Technologies

Shop Big Savings on Laptops, Desktops and Accessories at Dell’s Semi Annual Sale

These deals only come around twice a year, so don’t miss your chance to shop serious discounts on Dell computers, monitors, keyboards and much more.

A new laptop or PC can be a pretty big purchase, so it’s worth waiting for the right sale. Twice a year, Dell rolls out serious savings during its Semi Annual sale, making it one of the best times to buy if you’re in the market for a Windows computer. The first round of this sale for 2023 is live, and right now you can save hundreds on laptops and desktops, as well as monitors, keyboards, headsets and other accessories.

See at Dell

There are tons of great deals to shop, but this sale expires on April 6, so be sure to get your order in before then. And to make sure you don’t miss out on the very best bargains, we’ve picked out some of the overall best deals available below.

Dell

Dell XPS 13 laptop: $949

Save $150

If you’re looking for a laptop, you may want to consider the Dell XPS 13, which we named the best MacBook Air alternative on the market right now. It’s lightweight, has a 13.4-inch full HD display, and this model comes equipped with a 12th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB solid-state drive. Though there are plenty of other configurations available if you’re looking for different specs.

$949 at Dell

Dell

Dell Inspiron 24 all-in-one: $650

Save $230

Or if you’re looking for a new workstation for your home office, you can pick up this Inspiron 24 desktop. This sleek, all-in-one PC features a 24-inch full HD display, and comes equipped with 12GB of RAM and both a 256GB SSD for fast boot-up speeds and a 1TB hard drive for serious storage. It also features a touchscreen for easy navigation, and a pop-up webcam for video calls and virtual meetings. Plus, it’s seriously versatile, with multiple HDMI and USB ports, a headphone jack, SD card reader and Ethernet port.

$650 at Dell

Dell

Dell S2721H 27-inch monitor: $130

Save $70

Even if you don’t need a whole new computer, this sale is a great chance to pick up some accessories at a discount. This S2721H monitor is a great option, whether you need to replace your current display, or want to upgrade to a dual-screen setup, and features a stunning 27-inch full HD LED screen with a 75Hz refresh rate and built-in dual 3-watt speakers.

$130 at Dell

Technologies

iPhone 17 Preorders Spike and Overall Phone Sales Aren’t Slowing Down Despite Tariffs

Global smartphone shipments saw a notable increase in the third quarter of 2025. Plus, preorders for Apple’s new iPhone 17 beat out the iPhone 16.

Despite tariffs and market uncertainty, global smartphone shipments increased 2.6% in the third quarter of 2025, compared to the same time last year, according to the International Data Corporation. Additionally, preorders for the iPhone 17, which launched last month, outpaced last year’s iPhone 16.

These increased sales include premium phones like the latest iPhones and Samsung foldables, suggesting yet again that pricier phones still sell in periods of economic strain. It’s a remarkable achievement, says IDC senior research director Nabila Popal, citing shrewd financing options as the reason people keep buying these high-end phones, which cost anywhere from $800 to nearly $2,000.

«[Phone makers] have mastered the art of innovation not only in hardware and software to entice upgrades but also in removing purchase friction. They have flawlessly combined cutting-edge devices with innovative financing models and aggressive trade-in programs that make the upgrading decision a ‘no-brainer’ for consumers,» Popal said in an IDC press release.

Apple sold 58.6 million iPhones this quarter, an increase of 2.9% over the same period in 2024, with more preorders for the iPhone 17 series than its predecessor. But Samsung wasn’t far behind, with its Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 selling better than all of the company’s prior foldables. The company still reigns atop the phone market with 61.4 million phones sold, representing 19% of the market in the third quarter of this year — an increase of 6.3% from the same period last year. Meanwhile, Apple lands slightly behind Samsung with 18.2% market share this quarter.

The other phone makers trailing Apple and Samsung are, in order: Xiaomi, with 13.5% of the market; Transsion, with 9%; and Vivo with 8.9%. The remaining companies in the phones industry, from Chinese stalwarts like Oppo and Honor to Motorola and Google, make up the remaining 31.4% of the market for the quarter. All told, 322.7 million phones were sold, up from 314.6 million in the third quarter of 2024, according to IDC.

IDC’s findings for the third quarter continue the small but steady growth of phone sales over the year, including a modest 1% increase in the preceding three months — which includes the April deadline when President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping tariffs. In the second quarter, IDC cited midrange devices like Samsung’s Galaxy A36 and other phones that started incorporating AI. But even persistent tariffs haven’t slowed down people’s appetites for pricier phones in the third quarter.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Tuesday, Oct. 14

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Oct. 14.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s Mini Crossword has an odd vertical shape, with an extra Across clue, and only four Down clues. The clues are not terribly difficult, but one or two could be tricky. Read on if you need the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.