The best cheap MacBook Pro deal prices and sales in March 2019

Welcome to the home of the best cheap MacBook Pro prices. Here at TechRadar, we check around for the cheapest MacBook Pro deals in the sales every day at the top retailers on the net. So you’re certainly in the right place to save money on your new Apple laptop. Better yet, we’ve just updated our guide with the latest models. We’ve still included the earlier models, as some of them are a lot cheaper. 

The MacBook Pro has become the go to laptop range for professionals and enthusiasts alike, absolutely powering through tasks regular laptops fear. Apple’s staggering lineup of Retina screens lead the way for crisp visuals and the increasingly excellent physical design of the laptops themselves has seen the latest MacBook Pro usurp the svelte form of the MacBook Air. You want the best there is, but there’s no reason to pay more than you should for it. If you want to save some money you could check out the other non-Pro MacBook deals or maybe even a standard cheap laptop deal.

macbook pro 13-inch 2018 deals best price sales deals

MacBook Pro (2018) prices (13-inch)

The best MacBook Pro ever made

CPU: Quad-core Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch, (2,560 x 1,600) IPS | Storage: 128GB – 2TB PCIe 3.0 SSD | Touch Bar: Yes

The 2018 version of the 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro is the best yet, comes with the Touch Bar as standard and features a range of improvements over the older models. The screen resolution may be the same with the excellent Retina display, but now there’s True Tone technology inside that senses ambient lighting in the room or outdoors to adjust the brightness of the screen for the best possible picture. The keyboard is quieter and less ‘clicky’ too. You’re getting the brand new 8th-gen Coffee Lake core processor and the quad-core CPUs have doubled the performance of the 2017 models. With more options for larger RAM too, options really open up for creatives and professionals with the MacBook Pro 2018.

apple macbook pro 15-inch 2018 deals prices sales

MacBook Pro (2018) prices (15-inch)

The most powerful full-sized MacBook Pro

CPU: Six-core Intel Core i7 – i9 | Graphics: Radeon Pro 555X with 4GB GDDR5 | RAM: 16GB – 32GB | Screen: 15.4-inch, (2880 x 1800) IPS | Storage: 256GB – 4TB PCIe 3.0 SSD | Touch Bar: Yes

The larger 15-inch version of the 2018 MacBook Pro with the Touch Bar is generally going to cost a fair bit more than the 13-inch model, but that’s not just because of the larger screen. This model packs a lot more under the hood too, with Apple providing multiple options with increased RAM, extra processing power with a six core Coffee Lake processor and larger SSD storage options. Naturally, you’re getting the same improvements over the 2017 version too like the True Tone screen technology and quieter keyboard. This really is a powerhouse laptop for designers and industry creatives. If you don’t need all the power though, we’d consider the cheaper 13-inch model, or maybe even one of the older versions found below if the prices are right for you.

The best Macbook Pro with Touch Bar (2017) prices

2017 update: The 2017 lineup has recently been released too. The newer models aren’t a massive upgrade over the 2016 lineup. Actually the -admittedly still excellent- retina display and overall size are the same. If you’re looking for increased performance, you’re in luck as the new models have been upgraded to include the 7th-gen Kaby Lake processor chips for enhanced 4K streaming and media editing.

The new 2017 MacBook Pros will eventually phase out the older models, which means you’ll more than likely be able to snag a cheap MacBook Pro deal on the older laptops.

The best Macbook Pro with Touch Bar (2016) sales prices

A touch above the rest?

CPU: Intel Core i5 or i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Graphics 550 / AMD Radeon Pro 450 – 460 | RAM: 8GB-16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch Retina (2560 x 1600) / 15.4-inch Retina (2880 x 1800) LED-backlit IPS | Storage: Up to 2TB PCIe SSD

Terrific display
Loud and clear speakers
Innovative touchbar

2016 was crying out for a refresh of the MacBook Pro and Apple once again come up with something rather special. In addition to the internal spec getting a long awaited upgrade and that gorgeous Retina display (available in 13-inch and 15-inch flavours), Apple has introduced their long-rumoured Touch Bar technology. This mini-LED display replaces the Function keys and comes up with different touch display controls for an increasing number of programs. Uses so far include Safari bookmarks, predictive text, search field, emojis, photo galleries or even more intensive actions like photo editing or mixing records. Simple, yet innovative. Expect rival firms to start copying it soon.

MacBook Pro 13-inch (2016) – no Touch Bar

The new 2016 model is a MacBook Air rival with Pro spec

CPU: Intel Core i5 or i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Graphics 540 | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 13.3-inch Retina (2560 x 1600) LED-backlit IPS | Storage: Up to 1TB SSD

The lightest MacBook Pro ever made
Excellent performance
Cheapest of the new lineup

This new 13-inch MacBook Pro is the cheapest way to get your hands on one of Apple’s latest laptops, released in late 2016. This is the lightest MacBook Pro ever made, but still packs an incredible punch with 2.0GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 or 2.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i7 processor options. You don’t get the new Touch Bar on this version, but you do get a Retina display and the new larger trackpad. Prices start around $1,499/£1,449/AU$2,199. Stay updated on the latest prices in the comparison chart below.

MacBook Pro 13-inch – no Touch Bar (2017)

2017 update: Just like the aforementioned Touch Bar models, the screen and shape are unchanged since the 2016 models. You are getting the new Kaby Lake 7th-gen processor though. 

2016’s lineup was very expensive, which is why we’re delighted to see that Apple has released an even cheaper 13-inch model for an entry-level, but still very modern, MacBook Pro experience. This does come at the cost of a smaller storage capacity though, with the cheapest options including a 128GB SSD instead of 256GB.

These new 2017 models will start to phase out some of the older ones, so keep an eye on our comparison charts as we expect to see some tasty discounts on the 2016 crew as retailers make way for the new breed.

MacBook Pro 13-inch with Retina display (early 2015) deals

One of the fastest small MacBook Pros is still a force of nature

CPU: Intel Core i5 | Graphics: Intel Iris Graphics 6100 | RAM: 8GB-16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch Retina (2560 x 1600) | Storage: Up to 1TB PCIe-based flash storage

Improved battery
Cheaper than new models

The 2015 MacBook Pro didn’t undergo a dramatic reimagining, but then there wasn’t anything particularly wrong with it in the first place. Improvements to its performance mean it’s better value than before, and the noticeably improved battery life makes it even more of a mobile workhorse. As ever the cost of adding memory and storage soon sends the price tag into orbit, but even the stock MacBook Pro is an incredibly versatile computer and arguably Apple’s best ever laptop. Newer MacBooks may be more portable, but the Pro has all the power. 

MacBook Pro 15-inch with Retina display (2015) deals

Looking for something a bit bigger?

CPU: Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Graphics | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 15.4-inch Retina (2880 x 1800) LED-backlit IPS | Storage: Up to 1TB PCIe SSD

Retina display
Thunderbolt 2 ports
Faster processors

If you’re looking for the larger-sized laptop experience in the MacBook range, you’ll be wanting to take a look at the seriously impressive specs of the 2015 model 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display. The Intel Core i7 2.5 Ghz processor combined with 16GB of RAM will make light work of anything you can throw at it. 512GB of super fast flash storage, a new Force Touch trackpad and that incredible four million pixel-packing display make this one of the best laptops in the business.

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The best cheap MacBook sale prices and deals in March 2019

If you’re looking for the best cheap MacBook sale prices, you’ve come to the right place, as we’ve just updated our guide with the latest models. The decision of whether or not you should pick up a new MacBook is an easy one: does it play to your strengths? Maybe you need the lightest and most portable macOS machine out there today, one with good battery life. Or, maybe you just don’t like Windows? Whatever your reason, there are plenty of deals out there to help you save on a MacBook deal.

Our exclusive price comparison tool will check the price of every readily available model of MacBook on all major retail websites, so you can be sure you’re always getting the best MacBook deal. We’ve stopped comparing MacBook prices on some older models if they’re not widely available or if they generally cost more than newer versions despite the dated tech inside. All you need to do now is work out whether it’s a MacBook, a MacBook Pro or a MacBook Air that you want. We’ll help though.

If you’re not quite set on a MacBook (they are rather pricey), then we have some alternative options for you, along with the best prices. Take a look at our selection of best laptops for other top performing machines or our cheap laptop deals for solid buys that won’t break the bank as we search for great prices all year round. If the freshest MacBook prices are what you’re after though, you’ll find them all below.

macbook pro 13-inch 2018 deals best price

The best MacBook Pro (2018) prices (13-inch)

The best MacBook Pro ever made

SPECIFICATIONS

CPU: Quad-core Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch, (2,560 x 1,600) IPS | Storage: 128GB – 2TB PCIe 3.0 SSD | Touch Bar: Yes

The 2018 version of the 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro is the best yet, comes with the Touch Bar as standard and features a range of improvements over the older models. The screen resolution may be the same with the excellent Retina display, but now there’s True Tone technology inside that senses ambient lighting in the room or outdoors to adjust the brightness of the screen for the best possible picture. The keyboard is quieter and less ‘clicky’ too. You’re getting the brand new 8th-gen Coffee Lake core processor and the quad-core CPUs have doubled the performance of the 2017 models. With more options for larger RAM too, options really open up for creatives and professionals with the MacBook Pro 2018.

apple macbook pro 15-inch 2018 deals

The best MacBook Pro (2018) prices (15-inch)

The most powerful full-sized MacBook Pro

SPECIFICATIONS

CPU: Six-core Intel Core i7 – i9 | Graphics: Radeon Pro 555X with 4GB GDDR5 | RAM: 16GB – 32GB | Screen: 15.4-inch, (2880 x 1800) IPS | Storage: 256GB – 4TB PCIe 3.0 SSD | Touch Bar: Yes

The larger 15-inch version of the 2018 MacBook Pro with the Touch Bar is generally going to cost a fair bit more than the 13-inch model, but that’s not just because of the larger screen. This model packs a lot more under the hood too, with Apple providing multiple options with increased RAM, extra processing power with a six core Coffee Lake processor and larger SSD storage options. Naturally, you’re getting the same improvements over the 2017 version too like the True Tone screen technology and quieter keyboard. This really is a powerhouse laptop for designers and industry creatives. If you don’t need all the power though, we’d consider the cheaper 13-inch model, or maybe even one of the older versions found below if the prices are right for you.

The cheapest MacBook Air (2017) sale prices

The MacBook Air series is making a comeback

We have to admit, we thought Apple was done with the MacBook Air line after the new Pro lineup was just as compact and almost as light. Apple has given the 13-inch MacBook Air its first update since 2015 though. This means you can now get a much healthier 8GB of RAM instead of 4GB along with a processor upgrade to 1.8GHz (over 1.6GHz) making it much better at multi-tasking. Older MacBook Air stock is gradually disappearing from retailers now although prices have been stubbornly high even on refurbs. In all honesty, you’re getting much better value by opting for this modern version instead.

The cheapest Macbook (2017) prices

The Kaby Lake upgrade you’ve been waiting for?

The screen and compact dimensions on the 2017 MacBook are the same as the 2016 edition. But if you’re weighing up the actual differences between the new 2017 and 2016 MacBooks, here are some key points to consider. You’re now getting the 7th-gen Kaby Lake processors with i5 and i7 options now available. 2015 MacBook owners are more likely to appreciate the improvements really. The prices we’re seeing lately though aren’t that much more expensive than the 2016 models.

MacBook Pro (2017) 13 and 15-inch deals (with Touch Bar)  

A touch above the rest?

The 2017 updates to the MacBook Pro lineup didn’t change an awful lot in all honesty. The main improvement was the upgrade to Kaby Lake processors. The 7th-gen chips offer increased performance for 4K streaming and media editing. Eventually the 2016 versions will disappear at most retailers, but it’s worth keeping an eye on the comparison chart below to see if there any are discounted models lingering around.

MacBook Pro (2016) 13 and 15-inch deals (with Touch Bar) 

2016 was crying out for a refresh of the MacBook Pro and Apple once again came up with something rather special. In addition to the internal spec getting a long awaited upgrade and that gorgeous Retina display (available in 13-inch and 15-inch flavours), Apple introduced its long-rumoured Touch Bar technology. This mini-LED display replaces the Function keys and comes up with different touch display controls for loads of different programs. Uses so far include safari bookmarks, predictive text, search field, emojis, photo galleries or even more intensive actions like photo editing or mixing records. Simple, yet innovative.

2017/2016 MacBook Pro 13-inch deals (no Touch Bar)

The 2016 and 2017 models are MacBook Air rivals with Pro spec

The older 13-inch MacBook Pros are amongst the cheaper options if you want to go Pro. These versions don’t come with a Touch Bar which is something to factor in when comparing how much you’ll save versus the added functionality the new tech could add to your work and computing life in general.

These are incredibly light for MacBook Pros, but they still pack an incredible punch with 2.3GHz (2.0GHz on the 2016 model) and dual core processors ranging from i5 to i7. The trackpads are larger than older MacBook Pros too and you’re getting fantastic Retina displays which still look stunning today.

The best cheap Macbook (2016) sale prices

If you decide that Apple’s mini marvel is for you, you’re getting one of the best Macbooks Apple’s ever made. With faster internals than the outdated 2015 model , it’s capable of zipping through lesser-demanding tasks without complaining and leaves you with more confidence to get the job done. Plus, well, look at it.

cheap macbook deals

MacBook Pro 13-inch with Retina display (2015) deals

The older and smaller MacBook Pro is still a force of nature

The 2015 MacBook Pro didn’t undergo a dramatic reimagining, but then there wasn’t anything particularly wrong with it in the first place. Improvements to its performance meant it was better value than before, and the noticeably improved battery life makes it even more of a mobile workhorse.

MacBook Pro 15-inch with Retina display (2015) deals

Looking for something a bit bigger?

If you’re looking for the larger-sized laptop experience in the MacBook range, the 2015 model 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display is still an impressive piece of kit and arguably worth a shout even today if you can get a good price. The Intel Core i7 2.5 GHz processor combined with 16GB of RAM will make light work of anything you can throw at it. 512GB of super fast flash storage, a new Force Touch trackpad and that incredible four million pixel-packing display make this a fantastic laptop.

Why not upgrade your storage with a cheap hard drive or SSD? See the best hard drive and SSD deals.

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We adore Edifier’s beautiful, rich-sounding speakers, and today they’re cheaper than ever

A killer home sound system can elevate your personal audio to studio-quality levels. And today, you can get one of our favorite top-of-class home speaker sets for its lowest price ever. The Edifier S2000 Pro is $320 today on Amazon, a huge drop from a list price of $500.

These sleek, wood-sided speakers bring a sweet design to their excellent sound quality. On that note, that sound is made possible by a fast-responding flat diaphragm and aluminum woofers. You can also customize your sound for any listening situation using four EQ settings, and control modes, volumes, inputs, and more with the included remote. These beauties punch way above their weight class.

We love these speakers, awarding them with a stellar 4.5 stars out of 5 rating and a rare Editors’ Choice award in our review. Our tester praised the Edifier S200 Pro’s attractive design, top-notch sound quality, many input options, and great value—and that’s before this discount made them an even more excellent value. Don’t miss out.

[Today’s deal: Edifier S200 Pro speakers for $320 on Amazon.]

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The best Amazon Fire TV deals, prices and sales in March 2019

Ready to make your TV smarter than it has ever been by adding streaming capabilities? An Amazon Fire TV device is one of the best solutions.

There’s the hands-free Cube, a powerful streamer box, and cheaper streaming sticks. All offer access to thousands of apps and games, and almost every streaming service you could want. Amazon has just released its own DVR called the Fire TV Recast too.

We’ve tracked down the top Amazon Fire TV prices for all of the devices to avoid you getting burned by a bum deal. You may be surprised by how little these exceptionally versatile little gadgets cost.

But why choose an Amazon Fire TV over something like a Roku? Many like the simple interface of Roku, but Amazon lets you play with far more apps and games because it’s based on Android. The Fire TV in particular can feel a little like a casual game console, if you want it to. Like Roku’s top-tier player, both the Amazon Fire TV Cube and new Fire TV Stick offer full 4K resolution.

  • If Roku sounds like a better fit for you, then check out our Roku deals

For anyone tied into the Amazon ecosphere of products, either the Amazon Fire TV Cube, Fire TV, or Fire TV Stick would make the perfect center for your smart homes. With Alexa built-in, they can talk to devices like the Samsung SmartThings Hub and Nest Thermostats, allowing you to command your smart home using your Fire TV remote. 

But you knew all of that already. That’s why you’re here looking for the best deal on an Amazon Fire TV device. Well, you’ve come to the right place. 

Here are the best Amazon Fire TV deals we’ve found today: 

cheap fire tv recast price deals

Fire TV Recast

Seagate SkyHawk 14TB hard drive review: Fast, surveillance-optimized storage

Ever in the pursuit of top performance, Seagate has recently released the $510 SkyHawk and announced the SkyHawk AI 14TB drives. These employ the same basic technology found on the the IronWolf, IronWolf Pro, Barracuda, and Barracuda Pro, but are optimized for heavy-duty surveillance work where multiple cameras (up to a whopping 64, though frame rates weren’t mentioned) are streaming to the hard drive. The goal being to drop nary a frame. One would hope. 

Design, specs, and AI

The SkyHawk is a 3.5-inch, SATA 3 (6Gbps) hard drive with eight spinning platters and the accompanying read-write heads. It uses parallel magnetic recording and sports 256MB of DRAM cache. The plain version is warrantied for three years of full 24/7 use, while the AI version is guaranteed for five years.

skyhawk mo b 14tb dm001 open Seagate

This Skyhawk is tk

Average power draw during operation is 5 watts, and 3.4 watts when idle. Rotational vibration sensors allow the drive to compensate for the rumblings of up to 16 other drives in an array.

Seagate also touts something called ImagePerfect firmware. According to the press release, it’s a mult-tier/level caching technique tweaked for the average NVR (Network Video Recorder) workload. Okay.

According to Seagate, ImagePerfect also supports larger cache sizes, but the SkyHawk’s 256MB capacity is the same as the IronWolf’s and Barracuda Pro’s. There’s also the fact that optimizing for video goes out the window when you put the SkyHawk into an array (RAID 0, RAID 5, etc.), where not all data is written to the same drive. As a single drive, or mirrored array, you might see some benefit.

As mentioned, according to Seagate the standard SkyHawk 14TB drive supports up to 64 cameras (depending on the resolution of the video) while the AI version additionally supports 8 AI channels (16 streams). AI streams contain information about pattern recognition performed on the video. As to Artificial Intelligence… Simple pattern recognition of faces, automobiles, license plates, and what-have-you, which is what we’re talking about, is not AI. AI just sounds sexier. See the ’80’s movie Short Circuit for the classic definition of AI, or the mimicking in total of the human mind.

Performance

We do not have the setup to truly stress a hard drive with 64 cameras, so we stuck with our usual methods: CrystalDiskMark, AS SSD (seek times and sustained throughput only), as well as 48GB real-world copy tests. In those, the SkyHawk closely tracks the performance of Seagate’s Barracuda Pro but falls slightly short of the company’s IronWolf. 

skyhawk cdm 6 IDG

Though the IronWolf proved consistently the fastest of the Seagate 14TB drives, it’s a marginal victory over the SkyHawk and Barracuda Pro in sustained throughput.

The IronWolf is only a few MBps faster than the SkyHawk according to CrystalDiskMark 6, though it maintains a consistent two-percent advantage across all the throughput tests. 

The key digital trends in banking for 2019

Banks across the globe have begun their digital transformation journeys and this year we will see financial institutions focus on how to accelerate those journeys. According to Infosys Finacle’s latest Digital Trends in Banking Report, Open Banking and API-led business models will play a key role.

To better understand the trends laid out in its report, TechRadar Pro spoke with the company’s Global Head, Sanat Rao.

What is the background to the Digital Trends in Banking Report?

The report is a reflection of Infosys Finacle’s experience of working with banks in over 100 countries; each year the Digital Trends report aims to inform business and technology leaders about the direction of the industry. The Digital Trends report has been created in collaboration with The Banking Visionaries’ Council.

Over the past ten years, banks have had to deal with extraordinary changes and shifting priorities – from restoring trust and meeting capital requirements to the emergence of new channels and devices, and more recently the rise of ecosystem-led business models. Thanks to the rapid evolution of digital technologies, the change has been rather exponential over the past few years.

Surviving and thriving in these times requires banks to be extremely responsive to market changes and customer expectations. The Digital Trends report sets out to help banks do just that at the beginning of every year. An agile customer-centric business needs the right technology foundation and enablers to capitalise on opportunities and minimise threats amid new digital realities. So the report features not only business transformation trends but also technology trends, to help banks make the trade-offs and choices right for the unique needs of their business.

How long has Finacle worked with the Banking Visionaries’ Council?

Infosys Finacle formed the council in January 2017. Today, the council’s members include over 20 distinguished banking and technology practitioners. The council has discussed some of the most pressing challenges and transformational trends in the industry.

The council has developed actionable points-of-view on topics such as the platform business model in banking, AI powered banking, banking on public cloud, and digitisation of corporate and SME banking. The council benefits from the body of experience of its members and creates value through exchange of varied industry perspectives. The members come together once every month and discuss one industry topic every quarter.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Image Credit: Shutterstock

(Image: © Image Credit: Zapp2Photo / Shutterstock)

The report identifies 6 key tech trends. In your opinion, which is the most exciting and why?

The right technology enablers are extremely crucial for a business to flourish. That makes enabling technologies such as cloud, APIs, and blockchain exceedingly important and essential for any business. And these technologies are evolving rapidly. The agility, scale and speed of innovation that today’s realities demand cannot be achieved without the cloud. APIs are central to any ecosystem, whilst blockchain has brought in a level of transparency and immutability never seen before.

Having said that, emerging technologies such as AI, IoT and AR promise sci-fi like experiences. In fact, today these experiences lie more on the reality side of the evolution continuum which makes them exciting to watch and imperative to adopt. The report presents interesting use cases that are likely to take shape as early as December 2019. Banks are already using AI across their front, middle and back offices, and its applications will continue to make banking more customer-centric, immersive and yet invisible over the years to come. The confluence of AI, analytics, the Internet-of-Things, and AR will only compound and accelerate the ubiquity of banking. Scenarios such as our refrigerator ordering and purchasing groceries without any human intervention or such as those depicted in the movie “Her” are closer to reality than fantasy. Soon you will have visually interactive avatars of chatbots or AI.

As attractive as the above scenarios seem, achieving these requires a technological foundation that allows every application to deliver the value it is intended for and embraces the principles of deep business focus, comprehensive analytics, agnosticism, and automation-by-design. The technology trend of architectural evolution sums this up wonderfully and I would be remiss if I did not emphasise the importance of modern architecture.

The report also identifies 6 key business trends. In your opinion, which is the most exciting and why?

Again, I cannot single out a business trend, since ecosystem-led platform business models are changing the very business of banking as we know it, reimagining and digitising customer journeys is making unprecedented experiences possible, open banking is unlocking new value with data-sharing but also increasing security and privacy challenges. The organisational culture at banks is in for some exciting transformation as GenZ hits the workforce and new digital realities unfold.

These are truly exciting times for the industry.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Image Credit: Shutterstock

(Image: © Image Credit: Wichy / Shutterstock)

How have banks changed their views on technology over the recent years?

It’s no secret that the heavily regulated and data-intensive industry of banking has largely lagged behind other industries when it comes to the adoption of digital technologies. And although banks have integrated new digital channels and functionalities over the last few years, they have taken a fragmented approach of incremental and peripheral changes to their legacy technology estates. This has led to unnecessary accumulation of technical debt over the years.

However, now there is a spreading recognition among banks of a truly digital transformation as opposed to transformation in pockets. Nearly all banks, large and small, leading and progressive, have embarked on a truly digital strategy.

This qualifies as the most evident as well as the most critical change in banks’ views about technology and transformation.

In terms of the tech trends identified, do you think banks will be open to these changes and the potential benefits they will bring?

I am highly positive of the willingness and openness on the part of banks. Banks are readily adopting emerging technologies and technology-led business models. Technologies such as AI and automation have found wide application already; cloud, analytics and blockchain continue to power new realities; and IoT and AR look set to revolutionise experiences.

Most importantly, the recognition of the need for digital transformation lends evidentiary support to the belief that banks are willing to embrace digital and tap into the fresh opportunities in the future. Not only advantages and benefits, banks are acutely aware of the new threats new digital technologies might bring in, and are trying to pre-empt malicious exposure with sophisticated techniques of defence.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Image Credit: Shutterstock

(Image: © Image Credit: Shutterstock)

When implementing these new technologies, what do you think the main challenges will be for challenger banks?

The absence of a global standard for APIs is a key challenge for banks, leaders and challengers alike. Today, every country has a different regulatory mandate for open sharing of data and APIs, and the status-quo is likely to continue for some time. This inhibits innovation and growth.

A key challenge for challenger banks will be finding and participating in the right ecosystems. As banking opens up fully, banks would have to differentiate by either being a consumer-centric marketplace, be an efficient supplier of banking products, or become an efficient distributor. Almost all small and medium-sized banks, who have largely been fast-followers so far, may potentially go through a crisis of identity in the new world since API-led network-gains will mostly head towards top banks with the highest distribution reach.

Additionally, in the open world where price is not a competitive differentiator, data is the currency banks trade in. Not being part of the right ecosystems – be it a blockchain network or other diverse ecosystems – can put banks at a massive disadvantage.

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Attention enthusiasts: Amazon is blowing out the Razer Phone 2 for $500, a massive $300 discount

If you’re looking for a true gaming phone with RGB lighting, an ultra-fast display, and custom cooling, you have precious few options. And by the end of this year they may be even less: Rumor has it that Razer has ditched plans to develop a Razer Phone 3, the follow-up to last year’s Android powerhouse built for gaming. So if you want one, you should jump on this deal as quickly as possible.

Amazon has knocked $300 off the price of the Razer Phone 2,Remove non-product link beating the previous low by well over $100. That tells me that the handset might not be long for this world.

At $800, the Razer Phone 2 might not be the best option, but at $500 it’s an easy recommendation. The premier feature is its 120Hz Ultramotion Quad HD display, making it one of the fastest you can buy. Traditional smartphone screens have a 60Hz refresh rate, so the Razer Phone 2 refreshes and scrolls twice as fast as an iPhone or Galaxy phone. Additionally, it has a Snapdragon 845 processor, 8GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, wireless charging, and IP67 water resistance.

It’s also got stereo front-firing speakers with Dolby Atmos support, vapor chamber cooling, and Razer Chroma built in, so you can light up the Razer snake logo on the back with millions of color options. One thing it’s missing is a headphone jack, though you do get an adapter in the box

While a Razer Phone 3 might never come to pass, the company says it is “committed to supporting (Razer Phone 2) with the latest updates and features.” In fact, you’ll even be able to upgrade to Android 9 Pie with adaptive battery and gesture navigation via an update that just landed this week. We’re big fans of the Razer Phone 2, giving it 4 stars out of 5 and praising its gamer-focused features and near-stock version of Android.

[Today’s deal: Razer Phone 2 for $500 at AmazonRemove non-product link ]

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