Technologies

Prime Members Can Get a Fire HD 10 Tablet and Fire TV Stick 4K Bundle for $99

Scrolling or streaming, this bundle is sure to keep you entertained — and it’s half-price right now.

With freezing cold weather rolling in nearly everywhere in the US, plenty of us are spending more time indoors. Whether you’ve been actively looking for deals on tablets and media streamers or just need a way to keep yourself entertained this winter, Amazon has you covered. Today only, Amazon Prime members can save $101 on the Ultimate Entertainment Bundle from Amazon, which includes both the Fire HD 10 tablet and a Fire TV Stick 4K — meaning you’ll pay just $99 for both. But this offer expires tonight, so be sure to make your purchase soon if you want to nab these devices at this low price.

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The Fire HD 10 tablet not only comes equipped with a 10-inch display that’s 10% brighter than its predecessor, but it also has 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and gets up to 12 hours of battery life per charge. Plus, you can add up to 1TB of storage with a microSD card, though you will have to buy that separately. Along with streaming and scrolling the web, you can also use apps like Microsoft Office, OneNote and Dropbox on your tablet, too. The Fire HD 10 made the cut and landed a spot on our list for best tablets of 2022.

While the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is our favorite of the Fire TV Sticks on the market, the regular Fire TV Stick 4K isn’t a bad option. It’s the closest alternative to the Max, and though it does lack Wi-Fi 6 and a bit of that Max speed, it’s still a good choice for anyone who wants to stream in 4K. With built-in support for Dolby Vision, HDR and HDR10 Plus, it should provide a cinematic experience on your 4K TV. (If you don’t have a 4K TV, you can still use this stick, but you’ll be limited to the max resolution available on that TV.) The Fire TV Stick has plenty of apps to choose from and includes voice features directly on the remote. It can even be controlled via compatible Alexa devices like the Echo or Dot.

Which tablets have the best price?

Use our CNET Shopping extension to compare top products or find coupon codes before buying your next tablet.

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.