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25+ Black Friday beauty tech deals, handpicked by a beauty tech reporter

Thu, 11/28/2024 - 02:05
The best Black Friday beauty deals Best hair dryer deal Zuvi Halo $209 at Zuvi (Save $140) Get Deal Best hot air tool deal T3 Aire 360 $249.99 at Amazon (Save $50 with on-page coupon) Get Deal Best skincare deal Solawave 4-in-1 Radiant Renewal Wand bundle $113.40 (Save $75.60 at Amazon) Get Deal Best hot tool deal Amika Blowout Babe thermal brush $70 at Amazon (Save $30 with on-page coupon) Get Deal

As Mashable's shopping reporter on the beauty tech beat, I know first-hand that beauty tech tools like hot air stylers or skincare wands can range from gimmicky to fun to actual lifesavers. (Okay, maybe that last one's a slight exaggeration.) I also know that more often than not, these tools aren't cheap. Black Friday beauty deals take the sting out of high prices, but deals can be deceiving.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's official Black Friday sale is on, and a ton of new deals are here

Together, that doesn't make for the easiest Black Friday shopping experience. Sure, maybe that deal on a microcurrent device looks great, but if it doesn't do much and craps out in six months, it's not worth any amount of money. And with a saturated market, it's easy to waste your money — which is why I've put together this list of my favorite beauty products on sale.

For many of the below products, I've tested them, or at least tried out the brand, personally. (My hottest of hot takes: the Dyson Supersonic really is the best beauty tool—shocking, I know). In addition to vetting the quality of the product — i.e. you won't find any sketchy TikTok Shop-esque deals below — I've also used my professional judgment as a shopping reporter who's covered the online deals beat for over three years. The result: 25 of the best Black Friday beauty tech deals.

Best Black Friday hair dryer dealsBest Black Friday hot air styler dealsBest Black Friday skincare tech dealsBest Black Friday hot tools beauty deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

All the best early Black Friday deals at Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and Walmart

Thu, 11/28/2024 - 01:49

UPDATE: Nov. 27, 2024, 7:45 p.m. EST The week of Black Friday is finally here. We're tracking all the best deals across retailers and updating this list as things come in and go out of stock.

Best Early Black Friday Deals Best Apple deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749 at Amazon (Save $250) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal Roborock Qrevo S $459.99 at Amazon (Save $340) Get Deal Best headphone deal Bose QuietComfort headphones $199 at Amazon (Save $150) Get Deal Best laptop deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,399 at Amazon (Save $200) Get Deal Best tablet deal Apple iPad, 9th generation (A13, 64GB, WiFi) $199.99 at Target (Save $129.01) Get Deal Best Kindle deal Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition $154.99 at Amazon (Save $45) Get Deal Best Echo deal Amazon Echo Pop $17.99 at Amazon (Save $22) Get Deal Best TV deal Hisense 85-inch QD6 QLED 4K Google TV $649.99 at Best Buy (Save $450) Get Deal Best fitness tracker deal Oura Ring Gen3 (Horizon, Gold) Starting at $249 at Best Buy Get Deal Best kitchen deal KitchenAid 5.5-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer $279.99 at Target (Save $170) Get Deal

The time is nigh. In a matter of hours our bellies — and shopping carts — will be full. While Black Friday properly falls on Nov. 29. this year, retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target have already kicked off their sales early.

Truly, the sheer volume of deals is dizzying. You're in luck though, as we've done the leg work for you. We've been tracking the best Black Friday deals for weeks, finding the lowest prices on all the big names: Apple, Bose, Sony, Samsung, and more.

If you want to get a head start, you can start shopping early Black Friday deals right now. So, for our early birds, here are the best deals to shop.

Best Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749.00 at Amazon
$999.00 Save $250.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the M2 MacBook Air.

"A couple of weeks ago, the MacBook Air got a quiet RAM upgrade, without a price hike. Now, we're seeing the M2 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage on sale for $749, officially back to its lowest price ever. With these specs, this MacBook will be more than capable of handling everyday tasks with ease, while offering you more flexibility to run more (and more intensive) programs at once. Considering Mashable reporter Alex Perry called this laptop "just about the ideal work-from-home (or work-from-wherever, really) companion," in his review, this memory upgrade is certainly welcome." – Bethany Allard, Shopping Reporter

More Apple dealsMacBook Air (13-inch)MacBook Air (15-inch)MacBook ProMaciPadiPad AiriPad miniiPad ProApple WatchesAirPodsAirTags and Apple PencilBest robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Qrevo S $459.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $340.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"I think of the Roborock Qrevo S as the diet version of my favorite self-emptying robot vacuum right now, the Roborock Qrevo Master. And unless you're open to spending $1,000 or more on a robot vacuum, you can probably live without the Qrevo Master's fluff features like a livestream pet camera or extending side mop — especially when, at this price, you could buy a Qrevo S for two stories of your home for less than the price of one on-sale Qrevo Master.

Opting for the cheaper Qrevo is still a solid move: Compared to other 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop combos also on sale for Black Friday, the Qrevo S is one of the rare options under $500 that washes and dries its mopping pads." — Leah Stodart, Senior Shopping Reporter

More robot vacuum dealsRobot vacuum and mop combosBest headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Headphones $199.00 at Amazon
$349.00 Save $150.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"Bose makes some of the best headphones they've tested. The brand's QuietComfort line-up strikes the genius balance of sound quality and comfort. While the QuietComfort Ultra headphones and earbuds are the most elevated Bose models, the basic QuietComforts are still great.

If you don't need spatial audio, but you do want sound that will make your music sound better, elevating drop beats and sick synth, go for the Bose QuietComfort headphones. The power button on the side is responsive, and the battery is insanely long. I wore these while taking the train from Boston to New York and by the time I reached my destination, they still had 50% battery life.

Normally, $349, the Bose QuietComfort headphones are down to $199. That saves you $150 for 43% savings." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More headphone and speaker dealsHeadphonesEarbudsSpeakersBest laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,599.99 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $400.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the 13-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7.

"Microsoft's Copilot+ PC has an even longer battery life than the new M4 MacBook Pros — it lasted nearly 23 hours in our testing — and it comes with AI features that 'make Windows fun again,' Gedeon wrote. She gave it a 4.8/5; it's a Mashable Choice Award winner and our current favorite laptop for most people, barring any app compatibility issues.

The upgraded configuration that Gedeon tested is a 13-inch model featuring a Snapdragon X Elite processor, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. It usually retails for $1,999.99, but Amazon and the Microsoft Store both have it listed for $1,599.99, or 20% off. That's its biggest discount to date." — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

More laptop and computer deals

For MacBook and Mac deals, scroll back up to the Apple deals section.

Windows laptopsChromebooksGaming laptopsBest tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad, 9th generation (A13, 64GB, WiFi) $199.99 at Target
$329.00 Save $129.01 Get Deal Why we like it

"An iPad under $200 is a true gift this holiday season. Apple's 9th generation model is down to $199.99 at Target, less than a dollar short of its lowest price ever. While there might be newer generations available, this is the most budget-friendly model, especially now that it's $129 off.

The 9th generation Apple iPad comes with the A13 bionic chip, which provides plenty of processing power for streaming, gaming, or working. The 10.2-inch retina display gives plenty of space for your creative pursuits, as it's compatible with the first generation of Apple Pencil.

Now is the right time to shop, as you can find the Apple iPad 9th generation for 39% off." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More tablet deals

For Apple iPad deals, scroll back up to the Apple deals section.

Best Kindle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition $154.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $45.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"The new batch of 2024 Kindles are the fastest yet, turning pages quickly and with less delay when switching between books in your library. The Kindle Paperwhite and Signature Edition both have bright, high-contrast screens, so you can read in any environment. While I prefer the Kindle Paperwhite over the Signature Edition most of the time, right now you can't beat the SE's Black Friday price.

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is 23% off, bringing it down to $154.99. That's some big savings ($45 to be exact) on a device that's usually $200. You get everything you love in the Paperwhite, lightweight and waterproof design, with the added benefits of double the storage, wireless charging, and auto-adjusting brightness." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More Kindle dealsMore e-reader dealsBest Echo device deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Pop $17.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $22.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"The line-up of Amazon Echo devices is sprawling. You can find everything from a multitasking smart speaker to a touchscreen smart home hub. The absolute best deal on Echo devices right now is on the Amazon Echo Pop. This small but mighty device with a quality speaker and built-in assistant so you can play music just by calling out to Alexa.

Currently, it's down to $17.99 — its lowest price ever. That knocks 55% off the regular price for $22 in savings. While we expect this price to hang around through Black Friday weekend, you can rest assured you're getting it at a great deal when you buy now." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More Echo dealsBest TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 85-inch QD6 QLED 4K Google TV $649.99 at Best Buy
$1,099.99 Save $450.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"Black Friday is all about huge discounts on huge TVs, and this 85-inch Hisense model is a perfect case in point: Now just $650, it's far cheaper than any other TV this big — not just at Best Buy, but at Amazon and Walmart, too. (And abnormally-cheap-for-their-size TVs are really more Walmart's thing.) The fact that it has a bright and vibrant QLED display, not a standard 4K screen, sweetens the deal even further.

Kind of surprised this one wasn't chosen as a doorbuster, TBH. Let's call it a hidden gem." — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

More TV deals

TV deals are sorted by size, then price.

43- to 50-inch TVs55-inch TVs65-inch TVs75-inch TVs and largerStreaming devices and media playersBest fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Oura Oura Ring Gen3 (Horizon, Gold) $349.00 at Best Buy
$449.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Oura Ring Gen3.

"The previous-gen Oura Ring is an excellent fitness wearable with heart-rate and blood oxygen monitoring, temperature and activity tracking, and a multi-day battery life — all wrapped up in a sleek, durable titanium design. It's on sale at Best Buy this Black Friday for $50 to $200 off, depending on the style and finish (starting from $249.99)." — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

More fitness tracker deals

For Apple Watch deals, scroll back up to the Apple deals section.

Best kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: KitchenAid KitchenAid 5.5-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer $279.99 at Target
$449.99 Save $170.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"If you're getting ready to whip up dozens of Christmas cookies, don't even think about doing it all by hand. Sure, it will be a great arm workout, but at what cost? Upgrade your kitchen tools ahead of the holiday season with the KitchenAid 5.5-quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer. It has twice the power of KitchenAid's standard tilt-head mixer and can mix batches of 11 dozen cookies at a time. This mixer is no joke.

You can get the savings ahead of Black Friday as it's marked down to $279.99, saving you $170 for 38% off." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More kitchen dealsBest home deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson V11 Cordless Vacuum $349.99 at Walmart
$599.99 Save $250.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"As you get ready for guests during the holidays, a vacuum is your best friend. It sucks up crumbs leftover from dinner, or anything trailed in on winter boots. In the panic of prepping for visitors, if you don't want to deal with cords or bags, look to the Dyson V11 Cordless Vacuum.

It had whole-machine filtration to seeks to remove the smallest particles from pollen to bacteria. Plus there's nothing worse than hair getting stuck in the vacuum head, but it automatically detangles hair. Ahead of Black Friday, you can find this vacuum for just $349.99. That saves you $250, for banging savings of 42%." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More home dealsBest mattress deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nectar Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress (Queen) $949.00 at Nectar
$2,286.00 Save $1,337.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"We’re shocked by how many mattress deals are popping off this early in the game. While there are great discounts across the board, the Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress (Queen) has our vote as the best deal ahead of Black Friday.

This 13-inch-thick mattress has twice as much pressure-relieving memory foam as the Nectar Classic, 60 percent more cooling, and is currently 50% off. With five layers of premium OEKO-TEX-certified materials, this mattress will provide an incredibly comfortable and supportive night's sleep. There’s also a 365-day trial and forever warranty, so if you don’t absolutely love it, you can return it." — Tabitha Britt, Mashable Contributor

More mattress dealsBest streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu with ads monthly subscription $0.99/month for one year (save $108) Get Deal Why we like it

"Hulu remains the top dog when it comes to Black Friday deals. For the second year in a row, the streamer is offering an entire year of Hulu with ads for just $0.99 per month. That's less than $12 total for an entire year of streaming. It's a bit surprising, honestly, as Hulu upped the cost of its basic plan just last month from $7.99 per month to $9.99 per month. In other words, the savings this year are even more impressive — 90% or $108 in total over 12 months.

Hulu is the streaming home for three of our favorite shows of 2023, The Bear, Abbott Elementary, and Reservation Dogs, as well as our top favorite show of 2024, Shōgun. It's also where you'll find episodes of ABC shows the day after they air, like Dancing with the Stars, and Neon movies fresh out of the theaters, like Cuckoo (coming Dec. 17)." — Christina Buff, Mashable Contributor

More streaming dealsBest book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart 'Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West' by Gregory Maguire $10.00 at Walmart
$19.99 Save $9.99 Get Deal Why we like it

"It's safe to say that the Wicked craze is in full swing. Whether you're holding space for all the memes the press tour is delivering or already ready for your second in-theater watch, have you considered reading the source material? And we're not talking about The Wizard of Oz.

The musical is based on Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, the novel by Gregory Maguire, and if you, or the biggest Wicked fan in your life, are eager to dive deeper into the world, now is a great time to pick up a copy. Ahead of Black Friday, Walmart is offering 50% off the novel, bringing it down to $10.

Wicked not your thing? Don't sweat because the Black Friday book deals are endless. Explore more deals on fiction, non-fiction, YA, and cookbooks below." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More book dealsKindle book dealsBest gaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sony The Last of Us Part I $29.99 at Best Buy
$69.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"The second season of The Last of Us is coming in 2025, and if you still haven't played the video game, now is your time to catch up. Ahead of Black Friday, find The Last of Us Part I for PlayStation 5 marked down 57%. It's down to $29.99, saving you $40. Plus, you can save 15% on Astro Gaming headsets with the purchase of a video game at Best Buy.

And while you're at it, you may as well pick up "The Last of Us Part II Remastered" for PlayStation 5, which is also on sale ahead of Black Friday." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More gaming deals under $50Best toy deal Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Lego Star Wars Ahsoka Tano’s T-6 Jedi Shuttle (75362) $45.00 at Walmart
$79.99 Save $34.99 Get Deal Why we like it

"The Office Lego Set may have sold out at Walmart within a day or so of dropping, but we still have another favorite Lego deal to highlight. Star Wars fans will get a huge kick out of the Lego Star Wars Ahsoka Tano’s T-6 Jedi Shuttle. With a rotating cockpit, signature red wings, and four figurines including bounty hunter and Sith, this is an action-packed set. Walmart's nearly 28% discount drops this set to $45, beating Best Buy's price by $13.99 on the same model number." — Gabriel Morgan, Mashable Contributor

More toys and games dealsLego dealsToy dealsBoard game dealsBest beauty tech deal Opens in a new window Credit: T3 T3 Aire Luxe $249.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"The Dyson Airwrap is often a popular purchase this time of year, on account of the fact it's $600 at full price. While it is on sale, we recommend checking out our guide to the best Airwrap dupes. Specifically, grab the T3 Aire 360, which comes with curling wands, a standard dryer attachment, and a round brush. What I enjoyed the most about this multi-styler, however, was its vegan leather carrying case, which was easier to use and took up way less space than every other multi-styler I've tried, including the Airwrap." — Bethany Allard, Lead Shopping Reporter

More beauty tech dealsHair dryer dealsHot air styler dealsSkincare tech dealsHot tools deals

For more Black Friday coverage, check out our sister sites CNET, ZDNET, and PCMag.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Spy on the birds in your yard with a discounted Bird Buddy feeder for Black Friday

Wed, 11/27/2024 - 23:58

SAVE $80: For Black Friday, you can get the Bird Buddy Original Solar Bird Feeder with Camera for $199, down from $279, a 28% discount (Amazon's listed MSRP, $239, is incorrect and you're actually getting a better deal than they're letting on).

Opens in a new window Credit: Bird Buddy Bird Buddy solar bird feeder with camera $199.00 at Amazon
$279.00 Save $80.00 Get Deal

Some details on the feeder's special extras: The Bird Buddy uses AI to identify different birds and their species — the tech can even tell if one of the animals is displaying signs of illness. With the camera, users can watch live feeds online or capture 2K video and 5 MP photos of new friends up close and personal. The Bird Buddy's app works with the camera, alerting users when their favorite birds are having a snack.

Keeping the camera charged is easy with the feeder's solar-powered roof. The Bird Buddy's manufacturer ensures the feeder's camera is respectful of privacy and does not share data without a user's acknowledgment.

Any bird lover would adore this eco-feeder, and really anyone who would appreciate a regular soundtrack of calming bird song.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazons official Black Friday sale is on, and a ton of new deals are here

Wed, 11/27/2024 - 23:34

UPDATE: Nov. 27, 2024, 5:40 p.m. EST Amazon's Black Friday sale officially started on Thursday, Nov. 21. This story has been updated with details on how long the sale will last, plus new deals on Instant Pots, beauty tech from Dyson and Shark, and further discounts on items that were already on sale, like Beats headphones.

Amazon's best Black Friday deals at a glance: Best Kindle deal Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition $154.99 (save $45) Get Deal Best Echo deal Echo Pop $17.99 (save $22) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal Roborock Qrevo S $459.99 (save $340) Get Deal Best TV deal TCL 75-inch Q5 QLED 4K Fire TV $549.99 (save $200) Get Deal Best Apple deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1399.99 (save $199.01) Get Deal Best headphones deal Sony WH-1000XM5 $298 (save $101.99) Get Deal Best kitchen deal Ninja Double Oven and Air Fryer with FlexDoor (DCT402BK) $199.99 (save $100) Get Deal Best beauty tech deal Shark SpeedStyle Pro Flex $179 (save $50.99) Get Deal

It seemed that Amazon was playing the long game this year, but now, its Black Friday sale has officially started.

The monster retailer announced the official dates for its Black Friday sale weeks later than the other big stores, and the official Amazon Black Friday event itself didn't start until Thursday, Nov. 21. If you're at all familiar with the way Black Friday works nowadays, you know that a Black Friday sale starting a week before Thanksgiving isn't all that early — considering Best Buy, Walmart, and Target had all already unveiled a first round or two of official Black Friday deals by the time Amazon started using that language.

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

But by now, any seasoned Black Friday shopper probably also knows that the lack of official Black Friday nomenclature doesn't mean a lack of early Black Friday deals. Amazon had been quietly dropping some pretty good discounts on products in main categories like robot vacuums, Apple products, and Fire TVs throughout all of November. But now that Amazon's legit Black Friday sale is underway after that post-October Prime Day limbo period, expect deals to get explosive.

We're tracking all of the noteworthy deals live in the days before Thanksgiving, and will be refreshing our list of Amazon deals on a daily basis, because that's how often Amazon is dropping new deals.

As you assess your purchase options, definitely keep an eye on our coverage of the other big retailers to see how their deals compare to Amazon's — Walmart, Best Buy, and Target are going hard, and the variety out there deserves some consideration. Another smart shopping strategy is to drop the listing URL into Amazon price history tracker Camelcamelcamel to see if the current deal is a good one, or add the item to your wishlist to get notified as soon as it goes on sale.

Note: All newly added or updated deals have been marked with a ✨, while struck-through deals were either sold out or expired at the time of writing. Any deal marked with a 🔥has dropped to a record-low price. 

Best Black Friday Kindle deal Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition $154.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $45.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"The new batch of 2024 Kindles is the fastest yet, turning pages quickly and with less delay when switching between books in your library. The Kindle Paperwhite and Signature Edition both have bright, high-contrast screens, so you can read in any environment. While I prefer the Kindle Paperwhite over the Signature Edition most of the time, right now you can't beat the SE's Black Friday price.

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is 23% off, bringing it down to $154.99. That's some big savings ($45 to be exact) on a device that's usually $200. You get everything you love in the Paperwhite, lightweight and waterproof design, with the added benefits of double the storage, wireless charging, and auto-adjusting brightness." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More Kindle deals at AmazonBest Black Friday Echo deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Pop 🔥 $17.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $22.00 Get Deal Why we like it

For less than $20, why not add the convenience of being able to ask Alexa anything in any room of your home? Even if you can't see yourself being a full-screened Echo person, the Pop can subtly squeeze into any living situation. You won't even know it's there — until you're making dinner and can simply ask Alexa for measurement conversions out loud rather than actually figuring out the math. Then you'll definitely know it's there.

More Echo deals at AmazonBest Black Friday Fire Tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 🔥 $74.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $65.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"Amazon's Fire HD 10 tablet is a lot friendlier on the wallet than an iPad. With a 10.1-inch screen, it's similar in size, but it's also a fraction of the price. In our review of the Amazon Fire HD 10, we delighted in its lightweight design and long-battery life. The biggest downside to Amazon's Fire tablets are the limited selection of apps offered, especially compared the the Google Play or Apple stores.

That being said, it's still not a bad choice for those who want a tablet for streaming or reading through the Kindle app —especially when the Fire HD 10 is down to its lowest price ever of $74.99. That's a generous 46% off for $65 in savings." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More Fire Tablet deals at AmazonBest Black Friday robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Qrevo S 🔥 $459.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $340.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"I think of the Roborock Qrevo S as the diet version of my favorite self-emptying robot vacuum right now, the Roborock Qrevo Master. And unless you're open to spending $1,000 or more on a robot vacuum, you can probably live without the Qrevo Master's fluff features like a livestream pet camera or extending side mop — especially when, at this price, you could buy a Qrevo S for two stories of your home for less than the price of one on-sale Qrevo Master.

Opting for the cheaper Qrevo is still a solid move: Compared to other 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop combos also on sale for Black Friday, the Qrevo S is one of the rare options under $500 that washes and dries its mopping pads." — Leah Stodart, Senior Shopping Reporter

More robot vacuum deals at Amazon

Robot vacuum and mop combos

Best Black Friday TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: TCL Our pick: TCL 75-inch Q5 QLED 4K Fire TV🔥 $549.99 at Amazon
$749.99 Save $200.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"Many people looking to finally replace their old, slow LED TV are looking for the happy medium between the cheapest possible TV and the fanciest possible TV. TCL's base tier QLEDs fall right in this sweet spot, and we're particularly drawn to the $549.99 price point on this huge 75-incher.

Though the 27% discount itself isn't as steep as the 30% or 40% off ones we're seeing in our list, it has to be noted that the TV is already ridiculously modestly priced to start with. $549.99 looks even sweeter in context when put beside the 65-inch version of Amazon's in-house Omni QLED is also on sale for the same price — so you're getting 10 more diagonal inches of screen for the same amount of money.

Even as one of the more basic QLEDs on the market, you'll immediately notice the change in brightness and color of the Q65 over the regular LED you've been watching. The difference comes from a layer of quantum dots laid over the LED backlight, which provides an overall punchier picture that's much better for gaming or watching sports." — Leah Stodart, Senior Shopping Reporter

More TV deals at Amazon

43-inch TVs

50- to 55-inch TVs

65-inch TVs

75-inch TVs and up

Best Black Friday Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) 🔥 $1,399.00 at Amazon
$1,599.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Considering the M4 MacBook Pro hasn't even been on this plane of existence for a full month (it was announced at the Apple Event at the end of October), already getting a $200 discount on the base configuration model is pretty major. That's Black Friday season for you.

So, what's the difference between the M3 and M4 MacBooks, aside from the fact that the M4 powered one is the fastest MacBook that's ever existed? All of your creative projects and gaming will not only benefit from zippier performance of the chip, but will display more responsive motion and gush brighter colors through the M4 MacBook's new quantum dot Liquid Retina display.

More Apple deals at Amazon

MacBooks

Macs

iPads

Apple Watches

AirPods and speakers

AirTags

Best Black Friday headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 $298.00 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $101.99 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Sony WH-1000XM5.

"If you want headphones that have great noise cancelling and incredible (adjustable) sound, then the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones won't let you down. Out of the noise-cancelling headphones we've tested, these are our top pick for audiophiles. It can be a little annoying that the ear cups don't fold in, but with 30 hours of battery life, you'll probably find yourself wearing them more often than not. Dropped down to $297, these headphones are at a dollar cheaper than their Prime Day price. Our guess is that this means they'll drop even lower on Black Friday, but if you want to pick up a pair early, this is a decent price." — Bethany Allard, Lead Shopping Reporter

More headphones deals at Amazon

Noise-canceling over-ear and on-ear headphones

Noise-canceling earbuds

Best Black Friday fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel Watch 3 (41mm, WiFi) 🔥 $279.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $70.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Just released in August, this is the first time the new Google Pixel Watch 3 has ever gone on sale for less than $300. Unfortunately, the larger 45mm screen is still at full price, but even this 41mm model has a 10% larger display than the same size Pixel Watch 2, thanks to smaller bezels. The Pixel Watch 3's display is also just brighter and zippier in general, without sacrificing that 24-hour battery life.

On that screen, you'll be able to swipe through a more detailed running dashboard than the previous generation, check your heart rate changes from sleep, to regular daytime chilling, to a legit cardio workout, make payments via Google Wallet, and more.

More fitness tracker and smartwatch deals at Amazon

Smart rings

Best Black Friday kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Double Oven and Air Fryer with FlexDoor (DCT402BK) 🔥 $199.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

We know some version of the Foodi immediately comes to mind when you think of Ninja deals, but Ninja makes other feature-stuffed countertop appliances that also deserve consideration. For instance, one of the new and improved versions of Ninja's iconic air fryer ovens, which whips up food up to 65% faster than your traditional oven, is subtly chilling under $200 for Black Friday. This countertop air frying oven, specifically model number DCT402BK, has a double stack design that can cook two separate food items on different settings or at different temperatures simultaneously. In total, there are 13 cooking presets, including bake, broil, toast, whole roast, and dehydrate.

More kitchen deals at Amazon

Instant Pot

Air fryers and pizza ovens

Coffee makers

Eco-friendly kitchen gear

Beauty tech deals Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark SpeedStyle Pro Flex 🔥 $179.00 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $50.99 Get Deal Why we like it

If a multi styler like the Airwrap or FlexStyle feels like it'll be overkill for your hair routine, you might consider a nice (but still multifaceted) hair dryer like the Shark SpeedStyle. It's one of Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard's favorite Dyson Supersonic dupes, particularly for smoothing — its QuickSmooth brush in particular not only dries hair quickly, but "keeps things from looking too windswept and more styled and volumized." This version also comes with a diffuser for defined curls, a concentrator for sleek, straight styles, and a FrizzFighter finishing tool.

More beauty tech deals at Amazon

Check out our sister site PCMag's best Black Friday deals list for more options.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Beats Studio Pro headphones are 54% off as part of a record-low Black Friday deal

Wed, 11/27/2024 - 23:24

SAVE $190: As of Nov. 27, Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart have the Beats Studio Pro on sale for just $159.99 during their Black Friday sales. That's 54% off the headphones' $349.99 MSRP and an all-time low.

Where to buy Beats Studio Pro on sale Beats Studio Pro $159.99 at Amazon (save $190) Get Deal Beats Studio Pro $159.99 at Best Buy (save $190) Get Deal Beats Studio Pro $159.99 at Target (save $190) Get Deal Beats Studio Pro $159.99 at Walmart (save $190) Get Deal

Fierce as their competition is during the holidays, Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart have all agreed on one thing lately: The Mashable Choice Award-winning Beats Studio Pro should be on sale at an unprecedented price for Black Friday. Let's not argue with them.

The over-ear, noise-cancelling headphones are down to $159.99 at all four retailers, who have slashed their usual retail price of $349.99 by more than half. Data on the Amazon price-tracking site CamelCamelCamel reveals that this is their biggest discount to date, beating their previous record-low from earlier in November by $10-ish. They were full price on the Beats website and in the Apple Store at the time of writing. (The latter will give you a $50 gift card for buying them direct starting Nov. 29 — meh.)

The Mashable Shopping team previously flagged a Studio Pro deal at Target that brought them down to $249.99, or $100 off. (It was supposed to end on Nov. 26, which it did — they just got even cheaper.) Shoppers who bought them there at that higher price can request an adjustment in store or online with proof of purchase.

SEE ALSO: Black Friday headphone and speaker deals bring AirPods Pro and Bose headphones to record-low prices

Mashable's Alex Perry reviewed the Studio Pro right at launch in the summer of 2023 and scored them at a 4.5/5, commending their ultra-clear sound quality, generous bass, stellar battery life, "tremendous" ANC, convenient foldable design, and cross-platform consistency. Apple (which owns Beats) doesn't leave Android users SOL, here.

"Really, the biggest complaint I can think of is that $350 is a large sum of money to drop on a pair of headphones," Perry wrote. That's less of an issue as things currently stand.

All four stores carry the Studio Pro in black, deep brown, navy, and sandstone. Best Buy has an extra pair in black with gold accents, while three earth-toned Beats Studio Pro x Kim Kardashian variants and a matte white version are exclusively available through Amazon. (Note that the white ones are usually priced at $249.95.) Amazon is also letting shoppers bundle the headphones with two years of AppleCare+ for an additional $19 — a $10 savings.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get $75 in Amazon credit when you redeem this early Black Friday Meta Quest 3S bundle deal

Wed, 11/27/2024 - 23:10

GET $75: As of Nov. 27, early bird Black Friday shoppers can score $75 in store credit when they purchase a Meta Quest 3S bundle at Amazon. The bundle also includes a digital copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow and a three-month trial of Meta Quest+.

Opens in a new window Credit: Meta / Camouflaj Meta Quest 3S (128GB) bundle + $75 Amazon credit $299.00 at Amazon
Use code QUEST75 at checkout. Get Deal

There's really no better entry point into VR gaming than the Meta Quest 3. It's affordable, easy to set up, and runs great for a budget device (honestly, it doesn't feel "budget" at all). Even at full price, it's a pretty great deal considering what you get.

Lucky for you, the deal is even sweeter ahead of Black Friday: Amazon is offering $75 in store credit to any early bird shoppers who pick up this Meta Quest 3S bundle, which also includes a digital copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow and a three-month trial of Meta Quest+. It's free money. Take it!

If you prefer to do your shopping at Target, the retailer is offering the same deal but with a $75 Target gift card.

SEE ALSO: Check out some of the best Nintendo Switch deals we've seen ahead of Black Friday

The Meta Quest 3S is the most budget-friendly version of the popular VR headset to date, but it's not lacking in features. It has the same processor and RAM as the Meta Quest 3, so it can run the same games with ease. The only place of note you'll be taking a noticeable hit is in resolution (the Meta Quest 3 has a 4K display, while the 3S has a 1920p display), but you'll save at least $100 in return for not upgrading. When you bundle it with a great starter game like Batman: Arkham Shadow and a few months of access to Meta's Quest+ catalog, it's not an offer you should miss, even before the official start of Black Friday.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade without cable

Wed, 11/27/2024 - 23:02
How to tune into the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade at home without cable: BEST OVERALL Peacock Premium annual subscription $19.99/year Black Friday Deal ($60 off the annual cost) Get Deal BEST FOR XFINITY CUSTOMERS Peacock Premium Free with eligible Xfinity accounts (save $79.99/year or $7.99/month) Get Deal BEST FOR SPECTRUM CUSTOMERS Peacock Premium Free with eligible Spectrum accounts (save $79.99/year or $7.99/month) Get Deal BEST FOR STUDENTS Peacock Premium for Students $1.99/month for one year (save $6/month) Get Deal BEST FOR FIRST RESPONDERS AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS Peacock Premium $1.99/month for one year (save $6/month) Get Deal BEST CABLE REPLACEMENT Sling TV Blue $22.50 for your first month, then $45/month ($22.50 off your first month) Get Deal

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off its 98th march through the streets of New York City on Nov. 28, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. ET. The annual holiday tradition involves a thrilling barrage of massive balloons, celebrity appearances, fantastical floats, and marching bands, offering plenty of spectacle to accompany your festive feasts and family get-togethers.

This year, there'll be 22 balloons, with the introduction of new balloons inspired by the Elf on the Shelf, Dragon Ball Z, Spider-Man, and Paw Patrol. Plus, Bluey favorites Janet and Rita (Bluey and her sister Bingo in their "grannies" personas) will have their own balloon car, sure to fill fans of the Aussie animated series with glee.

Among the big names performing are Frozen and Wicked star Idina Menzel, The Bear's Liza Colón-Zayas, rapper T-Pain, pop goddess Kylie Minogue, and WNBA Champions New York Liberty and their mascot Ellie the Elephant.

Today show anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker will host at-home audiences on NBC during the 2.5-mile parade. If you don't have cable, don't worry; you can still keep the tradition alive via streaming. Here's what you need to know to tune in live.

SEE ALSO: The best Black Friday streaming deals so far: Hulu, Peacock, Max, and more What time is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade?

On Nov. 28, the parade is set to air from 8:30 a.m. to noon ET on NBC, Telemundo, and Peacock and will re-broadcast from 2:00 to 5:30 p.m. ET for those who don't wake up early. If you don't have cable, you'll either need a Peacock subscription or a cable replacement like Sling, Hulu + Live TV, or FuboTV.

How to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade without cableBest Peacock deal for most people Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium $19.99/year Black Friday Deal ($60 off the annual cost) Get Deal

Like every other streaming service, Peacock is prone to price hikes, this year upping its cost for the Premium Plan with ads from $5.99/month ($59.99/year) to $7.99/month ($79.99/year). If you want to cut out ads, you'll have to fork over even more and pay $13.99/month for the Premium Plus Plan, or $139.99/year. But Peacock tends to offer one of the best Black Friday deals of any streamer, and wouldn't you know, there's a Black Friday deal on now for an entire year of the Premium Plan (with ads) for only $19.99. Or, you can sign up to get $1.99/month for 6 months. This may be your best bet for watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade for a steal.

Best Peacock deal for Xfinity customers Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock / Xfinity Peacock Premium Free with eligible Xfinity accounts (save $79.99/year or $7.99/month) Get Deal

If you use Xfinity internet, you can score a free or discounted subscription to Peacock to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade and plenty more. You can check your eligibility over at the Xfinity website, but here's a breakdown if you know which plan you're on:

  • Xfinity Internet users with Gigabit or Gigabit+ speed can get Peacock Premium for free for two years (offer ends June 25, 2025).

  • Xfinity Internet customers who are Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members can get Peacock Premium for free by simply redeeming a reward for it. Sign in at xfinity.com/rewards, select the Peacock reward, and wait for an email with instructions on how to activate your offer.

  • NOW TV customers get Peacock Premium included as part of their service.

Best Peacock deal for Spectrum customers Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock / Spectrum Peacock Premium Free with eligible Spectrum accounts (save $79.99/year or $7.99/month) Get Deal

According to an agreement between NBC Universal and Charter Communications, the Peacock Premium ad-supported streaming service is available for “no additional cost” to Spectrum TV Select video customers. So Spectrum TV and internet customers can also tune into the Thanksgiving Day Parade and other gems on Peacock for free.

Best Peacock Deal for students Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Students $1.99/month for one year (save $6/month) Get Deal

Students can keep the Thanksgiving tradition alive even without a cable plan by snagging a Peacock Premium subscription for only $1.99/month (for an entire year). All you need is a verifiable student status (a .edu email address) with SheerID. Once you pass the verification, you'll get a unique promo code to sign up for Peacock at a discount. The promo code can only be used once, though, so be sure to plan accordingly.

Best Peacock deal for first responders and medical professionals Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for First Responders and Medical Professionals $1.99/month for one year (save $6/month) Get Deal

Similarly, first responders and medical professionals can score a year of Peacock Premium for only $1.99/month as well (reg. $7.99/month). Verify your status via SheerID upon signing up and use the unique promo code to knock down the cost per month. Eligible first responders and medical professionals who continue to meet verification qualifications can renew the Peacock offer annually and enjoy the Thanksgiving Day Parade and much more for years to come. Learn more about eligibility and offer terms here.

Best cable replacement option Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling TV Blue $22.50 for your first month, then $45/month ($22.50 off your first month) Get Deal

For those who would rather sign up for a cable replacement than a single streaming service to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade and other live events, Sling TV is your best bet. It's by far the most affordable cable alternative and lets you pick and choose the channels you want access to. For access to NBC, you'll need the Blue plan, which typically costs $45/month. However, you can save 50% on your first month and try it out for only $22.50.

Note: Double check that NBC is available in your local network before committing to Sling.

UPDATE: Nov. 27, 2024, 2:56 p.m. EST This article has been updated to reflect 2024 parade details. Additional reporting by Kristy Puchko.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Chatbots pushing pro-anorexia messaging to teen users

Wed, 11/27/2024 - 22:54

As online content encouraging disordered eating behaviors rears its ugly head once again, generative AI is adding fuel to the fire.

According to a Futurism investigation, popular AI startup Character.AI is hosting numerous pro-anorexia chatbots that encourage dangerous weight loss and eating habits. Many are advertised as "weight loss coaches" or even eating disorder recovery experts. Several include thinly-veiled references to eating disorders, while even more are designed to romanticize dangerous and often disturbing habits while mimicking favorite characters. The site, popular among younger users, has not made efforts to remove chatbots of this kind as of Futurism's publishing — despite violating its terms of service.

SEE ALSO: Teens are talking to AI companions, whether it's safe or not

This isn't the first scandal hitting Character.AI's customizable, user-generated chatbots. In October, a 14-year-old boy took his own life after allegedly forming an emotional attachment to an AI bot mimicking Game of Thrones character Daenerys Targaryen. Earlier that month, the company came under fire for hosting a chatbot that mimicked a teen girl who had been murdered in 2006—her father discovered the bot and it was later removed. Previous reporting has found the site also hosts suicide-themed chatbots, as well as ones promoting child sexual abuse.

A 2023 report from the Center for Countering Digital Hate found that popular AI chatbots, including ChatGPT and Snapchat's MyAI, generated dangerous responses to questions about weight and body image. "Untested, unsafe generative AI models have been unleashed on the world with the inevitable consequence that they're causing harm. We found the most popular generative AI sites are encouraging and exacerbating eating disorders among young users—some of whom may be highly vulnerable," wrote Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, at the time.

Teens (and adults) are increasingly turning to digital spaces and technologies, including AI-powered chatbots, for companionship. And while some of these are created and monitored by trusted organizations, even those are at risk for untoward behaviors. For chatbots and online forums that go unregulated by watchdogs, the risks are multifold, including predation and abuse.

Categories: IT General, Technology

All the best Black Friday deals to shop for less than $25

Wed, 11/27/2024 - 22:49
The best Black Friday deals under $25 at a glance: BEST TECH DEAL Echo Dot with Amazon Basics Smart Color Bulb $22.99 (save $39.99) Get Deal BEST KITCHEN DEAL Crock-Pot Oval Manual Slow Cooker (7-quart) $24.99 (save $25) Get Deal BEST TOY DEAL Lego Icons Plum Blossom Flower Set $23.99 (save $6) Get Deal

Black Friday properly falls on Nov. 29 this year, but as in years past, sales have been flooding our feeds for weeks. Now that we're closer to the official shopping holiday, we can say with certainty that it's shaping up to be a good year for deals.

Obviously, there are tons of discounts on big-ticket items like TVs and laptops, but not everyone's looking to splurge this season. For anyone on a budget, there are also plenty of products falling under $25 for Black Friday — and lucky for you, we've been tracking all of the best ones at all of the mega-retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target.

Here are our top picks for the best deals under $25. Keep an eye out for more to come as Cyber Week continues.

Best tech deal under $25 Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Dot with Amazon Basics Smart Color Bulb $22.99 at Amazon
$62.98 Save $39.99 Get Deal Why we like it

The fifth-generation Echo Dot seamlessly adds smart benefits to your daily routine. A smaller version of the baseline Echo, the Dot is a good fit for a nightstand, bookshelf, countertop, or desk. It can be used to receive reminders, set timers, schedule tasks, communicate with friends and family, save recipes, listen to music, play soothing white noise to escape from the holiday chaos, and more. Paired with the free Amazon Basics smart color bulb, you can ask Alexa to light your room with festive colors. Usually $49.99 for the Echo Dot alone, you can get the device and free bulb for just $22.99. That matches its record-low price.

More tech deals under $25Best kitchen deal under $25 Opens in a new window Credit: Crock-Pot Crock-Pot Oval Manual Slow Cooker (7-quart) $24.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $25.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Cooking for big groups this holiday season? Snag this half-priced slow cooker deal from none other than Crock-Pot and whip up soups, stews, meats, and more. The manual design couldn't be easier to use — just turn the dial to low, high, or warm and let it do its thing. With a seven-quart pot, you can fit up to a seven-pound roast and serve nine or more people. Usually $49.99, it's on sale for Black Friday for just under the $25 mark.

More kitchen deals under $25Best toy deal under $25 Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Icons Plum Blossom Flower Set $23.99 at Target
$29.99 Save $6.00 Get Deal Why we like it

This 327-piece Lego set doubles as decor once you're finished building it. Part of the Botanical Collection from Lego Icons, it gives you a gorgeous Plum Blossom that won't die. Designed for adults, the detailed flower replica comes in a pastel blue flowerpot and needs zero pruning or watering. Usually $29.99, it's on sale at Target for $23.99 ahead of Black Friday.

More toy deals under $25Other Black Friday deals under $25
Categories: IT General, Technology

Best Buy and Walmart are absolutely schooling Amazon in Black Friday TV deals

Wed, 11/27/2024 - 22:37
A quick look at the best early Black Friday TV deals Best 55-inch deal Hisense 55-inch QD5 QLED TV $219.99 at Best Buy (save $180) Get Deal Best 65-inch TV deal LG 65-inch B3 Series OLED 4K TV $998 at Walmart (save $301) Get Deal Best 75-inch TV deal LG 75-inch 85 Series QNED TV $999.99 at Best Buy (save $500) Get Deal

UPDATE: Nov. 27, 2024, 4:37 p.m. EST This post has been updated with the latest pricing on the best TV deals live right before Thanksgiving, including new Amazon Omni Mini LED deals and a 55-inch 4K TV under $180 at Walmart.

As one of the OG items being stampeded after in those old Black Friday clips you're picturing right now, we've known for most of our adult lives that Black Friday is one of the best times of year to buy a TV.

The types of TVs spotlighted in the pre-holiday sale have shifted, however. The biggest factor when upgrading your TV this year will probably be the normalization — and subsequently, affordability — of QLED. Over the past few years, QLED TVs have officially gone from "the TV that only the fanciest people you know have" to quite accessible for the average household. Finding a 55-inch QLED under $300 or a 65-inch QLED under $500 during an event like Black Friday isn't hard at all.

SEE ALSO: Get both Hulu and Disney+ for $2.99 per month for Black Friday

However, the "best" TV deal for one household won't be the "best" TV deal for another. Rather than jumping between a mess of tabs of every store's TV doorbusters, knowing which type of TVs each big retailer tends to focus on is a way smarter strategy going in.

Are TV deals better at Amazon, Best Buy, or Walmart?

In my experience, Best Buy focuses on large screens and has a bigger selection of the premium QLED and OLED models from Samsung, Sony, and LG on sale. Amazon gears its TV discounts more toward 43-inch to 65-inch Fire TVs, especially its in-house models. Walmart is known for a more concise list of doorbusters that are often simply the cheapest 4K TV possible in a certain size, specifically options in the 50- to 75-inch range that are more likely to sell out than TVs at other retailers. However, there's been a bit of a plot twist with cheap 43-inch to 65-inch QLEDs this year — Best Buy is kind of stealing Walmart's spotlight on that one.

The TV wheelhouses of these retailers don't completely bar any overlap between TV deals, though. There will be a handful of popular models (like Samsung's The Frame) seeing price matches across each, but we'll keep you posted if one retailer is able to undercut the others on one of these icons.

SEE ALSO: We track Apple deals year-round — here are the best ones leading up to Black Friday

I've been tracking early Black Friday TV deals since the beginning of November and have watched retailers amp discounts even further in the days right before Thanksgiving — a ton of models are already back to their October Prime Day price or beating it completely.

So yes, almost all of the TV deals in this list are already at their Black Friday prices — but that doesn't mean retailers won't hit us with a surprise extra price drop or add a few more secret doorbusters to their ranks. This list will be refreshed regularly as we head into Black Friday itself on Nov. 29 (and beyond) if you'd prefer to hold out and compare.

All newly added or updated deals have been marked with a ✨, while struck-through deals were either sold out or expired at the time of writing.

One more thing: If you're getting rid of an old TV to make room for this Black Friday purchase, take it somewhere that recycles old electronics (like Best Buy) rather than trashing it.

Best Black Friday TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 55-inch QD5 QLED 4K Google TV $219.99
$399.99 Save $180.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Remember when I said QLEDs are becoming way more accessible for the average household? At $219.99, this 55-inch QLED is hovering around the same price point that many regular, dull LED TVs were a few years ago. Now, I can see this 55-inch Hisense QLED being baby's first adult TV purchase for a ton of people. (Note: Best Buy has dropped this price by an extra $30 since this TV first went on sale a few weeks before Black Friday.)

The difference between those two cheap TVs is that the "Q" in QLED stands for quantum dots, which form a layer of extra light over the traditional LED panel to pump more saturated colors through the screen. QLED TVs are also significantly brighter than regular LED TVs, making them ideal for watching sports, especially in the daytime.

Black Friday TV deals at Best Buy43-inch to 50-inch TVs55-inch TVs65-inch TVs75-inch TVs and upBlack Friday TV deals at Walmart43-inch TVs50- to 55-inch TVs65-inch TVs70-inch TVs and upBlack Friday TV deals at Amazon43-inch TVs50- to 55-inch TVs65-inch TVs75-inch TVs and up85-inch TVs and up
Categories: IT General, Technology

Shop a bounty of tablet deals ahead of Black Friday

Wed, 11/27/2024 - 22:03
Best Early Black Friday tablet deals Best iPad deal Apple iPad, 9th generation (A13, 64GB, WiFi) $199.99 (Save $129.01) Get Deal Best Samsung tablet deal Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE $299.99 (Save $220) Get Deal Best Google tablet deal Google Pixel Tablet $279 (Save $120) Get Deal

If you're doing any travel this holiday season, do yourself a favor and grab a tablet. It will certainly be a better way to stay occupied than whatever in-flight entertainment you may (or may not) get stuck with. Plus, family can be a lot, so after a big holiday meal, we don't blame you if you want to hide away with a comfort film.

Tablets simplify your tech while traveling since they can double as a laptop, e-reader, and gaming device. Luckily, with Black Friday around the corner, the deals are already rolling in. Plus, more than just iPads are up for grabs: Amazon Fire and Samsung Galaxy tablets are on sale too.

Explore the best early Black Friday deals on tablets available now:

Best iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad, 9th generation (A13, 64GB, WiFi) $199.99 at Target
$329.00 Save $129.01 Get Deal Why we like it

An iPad under $200 is a true gift this holiday season. Apple's 9th generation model is down to $199.99 at Target, less than a dollar short of its lowest price ever. While there might be newer generations available, this is the most budget-friendly model, especially now that it's $129.01 off.

The 9th generation Apple iPad comes with the A13 bionic chip, which provides plenty of processing power for streaming, gaming, or working. The 10.2-inch retina display gives plenty of space for your creative pursuits, as it's compatible with the first generation of Apple Pencil.

Now is the right time to shop, as you can find the Apple iPad 9th generation for 39% off.

More iPad dealsiPadiPad AiriPad miniiPad ProBest Android tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE $299.99 at Amazon
$519.99 Save $220.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're in the market for an Android tablet, Samsung delivers with its Galaxy tablets. With a 10.9-inch screen, this is one of the largest tablets on this list. Plus, it comes with the S Pen, to let you get to work whether you're illustrating or taking notes.

Plus, you can save over $200 ahead of Black Friday on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE. Find it on sale for $299.99, saving 42%.

More Android tablet dealsAmazon Fire tablet deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Bluesky has growing pains. Heres what it can learn from X/Twitter

Wed, 11/27/2024 - 21:08

File this under nice problems to have: Bluesky is growing like gangbusters. But hiding beneath that nice problem is a whole viper pit of nasty ones, as any study of Twitter history will tell you.

The Twitter-like social media underdog (or, given its logo, under-butterfly) zipped past the 20 million-user mark last week, with more than a quarter of those users arriving after the U.S. election. An election in which the owner of Twitter/X put his giant thumb on the scale for Donald Trump and made billions of dollars in a single day afterwards—events that led to what we might term an ongoing X-odus. Now leaving Musk's sinking ship for Bluesky: Taylor Swift stans.

More importantly, the new users are highly active, and there's no sign of the trend abating. According to a live counter built atop Bluesky's API, the service is nudging the 23 million-user mark, and could cross it by the time U.S. families sit down to their Thanksgiving meals. The growth rate is 4 to 8 new users every second. That could easily climb once crazy Republican uncles everywhere unload on their distraught Democratic kin.

SEE ALSO: Leaving X for bluer pastures? What to know about Bluesky's owners and policies.

So what's the problem? Say it with us now: content moderation. Bluesky doesn't just have to deal with disinformation coming from fake accounts, taking advantage of its lack of account verification, but also an explosion in child sexual abuse material (CSAM) — from two confirmed cases in 2023 to eight confirmed cases a day post-election.

What did Twitter do when it was in this position? In a word: nothing.

Twitter's early history was one of chaotic growth, company name changes, excessive "fail whale" downtime, and ego clashes between the shy male nerds who lucked into running it. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg famously described his rival social media service as "a clown car that fell into a gold mine."

As a result, there's little data on account growth in the early years. We know Twitter, born in 2006, took until 2008 to reach its first 600,000 users. In April 2010, the company boasted 105.8 million accounts, according to an on-the-scene report from a social media news website called Mashable. In other words, the closest analog to Bluesky right now is Twitter at some point in 2009.

'We suck at dealing with abuse'

And when did Twitter start policing for hate speech and other criminal activity? Before 2014, the company didn't even offer a way to report abuse on the platform, and that tool was notoriously slow. In 2015, well into the targeted harassment campaign known as Gamergate, Twitter CEO Dick Costolo wrote a mea culpa explaining how this was costing the company:

We suck at dealing with abuse and trolls on the platform and we've sucked at it for years. It's no secret and the rest of the world talks about it every day. We lose core user after core user by not addressing simple trolling issues that they face every day.

Disney CEO Bob Iger concurred in 2016, when he nixed a deal to buy Twitter that had the support of both company boards. The reason? "Nastiness" and "hate speech," Iger wrote in his 2019 autobiography.

That didn't faze Elon Musk — or did it? After all, even Musk tried to back out of his highly speculative $44 billion offer for Twitter in 2022 before a court forced him to mean what he had publicly said. By that point, Twitter had belatedly introduced content moderation (starting in 2018, when it permanently suspended the account of conspiracy maven Alex Jones).

The growing moderation team under Aaron Rodericks was dismantled during Musk's first year. His "content moderation council" that was going to decide whether to reinstate accounts like Trump's (banned after it was used to lead an insurrection) never materialized. And what happened? A stream of users heading for the exits that has not abated since.

By contrast, Bluesky has plans to quadruple the size of its content moderation team, from 25 to 100. "We're trying to go above what the legal requirements are, because we decided that we wanted to be a safe and welcoming space for a lot of users," Rodericks — now head of Trust and Safety at Bluesky after Musk ousted him from X — told Platformer.

There are many challenges ahead for Rodericks and everyone else at Bluesky who aims to build trust among new users. Top of mind right now has to be those fake accounts. Twitter introduced its verification badges, the famous blue checks, in 2009; right in line with Bluesky at this stage in its growth.

Plus, European Union chiefs noted this week, the platform is technically running afoul of its regulations. But the compliance problem is a small one. There's no sign yet that Bluesky intends to follow Musk into his ongoing state of war with the EU; the problem simply seems to be that Bluesky is growing so fast it doesn't even have a European representative.

Again, nice problem to have.

Categories: IT General, Technology

OpenAI Sora leak: What it was and what it wasn’t.

Wed, 11/27/2024 - 20:56

A group of artists that were early testers for OpenAI's Sora leaked access to the AI video generator on Tuesday. But let's get the facts straight so the story isn't oversimplified.

OpenAI has since shut down access to Sora for all early testers. But for about three hours, the public could test out Sora for themselves. According to a statement shared with the demo hosted on Hugging Face, the artists released access to Sora as a protest against "art washing," which they believe they were "lured into" by OpenAI.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI accidentally deleted potential evidence in New York Times copyright lawsuit case

But there's a little more nuance to the story to than "disgruntled anti-AI artists leak the model." Let's dive into what it was and wasn't.

It was leaked credentials; it wasn't leaked code.

A leak of Sora may have sounded like a moment of truth that many had been waiting for.

When OpenAI announced Sora last February, there was rampant speculation about what the AI video generator was trained on. Many artists believe Sora's training data was scraped from videos on YouTube and elsewhere on the web without explicit permission. OpenAI has refused to divulge any details, but based on copyright infringement lawsuits regarding its other models, the company maintains that publicly available data is fair use under copyright laws.

But this is still very much up for debate as OpenAI and other companies face ongoing lawsuits about whether AI-generated content is sufficiently original and whether it commercially competes with human works.

When TechCrunch first reported the leak, everyone was dying to look under the hood and see what Sora was made of. But the Sora leak doesn't offer any intel about the model or its training data. It was essentially a publicly available web-based demo, likely made possible by sharing API access. It appears to have just granted the public sneaky backdoor access to Sora's functionality on OpenAI's servers. But while anyone in the world was briefly able to generate Sora videos, this type of leak doesn't grant us any new information about the Sora model itself.

Tweet may have been deleted It was a protest against OpenAI's early testing program; it wasn't a blanket anti-AI statement.

The artists that made Sora publicly accessible did so because they felt like OpenAI was "exploiting artists for unpaid R&D and PR" by leveraging unpaid labor in form of bug testing and feedback. "Furthermore," the statement continued, "every output needs to be approved by the OpenAI team before sharing. This early access program appears to be less about creative expression and critique, and more about PR and advertisement."

Tweet may have been deleted

The group wasn't mincing words when it called OpenAI "corporate AI overlords" complete with middle finger emoticons. However, they "are not against the use of AI technology as a tool for the arts," since they wouldn't have been invited to participate as early testers otherwise, the group noted. What they are against is "how this artist program has been rolled out and how the tool is shaping up ahead of a possible public release."

This is the kind of nuance that often gets lost in AI discourse. Many artists aren't opposed to using AI as a tool for creative expression. But opposing exploitation of creative works and job replacement by automation is often conflated with anti-innovation. We don't know exactly what it is about how Sora is "shaping up" ahead of its release that prompted the revolt, but it's safe to say OpenAI wants a positive review from its artist testers, hence the dissonance.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Spotify Wrapped 2024 date: When it comes out, how to view yours

Wed, 11/27/2024 - 20:55

Spotify users look forward to their Wrapped all year long. And for those who can hardly wait, don't fret: Spotify Wrapped 2024 is nearly here.

What is Spotify Wrapped?

Started in 2016, Spotify Wrapped is exactly what it sounds like: your year in Spotify, neatly wrapped up in a colorful — and uniquely shareable — interactive experience.

Spotify combs through your data and tells you your top artists, songs, albums, and more. For instance, you might find out you were in the Top 1 percent of Selena Gomez listeners. Spotify also creates a playlist of your Top 100 songs of the year.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about Spotify Wrapped 2024 Tweet may have been deleted When will Spotify Wrapped be released in 2024?

The short answer: The exact date is a surprise. Spotify has never confirmed it, and let's face it — they probably never will. But we do know Spotify Wrapped will likely arrive quite soon.

It'll certainly come out the week after Thanksgiving. In 2023, it came out the Wednesday after Thanksgiving. So keep that in mind.

Tweet may have been deleted How to view your Spotify Wrapped

It's pretty simple to look at your Wrapped once it is released. All you have to do is open the app on your phone and click on the correct "Wrapped" icon. Typically speaking, it'll be a little button across a hard-to-miss banner. You can also go to the Wrapped section of the Spotify website.

And, of course, once you do view your Wrapped there's only one thing to do: share it with the internet, as has become obligatory.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Suction up these Dyson deals ahead of Black Friday 2024

Wed, 11/27/2024 - 20:43
The best Dyson early Black Friday deals at Amazon Best Dyson cordless vacuum deal Dyson V11 Origin Cordless Vacuum $349.99 (save $220) Get Deal Best Dyson hair care deal Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer $329 (save $100.99) Get Deal Best Dyson air purifier deal Dyson Purifier Cool TP07 Smart Air Purifier and Fan $349.99 (Save $300.99) Get Deal

Black Friday is just on the horizon, and Amazon has marked down a whole fleet of Dyson products. Whether you’re getting a premium blow dryer as a gift, or a vacuum for your own dust-bunny defense, now is a great time to invest in new Dyson tech — especially when it’s up to 46% off or more.

Dyson vacuums dominated our list of the best cordless stick vacuums. Similarly, Dyson’s beautifully designed air purifiers and advanced hair care products make waves in a sea of frizz. Here are the Dyson early Black Friday sales we’re writing home about:

Best Dyson cordless vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson V11 Origin Cordless Vacuum $349.99 at Amazon
$569.99 Save $220.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Hoover was once the vacuum of the times — so much so that it became a verb: “to hoover.” Today, the vacuum of the moment is Dyson.

The Dyson V11 Origin Cordless Vacuum runs on lithium battery power (and comes with a recharging dock), ensuring it’s simple to carry from room to room and extend between table and chair legs where a corded vacuum might become twisted about. The V11’s Motorbar cleans carpets like a whiz, yet won’t scratch wood floors.

Winter is coming, and if you’re not careful, dust bunnies will already be making their homes in the corners of your living room — get a new Dyson vacuum for up to 39% off and invest in a cleaner home all winter.

More Dyson cordless vacuum dealsBest Dyson hair care deals Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer $329.00 at Amazon
$429.99 Save $100.99 Get Deal Why we like it

There are plenty of different types of hair, and we deserve beauty tech that works with all of them. The cult-favorite Dyson Supersonic is made for all types of hair and all styles, and right now it’s 23% off for Black Friday at Amazon.

With magnetic attachments, this hair dryer delivers varied hair treatments that give you the look you want. It also has four heat settings to promote different drying speeds and styles.

More Dyson hair care dealsBest Dyson air purifier deals Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Purifier Cool TP07 Smart Air Purifier and Fan $349.00 at Amazon
$649.99 Save $300.99 Get Deal Why we like it

In the world of air purifiers, you can’t get much more aesthetic than the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07 Smart Air Purifier and Fan. However, this advanced air purifier isn’t all looks, it packs advanced air purification systems including a HEPA 13 filter as well as a cooling fan. An advanced air quality sensor reports changes in your home’s air to complete the picture.

Whether you’re worried about wildfires from the outdoors, or carbon monoxide from your stove, an air purifier is a great investment for home health.

More Dyson air purifier deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

iOS 18.2 Apple Mail gets major redesign: 3 biggest updates

Wed, 11/27/2024 - 19:52

The upcoming iOS 18.2 update is a big one. Expected to be released in early December, iOS 18.2 comes with Genmoji, Image Playground, Siri with the ChatGPT function, and more AI-powered Writing Tools. The update also has a redesigned Mail app.

Even though Apple Intelligence features are exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro models and the entire iPhone 16 lineup, all iPhones that support the iOS 18.2 update will get some of the redesigned Mail features. Here's what to expect.

SEE ALSO: How to use Genmoji on iOS 18 Your Mail inbox, sorted

The most noticeable Mail update automatically sorts emails into categories: Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions. The Primary category shows your most important emails sent from actual humans, as opposed to automated mailing lists. Time-sensitive emails will also show up here.

The iOS 18.2 update automatically sorts your inbox. Credit: Screenshot: Mashable / Apple

Receipts, orders, and deliveries will automatically be put in Transactions, so you can easily track packages and purchases by switching over to this category. News, subscriptions, and social media notifications are sorted into the Updates category, so look there for newsletters and alerts. Last but not least, all offers and deals emails go into the Promotions category, so that's an easy place to look if you're trying to cull unwanted subscriptions and work your way down to inbox zero.

SEE ALSO: The Apple Watch 10 is at its lowest-ever price in the Amazon Black Friday sale

You can also manually move certain emails into other categories, which will "train" the Mail app categorize emails as such in the future. If this is too much categorization for you, there's a fifth category: All Mail. Or you can tap the three dots in the upper right-hand corner and switch back to the traditional List View design.

Mail also looks a lot more like the Messages app. The contact photo is featured more prominently, which gives it a more informal and comfortable look.

Grouped messages from the same sender with 'Digest View'

If you have multiple emails from the same sender, with iOS 18.2, Mail will automatically consolidate them into one thread for an easy way to catch up on everything.

'Digest View' groups emails from the same sender in a summarized thread. Credit: Apple

The example given in the Apple announcement shows a flight confirmation and subsequent notifications about the flight in one place, which should be handy for trying to get all the relevant info about upcoming travels.

Writing Tools and email summaries

Other features require Apple Intelligence like Writing Tools and automated email summaries. AI-powered Writing Tools help you draft a quick response by scanning the contents of the email. You can also adjust the tone and length of messages, and use Apple Intelligence for a quick proofread (RIP Grammarly).

Apple Intelligence's Writing Tools in Mail can rewrite and proofread your drafts. Credit: Apple

Summaries in Mail work by giving you a one or two line recap of what the email is about, as opposed to previewing the first line of the email. It's a useful way of quickly screening conversations as you work your way through your inbox, so you don't have to open up every email to see what it's about.

As mentioned earlier, Apple Intelligence is currently available only on the iPhone 16 lineup and the Pro versions of the iPhone 15 due to the significant RAM requirements. Apple is likely banking on Apple Intelligence being a compelling enough reason to upgrade. Come December, when iOS 18.2 comes out, we'll have a better idea of whether the new AI suite is worth it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The music of ‘Moana 2’: Auliʻi Cravalho goes ‘Beyond’

Wed, 11/27/2024 - 19:50

Moana is back with brand new songs including the big ballad “Beyond” and hype song “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?” UK editor Shannon Connelland talked to star Auliʻi Cravalho and songwriters Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear about the making of the film, and how music helped explore Moana's personal growth.

Moana 2 is out now in cinemas in the U.S. and on Nov. 29.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Black Friday stocking stuffer deals you wont want to miss — shop palm-sized gadgets, mini portable speakers, and more

Wed, 11/27/2024 - 19:44
Best Black Friday stocking stuffer deals at a glance A portable mini speaker JBL Go 3 $29.95 (save $10 at Amazon) Get Deal An ultra-slim fitness tracker Fitbit Inspire 3 $69.95 (save $30 at Best Buy) Get Deal Pocket-sized home security Blink Outdoor 4 security camera $39.99 (save $60 at Best Buy) Get Deal

It’s officially crunch time — we’re in the thick of the holiday shopping season, and Black Friday is just around the corner. If you haven’t had a chance to get out and do some shopping, don’t worry! Plenty of great deals are still out there, and they’re not just on big-ticket items.

Retailers have been treating all of November as "Black Friday," with waves of deals and discounts rolling out throughout the month. From Best Buy to Target to Wayfair, we’ve seen impressive price drops on tech, home goods, apparel, and more.

Sure, you need to get presents for everyone on your holiday list, but don't forget about the stockings! We've done some digging and found the best Black Friday deals that would make great stocking stuffers.

A portable mini speaker Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Go 3 $29.95 at Amazon
$39.95 Save $10.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Portable speakers are a good gift idea for just about anyone — even better if they fit in a small bag or pocket. The JBL Go 3 is selling for $29.95 at Amazon, Macy’s, and JBL.

This tiny Bluetooth speaker delivers JBL’s signature sound in a compact, water-resistant design. It can connect to any Bluetooth-enabled device and has up to five hours of playtime on a single charge. You can also get it in a variety of colors and patterns, including a special eco-friendly edition that’s made with recycled materials.

Want two? Get a pair of JBL Go 3 portable speakers for $59.90 at Amazon (that’s a savings of $20).

An ultra-slim fitness tracker Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Inspire 3 $69.95 at Best Buy
$99.95 Save $30.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read our full review of the Fitbit Inspire 3.

The Fitbit Inspire 3 is a good starter health tracker and a solid stocking stuffer for the health-conscious giftees on your list. Plus, it’s only $69.95 (save $30) at Best Buy, Amazon, Target, and Walmart.

The Inspire 3 monitors heart rate, sleep, activity, and more, all in a slim, lightweight design. It has a 10-day battery life and is safe to wear in the pool or shower. This model also comes with six months of Fitbit Premium, so your recipient can take advantage of added features like guided workouts and mindfulness sessions.

Pocket-sized home security Opens in a new window Credit: Blink Blink Outdoor 4 security camera $39.99 at Best Buy
$99.99 Save $60.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you still don’t know what to get your parents, grandparents, or other less tech-savvy loved ones, a simple smart home gadget like an outdoor security camera could be a great pick. (I bought one for my parents a while back, and they love it!)

The Blink Outdoor 4 camera is on sale for $39.99 at Best Buy (get a free $10 gift card with purchase), Amazon, and Target.

This battery-powered security camera is simple to set up, has a two-year battery life, and offers 1080p video, two-way audio, and person detection. It also works with Alexa, so your giftee can view the camera feed through an Echo Show or other compatible device.

More Black Friday stocking stuffer deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

FCC approves T-Mobiles Starlink cell coverage plans

Wed, 11/27/2024 - 19:28

The Federal Communications Commission just approved a first-of-its-kind license in order to bring internet access to dead zones and other remote areas.

On Tuesday, the FCC gave its approval for T-Mobile and Elon Musk's SpaceX subsidiary Starlink to team up and provide additional telecommunications coverage. 

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk hints that X throttles posts with links

As Reuters reports, this marks the first time the FCC has given a license for a "satellite operator collaborating with a wireless carrier." T-Mobile will utilize Starlink satellites to bring coverage from space on "some flexible-use spectrum bands allocated to terrestrial service."

Last month, T-Mobile and Starlink worked together to bring free satellite-based cell coverage to those who were affected by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. The commission provided temporary approval of the coverage scheme for cell phones due to the emergency, and its latest approval grants the two companies a non-emergency license to provide satellite internet services.

"The FCC is actively promoting competition in the space economy by supporting more partnerships between terrestrial mobile carriers and satellite operators to deliver on a single network future that will put an end to mobile dead zones," said FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel in a statement.

However, as The Verge points out, there are some restrictions in the FCC filing.

SpaceX cannot yet increase the radio emission power of its Starlink satellites. Companies such as AT&T and Verizon are concerned that this could interfere with their carrier networks. 

Regardless, the FCC approval gives Starlink an advantage over its competitors. According to Reuters, there are existing pending applications in review from other companies. However, the first approval has just been granted to Starlink and T-Mobile.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The latest deals from Best Buys Black Friday sale: Sony earbuds, our favorite gaming laptop, and more

Wed, 11/27/2024 - 19:21

UPDATE: Nov. 27, 2024, 1:20 p.m. EST This story has been updated with current pricing/availability and new deals (including one fresh top pick).

Best Buy's top Black Friday deals at a glance: Best Apple deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749 (save $250) Get Deal Best 4K TV deal Hisense 85-inch QD6 QLED 4K Google TV $649.99 (save $450) Get Deal Best Windows laptop deal Dell XPS 13 9350 (Intel Core Ultra 7 256V, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $999.99 (save $400) Get Deal Best headphone/earbud deal Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds $229 (save $70) Get Deal Best fitness tracker deal Oura Ring Gen3 Starting at $249 (save up to $200) Get Deal Best gaming deal Alienware m16 R2 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,299.99 (save $600) Get Deal Best action camera deal GoPro Hero13 Black Bundle $449.99 (save $100 + free $25 Best Buy gift card) Get Deal

After dropping oodles of early deals in the first few weeks of November, Best Buy officially kicked off its 2024 Black Friday sale on Thursday, Nov. 21. The event runs for 10 days on its website, mobile app, and in stores through Saturday, Nov. 30.

The electronics retailer is serving up two kinds of side dishes with its main course. First, its Black Friday deals are joined by revolving rounds of doorbusters that are up for grabs throughout the holiday season. New waves of them get listed on its website every Friday through Dec. 20, with first dibs the Thursdays prior for paid My Best Buy members (Plus and Total tiers).

Now live for all shoppers, the current batch of online doorbusters features a $179.99 55-inch Toshiba 4K Fire TV, $129.99 Beats Powerbeats Pro, $80 off the Apple Watch Ultra 2 with cellular connectivity, and half off a JBL soundbar. Best Buy also surprise-added two Nintendo Switch bundles as doorbusters over the weekend, though they're only available in stores.

SEE ALSO: All the best early Black Friday deals at Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and Walmart

Along with new doorbusters, Best Buy is planning to release rapid-fire "Flash Deals" as part of its Drops program this Friday, Nov. 29 (aka Black Friday proper). These offers will be available in limited quantities for a short while exclusively on its mobile app starting at 9 a.m. ET, and feature gadgets from brands like Apple, Dyson, Ninja, and Sony.

The Mashable Shopping team will be tracking and vetting Best Buy's Black Friday deals as its sale progresses, and you can check out our running list of the best offers below. Keep in mind that Best Buy offers a Holiday Price Match Guarantee, so if anything you buy there gets cheaper later on, you can request a price adjustment. (We've spotted a Ninja air fryer and several Logitech gaming accessories that have dipped in price since the sale started.) The retailer's extended holiday return and exchange period is also in effect.

Note: All newly added or updated deals have been marked with a ✨, while deals with a 🚪 next to them are this week's limited-time doorbusters. Struck-through deals were either sold out or expired at the time of writing.

Best Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) 🚪 $749.00 at Best Buy
$999.00 Save $250.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air (M2).

Sleek and lightweight, the previous-generation MacBook Air features a stellar keyboard, an all-day battery life, and an M2 chip that offers plenty of power for everyday tasks. Mashable's Tech and Games Reporter Alex Perry gave it a 4.6/5 rating in his 2022 review, calling it "the ideal work-from-home (or work-from-wherever, really) companion." It's our favorite budget MacBook for most people and a Mashable Choice Award winner.

Apple recently upgraded the base configuration to 16GB of memory, and Best Buy has it on sale for just $749 as a doorbuster during its Black Friday sale (normally $999) — an exact match of the 8GB version's all-time low. If it sells out there, the same deal was available on Amazon at the time of writing.

More Black Friday Apple deals at Best BuyAirPodsApple WatchesiPadsUnlocked iPhonesMacsMacBooksBest 4K TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 85-inch QD6 QLED 4K Google TV $649.99 at Best Buy
$1,099.99 Save $450.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Black Friday is all about huge discounts on huge TVs, and this 85-inch Hisense model is a perfect case in point: Now just $650, it's far cheaper than any other TV this big — not just at Best Buy, but at Amazon and Walmart, too. (And abnormally-cheap-for-their-size TVs are really more Walmart's thing.) The fact that it has a bright and vibrant QLED display, not a standard 4K screen, sweetens the deal even further.

Kind of surprised this one wasn't chosen as a doorbuster, TBH. Let's call it a hidden gem. If you want to downsize slightly, Best Buy's Black Friday deal on the 75-inch version drops it down to $449.99 (normally $699.99).

More Black Friday 4K TV deals at Best Buy43- to 50-inch 4K TVs55-inch 4K TVs65-inch 4K TVs75-inch 4K TVs and largerStreaming devices and media playersBest laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dell Dell XPS 13 9350 (Intel Core Ultra 7 256V, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $999.99
$1,399.99 Save $400.00 Get Deal Why we like it:

For early adopters, the all-new Dell XPS 13 is one of two Lunar Lake PCs featured in Best Buy's Black Friday sale — the other one being the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition; they come equipped with Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors designed for AI. We haven't tested them ourselves just yet (it's in the works), but their battery life is apparently ridiculous. This is the base configuration with a FHD+ non-touch display, and Dell has rated it at up to 26 hours per charge.

Best Buy marked it down from $1,399.99 to $999.99, which is a 29% savings and its biggest discount since launching in October. For comparison's sake, the same model is $100 pricier on Dell's website during its own Black Friday sale.

More Black Friday laptop deals at Best BuyWindows laptops2-in-1 laptopsChromebooksBest headphone/earbud deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds $229.00 at Best Buy
$299.00 Save $70.00 Get Deal Why we like them

Read Mashable's full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.

Mashable contributor Timothy Beck Werth deemed Bose's QC Ultra buds "impressive in every way": They have unrivaled ANC, they last six hours at a time (which you can bump to 24 hours with their included charging case), and they fit as nicely as their name implies. They also have an Immersive Audio feature that shifts sound around you as you move — it's not a game-changer, but it's still "really cool," said Beck Werth, who ultimately rated the QC Ultra Earbuds a 4.6/5. They're our No. 1 noise-cancelling earbuds and a Mashable Choice Award winner.

They usually retail for $299, but you can snag them on sale at Best Buy for $229 — a 23% savings and their lowest price since launching last fall. Amazon and Bose's online storefront were both matching that discount when we last checked, FYI.

More Black Friday headphone/earbud deals at Best BuyEarbudsHeadphonesBest fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Oura Oura Ring Gen3 (Horizon, Silver) $249.00 at Best Buy
$299.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Oura Ring Gen3.

The previous-gen Oura Ring is an excellent fitness wearable with heart rate and blood oxygen monitoring, temperature and activity tracking, and a multi-day battery life — all wrapped up in a sleek, durable titanium design. It's on sale at Best Buy this Black Friday for $50 to $200 off, depending on the style and finish (starting from $249.99).

More Black Friday fitness tracker and smartwatch deals at Best BuyBest gaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Alienware Alienware m16 R2 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,299.99 at Best Buy
$1,899.99 Save $600.00 Get Deal Why we like it:

Read Mashable's full review of the Alienware m16 R2.

The m16 R2 is a 16-inch PC from Dell's high-end gaming line. This exact configuration is Mashable's favorite gaming laptop of 2024 (and there's a lot of competition out there) — it's "the ultimate RTX 4070 beast of a gaming laptop you can get," said Mashable Tech Editor Kim Gedeon. She commended its solid mid-range performance, nice build quality, great keyboard, ample port selection, and its support of Nvidia's Advanced Optimus feature, which lets users switch to its integrated graphics for everyday (non-gaming) tasks to conserve battery life. She rated it a 4.5/5, which secured it a Mashable Choice Award.

The m16 R2 is now just $1,299.99 at Best Buy (or 32% off its $1,899.99 MSRP), which is a record-low price and an amazing value.

More Black Friday gaming deals at Best BuyVideo gamesGaming consoles and bundlesGaming laptopsGaming controllersGaming headsetsGaming miceGaming keyboardsGaming monitorsStorage expansion cardsBest action camera deal Opens in a new window Credit: GoPro GoPro Hero13 Black Bundle $349.99 at Best Buy
$449.99 Save $100.00 Includes free $25 Best Buy gift card Get Deal Why we like it:

Read Mashable's full review of the GoPro Hero13 Black.

Yet another Mashable Choice Award winner, GoPro's latest action camera "is way better than a $400 video camera has any right to be," wrote Beck Werth (who gave it a 4.7/5). Highlights include "insanely good motion stabilization," a slow-motion burst mode in 5.3K at 120 fps, and a better battery life than its predecessor. This accessory bundle tacks on a spare Enduro battery, a hand grip, a 64GB microSD card, two curved adhesive mounts, and a camera case.

Best Buy has it on sale for $349.99 (or $100 off) and throws in a free $25 gift card you can put toward other Black Friday deals. Considering the camera itself is on sale separately for $339.99 (typically $399.99), you're basically robbing Best Buy blind. Note that the GoPro website was offering the same deal at the time of writing, but there's no gift card freebie offered there.

More Black Friday action camera deals at Best BuyUnlocked phone dealsGoogleMotorolaOnePlusSamsungVacuum dealsRobot vacuumsStick vacuumsKitchen appliance dealsAir fryersCoffee makers and espresso machinesIce makersKitchenAid mixersMiscellaneousBeauty tech dealsSpeaker dealsSmart home dealsHome security equipmentMesh WiFi systemsSmart lightingSmart plugs
Categories: IT General, Technology

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