The top deal seems to be £130 off the Cricut Explore 5 Deluxe Bundle, which is currently down to just £212.99 in the UK from the usual £349.99 bundle price.

• Browse all Amazon US Cricut Prime Day Deals
• Browse all Amazon UK Cricut Prime Day Deals

You can also save £50 on the Cricut Joy 2 Ultimate Bundle (I have this machine and it's excellent), now only £149.99 on Amazon, as well as £45 off the EasyPress SE heat-pressing machine.

These are some of the best Cricut machines you can get, and I've got all the details you need below.

Cricut Prime Day deals

Which Cricut machine should you buy this Prime Day ?

With so many great options, it can be hard to know which Cricut machine to buy if you're new to the community. I personally own the Cricut Maker 4 and absolutely love it. You can see my review of the Cricut Maker 4 for all of the details, but it's an excellent cutting machine, though slightly on the heavier side.

For something more compact and travel-friendly, I also can't recommend the Cricut Joy 2 enough! It's wonderful for quick crafts and smaller projects without needing to clear a lot of space on your craft bench.

Highlights include $300 off the Dell XPS 14, reduced from $1,999 to $1,699 at Amazon. This light, compact laptop is an option as a MacBook Air alternative for content creators on the move.

If you need stronger graphics capabilities for gaming, 3D work or video editing with higher-end effects, there are also big deals about on laptops with Nvidia RTX 5000 series GPUs, including $400 off the Lenovo 16 Pro 9i Aura at B&H Photo, a powerful laptop designed with filmmakers and digital artists in mind.

See our top recommendations in the US and UK below. We've not included Macs here. For Apple laptop deals, see our dedicated roundup of the best MacBook Prime Day deals.

Today's best laptop deals for creatives

US deals

UK deals

If you're looking for cheaper laptops, see our guide to the best budget laptops for graphic design students.

Blurring the lines between reality and fiction, the jam-packed poster feels like a piece of Capitol propaganda straight out of Panem. Captivating and hypnotic with a looming threat beneath its floral facade, the new Sunrise on the Reaping sets high expectations for the upcoming film.

The new poster features a cascading collection of the Sunrise on the Reaping cast, with Ralph Fiennes as President Snow looming over the top. At a glance, the heavy purple visuals bursting with florals give the design a natural, serene feel, only to be juxtaposed by images of axes, blades and military propaganda.

"This poster is BEAUTIFUL and unsettling at the same time. The amount of detail is insane," one fan on X wrote. "Easily the best Hunger Games poster ever," another chimed in. "The Hunger Games still knows how to make every poster feel like a beautiful piece of Panem propaganda," one fan praised.

For more design inspiration, check out the Digger poster that struck graphic design gold or take a look at the new Clayface poster that gets creepier the more you look at it.

We've highlighted our pick of the best below, including beautiful machines from Nespresso, Lavazza, Keurig and more. These are the models that bring you the best combination of price, features, and positive customer reviews.

If you're already fully caffeinated, take a look at our wider coverage of this week's best Prime Day deals.

“I enjoy experimenting with colour and finding new ways to make colours more expressive,” she says. Here are four examples of her work.

If you need the tools to develop your own worlds, see our guides to the best drawing tablets and the best laptops for drawing and digital art.

Lain

“In this art, I used the lasso tool while still aiming to retain a painterly feel.”

Master Frog

“In this piece, I wanted the contrasting colours to almost glow on the screen. It was also my way of paying tribute to my D&D Dungeon Master.”

Elven Queen

“For this piece, I challenged myself to work with a limited, high-key palette. I wanted to preserve depth while using mostly light colours where I could.”

Mena

“This is my favourite character. I wanted to make a vertical composition, but it took me a long time to find the right pose and angle.”

You can see more of Polina's work on her ArtStation profile.

This article originally appeared in ImagineFX. Subscribe to ImagineFX to never miss an issue. Print and digital subscriptions are available.

Today's drawing tablet deals

See our guide to the best drawing tablets for more options.

Creative Bloq is now easier to access than ever before with our on-the-go app, which brings you all the content you know and love from our website, but in a super-streamlined design.
Download the Creative Bloq app for iOS
Download the Creative Bloq app for Android

In the end, there's nothing "woke" about the Type 01, to quote the common criticism made of Jaguar's relaunch. But it is bold. It's a huge, muscular head-turner of an EV with a long bonnet in tribute to the iconic E-Type. It won't win over vintage car enthusiasts who wanted another V8, and it's not supposed to, but it has the world's attention.

Tata-owned JLR describes the Type 01 as the "most technically advanced, powerful and aerodynamic Jaguar ever engineered". It's a high-performance electric grand tourer with a massive 1,015 horsepower, targeted 400+ mile range with rapid charging capabilities put into a dramatic, low-slung body sitting on massive 23-inch wheels. It will cost around $130,500.

The colour options are more sober than those used for the Type 00 concept car unveiled in late 2024. Instead of Miami pink, there's "visionary silver, dramatic white, iconic black, compelling blue, and refined grey".

Some are suggesting this shows that Jaguar listened the 'anti-woke' backlash, but the pink Type 00 always felt like it was more of a site-specific artistic statement created for Miami Art Week.

Beyond the colours, there's a lot of talk about how closely the Type 01 sticks to the Type 00's design. But according to Top Gear, it was the other way around. The design of the Type 01 was finished five years ago. The Type 00 coupe was reverse engineered and exaggerated to an extreme to serve as an attention-grabbing teaser.

There's another telling detail. Jaguar’s Managing Director, Rawdon Glover, has revealed that the brand interviewed 2,500 people globally during development to test reactions, asking them to grade the new car design out of 10. The new car received a massive amount of 1s and 2s, but also more 9s and 10s than any previous Jaguar.

The rebrand preempted this polarisation. The models in bright outfits, 'Copy Nothing' slogan and initial lack of cars now feel like they were deliberately chosen to troll and to obliterate the middle ground. The new Jaguar is a car you either love or hate, which might be what it needs to be.

By alienating a large part of its old demographic of middle-class buyers choosing executive sedans over BMWs, Jaguar's set out to win over a niche of ultra-wealthy, design-focused, luxury buyers: people who want a car that makes a statement as bold as the Tesla Cybertruck but looks classier, doesn't fall apart and arrives on time – and also the only people who might truly desire and be prepared to pay for the new car.

Preorders are open following the official unveiling in New York with the first deliveries expected from mid-2027.

We found this to pretty much perfect the 'neutral with bass boost' formula in a way that should gel with most people's listening preferences. Yes, it's a bassy boy, but it has a natural-sounding midrange and impressive, balanced treble, as we noted in our four star review.

To get the deal price at Amazon, you'll need to be a Prime member, but you can take advantage of a 30-day free Prime trial.

• Browse Prime Day headphone deals at Amazon

Sound profiles

We found the Light Shuttle to really nail the classic neutral-with-bass-boost brief, offering a balanced and exciting sound profile that the majority of listeners should like. The lower midrange is fairly dead-on neutral, and the upper midrange is also fairly neutral. The bass is prominent but well controlled. The slight dip between 150-300Hz creates a clean separation between bass and midrange, so the former doesn't bleed into the latter, and the mid-bass delivers more pronounced punch.

As for the Defiant, it's more of a crowdpleaser with a leaner midrange. It delivers clear upfront vocals so there can be a slightly strained timbre and instruments lacking full body. Despite this, it still stands tall among IEMs at its price range and higher.

There are some good deals on Thunderbolt docks. Our most premium pick is the 14-in-1 Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station now reduced by $90 from $399 to $339 at Amazon. This is the nearest thing we've found to a perfect Thunderbolt 5 docking station, and it tops our guide of the best docks for MacBook Pros.

For a more budget option, the Plugable 9-in-1 USB C Hub is reduced by 25% from $49.95 to $37.46.

To grab these deals, you'll need to be a Prime member, but you can always sign up for a free Amazon Prime trial.

• Shop Amazon Prime docking station deals

The problem is that quality ergonomic chairs rarely come cheap. Which is exactly why Amazon Prime Day is such a good time to buy one.

• Browse office chair Prime Day deals at Amazon

I've rounded up five of the best office chair deals on Amazon in the US and UK, covering everything from bargain models to high-end ones. Crucially, every chair here has been tested by our reviewers, so you know you'll be buying quality. Whatever your budget, there's a Prime Day saving here worth grabbing.

The best Prime Day office chair deals

Prime Day office chair deals: USA

Prime Day office chair deals: UK

So which should you choose? In the US, the Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro offers the best balance of comfort, adjustability and looks we've found, while the Branch Verve is the one for design lovers. The Hinomi H2 Pro is ideal if you're tall or love tweaking every detail. And if you're happy to rethink how you work altogether, the HAG Capisco remains in a class of its own.

In the UK, the Sihoo M18 is the easy pick if you're on a budget: it's comfortable, stylish and remarkably well designed for the price, though it arrives in a lot of pieces. The Sihoo M57 is a solid option if you want 3D armrests and an all-mesh design, while the Steelcase Gesture is a premium chair built to last for years.

Whichever you go for, check the height range before you buy, as even the best chair won't help if it doesn't fit your body. And remember, Prime Day deals will only last for a few more hours!

Amazon has some decent Apple Pencil deals too, including $30 off Apple Pencil Pro. But depending on what you use your tablet for, you might not need an Apple Pencil at all. One of the best Apple Pencil alternatives might be perfectly adequate, and right now there are cheap tablet styluses around at prices as low as $15.

Read our Apple Pencil comparison guide if you're not sure which Apple Pencil works with your tablet. If you're tempted by a Prime Day deal but you're not a member, you can sign up for a 30-day free Prime trial.

Apple Pencil deals

Apple Pencil alternatives

Do Apple Pencil alternatives work?

Yes, Apple Pencil alternatives work. In fact, for a really budget alternative to help you out in a fix, you can even make a stylus with just four household items.

That said, whether an alternatives is a good option for you will depend on what you want to use it for. If you're a professional or aspiring digital artist who's invested hundreds of dollars in a recent iPad Pro or iPad Air, I'd really recommend stretching to buy the Apple Pencil Pro.

The Apple Pencil alts above all have palm rejection and most have tilt sensitivity, but they don't provide pressure sensitivity, which is very beneficial for drawing and painting, though less so for note taking. As well as a better drawing experience, the Pencil Pro's plentiful customisation shortcut controls can really speed up your workflow, allowing you to change brushes and settings much more quickly.

If, however, you only want an iPad stylus for clicking on menu buttons to speed up browsing and to avoid messy fingerprints on your screen, just get the $15 Jamjake or Metapen stylus above. You really don't need anything more sophisticated than that.

If you're somewhere in the middle – say you're not a big artist, but you'd like to do some sketching and also note-taking, then I'd consider the Logitech Crayon. It's cheaper than the Apple Pencil and doesn't provide pressure sensitivity, but it has the Apple seal of approval and it's beautifully designed.

Below, you'll find the lowest Apple Pencil prices in your region.

The best in-ear option by far is AirPods Pro 3, which features the best active noise cancellation and sound quality of the bunch. At $249, they're not cheap, but that changed today – because for Prime Day right now, they're $70 off, down to $179.

Check out why we thought these headphones were "almost perfect" in our AirPods Pro 3 review. And for more brilliant Apple deals, take a look at our main Apple Prime Day deals page.

We reviewed it on Xbox, and normally you would need a console or high-end gaming PC to play a title like this on release day (it's also available on PS5 and PC), but today millions of people have immediate access to Galactic Racer for free: you can play the game via Amazon Luna if you're a member of Amazon Prime (and if you're not, you can always grab the 30-day free Prime trial and check out the best Apple Prime Day deals too).

• Get a 30-day free Prime trial

In a pretty much unprecedented release, Star Wars: Galactic Racer is launching on the Amazon Luna cloud gaming platform on the same day as other platforms. Prime Members can play the single-player campaign for free.

The launch gives a potentially massive audience an easy way to jump into the game without dedicated gaming hardware, by streaming via browser or the Prime Video app on a browser, mobile device or Fire TV.

Cloud gaming has had a difficult journey so far. Google Stadia shut down in 2023 after just four years, and nobody really noticed when Amazon launched Luna four years ago. That's started to change since its integration directly into Prime Video, which feels like a bit of a no brainer.

"We've always believed Luna players deserve to be in the action from day one, and Star Wars: Galactic Racer makes that a reality for the first time,” said Jeff Gattis, Head of Gaming at Amazon. “Luna players can jump into the single-player campaign today without needing to own a console or wait for a lengthy download. And the best part: if they're a Prime member, they already have it at no additional cost. It's exactly the kind of experience we want to deliver on Luna, and we think players are going to love it."

Star Wars: Galactic Racer puts you behind the controls of a range of repulsorcraft, each with distinct handling that can change the way you approach each track.

Set early during the era of the New Republic, it introduces the Galactic League - a high-stakes underground racing circuit where rival racers, unsanctioned courses, and powerful syndicates collide. As the galaxy rebuilds from the fall of the Empire, a lifelong fan and true believer in the sport of racing, Darius Pax has assembled an underground racing league with the hope of creating a new golden age of galaxy-wide racing for the masses.

Players take on the role of Shade, a lone racer with a dream of glory and revenge in this runs-based racing adventure. Every race presents choices that can shape the journey, from selecting your route and events to choosing upgrades and building a racing setup that matches your playstyle. Survive long enough, and you’ll have the chance to earn your place among the galaxy's elite racing pilots

For Star Wars fans, there are also familiar faces waiting to race against you. Fan-favorite Dug racer Sebulba, first introduced in Episode I The Phantom Menace, returns to the circuit alongside an array of new characters and rivals.

Alongside the single-player campaign, you’ll be able to test yourself in two additional gameplay modes: Arcade and Scenarios. Arcade events are short and focused, having you race against the clock or complete a particular objective on a specific track with a specific vehicle. Scenarios are longer-form events that offer unique challenges, as you take-on full runs with different rule sets and characters.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer is available to play on Amazon Luna for Prime members in eligible regions.

If you're looking for a 3D printer with zero waste, fast multicolour prints and excellent quality, look no further. It's #3 in our guide to the best 3D printers for a reason.

I've spent all day running a 3D live blog tracking all of the best Prime Day 3D printing deals, and this is the most exciting one I've found so far.

• Browse all Amazon US 3D Printer Prime Day Deals
• Browse all Amazon UK 3D printer Prime Day Deals

I didn't have this on my Prime Day bingo card, and I'm thrilled that the best US price we've ever seen on the Snapmaker U1 has just been beaten.

Typically, the Snapmaker U1 retails for $999, though it is often reduced to $849 - NOW $721.65 for Amazon Prime members only.

Why is the Snapmaker U1 so popular?

I've been testing the Snapmaker U1 for quite some time now, and I'm chuffed with it. The printer is super fast thanks to the modular design, which comprises 4 separate toolheads. The SnapSwap system allows the printer to switch colours in just five seconds, all while reducing filament usage with zero purge/poop (yes, really).

The only other 3D printer at this level that I've tested is the Bambu Lab H2C, which takes a slightly different approach with a Vortek Nozzle-swapping system for fast colour changes. I've compared both machines against each other in a Vs piece to help you decide which one to buy.

Take a look at the video below to see just how fast this printer can change colours.

See the Snapmaker U1 in action

*If you can't see the video above, please refresh the page.

From headphones to quirky open earbuds, I've collected some of our top-reviewed Nothing audio options to suit your needs. Remember, if you see any members-only deals, you can always sign up for a 30-day free Prime trial.

The best Nothing audio Prime Day deals

• Discover Nothing deals at Amazon

Can't find what you're after? Discover the best Nothing audio deals filtered by your reigon below.

We've covered Beiluner's fountain pens before. One of the most popular pen brands on Amazon, Beiluner offers an elegant writing experience for a truly generous price. And with 27% off, bringing the price down from $12.99 to $9.49, this is one of the cheapest offerings we've seen from the brand.

The brand's luxury wood rollerball features a gold metallic finish and is available in five different wood finishes. My personal favourite is the simple and classy-looking walnut variant. The reviews are filled with comments comparing it to the likes of Parker and, yes, Montblanc.

Not in the market for a beautiful pen? Check out more brilliant Prime Day deals.

The good news is that Amazon's October sale has come around, and the Prime Day MacBook deals effectively roll back prices to where they were before the mid-year hike. That includes this year's M5 MacBook Air from $1,299 $1,099 and up to $300 off higher end MacBook Pros.

The deals I've picked out below don't require Prime membership. If you do see an offer that's for members only, you can always sign up for a 30-day free Prime trial. Also see our pick of the best Apple Prime Day deals overall.

The best Prime Day MacBook deals

• Browse MacBook deals at Amazon

Not in the US? Check out the best Prime Day MacBook deals in your region below.

When it launched in 2024, the Luxe Café was Ninja's first bean-to-cup espresso machine, taking on a market dominated by Breville and De'Longhi. It quickly won fans for doing three jobs in one: pulling espresso shots, brewing drip coffee and making cold brew, while handling most of the tricky stuff for you.

Not a Prime member? Try a 30 day free trial at Amazon Prime.

• Check out the best Prime Day coffee machine deals over at Amazon

With its lower price, foolproof espresso system and ability to brew drip coffee, the Luxe Café is an excellent choice for any coffee lover. It both looks and feels like a much more expensive machine, so it's not surprising that since its launch, it's built a strong following.

If you're looking for rich espresso, stylish stainless steel design and easy cleaning, this will soon pay for itself in saved coffee shop trips. And with $100 off today this Amazon Prime Day, that value case gets even stronger.

Coffee shop drinks, no skills required

The secret to the Luxe Café lies in what Ninja calls Barista Assist Technology. The machine recommends the right grind size for whichever drink you've chosen, weighs out exactly the right dose, and adjusts temperature and pressure as it brews. It even takes your water hardness into account.

The Dual Froth system is just as impressive. Pour milk into the jug, which has a magnetic whisk built in, pick your froth level and walk away. If you prefer to do things yourself, there's a manual steam mode too. Add in a cold-pressed espresso setting for iced lattes and espresso martinis, plus onboard storage for all the accessories, and it's clear that Ninja has thought of everything.

This brand has spent years building a reputation for smart, affordable kitchen appliances, from air fryers to blenders. The Luxe Café proved that it could take on the specialist coffee brands too, and at this Prime Day price, it's an easy recommendation for anyone looking to upgrade their morning coffee.

Don't forget to head over to our Nintendo Switch live blog where we'll be keeping you up to date with the best Switch deals, from consoles to bundles and accessories. Don't miss out on this year's savings; it's the best year for Switch deals we've seen in years.

If you find yourself needing a Prime membership for any of the deals that come up, remember you can get a 30-day free Prime trial.

• Discover Amazon Prime Switch game deals

It works like magic, or at least it feels that way, keeping your notes, sketches, doodles, and masterpieces synced up in the physical and digital realms.

• Browse all Amazon US Prime Day Deals
• Browse all Amazon UK Prime Day Deals

When attending IFA in Berlin last month, I got to try out this wizardly Bluetooth Notebook in person. I drew a very bad sketch of the Creative Bloq logo, and watched it become digitised in perfect harmony.

You can see it for yourself in the video I put together below. For more recommendations, check out our guide to the best drawing tablets for digital art, as well as the best tablets with a stylus pen.

See the XPPEN Note Plus in action

Get the XPPEN Note Plus for less this Prime Day

When our reviewer put the Microsoft Surface Pro 12 (2025) through its paces last year, he found it to be a great all-rounder, praising its all-day battery life, nice screen and decent processing power. It's not a creative powerhouse, but for everyday work, note-taking and streaming, it's a lovely machine to use. And with £250 off, it's now far cheaper than any comparable iPad Air or iPad Pro.

• Check out the best Prime Day laptop deals over at Amazon

So sure – if you want the absolute best, you can wait for the 2026 version on 13 October, which has a six-core Snapdragon X2 Plus chip and starts at $1,149.99 in the US (UK pricing is still to be confirmed).

For most people, though, the 2025 model provides you everything you need at less than half that price, making this offer an absolute bargain. See the details below, and remember to sign up for Amazon Prime for the biggest savings.

Tablet meets laptop

What sets the Surface Pro apart from the iPad is that it runs a full desktop operating system. That means proper Windows apps, including Photoshop and Illustrator, plus Microsoft 365 for everyday productivity. The eight-core Snapdragon X Plus holds its own against Intel's latest chips in office tasks, and in our testing, the battery lasted over 14 hours of video playback.

The 12-inch display is a bright, responsive 90Hz touchscreen, and the built-in 165-degree kickstand makes it easy to prop up for watching films or typing. You get two USB-C ports, which is more than you'll find on an iPad, and a handy storage slot on the back to charge the Surface Slim Pen. With handwriting recognition and pen pressure settings, it all adds up to a great canvas for note-taking and sketching.

Bear in mind, though, that this deal is for the 8GB RAM, 256GB storage configuration, and that the keyboard, pen and charger are all sold separately. If you already own a Bluetooth keyboard and a decent USB-C charger, though, you can get started using it as a hybrid laptop without spending a penny more.

Microsoft has been refining the Surface Pro for more than a decade, and the 12-inch edition is the most affordable way into the range. The 2026 models will have the edge on performance, but if your needs are everyday rather than heavy creative work, this Amazon Prime Day deal is very hard to beat.

Leaning into text message parlance, the campaign combines the first letters of the Hulu and Disney logo to ask 'Hu Dis?', highlighting the fact that users can access Hulu content directly on Disney+, giving access to shows such as The Kardashians and Scrubs.

The campaign was created by Courage, who shared the campaign on LinkedIn to a rapturous response. "Brand wordplay on a billboard that lands in two seconds is the hardest flex. This is genuinely work to be proud of," one user comments. Meanwhile, over on Substack, copywriter Vikki Ross exclaims, "Woahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh never thought I'd see Disney play with their logo."

The ads feature the two sliced-up logos along with images from various Hulu shows. But the most striking has got to be that close-crop on Kim Kardashian's eyes, which makes the 'Hu Dis?' tagline extra effective.

From McDonald's to Corona, we've seen plenty of ingenious ads from brands hiding their logos. In Disney's case, even half of its wordmark is iconic enough that nobody's going to be stumped by the question, 'Hu Dis?'

I found this review very easy to write. Just over two years ago I reviewed the M2 Ipad Air and gave it 4 stars. This is the M4 version and externally there is nothing groundbreaking to update but internally, well that’s different story.

When I reviewed the 13-inch M2 iPad Air, it was the first Air that really made me question whether I actually needed an iPad Pro. The combination of the M2 chip and 8GB of RAM made it a surprisingly capable creative machine, particularly for drawing, digital sculpting and video editing. A large part of my income comes from content made on an iPad so it does really matter to me.

I've been using iPad Pros for professional creative work since they were first released and I'm less interested in whether the Air can browse the web quickly, give me the best photos or open multiple Safari tabs. I want to know what happens when you start opening large Procreate canvases, create complex 3D sculpts with Nomad Sculpt or ZBrush or use other demanding creative applications. Is this still the best iPad for drawing?

The test model this time was the 13-inch iPad Air with the M4 chip and, importantly for creative users, 12GB of unified memory. On paper, that's a significant step forward from the M2 model I previously tested (They also followed that with an M3). It also brings the Air increasingly close to the sort of specifications that, not too long ago, were reserved for Apple's Pro machines. That additional 4GB of RAM make a real difference for both 2D and 3D applications.

The big question this time isn't really whether the iPad Air is powerful enough. It almost certainly is for most users. The question is how much closer the M4 and 12GB of memory bring it to the iPad Pro, and whether creative professionals still need to spend the extra money.

Design and display

At first glance, there isn't necessarily a huge amount here to make an existing iPad Air owner rush out and upgrade. Apple has reached the point where the basic iPad design is incredibly refined, and there are only so many ways you can change a thin aluminium rectangle without changing it simply for the sake of it. I have had this unit on my desk next to my M1 iPad Pro and, without stopping to inspect it, I can’t tell the difference.

When I reviewed the M2 Air, I commented on the difference in thickness between the Air and the iPad Pro. In reality, I've never found a millimetre here or there particularly important. I nearly always use my iPads in a Folio case, Magic Keyboard or drawing setup, so once the machine is in a case those tiny differences become largely irrelevant. Holding is in the hand at just over 600g is a pleasant experience and its doesn’t significantly heat up until you start doing video work. Then it needs to be in a case on a desk.

The 13-inch format remains one of my favourite things about this model for creative work. The larger canvas makes a real difference when you're drawing, sculpting or editing, particularly when an application such as ZBrush or Lumafusion that has toolbars, palettes and menus competing with your artwork for screen space.

The Liquid Retina display has a resolution of 2732 x 2048 pixels and Is almost the same as the iPad Pro and has been like that for a few models. It isn't the same display technology you'll find on the current iPad Pro and there's still no nano-texture glass or option That distinction matters more to me than the thickness of the device. Having used nano-texture glass on the Pro, reflections become much more noticeable when you return to a conventional glossy iPad screen.

For most users, though, this is still an excellent display. Colour reproduction is great from the 2D apps I tried, brightness is good considering the difference (600nits on the Air vs 1600nits on the HDR Pro) and the sheer size of the 13-inch panel makes it a very comfortable creative workspace.

Apple Pencil Pro support also means you get exactly the same pen experience as the higher end machines and that give you access to the barrel rolling and tap features which some 2D artists seem to like.

Performance

This is where things become considerably more interesting.

The previous 13-inch Air I reviewed used Apple's M2 chip with 8GB of RAM. That machine surprised me with just how far I could push it before I started running into limitations. The new model combines an 8-core M4 CPU with 12GB of unified memory. That means we're not simply looking at a newer processor. Apple has increased the memory from 8GB to 12GB, giving this Air 50% more unified memory than the M2 model I previously tested. That make a huge difference things like increased layer number in 2D programs or massively increasing your polygon count in sculpting programs.

For everyday use, that's largely overkill. You don't need an M4 processor and 12GB of memory for email, streaming and browsing. For creative applications, however, the extra headroom becomes much more interesting and for more professional users it is becoming a realistic option at the lower price point. I cannot see any different in performance when using Procreate on this device compared to my older iPad models (it's certainly heading to the best iPad for Procreate guide). The line work and painting are lag free and butter smooth.

One thing worth reiterating is that additional RAM doesn't automatically make every operation faster. The benefit becomes more apparent when applications start dealing with larger files, more layers, higher polygon counts or multiple applications competing for memory. I opened all kind of apps during the testing and left them all open as it made no difference to performance

The question isn't whether the M4 Air feels fast. It does. The more useful question is how long you can keep increasing the complexity of a project before the Air reminds you that it isn't an iPad Pro. I didn’t reach that point at any stage with 2D and 3D apps for the most part. There was some performance lag when I switch everything in the post processing tab (Realtime rendering) in Nomad Sculpt and I did feel the iPad heating up in my hands but not excessively.

iPad Air as a creative tool

This is the area that interests me most. For my previous M2 review, I stopped using my normal 16GB iPad Pro for a week and replaced it with the Air. I'm approaching this model in much the same way.

Drawing and painting aren't particularly difficult tasks for modern iPads, and even Apple's less expensive models can deliver an excellent experience. The more interesting tests come when you deliberately start pushing resolution, layers and memory.

PROCREATE

One of my tests on the M2 Air was creating a 10,000 x 10,000-pixel document in Procreate. With 8GB of RAM, the M2 Air allowed me a maximum of just six layers at that resolution and 12 moved that up to 9 layers which isn’t a huge jump but I don’t work with many 10kx10k 300dpi images. The painting, layer blending, text, selecting and most other functions were the same as every other iPad I’ve tried. It just worked.

I tested clip studio paint, Ibis paint, Procreate and some of the Adobe offerings and all worked perfectly as expected. 2D doesn’t push these machines now so my adive would be go into an Apple shop and test what you want the iPad for and you might be surprised at how good it is. Save the hard earned cash!

3D and digital sculpting

This is where I tend to separate iPads that are simply good tablets from machines I would actually consider using professionally. When I tested the M2 Air, its 8GB of RAM was sufficient to work comfortably with models running into millions of polygons. The limitations became more apparent once I started adding GPU-heavy features such as ambient occlusion, anti-aliasing and depth of field.

With 12GB available on the M4 Air, In Nomad Sculpt I was able to push some of my test models to 16 million polygons and still be able to fully sculpt and paint and some models were in the 20 Mill range. Getting anything to subdivide above that caused a few crashes but with careful poly count management it was never an issue. I didn’t find a layer limited in Nomad and although the machine ran hot with Post Processing turned on full it was never unmanageable. I would easily use this device for my professional sculpting work and apart from the occasional model that would be above that threshold it would work well for me.

VIDEO AND PHOTO EDITING

I edited a few 2k videos using Lumafusion with great results throughout. I tried a few different transitions, adding more audio, some colour grading and everything worked as expected with no issues or crashes. I’ve never found editing on mobile devices to be the best experience, but the iPad Air experience was no different than the iPad pro experience for me.

Playback was all smooth and import and expert functions despite its Air branding, this is a genuinely capable video-editing machine. It can import, play back and edit ProRes footage, making it perfectly viable for camera-based workflows in Final Cut Pro or DaVinci Resolve which are both available on the iPad. I didn’t have much time to review the editing capabilities but the content I created was enough to give me confidence with how it imported, handled and exported my media. Certainly more than capable for online social media content and much more. The previous M2 Air was already perfectly capable of editing video, but import and export were two areas where I could feel the difference compared with the higher-end iPad Pro. That’s fixed.

Geekbench scores

The Geekbench results show just how far the Air has moved since the M2 model I previously reviewed. I always test using Geekbench for comparisons.

The M4 Air returned a Geekbench6 single-core score of 3,712 and a multi-core score of 13,168. That's roughly a 42% increase in single-core performance and 44% increase in multi-core performance compared with the M2 Air figures from my previous review. Interestingly, the single-core result even edges ahead of the M4 iPad Pro I previously tested, although the Pro maintains an advantage in multi-core performance.

The missing part of this picture is GPU (Graphics) performance which is very important to most digital creatives. Metal is Apple's built-in software that helps apps talk directly to the graphics chip. The 'Metal score' simply tells you how fast that graphics chip can process visual data. The M4 Air returned a Metal score of 53,071, compared with 30,563 from the M2 Air and 53,252 from the M4 iPad Pro. Enough said!

For raw graphical performance, so anything game or rendering related this machine is capable. More than capable. Benchmarks never tell the whole story, particularly with creative applications, but these numbers demonstrate that the Air is no longer sitting several performance tiers below Apple's professional tablets. All machines are limited by their slowest component and that can lead to bottle necks. This doesn’t have a bottleneck that I have found for more use cases.

Should you buy it?

This is becoming an increasingly difficult question because the iPad Air keeps getting better. When I reviewed the M2 version, I described it as something of a sweet spot between cost and functionality. It was the first Air that made me seriously question whether many creative users actually needed an iPad Pro.

The M4 and 12GB of unified memory push that argument considerably further. If you're coming from an iPad before the M series you are going to be blown away. If you are coming from an older M1 or M2 Ipad Pro this is going to feel like your next Pro machine. If you know you need the full 16GB on the Pro range or the OLED glass is crucial to you then you know where to put your money. If you already own the M2 Air, however, the decision is more complicated. The M2 remains an extremely capable tablet and I personally don’t think there’s enough new tech to warrant that upgrade. They look identical!

For artists and illustrators and the wider creatives this is a very capable machine. Same for the newer crop of mobile 3D artists wanting to use ZBrush and Nomad Sculpt on the go and make it seamless with their desktop work. For photographers and video editors I’d say the same but power users may find it lacking with visually or for the longer larger edits. You may want that high refresh rate.

The other consideration is price. My review model is the Space grey, Wi-Fi + Cellular version with 1TB of storage space with an apple pencil. That’s on Apple Website today for £1699 inc VAT. Once you start increasing storage and adding accessories, it's important to compare the final price with an equivalent iPad Pro rather than simply looking at Apple's headline starting price. Considerably less than the Pro but let’s be honest, think of what you could get in the Windows PC world for that. It still isn’t an entry level price point and never will be.

The question I'd ask before spending the extra money on the Pro is simple. What does the Pro actually give you, that you're going to use? If you can’t answer it and you have checked what software you want to use then this is a very good offering. For some professional users, the answer will still justify the additional expense. For a growing number of creatives, however, the Air is becoming difficult to dismiss.

When first released, the Kiwi Ears KE4 were widely hailed as an affordable way into the "New Meta" sound profile: a newer tuning target that's more neutral and balanced than the long-standing Harman target, with fuller mids and less ear-piercing treble.

• Check out the best Prime Day headphone deals over at Amazon

Our reviewer gave the KE4 eight out of 10 when he revisited it at the end of 2025, praising its comfort, its non-fatiguing sound and, above all, its midrange. It also earned a spot on his list of the best IEMs under $500.

If you've been holding off on buying a pair, the price has dropped massively for Amazon Prime Day on both sides of the pond, from $199 to $159.20 in the US and from £184.99 to £147.99 in the UK.

At full price, it was a solid buy. At this Prime Day price, it's now seriously tempting. Check out the offers below. If you haven't already, be sure to sign up for Amazon Prime for the best savings.

Sound signature

The KE4's real party trick is its midrange. Vocals and instruments come through detailed, rich and natural, without being pushed so far forward that they sound boxy or thin. That's helped by Kiwi Ears' choice of components: a customised RAB balanced armature driver to blend the bass into the mids, and a Knowles tweeter to give the top end a natural, airy extension.

Then there's the bass. The KE4 uses an isobaric pair of 10mm dynamic drivers, which means there's plenty of thud in the low end. Some audiophile critics have found it a little boomy and lacking texture, and that's worth knowing if you want tight, analytical bass. But crucially, it never smothers those mids. The treble, meanwhile, takes the edge off bright recordings without losing the detail, making the KE4 a refreshingly non-fatiguing listen.

The KE4 is also easy to live with. Its 3D-printed resin shells are light and comfortable over long sessions, and with 28Ω impedance and 102dB sensitivity, it sounds great straight out of a laptop, so you don't need to invest in a fancy DAC/amp to get the best from it.

Kiwi Ears, the brand behind the KE4, is a small team of engineers that's built a strong reputation among musicians and audiophiles for hand-built IEMs that put sound quality ahead of marketing hype. If you've been waiting for the right moment to try one of its sets, this Prime Day deal is it.

It's safe to say I was already on board with the hype after seeing the spine-chilling trailer and movie posters for Resident Evil, but the film itself exceeded expectations. With immersive worldbuilding, a surprisingly hilarious script and a healthy dose of fan service, it's a treat for RE fans and horror buffs alike. Spoilers ahead if you haven't seen the film already – you have been warned.

The terrifying scene occurs when our protagonist, Bryan Hodukavich, is making his grand escape. Turning to face the nefarious farmhouse, he sees a series of disembodied limbs slowly creeping their way around the doorframe, prompting him to flee immediately. (Props to Cregger for finally making a realistic horror movie protagonist.)

A small but effortlessly creepy scene, it would be easy to assume it was created with VFX, but it turns out Cregger opted for practical effects for maximum terrifying realism. Behind-the-scenes shots from movement director Jakub Hudlický show how the scene was meticulously choreographed, resulting in a scene that's wonderfully uncanny and tense.

"I really thought that was CGI. So glad you guys did some practical effects," one fan praised. "Best shot in the movie," another wrote, while one admirer added that the scene was "one of the coolest shots of the movie and an insane standout in the trailer!"

As someone who's particularly fed up with CGI overuse in movies, I'm delighted that Cregger took the time to use practical effects throughout Resident Evil. Not only does the tactile filmmaking make for wonderfully creepy visuals, but the human graft behind the work makes it feel all the more special when watching.

For more movie news, check out fans' reactions to the Resident Evil logo or take a look at our review of Resident Evil Requiem.

Welcome to Day 2 of the Amazon Prime October sale. After a barren past few years, this event has been surprisingly bountiful for Switch deals, from consoles to games and accessories. As always, we'll be keeping an eye on the top deals, keeping our fingers crossed for more price slices.

Right now, UK folks can get the Switch 2 console for £419 £354.99 at Amazon, a record low for Nintendo's latest console. Also save on Bundle deals with Nintendo Switch 2 + Animal Crossing: New Horizons for £425 £399 at Currys.

Over in the US my top pick right now is the Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle for $549 at Amazon. (A bonus three months of Nintendo Switch Online really sweetens the deal).

Below you'll find quick links to our top Prime Day Switch deals, plus a live blog for instant updates on the hottest deals. Some of these deals might require a Prime membership, so if you're not signed up, you might want to make use of the 30-day free Prime trial .

• Browse Nintendo Switch at Amazon

US Prime Day Nintendo Switch Quick links

• Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle: $549 at Amazon
• Switch 2 Nintendo Switch Sports Resort bundle: $529 at Amazon
• Nintendo Switch games: up to 43% off at Amazon
• Resident Evil 2 Deluxe for Switch 2: 25% off preorders at Nintendo
• Renewed consoles: up to $30 off renewed Switch consoles at Amazon
• Resident Evil Requiem, Switch 2: 29% off at Amazon

UK Prime Day Nintendo Switch Quick links

• Switch 2 console: £419 £354.99 at Amazon LOW PRICE
• Switch 2 + Mario Kart World: £478.99 £414.94 at Amazon
• Switch 2 + Zelda Ocarina of time: £479.98 £409.98 at Amazon
• Switch 2 + Donkey Kong Bananza: £473.99 £443.99 at Very
• Switch 2 + Animal Crossing New Horizons: £425 £399 at Currys
• Nintendo Switch Games: Save up to 40% at Amazon
• Switch 2 Zelda Ocarina of Time: £5 off preorders at Amazon

Top US Prime Day Switch deals

Top UK Prime Day Switch deals

October 6, 2026 – 3:00 PM

The biggest Nintendo Switch Prime Day deals in percentage terms in the US are on these two games: Pokémon Legends: Z-A for Switch 2 and the Amazon-exclusive edition of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds for the original Switch.

Both have 43 per cent off.

Oh, an Best Buy has Mortal Kombat Legacy for Switch 2 at half price.

• Pokémon Legends: Z-A for Switch 2: $69.99 $39.99 at Amazon
• Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds for Switch: $34.99 419.99 at Amazon
• Mortal Kombat Legacy for Best Buy: $59.99 $29.99 at Best Buy