If you're in the market for a new iPhone, checking the prices at Apple's site might not fill you with joy. While the iPhone SE offers an affordable option, it doesn't have all of the features of its edge-to-edge counterparts.

Thankfully, this limited-time sale at Woot offers the recent iPhone XS Max from just $699.99. Unlike a lot of Woot deals, these devices are offered brand new with a 1-year Apple warranty so the only thing you're missing out on is paying full price. Considering today's prices at Woot are as much as $200 less than a refurbished model at Apple, it would be wise not to pass on these iPhone deals.

Introduced in 2018, the iPhone XS Max features a 6.5-inch Super Retina edge-to-edge OLED display with Face ID, stainless steel and glass construction, and A12 Bionic processor. It has a dual rear camera set up for Portrait Mode photography and TrueDepth front-facing camera and sensor array for Portrait selfies and Animoji, too. We put the iPhone XS Max through its paces and praised improved camera and speedy performance.

You can choose from 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB capacities with space gray, gold, and silver colors on offer. The deals are good for today only or while supplies last, so be sure to act fast to avoid missing out on the phone you want.

Woot charges $6 per order for shipping, though you can snag free shipping there by logging in with an Amazon Prime account before checking out. If you've never been a Prime member before, you can start a free 30-day trial to score free shipping at Woot and Amzon, along with access to all of Prime's perks like the Prime Video streaming service, exclusive members-only discounts, and more.

You've picked out the iPhone XS Max, which is still a great phone (despite being previous-gen) with a big beautiful screen that you will no doubt want to protect. However, before you unbox that beauty, you'll want to make sure you have a case in hand. Here, we've rounded up the best of the cases available for this big beauty of a phone.

Find the perfect case for your iPhone XS Max

You don't want that gorgeous and expensive new phone to go unprotected, even for a minute. Pick up one of these cases and keep that iPhone XS Max pristine with options like the Torras Thin Case. It's both protective and minimal, adding little to no bulk to your iPhone XS Max which is terrific considering it's already the biggest iPhone yet.

If you wanted something even more rugged, the tried and true OtterBox SYMMETRY SERIES is designed to keep your iPhone protected and secure. The cases come in a variety of designs, colours, patterns. Plus, the Symmetry Series offers heavy-duty protection without the bulk of the Defender Series, and it is relatively easy to care for and maintain. And if you change cases often, then it's pretty easy to remove too.

What you need to know

• Apple's iPhones depreciate more slowly than other phones.
• Sony Android phones depreciate particularly badly.
• LG phones don't perform much better.

There has long been a belief that iPhones depciate more slowly than competing flagship products and now new data from SellCell (via Apple Must) backs that up.

That data covers five of the top US smartphone brands and then looks at their flagship devices over the last year or so. It then compares their original selling price to how much they can be traded in for today. The depreciation is then calculated and the table speaks for itself.

Apple's iPhone XS Max sold for $1099 in September of 2018 and can now be traded in for $580. That's a depreciation of 47.2%. But when you compare that with Galaxy Note 9 which sold for $1000 a month earlier, things don't look great for Samsung. It's now worth just $321 which means a depciation of a massive 67.8%.

Sony's XZ2 and XZ2 Premium fare even worse, and LG isn't far behind. If you're buying an Android phone and want it to hold its value you're best looking at the Pixels or the Samsung phones. Google's Pixel 3 line saw its value fall around 69% which is still a lot. But it's also a lot better than most other Android phones.

Read more comics from The Pixel Project.

British accessory maker Snakehive offers this handmade, full-grain nubuck leather wallet case. An inner TPU case holds your phone securely within, and a soft leather portfolio-style wallet case adds more protection and functionality.

• Soft full grain nubuck leather
• Holds three cards plus cash
• Viewing stand
• Magnetic closure clasp
• Reasonable price
• Professional-looking

• Closure clasp awkward when open

Price and quality

Snakehive iPhone Wallet Case: What I like

I'm just so impressed with the quality of these cases. I've tested quite a large number of iPhone cases, and there are very few in this price range that boast such expensive materials, aesthetics, and craftsmanship. Snakehive is a British company, and their cases are handcrafted from full grain European nubuck leather. The leather has such a soft, velvety feel to it, almost like an ultra suede. The inside is more of a standard leather, but still smooth and pleasant to touch. It's a professional-looking case that's right at home in the boardroom.

The outside front cover has a cutout so you could actually talk on the phone with your case closed. Upon opening the case, you'll find three card slots, plus a larger slot for bills. A minimalist TPU holder sits inside to keep your phone secure. The lip of the TPU part of the case does not come up over the phone screen, so if you tend to set your phone on a surface screen down, you'd want the folio closed to keep your screen from getting scratched. Precision cutouts and button covers assure that all buttons, ports, speakers, and the camera are fully functional within the case. Wireless charging still works as well.

The back of the folio case is has a stitched crease down the middle so that the case can be folded into a horizontal stand for video viewing. When you close the case, the magnetic closure clasp automatically snaps into place.

Amazon carries a number of colors of the Snakehive iPhone Wallet Case, such as Brown, Navy, Black, and Plum in all three new iPhone sizes. In the X/XS size, you'll see an additional half dozen or so colors offered. For more color variety, and optional monogram engraving (for a fee), you can go directly to their website.

That flap though

Snakehive iPhone Wallet Case: What I don't like

This is pretty nitpicky, but as you can see from the photos, the magnetic closure clasp sort of sits there when it's not in use. I just don't think it's cute sticking up like that.

Overall great case

Snakehive iPhone Wallet Case: Bottom line

This is the case I'd carry if I used a wallet folio case. Snakehive's iPhone Wallet looks and feels great, boasting full-grain European nubuck leather handcrafted in a variety of colors. It's protective and functional, with a TPU holder, three card slots and a cash slot. The case folds to form a video viewing stand. For the price point, you won't find better.

• See iPhone X/XS at Amazon
• See iPhone XR at Amazon
• See iPhone XS Max at Amazon

Casetify's slogan is Real Cute, Real Tough. I find it quite apt. This is an absolutely adorable line of cases, yet it doesn't skimp on protection. It's available for every iPhone from the 7 onward and you can choose from endless colorful patterns, or design your own.

• Very protective
• Totally customizable  
• Fun colors and patterns
• Can see phone though the case
• Not too bulky
• Grippy edges

• Somewhat pricey
• Obvious branding

Attractive and protective

Casetify Impact Case: What I like

Whether your taste runs to whimsical, feminine, bold, serious, or simple, Casetify Impact Case has you covered. Stick with a basic clear case and choose from Frost, Black, or Baby Pink around edges, or choose from Casetify's many, many beautiful patterns. You can also create your own look entirely by uploading your own logo, design, or photos. The possibilities are endless.

Don't let the cute looks fool you, though. This is a serious case designed for protection. The edges have ridges that give you a more secure grip on your phone to hopefully prevent drops from happening. However, if you do drop your phone, you've got military grade protection. Casetify's Impact Cases are constructed with two-layer qitech™ material, and are drop tested up to 6.6 ft.

Despite this protection, the case is still pretty slim. All of the buttons are covered but fully operational. All ports, switches, speakers, and cameras are unobstructed. Wireless charging still works. The lip of the case comes up well over the iPhone screen, so if you set your phone down screen first, it won't come into contact with the surface. I didn't find it difficult to put on and remove from the phone either, as some heavy-duty cases are.

Obvious branding

Casetify Impact Case: What I don't like

Ugh, that black ring around the camera. I'm not a fan of that look anyway, but as a place to put the company name, well, it's not to my taste. Other folks may find that perfectly acceptable or even desirable, so that's up to you. I really don't have any other critique about this case, other than the fact that it's not super cheap.

Style and protection

Casetify Impact Case: Bottom line

Casetify Impact Case is a high-protection, low-profile case that offers serious security in a slim, adorable package. With endless colors and pre-made patterns to choose from, plus the ability to customize the look with your own design, there's a lot to love about this case.

See at Casetify

LAUT brings the feature you never knew you wanted in your iPhone case: a fruity scent. That's right, the Tutti Frutti cases smell just like they look: sweet, whimsical, and, frankly, plastic.

• Lightweight
• Phone fully functional within  
• Bright colors
• Fruit scented
• Choice of four colors/scents
• Adds a touch of whimsy

• Basic plastic case
• Artificial smell

Whimsical

LAUT Tutti Frutti case for iPhone: What I like

My teenage daughter's friend was over, and she took a look at some of the cases I'm reviewing. She was immediately drawn to the LAUT Tutti Frutti cases; in fact she was quite taken with them. I can't say I was as enthralled as she was, but, perhaps she is more the intended demographic than I am.

While this won't be the case for the serious professional, nor for people that need heavy-duty drop protection, there is clearly a market for this kind of case. LAUT has four Tutti Frutti patterns; each one smells like it looks. Choose from Lemon, Banana, Cherry, and Watermelon. The scents are more like artificial fruit flavoring than actual fruit, just as you might guess from the candy-colored appearance of each case. They are cute cases in undeniably appealing color combinations.

Rub or scratch the case gently to release the scent, which lasts for quite a while but isn't overpowering. If you're moving your case in and out of your pocket or purse, then yes, you will release the smell onto those items. But the smell doesn't stick around for long, nor is it objectionable.

The case itself is your basic plastic case, nothing fancy, but it does fit the phone nicely and doesn't interfere with the operation in the phone in any way. It's quite a slim case that adds minimal bulk to your phone.

Not a "serious" case

LAUT Tutti Frutti case for iPhone: What I don't like

I probably wouldn't walk into the boardroom (if I went to those types of places) with a Tutti Frutti case, nor would I take it adventuring where it's likely to take a serious spill. The edge of the case doesn't quite come up over the iPhone's screen, so if you set it face down, the screen will contact the surface.

I'll admit I'm not the target demographic for this case. I actually like the colorful designs a great deal, but the scents don't appeal to me. The lemon one reminds me of that popular wood-cleaning product, which isn't bad but I don't know that I want to smell it every time I pull out my phone. The cherry case reminds me of cough medicine. The watermelon scent reminds me of candy. As for the banana, well, let's just say I'm not a fan of artificial banana anything.

For the right person, a perfect fit

LAUT Tutti Frutti case for iPhone: Bottom line

While the LAUT Tutti Frutti iPhone case is not entirely to my personal taste, don't let that stop you. If the whimsical, colorful design appeals to you, and you enjoy fruity-type scents, you're going to love this case.

• See iPhone XR and iPhone XS Max at Amazon
• See iPhone X/XS at LAUT

Google has just announced the brand new Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. It comes on the heels of what may well be the biggest and most unprecedented leaks in industry history, with devices not only showing up in blurry cam pics and sketchy videos but actually being sold underground and given the full-on hands-on treatment in the days and weeks leading up to the event.

Worse, especially for hard-core Google users — the ones most predisposed to lust after and covet the new pixel, the announcement comes just one day after Google finally admitted to a Cambridge Analytica style data exposure all its own, and one that it had failed to disclose for months.

Yeah, #$%&ing ouch.

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I'm not worried about Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL, though. It's never been positioned or sold as a mass-market brand like Galaxy or iPhone, and the people who love Google and the Pixel love Google and the Pixel in a way that makes Apple's old Steve Jobs reality distortion field seem kinda tame and tepid by comparison.

Read the full Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL hands-on at Android Central

And when you take the drama out of it, Google does field some amazing technology in Pixel, including some I'd love Apple to strongly consider for iPhones next.

Now, it's important to say up front that this is very much an S year, in iPhone parlance, for the Pixel. Google isn't making any radical redesigns or changes. It's' fixing some things that badly need fixing, like the tragedy that was the Pixel 2 XL display, and making a lot of already good things great.

Which, as someone who buys the new Google phone almost every year, going back to the Nexus One and continuing through both the original Pixel and the 2 XL, I'm totally cool with.

1. That camera

This one is obvious, right? Maybe not. Google has always had one of the best cameras in the business — many would argue the best — despite not having the best camera hardware. It's never been bad hardware, big sensors, good lenses, and all that. But the original lacked OIS, the 2 lacked dual cameras, and the 3 hasn't done much to address anything on the optics side. Because, for Google, it's always been about those AI bits, both in the software and the silicon of the Pixel Visual Core.

Apple's going with a single camera on the back of the upcoming iPhone XR, so once I get a chance to shoot with both of them, it's going to be really interesting to see what the respective computational photography teams have been able to deliver.

And that might be trickier to judge than you think, given what the astonishingly talented Jonathan Morrison pointed out earlier this week — trolling pretty much the entire Pixel Selfie community with iPhone XS selfies.

Make sure you check that video out. It's perspective shattering.

Ok, so, what looks interesting on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL side is Night Mode where, like HDR, it takes a ton of pictures but instead of trying to get the maximum dynamic range, it tries to pull out the best, most detailed picture possible from the darkness.

It also uses optical image stabilization — OIS shake — to collect more data and produce better quality images when digitally zoomed in. iPhone can already do optical zoom up to 2x, but anything that could improve greater than 2x is a huge win.

The crazy part here, of course, is that Google could ship all this for iPhone or Galaxy phones or any phone tomorrow if they wanted to. Because so much of what's being done is with software, Google could ship a new Camera app for iOS and Android that exposes almost all of the Pixel tech for almost any user.

That Google isn't doing that is super interesting, especially since it would give them a much bigger and more compelling data harvesting hose to stick in front of Google Photos.

Tragically or heroically, I can't tell which yet, while Google has been steadfast in not adding a second camera to the back, it's added one to the front this year. Not a TrueDepth system like Apple, but a wide angle so you can turn more easily your selfies into groupies.

I love wide angle lenses and, front and/or back, even if it takes a second or third camera, I'd love to see that come to iPhone.

2. Those speakers

If you'd asked me a month ago if I'd want a bottom front-facing speaker on the new iPhone, I maybe would have thought about it. After hearing the new, wider stereo on iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, it's clear the current positions are more than fine.

It's so good, it kinda makes you wonder if Google made the chin to hold the speaker, or stuck the speaker there to cover up for still needing a chin.

It's clear the only thing that stands between us and a truly bezel-less future is cost and engineering talent. And that damn notch.

So, yeah, scratch this one from the list.

3. Fast Charging

Last year it was easy to dunk on both Apple and Google. Apple didn't include a fast charger in the iPhone box and Google didn't include headphones in the Pixel box. This year, Google does indeed include the headphones and Apple… still crickets on the fast charger.

Where Apple's stuck at 5 watts, Google has 18 watts in the box. And, while, yeah, it's tough to dissect individual parts pricing out of overall package value, and Google did bump up Pixel by $150 to $799 and $899, Apple starts iPhone XS at $999 and $1099, and going to 12 watts will cost you $19 and 30 watts, $49, plus a $35 Lightning to USB-C cable.

Speaking of USB-C, it's still thicker than Lightning, and we're still heading towards a wireless world. But, if we're not getting there soon — and quickly transferring future video formats like 4K HDR 60fps, never mind 8K — might still make more sense over wires — USB-C in the box, on one or both ends, starts to make the kind of sense that does. Especially if Apple, as rumor has it, is switching iPad Pro over this year.

One cable to rule them all… until Wi-Fi 7 or whatever rules it all out.

There's this other aspect of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL that sounds interesting: The back glass is etched with a fine texture that makes it feel — and grip — more like metal. At least that's what my colleagues at Android Central who've had a chance to go hands-on with it have said.

iPhone 8 and, to a similar extent, iPhone X and iPhone XS aren't like Nexus 4 slippery. We used to put those at the center of conference tables at CES and time how long it would take them to slide off an almost perfectly level surface and hit the floor. But they're closer to that than any aluminum-backed iPhone in recent memory.

If Apple could figure out a way to increase the frictional coefficient of the back iPhone glass, I'd be super happy. And so would everything from the armrests on my sofa to the wood on my floors.

And… More?

And that's about it this year. S is going to S, right?

Both the Pixels and the iPhones XS have 4 GB of RAM, so its what they manage to do with it that'll count. Pixel goes up to 128 GB of storage and iPhone XS, 256 or 512 GB but Google often offers more data harvesting subsidized cloud storage, so digital pack rats can maybe offload some via upload… if you still trust Google's servers that is.

And that's honestly becoming a bigger and more important story than the phones, where both companies are again converging and we're moving from a race of atoms and bits to one of computer vision and machine learning.

And you know what, that's inspiring.

So, that's the Pixel 3 and the Pixel 3 XL. Not new, not revolutionary, but with a few features I'd love to see Apple consider for the next generation iPhones.

We'll have lots more coverage of both new Pixel phones over on Android Central, links below, and you know Mr. Mobile is going to be weighing in, so check out his channel as well.

So, hit like, hit subscribe, and then hit up the comments and let me know what you think. And thank you so much for watching!