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The best early Black Friday iPad deals: Shop the best deals that already match Prime Day
Now that we're just a couple of weeks away from Black Friday, the savings are in full swing. So if you want to get your Christmas shopping done before the turkey is even in the oven — we've got you.
Since everything feels more expensive these days, shopping sales can help ease the pain. Apple products (including the iPad lineup) saw price increases this summer, in part thanks to RAMageddon, but some deals are making iPads more reasonable.
Comparing these early Black Friday deals to what we saw during October Prime Day helps us decide what's actually worth buying. We have the green light on the standard iPad with the A16 chip, which is sitting at about the same sale price we saw during Prime Day. But our favorite deal is on the iPad Air which is back down to its October Prime Day Price of $649.
For a full rundown of iPad prices, we've rounded up the devices' price history so you know exactly how current sale prices compare to previous lows.
As we get even closer to this sale, we'll keep this page updated if we see better price drops in iPads.
Best iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) $649 at Amazon$749 Save $100 Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it
The very best deal on iPads to shop ahead of Black Friday is on the 11-inch iPad Air with M4. It's now down to $649, saving you $100 off of its $749 price tag. The iPad Air is the best iPad — and tablet — that you can buy. It's incredibly powerful for a tablet, with more computing power than many laptops.
$649 isn't technically the lowest price ever on the device. But given that iPad prices have increased so dramatically over the past year, these are still savings worth shopping for. That being said, we hope to see even bigger savings come Black Friday.
Best budget iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad (A16, WiFi, 128GB) $399.99 at Amazon$449 Save $49.01 Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it
Mashable's favorite iPad for budget shoppers is the iPad with an A16 chip, which is on sale for $399.99, just $0.99 more than its October Prime Day price. Mashable Senior Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino wrote, "It's great for someone who wants a portable screen for streaming, playing games, and reading." Given its lower price point, it's also a nice option for kids.
Best iPad mini deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) $569 at Amazon$599 Save $30 Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it
Apple just announced the 8th Gen iPad mini with big upgrades, but if you're interested in an older (and less expensive) model, the iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip is already on sale. The 7th Gen iPad mini is a great option if you're looking for a versatile tablet that's great for streaming shows and catching up on emails. It's also the best iPad if you're looking for a model that'll double as an e-reader, thanks to its compact size.
It's worth mentioning we saw this model drop to $499 during October Prime Day, so you're better off waiting until Black Friday actually kicks off to shop.
T-Mobile is giving away the iPhone 18 Pro for free — how to claim this weekend
TL;DR: The Apple iPhone 18 Pro is free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on a qualifying T-Mix plan. You can also get the iPhone 18 Pro for free if you trade in an eligible phone in any condition on a T-Mix plan.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 18 Pro for free Shop NowBlack Friday deals don't actually drop on Black Friday. Instead, we get heaps of early deals throughout November and even earlier. That's good news for anyone who desperately needs a tech upgrade without wanting the stress of the main event.
Why wait when T-Mobile is offering a stunning early Black Friday iPhone deal? We've rounded up all the best Black Friday deals from T-Mobile, but the standout option is probably the free Apple iPhone 18 Pro.
For a limited time, you can get your hands on the Apple iPhone 18 Pro for free with T-Mobile. To qualify for this deal, you need to switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on a qualifying T-Mix plan. Alternatively, you can get the iPhone 18 Pro for free if you trade in an eligible phone in any condition on a T-Mix plan. It's that simple, folks.
The full savings are distributed as monthly credits over a 36-month payment plan. If you leave T-Mobile before the end of the three-year contract, you will be charged the remaining balance. You also need to pay local sales tax on the phone's full retail value upfront, plus a standard $35 device connection fee per line at checkout. You can't escape those charges, even with these "free" deals.
Score the Apple iPhone 18 Pro for free this weekend with T-Mobile.
Early Black Friday Nintendo deals are live: Save $30 on the Switch 2 and get SanDisk storage upgrades
We're still a couple of weeks away from Black Friday, but the deals aren't waiting. That's great news if you're a Nintendo fan or have a gamer on your holiday shopping list. From games to storage upgrades and accessories, we're already seeing sweet deals.
Some of the best Nintendo deals will likely arrive when Nintendo's Black Friday sale kicks off on Nov. 22. The company has announced $50 off the Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Bundle, bringing it to $499.99 through Dec. 5. Select physical games will also be $20 off MSRP from Nov. 22 to 29, including Donkey Kong Bananza, Kirby Air Riders, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and Super Mario Party Jamboree.
Nintendo's digital sale starts earlier, on Nov. 19, and runs through Dec. 2, though individual game prices haven't been announced yet.
SEE ALSO: Black Friday 2026 at Walmart: See the ad and early dealsIf you'd rather get your holiday shopping started now, we've compiled the top Nintendo and Nintendo Switch deals already live below. We'll keep updating this list as more Black Friday offers arrive.
Best Nintendo console deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nintedo Nintendo Switch 2 $469 at Woot$499 Save $30 Get Deal at Woot Why we like it
While stock is tight on the new Zelda version of the Switch 2, you can snag the standard model already on sale before Black Friday. Head to Woot to get the Nintendo Switch 2 while it's in stock for $469. Amazon Prime members get free shipping with Woot, but keep in mind that Woot deals tend to sell out quickly, so don't wait on this one.
More Nintendo console dealsNintendo Switch (Renewed) — $199.99 $328.68 (save $128.69)
Nintendo Switch OLED (Renewed) — $288 $389 (save $101)
Nintendo Switch 2 System (Open Box) — $459.99 $499 (save $39.01)
$199.99 Save $40 Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it
Load up on all the games before winter break with a memory upgrade from the SanDisk 512GB microSD Express Card. It's designed with write speeds up to 650 MB/s and read speeds up to 880 MB/s. The SanDisk microSD is officially licensed by Nintendo for the Switch 2, so you'll be good to go for all your gaming needs. With memory in short supply and prices rising, snag this deal before it expires.
More Nintendo Switch 2 storage dealsSamsung P9 Express 256GB microSDXC card — $47.99 $79.99 (save $32)
Samsung P9 Express 512GB microSDXC card — $99.99 $149.99 (save $50)
SanDisk 512GB microSD Express card for Nintendo Switch 2 — $159.99 $199.99 (save $40)
Lexar PLAY PRO 512GB microSD Express card — $165.87 $249.99 (save $84.12)
$69.99 Save $20.05 Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it
If you already have a Switch 2 or you're looking for a great Christmas gift for a gamer, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is already on sale for under $50. Mashable Tech Reporter Alex Perry reviewed Pokémon Legends: Z-A and noted it's "enjoyably light and airy," which seems like the kind of game we need right now.
More Nintendo Switch 2 game dealsMetroid Prime 4: Beyond — $46.45 $69.99 (save $23.54)
Pokémon Legends: Z-A — $50.99 $69.99 (save $19)
Mario Kart World (Switch 2, digital code) — $69.99 $79.99 (save $10)
Pokémon Pokopia (Switch 2, digital code) — $62.99 $69.99 (save $7)
$19.99 Save $2.50 Get Deal at Best Buy Why we like it
A Switch 2 is an expensive thing to leave loose in your bag. The PowerA Slim Case in Pikachu Storm is $17.49 at Best Buy, compared with its listed comparable value of $19.99. That’s $2.50 less — not a huge discount, but a reasonably priced way to protect your console. It has a molded interior with soft fabric lining, storage for up to 10 game cards, and a built-in stand for tabletop play. The stand also doubles as a padded screen protector when the console is packed away. Plus, having Pikachu on the front doesn't hurt.
The ultimate Christmas movie streaming list
Some people get in the mood for the holidays by decorating a tree, baking cookies, or venturing out to look at houses draped in thousands of string lights. Others just pop on a Christmas movie to get into the spirit.
Whether you're planning a mega holiday movie marathon, yearning for an old classic, or trying to mix up your family movie night with something different this year, there's plenty to choose from. We've curated the very best Christmas movies you can stream or rent, from sentimental classics with a twist and cozy romantic comedies to emotional indie dramas and high-speed action thrillers.
25. The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) Credit: New Line / Kobal / ShutterstockYes, we can all agree that Die Hard is the GOAT Christmas action movie, but don't you dare sleep on The Long Kiss Goodnight.
In Renny Harlin's action thriller, Geena Davis' Samantha is a wholesome small-town school teacher and mother who, eight years ago, woke up pregnant on a beach with no memory of who she was. In the present day, Samantha gets into a car accident that changes everything — she begins remembering things and discovers she has elite knife skills. Was she a chef, perhaps? That seems unlikely when a strange man who recognized her at a Christmas parade shows up at her house to attack her. She kills him with ease as if it's her day job. Turns out, it sure as heck was.
Davis' PTA mom soon transforms back into her old badass self, a platinum blonde CIA assassin. This time, she has Samuel L. Jackson's private eye as her sidekick. With explosions and car chases galore, The Long Kiss Goodnight is everything you'd want from a delightfully bonkers holiday action movie. — Oliver Whitney, Freelance Contributor
How to watch: The Long Kiss Goodnight is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.
24. Home Alone (1990) Credit: 20th Century Fox / Kobal / ShutterstockWatching Macaulay Culkin's Kevin McCallister line his house with booby traps in Home Alone never gets old. It's also a great lesson for young kids left at home by their chaotic families in how to prepare for pesky burglars. Anything can be a weapon! Those old paint cans, your brother's pet tarantula, even a blow torch to burn the top off of a strange man's head can keep you safe. Home Alone has all the perfect ingredients to make a great, rewatchable Christmas movie with its wacky and playful plot, its charismatic cast, a sentimental message about the importance of family during the holidays, and some of the most quotable lines. Go eat some junk and watch some rubbish this Christmas. — O.W.
How to watch: Home Alone is now streaming on Disney+, and is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.
23. The Preacher's Wife (1996) Credit: Touchstone / Kobal / ShutterstockA cozy Christmas movie starring Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington — what could be better? In director Penny Marshall's The Preacher's Wife, a remake of 1947's The Bishop's Wife, Washington plays a charming angel sent down to Earth to help save a marriage in shambles. Houston's Julia is growing impatient with her pastor husband Henry (Courtney B. Vance), who's distracted by his dwindling church membership. Washington's jovial Dudley is just the spark that the family needs. His wit and doting attention remind Julia of what things used to be like with her and Henry, and the pastor grows jealous. But no worries; Dudley is just here to revitalize the pastor's faith and remind him of the important things he's let slip as Christmas approaches. The Preacher's Wife is warm and full of heart, and also features one of the silliest Denzel Washington performances that simply must be seen. — O.W.
How to watch: The Preacher's Wife is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.
22. Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)Nothing says a Christmas classic like a Judy Garland song. In Meet Me in St. Louis, we get several memorable Garland numbers, from the classic “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” to the buoyant "Trolley Song."
The 1944 Vincente Minnelli musical tells the story of the wealthy Smith family living in St. Louis, Missouri, one year before the 1904 World's Fair. All is well for them until the devastating news arrives that the family must relocate to New York City immediately after Christmas for their father's new job. The two eldest Smith daughters, Esther (Garland) and Rose (Lucille Bremer) are distraught, since they're both in love with local boys and have their futures planned near home. Even the youngest, Tootie (Margaret O'Brien), is so upset that she destroys a bunch of snowmen in a fit of rage. But maybe, just maybe, the spirit of Christmas will turn things around for them. — O.W.
How to watch: Meet Me in St. Louis is now streaming on Tubi, and is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.
21. Klaus (2019) Credit: NetflixThe majority of family-friendly Christmas movies often tell the same types of holiday stories about Santa. But Sergio Pablos' Klaus proposes a new origin story for Old Saint Nick. In the animated adventure, it all begins with a Norwegian postman named Jasper (voiced by Jason Schwartzman) who's sent away to an icy northern town called Smeerensburg to carry out his mail delivery duties. There he happens to stumble upon a reclusive bearded toymaker named Klaus (J.K. Simmons). When Jasper helps Klaus donate one of his creations to a local kid, soon every kid in town is desperate to send the toymaker a letter to get a gift in return. And so, Santa is born. Pablos' animated film is a welcome addition to the Christmas movie canon, not only for its originality but also for its gorgeous animation that's glowing with light and Christmasy warmth. — O.W.
How to watch: Klaus is now streaming on Netflix.
20. Carol (2015)We all need a sad gay romance to weep over during the holidays, and there isn't one better than Carol. Todd Haynes' 1950s-set love story follows Cate Blanchett as the eye-catching Carol Aird, a glamorous mother recently separated from her irate, homophobic husband (Kyle Chandler), and Rooney Mara's budding young photographer, Therese Belivet. The two women begin to fall in love over a shared lunch of martinis and a trip to Carol's Connecticut home. But remember, this is the '50s, and Carol's queer relationship is soon used against her in her divorce.
Set over the holidays in New York City, Carol beautifully captures the Christmastime atmosphere of the East Coast in winter. There's a snowy trip to a tree lot, the frazzled energy of a department store amid the holiday shopping bustle, long winter coats and scarves, and the cozy relief of escaping the icy streets for a warm holiday party where eyes meet over cocktails. — O.W.
How to watch: Carol is now streaming on Prime Video, and is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV and Fandango at Home.
19. Tangerine (2015) Credit: Augustas Quirk / Magnolia / Duplass Brothers Prods / Kobal / ShutterstockIt's Christmas Eve in Hollywood and Sin-Dee (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez), a Black trans woman and sex worker, has just gotten out of jail. She meets up with her best friend Alexandra (Mya Taylor) and soon finds out that her pimp/boyfriend Chester (James Ransone) has been cheating on her — and not with just anyone, but with a white cis woman. Now it's time for revenge.
Tangerine follows the two friends over the course of the night as they walk across Hollywood searching for Chester. A simple story blossoms into a profound and emotional journey that sheds light on the real-life experiences many Black trans sex workers encounter on the daily. When Sean Baker's film first came out, it was praised for its low-budget indie style, and for being shot entirely on iPhones. But it's really the story, rich with intimate human moments and bursts of comedy, along with Rodriguez and Taylor's raw performances, that makes Tangerine such a moving film, and one about the power of chosen family. — O.W.
How to watch: Tangerine is now streaming on Tubi and Fandango at Home, and is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV and Prime Video.
18. Go (1999)Forget cozy holiday dinners and family trips to the tree lot. This Christmas, why not go to a rave? That's how the kids in the '90s cult classic Go decide to celebrate the holiday season.
It's the night of a massive Santa-themed rave in Los Angeles, and two guys are looking to score some ecstasy. Sarah Polley's supermarket clerk Ronna is faced with being evicted, so she decides to become a dealer for the night. Yet things go incredibly wrong, incredibly fast. There's undercover cops, a pissed-off Las Vegas bouncer, car chases, a guy who took way too many pills, and lots and lots of anxiety.
Watching Go is the exact opposite experience of watching a traditional Christmas movie; instead, it feels a lot like being on a bad trip at a rave. Sounds awful, I know, but I swear it's a blast! If you're itching for some adrenaline, a great '90s cast, and a taste of L.A. rave culture, look no further. — O.W.
How to watch: Go is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.
17. The Holiday (2006) Credit: Sony Pictures / Kobal / ShutterstockSometimes you're so depressed and heartbroken after a breakup that the best solution is to get the heck out of town and spontaneously travel to a stranger's home in another country. Maybe you'll find your deepest self there, or maybe you'll meet a charming, kind man for once. In Nancy Meyers' pre-AirBnB romcom The Holiday, that's just what Cameron Diaz's Amanda and Kate Winslet's Iris do. Iris swaps her cozy English cottage to spend Christmas in the Hollywood Hills, while Amanda takes a break from her movie trailer-editing job in L.A. to soak in some English countryside solitude. A sweet holiday rom-com with all the signature Nancy Meyers' touches (sappy romance, picturesque homes, cozy cream sweaters, etc.), The Holiday checks all the boxes. — O.W.
How to watch: The Holiday is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.
16. It's a Wonderful Life (1946) Credit: Rko / Kobal / ShutterstockIn this endlessly rewatchable Christmas staple, Jimmy Stewart is the most generous man in town who puts his dreams aside to help save his neighbors during a financial crisis. Stewart's George Bailey skips his honeymoon, uses his savings to help his community, and even turns down a cushy high-paying job to put others first. But when things go terribly wrong on Christmas Eve, Bailey reaches a breaking point and steps onto a bridge, preparing to jump. That's when his guardian angel, Clarence (Henry Travers), arrives to show him just how different his town and family's life would be without him.
Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life is an enduring Christmas classic because it's a reminder of just how precious life is and the impact we have on those around us, even when we can't see it ourselves. It's the type of Christmas film you put on to get into the holiday mood, then suddenly find yourself sobbing, even if you've seen it a dozen times. — O.W.
How to watch: It's A Wonderful Life is now streaming on Prime Video, and is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV and Fandango at Home.
15. Elf (2003) Credit: Alan Markfield / New Line Prods / Kobal / ShutterstockIt's simply not Christmas without Will Ferrell, or a bowl of spaghetti and candy for breakfast. In Elf, Ferrell's Buddy spent his entire life growing up in the North Pole believing he was one of Santa's helpers, despite being enormously tall compared to all the others. Once he finally learns that he's an orphan, Buddy sets out to New York City to find his real father and embark on a series of silly misadventures. James Caan plays Buddy's father, Walter Hobbs, a hardened business exec who publishes children's books. The two are a perfect if chaotic pair — a goofy child-in-a-man's-body, and a grouchy, workaholic dad. For a playful family Christmas comedy that's got romance, humor, and big Manhattan-at-Christmas energy, you can't go wrong with Elf. — O.W.
How to watch: Elf is now streaming on HBO Max, and is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.
14. Phantom Thread (2017) Credit: Moviestore / ShutterstockIf you're tapped out on sentimental Christmas movies, why not put on a seasonal period romance that's enjoyably cynical and even a bit kinky? Set in the 1950s, Paul Thomas Anderson's Phantom Thread is all about relationship power dynamics. A perfectionist London dressmaker named Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) falls for a waitress, Alma (an excellent Vicky Krieps). However, he soon discovers his new muse isn't as submissive as the usual women he casually dates and discards. After Reynolds experiences a bout of sickness, the couple's dynamic takes a fascinating turn. And while the holiday season is technically only present as a backdrop for a handful of scenes — notably some of the most emotionally charged of their romance — Phantom Thread has a wintry, even ghostly, Christmas atmosphere throughout. — O.W.
How to watch: Phantom Thread is now streaming on Netflix, and is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.
13. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) Credit: Jim Henson Productions / Kobal / ShutterstockImagine being a grumpy Scrooge when you're surrounded by a town full of silly Muppets. Michael Caine is as cantankerous as ever as Ebenezer Scrooge in The Muppet Christmas Carol. In the Jim Henson musical take on Dickens' classic, Caine humbugs around London as the townsfolk sing about his coldheartedness. Gonzo and Rizzo narrate the musical film, injecting it with humor and shenanigans throughout. Kermit plays Scrooge's benevolent employee Bob Cratchit, with Miss Piggy as Mrs. Cratchit and Robin the Frog as the adorable Tiny Tim. The whole Muppet gang appears throughout, and while the film follows the same beats of A Christmas Carol, the familiar cast of characters and added music make it an extra joyous watch. — O.W.
How to watch: The Muppet Christmas Carol is now streaming on Disney+, and is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.
12. Moonstruck (1987)Some people watch A Christmas Story every December, while others put on Moonstruck. The romantic comedy may not be about Christmas, but in almost every scene it gives off big Christmas energy. There's Cher's Loretta walking through the snowy streets of New York City in a long black trench coat and sipping wine by a fireplace. There's the Lincoln Center tree lit up behind Loretta and Nic Cage's Ronny as they attend the opera. There's the twinkling of string lights and Christmas decor along the streets and shops in the backdrop. The energy of Christmas is all around in this movie as Loretta falls in love with the ill-tempered Ronny while his brother (her fiancé) is away in Sicily. While Moonstruck is a perfect movie to watch any day of the year, it's especially fitting to snuggle up with it during the holiday season. — O.W.
How to watch: Moonstruck is now streaming on Tubi and Pluto TV, and is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home.
11. Miracle on 34th Street (1994)When you imagine a picturesque Santa Claus, jolly, endearing, and kind, no one fits the bill better than Richard Attenborough in Miracle on 34th Street. The beloved actor just looks the part, with his rosy cheeks, warm smile, and inviting demeanor. Sadly, no one in Manhattan except a 6-year-old girl named Susan actually believes he's Santa.
In the wholesome 1994 remake of the classic film from 1947, Attenborough plays a sweet old man named Kris Kringle who gets hired to play Santa at a Manhattan department store. Kris keeps insisting that he's actually the famous guy from the North Pole, but everyone in New York seems to have lost the spirit of Christmas so much that a plot is formed to institutionalize the poor guy. It's up to Susan (Mara Wilson) and a lawyer (Dylan McDermott) to defend Kris Kringle in court and prove that he's not just wearing a red and white suit for a seasonal gig. — O.W.
How to watch: Miracle on 34th Street is now streaming on Prime Video and Disney+, and is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV and Fandango at Home.
10. The Polar Express (2004)Leave it to filmmaker Robert Zemeckis to bring the wonder of a children’s book to vivid life on screen. The Polar Express expands Chris Van Allsburg’s beloved Christmas story into a film about a young boy who boards a magical train on its way to the North Pole. Tom Hanks plays and voices a handful of roles, including the train's conductor, a Scrooge puppet, and Santa Claus himself. What’s most notable about The Polar Express is the visual world it creates, converting the quiet classicism and awe of the book’s illustrations into a CG world. Back in 2004, it was the first feature-length film to be shot entirely using motion-capture, and the first big studio IMAX 3D movie to ever hit screens. While those visuals have certainly not aged well with time, The Polar Express still manages to capture the magical spirit of Christmas viewed through the eyes of a child.* — O.W.
How to watch: The Polar Express is now streaming on HBO Max, and is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home.
9. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)In this charming sequel to the smash hit Home Alone, Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) winds up in the Big Apple without his family. But fret not, this clever kid is quick to make friends with an unhoused pigeon lover and a kindly toy store owner. He makes enemies too, including Tim Curry as a dastardly hotel concierge. And of course, the Wet Bandits (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) are back and up to criminal shenanigans once more!
For my money, this sequel is even better than its predecessor. Kevin has more foes to outwit, more outlandish traps to set, and there's no beating New York in winter. It's a beautiful and moving movie that's terrific fun for the whole family. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor
How to watch: Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is now streaming on Disney+, and is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.
8. Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) Credit: Ron Batzdorff / Imagine Ent / Kobal / ShutterstockDirector Ron Howard dared to imagine how Dr. Seuss' iconic holiday humbug might look in live-action. And who better to take on the role of such an iconically comical character than rubber-faced movie star Jim Carrey? While down in Whoville, cheery citizens plan for gift-giving, celebrations, and feasts, high above them in his cave the green-furred and self-loathing Grinch plots a plan to ruin Christmas. Among the more bizarre elements of this adaptation was a schmaltzy backstory that explained the Grinch's hatred of Christmas and facial prosthetics that turned the likes of Christine Baranski, Molly Shannon, and Jeffrey Tambor into Whos. Yet over the decades, these quirks have been embraced by a generation that sees Carrey's capering as the ultimate Grinch. — K.P.
How to watch: Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas is now streaming on Peacock, and is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.
7. Love Actually (2003) Credit: Moviestore / ShutterstockPerhaps the most polarizing movie of the holiday season, Love Actually is a collection of interlocking vignettes all about — well — love. There's the story of the timid prime minister (Hugh Grant) who falls for a sassy staff member (Martine McCutcheon), the story of the widower (Liam Neeson) guiding his stepson through puppy love, the shy American (Laura Linney) with a crush on her office mate (Rodrigo Santoro), and Alan Rickman playing his most villainous holiday role as the heartbreaker of Emma Thompson. (I too have seen Die Hard. I said what I said.)
Written and directed by Richard Curtis, Love Actually is both wildly popular and widely derided for some of its quirks. But the awesome star power and unapologetically joyful love stories keep us coming back year after year. — K.P.
How to watch: Love Actually is now streaming on Netflix and Peacock, and is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.
6. The Santa Clause (1994) Credit: Disney / Kobal / ShutterstockAh yes, the classic '90s movie where Tim Allen accidentally kills Santa. In The Santa Clause, the first of what would soon become a trilogy, Allen’s Scott is a divorced marketing exec who doesn’t believe in Santa. After Scott spooks the old guy mid-present delivery, Santa tumbles off the roof to his death. Dark! When Scott puts on the magical suit to please his young son Charlie (Eric Lloyd), he becomes bound by the holy North Pole contract stipulating that he now must carry the mantle as the new Saint Nick. He isn’t exactly up for the job and ends up being a pretty grouchy Santa, not to mention a lactose-intolerant one, much to the disappointment of one little girl expecting him to drink his customary glass of milk. Despite some icky fatphobic jokes over Scott’s Santa weight gain, The Santa Clause is a delightfully strange and charming family movie with a clever story and some signature sardonic Tim Allen humor.* — O.W.
How to watch: The Santa Clause is now streaming on Disney+, and is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.
5. Die Hard (1988)Forget fresh baked cookies and decorating the tree. The one true way to tap into the Christmas spirit each year is watching Bruce Willis climb elevator shafts and run barefoot through broken glass.
It’s Dec. 24, 1988, and NYPD detective John McClane (Willis) has just arrived at the Nakatomi Corporation Christmas party to reconnect with his estranged wife (Bonnie Bedelia) — ya know, to come out to the coast and have a few laughs. Unfortunately (or rather, fortunately for our viewing pleasure) Alan Rickman’s Hans Gruber has decided to crash the party with his long-haired German henchmen to steal some bearer bonds. “It’s Christmas, Theo,” Hans tells his safecracker. “A time for miracles!” Too bad for him this Christmas miracle arrives in a bloody tank top and sporting a cranky disposition; McClane won’t let these thieves get away easily.* — O.W.
How to watch: Die Hard is now streaming on Disney+ and Prime Video, and is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV and Fandango at Home.
4. Batman Returns (1992) Credit: Zade Rosenthal / Warner Bros / DC Comics / Kobal / ShutterstockLeave it up to Tim Burton to inject a brooding darkness into the holiday season. After Edward Scissorhands but before The Nightmare Before Christmas, Burton gave us Batman Returns. And yes, it is indeed a Christmas movie.
First of all, it's a Batman film where Gotham City actually looks and feels festive and colorful for the first time. Burton's extravagant sets are filled with towering Christmas trees blanketed in string lights and ornaments; there's the tree-lighting ceremony where the Red Triangle Circus Gang jump out of a massive gift box; there's the penguin army strapped with candy cane-striped rockets; and, of course, there's the fact that mistletoe plays an important role in the plot.* — O.W.
How to watch: Batman Returns is now streaming on HBO Max, and is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV and Prime Video.
3. A Christmas Story (1983) Credit: Mgm / UA / Kobal / ShutterstockEvery kid remembers that one toy they desperately wanted more than anything else for Christmas. It dominates every moment of your young life as you plead for it and shake presents to guess at what's inside. For 9-year-old Ralphie (Peter Billingsley), that Christmas gift fixation is a BB gun. Unfortunately, everyone from his mom to the local department store's grumpy Santa rejects his wish by looking out for his safety. “You'll shoot your eye out!” they shout.
A Christmas Story is in many ways the perfect movie to watch on Christmas Day. It's warm and nostalgic, wacky and playful, and accurately captures a child's view of Christmas. Plus, it's one of a kind — no other holiday movie features a leg lamp, tongues stuck on a frozen pole, and elves shoving screaming children down a giant slide.* — O.W.
How to watch: A Christmas Story is streaming on HBO Max, and is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.
2. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)The third installment in the National Lampoon’s Vacation series opens with the only Griswold family vacation in the film: a trip to a forest where Clark (Chevy Chase) gleefully drags his family out into the snow to cut down their own Christmas tree. From there, many classic Griswold hijinks ensue as Clark goes out of his way to plan the most over-the-top Christmas of all time. That includes decking out his roof in hundreds of string lights to the point of knocking out the entire city’s power grid, the unexpected arrival of his wife’s cousin and her cigar-smoking husband (Randy Quaid), an indoor squirrel attack, a cat wrapped inside a gift box, a very pissed-off Julia Louis-Dreyfus as his snooty neighbor, a SWAT team storming the house, and so much more. It's total Christmas chaos, Griswold style.* — O.W.
How to watch: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is streaming on HBO Max, and is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.
1. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) Credit: Touchstone / Kobal / ShutterstockTim Burton and director Henry Selick’s stop-motion masterwork isn’t a Halloween or a Christmas movie: It’s a spectacular fusion of both in the best of ways. The Nightmare Before Christmas is the perfect film for those who prefer their yuletide delights to come with a side dish of spookiness — and songs. Sick of movies where kids greedily open presents? Great, please enjoy a giant black and orange snake gobbling up gifts whole, along with the entire dang Christmas tree. Family comedies where a jolly old Santa rides his magical sleigh — yawn! How about one where Santa gets kidnapped and a kid gets a shrunken head for a gift? That’s exactly what happens when Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, loses his, well, joie de mort. Wandering sadly through the woods, Jack stumbles into a series of parallel worlds, each dedicated to a different holiday. When he lands in Christmas Town, his bony little mind is blown, and he dedicates himself to learning everything he can about this warm and magical place, and its strange leader named Sandy Claws. There's mischief and romance, a mad scientist and a singing boogeyman, not to mention a voice cast that includes Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, and the late, great Paul Reubens.
Brilliant in everything from its stunning animation and clever story to its detailed world-building and endlessly catchy music, there’s nothing quite like the haunting magic and whimsy of The Nightmare Before Christmas.* — O.W.
How to watch: The Nightmare Before Christmas is streaming on Disney+, and is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.
UPDATE: Nov. 13, 2026, 1:29 p.m. EST This list was first published on Nov. 28, 2024. It has been updated to reflect current streaming options.
Early Black Friday deals from Samsung are live: Shop gaming monitors, TVs, and unlocked phones
Black Friday has come earlier than ever this year. We have great options if you're shopping for outdoor gear, kitchen upgrades, and the best toys of the year. Black Friday creeping earlier and earlier isn't such a bad thing. That simply gives us shoppers more time to find the perfect gift at the best price.
Samsung's lineup of TVs, gaming monitors, phones, and internal storage are all seeing nice discounts. Shopping these early deals means you'll be in great shape for streaming new fall shows, playing upcoming game releases, and keeping family entertained during their holiday visits.
SEE ALSO: Early Black Friday 2026 deals: See holiday gift guides from Amazon, The Home Depot, Nordstrom, Ulta, and moreWe've collected the best Samsung deals below if you're ready to get holiday shopping off your to-do list.
Best Samsung TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 65-Inch Class S85H Series OLED 4K TV $899.99 at Amazon$1,597.99 Save $698 Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it
Since winter is hibernation season, it's important to go in with plenty of entertainment options. You have your streaming services all set up and gaming options on hand, but if your TV isn't up to the task, the entertainment can suffer. Before the holidays begin, upgrade to the 65-inch Samsung Class S85H Series OLED 4K TV. The OLED display is perfect for clarity and crisp images, whether that's Christmas movies or playing the new GTA 6.
More Samsung TV dealsSamsung 65-inch Class M70H Series — $377.99 $427.99 (save $50)
Samsung 65-inch Class M80H Series — $497.99 $697.99 (save $200)
Samsung 42-inch Class S90H OLED 4K — $899.99 $1,299.99 (save $400)
Samsung 65-inchClass S84H Series OLED 4K — $999.99 $2,099.99 (save $1,100)
Samsung 65-inch Class S95H OLED 4K — $2,299.99 $3,399.99 (save $1,100)
$499.99 Save $180 Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it
Without going wild on price or size, the 27-inch Samsung Odyssey OLED G5 gaming monitor is the perfect winter upgrade. Refresh rate reaches 180Hz and response time measures 0.03ms for a smooth gaming experience. Plus, it'll be a great additional monitor for working from home during the holidays.
More Samsung gaming monitor dealsASUS ROG Strix 26.5-inch — $549 $759 (save $210)
Samsung 27-inch Odyssey OLED G6 — $409.99 $599.99 (save $190)
$1,022.99 Save $51.99 Get Deal at Walmart Why we like it
There's a whole lot to like about the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. Features include a built-in privacy display that automatically hides your screen from nearby people, Galaxy AI features that help with photo editing, and Nightography, which is designed to improve photos and videos taken in low light. There's also a wider front camera for group selfies, an upgraded processor, and support for faster charging.
More Samsung phone dealsSamsung Galaxy A57 5G 2026— $359 $599.99 (save $240.99)
Samsung Galaxy S25 FE — $547.99 $849.99 (save $302.99)
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE — $599.99 $699.99 (save $100)
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra — $809 $1,399.99 (save $590.99)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 — $1,741.99 $1,899.99 (save $158)
$639.99 Save $250 Get Deal Why we like it
This Samsung SSD is designed for gaming, video editing, and other demanding tasks. It offers read speeds of up to 7,450 MB/s and write speeds of up to 6,900 MB/s, helping reduce loading times and speed up file transfers. It's available in capacities from 1TB to 4TB, all of which are currently reduced at Amazon.
More Samsung SSD dealsSamsung SSD 990 PRO 1TB — $259.99 $319.99 (save $60)
Samsung T9 Portable SSD 2TB — $439.99 $489.99 (save $50)
Samsung SSD 990 PRO 4TB — $799 $1,099.99 (save $300)
The best early TV deals to shop if you cant hold off until Black Friday
TV prices tend to follow a seasonal cycle, where each major sale outshines the previous one. In other words, while October Prime Day brought us plenty of excellent TV deals, we expect Black Friday to deliver even better ones.
The official Black Friday sales event is only a couple of weeks away. The best of the best discounts are yet to come. Still, if your TV has taken its last breath and you can't wait until the day after Thanksgiving to grab a new one, there are plenty of TVs already on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. Our favorite OLED TV of 2026 is down to a record low, and we're seeing smaller budget picks clocking in at fantastic prices.
Our tech experts will be closely monitoring TV prices throughout Black Friday to find the best deals from top brands like TCL, Samsung, Hisense, Amazon Fire TV, LG, and beyond. Stay tuned as the shopping season heats up.
Need some guidance? Check out Mashable's guide to TV specs for a quick refresh on the difference between QLED, OLED, Mini LED, and RGB displays.
Best early Black Friday TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 65-inch C6 OLED 4K TV $1,399.99 at Amazon$2,699.99 Save $1,300.00 Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it
Our favorite OLED TV for most people just keeps getting cheaper. We saw the 65-inch LG C6 OLED TV drop to just $1,499.99 from $2,699.99 during Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days event, but now it's $100 less as we inch closer to Black Friday. Both Amazon and Best Buy have the same deal, so if one sells out, be sure to check the other.
OLED TVs are expensive, but the C6 is relatively affordable compared to competitors' prices. Thanks to this $1,300 price drop, it's an even more outstanding value. Mashable TV expert Leah Stodart raved about its inky black levels, stark contrast, and "generally impeccable image quality" in our roundup of the best TVs of 2026. It's also worth noting that it has even higher peak brightness, more vibrant colors, better audio, and a higher refresh rate than its predecessor.
Best early Black Friday budget TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy TCL 40-inch Q3CR QLED TV $149.99 at Best Buy$299.99 Save $150 Get Deal at Best Buy Why we like it
A 40-inch QLED TV for this price is an absolute steal, especially if you're looking to outfit one or more of your rooms with another display. TCL’s Q3CR Series pairs a quantum-dot panel with a direct-lit backlight, so colors come through saturated, with Full HD resolution that's plenty sharp at 40 inches. Plus, its built-in Roku streaming functionality means you can toss the streaming stick and use just the TV to watch all your favorite shows and movies, hassle-free.
More early Black Friday TV dealsUnder 50-inch TV deals
onn. 32-inch HD TV — $68 $88 (save $20)
Samsung 43-inch M70H Mini-LED 4K TV — $247.99 $349.99 (save $102)
LG 43-inch 75B Mini-LED 4K TV — $279.99 $499.99 (save $220)
LG 48-inch B6 OLED 4K TV — $599.99 $1,199.99 (save $600)
Samsung 48-inch S85H OLED 4K TV — $799.99 $1,199.99 (save $400)
50- to 55-inch TV deals
Insignia 50-inch F50 4K TV — $179.99 $299.99 (save $120)
Hisense 55-inch E6 Hi-QLED 4K TV — $296.96 $429.99 (save $133.03)
Samsung 55-inch M70H Mini-LED 4k TV — $299.99 $449.99 (save $150)
Roku 55-Inch Plus Series 4K QLED MiniLED TV — $329.99 $379.99 (save $50)
Hisense 50-inch E7 Mini-LED Hi-QLED 4K TV — $397.96 $699.99 (save $302.03)
LG 55-inch B6E OLED 4K TV — $699.99 $1,399.99 (save $700)
LG 55-inch C6 OLED 4K TV — $999.99 $1,999.99 (save $1,000)
Samsung 55-inch R85H RGB 4K TV — $999.99 $1,599.99 (save $600)
65-inch TV deals
Samsung 65-Inch M70H Mini LED 4K TV — $377.99 $427.99 (save $50)
Samsung 65-inch S85H OLED 4K TV — $899.99 $1,999.99 (save $1,100)
Samsung 65-inch R84H Micro RGB 4K TV — $899.99 $2,099.99 (save $1,200)
Toshiba 65-inch G700 ArtVision QLED 4K TV — $997.96 $1,999.99 (save $1,002.03)
LG C6 Series OLED 4K TV — $1,399.99 $2,699.99 (save $1,300)
Samsung 65-inch The Frame Pro LS03HW QLED 4K TV — $1,497.99 $1,999.99 (save $502)
Samsung 65-inch R95H RGB 4K TV — $2,499.99 $3,199.99 (save $700)
70 to 75-inch TV deals
Samsung 75-inch M70H Mini-LED 4K TV — $497.99 $729.99 (save $232)
Toshiba 75-inch Z670 Mini-LED 4K TV — $798.99 $1,299.99 (save $501)
TCL 75-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV — $1,397.99 $2,999.99 (save $1,602)
80- to 85-inch TV deals
LG 85-inch NU700B 4K TV — $699.99 $849.99 (save $150)
Hisense 85-inch U6 Pro Series Mini‑LED ULED 4K TV — $997.99 $1,999.99 (save $1,002)
Hisense 85-inch Hi-QLED 4K S7 CanvasTV — $1,797.96 $3,999.99 (save $2,202.03)
TCL 85-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV — $2,297.99 $3,999.99 (save $1,702)
Over 85-inch TV deals
Hisense 100-inch U7 Mini-LED QLED 4K TV — $2,499.99 $4,499.99 (save $2,000)
Sams Club Black Friday 2026: See the ad, doorbusters, and early savings
The holiday shopping rush has kicked off ahead of schedule now that the Sam’s Club Black Friday 2026 ads are online. The warehouse club is rolling out its discounts across three distinct waves throughout November: following its Nov. 6-8 Weekend Doorbusters, the pre-Black Friday ad runs Nov. 15–25, and the main Black Friday sale launches online on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26) and runs through Nov. 29.
But you don't have to wait until Black Friday to get rolling, because Sam’s Club already has member markdowns live. Right now, you can grab a portable Ninja Crispi air fryer bundle for $119.98 ($40 off), a Dyson V8 cordless vacuum for $249 ($150 off), or a 16-inch HP OmniBook 3 laptop slashed by $300 down to $599.
SEE ALSO: Early Black Friday 2026 deals: See holiday gift guides from Amazon, The Home Depot, Nordstrom, Ulta, and moreTo get in on what's live, you will need an active Sam's Club membership, which costs $50 per year for standard Club access or $110 for Plus (which gives you early online access to doorbusters). Physical warehouse clubs stay closed on Thanksgiving Day, but the discounts launch online that morning before doors open at 8 a.m. for members on Black Friday.
Best kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Crispi 5-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer Cooking System $119.98 at Sam's Club$159.98 Save $40.00 Get Deal at Sam's Club Why we like it
The Ninja Crispi 5-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer Cooking System replaces bulky countertop appliances with a 1,500-watt heating pod that snaps straight onto glass containers, letting you cook, serve, and store leftovers in the same dish. A four-button control panel handles Air Fry, Max Crisp, Bake, Recrisp, and Keep Warm modes, while heat-safe feet let you set it directly on granite, quartz, or butcher block counters without scorching the surface.
More kitchen dealsBella Stir XL 6.0-Quart Stand Mixer with Spatula — $99 $129 (save $30)
KitchenAid 7-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer with Stainless Steel Bowl — $329 $429 (save $100)
Ninja Luxe Café Premier 3-in-1 Espresso, Drip Coffee, and Cold Brew Maker — $449 $549 (save $100)
$399 Save $150 Get Deal at Sam's Club Why we like it
The Dyson V8 Cyclone Cordless Vacuum gives you up to 60 minutes of fade-free suction per charge and replaces a finger-straining trigger with a simple power button for continuous cleaning. Its Motorbar cleaner head automatically clears wrapped pet and long hair as you go, while whole-machine filtration traps 99.99 percent of fine dust down to 0.3 microns. With one click, it converts into a lightweight handheld vacuum for stairs or car seats and includes three attachments — including an anti-tangle hair screw tool — plus a removable battery.
More home dealsMember's Mark 11-Piece Modern Ceramic Cookware Set — $179.98 $199 (save $19.02)
Cuisinart 14-in-1 Space-Saving Digital Air Fryer Oven with 2-in-1 9"x13" Pan — $119 $139.77 (save $20.77)
$347.99 Save $50 Get Deal at Sam's Club Why we like it
The Samsung Mini LED 4K smart TV is a standout pick for anyone wanting high-end picture clarity without paying premium OLED prices. It pairs Mini LED precision with a billion shades of color to punch out bright highlights and deep, inky blacks, while Motion Xcelerator keeps fast-paced sports and gaming silky smooth. You also get hundreds of free streaming channels out of the box with Samsung TV Plus, plus a three-year manufacturer's warranty for extra peace of mind.
More TV dealsSamsung 65-inch Class QN70H Series Neo Mini LED 4K TV — $797.99 $1,097.99 (save $300)
TCL 98-inch Class Q6 Series QLED Smart TV — $1,297.99 $1,598 (save $300.01)
$899 Save $300 Get Deal at Sam's Club Why we like it
The HP OmniBook 3 offers a roomy 16-inch touchscreen with a taller 16:10 aspect ratio, so you can see more of your documents and web pages without constant scrolling. It runs on an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor with 8GB of memory and a 512GB solid-state drive, giving you plenty of speed and all-day battery life for everyday work, streaming, and video calls. It also includes a full number pad for spreadsheets, a physical camera shutter and mic mute key for quick privacy, and a two-year HP Care Pack with accidental damage protection.
More laptop dealsHP 15.6-inch FHD Touch Laptop (8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $499 $549 (save $50)
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15.6-inch FHD Touch Laptop — $549 $749 (save $200)
HP OmniBook 3 17.3-inch FHD AI PC — $649 $999 (save $350)
$945 Save $330 Get Deal at Sam's Club Why we like it
The LG 4.1 cu. ft. Top Load Washer with Agitator tackles laundry day without a fuss, offering a spacious drum built for bulky bedding and oversized family loads. Its smart four-way wash action and 6Motion technology work together to shift clothes up, down, and side to side, blasting away stubborn dirt while keeping fabrics from getting beat up. Because the direct-drive motor spins independently of the tub mechanism, you get a thorough, powerful cycle that stays remarkably quiet, making it an easy pick for reliable everyday cleaning.
More home appliance dealsSamsung 4.4 cu. ft. Top Load Washer with ActiveWave Agitator — $525 $760 (save $235)
Samsung 7.4 cu. ft. Electric Dryer with Sensor Dry — $595 $895 (save $300)
How to watch Australia vs. New Zealand in the Rugby League World Cup final online for free
TL;DR: Watch Australia vs. New Zealand in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup final for free on 7plus. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The Rugby League World Cup final is here, and it's the biggest possible matchup.
Australia are set to take on rivals New Zealand at a packed Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. These sides met in the opening game of the tournament, and it was absolutely electric. We're expecting more of the same when these talented squads battle it out for the trophy. It really doesn't get any bigger than this.
If you want to watch the 2026 Rugby League World Cup final for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Australia vs. New Zealand?Australia vs. New Zealand in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup final starts at 3:35 a.m. ET on Nov. 15. This fixture takes place at the Suncorp Stadium.
How to watch Australia vs. New Zealand for freeAustralia vs. New Zealand in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup final is available to live stream for free on 7plus.
7plus is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Rugby League World Cup from anywhere in the world.
Access free live streams of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia
Visit 7plus
Watch the 2026 Rugby League World Cup final for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the final before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for 7plus?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on 7plus, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries, including Australia
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream Australia vs. New Zealand in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup final for free with ExpressVPN.
ChatGPT wedding vows: Efficient or grotesque?
I got married recently, and — being a professional writer for years now — one of the tasks I looked forward to the most was writing my vows. My wife is also a writer, and I was even more excited to hear hers.
I wrote my vows on my own, and it never occurred to me to do them any other way. "Handwritten," in 2026, takes on a new connotation: without AI, instead of written by hand. And I did "handwrite" my vows in both senses, first in my Notes app and then in a booklet my wife gifted me for the ceremony.
SEE ALSO: The 'blue wave' has caused ripples of hetero-optimismBut some people don't feel the same. Like flirting with a potential partner, fighting once they're together, and wedding planning with AI, some betrothed people turn to LLMs to assist in writing their vows. Across social media, people talk about using AI platforms to write important messages. Seemingly, there are just as many people expressing disdain for the practice.
Chat, generate vows. Make no mistakes.Bridal expert and founder of The Weddit, Catherine Geewax, has started noticing LLM-use in wedding speeches, while friends have heard it in vows. (The Weddit is a marketplace for everything but "the" dress — aka outfits for bridal showers, bachelorettes, rehearsal dinners, and the like.)
"Most wedding speeches, you can kind of tell, especially if you know the person, you know how that person speaks, you know their vernacular," she told Mashable. But since ChatGPT entered the mainstream, she's noticed that the structure of many wedding speeches sounds the same and feels less personal. And personality is her favorite part of wedding speeches.
Geewax's heard fewer "little tidbits and stories of some funny thing they always do on a Saturday afternoon," she said. "It started to just seem like it could apply to any couple or any best man or maid of honor." She theorized that ChatGPT — or whatever LLM people might be using — is pulling from the same sources and spitting out similar speeches. (At the behest of my editor, I asked ChatGPT to "give me sources for good wedding vows." It cited articles with tips for writing vows, as well as lists including actual vows, from sites like The Knot and Vogue. I then asked what writers to take inspiration from; the top three were Pablo Neruda, Mary Oliver, and Rainer Maria Rilke.)
Like flirting with a potential partner, fighting once they're together, and wedding planning with AI, some betrothed people turn to LLMs to assist in writing their vows.Even when she was writing her first speech since the dawn of LLMs, Geewax remembers thinking to herself, "Do not use AI. No matter how stuck you feel, no matter how stressed, lazy, like, because of the timeline, do not do it." She did use ChatGPT to help keep her succinct, though. She had a strict three minutes and instructed the platform to keep it short without changing her voice or removing stories.
But this could be a reason to use AI, Los Angeles-based sex and couples therapist Ilana Grines told Mashable.
"Using AI to help you organize your thoughts? Awesome. Using AI to help shape the words in ways that genuinely help you feel like it represents the relationship? Cool," she said. As long as you're injecting the emotional texture of your relationship — the romantic, memorable things that you want to say to your partner.
AI lowers the pressure for people and gives them a starting point, Grines continued. "But don't outsource it for the feelings, right?"
Featured Video For You My awkward first date with an AI companion So why do AI vows seem so…icky?My visceral reaction to using an LLM to generate vows is to recoil. I'm not the only one. A quick search on Reddit found that a man's wife allegedly walked out after discovering he did just that. Another post asked how users feel about people using AI to write their vows was met with comments like, "That they don't really care enough about the person to actually write how they feel."
Grines takes a neutral stance on this issue, but said, "Talking about your feelings, that's something that's genuinely ours, and that's not something LLMs can recreate.
"LLMs do such a great job at weaving together words, but they can't illustrate the feelings that have catapulted the couple towards getting married."
We as a society have a difficult time expressing emotions — and it seems that we're moving further away from being able to access them, Grines continued, "because the reliance and outsourcing is unbelievably easy, and it's such a frictionless experience."
This apparent seamlessness may feel good in the moment, but some experts believe that more friction leads to more happiness and fulfillment. And when we use AI to solve our problems, it might lead to cognitive atrophy.
Vow-writing is supposed to be difficult, not something to hand over to a bot.But if you're upset with your partner for AI-generating their love letter to you, it's probably not because you're worried about their brain dulling. Grines also asked about what meaning we'd make out of our partner using an LLM for this purpose. It might signal a lack of reflection or investment.
Vow-writing is supposed to be difficult, not something to hand over to a bot. But delegating such a challenging task isn't exactly new. Grines pointed out that, pre-AI, people still outsourced their vows, just in different ways: paid other people to write their vows, lifted them from movies, etc. So while the method is novel, the desire to eliminate friction isn't.
Ultimately, a speech or vow isn't about impressing anybody with "good" writing. It's about expressing love. And, sure, you can use AI to trim, or to find redundancies, but — like someone you're paying to jot down some sappy words — it can't replicate how you feel.
Tips for "handwriting" speeches and vowsEveryone has their own process for writing speeches, especially when they're this personal. For Geewax, when she's a part of a friend's wedding, she stores memories like any letter, note, card, or photo that friends have given her, and she usually starts by going through those. One friend she spoke to looked through old Facebook messages and album posts for inspiration.
"Start writing down the top memories, big and small, and go down memory lane," she advised. Based on what she's collecting, she'll figure out the tone of the speech; she won't force a certain tone if it doesn't fit the relationship.
And, in the case of a speech, when bringing in the spouse, you may not know them as well, but you can think about how you met them and memories your loved one told you about them.
Then, she writes about the qualities of her friend getting married. Not just "nice" or "intelligent," but specific ones. And she starts writing with a memory and lets it flow from there. She ties her words about the couple together with a memory of the three of them, and then closes the speech. While this is for a bridesmaid speech, you can make your own twist when writing vows.
If you have a hard time writing, that is not a reflection of how deeply you love someone, Grines said. But if you're expressing yourself to your new spouse — whether in private or in front of your wedding guests — that emotional substance should come from you, not ChatGPT.
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Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.
What is a light-day? Here are some other ways to go the distance.
NASA's Voyager 1 will push so far from home next week that light, the fastest thing in the universe, will need a full day to reach it.
That span stretches about 16.1 billion miles in space. Set out on foot at a brisk 3 mph, and you'd need roughly 612,000 years to walk it. If you were to try to finish that course today, for example, you'd have had to start during the Middle Pleistocene, a stretch of the Ice Age more than half a million years ago.
But numbers that big tend to whizz right past the brain. So let's try to wrestle this one down.
Since launching in 1977, Voyager 1 has buzzed past Jupiter and Saturn, snapped the famous "Pale Blue Dot" portrait of Earth and, in 2012, slipped into interstellar space, the empty stretch between the stars. At 5:16 a.m. ET Wednesday, Nov. 18, the robotic probe will add another record by reaching one light-day from Earth, or 16,094,799,096 miles. No human-made object has ever gone that far. Light makes the trip in 24 hours. Voyager 1, cruising at nearly 38,000 mph, took more than 49 years.
SEE ALSO: China's moon plan mirrors NASA's, except for one big differenceFirst, a quick speed check: Light zips through space at about 186,000 miles every second. All electromagnetic radiation moves at that speed. That's the family of energy waves that includes visible light, radio waves, microwaves, X-rays, gamma rays, and infrared.
At that pace, sunlight takes about 8 minutes and 20 seconds to cover the 93 million miles to Earth, so that means the sun sits about 8.3 light-minutes away.
Hit the road (for a very long time)Think a plane would help? A jet cruising at 550 mph would need about 3,340 years and a bottomless tank of fuel to fly one light-day. A flight landing today would have taken off around 1315 B.C., when King Tutankhamun ruled ancient Egypt.
Driving would obviously stretch the trip. If you had infinite highway laying in front of you, and you set your cruise control at 65 mph, your ride would last about 28,250 years — and that's not accounting for pit stops and fillups. You'd have started your engine during the last ice age.
A sniper's bullet wouldn't make the journey short. If one left the muzzle at about 2,237 mph, it would need 821 years to cross one light-day. A bullet arriving today would have been shot around 1205, near the founding of the Mongol Empire.
Going the cosmic distanceStart close to home. Earth's equator runs 24,901 miles around the globe, so a single light-day could circle the planet about 646,340 times to match the distance.
Now aim farther out. Pluto orbits an average of about 3.67 billion miles from the sun, so sunlight needs roughly 5.5 hours to reach it. A light-day keeps going more than four times farther than everyone's favorite dwarf planet.
NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft, is headed toward the star AC +79 3888, aka Gliese 445. Credit: Caltech / PalomarThen try holding a conversation across that gap. Radio signals travel at the speed of light, so a long distance means a long wait. Picture a transmitter parked one light-day from Earth. Send it a message at 9 a.m. Monday, and it won't arrive until 9 a.m. Tuesday. Its reply lands back on Earth at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Every back-and-forth takes two full days. Starting Nov. 18, Voyager 1's team will deal with that same lag — although the spacecraft never stays still. Send a message, and while it's traveling, the target will continue bolting farther away.
Still just a baby stepFor all that, a light-day barely registers in the space between stars. Astronomers use the light-year, how far light travels in a year, to measure those gaps. One light-year is about 5.88 trillion miles.
Proxima Centauri, the closest star beyond the sun, sits about 4.24 light-years away, or about 24.95 trillion miles. That's roughly 1,550 light-days, meaning one light-day covers less than 0.07% of the trip. Andromeda, the closest big galaxy to our Milky Way, lies about 2.5 million light-years out.
Where Voyager goes nextVoyager 1 is heading toward a dim star called Gliese 445, also known as AC +79 3888. It sits more than 17 light-years away in the constellation Ursa Minor, which includes the Little Dipper. Even at nearly 38,000 mph, Voyager 1 will need about 40,000 years to pass within about 1.7 light-years of it.
Its twin, Voyager 2, launched the same year but took a different route to visit Uranus and Neptune. Mission leaders say it'll reach its own light-day milestone in November 2035.
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Get Microsoft Office for life on one PC for just $25
TL;DR: Get a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Professional 2021 on one Windows PC for $24.97 (reg. $219.99) with code DEAL20.
Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $24.97$219.99 Save $195.02 Get Deal
Another software subscription might be the last thing you want on your monthly bill. If you’d rather pay once for the desktop apps you already know, Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows is on sale for $34.99, but you can get it for $24.97 when you use coupon code DEAL20 at checkout. That’s $195 off the regular $219.99 price.
The suite includes Word for documents, Excel for spreadsheets, PowerPoint for presentations, Outlook for email, OneNote for notes, and Access for database work. Instead of working in a browser, you install the apps directly on a Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC. Once installed and activated, you can use them offline, so an internet connection isn’t required every time you need to open a document or update a spreadsheet. That can be useful when you’re traveling, working somewhere without reliable Wi-Fi, or simply prefer keeping your files and applications on your own computer.
This is a one-time purchase, not Microsoft 365, so there’s no monthly or annual fee. The license is tied to your device rather than a Microsoft account, and it doesn’t include OneDrive cloud storage or Copilot. Office 2021 also reached Microsoft’s end of support on October 13, 2026, meaning it no longer receives security updates, bug fixes, or new features.
This deal is a great fit for those who want familiar desktop software for personal projects, schoolwork, or everyday tasks on a single Windows computer.
Get Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for $24.97 with code DEAL20 at checkout. The offer ends November 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT, and you’ll need to redeem your license code within seven days of purchase.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
The Bodys miraculous ending, explained
Did somebody order a miracle?
Well, in the Season 1 finale of Netflix's The Body, that's exactly what you get. That's because, after seven episodes spent in a deep coma following the Halloween party from hell, St. Mark's Catholic High School student Grace (Sofia Wylie) finally wakes up. When she does, she has one bombshell to drop: "I'm God."
SEE ALSO: 'The Body' review: Netflix's lovechild of 'Yellowjackets' and 'The Crucible' is sinfully funThose two words fan the flames of the religious fervor that's been building around Grace and her supposed miracles, and the season ends with a horde of people laying hands on her while she smiles up at her ceiling. But what is the truth behind Grace's miraculous recovery, and what will happen now that she's awake? Let's dive in.
Are Grace's miracles in The Body real? Nnamdi Asomugha and Sofia Wylie in "The Body." Credit: NetflixThroughout The Body, the series has constantly asked viewers whether they're skeptics or true believers. Did Grace fall into a coma because of a bad reaction to ecstasy, or did the St. Mark's Lions dance team truly sacrifice her soul to the Devil to secure a win at Regionals? Has Grace been performing saintly miracles, or have all the strange goings-on in her community merely been coincidences (or something darker)?
The Body has threaded the needle skillfully enough that you could make arguments for both sides. Yes, Grace's blood tests came back clean, suggesting some unknown, perhaps even supernatural, reason for her coma. Yet in the finale, we find out that the doctors never tested her for ecstasy, as it's not part of the standard blood panel, meaning those clean blood tests are missing a huge part of the story.
SEE ALSO: The best comedies streaming on Netflix right nowAnd yes, Maddie's (Shirley Chen) and Catherine's (Louisa Krause) recoveries both seem like miracles. But could Maddie's ankle not have been completely healed after all, as she claimed? One of the Lions recalls seeing her limp before the Star Quality competition, although that in itself could have been a false memory. Elsewhere, Catherine's improved condition could have come as a result of a lack of methamphetamine use after her stay in the hospital and her daughter Lisbeth (Geena Meszaros) getting rid of her stashes at home. Coach Shauna's (Gabby Windey) baby's premature birth and total convalescence is similarly miraculous, with even doctors saying the child should have died. But did Grace really come to Shauna in labor to save her baby, or was the baby's survival a happy accident or a miracle of science?
Everything involving the visions is hearsay as well, aside from the frightening warnings Anya (Kristina Bogic) receives. Are people in and around St. Mark's truly experiencing these visitations, or are they, like Elise (Sara Boustany) and some other members of the Lions, making them up? More importantly, if the visitations are real, are they actually holy in nature? Or are they hellish byproducts of the Lions' playful sacrifice of Grace to the Devil?
Why does Grace wake up at the end of The Body? Sofia Wylie in "The Body." Credit: NetflixHowever you view these prior happenings will impact how you view Grace's waking. Maybe she's just loopy after a prolonged coma, and "I'm God" is her muddled brain repeating what she's heard from people around her. Maybe she truly is a manifestation of God, as much of St. Mark's Church believes, and all the miracles are totally real. Or maybe she's possessed by the Devil, as Catherine is convinced, and she's chosen now as a moment to wake up and begin bringing about the end of days.
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The clearest clue to supernatural involvement in Grace's waking comes down to the specific timing of it. It happens right after Anya arrives at Grace's house and confesses her wrongdoings to Father Franklin (Nnamdi Asomugha), telling him, "I'm so sorry that I traded my soul, and I just want it back."
SEE ALSO: 'Below's foreboding ending, explainedAs Anya utters those words, Grace's eyes flutter open in her bedroom. That sequence of events could be a coincidence, as could so many of The Body's plot points. But it could also point to an otherworldly trade. In finally confessing and asking for her soul back, Anya may have released whatever supernatural hold is currently on Grace and been saved from her own guilt. Of course, that comes with its own set of complications: What may be asked of her in return for being "saved"? And who's asking? Is God truly inhabiting Grace, as she claims, or has the Devil been lurking within her this whole time, even managing to survive Father Franklin's exorcism?
What's the deal with the moth at the end of The Body? Sofia Wylie in "The Body." Credit: NetflixAnother element of Grace's miraculous waking is the presence of a moth, which flies down from her ceiling light to rest on her forehead moments before Grace opens her eyes. A small pink moth drawing features in the corners of the finale's opening title cards, so it's clearly of some significance. But what?
Like butterflies, moths are often symbols of transformation. Transformation does track with Grace in the finale, as she transforms back to her conscious state. She may also have transformed into a saint or a Satanic agent — could the moth clue us into which?
On the one hand, moths are nocturnal creatures, suggesting darkness, and therefore a transformation of a more devilish bent. But at the same time, moths are attracted to light. Could the moth have left the literal light on Grace's ceiling and flown towards the metaphorical light emanating from her now-saintly being?
As with most things in The Body, the answer is ambiguous and up for interpretation. The show is designed to keep you guessing and questioning the evidence before you. Is Grace's smile at the end innocent, or devious? Will you be taken in by her, or will you be wary of false prophets?
What will happen next in The Body? Kristina Bogic and Sara Boustany in "The Body." Credit: NetflixIf The Body gets a second season, there are so many paths to explore. Obviously, there's the impact of Grace's return, and the examination of whether she's possessed by the Devil or anointed by God. There's also the fallout from Anya's confession, which impacts her relationships with Elise and Steven (Orlando Norman). And of course, there's the Lions' path to Nationals, which I'm sure will go just as smoothly as their path to Regionals.
But perhaps most fascinating of all is what will happen after Lisbeth tells the Lions that she personally resurrected Grace. Will her attempt to raise her status with the team set up a battle of miracles between her and Grace? Or will she be cast aside now that Grace has returned? There's a lot of potential for more high drama going forward, drama that's juicier than even the Lions' most stylish Juicy Couture.
Will there be The Body Season 2?As of now, Netflix has yet to renew The Body for a second season.
How to watch the 2026 Rugby League World Cup online for free
TL;DR: The 2026 Rugby League World Cup is available to live stream for free on 7plus. Access these free livestreams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The 2026 Rugby League World Cup has been absolutely electric from start to finish, and if you are looking to catch every big hit, try, and high-stakes moment from the final without spending big on a subscription, you're in luck.
Fans in Australia can watch every match live and free via Channel 7 and 7plus. Fans in other countries don't have it so easy, but there are some simple steps you can take to secure access to all the action without spending a dime.
If you want to watch the 2026 Rugby League World Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
What is the Rugby League World Cup?The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by senior men's national teams. The latest edition of the Rugby League World Cup will be jointly hosted by Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea.
The defending champions are Australia.
When is the 2026 Rugby League World Cup?The 2026 Rugby League World Cup is the 17th edition of the competition. This year's tournament starts on Oct. 15 and runs until the final on Nov. 15.
How to watch the 2026 Rugby League World Cup for freeThe 2026 Rugby League World Cup is available to live stream for free on 7plus.
7plus is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Rugby League World Cup from anywhere in the world.
Access free live streams of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia
Visit 7plus
Watch the 2026 Rugby League World Cup for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the tournament before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for 7plus?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on 7plus, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries, including Australia
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream the 2026 Rugby League World Cup for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
This cordless Waterpik is now 40% off on Amazon — an exact match of its 2025 Black Friday deal
SAVE $20: Amazon has the Waterpik Cordless Pulse 3100 on sale for just $29.99. That's 40% off its $49.99 MSRP and a record-low price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Waterpik Waterpik Cordless Pulse 3100 Water Flosser $29.99 at Amazon$49.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal at Amazon
Don't let your upcoming Thanksgiving feast overstay its welcome. According to experts who spoke with our sister site, CNET, a water flosser is a smart buy for folks with braces, crowns, and generally sensitive gums who want to stay on top of their dental health.
After extensive testing, CNET named the Waterpik Cordless Pulse 3100 the quietest water flosser available. And right now, it's cheaper than ever.
The Cordless Pulse 3100 is marked down to just $29.99 on Amazon ahead of its Black Friday Week sale, which is 40% off its usual sticker price of $49.99. This is an exact match of its all-time low price from Black Friday 2025, which hasn't reappeared until now.
Credit: WaterpikThe Cordless Pulse 3100 is a relatively basic water flosser with two pressure settings and two tips (a regular flosser and a tongue cleaner). But it holds a charge for quite a while — up to nine weeks! — and runs more quietly than the competition, CNET said, making it a great option for travel. Plus, you can clean its water reservoir on the top rack of a dishwasher.
Amazon has its Cordless Pulse 3100 deal marked with a "selling fast" badge, so don't wait too long to add this one to your cart.
The best early Black Friday trading card deals: Save on Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, and Yu-Gi-Oh!
Black Friday may not officially arrive until Nov. 27, but lots of early trading card deals have gone live on Amazon — from the Pokemon TCG’s hit 30th Celebration ETB for under market price to preorders on MTG’s Star Trek Booster Display Box hitting record lows. Fans of other trading card games can also find bargains, with worthwhile discounts on beginner-friendly sets for One Piece and Disney Lorcana.
These are the best early Black Friday trading card offers we've found so far. Be sure to bookmark this buyer’s guide, as we'll be continuously checking for better bargains as the sale approaches.
Best Pokémon TCG deal: 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box $59.99 at AmazonShop Now at Amazon
Amazon's $59.99 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is still the best way to grab anniversary Pokémon Trading Card Game packs without paying higher reseller prices, and is still available to grab ahead of Black Friday.
You get nine boosters, a full-art Nidorina promo, 16 foil Energy cards, sleeves, and other accessories. At this new $59.99 price, the ETB is now at a massive $49.01 under its estimated $109 market price on TCGplayer.
Each pack even features one of 30 rare Pikachu variants. As an invitation-only listing, the downside is that you’ll need to hit "Request invite" on Amazon and hope you're selected when new stock arrives — but it's still the biggest steal going on in the trading card space right now.
Best MTG deal: Star Trek Play Booster Box Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Star Trek Play Booster Box $124.94 at AmazonShop Now at Amazon
Magic's Star Trek crossover has arrived in time for Black Friday, and its 30-pack Play Booster Box is selling for $124.88 on Amazon, down from the typical $134.62 — about $4.16 per pack. That’s not only over $5 cheaper than the previous $129.95 preorder deal we covered just a week ago, but is also a record low for Amazon.
Each booster contains 14 cards, including a traditional foil and one to four rare-or-higher cards, with alternate-art variants possible. The featured seller is third-party BetterShopping4You, so check the delivery estimate before ordering.
Best Yu-Gi-Oh! deal: Magnificent Monsters Box Set Opens in a new window Credit: Konami Yu-Gi-Oh! Magnificent Monsters Box Set $34.99 at AmazonShop Now at Amazon
Konami's Magnificent Monsters has hit a 90-day low on Amazon, now $32.88 instead of $34.99. That’s actually the lowest price this newly released box has ever been. If you’re a fan of the original anime series, this is a must-buy for grabbing revamped versions of classic cards, like Dark Magician and Elemental Hero Flamewingman.
You get three five-card packs of Ultra Rares and three additional Secret Rares, each with a chance to upgrade to Starlight Rare. There are 18 reimagined anime cards to collect altogether.
Best One Piece Card Game deal: Learn Together Deck Set Opens in a new window Credit: Bandai One Piece: Learn Together Deck Set (LT-01) $57.99 at AmazonShop Now at Amazon
If you've been curious about getting into the One Piece Card Game, this early Black Friday bargain is the best way to jump in, with Bandai's Learn Together Deck Set now down to just $57.99, down from $81.69 — a brilliant 29% discount.
Built around Luffy, Zoro, and Nami, it includes three ready-to-play decks of 51 cards and 10 DON!! cards apiece. You'll also receive guides, storage cases, three five-card extra packs, and a two-player playsheet.
Best KPop Demon Hunters Collectible Trading Cards deal: Energy Edition Opens in a new window Credit: Kayou KPop Demon Hunters card-Energy Edition-001-NA-Series 1-A $41.39 at AmazonGet Deal at Amazon
It's an excellent time to get into the KPop Demon Hunters Collectible Trading Cards series, with Kayou's Energy Edition reduced from $45.99 to $41.39 on Amazon in a limited-time 10% off deal. This works out to roughly $3.45 per pack, with eight cards in each.
Unlike the Classic Edition, Energy Edition features 11 rarity levels, with 130 different card types to collect. These include the more sought-after SE cards, inspired by the song Golden, featuring laser-etched finishes and individual numbering from 1 to 366. There are also exclusive BP cards numbered up to 999, featuring HUNTR/X in their black stage outfits.
Best Disney Lorcana TCG deal: Illumineer's Quest — The Great Hunny Rescue Opens in a new window Credit: Ravensburger Disney Lorcana TCG Illumineer's Quest — The Great Hunny Rescue $52.80 at AmazonShop Now at Amazon
For the early Black Friday season, Disney Lorcana's Illumineer's Quest: The Great Hunny Rescue has slipped to a 30-day low of $52.80. Instead of opening packs, you'll be battling a self-playing Vine deck to rescue Piglet. The box has two prebuilt 60-card decks, a 50-card scenario deck, encounter cards, tokens, and a board. Play solo or with up to three friends, provided two bring their own decks. It's sold by Kings Games, shipped by Amazon, and marked as a final sale.
More early Black Friday trading card dealsPokémon TCG
Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Booster Bundle — $49.89 $58 (save $8.11)
Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Elite Trainer Box — $92.88 $99.99 (save $7.11)
Pokémon TCG Scarlet & Violet Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box— $139.88 $179.39 (save $39.51)
Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box — $141.97 $179.95 (save $37.98)
Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit Gift Bundle — $94.95 $109.86 (save $14.91)
Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit Play Booster Box — $146.12 $189.99 (save $43.87)
Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box — $127.13 $209.70 ($82.57)
Yu-Gi-Oh
Yu-Gi-Oh! Magnificent Maestros Box Set — $28.95 $32 (save $3.05)
Yu-Gi-Oh! Beyond the Brave Booster Box - 24 Packs — $59.94 $68.23 (save $8.29)
Yu-Gi-Oh! Magnificent Maestros Box Set Display (10 Boxes) — $264.96 $319.95 (save $54.99)
One Piece Card Game
One Piece Card Game Starter Deck ST-35 Red Black Sabo — $21.83 $24.45 (save $2.62)
One Piece Card Game Booster Pack The World's Strongest Warrior [OP-17] (Box) 24 Packs (Japanese) — $150 $164 (save $14)
OP17 The World's Strongest Warriors Booster Box English (24 packs) + Custom TCG Fabrik Don Card — $436.95 $459.95 (save $23)
KPop Demon Hunters Collectible Trading Cards
KPop Demon Hunters Collectible Trading Cards, Energy Edition, Series 1 — $20.62 $22.49 (save $1.87)
KPop Demon Hunters-Collectible Trading Cards-Classic Edition-001-NA — $29.99 $35 (save $5.01)
KPop Demon Hunters, Collectible Trading Cards, Energy Edition, Series 1, 12 Packs, 8 Cards/Pack — $42.44 $49.79 (save $7.35)
Disney Lorcana TCG
Disney Lorcana TCG: Azurite Sea - Emerald & Sapphire Single-Player Deck — $11.88 $16.99 (save $5.11)
Disney Lorcana TCG: Scrooge McDuck Gift Box — $28 $29.99 (save $1.99)
Disney Lorcana TCG: The First Chapter - Amber & Amethyst Single-Player Starter Deck — $29.99 $35.88 (save $5.89)
Send one prompt to 6 AI models and compare their answers with AskAnyModel for $31.99
TL;DR: Get a lifetime subscription to AskAnyModel AI Pro for $31.99 (reg. $499) with code DEAL20 through November 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Opens in a new window Credit: AskAnyModel AskAnyModel AI Pro Plan: Lifetime Subscription $31.99$499 Save $467.01 Get Deal
Why settle for one AI answer when you can compare six? AskAnyModel AI Pro lets you send a single prompt to up to six models simultaneously, then view their responses side by side. Instead of opening separate tabs and switching between subscriptions, you can see where different models agree, where they disagree, and which response best fits what you’re trying to accomplish. You can get it for an additional 20% off when you use the coupon code DEAL20 at checkout, making the final price $31.99 (reg. $499).
This platform brings over 50 AI models together in one place, including GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Llama, and Mistral. You can switch models in the middle of a conversation, with responses streaming in real time. That flexibility makes it easier to pick the right tool for the task rather than defaulting to whichever chatbot you happen to have open.
There’s also a distinction between the plan’s standard and premium access. You get unlimited chats with 30 standard models, along with unlimited AI image generation across multiple models. For the 19 flagship models, the plan provides 500 premium credits each month, which refresh regularly rather than running as a one-time allotment.
For developers, researchers, marketers, and other people who rely on AI throughout the workday, having multiple models available in one place can make comparing ideas and checking responses a more practical part of the process. It’s also an alternative to maintaining several separate AI subscriptions, each with its own monthly bill.
AskAnyModel runs in a modern browser, so there’s no software to download. And instead of another recurring payment, this is a lifetime subscription for a one-time purchase. The regular $499 price is currently down to $39.99, or $31.99 with code DEAL20 at checkout.
If comparing AI responses sounds useful to your workflow, get AskAnyModel AI Pro for $31.99 before the promotion ends November 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
AdultFriendFinder vs. Snapchat: Which is better for sexting?
In the year 2026, flirting by text is at the forefront of getting your game on. As online dating apps have taken over the concept of romance, online exchanges are crucial, whether you're texting or sending photos. The chat-up line — once an IRL phenomenon — has gone online. Now it's known as sexting.
It's hard to get exact data on how many people do the digital flirting thing, but check out this DirtySnapchat subreddit: It boasts over one million members and nearly 130,000 weekly visitors. Those are serious numbers, people — an indication of just how important it's become to finding a potential partner or hookup.
As sexting has become more widespread, the tech world has responded and changed the game. You can sext via adult-based websites, flirty dating apps, and in-between platforms that encourage suggestive text messages and steamy photos. Some of these platforms also give you the option to take things to the next level: live video chat.
To help you get started with the whole sexting thing, we've compared and contrasted two of the most popular sexting platforms: AdultFriendFinder and Snapchat. They sit at opposite ends of the social media spectrum, but they're both loaded with features for flirting via text, photo, and video — and both have clever built-in protections to keep everything safe, secure, and decidedly discreet.
Opens in a new window Credit: AdultFriendFinder AdultFriendFinder Learn More Opens in a new window Credit: Snapchat Snapchat Learn More The benefits of AdultFriendFinder for sextingFinding a partnerThe major plus point of AdultFriendFinder is its ready-made community of open-minded kinksters and horny singletons who are all looking for online fun.
Unlike Snapchat, which is more of a general, multi-purpose messaging platform, AFF users sign up with the specific aim of "adult" fun. You'll see this immediately: AFF profiles include wild (NSFW) photos and lists of kinks, turn-ons, and fetishes. Everything — and we do mean everything — is on show on AFF.
And it's not just individual users looking for a good time. AFF also hosts communities and groups, most of which are centered on specific kinks. It doesn't matter if you're into threesomes, bondage, pegging, or erotic storytelling; you'll find your people on AFF. And that really is just the tip of the iceberg. The only limit is your sexy imagination. Whatever you're into, there's almost certainly someone on AFF who shares your desires.
So, if your sexting journey is a solo one to start off, AFF will help you find a partner, whereas finding a like-minded chat partner through Snapchat alone can be harder.
Identity verificationA major strength of AdultFriendFinder is its robust identity verification service, ConfirmID. While it isn't mandatory, you can choose not to interact with anyone who hasn't undergone the ConfirmID verification process. To get verified, users must provide a scan of a government-issued ID and agree to have their faces scanned via webcam, which confirms that the person doing the scan is the same person featured in the ID.
Once you're verified, a blue checkmark will appear next to your profile photo, which signals to other users that you're verified. If you only want to talk to other verified users, stick to profiles that feature the blue checkmark, and you're golden.
SEE ALSO: Is Adult Friend Finder safe to use? What a cybersecurity expert says.It works differently on Snapchat, where verification is as simple as confirming that your email really belongs to you. That might be an effective deterrent against bots, but it doesn't do anything against catfishing scams.
Sex AcademyWhat if you're new to sexting and want to pick up some tips or learn some of the lingo before you dive in? An often-overlooked aspect of the AdultFriendFinder universe is what is known as their "sex academy", which is a constellation of resources, including learning materials and erotic stories, that can help you acquaint yourself with the ins and outs of sexting before you speak to a real person.
This is an unbelievably useful tool because over time, sexters have evolved their own shorthand language — not to mention suggestive emoji use! — to get their points across faster and not break the sexual tension with long, delayed texting.
The benefits of Snapchat for sextingFree to useSnapchat is free to download and use, and although there is a premium subscription option (Snapchat+), it's not really necessary or even particularly beneficial for sexting. Contrast this with AdultFriendFinder, which restricts one-on-one conversations to paying members, and you can easily see why Snapchat has the edge here.
Because it's free to use, it's also much more widely adopted than AFF, which means it's extremely common for people to exchange Snapchat IDs, or even for singles to include them in their dating profiles.
Disappearing messagesAnother huge benefit of Snapchat is that, by design, all messages sent through the service are time-restricted. Everything you write or send will eventually disappear, not only from the chat history but from Snapchat's servers.
But some caveats do need to be mentioned here:
“Disappearing” does not mean “never stored.”
Anything sent digitally can potentially persist through screenshots, screen recording, device backups, or hacked accounts.
Even if Snapchat deletes its copy, the recipient may still have one.
So from a privacy perspective, the safest assumption is: if you send a nude on any platform, there is always a possibility it will be saved or screengrabbed somewhere.
SEE ALSO: A history of nudes, from sculptures to SnapchatIf you're shy or security-conscious, or you just don't want a digital paper after getting naughty, Snapchat is probably the most secure option out there.
That said, Snapchat's official Community Guidelines take a strong stand against "sharing, promoting, or distributing sexually explicit content and conduct," so while such behaviors are actively encouraged on AdultFriendFinder, they are discouraged on Snapchat. The truth, though, is that, in practice, private consensual exchanges between adults are extremely common on the app and are generally not proactively policed unless:
Someone reports it.
AI moderation flags it.
It appears exploitative/commercial.
It involves minors/non-consensual content.
One of the perils of sexting, especially if you're doing it with strangers or people you've only recently met, is that exchanging nude photos or videos can be risky — bad actors can save or share your photos without your consent, or even use them to blackmail you, a practice known as "sextortion."
But if you're concerned about someone secretly screenshotting or even using a screen recording tool to record your naughty sessions, Snapchat offers robust notification software that will alert you right away if someone takes a screenshot or starts a screen recording, and it's comprehensive enough to even pick up on many third-party tools that can do these things.
It isn't perfect, so you do still need to exercise caution when you're being frisky with people you don't fully know or trust. At a minimum, you should verify that the person you're chatting with is who they claim to be, preferably over a video call, and you should never share sexually explicit content with someone you don't know and trust, especially if those images or videos can be used to identify you.
The bottom line? Both AFF and Snapchat offer fun platforms for engaging in some sexy texting, but the former is probably a more attractive option if you don't already have a sexting partner, and the latter is a fantastic platform for getting more intimate with someone you already know.
Early Black Friday Garmin deals are hella impressive: Venu 4, Vivoactive 5, and more at record lows
I like to joke that I'm single-handedly keeping Garmin in business. Not only have I been loyal to the brand since 2019 (when the original Venu was released), but I've also bought Garmin smartwatches for my boyfriend, my mom, and my dad over the last few years. In short, I have nothing but wonderful things to say about the brand — except that their pricing is a bit steep.
If you're in the market for a new smartwatch and want to join the Garmin cult, Black Friday is the time to buy. You can save $100 or more on many models during the biggest shopping event of the year. Although most official Black Friday sales won't kick off for another week or more, several models are already at their lowest prices ever.
Whether you're a runner, a triathlete, a health and wellness junkie, or someone who just wants a smartwatch that lasts more than a day per charge, there's a Garmin device for you. I've highlighted the best early Black Friday Garmin watch deals below. Stay tuned for any new price drops in the lead-up to the big day.
Best Black Friday Garmin deal for budget shoppers Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin vívoactive 5 $168.95 at Amazon$299.99 Save $131.04 Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it
The vívoactive 5 has been replaced by the vívoactive 6, which means it's much more affordable. In fact, this early Black Friday deal brings it down to its lowest price on record at just $168.95. It's a great all-rounder, with equal parts lifestyle features and fitness tools. It's packed with 30 preloaded sports apps, including cycling, running, walking, and swimming, as well as an abundance of wellness insights, such as daily energy levels, stress, HRV status, blood oxygen levels, sleep data, and more. And like any good smartwatch, it also tracks your steps and receives texts and notifications.
For what it's worth, I bought this exact watch last Black Friday for my boyfriend, and he hasn't had any complaints in the past year of wearing it. He generally only has to charge it once a week, if that.
Best Black Friday Garmin smartwatch deal for runners Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Forerunner 265 $299.99 at Amazon$449.99 Save $150 Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it
As the name suggests, the Garmin Forerunner 265 is designed with runners in mind. If you're training for an upcoming marathon or simply trying to improve your daily run times, the Forerunner 265 serves as a great assistant. It supplies all the data you could possibly want. You'll get a morning report with recovery and training outlooks for the day, a training readiness score, personalized workouts, training tips, race performance stats, course details, and more. After each run, you can even zero in on specifics like cadence, stride length, ground contact time, and HRV. At $150 off, this early Black Friday deal brings it down to its best price on record.
Best Black Friday Garmin smartwatch splurge Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Venu 4 $449.99 at Amazon$549.99 Save $100 Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it
The Garmin Venu is a perfect watch in my opinion. I have the original, which is now four generations old, and it still works like it's brand new. I can't even imagine how impressive the Venu 4 is. It's the ultimate lifestyle watch, designed to help you understand your body better and make healthier choices. It's loaded with over 80 preloaded GPS and indoor sports apps, lets you log lifestyle behaviors like caffeine or alcohol intake, lasts up to 10 days per charge, and even packs a built-in LED flashlight. Not to mention, it looks gorgeous on your wrist. As an early Black Friday treat, the Venu 4 is $100 off for the first time ever. No need to wait until Black Friday to buy.
More early Black Friday Garmin dealsGarmin Lily 2 — $199.99 $249.99 (save $50)
Garmin Instinct E — $199.99 $299.99 (save $100)
Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED — $249.99 $449.99 (save $200)
Garmin Instinct 3 Solar — $299.99 $449.99 (save $150)
Garmin Instinct 3 Solar, Tactical Edition — $349.99 $449.99 (save $100)
Garmin Forerunner 570 — $449.99 $549.99 (save $100)
Garmin Forerunner 965 — $449.99 $599.99 (save $150)
Garmin fēnix 8 — $749.99 $999.99 (save $250)
Burger King launched a Magic: The Gathering meal with Whopper deck boxes — how to buy
TL;DR: Burger King Italy is offering a €19.90 Magic: The Gathering meal with a Whopper deck box and 100 sleeves through Nov. 30 — and international players are already hunting down the gear on eBay.
Trading card games and fast-food menus make a natural pair. Now, Wizards of the Coast is stepping into the drive-thru with an official Magic: The Gathering meal at Burger King — complete with a Whopper-themed deck box and matching card sleeves.
View this post on InstagramThe catch? The promotion is exclusive to Burger King locations in Italy. Even though the meal is region-locked, the novelty is strong enough that Commander players elsewhere are already scrambling to get their hands on the gear.
What comes in the Burger King Magic: The Gathering mealOfficially called The Great Gathering Bundle, the meal runs through Nov. 30, while supplies last. Priced at €19.90, the combo includes:
The food — Your choice of a Chicken Krispper, Double Cheeseburger, or plant-based Impossible Whopper, paired with fries and a drink.
A Whopper deck box — Styled to look like an actual burger, complete with an orange sesame-seed bun pattern, a patty, and layered toppings.
100 matching card sleeves — Enough standard-size sleeves to outfit a full Commander deck.
Unlike Pokémon Happy Meals, the bundle does not include any exclusive promotional Magic cards. That saves players from chasing region-locked game pieces, even if it has not stopped the accessories from becoming instant collector's items.
How to get the Whopper deck box and sleevesThe Italy-only launch ties into Burger King's sponsorship of local Magic Pauper tournaments across the country, alongside a challenge from the YouTube channel Tolarian Community College that dares Italian pro player Andrea Mengucci to review the meal on camera.
If you do not happen to be visiting Italy before Nov. 30, you still have a few ways to track down the set:
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Check secondary marketplaces like eBay — Italian buyers have already started listing the empty deck boxes and sleeves on eBay and international trading groups. Reseller markups are steep right after launch, so waiting a few days for more supply to hit the market can help you avoid overpaying.
Reach out to friends or local trade groups in Italy — If you know someone traveling in Italy or connect with European players in online Magic communities, arranging a direct trade or pickup will get you much closer to the €19.90 retail price than international eBay auctions.
Hold out for future regional collaborations — Because this is one of Wizards of the Coast's first fast-food partnerships, a successful run in Italy makes future Magic meal promos in other regions a solid possibility if you would rather skip reseller markups altogether.
Whether you snag one on eBay or hold out for a wider rollout, your Commander deck has never looked quite this appetizing.
The ASUS ROG Strix gaming monitor has dropped in price ahead of Black Friday — save $210 this weekend
SAVE $210: As of Nov. 14, the ASUS ROG Strix is on sale for $549 at Amazon. That's a 28% discount on the list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS ROG Strix $549 at Amazon$759 Save $210 Get Deal at Amazon
Amazon has announced that its Black Friday sale will officially begin on Nov. 19. But, like many other retailers, it has already started offering early deals and discounts. From TVs to laptops, robot vacuums to drones, it's set to be a huge month of deals. And if you're looking to upgrade your gaming setup, there's good news.
One deal that's caught our eye is the ASUS ROG Strix, which is currently $210 off, bringing the price down from $759 to $549.
The monitor has a QHD QD-OLED display with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, so whatever you're playing, you can enjoy sharp visuals and rich colors. Its 360Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time are impressive, and the G-SYNC Compatible technology helps reduce screen tearing and stuttering for a smoother experience.
To help protect the OLED panel, it also has a custom heatsink, improved airflow, and OLED Care+ features designed to reduce the risk of burn-in.
Head to Amazon to grab this great gaming deal.
