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Acer’s Chromebook Spin 713 is on sale for $619 at Best Buy

Acer’s Chromebook Spin 713 is on sale for $619 at Best Buy

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Apparently, back-to-school sales are now in full swing

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The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 open on a table angled to the right. The screen displays a blue background.
Photo by Monica Chin / The Verge

Whether you’d like to admit it or not, school is quickly approaching. And if you’re in need of a reliable laptop that won’t force you to completely deplete your savings, Chromebooks aren’t a bad way to go. The best Chromebooks deliver great value for the money, and many offer terrific performance for far less than you would pay for a more premium machine. Acer’s Chromebook Spin 713 is one such device, even if the high-end convertible is one of the more expensive Chromebooks on the market right now.

Currently discounted at Best Buy to $619, the 2021 model packs in 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and an Intel 11th Gen Core i5, which is more than enough processing power for most people. Moreover, it boasts a great keyboard and a brilliant 3:2 screen, along with two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports and enough battery life for a full day in the classroom — virtual or otherwise. Read our review.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 in tent mode, angled slightly to the left. The screen displays a grid of Android apps on a blue background.
$619

The Chromebook Spin 713 is our choice for the best Chromebook to buy in 2021.


Like the now-discontinued HomePod, the HomePod Mini is somewhat easy to forget. Apple’s pint-sized answer to the Echo Dot and Google Nest Mini still produces good sound for its size, though, and Siri remains a viable alternative to Alexa and Google Assistant, despite lagging behind when it comes to features and functionality. The compact smart speaker also plays nice with HomeKit-compatible devices and Apple Music, rendering it a device really built for those who are already entrenched in the Apple ecosystem. Normally $100, B&H Photo is offering a rare $10 discount on Home Pod Mini, bringing the price down to $90 for a limited time. Read our review.

Apple HomePod Mini

$9910% off
$89

HomePod Mini is the only smart speaker Apple currently sells. It’s more affordable than the standard HomePod was when it was still in production, and its output is predictably smaller. However, it has many of the same features.


With COVID-19 restrictions easing and in-person gatherings become more commonplace again, now might not be a bad time to pick up an extra controller for your Xbox One, Xbox Series X, or Windows 10 machine. Thankfully, the black incarnation of Microsoft’s latest Xbox Wireless Controller is compatible with all three and remains available at Amazon and the Microsoft Store for $49, matching its second-lowest price. Unlike the previous model, the new-ish controller features a textured grip, USB-C support, and a dedicated Share button, letting you quickly capture and share your content with the press of a button. Read our hands-on review.

$49

Microsoft’s latest Xbox controller features a share button and a USB-C port for wired connectivity or charging if you decide to use the optional rechargeable battery.


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