This Week The Trend (Issue 35)

How I’d spend $500: Roborock QV 35A

If you've been holding out for a sub-$500 robot vacuum and mop, the Roborock QV35A might be the ideal choice. The QV35A will avoid objects on the ground automatically using its LiDAR for mapping and navigation. It will lift its mop pads if it detects carpet. Its base station will automatically empty its dust bin and wash the pads, so you shouldn't need to mess with any cleaning items for weeks at a time.

Price: $400 (link)
Value Score: Great

The QV35A was a solid deal at its $650 retail price. Being $250 off during this sale makes it a great time to dive into a robot cleaning assistant.

How I’d spend $150: Sonos Roam 2

The Sonos Roam 2 is the company's most portable speaker. I'd argue it's small enough to pack on nearly every trip, from day trips to airplane rides. But it has a big enough sound to accommodate a patio, bedroom, or kitchen. The special thing about the Roam 2 is that it supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so it can work at home or on the road. It can also charge wirelessly by being set on a Qi charger.

Price: $ (link)
Value Score: Good

The Sonos Roam 2 retails for $179, so $40 off, down to $139, makes it much more competitive with other Bluetooth portable speakers right now. Plus, it has a few features that other speakers don't have.

How I’d spend $50: Apple: The First 50 Years by David Pogue

This 600-page retrospective may be the definitive history of Apple, uncovering all kinds of fascinating stories. For example, did you know that the iPod became a product because an Apple employee decided to visit Toshiba while in Japan? He saw Toshiba's new 1.8-inch hard drives that no PC makers wanted at the time and knew he could use them for a music player. Whether you feel like you have a grasp on the company or not, this is a book for anyone interested in one of the world's most important companies.

Price: $35 (link)
Value Score: Fair

The hardcover version of this book is already 26% off, down to $37. The physical book won't be for everyone—you can get the Kindle version for $20 and Audible for $9 per month to listen to it—but it does have 360 full-color images of rare and unseen products. This is probably the time to grab the book on a discount, cheaper than any other store I've seen, if you are interested in having it on your shelf.

The winning pick: Sonos Roam 2

I think most people will be impressed by how big the Roam 2 sounds. It's a great travel speaker for vacations or just taking to the park. This $140 sale price makes it very competitive, considering it has Qi charging and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Are you looking for even more picks this week? Here are a few things worth considering.

An expensive pick: BenQ MA270S 5K monitor

The newest BenQ 5K monitor can work for any computer, but it uses the same 5,120 x 2,880 resolution as Apple's Studio Display with Mac-specific tuning and a wide P3 gamut. Going this route, instead of a Studio Display, will save you $600. Plus, this monitor comes with an adjustable stand.

Price: $999 (link)

Media pick: Dune: Part Three

Each Dune movie has been excellent, and this one seems no different. Director Denis Villeneuve has been able to take a galactic-sized story and make it feel personal and intimate. He's also been able to use amazing imagery to give the movies a distinct emotional connection. So, as good as Dune: Part Three looks like it will be, it also makes me excited about what he'll do with the forthcoming Bond 26 movie.

This week's other interesting deals and product news

• Sony's new WH-1000XM6 headphones are on sale for $398, $60 off.
• The Xbox controller is on 33% off, down to $43.
• Hermes now sells a leather Apple Watch and iPhone charger in a case for $5,150.
• The Motorola Razr+ (2025) is down to $399 for the next few days, down from $999.
• The Tron: Ares soundtrack on vinyl is down to $23—down to $20 with the Amazon coupon code.
• Amazon's Spring Sale starts March 25.

This week's published stories

• Review: Sony LX3BT record player [Business Insider]
• Review: Nothing Phone 4a Pro [How-To Geek]
• Review: Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro [How-To Geek]
• Hands-on: IKEA Varmblixt donut light [Yahoo]
• Hands-on: Selfix selfie case [Yahoo]
• Is the MacBook Neo too slow? Let's look at it differently [Yahoo]

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