The Buying Game (Issue 2)

This week's deals and picks include a Bose speaker, Lego set, fancy camera, and more.

Tyler H

13 Jun 2025 — 4 min read

TL;DR: This is a weekly commerce post that highlights three products worth buying, each within a different price category. Each pick is given a score and the best pick based on value wins.

Happening this week:

New Apple hardware is coming, just not yet. For now, we'll have to settle for a peek at the new software. Personally, I'm most excited by the improvements coming to the iPad. You can check out all the other new features, like live translation and a glassy redesign, coming to your iPhone and Apple Watch on Apple's site.
Logitech announced a Flip Folio for $179. I've tried this iPad cover/keyboard combo and it's clever. But I also think it feels a bit flimsy and clunky to actually use.
MLB.TV is having a sale and the streaming service is now $59 for the rest of the year—more than half the season to go. As a heads up, this includes access to watch all the games, except for the ones in your location. It's still a great deal, but if you want your local games, you'll need a different viewing package.
The Beats Pill is on sale for $80 (with an extended warranty) at Costco. This deal is available for online order, even if you don't have a membership. This was a tempting pick for the $150 category because it's a solid portable speaker and it's about $70 off of its retail price and $20 cheaper than I've seen it before.
Talking about speakers, I reviewed the Marshall Woburn III. It's big. It's loud. And it's jam-packed with connectivity options, including an HDMI port to use with a TV.

How I’d spend $500: Bose SoundLink Plus

Bigger than the Bose SoundLink Flex and smaller than the SoundLink Max, the new Plus speaker might be the Goldilocks option in the Bluetooth speaker lineup for Bose. It's available for pre-order now. I've tried it and it sounds big and full, but is still mostly portable enough to bring in the car and places around town.

Price: $269 (link)
Score: 6/10

This speaker isn't the best value at full price, but Bose speakers usually go on sale at various times. It also has a USB-C port in the back that can charge your phone in a pinch.

How I’d spend $150: LEGO Icons Sherlock Holmes: Book Nook

It's a Sherlock Holmes Lego set, but it also folds up to look like a book, so it can be stored on your bookshelf. Best of all, this Lego set about a book, shaped as a book, is being sold exclusively through a bookstore—Barnes and Noble. Personally, I like the cohesive theme. (h/t: Eric Smith)

Price: $129.99 (link)
Score: 6/10

Lego sets aren't cheap. This one? No exception.

How I’d spend $50: Sidekick Pocket (2 pack)

Small, pocket-sized notebooks that fold horizontally are fine, but I really like the ones that fold vertically. The Sidekick Pocket does that, in addition to its other thoughtfully designed aspects. It's available in three styles: dot grid, lined, or to-do.

Price: $30 (link)
Score: 6/10

These notebooks feel high quality, if that's important to you. For example, even after keeping the top cover folded over the back for several weeks, I was still able to fold it back and it popped back into place, mostly sitting flat again.

An expensive pick: Fujifilm X-E5

Although announced this week, thankfully, the X-E5 isn't available to buy just yet. I don't need the pricey temptation it offers. Fuji is positioning this new model as the interchangeable lens counterpart to the popular X100VI. So, if you want the sensor, features, and stylings of the fixed lens camera, but don't want to be trapped at its focal lengths, then this $1,699 camera (body only) is probably for you. It adds a film simulation dial, too, which is fun. If you want the 23mm f/2.8 lens kit, that retails for $1,899.