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Updated: 25 min 57 sec ago

75+ Black Friday deals at Best Buy that arent cheaper anywhere else

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 19:14
Best Buy's best early Black Friday deals at a glance: Best TV deal Hisense 50-inch QD6 Series QLED 4K Fire TV $199.99 (save $130) Get Deal Best laptop deal HP Victus 15 (AMD Ryzen 7 7445HS, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $549.99 (save $350) Get Deal Best earbuds deal Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) $249 (save $50) Get Deal Best Headphones Deal Apple AirPods Max Headphones (USB-C) $429.99 (save $120) Get Deal Best portable speaker deal JBL Charge 6 $129.95 (save $70) Get Deal Best fitness tracker deal Garmin Venu Sq 2 (GPS, 40mm) $149.99 (save $100) Get Deal Best vacuum deal Eufy Robot Vacuum Omni C20 $349.99 (save $350) Get Deal Best kitchen deal De'Longhi Classic Espresso Machine $149.95 (save $80) Get Deal

Best Buy started offering Black Friday deals earlier than everyone else (on Halloween — scary!), but it's not the only retailer in Black Friday mode anymore. Most major retailers' early holiday discounts are now live, making the competition pretty ferocious.

After spending way too long combing through Best Buy's virtual shelves and cross-checking its prices, I can tell you that many of its Black Friday deals are being one-upped elsewhere. Samsung Galaxy smartwatches, Sony portable speakers, several LG, TCL, and Samsung 4K TVs, and other gadgets carrying a "Black Friday deal" badge are anywhere from $1.99 to $70 cheaper at other retailers. (Amazon is the biggest culprit, as per usual.)

However, Best Buy is also matching prices on a ton of in-demand products, including Apple laptops, Garmin fitness trackers, gaming laptops, and OLED TVs. Since most people don't have the bandwidth to do the same research as a professional shopping reporter, I've compiled a list of the very best early Black Friday deals at Best Buy. I've only included deals that aren't cheaper anywhere else.

SEE ALSO: The 30+ best early Black Friday Apple deals: We found record lows on AirPods and MacBooks already

Why shop at Best Buy over Amazon, Target, or Walmart this holiday season? For one thing, it carries lots of TVs and laptops that other major retailers don't stock (on sale or not). Best Buy is also giving away bonus rewards to paid My Best Buy members who drop a certain amount of money on select products. (Spend at least $299 on a smartwatch, for example, and you'll get $30 to spend on a future purchase.) Finally, it's running some limited-time doorbusters every weekend through Christmas, which typically involve discounts of well over 50% on popular products.

Best Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $649 at Best Buy
$799 Save $150   Get Deal Why we like it

"Students, professionals, and bargain hunters looking for a super-affordable MacBook should strongly consider opting for this older-generation M2-powered Apple laptop. Yes, if you can spend just $100 more, you can grab the new M4 MacBook Air for $749 instead. But every dollar counts, and this is still a perfectly capable laptop with 16GB of RAM. I know professional video editors still working on the M2 chip (on a MacBook Pro, of course)." — Timothy Beck Werth, Tech Editor

More AirPods dealsMacBook dealsiPad dealsBest TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 50-inch QD6 Series QLED 4K Fire TV $199.99 at Best Buy
$329.99 Save $130   Get Deal Why we like it

QLED TVs are brighter than your standard LED displays (but not as expensive as high-contrast OLED TVs). Mashable's Leah Stodart thinks they're "ideal for people whose TV usage happens mostly in the daytime, especially watching sports." Best Buy has this 50-inch Hisense model marked down to just $200 as a Black Friday deal, beating its October Prime Day offer by nearly $40. It's currently sold out on Amazon.

43-inch TV deals50 and 55-inch TV deals65-inch TV deals70- and 75-inch TV dealsDeals on 77-inch TVs and biggerBest Windows laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP Victus 15 (AMD Ryzen 7 7445HS, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $549.99 at Best Buy
$899.99 Save $350   Get Deal Why we like it

"This HP gaming laptop doesn't have everything we look for in a gaming laptop, and it might struggle to play extremely intensive games at the highest graphics settings. So, think of this as a starter gaming laptop. If you're looking for a gaming laptop to put under the tree and don't want to spend $1,500 or more, this AMD Ryzen 7-powered device has a lot to offer, including a 15.6-inch full HD display with a 144Hz refresh rate." — Timothy Beck Werth, Tech Editor

More Windows laptop deals2-in-1 laptop dealsGaming laptop dealsBest earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) $249 at Best Buy
$299 Save $50   Get Deal Why we like it

The second-generation QC Ultra are the best noise-cancelling earbuds we've tried. "As a premium option, you'd be hard-pressed to find earbuds with a better combination of comfort and noise cancellation," wrote lead shopping reporter Bethany Allard, our reviewer. Best Buy's Black Friday deal of $249 (or $50 off) matches their record-low price on Amazon. Take your pick from five colors.

More earbuds dealsBest portable speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Charge 6 $129.95 at Best Buy
$199.95 Save $70   Get Deal Why we like it

The new JBL Charge 6 is our favorite Bluetooth speaker for most people: It's "big enough to produce sound that will fill an outdoor party, yet still small enough to live on your bookshelf," our experts said. It can also charge smartphones, headphones, and other devices via USB-C — very handy. Best Buy, Amazon, and the JBL website all had it on sale for $129.95 at the time of writing (or $70 off). That appears to be an all-time low.

More portable speaker dealsBest fitness tracker deal

My Best Buy Plus and Total members get a $30 bonus reward for spending $299 or more on smartwatches and accessories.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Forerunner 165 GPS Smartwatch $199.99 at Best Buy
$249.99 Save $50   Get Deal Why we like it

"This watch is only available at Amazon from an unknown third-party store, but Best Buy has it on sale for $50 off the usual retail price. Garmin makes some of the best fitness trackers for running, as we recently learned while testing trackers for the NYC Marathon." — Timothy Beck Werth, Tech Editor

More fitness tracker dealsBest vacuum deal

My Best Buy Plus and Total members get a $15 bonus reward for every $50 spent on floor care (up to $75).

Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy Robot Vacuum Omni C20 $349.99 at Best Buy
$699.99 Save $350   Get Deal Why we like it

The Omni C20 is a do-it-all robot vacuum that can also mop, empty itself, and wash and dry its mop pads. It offers 7,000 Pa of suction power, making it only a hair less powerful than the Eufy 10X Pro Omni, our favorite budget self-washing and drying robovac (which retails for $150 more). Best Buy and Amazon both have it on sale for $350, reviving its record-low price from October Prime Day.

Best kitchen deal

My Best Buy Plus and Total members get a $15 bonus reward for every $125 spent on small kitchen appliances (up to $75).

Opens in a new window Credit: De'Longhi De'Longhi Classic Espresso Machine $149.95 at Best Buy
$229.95 Save $80   Get Deal Why we like it

De'Longhi's entry-level espresso machine has 15 bars of pressure and a built-in frother with two steam settings (one for heating milk and another for making latte art). In the cheapest Black Friday espresso machine deal I've encountered so far, it's on sale for just $150 at Best Buy, as well as on Amazon, Crate & Barrel, Williams-Sonoma, Macy's, and DeLonghi's website. It last hit that price in July.

More kitchen deals

How Nano Banana changes Google Messages

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 18:26

Android users are now getting a major injection of AI in their Google Messages app.

Last week, Google announced a number of Android updates, including a major new Pixel feature drop. Among the many new features announced for Pixel phones was a major AI-related one: the popular AI image editor Nano Banana will be integrated directly into Google Messages via a new feature called Remix.

Nano Banana is Google's latest AI image generation and editing model. AI aficionados have raved about Nano Banana, and it's widely considered the best AI image editor available right now.

Google knows it has a hit on its hands, and the company has been integrating Nano Banana into a variety of other Google products, including Google Lens and Circle to Search. Now, Remix will allow Pixel owners to edit or remake any photo using Nano Banana from within Google Messages. 

This week, the Remix feature began rolling out to all Pixel users – and the Remix feature will soon come to all Android devices as well.

The new Remix feature on Android Credit: Google

All users have to do is press the Remix button on any photo within Google Messages and then provide any prompt they want in the text box that appears. Google provides some “Suggested ideas” in Remix, such as “Make a custom mini figure” or “Make a photo look like instant film” to give users a starting point for what's possible. From there, Nano Banana takes over and generates the image. (According to Google, there is a “daily limit of image generations per user.”)

Remix basically turns Google Messages from strictly a messaging app into a content creation tool. It's easy to see how Remix can spark memes and other viral media as users simply need to type what they want to generate an image that they otherwise would've had to create in a dedicated image creation or editing app.

In that same vein, if you're not a fan of "AI slop," now you'll know why so many friends and family members with Android phones are suddenly sending you so many AI-altered images.

Black Friday 2025: I review headphones, and Id shop these noise-cancelling headphone deals

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 18:11
Best noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds on sale: Best Flagship Headphones Deal Sony WH-1000XM6 Noise-Canceling Headphones $398 (save $61.99) Get Deal Best earbuds deal Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbus (2nd Gen) $249 (Save $50) Get Deal Past-Gen Sony Headphones Deal Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones $248 (Save $151.99) Get Deal Best for Audiophiles Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Over-Ear Headphones $515 (save $184) Get Deal Best Apple Deal Apple AirPods Max Headphones (USB-C) $429.99 (save $120) Get Deal Best Sports Earbuds Deal Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Sports Earbuds $199.95 (save $49.05) Get Deal

As Mashable's tech editor, I've covered a lot of cool headphone launches this year. The long-awaited Sony XM6 headphones finally came out this year, and we also got new flagship headphones from Nothing, Bowers & Wilkins, Bose, and Beats. If you need a new pair of noise-cancelling headphones, the Black Friday season is the best possible time to buy. All of the headphones I mentioned are currently sitting at record prices — all of them.

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

Some of the best Black Friday noise-cancelling headphones deals have already earned a spot in our guide to the top deals. From audiophile-worthy headphones from Bowers & Wilkins to the latest Bose wireless earbuds, you'll find the best of the best here.

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

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

I tested Sony's legendary XM5 headphones against the newer version, the XM6. And they're far more alike than different. Unless you're a picky audiophile, I think most people should opt for the XM5 model while it's on sale. These headphones have never been priced this low, and they still have all the features you really need: excellent audio quality, best-in-class active noise-cancellation, and an easy-to-use app to adjust EQ settings.

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

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

The second-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are the best noise-cancelling earbuds of 2025, full stop. The only buds that really come close? The first-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, which I'm wearing as I write this sentence. These earbuds are supremely comfortable, and they let you slip into a cone of silence on demand.

More noise-cancelling earbuds deals

Mashable contributor Matt Ford also assisted with this guide.

This $40 app can turn your iPhone into a scanner

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 18:00

TL;DR: Streamlining your scanning process with this lifetime subscription to the iScanner App, now just $39.99 (reg. $199.90).

Opens in a new window Credit: iScanner iScanner App: Lifetime Subscription $39.99
$199.90 Save $159.91   Get Deal

It’s 2025, are you still using an archaic machine to scan your documents? If so, there’s now an app for that. The iScanner App lets you digitize documents in just a few taps, as it turns your iPhone or iPad into a scanning machine.

Right now, you can score a lifetime subscription to the iScanner App for only $39.99 (reg. $199.90).

SEE ALSO: This app turns your smartphone into a scanner and PDF editor for life, and right now it’s 70% off

You never know when you’ll need a scanner. These days, it’s a lot more often than you think. iScanner App lets you scan things right from your iPhone or iPad, making it a whole lot easier than the scanners of yesteryear.

With the iScanner App, just point your device’s camera at the page you need to scan. The app takes over from there, with AI-powered features that automatically detect and adjust the borders of your document so there are no curves or distortions.

Once you’ve scanned, you can also improve your document with editing tools like color correction and noise-removing features. iScanner also doubles as a document manager, allowing you to organize files with convenient drag-and-drop functionality and sort them into folders.

Aside from scanning your documents and keeping them organized, iScanner can also help you edit PDFs, allowing you to sign, add text, auto-fill documents, and more. The app can also help you solve math problems and translate text in up to 20 different languages if needed.

Make document scanning a breeze with this lifetime subscription to the iScanner App, now just $39.99 (reg. $199.90).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Yeah, iPads are on sale, but there are bigger savings on Android tablets this Black Friday

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 17:23
Best early Black Friday tablet deals Best iPad deal Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, 128GB, WiFi) $449 (save $150) Get Deal Best Android tablet deal Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 (256GB, WiFi) $389.99 (save $160) Get Deal Best Amazon Fire tablet deal Amazon Fire Max 11 $189.99 (save $90) Get Deal

Black Friday is, without a doubt, the best time to buy tech. Prices drop on laptops, TVs, and tablets, which is perfect timing with the holidays fast approaching. If you're getting ready to buy the latter, a tablet, now is a great time. We just spent the past few months re-evaluating our guide to the best tablets, meaning these portable devices are front of mind. And most importantly, they're now on sale ahead of Black Friday.

SEE ALSO: Black Friday 2025: Get live updates on the latest sales, doorbusters, and deal drops

There are a lot of tablets on sale, and even better, there are more than just iPads discounted. You can find devices from Samsung, Lenovo, and Amazon all on sale for hundreds off. Plus, we're pleased to see our very favorite Android tablet is on sale, too. These are the best tablet deals ahead of Black Friday.

Best early Black Friday iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, 128GB, WiFi) $449 at Amazon
$599 Save $150   Get Deal Why we like it

Most iPads are discounted ahead of Black Friday, but the best deal is on the iPad Air with M3 chip. We determined it's the best iPad for most people, with a superior processor to the basic iPad, allowing you to do any work task you'd do on a computer. But at $449, it's a fraction of the price of a laptop. It's currently $150 off of its $599 price tag, making it 25% off, one of the biggest discounts you'll find on any iPad ahead of Black Friday.

More early Black Friday iPad dealsBest early Black Friday Android deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 (256GB, WiFi) $389.99 at Lenovo
$549.99 Save $160   Get Deal Why we like it

Perhaps my favorite discovery of 2025 is the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3, which convinced me that iPads aren't the only tablets worth buying. This small tablet is made for gaming, but it does an extremely good job at streaming in high definition and is the perfect size for travel. Ahead of Black Friday, it's down to $389.99, saving you $160 for a total of 29% off.

More early Black Friday Android dealsBest early Black Friday Fire tablet deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire Max 11 $189.99 at Amazon
$279.99 Save $90   Get Deal Why we like it

Having tested my way through the latest tablets, I won't lie, Amazon Fire tablets are not my favorite. I think they fall behind the crowd in terms of processing power, plus Amazon's app store pales in comparison to Apple's or Google's. That being said, if you want a cheap tablet, look at the Amazon Fire tablet. There are bigger discounts to be had on Amazon's tablets, but I think the best tablet to shop from Amazon is the Fire Max 11, which offers the best speed and processing.

More early Black Friday Fire tablet deals

Get unlimited free entertainment for $20 with this streaming alternative

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 17:00

TL;DR: Ditch the expensive streaming services and enjoy an endless stream of free content with a lifetime subscription to BitMar Streaming Content Finder, on sale now for $19.99 (reg. $150).

Opens in a new window Credit: BitMar BitMar Streaming Content-Finder: Lifetime Subscription $19.99
$150 Save $130.01   Get Deal

How much are you really spending on streaming services? The answer might surprise you. With prices rising and new platforms constantly popping up, it can turn into an endless and expensive loop. If you’re looking for a way to unwind with entertaining content without spending an arm and a leg, it’s time to check out BitMar.

BitMar Streaming Content Finder is a handy tool that helps you discover free movies, shows, music, and more from around the world. Right now, you can pay once and enjoy a lifetime subscription to this platform for just $19.99 (reg. $150).

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (Nov. 14, 2025)

Whether you still pay for cable or you’re guilty of subscribing to half a dozen streamers, there’s a much more affordable way to find things to watch. BitMar Streaming Content Finder is an AI-powered tool that finds you free content worldwide.

BitMar Streaming Content Finder features a Bing-powered search engine that scours the globe for your entertainment. It’s totally ad-free, even when you select a video from YouTube, and you can rest easy knowing you’ll only be routed to secure websites.

This lifetime subscription will work on up to five devices so that you can share the wealth of content with loved ones. You can access it on smartphones, tablets, laptops, and smart TVs.

Wondering how you’re unlocking a lifetime of free content for just $19.99? With BitMar, you’re paying for the platform, not the content. Creators and owners of the content are still paid, too, as everything complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. That means they can monetize via the free traffic BitMar brings them.

Get a lifetime subscription to BitMar Streaming Content Finder for only $19.99 (reg. $150).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

45+ Walmart Black Friday deals: Walmart is pretty much giving away Magic Bullet blenders at $15 apiece

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 16:56

We've combed through all of the latest Walmart Black Friday 2025 deals, checked them against other retailers' prices, and gathered them all into one convenient place.

The retailer's first early Black Friday sale has already come and gone, and we've seen popular doorbuster deals on Vizio TVs and Beats Studio Buds completely sell out. However, there are still plenty of early deals to shop, including a record-low price on Apple AirPods 4 earbuds, now priced at $79.99. You can also score great savings on Legos, Samsung TVs, Dyson vacuums, and Magic Bullet blenders. Those are just some of the deals we've spotted so far, so keep checking back as we approach Black Friday.

Walmart's early Black Friday deals at a glance: Best earbuds deal Apple AirPods 4 $79.99 (save $49.01) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal Roborock Qrevo Series Robot Vacuum and Mop $45.999 (save $290) Get Deal Best Stick Vacuum Deal Dyson V12 Detect Slim Cordless Vacuum Cleaner $399.99 (save $330) Get Deal BUDGET TV DEAL Vizio 32-inch Class HD 720p LED Smart TV $98 (save $20) Get Deal Best 65-inch TV Deal Samsung 65-inch Class QLED 4K QLED Smart TV $448 (save $151.99) Get Deal BEST KITCHEN DEAL Magic Bullet Essential Blender with To-Go Lid $15 (save $24.99) Get Deal Best laptop deal HP 14-inch HD Chromebook (Intel Processor N200, 4GB RAM, 128GB UFS) $112 (save $297.99) Get Deal BIGGEST SAVINGS Seray Adjustable Outdoor Basketball Hoop $186.99 (save $213) Get Deal Best Carpet Cleaner Bissell Little Green Carpet Cleaner $78.97 (save $44.62) Get Deal GET ALL THE PERKS 1-Year Walmart+ Membership $49 (Save $49) Get Deal When does Walmart's Black Friday sale begin?

Walmart's official Black Friday sale begins Nov. 25 and runs through Nov. 30. That will be followed by an online-only Cyber Monday sale on Dec. 1. Until then, Walmart is hosting rollbacks galore, as well as a 50% off deal for Walmart+ memberships. You can either choose from the usual 30-day free trial or get a one-year membership for $49.

SEE ALSO: Black Friday 2025: Get live updates on the latest sales, doorbusters, and deal drops Best Walmart Black Friday TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 65-inch Class QLED 4K QLED Smart TV $448 at Walmart
$599.99 Save $151.99   Get Deal Why we like it

Samsung has been the world's best-selling TV brand for two decades, and for good reason. We trust them to make incredible TVs at fair prices. Just as importantly, Samsung TVs last for a long time. For Black Friday, you can pick up this affordable QLED 65-inch TV for under $500, as long as it doesn't sell out first.

32-inch TV deals50- and 55-inch TV deals65-inch TV deals70- and 75-inch TV deals Best laptop deal HP 14-inch HD Chromebook (Intel Processor N200, 4GB RAM, 128GB UFS) $119 at Walmart
$409.99 Save $290.99   Get Deal at Walmart Why we like it

Now at $112 (down from $409.99), the HP 14-inch HD Chromebook (Intel Processor N200, 4GB RAM, 128GB UFS) is a great starter laptop for students or commuters who need something lightweight, speedy, and capable of handling daily tasks like email and working in multiple tabs. This laptop isn't available on Amazon right now, and it's about $100 more at Best Buy. With more than 2K reviews and a 4.4-star rating, and smart apps like Gemini, Docs, and Gmail built right in, you can't beat this deal.

More Black Friday laptop deals at WalmartBest earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $77.99 at Walmart
$129 Save $51.01 $5 more at Amazon Get Deal Why we like it

This deal surprised us when it dropped on Nov. 20. While we've seen these wireless earbuds drop to $84.99 before, we didn't expect them to get even more affordable. Yet at Walmart, you can pick up the base AirPods for the record price of $79.99, a deal that's just too good to pass up.

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

Roborock is quickly replacing iRobot as the most reliable robot vacuum brand. The brand made some of our favorite robot vacuums of the year, and this Qrevo Series self-emptier boasts 10,000 Pa of suction and the ability to mop your floors.

More Black Friday vacuum deals Best deal on toys and games Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2025 $35.99 at Walmart
$44.99 Save $9   Get Deal Why we like it

This is the time of year to snag Advent calendars while they're 1) on sale and 2) still in stock. This set comes with tons of mini figures and toys Star Wars fans will love. Can you say BB-8 as a snowman, or Jawa wearing an ugly Christmas sweater? You won't find this Black Friday Advent calendar deal at Amazon.

More Walmart Black Friday deals on toys and gamesBest Walmart Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm) $249 at Walmart
$399 Save $150   Get Deal Why we like it

Apple recently replaced the Series 10 smartwatch with the Series 11, but the only real difference between the two models? The newest version has a longer battery life. Besides that, they're virtually identical, except now the Series 10 is a lot more affordable. You won't find this watch on sale at Amazon, but at Walmart, the remaining sizes and colors are on sale for $249 — that's a savings of $150 on one of the best smartwatches in the world.

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

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

Should you rush to buy on Black Friday? When to wait on deals and when to click add to cart.

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 16:28

Most of the Black Friday messaging you receive focuses on urgency. There are numerous "these deals won't last" and "get it before it's gone" messages. If you're desensitized to all of that rushed language, it's understandable, but it's not all hyperbole. As we cover year after year of shopping events, one thing is true: deals really don't last.

We know this is true, looking at the facts alone; through tools like camelcamelcamel, you can see a product's full price history on Amazon. But the most plentiful evidence may be our own experience shopping and tracking deals.

The last Prime Day event, Prime Big Deal Days, was the latest shopping event where I really considered the lifetime of a deal. Even while I was working the sale, finding deals and tracking prices, I still found time to load up my Amazon cart with essentials that happened to be on sale. However, I never actually got as far as checking out, so when I signed back on, my cart's price had increased by $30. It's the clearest example I've experienced of how deals can go away as soon as the event is over.

But with Black Friday, things are a little complicated. What used to be a single-day event now lasts for weeks leading up to Black Friday and extends for days after. So, it raises the question: Do you really need to rush to buy Black Friday deals? Kind of.

SEE ALSO: Black Friday 2025: Get live updates on the latest sales, doorbusters, and deal drops How long do Black Friday deals last?

I wish there were a definitive answer to the question of "how long do Black Friday deals last?" It would certainly make my job easier. However, with early Black Friday deals, day-of-deals, and then Cyber Weekend and Monday deals, it's often unclear when the savings actually begin and end. This year, Black Friday takes place on Nov. 28, but the savings now start way before the event and even linger after.

In 2025, we're finding that most retailers are extending Black Friday savings to about two weeks, with many sales starting on Nov. 20 and wrapping up on Dec. 2. That makes knowing when to buy a deal easier, as there's a strict window to buy in. However, the most prominent retailers, such as Amazon, Target, and Walmart, don't always offer precise cutoff dates for their sales. When that's the case, urgency sets in, and you should prepare to buy.

Why should you rush to buy a Black Friday deal?

So why rush to a deal? As mentioned above, if a specified window of availability isn't provided for a deal, you should grab it before it's gone. As of Nov. 20, we're finding most retailers have kicked off their sales and expect prices to stay consistent through Black Friday. Don't plan for deals to linger past Black Friday itself, and anticipate that the most in-demand deals will sell out before then.

But with this sense of urgency, it's easy to get lost in seeing a markdown without knowing if it's actually a good deal. So if you're still feeling cautious about jumping on a deal, there are three things you can do to ensure that you're not jumping on a deal that's not actually that great.

Check with the experts and use a price tracking tool With the camelcamelcamel extension, you can check a product's price history on Amazon. Credit: Screenshot: Camelcamelcamel

Leading up to and throughout Black Friday, our job here at Mashable is to hunt for deals and find the best deals for you. If we've written about a deal, it's because it's worthy of your attention. Additionally, we always note when products reach their lowest price ever.

If we haven't written about a product, conduct your own research to see if it's a guaranteed good deal. If you're shopping on Amazon, we recommend using a tool like camelcamelcamel to check a product's price history to see if it's reached its lowest recorded price.

For example, Amazon's Kindle reached an all-time low during Amazon's 2025 Black Friday sale, as recorded by camelcamelcamel. That price drop means it's time to make a purchase.

Check in with a retailer's price match policy

If you want to buy a product before it sells out, but are worried it could still get a further price drop, look for the retailer's policy on price matching. Unfortunately, price matching is no longer a common practice.

In July 2025, Target joined the ranks of Amazon and Walmart, ceasing its generous price-matching policy. However, Target and Best Buy still have a holiday price match guarantee. That means if they lower their price after you purchase it, you can request a price match.

Otherwise, for retailers like Amazon, which don't have a price match guarantee, you'll need to return and then repurchase the item.

Make sure you're chasing a product, not a deal

During big shopping events, it's easy to get caught up in the exciting deals and forget what you actually need. So, one of the best pieces of advice we can give you is to chase a product, not a deal. Going into Black Friday, know what you want to buy. Maybe that's a kitchen appliance you're vying for or a new pair of headphones you're in desperate need of. Whatever it is, keep your eye on the prize and follow the product's price leading up to the event (again, price tracking tools come in handy for this). If it hits a low, even before Black Friday, you know you're good to make a purchase. And whatever you do, don't get hypnotized by all the other deals, just shop for what you've had on your list.

Don't wait until the day after Black Friday

It used to be the case that Black Friday marked the start of the savings, but now, it's essentially the closeout of the shopping event. With sales starting in early November, by the time you get to Black Friday proper on Nov. 28, it's basically the end of the sale. In our experience, the later you get into a sale, the more likely it is for a product to sell out. So, depending on when you're buying, it really determines when you need to click "add to cart." If it's the week before Black Friday, you may want to wait to make a purchase. If it's the day after Black Friday, buy as soon as possible.

That being said, my biggest piece of advice is not to wait to buy the day after Black Friday. Even though you still have Cyber Monday to look forward to, sometimes the best deals end at the stroke of midnight. Think of Cyber Monday as your last chance to shop deals, not your best chance.

Tons of earbuds are on sale with the start of Amazons Black Friday sale

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 15:40
Best earbuds deals before Black Friday (so far) Best noise-cancelling earbuds deal Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 $199.95 at Amazon (save $50.04) Get Deal Best open earbuds deal Shokz OpenDot One $139.95 at Amazon (save $60) Get Deal Best sleep earbuds Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 $107.99 at Amazon (save $72) Get Deal Best earbuds deal (without noise cancellation) Apple AirPods 4 $79.99 at Walmart (save $50) Get Deal

Black Friday proper is still a week away, but Black Friday sales are officially kicking off in earnest if earbuds deals are anything to go by.

While we saw some earbuds go on sale earlier this week, a much bigger selection dropped in price as of Nov. 20. It's no coincidence, considering it's the day Amazon's Black Friday sale started. The mega-retailer has the bulk of earbuds deals available by far, but it's not the only one with excellent deals: Walmart has the Apple AirPods 4 down to just $79.99 and AirPods Pro 2 down to $139, and is price-matching some of Amazon's best earbuds deals.

SEE ALSO: Mashable will send the best Black Friday deals directly to your phone — how it works

Below, you'll find 25 of the best deals we've spotted so far, on everything from noise-cancelling to sleep earbuds. We'll continue updating this post in the lead-up and through Black Friday, so check back often.

Best noise-cancelling earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 $199.95 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $50.04   Get Deal Why we like it

While there are plenty of excellent noise-cancelling earbuds on sale, the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 buds don't often get price markdowns. Granted, they are geared toward working out, but as workout earbuds, they're excellent, earning a Mashable Choice Award from our team. The ANC, built-in heart rate monitor, and in-ear bud with an ear hook all work in tandem to create an environment where you can truly lock into your exercise, without sacrificing sound quality. The gamut of features is reflected in the $250 price point, which makes this deal extra appealing.

Read our full review of the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds.

More noise-cancelling earbuds dealsBest open earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shokz Shokz OpenDots One $139.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $60   Get Deal Why we like it

The Shokz OpenDots One are Mashable's favorite open earbuds for most people, but they can be tricky to catch on sale, making them the perfect Black Friday purchase. In his review, Mashable contributor Alex Bracetti sang their praises, noting the sound quality that rivaled the more expensive Bose Ultra Open earbuds (also on sale), the 10 hours of battery life per charge, and great touch controls (which are not to be underrated, especially if you plan on using these earbuds while exercising).

Read our full review of the Shokz OpenDots One.

More open earbuds dealsBest sleep earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds $107.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $72.00   Get Deal Why we like it

The Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds aren't your only viable option for sleep earbuds out there, but at this sale price of $107.99, they may be the best value. The main difference between them and their newer A20 counterpart is ANC and some white noise features. While these are nice add-ons for the Sleep A30 buds, it doesn't necessarily justify a $72 price difference, making the A30 buds firmly an upgrade option, and the A20 buds the best option for most people. Even with just the passive noise cancellation, they were able to block standard nighttime sounds like noisier neighbors, street noise, and AC units, especially if you plan on streaming audio.

More sleep earbuds dealsEven more earbuds deals

Did you know Apple launched a new product today? Get the Hikawa Phone Grip.

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 14:53

Can't stop thinking about the iPhone sock bag? Apple has even more modern art in store for you.

The company just launched its new, limited edition Hikawa Phone Grip & Stand, a MagSafe compatible accessory that turns your phone into a handheld sculpture.

SEE ALSO: 9 startups changing disability tech

The case is a collaboration with Bailey Hikawa, a Los Angeles-based designer known for her line of colorful, abstract iPhone cases that look like hand-sized amoebas or melting gummy bears. You've probably seen Hikawa's cases pop up on your TikTok FYP or appear in the hands of influencers, but what you may not know is that Hikawa's design ethos isn't just about trendiness, but accessibility too.

To that end, Hikawa's iPhone accessories are more than aesthetically fascinating (no offense, sock bag); they serve a purpose, offering creative means of hand support that can help reduce fatigue and improve your grip.

Credit: Apple

Apple's Hikawa phone grip was designed with those principles in mind, but with additional accessibility considerations for users with various degrees of motor skills, muscle strength, and grip tension — and those who don't use their hands to navigate the iPhone. The silicone accessory can be used vertically or horizontally and snaps on and off of the device in one fluid motion, so it's easier to add onto your device compared to Hikawa's line of cases.

In an interview with ELLE Decor, Hikawa explained that she didn't start out to design accessible phone accessories, but that feedback from customers with disabilities showed her that there was more than just artistic merit to her business. For the exclusive Apple grip, she specifically interviewed iPhone users with a wide range of disabilities to inform the new accessory's shape and texture.

"This is the beginning of many more offerings for all kinds of bodies,” she told the publication.

This year also marks 40 years since Apple first launched accessibility initiatives across its company and devices, which the tech giant has been celebrating with a series of new accessibility features and upgrades, including new App Store labels, Braille Access, and upgrades to tools like Head Tracking, Live Listen, Live Captions, and Personal Voice.

The grip is on sale now and retails for $69.95. It comes in two colors: Chartreuse and Crater, exclusive to the U.S. Apple Online Store.

I cant believe how cheap the basic Kindle is. Grab it for just $79.99 from Amazons Black Friday sale.

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 14:48

I knew Black Friday Kindle deals were coming. I test e-readers for a living, and in addition to trying out the latest devices, I'm also tracking prices, especially around shopping holidays. Retailers are treating Nov. 20 as the official start of Black Friday, so my first instinct this morning was to look at Kindle prices and... wow! I was expecting good Kindle deals, but we got door-busting deals. In fact, Amazon is set on beating its own prices this Black Friday, best seen by the markdown on the basic Kindle — now just $79.99

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle $79.99
$109.99 Save $30   Get Deal

The Kindle Paperwhite gets most of the attention these days. It is Amazon's speediest and most advanced e-reader, but it tends to overshadow the equally great basic Kindle. The basic Kindle is a smaller e-reader with a 6-inch screen. Its compact size makes it the perfect handheld device — I often wish that the Kindle Paperwhite were that size. I think the basic Kindle would be my favorite Kindle if it were water-resistant — I'm a read at the beach kind of girl.

Where the basic Kindle beats every other e-reader — Kindle and beyond — is on price. When not on sale, the Kindle is just $109.99, the most affordable e-reader we've tested. During Amazon's October Prime Day, the device went down to $84.99, which at the time, was its lowest price ever. I figured Black Friday would bring back that same price, but Mashable contributor Christina Buff was more optimistic, projecting it to fall to $79.99. I'm so pleased to say, Christina was right on the money, literally.

The basic Kindle is down to $79.99 during Amazon's Black Friday sale. That's officially its lowest price ever, beating its previous record of $84.99 during Prime Big Deal Days. That knocks $30 off its $109.99 list price for 27% off. Amazon is pretty conservative with its Kindle deals, so I feel confident this is the device's best price. So don't wait to buy. Get a basic Kindle now and make yourself, or someone on your list, very happy (and well-read) this holiday season.

Want to shop more Black Friday Kindle deals? Check out our full guide, which we're keeping updated with the latest deals on e-readers, accessories, and books.

The best early Black Friday book deals to add to your cart

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 14:36
The best early Black Friday book deals: Best overall Buy one, get one 50% off books Select hardcovers and paperbacks Get Deal Best hardcover book deal "The Women" by Kristin Hannah $12.51 (save $17.59) Get Deal Best paperback deal "Final Girls" by Riley Sager $7.12 (save $11.88) Get Deal Best Kindle book deal "All Her Fault" by Andrea Mara $0.99 (save $4) Get Deal

If you're looking to stack your TBR list for cozy season — or help someone else stack theirs — it's time to get going. Although Black Friday is technically on Nov. 28, there are plenty of book deals you can shop early.

While I'm still not overly impressed by Kindle edition and hardcover deals, there are some pretty impressive discounts on paperbacks that are already live. I compared the prices with those from Amazon's October Prime Day and only included titles that are worthy of the "Black Friday deal" stamp. I'll be keeping an eye out for new deals to drop as we get closer to Black Friday proper — particularly on some of 2025's bestsellers and BookTok favorites. But for now, I've rounded up some of the top early Black Friday book deals you can already add to your cart.

Also of note: Amazon is offering three months of Kindle Unlimited for only 99 cents (save $35.97) and three months of Audible Premium Plus for 99 cents per month plus a $20 credit (save $41.88) to new and returning subscribers. Kindle devices are also chilling at new all-time low prices (be sure to check out our e-reader expert's top picks). You can follow along with all of the best deals in Mashable's Black Friday hub.

Best early Black Friday book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Buy one, get one 50% off books Select hardcovers and paperbacks Get Deal Why we like it

Most of the books on Goodreads' and Amazon's top books of 2025 lists haven't gotten the deal treatment yet. Sure, they're slightly discounted, but I think they can do better. In the meantime, the best way you can save some money on some of this year's bestsellers and BookTok favorites is with this BOGO deal at Amazon. With over 1,000 included titles, you'll save 50% on one book when you purchase two from the list of select hardcovers and paperbacks. Some notable titles included in the list are Buckeye by Patrick Ryan, Broken County by Clare Leslie Hall, The Names by Florence Knapp, and Heart the Lover by Lily King. To secure the savings, just add any two titles from the sale page to your cart, and the offer will automatically be applied at checkout.

Paperback book dealsHardcover book dealsKindle book deals

OnlyFans to require criminal background checks through controversial screener

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 13:48

Adult platform OnlyFans will start conducting criminal background checks for U.S. creators, its CEO, Keily Blair, recently shared on LinkedIn. The AI-powered screener, however, has proved to be controversial.

Creators who want to upload on OnlyFans must already provide multiple forms of personal identification to be able to post on the site, including a government ID and banking information. Now, performers in the U.S. will also have to undergo a criminal background check through the screening provider Checkr.

SEE ALSO: 'We're all sinners': the Conservative tradwife who does OnlyFans

"Checkr, Inc. helps OnlyFans to prevent people who have a criminal conviction, which may impact our community's safety, from signing up as a Creator on OnlyFans," Blair posted on LinkedIn.

On its website, Checkr states that 99 percent of its background checks are automated after data retrieval, with human quality assurance.

The screening service, which has also been used by "gig economy" companies Uber and DoorDash, has been the subject of dozens of lawsuits between 2015 and 2020, according to an archived 2020 Protocol article. These lawsuits were filed under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which regulates background checks (and credit reports), and alleged that Checkr made mistakes such as misreporting crimes and flagging criminal activity too old to report according to the FCRA.

In 2022, Checkr was named in another lawsuit, this one claiming it and Uber failed to properly screen drivers who were using stolen identities. In 2023, another lawsuit emerged, claiming that Checkr's "quick checks" had failed to uncover a DoorDash driver's criminal history.

OnlyFans and Checkr haven't responded to Mashable's request for comment.

Last month, Pornhub also announced it would establish criminal background checks for current and new content partners (studios, not individual creators).

Blair of OnlyFans and Pornhub both stated this move was to further safety on their platforms. It also comes at a time when the porn industry faces increased legislative scrutiny in the U.S. and abroad, with age-verification laws, which typically require robust age checks to keep minors off their platforms (despite studies saying that age verification doesn't work).

Amazon fends off greenwashing lawsuit after SCOTUS refuses to hear case

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 13:42

The highest court in the land has declined to hear a case brought up from the lower circuit courts early this year involving online retail giant Amazon and its protections under Section 230.

Amazon was sued by Planet Green Cartridges, a U.S. re-manufacturer of printer cartridges, for allowing third- party companies to advertise and sell falsely labelled products claiming to be re-manufactured or recycled. Re-manufacturing is considered a more sustainable manufacturing process, reducing raw material and energy consumption by restoring products to manufacturer standards.

SEE ALSO: Black Friday 2025: Get live updates on the latest sales, doorbusters, and deal drops

Planet Green Cartridges sought $500 million in third-party liability damages from Amazon based on the recommendation of greenwashed products. The lawsuit argued that Amazon's algorithm promoted listings that falsely advertised new, imported cartridges, raking in $3 billion in sales and creating unfair competition among sellers as customers were deceived by false advertising into purchasing less sustainable products.

Amazon's counterargument hinged on online merchandiser protections outlined in Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which protects internet service hosts from government regulation and shields them from legal liability for the content their users post. It is considered by many to be a tentpole of a free and open internet.

Following several conflicting lower court decisions, the case was dismissed by the 9th Circuit court in March, stating that Amazon couldn't be held liable for the claims written by third-party sellers. Planet Green Cartridges then petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case and clarify whether Section 230 protections extend to online marketplaces that also profit from the recommendation, promotion, or distribution of products on their website — as Amazon does — in addition to hosting the listings.

Section 230 and online censorship have become hot button topics in the U.S., especially as social media platforms have mostly backed off from content moderation. Increasingly powerful, AI-enhanced algorithms have complicated the matter. In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court heard two Section 230 cases brought against YouTube and Twitter (now X), which argued the social media companies should be held accountable for aiding and abetting terrorism through their algorithmic feeds. The court dismissed the complaint against Google, YouTube's parent company, and ruled in favor of Twitter's Section 230 protections.

iOS 26.2 will remove one feature in parts of the world

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 12:57

The latest version of iOS will somewhat negatively affect Apple Watch users in the European Union.

Specifically, automatic WiFi network syncing between iPhones and Apple Watches will be toned down for EU users when iOS 26.2 launches later this year, per the French publication Numerama (via 9to5Mac). Normally, when you set up an Apple Watch by pairing it with an iPhone, it automatically gets access to all the WiFi networks stored in the phone's memory banks. When iOS 26.2 drops, users in the EU will find that this no longer happens in the same way.

SEE ALSO: How to use Apple Pay on Amazon when Black Friday shopping

Namely, the difference seems to be that an Apple Watch will only automatically connect to a WiFi network if its paired iPhone is physically nearby. If you run to the cafe with your watch but not your phone, you'll have to manually type in the WiFi password on the watch now. This really only seems like it will affect people who regularly leave the house with their Apple Watch but not their iPhone, which I imagine to be a pretty small subset of users.

You're probably wondering why Apple would do this. The answer, of course, is to avoid market regulations. The EU's Digital Markets Act mandates that companies like Apple make that sort of interoperability available to third-party devices as well as their own devices. Apple doesn't want to do that, so Europeans have to suffer a bit.

Only a bit, though.

Amazon has Echo devices on major discounts for Black Friday on almost every model

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 12:49
Best Echo device deals at a glance Best overall Echo deal Amazon Echo Dot $31.99 at Amazon (save $18) Get Deal Best new Echo deal Amazon Echo Studio $199.99 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal Best for kids Echo Dot Kids $31.99 at Amazon (save $28) Get Deal Best budget deal Amazon Echo Pop $21.99 at Amazon (save $18) Get Deal Best smart home deal Amazon Echo Hub $119.99 at Amazon (save $60) Get Deal Best Echo earbuds deal Amazon Echo Buds $44.99 (save $95) Get Deal Best Echo smart display deal Amazon Echo Show 8 $159.99 at Amazon (save $20) Get Deal Best Echo device deal with alarm clock Amazon Echo Spot (2024) $49.99 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal

Amazon's Black Friday sale is underway and it's packed with great deals. You'll be able to save on Apple tech, Bose headphones, and load up on stocking stuffers. But major Amazon sale periods like Black Friday are an ideal time to get the best prices on Amazon's own devices like Kindles and the family of Echo devices.

Amazon Echo devices have something for everyone. They have great models for keeping the family's calendar organized, speakers for kids, and tablet-like displays that are perfect for following a recipe in the kitchen. Best of all, Amazon's Black Friday sale has major discounts on almost every Echo device, including some fun bundles that would make for a great gift.

We'll keep this page updated as Black Friday sales continue to roll on, especially since we occasionally see other retailers like Best Buy offers better prices than Amazon.

Best Echo deal Amazon Echo Dot $31.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $18.00   See It at Amazon Why we like it

It's impossible to go wrong with an Amazon Echo Dot, especially now that it's 36% off. It's the perfect companion for the bedroom or the office, allowing you to stream you favorite playlists and podcasts thorough Bluetooth. In Mashable's review of the best Echo Devices, the Echo Dot earns top marks for its vibrant sound as well as motion and temperature sensors. Plus, its compact size makes it great for even cramped spaces like the kitchen.

More Echo deals at Amazon

YouTube tests direct messaging. Heres how it works.

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 12:38

Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Elon Musk's X – all these sites allow users to privately chat with other users right inside the platform.

Almost every major social media platform has a direct message feature. Well, almost every major social media platform except for YouTube.

That looks like it may soon change though.

According to a post from a YouTube employee on a Google support thread, YouTube is currently testing a new way to "share videos" through direct messages on the platform through the mobile app.

YouTube says in the post that this has been a "top feature request."

SEE ALSO: YouTube Shorts finally adds daily time limit. Here's how to get it.

"We're experimenting with a new feature that makes it easy for you to share videos you love (long-form, Shorts and live streams) and have conversations about them directly on the YouTube mobile app," reads the YouTube post. "By messaging on YouTube, you accept that messages may be reviewed to ensure they follow our Community Guidelines. Community Guidelines apply to all content on YouTube, including on-platform video shares and messages."

As mentioned in its statement, YouTube will uphold its moderation policies for content sent via direct message as it would with public content, and will review flagged material. 

How YouTube direct messaging will work

YouTube says that the direct messaging experiment is just rolling out to users over the age of 18 in Poland and Ireland right now. However, this is a typical testing phase for the company's experiments and it will likely roll out even further to more users in the future.

A YouTube help page first discovered by 9to5Google further explains how this new direct messaging feature will work. 

Users will be able to share videos with other users on the platform using the feature in the YouTube mobile app. Once shared, the contacted user will be able to accept the chat invite or decline it. Every user will be given the option to accept or decline a chat when a new channel contacts them. 

When accepted, users will receive the shared video and be able to privately chat and share more videos with each other. Users will also be able to block channels that they don't want to receive invite requests or chats from. Message notifications will appear alongside other notifications when a user taps the Notification bell icon.

Longtime YouTube users have actually experienced direct messaging on the platform before. The company rolled out a way to privately share and discuss videos with specific users back in 2017. But YouTube suddenly removed the private messaging feature, much to the chagrin of many of its users, in 2019.

Now, YouTube seems poised to finally bring back direct messaging in the app.

Early Black Friday Fire tablet deals: The best discounts you can shop now

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 12:31
Best early Black Friday Fire tablet deals at a glance Best Fire Tablet Deal Amazon Fire Max 11 $189.99 (Save $90) Get Deal Best Budget Fire Tablet Deal Amazon Fire HD 10 $69.99 (Save $70.09) Get Deal Best Kids Fire Tablet Deal Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro $64.99 (Save $70.09) Get Deal

Black Friday is already just days away, but you don't have to wait for the sale to officially arrive to start shopping. As you're no doubt already aware, there are tons of great discounts you can scoop up right now at just about every retailer, especially in the electronics department. That includes tablets, specifically of the Amazon Fire variety. Black Friday is your best shot at scoring significant savings on the versatile, affordable tablets, and there are already plenty of ways to save on them right now.

Amazon has already knocked several of its Fire tablets down in price now that its Black Friday sales are officially live, so even though Thanksgiving hasn't even passed, you can start saving now.

If you're looking for the best Black Friday deal you can get on a Fire tablet, we've rounded up the best finds you can get right now. Of course, as the sale wears on, we'll add any additional new and noteworthy deals that pop up all throughout Cyber Monday. And if you're looking to snag some other electronics be sure to check out the best Black Friday device deals on offer now.

Best Fire tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire Max 11 $189.99 at Amazon
$279.99 Save $90   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're looking for a serious iPad competitor, you can't do much better in terms of Amazon's lineup than the Fire Max 11. It also happens to be our favorite of the bunch, with a large, crisp display, expandable storage, lengthy battery life, and the ability to capture 1080p video. While it does lack access to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, it more than makes up for that shortcoming with a wealth of features and excellent performance for the price that you really just can't beat, especially if you already use the Amazon ecosystem with Fire TV or Echo devices at home.

Best budget Fire tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 $69.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $70.00   Get Deal Why we like it

This budget-friendly tablet is a great pick if you're looking for an iPad alternative that's easy on the wallet. It's lightweight, boasts excellent sound and picture quality, and can perform tasks just as efficiently as its more expensive cousin. Its Amazon Silk browser is also vastly improved than the previous generation, so your browsing and online activities are much smoother than before. It has a 13-hour battery life, a 5MP front-facing camera, and is practically made for streaming your favorite shows and movies or playing games. All your Amazon apps are loaded when you get it, and it's great to read on, too.

Best kids Fire tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro $64.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $75.00   Get Deal Why we like it

An already great kids tablet is made greater with the Fire HD 8 Kids Pro. It comes with a case made for little hands (or slim options for older users), a bright 8-inch HD screen, 13-hour battery life, and 32GB of storage. Plus, it comes with 6 months of the Amazon Kids+ service, which is a subscription that gives kids unlimited access to age-appropriate content in the form of books and more. There are also parental controls to set up to keep your litle ones from accessing content they shouldn't be seeing. It's a great starter tablet for little users that you won't have to worry about them using.

More Fire tablet deals

I test robot vacuums for a living and would avoid Roomba Black Friday deals other than these few

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 12:14
The best early Black Friday deals on Roombas at a glance Best budget Roomba deal iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty dock $269.99 (Save $200 at iRobot) Get Deal Best mopping Roomba deal with self-washing mop pads iRobot Roomba Plus 405 $399.99 at Amazon (Save $100 at Amazon) Get Deal

So you're wondering if you should buy a Roomba on Black Friday. The good news is that most of the 2025 Roombas will hit new record-low sale prices this month (in fact, some Black Friday Roomba deals are live early). The bad news is that those 2025 Roombas haven't exactly been selling well this year, and iRobot may not be in business for much longer.

That's why I wrote a whole story urging cation to anyone eyeing a Roomba on sale this year — I elaborate more on the bleak details of iRobot's struggles there. Here's the TL;DR version: If bankruptcy is looming for iRobot, I worry about whether customer service, firmware updates, and bug fixes will cease to exist for current Roomba owners. And while I've typically had good experiences when testing Roombas, the latest iRobot vacuums just aren't as powerful as the other top robot vacuums out there (that are priced similarly or better).

SEE ALSO: Early Dyson Black Friday deals: Our favorite vacuum, air purifier, and hair tool are already on sale

At any rate, I don't doubt that there are still active members of the Roomba hive who still want to upgrade Roombas this Black Friday. I mean, Mashable readers did name iRobot their favorite robot vacuum brand of 2025 in Mashable's Readers' Choice survey. So below, I'm gathering the few early Black Friday Roomba deals — not just considering the discount itself, but considering whether that vacuum has decent value compared to the Roborocks, Sharks, and Eufys in my more general list of the best Black Friday robot vacuum deals.

Best Black Friday Roomba deal iRobot Roomba 405 with self-empty and mop washing station $399.99 at Amazon
$499 Save $99.01   Get Deal at Amazon Why I like it

At $399.99, the Roomba Plus 405 is sitting at a pretty competitive price for a mid-range robot vacuum mop combo that can wash and dry its mopping pads. The 405 was one of the four new Roombas I tested in 2025, and the edge cleaning of its dual spinning mopping pads was lightyears better than the retractable flat mopping pad on the Combo j7+ and Combo 10 Max. The 405 also never got lost or went to the wrong room in my apartment, but iRobot's smart mapping has been consistent for me even before they switched over to the LiDAR tower design in 2025.

My main gripe with the Roomba Plus 405 is its lack of small obstacle avoidance tech, which iRobot reserved for the Roomba Plus 505. It's hard to ignore that the $359.99 Narwal Freo Pro and $349.99 Roborock Qrevo do have the tech that can avoid cords, laundry, and pet waste, especially when their mopping and suction power are on par with this Roomba's.

More Roombas on sale ahead of Black Friday

Note: While the Roomba 105 series did offer satisfactory cleaning performance in my home, I'd still recommend more powerful cheap Roborock options like the Roborock Q7 M5+ for $219.99 or the Roborock Q10 X5+ for $299.99.

Roomba deals to avoid this year

Let me deinfluence you from buying a few Roombas on sale this year. I found a few that are still way too expensive compared to other robot vacuums with the same (or better) features. Instead of getting the Roomba Max 705, Roomba Max 705 Combo, or Roomba Combo 10 Max, consider the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller for $999.99, the Narwal Freo Z10 Ultra for $799.99, or the Roborock Qrevo CurvX for $849.99.

$84.99 AirPods are back at Amazon for Black Friday, but you can do so much better

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 11:43
The best Black Friday AirPods 4 deals at a glance: Best Amazon deal Apple AirPods 4 $84.99 (save $44.01) Get Deal Best Best Buy Deal Apple AirPods 4 $79.99 (save $50) Get Deal Best Target Deal Apple AirPods 4 $79.99 (save $50) Get Deal Best Walmart Deal Apple AirPods 4 $79.99 (save $50) Get Deal

There is a battle brewing between leading Black Friday retailers, and it's all about Apple AirPods 4.

Under normal circumstances, we would be shouting loud about the fact that you could pick up AirPods 4 for $84.99 at Amazon. This is objectively a good price, but this is Black Friday. The rules go out the window at this time of year, so we're actually not suggesting you score this low price at Amazon. Instead, look elsewhere for a truly low price.

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Best Buy, Target, and Walmart are all offering the AirPods 4 for under $80 right now. That is a ridiculously good price for a pair of AirPods. The question now is whether or not Amazon can match that price. They usually respond quickly to competition, so we're surprised to see they haven't acted yet. Maybe for once, Amazon has been beat? We'll believe it when we see it.

Score the AirPods 4 for under $80 this Black Friday.

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