Technology

Computer monitors have had a strange gap in technologies for quite some time. At the top of the stack are OLED gaming monitors that offer the best specifications and image quality, and then the next most common option seems to be monitors with very basic backlights with either no local dimming, or a very rudimentary implementation of it.

TL;DR: The 2026 AI Content Creation Lifetime Bundle gives you two pro-grade AI tools for writing and voiceovers — for just $39.99 (reg. $2,070).

Opens in a new window Credit: StackCommerce 2026 AI Content Creation Lifetime Subscription Bundle $39.99
$2,070 Save $2,030.01   Get Deal

If your content workflow feels like a juggling act — writing, editing, translating, and then recording — here’s your new secret weapon: The 2026 AI Content Creation Lifetime Subscription Bundle.

For just $39.99, you’ll get lifetime access to two powerhouse tools, WordPop AI and SpeakBreez AI, designed to take your creative and professional projects from idea to finished product — in less time than it takes to brew your morning coffee.

SEE ALSO: Google's AI can now automatically call stores and buy items for you

WordPop AI was designed to be your all-in-one writing assistant, translator, and document wizard. It’s built to handle everything from SEO-optimized blog posts and polished business copy to multilingual content and creative storytelling.

With 100+ templates, 120+ supported languages, and an AI Writing Editor that adjusts tone and style on the fly, WordPop AI makes writing feel less like work and more like an easy flow.

Then there’s SpeakBreez AI, a digital voice studio. It gives you access to 800+ ultra-realistic voices across 142 languages — ideal for YouTubers, educators, marketers, and business owners. From corporate training narrations to podcast intros, SpeakBreez lets you turn text into human-quality voiceovers in seconds. And it’s fast.

Together, these two tools can help you create more efficiently, scale content production, and stay competitive without a mountain of subscriptions.

You’ll write, speak, and publish easier — all for a one-time payment. Get the 2026 AI Content Creation Lifetime Subscription Bundle, on sale for just $39.99 (reg. $2,070) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Apple TV may have the hottest show streaming right now with Pluribus, but let's not forget that the streaming giant also has a pretty solid selection of movies to watch, too.

BEST-EVER PRICE: The M5 MacBook Pro is on sale at Amazon for $1,473, down from the list price of $1,599.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro M5 $1,473 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $126   Get Deal

The early Black Friday deals at Amazon are making us look like fools. We made a lot of noise about the most recent price drop on the brand new MacBook Pro M5, but now it has fallen even further. OK, we not talking big numbers here (an extra $7 off), but a new record-low price is a new record-low price. We're certainly not complaining.

As of Nov. 17, the Apple MacBook Pro M5 is on sale for $1,473 at Amazon. That's down from its list price of $1,599, and the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon. So what are you waiting for? Black Friday deals like this don't always stick around for long.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Black Friday ad: The best early deals you can buy online

Mashable's Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth reviewed the new M5 MacBook Pro and awarded it a Mashable Choice Award, so you know it's worth the splurge even at list price. According to Werth, "The new MacBook Pro offers only iterative improvements over its predecessor, but that hardly matters with a device this good. With a beautifully crisp display and M5 silicon, the MacBook Pro surges even further ahead of Windows laptops."

There are already a bunch of MacBook deals to consider ahead of Black Friday, but this might be a candidate for the best. Need something super powerful that can handle even the most demanding of creative tasks? This could be the deal for you.

Click. Click. Click. Nowadays, that's not the sound of using your remote to change channels, but rather of scrolling through Netflix looking for something decent to watch. Sometimes it feels like you're being shown the same handful of movies, right?

The Game Awards 2025 has finally revealed its nominees for categories such as Best Racing Game, Best Sports Game, and the coveted Game of the Year. This has been one of the best years for gaming in recent memory. Nintendo launched the Switch 2, the successor to its dominating console and handheld hybrid, and Xbox dipped its own toes into the handheld market with the ROG Xbox Ally.

There have been some incredible hits across the industry from small indies like Blue Prince and Despelote, as well as blockbusters like Doom: The Dark Ages, Split Fiction, and Monster Hunter Wilds. There have also been quite a few late-year surprises like ARC Raiders and Dispatch.

But only one game can take home 2025’s Game of the Year award, and there are only six nominees. Keep reading to learn how to vote in The Game Awards 2025 as well as the full list of categories and nominees, from best indie game to best art direction.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the clear fan favorite to win 2025’s Game of the Year award. Made by a small group of passionate developers in France, this game combines engaging turn-based combat with believable characters to tell one of the most emotional impactful stories this year. Plus, unlike every other game of the year nominee, Expedition 33 isn't a sequel or franchise title, which may give it an extra edge among players.

Expedition 33 is also leading the pack with a staggering 12 nominations this year in other categories, including Best Art Direction and Best Narrative.

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 PS5 $48.97 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

The sequel to Hideo Kojima’s post-apocalyptic epic, Death Stranding, is another fantastic narrative-driven game with themes about connection, grief, and loss. With Death Stranding 2, Helldivers 2, and Ghost of Yotei, Sony is this year’s most nominated publisher with 19 nominations.

Death Stranding was a nominee for Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2019, but ultimately lost out to From Software and Activision’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Let’s see if Kojima can take home the award this time.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kojima Productions Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (PS5) $69 at Amazon
  Shop Now Donkey Kong Bananza

Nintendo has taken its ape mascot and created one of the best 3D platformers this year with Donkey Kong Banaza. The camaraderie between Donkey Kong and Daisy is so charming, and the game’s innovative destruction mechanics make it fun to smash the environment into pieces. 

Nintendo has received plenty of Game of the Year nominations throughout the years with games like Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Metroid Dread, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, but hasn’t won the category since 2017 with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Donkey Kong Bananza - Nintendo Switch 2 $69.99 at Best Buy
  Shop Now at Best Buy Hades 2

Hades was 2020’s indie darling. The incredibly addictive “just one more round” roguelite gameplay, appealing cast of characters, and bold comic-book art direction captivated players all across the world. Hades 2 brings more of the same but turns the dial up. With even more gameplay refinements, areas to explore, and deities to meet, it’s no wonder that Hades 2 has received a Game of the Year nomination.

Hades was nominated for Game of the Year in 2020, but lost to The Last of Us Part 2. Now’s another chance for it to win.

Hades II - Nintendo Switch™ 2 Edition $49.94 at Walmart
  Shop Now at Walmart Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy Hollow Knight Silksong

Together with Hades 2 and Expedition 33, Hollow Knight Silksong completes the indie trifecta of nominations this year. It’s surprising that this game actually came out this year after numerous delays, but the wait definitely paid off. Its exploration and difficulty are immensely rewarding, making it one of the best 2D platformers in years.

Its predecessor, Hollow Knight, was nominated for Best Debut Indie Game in 2017, but lost to Cuphead. Now, its sequel joined the big leagues with a Game of the Year nomination. Talk about a glow up!

Opens in a new window Credit: Team Cherry Hollow Knight: Silksong (Nintendo Switch 2 - Digital Code) $19.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Opens in a new window Credit: Warhorse Studios Kingdom Come Deliverance II $58.68 at Amazon
  Shop Now

This one is a bit of a surprise because for as great as Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is, there are other games that could’ve taken its place in this nomination. The other nominees have stayed in the cultural zeitgeist and were shoe-ins. Still, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2’s dedication to historical realism and gameplay is impressive, and its story is more emotionally charged than the first game, making it an excellent medieval simulation RPG.

The first game didn’t receive any nominations at previous shows, so it must be exciting for the devs to get their first nomination at The Game Awards, and for the ultimate Game of the Year category, no less.

How to vote in The Game Awards 2025

The Game Awards 2025 takes place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California and will air on December 11. You can vote for your favorite games on The Game Awards website. All you have to do is create an account and sign in to start voting right away. However, the winners aren't simply chosen by popular vote.

In addition to fan votes, The Game Awards has a "jury of over 100 global media and influencer outlets, selected for their history of critical video game evaluation. Specialized juries also convene for other categories including esports, accessibility and best adaptation." In the end, "Winners are determined by a blended vote between the voting jury (90%) and public fan voting (10%). Fans can vote for their favorite games on TheGameAwards.com.

The Game Awards 2025: Full list of nominees

Besides the six Game of the Year nominees, here's the full list of categories and nominations for 2025.

Best Independent Game:

• Absolum

• BALL x PIT

• Blue Prince

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

• Hades II

• Hollow Knight: Silksong

Best Debut Indie Game:

• Blue Prince

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

• despelote

• Dispatch

• Megabonk

Best Mobile Game:

• Destiny: Rising

• Persona 5: The Phantom X

• Sonic Rumble

• Umamusume: Pretty Derby

• Wuthering Waves

Best Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality Game:

• Alien: Rogue Incursion

• Arken Age

• Ghost Town

• Marvel’s Deadpool VR

• The Midnight Walk

Best Action Game:

• Battlefield 6

• Doom: The Dark Ages

• Hades II

• Ninja Gaiden 4

• Shinobi: Art of Vengeance

Best Role-Playing Game:

• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

• Ghost of Yotei

• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

• Hollow Knight: Silksong

• Split Fiction

Best Fighting Game:

• 2XKO

• Capcom Fighting Collection 2

• Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves

• Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection

• Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage

Best Family Game:

• Donkey Kong Bananza

• LEGO Party!

• LEGO Voyagers

• Mario Kart World

• Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds

• Split Fiction

Best Simulation/Strategy Game:

• The Alters

• Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles

• Jurassic World Evolution 3

• Sid Meier’s Civilization VII

• Tempest Rising

• Two Point Museum

Best Sports/Racing Game:

• EA Sports FC 26

• F1 25

• Mario Kart World

• REMATCH

• Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds

Best Multiplayer Game:

• ARC Raiders

• Battlefield 6

• Elden Ring Nightreign

• PEAK

• Split Fiction

Best Game Direction:

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

• Ghost of Yotei

• Hades II

• Split Fiction

Best Narrative:

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

• Ghost of Yotei

• Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

• Silent Hill f

Best Art Direction:

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

• Ghost of Yotei

• Hades II

• Hollow Knight: Silksong

Best Score and Music:

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

• Ghost of Yotei

• Hades II

• Hollow Knight: Silksong

Best Audio Design:

• Battlefield 6

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

• Ghost of Yotei

• Silent Hill f

Best Performance:

• Benn Star in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

• Charlie Cox in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

• Erika Ishii in Ghost of Yotei

• Jennifer English in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

• Konatsu Kato in Silent Hill f

• Troy Baker in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Innovation in Accessibility:

• Assassin’s Creed Shadows

• Atomfall

• Doom: The Dark Ages

• EA Sports FC 26

• South of Midnight

Games for Impact:

• Consume Me

• despelote

• Lost Records: Bloom & Rage

• South of Midnight

• Wanderstop

Best Ongoing Game:

• Final Fantasy XIV

• Fortnite

• Helldivers II

• Marvel Rivals

• No Man’s Sky

Best Community Support:

• Baldur’s Gate III

• Final Fantasy XIV

• Fortnite

• Helldivers II

• No Man’s Sky

Best Game Adaptation:

• A Minecraft Movie

• Devil May Cry

• Splinter Cell: Deathwatch

• The Last of Us Season 2

• Until Dawn

Most-Anticipated Game:

• 007 First Light

• Grand Theft Auto VI

• Marvel’s Wolverine

• Resident Evil Requiem

• The Witcher IV

Content Creator of the Year:

• Caedrel

• Kai Cenat

• MoistCr1TiKaL

• Sakura Miko

• The Burnt Peanut

Best eSports Game:

• Counter-Strike 2

• DOTA 2

• League of Legends

• Mobile Legends: Bang Bang

• VALORANT

Best eSports Athlete:

• brawk – Brock Somerhalder (VALORANT)

• Chovy – Jeong Ji-hoon (League of Legends)

• f0rsakeN – Jason Susanto (VALORANT)

• Kakeru – Kakeru Watanabe (Street Fighter)

• MenaRD – Saul Leonardo (Street Fighter)

• Zyw0o – Mathieu Herbaut (Counter-Strike 2)

Best eSports Team:

• Gen.G (League of Legends)

• NRG (VALORANT)

• Team Falcons (DOTA 2)

• Team Liquid PH (Mobile Legends: Bang Bang)

• Team Vitality

Ever miss using your Laptop’s trackpad while working on your Windows desktop? Are you someone who mostly uses creative or office apps and would benefit from gesture support on your PC? Well, the perfect solution already exists—but it comes from an unexpected source: Apple!

Pickup trucks today are beasts—capable, powerful, and loaded with features that can rival a luxury car. But all that muscle and tech often means clunky fuel economy, a huge turning radius, and more gadgets than anyone really needs.

DoorDash has confirmed a data breach that leaked phone numbers, first and last names, physical addresses, and other information. It's unclear how many people are affected.

At this point, it should be clear that anything you read from Google’s AI Overview needs to be taken with a grain of salt — including when it starts labeling real video games as fictional. Case in point: Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

For the past few months, searching "Black Ops 7" on Google has returned a bizarre response from the search engine’s Gemini-powered AI Overview, which insists the game doesn’t exist. "Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is a fictional video game that does not exist," the AI claims. It even elaborates: "The search results describe a hypothetical game with a November 14, 2025, release date, a story set in 2035 that continues the narrative from Black Ops 2 and Black Ops... The fictional game includes co-op campaign, multiplayer, and a Zombies mode."

Credit: Screenshot: Google

What makes the situation even stranger is that everything the AI lists — from the release date to the 2035 setting to the available modes — is actually true. Yet it still labels the game as "fictional." Black Ops 7 is the 22nd mainline entry in the Call of Duty franchise and the eighth installment in the Black Ops universe. Right now, it’s sitting at a grim 1.8 user score on Metacritic, with players voicing frustration over a disappointing single-player campaign and the blatant use of generative AI for core assets throughout the game.

The issue was first spotted about three months ago by a Reddit user in the r/google subreddit. As of Nov. 13 — the day before the game’s release — I was able to replicate the same problem multiple times, and it’s still happening as of this writing. Interestingly, the glitch appears to be limited to mobile devices and AI Overviews; Google's AI mode correctly recognizes that Black Ops 7 is real. Mashable reached out to both Google and Activision-Blizzard, but have not yet received a comment from either.

What's happening with AI Overviews is a small but telling example of a much larger problem: Big Tech’s AI systems still struggle to keep up with real-time information, especially around breaking news or newly released media.

AI Overviews has no trouble recognizing the release and existence of other games that launched around the same time as Black Ops 7. For example, it correctly tells me that Yakuza Kiwami 2 received a Switch 2 release this month. But in the same breath, it completely fumbles Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero — first labeling it as a mobile game, then immediately correcting itself and saying it isn’t, all while failing to mention that it also just launched on Switch and Switch 2.

Credit: Screenshot: Google

As Mashable's Chase DiBenedetto has reported before, "While AI assistants may be helpful for simple daily tasks... their weakness at reporting news is a liability for everyone, according to watchdogs and media leaders alike." And while this current glitch may only involve a video game, it highlights the same broader issue.

We’ve already seen how easily AI chatbots can spread or reinforce misinformation in far more serious contexts — like Grok's viral claim that the Charlie Kirk shooting was a hoax. As more people rely on AI tools as on-demand fact-checkers, especially during highly volatile events, these inaccuracies could be seen as a danger.

The Steam Machine is Valve’s latest attempt to bring more players into the PC ecosystem, the only place where Steam and countless PC-exclusive titles live. But when I saw the announcement, I couldn’t help scratching my head and wondering: who exactly is this living-room, console-like PC supposed to be for?

The Google Tasks app is useful, but personally, I've always found it to be a little barebones. It has a notable advantage in the fact that it comes with our Android phones and integrates with Google Calendar, but it lacks a lot of features that are commonplace on other apps. Now, it just got a huge upgrade.

As a tech geek, I’ve always loved gadgets—smartwatches notwithstanding. But over the past few years, my preferences have shifted, and I’ve realized I don’t enjoy wearing my smartwatch the way I used to, which ultimately pushed me back into the world of traditional watches.

Back in March, a working paper from researchers at NYU and other universities suggested that age-verification laws are ineffective. Now, a new analysis not only supports the same finding but also suggests that these laws may impose a burden on adults' First Amendment rights.

The new study, conducted by the public policy nonprofit the Phoenix Center, finds that these laws should fail a constitutional cost-benefit test. Meaning, if the laws are ineffective, then the cost to adults' constitutional rights to view legal content likely outweighs the benefit of preventing minors from seeing it.

Age-verification laws in the United States and beyond typically require websites that host a decent amount of explicit content to verify visitors' ages with more than a "yes or no" checkbox — such as with their government ID or a facial recognition scan. But, especially with the onset of the United Kingdom's age-verification law over the summer, some non-explicit platforms like YouTube are starting to implement age checks as well.

SEE ALSO: How to unblock Pornhub for free

Experts have long told Mashable that these laws won't work for their intended purpose of keeping minors off pornographic websites. Software like VPNs can circumvent them, and users can simply visit websites that don't comply with the laws. There are also privacy and security concerns associated with these laws, such as the inability to browse legal content anonymously and inputting personal data into a third-party system that may be vulnerable to hacking.

Still, lawmakers have introduced and passed age verification laws in many states and countries. And since the initial release of the working paper in March this year, the Supreme Court has deemed age verification laws constitutional, despite concerns that they quell free speech and thus infringe on the First Amendment.

Costs and benefits of age-verification

The Phoenix Center's cost-benefit analysis is important due to SCOTUS's recent ruling. In June, the majority of the court decided that Texas's age-verification law was subject to the "intermediate scrutiny" standard. As the study outlines, the Supreme Court held that "Texas's age-verification law served an important government interest and that age-verification was substantially related to achieving that purpose."

Phoenix Center's chief economist, Dr. George S. Ford, conducted the study and reasoned that age-verification laws should deter substantially more minors than adults in order for this standard to hold up.

He used Google Trends data before and after states implemented their laws and/or Pornhub blocked itself in these states. He found spikes in searches for "VPN" (47 percent increase in the week Pornhub pulled out of the state, sustained for around 20 weeks) and "free porn" (30 percent increase without a significant decrease back down).

And while Google doesn't break down whether it's an adult or a minor searching, other research has found that adolescents aged 13-18 are likely to know how to use VPNs or can easily adopt them. This suggests that users, including minors, simply go around the laws.

"The evidence suggests a regulatory regime where the intended targets — tech-savvy minors — can easily bypass restrictions while adults exercising constitutional rights bear the primary costs," Ford stated in the press release.

In the study, Ford also laid out cybersecurity risks of using free VPNs, such as increased vulnerability to ransomware incidents, IP leaks, and third-party tracking.

While more research has to be done, Ford wrote in the study that the effectiveness of age verification laws at protecting minors is "questionable," both because knowledgeable teens can find ways to circumvent them and because of the costs of impeding adults' First Amendment rights.

"When a policy's burdens on protected speech substantially exceed its effectiveness at achieving its stated purpose, it fails the constitutional requirement of being 'substantially related' to that purpose, regardless of how important the objective may be," he continued in the press release. "Add to this the cybersecurity risks and degradation of internet infrastructure, and we have a clear case where costs exceed benefits."

Back in March, a working paper from researchers at NYU and other universities suggested that age-verification laws are ineffective. Now, a new analysis not only supports the same finding but also suggests that these laws may impose a burden on adults' First Amendment rights.

The new study, conducted by the public policy nonprofit the Phoenix Center, finds that these laws should fail a constitutional cost-benefit test. Meaning, if the laws are ineffective, then the cost to adults' constitutional rights to view legal content likely outweighs the benefit of preventing minors from seeing it.

Age-verification laws in the United States and beyond typically require websites that host a decent amount of explicit content to verify visitors' ages with more than a "yes or no" checkbox — such as with their government ID or a facial recognition scan. But, especially with the onset of the United Kingdom's age-verification law over the summer, some non-explicit platforms like YouTube are starting to implement age checks as well.

SEE ALSO: How to unblock Pornhub for free

Experts have long told Mashable that these laws won't work for their intended purpose of keeping minors off pornographic websites. Software like VPNs can circumvent them, and users can simply visit websites that don't comply with the laws. There are also privacy and security concerns associated with these laws, such as the inability to browse legal content anonymously and inputting personal data into a third-party system that may be vulnerable to hacking.

Still, lawmakers have introduced and passed age verification laws in many states and countries. And since the initial release of the working paper in March this year, the Supreme Court has deemed age verification laws constitutional, despite concerns that they quell free speech and thus infringe on the First Amendment.

Costs and benefits of age-verification

The Phoenix Center's cost-benefit analysis is important due to SCOTUS's recent ruling. In June, the majority of the court decided that Texas's age-verification law was subject to the "intermediate scrutiny" standard. As the study outlines, the Supreme Court held that "Texas's age-verification law served an important government interest and that age-verification was substantially related to achieving that purpose."

Phoenix Center's chief economist, Dr. George S. Ford, conducted the study and reasoned that age-verification laws should deter substantially more minors than adults in order for this standard to hold up.

He used Google Trends data before and after states implemented their laws and/or Pornhub blocked itself in these states. He found spikes in searches for "VPN" (47 percent increase in the week Pornhub pulled out of the state, sustained for around 20 weeks) and "free porn" (30 percent increase without a significant decrease back down).

And while Google doesn't break down whether it's an adult or a minor searching, other research has found that adolescents aged 13-18 are likely to know how to use VPNs or can easily adopt them. This suggests that users, including minors, simply go around the laws.

"The evidence suggests a regulatory regime where the intended targets — tech-savvy minors — can easily bypass restrictions while adults exercising constitutional rights bear the primary costs," Ford stated in the press release.

In the study, Ford also laid out cybersecurity risks of using free VPNs, such as increased vulnerability to ransomware incidents, IP leaks, and third-party tracking.

While more research has to be done, Ford wrote in the study that the effectiveness of age verification laws at protecting minors is "questionable," both because knowledgeable teens can find ways to circumvent them and because of the costs of impeding adults' First Amendment rights.

"When a policy's burdens on protected speech substantially exceed its effectiveness at achieving its stated purpose, it fails the constitutional requirement of being 'substantially related' to that purpose, regardless of how important the objective may be," he continued in the press release. "Add to this the cybersecurity risks and degradation of internet infrastructure, and we have a clear case where costs exceed benefits."

SAVE $30: As of Nov. 17, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is only $9.99 for select customers with the on-page coupon code STREAM4K at Amazon. That's 75% off its list price and its lowest price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $9.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $30 with on-page coupon code STREAM4K Get Deal

If a streaming stick is on your shopping list, there's no reason to wait for Black Friday to grab one. Amazon is practically giving away its new Fire TV Stick 4K Select.

As of Nov. 17, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select is down to just $9.99 at Amazon for select customers with the on-page coupon code STREAM4K. That's 75% off its list price of $39.99 and its lowest price ever by a landslide. Without the coupon code, it's still a pretty solid deal at $21.99, but $10 for a 4K streaming stick is honestly outrageous.

Unfortunately, the coupon code seems to only be available for select customers. Several members of Mashable's shopping team are able to see the code, while a few others can't. We're unsure how Amazon goes about selecting which customers are eligible, but congrats if you're one of Amazon's favorites.

You can find the coupon code underneath the pricing details at Amazon if you're one of the lucky ones. Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

The Fire TV 4K Select launched this fall as part of Amazon's newest Fire TV lineup. Whether or not we really needed another Fire TV Stick in general is debatable, but at this wildly low early Black Friday price, we're certainly not complaining. Amazon calls it the "most affordable 4K streaming stick yet." It offers vibrant 4K quality with HDR10+ support and a new operating system called Vega that is ultra-responsive and fast. Its plug-and-play design is the same as every other Fire TV Stick, and it will soon offer support for Alexa+, Xbox Game Pass, Amazon Luna, Amazon Kids+, and NordVPN.

SAVE $30: As of Nov. 17, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is only $9.99 for select customers with the on-page coupon code STREAM4K at Amazon. That's 75% off its list price and its lowest price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $9.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $30 with on-page coupon code STREAM4K Get Deal

If a streaming stick is on your shopping list, there's no reason to wait for Black Friday to grab one. Amazon is practically giving away its new Fire TV Stick 4K Select.

As of Nov. 17, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select is down to just $9.99 at Amazon for select customers with the on-page coupon code STREAM4K. That's 75% off its list price of $39.99 and its lowest price ever by a landslide. Without the coupon code, it's still a pretty solid deal at $21.99, but $10 for a 4K streaming stick is honestly outrageous.

Unfortunately, the coupon code seems to only be available for select customers. Several members of Mashable's shopping team are able to see the code, while a few others can't. We're unsure how Amazon goes about selecting which customers are eligible, but congrats if you're one of Amazon's favorites.

You can find the coupon code underneath the pricing details at Amazon if you're one of the lucky ones. Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

The Fire TV 4K Select launched this fall as part of Amazon's newest Fire TV lineup. Whether or not we really needed another Fire TV Stick in general is debatable, but at this wildly low early Black Friday price, we're certainly not complaining. Amazon calls it the "most affordable 4K streaming stick yet." It offers vibrant 4K quality with HDR10+ support and a new operating system called Vega that is ultra-responsive and fast. Its plug-and-play design is the same as every other Fire TV Stick, and it will soon offer support for Alexa+, Xbox Game Pass, Amazon Luna, Amazon Kids+, and NordVPN.

Valve's Proton software uses several different translation layers to make Windows games playable on Linux systems. VKD3D-Proton is one of those components, which has just received a major update with FSR4 support and other helpful upgrades.

The best early Black Friday Amazon device deals at a glance: Best Fire tablet deal Amazon Fire Max 11 (64GB) $139.99 (save $90) Get Deal Best Fire TV deal Amazon 55-inch Omni Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV $694.99 (save $125) Get Deal Best Fire TV Stick deal Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $9.99 (save $30 with coupon code STREAM4K) Get Deal Best Blink deal Blink Mini 2K+ $24.99 (save $25) Get Deal Best Echo deal Echo Show 5 Kids $54.99 (save $45) Get Deal Best Kindle deal Like-new Kindle Paperwhite $106.99 (save $37) Get Deal

Amazon's Black Friday sale officially kicks off on Nov. 20, a full week ahead of Black Friday proper. But as you probably know at this point, the actual dates of the sale are blurred beyond recognition. Many deals, particularly on Amazon's own devices, are already live days before the event — and will likely stick around after all is said and done. Other than Prime Day, it's the best time of year to grab an Amazon device.

Plenty of Fire tablets, Fire TVs, Fire TV Sticks, and Blink security cameras are already chilling at record-low prices. We're particularly impressed by the Fire TV deals, with some 2025 models up to $210 off. As usual, Kindle deals are slim to none ahead of the official event kick off. We expect those to drop later this week. Echo deals are also lacking, but we'll be keeping an eye on the new Echo Show 8, 11, Studio, and Dot Max for their first big price drops.

We're keeping track of all of the best Amazon device deals below and will continue to monitor anything new that pops up once the sale begins. For deals beyond Amazon devices, be sure to follow along with all of Mashable's coverage in our Black Friday hub.

Best early Black Friday Fire tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire Max 11 (64GB) $139.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $90   Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon's best iPad competitor and our favorite Fire tablet, the Fire Max 11, is back down to $139.99 at Amazon ahead of Black Friday. That's 39% in savings and matches its all-time low price from October Prime Day. As Mashable's reviewer noted, "The Amazon Fire Max 11 has a large, 11-inch display and is blazing fast, making it a good alternative to pricier tablets for streaming and games." It also features 8MP cameras that support 1080p video, an octa-core processor, WiFi 6 compatibility, and a 14-hour battery life. While it is a couple of years old, it's the newest generation of the tablet available.

Read our full review of the Fire Max 11.

More Fire tablet deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 (32GB) $54.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $45.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 (32GB) $69.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $70.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire 7 Kids (16GB) $54.99 at Amazon
$109.99 Save $55.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro (32GB) $74.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $75.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids (32GB) $84.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $75.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids (32GB) $104.99 at Amazon
$189.99 Save $85.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro (32GB) $104.99 at Amazon
$189.99 Save $85.00   Get Deal Best early Black Friday Amazon Fire TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 55-inch Omni Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV $694.99 at Amazon
$819.99 Save $125   Get Deal Why we like it

The newest and fanciest Fire TV in Amazon's lineup, the 2025 Omni Mini-LED Fire TV is loaded up with specs. It packs hands-free Alexa, Interactive Art Mode (similar to Samsung's The Frame), a 144Hz refresh rate, and Intelligent Picture technology, which can fine-tune the details of whatever you're watching. With a 4K QLED mini-LED display featuring Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, up to 1,400 nits of peak brightness, and 768 dimming zones, it's easily the best Fire TV picture quality to date. And now that the 55-inch model is down to only $694.99 — its lowest price on record — it's almost in budget-friendly territory.

More Fire TV deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick HD $17.99 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $17.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K $24.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $25.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max $39.78 at Amazon
$65.98 Save $26.20 with 2-year protection plan Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $9.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $30 with coupon code STREAM4K Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Cube $89.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $50.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 43-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV $249.99 at Amazon
$329.99 Save $80   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 50-inch Omni QLED 4K Fire TV $279.99 at Amazon
$469.99 Save $190   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 50-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV $329.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $70   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 55-inch Omni QLED 4K Fire TV $349.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $150   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 65-inch Omni 4K Fire TV $449.99 at Amazon
$669.99 Save $220   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 65-inch Omni Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV $894.99 at Amazon
$1,089.99 Save $195   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 75-inch Omni 4K Fire TV $569.99 at Amazon
$839.99 Save $270   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 75-inch Omni Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV $1,289.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $210   Get Deal

For more Amazon Fire TV deals, check out our full list of Black Friday TV deals.

Early Black Friday Echo deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Pop Kids $21.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $28.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Dot Kids $31.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $18.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Show 5 Kids $54.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $45.00   Get Deal Early Black Friday Kindle deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Like-new Amazon Kindle Paperwhite $106.99 at Amazon
$143.99 Save $37.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Like-new Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition $126.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $53.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Like-New Amazon Kindle Scribe $278.99
$404.99 Save $126   Get Deal

Check out our full curated list of Black Friday Kindle deals.

Early Black Friday Blink deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Blink Mini 2 $17.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $22.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Blink Mini 2K+ $24.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $25.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Blink Video Doorbell $29.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $40   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Blink Outdoor 4 $27.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $52   Get Deal

With the Financial Times' report that Apple is preparing for the post-Tim Cook era, the question arises: who will actually take over one of the most powerful jobs in tech? Cook has led Apple since 2011, growing its valuation from $350 billion to $4 trillion. However, as the company embarks on its next chapter — particularly amid pressure to introduce new, innovative hardware and remain competitive in AI — the shortlist of potential successors is taking shape.

SEE ALSO: Tim Cook’s time at Apple could be coming to an end, report says

And at the top of that list is the person insiders say is the most likely candidate: John Ternus.

John Ternus (the frontrunner)

Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, has the clearest path to the CEO role. Having joined the company in 2001, he’s overseen engineering for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and AirPods, and played a major role in the transition to Apple silicon. It is not an exaggeration to say he has literally touched every major Apple device in the modern era. With hardware at the center of Apple’s strategy — and Apple needing someone who understands the product pipeline inside and out — Ternus is widely seen as Cook’s successor, per the Financial Times.

Craig Federighi

Federighi, Apple’s software chief, is the face of macOS and iOS, and one of the company’s most public figures thanks to his keynote presence. While he brings charisma and user-facing credibility, Apple may want to lean towards operations and hardware-minded leadership for the top job, making him a less likely but still notable contender.

Eddy Cue

Cue oversees services including Apple Music, Apple TV+, iCloud, and the App Store. Services are a massive revenue engine for the company, but Cue’s expertise is focused on that specific ecosystem rather than Apple’s core hardware and operations. Still, as one of Apple’s longest-tenured executives, his name inevitably appears in succession chatter.

Katherine Adams

As General Counsel and Senior Vice President of Legal and Global Security, Adams oversees a wide range of responsibilities, including corporate governance, privacy, and global security. Her background at Honeywell and deep experience in legal strategy make her indispensable internally; however, historically, Apple has never pulled a CEO from the legal side of the organization.

Sabih Khan

Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, Khan oversees global operations, supply chain, manufacturing, logistics, and AppleCare. Having been with Apple since 1995 and playing a key role in shipping nearly every major Apple product, he fits the classic Tim Cook mold more than anyone besides Ternus. If Apple wants a steady operations-first leader again, Khan is the alternate pick.

So who’s actually next?

All signs point to Ternus. He represents the product-first vision Apple wants to maintain, he’s already leading the teams behind its most important devices, and insiders say the board is preparing for a transition that prioritizes hardware expertise, according to the Financial Times. Nothing is final — and Apple could still shift direction — but right now, Ternus is the one to watch.