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The legendary Shure SM7B has stood the test of time as one of the world's best XLR microphones and Michael Jackson trusted it for Thriller. It's the microphone of choice for professionals and the best pick if you want world-class voice clarity for streaming or podcasting. The Shure SM7B is rarely on sale, but you can now get it at a marked-down price on a limited-time Amazon deal.

Your Android device is doing a lot more in the background than you realize, with some pretty complex systems aiming to optimize your phone. Even more interesting is that you can take direct control of a lot of these functions if you know where to look. The background resources that an app draws, and by extension how much battery it drains, is one of these functions.

At a glance:

• Key specs: 8.5-inch OLED display, A20 Pro chip, and just 5.4mm thin

• What we loved: Incredible, lightweight design, strong performance, and a beautiful display

• What we didn't love: The $699 starting price

The new iPad Mini is here — I'm looking right at its super-bright OLED display as I type this review — and it's beautiful. The lightest Apple tablet ever made, the iPad Mini has the same powerhouse A20 Pro chip as the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and even though it may not be the ideal device for intensive work, it can still support local AI workloads, not to mention the new Siri AI.

But why oh why does everything have to be so damn expensive in 2026? That's not a serious question — we know exactly who's hogging all the RAM, and putting Apple under pressure from memory makers. But for folks like me who have to count every dollar, the starting $699 price does hurt.

So, as much as I loved using the new iPad Mini (it really is a lot of fun), I'm not quite sure who to recommend this device to, unless you're in the top income tax bracket.

iPad Mini review: Who is it for? Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Let's cut to the chase: The iPad Mini is now my favorite tablet in the Apple lineup. It has an incredible display, excellent design, and strong performance. However, I'm not quite sure who should buy it.

I'm not the only reviewer who's a little confused by Apple's product lineup in 2026. At first, I thought the iPad Mini was the MacBook Neo of the iPad family. It's the smaller, less powerful model for everyday use. That makes intuitive sense, but it's also wrong.

The iPad Mini offers better performance in many respects than the iPad Air and a far superior display. And while the MacBook Neo is a budget laptop, the iPad Mini is definitely not a budget device. Its starting price is only $50 less than the iPad Air.

A slightly cheaper iPad Mini priced around $499 or $599 would make a lot more sense to me, and be much easier to recommend.

After testing the device, I can heartily recommend the iPad Mini to one-percenters looking for the best iPad for everyday use. But you can also get Amazon's new Alexa Pro tablets, and plenty of other good tablets, for well under $500, and most people will be perfectly fine without an OLED display or a chip that supports local AI models.

Given all that, I'm just not sure I'd pay $699 for the iPad Mini. Plus, the model I tested, which came with 512GB, the Nano-texture display, and the C2 cellular chip, would have set me back $1,249, almost twice as much — and that's definitely not in my budget.

Now, most people can skip the cellular and stick with WiFi only. The Nano-texture finish is also non-essential. And if you rely on iCloud, you can make do with 128GB of storage, bringing the price back down to $699. But that's still a big ask.

iPad Mini (A20 Pro) review: A near-perfect design Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

I praised the M4 iPad Air for its excellent design, but the new iPad Mini is somehow even thinner. I also found its more compact size to be pretty much perfect for streaming, browsing, gaming, and scrolling. It fits just right in your hands.

Apple made some other design changes as well. The new iPad Mini no longer has speaker holes at the bottom of the device, which will inevitably get filled up with gunk and lint. Instead, sound emanates from the device as part of a new Acoustic Display technology. And because the device is fully enclosed, it achieves IP67 water and dust resistance for extra durability. I haven't dunked my iPad Mini in the bathtub (yet), but it should withstand brief immersion in water.

Just look how thin it is! Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

I'm used to the larger iPad Air, and I instantly preferred the smaller, lighter design of the iPad Mini. I can see why the device has such devoted fans in the Apple community.

One design note: Apple moved the microphone and 12MP Center Stage camera to the side bezel of the device. Because I'm not used to it, I kept thinking it was a bit of schmutz on the screen and kept trying to wipe it off with my thumb. I got used to it, and so will you.

My only complaint about the design? It has Touch ID instead of Face ID.

iPad Mini review: The OLED Super Retina XDR display is awesome Photos don't quite do it justice, but the OLED display is incredible. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable / Photo on display by Paul Reiffer

Apple upgraded the iPad Mini with an OLED display, and it's fantastic. The clarity is so precise, and the brightness, color clarity, and deep blacks are instantly noticeable, especially when watching HDR content (the iPad Mini has a peak brightness of 1,200 nits with HDR).

I used the iPad Mini side by side with the iPad Air while watching my go-to monitor-testing video, and the difference was clear. The blacks are jet-black, the colors jump off the screen, and even the smallest details are so sharp.

Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable / Photo on display by Paul Reiffer

Now, I have to call out that the iPad Mini display doesn't rise to the level of the iPad Pro.

The tandem OLED display on the latest M5 iPad Pro remains unrivaled in the tablet world. It's so good that the iPad Pro can act as a reference monitor for film editors, which is not something you can say about the Mini. The iPad Mini also lacks the ProMotion tech that gives the Pro its high, smooth refresh rate.

But these are minor quibbles that almost no one outside the tech or video-editing world really needs to care about.

To recap: The iPad Mini's OLED display absolutely rules.

Is the Nano-texture finish worth it?

I wouldn't call the Nano-texture finish (which adds $200 to the price) a must-have, but it is pretty phenomenal. It's also available on the iPad Pro and the new iPhone Duo, and it virtually eliminates reflections and glare thanks to microscopic glass-etching technology that's hard to wrap your head around.

But damn, is it cool.

Even when I shone a bright flashlight directly at the display, you could barely see it. And with the OLED and nano-texture combined, you can watch content even in direct sunlight. It's like a magic trick.

iPad Mini review: Strong performance with the A20 Pro chip Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Instead of using a past-gen chip, the new iPad Mini gets the same super-powered chip as the new iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Duo. And it's a damn fine chip. I put the iPad Mini through the Geekbench 7 benchmarking test, and it compares favorably to the iPad Air and iPad Pro, coming somewhere between the M4 chip in the latest iPad Air and the M5 chip in the iPad Pro.

Here are the single- and multi-core Geekbench 7 scores for each of Apple's tablets. (Note: I ran Geekbench 7 on the Mini and Air myself and used Geekbench's average for the 11-inch M5 iPad Pro.)

• iPad Mini (A20 Pro): 4,001 / 11,422

• iPad Air (M4): 2,753 / 12110

• iPad Pro (M5): 3,535 / 15,013

What does this mean for the average user? Single-core scores are a good measure of overall "zippiness" for everyday use, according to Mashable laptop reviewer Haley Henschel, while the multi-core score is a better measure of overall performance for complex, longer-running tasks.

The scores indicate that the iPad Mini can support multitasking as well as a laptop, which matches my experience. I made sure not to close any apps while testing the Mini, and it never slowed down. The A20 Pro chip can also support Apple Intelligence features such as visual intelligence and photo editing, as well as run powerful local models.

That being said, I'm not sure many people will be working much on the iPad Mini. If you're doing complex video editing, engineering, or photo retouching, the larger displays on the iPad Air and Pro are better suited to these tasks. The iPad Mini doesn't even support Magic Keyboard.

iPad Mini: The cameras and speakers Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

The new Acoustic Display technology on the iPad Mini works really well, which isn't a surprise. Apple doesn't really release anything half-baked. The speakers were surprisingly good, and the new Mini has new tweeters and woofers for music and streaming. The audio does end up sounding a little tinny, but that's to be expected.

The cameras are also fine.

Taking pictures with an iPad is very boomer-coded, and the 12MP Center Stage cameras are better suited to quick selfies and video calls than to true photography. And for FaceTime purposes, the cameras get the job done.

The volume buttons and front camera placement take some getting used to. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable No more speaker holes... Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable The final verdict: The iPad Mini is the best tablet in the world for most people, but...

Only you can decide if the $699 iPad Mini fits into your budget. Apple products are sometimes luxury items and status symbols, and that's becoming even more true in the age of RAMageddon and higher prices.

If price were no object, the iPad Mini would be an easy recommendation. Setting price aside for a minute, it puts competitors to shame and offers better design and display than the iPad Air.

Apple iPad Mini (A20 Pro) $699 at Amazon
  See It at Amazon See It at T-Mobile See It at Apple.com

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The RAM-pocalypse is bad news for our wallets, obviously. Anyone who's had any dream or plan of upgrading their PC during the past year was left with two choices: wait or overspend. Things aren't getting better anytime soon on that front, so we all have reason to complain.

There's a word for when someone looks so good they make everyone standing next to them look worse. And now, it’s Collins Dictionary's 2026 Word of the Year.

"Mogging" means outshining or outperforming someone or something, whether in appearance, confidence, status, or skill. According to Collins, usage of the slang term increased by 210 percent this year. For anyone still catching up on internet slang, think of showing up to a Halloween party feeling pretty good about a costume, only to find someone wearing a homemade outfit with working animatronics. Your costume? Mogged.

The term is believed to come from AMOG, short for "alpha male of the group," according to Collins' announcement. It circulated in bodybuilding culture around 2016 before spreading through the manosphere. Collins says Gen Z and Gen Alpha now increasingly use it playfully and ironically, applying it to everything from people to video games.

"The selection of 'mogging' as Collins' Word of the Year shows how each generation leaves its mark on language," Collins managing director Alex Beecroft said.

The choice follows another very online winner. Last year, Collins selected "vibe coding," the practice of using natural-language prompts and AI to help write computer code.

SEE ALSO: 'Maxxing' named Dictionary.com's 2026 Word of the Year

Collins isn't the only dictionary taking cues from the feed — or even from manosphere culture. Dictionary.com chose "maxxing" as its 2026 Word of the Year, recognizing the urge to optimize everything from sleep to appearance. The term spread in part through "looksmaxxing," a practice focused on improving physical appearance that originated in incel forums. Meanwhile, Merriam-Webster added 1,400 words and definitions in September, also including "looksmaxxing," "vibe-coding," and "Sunday scaries."

Taken together, the selections show how language from the manosphere is becoming everyday slang, often losing its original context along the way.

Collins' shortlist also includes several terms that will sound familiar to anyone following tech, gaming, or the job market. "P(doom)" describes an estimate of the likelihood that AI will cause civilization’s collapse, while "ghost job" refers to an advertised position an employer has no intention of filling. "Friendslop," meanwhile, describes low-budget indie games built around playing with friends.

Other contenders include "carspreading," for increasingly large vehicles; "fricy," a blend of fruity and spicy; and “bixie," a haircut somewhere between a bob and a pixie.

A competitive field. Naturally, "mogging" outshone them all.

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TL;DR: Owala's latest holiday drop is officially live with three new colorways: Sew Merry, Golden Eclipse, and Snow Petal. You can grab them now across the FreeSip 24oz, FreeSip Sway 30oz, and SmoothSip Slider 20oz before stock vanishes.

Opens in a new window Credit: Owala Owala Holiday Drop   Shop Now at Owala

If your emotional support water bottle is due for a festive refresh, drop whatever you're doing: Owala just dropped another batch of holiday cheer. These will inevitably sell out quickly, so consider this your official warning before your favorite shade disappears.

The new drop brings three fresh colorways to the table: Sew Merry, Golden Eclipse, and Snow Petal. You can grab all three shades across the classic FreeSip 24oz, the contoured FreeSip Sway 30oz, and the SmoothSip Slider 20oz travel tumbler. They’re cozy and festive without screaming tacky Christmas sweater, so you can easily carry them around well into next year.

Credit: Owala

Here at Mashable, we're admittedly obsessed with Owala. After cycling through pretty much every reusable bottle on the market, our reviewer crowned the FreeSip the absolute water bottle to end all water bottles. The hype comes down to the lid design. You get a built-in straw for easy sipping and a wider spout for chugging. A push-button cap keeps the mouthpiece completely covered and protected from germs, while the double-wall insulation keeps water ice-cold for 24 hours.

Size-wise, the FreeSip is usually our top recommendation because it fits in standard car cup holders. If you need more hydration and prefer a flexible swing handle for carrying on the go, the FreeSip Sway has you covered. And if your mornings are powered by hot coffee or tea, the SmoothSip Slider keeps your drink warm for hours with a secure, splash-free sliding lid.

Limited-edition Owala releases tend to vanish from shelves soon after release. Head over to Owala's site, pick your silhouette, and hit checkout before the rest of TikTok catches on.

No matter how difficult you try to reduce ads, they are always present to some degree, whether you’re browsing the internet, using a mobile app, watching a streamed TV show or movie, or using a streaming device. You’ll even find them lurking in video games as background videos or in-game images. No matter, the point is that ads have become a supplemental income stream, often turning into a primary one. It's hard to eliminate ads completely in this day and age.

While giant corporations are going all-in on AI, using it to replace staff, crush human content production, and generally set things up to enrich themselves even more, regular folks are realizing they can use AI to eliminate their reliance on these companies.

Rugged dive watches are built to withstand deep ocean exploration and other adventures. They're also elegant fashion statements that reflect your appreciation for old-school craftsmanship and design. You don't need to spend thousands of dollars on high-end luxury brands when you can get a tough and reliable dive watch, like the Citizen Promaster Eco-Drive, which you won't mind risking in adverse conditions.

The fanfiction is gone, but the fandom discourse is thriving.

It's been six days since Archive of Our Own (AO3), the internet's beloved fanfiction repository, went offline following a reported security incident. What was initially supposed to be routine maintenance has turned into a potentially weeks-long disruption, leaving millions of readers without their favorite stories and writers without a place to publish them. Naturally, the internet has responded with the kind of collective meltdown you'd expect from people suddenly deprived of their favorite fictional relationships.

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There have been memes, dramatic declarations of withdrawal, and even makeshift survival guides filled with downloaded fanfiction. Fans of Heated Rivalry, in particular, have been sharing Google Drive archives to ensure that the adventures of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov remain accessible during these trying times.

Not all of these efforts have been welcomed, however. One since-deleted Google Drive containing more than 200 fanfics spanning multiple fandoms began circulating online, prompting some authors to question why their work was being redistributed without their knowledge or consent. While readers saw these collections as a way to keep fanfiction accessible during the outage, some writers saw their stories being shared without anyone bothering to ask permission.

Then there are the more blatant attempts to capitalize on AO3's absence, including vibe-coded clone sites attempting to profit from fanfiction originally published for free. One such site was reportedly hit with more than 2,000 takedown notices from authors in a single day.

And just like that, what began as a collective fandom crisis turned into a familiar argument about ownership, consent, and what readers owe the people who write the stories they love.

It's a debate that has been simmering within fandom communities for years, fueled by disagreements over reader expectations, unsolicited criticism, and the harassment of fan creators. But the AO3 outage has brought a new urgency to these conversations, exposing a fundamental tension within fanfiction culture: What happens when stories created and shared freely, out of love for a fandom, begin to be treated as content to which readers are entitled?

Fanfiction has always been a labor of love

To understand why this conversation matters, it's important to understand what makes AO3 different from most of the internet.

Founded by fans and operated by the nonprofit Organization for Transformative Works (OTW), AO3 was created to give fanworks a permanent home, free from commercial pressures and the threat of censorship. Today, it houses more than 18.8 million fanworks, according to the New York Times. There's no algorithm deciding which stories deserve attention, no advertising generating revenue from readers, and no financial compensation for the writers who collectively contribute millions of words to the archive.

SEE ALSO: Wattpad’s alleged smut ban sends fan-fiction readers running to AO3

Fanfiction has historically operated within what's often described as a gift economy. Writers create stories because they love the source material, the characters, and the communities that form around them. Readers reciprocate through comments, recommendations, fan art, and other forms of engagement. The exchange isn't financial, but that doesn't mean it lacks value.

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In many ways, that relationship is what makes fanfiction special. A writer can spend months crafting a 200,000-word slow-burn romance about two characters who barely interact in canon, publish it for free, and find an audience of people who are just as emotionally invested in those characters as they are.

There are no publishing contracts or sales targets. There is simply the pleasure of creating something and sharing it with people who understand why it matters.

But that relationship can become complicated when readers begin to treat freely shared creative work as a product they're entitled to receive.

When did reading fanfiction become consuming content?

The frustration some fanfiction writers express isn't necessarily about readers wanting more stories. Most writers want their work to be read, appreciated, and discussed. The debate emerges when enthusiasm turns into expectation.

I saw this firsthand recently when I posted a TikTok responding to a claim that the quality of fanfiction has declined. The comments quickly filled with writers expressing frustration over what they perceived as a growing sense of entitlement among readers. "The entitlement in complaining about the 'decline in quality' when reading free fiction is unreal omg," one commenter wrote.

The sentiment extends well beyond debates over writing quality. Anyone who has spent enough time in fandom has probably encountered some version of this dynamic — readers demanding updates on unfinished works, criticizing authors for abandoning stories, or leaving comments that read more like customer complaints than responses to something another person created for free.

Of course, readers are allowed to have opinions. Not every fanfiction is going to be well-written, and not every creative decision deserves universal praise. Criticism has always been part of fandom, too. But there's a difference between discussing a story and treating its author like a content provider who has failed to deliver.

And that relationship can feel particularly one-sided when readers consume stories without engaging with the people who create them. On AO3, leaving kudos or a comment is one of the simplest ways to show appreciation for a writer's work. Neither is required, of course, but those small interactions are part of what makes fanfiction feel like a community rather than just another endless library of content. Downloading a story to read offline isn't inherently a problem. But when the act of reading becomes entirely passive, something gets lost in the exchange.

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It raises a broader question about whether the habits we've developed as consumers of digital content are changing how we participate in fandom. We're accustomed to creators posting on schedules, streaming platforms offering endless entertainment, and algorithmic feeds serving up a constant stream of things to watch, read, and react to. There's always something new to consume, and notably, an expectation that there always will be.

That doesn't make readers inherently entitled, nor does it mean writers are above criticism. But when we begin to approach fanfiction with the same expectations we bring to streaming services and social media, we risk losing sight of what makes it different in the first place. These stories aren't products commissioned by a platform or created to meet an audience's demand. They're personal expressions of creativity, shared freely by people who love something enough to imagine what else it could become.

In interviews with 404 Media following the outage, writers described how much AO3's comment sections mean to them. For some, comments provide encouragement during creative slumps. For others, they're a reminder that someone on the other side of the screen is connecting with a story they've poured so much of themselves into.

One writer even expressed hope that the outage would encourage readers to tell their favorite authors how much they'd missed their work once AO3 returned, saying, "I do kind of hope that the extended outage serves as a sort of wake-up call to anyone who's been taking AO3 for granted lately."

But that expectation of reciprocity cuts both ways. Just as writers aren't obligated to produce stories on demand, readers aren't obligated to leave comments, kudos, or detailed feedback. Some people simply want to enjoy a story without participating in the conversation around it, and that's a perfectly valid way to engage with fanfiction. After all, if these stories are freely shared as a labor of love, should enjoying them come with an expectation of something in return?

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The controversy over shared Google Drives also reveals how complicated these expectations can become. AO3 allows users to download works for personal use, and readers who have saved their favorite stories might reasonably see sharing those files during an extended outage as a way of helping their community. For some, the frustration comes from seeing stories that were once freely accessible on a public archive become inaccessible elsewhere, even temporarily. That doesn't negate an author's desire to decide how their work is distributed, but it does pose questions about what it means to share something publicly in the first place.

And while writers have expressed frustration with readers treating fanfiction like content, there's an argument that some authors have adopted the expectations of the creator economy themselves. When comments, kudos, and other forms of engagement become measures of a story's worth, writing can begin to resemble the same attention-driven ecosystem that fanfiction was supposed to exist outside of. There's nothing wrong with wanting recognition for creative work. But if writing fanfiction is fundamentally about the joy of creating and sharing stories, readers shouldn't have to prove their appreciation for those stories to justify enjoying them.

What's missing from this latest discourse is an understanding of how the relationship between writers and readers can be deeply rewarding. Most fanfiction writers are readers themselves, participating in the same fandoms and eagerly awaiting updates from their favorite authors. Writing and reading aren't opposing sides of fandom. They're interconnected parts of the same creative ecosystem.

What happens when AO3 comes back?

For now, AO3 remains offline while OTW investigates the security incident. In its Oct. 30 update, the organization said that no works, bookmarks, or kudos had been deleted. However, it couldn't yet rule out the possibility that user account information had been compromised. The nonprofit expects restoration to take at least two weeks, possibly as long as four, with limited functionality possibly returning sooner.

In the meantime, fans are still finding ways to keep reading, writing, and connecting outside the archive.

AO3's absence has made its importance impossible to ignore. It's more than a place to find a 300,000-word enemies-to-lovers AU at two in the morning. It's an archive of fandom history and a community sustained by people who love these fictional worlds enough to keep expanding them.

And when AO3 eventually returns, perhaps the outage will have reminded everyone that fandom thrives not just because people create stories, but because others read, share, and find meaning in them.

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Whether it's a romantic gift for Valentine's Day, a Hannukkah or Christmas gift she's been coveting for months, or a birthday or anniversary gift that she instantly dubs "the best present I've ever received," there is one thing that all these great gifts share in common: They came from you. Finding the best gifts for your wife all starts with thinking thoughtfully about the leading lady in your life. What are her hobbies? What gets her excited? What problem has she mentioned recently that could be solved with a practical gift? Sometimes the best gift is simply showing that you're paying attention. If you need a little inspiration to get the shopping juices flowing in your search for a thoughtful gift, we've got you covered. Take your time in scrolling this versatile list of this year's best gifts for wives that will further convince her that she married The One. And if you're still stumped, check out our guide on the best gifts for women and the best gifts under $50.

There's a lot of pressure when it comes to thinking up great gift ideas for your mom. She's done the hard wok of actually raising you, and it's time to throw some appreciation back her way. Part of our larger series dedicated to finding the best gifts for everyone, this list of gifts for your mom (or any mom or mother figure, for that matter, who all deserve something special) attempts to think outside of the same old generic suggestions that have plagued moms at major holidays for decades.

SEE ALSO: Best tech gifts, picked by professional gadget nerds

Does she have a unique interest or pastime that's a huge part of her life? You could look for hyper-specific items that speak directly to her passions, or pick up an item to finally nudge her towards getting started on that dream hobby. If she'd appreciate a more practical gift, rack your brain for a frustration that she's mentioned more than once — perhaps her coffee machine sucks or she's having trouble relaxing. You can't go wrong with gifting something that'll make her life easier.

Whether it's for Mother's Day, her birthday, Christmas, or Hanukkah, the best gifts will make her feel listened to, valued, or straight-up pampered. Consider what she does when she has no one putting demands on her time — then shop for those moments. And if you get stuck, or your budget's tight, visit our guide to the best gifts under $50 for even more winning ideas.

Buying gifts for the special woman in your life can be tricky. What do you buy a person who has everything? What should you gift to someone who's picky about their products? Our advice is to curate a gift according to her interests and personality.

A gift for the lady in your life should be just that: A gift for her. Part of our bigger series on the Best Gifts For Everyone, we’ve put together this comprehensive list to guide you on your important mission. And if it happens to be a teen girl you're shopping for, then we have a list for that, too.

So whether she's a techie, runner, or pet owner, these are the best gifts for her.

Google Photos is an excellent gallery app for Android, and it's been my go-to photo viewer for nearly a decade now. I use a Pixel 10 Pro, so I enjoy the extra perks of using Google's suite of apps on my device. Despite all of its add-ons and upsides, Google Photos is missing a feature that could take the app to a whole new level: an interactive map.

For those of us who are devout users of Google Photos, the "Collections" page is a mess. It contains albums, on-device folders, people from photos, and more — and they're always moving around. Thankfully, a new feature brings some much-needed order to the chaos.

The Linux ecosystem has had a busy few months, with Linux 7.4 development getting attention for its unusually active testing cycle, growing use of AI-generated contributions, and continued hardware support improvements. Meanwhile, desktop Linux distributions have been pushing ahead with Wayland adoption, stronger security, and more modern desktop experiences. Fedora Linux 45 is the latest chapter in that evolution.

An aging laptop does not necessarily need a hardware upgrade to feel faster. Sometimes, changing the operating system can make a noticeable difference, particularly when you are running a machine with an older processor and integrated graphics. Linux distros have different desktop environments, background services, and system requirements, all of which can affect everyday performance.

The best early Black Friday drone deals Best Early Black Friday DJI Drone Deal DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo $620 (Save $99) Get Deal Best Early Black Friday Ruko Drone Deal Ruko F11PRO 2 $239.98 (Save $110.01) Get Deal Best Early Black Friday Antigravity Drone deal Antigravity A1 Infinity Bundle $1251.74 (Save $507.25) Get Deal

Black Friday is still a few weeks out, but if you're looking to buy a new drone, you don't have to wait to shop a selection of great deals. If one of the diminutive flyers is on your holiday list, you can snap up some excellent models for even better prices.

A decent drone can be an expensive purchase, we're well aware, so this is the perfect time to upgrade one you already have or snap up a new one at a much more reasonable price. We're already seeing discounts on big-name brands like DJI, Antigravity, Ruko, and more. This is just the tip of the iceberg though, so expect to see additional deals sprouting up as the days go on.

SEE ALSO: DJI's early Black Friday deals are live — save on 15+ top-rated drones and creator gear

Prices on these move around a lot, and a deal that’s live today can be gone by the weekend, so we’ll keep checking and swapping in new ones as they show up. For now, these are the best early Black Friday drone deals we’ve found.

Best early Black Friday DJI drone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo $620 at Amazon
$719 Save $99   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

You don't get much better for first-time drone owners. Th DJI Mini 3 clocks in at just 249 grams, so you can skip FAA registration, but it has all the bells and whistles you'd expect from other comparable drones. It shoots 4K HDR video from a 1/1.3-inch sensor and has a rotating gimbal for true vertical shooting. This kit also comes with three batteries that net you up to 38 minutes of power each, a two-way charging hub, spare propellers, and a shoulder bag that holds it all so you can tote it around to use whenever and wherever you see fit.

Best early Black Friday Ruko drone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Ruko F11PRO 2 $239.98 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $110.01   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Ruko offers excellent drones for great prices, and the F11PRO2 is no slouch. It shoots 4K video at 30fps and 6K stills through a 3-axis brushless gimbal. Plus, it has two subject-tracking mode for anyone who wants to film themselves on a bike or a trail without a second person around to handle additional camera work. It's great for beginners as well, as it uses GPS to handle positioning with its Return to Home option. The drone flies itself back if the signal drops or the battery gets low. It includes two batteries for about 70 minutes of combined flight time, plus a controller with a built-in info screen, spare propeller, and a case to hold everything.

Best early Black Friday Antigravity drone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Antigravity A1 Infinity Bundle $1,521.74 at Amazon
$2,028.99 Save $507.25   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

This Antigravity bundle may be a splurge, but it's a must if you want to shoot true 360-degree video. It records 8K, and the bundle comes with everything you need for some truly gorgoeus footage, including vision goggles for a head-tracked cockpit view and the Grip motion controller, which lets you steer by pointing your hand where you want the drone to go. It also comes with three high-capacity batteries that add up to 39 minutes to your flight time each, with a charging hub, a microSD quick reader, a carry case, and a sling bag for carrying. This is a complete kit that'll have you filming fantasic video right out of the box, with all the bells and whistles and then some.

More drone deals

• DJI Neo — $169 $199 (save $30)

• Ruko U11MINI — $239.97 $349.98 (save $110.01)

• Skyrover S1 Mini Drone Camera Combo — $549 $699.99 (save $150)

Early Black Friday MacBook deals at a glance Best MacBook Air deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,099 (save $200) Get Deal Best MacBook Pro deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro with 18-core CPU/20-core GPU, 24GB RAM, 2TB SSD) $2,822 (save $377) Get Deal Best MacBook alternative deal HP OmniBook Ultra 14-kg000 $1,749.99 (save $500) Get Deal

It's tough out there if you're shopping for a new laptop. Thanks to the worsening memory shortage, tech prices have gone a bit wild. Apple raised prices on the MacBook lineup over the summer, and we've been hunting for deals every since.

Fortunately, some MacBooks are on sale well before Black Friday. And in even better news, the MacBook Air is sitting at the same sale price we saw during October Prime Day.

SEE ALSO: Everything to know about Black Friday 2026: Best deals, sale dates, how to shop smart, and more

Other deals, however, like the MacBook Pro, aren't as good as they were during the last Prime Day. If you're in a position to wait on upgrading to the Pro, we're hopeful it'll drop lower in the coming weeks.

Best MacBook Air deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,099 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $200   Get Deal at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,299 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $200   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air (M5).

The 15-inch M5 MacBook Air earns the award of Mashable's top pick for most people in the market for a MacBook. As an early Black Friday treat, both the 15-inch and the smaller 13-inch are both on sale for $200 off.

Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth reviewed the M5 MacBook Air and found the M5 chip to be beyond impressive for performance while the laptop remains highly portable. If you're taking the laptop to lectures on campus or it gets packed into a work tote, the smaller 13-inch model might be ideal.

Best MacBook Pro deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro with 18-core CPU/20-core GPU, 24GB RAM, 2TB SSD) $2,822
$3,199 Save $377   Get Deal Why we like it

The sale price on this MacBook Pro with the M5 chip isn't as good as the deal we saw during October Prime Day, but it could be a good buy if you're dealing with a dead laptop and can't wait longer for a replacement. During Prime Day, we saw this configuration drop to $2,699, and it's possible we'll get that low again soon. For now, rest assured you're getting upgraded CPU for those who need big power for processing complex tasks.

Best MacBook alternative deal Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP OmniBook Ultra 14-kg000 $1,749.99 at Best Buy
$2,249.99 Save $500.00   Get Deal at Best Buy Why we like it

Mashable laptop expert and Senior Shopping Reporter Haley Henschel ranked the HP OmenBook Ultra 14-kg000 as her top pick for a more stylish alternative to the MacBook Air. The HP machine outperformed the not only the MacBook Air but also the MacBook Pro in multi-core tasks. Plus, the 120Hz OLED touchscreen is a treat.

How to watch 'Musk' at home: Preorder now Buy 'Musk' on Prime Video $19.99 Shop Now Preorder now Buy 'Musk' on Apple TV $19.99 Get Deal Preorder now Buy 'Musk' on Fandango at Home $19.99 Get Deal Watch later HBO Max (With Ads) $109.99/year (save $21.89) Get Deal Watch later HBO Max Standard $184.99/year (save $36.89) Get Deal Watch later HBO Max Student $5.49 per month for 12 months (save 50%) Get Deal Watch later HBO Max Basic With Ads Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month unlimited plan (save $10.99/month) Get Deal Watch later Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max bundle $21.99 per month (with ads), $34.99 per month (no ads) (save up to 43%) Get Deal Watch later Netflix and HBO Max bundle (with ads) $10/month with Verizon myPlan (save $9.98/month) Get Deal Watch later Netflix, Peacock, and HBO Max (with ads) $22/month with Xfinity StreamSaver (save $10.97/month) Get Deal

If you missed its incredibly brief theatrical run, you can watch the Musk documentary at home starting this week. Oscar winner Alex Gibney's nearly four-hour examination of the world's richest man was pulled from theaters after just two weeks, leading many to speculate about either low ticket sales or some sort of conspiracy.

For what it's worth, the film was mostly a box office flop, though it's received mostly high praise from critics. With a limited release its first week in just four theaters, and an abbreviated wide release its second week, it's hard to say whether the documentary had enough time to really take off. Nevertheless, with a run time of 3 hours and 52 minutes, it might be better for you to watch it from the comfort of your couch anyways.

Here's everything you need to know about how to watch Musk, including when and where it'll be streaming.

What is Musk about?

The buzzy Musk documentary thoroughly examines Elon Musk through extensive archival footage, past recorded interviews, public appearances, and other material, though Musk himself is not actually interviewed for the film. As Mashable's reviewer Matt Binder writes, "Elon Musk may hate it, but the most brutal scenes are comprised of Musk's own actions and words."

Check out the official trailer for Musk:

How to watch Musk at home

As of Nov. 6, you can officially watch the Musk documentary at home, but it'll cost you. You can also wait for a cheaper rental option via digital-on-demand retailers or a streaming option still to come. We've broken down the details below.

Buy or rent on digital

Musk makes its at-home debut via digital-on-demand retailers on Nov. 6, 2026. It costs $19.99 to purchase it and you can pre-order in advance if you'd like. While a rental option is not yet available, it is likely to come and will cost $5 to $10 less. Pro tip: digital prices will drop significantly if you wait a few weeks.

Quick links to buy Musk on digital:

• Apple TV —  buy for $19.99

• Fandango at Home — buy for $19.99

• Prime Video —  buy for $19.99

Stream it on HBO Max

There's no official date yet, but as a HBO Documentary Film, we can only assume that Musk will make its streaming debut on HBO Max. If it follows a similar schedule to other Warner Bros. releases, we expect a January streaming release. Stay tuned.

HBO Max subscriptions start at $10.99 per month, but there are a few ways you can save money on your plan. Check out the best HBO Max streaming deals below.

SEE ALSO: HBO Max and Paramount+ are combining into one streaming service The best HBO Max streaming dealsBest for most people: Save up to $45 on HBO Max annual subscriptions Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Basic with ads annual subscription $109.99 per year (save $21.89) Get Deal at HBO Max Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Standard annual subscription $184.99 per year (save $36.89) Get Deal at HBO Max

The best way to save some cash on HBO Max on any given day is by committing to an annual plan. Yes, it'll cost you more up front, but you'll save about 16% over the course of a year — or up to $45.89 in savings.

A monthly plan with ads typically costs $10.99 per month, but a full year costs $109.99, which breaks down the monthly cost to only $9.17. Annual ad-free plans, which include HBO Max Standard or Premium, will also save you about 16% over their monthly equivalents. Standard subscriptions cost either $18.49 per month or $184.99 per year (which breaks down to $15.42 per month). Premium subscriptions cost $22.99 per month or $229.99 per year (about $19.17 per month). While both are ad-free plans, the Premium option also unlocks 4K Ultra HD video quality, Dolby Atmos, and the ability to download more offline content.

Get HBO Max for free: Switch to Cricket's Supreme Unlimited plan Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max / Cricket HBO Max (with ads) Free for Cricket customers on the Supreme Unlimited plan Get Deal

While it's not the most convenient option, switching your phone plan to Cricket's Supreme Unlimited plan for $60 per month will get you HBO Max with ads for free. Once you're a Cricket customer, you can use your provider credentials to log in via the HBO Max app or website.

Best HBO Max deal for students: Save 50% on HBO Max Basic with ads Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Student $5.49 per month for 12 months Get Deal

College students can sign up for a whole year of HBO Max with ads for 50% off. Prove your student status via UNiDAYS and you'll receive a unique discount code to slash the cost per month down from $10.99 to $5.49. The price will jump back up to $10.99 after 12 months unless you cancel.

Best bundle deal: Get HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu for up to 43% off Opens in a new window Credit: Disney / Hulu / HBO Max Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max $19.99 per month (with ads), $32.99 per month (no ads) Get Deal

The Disney+ bundle deal, which includes HBO Max and Hulu, remains one of the best streaming deals around — even with its latest price increase. For just $21.99 per month, you'll get all three streaming libraries with ads, which is about $14 cheaper than paying for each one separately. If you prefer to go ad-free, it'll run you $34.99 per month as opposed to $61.47 for all three. That's $26.48 in savings.

Best for Verizon customers: Get Netflix and HBO Max for $13/month Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix / HBO Max HBO Max and Netflix (with ads) $13 per month for Verizon customers with myPlan (save $6.98 per month) Get Deal

If you're a Verizon customer on the Simplicity, Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus, or Unlimited Ultimate plan, you can add the Netflix and HBO Max bundle perk (with ads) to your plan for only $13 per month. A $19.98 per month value, that's about $7 in savings each month. Once you enroll in the promo, you'll have to complete the account setup separately for each service. Check out Verizon's support page for all the eligibility details, terms, and FAQs. You can also upgrade to the ad-free bundle for $7.50 more per month.

Best for Xfinity customers: Bundle HBO Max, Peacock, and Netflix and save $10/month Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix / Peacock / HBO Max Netflix Standard with ads, Peacock Premium, and HBO Max $22/month with Xfinity StreamSaver (save $10.97/month) Get Deal

Xfinity Internet and TV customers can also get in on the bundle action, thanks to Xfinity StreamSaver packages. The package that includes Netflix Standard with ads ($8.99 per month), Peacock Premium ($12.99 per month), and HBO Max Basic with Ads ($10.99 per month) can be added to your existing Xfinity service for only $22 per month. It typically costs $32.97 for all three, so that's about $11 in savings monthly.