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Upgrade your smartwatch game with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 for its lowest price yet

Mashable - Sun, 11/23/2025 - 18:23

SAVE $120: As of Nov. 23, get the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 for $129.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $249.99. That's a discount of 48% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 $129.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $120   Get Deal

While the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is no longer the top dog in the Android-focused food chain following the release of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, it's still very much worth picking up if you're in the market for a new smartwatch. Especially since it's at its lowest price ever for Black Friday right now.

As of Nov. 23, get the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 for $129.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $249.99. That's $120 and a discount of 48%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: Black Friday 2025: Live updates on the latest deals from Amazon, Target, Walmart, and more

This smartwatch is a jack of all trades. Not only can it handle your day-to-day needs like calls and texts, but it's rife with a plethora of fitness-centric features. It offers heart rate and sleep tracking, ways to keep track of your daily workouts, and much more. Plus, it will assign you a daily Energy Score to show how equipped you are to take on the day based on how you slept and how your body performed the prior day.

It'll also handle preventive measures as well, like screening for sleep apnea and offering Wellness Tips that use the data your watch collects to make suggestions on how to improve your overall fitness. With all that, including a variety of apps to use and mobile payment support, the Galaxy Watch 7 is a no-brainer, especially now that it's down to this price.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Steam Machine will fail if Valve repeats this Steam Deck mistake

How-To Geek - Sun, 11/23/2025 - 18:15

The Valve Steam Machine could be the single most important thing to happen to PC gaming in decades. However, the success of Valve’s first in-house desktop relies on how Valve chooses to distribute the Steam Machine. Will they make the right choice?

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazon has the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones on sale for a record-low price and they come with a free $30 Amazon credit

Mashable - Sun, 11/23/2025 - 18:03

SAVE $151.99 + GET A FREE $30 AMAZON CREDIT: The Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones are on sale at Amazon for $248, down from the normal price of $399.99. That's a 38% discount and the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon. Use code SONYX30 at checkout to get a free $30 Amazon credit.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones $248 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $151.99 use code SONYX30 at checkout to get a free $30 Amazon credit Get Deal

A good pair of headphones can feel kinda life-changing. Imagine a 10-hour plane journey with noise-cancelling headphones that aren't uncomfortable after watching just one movie. The problem is, the best headphones tend to come with steep prices. But that's all remedied thanks to today's early Black Friday deal at Amazon.

As of Nov. 23, the Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones are on sale for $248 at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $399.99. That works out to a 38% discount, shaving a sweet $151.99 off the price. This deal marks the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon on the Sony XM5 headphones. Plus, right now, if you use code SONYX30 at checkout, you can receive a free $30 Amazon digital credit that you can use up until 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 31, 2026.

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The new Sony XM6 headphones are stunning, no doubt, but the older XM5 headphones are still an excellent option, especially thanks to this new all-time low price. In Mashable's list of the best Sony headphones, the XM5s earn the top spot as the best former flagship.

"Brand enthusiasts who can’t afford the pricier WH-1000XM6, but still want the extravagant Sony listening experience — you won't be disappointed. Very few things separate these two models, besides the big price difference," wrote freelancer Alex Bracetti. Currently, the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones are on sale at Amazon for $429.99, which means the XM5s are nearly $200 cheaper.

SEE ALSO: The JBL Tune Buds are heavily discounted ahead of Black Friday — save $60 with the best-ever price on Amazon

Bracetti also wrote, "The WH-1000XM5s retain many series hallmarks, including ANC, battery life, sound, and special features," so you don't need to worry about a major drop in quality with this previous model.

One of the only major differences between the XM5 and XM6 models is the lack of ear cups that fold up on the older model. But given the almost $200 price difference, that's a sacrifice we're willing to deal with.

Before the chaos of Amazon Black Friday hits this Thursday, snatch up a pair of Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones for under $250. This new record-low price is a heck of a deal, especially compared to the price of the new XM6 headphones. Amazon has made this deal even sweeter by adding a free $30 digital credit for a future Amazon purchase.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Listening to podcasts at 1.5x speed doesn't make me a monster

How-To Geek - Sun, 11/23/2025 - 18:00

I'll hold my hands up and admit it: I listen to podcasts at 1.5x speed. To some people, this makes me a monster. However, I've not found any downsides to listening to podcasts at faster speeds, and there are plenty of upsides.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Pick up a glass window Instant Pot air fryer for just $59.99 at Amazon

Mashable - Sun, 11/23/2025 - 17:56

SAVE $30: The Instant Pot Vortex mini air fryer is on sale at Amazon for $59.99 for Black Friday, down from the normal price of $89.99. That's a 33% discount and an all-time low price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Instant Pot Instant Pot Vortex mini air fryer (4-quart) $59.99 at Amazon
$89.99 Save $30.00   Get Deal

Black Friday is a great time to refresh small kitchen appliances for your home, or buy them for a friend or someone who's moving out on their own soon. Air fryers were all the rage years ago, but unlike many trendy kitchen appliances, air fryers have proven their usefulness. One of the only downsides to early models was the lack of peeking inside without opening the basket. But that's remedied with this model that's on sale today.

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As of Nov. 23, the four-quart Instant Pot Vortex mini air fryer is on sale at Amazon for $59.99, marked down from the normal price of $89.99. That works out to a saving of $30 thanks to a 33% discount. This sale price also happens to be a record low at Amazon.

While it's small in size, the Instant Pot Vortex is mighty in features. You'll be able to air fry, broil, bake, dehydrate, and reheat with this four-quart model. The smaller size makes it ideal for those without much counter space to spare or anyone who's cooking for one or two people.

SEE ALSO: We’ve tested them all: The best Black Friday Ninja deals on air fryers, blenders, and more

The glass window on this model is great for peeking in at cooking progress without having to open the basket, releasing hot air. Another friendly feature is that both the air fryer basket and cooking tray are dishwasher safe.

If you could use some extra help this holiday season or you're looking for a thoughtful gift, hurry to snag the four-quart Instant Pot Vortex mini air fryer from Amazon while it's on sale for under $60.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to clean your speakers

How-To Geek - Sun, 11/23/2025 - 17:30

You wipe your TV screen and dust your keyboard and other electronics, but I’m willing to bet that it’s been a minute since you cleaned your speakers. No one would fault you for that—whether they’re tiny desktop speakers, inconspicuous bookshelves, or gorgeous tower speakers that blend seamlessly into your home’s decor, we tend to pay more attention to how they sound rather than how they look.

Categories: IT General, Technology

140+ Black Friday deals at Best Buy that arent cheaper anywhere else

Mashable - Sun, 11/23/2025 - 17:22
Best Buy's best Black Friday deals at a glance: Best Apple deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749 (save $250) Get Deal Best Windows laptop deal Asus Zenbook A14 (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD $549.99 (save $450) Get Deal Best TV deal TCL 65-inch QM5K Series 4K QD-Mini LED TV $449.99 (save $450) Get Deal Best headphones deal Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones $159.99 (save $190) Get Deal Best portable speaker deal JBL Charge 6 $129.95 (save $70) Get Deal Best fitness tracker deal Fitbit Inspire 3 $69.95 (save $30) Get Deal Best vacuum deal Shark Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum $148 (save $151.99) Get Deal Best kitchen deal De'Longhi Classic Espresso Machine $149.95 (save $80) Get Deal

Best Buy started offering Black Friday deals earlier than everyone else (on Halloween — scary!), but at this point in the season, it's hardly the only store in Black Friday mode. Most major retailers' holiday discounts are already live well ahead of Black Friday proper on Nov. 28, making the competition pretty ferocious.

After spending way too long combing through Best Buy's virtual shelves and cross-checking its prices, I can tell you that lots of its Black Friday deals are being one-upped elsewhere. Many big-screen 4K TVs, Beats headphones, Sony portable speakers, robot vacuums, and other gadgets carrying its "Black Friday deal" badge are anywhere from four cents to $84 cheaper at other retailers with overlapping inventories. Amazon is the biggest culprit, as per usual.

SEE ALSO: Black Friday 2025: Live updates on the latest deals from Amazon, Target, Walmart, and more

That said, you'd be silly to ignore Best Buy completely this Black Friday. It's matching its rivals' prices on a ton of other in-demand products, including Apple MacBook Airs, JBL and Sony headphones, Garmin smartwatches, and De'Longhi espresso machines. It also carries a bunch of TVs and laptops that you won't find anywhere else, on sale or not, like TCL's cheapest mini-LED TVs and my favorite Windows ultraportable. (Amazon, Walmart, and Target can't beat its prices on stuff they don't stock to begin with.)

If nothing else, keep a lookout for Best Buy's holiday doorbusters, which typically involve its steepest discounts on popular tech — I'm talking 50% off or more. New ones go live every Friday through Christmas and only hang around until the following Sunday. Through Nov. 28, paid My Best Buy members get a $5 bonus reward for every $50 they spend on doorbusters.

Read on for my list of the very best Black Friday deals at Best Buy. Rest assured that I've only included products that aren't cheaper anywhere else.

Best Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749 at Best Buy
$999 Save $250   Get Deal Why we like it

Best Buy is selling an even cheaper 13-inch MacBook Air — a $649 M2 model — but the M4 version is a way better buy for only $100 more. It's 48 percent faster, supports two external displays with its lid open, and has a much nicer 12MP Center Stage webcam. I strongly recommend it for students, but also just anyone who wants a fast, portable Apple laptop. This is its lowest price ever, FYI.

More MacBook dealsAirPods dealsApple Watch dealsiPad dealsBest Windows laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Asus Asus Zenbook A14 (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD $549.99 at Best Buy
$999.99 Save $450   Get Deal Why we like it

The Zenbook A14 is an amazing ultraportable and the best MacBook Air alternative for Windows users, in my opinion. It's speedy enough for everyday tasks, offers nearly 22 hours of battery life per charge, and comes with a gorgeous OLED display — something you won't find on any MacBook (for now). It also has a lighter design and double the starting storage of a current-gen MacBook Air. Now $549.99 (or 45% off), it's never been cheaper.

More Windows laptop deals2-in-1 laptop dealsGaming laptop dealsBest TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 65-inch QM5K Series 4K QD-Mini LED TV $449.99 at Best Buy
$899.99 Save $450   Get Deal Why we like it

QLED TVs with mini-LED backlighting are brighter and more detailed than regular QLED TVs (which are already a step up from your standard LED display). Mashable's Leah Stodart, our resident TV expert, recommends them for people who watch a lot of sports at night. Best Buy is the only place where you can buy TCL's entry-level QM5K Series 4K mini-LED TVs, and all models are at least half off right now. The 65-incher, our ideal size for most people, is only $449.99 (normally $899.99).

43-inch TV deals50 and 55-inch TV deals65-inch TV deals70- and 75-inch TV dealsDeals on 77-inch TVs and biggerBest earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones $159.99 at Best Buy
$349.99 Save $190   Get Deal Why we like it

It's been several years since the WH-1000XM4s were Sony's flagship headphones, but we still think they're worth purchasing in 2025 — especially now that they're less than half the price of the newer XM5s and XM6s. Best Buy is selling them for just $159.99 (or 54% off) as one of its doorbusters for the weekend of Nov. 21 to 23, matching Amazon's pricing on a used pair. Paid My Best Buy members get $15 in bonus rewards for purchasing them.

More earbuds dealsHeadphones dealsBest portable speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Charge 6 $129.95 at Best Buy
$199.95 Save $70   Get Deal Why we like it

The new JBL Charge 6 is our favorite Bluetooth speaker for most people: It's "big enough to produce sound that will fill an outdoor party, yet still small enough to live on your bookshelf," our experts said. It can also charge smartphones, headphones, and other devices via USB-C — very handy. Best Buy, Amazon, and the JBL website all had it on sale for $129.95 at the time of writing (or $70 off). That appears to be an all-time low.

More portable speaker dealsBest fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Inspire 3 $69.95 at Best Buy
$99.95 Save $30   Get Deal Why we like it

Can't splurge on a shiny new Apple Watch SE 3 or Oura Ring 4? While both wearables are on sale this Black Friday, neither is as cheap as the Fitbit Inspire 3 (now just $69.95, or 30% off). It's our No. 1 fitness tracker for shoppers on a budget. According to our experts, "It has a comprehensive suite of health and fitness tracking features, a slim, low-profile design, and a straightforward user interface."

More smartwatch and fitness tracker dealsBest vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum $148 at Best Buy
$299.99 Save $151.99   Get Deal Why we like it

This cordless number from Shark is our favorite budget stick vacuum for pet hair — it's a much better buy than Dyson's V8 or V9 models, said Stodart. (In addition to covering TVs, she's also our in-house vacuum guru.) Best Buy is matching Amazon's Black Friday discount on it, which brings it down to an all-time low price of $148. That's a 51% savings.

More robot vacuum dealsStick vacuum dealsBest kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: De'Longhi De'Longhi Classic Espresso Machine $149.95 at Best Buy
$229.95 Save $80   Get Deal Why we like it

De'Longhi's entry-level espresso machine has 15 bars of pressure and a built-in frother with two steam settings (one for heating milk and another for making latte art). In the cheapest Black Friday espresso machine deal I've encountered so far, it's on sale for just $150 at Best Buy, as well as on Amazon, Crate & Barrel, Williams-Sonoma, Macy's, and DeLonghi's website. It last hit that price in July.

My Best Buy Plus and Total members get a $15 bonus reward for every $125 spent on small kitchen appliances (up to $75).

More coffee maker and espresso machine dealsToaster ovens and air fryersKitchenAid stand mixersNinja kitchen appliances
Categories: IT General, Technology

AI music service Udio shuts off the ability to download creations

Mashable - Sun, 11/23/2025 - 17:12

One AI music generation service has become significantly less useful this month.

SEE ALSO: Google says it isn't using your Gmail to train AI

Udio has shut off the ability to download AI music creations, per The Verge. The service still exists, and users can still sign up to create AI music, but there is no way to obtain a raw file of the songs they create from the website anymore, at least not without some technical expertise. As The Verge pointed out, the terms users agree to when making a Udio account also prevent class-action lawsuits, so there isn't much that users can do about this.

Udio didn't just do this out of nowhere. Earlier this month, Udio and Universal reached a settlement related to Udio's use of copyrighted materials in training its AI. Part of this settlement was that, after a 48-hour grace period during which users could download their creations, that feature would be shut off entirely.

Udio gets to keep existing, and Universal gets to benefit monetarily from it, but users can't download their songs anymore. There are other AI music services available, such as Suno, but it would not be surprising if they end up in similar places over time as well.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Score this massive 100-inch Hisense E6 Cinema Series TV for 50% off

Mashable - Sun, 11/23/2025 - 17:10

SAVE $1,350.49: As of Nov. 23, get the Hisense 100-inch E6 Cinema Series TV for $1,349.50 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $2,699.99. That's a discount of 50% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Hisense 100-inch E6 Cinema Series TV $1,349.99 at Amazon
$2,699.99 Save $1,350.00   Get Deal

Looking to spruce up your living room with a new TV? How about going big with your next purchase? You can't do much better in terms of size than a 100-inch display, and with this early Black Friday deal at Amazon, you'll save some serious cash on an absolutely massive display.

As of Nov. 23, get the Hisense 100-inch E6 Cinema Series TV for $1,349.50 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $2,699.99. That's $1,350.49 off and a discount of 50%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: 110+ Amazon Black Friday deals: We found record low prices on AirPods, Kindles, Leogs, and Anker power stations

This TV is all about bringing you the cinematic experience in your home, as its name implies. It uses QLED color to make your picture pop, with quantum dots that offer over a billion shades. Plus, Total HDR Solution gives you the deepest black hues you'll find across these larger TVs. It also supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+ Adaptive, HDR10, and HLG. If you want superior audio, it also offers Dolby Atmos to give you that theater-like effect paired with its huge size.

It also makes things simple for you to enjoy your favorite shows and movies, thanks to its Alexa integration, so you can search for everything you want to watch via Alexa's app with the included voice search integration. That means you don't have to mess with pairing your new TV with a streaming device or anything more than the TV itself, which is serving, in our opinion, some incredible savings. This deal is only on for a limited time, so you'll want to snatch it up while you can ahead of Black Friday.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This free academic AI tool is helping me reach new levels of nerd

How-To Geek - Sun, 11/23/2025 - 17:00

Birds are pretty easy to identify by sight alone, but things are much more challenging when you can only hear their calls. Good news! Cornell University has an app that can do just that, and it’s completely free to use.

Categories: IT General, Technology

110+ Amazon Black Friday deals: We found record low prices on AirPods, Kindles, Leogs, and Anker power stations

Mashable - Sun, 11/23/2025 - 16:25
A glance at the best Black Friday deals at Amazon Best Apple deal Apple Mac mini (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $479 (save $120) Get Deal Best Lego deal Lego Classic Medium Creative Brick Box (10696) $17.99 (save $17) Get Deal Best Kindle deal Kindle Paperwhite (16GB) $124.99 (save $35) Get Deal Best portable power station deal Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 $349 (save $450) Get Deal Best headphones deal Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Black or Smoke White) $298 (save $131) Get Deal Best smartwatch deal Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) $199.99 (save $49.01) Get Deal Best kitchen deal Ninja Crispi Glass Air Fryer $152.99 (save $27) Get Deal Best beauty tech deal Shark SpeedStyle Pro Flex $179.99 (save $70) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal Eufy X10 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo $499.99 (save $400) Get Deal Best Amazon device deal Amazon Echo Pop $21.99 (save $18) Get Deal

Black Friday falls on Nov. 28 this year, but that doesn't mean you need to wait until after pumpkin pie to shop. Amazon's official Black Friday sale is already underway, and we're seeing a bunch of epic deals. Some of our favorite products from Bose, Apple, Anker, and Lego are on sale, in addition to Amazon devices like Kindles and the Echo lineup. Shopping early means you get to relax during the hustle of the holiday shopping season. Plus, buying in November likely means everything will arrive with plenty of time to get wrapped.

Amazon has dropped prices on many seasonal must-haves, including some of our favorite gifts for 2025. Some are even back down at all-time low prices that match what we saw during October Prime Day or even cheaper.

SEE ALSO: 65+ early Black Friday deals: Score huge discounts on MacBooks, AirPods, Kindles, Bose headphones, and Ninja appliances

Check back here as we continue to update this page with new sale info and fresh product drops. It's also worth checking out Black Friday sales at competing retailers like Target, Best Buy, and Walmart to make sure you're getting the best deal. Another insider shopping tip is to spend a few seconds researching price history. Mashable's favorite Amazon price tracker, camelcamelcamel, will let you know if the deal you're seeing is actually worth snatching up.

Best Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Mac mini (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $479 at Amazon
$599 Save $120   Get Deal Why we like it

If you need a desktop upgrade, this is hands-down the best value you can get right now. The new Mac mini packs the M4 chip into a tiny 5-inch box, and Apple finally upped the starting RAM to 16GB (instead of the stingy 8GB of the past). That means it can actually handle heavy multitasking right out of the box.

Honorable mention: Apple deals are going hard this Black Friday. The AirPods 4 with ANC just hit a record-low price of $99.99, but they're flying off the shelves. We've seen them sell out at Amazon already, so if they're sold out for you, you can grab them for $109.99 at Walmart and Target. These are an upgraded model of the entry-level AirPods that earned a coveted Mashable Choice Award thanks to their great active noise cancellation, snug but comfortable fit, and excellent value.

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple AirPods 4 with ANC.

More Black Friday Apple deals at AmazonBest Lego deal Lego Classic Medium Creative Brick Box (10696) $17.99 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $17.00   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart Why we like it

Earlier this morning, we recommended the Lego Christmas Tree here, but that deal sold out fast (welcome to Black Friday month). The good news? This classic brick box is an even better gift for someone just getting into Lego, and it's nearly 50% off.

As of Nov. 21, you can grab the Lego Classic Medium Creative Brick Box for $17.99. Is it the absolute lowest price ever? No, it hit ~$15 in July. But saving $17 on a $35 set is still a pretty good deal. This box comes with 484 pieces, including wheels, windows, and eyes, so you can build trains, tigers, or whatever else you dream up. Plus, it comes in its own plastic storage bin, which is a gift to parents everywhere.

More early Black Friday Lego dealsBest Kindle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite $124 at Amazon
$159 Save $35   Get Deal Why we like it

Down at a record-low price, the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is Mashable's favorite Kindle. It can get up to 12 weeks of battery life before you'll need to recharge, and the 16GB storage gives plenty of room for downloaded books. Gift it to the reader in your life or snag one for yourself to stay entertained during holiday travel. It's also fully waterproof, so you can take it along to the pool or on your tropical winter vacation.

More Kindle dealsBest Amazon device deal Amazon Echo Pop $21.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $18.00   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Echo Pop.

It’s a known fact of the universe that Amazon devices get serious discounts on Black Friday (and Prime Day, for that matter). If you haven't picked up a smart speaker yet, or just need one for a random room like the laundry room or guest bath, we recommend the Echo Pop. It’s currently $21.99, which is 45% off its regular price. Unlike the spherical Echo Dot, the Pop has a flat front that makes it fit way better on shallow shelves or crowded nightstands. It’s the perfect low-stakes way to add Alexa to another corner of your house without spending "real" money.

More early Black Friday Amazon device deals Best portable power station deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 $349 at Amazon
$799 Save $450   Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2.

The new Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 is one of my favorite portable power stations to hit the market this year. Anker's new Gen 2 models focus on portability, and the C1000 Gen 2 is shockingly easy to carry around at 25 pounds. It's a great model for taking to the campground or keeping in the garage in case of power outages. Thanks to Amazon's Black Friday sale, this model is down to a new record low.

More Black Friday portable power station dealsBest headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Black or Smoke White) $299
$429 Save $130   Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (2nd Gen).

If you're looking for the most comfortable noise-cancelling headphones on the market, you want the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. As long as you're cool with black or white, they're on sale for $298. Since we spend plenty of the day listening to music, podcasts, or streaming YouTube, there's good reason to invest in a super comfortable pair. Of course, they'll make for a special gift this holiday season, or consider it a gift of self-care to get yourself through holiday travel.

More Black Friday headphones dealsBest smartwatch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) $199.99 at Amazon
$249 Save $49.01   Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple Watch SE 3 earns the top spot on Mashable's list of the best smartwatches. The SE 3 is the first SE model to come with an always-on display. Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth wrote, "In addition to its gorgeous OLED display, it has the same S10 chip inside the Ultra 3, the same water resistance as the Series 11, and all the necessary features you're looking for in a smartwatch." All of that now comes in at under $200 thanks to this Black Friday sale at Amazon.

More early Black Friday smartwatch dealsBest outdoor deal LifeStraw Personal Water Filter $9.49 at Amazon
$19.95 Save $10.46   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

If there's one thing Mashable readers love buying on Black Friday, it’s the LifeStraw. It’s a staple of every major sales event, and for good reason. Right now, it’s back down to its Prime Day price of $9.99, which is typically the lowest it goes all year (it's usually around $20). Even if you aren't an avid hiker, this is a must-have for your home emergency kit or bug-out bag. It filters out 99.999999 percent of waterborne bacteria and parasites, so you can drink directly from a stream (or a sketchy tap) safely. At $10, it’s the ultimate practical stocking stuffer.

More early Black Friday outdoor deals Black Friday TV deals at Amazon43-inch TVs50- to 55-inch TVs65-inch TVs75-inch TVs and up85-inch TVs and up
Categories: IT General, Technology

Annoyed by constant Wi-Fi drops? Here’s the fix you need

How-To Geek - Sun, 11/23/2025 - 16:15

Dropping out of a meeting, watching a stream buffer right at the climax, or seeing a download freeze is downright infuriating. If your Wi-Fi is smooth one moment and crawling the next, the issue could lie with your connection or your device. Here's how to put an end to those constant disconnects.

Categories: IT General, Technology

6 essential Microsoft 365 habits I adopted for flawless collaboration

How-To Geek - Sun, 11/23/2025 - 16:00

Picture this: an email chain with 50 replies, five different file versions floating around, and confusion as to whose turn it is to edit a file. This used to be my everyday Microsoft 365 environment, until I adopted these six habits that transformed chaos into flawless collaboration.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Pips hints, answers for November 23, 2025

Mashable - Sun, 11/23/2025 - 15:55

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 8, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 23 Pips

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

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

Number (6): Everything in this orange space must add to 6. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this light blue space must add to 5. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add to 1. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.

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

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 0-2, placed vertically; 3-2, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally; 6-1, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add to 2. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 23 Pips

Less Than (6): Everything in this space must be less than 6. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed vertically.

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 2-6, placed vertically; 2-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 4-1, placed vertically; 2-1, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed vertically.

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 23 Pips

Number (7): Everything in this space must add to 7. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed vertically.

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

Equal (5): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 5. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 4-5, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this green space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add to 2. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 3-6, placed horizontally.

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 23, 2025

Mashable - Sun, 11/23/2025 - 15:43

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easy if you know English footballl rivalries.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Yellow: Kicked out

  • Green: GOATs

  • Blue: Bitter enemies

  • Purple: Meet the Browns

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

  • Yellow: Throw Out of a Game

  • Green: NFL All-Time Leading Receivers

  • Blue: Premier League Derbies

  • Purple: ____Brown

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 #426 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

  • Throw Out of a Game - BOOT, CHASE, EJECT, TOSS

  • NFL All-Time Leading Receivers - FITZGERALD, MOSS, OWENS, RICE

  • Premier League Derbies - MANCHESTER, MEYERSIDE, NORTH LONDON, TYNE-WEAR

  • ____Brown - CLEVELAND, JAYLEN, MACK, TIM

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

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

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 ways to repurpose an old Google TV

How-To Geek - Sun, 11/23/2025 - 15:30

Streaming devices tend to have a longer shelf life than phones, but like everything, they get slow over time. You don’t have to banish your old Android TV, Chromecast with Google TV, or an Onn device to the tech graveyard just yet, though.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Now is the time to revisit Prime Video's acclaimed video game adaptation

How-To Geek - Sun, 11/23/2025 - 15:00

Video game adaptations have entered a new age in Hollywood, both in movie theaters and on the small screen. After many years of struggling to balance video game lore in this new medium, studios and streamers have released a string of hits that pleased both newcomers and longtime fans like myself. Most notably, Prime Video has delivered a faithful, fan-pleasing adaptation of a beloved sci-fi RPG franchise that is set to return to screens in December, promising to be one of the first major must-watch TV hits going into 2026.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The top new sports car available for under $50,000

How-To Geek - Sun, 11/23/2025 - 14:30

Looking for a sports car that delivers serious thrills without breaking the bank? In 2025, one standout model proves you don’t need a six-figure budget to enjoy a true driving experience. With a perfect blend of sharp handling, responsive power, and aggressive styling, it brings the excitement enthusiasts crave into a surprisingly attainable package.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to free up disk space on your Mac without deleting your files

How-To Geek - Sun, 11/23/2025 - 14:15

If you're running low on storage on your Mac, the obvious way to fix it is to delete a load of files. But if you need those files, you need another solution. Here are some tips for freeing up space in macOS.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Is it safe to share your living space with a 3D printer? Here’s what the science says

How-To Geek - Sun, 11/23/2025 - 14:00

3D printers can fabricate real-world items from digital files in your home, a feat that seemed unthinkable to many even a decade ago. With the industry gaining steam at a rapid rate, it’s worth taking a moment to consider the health implications that 3D printing may pose.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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