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Dress Up Your MacBook Pro Like a Fancy Leather-Bound Book

The Pad & Quill Leather Copertina Case is a stick-on folio case, a laptop stand and a handsome addition to your bookshelf.

High-end laptops call for high-end accessories. At least that’s how I justified attaching this Leather Copertina Case from Pad & Quill to my 16-inch MacBook Pro. This is more than the usual soft laptop sleeve or clip-on plastic cover. Instead, it’s a sturdy hardback leather folio cover that attaches to the outer shell of the laptop. It’s hefty, looks great, is made of full-grain leather with wool padding on the inside… and it costs $189 (which converts to roughly £160 or AU$290).

Yes, that’s a lot to ask for a laptop case, and it frankly makes the MacBook Pro bulkier, heavier and harder to handle in some instances. But, it’s also highly protective, looks fantastic and gets the conversation going at any meeting I show up to with it. 

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Dan Ackerman/CNET

The case looks a bit like a book cover. The entire case lies flat during setup, with adhesive strips on the bottom panel that attach to the bottom of the MacBook. They’re not permanent, but you’d need to clean off any residue and replace the 3M-style strips to remove or reposition it. 

It took me a few minutes to figure out whether the adhesive panel was supposed to attach to the bottom or other top. The packaging wasn’t much help, but it eventually made sense. 

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These adhesive strips attech to the bottom panel of the MacBook. 

Dan Ackerman/CNET

When the clamshell laptop is open, the top panel of the case falls flat against the table behind the laptop screen by default. You can also fold it back 360 degrees, like a hybrid laptop, turning the entire case into a tilted stand that both lifts and angles the laptop. 

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Dan Ackerman/CNET

When closed, it makes the MacBook look like a leather-bound book, and I naturally slotted it onto my giant bookcase. 

I wouldn’t use this case on a MacBook that I carry around on my daily commute — it just adds too much bulk. At home, it’s a great way to keep your laptop protected, and when you’re done working, just close the case and slide the entire thing onto your bookshelf for a seamless look. 

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Right now, I’ve got it on my in-office 16-inch MacBook Pro. At first, it was intended as a quick hands-on trial, but I’ve left it on for weeks now, with no regrets. 

If the added bulk on a 16-inch MacBook Pro is too much to handle, Pad & Quill also makes a version for the 14-inch MacBook Pro and a non-leather version for the 13-inch MacBook Pro. 

Technologies

Repair Your Electronics at Home With This Rare Black Friday Discount on the iFixit Pro Tech Go Toolkit

This toolkit rarely goes on sale, so take advantage of this opportunity to snag it for only $40.

While Black Friday is an excellent time to replace old smartphones or broken laptops at a discount, not everyone is looking to splurge on new tech right now. If you’re shopping on a budget, or simply like the devices that you have and aren’t ready for an upgrade, investing in an electronics repair kit may be a wise option. We’ve spotted a discount on the iFixit Pro Tech Go tech toolkit, bringing its price down to just $40. But don’t delay, Black Friday is in its final hours and this kit rarely goes on sale.

The iFixit Pro Tech Go kit can be used to open up and repair a wide range of electronics, including smartphones, laptops, gaming consoles, and smart home devices for DIY repairs like battery or screen replacements. The kit has a 32-bit Moray driver kit, an opening tool, a suction handle, a jimmy, a spudger and angled tweezer to carefully open your devices.

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Repairing your own tech can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. It also reduces e-waste by helping your devices last longer rather than throwing them away over minor issue. As of this year, all 50 states have introduced right-to-repair legislation designed to give people a legal right to fix their own tech, and several states have already signed it into law.

You can check out more deals from iFixIt now on Amazon. Plus, for other budget buys, check out our roundup of the best Black Friday deals under $100.

Why this deal matters

This is a record low price on a repair kit that rarely goes on sale. While we did see a modest discount on the iFixit Pro Tech Go toolkit during Amazon Prime Day in July, it was not marked down for October Prime Day or other sales such as Memorial Day or Labor Day. As such, it’s fairly unlikely that we’ll see it go on sale again this season, so this might be your last chance to get the toolkit for only $40.

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Technologies

Don’t Say Goodbye to Black Friday Yet. These Rare Apple Discounts Are Still Going Strong

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Technologies

What a Ban Would Actually Mean for DJI Drone Owners and Holiday Shoppers

What’s the secret to a very un-merry shopping season? A brand new, unusable drone.

With Thanksgiving wrapped up and the Black Friday shopping sales here, if a DJI drone is on your holiday wish list, you might want to hit «buy» immediately. The company has issued a stark warning: Its drones could be banned from sale in the US, and the deadline is looming. 

The Federal Communications Commission voted 3-0 at the end of October to «close loopholes» that allow tech deemed a «national security risk» to be sold in the US. In plain English, the US government is clearing the path to give DJI the same treatment it gave Chinese phone-maker Huawei, effectively banning its products from the American market.

The US government has deemed DJI, which is based in China, a security risk. It’s also considering a separate ban on TP-Link routers.

DJI is already sounding the alarm, posting on Instagram that a «deadline that could decide DJI’s fate in the US is just 43 days away» (now 19 days away). The company is warning that without an audit, its products could face an «automatic ban.» The US government has long labeled the Chinese drone maker a security risk, and it looks like the hammer might finally be coming down right before the holidays.


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The vote isn’t the end of the road, however. Future bans would need to target specific products and would require a period of public consultation. But it appears the groundwork is being set for the FCC to block sales of future and some existing DJI drones from US shores, as well as products that use DJI technology.

The government has called for a DJI audit by the end of the year, but if that doesn’t happen, DJI drone products could be banned for sale by default under a national security law.

DJI asks for a security audit before any ban

A representative for DJI told CNET that while the FCC vote references a rule change that doesn’t currently apply to DJI specifically, the National Defense Authorization Act deadline in December would put Chinese companies like it on the FCC’s ban list, «without any evidence of wrongdoing or the right to appeal.»

Adam Welsh, head of global policy at DJI, said the company has repeatedly said it would be open to audit, but that «more than 10 months have now passed with no sign that the process has begun.» 

«The US government has every right to strengthen national security measures, but this must go hand in hand with due process, fairness, and transparency,» Welsh said.

Welsh said DJI is urging the government to start the audit process or grant an extension.

Will DJI drone owners need to give them up?

Because the ban would apply to new sales, not drones that have already been sold, a DJI drone you already own would still be legal to use — at least under current rules. 

Government agencies, however, are prohibited from purchasing or using drones from Chinese companies, including DJI.

DJI’s drones consistently rank high in their product category. In January, they dominated CNET’s list of best drones for 2025. But some of the company’s newest products, such as the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, haven’t been available for sale in the United States.

Even DJI products that are not yet banned may be hard to find. The website UAV Coach has posted a guide to the bans and reports that, due to inventory issues, most DJI drone models are sold out at retailers regardless of future FCC action. 

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