The Amazon C3: Streaming Stick, Media Server, and Smart Home/Smoking Hub (Memory), Xbox One, and More
Unlike the Shield TV Pro, you can download and play more demanding games with the extra onboard storage and RAM. It can also run as a Plex media server and offers two USB ports, so you can use it as a smart home hub.
Amazon’s latest streaming stick is faster than its predecessor with Wi-Fi 6E and double the storage. It also now displays widgets and artwork when idle while continuing to offer a terrific selection of streaming apps and Alexa integration.
The C3 has more processing power than its predecessor and several new picture modes. It continues to offer a 120Hz refresh rate and low input lag as well, along with support for Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync variable refresh rate tech.
Prime Day deals on electronic gadgets: a review of Amazon’s top picks for a laptop and an e-reader
It’s that time again. Prime Day is back again and this time it is an Amazon product. There are thousands of discounted items, ranging from the necessary to wacky, and many of them have steep discounts on Amazon’s hardware lineup. Savvy shoppers know Amazon Prime Day is usually the best time to get a deal on a new Fire tablet or streaming stick. We have rounded up some of the best deals on electronic devices. Don’t see anything you like? Don’t forget to check out our nonstop Prime Day coverage on our liveblog, as well as our rundown on the very best Amazon Prime Day deals.
If you’re in the market right now for a big and flashy new TV, something modestly sized for a kitchen or bedroom, or some accessories that allow you to stream content with the best picture and sound quality possible, we’ve got you covered.
I was Team Paperback until I tried my first Kindle, and now you can’t pry it from my fingers. The Paperwhite e-reader is the best of all the ones we’ve reviewed. You have to pay $20 more to get rid of lockscreen ads, but they don’t interfere with reading if you don’t want to spend more. There are two main versions—this base Paperwhite and a Signature Edition (8/10, WIRED Recommends), which comes with 32 gigs of storage over 16, wireless charging, and an auto-adjusting backlight. There’s also a kids’ version with a case, a year’s subscription to Amazon Kids+, and a two-year, no-questions-asked replacement guarantee. We don’t know when a new Paperwhite will be, but mine is doing as it did on the first day. We think it’s still safe to buy one.
The Paperwhite is the best for reading. The Scribe (8/10, WIRED Recommends), with its 10.2-inch screen, is made for writing and drawing too. It’s a Kindle at heart, so reading is seamless, and there’s no lag while writing. Professional artists will want something better, but it felt natural to use. The Scribe is very pricey though, and the premium pen version, with its eraser on one end, costs another $30. You can’t write directly on book pages, since Kindle opts for sticky notes, and it isn’t waterproof.
The Fire tv Stick 4k Max is the best option for those who watch a lot of Amazon Prime. Anyone can use it, of course, but it obviously heavily promotes Prime content. 16 gigabytes is adequate for all your streaming apps and games. You can use your security camera feed to order pizza with the help of its speaker, the Amazon.com smart speaker, dubbed “Alexa” by detractors.
The Fire HD 8 is the best price if you just need a tablet for watching videos and playing basic games but don’t want to spend a fortune. The Fire HD 10 has a nicer screen, but it hasn’t been updated since 2022, and doesn’t have the same features. Still, it gets around 12 hours of battery life and has the other HD 10 features we like, such as USB-C charging and stereo sound.