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We're officially only weeks away from one of the biggest shopping events of the year: Black Friday.

There's still about a month until the shopping holiday officially starts, but deals start to roll out much sooner than the Friday after Thanksgiving. How much sooner, you ask? Try right now. In fact, our deals experts have already been tracking price drops for the past two weeks.

That doesn't necessarily mean you should start frantically adding deals to your cart, but it does mean that it's good to head into the mega-sale event with a plan. From knowing when sales from retailers like Amazon and Best Buy start to knowing which products will likely go on sale to preparing your own shopping list, we've got you covered on everything you need to know ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

When is Black Friday?

This year, Black Friday falls on Nov. 27. While retailers often start featuring their best markdowns on Black Friday itself, there are plenty of early deals worth shopping in the lead-up. Most retailers' official sales do start before the actual day, so shopping strategically ahead of time can save you from missing out on a deal entirely (or dealing with the chaos the day after Thanksgiving).

Will Amazon have Black Friday deals?

The mega-retailer just wrapped up its October Prime Day sale, but naturally, it's also getting in on the Black Friday action. While Amazon hasn't released official sale dates yet (it's still in the final days of the Holiday Beauty Event), last year's Black Friday sale started over a week before the official day. As soon as we have available dates for Amazon (and other retailers), we'll update this guide. Speaking of...

When do Black Friday 2026 sales start?

• Amazon: While no official dates are available just yet, 2025's Black Friday sale started on Nov. 20 — eight days before Black Friday on Nov. 28.

• Best Buy: Like Amazon, Best Buy hasn't announced any official dates yet, but promised a return of the day after Thanksgiving sale with some of the best tech prices of the year, plus a new batch of deals dropping for Cyber Monday. Most deals will be available online and in-store, with some exclusive to in-store sales. Following past precedent, Best Buy will also drop special deals through November, in the lead-up to the sale.

• Walmart: Walmart has three major sale events throughout November: the early Black Friday sale from Nov. 12 to Nov. 15, the Black Friday sale from Nov. 23 to Nov. 29 (with deals online only from Nov. 23 to Nov. 26), and the online-only Cyber Monday sale from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2.

• Target: Target hasn't released its full Black Friday lineup yet, but we do know its first Early Black Friday sale kicks off Nov. 5 to Nov. 7. From Nov. 1 to Dec. 24, Target's Deal of the Day offer kicks off, featuring new deals every day. Every weekend after Nov. 7, the retailer will also drop new limited-time holiday offers.

SEE ALSO: When is the best time to buy a MacBook? If you want a deal, the countdown is on. Does Apple have Black Friday sales?

Considering prices went up this year on pretty much Apple devices except for AirPods, Black Friday will be the time to pick up new Apple devices. The short answer: Apple products will absolutely be on sale this Black Friday. The slightly longer answer: the best place to pick up Apple products during Black Friday sales will be at retailers like Amazon, Walmart, or Best Buy, which often duke it out to see who will drop a MacBook or pair of AirPods to the record-low price first (or, more impressively, keep it in stock the longest).

SEE ALSO: Apple's new batch of products is live on Amazon: How to buy the new MacBooks, iMacs, and iPad mini

As for Apple itself holding Black Friday sales, the Apple Store features its own Black Friday sale every year: a free gift card for future use with the purchase of select devices. We expect to see the same this year, so we recommend picking up your Apple devices elsewhere if you're looking to save as much cash as possible.

The best Black Friday deals so far

With Black Friday feeling like a month-long (and then some) affair, what are the deals worth shopping now? It's an especially relevant question in 2026, a year that saw many historic price increases across everything from laptops to Kindles. In other words, shopping smart has never been a smarter decision, which is why we've gathered some of the best early Black Friday savings so far.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2nd gen) $229 at Amazon
$299 Save $70   Get Deal at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 11 Pro (unlocked) $799 at Amazon
$1,099 Save $300   Get Deal at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Disney Princess Advent Calendar $30 at Amazon
$44.99 Save $14.99   Get Deal at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Max 2 $449 at Amazon
$549 Save $100   Get Deal at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, 128GB) $649 at Amazon
$749 Save $100   Get Deal at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Bundle $365.97 at Amaozn
$429.97 Save $64   Get Deal at Amaozn Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark FlexStyle $249.99 at Amazon
$369.99 Save $120   Get Deal at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Supersonic Nural $467.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $82   Get Deal at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Crispi Microwave and Air Fryer $349.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $100   Get Deal at Amazon What else goes on sale during Black Friday?

The more apt question is what doesn't go on sale during Black Friday. That's to say, if there's a product you're looking to grab on sale, whether that be a new TV or paper towels, Black Friday is the time to do it.

SEE ALSO: Google's new holiday shopping guide reveals exactly when prices drop — 10 things every shopper should know

Beyond the deals we have listed above, we expect to see more savings on MacBooks, Windows laptops, video games and consoles, robot vacuums, regular stick vacuums, drones, trading cards, books, board games, and power tools. This list is by no means exhaustive — if there's a good deal worth writing up, you'll likely find it in our deals coverage.

How long do Black Friday sales last?

The best Black Friday deals generally last through Cyber Monday, which falls on Nov. 30 this year. Some deals do linger through the week, and some Cyber Monday sales (such as Walmart's) are scheduled to extend beyond Cyber Monday proper. And as Target's deal-of-the-day sale demonstrates, there are almost always Black Friday-worthy sales through essentially Christmas. That said, for the best shot at scoring big savings (and for catching a deal while it's still available), shopping during Black Friday weekend is typically a good rule of thumb.

Linux kernel developers have spent much of 2026 debating how to deal with AI-assisted code contributions, including whether developers should disclose their use of AI tools and how maintainers should review machine-generated patches. Following an ever-busier Linux 7.3 testing cycle, Linus Torvalds appears to be more at ease with machine-assisted contributions as he released Linux 7.4-rc1.

Ready to try Linux but confused by the hundreds of distros out there? Wondering which one will actually suit your needs without wasting days testing and tinkering? I've narrowed down your search to three distinct distros that cover the needs of most new Linux users.

I dig Android Auto. It's a fun way to use your phone's functions in the car, but it's heavily restricted sometimes. Recently, I found an app that works as a media player and web browser. Well, you know what that means for a nerd like me: monitoring my homelab remotely when I'm parked. I use it for more than that now, too, and it's slowly becoming one of my new favorite Android Auto apps.

This summer, a Lifetime Plex Pass increased in price from $250 to a whopping $750. Over the last year or so, an increasing number of features have either increased in price or become paid features.

Every fresh Ubuntu install feels a bit like moving into a rented, furnished apartment. Everything looks good and works fine, but nothing feels quite like yours yet. One of the nice things about Ubuntu is that you don't have to spend an afternoon tinkering with GNOME extensions to make the desktop your own.

In this episode of Mashable's Say More, Executive Producer Mark Stetson sits down with comedian and Daily Show host Jordan Klepper to discuss his new special, The Daily Show Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse: Red Flags. Klepper shares the improv techniques he uses to disarm attendees at Trump rallies, unpacks the right's obsession with the "communism" boogeyman, and reflects on the exhausting reality of what he calls "dumb McCarthyism." From his character-driven days on The Opposition to his current need for comedic authenticity in a post-truth world, Klepper offers a candid, behind-the-scenes look at the challenges, frustrations, and absurdities of political satire today.

The special is now available on Paramount+, The Daily Show’s YouTube channel, and VOD.

SAVE $99.01: As of Nov. 2, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 is on sale for $699.99 at Amazon. That's a 12% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Ultra 4 $699.99 at Amazon
$799 Save $99.01   Get Deal at Amazon

Apple Watches don't come cheap, especially the Ultra range, so any discount is worth considering. The newly released Apple Watch Ultra 4 is already on sale, giving you a chance to save on Apple's latest smartwatch before Black Friday deals really get going.

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is designed for endurance athletes, giving you up to 45 hours of battery life during Max Extended Workout tracking and fast charging that provides up to 18 hours of use in just 15 minutes. It's packed with advanced tracking and monitoring tools, such as heart rate sensors that take background readings every five seconds and measure heart rate variability every five minutes.

In the Vitals app, you'll find all your overnight health metrics, as well as sleep scores, menstrual cycle tracking, and blood oxygen readings. For training, dual-frequency GPS, Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, Custom Workouts, and training load make it a great option for everything from distance running and triathlons to mountain biking and strength training. It also offers a daily readiness score based on your recent activity, sleep, and health data, helping you decide when to push yourself or take a rest day.

And it's built for tough terrain, too. It has a tough titanium case and sapphire crystal display, is water-resistant to 100 meters, and includes satellite messaging to contact emergency services when you're outside cellular and WiFi coverage.

Head to Amazon now to get this Apple Watch deal.

SAVE $60: As of Nov. 2, the Anker Solix C300 is on sale for $189.99 at Amazon. That's a 24% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix C300 $189.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $60   Get Deal at Amazon

Now that it's November, early Black Friday deals are starting to roll in.

Portable power stations are already getting price cuts. These handy units can come in useful for everything from camping vacations and road trips to keeping essential devices powered during an outage. If you've been thinking about picking one up, there's a great deal live on the Anker Solix C300.

The Anker Solix C300 is a compact, portable power station with a 288Wh capacity and 300W output, giving you a handy way to charge your devices while camping, traveling, or spending time off-grid. It has seven charging ports, including two 140W USB-C ports, a 100W USB-C port, a 15W USB-C port, two USB-A ports, and a 120W car socket, so you can power several devices at once.

You can recharge it to 80% in around an hour using the dual USB-C ports, or top it up using a compatible 100W solar panel (sold separately) or your car.

And it's built to last too. This power unit has a LiFePO4 battery, smart temperature control, and an impact-resistant design. Plus, you'll get a three-year warranty.

Get this portable power station deal from Amazon now.

SAVE $35: As of Nov. 2, the Fire TV Stick 4K is on sale for $24.99 at Amazon. That's 58% off the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Fire Stick 4K $24.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $35   Get Deal at Amazon

Looking for a new streaming device to make it easier to watch your favorite shows and movies? Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K has had a makeover, with a refreshed design and a few handy upgrades to make streaming easier and more convenient.

As of Nov. 2, you won't need to pay full price to get your hands on it. Right now it has dropped to just $24.99, saving you $35. This is also the lowest-ever price for this new Amazon device, so you're getting a great deal ahead of Black Friday.

The device supports 4K streaming, HDR10+ picture quality, and WiFi 6 for faster, smoother use. It also features Amazon's updated Fire TV interface, with new content categories that make it easier to browse and find something to watch. Direct Power is another plus. Using the included USB-C cable, you can power the stick directly from your TV, meaning there's no need for a separate wall outlet or the clutter of extra cables.

It even comes with an Alexa Voice Remote, which will become the sole control for your TV, including power and volume.

You can find this Amazon Fire TV streaming deal at Amazon right now.

Is hotel Wi-Fi ever really good? Is it ever more than just a nuisance that needs to be endured? I can count on one hand the number of times I've arrived at a hotel and found the Wi-Fi satisfactory, and I'm used to having bad internet. But that (already low) number would drop lower still if I also take the ease of connecting to said Wi-Fi into the equation.

TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Reality Fracture Play Booster Box is on sale for $137.94 at Amazon, down from its $154.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Reality Fracture Play Booster Box $137.94 at Amazon
$145.94 Save $8 Get Deal at Amazon

It hasn't even been two weeks since Magic: The Gathering's Reality Fracture expansion was released, but you can already score boxes of 30 packs for $4.59 each. 

As of Nov. 2, the Magic: The Gathering Reality Fracture Play Booster Box can be bought for $137.94 at Amazon. That’s not only $17.05 less than the $154.99 preorder deal we covered back in July, but the lowest price we’ve seen since just before mid-September (confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel).

Keep in mind that, rather than Amazon directly, this deal is coming from third-party seller Undiscovered Realm Inc.. Delivery is currently set for Nov. 18. However, the slightly more expensive listing for $138.01, shipped and sold by Amazon, can get to you as soon as Saturday, Nov. 7 — or tomorrow if you’re a Prime member. 

SEE ALSO: Magic The Gathering's The Hobbit Gift Bundle is down to market price at Amazon — save over $15

Walmart is selling the Reality Fracture Booster Box for $124.95 via third-party seller Cataclysm Games (but still delivered through Walmart). On the other hand, dedicated trading card marketplace TCGplayer has listings going for as low as $119.98 when factoring in shipping — which is scraping under its estimated $119.98 market price by 18 cents.  

Reality Fracture's Play Booster Box contains 30 packs of 14 Magic cards each, including at least one Traditional Foil and between one and five Rare or higher cards per booster. Every pack also features a Legendary card paired with its alternate Echoverse version, giving you over 60 Legendary cards across the display.

The expansion follows Jace Beleren's attempt to reshape the Multiverse, introducing twisted counterparts of familiar characters such as Liliana, Chandra, Ajani, and Garruk, as well as the dystopian Hexhaven school.

Pi-hole is one of those home lab services you quickly stop thinking about once it works. It blocks ads and trackers, handles DNS queries, and quietly does its job in the background. Then something breaks, and you realize how much of your home network depends on a service you have barely thought about. When DNS stops working, websites can appear offline even when the internet connection itself is perfectly fine.

SAVE $10.04: As of Nov. 2, the Kpop Demon Hunters Collectible Trading Cards are on sale for $43.95 at Amazon. That's a 19% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kpop Demon Hunters Kpop Demon Hunters Collectible Trading Cards $43.95 at Amazon
$53.99 Save $10.04   Get Deal at Amazon

The Kpop Demon Hunters obsession isn't going anywhere, and for fans who also enjoy trading cards, the Energy Edition Series 1 trading cards are on sale at Amazon. Normally $53.99, they've dropped to just $43.95 for a limited time. That's their lowest-ever price, according to price tracker camelcamelcamel.

The Kpop Demon Hunters Energy Edition is a premium trading card collection featuring exclusive artwork and iconic scenes and visuals inspired by the music and performances of the hit film. Each collector box contains 12 packs, with eight cards per pack spanning 11 rarity levels, so there's plenty for you to chase after.

Look out for SE Cards inspired by the hit song “GOLDEN”, featuring premium laser-etched finishes and individual serial numbering starting at 1366, as well as BP Cards numbered from 1999, which capture HUNTR/X in their all-black stage outfits during a pre-concert moment.

There are exclusive designs and rare cards to collect, so it's a special edition aimed at truly dedicated K-pop Demon Hunters fans and trading card collectors. You can find this deal at Amazon right now.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle is on sale for $44.88 at Amazon, down from its $59.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle $44.88 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $15.11   Get Deal at Amazon

With the Pokémon TCG's Delta Reign expansion arriving on Nov. 6, there’s still time to catch up on older modern expansions like Perfect Order, with its six-pack Booster Bundle now pushed back under the $45 mark — making it one of the most affordable readily available options for trading card collectors right now. 

As of Nov. 2, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle is priced at just $44.88 at Amazon. That's $15.11 less than its usual $59.99 list price, giving you 25% off and bringing the cost of each booster pack to $7.48.

That’s only 25 cents above the $44.63 offer we covered in October, and comes through third-party seller Bleacher Seats Sportscards & Collectibles, with free delivery currently set for Nov. 10 at the time of writing.  

SEE ALSO: Pokémon TCG Delta Reign Booster Bundle preorders are 25% off at Amazon — save nearly $20 ahead of launch

Walmart currently has the Perfect Order Booster Bundle for $41.99 with free shipping — while TCGplayer has listings charging as little as $39.99. The latter is only $3.92 above its estimated market price. 

The bundle contains six boosters from the Pokémon Legends: Z-A-inspired Perfect Order expansion, each featuring 10 random cards, a Basic Energy, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card.

Among the expansion’s most valuable chase cards (still available to buy individually on TCGplayer) are the $85+ SIR Meowth ex, the $80+ MHR Mega Zygarde ex, and the $40+ SIR Mega Zygarde ex. 

TL;DR: Ibanez just officially unveiled a massive Dragon Ball Z collaboration collection of electric guitars, shred machines, an electric bass, custom straps, and more. The collection is scheduled for a worldwide rollout in 2027.

Anime-loving guitar players, this is your moment to shine.

The Pokémon and Fender collab is undeniably cool, but Ibanez might have done something even better. Ibanez just announced a huge Dragon Ball Z collection scheduled for a worldwide rollout in 2027. Spanning more than 10 dedicated pieces of gear, the collection features electric guitars, shred machines, an electric bass, a concert ukulele, custom straps, and a limited-edition Dragon Ball Z Tube Screamer overdrive pedal.

The lineup offers something for every tier of musician:

• The "RG" Made in Japan Model: Featuring an eye-catching orange Son Goku gi colorway, an ultra-thin Wizard maple neck, Edge double-locking tremolo system, high-output Ibanez humbuckers, and custom inlays. Each unit ships in a hardshell flight case with an exclusive DBZ strap, custom pick tin, and a numbered certificate of authenticity.

• Goku and Vegeta Electric Guitars and Basses: More accessible solid-body electric guitars sporting bold top graphics of Son Goku and Super Saiyan Vegeta with slim fast-action necks and T106 tremolo bridges, alongside a matching 4-string electric bass commemorating Vegeta’s Super Saiyan awakening.

• The DBZ Tube Screamer Overdrive Pedal: Iconic green stompbox reworked with custom Dragon Ball Z kanji typography and themed knobs. It delivers the same legendary mid-boost overdrive, making it a winning collector's piece for living room desks.

Credit: Ibanez

You can also find a ukulele with Goku and Gohan artwork, a piccolo guitar featuring a Kanji symbol, a Dragon Ball-branded soft gig bag, guitar straps, a guitar cleaning cloth, and a plectrum set in this expansive collection.

Credit: Ibanez

You can see the full collection at the Ibanez & Dragon Ball Z collaboration site.

A NAS runs around the clock, serving files, streaming media, and handling backups for every device in the house. Yet the drive I trust most spends nearly all its time disconnected. It sounds backwards, but keeping that copy offline solves problems no RAID array can. And here's why I think you should do that too.

The midterm elections are coming up this week, and John Oliver has a lot of thoughts.

In the Last Week Tonight video above the host breaks down the campaign trail so far, from the high Republican ad spend to the type of ads Republicans have been running.

"You can probably safely assume if things don't go Trump's way, he'll claim the election was rigged and do everything he can to undermine the result, which is a strong argument for you turning up to vote this year, even in districts where you think your candidates are safe," says Oliver. "The bigger the results for Democrats on Tuesday, the harder they'll be for Trump to litigate or deny. Look, Trump has said he wants people to pretend he's on the ballot this year. But I'm not sure people even need to pretend. We're now almost halfway through his second term, he's had both the House and the Senate on his side the entire time, and look where it's got us. Finally, on Tuesday, we have a chance to apply some fucking breaks."

Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

Having a wall outlet with integrated USB-C charging seems like a fantastic idea, right? No wall adapter needed, just plug your device in and go! However, what seems convenient now might not be later as power requirements change, and that’s exactly why I won’t install a USB charging outlet in my house.

TL;DR: Pokémon and Fender have officially unveiled two limited-edition, Made in Japan instruments: the Pokémon Red Stratocaster and Pokémon Green Telecaster.

It has been a huge year for Pokémon. To mark the 30th anniversary of Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green (which debuted in Japan in 1996), Pokémon has collaborated with a number of iconic brands to launch some pretty iconic products. And they're not done yet.

Pokémon and Fender have officially unveiled two limited-edition Made in Japan electric guitars celebrating Pokémon's 30th anniversary: the Pokémon Red Stratocaster and Pokémon Green Telecaster.

Credit: Fender Japan

Physical delivery won't land on doorsteps until 2027, but preorders are "coming soon."

What stands out about this collab is that Fender didn't just paint these in nostalgic Kanto-era pixel art. Fender took its time with this launch, including a time-warping toggle to 8-bit audio and a special neck plate design celebrating Pokémon's 30th anniversary.

You know the drill by now: getting your hands on these guitars is not going to be straightforward. Japanese allocations are locked behind an online lottery running Nov. 19-24, U.S. Pokémon Center preorders are notoriously vulnerable to checkout bots, and secondary-market scalpers will immediately flood eBay with $5,000+ listings.

If you want to buy without paying double on the resale market, we recommend keeping a keen eye on the U.S. Pokémon Center and setting up your account details in advance. Once that listing goes live, do not hesitate.