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Facebook Marketplace is still probably the best place to buy and sell things within walking or driving distance of your home. For me, it’s the best reason to keep my Facebook account alive in 2026, but not everything listed is a bargain or even worth buying.

Amazon's Ring Robotics announced two new security devices on Tuesday: the Ring Drone Cam for residential use and the Ring Rover Cam for commercial use. Amazon also announced the release of a new tool called AI Pilot, a cloud-based tool that will power the navigation for both devices.

Ring Robotics is a division of Amazon's home security brand Ring, which makes a popular line of security cameras, video doorbells, and related products. The Ring Drone Cam is essentially a flying indoor security camera, and it's priced at $249.99 and set to be released on Jan. 27. The Ring Rover Cam is priced at $999.99, will be released on Dec. 16, and is available to pre-order now.

The Ring Rover Cam is geared toward enterprise customers, not residential use. Credit: René Ramos / CNET Group

This isn't the first time Ring has announced a flying indoor security camera, yet this is set to be the first Ring drone that will actually ship to customers. Ring previously announced home security drones in 2021 and 2025, but at a press briefing, Ring founder and chief inventor Jamie Siminoff stated that the new Ring Drone camera is fully ready to ship to customers this time. He also said the assembled-in-the-USA product is fully compliant with the Trump administration's recent ban on drones and robots made overseas.

Siminoff said that the new drone solves the problems the company faced with its earlier attempts to create drones.

The Ring Drone Cam packaging and charging dock. Credit: René Ramos / CNET Group

"As we tried to fix the edge cases that we were running into to make this work inside of a home, that would add a sensor or more processing," Siminoff explained.

"More processing and sensors had more need for power. More power, more battery. More battery, more weight. More weight, you have to spin the rotors faster. The faster you spin the rotors, the more dangerous it is. The more dangerous it is, the more you have to shroud it. The more you shroud it, the less aerodynamics, and you get into this vicious cycle, where you basically keep fixing things, which then breaks things and makes them worse."

Siminoff said the company decided at the last minute not to ship the drone announced in 2025 and ultimately redesigned the product.

Mashable attended a short demo of both products ahead of their launch, and spoke with Siminoff about the new products, how they work, and Ring customer privacy concerns.

The Ring Drone Cam The Ring Drone Camera features built-in LED spotlights for deterrence and low-light conditions. Credit: René Ramos / CNET Group

• Price: $249.99

• Release date: Jan. 27, 2027

• Availability: Sign up at Amazon for email updates

The Ring Drone Cam is a new flying indoor security camera that navigates via a new custom-built system called AI Pilot. The vision-based system relies on an internet connection to operate, though the drone can land safely if the internet cuts out mid-flight.

When a Ring Drone Cam is installed in a customer's home and connected to other Ring cameras, sensors, or alarms, it will automatically fly to investigate the potential disturbance. Siminoff explained that it can help provide an on-the-ground view of sensitive areas like bedrooms or bathrooms in case of emergency, without customers needing to install a permanent security camera.

The Ring Drone Cam ready for unboxing. Credit: René Ramos / CNET Group

The Ring Drone Cam has features such as:

• Programmable custom flight routes and patrol schedules

• Automatic response to Ring camera, sensor, and alarm alerts

• 2K video with a 148-degree field of view and the ability to rotate 360 degrees

• Five to eight-minute flight time

• Automatic take-off and landing

• Two built-in LED spotlights for low-light conditions

The Ring Drone Cam is unusually loud, particularly since it's flown in indoor environments. However, Siminoff stated that Ring considers this a feature, not a bug, as the LED spotlights and loud noise can act as a deterrent for home intruders. The drone is meant to be used while customers are away from home, though it may surprise any pets in the household.

The drone operates with the new Alexa Home Map, an interactive 3D map showing all internet-connected devices in a user's home. The new Alexa Home Map was announced at a recent October Amazon event, where the company introduced new Echo smart home products.

Ring Rover Cam The Ring Rover Cam has a periscope camera. Credit: René Ramos / CNET Group

• Price: $999.99

• Release date: Dec. 16, 2026

• Availability: Pre-order now at Amazon

For those who've followed Amazon's previous product announcements, the new Ring Rover Cam may look familiar. It shares a base with the Amazon Astro, a roving residential security robot released in 2021. Privacy experts sounded the alarm on the Astro robot at the time.

However, for the Ring Rover Cam, Siminoff said the company was specifically targeting enterprise customers with small- and medium-sized businesses.

The Rover Cam can patrol warehouses, offices, and other commercial environments after hours, through routine patrols, remote navigation, or emergency response. The Rover Cam features a periscope camera and records and streams 4K footage.

The Ring Rover Cam shoots 4K video. Credit: René Ramos / CNET Group

Unlike the Astro, the Rover Cam is a first-party Ring device that can integrate with other Ring cameras and security products.

In a press release shared with Mashable, Ring said the new roving robot is "like having a guard on patrol who never clocks out. Ring Rover can do a sweep of the floor after close and investigate when sensor trips at 2 a.m. — streaming it all to your phone, wherever you are. For a business with a lot of ground to cover, Ring Rover delivers security that moves."

What potential customers should know about privacy Ring founder and chief inventor Jamie Siminoff. Credit: René Ramos / CNET Group

Ring has a complicated history with privacy, to say the least.

Mashable has reported on Ring's repeated privacy controversies in recent years, which included a settlement with the FTC; the agency accused Ring of allowing employees and contractors to view customer security footage without their consent. Progressive critics have also taken issue with the company's work with law enforcement, although that's not unusual for a security company.

Last year, the company announced new AI security features such as Familiar Faces, which would automatically recognize trusted visitors to a user's home. However, the Electronic Frontier Foundation said at the time that the feature could potentially violate some states' privacy laws, which require an active opt-in for facial scanning. The company later faced a class-action lawsuit over the controversial feature.

At a media event demoing the new devices, Mashable asked Ring's founder about customer privacy concerns.

Credit: René Ramos / CNET Group

"I think we've been a leader in privacy," Siminoff told Mashable, citing the company's early use of two-factor authentication and end-to-end encryption. "You know, we've done a lot with privacy. Our customers have shown us that trust in continuing to buy our products and put them out there, and I think we've earned that trust."

Mashable actually criticized Ring for waiting too long to employ two-factor authentication back in 2020.

Despite these privacy issues, Ring remains a popular home security brand. Tens of millions of American homes now use video doorbells, and Ring won a Mashable Reader's Choice award in 2025 in the smart home security category.

The company also faces increased competition in the space, as Apple recently entered the smart home market with a new line of video doorbells and home security cameras.

When asked about Apple's entry into the market, Siminoff didn't seem worried.

"I have always focused on the mission to make neighborhoods safer and inventing the future," Siminoff said. "And so if we keep building products that are the best for making neighborhoods safer, our customers and our neighbors will continue to reward us and buy our stuff, and that's what we have to focus on."

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TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Elite Trainer Box is on sale for $99.64 at Amazon, down from its list price of $134.45.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Elite Trainer Box $99.64 at Amazon
$134.45 Save $34.81   Get Deal at Amazon

Black Friday hasn't really started yet, but the Pokémon TCG's recently released Delta Reign expansion is already seeing huge discounts on Amazon. This time, the Rayquaza-themed Elite Trainer Box has finally slipped below $100, setting a new record-low price with the retailer.

As of Nov. 10, the Pokémon TCG’s Delta Reign Elite Trainer Box is available for just $99.64 at Amazon, saving you $34.81 against its usual $134.45 price. That's an impressive 26% off, bringing the cost of its nine booster packs down to $11.07 apiece, before factoring in the extras.

That's $3.59 cheaper than the previous $103.23 Amazon low we covered on the Nov. 6 launch day.

SEE ALSO: Pokémon card drops and restocks: Best deals from Amazon, Walmart, TCGplayer

What’s more, this bargain has brought the ETB much closer to market price, now only $10.10 above its estimated value determined by dedicated trading card marketplace TCGplayer — currently $89.54.  

Note that this $99.64 listing comes from third-party seller Thumbs Up Distribution, rather than Amazon directly. 

Buyers are getting nine Delta Reign packs, an exclusive full-art foil Kyogre promo card, 65 card sleeves, 40 Energy cards, seven dice, a plastic coin, six dividers, a collector's box, a player's guide, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card.

I've been annoyed for years by that awkward gap between clicking a browser icon and actually seeing a window. It's only a couple of seconds, but it happens dozens of times a day, and it adds up. It also feels like we're too far in the future for this to be an issue. Microsoft seems to have fixed this in Edge on Windows 11, and Chrome is what it is being tested against. So I set up a few launch tests on real machines to see what changed and what didn't.

Anthropic dropped two new frontier AI models on Monday, Claude Fable 5.2 and Mythos 5.2. 

According to the AI company, Fable 5.2 and Mythos 5.2 were designed to "tackle the most daunting technical challenges" and present "improvements in areas like coding, reasoning, and vision."

New frontier models from OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and Meta have been released at a rapid clip in recent months, and the two new Anthropic models closely follow the release of Google Gemini 4 Carbon, Meta Muse Wonder, and OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra. On launch day, Claude Fable 5.2 claimed the top spot on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence leaderboard, previously held by Gemini 4 Carbon.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. SEE ALSO: Jensen Huang Nvidia affair scandal: What we know, what we don’t

Anthropic said that in pre-release testing, the models "designed three working electronic devices from scratch, solved two open problems in the physics of black holes...and formalized the proof of Fermat’s Last Theorem in 30 hours."

Fable 5.2 and Mythos 5.2 also generate these outputs 30 percent faster than their 5.1 predecessors and "communicate more clearly" than previous models, Anthropic said.

Fable 5.2 Benchmarks Credit: Anthropic

Performance is up across the board with Fable 5.2 with benchmarks showing significant increases when compared to other AI models.

For example, Fable 5.2 scored a whopping 74.6 percent on Terminal Bench Science benchmark. This is a significant increase from the 52.6 percent of its predecessor. It even scores higher than OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra's 68.1 percent.

Fable 5.2 also scored a 74.2 percent on the Humanity's Last Exam benchmark, another increase over its predecessor's 65.6 percent.

Fable 5.2 and Mythos 5.2 pricing and availability

Pricing for the new models is also lower than their predecessors at $8 per million input tokens and $40 per million output tokens.

Fable 5.2 launches today for all Claude users. The company said that Fable 5.2 has "strong cybersecurity and biology safeguards to guard against misuse," which is why it's available to all users. Mythos 5.2, however, is only available for verified organizations working on cybersecurity or biomedical research.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters or get Mashable push alerts today. 

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Back when I built my current PC in late 2020, I thought its six USB ports, along with the two on my case’s front panel, would be enough for my needs. The one thing I didn’t account for was that I’d still be using the same motherboard six years later, and that I’d end up with a bunch of USB peripherals, each needing its own port. Something had to be done, so I took the road less traveled: instead of getting a PCIe USB card, I expanded my USB ports with a USB-C dock.

As a puzzle lover, I am a huge fan of apps that challenge the mind. Solving logic-based problems or riddles scratches an itch inside my brain that nothing else can. If you're a Wordle addict, you'll relate. One popular format that I keep coming back to is an age-old classic: sudoku.

Being heckled mid-interview is bad enough, but it adds an extra dimension of humiliation when the heckler is wearing a full elf costume.

In the clip above Andy Richter appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to promote Elf Unwrapped, a book he wrote about making the movie Elf — only to be interrupted by Will Ferrell sitting in the audience dressed as Buddy the Elf.

"Well this is such a great surprise, and it means so much to me that you're here to help me promote the book I wrote about making Elf!" says Richter.

"What?" comes Ferrell's gruff response. "Are you high? Who even are you?"

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I never thought about auditing my carrier's software because I never knew how easy it was. I'd checked app permissions, turned off ad tracking, and cleaned out old apps, but the preloaded packages that came with my Galaxy stayed untouched because I assumed they were just part of the phone. I spent an afternoon looking into what T-Mobile and Samsung put on my device, what it can actually do, and what happens when you turn it off. It's easy enough to try yourself.

TL;DR: The Lego Godzilla is priced at $449.99 and launches on Nov. 27. Buy the Godzilla set from Nov. 27-30, and you will receive the Lego Ideas Godzilla Logo and Footprint set for free.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Ideas Godzilla (21375)   Learn More

Lego has revealed a monstrous 2026 Black Friday centerpiece: The Lego Ideas Godzilla (21375) is dropping on Nov. 27 for $449.99. Weighing in at a colossal 5,363 pieces, the titan takes the crown as the largest Lego Ideas set ever produced.

It's the perfect gift for fans of Godzilla movies and monster merch collectors. But you know what? Maybe keep this one for yourself.

Credit: Lego

Measuring 27.5 inches tall (with the attachable heat ray), 10.5 inches wide, and 15.5 inches deep, this model stands over two feet tall. The segmented tail can be constructed sweeping left or right, while articulated joints across the neck, jaw, arms, wrists, and individual claws allow for constant adjustments.

Godzilla’s standard tongue can be swapped out for an attachable, translucent-blue Heat Ray. Tilting the head skyward lets you stage its iconic atomic breath attack.

Credit: Lego

Planning to blow your Black Friday budget on this beast? To sweeten the launch-weekend sting, early buyers can score an exclusive Godzilla Logo and Footprint gift for free from Nov. 27-30 while supplies last. The 359-piece bonus build features a brick-built logo with Mothra perched atop a skyscraper, along with a 1:1-scale replica of the main model’s footprint. This free bonus will disappear fast.

The White House is going after Jimmy Kimmel again.

In the clip above the host responds to yet another statement from spokesperson Davis Ingle, who this time has accused Kimmel of having a "peanut-sized brain".

"Sick burn, bro. You know what, you should enter a rap battle spitting dope rhymes like that. Trump now has interns insulting me," says Kimmel. "This guy says I have a peanut-sized brain. Let me explain something. I know you're young. That's impossible. You know what happens when you try to run a full human body with a peanut-sized brain?"

Cue a clip of Trump trying and failing to pronounced the word "gnome" on stage.

"You start saying things like that guy," Kimmel says.

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That Game Boy in your closet or the stereo you spotted at an antique store probably isn't as dead as it looks. A lot of vintage electronics come back to life with a new belt, a few fresh capacitors, or a drop-in screen that needs little or no soldering. Others, like a CRT that can run around 27,000 volts, deserve a lot more respect. Here are five restorations worth your time, starting with the easiest.

Donald Trump was asked some tough questions in his recent 60 Minutes interview, and he gave some answers on immigration that appeared to confuse some people in his base.

In the Daily Show clip above, Jon Stewart breaks down some of the key moments — including the U.S. president saying "I'm really good at money and finances" before saying "I guess it's gone up, I don't even know" when asked about his own net worth increasing.

"So when it's global finance, Trump is Keanu Reeves from The Matrix," says Stewart. "But when it's his own $3 billion post-election windfall, he's Keanu Reeves from Bill and Ted."

Another entertaining moment? Trump being asked about what happens after we die and whether he'll go to heaven, with the president responding, "I hope so, I don't wanna go to hell."

"You know that's not how hell works, right?" says Stewart. "It's not a check your preference, like fish or steak."

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

The best early Black Friday T-Mobile deals: Best Apple deal Apple iPhone 18 Pro $0 (save $1,199.99) Get Deal Best Samsung deal Samsung Galaxy S26+ $0 (save $1,199.99) Get Deal Best Google deal Google Pixel 11 Pro $0 (save $1,099.99) Get Deal Best Motorola deal Motorola razr+ $0 (save $999.99) Get Deal

It may be a couple of weeks until the big day, but this year Black Friday seems to be kicking off earlier than ever. Deals are already starting to appear on everything from household essentials to tech and gaming. These early offers are particularly useful if you're looking to finally upgrade your phone.

T-Mobile is one retailer that has dropped discounts early, with a range of Black Friday deals already live.

It's worth checking the terms and conditions before jumping on a deal, as many of these offers require a new line, a qualifying plan, or a trade-in to unlock the full discount. Some savings are also delivered through monthly bill credits rather than an upfront price reduction.

Best Apple deal at T-Mobile Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPhone 18 Pro $0 at T-Mobile
$1,199.99 Save $1,199.99   Get Deal at T-Mobile Why we like it

You can get the iPhone 18 Pro 256GB for free with T-Mobile, thanks to $1,200 in bill credits spread across your monthly payments. To qualify, you'll need to open a new line, transfer your number from an eligible carrier (such as AT&T or Verizon), and sign up for a qualifying plan costing at least $95 per month with AutoPay. You'll also need to keep your line active and continue with the financing agreement to receive all the credits. If you cancel early or pay off the phone ahead of schedule, you could lose the remaining credits.

More Apple deals at T-Mobile

• Apple Watch SE 3 (40mm) — $0 $299.99 (save $299.99 with monthly bill credits)

• iPhone 17e (256GB) — $0 $699.99 (save $699.99 per phone with monthly bill credits)

• iPhone 17 (256GB) — $0 $929.99 (save $929.99 with monthly bill credits)

• iPhone Duo (256GB) — $799.99 $1,999.99 (save $1,200 with monthly bill credits)

Best Samsung deal at T-Mobile Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S26+ $0 at T-Mobile
$1,199.99 Save $1,199.99   Get Deal at T-Mobile Why we like it

This deal gets you the Samsung Galaxy S26+ 256GB completely free, with T-Mobile offering up to $1,200 in monthly bill credits to cover its $1,199.99 retail price. To qualify, you'll need to open a new voice line and sign up for a qualifying plan costing at least $95 per month with AutoPay. You'll need to keep the line active and stay on the financing agreement to receive the full discount. Unlike some of T-Mobile's other phone offers, this one doesn't require you to transfer a number from another carrier.

More Samsung deals at T-Mobile

• Samsung Galaxy Watch9 (40mm) — $0 $429.99 (save $429.99 with monthly bill credits)

• Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 (47mm) — $269.99 $699.99 (save $430 with monthly bill credits)

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 (256GB) — $699.99 $1,899.99 (save $1,200 with a new line and qualifying plan)

Best Google deal at T-Mobile Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 11 Pro $0 at T-Mobile
$1,099.99 Save $1,099.99   Get Deal at T-Mobile Why we like it

Another "for free" deal: you can wave goodbye to the $1,099.99 retail cost and get the Google Pixel 11 Pro (256GB) for nothing thanks to $1,100 in monthly bill credits. To qualify, you'll need to open a new voice line and sign up for a plan costing at least $75 per month with AutoPay. You'll also need to have two Picks for the duration of the financing agreement and keep your new line active and in good standing to receive all the credits. Just bear in mind that there's a $35 device connection charge, and you'll pay tax on the phone's full price upfront.

More Google deals at T-Mobile

• Google Pixel 11 (256GB) — $0 $899.99 (save $899.99 with monthly bill credits)

• Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold (256GB) — $999.99 $1,899.99 (save $900 with monthly bill credits)

• Pixel 11 Pro XL (256GB) — $199.99 $1,299.99 (save $1,100 with monthly bill credits)

• Google Pixel 10 (128GB) — $0 $699.99 (save up to $700 with monthly bill credits)

Best Motorola deal at T-Mobile Opens in a new window Credit: Motorola Motorola razr+ $0 at T-Mobile
$999.99 Save $999.99   Get Deal at T-Mobile Why we like it

The Motorola razr+ is one of the many phones you can pick up for nothing in T-Mobile's Black Friday sale. Its $999.99 retail price is covered by up to $1,000 in monthly bill credits, although getting the deal means opening a new voice line and signing up for a plan costing at least $75 per month with AutoPay. You'll also need to put two of your plan's Picks towards the promotion for the length of the financing agreement. A $35 device connection charge applies, and tax is due upfront on the full price. Remember, the line needs to stay active and in good standing for you to receive all the credits.

More Motorola deals at T-Mobile

• Motorola razr ultra (512GB) — $0 $999.99 (save $999.99 with monthly bill credits)

• Motorola moto g stylus (128GB) — $9.99 $309.99 (save $300 with monthly bill credits)

• Motorola razr fold (512GB) — $599.99 $1,699.99 (save $1,100 with monthly bill credits)

SAVE $430: As of Nov. 10, the Jackery HomePower 3600 Pro Max is on sale for $2,469 at Amazon. That's a 15% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery HomePower 3600 Pro Max $2,469 at Amazon
$2,899 Save $430   Get Deal at Amazon

If you're looking to add some serious backup power to your home, Amazon has an early Black Friday deal on a Jackery unit that is capable of powering many of your devices. The Jackery HomePower 3600 Pro Max is currently available with two 200W solar panels for $2,469, down from $2,899. That's a saving of $430.

This portable power station delivers 4,000W of power and supports both 120V and 240V appliances from a single unit. Its starting capacity is 3.6kWh, but you can expand it to up to 43kWh with additional batteries, so it's a great choice for full-home backup.

It can switch to UPS backup in under 10 milliseconds, keeping connected electronics running during a power supply interruption. It also uses EV-grade LFP battery cells rated for 6,000 cycles, with Jackery saying this gives it a lifespan of more than 16 years. A fire-resistant housing and an emergency power-off switch also provide additional longevity and safety features.

Plus, the included solar panels give you another way to keep the system topped up, alongside its eight other supported recharging methods, including gas generator and DC-DC alternator charging.

Find this Jackery deal at Amazon now.

Every top brand has its own take on ANC earbuds, each with a unique style and a plethora of features. Since you can't possibly try all the latest earbuds, the Mashable team has taken on the task of reviewing the best ANC earbuds for you.

What are the best noise-cancelling earbuds? Not all earbuds are created equal — some are far more comfortable than others. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

While there are plenty of audio brands that provide good sound quality and noise cancellation, the best of the best ANC earbuds can elevate your listening experience. Not only do they offer phenomenal ANC, but they also make music and podcasts sound better. Trust us — on the right pair of earbuds, Olivia Rodrigo's latest album will have you singing along even louder, somehow.

Earbuds usually aren't as comfortable as over-the-ear headphones. I know this well, as I've found many pairs of earbuds that just plain don't fit in my ear. Others are downright uncomfortable. Once again, Bose offers the most comfortable headphones and earbuds. However, Bose and Sony aren't the only brands out there. That's why we set out to test the best the market offers and see what makes a great pair of wireless earbuds.

How do noise-cancelling earbuds work? Noise-cancelling earbuds are small enough to slip in your pocket. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

All noise-cancelling headphones, including earbuds, have some passive noise cancellation. While over-the-ear headphones naturally block out noise by wrapping around the ears, earbuds don't block sound as effectively. Instead of covering your ears, wireless earbuds deliver sound directly into the ear canal to drown out other noises. They rely more on active noise cancellation (ANC) to reduce environmental noise.

ANC is an electronic process within the headphones. Internal microphones listen to your surroundings and then invert the sound, effectively canceling it. Sometimes, with noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds, you'll hear a slight buzzing or humming in the background, and that's the ANC at work. The best ANC earbuds shouldn't have this buzzing, however.

What about wired noise-cancelling earbuds?

We focus on wireless earbuds in this guide, because historically, wired noise-cancelling earbuds haven't really existed. Until recently, that is. In late September, Bose dropped its Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds for $99 — we'll be evaluating them as a contender for a spot on this list, but Deputy Shopping Editor Miller Kern had positive initial thoughts on their performance.

What are the best noise-cancelling headphones of 2026?

Even the best value headphones will feel lacking if they don't come equipped with halfway decent noise cancellation. Besides, there are simply too many headphones on the market (our testing pool gets bigger by the month) for you to pay hundreds only to get subpar ANC. So, which brand comes out on top?

For most people, we think the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) offer the best overall value, with the ideal blend of comfort, sound quality, and ANC. However, if you're looking for the best active noise cancellation overall, we have to give it up to the Sony XM6 headphones. Fortunately, there are no bad choices here.

To help you wade through the top options from brands like Apple, Beats, Bose, Sony, and Sonos, Mashable editors and reviewers tested dozens of headphones and earbuds. From flagship models to budget buds, we picked out the best options at every price range.

SEE ALSO: How we test headphones and earbuds How do noise-cancelling headphones actually work?

Even cheap headphones can block some noise from the outside world. And you can always blast your music loud enough to drown out nearby conversations and street noise via passive noise cancellation. However, if you really want to turn the volume of the world down to the limit, then you need headphones with active noise cancellation.

Active noise-cancelling headphones electronically cover up the sounds coming from your surroundings. They use internal microphones to listen to the world around you, then invert the noise and send it to the speakers. The idea is that both the output and the input will cancel out, leaving you with near-silence. The best over-ear headphones also create a tight seal around your ears, providing an extra layer of passive sound blocking.

Testing the Apple AirPods Max headphones, which didn't make the final cut for this guide. Credit: Zlata Ivleva / Mashable Getting up close and personal with Sony WH-1000XM5 noise-cancelling headphones. Credit: Molly Flores / Mashable

If you've tried a pair of noise-cancelling headphones before and haven't been impressed, don't be discouraged, as not all ANC performs equally. For instance, cheaper ANC headphones may have a more noticeable hissing sound that you'll hear when the noise cancellation is turned on, which can be distracting for some folks.

Other headphones may be great at blocking low tones, but more prone to letting in high-pitched tones. Typically, premium headphones will yield better results all around, but we have budget picks below that still do a solid job.

In the past, not many wireless earbuds featured active noise cancellation that was comparable to over-ear headphones, but newer iterations like the AirPods Pro and Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds hold their own in the ANC space. However, even these earbuds can't quite get the same seal (or fit as many mics) that headphones can, so if you're looking for maximum silence, stick with over-ear headphones.

Save $30: The Nintendo Switch 2 is available for $469 at Woot. This deal is live through Nov. 30 or until sold out. The console rarely goes on sale and is usually listed for $499, making this a 6% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 $469 at Woot!
$499 Save $30   Get Deal at Woot!

Struggling to get your hands on the Zelda edition of the Switch 2? How about grabbing a discounted Switch 2 instead, weeks ahead of Black Friday?

Yes, you read that right. Nintendo's console rarely goes on sale — and even less so since its $50 price hike in September — yet Woot is offering a brand-new Nintendo Switch 2 for $469. That's a $30 price drop from the usual $499, bringing it closer to its former $449 list price. Admittedly, it's not a huge discount, but again, it's rare. According to the price tracker camelcamelcamel, the console has dropped in price a grand total of zero times since its price hike.

For comparison, the Switch 2 is holding firm at $499 on Amazon and Best Buy.

Going into my fifth year covering Black Friday at Mashable, I can confidently say that gaming console deals can be a tricky one during the shopping holiday. A lot of folks wait until sales kick off to grab deals, meaning if there is an impressive price drop, it sells out fast. I would expect this situation to be even more competitive during the year of RAMaggedon.

In other words, sneaking in and grabbing some savings ahead of time on a truly excellent console is a great way to go this holiday season. Just make sure to grab it while supplies last, or before Nov. 30 when the deal expires, if stock is still available.

Tesla has launched its driverless Robotaxi service in San Antonio, its fifth Texas city.

In total, Robotaxi now operates in eight U.S. cities: Austin, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Fort Worth, Orlando, San Antonio and Tampa. Jacksonville, Las Vegas, and Phoenix are currently listed as "coming soon" on Tesla's website.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The interesting thing about the San Antonio launch is that the service covers a massive, 273-square-mile area, way larger than competitor Waymo's 59 square miles in San Antonio. You can compare the two services over at Robotaxitracker.

Nice round shape. Somewhat boring, but it does the job. Credit: Tesla

Surprisingly, and somewhat impressively, Tesla CEO Elon Musk managed to subdue his urges on this one, so the Robotaxi coverage area in San Antonio isn't penis-shaped, as it temporarily was in Austin, or rocket-shaped, as it is in Houston.

The Robotaxi fleet operating in San Antonio currently consists of Tesla Model Y vehicles. According to Electrek, Cybercabs are still limited to Austin, Texas.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk insists Cybertruck demand is strong as Tesla scraps it

Both Tesla and Waymo have been quickly expanding their autonomous taxi services in recent months. Just last week, Tesla Robotaxi launched in Fort Worth, Texas; Waymo recently started testing autonomous rides in Orlando, Florida, as well as South Bay cities in the Los Angeles area.

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TL;DR: Pure has no built-in background-check tools and keeps profiles anonymous. Before meeting up in person, verify their photos in the app, look up their number, and run their name through local court dockets yourself.

Mainstream dating apps love to brag about safety. Tinder briefly tried offering background checks through Garbo a few years back, while apps like Bumble and Hinge push selfie verification and real first names to keep profiles honest.

As Jack Dawes outlined in Mashable's guide to anonymous dating, Pure exists to minimize your digital paper trail. You do not need an email, phone number, or full bio on display to swipe. Instead of permanent profiles, users post temporary "dating ads" that vanish after a set window. Conversations self-delete after 24 hours by default, and built-in protections actively block screenshots to keep private photos from leaking.

That setup makes it a haven for discreet hookups, but it leaves you with a massive safety blind spot: Pure has zero integrated background-checking tools and does not screen users. In fact, the app's legal terms plainly state that it does not run criminal background or identity checks on anyone who signs up.

If you are meeting a stranger from the internet for a casual hookup, you need to know who is walking through the door. Because Pure will not do the vetting for you, here's how to handle the detective work yourself before taking things offline.

Opens in a new window Credit: Pure Pure   Shop Now Max out Pure's in-app verification tools

Before digging into someone's legal history, you first need to confirm the person chatting with you actually looks like their photos. Catfishing and bot profiles are common across anonymous ad boards, but Pure gives you a few built-in tools to filter out fakes before you share personal contact info:

• Look for the Photo Verification badge — Pure lets people take a quick live selfie to earn a verification checkmark, confirming they actually look like their ad photos and aren't using someone else's pictures.

• Request a True Photo or hop on a video call — Pure includes a native "True Photo" feature that requests an instant, unfiltered snapshot taken directly through the app's camera. Even better, jump on Pure's built-in video chat. Pure notes in its own safety guidelines that a quick face-to-face video call acts as immediate "face control" — so if a match refuses a two-minute video chat before meeting, take that as an immediate red flag.

• Protect yourself during calls — While Pure blocks in-app screenshots and alerts you if someone tries to take one, an external camera can still record a screen. Keep your clothes on during the initial video vibe check until you establish real trust.

Run a reverse image search

If your match has an unverified profile or their photos look like professional studio shots, run them through an image search before getting invested.

Because Pure blocks in-app screenshots inside private chats and alerts the other user if you try to take one, grab a screenshot of their public ad photo from the main feed before opening a conversation, or snap a quick picture of your screen with a second phone or tablet.

SEE ALSO: Uber announces stronger background checks for drivers

Once you have the photo, run it through Google Lens, TinEye, or a facial search tool like FaceCheck.ID. Stolen images from Instagram models, adult content creators, or Reddit threads usually pop up within seconds.

If the photo belongs to an influencer living in another state, do not bother arguing. Tap the three dots inside Pure's chat or ad menu, hit "Report," select "Fake profile," and move on.

Get verifiable contact info before leaving the app

You cannot run a meaningful public records search without a real first and last name, an active phone number, or a confirmed social handle. Pure does not require users to link any personal details, so you will eventually have to exchange contact info if you plan to meet in person.

When you do move the conversation off-app, run a few quick digital checks on whatever info they give you:

• Check for disposable numbers — Run their 10-digit phone number through a free lookup like NumLookup or Truecaller. This shows whether the number belongs to an actual wireless carrier (like Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile) or a disposable virtual VoIP service (like Google Voice, TextNow, or a burner app).

• Use Zelle to confirm their legal name — If they give you a real phone number, you can often confirm their identity without spending a dime. Because Zelle connects directly to verified bank accounts, entering the recipient's phone number on Zelle's send screen will usually display the recipient's legal first name and last initial before you approve a payment. Venmo works too, but remember that users can change their Venmo display name to a nickname or fake handle.

Search free public records and court dockets

Once you have a legal name and a general metro area, you do not need to pay third-party consumer data broker sites for basic safety checks. The most critical public safety records are maintained directly by government agencies and are completely free to search:

• County court clerk records — In the U.S., criminal and civil court records are public information managed at the municipal and county levels. Search "[County Name] court records" or "[County Name] clerk of courts" for the area where your match lives. Most county court websites allow you to search public dockets for free, letting you spot active warrants, felony convictions, or domestic violence restraining orders.

• The National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW.gov) — Run by the U.S. Department of Justice, NSOPW is a free, nationwide registry search tool. You can search by a prospective date's first and last name, city, or zip code to see whether they appear on any state, territorial, or tribal registry.

Avoid the fake "safety verification" link scam

Be on high alert if a match asks you to prove yourself on an outside website.

A common hookup app scam involves a match claiming that their personal safety app, roommate, or house rules require you to register on an external link before meeting up. The link usually leads to an official-looking site asking for your name, phone number, and a $1 credit card authorization to run a quick check.

The site is a credit card phishing scheme. Pure never requires third-party registration to chat or meet, and legitimate safety services do not ask strangers for payment details to verify an identity. If a match sends you an external verification link, tap the three dots in Pure's chat menu, report the account for "Scam or fraud," and block them.

SEE ALSO: How to run a background check on a Tinder match

Pure's safety guidelines also warn against a common scam in which a match asks you to chip in for gas money, an Uber fare, or a taxi to come to you. If someone asks for cash transfers before you meet face-to-face, block them immediately.

Set up Pure's Safety Signal before meeting in person

When it is time to meet up in person, turn on Pure's built-in Safety Signal tool.

Safety Signal lets you share your date details with a trusted contact before heading out. When you turn it on, Pure generates a password-protected link you can text to a friend. Your friend does not need a Pure account — opening the link in any mobile browser shows your last-known location on a map, your match's profile photos, and an active timer.

Beyond using Safety Signal, keep the basics in mind: meet in a busy, public spot for the first drink, and never rely on your date for a ride. A little planning lets you have fun without taking unnecessary chances.

Discreet hookups are great, but a little healthy snooping ahead of time is the best way to make sure your date stays fun, safe, and completely on your terms.