Blogroll

Amazon gift cards usually come with the starting balance printed on the physical card or mentioned in the email if you receive an eGift card. But what if you want to check the balance on a gift card that you previously redeemed to see if you have enough left over to splurge during Amazon's Black Friday sale in 2025 (which officially kicks off on Nov. 20)? Or maybe you want to reload a gift card you've already used up? Check the state of your gift cards before your shopping spree this season by following the steps below.

How to check your Amazon gift card balance on your desktop

Follow these simple steps to check or reload your Amazon gift card balance:

Total Time

• 2 minutes

What You Need

• Computer

Step 1: Navigate to Amazon

Open the Amazon website.

Step 2: Accounts & Lists

Click on Accounts & Lists in the top right corner of the screen.

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon website

Step 3: Select Gift cards

A new menu page will open on the website. Select Gift cards.

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon website

Step 4: Redeem or reload gift card

Once you click, you'll be able to see the existing balance on your gift card. If you are checking the balance on an unredeemed gift card and wish to redeem it, you can click on Redeem a Gift card. You can also opt to Reload your card in this menu or check your transaction history, which is listed below the gift card balance.

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon website How to check your Amazon gift card balance in the app Total Time

• 2 minutes

What You Need

• Smartphone

Step 1: Go to Account

Open the app and click on the account icon at the bottom of the landing page (the little person illustration). Then choose Account at the top of the landing page.

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

Step 2: Navigate to Payments

Scroll down until you see the Payments section.

Step 3: Manage gift card balance

In the Payments section, click on Manage gift card balance.

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

Step 4: Check balance or reload

Use the new menu that opens to check your gift card balance, reload your gift card, or check past activity.

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

Have a Visa gift card that you keep forgetting to use? 'Tis the season to break that bad boy out. You'll be able to squeeze way more out of those free funds when just about everything is discounted for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It's a perfect time to get started on your holiday shopping for less. And BTW, Amazon's Black Friday event officially kicks off on Thursday, Nov. 20, and runs all the way through Cyber Monday on Dec. 1.

Adding a Visa gift card on Amazon isn't the process that you'd expect. While it is technically a gift card, it can't be registered as a gift card like an official Amazon gift card would. Instead, you'll have to register the gift card like you would register a legit Visa debit or credit card to start using it as a payment method. If you're unsure how to go about it, we've got your back.

SEE ALSO: How to check or reload your Amazon gift card balance How to add a Visa gift card to make purchases on Amazon

The process might seem complicated, but follow these simple steps and should have no issues:

1. Go to Amazon on your phone, tablet, or computer and find your Account tab. On the mobile app, your Account lives in the little person icon at the bottom of the screen and in the three horizontal lines at the bottom right side of the screen. On a web browser, hover over Accounts & Lists at the top right corner of the webpage, then select Account from the dropdown menu that appears.

2. Once there, scroll to find the Your Payments tab. This option will take you to your digital wallet where you can view your added payment methods.

3. Click on Add a payment method. Because the gift card is a Visa, it functions like a regular debit or credit card, so scroll down to the credit or debit cards category to add the new card.

4. You'll then be prompted to add the necessary card information like the card number and expiration date.

5. Then, it'll ask for the Billing Address. Prepaid Visa gift cards aren't tied to a name or address, so you won't actually receive a billing statement. You can add your own address to be quick, or call the customer service number to get the card issuer's address.

SEE ALSO: Walmart vs. Amazon: Which retail giant has the best deals?

There are a few caveats to consider when using a Visa gift card on Amazon. First, not all Visa gift cards may work as debit or credit cards on Amazon. Some may require users to use a CVV to authorize a purchase. Since Amazon doesn't ask for this information while adding payment methods, these Visa gift cards might not go through.

Also, Amazon doesn't allow users to combine multiple cards for a single transaction. This means that you can't cover your total with two Visa gift cards, or use up the remaining gift card balance as a partial payment and cover the rest with another credit or debit card. Be sure to keep an eye on your cart total as you chip away at it during your Black Friday shopping. Your total order cost (including shipping and taxes) can't exceed the account balance.

There is, thankfully, a workaround for tracking that Visa gift card balance. You can use the Visa gift card to add or reload funds on an Amazon gift card, which you can then apply toward future Amazon purchases. Once you add a Visa gift card as an Amazon payment method to your account by following the steps above, you can purchase an Amazon gift card for the full amount of the Visa gift card balance (taking into account any fees the Visa card may deduct upon use), or follow these steps to access your existing Amazon gift card balance and reload funds.

Opens in a new window Credit: Visa Add a Visa gift card to your Amazon account   Learn More

Advent calendars are some of our favorite Christmas gifts, and with Black Friday coming up fast, you're running out of time to order. Already, some of the season's most popular Advent calendars have gone out of stock, but there are still plenty of festive countdowns available.

Our favorite Advent calendars: Best Skincare Advent Calendar Kiehl's Advent Calendar 2025 $152 (A $292 value) Get Deal Best Beauty Advent Calendar Sephora Premium Makeup & Skincare Advent Calendar Gift Set $65.60 (a $245 value) Get Deal Bet Lego Advent Calendar Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2025 $37.99 (save $7) Get Deal BEST TRADITIONAL ADVENT CALENDAR Lenox Treasured Traditions Days of Christmas Tree and Ornament, Set of 25 $167.99 (save $252.01) Get Deal BEST FOOD COUNTDOWN Fly by Jing 2025 Limited Edition Advent Calendar $98 Get Deal Best for Prime Members Amazon 12 Days of Beauty 2025 Advent Calendar $98 (a $245 value) Shop Now BEST FOR CROCS LOVERS Crocs Holiday Advent Calendar 2025 $34.99 (save $150) Get Deal BEST MINI GIFT Mini Brands Books Advent Calendar by Zuru $24.99 (save $10) Get Deal Best for Kids Bluey Mini Figures 2025 Christmas Advent Calendar $15.99 (save $6) Get Deal

Even better, thanks to the best early Black Friday deals, you can find popular Advent calendars from top brands like Kiehl's and Williams-Sonoma on sale. Not every calendar will be on sale, but the best ones still represent a great deal, as they let you enjoy hundreds of dollars' worth of products for a lot less than you'd usually pay.

So, whether you're looking for the best beauty Advent calendars, calendars for kids, or something more traditional, we've gathered them all up into one place for you. Keep checking back as we approach Black Friday, as we'll keep adding more products as they go on sale — and crossing off the ones that go out of stock.

The best Advent Calendar to buy during Black Friday Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2025 $37.99 at Walmart
$44.99 Save $7   Get Deal Why we like it

This Lego Christmas playset comes with 24 toys in total, and it's packed with easter eggs for Star Wars fans, young and old. (BB-8 as a snowman? A Jawa in a holiday sweater? Say less.) Adults can certainly enjoy Advent calendars, but we're not sure we can enjoy them quite as much as a kid eagerly awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus.

Even more Advent Calendars on sale Opens in a new window Credit: Urban Outfitters Urban Outfitters Exclusive Beauty Advent Calendar $50 at Urban Outfitters
A $160 value Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Williams-Sonoma Williams-Sonoma Christmas Popcorn Advent Calendar $59.99 at Williams-Sonoma
$79.95 Save $19.96   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bloomingdale's Bloomingdale's 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar $325 at Bloomingdale's
An $800 value Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Funko Funko Pop! Countdown Calendar: The Nightmare Before Christmas $39.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $10   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: National Geographic National Geographic Gemstone Advent Calendar 2025 $20.49 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $9.50   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dermstore Dermstore 12 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar $300
An $888 value Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Insight Editions Wicked For Good: The Official Advent Calendar - 25 Days of Surprises $34.99 at Amazon
Deal to watch Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bluey Store Bluey: Awesome Advent Calendar Book Bundle $19.60 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $10.39   Get Deal

If fears of an AI bubble bursting were already keeping people up at night, recent comments from Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai certainly won't help.

The Google chief sat down with the BBC for an exclusive interview to talk all things AI — from energy demands to UK investment to the future of jobs. But the most striking moment came when Pichai admitted that if the AI bubble does burst, no one is safe.

"I think no company is going to be immune, including us," he told the BBC.

In the interview, Pichai said that while the AI sector has seen tremendous growth, there's also a lot of "irrationality" fueling the boom as valuations and investments rocket upward. He warned that the industry can "overshoot" during hype cycles like this, drawing a direct parallel to the dot-com boom and bust of the late 90s and early 2000s.

The dot-com era saw early internet companies skyrocket in value on pure optimism, only for the bubble to burst in 2000, wiping out hundreds of companies and countless jobs.

The concern now is that AI may follow a similar trajectory. Big Tech valuations have surged in recent months: Alphabet has reached a valuation of $3.5 trillion, OpenAI has reportedly hit a $500 billion valuation, and NVIDIA has become the first company to ever surpass the $5 trillion mark.

But cracks are beginning to show. In the past few weeks, several major investors have started offloading NVIDIA stock. On Monday, it was reported that Peter Thiel's hedge fund exited its entire $94 million position. Even more eyebrow-raising, Michael Burry — famous for predicting the 2007-08 mortgage crisis — is reportedly betting against NVIDIA and Palantir.

Despite all this, Pichai himself appears largely unfazed.

"We can look back at the internet right now. There was clearly a lot of excess investment, but none of us would question whether the internet was profound," he told the BBC. "I expect AI to be the same. So I think it's both rational and there are elements of irrationality through a moment like this."

Have you ever wanted to build your own Android app? I have, and I recently made the choice to start down the journey of Android development once again.

When it comes to upgrading their graphics cards, gamers have no problem spending hundreds of dollars on the latest models. After all, the graphics card is the main performance driver for all rendering-related tasks, so that’s the piece of hardware worth splurging on, right?

TL;DR: Live stream Spain vs. Turkey in World Cup qualifiers for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Spain have absolutely strolled through World Cup qualification, winning every game and not conceding a single goal. In their final game, they face a Turkey team that has been nearly perfect. Turkey have only lost once, to Spain of course.

If you want to watch Spain vs. Turkey in World Cup qualifiers for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Spain vs. Turkey?

Spain vs. Turkey in World Cup qualifiers kicks off at 7:45 p.m. GMT on Nov. 18. This fixture takes place at the Estadio La Cartuja.

How to watch Spain vs. Turkey for free

Spain vs. Turkey in World Cup qualifiers is available to live stream for free on RTVE.

RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain, meaning you can access free live streams on RTVE from anywhere in the world.

Lve stream Spain vs. Turkey for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Spain

4. Visit RTVE

5. Stream Spain vs. Turkey for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Spain vs. Turkey in World Cup qualifiers without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select World Cup qualifiers before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for RTVE?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTVE, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Spain

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also 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 $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Spain vs. Turkey in World Cup qualifiers for free with ExpressVPN.

A peek at the best early Black Friday deals on robot vacuums Best budget robot vacuum deal Eufy E20 3-in-1 $349.99 at Amazon (Save $150 at Amazon) Get Deal Best mid-range robot vacuum deal Narwal Freo Z10 Ultra $799.99 at Amazon (Save $500 at Amazon) Get Deal Best premium robot vacuum deal Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller $1,199.99 at Amazon (Save $400 at Amazon) Get Deal

I test robot vacuums for a living and have been keeping tabs on robot vacuum deals trends for over half a decade — and I'd say Black Friday's count of robot vacuums on sale beats spring cleaning sales and even both Prime Day. It makes sense: Many brands release their new vacuums for the year at CES in January (or at least near the CES time frame), so Black Friday is often an eleventh hour push to sell the "old" but still great robot vacuums from the past year.

SEE ALSO: I tested 25 robot vacuum and mop combos and found 5 that actually scrub

But I'm noticing something peculiar this year: There aren't as many good early robot vacuum deals as there were at this point in 2024. Last year, the week before Thanksgiving saw a major chunk of Black Friday vacuum deals already live (officially marked with the retailer's "Black Friday deal" tag). In 2025, confirmed early Black Friday prices feel impossible to come by so far — despite Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target being in the thick of their early Black Friday sales.

Below, I've pulled the early Black Friday deals on robot vacuums that are actually worth your money — the ones at record-low pricing or matching their October Prime Day sale price. But my ultimate advice? Use the next few days to read up on what to look for in a robot vacuum and assess the features that are non-negotiables in your home. Then, check back to this post as more deals go live ahead of Black Friday.

Best early Black Friday robot vacuum deal so far Opens in a new window Credit: Dreame Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller $1,199.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $400   Get Deal Why I like it

The Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller is the most powerful robot vacuum on the mainstream market, and it's back at its record-low October Prime Day price of just over $1,000. Spending that much on a vacuum probably sounds like brain rot to budget shoppers, but think of it this way: The Dreame's 30,000 Pa of suction power is more than 10,000 Pa stronger than the most powerful robot vacuums we saw on sale last Black Friday, and they were still hovering around the $1,000 mark. With the addition of a robust self-rinsing roller mop, this is a real bang for your buck.

I've been testing the Aqua10 Ultra Roller at home for over a month and can personally confirm its efficacy. Its pet hair pickup on rugs has impressed me the most: It has had about a 99 percent pickup rate for large clumps of cat hair that I put in its path and smoosh down into various pile heights. On patterned rugs that camouflage the layer of fur to the naked eye, I've ChomChom-ed the area after the Aqua10 Ultra Roller has done a few passes — and there's barely anything left over to get rolled into the ChomChom compartment. This carpet performance plus a livestream pet camera make the Aqua10 Ultra one of the best vacuums a pet owner could have on hand (robot or not).

More robot vacuums on sale ahead of Black FridayRobot vacuum mop combos

• Yeedi C12 Plus with self-empty station — $239.99 $399.99 (save $160)

• Roborock Q8 Max — $179.99 $259.99 (save $80)

• Dreame D20 Plus with self-empty station — $296.99 $399.99 (save $103)

• Roborock Q10 S5+ with self-empty station — $259.99 $549.99 (save $290)

• 3i G10+ with dust compression — $255.99 $449.99 (save $194)

• Narwal Freo Pro with self-empty and mop washing station — $379.99 $699.99 (save $320)

• iRobot Roomba 405 with self-empty and mop washing station — $398.99 $799.99 (save $401)

• Roborock Qrevo with self-empty and mop washing station — $399.99 $649.99 (save $350)

• Yeedi M12 Pro with self-empty and mop washing station — $359.99 $899.99 (save $540)

• 3i P10 Ultra with self-empty and mop washing station — $499.99 $1,099.99 (save $600 with Prime)

• Eufy X10 Pro Omni with self-empty and mop washing station — $499.99 $899.99 (save $400)

• Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro self-empty and mop washing station — $599.99 $889.99 (save $400)

• Dreame X40 Ultra with self-empty and mop washing station — $649.99 $1,199.99 (save $550)

• Narwal Freo Z10 Ultra with self-empty and mop washing station — $799.99 $1,299.99 (save $500)

• Roborock Qrevo CurvX with self-empty and mop washing station — $849.99 $1,499.99 (save $650)

• Dreame X50 Ultra with self-empty and mop washing station — $1,049.99 $1,699.99 (save $550)

Robot vacuums that don't mop

• Eufy E20 3-in-1 robot vacuum and stick vacuum with self-empty station — $349.99 $649.99 (save $300)

• iRobot Roomba Plus 504 with self-empty station — $379.99 $749.99 (save $370)

Microsoft is making a massive pivot in how Windows 11 operates. The company is turning the entire platform into an "agentic OS" that starts with integrating new AI agents directly into the Windows 11 taskbar, which should help make things easier for those who use it.

SAVE $49.01: As of Nov. 18, get the Apple Watch Series 11 for $349.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $399. That's a discount of 12% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple Watch Series 11 $349.99 at Amazon
$399 Save $49.01   Get Deal

Looking to pick up a new smartwatch? There are tons of great choices out there, but for our money, Apple serves up some of the best. One of the best picks you can opt for out of the bunch, in fact, is on sale right now thanks to an early Black Friday deal at Amazon. If it's time to lock in a purchase, this might be the best one.

As of Nov. 18, get the Apple Watch Series 11 for $349.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $399. That's $49.01 off and a discount of 12%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The 30+ best early Black Friday Apple deals: We found record lows on AirPods and MacBooks already

The Series 11 offers a range of smartwatch-centric features such as calling, texting, and app availability from the App Store of course. But some of its most attractive features are its health and fitness sensors. It can notify you of potential high blood pressure issues, give you a daily sleep score, help you take an ECG any time, track your heart rate, and much more.

It can also track your workouts, help you figure out your training load, connect to Apple Fitness+ for more healthy options to stay in shape, and even measure potential sleep apnea as well as your blood oxygen levels. There's a lot it can do in terms of keeping you in the loop health-wise, so you might want to scoop it up just for that alone.

This watch also boasts up to 24 hours of battery life with normal use, a durable glass display, and a water resistance rating of 50m with IP6X dust resistance. It really does have just about everything you might need, so if you've had your eye on one, now's the time to dive in.

Kristen Stewart has already had a long and varied career, moving from child star in films like Panic Room to teen blockbuster lead in Twilight. From there, she jumped into daring arthouse films, earning critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for Spencer, and embracing her status as a queer heartthrob in Love Lies Bleeding. Now, her career continues to evolve as she steps behind the camera for her feature directorial debut, The Chronology of Water.

Based on the memoir of the same name by Lidia Yuknavitch, The Chronology of Water stars Imogen Poots. She plays the film's version of Lidia, who escapes from an abusive home and immerses herself in the world of competitive swimming in the 1980s. But when her athletic pursuits come to an end, she finds herself grappling with love, sexuality, addiction, and her penchant for self-destruction, all while discovering herself through writing. The trailer teases the film's fragmented nature, as Lidia moves through flashes of the memories that came to define her.

The Chronology of Water had its premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it received positive reactions. Critics praised Stewart's strong sense of direction and Poots' lead performance.

In an interview with the New York Times out of Cannes, Stewart joked that critics were actually being too kind to the film. "I'm totally willing for people to come for it," she said. "I'm almost wanting it."

The Chronology of Water also stars Thora Birch, Jim Belushi, Earl Cave, Tom Sturridge, Charlie Carrick, and Kim Gordon.

The Chronology of Water hits select theaters Dec. 5, before expanding nationwide on Jan. 9.

SAVE $34.01: A 4-pack of Apple AirTags is on sale at Amazon for $64.99, down from the normal price of $99. That's a 34% discount and just 50 cents more than the lowest we've ever spotted at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag (4-pack) $64.99 at Amazon
$99 Save $34.01   Get Deal

Amazon's official Black Friday sale kicks off this Thursday, but we're already seeing deals that worthy of buying now. Shopping early means you'll avoid the chaos of Thursday and your order will already be en route (or delivered) in case of any shipping congestion that might occur. If your holiday plans involve travel, you'll want to tune in to this deal.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

As of Nov. 18, a 4-pack of Apple AirTags is on sale at Amazon for $64.99, marked down from the normal price of $99. That's a 34% discount that saves shoppers $34.01. This sale price is just 50 cents more than the lowest we've ever spotted at Amazon.

A Bluetooth tracker is one of the smartest items to pack for any holiday travel. One needs to go into checked luggage, but it's also smart to toss one into your carryon items, and get a functional keychain attachment to make sure you can always find those. You can locate missing items by playing a sound on the built-in speaker or find items that are further away thanks to the Apple Find My network.

SEE ALSO: The 30+ best early Black Friday Apple deals: We found record lows on AirPods and MacBooks already

The four-pack is a great one-click purchase compared to buy individual AirTags. A single AirTag is currently on sale at Amazon for $17.97 which would make four come to a total of $71.88, so the four-pack is a much better deal.

Since Amazon's Black Friday sale officially kicks off on Thursday, snagging the 4-pack of Apple AirTags means you can avoid any future shopping chaos. Consider the stocking stuffers bought.

SAVE $47.96: As of Nov. 18, new subscribers can get four months of Spotify Premium for free. Typically $11.99 per month, that saves you nearly $50.

Opens in a new window Credit: Spotify Spotify Premium get 4 months for free (save $47.96) Get Deal

If you don't already have a music streaming subscription, now's a good time to hit that subscribe button because Spotify is offering new users four months of its Premium service for free.

Through Dec. 31, if you've never tried Spotify Premium before, you can enjoy four months of unlimited listening without spending a cent. And yes, even as a free trial listener, you'll still get all of the benefits you'd enjoy as a Premium Individual subscriber.

With Spotify Premium, you'll ditch ads for good, be able to download music to listen to offline, enjoy listening with friends in real time, get full control over your music (unlimited skips, playlist organization, etc.), and finally enjoy lossless audio with sound quality up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz. You'll also unlock things like Discover Weekly, which helps you find new artists and songs based on your previous listening habits, as well as "Daily Mix" playlists, mood-based "daylists," those famous Wrapped stats, and new weekly listening stats.

Premium accounts also get 15 hours of audiobook time per month, so you can tap into your TBR list without spending a fortune on new books or waiting in the queue on the Libby app.

One thing to note: Your account will automatically be charged $11.99 per month after the trial is up. So if you decide you want to cancel, do it before the four-month period is up. You have until Dec. 31 to secure the deal.

The Lexus UX has been around since 2019, and it’s sticking to its sharp, compact vibe for another year. After getting a big powertrain upgrade for 2025, it slides into 2026 with a few more updates to keep it feeling current.

The coolest tech gifts may look like the most boring box in the present pile... until they're unwrapped. But in a second, you'll both unlock a new favorite memory: They get to gush over owning one of the most sought-after gadgets of the year, and you get to watch their face light up.

Our tech gift guide for 2025 includes some of the best new releases of the year from Apple, Nintendo, GoPro, and Razer, most of which we personally reviewed. We're obviously loving the latest upgrades, like the AirPods Pro 3 and the long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2. But even if you're not shopping for an early adopter, we've still found some awesome under-the-radar gadgets that'll speak to their niche interests. The skincare enthusiast on your list may not care about the new fleet of Echos that Amazon just announced, but they will freak over the Shark LED face mask.

To find the best holiday gifts for the techies in your life, Mashable's tech and shopping reporters have come together to curate a guide to our favorite gift-worthy gadgets of the year — the true 'I can't believe you got this for me' gifts. So, whether you're splurging on an iPad or searching for stocking stuffers, here are 40+ of the best tech gifts for 2025.

Since audiobooks were added to Spotify Premium's lineup of content, my consumption of them skyrocketed. Much like podcasts, I like to listen to them when I'm in the car or at the gym. They're often an entertaining way to experience a book, and are sometimes read by their writers, or the actors who've starred in their movie or TV show versions.

Pour one out for the doubters. When Universal announced director Jon M. Chu would be breaking the hit Broadway musical Wicked into two films, there was a lot of grumbling that this was a cash-grab decision that would not be justified in the storytelling. 

Sure, 2024's Wicked had a terrific climax, ending with Elphaba's escape from Emerald City and the show's greatest song, "Defying Gravity." But how do you make Act 2, a wobblier construct with new characters and jarring reveals, work as its own movie? Chu shows us how with Wicked: For Good. 

SEE ALSO: 'Wicked: For Good' trailer: Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande return to conclude Elphaba and Glinda's story

The screenplay, written by the Broadway show's book writer Winnie Holzman and screenwriter Dana Fox, smartly builds out elements glossed over in the bustling second act of the theatrical production. The film features dynamic action sequences, heavy-handed flashbacks, and two new songs, one for Academy Award nominee Cynthia Erivo and another for Academy Award nominee Ariana Grande-Butera (as she's credited). Now, some of this certainly plays as filler. But much of it bolsters Chu's cinematic vision of this reimagined Oz. 

Once again the double act of Erivo and Grande sets a dizzyingly high bar, one that will thrill movie audiences and inspire generations of theater kids to defy gravity of their own.

Wicked: For Good paints a dystopia — but with brighter colors. Credit: Universal Pictures

Critics of Chu's first Wicked (me included) jeered the toned-down colors of Emerald City and the plethora of poppies. For much of Wicked: For Good, he's course corrected — or color corrected — to better revel in the vibrant hues of Nathan Crowley's meticulous production design and Paul Tazewell's glistening costumes of Oz. Elphaba's black robes strike a sharper contrast in visuals and tone against the emerald of the Wizard's realm and the princessy pinks of Glinda's garb. As the film gets emotionally darker for its heroines, Chu gives over to the gray again, seemingly covering the film in a dull veil that frustratingly obscures the focus and faces of his stars. However, there are still many opportunities for them to stand out. 

Wicked: For Good picks up with the not-so-wonderful Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) using enslaved, near-voiceless animals as beasts of burden to construct the Yellow Brick Road, while sneering human guards whip the critters without mercy. Naturally, Elphaba (Erivo) soars in, pulling off a superhero landing to free her fellow Ozians and scare off the violent guards, unavoidably feeding into the Wizard's smear campaign that has her as Oz's public enemy #1. 

Featured Video For You How director Jon M. Chu made 'Wicked'

Back in the glittering glory of Emerald City, Glinda (Grande-Butera) is a celebrated public figure being gifted her famous mechanized bubble, courtesy of a scowling Madam Morrible (Michelle Yeoh). Such whimsical transport will help complete the masquerade that Glinda the Good (as she's been branded) possesses incredible magic. And to complete the picture, the Wizard and Morrible have plotted a marriage between their poster girl and their debonair Captain of the Guard Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey). 

While Elphaba fights single-handedly for the freedom of animals and the overturning of the Wizard's regime of lies, she suffers the heartache of having lost her best friend, her beau, and her connection to her sister, Nessa (Marissa Bode). In For Good, she reconnects with each, making sparks and spells fly, resulting in the turns very familiar to fans of The Wizard of Oz. 

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-Butera are spectacular in Wicked: For Good.  Credit: Universal Pictures

With the first film, Erivo was unconvincing as an insecure ingénue. Her strong physicality and booming vocals are better suited to Wicked's second half, where Elphaba has metaphorically found her voice. Here, Erivo channels a radiant intensity into every step, every lyric, and every glare. 

Grande-Butera is her pitch-perfect foil. Where Elphaba's attitude reflects the darkness overtaking Oz, Glinda's bubbliness mirrors the citizens' blithe and oblivious attitude toward their Wizard dictator. In terms of balancing comedy and drama, Erivo and Grande-Butera work as a terrific team. Erivo broods and belts, while Grande-Butera bubbles and…also belts.

Even within the grimmer turns this sequel takes, Grande-Butera finds in-character moments for lightness and comedy. The "tap to bubble" bit teased in trailers is undeniable fun. But even as Glinda lays down heavy truths, Grande-Butera finds notes of "dumb blonde" bounciness that enrich without distracting. 

Credit: Universal Pictures

When these two friends and foes face off in a physical fight, there's an emotional charge but a comic tone, as they fight not like powerful witches, but like frenemies ready to rip each other's hair out. (Think when Colin Firth and Hugh Grant fight in Bridget Jones's Diary.) 

It almost goes without saying that both Erivo and Grande-Butera crush the vocals, not only for the well-known Wicked numbers, but also for the Elphaba song "No Place Like Home" and Glinda's "The Girl in the Bubble." However, neither song is as strong as those from the Broadway soundtrack. 

Wicked: For Good goes surprisingly hard into the darkest turns.  Credit: Universal Pictures

Fans of Gregory Maguire's novel or the long-running Broadway musical that was born from it won't be surprised by the revealed origins of Dorothy and her Yellow Brick Road-trekking friends. However, they might still marvel at the costume and makeup transformations that bring these iconic figures to life anew. (Save for the Cowardly Lion, voiced by a theatrically trembling Colman Domingo, who is a fluffy CGI gesture.) 

Ethan Slater brings a sharp viciousness to cursed Munchkin Boq, while his Nessa finds her inner wicked witch. As for Bailey, he is every inch the dashing hero when the script calls for it. But it's a love scene with Erivo that will have fans swooning — and likely launch untold crushes. (That Chu has this strapping man baring his chest hair and rocking some rolled-up shirt sleeves suggests the director understands female desire better than scads of his peers.) Even after a fateful transformation, Fiyero is a charmer. Simply put, Bailey is living up to his recently earned Sexiest Man Alive title — even when his vocal range seems strained by the demands of a duet opposite Erivo. 

Elsewhere, Yeoh is satisfyingly snarling as the vicious Morrible. Goldblum is beguiling as the Wizard, but admittedly one-note, choosing to play the "corn-fed" villain as dedicatedly decorous even in the face of his darkest secrets. Fans of the comedic treasure that was the team-up of Bowen Yang and Bronwyn James will be disappointed, as their Pfannee and Shenshen appear in only one brief sequence. (They do get laughs though!) Overall, the ensemble is good as gold. 

Where Wicked: For Good fumbles is in its insistence to look back. The new song numbers give the audience a deeper insight into the internal struggles of Elphaba and Glinda. The flashbacks, however, are indulgences. One features a small army of adorably dressed children in an insufferably simplistic explanation of why Glinda would lie to please people — as if that wasn't clear by this point in the story. The other flashback is more useful because the show has been split into two parts, so it's helpful in connecting a potentially lost thread. But this sequence also features a CGI de-aging that is distractingly poor. These moments highlight how Chu is struggling to pace the final chapter of his Wicked adaptation. But none ruin the fun, just the flow. 

In the end, Wicked: For Good is sure to enthrall fans of the Broadway show, the first movie, and just about anyone who loves a splashy movie musical. Despite its faults, it's still good. 

Wicked: For Good opens in theaters on Nov. 21. 

TL;DR: Live stream Brazil vs. Tunisia in an International Friendly for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

World Cup qualification is already sorted for Brazil, but now it's time to build some momentum and test out new lineups ahead of the main event. Fresh from beating Senegal 1-0 in their last International Friendly, Brazil now face Tunisia in Lille. We're expecting an entertaining tussle between two talented sides.

If you want to watch Brazil vs. Tunisia in an International Friendly for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Brazil vs. Tunisia?

Brazil vs. Tunisia kicks off at 7:30 p.m. GMT on Nov. 18. This fixture takes place at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

How to watch Brazil vs. Tunisia for free

Brazil vs. Tunisia is available to live stream for free on ITVX+.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access free live streams on ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Lve stream Brazil vs. Tunisia for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Stream Brazil vs. Tunisia for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Brazil vs. Tunisia without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select games before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also 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 $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Brazil vs. Tunisia for free with ExpressVPN.

It's that time of the year again. The time to complete any remaining DIY projects before the cold winter months arrive, and to take advantage of holiday shopping events. Now is the perfect time to buy new power tools or battery packs, especially if you're a fan of DeWalt. Home Depot's popular sale is back, and here's what you need to know.

Meta is continuing its crackdown on copycat content.

The company is introducing a new tool for Facebook Reels creators that protects creators' content from being reposted from other accounts without permission.

On Monday, Meta announced a tool called content protection, which helps users "safeguard your reels and maintain control over your creative work." It's located in the Professional dashboard in the Facebook app, and currently the only users who are eligible for the tool are creators in the Facebook Content Monetization program "who meet enhanced integrity and originality standards." Users can check to see if they're eligible in their Feed, Professional dashboard, and profile.

"Your original work is your voice, and you should have the tools to protect it," Meta said in a press release about the change. "That's why we built content protection — a powerful yet simple new tool in your Professional dashboard in the Facebook app that helps you safeguard your reels and maintain control over your creative work. It’s part of our ongoing focus this year to help authentic creators break through on Facebook."

Once users enroll in content protection, they allow their reels to be scanned by the same matching technology as Meta's Rights Manager for matches. If the tool detects matches — be that full or partial — Facebook will notify the creator, who can review the content and decide to take action or not.

If the user decides to take action, they can choose to either track, block, or release. Tracking is the default setting and keeps the matching reel visible, but the user can stay informed about its performance.

"You can always revisit and take a different action at any time," Meta said about the tracking option. "You can also add attribution links to select eligible tracked matches on Facebook, which puts an 'original by' label on the reel that links back to your Page or Profile."

Users can also block, which makes the matching reel not visible without taking disciplinary action against the other account, or users can release their claim. They can also grant permission to certain accounts to use their content, which adds them to an "allow list" and makes it so that their matching content won't be flagged.

This is all part of an ongoing attempt from Meta to stop copycat creators. In July, the company said it took down 10 million profiles impersonating other content creators and "took action on" 500,000 accounts engaged in spammy behavior.