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100+ of the best Black Friday gaming deals: Score epic deals on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC

Mashable - Fri, 11/28/2025 - 18:27
The best Black Friday gaming deals at a glance Best Xbox deal Xbox Elite Series 2 Core Wireless Gaming Controller $139.99 (save $60) Get Deal Best PlayStation deal PlayStation 5 Disc Edition Console (Slim) $449.00 (save $100.99) Get Deal Best Nintendo deal 8Bitdo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller for Switch/Switch 2 $55.99 (save $14) Get Deal Best PC gaming deal Thermaltake LCGS View u2880-380 Gaming Desktop (Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080, 32GB DDR5 RAM, 2TB SSD) $2899.99 (Save $300) Get Deal Best Black Friday PS5 bundle deal PlayStation VR2 Horizon Call of The Mountain Bundle $299 (Save $100.99) Get Deal

Black Friday is jam-packed with gaming deals, and we're not just talking about actual games. Consoles, controllers, headsets, extra storage, gaming PCs, gaming laptops, and more are all fair game at this time of year. If you're looking to upgrade your battle station or add to your backlog, Black Friday is the best time to do it. There's a ridiculous number of live Black Friday gaming deals to consider.

SEE ALSO: 85+ Black Friday deals: We found record-low prices on AirPods, MacBooks, Samsung TVs, and Kindles

And it's important to note that this isn't the end of the line. Make sure to bookmark this page as we'll be updating this article through Cyber Monday on Dec. 1. Let's get straight into it:

Best Black Friday Xbox deal Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Xbox Elite Series 2 Core Wireless Gaming Controller $139.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $60   Get Deal Why we like it

While we're seeing price hikes across the board at camp Xbox, their best-in-class premium controller, the Elite Series 2 Core, is currently $60 off. It's one of the cheapest ways to get a modular controller that does the job on Xbox Series consoles and PC.

More Black Friday Xbox dealsXbox controllersXbox headsetsXbox gamesBest Black Friday PlayStation deal Opens in a new window Credit: PlayStation PlayStation 5 Disc Edition Console (slim) $449 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $100.99   Get Deal Why we like it

PlayStation has quite a few exciting Black Friday deals, but if you've been hoping to get a new console ahead of the holidays, now's a great time to do it. Amazon's slashed $100.99 off the price of the PlayStation 5 slim disc edition console, bringing its price down from $549.99 to $449.

With this 1TB console, you'll be all set to play a wide variety of games over the holidays. It even comes with Astro's Playroom pre-installed, which is a delightful game to jump into right away! And with GTA 6 expected to arrive next year, what better time to grab a new console to play one of the biggest games of all time?

More Black Friday PlayStation dealsPlayStation consolesPlayStation headsetsPlayStation gamesBest Black Friday Nintendo deal Opens in a new window Credit: 8Bitdo 8Bitdo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller for Switch/Switch 2 $55.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $14.00   Get Deal Why we like it

This has replaced my Pro Controller when playing my Nintendo Switch 2. The buttons are nice and clicky, the RGB thumbsticks are a nice touch, and it feels great to hold. It carries the same minimalist aesthetic of Nintendo controllers, but feels more tactile. Plus, with the added discount and an included charging dock, you should be considering this controller for Nintendo Switch 1/2 and even PC.

More Black Friday Nintendo dealsNintendo gamesNintendo controllersBest Black Friday PC gaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Thermaltake Thermaltake LCGS View u2880-380 Gaming Desktop (Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080, 32GB DDR5 RAM, 2TB SSD) $2,899.99 at Amazon
$3,199.99 Save $300   Get Deal Why we like it

As a quick rule of thumb, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 is the sweet spot for gaming rigs in 2025, smashing out 4K 60FPS performance at a minimum and having DLSS 4 to crank extra frames on lower spec builds overall.

This build rocks an RTX 5080 with a solid CPU, 32GB DDR5 RAM (16GB is enough for high-spec gaming right now), and a spacious 2TB M.2 SSD. It's a beastly gaming rig and is $300 off, bringing this build to $2,899.99. I've also found some more great deals on pre-built gaming PCs, gaming laptops, mice, keyboards, and headsets. If you need something for your loadout, it's here.

More Black Friday PC gaming dealsPrebuilt Gaming PCsGaming laptopsGaming monitorsGaming keyboardsGaming miceGaming headsetsGaming wheelBest Black Friday PS5 bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sony PlayStation VR2 Horizon Call of The Mountain Bundle $299 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $100.99   Get Deal Why we like it

If you’re looking to go the whole digital hog this Black Friday, the PlayStation VR2 Horizon Call of the Mountain Bundle is most certainly that: VR2 headset, Horizon Call of the Mountain game, and PS VR2 Sense controllers.

In gaming terms, it really is another world. But it’s a little more accessible to everyone for Black Friday thanks to a competitive markdown of over $100. That means the whole bundle is just $299.99 for the immersive 4K visuals, 110º field of view, and ultra-intuitive controls with haptic feedback — all of which make you feel like you really are right there in the action.

More Black Friday VR deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

You’re not alone: A popular Android TV app has been pulled from devices

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/28/2025 - 18:25

This morning, I turned on my TV and was surprised to find my favorite YouTube app had vanished from the home screen. SmartTube, which is a popular app with tons of personalization settings, has been removed by Google due to a security concern—but a new version is available.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 new Excel features to try in December 2025

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/28/2025 - 18:16

In recent weeks, Microsoft has focused on broadening AI capabilities in Excel, modernizing the program's interface, and speeding up your spreadsheet workflow. Here are four new features to look out for this December.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This one common SSD mistake is secretly ruining your gaming performance

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/28/2025 - 18:01

It doesn't matter if you have a beastly GPU and a fantastic CPU. If your SSD is struggling, so will your entire PC.

Categories: IT General, Technology

22 Black Friday deals on Amazon that beat Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Kohls

Mashable - Fri, 11/28/2025 - 17:56

It is my firmest belief that the best Black Friday deals don't exist in a vacuum. Major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and Kohl's love to price-match each other during their concurrent holiday sales. So when one of them actually manages to one-up its peers with an exclusive discount, it's worth shouting about.

After spending literal days poring over retailers' Black Friday listings, I've stumbled upon nearly two dozen deals on 4K TVs, headphones, smart gadgets, video games, and other items that are at their cheapest on Amazon. In some cases, it's beating other retailers' offers by as little as one to four cents. (That counts, but it's mostly a technicality.) In other instances, items are $10 to $207 cheaper when purchased from Amazon — those are instant add-to-cartables.

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

In doing my research, I had four rules for eligibility (I'm picky):

  1. Amazon has to be beating the other retailers' prices on the item. If they're price-matching each other, Amazon has to throw in something that makes its deal better (like a free credit), or the other retailer's deal has to be sold out.

  2. The other retailer has to stock the item in the same color or configuration as Amazon.

  3. The item has to be tagged as a Black Friday deal by Amazon or its competitor.

  4. The item can't be sold by a sketchy third-party seller at Amazon or its competitor. It's got to be coming from the retailers themselves or a verified brand's store page.

I'll keep adding to my list as I encounter more better-than-elsewhere deals on Amazon, so keep checking back throughout Cyber Weekend.

4K TVs Opens in a new window Credit: Insignia Insignia 55-inch F50 Series 4K UHD Smart Fire TV $189 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $160.99 99 cents cheaper than Best Buy. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 55-inch QM6K Series Mini-LED QLED 4K TV $397.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $402 $2 cheaper than Best Buy, Target, and Costco, and one cent cheaper than Walmart. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 55-inch U7 Series Mini LED 4K TV $497.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $802 $2 cheaper than Best Buy. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 65-inch QM7K Series Mini LED QLED 4K TV $797.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $702 $2 cheaper than Best Buy and one cent cheaper than Walmart. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-inch S7 Series CanvasTV 4K QLED TV $849.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $450 $50 cheaper than Best Buy. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 65-inch The Frame Pro LS03FW 4K Neo QLED Mini LED TV $1,597.99 at Amazon
$2,199.99 Save $602.00 Matches Abt but includes free $98 Amazon credit. $2 cheaper than Best Buy and Samsung. Get Deal Laptops Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 13.8-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD), platinum $869.99 at Amazon
$1,399.99 Save $530 $130 cheaper than Best Buy and the Microsoft Store. Get Deal Headphones and earbuds Opens in a new window Credit: Sennheiser Sennheiser Accentum True Wireless Earbuds $89.95 at Amazon
$219.95 Save $130 $10.04 cheaper than Best Buy with on-page coupon. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 with ANC $99.99 at Amazon
$179 Save $79.01 Matches Target, but sold out there. $10 cheaper than Walmart and $40 cheaper than Best Buy. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sennheiser Sennheiser Accentum Wireless Headphones $99.95 at Amazon
$189.95 Save $90.00 Four cents cheaper than Best Buy. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones $248
$399.99 Save $151.99 Matches Best Buy but includes free $30 Amazon credit with code SONYX30. Get Deal Bluetooth speakers Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony ULT Field 5 $194.95 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $155.04 $5.04 cheaper than Best Buy and Sony, and $155.04 cheaper than Target. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony ULT Tower 9 $798 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $101.99 $1.99 cheaper than Best Buy and $50 cheaper than Target. Get Deal Smart devices Opens in a new window Credit: Hatch Hatch Restore 3 $134.29 at Amazon
$169.99 Save $35.70 $5.70 cheaper than Target and Hatch Sleep. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ray-Ban / Meta Ray-Ban Meta AI Glasses (Gen 1), Wayfarer, Shiny Black $238.99 at Amazon
$299 Save $60.01 21 cents cheaper than Best buy, Ray-Ban, and Meta. Get Deal Unlocked phones Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25 FE (128GB), Icyblue $442.49 at Amazon
$649.99 Save $207.50 $32.50 cheaper than Best Buy and Samsung, and $207.51 cheaper than Walmart. Get Deal Beauty tech Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark FlexFusion Air & Ceramic Styling System $289 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $60.99 99 cents cheaper than Best Buy and $60.99 cheaper than Walmart. Get Deal Video games Opens in a new window Credit: 2K Games "NBA 2K26" (PS5) $22.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $47 $7 cheaper than Best Buy and Target, and $7.01 cheaper than Walmart. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bandai Namco Entertainment "Elden Ring Nightreign" (PS5) $24.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $15.00 $5 cheaper than Best Buy and $4.94 cheaper than Walmart. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Electronic Arts "EA Sports College Football 26" (PS5) $27.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $42 $2 cheaper than Best Buy and Target, and $2.01 cheaper than Walmart. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Electronic Arts "Battlefield 6" (PS5) $35 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $34.99 $24.99 cheaper than Best Buy and Target, and $24.88 cheaper than Walmart. Get Deal Lego sets Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Icons Pac-Mac Arcade $188.99 at Amazon
$269.99 Save $81 Matches Best Buy and Target, but sold out there. $27 cheaper than Kohl's, $56 cheaper than Walmart, and $81 cheaper than the Lego Store. Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

3 musicals on Netflix to sing along with this weekend (November 28 - 30)

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/28/2025 - 17:55

Drama and action movies are the go-to genres, fine. But sometimes you don't just want a movie—you want a full-on spectacle. Musicals aren't for everyone, I get it. But Netflix actually has a great selection of some of the better ones I've seen recently. They're big on emotion and can often be dark and serious, but they also excel at eye-popping set pieces and stories that are magical and surreal.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Ditch subscriptions with Botslab's home security discounts this Black Friday

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/28/2025 - 17:53

There’s no shortage of smart-home security options on the market, but products range from basic and barely functional to high-tech and astronomically priced. The far ends of the spectrum come with too many trade-offs, but shrewd consumers know that there’s a sweet spot. High-tech smart-home brand Botslab hits that middle ground with affordable, high-end smart-home products powered by AI — without subscriptions or paywalled features.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 Netflix shows you need to binge this weekend (November 28 - 30)

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/28/2025 - 17:36

As we enter the final weekend of November and the days get shorter (for those of you in the Northern Hemisphere), now is the perfect time to hunker down and watch some quality entertainment on Netflix.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Black Friday earbuds deals: Shop the latest price drops on AirPods, Sony, and Bose earbuds

Mashable - Fri, 11/28/2025 - 17:34

Though we've been seeing great deals all month, Black Friday proper has only just arrived. And with it, the best deals of the season.

While we saw some early Black Friday earbuds deals last week, Thanksgiving week has brought plenty more record prices, with Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target hosting sales. Walmart and Amazon have the Apple AirPods 4 down to a new record-low of $69, Walmart has the AirPods Pro 2 down to $139, and Amazon brought back its classic $35 Echo Buds with ANC deal (and it's already sold out). More premium releases are on sale too: The new second-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are down to a record-low of $216, and the Panasonic Technics EAH-AZ100 are getting a rare markdown, hitting their lowest price ever at $222.99.

Best Black Friday earbuds deals at a glance: Best noise-cancelling earbuds deal Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2nd gen) $216 (save $83) Get Deal Best open earbuds deal Shokz OpenDot One $139.95 at Amazon (save $60) Get Deal Best sleep earbuds Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 $107.99 at Amazon (save $72) Get Deal Best AirPods Deal Apple AirPods 4 $69 (save $60) Get Deal Best Sony Earbuds Deal Sony WF-C710N $78 (save $51.99) Get Deal Budget Pick Raycon Everyday Earbuds $55.99 (save $24) Get Deal SEE ALSO: Mashable will send the best Black Friday deals directly to your phone — how it works

In this story, you'll find the best Black Friday deals on earbuds, including noise-cancelling earbuds, sleep earbuds, and sports buds. We'll continue updating this post through Cyber Monday, so check back if you're looking for more earbuds savings.

Best noise-cancelling earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2nd gen) $216 at Amazon
$299 Save $83   Get Deal Why we like it

The second-gen Bose QC Ultra earbuds dropped this past September and got their first discount by the end of the same month, with a nearly $42 price cut. When we saw they dropped to $249 in November, we weren't sure we'd get an even lower price on Black Friday, but as sales kicked off in earnest, the black and desert gold colorways went down to $216, a new record-low price. The desert gold option has already sold out, but the black colorway is still going strong. With their rich sound, excellent noise cancellation, and nearly unbeatable comfort, they're certainly a premium earbud, but on sale, an absolutely great value.

Read our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2nd gen).

More noise-cancelling earbuds dealsBest open earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shokz Shokz OpenDots One $139.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $60   Get Deal Why we like it

The Shokz OpenDots One are Mashable's favorite open earbuds for most people, but they can be tricky to catch on sale, making them the perfect Black Friday purchase. In his review, Mashable contributor Alex Bracetti sang their praises, noting the sound quality that rivaled the more expensive Bose Ultra Open earbuds (also on sale), the 10 hours of battery life per charge, and great touch controls (which are not to be underrated, especially if you plan on using these earbuds while exercising).

Read our full review of the Shokz OpenDots One.

More open earbuds dealsBest sleep earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds $107.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $72.00   Get Deal Why we like it

The Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds aren't your only viable option for sleep earbuds, but at this sale price of $107.99, they may be the best value. While the newer A30 buds (also on sale) offer ANC and some white noise features, we don't think they necessarily justify a $72 price difference, making the A30 buds firmly an upgrade option, and the A20 buds the best option for most people. Even with just the passive noise cancellation, they were able to block standard nighttime sounds like noisy neighbors, street noise, and AC units. They're especially great if you plan on streaming audio.

More sleep earbuds dealsEven more Black Friday earbuds deals

Check out more Black Friday headphones deals live now.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The most reliable Japanese sports car available for under $25,000

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/28/2025 - 17:30

If you’ve always wanted a fun, lightweight sports car but assumed reliability and affordability were out of reach, the used market says otherwise. For well under $25,000, there’s a Japanese-built two-seater that has quietly become one of the most dependable performance cars you can buy. It delivers the kind of open-air driving experience enthusiasts love, yet it’s also cheap to run, easy to maintain, and built to last hundreds of thousands of miles.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Toyota’s halo V8 supercar set to stun fans on December 5

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/28/2025 - 17:23

Toyota’s done something crazy. That wild GR GT3 Concept from the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon is now hitting the streets as a real car—and it finally has a name: the GR GT.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This Wi-Fi 7 ASUS Router can run Docker and Home Assistant

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/28/2025 - 17:19

ASUS has released a new high-end router with tri-band Wi-Fi 7 support, up to 31 Gigabits of wired bandwidth, and the ability to run Docker containers. It's also billed as "the world's first AI router," because it's 2025 and everything needs AI.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These 5 infuriating connectors deserve a place in tech hell

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/28/2025 - 17:16

You're only a true geek if you have a huge box or drawer full of cables that you don't actually need but are keeping on the off chance. Not every cable is created equal, however. There are some cables that have connectors that are so frustrating they should be banished to tech hell forever.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Best Buys website went down on Black Friday: What happened?

Mashable - Fri, 11/28/2025 - 17:16

UPDATE: Nov. 28, 2025, 11:50 a.m. The website is "up and running as normal," according to posts from the Best Buy Support X account. In delayed responses to concerned users, support staff said site issues could potentially be caused by the use of a VPN or overloaded browser caches. Users, meanwhile, reported multiple types of errors, slow pages, and inaccessible password reset options across the site and app. Support staff recommended shoppers clear their cache or DM the Best Buy Support account for any continued issues.

Amid a flurry of tech sales and customers flocking to the internet to score big, Best Buy's website has seemingly called it quits, with users reporting multiple outages as they try to cash in on Black Friday deals. Might be time to head to the app, except our shopping reporters had problems with that, too.

SEE ALSO: 160+ Amazon Black Friday deals: Find record-low prices on AirPods, Kindles, Lego, and LG TVs Credit: Mashable screenshot / DownDetector This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Users took to social media to complain about the inconvenient website crash while trying to capitalize on viral iPad steals and huge doorbuster deals on things like QLED 4K TVs and Windows laptops — hot commodities during the post-Thanksgiving shopping craze. "Did Best Buy’s website crash or did they truly sell out of every single iPad? I hate Black Friday," wrote one X user.

Credit: Mashable screenshot / Best Buy

According to Down Detector, shoppers first started reporting outages around 9:40 a.m. ET. One hour later, the graph has steeply spiked, with more than 1,000 users escalating issues with the Best Buy site. Around 80 percent of the reports flag issues with Best Buy's desktop website, while only 12 percent of users reported issues with Best Buy's mobile app. (Disclosure: Ziff Davis owns both Mashable and Down Detector.)

Where is the GeekSquad when you need them?

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. SEE ALSO: 130+ best Black Friday deals: We found record prices on Apple Watches, OLED TVs, Legos, and Kindles
Categories: IT General, Technology

It’s time to admit you can swap out internal rechargeable batteries yourself

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/28/2025 - 17:00

I’ve been conditioned to believe that opening up gadgets is the domain of experts and professionals. But the idea that the simple act of changing a battery is beyond the realm of mere mortals like you and me is a lie.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get a Black Friday saving on the Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Booster Box

Mashable - Fri, 11/28/2025 - 16:46

SAVE almost $40: As of Nov. 28, the Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Booster Play Box is on sale for $169.95 in the Amazon Black Friday sale. That's a saving of $39.75 from the list price of $209.70.

Opens in a new window Credit: Wizards of the Coast Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Booster Play Box $164 at Amazon
$209.70 Save $45.70   Get Deal

There’s plenty to get excited about this Black Friday for fans of Magic: The Gathering and the popular Final Fantasy crossover. We’ve spotted some great MTG Final Fantasy deals while searching all the best discounts on Amazon. One such deal is on this Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Booster Play Box.

Individual MTG Final Fantasy Commander Decks Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy VI Commander Deck - Revival Trance $39.49 ($30.50) Get Deal Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy XIV Commander Deck - Scions & Spellcraft $42.99 ($27) Get Deal Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy X Commander Deck - Counter Blitz $47.96 ($22.03) Get Deal Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy VII Commander Deck - Limit Break 56.99 ($13) Get Deal

The Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Booster Play Box is currently marked down to $169.95, which is an overall saving of $39.75 from the regular list price of $209.70.

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This box contains 30 booster packs, each of which includes 14 MTG cards and one token/ad card or art card. That's a total of 420 MTG cards. And each booster pack contains 1–4 cards of rarity "rare" or higher, plus at least one card with a shiny Traditional Foil treatment.

SEE ALSO: 100+ Black Friday deals: We found record-low prices on AirPods, MacBooks, Samsung TVs, Kindles, and Ninja

For more trading card deals on Black Friday, get $65 off 30 Magic: The Gathering Spider-Man boosters. For Pokémon fans, there are big TCG deals at our Pokémon Black Friday homepage, including cards, Nintendo Switch games, toys, and plenty more. 

Get the Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Booster Play Box for $169.95 in the Amazon Black Friday sale.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Black Friday headphones deals to shop now: Apple, Bose, and Sony at best prices ever

Mashable - Fri, 11/28/2025 - 16:39
Best Black Friday headphones and earbuds deals Best noise-cancelling headphones deal Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones $248 (save $151.99) Get Deal Best noise-cancelling earbuds deal Panasonic Technics EAH-AZ100 $222.99 (save $77) Get Deal Best deal under $100 Sony WH-CH720N $88 (save $91.99) Get Deal Best budget deal JLab JBuds Lux ANC $27 (save $52.99) Get Deal Best AirPods deal Apple AirPods 4 $69 (save $60) Get Deal

I pretty much spend every day I'm at work testing out headphones and earbuds, which means I've become well-versed in which headphones are actually worth your money.

This year has been an especially noteworthy year for headphones, with flagship releases from Sony, Bose, and Bowers & Wilkins. Flagship headphones are often the ones that get recommended on best of lists — ours included — but considering the new norm for a starting price is $449, they're not exactly the most affordable choice out there. Enter: Black Friday, when tech deals abound.

SEE ALSO: Mashable will send the best Black Friday deals directly to your phone — how it works

I've spotted some especially noteworthy headphones and earbuds price drops for Black Friday — all of which Mashable has recommended in some capacity. In this case, a noteworthy deal is not simply something on sale. In fact, I've only selected deals that are actually great Black Friday deals (and not easy to grab on sale at other times of the year).

For instance, I didn't add the second-generation Bose QC Ultra earbuds to this list when they were on sale for $249 — they hit that price in September, and have returned to it since (before Black Friday deals kicked off). However, for Black Friday, they've dipped down to $216, making them a deal worth mentioning as truly one of the best.

Now that Black Friday is officially here, plenty of headphones are down to record-low prices. I've been scouring the savings to come up with this selection of the 15 best headphones and earbuds deals live for Black Friday.

One of the most comfortable pairs of noise-cancelling headphones Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones $299 at Amazon
$429 Save $130   Get Deal at Amazon

The first time I put the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones on, I knew they were the most comfortable headphones I'd ever worn (Mashable's Samantha Mangino had a similar experience). That belief became even firmer over years of use (and testing them against new competitors). Although the new second-generation headphones feel ever so slightly more comfortable, the originals still hold up.

SEE ALSO: We tested every pair of Bose headphones and earbuds. We found 5 we love, and 1 to buy on sale.

On sale for $299, they're a much better value than the $449 second-gen Ultras. Their main quirks include no passive playback and the occasional difficulty pairing to more than one device. However, when I compared them directly against their newer counterpart, I found the ANC and sound to be very similar. This is a great deal, and people are taking notice — these headphones have already sold out at Amazon in a couple of colorways.

Earbuds designed for quiet and long wear time Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2nd gen) $249 at Amazon
$299 Save $50   Get Deal at Amazon

As I mentioned in the intro, despite being a relatively new release, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2nd gen) have gone on sale a couple of times, dropping down to $249 in select colorways. For Black Friday, the black colorway has dropped to a record-low price of $216.

SEE ALSO: Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds 2 are one of the best noise-cancelling earbuds available, but not a must-upgrade

I get that, sale or not, over $200 is a hefty investment for a pair of earbuds. To that, I would say if you're someone looking for something you can wear all day, and prioritize top-of-the-line noise cancellation above all else, these earbuds will be worth it for you. The fit keeps them secure without causing soreness, and helps seal you into a place of quiet that, along with the ANC, rivals many over-ear headphones I've tested.

Bose's latest flagship headphones Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (2nd gen) $399 at Amazon
$449 Save $50   Get Deal at Amazon

While the QC Ultras are one of the most comfortable pairs of headphones out there, the second-generation QuietComfort Ultra headphones take the top spot. They also come with some nice quality of life upgrades, including a 30-hour battery life, passive playback support, lossless audio support with the USB-C cable, and an upgrade to their design with new colorways and a shiny metal accent. They're maybe not upgrade-worthy if you already own the first-gen headphones, but if it's your first foray into the QC Ultra line, grabbing these headphones for their price drop drop ever (and a pretty solid one at that) is a smart buy.

Sony headphones that still sound incredible Sony WH-1000XM5 $248 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $151.99   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Amazon

The thing about Sony flagship headphones is that they're going to sound incredible. With the release of the XM6s, the WH-1000XM5 headphones are the former flagship headphones, but their sound profile remains one of the best in the game. I particularly like the "find your equalizer" feature that guides the less audiophile inclined among us through the process of finding their perfect custom EQ sound, which really helps these headphones shine. More generally speaking, when I tested the XM6s and XM5s head-to-head, I didn't find any huge discrepancies in performance. Plus, the XM6s got a $50 price bump to their list price, meaning that even if they were to get a $50 price drop over Black Friday (a markdown we've only spotted once before), they'll still be $150 more than the XM5s at this price point.

And Sony's latest flagship headphones Sony WH-1000XM6 $0 at Amazon
  Get Deal at Amazon

While these are still $150 more than the XM5s, it is worth mentioning that the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones are down to their lowest price ever at $398. It's certainly possible that their price will drop even further next week, but I've also seen Sony stick to their initial discounts in past shopping holidays. If you want the best sound Sony (and most brands, tbh) has to offer, industry-leading ANC, and ear cups that fold in (a convenient feature for travelers), then the XM6s are an excellent choice. In his review, Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth wrote, "if you want best-in-class noise-cancelling headphones and pristine audio quality, the headphones deliver."

Mid-range headphones for under $100 Sony WH-CH720N $88 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $91.99   See It at Amazon

Noise-cancelling headphones with great sound quality from a reputable brand don't need to cost several hundred dollars, and the Sony WH-CH720N are proof of exactly that. Mashable named them Sony's best headphones under $100, with Mashable contributor Alex Bracetti singing their praises after two years of use. He deemed their sound quality "near flagship" level, and was impressed by the 35 hours of battery life with ANC on, which beats out the current flagship models of both Bose and Sony.

Though you can often find them on sale for $98 (a feat on its own, considering their $179.99 list price), it's slightly less common to find them on sale for $88, making this a great deal on Black Friday. As an added bonus, the pink colorway is more unique than you might find from other budget headphones options under $100.

The best sounding open earbuds Bose Ultra Open earbuds $199 at Amazon
$299 Save $100   Get Deal at Amazon

Open earbuds are great if you prefer staying somewhat aware of the world around you, but in my experience, that can come in the form of less-than-stellar sound quality. In the case of the Bose Ultra Open earbuds, you get the best of both worlds. I suspect that's a large part of the reason behind their $299 price tag (which admittedly feels more appropriate for noise-cancelling earbuds). That's why I recommend them as an upgrade pick for open earbuds, and why I'm an especially big fan of this $100 off deal. In addition to their surprisingly rich sound, I especially like their small charging case, smartly placed on-ear controls, comfortable clip-on design, and many options for colorways.

Excellent mid-range noise-cancelling earbuds Bose QuietComfort earbuds $129 at Amazon
$179 Save $50   Get Deal at Amazon

Rounding out my picks is maybe the most underrated Bose product — the QuietComfort earbuds. Though their design isn't the most elegant, that's pretty much where their underwhelming features end. For starters, these earbuds have incredible battery life — in my weeks of testing them, I rarely had to charge them, and easily squeezed in a five-hour day of use, with ANC on and battery life to spare.

Sound and noise-cancellation-wise, they don't wow quite as much as the QC Ultra earbuds, but they're also significantly cheaper, even at full price. For their $129 sale price, they're less than half the price of the premium earbuds, and I promise, their performance doesn't reflect that. If I had to put a number to it, I'd say there's more of a $50 to $75 performance discrepancy between the two earbuds, which is why we've named these the best mid-budget earbuds currently on the market. Though we've seen them drop to $129 before, it is their lowest price ever, still making this a great grab on Black Friday.

A budget-friendly favorite at an unbeatable price Opens in a new window Credit: JLab JLab JBuds Lux ANC headphones $27 at Walmart
$79.99 Save $52.99   Get Deal

I don't know if it's possible a more affordable headphones deal will pop up this Black Friday. The JLab JBuds Lux ANC headphones, already a solid value at full price, are an even better value at their usual sale price of about $40, and a downright steal at this new Black Friday price (and new record low) of $27. This beats Amazon's deal by over $12 and last year's Black Friday pricing by $2. When I tested these headphones, I was surprised by their battery life, along with how solid their sound and ANC performed, as well as the extensive customizability on their app. Mashable's Haley Henschel owns these headphones, and appreciates their comfort. They're our favorite budget headphones and one of our top picks for students for a reason.

The best earbuds for working out Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 $199.95 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $50.04   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart

When I first tried out the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, I wasn't sure I'd like them all that much, as I had trouble finding how to properly put them on with the ear hook (my colleague Sam Mangino had a similar experience). However, there's a reason they say first impressions aren't everything — after we both found the right ear tip size and got through this small learning curve, we fell in love with these earbuds. So did Mashable contributor Alex Bracetti, who gave them a Mashable Choice Award in his review.

This consensus made these an easy pick for the best earbuds for working out: though their ANC isn't the best, it's present, the ear hook keeps the buds in place without being uncomfortable, the sound is rich, the on-ear controls reliable and perfect for using mid-workout, and the built-in heart rate monitor is a convenient feature, especially if you don't already own a fitness tracker. Though they've hit this sale price before, they don't go on sale often, so I recommend grabbing them while you can.

A (better) AirPods Max alternative

Mashable loved the Beats Studio Pro when they first dropped in 2023, and after testing them again in 2025 against the rest of the Beats lineup, we found that they held up. Mashable contributor Alex Bracetti compared them to another Apple over-ear headphones, the AirPods Max, saying the Beats Studio Pro have a lot of overlap in features with AirPods, making the Beats a much better bang for your buck. The Studio Pro have better battery life (24 hours compared to the AirPods' 20), and according to Bracetti, better sound quality and similar ANC. The AirPods Max are currently on sale for $399.99, meaning you could buy two pairs of these Beats and still have money left over.

This deal in particular applies to the Beats Studio Pro x Kim Kardashian model, which at the time of writing are $20 cheaper than the regular Studio Pros' sale price (which just feature different colorway options).

Beats Studio Pro x Kim Kardashian $149.95 at Amazon
$349.95 Save $200   See It at Amazon ANC headphones with 60 hours of battery life

Many popular flagship headphones have roughly 30 hours of battery life, which makes the whopping 60 hours of battery life found on the Sennheiser Momentum 4 all the more impressive. (And yes, that's with ANC on). This feature certainly made them a standout to us, and earned them the spot of Mashable's favorite headphones with long battery life, but that wasn't the only place they wowed.

When I tested these headphones out, trying to wear down that mammoth battery life felt like marginally less of a chore because of their excellent sound quality. The ANC stood out less than competitors, and the touch controls were on the sensitive side, but the companion app added enough customizability that it was never a real problem. I also appreciate that even with both pairs on sale, these headphones are cheaper than the Dyson OnTrac headphones, their only real competition for battery life. (And in my opinion, the Sennheisers have a much more elegant design). At $199.95, these headphones are just a couple of dollars away from their lowest price ever, and in a price range I've typically only seen around the holiday season.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sennheiser Sennheiser Momentum 4 $199.95 at Amazon
$449.95 Save $250   Get Deal AirPods at a new record-low price

Indicators that Black Friday is absolutely in full swing? The price drop on the Apple AirPods 4. It was already great to see them drop down to $79 — their former lowest price ever — earlier this month, but Amazon outdid itself before Black Friday even started. These earbuds have dropped to an impressive $69, bringing them down to yet another record low. I'd be surprised if their price drops much further, so if you're an Apple user who doesn't need earbuds with ANC, it'll be hard to beat this deal.

Apple AirPods 4 $69 at Amazon
$129 Save $60   See It at Amazon See It at Walmart See It at Best Buy Solid budget earbuds

The Raycon Everyday Earbuds may have made a name for themselves through many a YouTube sponsorship, but after testing them out for myself, I can personally verify that these are really solid budget earbuds. These are the perfect option for anyone who wants the basics done well, without the hassle of any setup. They come sans companion app (and a button for Bluetooth), but they pair easily as soon as they're powered on, and can be controlled entirely by the tactile on-ear controls.

Both their sound quality and ANC are solid; they come with eight hours of charge with ANC on (the same as the AirPods Pro 3), and six gel tips for finding the perfect fit. If you're looking for budget headphones with a few more extras, the EarFun Air Pro 4 are also on sale — although they're a great value, they do drop down to this price point year-round, making them a less impressive Black Friday deal.

Opens in a new window Credit: Raycon Raycon Everyday Earbuds $55.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $24.00   Get Deal The best earbuds for sound

Maybe the biggest flaw of the Panasonic Technics EAH-AZ100 earbuds is that they rarely go on sale. With this Black Friday deal, these earbuds aren't just getting a rare price cut, but they're down to their absolute lowest price ever. In his review of the earbuds, Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth pointed to their audio quality as their standout feature, writing, "While Bose retains an edge on overall comfort, I'm not aware of any wireless earbuds in the world that offer better, fuller, more accurate sound."

In addition to the excellent sound quality, these earbuds come equipped with top-notch adaptive ANC, three-way multipoint pairing that works without a hitch, LDAC support, and a premium design with metal accents on the earbuds and case.

Opens in a new window Credit: Technics Panasonic Technics EAH-AZ100   Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

You are testing your PC performance wrong—here is the right way

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/28/2025 - 16:31

There are two ways to measure the performance of PC components: synthetic benchmarks like 3DMark or PCMark, and real-world benchmarks that test performance in games and various software using real-life scenarios. The latter's much better, here's why.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Don't throw away your old PC—it makes a better NAS than anything you can buy

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/28/2025 - 16:15

A network attached storage device (NAS) is one of the most useful things you can add to your home network, but a specialized NAS can run you hundreds of dollars just for the shell, and that is before you even buy additional hard drives for storage. If you want a large, robust NAS, you'll be on the hook for even more.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Google cuts free Nano Banana usage to twice per day amid heavy demand

Mashable - Fri, 11/28/2025 - 16:05

Access to Google's popular next gen image generator, Nano Banana, is temporarily scaling down, as the company tries to keep up with widespread demand for its AI-enhanced photos.

In a Google support document first spotted by 9to5Google, the company has dropped the number of free image prompts down to two from its previous three-prompt limit, with a note that caps "may change frequently."

SEE ALSO: 50 Black Friday tech deals I'd recommend to friends and family as a tech editor: Bose, Samsung, DJI, PS5 on sale

The same document outlines new usage limits for free users on Gemini 3 Pro, as well, with the company now bumping non-subscribers to "basic access." Google reserves the right to cap daily prompt limits at any time for basic access users, depending on traffic volume. Usage terms for Google AI Pro or AI Ultra plan subscribers remains the same.

Google's generative AI competitor, OpenAI, simultaneously restricted the number of AI-generated video prompts for free Sora users to six per day. "Our gpus are melting, and we want to let as many people access Sora as possible" said Sora head Bill Peebles in a post to X.

Nano Banana launched to widespread interest following a successful journey up the LMArena AI leaderboard in August. While it originally ran with Gemini 2.5 Flash, the model got a major Gemini 3 upgrade just last week, shortly after Google began integrating the AI tool into Google Search, NotebookLM, Google Photos, and even Google Message. Google plans to add the image generator to more products, including directly into Android's Chrome Canary search bar.

That move is in line with Google's plan to turn it's suite of products into AI-supercharged helpers, boosted by Gemini 3. The model was the first Gemini AI upgrade to roll out immediately to all Google products, including search, and was advertised as the tech giant's most advanced reasoning model yet. Upon launch, users were offered five free prompts per day. The Gemini app sees more than 650 million users per month.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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