NETWORKING

Kerry Wan/ZDNET Google is purposefully limiting the battery life of its new Pixel 9a phone, set to debut in about a week — and that’s not a bad thing. Also: I replaced my Pixel 9 Pro with a $379 Android phone while traveling – and didn’t mind it All lithium-ion batteries degrade over time, eventually to the point that they need to be replaced. A recently updated Google Pixel support page details a new feature called…

Intel On Monday, chip giant Intel’s new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan — who took over from outgoing CEO Pat Gelsinger only 15 days earlier — laid out in broad terms his strategy to return the company to greatness. Speaking at Intel Vision, the company’s annual event for customers and partners in Las Vegas, Tan emphasized changing Intel’s culture, promising to run the company “as a startup, on day one.”  Tan said the culture needs changing because Intel has…

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET Have you ever run into trouble trying to boot up your Windows PC? Boot-up errors are among the most challenging to troubleshoot and fix. Now, Microsoft is launching a new tool that will step in when your computer refuses to boot properly. Also: Microsoft just blocked this popular Windows 11 local account trick – but workarounds remain Known as Quick Machine Recovery, or QMR, this feature is ready for testing in…

June Wan/ZDNET Midrange smartphones like the OnePlus Nord N30 are a nice alternative to high-end devices like Samsung’s Galaxy S25. They provide a premium experience without the exorbitant cost. And now, thanks to a new deal, this already affordable phone is even cheaper. Also: These Bluetooth trackers for Android work than AirTags – and they’re on sale Typically, the device costs $300. But by entering the code “SPRING25” at checkout, you shave $70 off the Nord…

Maria Diaz/ZDNET Apple Home is finally compatible with robot vacuums, thanks to multiple upgrades — from Apple, Matter, and robot manufacturers. Apple released iOS 18.4 yesterday, which includes support for robot vacuums via the Home app. Robot vacuum manufacturers, like iRobot and Roborock, have already released their firmware upgrades for their Matter-compatible robots to support Apple Home. Robot vacuum compatibility for Apple Home was delayed for months after being announced last year as a feature coming…

June Wan/ZDNET With the weather heating up, so too are smartphone deals. And OnePlus is back, offering a new deal for the OnePlus Open at its official website. Enter the code “SPRING25” at checkout, and you shave $200 off the foldable’s price tag, bringing it down to $1,500.  Admittedly, this isn’t as good as past discounts, which introduced a $500 price drop. That’s because the savings have been moved elsewhere. On top of the $200 discount, OnePlus…

ZDNET’s key takeaways This super-thin, super-durable tool has a myriad of uses. These are priced well, with cheaper copies on the market, but you should avoid them because they’re not a patch on the originals. The only downside I’ve found is that I can’t seem to find the Mini Spudgers for sale on their own, only as part of a set. One question I get asked a lot is which of my tools is my…

The smartphone industry has evolved to offer cameras that are just as good or even better than traditional point-and-shoot cameras — at least in bright daylight. Modern smartphones, including iPhone 16 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, feature at least three camera sensors for ultrawide, main and telephoto lenses. You can zoom out, zoom in, click gorgeous portraits, all from the device that sits in your pocket. You’ll start noticing a difference in smartphone camera…

We aim to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. ZDNET offers 33 years of experience, 30 hands-on product reviewers, and 10,000 square feet of lab space to ensure we bring you the best of tech.  In 2025, we refined our approach to deals, developing a measurable system for sharing savings with readers like you. Our editor’s deal rating badges are affixed to most of our deal content, making it easy to…

Max Buondonno/ZDNET Amazon’s Big Spring Sale has finally ended, and while there were plenty of great phone deals over the last week on the e-commerce platform, one of the best, if not the best, offer is still available elsewhere. I’m talking about the Google Pixel 9, which sells for just $549 ($250 off) at Target. That’s the lowest price I’ve seen on the handset since Black Friday, and it beats what both Amazon and Best Buy…