Grok’s Elon Musk worship is getting weird
It’s no secret that Elon Musk shapes the X social platform and X’s “maximally truth-seeking” Grok AI chatbot to his preferences. But it’s possible Musk may have needed a bit of an extra ego boost this week, because Grok’s worship of its creator seems, shall we say, more noticeable than usual.
As a number of people have pointed out on social media over the past day, Grok’s public-facing chatbot is currently prone to insisting on Musk’s prowess at absolutely anything, no matter how unlikely — or conversely, embarrassing — a given feat is.
Elon Musk: fitter than LeBron James!
Elon Musk: funnier than Jerry Seinfeld!
Elon Musk: better at resurrection than Jesus Christ!
Elon Musk: surpasses most historical figures in active paternal involvement despite scale!
Elon Musk: could beat Mike Tyson by “deploying gadgets” in a boxing match! Elon Musk: would beat Superman too! Elon Musk: would “automate away the need for killers via sustainable tech” but be “unstoppable” at murder, if he tried!
If pressed, Grok will also contend Musk would be the best at eating poop or drinking urine, but it would prefer to focus on how good he is at making rockets, please. At least some of these posts have been deleted in the past hour; X did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the phenomenon from The Verge.
This glazing appears to be exclusive to the X version of Grok; when I asked the private chatbot to compare Musk with James, it conceded, “LeBron James has a significantly better physique than Elon Musk.” The GitHub page for Grok’s system prompts indicates they were updated three days ago, with the additions including a prohibition on “snarky one-liners” and instructions not to base responses on “any beliefs stated in past Grok posts or by Elon Musk or xAI,” but there’s nothing that seems to clearly explain this new behavior — although system prompts are only one way to shape how AI systems work.
Either way, this is far from the weirdest Grok has gotten, and it’s less disruptive than the bot’s brief obsession with “white genocide” or its intense antisemitism — which, incidentally, is still flaring up in the form of Holocaust denial. Grok has previously searched for Musk’s opinion to formulate its own answers, so even the preoccupation with Musk isn’t new. But it reminds us all what a weirdly intimate connection Grok — a product that’s been rolled out across the US government, among other places — has with its owner, and how randomly that connection is prone to appear.
The best early Black Friday deals we’ve found so far on laptops, TVs, and more
Black Friday is the most anticipated day of the year for bargain hunters. While there’s still some time to go before November 28th, we’ve already found a healthy selection of early discounts, allosignwing you to get a jump on your holiday shopping. Right now, for instance, the new AirPods Pro 3 are receiving their first sizable discount. Meanwhile, Google’s Pixel Watch 4 — the Android watch to beat — is on sale for the first time.
However, that’s just a taste of what’s to come in November. As the month goes on, we’re expecting to see even more deals — including sizable drops on robovacs, TVs, and headphones. In fact, retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and Target have already kicked off their holiday promos. We’ll be updating this guide over the next week or so, too, so be sure to check back as we approach the main event.
Apple deals
AirPods Pro 3
The recently released AirPods Pro 3 have a new design that improves their fit, superior noise cancellation, better bass, and fairly accurate heart rate sensors. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
Apple AirTags
Apple’s AirTags are unobtrusive, waterproof, and tap into the massive Find My network for out-of-range locating. Read our original review.
Where to Buy:
AirPods Pro (second-gen with USB-C)
The second-gen AirPods Pro improve upon Apple’s original pair with much better noise cancellation, sound quality, and onboard volume controls. The latest refresh also ships with a USB-C charging case, as opposed to Lightning. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
- Amazon, Walmart, and Target have marked the AirPods 4 down to $79.99 ($90 off), which is their best price to date. Apple’s latest non-Pro AirPods sound great despite their open-style build, support voice isolation for clearer-sounding calls, and have a streamlined setup process and multipoint pairing with Apple devices. You can also get the version with active noise cancellation on sale for a new all-time low of $109.99 ($70 off) at Amazon, Walmart, and Target. Read our review.
- The Apple Watch Series 10 has the same wide-angle OLED screen, the same chip, and the same health sensors as the Series 11; however, unlike Apple’s latest smartwatch, the Series 10 is on sale at Walmart in its 42mm base configuration for $249 ($150 off). The battery life is slightly less than that of the Series 11, and you lose out on the option for 5G connectivity, but we reckon those are pretty minor compromises for most people. Read our review.
Apple Watch Series 11 (42mm, GPS)
Although the Apple Watch Series 11 is the same size as its predecessor, it features a 5G cellular modem, a display that’s twice as durable, and slightly improved battery life. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
Apple Watch SE 3
The Apple Watch SE 3 offers some big upgrades over its predecessor, including an always-on display, allowing you to glance at the time or unread notifications. It also has Apple’s powerful S10 chip, which enables on-device Siri requests. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
- The second-gen HomePod is Apple’s latest smart speaker, and you can pick one up for $269.99 ($30 off) at Best Buy right now. The great-sounding speaker can play Dolby Atmos tracks with proper separation, though you can also pair two together for even better separation. The speaker doesn’t support Bluetooth, which means your device has to be on the same network to stream music to it. You can also ask Siri to play tunes, control various smart home accessories, set timers, or answer questions, but all of those functions still require a stable internet connection. Read our review.
- The latest 11-inch iPad Pro has only been out for about a month, but that hasn’t stopped Amazon from cutting the price of the 256GB / Wi-Fi model to $924 ($75 off). Apple’s newest, most powerful iPad has the same design as last year’s model, but features a faster M5 processor, which you’ll notice most when performing resource-intensive tasks like playing games. Lower storage configurations of the iPad Pro also have 12GB of RAM (up from 8GB), while all models have faster memory bandwidth. Read our review.
11-inch iPad Air M3
The new 11-inch iPad Air comes with Apple’s M3 chip and GPU upgrades. It’s available in dark gray, blue, purple, and a “starlight” cream shade. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
iPad (2025)
Apple’s entry-level iPad is an excellent tablet for casual use. Its high resolution screen is great for watching video, and its A16 processor is fast enough to handle light games and productivity apps. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
Headphone and earbud deals
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Bose’s last-gen flagship headphones are a replacement for the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 that offer a more travel-friendly design, spatial audio, better call quality, excellent comfort, and some of the best noise cancellation around. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
Bose QuietComfort Headphones
Bose’s QuietComfort Headphones, which replace the QuietComfort 45, have adjustable noise cancellation and the ability to set custom modes. However, they lack immersive audio mode and the higher-quality Bluetooth found in the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones.
Where to Buy:
Sony WH-1000XM6
Sony’s latest pair of flagship headphones feature improved comfort, better noise cancellation, and the ability to charge while in use. They even fold down for travel, which can’t be said about the last-gen XM5. Read our initial impressions.
Where to Buy:
- Bose’s Ultra Open Earbuds are the brand’s boldest, most unique earbuds — and you can pick them up at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy for $199 ($100 off), their lowest price to date. Instead of sitting in your ear canal, the earbuds cling to your outer ear like a piece of jewelry. That design means you’ll always hear external noise, which isn’t ideal if you want to block out noisy coworkers; however, it’s great if you need to remain aware of your surroundings, such as when walking or riding a bike. Read our review.
- EarFun is offering up to 65 percent off its already affordable headphones, earbuds, and speakers. The EarFun Free Pro 3, a great pair of cheap wireless earbuds, are currently down to just $27.99 ($52 off) at Earfun’s online storefront with coupon code PDFP3. The wireless earbuds feature ANC, wireless charging, and over seven hours of continuous playback on a single charge. The EarFun Tune Pro, meanwhile, are on sale for $48,99 ($21 off) with code TUNEPRO56. The over-ear headphones feature noise-canceling tech and support for multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, so you can connect to two devices simultaneously.
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2
The latest Powerbeats Pro are a no-brainer for athletes. They pack fantastic sound and thumping bass, along with active noise cancellation, IPX4 water resistance, and heart rate monitoring. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
Significantly smaller and lighter than their predecessors, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 also offer stronger noise cancellation, a crystal clear transparency mode, and lengthy battery life. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (second-gen)
The second-gen QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have dynamic, rich sound and the best noise cancellation available in true wireless earbuds. They’re a terrific pick if earbuds you want to listen to your music in peace. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
- You can pick up the cream-colored Beats Solo Buds at Walmart for $39 ($40 off), an all-time low. The platform-agnostic earbuds feature gummy tips, offer up to 18 hours of playback per charge, and support both Apple’s Find My and Android’s Find My Device feature, which lets you locate them more easily should you lose them. They don’t have active noise cancellation, but that’s unsurprising at this price. Read our hands-on impressions.
- Now through December 1st, you can snag the Sony WF-1000XM5 for $228 ($101 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Sony’s online store, which matches the price drop we saw during Amazon’s most recent Prime Day event. Sony’s flagship earbuds improve upon the prior model with richer sound, slightly more powerful noise cancellation, and vastly superior comfort thanks to their reduced size and weight. They also come with four foam-style ear tips, offer around eight hours of battery life with ANC enabled, and carry an IPX4 rating with support for multipoint connectivity. Read our review.
Nothing Ear (a)
Nothing’s Ear (a) earbuds have the same general design as the company’s previous earbuds — but you can get these in a snazzy yellow. They include ANC, more than decent sound quality, and other features like multipoint for just under $100. Read our impressions.
Where to Buy:
Sony WH-1000XM5
With improved comfort, refined sound, and even better active noise cancellation, Sony’s WH-1000XM5 offer a compelling mix of features for the price. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
The OpenRun Pro 2 are Shokz’s best bone conduction headphones yet, with better sound and more bass than their predecessor. Our reviewer Victoria Song praised their cozy fit as well as their USB-C charging (goodbye, proprietary charger!). Read our review.
Where to Buy:
Smartwatch and fitness tracker deals
Google Pixel Watch 4
The Pixel Watch 4 has a bigger display, longer battery life, more repairable design, and new Satellite SOS mode. It also leverages Google Gemini, and introduces an AI Health Coach. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
Oura Ring 4
The Oura Ring 4 is slimmer and more accurate than its predecessor, while adding new AI-powered tools and longer battery life. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
Fitbit Charge 6
The Fitbit Charge 6 features a haptic side button, an improved heart rate algorithm, turn-by-turn navigation with Google Maps, and the ability to broadcast your heart rate on certain Bluetooth gym equipment. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
- The Fitbit Ace LTE is down to around $99.95 ($80 off) at Amazon, Target, and Best Buy, which marks a new low price. The fitness tracker is designed specifically for kids, with movement-based games that encourage physical activity. It also supports GPS location tracking, along with the ability to send messages and place calls to a limited number of contacts. However, keep in mind that a Fitbit Ace Pass subscription ($9.99 per month / $119.99 per year) is required for location tracking, messaging, and access to the Fitbit Arcade. Read our hands-on impressions.
- The Fitbit Versa 4 is on sale at Amazon, Target, and Best Buy for $119.95 ($80 off), which is the lowest price we’ve seen this year. The smartwatch features heart rate, activity, sleep, blood oxygen, menstrual health, and stress tracking, as well as more than 40 exercise modes that automatically detect and track specific workouts. Although it doesn’t support ECG, it can record heart rate variability and monitor it 24/7. It also supports services like Fitbit Pay and Google Maps, extending its usefulness beyond its core fitness tracking capabilities.
Fitbit Sense 2
The Sense 2 delivers premium health tracking, highlighted by top-tier stress sensing via continuous EDA and heart-rate variability. It also offers strong battery life and monitors sleep, ECG, and temperature. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
- The entry-level Fitbit Inspire 3 has returned to its all-time low of $69.95 ($30 off) at Amazon, Target, and Best Buy. The basic fitness band nails the basics, providing heart rate, sleep, exercise, blood oxygen, and menstrual health tracking. It can also provide you with a sleep score every morning, along with tips for improving your sleep. You can also remove the Inspire 3 from its band and wear it as a necklace, which is less obtrusive but disables heart rate tracking. Read our hands-on impressions.
Google Pixel Watch 3 (45mm, Wi-Fi)
Google’s last-gen smartwatch features a large screen, a battery that lasts up to 24 hours, and sensors for measuring your blood oxygen levels and taking an EKG. The wearable also offers a host of useful Google integrations and can provide you with custom running workouts. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
Garmin Fenix 8
The Garmin Fenix 8 adds smart features like the ability to take calls on the wrist, and an on-board voice assistant.
Where to Buy:
- The Venu X1, one of Garmin’s more premium smartwatches, is available from Amazon and Garmin for a new low of $599.99 ($200 off). The X1 features a 2-inch OLED display and Garmin’s thinnest case yet. It can also track your activity, heart rate, blood oxygen level, and sleep (including naps). It’ll provide you with a morning report based on recorded health metrics, and it offers stress tracking and guided meditations. It can even track over 100 activities and create a running or strength training regimen via Garmin Coach.
- Garmin’s midrange Vivoactive 6 is on sale for $249.99 ($50 off) — its best price to date — at Amazon, Best Buy, and REI. The watch features a circular 1.2-inch OLED screen, a battery that can last up to 11 hours per charge, and Bluetooth support. It can also track your activity, blood oxygen level, sleep, and heart rate, as well as generate fitness plans using the built-in Garmin Coach.
Garmin Forerunner 265 (42mm)
Garmin’s midrange Forerunner watch adds an OLED display, a week’s worth of battery life, and dual-frequency GPS for better accuracy. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
- The 46mm OnePlus Watch 3 is available from Amazon, Best Buy, and OnePlus for $249.99 ($100 off) — its best prices to date. The newer wearable retains everything we loved about its predecessor, including dual-frequency GPS and long battery life, but improves the experience with a rotating crown that scrolls and up to 120 hours of battery life. It can also provide a quick snapshot of your heart rate, blood oxygen levels, sleep quality, and more. Read our hands-on impressions.
Garmin Venu 3S
The Venu 3S remains our favorite Garmin smartwatch. It’s a comfortable wearable with up to 10 days of battery life and a vibrant 1.2-inch OLED display, not to mention solid sleep tracking, Atrial Fibrillation detection, and a built-in EKG reader. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
- The Amazfit Active 2 remains our favorite fitness tracker because it offers a surprising feature set given its modest price tag, especially now that you can get it for an all-time low of $79.99 ($20 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. The budget-friendly smartwatch can track your sleep, heart rate, and a slew of activities, while providing a daily readiness score based on what its sensors record. It also features a vibrant OLED display, an estimated 10 days of battery life, and enough built-in sports modes to accurately track every part of your workout routine. Read our review.
- Samsung’s Galaxy Ring is an excellent complement to a Samsung smartphone, and it’s hit an all-time low of $279.99 ($120 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Samsung’s online store. The newer smart ring has a slim, lightweight design, long battery life, and, unlike competitors like the Oura Ring, doesn’t lock features behind a paywall (yet). That said, its battery lasts longer when paired with a Samsung phone, and certain features — including the ability to view your daily Energy Score or use the camera shutter by pinching your fingers — aren’t available when paired with another Android phone. Read our review.
Tablet and e-reader deals
Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023)
The 2023 Amazon Fire HD 10 sports a 10.1-inch, 1080p display and 3GB of RAM, which is plenty if you’re streaming or browsing. It’s lighter than the last-gen model, too, and comes with support for both the Made for Amazon Stylus Pen and Amazon’s handwriting recognition technology.
Where to Buy:
- The latest Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids tablet is matching its all-time low of $104.99 ($85 off) at Amazon, Target, and Best Buy. The tablet features a 10.1-inch 1080p display, a kid-proof case, and up to 13 hours of battery life. It also comes with 32GB of storage for loading up apps and other content, along with robust parental controls and a two-year warranty. It also comes with a year of Amazon Kids Plus, which features access to ad-free, age-appropriate content, including books, movies, apps, and more.
- If you’re looking for something more compact, the latest Amazon Fire 7 Kids is currently available at Target, Best Buy, and Amazon, for $44.99 ($55 off), its lowest price to date. The basic tablet offers many of the same features and services found in the larger 10.1-inch model — including an extended two-year warranty, extensive parental controls, and a year of Amazon Kids Plus — but the base Fire 7 Kids comes with 16GB of storage and features a smaller 7-inch display. The device also offers up to 10 hours of battery life, providing plenty of fun while on the road.
Kindle Paperwhite (12th-gen)
Amazon’s latest Kindle Paperwhite — aka our favorite ebook reader — is waterproof, has a seven-inch display, and lasts weeks per charge. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
- The 16GB Kindle Colorsoft, Amazon’s newest color e-reader, is down to a new low of $169.99 ($80 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. It features a 7-inch screen with 300ppi when viewing text and black-and-white imagery, or 150ppi when viewing color. It has 16GB of storage, a battery that lasts up to eight weeks, and a waterproof design. If you want to carry around more books, the Signature Edition has 32GB of storage, plus wireless charging and an auto-adjusting front light sensor. You can pick the latter up for $229.99 ($70 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target.
- Amazon, Best Buy, and Target have all marked the 2024 Kindle Scribe with 16GB of storage down to an all-time low of $279.99 ($120 off). The Scribe has a 10.2-inch display and a battery that can last up to 12 weeks, and it comes with Amazon’s Premium Pen, which you can use to annotate books or jot down ideas. The e-reader’s built-in AI features, meanwhile, allow you to clean up your handwriting, summarize your notes, or adjust the length and tone of what you’ve written. However, keep in mind that Amazon recently announced a new model, though we still don’t have a firm launch date. Read our review.
Kindle (11th-gen)
Amazon’s latest entry-level Kindle retains a six-inch, 300ppi display and USB-C charger. It’s brighter and slightly faster than its predecessor, though, and features longer battery life.
Where to Buy:
TV and streaming deals
Sony Bravia 8 II
The Bravia 8 II was chosen as the “king of TV” by a panel of judges (including The Verge’s own Nilay Patel) in Value Electronics’ 2025 shootout. The OLED TV has excellent color accuracy, a bright panel, and a 120Hz refresh rate.
Where to Buy:
- LG’s 55-inch C5 OLED is down to around $1,196.99 ($804 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and LG’s online storefront. The midrange TV is a good entry point into the world of OLED technology, offering a solid balance in terms of design, brightness, and high-end gaming features, including four HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K at 144Hz with variable refresh rate tech. The C5 Series also handles glare and ambient light better than the step-down B5 Series; however, OLED panels are still not ideal for really bright rooms.
- Hisense’s 65-inch S7N Canvas TV is the company’s answer to Samsung’s popular Frame TV, one you can currently grab for around $897.99 ($402 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. The 4K set has a matte screen that makes the artwork it displays more akin to a real painting, and Hisense includes a wall mount, allowing you to hang it. The S7N features a QLED panel with a 144Hz refresh rate and four HDMI ports (two HDMI 2.1 and two HDMI 2.0), making it suitable for a mix of current and last-gen gaming consoles.
Google TV Streamer (4K)
Google’s terrific TV Streamer (4K) is the company’s best attempt at a streaming device yet, with built-in ethernet, an excellent interface, and smart home compatibility with both Matter and Thread. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2023)
Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max is noticeably faster than its predecessor, features Wi-Fi 6E, and benefits from twice the storage. It can also showcase widgets and artwork when idle, and continues to offer robust Alexa integration.
Where to Buy:
- Amazon’s recently rebranded Fire TV Stick 4K Plus is the company’s midrange option, and it’s down to an all-time low of $24.99 ($25 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. The inexpensive streaming device comes with an Alexa Voice Remote that features a built-in microphone, which lets you use Amazon’s virtual assistant to find TV shows and movies, or control compatible smart home accessories using your voice. You can also use it to access Amazon Luna or Xbox Game Pass, allowing you to play games from their respective cloud gaming libraries.
Roku Pro Series 4K TV
Roku’s latest Pro 4K TV has a 120Hz refresh rate, four HDMI ports (two 2.1 ports), full array local dimming for even brightness, and supports both Dolby Vision IQ and HDR 10 Plus for better color accuracy. It also works with Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home to integrate easily into most smart homes.
Where to Buy:
- LG’s 77-inch G5 OLED is an expensive set, but you can currently snag it for around $3,496.99 ($1,003 off) — one of its best prices to date — at Amazon, Best Buy, and LG’s online storefront. The high-end 4K TV delivers better brightness than the aforementioned C5, allowing you to use it in rooms that are exposed to a lot of ambient light. It also features four HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K at 165Hz with VRR, as well as support for the popular Dolby Vision HDR format.
Smart home deals
Philips Hue Festavia string lights
These smart lights have beautiful colors, a nice selection of festive scenes, and an easy-to-use app. They are super reliable when paired with a Hue Bridge and also work over Bluetooth. They come in two lengths, work with all the major smart home platforms, and are Matter-compatible.
Where to Buy:
Blink Video Doorbell (second-generation)
Blink’s Video Doorbell is the best if you’re looking for a budget-friendly buzzer that offers motion-activated recording and alerts, night vision, two-way audio, and up to two years of battery life.
Where to Buy:
- The Ring Battery Doorbell and Indoor Cam Bundle is available at Amazon, Target, and Best Buy for $69.99 ($70 off), matching its best price to date. The bundle includes a Ring Battery Doorbell and an Indoor Cam, making it a great starter kit for renters and new home owners. The Ring Battery Doorbell offers head-to-toe video outside your front door, while the Indoor Cam let’s you keep an eye on an interior space. They’re easy to install, easy to set up, and easy to use.
- The Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch is on sale for $199.99 ($100 off) at Best Buy. The stylish smart lock works with every major smart-home platform and supports both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It also lets you unlock your door in multiple ways, including via fingerprint, touchscreen, the app, and even has an auto-unlocking feature. Read our review.
Ring Battery Doorbell Plus
Ring’s Battery Doorbell Plus offers great video quality, a head-to-toe view, and a removable battery for easy charging. It works with Alexa and can send alerts for people and packages with a Ring Home subscription.
Where to Buy:
Google Nest Doorbell (second-gen, battery)
With 24/7 recording, facial recognition, reliable smart alerts, and some free video recording, Google’s second-generation battery doorbell is a great option for home monitoring.
Where to Buy:
- The Google Nest Cam — which can be used both indoors and outside — is now available for its lowest price in months at Amazon, Best Buy, and the Google Store, where you can pick it up for $119 ($60 off). The battery-powered security cam features 24/7 recording, smart alerts for people, pets, and vehicles, and up to 60 days of video history (with a Nest Aware subscription). You can also snag a two-pack for $229.99 ($100 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and the Google Store, or a three-pack for $349.99 ($100 off) at Best Buy and the Google Store.
- Reolink’s Video Doorbell is one of our top recommendations if you don’t want to pay a subscription fee to view footage, and it’s returned to its all-time low of $76.99 ($43 off) at Amazon, Newegg, and Reolink’s website. The wired doorbell can record clear 2K HDR footage and store video clips locally on a microSD card, the Reolink Hub, or an FTP server. It’s also compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Home, but not Apple Home.
Aqara Smart Lock U300
The first single-borehole smart lock to work with Apple Home Key, the U300 can also be unlocked with a fingerprint, making it an easy, smart addition for shed, garage, or home office doors. It works over Thread and is Matter compatible, with up to a 10-month battery life.
Where to Buy:
Aqara G4 Video Doorbell
The Aqara G4 is an inexpensive HomeKit Secure Video doorbell that also works with Alexa and Google Home. It’s powered by batteries, wires or both, and offers 24/7 local recording. But a 16:9 aspect ratio and poorer video quality let it down.
Where to Buy:
- The Eufy X10 Pro Omni, our favorite midrange robot vacuum / mop, has returned to its Prime Day low of $499.99 ($400 off) at Amazon and from Anker’s online storefront (with code WS24T2351). The X10 Pro Omni is particularly great for cleaning up carpets and tiles, thanks to its 8,000Pa of suction power. It also features reliable AI-powered obstacle detection, dual oscillating brushes for mopping up floors, and a dock that handles auto-emptying, washing, and refilling.
- The Eufy Omni S1 Pro is also matching its all-time low of $699.99 ($800 off) at Amazon and from Anker’s online storefront (with promo code WS24T2080111). The robovac features an 11.4-inch roller mop and dual spinning side brushes, which work in tandem to leave your hardwood floors spotless. Plus, with 8,000Pa of suction power, it’s decent at picking up dirt and debris from carpets; it also features solid AI-powered obstacle avoidance, so you don’t need to worry about it getting stuck in clutter.
Ecovacs Deebot T50 Max Pro
Ecovacs’ Deebot T50 Max Pro is a robot vacuum / mop combo with tangle-resistant brushes, a side brush for cleaning corners, and deep carpet cleaning capabilities. Its charging station thoroughly cleans and dries its mopping pads automatically upon its return, and it supports Matter, allowing you to easily integrate it into any smart home.
Where to Buy:
Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni
The Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni features an extendable mop that can clean itself, just like its predecessor. However, it also features Ecovacs’ Boosted Large-Airflow Suction Technology, which optimizes the airflow path from intake to exhaust, rather than relying solely on suction power.
Where to Buy:
Soundbar and speaker deals
Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6
Sony’s Bravia Theater Bar 6 is a 3.1.2 audio system, meaning the soundbar comes with a wireless subwoofer and features multiple drivers pointed at you — and upward — for playing Dolby Atmos audio. You can also purchase the soundbar in a bundle with rear speakers if you want a more traditional surround sound setup.
Where to Buy:
Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8
Sony packed 11 drivers into the Bravia Theater Bar 8, including both side- and upward-firing drivers for a wider soundstage and better Dolby Atmos playback. If you have a Sony TV, the soundbar and its built-in speakers can work together to create an audio system tuned for even clearer-sounding dialogue.
Where to Buy:
- JBL’s Charge 6 is marked down to an all-time low of $129.95 ($70 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. The powerful Bluetooth speaker carries an IP68 rating, offers up to 28 hours of playback per charge, and uses JBL’s AI Sound Boost tool to prevent distortion at higher volumes. You can also plug your phone into its USB-C port and use it as a battery pack, but JBL says it can’t be used to top off a laptop.
- The JBL Flip 7 has returned to its all-time low of $109.95 ($40 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and REI. The portable Bluetooth speaker features several notable upgrades over its predecessor, including a more rugged design, an enhanced tweeter, and an additional two hours of playtime. It also features JBL’s AI Sound Boost technology, which can boost the speaker’s volume without introducing distortion, as well as a PushLock system that lets you attach interchangeable accessories, such as the included wrist strap.
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
The Wonderboom 4 might feature a compact design, but it still delivers big sound for its diminutive size. It also carries an IP67 rating, meaning it’s both water and dust-resistant (it can even float if you need it to).
Where to Buy:
- The Bose SoundLink Plus is on sale for $199 ($70 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Bose’s online storefront, which is its best price to date. Despite being about the size of a 20-ounce water bottle, it delivers loud, impressive sound with a rugged IP67 build and USB-C charging. It supports multipoint Bluetooth connectivity and, unlike the Micro, doubles as a 15W power bank, with longer battery life that lasts up to 20 hours. Read our review.
- The latest Bose SoundLink Micro is on sale for a new all-time low of $109 ($20 off) at Amazon and Best Buy.The rugged Micro is the brand’s smallest Bluetooth speaker, but it still offers big sound and up to 12 hours of battery life. The second-gen model also features a USB-C charging port, an IP67 rating for full water and dust resistance, and a handy utility strap, so you can clip the speaker to your bag using a carabiner.
Bose TV Speaker
The Bose TV Speaker delivers a rich, immersive sound in a compact design. It features a three-speaker setup, a dedicated dialog mode, and Bluetooth connectivity, so you can use the soundbar to listen to music or podcasts.
Where to Buy:
Sonos Beam (second-gen)
The latest Sonos Beam fits into the middle of Sonos’ soundbar lineup. It supports Dolby Atmos through virtualized surround sound and offers eARC compatibility with newer TVs. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
- The Sonos Era 100 is the company’s entry-level smart speaker, one you can grab for $169 ($50 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo. The speaker has a single woofer and two tweeters, which allows it to play music in stereo — though you’ll get a far wider soundstage by pairing two Era 100s together. You can stream music to it over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, or connect it to a turntable if you pick up an optional 3.5mm to USB-C adapter. Read our review.
- You can pick up Sonos’ Era 300 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target for $379 ($100 off), which is $20 shy of the smart speaker’s lowest price to date. It offers the same connectivity options as the aforementioned Era 100, plus the ability to play Dolby Atmos audio with surprising depth. You can also use a pair of them as rear speakers in a surround sound system when connected to a Beam 2 or Arc Ultra soundbar. Read our review.
Tribit StormBox Micro 2
The latest version of Tribit’s StormBox Micro is a compact Bluetooth speaker that delivers impressive sound for its size and features a built-in strap for attaching to to various objects.
Where to Buy:
Sonos Roam 2
Like its predecessor, the Sonos Roam 2 is a compact and travel-friendly Bluetooth speaker that easily syncs up with Sonos’ home audio ecosystem via Wi-Fi. While it looks much like the original, the Roam 2 has some small quality-of-life improvements, like a separate button for Bluetooth connections. Read our hands-on impressions.
Where to Buy:
Sonos Move 2
With double the battery life of its predecessor and better-sounding stereo audio, the Sonos Move 2’s improvements don’t stop there. It supports line-in audio, can stream Bluetooth audio to other Sonos speakers, and more. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
Gaming deals
Meta Quest 3S
The Meta Quest 3S is a battery-powered standalone VR headset runs the same chipset as the pricier Quest 3, along with the lenses and screen resolution as the Quest 2. It can also be connected to a PC to play VR games like Half-Life Alyx. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
Final Fantasy XVI
The latest mainline Final Fantasy game is a bombastic rollercoaster of an RPG infused with a dose of Game of Thrones medieval intrigue and gritty violence. It’s also quite the cinematic spectacle of the PS5’s graphical prowess. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
- If you want a compact controller to pair with your Nintendo Switch, smartphone, tablet, or computer, 8Bitdo’s Micro Bluetooth Gamepad is down to $14.67 ($10 off) at Amazon in select colors. The miniature controller is only four inches long and weighs 24.8 grams, so you may even be able to carry it around in your pocket. It has four face buttons, a directional pad, and four shoulder buttons, which makes it ideal for playing 2D games. The buttons are also remappable, so you can customize them to make playing certain games more comfortable.
- Amazon, Best Buy, and GameSir have all discounted the G7 HE Wired Xbox Controller to $39.99 ($10 off), which is a new all-time low. The wireless controller features drift-resistant Hall effect joysticks, Hall effect magnetic triggers, and Hall effect analog triggers. You can use GameSir’s Nexus app (available on PC and the Xbox store) to remap buttons and make other adjustments to optimize it for your favorite games.
- The Backbone Pro can turn any smartphone or smaller tablet with a USB-C port into a more effective handheld, and it’s fallen to a new low of $134.99 ($35 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Backbone’s online store. The controller has an Xbox-like button layout, plus a pair of remappable rear buttons. It’s also compatible with games available on the App Store and Google Play Store, as well as cloud-based titles that are streamable via Xbox Game Pass. The Pro is Backbone’s first controller to support Bluetooth, too, which allows you to use it with everything from a Stream Deck to the latest smart TVs.
Xreal One smart glasses
The Xreal One aren’t the most affordable augmented-reality glasses available, but they are some of the best for displaying movies and games on the go. You can connect them via USB-C to your smartphone, tablet, or handheld gaming PC.
Where to Buy:
Miscellaneous deals
ChomChom Roller Pet Hair Remover
The ChomChom is a reusable roller that works great for removing unwanted pet hair from furniture, allowing you to skip lint rollers, vacuuming, and other cleaning tools in a pinch.
Where to Buy:
13-inch MacBook Air (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD)
Powered by the M4 chip, Apple’s latest 13-inch MacBook Air is faster than its predecessor and offers double the base RAM. It can also connect to two external displays with the lid open, unlike prior models, and features an improved 12-megapixel Center Stage webcam. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
- If you’re having trouble falling asleep, a sunrise alarm clock can help bring calm to your bedtime routine. Thankfully, you can snag the Hatch Restore 3 from Hatch’s online storefront for an all-time low of $139.99 ($30 off) through December 1st (discount applies at checkout). The Restore 3 features more than 50 sleep sounds and 18 adjustable light colors, with access to hundreds more through the optional Hatch Plus subscription, which runs $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year.
Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty air purifier
Coway’s surprisingly efficient Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty is compact enough to fit in any corner of your home and offers a three-stage filtration system, including a true HEPA filter.
Where to Buy:
Meross Smart Wi-Fi Garage Door Opener
Meross makes a handy add-on that can transform a variety of garage door models into smart doors that you can open remotely. It works with Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings.
Where to Buy:
- The Nomad Tracking Card Air is currently down to $22 ($7 off) at Nomad’s website. The tracker is about the size of two standard credit cards smashed together (it’s officially 1.7mm thick), so it should have no problem slipping into the slimmest of wallets. It features a sturdy polycarbonate body that can withstand daily wear, as well as integration with Apple’s robust Find My network. That means that if you lose it, you can view its last known or current location in the Find My app.
- Criterion Collection 4K Blu-rays, 1080p Blu-rays, and DVDs are up to 50 percent off at Barnes & Noble and Amazon right now. The sale at Barnes & Noble runs through December 7th, giving you a great opportunity to stock up on physical media. Some of the titles on sale include Michael Mann’s Thief, starring the late, great James Caan, and Céline Sciamma’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire.
Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station (3-in-1, Dock Stand)
Anker’s MagGo Wireless Charging Station features a MagSafe charging stand, a Qi wireless charging pad, and an Apple Watch charger, allowing you to charge three devices simultaneously. It also comes with a 40W USB-C power adapter and cable.
Where to Buy:
Garmin inReach Mini 2
Garmin’s palm-sized inReach Mini 2 satellite communicator offers off-the-grid two-way messaging, built-in navigation capabilities, and powerful mapping features, including the ability to set waypoints when paired with Garmin’s Explore app. A subscription plan is required to access the Iridium network, though, with prices starting at $7.99 a month.
Where to Buy:
- The Garmin inReach Messenger Plus has fallen to an all-time low of $349 ($150 off) at Amazon, Walmart, and REI. The satellite communicator provides peace of mind when you’re beyond cell towers by connecting to the Iridium satellite network for global SOS, location sharing, and photo and voice messaging, so you can send a visual marker to a loved one. The richer context makes the Messenger Plus a nice upgrade over the Mini 2’s text-only approach, so long as you’re willing to pay the premium subscription fee.
- Headspace is offering 50 percent off an annual subscription, bringing the price down to $34.99 ($35 off) through December 4th. The discount only applies to your first year; after that, the subscription will renew at full price. Headspace offers access to guided meditations, online therapy, mental health coaching, and more. At a time when the world feels more dire than ever, Headspace can help bring some calm to your daily life.
- Anker’s 10,000mAh Power Bank, a solid 30W battery pack, is currently on sale for $29.99 ($15 off) at Amazon and Anker’s online storefront. The power bank has nearly enough juice to top off an iPhone 15 Pro twice, and it can charge two devices simultaneously using its built-in cable and USB-C port. It’s also a power adapter that can plug directly into an outlet.
LifeStraw personal water filter
LifeStraw’s basic filter removes unwanted viruses, bacteria, and microplastics as you drink, giving you a safe way to hydrate no matter where you are.
Where to Buy:
Lego Minecraft The Crafting Table
Lego’s first Minecraft set for adults essentially resembles an in-game crafting table on the outside, but inside, you’ll find a slick little diorama with 12 brick-ified biomes — including a village-laden Plains and Cherry Grove, which features an abandoned mineshaft.
Where to Buy:
- The 15-inch Skylight Calendar is an excellent tool for organizing multiple schedules without sending people reminders, and it’s currently on sale for $239.99 ($60 off) directly from Skylight. Once an event is added to the calendar, it’s automatically synced with other people’s devices, whether they use Apple’s Calendar app, Google Calendar, Outlook, or other popular services. Color coding makes it easy to see whose event it is at a glance, too, whether you’re looking at your device or the Skylight itself.
- Warmups and post-workout cooldowns are easy to skip, but the Theragun Mini Plus may help you look forward to them. Fortunately, Amazon, Best Buy, and Target have all marked the triangle-shaped massage gun down to around $237.99 ($62 off) for Black Friday. The Theragun Mini Plus can operate at three temperatures and vibration levels to help provide relief. Presets available within Theragun’s app can also help you optimize pressure and speed based on the part of your body that you’re working on.
Shure MV7 Plus
Shure’s MV7 Plus is an updated version of its popular USB microphone. The new version features a USB-C port, a customizable LED light panel, and several additional features available in the Motiv Mix app.
Where to Buy:
- If you want a convenient, compact way to connect older accessories to your new Mac Mini, Best Buy has discounted Satechi’s Mac Mini M4 Hub down to a new low of $69.99 ($30 off). The USB-C hub sits below your Mac Mini without restricting airflow, and has three USB-A ports, an SD card reader, and an M.2 NVMe SSD slot. It’s an easy, tool-free way to make extra storage accessible to your Mac Mini without plugging in a portable SSD.
- Nomad’s ChargeKey V2 is a six-inch USB-C cable with a loop that allows you to attach it to your keyring, and it’s available for around $21.75 ($7.25 off) from Amazon (with Prime) and Nomad. The cable can carry up to 240W of power — enough to charge most laptops at their fastest speed — and data at up to 10Gbps. The accessory is a convenient way to make sure you never leave home without a charging cable.
Anker Laptop Power Bank
Anker’s 25,000mAh power bank sports two built-in USB-C cables (one of which is retractable), plus one USB-C and USB-A port. It tops out at 165W when charging two devices simultaneously, or 130W when charging three or four.
Where to Buy:
Update, November 20th: Adjusted pricing / availability and added several new deals, including those for the AirPods Pro 3, Google’s Pixel Watch 4, and the latest Kindle Paperwhite. Sheena Vasani and Brandt Ranj also contributed to this post.
Google’s new AI image creator took my shirt off
I gave Google's new Nano Banana Pro a try, and it immediately took my clothes off. I didn't ask it to, but the AI model evidently decided my greetings card would look better with more skin.
Nano Banana Pro is, as the name suggests, aimed at professionals. Powered by Gemini 3, it's effectively an upgrade of the company's popular image generation and editing tool that went viral in a social media trend that turned selfies into hyperrealistic 3D figurines. Google says it lets you create higher quality images that you can print, render legible text onto pictures, and blend multiple images together into a single composition. It's also meant for …
Microsoft’s AI-powered copy and paste can now use on-device AI
Microsoft is upgrading its Advanced Paste tool in PowerToys for Windows 11, allowing you to use an on-device AI model to power some of its features. With the 0.96 update, you can route requests through Microsoft’s Foundry Local tool or the open-source Ollama, both of which run AI models on your device’s neural processing unit (NPU) instead of connecting to the cloud.
That means you won’t need to purchase API credits to perform certain actions, like having AI translate or summarize the text copied to your clipboard. Plus, you can keep your data on your device.
Along with support for on-device AI, you can now configure Advanced Paste to work with multiple other online models, including Azure OpenAI, Gemini, and Mistral. The tool previously only supported OpenAI.
There’s a new design tweak for Advanced Paste, too, as it now shows your current clipboard content and includes a model selection drop-down menu.
Meta’s Hyperscape is ready to turn your real living room into a VR hangout
Meta’s impressive, photorealistic digital replicas of real places built using its “Hyperscape” capture tech, which uses the cameras on a Quest 3 or Quest 3S VR headset to scan a room, have so far been solitary spaces. If you wanted to visit a virtual version of a room in your house (or of Gordon Ramsay’s home kitchen), you could only do it on your own. But beginning this week, Meta is rolling out the ability to share links that will let other people visit Hyperscape rooms with you in a Quest 3 or 3S VR headset or via the Meta Horizon mobile app.
Up to eight people will be able to be in one instance of a Hyperscape world, according to a Meta blog post, and it hopes to increase that number in the future. Meta is also “moving rendering on-device” and adding audio to Hyperscape worlds.
However, you might be waiting a bit to actually be able to invite your friends to a space. Meta’s blog post urges readers to “please sit tight” if they don’t have the feature yet, and Meta spokesperson Rachel Holm says it will roll out “gradually to all users over the next few months.” And according to Holm, once the feature rolls out to you, you’ll have to rescan a space to be able to create a shareable world.
The feature is all part of Meta’s vision of a metaverse that includes both digital real-world spaces as well as games. According to Meta:
As the metaverse continues to take shape, we think a vibrant mix of experiences is key. Some days you might want to immerse yourself in an otherworldly adventure, which is where our vast library of VR apps and worlds comes into play. And other days, you might want to visit a digital replica of a physical space you might not have the opportunity to see otherwise. Or you might want to spend quality time with friends someplace a little closer to home. That’s what Hyperscape makes possible. By bringing you together in realistic digital replicas of physical spaces with the people who matter most, Hyperscape can make your experiences in the metaverse more meaningful and fun. In the future, we’re excited to see what creators build by mixing styles and approaches.
I visited some rooms scanned with the Hyperscape Capture app earlier this year, and I was impressed with how good they looked. If you want an idea what they’re like, check out this YouTube video; the level of detail is similar to what I saw in my own demos.
Update, November 20th: Added that you’ll have to rescan a room to be able to invite people to it.
Wicked: For Good is a soaring second act that brings it all full circle
When Jon M. Chu first announced that his big-screen Wicked adaptation would be split into two parts, there was concern about whether the original musical's second act could be fashioned into a fully fleshed-out movie. Compared to the stage show's lengthy first act, where all the musical's most recognizable songs are front-loaded, the second act is shorter and moves at a much faster pace while picking up after a big time jump. It was easy to imagine Wicked: Part Two (the original title) being too disorienting and frenetic to work as a standalone feature. But Wicked: For Good proves that Universal made the right call by giving this epic fantas …
Bethesda’s $300 Pip-Boy 3000 replica can measure (harmless) radiation
Bethesda is now selling a highly-detailed wearable replica of the Pip-Boy 3000 from Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas. It was designed using the 3D models of the accessory in the games to make it as accurate as possible, and is available for preorder now for $299.99, with shipping expected to start as early as June 2026. Sadly, it won’t arrive in time for the season two premiere of Amazon’s Fallout series that starts on December 17th, 2025.
It’s not the first time Bethesda has offered a replica of the chunky wrist-worn computer, but an earlier version, bundled with a collector’s edition of Fallout 4, relied on a smartphone and an app to replicate its in-game functionality. Created in collaboration with The Wand Company — which has a solid track record for creating detailed and mostly functional replicas like Poké Balls and Star Trek Communicators — the new Pip-Boy 3000 has its own 4-inch LCD display.
The Pip-Boy 3000’s screen can be toggled between the classic green UI seen in Fallout 3 or the yellowish interface used in New Vegas. Bethesda says “almost all of the in-game content” accessible in both titles has been replicated including hundreds of menus that can be navigated with scroll wheels and dials, and you’ll even find a playable version of the Atomic Command minigame. The screen simulates the appearance of a vintage cathode-ray tube display with glitches and flickering effects that can be temporarily fixed by hitting the device, thanks to an accelerometer.
The replica’s front casing is made from die-cast metal while the body is injection-moulded plastic with a memory foam cuff that can be enlarged using an included spacer. Other functionality includes a flashlight, a headphone jack, an alarm clock mode that can be used alongside an included display stand, and a functional radiation detector. However, instead of measuring the dangerous fallout from a nuclear blast, the replica Pip-Boy 3000 measures the radiation of FM radio broadcasts using on-screen meters and the simulated sounds of a geiger counter.
The Verge’s favorite holiday gifts under $100
Between all the new phones, smartwatches, and laptops we see throughout the year, it often feels like we're constantly being nudged toward shinier, more expensive gadgets. And I get it. As a self-professed gadget nerd, few things are more exciting than unboxing and setting up a new device.
But the truth is, you can still find plenty of great gifts for under $100. I use the Leatherman Free T4 every day, while Donkey Kong Bananza has provided me (and other Verge staffers) with hours of entertainment. If someone in your life loves the satisfaction of building and has shelves full of knickknacks on display, the Lego Game Boy is (as our reviewer …
You can get up to 30 percent off Sonos speakers and soundbars right now
If you’ve been waiting for some relief after Sonos raised its prices earlier this year in response to US tariffs, Black Friday presents a rare opportunity. With many products on sale for their lowest price to date for Black Friday, and the Sonos app being in far better shape than it was a year ago, it’s a great time to pick up a Sonos gadget.
If you’re looking to upgrade your home theater setup ahead of the holidays, Sonos’ entire soundbar lineup is heavily discounted through December 1st, as are smart speakers like the Sonos Era 100 and portable Roam 2. The Sonos Ace — the company’s first pair of noise-canceling headphones — are down to their best price to date at several retailers, if you truly want to go all in on the Sonos ecosystem.
Right now, both the Sonos Arc Ultra (Amazon, Best Buy, Sonos) and the latest Sonos Beam (Amazon, Best Buy, Sonos) have dropped to historic lows, with the Ultra going for $879 ($220 off) and the Beam for $349 ($150 off). The second-gen Beam is the smaller of the two and works well in smaller spaces like apartments. It supports Dolby Atmos and HDMI eARC, delivering impressive sound for its size, so movies and TV shows feel noticeably richer. You can also use it as a smart speaker with support for Amazon Alexa (and Bluetooth).
The Sonos Arc Ultra, however, is the better pick if you’re aiming for a true home theater setup or want something beefier for a larger space. It delivers far more powerful audio with eight woofers, three tweeters, and two upward-firing Dolby Atmos speakers, which creates the sense that sound is coming from above — something the Beam can’t replicate with its virtual height channels. It also builds on the original Arc with more immersive audio, support for Bluetooth playback, and Trueplay EQ tuning.
Read our Sonos Arc Ultra and Sonos Beam (second-gen) reviews.
It’s not just soundbars that have dropped to new low prices. Sonos’ first pair of over-ear headphones, the Sonos Ace, are also cheaper than ever now that they’re available for $279 ($120 off) from Amazon, Best Buy, and Sonos. The stylish headphones combine style with impressive sound, effective noise cancellation, and a natural-sounding transparency mode. They’re also comfortable and offer up to 30 hours of battery life, which makes them perfect for marathon cross-country flights.
What really sets the Sonos Ace apart from other pairs of ANC headphones, though, is their TV Audio Swap feature, which was updated in July to let you pair up to two headphones with a Sonos soundbar for private listening. The unique feature also supports spatial audio that adapts to your space and head tracking, providing a more immersive experience when watching movies, regardless of the device you’re using to do so.
Read our full Sonos Ace review.
If you’re looking for a portable option, the company is also offering solid deals on a number of smart speakers — including the Sonos Roam 2, which is available for $139 ($40 off) from Amazon, Best Buy, and Sonos. The pint-size speaker delivers clean, detailed audio, lasts up to 10 hours on a single charge, and has an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance. It also supports both Apple’s AirPlay 2 and Amazon Alexa (when connected to a Wi-Fi network) and can be used right out of the box. That’s a welcome change from the original Roam, which required you to work through a somewhat awkward setup process using the Sonos app.
Last but not least, if you’re on the market for a smart speaker, the Sonos Era 100 is down to $169 ($30 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Sonos’ online store, while the Sonos Era 300 (Amazon, Sonos, Best Buy) is going for $379 ($100 off). The Era 100 — arguably the best smart speaker for most people — delivers rich bass thanks to a large midwoofer and dual tweeters, with support for both Bluetooth and line-in using an optional USB-C adapter. The Era 300 builds upon that experience with Dolby Atmos support, as well as four tweeters that point forward, left, right, and up. It also features angled woofers, which spread sound more evenly throughout the room than the Era 100.
Read our Sonos Era 100 and Sonos Era 300 reviews.
OpenAI is launching group chats in ChatGPT
OpenAI is widely rolling out group chats inside ChatGPT, allowing you to invite up to 20 other people to your conversation with the AI chatbot. The feature is now available globally to all logged-in users, following a short pilot earlier this month.
OpenAI positions the feature as a way to collaborate with friends, family members, or coworkers when doing things like organizing a dinner, creating travel plans, and drafting an outline — all with ChatGPT on board.
You create a group chat by selecting the “people” icon in the top-right corner of the ChatGPT app. ChatGPT will then copy your existing chat to a new group chat, where you can add others by sending them a link to your conversation (which they can also share). ChatGPT will prompt you to enter a name, username, and photo the first time you enter or create a group chat, making it easier to see who’s talking.
OpenAI says it trained ChatGPT to go along with the “flow of the conversation,” which means it will try to determine the best times to chime in and when to stay quiet. You can directly mention “ChatGPT” in a message if you want a response from the chatbot. ChatGPT can also react to messages with emoji and reference profile photos when doing things like creating personalized images.
You can access various settings by selecting the group chat icon on the top-right corner of the screen, which houses options to add or remove people, mute notifications, and give custom instructions to ChatGPT. OpenAI notes that ChatGPT won’t use memories from your personal chats inside group conversations, nor will it create new memories based on your group chats.
ChatGPT uses GPT-5.1 Auto to power its responses in group chats, “which chooses the best model to respond with based on the prompt and the models available to the user that ChatGPT is responding to.” Rate limits will only apply when ChatGPT sends a message in the chat.