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The best Black Friday deals on AirPods, AirTags, and other Apple gear

The latest AirPods Pro on a notebook.
Apple’s latest AirPods Pro are down to their best price to date.

If you’re planning to gift an Apple device this holiday season — or treat yourself — now’s the time to start shopping. Black Friday has officially arrived, bringing with it the best Apple deals we’ve seen all year.

Despite having recently launched, for instance, the new AirPods Pro, Apple Watch Series 11, and new M5-powered MacBook Pro are all down to record low prices for the holiday. Last-gen models are also cheaper than ever right now, with the second-gen AirPods Pro now priced close to the AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation — a welcome surprise, given that the last-gen Pro offer superior ANC performance by comparison.

There’s a whole lot more on sale, and to sift through discounts more easily, we’ve rounded them up by category. We’ve even sprinkled in some historical price info, so you can spot the best deals at a glance.

Earbud and headphone deals

AirPods Pro (third-gen)

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:

AirPods 4

Apple’s AirPods 4 are the latest update to the company’s base-model wireless earbuds. The hard, plastic buds feature improved audio over the third-gen model, along with deep iOS integration and spatial audio with head tracking. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

  • If you’re looking for the step-up AirPods 4 with ANC, you can buy them for around $99.99 ($30 off) at Amazon and Target. Their noise cancellation performance doesn’t quite match the current- or even last-gen AirPods Pro, but it’s still impressive for the price. In addition to ANC, you also get other features not found on the base-model AirPods 4, including wireless charging, a handy transparency mode, and Find My support for the included charging case. Read our review.
  • The updated AirPods Max with USB-C are down to $399.99 ($140 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, which is their best price to date. The over-ear headphones offer a luxurious stainless steel and aluminum design that’s exceptionally comfortable, while delivering rich sound quality with lossless audio support and a surprisingly natural-sounding transparency mode. Read our original review.

Apple AirPods Pro (second-gen) with USB-C

The second-gen AirPods Pro improve upon Apple’s original pair with better noise cancellation, improved sound quality, and onboard volume controls. They also now ship with a USB-C charging case, as opposed to Lightning. Read our original review.
Apple’s second-generation AirPods Pro photographed on a reflective black surface.

Where to Buy:

  • The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are on sale for around $199.95 ($50 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart, which is $20 shy of their best price to date. The wireless earbuds are our favorite pair for sports and working out, with an ear hook design that helps keep them securely in place even during intense workouts. You also get solid noise cancellation, a transparency mode, and heart rate monitoring. Plus, they work with both Apple and Android devices, letting you take advantage of Find My integration, automatic device switching, and more. Read our review.

Beats Studio Pro

The latest Beats Studio Pro feature improved noise cancellation, sound quality, and comfort. They also support lossless audio over USB-C, making them the first Apple headphones to do so. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

Apple EarPods (USB-C)

Apple’s wired earbuds are comfortable, offer great microphone quality for the price, and feature a built-in remote for controlling audio playback.

Where to Buy:

Apple Watch deals

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 42mm Apple Watch Series 10 with GPS is on sale at Walmart starting at $249 ($150 off), which is its best price to date. While the Series 11 offers slightly longer battery life, a more efficient 5G modem, and a more scratch-resistant display, the Series 10 remains an excellent smartwatch. It features a large, wide-angle OLED display and the same S10 SiP chip found in the Series 11. It also supports FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection and offers the same hypertension notifications, courtesy of the recent watchOS 26 update. Read our review.
  • You can currently pick up the 40mm Apple Watch SE (second-gen) with GPS at Walmart starting at $129 ($120 off), which is a new low price (the 44mm variant is also on sale starting at $159). If you’re on a tight budget, the last-gen Apple Watch SE is still worth considering. It lacks some of Apple’s newer sensors and doesn’t offer an always-on display, but it remains relatively fast, given that it uses the same chipset as the Apple Watch Series 8. It also provides all the essentials, including daily activity and sleep tracking, heart-rate monitoring, fall and crash detection, and access to the newer Vitals app in watchOS 26.

Apple Watch Ultra 2

The rugged Apple Watch Ultra 2 comes in one size: 49mm. It offers a large, bright display along with long battery life and excellent performance. It sports Apple’s last-gen S9 SiP, too, allowing you to take advantage of Apple’s double tap feature. Read our review.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 on grass.

Where to Buy:

  • You can also buy the newfangled Apple Watch Ultra 3 at Amazon with either an Ocean Band, a Trail Loop, or an Alpine Loop for $779.99 ($20 off), which is a far cry from its all-time low of $699.99 but still one of the first discounts we’ve seen. Apple’s latest wearable is its most rugged and capable to date, with a larger wide-angle OLED display, satellite and 5G connectivity, and a battery that can last up to 42 hours on a single charge (up from 36 hours on the Ultra 2). Read our review.

iPad deals

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.
A photo of the 11th-generation iPad on a table.

Where to Buy:

  • The 11-inch M5 iPad Pro is down to its best price to date at Amazon, where you can buy it starting at $899 with Wi-Fi and 256GB of storage. Other configurations, specifically the 512GB and 1TB models, are on sale for $1,099 ($100 off) and $1,486 ($113 off), respectively. In addition to offering faster performance than their predecessor, the new Pros support Wi-Fi 7, faster charging, and start with 12GB of RAM. They also come with an N1 chip for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Thread, and if you get the cellular version, Apple’s new C1X cellular modem. Read our review.
  • The latest 13-inch iPad Pro is also on sale at Amazon in its 256GB base configuration for $1,199 ($100 off), which remains the tablet’s lowest price to date. If you need more storage, the 1TB model is down to $1,768 ($131 off) at Amazon, while the 2TB version is going for $2,150 ($149 off). The heavier 13-inch model is nearly identical to the 11-incher, but it offers more screen real estate and higher resolution.

11-inch iPad Air M3

The latest 11-inch iPad Air features Apple’s fast M3 chip with GPU upgrades like dynamic caching for smoother performance in demanding apps. It also supports the Apple Pencil Pro and the newest Magic Keyboard, which features a larger build and a 14-key function row. Read our review.
A photo of an iPad Air on a table.

Where to Buy:

  • If you want a larger display, the 13-inch M3-powered iPad Air with Wi-Fi / 128GB of storage is also on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, where you can buy it starting at an all-time low of $649.99 ($150 off). Other configurations are also on sale, with the 256GB model going for $749.99 ($150 off), the 512GB version $949 ($150 off), and the 1TB variant $1,149.
  • You can buy the 13-inch M4-powered iPad Pro with Wi-Fi and 256GB of storage at Amazon starting at $1,099 ($200 off). The last-gen Pro offers a stunning OLED display and a thinner build than prior models, along with a front-facing camera that’s (finally) located in the middle of the long side of the iPad. Read our review.

13-inch iPad Pro M4

The last-gen iPad Pro comes in either an 11- or 13-inch configuration with Apple’s M4 processor. Both feature an OLED display and a thinner build than previous models, as well as horizontal placement for the front camera and support for the Apple Pencil Pro. Read our review.
A photo of a person pinching the screen on an iPad Pro.

Where to Buy:

MacBook deals

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:

MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5, 2025)

Apple’s 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro takes everything we loved about the M4 model — including all-day battery life and a 12-megapixel webcam — and improves upon it with an M5 chip. It also offers faster storage and a 10-core CPU / 10-core GPU that’s up to 3.5x faster at AI tasks. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

  • The last-gen 16-inch MacBook Pro is still a powerhouse even if it runs on the older M4 Pro chip, and right now you can buy it with 24GB of RAM and 512GB of storage for $2,189 (about $310 off) at Amazon, which is just a few dollars shy of its all-time low. It sports speedy Thunderbolt 5 ports and a sharp 12-megapixel Center Stage webcam, and because the new M5-powered MacBook Pros don’t yet come in a 16-inch size, it’s your best bet if you want a larger display. Read our review of the 14-inch MacBook Pro.
  • If you’re in the market for a desktop and don’t mind supplying your own keyboard and mouse, you can buy the M4 Mac Mini with an M4 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage for $479 ($120 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, which is one of its best prices to date. The desktop can handle everyday tasks with ease, along with some light gaming and 4K video editing. It can also run up to three displays simultaneously and offers a great port selection that includes three Thunderbolt 4 (USB4) ports, a gigabit ethernet jack, HDMI, two 10Gbps USB-C (USB 3) ports, and a front-facing 3.5mm audio jack. Read our review.

AirTags and other miscellaneous deals

Apple TV (six-month subscription)

Apple is hosting a Black Friday sale that lets you lock in six months for just $5.99 per month, which is over 50 percent off the usual cost. This promo isn’t applicable to those eligible to redeem three free months earned through buying a new Apple device, nor will it work for those who get the subscription through a third party, like Amazon.
The new Apple TV logo.

Where to Buy:

Apple AirTag

Apple’s AirTags can help you find your lost items with their UWB technology. You’ll get the best compatibility with an iPhone, though Apple released an Android app to detect an AirTag’s location if one seems to be following you. Read our original review.
AirTagsA

Where to Buy:

  • You can buy the Apple Pencil Pro for $94.99 ($35 off) at Amazon and Walmart, which is $10 more than its best price to date. If you own the latest iPad Pro, iPad Mini, or an M2- or M3-based iPad Air, this is a fantastic stylus that offers several features not found on the entry-level Apple Pencil with USB-C (which is also discounted to $49 at Walmart). In addition to wireless charging, you get Find My support, pressure sensitivity, and a “Barrel Roll” gyroscope that allows you to easily adjust the angle of your pen with a twist.

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.
The Anker’s 3-in-1 Qi2 Charging Station charging an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods.

Where to Buy:

Anker MagGo Qi2 Certified 15W Wireless Charger

The latest version of Anker’s magnetic MagGo charging pads supports 15W Qi2 and has a five-foot USB-C cable.

Where to Buy:

The 148 best Black Friday deals we’ve found so far — a ton of tech is over half off

AirPods Pro 3 on top of a colorful notebook next to a pen.

Now that the Thanksgiving dishes are put away and the last slice of pie is hidden in the back of the fridge, it’s time to turn your attention to the next major holiday: Black Friday. The biggest shopping day of the year has started, and as expected, there are tens of thousands of deals staring you in the face. The Verge found the ones that are actually worth considering. 

Our team has spent an enormous amount of time looking through spreadsheets and e-mails to find gadgets that don’t go on sale very often, are down to their all-time low price, or both. In many cases, our reviews team has tested these gadgets — either for work or in their spare time — and can authoritatively vouch for their quality. Below you can find deals on everything from the AirPods Pro 3 and current-generation Kindle Paperwhite to some of our favorite non-tech essentials.

There are also great discounts on streaming service subscriptions, including HBO Max, Paramount Plus, and a bundle comprising Hulu and Disney Plus. We update our roundup as we find even more deals, so we encourage you to check back later for more recommendations. 

Apple deals

AirPods Pro (third-gen)

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.
An AirTag wedged into some planks of wood.

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.
Apple’s second-generation AirPods Pro photographed on a reflective black surface.

Where to Buy:

  • Amazon, Walmart, and Target have marked the AirPods 4 down to around $69 ($60 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 $99.99 ($80 off) at Amazon and TargetRead our review.

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:

  • The 15-inch MacBook Air with M4 is $949 ($250 off) at Best Buy and Amazon — the same discount as the 13-inch. It’s much the same excellent computer as the 13-inch version, just with a bigger screen, more battery life, and better speakers. Read our review.
  • If you need to sizable step up in power for a Mac laptop, the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro processor is $1,749 ($250 off) at Best Buy and Amazon. It has a 12-core CPU and 16-core GPU, 512GB SSD like the base M5 model, but 24GB of RAM and faster Thunderbolt 5 ports. You can also step up to a bigger and beefier 16-inch version with a 14-core / 20-core M4 Pro chip, 48GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD for around $2,535 ($360 off) at Best Buy and Amazon.

Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2025, M5)

The M5-equipped MacBook Pro is mostly a chip bump from the M4 model of 2024. But it remains an excellent choice for beginners and students in creative fields. Read our review.
A 2025 14-inch MacBook Pro M5 on a marble bar top with a dark mirrored reflection behind it.

Where to Buy:

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 $899 ($100 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.
A photo of an iPad Air on a table.

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.
A photo of the 11th-generation iPad on a table.

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.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones with its case.

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.
A hands-on photo of Google’s Pixel Buds Pro 2 earbuds.

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.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2 next to their case on a wooden coffee table.

Where to Buy:

  • Now through December 1st, you can snag the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds 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.
A photo of new earbuds from Nothing.

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.
A man wearing Sony’s black WH-1000XM5 noise-canceling headphones outside.

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.
Picture of Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 in front of sneakers

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.
Close up of silver Oura Ring 4 on a wooden surface

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.
Fitbit Charge 6 showing exercise app on screen.

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.
The Sense 2 draped over an iPhone 14 Pro Max

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.
Person recording on a Pixel Watch 3

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 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.
Close-up of the Garmin Forerunner 265S’s OLED display and watchface on a purple background

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.
Person wearing the Garmin Venu 3S while putting their hand in a jeans pocket.

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.
The 2024 Kindle Paperwhite.

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 and Best Buy. 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.
The 11th-generation Kindle being held.

Where to Buy:

TV and streaming deals

Disney Plus, Hulu Bundle (with ads)

You can get an ad-supported Disney Plus and Hulu bundle for $4.99 a month ($8 off) for an entire year. Both streaming services feature a deep catalog of new and classic shows and movies, including The Simpsons, Andor, Toy Story, The Fantastic 4: First Steps, and Freakier Friday.

Where to Buy:

HBO Max

An HBO Max Basic subscription provides access to shows like House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, and The Pitt, as well as films like Superman and Weapons. You can get a year of the monthly, ad-supported subscription for $2.99 ($8 off) a month until December 1st.
HBO Max logo on a purple background.

Where to Buy:

  • LG’s 55-inch C5 OLED is down to $1,049.99 ($950 off) at Amazon. 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 $849.99 ($450 off) at Amazon. 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.

Apple TV (six-month subscription)

Apple is hosting a Black Friday sale that lets you lock in six months for just $5.99 per month, which is over 50 percent off the usual cost. This promo isn’t applicable to those eligible to redeem three free months earned through buying a new Apple device, nor will it work for those who get the subscription through a third party, like Amazon.
The new Apple TV logo.

Where to Buy:

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.
Sony’s Bravia 8 II mounted onto a wall on top of a media center.

Where to Buy:

Hisense U7 Series ULED TV (2025)

It’s always more immersive to watch TV and movies on a bigger screen, but up until the last few years that required a projector. Now, TVs like the 100-inch Hisense U7 deliver a brighter image than any projector ever could for a fraction of the cost.

Where to Buy:

  • If you’re looking for a solid OLED TV, but don’t need the best of the best, the Samsung S90F is one of the best 65-inch TVs you can get for its sale price of $1,397.99 (down from about $1,600 last month) at Amazon and two dollars more Best Buy. It might not be the brightest OLED of 2025 (for that, see the LG G5), but at a little over 1,400 nits, there’s plenty of light to combat a well-lit living space. The S90F is also very accurate and has excellent color gamut coverage, which translates to vibrant, lifelike colors. And for gamers, all four HDMI ports are version 2.1, the TV supports high refresh rates with FreeSync up to 144Hz for PC gaming, and its input lag is under 10ms.

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.
Roku's Pro Series 4K TV mounted onto a wall.

Where to Buy:

TCL QM8K Series QD-Mini LED TV

The QM8K is one of the best (and brightest) mini-LED TVs of 2025. And a 65-inch model under $1,000 is an absolute steal.

Where to Buy:

  • LG’s 77-inch G5 OLED is an expensive set, but you can currently snag it for around $3,346.99 ($1,153 off) — one of its best prices to date — at Amazon. 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.

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.
A marketing image of the Google TV Streamer.

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.

Paramount Plus (two months)

You can get a two-month subscription to either Paramount Plus Essential (ad-supported) or Paramount Plus Premium (ad-free) for $2.99 until December 2nd. The deal saves you up to $20 and includes access to a catalog of over 40,000 TV shows and movies, including Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, The Naked Gun, South Park, and The Daily Show.
Paramount Plus logo on a blue and black background

Where to Buy:

Roku Ultra

Roku’s latest Ultra streamer has built-in ethernet, a rechargeable voice remote with backlit buttons, and AirPlay 2 support. You can also control it with Amazon Alexa through a compatible smart speaker. The Roku Channel app lets you stream over 400 free live TV stations, plus exclusive movies like Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.
Roku's Ultra streaming box and remote on top of a table.

Where to Buy:

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 three lengths, work with all the major smart home platforms, and are Matter-compatible.

Where to Buy:

Blink Video Doorbell (second-gen)

Blink’s latest Video Doorbell is one of the best options available if you want a budget-friendly buzzer with motion-activated recording and alerts, night vision, two-way audio, and up to two years of battery life. Just know that a Sync Module is required for the doorbell to work properly.
A black video doorbell camera on a white exterior wall next to a front door.

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.
The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus mounted onto a wall next to a door.

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 around $228.99 ($101 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.

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.
White device labeled Meross with black and red wires coming out

Where to Buy:

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.
A smart key being used next to the Aqara U300 Smart Lock

Where to Buy:

  • The Eufy X10 Pro Omniour favorite midrange robot vacuum / mop, has returned to its Prime Day low of $449.99 ($450 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.

Tapo RV30 Max Plus

Our favorite budget-friendly robot vacuum offers high-end features, including room-specific cleaning, a capable mop, carpet boost, and smart navigation. It also features an auto-empty dock.
A black robot vacuum on a hardwood floor

Where to Buy:

  • 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.
ECOVACS 'DEEBOT T50 MAX PRO Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop cleaning a spill on a carpet.

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.
Sony's Bravia Theater Bar 6 soundbar beneath a TV.

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.
Sony's Bravia Theater Bar 8 soundbar beneath a TV.

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 around $109.95 ($40 off) at AmazonBest 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.

Echo Pop

The Echo Pop is one of Amazon’s smallest Alexa-enabled smart speakers. It offers a unique semisphere form factor and can function as an Eero mesh Wi-Fi extender.
Teal Amazon Echo Pop viewed at an angle with colorful pots in the background.

Where to Buy:

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).
Two people holding UE WonderBoom 4 speakers, one blue and one pink.

Where to Buy:

  • The Bose SoundLink Plus is on sale for $189.99 ($80 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, 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.
The Bose TV Speaker sitting on a media console.

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 B&H Photo 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.
A marketing image of a blue Sonos Roam 2 speaker.

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.
A photo of the Sonos Move 2 portable speaker.

Where to Buy:

Laptop deals

Microsoft Surface Laptop, 13-inch

Microsoft’s slightly smaller, entry-level Surface Laptop trims some of the size and a few features from its bigger 13.8-inch counterpart, but it maintains excellent battery life and solid performance. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

  • In addition to the base-model 13-inch Surface Laptop hitting a new low of $549.99 ($350 off) at Best Buy and Amazon, and the same model with 512GB storage is $749.99 ($250 off) at Amazon.
  • If you want a Surface with a slightly bigger, nicer display and a higher-end Snapdragon X Elite processor, the Surface Laptop 7th Edition (13.8-inch) from 2024 is on sale for $899.99 ($500 off) at Best Buy and Amazon. It’s still a great machine if you prioritize battery life on Windows and want a nice screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and 2304 x 1536 resolution. Read our review.

Microsoft Surface Pro 12-inch

Microsoft’s latest Surface Pro is smaller, with a new design and updated keyboard. It’s powered by Qualcomm’s Arm64 Snapdragon X Plus chip. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

  • Microsoft’s flagship 13-inch Surface Pro is also on a big discount, selling for as low as $749.99 ($450 off) at Microsoft with a 10-core Snapdragon X Plus chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD. It’s quite a deal, though the keyboard and stylus are sold separately. The convertible tablet has great battery life and solid performance.
  • The Asus Zenbook A14 is selling for an all-time low of $549.99 ($450 off) at Best Buy. If you want a super-light laptop with an Arm-based Snapdragon chip for long battery life, the Zenbook is an impressive offering — especially since it has an OLED display to boot. I first handled this thing at CES, and the combination of its lightweight 2.4-pound chassis, unique finish with earthy colors, port selection, and OLED screen was really impressive. Now, at this price? It’s quite compelling.
  • I’m currently testing the 14-inch HP OmniBook 5 and liking it, especially for the value it offers. It’s very affordable for a laptop with an OLED display and marathon battery life, and it’s just $529.99 ($170 off MSRP) at Amazon and direct from HP. Its base Snapdragon X1 Plus chip isn’t very speedy, but it’s manageable if you’re not going too wild on multitasking. But the star of the show is this nice 1920 x 1200 OLED panel for such a low, low price.

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025)

Asus’ ROG Zephyrus G14 is the go-to choice for a portable gaming machine that’s great at regular laptop duties. It’s got a lovely OLED display, great keyboard and trackpad, and solid battery life. The base model with RTX 5060 graphics is fairly thin at around 0.63 inches, while the highest-end model with RTX 5070 Ti is a little thicker.

Where to Buy:

  • The base Asus ROG Strix G16 gaming laptop with a last-gen Intel Raptor Lake 14650HX CPU, RTX 5060 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD is $1,199.99 ($300 off) at Amazon. For a higher-end model that doesn’t skyrocket in price, the Strix G16 with AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX and RTX 5070 Ti is $1,599.99 ($400 off) at Best Buy. Strix models are much chunkier than their ROG Zephyrus cousins, but they’re a better deal if you prioritize performance over portability.

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i (16-inch, Intel)

Lenovo’s Legion Pro 7i is a well built gaming laptop with a lovely 2.5K OLED display and a powerful RTX 5080 GPU, enough to handle 4K gaming on an external monitor. It’s only major downsides are a lack of face or fingerprint unlocking and Lenovo’s tendency to pre-load some annoying bloatware.
The laptop with two “Legions” printed on its back.

Where to Buy:

  • The Lenovo Legion 7i above is one of my preferred gaming laptops if you like a beefy boy with high-end RTX 5080 graphics, but a solid alternative for less is the similarly-specced HP Omen Max 16. The Omen Max 16 with RTX 5080 graphics, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD is just $1,999.99 ($1,300 off) direct from HP. It’s also at Best Buy with a 2TB SSD for $2,599.99 ($560 off), but the one at HP is the screaming deal that you should nab before it’s gone (you can always do your own SSD upgrade later).

HP Victus 15 (2025, RTX 4050)

The Victus 15 is a popular, budget-friendly gaming laptop that now comes with RTX 4050 graphics, more RAM, and an improved 144Hz screen.
Best Gaming Laptop 2023: HP Victus 15

Where to Buy:

Razer Blade 16 (2025, RTX 5090)

Razer’s latest and greatest version of its Blade 16 laptop returns to a thinner, more travel-friendly chassis. It comes with RTX 50-series GPU options but each configuration features an excellent OLED display. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 (2025)

Where to Buy:

  • The closest competitor to the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 is the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14, which is on sale for a new low of $599.99 ($50 off) direct from Lenovo. It’s the base model with a non-touch OLED display, 12GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and the power-sipping MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 processor. The higher-end $749 model with a touchscreen that I tested in my review is slightly better, but these kinds of Chromebooks rarely go on sale.

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.
A person holding a Quest 3S.

Where to Buy:

PlayStation Portal

The PlayStation Portal is a handheld that allows you to stream games from your PS5 over the same network, or the cloud for certain titles if you have a PS Premium Plus subscription. The Portal has an 8-inch 1080p display with a 60Hz refresh rate, serviceable speakers, and a long-lasting battery. It also supports DualSense features, including haptic feedback and motion sensing. Read our review.
The game being played on the PlayStation Portal outdoors.

Where to Buy:

  • Nintendo’s big wave of Black Friday discounts has arrived, knocking $30 off several fantastic Switch titles that every owner should consider playing. Games like Super Mario Odyssey, Splatoon 3, and others are $30 instead of $60. Some of these price drops aren’t unprecedented, but the timing is good if you’re getting a Switch 2, as some titles have free Switch 2 upgrades that boost visual fidelity. Also, many of the Zelda-themed amiibo that launched alongside Nintendo’s new console are just $10, down from $30.
  • Walmart has discounted the G7 HE Wired Xbox Controller to $37 ($13 off) when you sign in with your Walmart account, which is a new 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.

Asus ROG Falcata

The first split ergonomic gaming keyboard to feature Hall effect switches that offer a ton of customization. This model is a much better value now that it’s $140 off. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

  • The 32-inch Asus ROG Swift 4K (model PG32UCDM) is one of the most feature-packed OLED gaming monitors on the market, with a 240Hz refresh rate, 90W USB-C charging, a glossy screen coating, and a built-in KVM switch that lets you control different computers with a single mouse and keyboard. Right now, it’s down to $899 at Amazon, which is a big drop from its usual price of $1,299 (nobody tell Nathan Edwards).
  • 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.
  • If you have (or soon plan to buy) a Nintendo Switch 2, you may need a microSD Express card if you foresee quickly expanding beyond the console’s internal 256GB of storage, as it’s the only kind of storage you can run Switch 2 games off of. Fortunately, Samsung’s 512GB P9 is down to its lowest price yet, selling for $74.99 (was $99.99) at Amazon.

8BitDo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller

If you want something cheaper — and in some ways better — than Nintendo’s official Pro controller, there’s 8BitDo’s Ultimate 2, which works with the original Switch and Switch 2. It features TMR joysticks with trigger switches for adjusting the feel, as well as vibration and motion-control support.

Where to Buy:

  • If you’re looking for a new DualSense Wireless Controller, whether for your PlayStation 5, PC, or Steam Deck, every color scheme is $20 off for Black Friday. The adorable “Joyful” model, inspired by Astro Bot, is down to around $64 at Walmart and Best Buy, or, for a simpler look, you can peruse the many color options available at Amazon and Best Buy starting at $54.99 (previously $74.99).

PlayStation 5 Digital Edition (slim)

The PlayStation 5 Digital Edition doesn’t come with a disc drive, but you can buy one separately if you later decide you want one. The console otherwise plays all of the same games as the version equipped with a disc drive. Read our hands on.

Where to Buy:

The best Lego deals

Lego Boarding the Tantive IV

This 502-piece set recreates the heart-stopping scene when Darth Vader and a platoon of Stormtroopers board the Tantive IV in the original Star Wars. It comes with seven minifigures, including the formidable Lord of the Sith and two Rebel fleet troopers. You can also flick a lever to “blast” open the main door.
The completed set of the Lego Star Wars Boarding the Tantive IV.

Where to Buy:

  • If you want to spruce up your desk without having to worry about keeping real plants alive, Amazon has your back by discounting Lego’s Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees Building Set to its all-time low of $44.99 ($20 off). The 709-piece set comprises three bonsai trees and a pair of ornamental stands, so you can arrange them at different heights. You can also swap around their leaves to leave the trees looking fresh.
  • Lego’s Super Mario Captain Toad’s Camp Building set is a 159-piece kit that’s perfect for any fan of the Mushroom Kingdom, and it’s $11.99 ($3 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. It comprises Captain Toad himself along with a tent cooking equipment, and a structure to explore. Just be sure to avoid the Goomba!

Lego Animal Crossing Fly with Dodo Airlines Airport

This kid-friendly, 292-piece playset is a nice little homage to Animal Crossing New Horizons, especially if your kiddo or someone you know has a soft spot for planes… or extinct, flightless birds.
The Lego Animal Crossing Fly with Dodo Airlines set put together on a table.

Where to Buy:

  • Lego’s City Robot World Roller Coaster set puts an interactive theme park ride on your desk, and it’s $69.99 ($30 off) at Amazon . The 986-piece set includes a three-car coaster along with a mech suit, mini figures of park patrons, arcade cabinets, and several accessories — including slushy cups and toy cell phones.

Lego NASA Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle – LRV

Who doesn’t love space? Lego’s 1,913-piece version of the Apollo Lunar Lander includes brick-ified versions of sensors, tools, and a battery pack with heating and cooling elements. It also comes with a miniature plaque displaying statistics about NASA’s actual LRV, which serves as a nice complement to the completed kit.

Where to Buy:

  • Lego’s Icon Pac-Man Arcade building set is a throwback to one of the most iconic arcade cabinets of all time, and it’s down to $188.99 ($81 off), a new all-time low at Amazon. The 2,651-piece set allows you to build a pretty solid replica of the arcade cabinet, complete with a light-up coin slot, movable joystick, and pushable buttons.
  • If you’re a fan the dark knight, Lego’s Batman Mech Armor set makes for a great little showpiece, and it’s $11.99 ($3 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. The 140-piece kit includes a brick version of Batman himself, and a set of mech armor that can launch studs from one of its arms. The mech’s limbs are jointed, so you can change its pose, and equip it with its own batarang to match Batman’s.

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:

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:

  • 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.
  • 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.

Ninja Swirl

Ninja’s clever 2-in-1 machine can spin up soft serve and traditional hard scoops in a few easy steps, not to mention creamy milkshakes, gelato, and frozen yogurt.
Ninja's Swirl soft serve dessert maker on top a counter dispensing vanilla ice cream.

Where to Buy:

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:

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.
The Anker’s 3-in-1 Qi2 Charging Station charging an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods.

Where to Buy:

  • 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.

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 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.

Slice Auto-Retractable Box Cutter

Slice’s retractable, finger-friendly ceramic blade is great for tearing through packing tape and cutting plastic wrapping. The comfy tool also features a sturdy, reinforced nylon handle and a hooked design that makes it easy to stow when not in use.

Where to Buy:

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:

  • 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.

Glocusent Neck Reading Light

Glocuscent’s rechargeable book light hangs around your neck to illuminate whatever you’re reading, while offering adjustable brightness and warmth settings.
A man in a dark bedroom wears a neck lamp that illuminates just his face and the book he’s holding while sitting upright in bed.

Where to Buy:

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:

The DualSense Edge has fallen to one of the lowest we’ve seen for Black Friday

controller standing on a wooden table, wood grain running toward the camera at a slight angle

We’ve seen Sony’s DualSense Edge discounted on a few occasions this year, and now it’s back on sale ahead of Black Friday as part of Sony’s ongoing holiday promo. Right now, you can snag the pro-style gamepad in either black or white at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy for around $169 ($30 off), which is just $10 shy of its previous low. The black version of the DualSense Edge is seldom discounted by this much, so now’s a good time to pick one up if you prefer the stealthier look.

If you spend a lot of time gaming on the PlayStation 5, the DualSense Edge elevates the experience by offering more customization than Sony’s standard DualSense controller. For starters, its deep software integration with the PS5 lets you create up to four profiles, each with customization options for button mapping, stick sensitivity, and assigning commands to the rear buttons. You can create separate profiles for Ghost of Yōtei and Arc Raiders, for instance, and swap between them on the fly without having to leave your game.

In addition to custom profiles, the DualSense Edge lets you adjust the feel of the triggers (L2 and R2), so you can tailor them to specific play styles and games. You can set the triggers to be more sensitive for online shooters like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, or less sensitive for racing games to achieve smoother acceleration and braking. Moreover, the Edge makes it easy to swap out stick modules in case one stops working.

As much as we enjoy how much you can customize the DualSense Edge, though, it’s not without its faults. In his review, The Verge’s Cameron Faulkner found that the controller averaged only about eight hours of battery life on a full charge, which is worse than the standard DualSense controller. It does, however, come with a long charging cable that can lock into the controller, preventing it from accidentally being yanked out.

Read our full DualSense Edge review.

The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are at their best-ever price for Black Friday

Meta may have just released the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) at the end of October, but they’re not significantly different from the last-gen model introduced in 2021. The overall experience is very similar, which is why the original Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses remain a great buy, especially now that they’re on sale for an all-time low of around $238.99 ($60 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target for Black Friday.

Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1) smart glasses

Blue Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses with pinkl enses on a colorful mirror.

Where to Buy:

Like their successor, the first-gen Ray-Ban Meta let you listen to music, snap photos, record 1080p video, and make hands-free calls thanks to a five-microphone array. You can upload the resulting photos and videos — and even livestream— to Facebook or Instagram via the companion app. The glasses also support a host of AI-powered features, letting you use your voice to take photos, pull up the history of a landmark, ask questions, or get recipes based on what’s in your fridge. They can even translate multiple languages in real time, helping you with Spanish, Italian, French, and other languages you may be less familiar with.

Additionally, many of the same software upgrades currently slated to roll out to the Gen 2 model — including the new slo-mo and hyperlapse video modes, as well as the new “conversation focus” feature that boosts the audio of whoever you’re talking to — will also roll out to the original pair. The forthcoming software update, which is scheduled for the fall, will also improve the live translation feature by expanding it to support additional languages, including German and Portuguese.

The biggest upgrade with the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 is that they have twice as much battery life: they offer up to eight hours of continuous use and a charging case that adds an additional two days of runtime, compared to 32 additional hours with the first-gen model. You’ll also get slightly sharper 3K video at 30fps, but since both models use the same 12-megapixel sensor, the difference isn’t all that significant.

Read our full Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses review.

Dreame’s X40 Ultra is arguably the best robovac deal you can grab for Black Friday

Dreame’s X40 Ultra against a wall.
Dreame’s X40 Ultra is over half off for Black Friday.

Robot vacuums show up in our gift guides almost every year, and it’s easy to understand why: they clean, they save time, and they’re cheaper than hiring a professional. But not all robovacs are created equal, and some save more time than others. The Dreame X40 Ultra is one of those, offering a more genuinely hands-free cleaning experience than what you typically get. And now through December 1st, it’s down to a new low of $499.99 ($700 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and directly from Dreame.

If you’re looking for a great robot vacuum that also does a fantastic job of mopping, the last-gen X40 Ultra is one of the best we’ve tested. With 12,000Pa of suction power, it does a great job of sucking up dirt and debris. It even comes with AI-powered smart dirt detection, which uses onboard cameras to spot particularly dirty areas, then slows down and passes over them multiple times until they’re thoroughly cleaned.

Its dual oscillating mop pads also do a fantastic job on hardwood floors, even extending into edges and under cabinets. It can also automatically detach and reattach its mop pads when switching to vacuuming, so your carpets stay dry. In fact, it repeats this process multiple times throughout a cleaning cycle to ensure carpets are vacuumed and hard floors are mopped properly.

What’s more, the robovac doesn’t require much babysitting; it maps rooms effectively, and its AI-assisted obstacle avoidance navigates around larger items like shoes with ease. Plus, the X40 Ultra can empty its own dustbin, refill its water tank, and clean its washboard — and its mop pads can even wash and dry themselves.

Philips Hue’s Festavia string lights are up to $158 off just in time for Christmas

If you want your house to be the one everyone slows down to look at this holiday season, Philips Hue’s Festavia lights can make that happen. They aren’t cheap, but thanks to an early Black Friday sale at Amazon, you can pick up a 65-foot string for $145.19 (about $97 off) or a 130-foot strand for around $237.60 (about $158 off), which is the lowest price we’ve seen on either strand since they were first introduced.

The Festavia lights are impressive holiday string lights, boasting rich colors, individually addressable LEDs, and a variety of magical preset scenes that combine to create an effect that outshines most rivals. What’s great is you can use them indoors and outdoors thanks to their IP54 rating, so if you don’t want to decorate your porch or walkway, you can use them to dress up your Christmas tree or stair rails.

The lights will work over Bluetooth, but with a Hue Bridge or newer Bridge Pro, you can take things even further with automations and the ability to sync the lights with your music. They also play nicely with other Philips Hue gear — like color-changing light strips, spotlights, and bulbs — so you can create a festive light show that’ll dazzle the neighbors. As a bonus, you can set schedules in the easy-to-use mobile app, so the lights can turn on and off even when you’re not home. And because they support Matter, they work with all major smart home platforms, including Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home.

If you’re looking for something more affordable or additional size options, Govee’s Christmas Lights 2 are also on sale right now. You can grab a 66-foot strand from Amazon and Govee for $63.99 ($36 off), or a 99-foot strand for $11 more (Amazon / Govee). The longer 164-foot set is also available for $129.99 ($70 off) from Amazon and Govee, while the 328-foot string can be had for $249.99 ($150 off) at Amazon and Govee’s online storefront. As for how these prices stack up to prior sales, these are the best we’ve seen, regardless of strand length.

Like the Festavia, the Lights 2 support Matter and can be safely used indoors or outside thanks to their IP65 rating. However, the included power adapter is only IP44-rated, and the LEDs use drop-style heads rather than bullet heads, which is fine for the roof but not nearly as striking on a Christmas tree. Govee’s companion app isn’t as intuitive as Philips Hue’s, either, and the Festavia lights still offer a better selection of preset scenes.

How Microsoft’s developers are using AI

Microsoft is pitching a future where AI controls everything on your PC and agents go and do work for you in the background. But before the company gets there, it has to build the tools to make these systems work and convince its own developers that AI is actually capable of achieving these big promises.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella revealed earlier this year that up to 30 percent of the code of "some of our projects" is written by AI, and I've been eager to learn exactly how Microsoft's developers are using the technology ever since. I've been speaking to sources and company execs to get a better idea of how AI is being used by Microsoft dev …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Watch how Apple made its new puppet-packed holiday ad

A screenshot of a puppet woodland creature using an iPhone 17 Pro to film other animals.
Apple’s new holiday ad stars a forest full of woodland creatures. | Screenshot: YouTube / Apple

While companies like Coca-Cola turned to generative AI to create “visually jarring” holiday ads this year, Apple continues to embrace practical effects with its new festive short film called A Critter Carol featuring a forest full of tech-savvy woodland creatures.

In the ad a hiker drops their iPhone 17 Pro, which is found by a curious raccoon who uses it to shoot an impromptu performance of the song “Friends” by Flight of the Conchords, along with other animals including a bear, wolf, owl, deer, squirrel, and rabbit. The phone is eventually retrieved by the hiker, who uses their Apple Watch to locate it.

Similar to how the new Apple TV intro was created by filming a glass model of the logo illuminated with colored lights, Apple released a behind-the-scenes look at the practical effects used to make A Critter Carol. There were lots of blue screens and blue bodysuits used that allowed the forest set to be digitally extended and human performers to be removed in post-production, but the critters were all hand-crafted puppets brought to life by a small army of puppeteers controlling various body parts. And yes, the entire production was shot on an iPhone 17 Pro.

A humanoid robot-shaped bubble is forming, China warns

A humanoid robot bubble could be brewing, warned China’s leading economic planning agency on Thursday. The alert comes amid growing fears that a bubble in a related industry — AI — is about to burst. 

Speaking at a press briefing, National Development and Reform Commission spokesperson Li Chao said China’s humanoid robotics industry needs to balance “the speed of growth against the risk of bubbles.” Investment has been pouring into the sector despite there being few proven use cases for the bots, Li said, risking a flood of “highly similar” models as funding for research and development shrinks.

More than 150 humanoid robotics companies are operating in China, Li said. More than half are startups or entrants from other industries. 

The warning marks a rare note of caution from Beijing for an industry it has declared vital for future economic growth. Earlier this year, China designated embodied intelligence — the technology behind humanoid robotics — a national priority. 

Kuxiu’s solid-state power bank now has more capacity and faster wireless charging

The Kuxiu S3 power bank attached to two iPhones in two different orientations.
The Kuxiu S3 adds a kickstand for hands-free smartphone use. | Image: Kuxiu

Seven months after launching its first semi-solid state battery that used a safer and longer-lasting solid-liquid mixed electrolyte, Kuxiu is introducing a new version with some welcome upgrades. The S3 has twice the capacity of the S2 at 10,000mAh – 5,000mAh at 7.7V (38.5Wh) – that the company says is enough to nearly double an iPhone’s battery life, but that will vary depending on the model.

The Kuxiu S3 is also Qi2.2-compatible so it can wirelessly charge compatible devices at up to 25W. Its larger battery means it’s over 100g heavier than the 145g S2, but Kuxiu has increased the number of N52 magnets it uses from 16 to 18 to help reduce the risk of the power bank being accidentally knocked off your phone. There’s an integrated kickstand now on the back, a small display showing its remaining capacity and charging status, and a built-in cable for charging other devices through a USB-C port with power delivery rated at up to 35W.

The Kuxiu S3 power bank on its own and attached to the back of an iPhone.

As with the previous model, the S3 is more expensive than traditional wireless power banks offering similar capacity, charging rates, and features, but the cost of the technology should drop over time as manufacturing improves and increases. It’s available now for $149.98, but temporarily discounted to $68.99. If that seems hard to stomach, remember that while the capacity of most power banks will start to degrade after 300 to 500 cycles, the S3 should only see a drop to about 80 percent capacity after 1,000 charging cycles. It will have a much longer lifespan, and is less at risk from issues like fire and thermal runaway should you accidentally drop it.