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Finding a file on Windows is far too slow for its own good. I have waited minutes only to never find the file I was looking for. I tried the popular fix, and it worked well enough that I kept it around for a long time. Then I found something that did the same job without making me feel like I needed a manual.

Back in the day, before Android had support for gesture navigation, custom launchers were on a level playing field with the stock launcher your phone comes with. But starting with Android 9 Pie, when Google introduced gesture navigation to Android, something changed.

Adapting a video game into a movie is more than a little tricky, as plenty of studios have discovered over the years. From the 1980s to today, we've had our fair share of really poor video game movies, some so bad that they've gone down in history among the worst movies of all time. It isn't all doom and gloom, though. While it definitely feels like there have been more bad adaptations than good ones, occasionally we get a gem that reminds us just how good a video game movie can feel when it is done right.

The more software you install on your computer, the longer it may seem to take to start up Windows. Many programs add themselves to the list of programs started when you boot your computer, and that list can get long. Here's how you can disable startup programs in Windows to speed up your boot time and free up system resources.

Windows Search is one of the features I use most in Windows 11. Most of the time, I'm looking for something simple: an app, a file, or a setting. That's why I've never been particularly keen on Search trying to do other jobs at the same time.

Phone brands aren't playing when it comes to pricing these days, and you can easily spend over $1,000 on current flagships. Samsung's Galaxy S26 FE offers some respite with premium features and performance for a fraction of the price.

When you think of synthesizers, a $50 USB-C rechargeable slab of plastic isn’t what normally springs to mind. But that’s exactly what has set the internet alight at the tail end of 2026, and it’s having big implications for an established market of music hardware manufacturers.

Let's face it, major PC upgrades are kind of a no-go this year. The RAM-pocalypse has made sure of that in every way possible. Fortunately, there are still ways to give your PC a boost, even to the extent of gaming at 1440p, without spending $7,000-$10,000 on an RTX 5090. (Yes, those price brackets are very much real.)

Grand Theft Auto VI is tantalizingly close, so for many people, it's probably too late to submit a PTO request for its Nov. 19 release date. Not for Logitech employees, though.

The PC accessory maker announced that its employees would be given the option to take time off for new video game releases, according to IGN.

Logitech's announcement was almost certainly timed for the release of GTA 6 (there are basically no other major upcoming releases this year, for obvious reasons). However, the new "Logi Game Day" perk will seemingly apply to more games than just Rockstar's latest open-world crime adventure.

SEE ALSO: 'GTA 6' preorders are live: Where to buy for PS5 and Xbox

Logitech cited an internal study which found that 81 percent of video game enjoyers "believe that gaming builds real-world confidence, reduces anxiety, and correlates with stronger day-to-day work performance." Whether or not that's actually true, Logitech is buying into the idea, enabling its employees to play hooky for gaming purposes.

"It’s time to retire the stereotype that gaming is a waste of time," Logitech CEO Hanneke Faber said, according to IGN. "As a company designing products for work and play, we see every day how engagement in one sphere supports performance in the other."

There are probably lots of folks out there reading this who wish they worked for Logitech right now.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters or get Mashable push alerts today. 

The best early Walmart Black Friday deals: Best Apple Deal Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199.00 (save $50) Get Deal Best Home Deal Roborock Qrevo S5V Robot Vacuum and Mop $499.99 (save $400) Get Deal Best TV Deal LG 65-inch C6 Series 4K UHD OLED AI Smart webOS 26 TV $1,399.99 (save $1,300) Get Deal Best Lego Deal Lego Pokémon Pikachu and Poké Ball $159.95 (save $40.04) Get Deal Best Kitchen Deal Ninja Luxe Café Premier Series Espresso Machine and Drip Coffee Maker $489.00 (save $60) Get Deal Best Speaker Deal JBL Flip 6 $79.95 (Save $50) Get Deal Best Laptop Deal Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 15.3" Touchscreen 2-in-1 Laptop, (Intel Core Ultra 5, 16GB Ram, 512GB SSD) $729 (Save $470.99) Get Deal Best Home Security Deal Wyze Wireless Video Doorbell $49.98 (Save $15.99) Get Deal

Walmart's Black Friday sale is arriving in three waves this year, with the first big deals drop kicking off this week on Nov. 12 and running until Nov. 15. If you're eager to see what the retailer will have in store during this time, you don't even have to wait for the sale to start: a couple of the retailer's ad scans are already live, offering shoppers a little sneak peek at what's to come during its early Black Friday sale.

Credit: Walmart

This three-day-long event is just the start, though. The retailer also has a main Black Friday sale planned for Nov. 23-29, plus a Cyber Monday sale running from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2. Walmart+ members can even get early access to the sale (plus exclusive online-only deals during the first 24 hours). If that's piqued your interest, check out our guide to signing up for Walmart+ to learn more.

There are quite a few early deals up that are worth a look before the sales kick off. As of the time of this writing, we've spotted discounts on AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4, a 65-inch LG C6 TV, and even the Lego Pokémon Pikachu and Poké Ball, which has hit an all-time low price. These are just a few highlights.

Check out more of our favorite finds below, or for a deeper dive into what's available, our rundown of early Black Friday deals at Walmart can help you out.

Best Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199 at Walmart
$249 Save $50   Get Deal at Walmart Why we like it

AirPods Pro 3 are our favorite pair of buds for Apple users, so it's always exciting when we spot a discount. Ahead of Black Friday sales, they're currently marked down to $199 at Walmart, saving you $50 off the regular price.

There's a good chance they'll drop a bit lower during the main sale (the lowest price they've dipped to is $169, according to price tracker camelmart), but this is still a pretty good deal if you're itching to pick them up now. They're certainly worth the investment, with Active Noise Cancellation, high-quality audio, built-in heart rate sensing, and up to eight hours of battery life with ANC.

More Apple deals

• Apple AirTag 4 Pack (2nd Generation) — $69.99 $99 (save $29.01)

• Apple AirPods 4 — $89 $129.99 (save $40.99)

• Apple 16" MacBook Pro (M5 Pro, 18-core CPU/20 core GPU, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,816.99 $2,999 (save $183)

Best home deal Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Qrevo S5V Robot Vacuum and Mop $499.99 at Walmart
$899.99 Save $400   Get Deal at Walmart Why we like it

It's not even Black Friday yet, and this Roborock Qrevo S5V is already down to its lowest price at Walmart. It's currently on sale for $499.99, which is $400 off its list price of $899.99. That's a huge discount, and this combo cleaner is certainly worth the pick-up if you need a little extra assistance with your floors.

It features 12,000Pa suction for lifting dirt, debris, hair, and more, plus dual spinning mops that can hit 200 RPM to scrub out stains. Its Obstacle Avoidance System is very helpful, steering clear of any objects that might be in its way as it cleans around, and PreciSense LiDAR Navigation helps it map out your home for an efficient clean.

More home deals

• Bissell Little Green Portable Deep Cleaner — $74.62 $101.97 (save $27.35)

• Shark Steam & Scrub Scrubbing Steam Mop — $98.74 $149 (save $50.26)

• Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum Cleaner — $118 $168 (save $50)

• KitchenAid Deluxe Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer — $279 $449.99 (save $170.99)

• Roborock Q10 X5+ Robot Vacuum and Mop — $299.99 $499.99 (save $200)

Best TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 65-inch C6 Series 4K UHD OLED AI TV $1,399.99 at Walmart
$2,699.99 Save $1,300.00   Get Deal at Walmart Why we like it

Black Friday is a great time to upgrade your TV, and this 65-inch LG C6 TV offers an impressive 4K OLED display, support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, and a 165Hz Refresh Rate for gamers. Walmart has slashed $1,300 off ahead of its early Black Friday sale, bringing its price down from $2,699.99 to $1,399.99. That's a massive drop, and not too far off from its lowest-ever point of $1,339.99.

More TV deals

• Samsung 65-inch Class U8000H Series Crystal UHD 4K TV — $298 $378 (save $80)

• Samsung 65-inch Class M70HB Series Mini LED 4K UHD Smart TV — $378 $478 (save $100)

• TCL 75-inch Class QM6K Series QD-Mini LED QLED 4K UHD HDR Smart TV — $798 $999.99 (save $201.99)

Best Lego deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Pokémon Pikachu and Poké Ball $159.95 at Walmart
$199.99 Save $40.04   Get Deal at Walmart Why we like it

The 2,050-piece Lego Pikachu and Poké Ball set is an absolute delight for Pokémon fans, and it's recently received a surprise price drop ahead of Black Friday. Walmart currently has it on sale for $159.95. That's $40.04 off its original price, marking the lowest price we've seen since its launch. If it's been on your radar, this is a great time to act.

More Lego deals

• Lego Classic Medium Creative Brick Box — $21.42 $34.99 (save $13.57)

• Lego Pokémon Eevee — $47.96 $59.99 (save $12.03)

• Lego KPop Demon Hunters Derpy Tiger and Sussie Bird — $55.95 $69.99 (save $14.04)

• Lego Star Wars Grogu with Hover Pram — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)

• Lego Harry Potter Diagon Alley Wizarding Shops — $159.99 $199.99 (save $40)

Best kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Luxe Café Premier Series Espresso Machine and Drip Coffee Maker $489 at Walmart
$549 Save $60   Get Deal at Walmart Why we like it

The Ninja Luxe Café Premier is an espresso/coffee maker we have a lot of love for, with Mashable's Samantha Mangino writing that it "strikes the perfect balance of user-friendly design with high-end settings." If you've had your eyes on it, Walmart's knocked it down to a new low price ahead of Black Friday. This has brought its price down from $549 to $489, making now an excellent time to add it to your shopping cart.

More kitchen deals

• Crock-Pot Manual 7-Quart Slow Cooker — $34.96 $79.99 (save $45.03)

• Nespresso Vertuo Pop Coffee and Espresso Maker — $84.97 $119 (save $34.03)

• Ninja CREAMi Ice Cream Maker — $149 $169 (save $20)

• Ninja Luxe Café Premier Series Espresso Machine and Drip Coffee Maker — $489 $549 (save $60)

Best speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart JBL Flip 6 $79.95 at Walmart
$129.95 Save $50.00   Get Deal at Walmart Why we like it

Whether you plan on sharing holiday tunes or your favorite podcast wherever you go this season, a portable speaker can make everything better. This one has a powerful woofer with a separate tweeter and dual passive bass radiators for room-filling sound. It’s rated IP67 against water and dust, and a full charge lasts up to 12 hours so the party doesn't have to stop until you're ready. Plus, you can link it up with other compatible JBL speakers for stereo or bigger sound.

More speaker deals

• Anker Soundcore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker — $29.99 $45.99 (save $16)

• JLab JBuds Party Portable Speaker — $47.99 $59.99 (save $12)

Best laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 15.3" Touchscreen 2-in-1 Laptop, (Intel Core Ultra 5, 16GB Ram, 512GB SSD) $729 at Walmart
$1,199.99 Save $470.99   Get Deal at Walmart Why we like it

If you're in the market for a new daily driver laptop, this is a great option. The 15.3-inch touchscreen has a 1920 x 1200 display, with a 360-degree hinge that means it can transform from laptop to folding tablet or stand modes for sketching or streaming on the couch. It boasts an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor 322 with 16GB of DDR5 memory and a 512GB SSD, and support for Wi-Fi 7 so you stay connected even in larger homes.

More laptop deals

• HP 14-inch HD Windows 11 Laptop (Intel N150, 4GB RAM, 128GB Storage) — $199 $259 (save $60)

Best home security deal Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Wyze Wireless Video Doorbell $49.98 at Walmart
$65.97 Save $15.99   Get Deal at Walmart Why we like it

If you want to keep an eye out for who darkens your doorstep, this video doorbell is a boon for your home security setup. It has a 150-degree view and motion detection as well as two-way audio so you can communicate with anyone on your porch. You can mount it using battery alone or wire it into existing doorbell leads for constant power. It works with Alexa and Google Assistant and includes a one-month Cam Plus trial, which adds cloud recording and smarter person and package alerts.

More home security deals

• TP-Link Tapo TCW34 Dual-Camera Indoor/Outdoor Security Camera — $49 $58 (save $9)

PREORDER AT AMAZON: Monopoly Heated Rivalry Edition Board Game launches on June 1, 2027. Preorder are live at Amazon for $29.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hasbro Monopoly Heated Rivalry Edition Board Game $29.99 at Amazon
  Get Deal at Amazon

We've gone to the cottage in our living rooms, at the movie theater, and now we'll be able to visit via a board game.

Hasbro launches Monopoly Heated Rivalry edition on June 1, 2027. Preorders are already live at Amazon for $29.99 which comes with free delivery on June 2.

With references to Season 1 and nods to Season 2, the Heated Rivalry edition of the classic board game is sure to please any fan. You'll be able to buy iconic locations from the show like hotels and the cottage while moving one of six game tokens. Those include a tuna melt, a banana, a smoothie cup, hockey skates, and even a stupid Canadian wolf bird.

SEE ALSO: Start a game night tradition with these early Black Friday board game deals

Hasbro recommends the special edition Monopoly for players ages 17 and up. Since we're in holiday gift mode, consider this to be a fun surprise for that person in your life who simply will not shut up about the show (hi, that's me).

Power tools have certainly improved over the years, with more features, durability, and convenient designs, but portability has become an important part of everyone’s lifestyle. This is why you find newer tools coming out all the time that are smaller but powerful and useful, like the Milwaukee M12 series tools.

If all the emails flooding your inbox weren't enough of an indication, we're closing in on the biggest shopping holiday of the year. Black Friday technically doesn't happen until the dishes from Thanksgiving are scrubbed and put away. But retailers have gotten antsy over the years, kicking off their sales days or weeks in advance. Heck, the whole month of November is basically Black Friday at this point.

If you're hoping to do some discount shopping this holiday season, knowing precisely when to shop each major retailer's official Black Friday sale is key. To help you best strategize this season, we've rounded up the essential dates and times below.

When is Black Friday 2026?

Black Friday always lands on the day after Thanksgiving and the fourth Friday in November. In 2026, that happens to be on Friday, Nov. 27.

As you've probably noticed, however, most major retailers began rolling out early Black Friday deals as soon as the calendar switched to November. Likewise, some will draw things out even longer with Black Friday discounts that last far past the official shopping holiday. Black Friday is no longer a single 24-hour extravaganza; it's a full season.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Prime Day vs. Black Friday: When are the deals better?

Cyber Monday, the more online-centric shopping holiday, falls on the Monday after Black Friday. In 2026, that's on Monday, Nov. 30. Most retailers shift into Cyber Monday mode by the Saturday after Black Friday. It's silly, really, but the lines between the two deal-shopping holidays have been blurred beyond recognition.

When do Black Friday sales actually start at each retailer?

Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target tend to have the biggest Black Friday (and Cyber Monday) sales each year, so we've broken down all the nitty gritty details you need to know about each retailer's specific schedule in 2026. Plenty of deals are already live, but if you want to shop the official sales, here's the scoop.

Black Friday at Best Buy

For the second year in a row, Best Buy kicked off its holiday schedule scary early, with its first round of "doorBOOsters" dropping the day before Halloween. The electronics retailer will release new doorbusters on select tech every Friday leading up to the big day.

Best Buy's official Black Friday sale, aka the main event, will run in stores and online from Thursday, Nov. 19 through Saturday, Nov. 28. The calendar then flips to Cyber Monday on Sunday, Nov. 29 and runs through Monday, Nov. 30.

SEE ALSO: Everything to know about Best Buy's Black Friday sale: Early deals, price matching, store hours, and more Best Buy Black Friday hours

Best Buy's brick-and-mortar stores will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time on Black Friday. Want an old-school Black Friday experience? You can camp out at stores if you want to score high-demand items, but Best Buy will employ a ticketing system for customer and employee safety.

All Best Buy stores will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Black Friday at Walmart

Walmart announced plans for three major Black Friday calendar events for 2026. The first is an Early Black Friday Sale, which will take place from Nov. 12 through Nov. 15. The main event, aka the official Black Friday deals event will kick off Monday, Nov. 23 and last through Sunday, Nov. 29.

Deals will be live online only from Nov. 23 through Nov. 26, so in-store shoppers will have to wait until Black Friday proper. Walmart's Cyber Monday sale will take place from Monday, Nov. 30 through Wednesday, Dec. 2 online only.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about Walmart's Black Friday 2026 sale: Store hours, early access, best deals

During both the early and official Black Friday events, select online-only deals will be reserved for Walmart+ members exclusively for the first 24 hours, while supplies last. If you're not a Walmart+ member and want early access to these doorbusters, you can sign up for $12.95/month or $98/year. Trial members are not eligible for early access.

Walmart Black Friday hours

Walmart stores will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. local time on Black Friday. They'll be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Black Friday at Target

Target launched its first holiday savings event on Nov. 5, with early deals on holiday decor, kitchen appliances, and toys. Its Deal of the Day program also kicked off on Nov. 1 and will run through Dec. 24. Shoppers can score a new featured deal every day of the week until Dec. 24. So far, we've seen 50% off Stanley tumblers and $30 off Apple AirTags.

The official Black Friday shopping event, however, has not properly been announced. If Target follows a similar schedule as last year, we speculate that it'll kick off on Sunday, Nov. 22, and run through Saturday, Nov. 28. The best deals will likely drop exclusively from Nov. 26 through 28 for Black Friday proper. We'll update this with the latest information once it's revealed.

SEE ALSO: Everything to know about Target's Black Friday 2026 sale: Store hours, early access info, best deals

Target Circle 360 members will likely get early access to select deals, as in years past. The savings season will wrap up with Target's Cyber Monday Event from Nov. 29 through Nov. 30 (most likely), featuring online-only deals.

In 2025, Target made the in-store shopping experience worth it by offering the first 100 guests in line a free limited-edition iridescent tote bag, some with gifts inside valued up to $350. We'll be on the lookout for an in-store shopping incentive this year — stay tuned.

Target Black Friday hours

Target stores will open at 6 a.m. local time on Black Friday. Closing times vary by location (check your local store). They'll be closed on Thanksgiving, as is company policy.

Black Friday at Amazon

As in years past, Amazon is hosting a "Black Friday Week" savings event that will kick off on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 3:01 a.m. ET and run through Cyber Monday on Nov. 30. Banners will probably change over from Black Friday to Cyber Monday on Saturday, Nov. 28.

Daily themed deals will drop throughout the event, with "double drops" on Black Friday and Cyber Monday proper at 3 a.m. and 11 a.m. ET.

SEE ALSO: Everything to know about Amazon's extra-long Black Friday sale: Dates, daily deal drops, and more

You don't need to be a Prime member to shop Amazon's Black Friday sale, but it certainly doesn't hurt. There will likely be Prime-exclusive discounts sprinkled here and there throughout the event.

Amazon will also air its fourth annual Black Friday NFL game on Nov. 27 via Prime Video. (The Pittsburgh Steelers host the Denver Broncos, with kickoff slated for 3 p.m. ET) New discounts on toys, electronics, and apparel will be up for grabs during the game. Fans can shop simultaneously as they watch with an enhanced "Shop the Game" experience. There will also be an NBA on Prime doubleheader to follow (Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs).

Adobe Acrobat offers plenty of useful PDF tools, but paying a recurring subscription just to edit, sign, or convert documents can feel excessive. Especially when a self-hosted alternative can handle most of the same everyday tasks.

Opens in a new window Credit: De'Longhi De'Longhi Magnifica Duo Automatic Espresso Machine $699.95 at Amazon
$999.95 Save $300   Get Deal at Amazon

The chaos of the holiday season is here. Early Black Friday deals are coming in hot, the neighbors have the Christmas lights up, and it's time to plan the Thanksgiving menu. If you're feeling like you could use a hand in getting it all done, rest assured we have coffee. If you're feeling like your kitchen could use a coffee machine upgrade, check out this deal.

As of Nov. 11, the De'Longhi Magnifica Duo automatic espresso machine is on sale at Amazon for $699.95, down from the list price of $999.95. That's a 30% discount and the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

With a single touch, the Magnifica Duo can make 20 barista-style recipes like an iced latte, cappuccino, and cold brew. The built-in conical burr grinder means you'll be able to use freshly-ground coffee for each drink.

SEE ALSO: Early Black Friday kitchen deals from Ninja, De'Longhi, and Viking are already live

While plenty of espresso machines come with milk frothers, De'Longhi made this model especially convenient since the spout delivers milk into the cup without any help from you.

The automations on the machine mean you won't have to put in extra work to have a treat during the busy holiday season. It's also convenient if you'll be hosting guests. Instead of teaching them all how to use your coffee maker, they'll be able to follow the machine's prompts on the display to figure it out without any help.

Since this is the lowest price we've seen at Amazon on the De'Longhi Magnifica Duo, it might be worth shopping today instead of waiting for Black Friday. Plus, shopping this week means you'll have the machine ready to go well before Thanksgiving.

GIGABYTE’s boosted AI gaming laptop lineup is here — and gamers, creators, and power users alike should buckle up. Launched at COMPUTEX 2026 this past summer, the machines ship with the latest evolution of GIGABYTE’s on-device AI assistant, GiMATE, under the hood. 

Unlike an external AI agent or chatbot, GiMATE is a unified control hub powered by the company’s exclusive, fine-tuned LLM that's built into the system for seamless, hands-on hardware control. The upshot: GiMATE helps you get more from your laptop across gaming, creation, coding, entertainment, and everyday productivity.

While GIGABYTE's AI gaming laptops are all configurable, portable powerhouses, they do have their differences, and GiMATE features vary by model and configuration. Here’s a roundup of GIGABYTE AI gaming laptops to help you score the perfect one.

For power users and top-end gaming: AORUS MASTER 16 GEN 2 Credit: GIGABYTE

If extremes are your thing, the AORUS MASTER 16 GEN 2 will melt your face off. The premium AI gaming laptop pairs a blistering AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D processor with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU, dominating the HDR1000 OLED gaming arena, especially if you want high-texture settings, ray tracing, and sky-high refresh rates.

Opens in a new window Credit: GIGABYTE GIGABYTE AORUS MASTER 16 GEN 2 $4,599.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon

All this flagship-class hardware is packed into a surprisingly slim 19mm chassis, with four Dolby Atmos-powered speakers, and topped with a 16-inch, 240Hz OLED display with a 0.2ms response time that doesn’t flinch during gameplay. WINDFORCE INFINITY EX thermals let you go long and strong, while keeping your cool.

In addition to the full suite of updated GiMATE, this laptop also features Customize Mode, which lets you dial in the GPU power and cooling even more, for sessions that feel seriously personal.  It’s also the only model in this lineup with AI Visual Technology, which offers scenario-based display modes: Cinema Mode for richer color, Racing and FPS modes for sharper visuals in fast-paced play, an RPG mode, and E-Paper Mode for more comfortable reading.

For creators and AI productivity on the go: AERO X16; Copilot+ PC Credit: GIGABYTE

As the first-ever GIGABYTE Microsoft Copilot+ PC, the thin-and-light AERO X16 crushes AI workflows and mid-range gaming. And with over 14 hours of battery life, you can do it all off-plug, without having to hunt for an outlet.

Opens in a new window Credit: GIGABYTE GIGABYTE AERO X16; Copilot+ PC $1,768.22 at Amazon
$2,099.99 Save $331.77   Get Deal at Amazon

For gamers, up to the latest AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 400 Series processor and an RTX 5070 Laptop GPU with 12GB of VRAM easily tear through your fave AAA titles. Thanks to updated GiMATE Creator quantization and that 12GB of VRAM, the machine also runs larger language models (LLMs) more efficiently. GiMATE Creator now supports Qwen-Image for generating visuals from English or Chinese prompts, and on RTX 50 Series Laptop GPUs it taps NVIDIA NVFP4 quantization to run generative AI models faster. And as a Copilot+ PC, it’s your launchpad for Microsoft’s suite of AI image-generation, translation, and day-to-day productivity tools. The 16-inch, 2560 x 1440 IPS display is a dazzler, and a 165Hz refresh rate easily passes muster for both work and play.

The cherry on top? This AI-loaded creator-gamer hybrid starts at 16.75 millimeters thick and weighs 4.19 pounds. You’ll barely feel it in your pack.

For GPU power hounds on a budget: GIGABYTE GAMING A16 PRO Credit: GIGABYTE

This GiMATE-stacked laptop is an excellent pick for AI gamers and creators who want the high-tier graphics of an RTX 5080 Laptop GPU without the flagship price tag.

Opens in a new window Credit: GIGABYTE GIGABYTE GAMING A16 PRO $2,199 at Amazon
$2,649.99 Save $450.99   Get Deal at Amazon

Powered by an Intel Core 7 240H processor and high-performance graphics capabilities, the feisty machine easily handles your library of AAA games at high to ultra settings. For creators, the power-packed GPU accelerates your video editing, 3D rendering, and AI workflows across the board, thanks to its NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and dedicated GDDR7 VRAM. And if you code, GiMATE Coder is a local AI assistant that helps you generate, debug, and refactor code in Python, JavaScript, C++, and more, right inside Visual Studio Code. Need to present your renderings or marketing deck to the team? The 16-inch, 165Hz IPS WQXGA 2560 x 1440 display lays flat on a 180-degree hinge, making sharing a snap.

All of this GPU firepower, GiMATE’s AI toolkit, and over 12 hours of battery life are squeezed into a trim 19.45mm chassis you can easily tote around to offsite meetings and coffee shops.

For newbie AI gamers and light creators: GIGABYTE GAMING A16 Credit: GIGABYTE

Just starting your AI journey? GIGABYTE’s mainstream AI gaming laptop is priced right and plays hard. The stealth GIGABYTE GAMING A16 ships with an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor and up to an RTX 5070 Laptop GPU with a full 115W TGP, delivering hair-raising performance out of the box. Bonus points for the upgradable memory and storage options that offer growing room as you level up.

Opens in a new window Credit: GIGABYTE GIGABYTE GAMING A16 $1,899.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon

A 16-inch 2560 x 1440 IPS display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and a fast, 165Hz refresh rate makes for smooth sword fights and crisp visuals for creative work. Among the bundle of baked-in GiMATE, MUX switching really comes in handy here, letting you flip between dGPU-only mode, which runs everything through the dedicated graphics for max performance, and hybrid mode, which leans on the integrated graphics (iGPU) to stretch battery life up to 12 hours, all with a quick restart instead of a trip into the BIOS.

GIGABYTE has boosted its AI gaming laptops with GiMATE AI assistance, putting them on the shortlist for anyone getting, or gifting, a laptop this year. Nab your perfect GIGABYTE AI machine before the holiday rush hits.

SAVE $12: As of Nov. 11, get the Lego Pokémon Eevee set for $47.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $59.99. That's a discount of 20%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Lego Pokémon Eevee $47.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $12   Get Deal at Amazon

If you're a Lego fan, there are plenty of early Black Friday deals popping up that you can take advantage of. One set in particular is well worth making some space for in your budget if you're a Pokémon lover, as one of the most adorable monsters from the original 151 is up for grabs to immortalize out of the colorful bricks right now for a great discount.

As of Nov. 11, get the Lego Pokémon Eevee set for $47.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $59.99. That's $12 off and a discount of 20%.

SEE ALSO: We found 45 early Black Friday deals already live: Get $250 off MacBooks, 53% off Bose headphones

This Eevee building set comes with a whopping 587 pieces so you can bring the cute little Normal-type, which can evolve into a variety of elemental 'mons, to life. It has a movable head and set of limbs with ears you can pose, as well as an angled tail, so when you build it, you can make it look like Eevee is wagging at you or tilting its head in an adorable manner.

When finished, you'll also find a special hidden Easter egg as part of Eevee's build that's a nod to all of its possible evolutions like Flareon, Vaporeon, and Glaceon. That makes it a great pick for fans of Pokémon in general or just this sprightly little guy, who's bound to put a smile in your (or a friend's or family member's) day. It's a short and sweet build, but if you love this Pokémon, it's well worth picking up.

When it comes to cloud storage, the difference between ubiquity and security is that the most common software solutions usually don't have your best interests at heart. Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive offer few protections for your data, which is a problem when you just want to make sure your family photos are safe and a downright liability if you're working with sensitive information.

SAVE 50%: Through Nov. 17, Prime members can knock 50% off the price of one eligible Amazon Alexa device during the exclusive sale.

Shop the Prime member-exclusive sale on Alexa+ devices: Amazon Echo Time $99.99 (save $100 as a Prime member) Get Deal Amazon Echo Dot $49.99 (save $50 as a Prime member) Get Deal Amazon Alexa Photo Frame $99.99 (save $100 as a Prime member) Get Deal Amazon Echo Studio with Home Camera $124.99 (save $125 as a Prime member) Get Deal Amazon Kids Echo Dot $54.99 (save $55 as a Prime member) Get Deal Amazon Kids Echo Time $104.99 (save $105 as a Prime member) Get Deal

Last week, Amazon dropped a new generation of Alexa devices, just in time for the holidays. This week, it's giving Prime members first dibs on discounts on those devices.

Through Nov. 17, Prime members can take 50% off an eligible Amazon Alexa device with an exclusive coupon (scroll to the bottom of the page to see the eligible devices). Choose your device thoughtfully, as the deal is limited to one device per customer. If multiple eligible devices are added to your cart, the discount applies to the lowest-priced item. Click the "Apply offer" or "Exclusive offer" box on any eligible device listing to activate the discount.

All of the brand-new Alexa devices announced last week are eligible for the 50% discount, except the Echo Show 16, which isn't yet available. That means you can score the adorable Echo Time smart alarm clock for a much more affordable $99.99, compared to its full list price of $199.99. The new Echo Dot price would drop from $99.99 to $49.99, while the Alexa Photo Frame would clock in at just under $100, down from $200. Amazon's new kids Echo devices are also eligible.

New devices aren't the only ones included in the lineup. You can also score older Echo Show devices, including the 5, 8, 11, 15, and 21, as well as the Echo Studio, Dot Max, Pop Kids, Spot, and previous-gen Echo Dot. We've rounded up all the devices you can choose from below, along with their price drops using the Prime-exclusive coupon.

New Amazon Alexa devices included in the sale

• Amazon Echo Dot — $49.99 $99.99 (save $50 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Amazon Echo Dot Kids — $54.99 $109.99 (save $55 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Amazon Alexa Photo Frame — $99.99 $199.99 (save $100 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Amazon Echo Time — $99.99 $199.99 (save $100 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Amazon Echo Studio with Home Camera — $124.99 $149.99 (save $125 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Amazon Echo Time Kids — $154.99 $209.99 (save $155 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

Older Amazon Alexa devices included in the sale

• Echo Pop Kids — $24.99 $49.99 (save $25 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Dot (2022) — $39.99 $79.99 (save $40 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Dot Kids (2022) — $44.99 $89.99 (save $45 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Show 5 — $49.99 $99.99 (save $50 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Spot — $54.99 $109.99 (save $55 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Dot Max — $59.99 $119.99 (save $60 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Show 8 — $99.99 $199.99 (save $100 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Studio — $109.99 $219.99 (save $110 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Show 11 — $124.99 $249.99 (save $125 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Show 15 — $174.99 $349.99 (save $175 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Show 21 — $249.99 $499.99 (save $250 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

Your phone won't let you record a lecture because the storage is full, your laptop keeps surfacing "manage storage" pop-ups you've been ignoring for weeks, and you finally go to download the game you've been waiting for, only to realize you don't have enough space. 

The reflex when a device runs out of room is to assume the device itself is the problem, but the fix is a lot less drastic and a lot less expensive than a replacement. Sandisk has 5 upgrade options, each one designed for a different "I've run out of space" moment. 

Stop deleting old photos to make room for new photos  Opens in a new window Credit: Sandisk Phone Drive with USB-C $89.99 at Sandisk
$112.99 Save $23   Get Deal at Sandisk

The SanDisk Phone Drive with USB-C (starting at $112.99) plugs straight into your USB-C smartphone and can add up to 1TB* of extra space, which is enough to keep you from deleting photos from your camera roll in between classes. It moves files between your phone, tablet, and laptop, and other USB-C compatible devices without a cable or cloud upload, and it comes in four colors, so it can stand out from the clutter at the bottom of your bag. 

A storage fix you can leave plugged in  Opens in a new window Credit: Sandisk Extreme Fit USB-C Flash Drive $24.99 at Sandisk
$34.99 Save $10.00   Get Deal at Sandisk

The SANDISK Extreme Fit USB-C Flash Drive (starting at $34.99) uses a "plug-and-stay" design that sits nearly flush with your laptop's USB-C port, so it stays put when you shove the laptop into a backpack and move between classes. With up to 1TB* of extra capacity, there’s plenty of room to offload a semester’s worth of project files and free up space for what you’re working on next. 

Space for What the semester brings  Opens in a new window Credit: Sandisk Portable Drive $89.99 at Sandisk
$112.99 Save $23   Get Deal at Sandisk

The SANDISK Portable Drive (starting at $112.99) is a pocket-sized alternative to the bulky portable hard drives of the past, with transfer speeds up to 4x faster than old-school portable hard drives**. Toss it in your backpack to keep the files you want to hang onto close at hand, whether you’re moving between your dorm, the library, class, or heading home for break. It’s an easy way to add everyday storage to your setup and make more room on the devices you already use. Turn your laptop into a gaming rig 

Opens in a new window Credit: Sandisk Optimus GX 7100 NVMe SSD $119.99 at Sandisk
$207.99 Save $88.00   Get Deal at Sandisk

The SANDISK Optimus GX 7100 NVMe SSD (starting at $207.99) is the internal upgrade option that installs inside a compatible laptop and adds fast NVMe storage with a power-efficient architecture so that a game library and a semester’s worth of assignments can coexist on one machine. The appeal is simple — upgrade what you already own instead of replacing it.  

Have game (and storage), will travel Opens in a new window Credit: Sandisk Optimus GX 7100M NVMe SSD $229.99 at Sandisk
$387.99 Save $158   Get Deal at Sandisk

The SANDISK Optimus GX 7100M NVMe SSD (starting at $387.99) is the handheld version of the same idea, adding up to 2TB* of space to compatible gaming handhelds. With AAA titles routinely running 90GB or more, up to 2TB* means your game library travels with you instead of having to decide which ones make the cut. 

Solve your storage problems for good with Sandisk without monthly storage subscription fees. You'll have an easier time getting back into your creative flow, too. 

Disclosures: 

* 1GB=1,000,000,000 bytes. 1TB=1,000,000,000,000 bytes. Actual user storage capacity less. 

**  Based on read speed and internal testing against select commercially available 1TB portable HDDs. Performance may vary depending upon host device, usage conditions, drive capacity, and other factors.  

SANDISK, the SANDISK logo, SANDISK Extreme, SANDISK Extreme Fit and SANDISK Optimus are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sandisk Corporation or its affiliates in the US and/or other countries. The NVMe word mark is a trademark of NVM Express, Inc. USB-C is a registered trademark of USB Implementers Forum. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. 

© 2026 Sandisk Corporation or its affiliates. All rights reserved.  

Product specifications are subject to change without notice. Pictures shown may vary from actual products.