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Cyber Monday noise-cancelling headphones deals still live: Grab Bose, Sony, and Beats at new lows

Mashable - Wed, 12/03/2025 - 23:15
Best Cyber Monday noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds deals still live: Best deal overall Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (1st gen) $279 (save $150) Get Deal Best earbuds deal Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) $249 (Save $50) Get Deal Past-Gen Sony Headphones Deal Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones $278 (Save $121.99) Get Deal

As Mashable's tech editor, I've covered a lot of cool headphone launches this year. The long-awaited Sony XM6 headphones finally came out this year, and we also got new flagship headphones from Nothing, Bowers & Wilkins, Bose, and Beats. If you need a new pair of noise-cancelling headphones, the Cyber Monday season is the best possible time to buy. And while the sale is technically over, some deals are hanging on into the following week.

However, you won't find all of them in this guide, as not every post-Cyber Monday headphones deal is worth shopping for. I've gathered the biggest discounts on the noise-cancelling headphones I'd actually recommend buying, whether you're shopping for yourself or looking for Christmas gifts for techies.

SEE ALSO: 8 Cyber Monday deals better than Black Friday: Samsung's The Frame, Bose headphones, and a TCL TV

From audiophile-worthy headphones from Bowers & Wilkins to the latest Bose wireless earbuds, you'll find the best of the best here.

Best overall Cyber Monday headphones deal Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (1st gen) $279 at Amazon
$429 Save $150   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Read our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (1st gen).

Though these are last-gen headphones from Bose, $279 puts them at a pretty unbeatable price — and one that's $20 cheaper than what they were at over Cyber Weekend. In Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard's comparison between the two generations, she found that the two weren't hugely different, with these headphones still competing with other top of the line models in comfort, audio quality, and noise cancellation. She wrote, "On sale, the first gen Bose QC Ultra headphones have a near unbeatable value," and that's especially true at this record-low price.

Best runner-up noise-cancelling headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 $248 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $151.99   Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Sony WH-1000XM5.

I tested Sony's legendary XM5 headphones against the newer version, the XM6, as did Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard. And both of us found that they're far more alike than different. Unless you're a picky audiophile, I think most people should opt for the XM5 model while it's on sale, which is what Allard recommended in her comparison. These headphones jumped back in price somewhat following Cyber Monday to $278 (instead of their record low $248), but they're still an excellent value). And they still have all the features you really need: excellent audio quality, best-in-class active noise-cancellation, and an easy-to-use app to adjust EQ settings.

More noise-cancelling headphones dealsBest noise-cancelling earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2nd gen) $249 at Amazon
$299 Save $50   Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) earbuds.

The second-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are the best noise-cancelling earbuds of 2025, full stop. The only buds that really come close? The first-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, which I'm wearing as I write this sentence. These earbuds are supremely comfortable, and they let you slip into a cone of silence on demand. Their price is a bit higher than the $216 low they hit over Cyber Weekend, but getting them for $249 is still a solid deal.

More noise-cancelling earbuds deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

5 new Netflix movies to watch in December 2025

How-To Geek - Wed, 12/03/2025 - 23:00

Netflix has been saving some of its most exciting releases for the end of the year. With the holiday season in full swing, the platform is giving your watchlist one last makeover before the New Year.

Categories: IT General, Technology

50+ Walmart Cyber Monday deals still live: Last chance to get Magic Bullet blenders for $15, MacBooks for $499

Mashable - Wed, 12/03/2025 - 22:59

Cyber Monday wrapped up on Dec. 1, but Walmart is still holding on to some of its best deals from the season. Check out all the bargains you can still grab as of Dec. 3:

Walmart's Cyber Monday still live deals at a glance: Best TV deal Hisense 55-inch Class H5 Series 4K UHD Roku Smart TV (55H5BR) $168 (save $110) Get Deal Best Stick Vacuum Deal Dyson V12 Detect Slim Cordless Vacuum Cleaner $399.99 (save $330) Get Deal Best Gaming deal Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Bundle $449 (save $50) Get Deal BEST KITCHEN DEAL Magic Bullet Essential Blender with To-Go Lid $15 (save $24.99) Get Deal Best laptop deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $499 (save $100) Get Deal

Walmart saved some of its best doorbusters for this final Cyber Monday closeout, and for some reason, they've even held on to some of the price drops in the days following the sale's conclusion. We're seeing record-low deals that are just too good to ignore, like the M1 MacBook Air for $499, a 55-inch TV for under $200, and the Magic Bullet blenders for $15.

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Lucky for all you shoppers, we've sifted through the latest drop of deals, compared the options to competitors' prices, and pulled together a list of the best Walmart Cyber Monday deals that are still live.

Best Walmart Cyber Monday TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 55-inch Class H5 Series 4K UHD Roku Smart TV (55H5BR) $168 at Walmart
$270 Save $102   Get Deal Why we like it

When you think of a TV worth risking a Black Friday brawl, you think of a price like this. But you can save your elbows and your pride, because this deal is live on Cyber Monday and worth grabbing online instead. Getting a 55-inch 4K TV for just $168 is absurd, making it one of the most aggressive TV deals of the entire sale. This TV includes Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10 for rich color, AI Sports Mode to smooth out blurry movements during games, and Game Mode Plus with VRR for lag-free gaming. Plus, the Bezel-less Design means the screen looks seamless and modern, integrating like "functional art" into any living room.

More Cyber Monday TV deals at Walmart43 inches and under50 to 55 inches65 inches75 inches85 inches and upBest gaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Bundle $449
$499 Save $50 Add item to shopping cart to see price Get Deal Why we like it

We weren't expecting to see a Black Friday or Cyber Monday deal on the Switch 2. When the original Switch first came out, we didn't see a discount on the console during that Black Friday season either. And this year, we've seen major price increases at Nintendo, Xbox, and PlayStation. And yet Walmart took everyone by surprise by dropping $50 on the price of the popular Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Bundle. We loved both the new Switch 2 console and Mario Kart World, and getting them both together normally costs $499 (or $$528.99 if you buy them separately).

More Cyber Monday console deals at Walmart More Cyber Monday gaming deals at Walmart Best laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $499 at Walmart
$649 Save $150   Get Deal Why we like it

If you want a MacBook and are trying to stick to a budget, the M1 MacBook Air is the cheapest Apple laptop we can confidently recommend. Even a few years after its release, this thing is still incredibly quiet, sleek, and super portable, and it absolutely blows similarly priced Chromebooks out of the water in terms of speed and performance. Walmart almost always runs a decent sale on it for $599 (down from $649), so we were really hoping for a deeper Cyber Monday discount — and our wish was granted. Dropping the price down to just $499 makes this one of the best laptop deals of the entire holiday shopping event and a perfect entry point into the Apple ecosystem.

More Cyber Monday laptop deals at WalmartBest headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart JLab JBuds Lux $27 at Walmart
$79.99 Save $52.99   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're looking for a solid pair of over-ear noise-cancelling headphones, the budget-minded JLab JBuds Lux are on sale for a whopping 66% off, dropping them from $79.99 to just $27. That's $52.99 off their usual price. They offer great sound, a comfortable headband, and 40 hours of battery life, even when you use their ANC mode. For the price, you really can't beat this deal, and it likely won't be around long — at the time of writing, it's only available in the graphite and cloud colorways.

More earbuds and headphones deals Best robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Qrevo Series Robot Vacuum and Mop $459.99 at Walmart
$749.99 Save $290   Get Deal Why we like it

Roborock is quickly replacing iRobot as the most reliable robot vacuum brand, and this deal on the Qrevo Series is exactly why. The brand made some of our favorite robot vacuums of the year, and this self-emptier has 10,000 Pa of suction, which is enough power to pull out the embedded dirt and pet hair even from deep carpets. But the real win here is how hands-off the whole experience is.

This thing basically takes care of itself thanks to the Multi-functional Dock. It auto-empties the dustbin (that's over seven weeks of hands-free cleaning) and washes and air-dries the mops after every run. You'll also get features like the Dual Anti-Tangle System on the main and side brushes that stops hair from wrapping up, and the Liftable Mops that automatically raise by 10mm when it senses it's moving from hard floors onto a carpet. Combined with the PreciSense LiDAR Navigation, this is a pretty good deal for a premium model that can effectively vacuum, mop, and manage itself across your entire multi-level home.

More Cyber Monday vacuum deals at WalmartBest deal on toys and games Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Happy Plants Building Set $18.39 at Walmart
$22.99 Save $4.60   Get Deal Why we like it

Mashable's Timothy Beck Werth first spotted this Lego set earlier this year at a toy expo, and was charmed by the friendly little plants. Lego's are known for being especially expensive, so a sub-$20 Lego deal is pretty notable. The mini dracaena and pilea plants are great as desk decorations, and for anyone who wants to build Legos but doesn't want to commit to a massive set.

More Walmart Cyber Monday deals on toys and gamesBest Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch SE 2 (GPS, 40mm) $129 at Walmart
$169.99 Save $40.99 New price drop! Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple Watch SE 2 has since been replaced by the SE 3, but except for a longer battery life, they're pretty similar devices. And with Cyber Monday underway, Walmart has dropped prices on the previous-gen model to just $129. We expect this deal to sell out fast, because there's just something satisfying about an Apple Watch that only costs $129.

More Walmart deals on Apple productsBest Cyber Monday kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: Magic Bullet Magic Bullet Essential Blender with To-Go Lid $15 at Walmart
$39.99 Save $24.99   Get Deal Why we like it

Do we need to explain this one? It's a blender that costs $15 post-Cyber Monday, and from a brand we've had great experiences with before. This personal smoothie blender comes with a to-go cup and lid, so you can whip up a smoothie before work or class and take it with you.

More Cyber Monday kitchen deals SEE ALSO: Cyber Monday 2025: Live updates on the best deals from Amazon, Target, Walmart, and more
Categories: IT General, Technology

iOS 26 Messages brings transformative new group chat features

Mashable - Wed, 12/03/2025 - 22:56

When iOS 26 first dropped, there was one pretty huge group chat bug.

Some users complained that their messages to existing group chats were sent as individual chats instead of chats to the entire group, and didn't show in the group chat at all. A user on Reddit said the bug was particularly stark with chats that included numbers that weren't tied to iPhones.

But in the few weeks since, that bug seems to be fixed, and users have begun to shift their focus away from the frustrations of a new iOS system and towards the fun new features. 9to5Mac wrote up a rundown of the five most intriguing features, including the typing indicator, polls, Apple Cash, background changing, and adding contacts.

The typing indicator was once reserved for one-on-one conversations, but iOS 26 brought the text bubble to group chats. Of course, not everyone is elated (one user wrote on Reddit looking for a way to remove it since they "really don't want" the feature), but personally, I find it cool.

Group chats also got polls, which Mashable's Alex Perry called "one of my favorite" new features after trying it out in beta, saying it is "nominally a feature for deciding where to get dinner, but will really be a feature that's used to settle incredibly arcane, nonsensical inside-joke arguments among friend groups."

Groups can also send Apple Cash. I don't personally know anyone who uses this form of money transferring before using Venmo, CashApp, Zelle, or, of course, literal cash, but I suppose if you're interested in settling money after a bachelorette trip, I could see this being useful.

You can also change the background of a group chat. One of my group chats has changed to a photo of my cat edited to look like he's wearing jeans.

The options, fellas? They're endless.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, and Lindsay Mendez dish on bringing Merrily We Roll Along from stage to screen

Mashable - Wed, 12/03/2025 - 22:33

When it first hit Broadway in 1981, Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's decades-spanning musical Merrily We Roll Along was a total flop. The original run of the show ran for 16 performances and 44 previews before closing.

But in the years since, Merrily We Roll Along has enjoyed much bigger critical and commercial success, and no production exemplifies that more than the show's 2023 Broadway revival. Directed by Maria Friedman, the revival starred Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, and Lindsay Mendez as Merrily We Roll Along's core trio of Franklin Shepard, Charley Kringas, and Mary Flynn. The show charts their friendship in reverse chronological order, starting with a bitter stand-off in 1977 before turning back the years to their first meeting in 1957.

SEE ALSO: The best movies of 2025, and where to watch them

The Broadway revival earned seven Tony Award nominations and took home four: Best Revival of a Musical, Best Actor in a Musical for Groff, Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Radcliffe, and Best Orchestrations. Now, you can catch the award-winning production in all its glory on the big screen.

In an interview with Mashable Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards, Groff, Radcliffe, and Mendez broke down how they filmed the stage production for the film version.

"They filmed three shows at night in a row, and then during the day, they would have cameras that were on stage with us, and we would film close-up stuff," Radcliffe explained. "It was nice that it wasn't all the pressure resting on one night, actually."

The filmed version also allowed the actors to appreciate moments from the show that they couldn't actually see while performing their tracks.

"There were so many moments that I never knew existed because I'm busy doing my thing," Mendez said. "So to be able to zoom out and get to capture all these beautiful, amazing moments that our ensemble was doing, that was one of the best gifts to get."

2025's Merrily We Roll Along isn't the only one filmed version of the musical we'll be getting, though. Director Richard Linklater is currently filming his own take on the musical, with Paul Mescal, Ben Platt, and Beanie Feldstein in the lead roles. However, his production will span 20 years in order to capture the characters' growth over that length of time, Boyhood-style.

"If there's any film that is absolutely primed for the Richard Linklater Boyhood treatment, it is Merrily," Radcliffe said. "I don't know any of the actors in it, so I haven't had contact with anyone, but I'm pretty sure I walked past Beanie Feldstein on the street once when she was going to film a section of it... I'm very excited to see that film when it comes out."

Thankfully, Sondheim fans will have the filmed version of the 2023 Broadway revival to tide them over during the wait for Linklater's take.

Merrily We Roll Along hits theaters Dec. 5.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

Categories: IT General, Technology

2026 Bentley Flying Spur Speed review: hybrid V8 power and luxury

How-To Geek - Wed, 12/03/2025 - 22:30

When you think of a Bentley, you probably imagine a car so luxurious it practically whispers “I’m better than you” at traffic lights. I’ve driven my fair share of high-end cars, but collecting the 2026 Bentley Flying Spur Speed from the British automaker's Crewe HQ still felt like stepping into another world.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Our favorite Ninja gifts are still on sale for Cyber Week — save 43% on blenders, air fryers, and ice cream makers

Mashable - Wed, 12/03/2025 - 22:28

First Black Friday, then Cyber Monday, and now Cyber Week. If you're feeling a little fatigued by the constant pace of deals over the past week, then we know how you feel. But you really are running out of time to take advantage of some of the lingering sales, so if you still have loved ones in need of Christmas gifts, then let us help you make them happy and save some money in the process.

Right now, our favorite Ninja gifts are still on sale, with savings up to 38% off the usual retail price. That includes affordable gifts under $50 as well as pricier gifts like the Ninja Creami, a long-time Mashable favorite. We've tested a lot of Ninja kitchen appliances over the years, and we've been consistently impressed by the brand's offerings.

So, if you're looking to save on your holiday shopping list — and in this economy, who isn't? — then check out these Ninja Cyber Week deals while you still can!

Ninja BlendBOSS Personal Blender with To-Go Tumbler

We love this personal blending system, which we recently included in our guide to the best tech gifts of the year. We love the fun look of this countertop appliance, and it's still included in Amazon's ongoing Cyber Week sale. For the smoothie king or queen, they can quickly throw together a smoothie and then take it to go on the road.

While it doesn't have a huge discount, this is your chance to grab one of the year's hottest gifts while it's on sale.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja BlendBOSS Personal Blender with To-Go Tumbler $118.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $21.00   Get Deal Ninja CREAMi Scoop & Swirl Ice Cream and Soft Serve Maker

We were impressed with the Ninja Creami soft serve machine, even if it is a bit loud. But that's a small price to pay for the ability to make your own ice cream sundaes at will. For parents, ice cream lovers, or anyone with a sweet tooth, this is a surprisingly fun treat that also makes a great gift. During Cyber Week, you can pick it up on sale for 20% off its usual price at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja CREAMi Scoop & Swirl Ice Cream and Soft Serve Maker $279.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $70   Get Deal Ninja Blast Portable Cordless Blender

If you don't want to spend more than $50, then check out this Ninja personal blender, currently priced at just $39.99 for Cyber Week. This would also make a great gift idea for gift exchanges with a $50 price limit.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Blast Portable Cordless Blender $39.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $30.00   Get Deal Ninja 4-in-1 Air Fryer Pro

Currently 38% off, as it has been since the start of Black Friday, this Ninja Air Fryer is the perfect gift for a college student or any young person moving into their first apartment. With a very reasonable $79.99 price tag, this air fryer will make it easy to whip up veggies, meat, and leftovers in minutes. Really, anyone who doesn't do much cooking could appreciate this one.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja 4-in-1 Air Fryer Pro $79.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $50.00   Get Deal Ninja Slushi

We have two words for you: Wine slushy. Or maybe you're prefer a blended margarita, piña colada, espresso martini, or daquari? With the Mashable-tested Ninja Slushi, you can have all of the above. Give this to a sibling or friend, and you can also benefit from delicious blended drinks and cocktails.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Slushi $269 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $80.99   Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

Fake AI-generated shops, ads flourish on Facebook

Mashable - Wed, 12/03/2025 - 22:25

The new iPhone, the Nintendo Switch 2, anything KPop Demon Hunters-related: these are the trending holiday gift items this year. And if you're on Facebook, there's a nonzero chance they are actually gifts that cyber criminals are pretending to sell in order to scam Facebook users.

These AI-generated products look like quality items, which the scammers then pitch at affordable prices. When a user clicks on the ad, which the scammer paid Facebook to serve, they are sent to the thieves' e-commerce storefront.

The consumer makes their purchase without realizing the item is a fake. They'll either receive a cheap imitation product, or never receive any item at all. 

According to a BBC investigation, consumers were scammed out of their money after falling for fake AI-generated images posing as C'est La Vie and Mabel & Daisy, family-run UK-based businesses selling products such as clothing and jewelry.

The stores do not actually exist; the e-commerce site is connected to a warehouse in China that ships cheap knockoffs.

The BBC heard directly from more than 60 people who fell victim to these scams after its report came out. Meta told the BBC it had removed those fraudulent companies from the platform. 

But what's to stop it happening again?

Facebook scams are nothing new. For years, fraudsters have weaponized the Facebook ads platform on a large scale. Meta makes, according to one analysis, a whopping $7 billion a year from scam ads alone.

Generative AI has only made scamming easier for cyber criminals, who can now generate convincingly real images and videos in an attempt to legitimize their fake shops. 

What can we do about this? Be extra careful this holiday season and remember the old adage: If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Don't Upgrade Your GPU: Try These Other Upgrades First

How-To Geek - Wed, 12/03/2025 - 22:00

When it comes to gaming, PC performance falls behind the cutting edge very quickly. A brand-new game can really make it feel like your PC needs an upgrade, but it's not always a new GPU that would make the biggest difference. Some less obvious upgrades can make an even bigger impact.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 65 best tech gifts of the year, hand-picked by professional gadget nerds

Mashable - Wed, 12/03/2025 - 21:38

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

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

Home Assistant's December update adds better sorting, an undo button, and much more

How-To Geek - Wed, 12/03/2025 - 21:19

Home Assistant is closing out the year with its 2025.12 release, bringing major quality of life improvements, an overhaul to automation building, and a new area for testing preview features. There's a lot here to give you more intuitive control over your smart homes.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 must-know custom data validation formulas for preventing errors in Excel

How-To Geek - Wed, 12/03/2025 - 21:00

Data validation in Microsoft Excel is a great way to limit what can be entered into a cell. However, creating rules using a formula allows you to enforce even more precise parameters—and there are three that I use in most of my spreadsheets.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Google Drive is getting better search, but it will cost you

Mashable - Wed, 12/03/2025 - 20:52

If you've ever found searching through your folders on Google Drive to be a chore, the company has good news. There's a catch, however — and naturally it involves your wallet.

Google revealed its list of upcoming changes to Drive this week. Most revolve around further integrating Gemini, the company's AI tool. Gemini will now preview what's inside a folder in Drive, making it easier to find what you're looking for without opening individual files.

"Gemini will now proactively provide insights about the files within a folder, right at the top of the folder view," the announcement says. "This makes it easier to quickly understand what’s inside without having to open individual files. For a more in-depth look, you can click 'Explore with Gemini' to get a full summary or ask follow up questions in the Gemini side panel." 

Here's what that looks like:

Credit: Google

"This feature is designed to help you save time and stay organized by providing at-a-glance insights into your folders," Google wrote.

As tech site Android Authority pointed out, this helpful upgrade is available only to paid Google Workspace users, or folks with a Gemini Plus or Pro subscription.

So if it looks nifty and you don't have one of those accounts already, you'll have to pay up.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Last-call on T‑Mobiles Black Friday Apple bundle — get an iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch for free

Mashable - Wed, 12/03/2025 - 20:49

SAVE UP TO $1,899: Until Dec. 3, T-Mobile has dropped the Ultimate Apple Bundle for Black Friday. The mobile carrier is offering new and existing customers, including businesses, the chance to get the iPhone 17 Pro, iPad (A16), and Apple Watch SE 3 for free.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPhone 17 Pro, iPad (A16), and Apple Watch SE 3 for free with T-Mobile   Learn More

It's been an incredibly strong start to Black Friday, and T-Mobile is joining in on the seasonal fun with an excellent bundle offer for customers. As of Nov. 26, T-Mobile has dropped an Apple bundle that offers new and existing customers (including businesses) the opportunity to get the iPhone 17 Pro, iPad (A16), and Apple Watch SE 3 for free.

That's not all, though. T-Mobile is also offering a little treat for new 5G Home Internet customers — one month on them via a one-time bill credit. On top of that, you'll get a $300 virtual prepaid Mastercard when you sign up for the All-In plan. This is quite a lot to take in, but it's worth keeping in mind that for each of the Apple devices listed, there's a few prerequisites that we've broken down below per the press release.

  • iPhone 17 Pro: If you're interested in the iPhone 17 Pro, it's on T-Mobile when you trade in an eligible device in any condition and sign up for the Experience Beyond plan, which is $215 per month. Existing customers on Go5G Next can get the new iPhone via 24 monthly bill credits plus tax. Businesses can also get the iPhone 17 Pro on T-Mobile without a trade-in when switching a line to T-Mobile on the SuperMobile plan, or trading in an eligible device and switching a line to the ProMobile or SuperMobile plan, via 24 monthly bill credits plus tax.

  • iPad (A16): You can score the iPad on T-Mobile by adding a tablet line on a qualifying plan, via 36 monthly bill credits including tax.

  • Apple Watch SE 3: Similar to the iPad, you can score the Apple Watch SE 3 on T-Mobile by adding a watch line to a plan, via 36 monthly bill credits plus tax.

This is an excellent way to set you up with some of Apple's sleek new tech ahead of the holidays. Don't miss out on T-Mobile's Apple bundle during Black Friday 2025. And if you just can't get enough of Apple deals right now, there's even more to look at in our overall breakdown of the 30+ best Black Friday Apple deals.

More Black Friday-Cyber Monday Apple deals still live

Some of the best Black Friday deals on Apple products are still live. So, if you're not interested in switching to T-Mobile, here are the best offers on iPads, Apple Watches, and MacBooks.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 with ANC $99 at Amazon
$179 Save $80   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14.2 inches (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,349 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $250 Lowest price ever 🔥 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13 inches (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749 at Amazon
$999 Save $250   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTags (4-Pack) $74.99 at Amazon
$99 Save $24.01   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $329 at Amazon
$399 Save $70 Lowest price ever 🔥 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad, 11 inches (A16) $274 at Walmart
$349 Save $75 Lowest price ever 🔥 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad, 10.2 inches (Refurbished) $179.99 at Amazon
  Learn More

UPDATE: Dec. 3, 2025, 2:47 p.m. EST This article has been updated with additional offers on Apple products.

Categories: IT General, Technology

RIP Crucial: Micron will end production in 2026

How-To Geek - Wed, 12/03/2025 - 20:47

You're about to see Crucial-branded drives, memory, and other hardware disappear from store shelves. Micron, the company behind Crucial, is leaving the consumer hardware market entirely.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Google Search is pushing more people to AI Mode

How-To Geek - Wed, 12/03/2025 - 20:20

Home Assistant is closing out the year with its 2025.12 release, bringing major quality of life improvements, an overhaul to automation building, and a brand new area for testing preview features. There's a lot coming that should give users more intuitive control over their smart homes.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 11 best noise-cancelling headphones we use, love, and recommend

Mashable - Wed, 12/03/2025 - 20:13
What are the best noise-cancelling headphones of 2025?

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 new 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.

Recent testing updates

  • December 2025: We removed the Dyson On-Trac headphones from this guide. While they had unbeatable battery life when they were first released, that's no longer the case.

  • December 2025: We added the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 as the best sports earbuds.

  • December 2025: We added the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 headphones as the best splurge.

  • September 2025: We replaced the original Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds with the updated second-gen model.

  • July 2025: We added the new Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones.

  • February 2025: We added the EarFun Air Pro 4 earbuds as our favorite earbuds pick under $100, replacing the Beats Studio Buds+.

  • August 2024: With a heavy heart, we said goodbye to the Bose 700 headphones as our recommendation for the best noise-cancelling headphones with adjustable ANC.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best value and mid-size family sedans for 2025

How-To Geek - Wed, 12/03/2025 - 20:01

Family sedans may not dominate headlines like SUVs, but in 2025 they offer some of the strongest value, comfort, and day-to-day usability on the market. With new models prioritizing quiet cabins, improved ride quality, and the latest driver-assist tech, shoppers who overlook this segment may be missing out on vehicles that deliver far more refinement than their price tags suggest.

Categories: IT General, Technology

DeepSeek v3.2: Whats new and how does it compare to ChatGPT?

Mashable - Wed, 12/03/2025 - 19:43

Remember DeepSeek, the large language model (LLM) out of China that was released for free earlier this year and upended the AI industry? Without the funding and infrastructure of leaders in the space like Google and OpenAI, the team behind the DeepSeek R1 model was able to create a viable competitor to Gemini and ChatGPT.

This week, the DeepSeek team released two powerful new models, DeepSeek-V3.2 and DeepSeek-V3.2-Speciale — and once again they are totally free to use.

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DeepSeek's China-based team says that DeepSeek-V3.2 provides equivalent levels of performance as OpenAI's GPT-5 and described the model as "your daily driver." DeepSeek-V3.2 is more for the same everyday tasks that you'd seek out from a AI assistant chatbot like ChatGPT.

DeepSeek-V3.2-Speciale, on the other hand, appears to be competing with the more advanced AI models like Google's Gemini 3.0 Pro. DeepSeek describes the model as having "maxed-out reasoning capabilities" and shared testing results showing DeepSeek-V3.2-Speciale acing numerous LLM reasoning benchmarks. 

"DeepSeek-V3.2 is our first model to integrate thinking directly into tool-use, and also supports tool-use in both thinking and non-thinking modes," DeepSeek said in a statement announcing the models posted to its X account.

Basically, as the DeepSeek team describes it, the latest model is able to mimic human reasoning and utilize tools like search engines and calculators. Furthermore, DeepSeek-V3.2-Speciale is for mathematical needs, with the team sharing the models' "gold medal" results from taking tests such as the International Math Olympiad.

DeepSeek says it is setting out to “push the inference capabilities of open-source models to their limits and explore the boundaries of model capabilities.”

How does DeepSeek-V3.2 compare to GPT-5?

The biggest difference is that DeepSeek's models are open-source. In short, they're tools that can be applied to specific problems. ChatGPT, on the other hand, is a closed-source, general-purpose AI chatbot that combines multiple models into a single user experience.

So, while it seems that the latest DeepSeek models stack up to ChatGPT and other models contextually, it should also be noted that it is primarily a text-based model and not one for images, video, or other media. And, of course, DeepSeek's models are free, while users have a very limited number of prompts with the free version of ChatGPT.

So far, on the popular AI leaderboard LMArena, the new DeepSeek models have lagged behind the likes of GPT-5 and Gemini 3. And in terms of feature set, ChatGPT still offers a more complete, all-around experience.

How can you try DeepSeek-V3.2?

Users currently looking to utilize DeepSeek-V3.2 can do so right now on DeepSeek's website, API, and app. You can head to the DeepSeek platform and try it right away.

However, as of now, the DeepSeek-V3.2-Speciale model is only available through DeepSeek's API. The API access for DeepSeek-V3.2-Speciale does incur a cost; however, it is 10 times cheaper than its competitors' models, with a cost of 42 cents per million tokens.

DeepSeek last upended the industry nearly a year ago. Since then, a lot of advances have been made with other models. We'll soon see if DeepSeek's latest models continue to disrupt the industry.



Categories: IT General, Technology

Windows 11 zero-day security vulnerability gets partial fix from Microsoft

How-To Geek - Wed, 12/03/2025 - 19:22

Microsoft has quietly rolled out a partial mitigation for the high-severity Windows LNK vulnerability, CVE-2025-9491, which multiple state-sponsored groups and cybercrime gangs have been exploiting as a zero-day. This security flaw lets attackers hide malicious commands inside standard Windows shortcut files.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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