Category: Laptops

• Don’t wait for a better deal in the housing market, Shark Tank’s Barbara Corcoran says.
• As rents and mortgage rates drop, prospective buyers may be tempted to see how low they go.
• “The minute actual interest rates come down just one more point, everybody’s going to jump into the market.”

As mortgage rates and rent prices drop, prospective buyers may be tempted to wait out the fall before diving into the market.

That’s a fool’s errand, “Shark Tank” investor and real-estate legend Barbara Corcoran says.

“You’re much better off buying something now when you can,” Corcoran said in a CNBC interview on Wednesday. “Because if you don’t have a chit in the game, and you continue to be a tenant and wait the market out — which many people are thinking right now they should be doing — they’re dead wrong.”

Redfin noted recently that median asking rents saw their biggest year-over-year drop since February 2020. Corcoran said rent prices had probably hit a short-term peak as inventory concerns eased, but it was a minor decline at best.

Mortgage rates, too, have been sliding on the market’s conviction that the Fed is pivoting to rate cuts soon. The 30-year fixed rate has tumbled to 7.03% from 8% in October. 

Some people have been cashing in on the downtrend. In fact, median home sales prices as of last week are clocking in at $364,535, Redfin data shows. That’s down from $414,000 in October.

But those trying to time the housing market may see their plans backfire.

“The minute actual interest rates come down just one more point, everybody’s going to jump into the market, and you’re going to be paying a lot more for your house,” Corcoran said.

Her advice echoed her previous warnings about home prices back in August when she said, “All hell’s going to break loose” once the Fed cuts rates and mortgages get cheaper.

“If you have any way of getting cash together and getting into the market and buying a house and getting out of a rental, which is tempting to keep because it’s a little cheaper, don’t do it,” she said. “Buy yourself a house.”

Similarly, a Bank of America executive told Business Insider recently that trying to time the housing market by waiting for lower rates wasn’t a good idea.

“It’s really when you’re financially ready, emotionally ready, and, ultimately, you find that home that fits your dreams and/or your needs,” said Matt Vernon, the bank’s head of consumer lending. 

A report from the Sarasota Police Department last month revealed that the Zieglers had a threesome with a woman who has since accused Christian Ziegler of sexual assault, The New York Times reported. Though heavily redacted, the report used the words “raped” and “sexually battered.”

After a consensual threesome with the woman, the group scheduled a second rendezvous, but the unnamed woman canceled after she found out Bridget Ziegler wouldn’t be able to attend, BI previously reported. The woman later told police that Christian Ziegler showed up at her apartment anyway and assaulted her, The Washington Post reported.

In 2021, Bridget Ziegler stopped working with Moms for Liberty, the “parental rights” group she co-founded that rails against LGBTQ books and conversations in schools. The next year, she was elected to the Sarasota County School Board.

The threesome revelation has put pressure on Ziegler to resign from her position on the Sarasota County School Board, which she has thus far declined to do, The Times reported.

County residents have been vocal in public meetings, assailing Ziegler directly for embroiling herself in a sex scandal all while supporting anti-LGBTQ policies.

“Most of our community could not care less what you do in the privacy of your own home, but your hypocrisy takes center stage,” one Sarasota resident told Zeigler during a school board meeting this week, according to The Times.

The members of the school board voted four-to-one on Tuesday in favor of Ziegler resigning. She was the lone vote against the nonbinding resolution, according to The Times.

Christian Ziegler, under investigation by police, faces similar pressure to resign as chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. He reportedly requested a buyout to provide a “soft landing” for his potential resignation, NBC News reported, citing several Republican sources. Ziegler denied the claim to NBC.

Bridget Ziegler did not immediately respond to BI’s request for comment, nor did an attorney for Christian Ziegler.

• Sidney Powell’s 13-word apology letter does not legally matter at all.
• A former federal prosecutor told BI that requiring an apology is very rare, because it’s essentially pointless.
• Powell pleaded guilty in October for her role in attempting to overturn the 2020 election results.

As part of her guilty plea in the Georgia election interference case, former Trump attorney Sidney Powell had to write an apology letter.

There wasn’t much to it.

“I apologize for my actions in connection with the events in Coffee County,” Powell’s one-sentence apology said, with her name and date signed underneath.

At just 13 words, her letter — published for the first time Thursday by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution — was a pretty sorry excuse for a “sorry.”

But, legally, it doesn’t matter at all whether she’s sorry or not.

“From the judge’s perspective, he just needs to make sure that they’re admitting to all the elements of the crime,” attorney and former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told Business Insider. “You don’t have to be sorry. You just have to say that you did it. That’s all that’s required for a guilty plea.”

“I mean, legally it has no effect,” Rahmani, the president of West Coast Trial Lawyers, said.

Because apologies are so pointless, Rahmani said he was surprised that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis even required one in the first place.

“It was a strange request,” Rahmani said. “Very uncommon.”

“I’ve put more than a thousand people in prison, and never once did I demand an apology,” he added.

But Rahmani wasn’t surprised that Powell’s apology was so short.

“Because they’re lawyers, right? They’re going to be very careful about what they say,” he said. “And you really are trained as a lawyer to give the bare minimum when you’re required to do so.”

Powell was the fourth defendant in the sprawling Fulton County, Georgia RICO case to plead guilty and apologize, following bail bondsman Scott Hall, ex-Trump attorney Jenna Ellis, and Georgia attorney Kenneth Chesebro.

The case accuses Donald Trump and 18 other co-defendants of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Having so many co-defendants named in the case could be beneficial to Fani Willis’ case against Trump, as each time one flips on the former president, it further isolates him, BI previously reported.

• People are tipping less as Americans keep pushing back against increasing requests. 
• Gratuities for workers in several industries are down compared to prior years, recent data shows. 
• Younger generations are more likely to see tipping as an obligation than older generations. 

America’s tipping slowdown isn’t slowing down.

More and more businesses have been asking people for gratuities in the US — and customers are continuing to push back.

As of November, workers in leisure and hospitality roles (not including restaurant workers) made an average $1.28 an hour in tips, down 7% from the $1.38 an hour a year earlier, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing data from payroll provider Gusto.

This follows on from statistics showing tips for restaurant workers dipped to some of the lowest levels since the pandemic this year. At full-service restaurants, they fell to an average of 19.4% of the total check in the second quarter, down from a high of 19.9% in the first quarter of 2021, data from point-of-sale platform Toast showed. At quick-service restaurants, tips slid slightly in the same period to 16.1% of the total check from 16.4% in the first three months of 2021.

The pullback comes after a fierce consumer backlash against the post-pandemic rise in gratuity requests, which is partially fueled by automatic point-of-sale tipping screens. Some have even declared that tipping culture is now “out of control.” It’s also left many Americans unsure about the guidelines, namely: When is it ok to tip, when is it a nicety, and when is it ok to decline a tip entirely?

Customers are being nudged “for more money in more places than ever before,” said Thomas P. Farley, or “Mister Manners,” an etiquette expert. “It was only a matter of time before actual tipping amounts began to decline.”

Some businesses are having to raise worker pay to offset the drop, the WSJ reported. It also noted that some states are pushing for tipped workers to make the full federal minimum wage, which totals $7.25 an hour. That compares to the federal tipped minimum wage many bar and restaurant workers earn of $2.13 an hour.

Demographically, younger generations — adults under 30 — are more likely than older generations to view tipping as an obligation, according to a report by Pew that surveyed close to 12,000 Americans in August. Those 65 and older said they see tipping as more of a choice, compared to a smaller share in younger groups.

Best Fitbit: Fitbit Sense 2

For a smartwatch that excels as a reliable sleep tracker, Fitbit’s Sense 2 is at the front of the pack. It not only tracks your sleep each night and provides in-depth data but it also offers unique recommendations on how to improve your rest via several metrics. There are plenty of wearables that try to offer this level of insight but the Sense 2 does it best.

What sets the Sense 2 apart is how comprehensive the data it provides is. For example, after a night of sleep, the Fitbit app displays metrics showing how well I rested. These include time spent in REM, deep, and light sleep, as well as other factors like time spent awake, how restless I might have been, and what my heart rate was. 

The Fitbit app can then recommend ways to improve my sleep to better my nightly score. This may include certain workouts, when to work out, or how to keep a consistent sleep schedule. Once I got the hang of using the recommendations, they made a noticeable difference.

It’s worth noting that one major hurdle to having all the sleep data available is to have Fitbit Premium, the subscription part of the Fitbit app. Memberships run for $10 per month or $80 per year, and are worth the investment, especially for those intent on using the extra data. 

Fitbit Premium also provides a unique Daily Readiness Score that analyzes your prior day’s activity and rest and creates a numbered score to represent how hard to push yourself. There are in-depth health insights, like heart rate variability, available to subscribers, as well. 

Aside from its capability as a sleep tracker, the Sense 2 is also an excellent fitness tracker. It offers tracking for a variety of activities like running, cycling, and strength training and also uses a skin temperature sensor, has heart rhythm (ECG) readings, and debuted Fitbit’s real-time stress tracker. The stress tracker is especially useful for the feedback it provides on how to lower stress throughout the day.

And while the Fitbit Sense 2 is one of the best smartwatches, its actual smartwatch experience leaves a little to be desired. Yes, it gets notifications like calls, texts, and app updates, but the fact Fitbit removed third-party app support and Google Assistant access is disappointing. There’s also no way to store or play music via the watch.

But I wouldn’t view these as reasons to not buy a Sense 2, especially if you’re looking for a smartwatch with premium sleep tracking. It’s one of the best Fitbits you can buy and while it is a so-so smartwatch, it gets the job done when needed while offering a suite of advanced health and wellness features. 

Read our full review of the Fitbit Sense 2.

When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

Amazon Fire TV devices are designed to deliver easy access to all of the best streaming services. Fire TV products are some of the top streaming devices you can buy, and you can choose between stick, cube, and full-fledged smart TV models.

Entry-level Fire TV devices, like the budget-friendly Fire TV Stick Lite, offer full HD playback, while the best Fire TV models, like the new 2023 Fire TV Stick 4K Max, support Ultra HD video and Dolby Vision for enhanced color and contrast. Amazon also sells actual smart TVs that have the Fire TV operating system (OS) built in. Though these sets don’t rank among the best TVs you can buy, they’re decent budget options for fans of Amazon’s ecosystem.  

But with so many different Fire TV models to consider, it can be tricky to figure out which one is right for your needs. To help you pick the best Fire TV for your entertainment setup, we’ve detailed all the ins and outs of each model.

How to get a great deal on the best Fire TV devices

The best Fire TVs often drop to all-time low prices during sales on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Prime Day, though smaller discounts also pop up throughout the year outside of these big events.

While Amazon’s Black Friday 2023 sale has ended, several Fire TV models are still being discounted for the holiday shopping season. Prices aren’t quite as low as during the big sale, but you can still snag Fire TV Sticks for as much as 40% off. These current deal prices will likely be the best we see until Prime Day comes around in the summer. 

Fire TV Stick Lite

The Fire TV Stick Lite is the best Fire TV you can snag on a budget. Like the company’s other stick models, this compact dongle plugs right into your TV’s HDMI port.

When it comes to general performance, the Fire TV Stick Lite matches the quality of the more expensive standard Fire TV Stick. The only real difference between this model and the regular Fire TV Stick is its remote. The Lite includes an Alexa Voice Remote Lite, which lacks TV controls, like power and guide buttons. Other than that, both models are basically the same.

The Fire TV Stick Lite can stream at up to 1080p resolution, which is a perfect fit for an HDTV. The device also supports high dynamic range (HDR) using the HDR10 and HDR10+ formats. This feature delivers enhanced colors and contrast when streaming HDR videos through apps like Disney Plus. That said, most TVs that support HDR are 4K models, and if you have a 4K TV, we highly recommend you pay a bit more for one of Amazon’s 4K sticks.

If your TV doesn’t support 4K, the Fire TV Stick Lite will suit your streaming needs just fine. Keep in mind, however, that the standard Fire TV Stick occasionally goes on sale for even less than the Lite. When that happens, there’s no reason to consider this model.

Fire TV Stick

The standard Fire TV Stick matches the 1080p streaming quality of the Lite model but has an improved remote with controls for your TV and extra buttons for Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, and Prime Video.

The base Fire TV Stick will meet the HD streaming needs of most people unless you own a 4K TV, in which case we recommend spending the extra money on one of Amazon’s more advanced 4K streaming devices.

Fire TV Stick 4K

As the name suggests, the Fire TV Stick 4K streams at a higher resolution than the Fire TV Stick or Stick Lite. With 4K support, you’ll get a sharper, more detailed image when watching 4K content on a 4K TV. 

This model carries over high dynamic range (HDR) playback but adds support for the more advanced Dolby Vision format, which is missing on the Lite and standard Fire TV Stick. It also comes with more memory.

The latest version of the Fire TV Stick 4K was released in September 2023, and it has a slightly tweaked design with rounded edges and an improved processor that Amazon says is around 25% faster than the first-gen model. It also now supports Wi-Fi 6 if you have a compatible router. 

If you have a 4K TV, this model is a good fit. However, if you’re willing to spend $10 more, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max offers slightly better performance.

Fire TV Stick 4K Max

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max carries over everything you’ll get on the regular Fire TV Stick 4K, while offering a faster processor and GPU, as well as more memory. This makes navigation a little snappier and lets you store more apps and games.

Amazon released its latest version of the Fire TV Stick 4K Max in September 2023, and compared to the previous-generation edition this new model has an upgraded processor, double the amount of storage, and new support for Wi-Fi 6E routers. It also has a revised design with rounded edges. And unlike other Fire TV Sticks, the 4K Max supports Amazon’s Fire TV Ambient Experience, which lets you display art, photos, and widgets for things like the weather and your calendar. 

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is typically just $10 more than the standard Fire TV Stick 4K, so we think it’s the best Fire TV choice for people with 4K TVs.

Fire TV Cube

The Fire TV Cube is the best Fire TV device for pure processing power. It incorporates all the features of the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, but has a beefier CPU and is meant to be a more traditional home theater device. Instead of a stick that you plug directly into your TV’s HDMI port, the Cube is a compact box that sits on your TV stand. 

One of the Fire TV Cube’s biggest benefits is its support for hands-free voice control without using a remote. In other words, the Cube can act like an Echo Dot. The newest model also has an HDMI passthrough port to control cable boxes, twice as much storage space as the stick models, 4K upscaling to make HD videos look better, and overall faster performance.

The Fire TV Cube is a premium streaming box designed to compete with devices like the Apple TV 4K and the Roku Ultra, so it’s best suited for home theater enthusiasts who want the absolute best quality and fastest technology.

Fire TV 2-Series

40-inch model

Amazon now sells its own lineup of full-fledged smart TVs, and they all use a built-in version of the Fire TV OS. This means you can stream your favorite apps without an extra device. The 2-Series is Amazon’s entry-level HDTV model designed for people who just want a basic smart TV for casual viewing. 

The 2-Series is available in 32 inches with a 720p screen, or 40 inches with a 1080p screen. Both models support HDR processing using the standard HDR10 format, but the 2-Series can’t deliver the brightness or color performance needed to really take advantage of high dynamic range playback. For this reason, we only recommend this model for people who want a cheap TV that doesn’t take up too much space.

Fire TV 4-Series

43-inch model

The 4-Series steps things up from HD to Ultra HD with a 4K resolution screen. Models are available in 43-, 50-, and 55-inch screen sizes. 

Though it supports 4K playback, the 4-Series still has very basic HDR performance and it lacks advanced features like wide color support and Dolby Vision. It’s a decent TV for buyers who want a smaller, affordable 4K display for a bedroom, but it’s not suited for home theater use.

Fire TV Omni Series

50-inch model

The Omni Series Fire TV adds built-in support for hands-free Alexa voice control without needing to use the remote. You can control power, volume, navigation, and search with spoken commands through the TV’s built-in microphones. And the TV can also serve as an Alexa smart home hub even when the display is off. 

Models range in size from 43 to 75 inches. Every model supports 4K resolution and HDR, and the 65- and 75-inch models add support for Dolby Vision.

Unfortunately, the TV’s picture quality and navigation speed are underwhelming for its price. There are simply much better-looking smart TVs from brands like TCL, Hisense, and Vizio in this price range. That said, the Omni is a decent buy when it’s on sale during deal events like Black Friday and Prime Day. We only recommend picking up the 65-inch model when you can snag it for under $500. 

Check out our Amazon Fire TV Omni review.

Fire TV Omni QLED Series

65-inch model

Amazon’s Omni QLED is the best Fire TV display you can buy, and it offers a big step up from the regular Omni Series. It carries over hands-free Alexa support while adding advanced picture features like quantum dots and local dimming. These features enable it to deliver much better color and contrast performance. 

The TV also has a smart ambient mode that can display art and widgets when it senses that someone has walked into the room. Sizes range from 43 to 75 inches. The 65-inch model’s list price of $800 is a bit high for what you get, but when it’s on sale for $600, it’s a solid value. 

Check out our full Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED review.

Fire TV Soundbar

Amazon’s latest Fire TV-branded product isn’t actually a streaming device at all. Instead, it’s a soundbar.

The Fire TV soundbar is a compact 2.0-channel speaker that’s designed to rest in front of your TV. It features an HDMI eARC and optical port for easy connection to most modern TVs, and it also supports Bluetooth for wireless music playback from a mobile device.

At 24 inches wide, the soundbar is relatively small, which should make it easy to set up on most TV stands. Though it doesn’t include a subwoofer or integrate advanced features like upfiring audio drivers, the Fire TV Soundbar does support DTS Virtual:X to simulate surround sound. That said, buyers shouldn’t expect too much from this feature in this price range.  

And despite the Fire TV branding, this is a soundbar only. It does not feature built-in support for streaming video apps. The base model only includes a standard remote, but you can pay more to get a package that includes an Alexa Voice Remote Pro. 

Based on the specs and affordable $120 price tag, it looks like Amazon is positioning this as an entry-level soundbar for people who just want a simple, compact, and inexpensive upgrade for their TV’s speakers. But if you’re looking for something with a bit more oomph, check out our guide to the best soundbars. 

Founded in 1643 in France, Trudon is one of the oldest candle manufacturers in the world. Its candles lined Marie Antoinette’s bedroom and the churches of Paris. Today, prices range from $48 for one taper candle to $660 for a “great”-sized jarred candle. Its legacy isn’t the only thing behind that hefty price tag. Every candle is meticulously handcrafted with high-quality materials, right down to the glass jar it comes in. Here’s why luxury candles are so expensive.

• Several fake electors say they regret their actions in the aftermath of the 2020 election, per WaPo.
• “Hindsight provides a wealth of knowledge we don’t have at the time,” one fake elector said.
• In recent months, 25 of the 84 fake electors have been charged with felonies.

It was one of the most bizarre aspects of the 2020 presidential election’s aftermath: Fake electors in states won by Joe Biden convened in an attempt to award Electoral College votes to Donald Trump.

The plans failed, but several of the 84 GOP presidential electors who met to cast ballots for Trump told The Washington Post that they wouldn’t do it again. Some of the electors are now entangled in criminal probes and could face criminal charges, with mounting legal expenses also adding to their worries.

In December 2020, Republican activist James “Ken” Carroll cast an electoral vote for Trump at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta as part of an “alternate” slate of delegates, despite Biden’s certified victory in the former Republican stronghold-turned-swing state. He was one of 16 GOP signatories to do so.

But Carroll told The Post that he wouldn’t take the same action if he could go back in time.

“Knowing what I know now? No,” Carroll said. “But hindsight provides a wealth of knowledge we don’t have at the time of an event.”

In recent months, 25 of the 84 electors involved in alternate elector schemes have been charged with a series of felonies, and 10 additional electors have agreed not to put their names forward as legitimate electors in any election featuring Trump on the ballot.

In Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, fake electors sought to overturn the election by filing paperwork stating that it was Trump — and not Biden — who had truly won the election.

Last week, the 10 bogus electors involved in the electoral scheme in Wisconsin had to accept Trump’s statewide loss in the 2020 race as part of a settlement, according to The New York Times. They are also prohibited from serving as electors in 2024 or for any race where Trump is listed as a candidate.

Andrew Hitt, an attorney and former chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party in 2020 — and a fake elector — insisted that the GOP electors crafted their plan in the event that the courts ruled that Trump had won the state. (Biden won Wisconsin by roughly 20,000 votes out of nearly 3.3 million ballots cast, but in November 2020, the Trump campaign had challenged the victory in court.)

“The Wisconsin electors were tricked and misled into participating in what became the alternate elector scheme and would have never taken any actions had we known that there were ulterior reasons beyond preserving an ongoing legal strategy,” Hitt said in a statement last week.

Hitt, who told The Post that he won’t be backing Trump again in 2024, added that even if he could serve as an official elector next year, he’d take a pass.

“How do you convey laughter in a newspaper article?” he said. “No, I will not be serving as an elector again.”

• When AOC won her first House primary, she was a breakout star of the growing progressive movement.
• And there was an intense focus on the left-wing groups that had thrown their support behind her bid.
• But in the new book “The Squad,” AOC said she didn’t win solely on the efforts of those groups.

When Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez first entered the national political discourse, she had just upset Rep. Joe Crowley of New York in a 2018 Democratic primary that had long been seen as a lock for the then-congressman, who at the time was the No. 4 House Democrat.

Ocasio-Cortez campaigned relentlessly in the 14th congressional district, anchored in the Bronx and Queens, arguing that many of its constituents — notably its burgeoning Latino and working-class immigrant communities — were underrepresented. And her rise to prominence was often accompanied by stories about the growing influence of progressive groups, which are often credited with helping her defeat Crowley.

But in the newly-released book, “The Squad,” Ocasio-Cortez told author Ryan Grim that she didn’t defeat Crowley in her first congressional primary because of left-wing groups like Justice Democrats and the Democratic Socialists of America.

“Like as much as I love them, I did not win my election because of DSA. Or even JD. Or any of these orgs,” she said. “They all either abandoned, ignored, or fought with me and then swooped in at the last moment when I busted my whole ass for a long time to become even remotely viable.”

“They all had important contributions but, to be honest, they were pretty much nowhere until the month before the primary,” Ocasio-Cortez continued. “Really it was [Alexandra] Rojas at JD that arguably helped the most. But we had built everything from scratch and did the hardest parts and then when it looked appealing enough they jumped in.”

The reflections from Ocasio-Cortez, who was elected to the House in the 2018 general election and reelected in 2020 and 2022, came as she remarked on the difficulties encountered in her second term when she began to receive increasingly pointed pushback from some progressives.

“That time really forced me to kind of sit with who my base was,” she told Grim. “Because for a while it did not feel like the left.”

Grim noted in the book that Waleed Shahid, the progressive strategist and former spokesperson for Justice Democrats, had aided Ocasio-Cortez in building her campaign operation early on. And, in the book, he detailed how Justice Democrats, at one point, had focused their email and donor list on bringing in fundraising dollars for Ocasio-Cortez.

But Grim also wrote in the book that Ocasio-Cortez felt as though the work performed by Justice Democrats, which had played a more robust role in various aspects of her campaign, had started to meld with that of the Democratic Socialists of America, whose assistance was helpful but came at a much later time.

And that presented more personal reflections for Ocasio-Cortez, who, amid the criticism she received in her second term, had to identify her actual base of supporters among a broader group of progressives.

“There is a certain faction of the left that thinks they own or are responsible for electing a candidate just because that candidate happens to be ideologically left on their own,” the congresswoman told Grim. “But in the actual work of getting elected, like it’s just these armchair people who talk shit but don’t do shit. And listening to people who don’t do shit is how you lose whatever you’ve built.”

Since taking office in 2019, Ocasio-Cortez has become one of the most high-profile progressive politicians in the country. And she has used that influence to push President Joe Biden to enact more progressive positions on issues like the environment and student-loan reform.

Our experts answer readers’ credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess credit cards). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.

The family of Chase Sapphire credit cards has helped catapult travel rewards into a mainstream obsession. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is still one of the most popular rewards credit cards despite debuting more than a decade ago, and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® was so in-demand that Chase ran out of metal cards when it launched in 2016.

These cards both earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points— some of the most valuable credit card rewards around, so having either the Sapphire Preferred Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a smart move, especially if you want to use points for free travel. But there are plenty of differences, as well.

Let’s dig into the unique aspects of two of the best travel credit cards to help make your choice easier.

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Chase Sapphire Reserve

Welcome Offers

The Sapphire Preferred Card currently offers new cardholders 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. That’s worth around $1,080 in travel, based on Insider’s points and miles valuations which peg Chase points value at 1.8 cents each.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve comes with its standard bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening (worth an estimated $1,080 in travel).

Both of these bonuses are fantastic.

Redeeming Points

Chase offers cardholders great options for using Ultimate Rewards points, including several that don’t involve travel. You can exchange them for cash back at 1 cent per point, or use them to purchase travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal — with a 25% bonus for Sapphire Preferred Card cardholders. Best of all, you can transfer points to Chase’s airline and hotel partners. 

With the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you can redeem points the same way, with one difference. When using them to purchase travel through Chase, you’ll get a 50% bonus, instead of 25% with the Sapphire Preferred Card.

Because of this final detail, the Chase Sapphire Reserve ekes out a victory.

Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Reserve Ongoing Rewards Rates

For regular spending, the Sapphire Preferred Card earns:

• 5 points per dollar on Lyft rides through March 2025
• 5 points per dollar on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• 3 points per dollar on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out 
• 3 points per dollar on select streaming services
• 3 points per dollar on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
• 2 points per dollar on other travel 
• 1 point per dollar on everything else

That’s nothing to sneeze at; dining, streaming services, groceries, and travel account for most of the spending many of us do each month.

But the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers its own competitive categories:

• 10 points per dollar on Lyft rides through March 2025
• 10 points per dollar on Chase Dining purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• 10 points per dollar on hotel stays and car rentals purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• 5 points per dollar on air travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• 3 points per dollar on other travel (after earning the $300 travel credit) and dining
• 1 point per dollar on everything else

You can tell that this card is more targeted toward travelers than the Sapphire Preferred Card, which offers a bonus for a variety of everyday non-travel purchases. Because of that, we’ll give the victory to the Sapphire Preferred Card.

Winner: Sapphire Preferred Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Chase Sapphire Reserve Travel Insurance

Using a credit card with travel insurance to pay for your trip can really save the day if things go wrong. Chase Sapphire card travel insurance is among best coverage in the industry. But as you can see, the Chase Sapphire Reserve trounces the Sapphire Preferred Card in a few categories. It’s got better primary rental car insurance, a trip delay insurance that activates in half the time, emergency medical and dental insurance, and more.

Here’s a side-by-side comparison:

Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Reserve General Benefits

The biggest difference between these cards are the ongoing benefits. These are the things that matter long after you’ve spent your massive welcome bonus.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers an up to $300 annual travel credit, access to more than 1,300 airport lounges through the Priority Pass network, elite benefits with a few car rental agencies, and unlimited free access to new Chase Sapphire airport lounges. you’ll also be able to use Reserved by Sapphire restaurant reservations.

Meanwhile, the Sapphire Preferred Card provides up to $50 per year in statement credits for hotels booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal. Cardholders will also receive an anniversary bonus equal to 10% of all purchases made in the previous year (which isn’t that great).

Both the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Preferred Card cardholders also get a complimentary DashPass membership, which waives delivery fees on orders of $12 or more (activation required, through December 31, 2024). The Chase Sapphire Reserve also offers a $5 monthly DoorDash in-app credit through December 2024.

Also, both Sapphire cards get Instacart and Instacart+ benefits. With the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you’ll get a complimentary year of Instacart+ membership (usually $99 annually) — including benefits like free delivery and up to a $15 statement credit towards Instacart purchases each month. And with the Sapphire Preferred Card, you’ll get six months of Instacart+ membership and benefits — including up to $15 statement credits per quarter (available through July 2024). 

Through March 2025, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers 10x points on Lyft rides — a great return on spending — while the Sapphire Preferred Card offers 5x points. Both cards also offer $10 per month in Gopuff credits through December 2023. But only the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a complimentary two-year Lyft Pink All Access membership, which comes with perks like ride discounts, unlimited bike rides, and priority pickup.

Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve

Chase Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve Annual Fees

The Sapphire Preferred Card charges a $95 annual fee. The Chase Sapphire Reserve charges a $550 annual fee.

There appears to be an undisputed winner, but there’s not. When debating whether or not to pay an annual fee, there’s only one thing you should concern yourself with: Will the card’s benefits save you more than you’ll pay in annual fees?

The Sapphire Preferred Card’s lower annual fee is accompanied by far fewer valuable benefits. Someone who would regularly use perks like airport lounge access and the $300 annual travel credit may save many hundreds of dollars beyond the Chase Sapphire Reserve — making it the better deal.

However, because likely fewer people are willing to make the initial $550 investment in the Chase Sapphire Reserve, we’ll crown the Sapphire Preferred Card in this category.

Winner: Sapphire Preferred Card

How to Decide Which Chase Sapphire Card Is Best for You 

Ultimately, the two biggest things to consider when deciding between the cards are whether you’re willing to pay the higher annual fee for the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and whether the card’s additional benefits and bonus categories make it worth that higher fee.

Beyond that, take a look at the difference in perks and see which lines up more closely with your travel and spending habits.