Technology

Over the weekend, Elon Musk's X has rolled out a highly controversial feature that shows every account's country of residence.

The roll out didn't exactly go smoothly, with the company seemingly pulling then re-instating the feature which was shown to be very imprecise.

Still, many users are worried. While some used it for "detective," work, revealing where this or that account is based in, others expressed concern that they can now effectively be stalked, as the feature shows which country they're currently in.

If you don't like the idea of everyone knowing which country you reside in at the moment, X currently offers the way to make this feature less precise. Go to Settings and Privacy - Privacy and Safety - About your account.

Not the perfect fix, but better than nothing. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable/X

There, you can choose whether X will show the country you're in, or a broader region or continent.

Alternatively and additionally, you can use a VPN while connecting to X, which might be able to throw it off (but it also may result in a random location showing for you, which could result in some misunderstanding, such as explaining to your boss why you're in Bali when you should be working from your home office in Boston).

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is no more. The initiative has been quietly dissolved since the departure of de facto leader Elon Musk in May, coming to an end over seven months earlier than scheduled.

SEE ALSO: DOGE's insecure Social Security database part of secretive cybersecurity nightmare, report claims

Reuters reports that Office of Personnel Management (OPM) director Scott Kupor confirmed DOGE's demise earlier this month, stating that it "doesn't exist" and is no longer a "centralised agency." Many of DOGE's functions have instead been taken over by OPM, as per documents sighted by Reuters. OPM is the U.S. federal government's human resources agency and personnel policy manager.

Kupor appeared to criticise Reuters' article on X, while simultaneously confirming its veracity. DOGE as an organisation is indeed dead, though Kupor stressed that its "principles" continue to persist.

"The truth is: DOGE may not have centralized leadership under [the U.S. DOGE Service, previously known as the U.S. Digital Service]," wrote Kupor. "But, the principles of DOGE remain alive and well: de-regulation; eliminating fraud, waste and abuse; re-shaping the federal workforce; making efficiency a first-class citizen; etc. DOGE catalyzed these changes; the agencies along with [OPM] and [the White House Office of Management and Budget] will institutionalize them!"

White House official Amy Gleason was DOGE's acting administrator, technically holding the position even as Musk operated as its de facto head. As of writing, her LinkedIn page still lists her role at DOGE as ongoing.

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Officially launched in one of the first acts of President Donald Trump's second term, DOGE's purported purpose was to increase government efficiency by cutting costs. This predominantly translated to cutting jobs, with DOGE laying off approximately 280,000 federal workers by April. Multiple government agencies were thrown into chaos, with some shut down or dismantled entirely.

Yet despite this turmoil, the widespread upheaval failed to reap the benefits promised. While Musk had claimed DOGE's actions would save the U.S. government at least $2 trillion, by April he'd revised this goal down to $150 billion. Unfortunately, even this seems to have been an overshot, with DOGE's actual savings reportedly a mere fraction of this fraction. Hundreds of fired federal employees have since been asked to return.

DOGE was initially scheduled to conclude its work on July 4 next year, 18 months after its inception. However, DOGE's activity stalled after Musk departed in May, the billionaire leaving amidst a public falling out with Trump. The organisation fractured in the aftermath, Musk's departure apparently leaving DOGE's staff of recent college graduates and Musk loyalists without unifying direction. Now it seems DOGE has finally dissolved entirely.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A tentacled sea animal.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

SQUID

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To put together.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 23, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

BUILD

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Burning.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 24 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 24, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

AFIRE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To recook.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 24 Hurdle Word 4 answer

REFRY

Final Hurdle hint

Circular.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

ROUND

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

The moon is working towards being full again, and on day four of the lunar cycle it's already looking bigger in the sky. Keep reading to see what you can spot on its surface tonight.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Monday, Nov. 24, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent. This means 16% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

With just the naked eye, tonight you'll be able to see the Fecunditatis and Crisium Mares. With binoculars or a telescope, you'll also be able to spot the Endymion Crater in the top right corner. If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, this will be positioned in the bottom left.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Dec. 4, this will be the last of three consecutive supermoons. The last full moon was on Nov. 5.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, moon phases are what make up the lunar cycle, a repeating cycle that lasts around 29.5 days. These phases describe how the moon appears from Earth as it orbits our planet. We always see the same side of the moon, but the amount of sunlight illuminating it changes throughout its orbit. That’s why sometimes it looks full, sometimes half, and sometimes disappears entirely. There are eight moon phases:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 8, 2025

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 8, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 24 Pips

Number (12): Everything in this purple space must add to 12. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this red space must add to 10. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 4-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 24 Pips

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed vertically; 5-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically; 0-0, placed vertically; 0-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this dark blue space must be greater than 3. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 24 Pips

Number (11): Everything in this space must add to 11. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally; 5-0, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 4-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this green space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically; 3-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed horizontally..

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add to 1. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 1-4, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add to 11. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easy if you understand pro sports rules.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Summer sports wear

• Green: Hype the crowd

• Blue: Famous Drews

• Purple: Rules in sports

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Types of Shorts

• Green: Popular Arena/Stadium Songs

• Blue: Football Drews

• Purple: ____Rule

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #427 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Types of Shorts - BASKETBALL, BIKE, COMPRESSION, GYM

• Popular Arena/Stadium Songs - EYE OF THE TIGER, JUMP AROUND, SANDSTORM, THUNDERSTRUCK

• Football Drews - BLEDSOE, BREES, LOCK, PEARSON

• ____Rule - INFIELD FLY, MERCY, TUCK, UNWRITTEN

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Once upon a time, Americans lined up in droves outside Walmarts and Targets, still full from Thanksgiving dinner, so they could be first in the door. Thankfully, these frenzied Black Friday free-for-alls are a relic of a bygone era. Now, not only can you order all of the best Black Friday deals online, but for the past few years, retailers have also been launching their Black Friday sales weeks in advance of Thanksgiving.

Case in point: Amazon officially launched its Black Friday sales on Thursday, and Best Buy dropped a ton of new doorbuster deals on Friday. So, ready or not, Black Friday is already here. You can tell because Mashable is once again working around the clock to bring you live updates on all of the latest sales, standout deals, price drops, and inventory updates. Already, we've spied record discounts on flagship noise-cancelling headphones, Apple laptops and tablets, Dyson appliances, and some of the year's most popular tech gifts.

Check out the top early deals so far, and keep scrolling for the full schedule of events and the latest live updates and news from the Mashable shopping team.

Top Black Friday Deals at a glance: The best headphones deal Sony WH-1000XM4 Noise-Cancelling Headphones $159 (save $190) Get Deal Best Earuds Deal Apple AirPods 4 $79.99 (save $49.01) Get Deal Best Deal Under $25 Apple AirTag $17.99 (save $11.01) Get Deal Best TV Under $1,000 Samsung 55-inch The Frame LS03F 4K QLED Smart TV $897.99 (save $300) Get Deal Best TV Under $500 Hisense 65-inch E6 Cinema Series QLED 4K Smart Fire TV $349.99 (save $200) Get Deal Best Amazon Device Deal New Amazon Echo Dot Max $89.99 (save $10) Get Deal Best Apple laptop deal 13-inch Apple MacBook Air (M4) $749 (save $250) Get Deal Best Beauty Deal Dyson Supersonic with three attachments $299.99 (save $150) Get Deal Stocking Stuffer Deal Orastone Electric Hand Warmers $17.99 (save $12) Get Deal Best Gaming Deal PlayStation 5 Digital Edition Fortnite Holiday Bundle $399.99 (save $100) Get Deal

Remember: Black Friday 2025 takes place on Friday, Nov. 28, and is quickly followed by Cyber Week, which starts on Monday, Dec. 1. However, you can already shop plenty of sales at all the major online retailers. If you want to be the first to know when new sales go online, then keep checking back as we provide live updates on the shopping festivities.

Best Black Friday deals at a glance: Best Apple deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749 (Save $150 at Amazon) Get Deal Best headphones deal Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones $299 (Save $500 at Amazon) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal Narwal Freo Z10 Ultra $799.99 at Amazon (Save $500 at Amazon) Get Deal Best fitness tracker deal Oura Ring 4 $349 (Save $150) Get Deal Best TV deal Hisense 65-inch U6 Mini LED QLED 4K TV $547.99 (Save $300 at Amazon) Get Deal Best lightning deal ⚡ DJI Mic Mini (2 TX + 1 RX) $59 (save $60) Get Deal Best power station deal Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station $349 (Save $450 at Amazon) Get Deal Best Kindle deal Amazon Kindle $79.99 (Save $30) Get Deal Best AirPods Deal Apple AirPods 4 $79.99 (save $49.01) Get Deal Best smartwatch deal Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 $129.99 (save $120) Get Deal

We're officially back in Black Friday season, folks.

Though Black Friday falls on Nov. 28 this year, retailers are already kicking off sales. Best Buy dropped early deals and doorbusters on Oct. 31, and Target started its first holiday savings event on Nov. 6. Amazon kicked off its official programming on Nov. 20, delivering record prices on AirPods, Apple Watches, Kindles, Ninja appliances, and Samsung TVs. We've spotted plenty more Black Friday-worthy deals that you can shop early to get ahead of your holiday shopping list.

Keep checking back for the best Black Friday deals from Amazon, Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and beyond.

Best early Black Friday Apple deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749 at Amazon
$999 Save $250   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

The 13-inch MacBook Air is down to a record-low price of $749 ahead of Black Friday. This is our favorite laptop for students, thanks to its M4 silicon and slim design. This markdown is so good that even if it does happen to drop lower for Black Friday or Cyber Monday (and we're not counting on it), you still score a great deal without all the chaos of Black Friday shopping.

More Apple deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $649 at Best Buy
$799 Save $150   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $949 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $250   Get Deal Apple AirPods Pro 3 $219.99 at Walmart
$249 Save $29.01 Lowest price ever 🔥 Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 (without ANC) $79.99 at Amazon
$129 Save $49.01   Get Deal Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) $99.99 at Amazon
$179 Save $79.01 Selling out fast! Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Best Buy Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 2 $139 at Walmart
$239 Save $100 Lowest price ever 🔥 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) $429.99 at Best Buy
$549 Save $119.01   Get Deal Apple AirTag $17.97 at Amazon
$29 Save $11.03   See It at Amazon See It at Walmart See It at Best Buy Apple Airtags, 4-Pack $64.98 at Amazon
$99 Save $34.02   See It at Amazon See It at Walmart See It at Best Buy Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 (42mm, GPS) $349.99 at Amazon
$399 Save $49.01   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm, GPS + cellular) $249 at Walmart
$499 Save $250 Lowest price ever 🔥 Get Deal Best early Black Friday headphones deal Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones $299 at Best Buy
$429 Save $130 Lowest price ever 🔥 Get Deal at Best Buy Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart Why we like it

Read our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 1) headphones.

The Bose QC Ultra headphones have long been some of our favorite noise-cancelling headphones. Even though Bose recently replaced them with a new Gen 2 model, the originals are still an excellent value for your money — especially at the record low price of $299.

More Black Friday headphones and earbuds deals Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WF-C710N Wireless Earbuds $78 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $51.99   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Ultra Open Earbuds $199 at Bose
$299 Save $100   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2) $216.31 at Amazon
$299 Save $82.69 Lowest price ever 🔥 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Beats Fit Pro $149 at Amazon
$199 Save $50   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Tune 670NC On-Ear Headphones $54.95 at Walmart
$109.95 Save $55   Get Deal Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones $248 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $151.99 Lowest price ever 🔥 See It at Amazon See It at Best Buy Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds $107.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $72.00   Get Deal Best early Black Friday robot vacuum deal Narwal Freo Z10 Ultra $799.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $500   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Senior Shopping Reporter Leah Stodart sees Narwal's newest robot vacuum mop combo as a dupe for the $1,599.99 Roborock Saros 10R, our favorite robot vacuum of the year. Its edge cleaning is comparable thanks to dual spinning mopping pads that flex out from under the vacuum to scrub in corners and along walls. When mopping, the Freo Z10 Ultra ensures that it does a thorough job by taking a before-and-after picture of the spill, going back for another pass if necessary. The livestream pet camera is a bonus for homes with pets.

More robot vacuum and vacuum deals Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy E20 3-in-1 $349.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $100 Editor's pick ✅ Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba 105 $199 at Amazon
$219 Save $20   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson V12 Detect Slim $399.99 at Walmart
$729.99 Save $330 Editor's pick ✅ Get Deal Dyson Big Ball Turbinehead Canister Vacuum $229.99 at Walmart
$349.99 Save $120   Get Deal at Walmart Best early Black Friday TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-inch U6 Mini LED QLED 4K TV $547.99 at Walmart
$847.99 Save $300 Lowest price ever 🔥 Get Deal Why we like it

"If you're not sure what size TV to get, we consider 65 inches to be the sweet spot for most folks. While the Hisense U6 Mini LED QLED TV falls into the budget-friendly category, its specs don't scream 'budget' at all. It features a Mini LED backlight system, which means its uses smaller LEDs to deliver a brighter and more detailed picture. Plus, it packs a 144Hz native refresh rate, WiFi 6 connectivity, support for HDR in Dolby Vision, the Fire TV OS, and on-board Alexa. Our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) called it 'easily the brightest and most colorful budget-friendly TV we've tested.'" — Christina Buff, Mashable Contributor

More TV and streaming deals Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 55-inch Class Q6-Series QLED 4K TV $279.99 at Target
$449.99 Save $170   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku 65-inch Pro Series Mini LED QLED 4K Smart TV $798.99 at Amazon
$1,199.99 Save $401   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-inch Class U6 Mini LED QLED TV $547.99 at Amazon
$847.99 Save $300 Lowest price ever 🔥 Get Deal Samsung 55-inch The Frame LS034 4K QLED Smart TV (2025) $897.99 at Amazon
$1,197.99 Save $300 Editor's pick ✅ Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Samsung Get Deal at Best Buy Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense QD6 QLED 4K TV $199.99 at Best Buy
$329.99 Save $130   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 65-inch QN65 QLED 4K TV $448 at Walmart
$599.99 Save $151.99   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $21.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $18.00 Lowest price ever 🔥 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku Streaming Stick Plus 4K & HDR (2025) $29 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $10.99   Get Deal Best Black Friday fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Oura Oura Ring 4 $349 at Amazon
$499 Save $150   Get Deal Why we like it

One of our favorite health trackers, the Oura Ring, just got a major markdown ahead of Black Friday. Right now, score the Oura Ring 4 for 30% off. It's down to $349, saving you $150 off its $499 price tag. The Oura Ring 4 is our favorite smart ring at Mashable, providing holistic insights to help you manage stress and heart health.

More Black Friday fitness tracker deals Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Forerunner 265 Running Smartwatch $299.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $200   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Versa 4 Fitness Smartwatch $119.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $80.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Whoop Whoop 5.0 $199 at Amazon
$239 Save $40   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Whoop Whoop MG $299 at Amazon
$359 Save $60   Get Deal Best Black Friday kitchen deal Ninja Slushi (88 ounce) $269.99 at Amazon
$369.99 Save $100   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

The Ninja Slushi is a blast in any season — frozen margs in any flavor you want when it's hot, apple cider slush or gingerbread frappé when it's chilly. (Mashable Senior Shopping Reporter Leah Stodart loves her Slushi, and so do all of her friends.) A year after the first Slushi came out, Ninja released two larger capacity versions in a few fun colors. The 88-ounce model on sale for $269.99 at Amazon can make a slightly bigger batch than the original 72-ounce model, which is on sale for $249.99 at Walmart. $20 more for extra beverages and a chic green build? Sold. (If you want the purple one, it's $269.99 at Target.)

More Black Friday kitchen deals Nespresso Festive Vertuo Pop+ Coffee and Espresso Maker $129 at Amazon
$209.95 Save $80.95   Get Deal at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Our Place Our Place Wonder Oven Pro $275 at Our Place
$325 Save $50   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Luxe Café Pro Espresso and Coffee Machine $634.99 at Amazon
$749.99 Save $115   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: All-Clad All-Clad HA1 13-piece Nonstick Cookware Set $489.99 at Amazon
$699.99 Save $210   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Keurig Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker $139.99 at Target
$209.99 Save $70   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nutribullet Nutribullet Personal Blender $47.49 at Amazon
$71.99 Save $24.50   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Creami $179.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $20   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: KitchenAid KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-quart Stand Mixer $349.95 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $150.04   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Crispi 3-in-1 portable air fryer $129 at Walmart
$149 Save $20 $30 cheaper than the 4-in-1 model Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dash Dash My Mug ice cream maker $29.99 at Amazon
$44.99 Save $15.00   Get Deal Best early Black Friday home deal Opens in a new window Credit: Brooklinen Brooklinen's Black Friday Sale Score 25% off on Brooklinen bedding and bath linens. Get Deal Why we like it

The best early Black Friday deal for the home is at Brooklinen. Right now, the brand is offering 25% off across its products. You can find Brooklinen's super-plush Turkish cotton bath towel bundle for just $107, saving you 30% off. All prices are marked, no discount code needed.

More early Black Friday home deals Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark StainForce Portable Stain Remover $149.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $50   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark NeverChange Air Purifier $139 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $40.99   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Casper Casper Original Pillow $60 at Amazon
$75 Save $15   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Casper Casper Hybrid Snow Pillow $144.90 at Amazon
$179 Save $34.10   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ugg Ugg Adalee Faux Fur Throw Blanket $84.99 at Amazon
$108 Save $23.01   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Dyson Air Purifier $449.99 at Target
$549.99 Save $100   Get Deal Best early Black Friday power station deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station $349 at Amazon
$799 Save $450 Lowest price ever 🔥 Get Deal Why we like it

Some of the year's best Black Friday deals are in the power station category, where you'll find discounts of 56% or more. And for so many reasons, this Anker Solix power station is our top pick for holiday shoppers. In our review, Mashable contributor Lauren Allain wrote that the "Anker Solix C1000 portable power station nails performance, design, and versatility," awarding it a Mashable Choice Award. And now that it's at a record-low price at Amazon, it's neve been easier to recommend.

More Black Friday power station deals EcoFlow River 2 $249 at Amazon
$449 Save $200   Get Deal at Amazon Bluetti Elite 200V2 $1,099 at Amazon
$2,299 Save $1,200   Get Deal at Amazon Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 portable power station $699 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $800 https://zdcs.link/z6DZMk See It at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station $348 at Amazon
$448.98 Save $100.98   Get Deal Best early Black Friday outdoor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Coleman Coleman Sundome Camping Tent $78.99 at Amazon
$117.99 Save $39   Get Deal Why we like it

Whether you're shopping for outdoor deals to replenish your own gear or get a gift for the outdoorsman in your life, the best deal we've spotted is on the Coleman Sundome tent. This four-person tent is weatherproof, designed to block out wind and rain, and keep you dry. It's down to $78.99 ahead of Black Friday, saving you $39 for 33% off its list price of $117.99.

More early Black Friday outdoor deals Opens in a new window Credit: Yei Yeti Tundra 45 $265 at Yeti
$320 Save $55   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Yeti Yeti Rambler 42-ounce Tumbler $31.50 at Amazon
$45 Save $13.50   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Osprey Osprey Hikelite Backpack $99.95 at Amazon
  Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Coleman Coleman Instant Camping Tent $212.47 at Amazon
$271.49 Save $59.02   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Yeti Yeti Hopper M Series Soft Cooler $280 at Amazon
$350 Save $70   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Titan Titan by Arctic Zone Deep Freeze Cooler $21.07 at Amazon
$46.99 Save $25.92   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: LifeStraw LifeStraw Personal Water Filter $9.99 at Amazon
$14.95 Save $4.96   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja FrostVault 50-quart Cooler $199.95 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $50.04   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nemo REI Black Friday Sale Score up to 40% off during REI's Black Friday sale. Shop sleeping bags, outdoor blankets, camping furniture, and more. Get Deal More Black Friday deals from Amazon

It's no surprise that some of the best Black Friday deals of 2025 come from Amazon, which officially kicked off its sale on Nov. 20. The Everything store is hosting record sales on Amazon devices like Kindles and Fire TVs, but also some of our favorite products from brands like DJI, Ninja, Yeti, and Samsung. Amazon is also a great place to stock up on Christmas gifts, stocking stuffers, and deals under $25.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mic Mini (2 TX + 1 RX) $59 at Amazon
$119 Save $60 Lightning deal ⚡ Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bissell Bissell Little Green Mini Portable Carpet Cleaner $84.98 at Amazon
$94.99 Save $10.01   Get Deal Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet $94.99 at Amazon
$194.99 Save $100.00 Lowest price ever 🔥 See It at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad, 11 inches (A16 Chip) $299
$349 Save $50   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 55-inch Omni Series 4K QLED Smart Fire TV $349.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $150   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Orastone Orastone Electric Hand Warmers $17.99 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $12 Editor's pick ✅ Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: National Tree Company Pre-Lit 6.5-Foot Dunhill Fir Artificial Christmas Tree $199.98 at Amazon
$254.03 Save $54.05 Bonus coupon: Get Echo Pop & Amazon Smart Plug for $15 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Keurig Keurig K-Supreme Single Serve Coffee Maker $99 at Amazon
$189.99 Save $90.99   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Vitamix Vitamix 5200 Professional-Grade Blender $299.95 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $250.04   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Blink Blink Outdoor 4 wireless security cameras (5 cameras + sync module) $119.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $180   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Like-new Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16GB) $106.99 at Amazon
$143.99 Save $37.00 Refurbished with great reviews Get Deal Amazon Echo Dot (2022 release) $31.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $18.00   Get Deal at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: GoPro GoPro Hero13 Black Ultra Wide Edition $369.99 at Amazon
$479.99 Save $110   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro $79 at Amazon
$99 Save $20 Lowest price ever 🔥 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Meta Meta Quest 3S VR Headset (128 GB) $249.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $50   Get Deal Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Bundle $499 at Walmart
$1,049.66 Save $550.66 Editor's pick ✅ See It at Walmart See It at Amazon See It at Best Buy Opens in a new window Credit: Screenshot: Amazon Prime Video Buy movies and save up to 50% Get Deal More Black Friday deals from Walmart

As in years past, Walmart+ members get early access to the best Black Friday deals, and you can either sign up for a free trial or get 50% off a membership. Until its next official Black Friday sales event (mark your calendars for Nov. 25), the original Everything Store has great early deals on video games, kitchen gadgets, Legos, and even Dyson vacuums.

Opens in a new window Credit: Crock-Pot Crock-Pot Manual 7-Quart Slow Cooker $34 at Walmart
$40.53 Save $6.53   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP 14-inch HD Chromebook (Intel Processor N200, 4GB RAM, 128GB UFS) $119 at Walmart
$329 Save $210   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Alienware Alienware 16-Inch Aurora Gaming Laptop (Intel Core 7-240H, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050) $1,128 at Walmart
$1,249.99 Save $121.99   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 Console + NBA 2K26 $499.99 at Walmart
  Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars: The Clone Wars and The Mandalorian Gift Set $45 at Walmart
$62.97 Save $17.97   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Wicked Welcome to Emerald City Building Set $78.99 at Walmart
$99.99 Save $21   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Borderlands 4 $54.97 at Walmart
$69.99 Save $15.02   Get Deal More Black Friday deals from Best Buy

Best Buy has an interesting Black Friday system: It's been dropping new doorbusters every single Thursday since Halloween. Some of those deals have stuck around, and some are fleeting. You can plan ahead for the official Black Friday sale (kicking off on Nov. 20) with the Best Buy Black Friday ad scan, but here are some deals that are confirmed to be at their Black Friday prices.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 65-inch C5 OLED 4K TV $1,399.99 at Best Buy
$2,699.99 Save $1,300.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Asus Asus Vivobook 14 (Intel Core 5 120U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $279.99 at Best Buy
$529.99 Save $250   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Met Meta Quest 3S The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners bundle (128GB) $249 at Best Buy
$299 Save $50   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: De'Longhi De'Longhi Classic Espresso Machine $149.95
$229.95 Save $80   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bambu Lab Bambu Lab A1 Combo 3D printer $379.99 at Best Buy
$499.99 Save $120   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: GoPro GoPro HERO13 Action Camera Bundle $369.99 at Best Buy
$479.99 Save $110   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: SteelSeries SteelSeries Apex 9 Mini 60% Wired Gaming Keyboard $64.99
$129.99 Save $65.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G50D QHD Gaming Monitor $199.99 at Best Buy
$349.99 Save $150   Get Deal

Computers are everywhere, and unfortunately, they're not quite as reliable as I'd like, given how integral they are to our day-to-day lives. I always carry a portable Linux installation on a flash drive because it gives me ways to troubleshoot almost any computer I encounter—even if the hard drive is completely dead.

TL;DR: Dive into a book in just 15 minutes with a lifetime subscription to Headway Premium, now only $39.99 (reg. $299.95) — the best price online — through Jan. 31.

Opens in a new window Credit: Headway Headway Premium: Lifetime Subscription $39.99
$299.95 Save $259.96   Get Deal

Let’s face it, most of us aren’t reading all the books we’d like. A busy life gets in the way, which means we often miss the boat on some really great concepts and lessons that can offer serious personal growth. That’s where Headway Premium comes in, providing digestible 15-minute summaries of nonfiction books that can fit in even the most chaotic schedules.

Right now, you can secure a lifetime subscription to Headway Premium for only $39.99 (reg. $299.95), the best price on the web, through Jan. 31.

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Want to learn something new in your spare time? If you’ve got 15 minutes, Headway Premium can make it happen. This app serves up 15-minute summaries of the world’s best nonfiction books that you can devour however you’d like — via listening to professionally narrated audio summaries or reading the written ones.

Over 15 million users are already loving Headway and learning key ideas and insights from the world’s best-sellers. There are more than 1,500 summaries already available, with new ones added every month on topics ranging from health and wellness to personal development and business strategies.

Headway offers gamified learning that tracks your progress, allowing you to earn achievements and master new skills as you work on your self-growth. You have the option to work offline as well.

These condensed summaries arm you with the key ideas, concepts, and principles from the book, but they still don’t beat reading the whole thing from start to finish. But Headway is a great way to explore topics efficiently and discover new subjects you’d like to dive into.

Get a lifetime subscription to Headway Premium for just $39.99 (reg. $299.95), the best price on the web, until Jan. 31.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The latest trailer for Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 1 teases the show's final blaze of glory, including bold new displays of power from Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), an "insane" plan to save Hawkins, and — wait, did three Demogorgons just burst out of the ground?

SEE ALSO: Netflix drops 'Stranger Things' Season 5's first 5 minutes

You read that correctly. While the Demogorgon was once a lone monster stalking our heroes, there's now a whole army of them out for blood. In the new trailer, several Demogorgons burst out of mini-rifts into the Upside Down and give chase to the Hawkins party, leaving Robin (Maya Hawke) to very understandably ask, "What the hell just happened?"

These three Demogorgons don't appear to be acting alone, as the trailer also features scenes where Demogorgons lay the smackdown on some soldiers. Frankly, one Demogorgon is already one too many for my sanity! Beyond that, I'm not sure I can handle the sheer volume of Demogorgons we're going to get this season.

Season 5 picks up in November of 1987, almost a year after the events of Season 4. Following the opening of the rift between the Upside Down and our world, Hawkins is under military surveillance, and the government is still searching for Eleven. Despite the ongoing manhunt, she and the rest of her friends are determined to find and stop Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) once and for all. But there are a ton of obstacles — including at least three Demogorgons! — in their way.

If this is what's in store for Volume 1, what in the world is going to happen in Volume 2?

Volume 1 of Stranger Things Season 5 premieres Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. ET on Netflix. Volume 2 premieres Dec. 25 at 8 p.m. ET, and the series finale premieres Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. ET as well.

Galaxy XR is the most expensive computer I’ve ever purchased, but it felt justifiable—not as a gaming machine, but for work. I wanted this headset not just because I write about Android, but because it’s the kind of workspace I can easily see myself writing in.

Airline breaches are pretty bad, because while you might not fly every day, airlines keep a trove of info on you, especially if you enroll in their frequent flyer programs. This is not an US airline, but if you've ever flown to Spain, you might want to keep reading.

If your friends and tech YouTubers have finally convinced you to upgrade to a mechanical keyboard, but you don't know where to start, you've come to the right place. In this guide, I'll cover everything you need to know before getting your first mechanical keyboard in the simplest way possible. Let's get started.

U.S. states can craft their own AI regulations without intervention from the federal government, for now, at least.

Reuters reported that the Trump administration has paused a proposed executive order that would have preempted states from enacting their own AI laws. The draft order became a matter of public concern early last week, but the White House called it purely speculation and did not confirm its existence to Reuters. At this point, it appears that the federal government's efforts to block states from regulating AI on their own terms are at a standstill.

SEE ALSO: Seth Meyers spends 5 minutes unpacking Trump's lengthy Epstein rant on Truth Social

That doesn't mean Trump and co. won't try again, of course. The Senate had to vote down a similar measure earlier this year by a staggering 99-1 count. The executive order that was paused last week would have used lawsuits and threats to withdraw federal funding and prevent states from regulating AI.

It is very possible that Trump will try to find another way to prevent states from drafting their own AI laws, especially considering that companies like OpenAI and Google support such an idea, according to Reuters.

The Arduino has long been a staple of the maker community. Longer than 3D printing has been as popular as it is, in fact. So, with both being mainstream, I decided to marry the two together to make my life a little easier.

Windows startup bloat is real, and it’s one of those problems you don’t notice until your PC starts feeling slower than it should. Every other app seems to sneak its way into your startup list, quietly running in the background and chewing up resources for no good reason. Over the years, I’ve gotten into the habit of shutting almost all of them off. It keeps my system feeling snappy, and honestly, most apps just don’t need to be running the second Windows loads up.

It’s been years since the last time I purchased a new phone. I buy mine second-hand, and I haven’t had any bad luck yet. Here’s what I look for to make sure each purchase is legit.

SAVE $250: As of Nov. 23, get the Lenovo Legion Go S for $649.99 at Best Buy, down from its usual price of $899.99. That's a discount of 28%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Lenovo Legion Go S $649.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $250   Get Deal

Now that the holidays are right around the corner, you're likely spending more time away from home or traveling. And if you're a gamer, that means less time with some of your favorite titles. You don't have to leave your games at home, especially in 2025 when things like the Steam Deck and Lenovo Legion Go exist. If you're looking to continue gaming while out and about for the rest of the year, you can pick up a Lenovo Legion Go S to get your game on no matter where life takes you.

As of Nov. 23, get the Lenovo Legion Go S for $649.99 at Best Buy, down from its usual price of $899.99. That's a discount of 28%.

SEE ALSO: 140+ Black Friday deals at Best Buy that aren't cheaper anywhere else

This handheld gaming PC boasts an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor as well as 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD with expandable storage options via microSD. It has an 8-inch LCD screen, an integrated microphone, and 2 USB ports as well, with SteamOS preloaded so you can log in and get your game on.

This handheld is the smaller version of the original Legion Go, with a lower resolution and refresh rate, but it's still every bit as zippy and capable as its more expensive cousin. As Lenovo's answer to the Steam Deck, it's perfect for taking along with you and playing whatever game is currently on your roster without having to drag a PC along.

Mashable reviewer Alex Perry loved the original Lenovo Legion Go, praising it for its "all-around great specs" and "solid performance on AAA titles.” You're getting much of the same here with this model, so if you're looking for a Steam Deck alternative with a wide variety of features, grab this Lenovo pick before it's out of stock.

I've been using Home Assistant for several years as the heart of my smart home. The software is so powerful thanks to an enormous collection of integrations and add-ons that allow you to connect almost any smart home device or service that you could think of. I use multiple add-ons and integrations in Home Assistant, but there are some I simply couldn't live without.