Mashable

Syndicate content
Mashable is a leading source for news, information & resources for the Connected Generation. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world. Mashable's 25 million monthly unique visitors and 10 million social media followers have become one of the most engaged online news communities. Founded in 2005, Mashable is headquartered in New York City with an office in San Francisco.
URL: https://mashable.com
Updated: 11 hours 47 min ago

We track Apple deals year-round — Black Friday 2024 has the lowest prices we’ve seen

Fri, 11/29/2024 - 04:38
The best early Black Friday Apple deals Best AirPods deal Apple AirPods Pro (2nd gen) $153.99 at Amazon (Save $95.01) Get Deal Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749 at Amazon (Save $250) Get Deal Best iPad deal Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M2, WiFi, 128GB) $499 at Amazon (Save $100) Get Deal Best Apple Watch deal Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm, GPS) $329 at Amazon (Save $70) Get Deal

If you think Apple doesn't show up with good deals during Black Friday season, think again.

It's true that if you're shopping straight from the Apple Store, you won't see any special deals ahead of Nov. 29. On Black Friday proper, Apple is giving out gift cards up to $200 on eligible purchases of iPhones, MacBooks, AirPods, and more.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's official Black Friday sale is live — find all the best deals here

So, where can you find the best Black Friday Apple deals? The trick is to shop from retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart — each has started their official Black Friday programming by now, with the former two kicking off a new phase of their sale as of Nov. 21. As we get into the full swing of the shopping holiday season, you can score historic prices on the most coveted Apple products.

For anyone skeptical as to whether Black Friday deals on Apple products are genuine, we get it. Retailers have a bad habit of slapping Black Friday labels on mediocre deals. That said, we track Apple prices year-round, and only the legit price drops earn a spot in this guide.

SEE ALSO: The best Black Friday TV deals: Compare Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and more

For instance, with the start of Amazon's sale on Nov. 21, the newer configurations of the M3 MacBook Air just dropped an additional $50 from their existing sale prices, with select models starting at a new record low of $849. You can also buy the AirPods Pro at the record-low price of $154 at Amazon and Walmart, beating out their old Prime Day record by nearly $15.

Basically, if you're looking to do some early holiday shopping , it's a good time to buy Apple products. Below, you'll find our top picks for the best Apple deals of Black Friday 2024.

Black Friday AirPods deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro (2nd gen) $153.99 at Amazon
$249.00 Save $95.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the AirPods Pro.

Whether you're a frequent flyer or simply someone who loves noise-cancelling headphones, we're betting you'll be a fan of the AirPods Pro. (If you're reading this far, let's assume you're not an Android user.) And as of Nov. 25, the latest version of the Pro earbuds are at a historic low of $153.99. Considering they've only hit $168.99 a handful of times prior to this price drop, we're impressed that Amazon and Walmart went all in on this deal a good week ahead of Black Friday.

Strangely, they're also $11 cheaper than the new AirPods 4 with ANC, which are supposed to be a more budget-friendly alternative to the Pros. (Yes, the AirPods 4 are also on sale.) Alongside top-notch ANC, you'll get six hours of battery life per charge, balanced sound, and of course, a seamless integration into the Apple ecosystem, making these earbuds some of our favorite headphones, period.

More AirPods dealsBlack Friday iMac and MacBook deals 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 few weeks ago, the MacBook Air got a quiet RAM upgrade, and without a price hike. Now, we're seeing the M2 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage on sale for $749 — the same price the model with 8GB of RAM was at two weeks ago. 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. Mashable reporter Alex Perry called this laptop "the ideal work-from-home (or work-from-wherever, really) companion."

More MacBook and Mac deals

MacBook Air (13-inch)

MacBook Air (15-inch)

MacBook Pro

Mac

Early Black Friday iPad deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M2, WiFi, 128GB) $499.00 at Amazon
$599.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

On the first day of Amazon's Black Friday sale, the iPad Air is just one dollar away from its lowest price ever. This Apple tablet is our favorite for most people, thanks to its versatility. It works just as well for artists as it does for students. The M2 chipset makes it a more viable laptop replacement than other tablets while costing you a few hundred dollars less than a supercharged iPad Pro. At the time of writing, only the blue and purple colorways are in stock at Amazon.

SEE ALSO: The best iPads for reading, working, and streaming More iPad deals

iPad

iPad Air

iPad mini

iPad Pro

Early Black Friday Apple Watch deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm, GPS) $329.00 at Amazon
$399.00 Save $70.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read more from Mashable about the Apple Watch Series 10.

The Apple Watch Series 10 is officially down to a new record low price for the third time this month. This time around, it's at $329, as compared to last week's $349. In years past, this is the absolute lowest price we've seen for Apple Watches released in the fall drop preceding Black Friday. That's not to say Amazon couldn't up the ante this year and mark it off even more come next Friday, but we don't think the Series 10 will get any more discounts in the week ahead.

More Apple Watch deals

Series 10

SE

Ultra

More early Black Friday Apple deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

2024 Black Friday ads: Best deals from Amazon, Target, Best Buy, Walmart, Home Depot, and more

Fri, 11/29/2024 - 04:16

Black Friday is hours away, promising big discounts on TVs, laptops, headphones, speakers, and so much more. It's the best time of the year to shop, with deals on offer from all the top retailers.

In the battle for Black Friday, the leading names in the retail game are competing harder than ever. Every retailer is looking to get ahead of the competition by launching early-access deals, with savings-packed ads that include some really impressive offers. But where are shoppers supposed to start?

SEE ALSO: Gaming deals are going strong ahead of Black Friday 2024

To help you make the most out of this Black Friday, we've checked out all the best deals and doorbusters from the Black Friday ads of Best Buy, Walmart, Kohl's, The Home Depot, and Target. You could take some time to check out each individual page, but for those looking for a handy snapshot of the very best deals, this is your cheat sheet.

These are the best deals from Black Friday ads that you can already buy online.

Best deals from AmazonBest Amazon deals on Apple productsBest Amazon deals on EchoBest Amazon deals on fitness trackersBest Amazon deals on headphonesBest Amazon deals on KindlesBest Amazon kitchen dealsBest Amazon deals on robot vacuumsBest Amazon deals on TVsBest deals from Best BuyBest Buy Apple dealsBest Buy deals on camerasBest Buy deals on fitness trackersBest Buy deals on gamingBest Buy deals on headphonesBest Buy deals on kitchenBest Buy deals on laptopsBest Buy deals on smart home gadgetsBest Buy deals on speakersBest Buy deals on TVsBest Buy deals on vacuums Featured Video For You 5 best Black Friday products to shop Best deals from The Home DepotBest Home Depot deals on cordless toolsBest Home Depot deals on air purifiersBest Home Depot deals on smart homeBest Home Depot deals on home securityBest Home Depot deals on ice makersBest Home Depot deals on mini fridgesBest Home Depot deals on vacuumsBest deals from Kohl'sBest Kohl's deals on Amazon productsBest Kohl's deals on home audioBest Kohl's deals on headphonesBest Kohl's deals on smartwatchesBest Kohl's deals on tabletsBest deals from TargetBest Target deals on Apple productsBest Target deals on gaming techBest Target deals on TVsBest Target deals on laptopsBest Target deals on headphonesBest Target deals on smart home techBest Target deals on speakersBest Target deals on smartwatchesBest Target deals on vacuumsBest deals from WalmartBest Walmart deals on AppleBest Walmart deals on dronesBest Walmart deals on gamingBest Walmart deals on headphonesBest Walmart deals on laptopsBest Walmart deals on TVsBest Walmart deals on vacuums
Categories: IT General, Technology

The M4 MacBook Pro is the fastest laptop in the world — get it for $200 off

Fri, 11/29/2024 - 04:00

Save $200: On Black Friday Eve, you can grab the new M4 MacBook Pro for $1,399 — a $200 price drop — at Best Buy and Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,399.00 at Best Buy
$1,599.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal

For certain types of professionals, it's MacBook Pro or bust. Sure, there are Windows laptops that can run Final Cut and Photoshop without making your work life a living hell, but MacBooks just have that ineffable cool factor —especially in the new Midnight Black color. (Fair warning, fingerprint smudges will be your new worst enemy.) And if you need to upgrade your laptop, Black Friday is the best time to do it.

For Black Friday 2024, you can buy the new 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro laptop for $200 off its retail price. The base model comes with a 10‑core CPU and 10‑core GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. And if you need a little more firepower, you can opt for the 16-inch version with the M4 Max chip (or a more specced-out version of the 14-incher). We know what you're wondering, and, yes, those models are on sale, too.

SEE ALSO: We track Apple deals year-round — Black Friday 2024 has the lowest prices we’ve seen

Ever since Apple introduced its M series silicon, it's been running laps around the competition. However, in the past year or so, Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite chips started matching or beating the M3. But the new MacBooks equipped with the M4 chip are back on top, according to our benchmark testing. In her review of the M4 MacBook Pro, Mashable East Coast Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon wrote that "Windows PCs must feel sick right now."

Where can you get the best price on the MacBook Pro? Forget the Apple Store. The new M4 MacBook Pro laptop is at its lowest-ever price at Amazon and Best Buy for Black Friday. However, it's currently out of stock at Amazon, though probably not for long.

You can also check out even more advanced versions of the new MacBook Pro:

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 29

Fri, 11/29/2024 - 04:00

Connections: Sports Edition is a new 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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for November 29 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 - Decisively winning

  • Green - Bogey bound

  • Blue - Organized throwing

  • Purple - Formal nicknames

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

  • Yellow - Defeat soundly

  • Green - Mishit a golf shot

  • Blue - Dart games

  • Purple - Mr. ____

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 #67 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

  • Defeat soundly: ANNIHILATE, CRUSH, SQUELCH, WRECK

  • Mishit a golf shot: DUFF, HOOK, SHANK, SLICE

  • Dart games: 301, BASEBALL, CRICKET, KILLER

  • Mr. _____: 3000, CUB, HOCKEY, OCTOBER

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new 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 yesterday's Connections.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 29, 2024

Fri, 11/29/2024 - 04:00

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. 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 today's 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?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for November 29 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: A significant task or project that requires effort

  • Green: Measurements

  • Blue: Pro baseball teams

  • Purple: Prestige TV shows

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Undertaking

  • Green: Units

  • Blue: MLB Team Member

  • Purple: First Words of HBO Shows

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 #534 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

  • Undertaking: ENDEAVOR, ENTERPRISE, PROJECT, VENTURE

  • Units: HERTZ, MOLE, SECOND, VOLT

  • MLB Team Member: NATIONAL, RAY, TIGER, TWIN

  • First Words of HBO Shows: BOARDWALK, CURB, GAME, SILICON

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 29

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 yesterday's Connections.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 29

Fri, 11/29/2024 - 04:00

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. 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 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for November 29 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for November 29 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

What is Moo Deng.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There is one reoccurring letter.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter H.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

HIPPO.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle 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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 28

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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 yesterday's Wordle.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Strands hints, answers for November 29

Fri, 11/29/2024 - 04:00

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 29 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 29 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Give me a break

These words are things you might do with free time.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are different ways to describe rest.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is DownTime.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for November 29

  • Chill

  • Pause

  • Lounge

  • Loaf

  • Relax

  • Unwind

  • Luxuriate

  • DownTime

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and 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 yesterday's Strands.

Categories: IT General, Technology

All the best Black Friday streaming deals: Hulu, Peacock, Max, and more

Fri, 11/29/2024 - 04:00
The best Black Friday streaming deals at a glance: BEST OVERALL Hulu with ads $0.99/month for one year (save $108) Get Deal BEST BUNDLE DEAL Hulu and Disney+ (both with ads) $2.99/month for one year (save $96) Get Deal Best Hulu add-on Starz on Hulu 99 cents/month for one year (save $120) Get Deal BEST PEACOCK DEAL Peacock Premium $1.99/month for six months of $19.99/year with codes REALDEALMONTHLY or REALDEAL (save up to $60) Get Deal BEST MAX DEAL Max With Ads $2.99/month for six months (save $42) Get Deal BEST PRIME VIDEO ADD-ON Paramount+ with Showtime (Prime Video add-on) $2.99 per month for two months (save $20) Get Deal BEST FOR HORROR FANS AMC+ Ad-Free (Prime Video add-on) $2.25 per month for two months (save $13.48) Get Deal BEST FOR NEW THEATRICAL RELEASES MGM+ (Prime Video add-on) $1.75 per month for two months (save $10.48) Get Deal BEST FOR CHRISTMAS ADDICTS Hallmark+ (Prime Video add-on) $2 per month for two months (save $11.98) Get Deal

'Tis the season for streaming. Black Friday is one of the best times (if not the best time) to sign up for streaming services, as you can typically score some serious savings on monthly membership fees. In years past, we've seen Hulu offer 99-cent subscriptions and Max offer six months of streaming for $2.99 per month. And we're pleased to report that those deals have been resurrected in 2024.

With streaming prices skyrocketing over the past year, we're actually a bit surprised at how impressive some of these Black Friday deals are. If you're looking for a way to cut back on streaming costs, now's a great time to take advantage of a majorly discounted subscription. Just make note that these deals are limited to new and returning subscribers (as in, you once subscribed to Max, but cancelled your subscription months back) only.

There's no need to wait around for Black Friday proper. Snag these subscriptions before the deals vanish. If any other streaming deals surface, we'll be sure to update this with the latest and greatest ones. For now, here are all the best Black Friday streaming deals live.

Best Black Friday 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 is even more impressive — 90% or $108 in total over 12 months. That's just...insane.

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).

Best Peacock streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium $1.99/month for six months or $19.99/year (save up to $60) with codes REALDEALMONTHLY or REALDEAL Get Deal Why we like it

Peacock drops one of the best streaming deals year after year during Black Friday season. And because of the streamer's price hike back in July, this year's deal is even better. Through Dec. 2, new and returning Peacock subscribers can score a year of ad-supported Peacock Premium for either $1.99/month for six months (reg. $7.99/month) or $19.99 for an entire year (reg. $79.99/year) using the codes REALDEALMONTHLY or REALDEAL, respectively. That's 75% in savings. Peacock is home to classic TV hits like The Office and New Girl, Peacock Originals like Poker Face and Love Island USA, new theatrical releases from Universal like Abigail, The Fall Guy, and Twisters, as well as live sports, reality TV on Bravo, and more. At just $20 for the whole year, it's going to be a hard deal to beat this Black Friday.

Best Max streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max With Ads $2.99/month for six months (save $42) Get Deal Why we like it

Max has resurrected its exact Black Friday deal from last year, but that doesn't make us love it any less. If you're a new or returning HBO Max subscriber, you can score six months of the streamer's plan with ads for just $2.99 per month instead of $9.99 per month. That saves you $42 total. The Warner Bros. Discovery-owned streaming service is home to not only Warner Bros. films, but also new A24 theatrical releases. That means you have an insane array of hit films at your fingertips, including Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Civil War, Love Lies Bleeding, Dune, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Barbie, Elvis, The Iron Claw, and more. Max also offers its own original series that are definitely worth watching, like True Detective, The Last of Us, and Station Eleven, as well as the B/R Sports add-on for a limited time.

Best Prime Video add-on deal Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video / Paramount+ Paramount+ with Showtime (Prime Video add-on) $2.99 per month for two months (save $10 per month) Get Deal Why we like it

Typically $12.99 per month, you can score Paramount+ with Showtime for just $2.99 per month for your first two months as a Prime Video add-on. That saves you $20 total and gets you unlimited, ad-free access to the entire Paramount+ catalog, plus Showtime originals and movies (like Yellowjackets and The Curse), live TV with CBS, and college football. Paramount+ is home to NFL on CBS, UEFA Champions League matches, CBS originals like Ghosts, Survivor, and Big Brother, old Nickelodeon and MTV shows, and Paramount's latest theatrical releases like A Quiet Place: Day One and Smile 2 (coming soon). For just under $6, you can binge a whole lot of stuff over the next two months. After the promo period, the cost will jump back up to $12.99 per month, so be sure to cancel before that if you want to avoid charges. If you're not a Prime member, Paramount+ is also offering the same deal on their standalone streaming service.

More Black Friday streaming deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazon Prime members get 2 months of Discovery+ for $2.50

Fri, 11/29/2024 - 02:49

Save 75%: Through Cyber Monday, Amazon Prime members can get Discovery+ for just $1.25 per month for up to two months.

Opens in a new window Credit: Discovery+ Discovery+ monthly subscription Get two months for $1.25 per month (save $7.48) Get Deal

Black Friday is a great time to grab expensive products on sale, and in this day and age, that means taking advantage of all the streaming deals that crop up between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

SEE ALSO: This can't-miss Hulu and Disney+ bundle is just $2.99 per month for Black Friday

For Amazon Prime Members, we spotted an especially good deal that lets you sign up for Discovery+ for just $1.25 per month for up to two months. If you've been on the fence about signing up for this streaming app, then this is the perfect excuse to try it out. Typically, members pay $4.99 per month, meaning this promotion nets you a 75% discount. In total, you'll save $7.48, just make sure you sign up before Dec. 2, aka Cyber Monday, to grab the savings.

This deal doesn't apply to the streaming service's ad-free plan, so be aware that you will have to sit through some ad breaks while you're watching 90 Day Fiancé, Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, or How the Universe Works. You can find a list of what channels are available on Discovery+ here, and if you find yourself needing more options for streaming deals, you can check out more Black Friday offers from Max, Hulu, and Paramount+.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This cant-miss Hulu and Disney+ bundle is just $2.99 per month for Black Friday

Fri, 11/29/2024 - 02:42

SAVE $96: Through Dec. 2, the Disney+ and Hulu bundle (both with ads) is just $2.99 per month instead of the usual $10.99 per month for an entire year. That's 72% in savings and easily one of the best Black Friday streaming deals we've seen (and probably will see) this season.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu / Disney+ Disney+ (with ads) and Hulu (with ads) $2.99/month for one year (save $96) Get Deal

This year, everything got more expensive, and that includes streaming services. Once just $7.99 per month, the costs for both Disney+ and Hulu jumped up to $9.99 a piece last month. The coveted Disney Duo Basic bundle deal, which includes both Hulu with ads and Disney+ with ads, even jumped up from $9.99 to $10.99 per month. So, needless to say, we've been curious what Black Friday would bring as far as streaming deals go. Now that they've arrived, we're highly impressed, to say the least.

The same bundle we mentioned above — Disney+ with ads and Hulu with ads — is only $2.99 per month for an entire year from Nov. 27 through Dec. 2 (Cyber Monday). That's $8 per month in savings, or $96 total that you get to keep in your pocket (or dedicate to one of your other streaming services). Aside from Hulu's $0.99 per month deal, this is easily the best Black Friday streaming deal we've seen so far.

SEE ALSO: The best Black Friday streaming deals so far: Hulu, Peacock, Max, and more

If you recently got kicked off your friend or family member's account due to the password sharing crackdown, now's a great chance to get accounts of your own. Just make note that the offer is only valid for new and eligible returning Hulu and Disney+ subscribers (basically anyone who hasn't been a Hulu or Disney+ subscriber in the past month).

While you'll have to sit through ads, access to both Hulu's and Disney+'s expansive catalogs for just $3 each month is absolutely worth it.

More Black Friday streaming deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

MacBook deals are going hard this Black Friday — here are the best deals live now

Fri, 11/29/2024 - 02:30

UPDATE: Nov. 28, 2024, 8:30 p.m. EST This story has been updated with current pricing and availability, including a a new all-time low on the 13-inch, M3-powered Apple MacBook Air.

The best Black Friday MacBook deals at a glance: Best MacBook Pro deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4,16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,399.99 at Best Buy (save $200) Get Deal Best MacBook Air deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $844 at Amazon (save $255) Get Deal Best Previous-Gen MacBook Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) ✨ $599 at Walmart (save $100) Get Deal

Well folks, it's about that time. Black Friday 2024 is basically here, bringing with it tons of deals on big-ticket tech items. And if you need a new laptop, then let us introduce you to the year's best Black Friday MacBook deals.

The post-Thanksgiving sale is always a great time to snag low prices on Apple gadgets. MacBooks normally show up to the Black Friday party in a big way, and this year's discounts are particularly competitive at retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy. (The Apple Store is just doing its usual gift card offer with the purchase of certain M2 and M3 models—lame.)

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

Here, you'll find the best Black Friday deals on MacBooks we've seen so far. Be sure to keep checking back, as we'll update this page as soon as new deals go live. That said, we aren't expecting any further price drops. If you see the model you need at a price you can afford, hit that "Add to Cart" button. We've also tested every single MacBook available in 2024, so get help picking the right model in Mashable's guide to the best MacBooks.

Note: All newly added or updated deals have been marked with a ✨.

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

Read Mashable's full review of the M4 Apple MacBook Pro.

The newest MacBook Pro is here, and it's already on sale. The M4-chip-equipped workhorse outperformed Qualcomm-based laptops and lasted more than 16 hours per charge in our testing. You can save $200 on the base configuration at Amazon and Best Buy this Black Friday. (It has 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.) If you've been waiting to splurge, now is your moment.

More Black Friday MacBook Pro dealsBest MacBook Air deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M3, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $844.00 at Amazon
$1,099.00 Save $255.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the M3 Apple MacBook Air.

The current-gen MacBook Air (which has a previous-gen M3 chip) is our favorite MacBook for most people because of its solid everyday power, awesome keyboard, and support for two external displays. Amazon has a new record-low Black Friday price on the base configuration, which just got upgraded from 8GB to 16GB of memory, and Best Buy hasn't managed to match it yet. It's less than $100 more than the older M2 version, so this is kind of a no-brainer.

More Black Friday MacBook Air deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

This Black Friday Xbox Game Pass deal comes with way more than just a membership, and youll save over $50

Fri, 11/29/2024 - 02:06

SAVE $51.98: As of Nov. 28, Amazon is offering $51.98 off an Xbox Game Pass bundle that comes with one month of the service, an Xbox controller, and a Fire TV Stick 4K. This Game Pass Black Friday deal was also a hot Amazon Prime Day deal, so don't miss your second chance at snagging it.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (1 month) + Xbox Core Wireless Controller + Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K bundle $74.99 at Amazon
$127.96 Save $52.97 Get Deal

If you have even the smallest interest in video games, you already know that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is one of the best, if not the best deals in gaming. It's basically the Netflix of gaming, offering you access to a massive library of titles to download from and play at your leisure for a relatively reasonable monthly price. You also get exclusive discounts in the Microsoft Store, the ability to play online with friends, and more. That's a way better deal than buying all of your games individually at $70 a pop.

If that sounds good to you, then we've found a Black Friday deal that'll probably be of interest: Amazon is offering a month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Xbox Core Wireless Controller, and a Fire TV Stick 4K for just $74.99 (that saves you $51.98). This deal was also available during Amazon Prime Day 2024, so don't waste your second chance if you missed it the first time around.

SEE ALSO: Playing the "storage shuffle" with your new console? Pick up a portable SSD on sale this Black Friday.

And before you ask, no, you actually don't need an Xbox console to make this bundle useable. You can stream your Game Pass titles directly from the Fire TV Stick 4K, no Xbox required (assuming you have a decent WiFi connection). If that doesn't sell you on this bundle, we don't know what will.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazons official Black Friday sale is live — find all the best deals here

Fri, 11/29/2024 - 01:31

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 cancellation 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 AmazonDeals under $25 at AmazonPet deals at Amazon

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Black Friday tech deals in Australia for 2024

Fri, 11/29/2024 - 01:05
Top Black Friday deals I've spotted today... Best Robot Vacuum Deal Eureka E10s A$499 at Amazon AU (was $1,099, 55% off) Get Deal Best Appliance Deal KitchenAid K400 Variable Speed Blender A$309 at Amazon AU (was $549, save 44%) Get Deal Best Earbuds Deal Anker Soundcore Space A40 A$79.99 at Amazon AU (was $159, 50% off) Get Deal Best Headphones Deal Bose QuietComfort SC A$299 at Amazon AU (was $499.95, 40% off) Get Deal Best TV Deal Hisense U7NAU A$1,195 at The Good Guys (was $1,695, $500 off) Get Deal Best Laptop Deal Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 14” A$2,154.56 at Lenovo Australia (was $3,619, 40% off) Get Deal Black Friday robot vacuum dealsBlack Friday laptop dealsBlack Friday headphone and speaker dealsBlack Friday wearable tech dealsBlack Friday TV and home cinema dealsBlack Friday VPN and security deals

--

The biggest shopping day of the year is here again! That's right, it's Black Friday. And for us in Australia, that means a full day of lowest prices on just about everything (online, of course, meaning you won't have to fight off an angry crowd of Americans lining up at Walmart). With so many deals to wade through on the internet, we've done the hard work for you. Above, you'll find the biggest savings we've seen on everything tech, from all the major Aussie retailers, including Amazon, The Good Guys, Bing Lee and more. Happy hunting!

Is there a Black Friday in Australia? What is it?

Black Friday is 100% in Australia, with most retailers in the country partaking in the sales. Traditionally a single day of sales, it has become the term used to describe most sales in late November.

"Black Friday" originally comes from the United States, where in the 1950s, shops would offer huge discounts on all stock in order to clear their shelves following Thanksgiving. It also gave shoppers the chance to get on top of their holiday shopping early, and save some valuable dollars to boot. In the 70-odd years since then, Black Friday has grown into a global shopping bonanza. And the growth of e-commerce and online shopping has made it more accessible than ever.

How about Cyber Monday?

You may have also heard the term "Cyber Monday", which is a more recent event falling on the Monday straight after Black Friday. It was supposed to be more of an online thing, and typically features big savings on software, particularly security software like VPNs and antivirus.

These days, the whole month of November sees huge deals, with many retailers advertising their sales during "Black Friday Month" or "Black Friday Week". That said, you'll still often find the best prices on the official Black Friday day.

When is Black Friday in 2024?

Today! November 29, 2024. As we mentioned above, retailers have lately been referring to the whole week as "Black Friday Week", which kicked off on Monday, November 25, and concludes on Cyber Monday (December 2).

What should I buy on Black Friday? Any other shopping tips?

Thanks to the Black Friday hype, November is a great month to score some solid discounts on pretty much anything you need. That said, during Black Friday Week there are some especially low prices on the more expensive tech items, such as TVs, robot vacuums, laptops and electronics. Even a small percentage discount on some of these items can translate to hundreds of dollars in savings, so we definitely recommend buying any big-ticket items you need (or plan to gift, you lovely human), as opposed to getting too enticed by big percentage discounts on less expensive items. Definitely keep an eye out for the following sorts of products, as they're often marked down on Black Friday.

  • TVs: We expect pretty much all the leading tech retailers to be marking down prices on TVs quite significantly, since they'll be making room for next year's stock. In fact, The Good Guys and Bing Lee have both already kicked off their Black Friday sales. The good deals on top brands like Samsung, LG and Sony go very quickly, so be sure to get on it!

  • Appliances: You can save literally hundreds of dollars on whitegoods and appliances like fridges, freezers, dishwashers and more, with even relatively small percentage discounts. If you need to replace or upgrade your home appliances, do it today!

  • Games consoles: It's been easier to get the PS5 and Xbox Series X in Australia than in the past years, but that means we can finally expect some pretty good discounts on these. Consoles and games make fantastic gifts, and we've already spotted some pretty great bundle prices on the latest games with new consoles this past month. If you're in the market for one, definitely keep an eye out!

  • Smartphones: Need a new phone? Now is the time to snag one for cheap. Apple iPhones notoriously rarely go on sale, but we've spotted some hefty Apple deals on Amazon Australia.

  • Smart home tech: Ever thought about upgrading your home to the future, with a robot vacuum, video doorbell or smart lock? You'll find some especially good deals on everything smart home this Black Friday, especially on Amazon Australia.

  • Cybersecurity software: Cybersecurity software, such as antivirus and a VPN, is a must have in the modern online climate. If you need to renew or update your security set up for the new year, we suggest doing it now since the prices are so low as part of the aforementioned Cyber Monday sales.

Categories: IT General, Technology

There are seriously so many good self-emptying robot vacuum deals for Black Friday

Fri, 11/29/2024 - 00:16

UPDATE: Nov. 28, 2024, 6:15 p.m. EST This story has been updated to reflect the latest Black Friday sale pricing on self-emptying robot vacs as of Thanksgiving night, including a new Shark robot vacuum deal under $250.

A quick look at the best self-emptying robot vacuum deals ahead of Black Friday Best under $300 Shark IQ RV2303AE 248 (save $251.99) Get Deal Best Roomba deal iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ 399 (save $330.99) Get Deal Best hybrid deal with self-cleaning mopping pads Roborock Qrevo S 459.99 (save $340) Get Deal

The majority of robot vacuums you'll see on sale this Black Friday will be self-emptying ones, and there's a reason that feature is more common than not nowadays. Having a robot vacuum typically means you'll be vacuuming more often, and that means a fuller dustbin faster — but thanks to the universalization of the self-emptying dock, you won't have a hard time outsourcing dustbin duty for more than $300 or $400.

SEE ALSO: Roomba models, explained: The guide to deciding which Roomba to buy on Black Friday

This wasn't the case even a few years ago, when automatic emptying was a feature reserved for the high-end robot vacs from a select few brands that were ahead of the game. Now, there are tons of options on both ends of the spectrum, including super affordable, compact options that barely take up more room than a non self-emptying option.

If your budget is a little more flexible, you can squeeze more out of your $500 to $1,000 during Black Friday and secure not only automatic emptying, but automatic water refilling and automatic mopping pad washing and drying. All of the big brands like iRobot, Shark, Roborock, and Eufy all have at least one robot vacuum and mop combo that deals with its own dust and dirty mopping pads all in the same dock, and nearly all of them have gotten a groundbreaking discount for Black Friday 2024.

SEE ALSO: Why Eufy's X10 Pro Omni is the most surprising robot vacuum I've tested all year

And by "groundbreaking discounts," I mean new record-low prices across the board, giving you plenty of options to treat yourself to hands-off cleaning amid holiday stress. I'm tracking the best self-emptying robot vacuum deals below and will be refreshing this list as more options pop up throughout Cyber Monday. 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.

Best Black Friday self-emptying robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Q Revo 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 one of the few open to spending $1,000 or more on a robot vacuum, you can probably deal with the Qrevo S skipping the Qrevo Master's fluff features like a livestream pet camera or extending side mop.

And anyway, the most important aspect about the Qrevo S is that it has that coveted self-washing and drying mopping pad feature baked into its self-empty dock. I also have to give Roborock credit for arming this Qrevo with the same dual spinning mopping pads as the Qrevo Master, which I feel do a more detailed mopping job than a singular pad that lays flat across the bottom of the vacuum.

If it sweetens the deal at all, just know that I had already honed in on the Roborock Qrevo S as one of the best early Black Friday robot vacuum deals when it originally went on sale for $549.99 in early November. Now, it's almost $100 cheaper than that.

More self-emptying robot vacuums (that don't mop) on saleSelf-emptying robot vacuum and mop combos on sale
Categories: IT General, Technology

Lots of Roombas are on sale for Black Friday, but only a few are worth your money

Thu, 11/28/2024 - 23:46

UPDATE: Nov. 28, 2024, 5:46 p.m. EST This story has been updated with the current best Black Friday Roomba deals at Amazon as well as iRobot's website, including several budget-friendly mopping and smart mapping options.

A quick look at the best Black Friday Roomba deals Best standalone Roomba deal iRobot Roomba Combo j5 $299.99 (save $230) Get Deal Best self-emptying Roomba deal iRobot Roomba Combo i5+ $299 (save $250.99) Get Deal

So many robot vacuums go on sale for Black Friday that decision fatigue is imminent — unless you're specifically set on a Roomba, that is.

Roombas do tend to run slightly more expensive than competitors with the same features, so November is a wise time to buy one — Black Friday has been known to trigger new record-breaking discounts on several Roomba models. In terms of where that happens, Amazon is the best place to find a Roomba on sale despite the flop of the acquisition of iRobot by Amazon (though iRobot's own website has good options, too). Because iRobot doesn't debut new models for the year at CES in January like many other big robot vacuum brands do, you can also be confident that the Roombas on sale during Black Friday won't be phased out in a month or two.

SEE ALSO: 4 best robot vacuums and mops to buy on Black Friday, tested

So yeah, there are quite a few Roombas on sale for Black Friday — mainly at Amazon's Black Friday sale, with a few other deals scattered at iRobot's website (and a few matched deals at Target and Best Buy). But while most of those deals look good in terms of the percentage off that you're getting, many of them just aren't worthwhile when you consider the features you're securing, especially when taking into the bigger list of robot vacuum deals from other brands this Black Friday.

For instance, the base-tier Roomba Vac Essential being on sale for $149 sounds great until you realize that this Roomba doesn't have smart mapping, which means it can't clean specific rooms on command. When robot vacuums that do have smart mapping like the Shark IQ Ultra or Eufy L50 are on sale for $148 and $159, respectively this Black Friday, that particular Roomba Vac deal is far less exciting.

SEE ALSO: I've tested over 20 robot vacuums — here are the top 5 to shop on Black Friday

This doesn't mean there aren't any Roomba deals that I think are worth it this Black Friday. The i series and j series Roombas under $500 that are currently live are stellar — multiple models are nearly 50% off, with both self-emptying and mopping being optional depending on your needs. (As you get into the more expensive j series Roombas, the deals start to become less appealing. Premium robot vacuums from other brands simply do more than something like the Roomba Combo j9+ for less money.) For a deeper dive into these features, check out my guide that unpacks the differences between the main Roombas.

This story will be updated any time a new noteworthy Roomba deal drops between now and the end of Cyber Week. While you can be pretty certain that the Roombas on sale now are at their Black Friday pricing, Amazon or iRobot could very well drop completely new Roomba deals over the next few days — I'll keep you posted. Note: Any deal marked with a 🔥 has dropped to a record-low price at Amazon.

Best early Black Friday Roomba deal Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba Combo i5 $299.00 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $250.99 Get Deal Why we like it

This nearly 50% discount on the Roomba Combo j5+ already looks great on its face, but it's an even sweeter deal when compared to the current sale price on the cheapest self-emptying Roomba, the Roomba Vac 2. For $249.99, the ultrabasic Roomba Vac 2 doesn't mop and can't smart map your house. For $299 — just $50 more — the Roomba Combo i5+ can mop and can smart map to clean specific rooms in your home on command. If $300 is your budget cap for a new robot vacuum, spending that extra $50 is a no-brainer.

The only downside to choosing the Combo i5+ over the more advanced Combo j5+, which is also at an amazing sale price of $399 for Black Friday, is that the i series Roombas don't have the small obstacle avoidance technology that helps dodge things on the floor like charging cords or pet waste. However, if your home is already pretty tidy as it is, or you're down to deal with tidying up ahead of vacuuming, the Combo i5+ is a total steal at this price.

Other Roomba deals at AmazonOther Roomba deals at iRobot.com
Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Black Friday TV deals in Australia

Thu, 11/28/2024 - 23:01

Need a new TV? You will find the lowest prices, and biggest cash savings, during Black Friday! Here are the best TV deals we've found in Australia.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 55" OLED EVO G4 4K Smart TV A$2,977.00 at The Good Guys
A$4,199.00 Save A$1,222.00 Best Overall Black Friday TV Deal Get Deal Best LG Black Friday dealsBest Sony Bravia Black Friday dealsBest Hisense Black Friday dealsBest Samsung Black Friday dealsBest TCL Black Friday dealsWhat is Black Friday?

Black Friday, originally a U.S. tradition, has steadily grown in popularity in Australia over the past few years. Since the 1950s, American stores have offered substantial discounts on their merchandise the day after Thanksgiving. This tradition has evolved into a global shopping event, with Black Friday now recognised worldwide.

Cyber Monday, a more recent addition to the holiday weekend, emerged as online retailers aimed to capitalise on the Black Friday frenzy. As the distinction between traditional and online shopping fades, Black Friday and Cyber Monday have merged into a unified week of deals.

When is Black Friday in 2024?

Black Friday 2024 takes place today, on Friday, Nov. 29, and Cyber Monday takes place on Monday, Dec. 2. However, the whole week prior has now become informally known as 'Black Friday Week', and early deals begin to pop up throughout this week and even earlier. Amazon, for example, kicked their sale off on Nov. 19, and are running deals into Cyber Monday.

What TV deals will Australians see in 2024?

We are expecting a huge range of TV deals from leading retailers this year, so get excited to see heavy discounts on TVs from the likes of Sony Bravia, Hisense, LG, and many more top brands. You will likely be able to find deals on small screens, enormous 8K models, and everything in between.

Pretty much every leading tech retailers will start dropping deals from the start of November, so be sure to look at the likes of Amazon, The Good Guys. Bing Lee and JB Hi-Fi, all of whom have a history of impressive Black Friday TV deals. But it isn't just these retailers: Pretty much every site will offer some big savings during this busy shopping season, so if you don't see what you are looking for from one retailer, stay calm and move onto the next. Patience is key during the Black Friday season.

What are the best items to buy on Black Friday/Cyber Monday?

You should expect huge discounts on big-ticket items like laptops, Hi-Fi, consoles and TVs. There also seems to be a slant towards gadgets and gift items, which makes sense with the holidays around the corner. Online retailers like Amazon, Kogan and Ebay will have strong deals in all categories. However, keep an eye out specifically for the following products:

  • Appliances: Retailers like The Good Guys and Bing Lee always go big on Black Friday, dropping prices on pretty much everything they stock. You can expect deals on washing machines, fridges, freezers, kettles, toasters, and much more. If you're looking to stock up on appliances for your home, these sites should be your first stop.

  • Games consoles: Finding consoles has been a proper headache over the last couple of years, but things are definitely improving in Australia, with PS5 bundles being readily available on Amazon. That means there should be opportunities to pick up deals games and accessories for the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PS5 this year.

  • Smartphones: Amazon always offers plenty of impressive deals on all sorts of smartphones.

  • Toys: Black Friday is probably the best time of the year to shop for toys. The most in-demand toys will sell out fast in the run-up to Christmas, so this is a great opportunity to get in early. We recommend checking out Amazon for the best deals on Lego, especially for the massively popular Star Wars and Harry Potter sets.

  • TVs: Black Friday is all about big deals on the biggest products, and that means TVs. We expect pretty much all of the leading retailers to offer fantastic deals on TVs of all sizes from top brands like Sony, Samsung, LG, and Panasonic. It's best to shop around for the best TV deals, because there are going to be so many, but you can't go wrong with The Good Guys, Bing Lee or Kogan.

  • VPNs: Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, are a fairly new addition to the Black Friday shopping scene, but there are some good deals available, especially by Cyber Monday. Cybersecurity is increasingly important, and VPNs offer online protection for your identity and data. All the leading services are likely to offer discounted rates over the week, and you should be able to find good deals on the likes of NordVPN, Surfshark VPN, ExpressVPN, PureVPN, and CyberGhost VPN.

Be sure to also be on the look out for deals on travel, subscription services, and laptops, because these are likely to feature heavily throughout this shopping season.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Grab a gaming laptop on sale for Black Friday if a full gaming PC desktop is too committal

Thu, 11/28/2024 - 22:58
Best Black Friday gaming laptop deals 2024 Best gaming laptop deal Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (Intel Core Ultra 9, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,599.99 (save $400) Get Deal Best budget gaming laptop deal Lenovo LOQ (AMD Ryzen 7 7435HS, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $699.99 (save $300) Get Deal

If you can believe it, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are here. We know, it seems like we just got done with another massive sale in Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days event, but there's simply no rest for dedicated deal hunters. So, let's keep the momentum going, shall we?

While Black Friday is a good time to buy pretty much anything you're looking for, it's especially kind to gamers. From discounts on individual games, consoles, accessories, and more, you're bound to save a ton this holiday season if you're an avid player. That includes gaming laptops, too, which are a fantastic way to dip your toes into the realm of PC gaming if a full gaming PC desktop situation is too much of a commitment right now.

SEE ALSO: Alienware m16 R2 review: The best RTX 4070 gaming laptop

If you're one of those people eyeing a gaming PC setup in the form of a laptop, take a look at the best Black Friday gaming laptop deals that we've handpicked. Big brands like Razer, Asus, and HP are in there, with options spanning from gaming laptops under $100 to several hundred dollars shaved off the pricey, premium options. 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.

Best gaming laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Asus Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $2,399.99 at Best Buy
$2,799.99 Save $400.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Asus is known for its high-quality gaming laptops, and the ROG Zephyrus line is one of the very best to come from the lineup (we loved the G14). The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 comes packed with some great internals right out of the box, including an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 GPU and a sizeable 1TB SSD for storage. Better yet, this model features a stunning OLED display that'll have all of your games looking their best, whether you're playing at home or out in the wild.

More Black Friday gaming laptop dealsUnder $1,000Over $1,000
Categories: IT General, Technology

The sub-$20 gift Im buying everyone this Black Friday

Thu, 11/28/2024 - 22:38

SAVE $10.40: The Anker Zolo portable charger (10,000mAh) is on sale for $15.59 during Amazon's Black Friday sale — a savings of 40%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Zolo portable charger $15.59 at Amazon
$25.99 Save $10.40 Get Deal

I've been a die-hard Pokemon Go player since the game came out in 2016 (remember how beautiful that summer was?), and I finally got my boyfriend to start playing this year. We've been raiding and following routes and spending entire days catching Pokemon during events and community days.

This is all very fun for us, that is, until one of our phones dies. It's usually his as he has an iPhone 13 mini. Just this past weekend, we had to head home early because our phones were running out of juice. I knew I had to buy us some power banks if we were going to get the most out of the game.

That's where this Black Friday deal comes in. The Anker Zolo is small, has a built-in USB-C cable, and can charge a phone from 0 to 57 percent in half an hour. Plus, it comes in some cute baby pink and blue colors in addition to white and black. It's on sale for about $15 at Amazon as an official Black Friday deal. My boyfriend and I will each be getting one in our stocking this year — and maybe some of my other family members, too.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Check out some of the best Nintendo Switch deals weve seen this Black Friday

Thu, 11/28/2024 - 22:10

UPDATE: Nov. 28, 2024, 4:10 p.m. EST This story has been updated with the latest pricing and availability on Black Friday Nintendo Switch console, game, and accessory deals, plus new deals on "Bluey: The Video Game" and "Animal Crossing: New Horizons."

Good Nintendo Switch deals are pretty hard to come by. For some reason, Nintendo just generally doesn't like to list their consoles, games, or accessories at steep discounts, even during big sales events. But Black Friday changes people, and this year, the iconic gaming company is actually offering up some competitive, worthwhile deals from store to store.

The best Black Friday Nintendo Switch deals at a glance Best Nintendo Switch console deal Nintendo Switch OLED 'Mario Kart 8 Deluxe' Bundle $299 (save $50) Get Deal Best Nintendo Switch game deal 'The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom' $30 (save $39) Get Deal Best Nintendo Switch accessory deal CRKD Nitro Deck $49.99 (save $20) Get Deal

Whether you can stumble across those Switch deals before they sell out is another story. So far, we've already seen several games and Mario Kart 8 bundles completely scooped up, so don't hesitate to jump on an enticing deal if you see it in stock.

SEE ALSO: A ton of Pokémon items, including cards, are 30% off at Target for Black Friday

Below, find our favorite Nintendo Switch-centric deals still available as of Thanksgiving, including any price cuts we can find on Switch consoles and console bundles, individual games, and accessories like controllers, cases, microSD cards, and more. Keep checking back with us throughout Cyber Monday, too — we'll be updating this page regularly as new offers pop up. 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.

Best Nintendo Switch console deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch OLED 'Mario Kart 8 Deluxe' Bundle $299.00 at Walmart
$349.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Switch bundle is pretty much a Black Friday staple at this point, and 2024 is no different. You can snag the Nintendo Switch OLED model for $50 off at Walmart ahead of Black Friday. That's just $299 for the best version of the Switch yet, plus one of the very best Nintendo Switch games of all time.

More Nintendo Switch console dealsBest Nintendo Switch game deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo 'The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom' $30.00 at Walmart
$69.00 Save $39.00 Get Deal Why we like it

There's a large group of people who would say that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom isn't just one of the best Nintendo Switch games ever made, but one of the best games ever made in general. And you know what? We'd have a hard time making a case against that. In other words, it's a must-play, and now is the best time to buy a copy if you haven't experienced it yet — for Black Friday, Walmart has Tears of the Kingdom listed at just $30, down from $69. That's the best deal we've seen on this game yet, so don't hesitate to lock in your purchase.

More Nintendo Switch game dealsBest Nintendo Switch accessory deal Opens in a new window Credit: CRKD CRKD Nitro Deck $49.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Look, we aren't Joy-Con haters around these parts, but it's no secret that they aren't perfect. The CRKD Nitro Deck may be the controller upgrade you've been craving, and it's $20 off ahead of Black Friday at Amazon, just $49.99. The Switch fits seamlessly within the handheld device, and the whole thing can be docked for TV gaming sessions.

More Nintendo Switch accessory deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

eXTReMe Tracker