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Joe Hill on the surprising reason he writes a screenplay every year
Alongside his novels, Joe Hill is paid to write a screenplay each year. But he doesn't do it for the money.
Hill, whose new novel King Sorrow published in October, has also found success in the world of film and TV through adaptations of his work. For example, The Black Phone franchise is based on his 2004 short story, and King Sorrow is currently being developed for TV. While news of adaptations of Hill’s work is frequently reported in the trades, his screenwriting hasn't been widely publicized. Sitting down with Mashable recently to speak about everything from Stephen King references in his new novel to AI, though, he confirmed that it's a big part of his professional life.
"I write a screenplay every single year," Hill told Mashable. "And I do it for the healthcare."
SEE ALSO: Joe Hill breaks down the Stephen King references in his new novelHill explained that he gets healthcare for his family through the Writers Guild of America (WGA), which is the union that represents screenwriters. In order to be eligible to receive this, you have to meet annual minimum earning requirements. In 2024, Hill's wife Gillian received a cancer diagnosis that required surgery. Having insurance through the WGA saved the family tens of thousands of dollars.
"There were a whole bunch of tests, you know, and consultations in the lead-up to the operation, but the operation alone was $60,000," Hill said. "Because I have Hollywood healthcare that I get for writing screenplays, I only had to pay 700 bucks. So in a very practical way, it's impossible to put a value, to me personally, on the work I do as a screenwriter, because it's so important to have access to that healthcare insurance."
Hill explained that the screenplay he's working on at the moment is a an adaptation of his own work.
"Right now I'm revising a screenplay that I was paid for for 2025," he said. "The script I'm working on now is an adaptation of an unpublished novella that I'd written that will be published eventually."
Featured Video For You Cooper Hoffman and 'The Long Walk' cast compete for ultimate Stephen King film knowledgeHill said there was a lapse in his healthcare coverage a while back that led to him going round Hollywood to try and drum up some work — and writer/director Scott Derrickson, who directed The Black Phone, wanted to help out.
"He treated it like we were talking about his family healthcare," said Hill. "He's like, 'We're booking you a gig.' And, you know, we talked about possibilities, and then I sent him this novella I had written that hadn't been published, and a pitch for how I'd adapt it, and he got psyched. And he's like, 'We gotta do this.' And so he got me the gig to write the script. Now I'm revising it for Sony Screen Gems."
"it's so important to have access to that healthcare insurance"Hill's wife has now made a full recovery, but Hill still thinks of screenplay writing as "the best thing I can do for my family." He's going to keep working on one every year, alongside his plans to write a novel each year in his fifties.
"The next two things I've got lined up are adaptations of other people's words," Hill said, "which I'm really excited about."
Building a smart home? These tips can help you plan for the future
Smart home technology is constantly evolving, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to plan for the future. A bit of foresight can help you make better choices that pay off in the long run.
The Steam Machine is already getting custom screen plates
The Steam Machine is, for many, their dream PC/console hybrid, bringing a similar formula to the Steam Deck but for desktops. And it's pretty customizable. When you do get yours, you'll now have the ability to customize it to your liking, screens and all.
20+ early Black Friday deals under $25
If you're working with a smaller budget this season, there's still plenty of opportunity for you to score some impressive Black Friday deals. You don't need to spend hundreds of dollars to pick up a great gift or get yourself a little treat. We've rounded up over 20 deals under $25 that we think are worth grabbing ahead of Black Friday.
We're keeping an eye on all the best deals this Black Friday and Cyber Monday and will update this list with anything worthy of adding to your cart. For now, here are the best early picks for less than $25.
Best early Black Friday deal under $25 Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag $17.97 at Amazon$29 Save $11.03 Get Deal Why we like it
Apple gadgets have really been shining bright in the early Black Friday deals department. The Apple AirTag has dropped to a new record-low price of just $17.97 for the first time, which is nearly 40% off its list price. We see excellent deals on the four-pack of AirTags pretty regularly, but single AirTag deals are rarer. The AirTag is the ring leader of Bluetooth trackers for iPhone users. As long as there's an Apple device nearby with Find My turned on, you'll be able to locate whatever you attach your AirTag to with ease.
More early Black Friday deals under $25Lego Sunflowers — $7.99 $14.99 (save $7)
Hasbro Gaming Guess Who? Board Game — $11.89 $16.99 (save $5.10)
Hasbro Gaming Candy Land Disney Princess Edition Board Game — $11.89 $19.99 (save $8.10)
Amazon Echo Auto — $14.99 $54.99 (save $40)
Roku Indoor Camera (wired) — $14.99 $34.99 (save $20)
TP-Link Tapo 1080P Indoor Security Camera — $15.98 $24.99 (save $9.01)
Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 — $17.80 $29.99 (save $12.19)
Lego Botanicals Happy Plants — $18.39 $22.99 (save $4.60)
Roku Streaming Stick HD — $19 $29.99 (save $10.99)
National Geographic Amazing Chemistry Set — $19.99 $39.99 (save $20)
Logitech Signature M550 Wireless Mouse — $19.99 $29.99 (save $10)
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select — $21.99 $39.99 (save $18)
Amazon Echo Pop Kids — $21.99 $49.99 (save $28)
Amazon Echo Pop — $21.99 $39.99 (save $18)
Stanley IceFlow Flip Straw Tumbler — $22.50 $30 (save $7.50)
Lego Super Mario: Mario Kart Donkey Kong — $23.49 $34.99 (save $11.50)
JBL Tune 510BT Headphones — $24.95 $49.95 (save $25)
Amazon Fire TV Alexa Voice Remote Pro — $24.99 $34.99 (save $10)
Blink Mini 2K+ — $24.99 $49.99 (save $25)
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K — $24.99 $49.99 (save $25)
Magic Bullet Blender — $24.99 $44.99 (save $20)
T-Mobile is removing this free perk from some plans
T-Mobile is officially dropping its popular Apple TV "On Us" perk. This means customers on premium plans will soon have to pay a monthly fee for the streaming service. However, it all depends on your plan.
OpenAI board member Larry Summers resigns as Epstein links revealed
As Congress looks to maybe, potentially, finally release the Epstein files, an email document dump from Jeffrey Epstein's estate released last week by the House Oversight Committee has already delivered some shocking revelations.
And those emails have already led to at least one high-profile resignation at one of the biggest tech companies in the world.
Economist Larry Summers, a former Treasury secretary under the Clinton administration and a former president of Harvard, has resigned from OpenAI's board, according to statements provided by Summers and the company to Axios. Summers had previously acknowledged he'd be stepping away from all public commitments in light of the Epstein document release.
"In line with my announcement to step away from my public commitments, I have also decided to resign from the board of OpenAI," Summers said in a statement provided to Axios. "I am grateful for the opportunity to have served, excited about the potential of the company and look forward to following their progress."
Despite Summers' statements, he plans to continue teaching at Harvard, where he currently works as a Professor of Economics, Axios also reported.
"Larry has decided to resign from the OpenAI Board of Directors, and we respect his decision," OpenAI's board said in its own statement. "We appreciate his many contributions and the perspective he brought to the Board."
Summers' ties to Epstein have long been known. During Summers' tenure as President of Harvard, Epstein donated tens of millions of dollars to the university. Epstein was even given his own personal office at the school during this time. Flight records released during the 2021 trial of Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell showed that Summers had previously flown on Epstein's private plane, according to the Harvard Crimson.
However, the newly released email documents revealed that Summers' association with Epstein continued well after Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. In emails from 2018 and 2019, Summers reached out to Epstein seeking advice on pursuing a relationship outside of his marriage with a woman he described as a "mentee." In the emails, Epstein referred to himself as Summers' "wing man." In addition to the conversations on romantic relationships, Summers also made numerous sexist comments.
Summers' final correspondence with Epstein in the email documents occurred on July 5, 2019 — just one day before Epstein was arrested and federally charged for the sex trafficking of minors.
Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.
The fastest naturally aspirated V-12 car ever made
A select few performance cars have reached true icon status, but none have done it with the purity and power of the fastest naturally aspirated V-12 ever built. In a world dominated by turbochargers and hybrid assistance, this machine still holds a record no modern supercar has been able to touch. Its achievement isn’t just about an extreme top speed, it represents the pinnacle of what a high-revving engine can deliver when a manufacturer pushes traditional engineering to its absolute limit.
The Risks of Undervolting: Components to Avoid Tweaking
Most of your PC components come out of the factory set to use a certain amount of electricity. In some cases, lowering this amount, or "undervolting" the components, can improve their performance or increase efficiency. But if you want to dabble in undervolting, leave these parts alone.
The best early Black Friday drone deals include DJI, Holy Stone, and more top brands
Drones have been all over the news lately, mainly because of DJI. While it's not official yet, it's possible that DJI drones will face a ban come December. Yes, December as in just a few weeks away. That means shopping Black Friday sales could be your last chance to snag a DJI drone, for a while, at least.
Of course, this is 2025, and nothing is unexpected, so the buzz of a DJI ban could get swept off the table in an instant. But to be sure, consider this a great time to buy a new DJI drone, or any drone, for that matter.
Check back here as we continue to update this article throughout the Black Friday sale period. Keep in mind that if you're going with a DJI model, you might have to buy from a third-party seller. We've only included third-party sellers with positive reviews over the last year.
Best early black Friday DJI drone deal Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 4K Drone Combo $309 at Amazon$389 Save $80 Get Deal Why we like it
Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, the DJI Mini 4K Drone is great for both beginners and expert drone fliers. Plus, it weighs less than 249 grams, which is the threshold for not needing a license in most locations to fly the drone. Other nice features of the DJI Mini 4K are the one-touch takeoff and landing function, in addition to the "return-to-home" command. Today's deal on the bundle gives you two batteries for up to 62 minutes of flight time. According to our favorite Amazon price tracker camelcamelcamel, this is the lowest Amazon has ever offered for this bundle.
More early Black Friday DJI drone dealsDJI Flip Two Battery Combo — $309 $389 (save $80)
DJI Flip (RC 2 with Fly More Combo) — $619 $779 (save $160, backordered)
DJI Avata 2 FPV Drone (Goggles N3 and 3-Battery Fly More Combo) — $789 $929 (save $140, preorder)
DJI Avata 2 FPV Drone (Goggles 3 and 3-Battery Fly More Combo) — $1,019 $1,199 (save $180)
Get Deal Why we like it
If you're not in the market for a DJI drone, Holy Stone is one of the biggest competitors. Thanks to this early Black Friday Amazon sale and an on-page coupon, the Holy Stone HS720G Drone Bundle is on sale for just $199.99 instead of the list price of $357.99. The bundle includes two batteries, so you'll be good for a 52-minute flight with a 4K EIS camera. When you're done flying, fold it up and store it in the convenient carrying case.
More early Black Friday drone dealsHoly Stone Mini Drone — $36 $39.99 (save $3.99 with coupon)
Holy Stone HS15D Drone — $249.99 $269.99 (save $20)
HOVERAir X1 Combo — $279.99 $299.99 (save $20)
How to Find Your Android Device's Info for Correct APK Downloads
In the process of sideloading an app on your Android phone, you may run across multiple APK variants to choose from. Certain apps are designed for specific specs—such as display and processor—so how do you know which one to download?
Gemini 3 launches: Heres every new feature and how to try them
Google has officially launched Gemini 3, its newest and most advanced AI model — and the company is calling it its "most intelligent" system yet. The model rolled out across Google products on day one, marking the first time a new Gemini release has gone live in Search at launch.
Gemini 3 represents what Google execs describe as the next major step in their push toward more capable, more context-aware AI. In a note sharing the launch, the company stated that the model incorporates deeper reasoning, stronger multimodal understanding, and enhanced awareness of user intent compared to earlier versions.
What’s new in Gemini 3?The headline upgrade is reasoning. Google says Gemini 3 is built to understand nuance, break down complex problems, and "grasp depth and context" in ways its predecessors couldn’t. In benchmarking tests, Gemini 3 Pro took the top spot on the LMArena leaderboard with a 1501 Elo score, outperforming both Grok and Gemini 2.5 Pro.
SEE ALSO: Google's Gemini 3 is smarter, better at figuring out what you needThe model also demonstrates significant improvements in academic-style reasoning. On Humanity’s Last Exam, Gemini 3 Pro hit 37.5 percent without any external tools, and on GPQA Diamond, it reached 91.9 percent. It also posted state-of-the-art scores across math and multimodal tasks, including video understanding and factual accuracy.
A new enhanced mode called Gemini 3 Deep Think pushes those capabilities even further. Deep Think improves scores on nearly every benchmark, including a jump to 41 percent on Humanity’s Last Exam and 45.1 percent on the ARC-AGI-2 challenge. It’s designed for the most challenging, long-horizon reasoning tasks.
Where can you use Gemini 3?Gemini 3 is already live across the Google ecosystem. That includes:
AI Mode in Search, with more dynamic, generative interfaces and complex reasoning support. (Currently available for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.)
The Gemini app is getting a redesign, including the My Stuff folder and improved shopping experiences.
Gemini for developers, available now in AI Studio, Vertex AI, Gemini CLI, and Google’s new agentic development platform Antigravity.
Gemini Agent, an upgraded system that can complete multi-step tasks like inbox organization, appointment management, and more.
If you want hands-on time with Gemini 3 immediately, there are a few pathways:
Use AI Mode in Search (Google AI Pro or Ultra subscription required).
Open the Gemini app, where Gemini 3 is the default model starting today for most users globally.
Developers can experiment with AI Studio or Vertex AI, gaining full access to Gemini 3 Pro.
Enterprise customers can deploy it through Vertex AI and Gemini Enterprise.
Deep Think, the highest-end version, will be rolled out in the coming weeks following additional safety evaluations.
Microsoft warns Windows 11 AI could put malware on your PC
Microsoft keeps injecting AI into Windows, and now even the company itself is admitting that there are safety risks in doing so.
This week, Microsoft added some new agentic AI features to Windows 11 Insider users, which give AI permission to automate things like sending emails and sorting files. These are turned off by default and need to be opted into, but for those who choose to enable them, Microsoft published a security note on its website warning that there are security risks to giving AI access to all of your files:
SEE ALSO: The 8 best tablets of 2025: I compared iPads, the Microsoft Surface Pro, and Amazon Fire"As these capabilities are introduced, AI models still face functional limitations in terms of how they behave and occasionally may hallucinate and produce unexpected outputs," Microsoft said. "Additionally, agentic AI applications introduce novel security risks, such as cross-prompt injection (XPIA), where malicious content embedded in UI elements or documents can override agent instructions, leading to unintended actions like data exfiltration or malware installation."
In other words, it's technically possible for something that's meant to help users to harm them instead. This may very well be a super unlikely hypothetical edge case, but the fact that Microsoft felt compelled to say anything about it at all is a bit alarming. As a possible solution, Microsoft is rolling out an experimental feature called "agent workspace," which limits what the AI agent has access to on the PC. In basic terms, it means the agent can only access things that are available to any user of the machine, while files locked behind specific user profiles are off-limits.
We're still in the relatively early stages of all of this, so it will take some time to see how it shakes out. But just be careful before turning on these features.
Early Dyson Black Friday deals: Our favorite vacuum, air purifier, and hair tool are already on sale
Dyson deals are hit or miss during the two Prime Days of the year (Amazon seems to have a wonky relationship with Dyson vacuums deals, specifically). Black Friday Dyson deals beat those by a long shot, and many of the good ones are already live the week before Thanksgiving. This is your best chance to shave a few hundred dollars off of the brand known for being expensive.
SEE ALSO: iRobot could be facing bankruptcy. But as a vacuum tester, I saw the Roomba flop era coming from a mile away.Dyson's website has launched its early Black Friday sale, and there are a ton of great hair tool deals and cordless stick vacuum deals in here — the Dyson website itself tends to have several exclusive deals that other retailers don't have. But Walmart's early Black Friday drop does include a stellar deal on Mashable's favorite stick vacuum, and Amazon is in the mix, too.
I've rounded up all of the best early Dyson Black Friday deals, and will add any new and noteworthy ones that pop up throughout Cyber Monday. Still debating opting for a robot vacuum instead? I'm also tracking the best Black Friday robot vacuum deals.
Best Dyson vacuum deal Dyson V12 Detect Slim $399.99 at Walmart$549 Save $149.01 Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy Why we like it
Any time my favorite vacuum ever gets several hundred dollars cheaper, it's going to be the first deal I recommend. The Dyson V12 Detect Slim is currently the most affordable Dyson with the green laser, now less than $400 compared to its usual $729.99. The laser, which illuminates tiny specks and hair that aren't super visible to the naked eye, should be an immediate selling point for any household with pets and a lot of hard floors. You have no idea how dusty your floors get within even 24 hours.
I've used the V12 Detect Slim almost daily for well over three years now, and it's still kicking — as long as you clean it properly, this purchase should last you quite a while. When I'm not using it on the floor in those daily sessions, I'm switching it to handheld mode to clean fur off the couch with the mini motorized attachment or clean out my car with the crevice attachment. It's compact and lightweight enough to comfortably hold with one hand (I can't say the same about the massive Gen5 series Dysons). Though I've tested countless cordless vacuums, the V12 Detect Slim's user-friendliness just can't be beat.
More Dyson vacuum dealsDyson V9 Motorbar — $269.99 $599.99 (save $330)
Dyson V8 Absolute — $299.99 $589.99 (save $290)
Dyson V11 Extra — $399.99 $659.99 (save $260)
Dyson Gen5detect Absolute — $799.99 $1,049.99 (save $250)
Dyson Gen5outsize Absolute — $849.99 $1,049.99 (save $300)
$449.99 Save $150 Get Deal Why we like it
The original Dyson Supersonic has dropped to $299.99, which matches the sale price that Amazon has... on the Supersonic Origin — the simplified version that only comes with one attachment. Grabbing this deal at Dyson essentially gets you the diffuser and wide tooth comb attachments for free, on top of the styling concentrator.
While we'd recommend the Shark FlexStyle over the Dyson AirWrap, it's hard to say that there's a better hair dryer out there than the Dyson Supersonic. Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter (and resident hair tool expert) Bethany Allard has tested the Supersonic against a handful of solid Supersonic dupes, and her main gripe with Dyson has steadily been the price — but with this Black Friday deal, the Supersonic is in the same price range as its best budget-friendly alternatives.
More Dyson hair tool dealsRefurbished Dyson Supersonic Nural — $259.99 $419.99 (save $160)
Refurbished Dyson Airwrap Straight+Wavy (onyx black/gold only) — $269.99 $449.99 (save $180)
Refurbished Dyson Airwrap Complete Long + Diffuser — $329.99 $499.99 (save $170)
Dyson Supersonic Nural (strawberry bronze/blush pink or jasper plum only) — $399.99 $549.99 (save $150)
Dyson Airwrap Origin — $399.99 $549.99 (save $150)
Dyson Corrale — $439.99 $539.99 (save $100)
Dyson Supersonic r (vinca blue/topaz only) — $449.99 $649.99 (save $200)
$349.99 Save $50 Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Best Buy Why we like it
Allergies or not, your body will thank you for running an air purifier all the time. I can confirm that the Dyson HushJet is as "hushed" as the title implies, making it the rare actually-quiet air purifier that you won't mind running 24/7. Within a day of bringing the HushJet home, it took the air quality in my living room from "very poor" to "good," as shown through a particle sensor breakdown in the app. The coolest part? After your initial purchase, you won't have to spend money on new filters every six months. The HushJet's high-tech filter should last for five years.
More air purifier dealsDyson Air Purifier Hot and Cool HP1 — $499.99 $699.99 (save $150)
For all of the Dyson deals I recommend, there's one Dyson deal you should avoid: The 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum on sale for $399.99. Though the drop from its MSRP of $999.99 seems killer on its face, the vacuum itself is going to kill your faith in robot vacuums (it would have for me if I didn't test a million others for a living). The 360 Vis Nav's strong suction power can't make up for the fact that it doesn't self-empty, doesn't mop, and doesn't have small obstacle avoidance technology. There are much better robot vacuums on sale for under $500 this Black Friday, and Dyson is releasing a new robot vacuum in 2026, anyway.
PowerToys 0.96 brings a better Command Palette and Advanced Paste to your Windows PC
PowerToys utility suite just dropped version 0.96 and it's coming with plenty of quality-of-life improvements across the board. This is a substantial update if you’ve been relying on the Advanced Paste feature for text manipulation.
5 wild smart home sensors you can integrate with Home Assistant
Smart home sensors show useful information and provide triggers around which you can build automations. But not all sensors are “useful,” and not all automations are obvious.
OpenAI announces new ChatGPT for Teachers
OpenAI is making another major investment in AI-powered education, announcing a new teachers-only ChatGPT workspace designed specifically to help educators with their classroom workload.
With the new ChatGPT for Teachers, users get full access to ChatGPT 5.1 Auto with unlimited messages, search, file uploads, connectors, and image generation, as well as educator-specific onboarding, admin controls, and personalized prompts. The features have already rolled out to 150,000 teachers and staff across U.S. school districts, says OpenAI.
SEE ALSO: Want to chat on Roblox? You'll need to verify your age.Rather than the standard security framework built into ChatGPT, ChatGPT for Teachers is designed with "education-grade privacy, security, and compliance programs," says OpenAI, intended to bring the tech in line with requirements under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Under these guidelines, ChatGPT for Teachers can't retain any student data to be used for model training.
Educators and administrators can also collaborate on projects and custom GPTs within the shared workspace, the company explains, and upload existing files from Google Drive or Microsoft 365 accounts to provide ChatGPT with context for lesson plans, grades, and data analysis.
OpenAI is offering it for free to verified educators and school leaders until June 2027.
According to the AI giant, K-12 teachers are "leading education's AI transformation" and OpenAI has increasingly pushed for its AI tools to enter the early childhood education space as its refashioned EdTech for higher education. "Universities are starting to treat AI as core infrastructure for education, and we also know that students use ChatGPT as a 24/7 learning companion," says Leah Belsky, vice president of education for OpenAI. "In our view, every student today is going to grow up in a world that is shaped by powerful AI and teachers will play a key role and helping both students and parents navigate that change."
OpenAI has placed a huge bet on AI's educational potential, launching a nationwide AI training program with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), signing deals with college systems that give ChatGPT to students for free, and even consulting with the Ministries of Education of foreign governments.
Elon Musks Tesla Diner chef just quit to open a deli
Elon Musk's Tesla Diner — the billionaire's shiny, UFO-shaped restaurant in Los Angeles — may be in the market for a new chef.
The Los Angeles Times reported this week that chef and co-operator Eric Greenspan is leaving the project. The chef said that he was leaving to focus on opening his new spot, a Jewish deli, but the paper also noted he faced stark pushback for joining forces with Musk.
"I am leaving the Tesla Diner project to focus on the opening of Mish, my long-desired Jewish deli," Greenspan told the LA Times in a text message. "Projects like Mish and the Tesla Diner require a sharpness of focus and attention, and my focus and attention is now squarely on Mish."
Mashable visited the Tesla Diner back in August, which serves the classics — burgers, fries, shakes, etc. — but with Muskified names. So you get items like "electric sauce," "autopilot avocado toast," a "giga burger," and now-defunct "epic bacon." The food did earn decent reviews from Mashable editor Neal Broverman, even if it felt overpriced for the portion size.
This isn't the first big change at the Tesla Diner. Shortly after the diner's opening, patrons noticed that the menu had been scaled back — thus the goodbye to "epic bacon." The LA Times also reported that the diner was looking to move to a full-service model — for the time being, you order at a tablet and get counter service. And, of course, now the chef has left.
In short: It seems quite unclear what the future holds for Musk's futuristic restaurant.
Early Black Friday kitchen deals are hot — shop Ninja, KitchenAid, and Our Place now
Nothing will make you realize you need to upgrade your kitchenware more than cooking Thanksgiving dinner. If you're already deep into prep and realizing that your blender's motor kicked it or your nonstick pans are starting to stick, then it's time to upgrade. So if you're shopping, you need to be shopping the sales.
Ahead of Black Friday, there are a ton of kitchen deals that are already live. Ninja is really the star of the early Black Friday kitchen deals, with its buzziest appliances, like the Creami, Slushi, and Crispi, all already on sale.
So if you're looking to kick off your Black Friday shopping early, and specifically looking to make some kitchen upgrades, these are the best deals we've spotted thus far.
Best coffee and espresso deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Luxe Café Pro Espresso and Coffee Machine $634.99 at Amazon$749.99 Save $115 Get Deal Why we like it
While testing the best Ninja appliances, I fell totally in love with the Ninja Luxe Café Pro Espresso machine. It's a dual espresso and coffee maker that does single servings without the pods. It bridges the gap between amateur and pro at-home baristas, automating the coffee-making process so it's easy to make the perfect coffee or latte. It's a new release, but just hit its lowest price ever at $634.99, saving you $115 off its list price for 15% savings..
More coffee and espresso machine dealsNinja 12-cup Coffee Brewer — $69.99 $89.99 (save $20)
Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker — $69.99 $99.99 (save $30)
Nespresso Festive Vertuo Pop+ Coffee and Espresso Maker — $99 $159.95 (save $60.95)
Nespresso Vertuo Plus Coffee and Espresso Maker — $109.99 $169 (save $59.01)
Keurig K-Supreme Coffee Maker — $119.99 $169.99 (save $50)
Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker — $139.99 $209.99 (save $70)
$325 Save $50 Get Deal Why we like it
My Our Place Wonder Oven is the hero of my kitchen, so I was thrilled to see the debut of the brand's Wonder Oven Pro. It's a bigger, multi-tasking oven that now has a digital screen for more precise cooking. It's $50 off during Our Place's Black Friday sale, bringing it down to $275, for 15% off.
More kitchen appliance dealsNutribullet Personal Blender — $47.49 $71.99 (save $24.50)
Cosori 9-in-1 Air Fryer — $89.93 $119.99 (save $30.06)
KitchenAid Go Cordless Hand Mixer — $99.49 $139.99 (save $40.50)
Ninja 9-cup Food Processor — $99.99 $129.99 (save $30)
Ninja 10-in-1 Everyday PossibleCooker — $109.99 $129.99 (save $20)
Ninja BlendBoss Personal Blender — $118.99 $139.99 (save $21)
Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Air Fryer — $159.99 $179.99 (save $20)
Ninja Detect Power Blender Pro ˘— $159.99 $179.99 (save $20)
Our Place Dream Cooker — $169 $199 (save $30)
Ninja Creami — $179.99 $199.99 (save $20)
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer — $199.95 $249.95 (save $50)
Our Place Large Wonder Oven — $208 $245 (save $37)
Ninja Slushi — $269.99 $369.99 (save $100)
KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-quart Stand Mixer — $349.95 $499.99 (save $150.04)
Kitchen Cookware
Calphalon Ceramic Nonstick Frying Pan Set — $49.99 $82.99 (save $33)
All-Clad HA1 12-inch Nonstick Fry Pan — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)
Our Place Always Pan 2.0 — $99 $135 ($36)
Our Place Titanium Always Pan Pro — $145 $179 (save $34)
Ninja 14-piece Knife Set — $189.99 $359.99 (save $170)
All-Clad HA1 13-piece Nonstick Cookware Set — $489.99 $699.99 (save $210)
Kitchen tool deals
KitchenAid Beacon Two-Tone Non-Slip Mini Oven Mitt — $13.47 $24.99 (save $11.52)
Amazon Basics Silicone Mat 4-pack — $14.29 $16.95 (save $2.66)
KitchenAid Dual Platform Kitchen Scale — $29.99 $49.99 (save $20)
KitchenAid Pasta Roller Attachment — $89.49 $129.99 (save $40.50)
We’ve tested them all: The best Black Friday Ninja deals on air fryers, blenders, and more
We haven’t even made it to Thanksgiving yet, but the Black Friday sales have already begun. Target, Walmart, Kohl’s — everyone is dropping discounts right now to try and beat Amazon to the punch.
SEE ALSO: What time Black Friday sales start for Amazon, Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and moreI'm going to be straight with you: Ninja is off to a slow start this year. A lot of the deals I flagged during Prime Day aren't back yet, and I'm seeing a lot of inflated list prices designed to make a "sale" look better than it actually is. (Amazon and Walmart are notorious for this kind of math, especially around the holidays.)
But that’s why you’re here. We’ve tested most of these products, so we know what they actually cost and when a price drop is genuinely worth your money.
Here are the best early Black Friday Ninja deals we could find as of Nov. 19:
Best Ninja deal overall Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer $159.95 at Amazon$179.99 Save $20.04 Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy Get Deal at Ninja Kitchen Why we like it
The Ninja Crispi is a Mashable fave, and it’s (surprisingly) at its Prime Day price of $159.95. So, if you missed out in October, now’s the time to add it to your cart. You can get it around this price (give or take five cents) at multiple retailers, including Kohl’s (you'll also get $30 Kohl's cash!), Macy’s, and other usual suspects (we now have additional retailers in our shop cards, so where you shop is up to you!). This deal includes two CleanCrisp glass containers and two storage lids. The six-cup container is designed for personal meals (and can cook them in about seven minutes), while the four-quart container is large enough to cook a four-pound chicken and veggies in one go.
Best runner-up deal Ninja Digital 8-in-1 Air Fry Countertop Oven $179.99 at Amazon$249.99 Save $70 Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it
If you need more cooking capacity, the Ninja Digital Air Fry 8-in-1 Countertop Oven is on sale for $179.99 at Amazon, down from $249.99. That's a $70 savings. This isn’t the lowest we’ve ever seen it (it was around $129 in 2023), but it’s the lowest price it’s been in a while. This countertop appliance comes with an extra-large capacity air fry basket, wire rack, and crumb tray. It’s perfect for whipping up chicken wings, sheet pan dinners, or even dehydrating fruits and veggies.
Bonus deal Ninja Creami (NC301) + 2 Pint Containers w/Lids $184.99 at Amazon$229.99 Save $45 Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it
The Ninja Creami (NC301) is currently on sale for $189.99 at Amazon. That's a $39 price cut from its usual $229.99. It’s not the most earth-shattering discount we've ever seen, but what is unique here is that this isn't a "Prime exclusive deal." During Prime Day, you couldn't get this price unless you were a member; now, it's open to everyone.
The Creami is obviously a viral gadget, but our Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino has a realistic take: It's a cool appliance, but it's loud. She recommends it mostly for people with food allergies who need to control exactly what's going into their treats, or for people who are serious about meal prepping. Even with the noise, it's a solid deal that comes with two pint containers with lids. If you have kids, making custom flavors is a pretty fun Sunday night activity.
More early Black Friday Ninja dealsNinja Blast Portable Blender (BC151BK) — $58.99 $69.99 (save $11)
Ninja 6-in-1 5QT Air Fryer (DZ302) — $218.99 $229.99 (save $11)
Ninja Air Fryer & Toaster Oven (DT501) — $249.99 $399.99 (save $150)
The 12 best Bluetooth speakers of 2025
A Bluetooth speaker is one of those devices that, once you find one you like, you won't be able to imagine how you lived without it. And since both Bluetooth and speakers aren't exactly new technology, you'll find that this is one of the more expansive product categories in the tech world (admittedly, this feels like the case for almost anything you buy these days). Enter: the Mashable tech and shopping teams. We stay on top of the latest Bluetooth speaker releases from brands like Sony, JBL, Bose, and Marshall, while also applying our audio and product testing expertise to determine when old favorites are the better choice. We spend time testing the speakers in our own homes, evaluating the balance in their sound, portability, and of course, their prices.
As of November 2025, our top picks include the near-indestructible JBL Charge 6, the smart home-integrated Sonos Move 2, and the charmingly retro Marshall Emberton III. You'll also find the best small Bluetooth speakers, the most portable speakers, and bass-thumping party speakers.
Recent additions to this guide:November 2025: We've selected the Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Generation) as our best travel speaker, replacing the IKEA Vappeby (our new honorable mention pick).
November 2025: We've added the JBL PartyBox Stage 320 as the best party speaker, replacing the older Ultimate Ears Hyperboom.
November 2025: We've added the Sony ULT Field 7 as the best boombox-style speaker.


