Apple's most extreme Mac Studio, an M5 Ultra with 512GB of memory aimed at running huge AI models locally, is due to ship in late October. And that might be one reason why I'm seeing the - ahem - "cheaper" M5 Max model dropping $200 in price right now.
• Best for: Creative professionals and AI developers who want Mac Studio power without paying M5 Ultra prices.
• Why it matters: We're expecting to see more of the 512GB M5 Ultra at Apple's upcoming event next week. And I reckon we could be looking at prices starting well above $10,000. That makes the M5 Max Mac Studio the machine most people can realistically buy, and it's now cheaper as the new flagship approaches.
Today's best Mac Studio (M5 Max) deal
Mac Studio (M5 Max): was $2499 now $2299 This is the base M5 Max configuration, with an 18-core CPU, 32-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine. It has four Thunderbolt 5 ports, 10Gb Ethernet, HDMI 2.1, an SD card slot and Wi-Fi 7, and B&H notes that supply at this price is limited.View Deal
Why we recommend it
Our roundup of M5 Ultra Mac Studio reviews revealed the Ultra's real strength is local AI, while its multi-core lead over the M5 Max is only about 26% and single-core performance is about the same, which is why the roundup points most creative users to the M5 Max. The M5 Max is the best-suited model for most professionals, as 36GB of memory fits many workflows. However, 1TB is a more practical starting point for storage than 512GB, and that's currently discounted to $2579 (was $2799) on the site.
Price Context & Historical Value
At $2,299, this is $200 (8%) off Apple's $2,499 starting price. Now, Mac Studio discounts may improve in the months after launch, especially around Black Friday, so this may not be the lowest price it reaches - but it's the lowest I've seen right now. As with previous Macs, you can't upgrade the memory in this model later, so make sure 36GB is enough before you buy.
Should you buy it?
✅ Buy the Apple Mac Studio (M5 Max) if...
You want Mac Studio performance for creative work or local AI at around $2,300, and you don't need the M5 Ultra's 512GB memory ceiling.
❌ Skip the Apple Mac Studio (M5 Max) if...
You need the 512GB M5 Ultra for large local AI models, or you want more than 512GB of storage without an external drive.
With extended commentary, original content, and more in addition to race coverage, Apple has aimed to innovate and differentiate the experience from what it formerly was. For starters, if you subscribe to Apple TV in the States, you get it for free. On top of that, there's a clean, modern set of visuals around the action, with several view options, including the ability to customize your own multi-view setup, and, most notably, Dolby Vision support.
Apple wants to up the immersion, though, and is deepening its partnership with Dolby to bring Dolby Atmos to its live broadcast of Formula 1 races, starting with the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. Notably, it doesn't require changing microphones or the existing race-broadcast setup.
Speaking with TechRadar, Jim DeLorenzo, Apple's Global Head of Sports, noted that this innovation had been on the vision board for quite some time. "One of the things that we thought about for quite some time is the audio side of that... how can we get to a point where we have not just Dolby Vision, but Dolby Atmos."
And Apple isn't swapping out the microphones used around the track to make it happen. "We don't change the mic array for this," DeLorenzo told TechRadar. Instead, Apple is working with the existing microphone setup used for the F1 broadcast.
If we can bring a little bit more of this into somebody's viewing experience when they're not at the track, that's going to help connect them a little bit more
Jim DeLorenzo
DeLorenzo said sound is a big part of what makes a live event feel different from watching at home. "Any sporting event, when you're there, one of the things that is so impactful on the experience is the sound," he said. "Because the sound in an F1 race is so visceral... if we can bring a little bit more of this into somebody's viewing experience when they're not at the track, that's going to help connect them a little bit more."
(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
"We are always trying to figure out, how do we break down that barrier a little bit between the people who can go to the event and the people who are watching at home?" DeLorenzo added. "Because the reality is, the vast majority of people are not going to the live sporting event that they're watching, right? They're watching at home. So, we want to try and break that down so people can have that same kind of experience and feel like they're there."
I got to hear a Dolby Atmos mix of some previous races, played as a clip at an event in New York City. Unsurprisingly, it's a night-and-day difference, one that not only adds spatial audio, especially in a room outfitted with a full 9.1.4 setup, but also pulls you into the action. If cars zoom left to right across the screen during a turn, you hear them move that way.
It's similar to the Spatial Audio experience on AirPods Max or Beats 360, but the Dolby Atmos mix is even more impressive for live sport because it pulls you in. You hear the roar and rumble of the engines, the crowd's cheers, and the general atmosphere of the track.
It will never be the same as being in the grandstands or the paddock, but it gives you a better sense of what's happening in a given scene, and you can spot a leading car, or one making a move in a turn ,a bit more quickly. The audio matches the visuals for a more immersive, closer-to-the-stands feel. You can even hear it in the footage I filmed of the engineers switching from the stereo mix to the Dolby Atmos mix.
DeLorenzo says the production team was excited about it: "This one is pretty cool in that it's never been done before with F1," he said. "When you can do something that's never been done before... it raises the bar even more."
(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
Dolby Atmos with Formula 1 broadcasts is a first, but whether that eventually extends to MLS or Friday Night Baseball remains to be seen.
However, judging by other firsts, as with Friday Night Baseball being shot with the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, and then Apple TV expanding that to MLS, it’s clear that innovations tend to be spread around.
We're trying all kinds of stuff that hasn't shipped yet
Jim DeLorenzo
As for what comes next for Formula 1, Apple isn't saying. "It's still just year one," DeLorenzo noted, and the company is "always trying to see how we innovate and go bigger and make the experience better for fans."
While Apple isn't saying what those next steps might be, DeLorenzo teased that things are already happening behind the scenes. "We're trying all kinds of stuff that hasn't shipped yet, that we hope to ship at some point," he told me.
Might that mean a truly immersive experience fit for Vision Pro, as we’ve seen with select NBA games or Friday Night Baseball? Or maybe it’s mounting an iPhone on a Formula 1 car or at the finish line, or even pulling just the sensor similar to F1 The Movie?
Time will tell, but for now I'm excited to hear them punch it in Dolby Atmos for the United States Grand Prix in Austin come October 22.
So, the second day of Amazon Prime Day is in full swing and, as this one's only a two-day event, it's fair to say that we don't have much time. Don't worry, but, you know… don't miss out.
Could today be the day you treat yourself to a Bluetooth speaker for the shower, or level up your home with a more significant Wi-Fi multi-room investment for cosy nights in? I really hope so. If it's something musical and the deal's good, you'll find it here, in this little missive.
Stick with me, there's still plenty of time. Happy shopping — and always, always enjoy the music, friend.
The best Prime Day audio deals still live now, US
Bluetooth speaker deals still live now, US
The JBL Flip 7 is the ultimate portable speaker if you want something that's going to last. It's waterproof and seriously rugged, with swappable attachments that include a carabiner and carrying strap. It also delivers excellent sound for the price, with punchy bass, good volume, and up to 14 hours of battery life.View Deal
In the US, you can score a substantial 22% off the Bose SoundLink Micro Gen 2. This small yet mighty model boasts impeccably detailed sound for such a small speaker, with aptX support for higher-res listening and customizable EQ. It's also an absolute beauty, highly waterproof, and ultra-compact, making it easy to take on the go. This deal currently applies to the Dewdrop Mint colorway only.View Deal
Go 5: was $54.95 now $39.95 JBL's latest small speaker was released relatively recently, in summer 2026 — and it instantly became our new favorite cheap option. It comes in loads of lovely colors to suit your vibe, and is pretty much perfectly designed. The sound? It's a small thing, but for small spaces (especially in the shower) it will more than suffice.View Deal
Soundcore 2: was $44.99 now $28.48 A consistent best-seller on Amazon's website, this is an understated little buy. It looks 100% business-casual on a desk, unlike some more whimsical rivals, so if you need an office-ready speaker for very little money, you may have found it. It's not a new product (it actually launched in 2017), but you do get 12W stereo sound, an IPX7 waterproof rating, and up to 24 hours of battery life. And that isn't to be sniffed at for this money. View Deal
Wireless speaker deals still live, US
In our glowing 4.5-star review of the Sonos Era 100 SL, we were able to confirm what we'd all been hoping — it really is "a better price for the same performance" (as the regular Sonos Era 100). There are some compromises — voice control is absent, and Android users will miss out on Sonos' room correction. That said, it's one of the strongest performers in its price range — and this is a return to the lowest price it's ever been. View Deal
If you didn't know (that's fine, we're all here to learn!) this is a smart speaker with hi-res audio, Wi-Fi and touchscreen, and it comes in two finishes (black or white). You can read all about it in our WiiM Sound review. However, the main thing is this: this is its lowest-seen price, according to our price trackers. View Deal
And here's its cheaper relative! It's meant to rival the Sonos Era 100 — so check out our Sonos Era 100 vs WiiM Sound Lite feature, to see how well it squares up — but with this discount, you could be creating a lovely little hi-res wireless multi-room music ecosystem for a lot less. View Deal
Sub Pro Smart Wireless Subwoofer With Roomfit™ Bass, White: was $479 now $407.15 What is it? A wireless subwoofer with WiiM's Roomfit Bass technology. What do you do? Plug it in, get online, tap 'RoomFit' in the app, stay quiet and let AI dial-in perfect bass for your listening room. Then, just select your main WiiM speakers/amp in the app (or plug an RCA sub-out) and you've got yourself a sub-enhanced system, friend. View Deal
The best Prime Day audio deals, UK
Bluetooth speaker deals still live, UK
SoundLink Micro Gen 2: was £119.95 now £79.95 You're getting an awfully good deal here; 33% off one of the best small speakers around, taking it below the £80 mark. Think premium, detailed audio, a sleek and compact build, and aptX support for higher-res streaming, you really can't go wrong — unless you don't like the shade pictured. This deal currently applies to the Petal Pink colorway only (which to me looks more like strawberry ice cream, so of course I love it). View Deal
There's no Amazon discount for UK shoppers on this excellent JBL Bluetooth speaker (that's roughly the size of a bottle of Sprite) at the moment, but you can still score the Flip 7 at a discount over at Very. Free home delivery is included as well.View Deal
Soundcore 2: was £28.49 now £22.99 A consistent best-seller on Amazon's website, this is a chic but understated little speaker. It looks quite business-like on a desk, unlike rivals from JBL, so if you need an office musical companion for very little money, you just found it. It's not a new product (it actually launched way back in 2017!), but you do get 12W stereo sound, an IPX7 waterproof rating, and up to 24 hours of battery life. And that isn't half bad for this money. View Deal
Wireless speaker deals still live, UK
Era 100 SL: was £169 now £133.95 Anearly-ideal small and flexible speaker, honestly. It offers wide dispersion of sound, Wi-Fi plus Bluetooth and line-in connectivity, support for many streaming services, voice control, and it goes as loud as you'll ever need it to. Compared to the regular Sonos Era 100, the SL version drops voice control, but a lot of people can live with that.View Deal
This is the company's flagship smart speaker with hi-res audio, Wi-Fi and touchscreen. It comes in black or the white shade pictured (in fact, you can read all about it in our WiiM Sound review) but what you need to know is that we really like its detailed sound and touchscreen — and for this money, we like those things even more. View Deal
Wiim Sound Lite Smart Speaker, Multi-Room Wireless Speaker, Black: was £229 now £189 …and here's the cheaper version. No touchscreen it's true, but the Sound Lite offers connectivity as excellent as its full-fat sound, and that includes its hi-res 24-bit/192kHz playback. It can also connect to Google Cast and Alexa multi-room systems, or you could stream directly from Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, TIDAL, Qobuz, Deezer and more. On top of this, it sports a 3.5mm jack input, which is always a good thing if you want to hook it up to external audio kit. View Deal
We're already on the final day of Amazon's October Prime Day — aka Prime Big Deal Days — and the good news is that there are still plenty of deals to be found.
The shopping event, exclusive to Prime members, is packed with discounts across plenty of categories. And here we're focusing on Lego sets, and the discounts are across many, many themes, including Botanicals, Technic, Disney, Star Wars, and Harry Potter. You'll even find some Creator 3-in-1 sets that make great gifts if you're already holiday shopping.
Probably the most surprising Lego discounts this October Prime Day would be on Star Wars Smart Play sets. The Lego Smart Brick was only introduced in January 2026, and it's been hard to find at a discount, so if you've been waiting, now's a great time to score one.
As TechRadar's resident Lego expert, I've been scanning the sale for the best of the best, and ahead, I'm sharing over 30 deals across many themes that are worth adding to your cart.
Today's best Lego deals under $10
At just $4.89 with a fresh discount, this 65-piece Lego City Police Motorcycle Chase set is 51% off. This compact set includes two Minifigures plus a buildable motorbike.View Deal
City Go-Karts and Race Drivers: was $9.99 now $6.62 Two Lego sets are better than one, and two Lego sets certainly get the job done. For just $8.99, you'll build two go-karts and two Minifigures thanks to this fantastic, small build. View Deal
Whether you want a smaller Lego flower build or want to expand your Botanicals collection, you can't go wrong with this set of Lego Botanicals Daisies for just under $10 on Amazon.View Deal
These Roses will look great with any Lego Flowers set, even though these aren't part of the Botanical theme! Right now, this duo is down to $11.99.View Deal
Today's best Lego Star Wars deals
Star Wars Smart Play: Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter: was $69.99 now $55.95 Now, this is the cheapest an all-in-one Lego Smart Play set has ever been. Lego's Smart Play: Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter is 20% off at just $55.95 and includes everything you need to build and play — most notably a Smart Brick is in the box.View Deal
Star Wars Brick-Built Star Wars Logo: was $59.99 now $49.99 The opening crawl of any Star Wars film might be one of the most iconic openings in any film franchise. And now, you can finally build the iconic Star Wars logo out of Lego bricks (with some fun details hidden by the design team). This fantastic set is down to $49.99 at Amazon for Prime Big Deal Days.View Deal
Star Wars R2-D2 Building Set: was $99.99 now $79.99 R2-D2 is the most iconic droid around, and right now you can build your own out of 1,050 Lego bricks for just $79.99. That's a 20% discount from the $99.99 MSRP, and Prime members get free fast shipping. This set comes with a mini R2-D2, a display plate, and a Darth Malak minifigure.View Deal
Botanicals Happy Plants: was $22.99 now $18.39 With over 7,000 sold on Amazon in the past month, it's clear Lego has a hit on its hands with the most joyful set in the Botanicals theme. Happy Plants are exactly what the name says — two plants with smiley faces in cute pots, one blue, one yellow. This set is already 20% off at $18.39 on Amazon right now.View Deal
The Lego Botanicals Chrysanthemum is back to just $23.99 from $29.99 for Prime Big Deal Days. This is an especially vibrant Lego Botanical set and should be a fun, easy build with 278 pieces.View Deal
This one is a personal favorite of mine, and it's the perfect display piece. The Botanicals Mini Orchid is a delightful set made up of 274 pieces. Right now, it's just $23.99 on Amazon.View Deal
Botanicals Lucky Bamboo: was $29.99 now $23.99 Amazon has reduced the price of Lego Botanical Lucky Bamboo back to the lowest we've ever tracked. This delightful set is just $23.95 right now with free shipping for Prime members.View Deal
This is a really adorable one, and it's back to the lowest price we've tracked. For Prime Big Deal Days, the Lego Botanicals Flowering Cactus is 27% off at $25.55View Deal
If you're after colors, the Lego Botanicals Succulents set is an excellent pickup on Amazon for Prime Day. Right now it's $34.99 — a 30% discount from $49.99 — and you'll build several plants out of 771 pieces. View Deal
Right now, Lego Botanicals Magnolia Branches is 22% off at $39 on Amazon for Prime Big Deal Days.View Deal
Today's best Lego Harry Potter deals
Returning to an all-time-low price, Amazon's October Prime Day is letting you score the Lego Harry Potter Thestral Family set for just $41.99.View Deal
Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle and Grounds: was $169.99 now $136.99 With 2,660 pieces, you'll build both the iconic Hogwarts Castle and some of the grounds in a more miniature form that's perfect for display. This Lego set has been purchased over 3,000 times in the last month, and it's 19% off at $136.99 on Amazon.View Deal
Today's best Lego Technic deals
Technic Bush Plane Toy: was $27.99 now $22.49 With this Lego Technic set, you'll get 333 pieces to build a Bush Plane complete with a propeller up front and three wheels. It even features adjustable ailerons. View Deal
Technic Ford Bronco: was $64.99 now $51.99 For $51.99 on Amazon, you can build a Ford Bronco out of Lego Technic bricks. This is a fun set that lets you build detailed parts of the vehicle, including the rear axle, engine, and suspension.View Deal
Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit: was $74.99 now $67.99 While you won't build a car with this Lego Technic set, you'll still get a pretty out-of-this-world result. For $61.99 on Amazon — after a 17% discount — you'll build a working model of Earth and Moon, which you can rotate to see the orbit pattern.View Deal
Today's best Lego Disney deals
Disney Moana Hei Hei: was $39.99 now $25 Hei Hei is probably one of the most iconic Disney characters, and I'd bet Moana fans agree. Right now, ahead of Prime Big Deal Days you can build Hei Hei out of 566 Lego pieces for just $25 — a 37% discount.View Deal
Disney Cruella De Vil’s Car: was $49.99 now $34.99 Fans of 101 Dalmatians will likely love this Lego build, as you don't just get a Cruella De Vil Minifigure, but you'll build her iconic car and get one of the pups. Right now, this set is just $34.99 on Amazon after a 30% discount.View Deal
