before full retirement age, may help strapped retirees dealing with stubborn prices that are stretching their budgets too thin. Claiming Social Security benefits is a personal decision. In some cases, it may pay to get payouts now. If you do change your mind, you can retract your claim within the first year, though conditions exist. Speak with a financial advisor if you're trying to decide whether now is the time to receive benefits. More From GOBankingRates How Far $750K Plus Social Security Goes in Retirement in Every US Region This article originally appeared on Social Security Claims Spiking — 5 Reasons To Follow Suit
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania man with cerebral palsy says bungled renos meant to improve his life have 'ruined' it instead
Dusty Costa and his wife planned to make some changes in their home to help ease his discomfort from living with cerebral palsy. But after paying nearly $70,000 for a home addition, they say they received used materials and shoddy work in return, and the couple told the contractors to stop coming. Now, they're left with a damaged, unfinished home and little recourse. "These people ruined our lives," Costas said to KDKA News. "I can sit here all day and say that 300 times over. They ruined our lives." The Costas' experience highlights how quickly a renovation can turn into a financial and emotional nightmare. Here's what happened. Don't miss Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it A renovation gone wrong leads to financial disaster Dusty Costa and his wife, Susan, told KDKA News that they hired a company called Eaton Home Improvements of Darlington, Pennsylvania, to renovate their home. But Costa says issues with the contractors began almost immediately. Despite paying for new materials, the workers started showing up with used supplies, including "five used windows and a used door for the shower," he told CBS News. "We paid, but we didn't know what we were getting. Normally, when you put an addition on your house, you get new stuff," Costa told CBS News, explaining that he had been told the project would cost $60,000, but that he ended up paying $66,000. Costa says the contractors made several mistakes throughout the project — including installing fixtures too high or upside down and creating plumbing issues, such as a pipe leak that damaged the dining room drywall. After repeated problems and mounting frustration, the Costas told the workers not to return. "We told them just not to come back," Susan said. But with the project left unfinished, the couple is now left with a home in disrepair. The floor is buckling, there are no counters, and both the bedroom and bathroom remain incomplete. They've launched a fundraiser in hopes of restoring their home to a livable condition. For Dusty, whose mobility is already limited, the uneven floors have made daily life even harder. 'I fall more than I can walk,' he said. After KDKA Investigates struggled to get in touch with the company, they eventually reached the co-owner's sister. She claimed the Costas still owed Eaton Home Improvements $8,000 and insisted the company's work was 'exceptional.' When asked for a copy of the contract, receipts for purchased materials, or bank deposit records, the woman said she couldn't promise her sister would return the call or provide documentation. As of now, no follow-up has been made. KDKA also searched the Pennsylvania Attorney General's database but found no record of the company being registered. Read more: Americans are 'revenge saving' to survive — but millions only get a measly 1% on their savings. Protecting against contractor disasters The Costas' experience underscores just how vulnerable homeowners can be when a renovation goes wrong — especially when safeguards aren't in place to hold contractors accountable. Hiring a contractor can be a confusing and overwhelming process, but taking a few key steps up front can significantly reduce the risk of fraud or unfinished work. Here are some important protections to consider: Verify licensing and registration. Make sure the contractor is properly licensed and registered to operate in your state. For example, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General offers a Home Improvement Contractor Search tool. Many states offer similar resources online. Getting a signed contract. The contract should outline the full scope of the work, who is responsible for materials, whether materials will be new or used, a cost estimate, and a cap on how much the total cost can exceed that estimate (such as 10%). Checking references. Talk with past clients of the contractor. If possible, see if you can see their work in person to evaluate its quality. Pay in stages. Instead of paying a large sum up front, arrange to pay in installments as specific milestones are completed. This payment schedule should be outlined in the contract. Ensure permits are obtained. Most home improvement projects require permits. If a contractor avoids permits, that's a major red flag. Consider hiring an inspector. For larger projects, bring in a licensed inspector at key stages of construction to confirm the work meets code before making additional payments. Following these steps can help homeowners avoid falling into the same situation the Costas are now facing. For now, the couple remains hopeful that someone will step in to help them finish the job. 'I mean, we're bleeding dry here,' Costa said. 'That's why we need some money back or somebody to just come in — a good-hearted individual — to say, 'Here, let me lend you some help.'' What to read next Robert Kiyosaki warns of 'massive unemployment' in the US due to the 'biggest change' in history — and says this 1 group of 'smart' Americans will get hit extra hard. Are you one of them? How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you'll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Android Authority
17 minutes ago
- Android Authority
These are the 6 Android widgets I simply can't live without
Megan Ellis / Android Authority From calendars to reminder apps, everyone has their own list of the best Android widgets. For me, widgets help me get overviews of various things without needing to open up the app that they're linked to. I recently switched to a new smartphone, and while there are certain things I do whenever I set up a new phone, I also realized that I needed to refresh some of my widget setups. As a result, these ones have become indispensable to my daily routine. 1. TickTick Megan Ellis / Android Authority TickTick is the best to-do list app in my opinion, and its widgets also help to keep me organized. On an average day, my executive functioning is impaired — meaning I often forget tasks and need frequent reminders to get things done. But lately, I've also been particularly forgetful due to stress. TickTick's widgets have become another way I keep on top of tasks without overwhelming myself with notifications. I use two widgets from TickTick: one to quickly create new tasks, and one that gives me an overview of all overdue and upcoming tasks. In addition to the regular reminders that TickTick sends me for tasks, the widgets help me quickly get an overview of what I need to do without needing to remember to open up the app. 2. Google Calendar Megan Ellis / Android Authority While I've started using TickTick's widget to tackle my increasing forgetfulness, Google Calendar's widget has been a mainstay on my devices for years. It's not the most attractive widget, but it gets the job done. With the month widget on my secondary home screen, I can get a good look at all my upcoming events and meetings. Calendar helps me when I have events I need to prepare for, such as trips to local phone launches. This also helps me when I have events I need to prepare for, such as trips to local phone launches. In these cases, a reminder a day before wouldn't really help me prepare. But seeing the entire month on a small widget lets me ensure that I get the right groceries, shift any recurring appointments, and see which days I will need to put more hours into my work to get it done. I have been playing around with the Month: Calendar Widget app to see if I can find a more visually appealing look while still pulling the appointments and events that are saved to my Google Calendar. But so far, I continue to rely on Google Calendar thanks to dark mode. 3. Vocabulary Megan Ellis / Android Authority Vocabulary is one of the apps I use to learn something new every day. With notifications enabled, it sends me words that it thinks I'll be interested in learning. But on days where I receive too many notifications across different apps, I often dismiss all my notifications at once. The Vocabulary widget lets me learn new words even when I'm overwhelmed by notifications. The widget lets me reap the benefits of the app even if I don't open it up. It refreshes once or twice an hour (though the frequency can be set to more regularly), so usually whenever I check my phone I am greeted by a new word. 4. Clock/Weather Megan Ellis / Android Authority There are plenty of clock and weather apps to choose from, but the default Weather app on my HONOR smartphone lets me combine the time, date, and weather forecast into a single widget on my home screen. This is especially useful when I'm waking up in the morning and want to get an idea of what the weather is like outside. I do wish that there was a way to quickly see the forecast for the next few days, but I use a Google automation to send me the next few days' weather outlook during the evening. I have also set up an IFTTT notification to warn me if the weather is going to be above a certain temperature. If you're looking for an app with similar functionality to HONOR's clock and weather widget, you can try an app like Digital Clock & Weather Widget. 5. Brave Search Megan Ellis / Android Authority I switched from Chrome to Brave a few months ago, and I am glad I made the change. I love Brave's features and find its search engine to be better than Google's ad-ridden rival. When exploring widgets on my new phone, I realized that I can replace the usual Google Search widget with one that uses Brave Search instead. The widget gives me quick access to a search query in Brave and the ability to voice search. I also prefer using the Brave widget over my usual Brave app shortcut so that I don't get distracted by my most recent tab — which can sometimes send me down a rabbit hole if it's a topic I'm interested in. 6. Xiaomi Home Megan Ellis / Android Authority I was initially excited for Google Home to roll out more useful widgets, but the app is incredibly buggy for me in general. It often shows my devices as offline even when they're not, so the widgets are of no use to me. Rather, I use Xiaomi Home's widgets for quick access to my most important smart home devices. Google Home is very buggy for me, so I use Xiaomi Home's widgets instead. I've set up two Xiaomi Home widgets on my smartphone: one for my smart camera, and another for my smart fan. These are the smart devices I access the most, so the shortcuts are incredibly useful. On a recent trip, I used the camera widget to quickly access my home's video feed to check that everything was fine back home. Easier access to my camera also means that I use the camera more frequently, often to check up on one of my cats when he hasn't come to bed. Since it's winter now, I don't use my smart fan shortcut as much. But it's essential in summer to quickly turn my fan on and off at night. It also proved useful during autumn, when the weather was inconsistent and I would only realize after I went to sleep if I needed to turn the fan on or off to keep a comfortable temperature. While everyone will have their own widget preferences depending on the services they use, these widgets have become essential to the way I use my phone. They save me time and prevent me from getting easily distracted by directly accessing the features I need.
