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Say goodbye to vacuuming with this stunning Black Friday robot vacuum deal

Mashable - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 05:08

SAVE OVER $350: As of Nov. 22, the Shark Matrix Plus Robot Vacuum is on sale for $349.99 at Amazon, saving you 50% on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark Matrix Plus Robot Vacuum $349.99 at Amazon
$699.99 Save $350.00 Get Deal

If a robot vacuum is on your wishlist, Amazon's Black Friday event is your time to pounce. The retailer's Black Friday sale kicked off on Nov. 21 and there are already huge discounts across everything from coffee machines to TVs. And of course, robot vacuums. If you've been lusting over one for a while, and love the idea of no more manual vacuuming, check out this deal on the Shark Matrix Plus Robot Vacuum.

As of Nov. 22, this model is reduced by 50% to $349.99. Of course, this is still a high price tag, but you're getting more than just a simple dust picker-upper with this machine.

SEE ALSO: Need a robot vacuum that aces carpet? Look out for these 3 on Black Friday.

The Shark Matrix Plus Robot Vacuum doesn't just pick up dirt, it has a built-in mop to clean your floors too. It uses Sonic Mopping to scrub hard floors 100 times per minute, and if you know it's about to encounter an extra deep stain, head to the app and initiate Matrix Mop to get 50% better stain cleaning in certain spots. This vacuum also boasts an impressive precision matrix grid, meaning it will take several passes over dirt and debris to ensure it is all removed. Think muddy shoeprints that are deep into your carpet, or a mess of crumbs strewed across a rug.

And the smart features don't end there: the CleanEdge Detect system uses blasts of air and corner recognition to remove debris from hard-to-reach edges and corners pulling the debris into the cleaning path. Plus, there's no need to manually map out the path for this vacuum, it uses 360-degree LiDAR vision to learn your space, detect obstacles, and pick up dirt. Yes, it really makes your life that easy.

Like many high-end vacuums, this machine self-empties, self-charges, and holds up to 60 days' worth of dirt, so you don't need to empty it after each use, or even daily. The base is bagless, so both useful and environmentally friendly as it eliminates the need for waste bags.

Convinced? Head over to Amazon to grab this great Black Friday deal.

Upgrade movie night with the best Black Friday Amazon TV deal

Mashable - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 05:04

SAVE $170: As of Nov. 22, the Amazon Fire TV 50-inch 4-Series 4K is on sale for $279.99. That's a 38% discount on the list price for Black Friday.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV 50-Inch 4-Series 4K $279.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $170.00 Get Deal

There couldn't be a better excuse to upgrade your tech than Amazon's Black Friday sale. There are discounts across hundreds of brands and products, but the discounted Amazon Fire TV 50-inch 4-Series 4K is a deal that has really caught our eye.

As of Nov. 22, you can grab this TV for $279.99, saving you $170 for Black Friday.

SEE ALSO: The Hisense 65-inch Canvas TV just got its biggest-ever discount

There's a lot to shout about this TV, including 4K Ultra HD, HDR 10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Plus, all creating incredible clarity, brighter colors, and vivid detail in your favorite movies and shows. Like most Amazon devices, it has Alexa built-in, so you can easily find your favorite movie, launch apps, and control content. It's much easier than manually checking each streaming service. Enjoy shows from Netflix, Disney+, and of course, Prime Video thanks to the TV's Fire operating system.

This TV can also work with your smart home Alexa devices, including doorbells, lightbulbs, and speakers. For example, pair up your TV with your Echo speakers to create an immersive home theater atmosphere.

Plus, there are four HDMI inputs to connect gaming devices, sound accessories, cables, and other equipment seamlessly.

6 Minutes. 62 People. 1 Epic ‘Sunset Boulevard’ Sequence.

NYT Technology - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 05:00
Down the stairs, out the doors and onto the sidewalk, a Broadway show hits the street. Here’s how they pull it off.

The Hisense 65-inch Canvas TV just got its biggest-ever discount

Mashable - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 05:00

SAVE $500: As of Nov. 22, the Hisense 65-inch Canvas TV is on sale for $799.99 at Amazon. That's 38% off the list price for Black Friday.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-inch Canvas TV $799.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $500.00 Get Deal

A range of retailers have already kicked off their Black Friday campaigns, including the likes of Walmart and Best Buy. And Amazon's long-awaited Black Friday deals officially kicked off on Nov. 21. There's a range of incredible discounts that are worth your attention, including laptops, tablets, and phones. And as always, TVs are a popular discounted product, and as the discounts pour in we couldn't help but share the love for this stylish Hisense Canvas TV deal.

As of Nov. 22, you can find it on sale at Amazon for just $799. Not only are you saving 38%, but this is the lowest price it has ever been. This deal is exclusive to the 65-inch TV. However, the 55-inch is also discounted to $699.99.

SEE ALSO: Save $800 on Samsung’s 65-inch OLED 4K TV this Black Friday

The quality of this TV is next to none. With 4K QLED TV, it delivers a range of sharp, vibrant colors. The big selling point is that when you’re not watching, the TV can be transformed into a digital gallery, displaying a single image or shuffling through a slideshow of your favorite photos or artwork. The hi-matte display makes the digital gallery look like the real thing, and you can even swap out the "frame" for different colors and styles.

This TV is also ideal for gamers, boasting a 144Hz Game Mode PRO. This is designed with top gaming technology, with a Variable Refresh Rate of 48Hz to 144Hz.

Head to Amazon now to snag this great Black Friday deal.

Trump divides the porn industry. He also might ban it.

Mashable - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 05:00

On Tuesday, November 5, Donald Trump secured a second term as President of the United States. While Trump won the Electoral College comfortably, the popular vote was much closer, with Trump winning just 50 percent (compared to Harris's 48.3 percent) — a remarkably slim margin.

This signals something we already know: Our communities are deeply divided regardless of which industry you work in or the demographic group you're a part of. The porn industry — which has been in the spotlight more than years past thanks to a far-right proposal to ban explicit content — is no exception.

SEE ALSO: How porn performers feel about Trump, Harris, and Project 2025

"I think that the industry has always been hard to pin down ideologically. There are people in the industry who are very progressive and there are people who are very conservative, despite the fact that we're dealing with sex and sexuality," Mike Stabile, director of public policy for the Free Speech Coalition — a trade association for the adult entertainment industry — told Mashable.

"I think that sometimes seeing people voice support for a candidate that is infringing on our livelihoods and making things less safe, I think it does come as a bit of a surprise sometimes to performers," performer Renee Olstead said.

Tensions have escalated among performers on social media platforms publicly in recent weeks, as well as in emails and text messages obtained by Mashable. This comes amid new questions about how President-elect Donald Trump will treat the porn industry. Some Trump loyalists want porn outlawed and its creators imprisoned — while some within the porn industry voted for him.

Will Trump ban porn?

If the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation gets its way, the answer is yes. The foundation is behind Project 2025, a far-right conservative wish list for the next Trump term.  One of the measures calls for an outright pornography ban. 

While Trump distanced himself from Project 2025 during the campaign, he has already made key appointments of prominent Project 2025 authors and advisors since his win. 

President-elect Trump said his deputy chief of staff for policy will be Stephen Miller, who was featured prominently in a Project 2025 ad. He is the founder of America First Legal Foundation, a group that sat on the advisory board of Project 2025 at the time of its publication. Tom Homan is set to be appointed as White House border czar. He is one of the authors of Project 2025 as is John Ratcliffe, Trump's nominee for CIA director. This week, Trump nominated yet another Project 2025 author, Brendan Carr, to lead the Federal Communications Commission.

In 2021, Vice President-elect JD Vance said he would get behind an outright ban on porn.

Despite these appointments, some factors are working against such a ban — which is why some performers told us that they're not too worried as Mashable previously reported.

In 2016, Trump signed a pledge that called on him to ban adult entertainment, which didn't happen. And if Trump did decide to move forward with a porn ban this time, his administration would still run into significant hurdles. 

To outright ban pornography, he would need help from Congress and the Supreme Court to redefine what porn is due to a case in 1973 that defined what "obscenity" means and was upheld by another case in 1985 that said that banned material must fit outside "only normal, healthy sexual desires." Ultimately, the highest court has the last word on what is "obscene" and thus not protected by the First Amendment. 

Fringe Republicans in Congress have already tried to get around this by trying to "ban" porn — limit access — several times on the federal level in the last few years alone, and none of these efforts materialized.

Utah Senator Mike Lee, for example, introduced The Interstate Obscenity Definition Act (IODA) and Shielding Children's Retinas from Egregious Exposure on the Net (SCREEN) in 2022. The combined legislation would have broadened the definition of porn and expanded age-verification laws, which force sites to require ID to enter if over a third of the content they host is explicit. Neither bill made it past the House Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce. The SCREEN Act was reintroduced in the most recent legislative session, but it met the same fate. 

At the state level, it's a different story. Far-right conservatives in states like Texas and Indiana have been able to successfully push age-verification laws, a move that privacy experts say is a trojan horse for privacy violations. "We're essentially creating this immediate requirement for people to share their private information alongside their pornography preference with companies that don't necessarily have a system in place to protect that data," the Electronic Frontier Foundation's Jason Kelley told Mashable in 2023.

Since some states introduced these laws, porn sites have pulled out their services from the state saying that essentially, the risk is not worth their time. Pornhub is no longer available in states like Texas, for example.

"In some ways, these states have made it so difficult and so potentially hazardous for companies to operate in a state that they would pull out entirely," Stabile said.

In a secret recording, Project 2025 author Russell Vought suggested that's the point. "We've got a number of states that are passing this…and you know what happens is the porn company then says, 'We're not going to do business in your state.' Which of course is entirely what we were after, right?" he said, according to The Intercept. Vought also said, "We'd have a national ban on pornography if we could, right?" 

Trump has recently tapped Vought to return to lead the Office of Management and Budget, a position he held during Trump's first term.

Fighting back against porn bans

The existing age verification laws already face legal scrutiny. The Free Speech Coalition sued the state of Texas for what the advocacy group says is a First Amendment violation. The group said it's taking the issue to the Supreme Court

Arguments are expected to begin in front of the court on January 15th. 

The American Civil Liberties Union has also challenged these laws. 

"Adults in America have a First Amendment right to read about sexual health, see R-rated movies, watch porn, and otherwise access information about sex if they want to. They should be allowed to exercise that right as they see fit, without having to worry about exposing their personal identifying information in the process," Vera Eidelman, staff attorney with the ACLU Speech, Privacy and Technology Project said in a release in September. 

The Trump transition team didn't reply to our request for comment. 

Tensions bubble over in the porn industry 

While most sex workers planned to vote for Kamala Harris, according to research firm SWR Data, Trump supporters were a strong contingent. The stark political divide, along with the high stakes and open questions, is now a recipe for open hostility. And after election night, tensions began to boil over inside the porn industry.

Em Indica, a liberal-leaning performer, created a running Google Doc of Trump-supporting performers only days after election night. 

"I think people deserve to know who they're working with and what they're saying online. People need to be held accountable," Indica told Mashable.

"This is not about disagreeing on things like economics. This is about moral choices. Women are being affected. Trans people are being affected. Minorities are being affected. He's said terrible things about these groups," Indica continued. "If they voted for Trump, they decided to look the other way when it came to his rape allegations [and] to him being a felon; just all the other stuff that they decided that was not a deal breaker for them. To me, that speaks volumes," she added. 

Some opponents of the list see it as a way to shame conservative performers out of work.

"What we're witnessing right now is a cultural shift of alienating people for their political beliefs, saying that these people are bad people to cut them off, to not work with them. It's no different than saying white versus black, except for now it's Kamala versus Trump," performer Adira Allure told Mashable. 

Other conservative performers we spoke to, many of which opted not to be named, echoed her sentiment. 

Indica, however, defends her position. 

SEE ALSO: How to unblock Pornhub for free

"People that say it puts a target on their back, then I just ask them why. They tweeted [their Trump support] out. They put it on the internet to begin with. People are entitled to their own opinion. If you don't want to receive backlash, then don't post it on the internet," Indica said.

But it's not just conservatives that have taken issue. A liberal-leaning performer, who opted to remain unnamed out of fear of retaliation, told Mashable that she disagrees with the list and thinks it's counterproductive.

"It is going to push people to continue to vote red and to vote for people like Trump. It gives people who did vote for Trump to be like, 'See, I told you,'" the liberal performer told Mashable.  

"It just perpetuates the same hate that we're supposed to be fighting against," she added.

Not all performers who identify as conservative see the list as a bad thing. 

"It [is] free promotion. So I appreciate her making it," Ashley Sinclair, a very outspoken pro-Trump performer, told Mashable. 

Sinclair, who uses platforms including OnlyFans, said, "Instead of losing money, sales, clients, it immediately increased with this type of content and cam shows." Sinclair didn't provide data to Mashable to support her claims. 

A well-known male performer, who identifies as a political moderate, told Mashable that he believes in the porn industry, there is a silent majority that leans to the right and does not say so publicly out of fear of retaliation. 

The performer, who opted not to be named, however, spoke in vague terms so Mashable was unable to verify the legitimacy of his remarks independently. 

Mashable spoke to half a dozen performers who say the opposite, signaling the divide amongst the porn industry is as stark as the country as a whole. SWR Data also says the opposite but its findings are only based on a poll of around 200 sex workers.

The same firm has data to prove that potential political attacks from Project 2025 have fueled major concerns among adult content creators, especially those within historically disenfranchised communities. Ninety-three percent of trans performers, 94 percent of creators of color, and all gay and lesbian creators voiced fears.

Many industry insiders were involved with a campaign called Hands Off My Porn which was supported by several top performers ahead of the election including Maddy May (who has since called for hostility amongst performers to stop), Remy LaCroix, and Allie Awesome. 

The campaign spent $200,000 on ads in swing states to raise awareness about Project 2025's agenda and Trump's connections with it. 

"I'm just really terrified of Project 2025...the fact that the existence of the Department of Education is already up for debate shows that [it's] really insane," performer Addis Fouché told Mashable. 

"I think people will find a way to do sex work and have sex regardless. You're just going to make it more taboo and more unsafe," she added. "I think it'll change what restrictions we may have and how people are able to film, if at all, and how people see the industry."

But amid the noise, the places that provide the work including production companies, modeling agencies, and distributors have been noticeably quiet. We reached out to several companies including Vixen Media Group, Adult Time, and Hussie Models — all of which declined to speak.

OnlyFans, valued at $18 billion, has more than 43 percent of its users in the United States as of publication. The company didn't reply to our request for comment on this story.

If Project 2025 or anything close becomes the law of the land, it could cause a remarkable negative impact on these businesses — and thousands of people's livelihoods. 

Nearly every Sonos speaker and soundbar is at a record-low price for Black Friday

Mashable - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 05:00
The best Sonos Black Friday deals at a glance: BEST SPEAKER DEAL Sonos Era 300 $359 (save $90 at Amazon) Get Deal BEST HEADPHONES DEAL Sonos Ace $349 (save $100 at Amazon) Get Deal BEST SOUNDBAR DEAL Sonos Beam Gen 2 $369 (save $130 at Amazon) Get Deal BEST PORTABLE SPEAKER DEAL Sonos Roam 2 $139 (save $40 at Amazon) Get Deal

We're major fans of the Sonos audio lineup. From the classic speakers and soundbars to its first pair of headphones, the Sonos ecosystem is hard to beat. Our only complaint is the steep pricing.

Black Friday — along with Prime Day and related events — is one of the only times throughout the year that we see sales on Sonos products. So, needless to say, we've had our eyes open waiting for this year's Sonos Black Friday deals to drop. And as of Thursday, Nov. 21, the Sonos sales event of the year is finally live, both at the official Sonos store and at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.

For a limited time, you can save 20% on Sonos speakers, soundbars, and — yes — the brand-new Ace headphones. Below, we've rounded up the best Black Friday Sonos deals that are live. If any new deals pop up throughout Cyber Week, we'll update this guide with any worthy additions.

Best Sonos speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Era 300 $359.00 at Amazon
$449.00 Save $90.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Sonos Era 300.

The first Sonos speaker to support spatial audio, the Sonos Era 300 is the "king of sub-$500 smart speakers," according to Mashable's Stan Schroeder. While it might look a bit bland on the outside, the inside is packed with fancy audio technology, including six amps, four tweeters, and two woofers. It also features Sonos Voice Control, as well as Alexa, customizable sound in the Sonos app, and the ability to connect seamlessly with other audio products from Sonos.

The Era 300 truly delivers on sound quality and power. As Schroeder wrote in his review, "It singlehandedly produces sound that can often match larger speakers, perhaps even entire hi-fi systems." Usually $449, it's back down to its all-time low of $359 for Black Friday across multiple retailers: Amazon, Sonos, and Best Buy.

Best Sonos headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Ace $349.00 at Amazon
$449.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Sonos Ace.

It's no surprise that the first Sonos headphones — the Sonos Ace — are hella impressive. Sonos already makes some of our favorite audio equipment, and these cans were three years in the making. Our biggest complaint about the Ace headphones? Once again, it's the price, so this $100 Black Friday discount is more than welcome. Usually $449, they're down to just $349 at Sonos, Amazon, and Best Buy — their lowest price ever.

They're an aesthetic knockout, have exceptional sound quality and spatial audio, and last for 30 hours with ANC. We do wish the ear cup seal was tighter to improve noise cancellation, but overall, Mashable's Deputy Reviews Editor Miller Kern said she would recommend them to "true audiophiles who value incredible sound quality above all else."

Best Sonos soundbar deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Beam Gen 2 $369.00 at Amazon
$499.00 Save $130.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're looking to enhance your movie marathons, binge-watch sessions, or sporting events, a soundbar makes a great addition to your home theater setup. And our favorite soundbar to pair with your TV, the Sonos Beam Gen 2, happens to be on sale for just $369 for Black Friday. It's usually $499, so that's 26% in savings — and also a new all-time low price.

The second-generation soundbar boosts the already excellent design of the original Beam, which Mashable's reviewer said "hits the sweet spot on price, design, sound quality, and features." It features a better processor, a new grill, and Dolby Atmos compatibility on top of its already immersive audio, crystal clear clarity, and convenient voice assistant support. Snag it at Amazon, Sonos, or Best Buy.

More Sonos Black Friday deals

Scientists watch hardcore object blasting energy beams into space

Mashable - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 05:00

A rapidly spinning, profoundly dense object is blasting a "flame-like" beam into space.

It's a type of neutron star — the remnants of a collapsed, exploded star so dense that just a sugar cube-sized piece of this extremely compact material weighs 1 billion tons — called a "pulsar." That's because the star shoots out "pulses" of energy at regular intervals (kind of like a cosmic lighthouse). Astronomers have used NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and other instruments to watch this pulsar's behavior for over two decades, and it shows a vibrant interstellar scene.

"Normally found only in heavy metal bands or certain post-apocalyptic films, a 'flame-throwing guitar' has now been spotted moving through space," the space agency said in a statement.

Why a "flame-throwing guitar"?

SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.

As the image and clip below show, the fast-spinning pulsar, formally named "pulsar PSR B2224+65," is blasting out a 12-trillion-mile-long beam of energized particles and energy, which is colored reddish-orange. But that's not all. Beneath the pulsar is a colossal guitar-shaped cloud, made of hydrogen gas. This cloud, called a nebula, formed when particles shooting out from the pulsar blew gaseous bubbles over eons, ultimately amassing into the great cloud.

"The guitar shape is undeniable, and is traced by a thin white line in the labeled composite image," NASA wrote. It's located some 2,700 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cepheus.

The "Guitar Nebula" outlined beneath the filament-shooting pulsar. Credit: X-ray: NASA / CXC / Stanford Univ. / M. de Vries et al.; Optical: (Hubble) NASA / ESA / STScI and (Palomar) Hale Telescope / Palomar / CalTech; Illustrated outline: NASA / CXC / K. DiVona; Image Processing: NASA / CXC / SAO / L. Frattare Tweet may have been deleted

Pulsars make themselves known to us by the two jets of energized particles emanating from their poles (which are produced by the particles rapidly moving around the neutron stars' potent magnetic fields). From our vantage point many light-years away, these beams of light can pulse in seconds or even milliseconds. The fastest known pulsars spin at some 716 times per second.

Sometimes, two neutron stars collide, a dramatic event that can produce the most enigmatic object in the universe — a black hole, a realm so gravitationally powerful, not even light can escape.

It's a wild universe out there.

Stuff their stocking with the only $20 charging cable they’ll ever need

Mashable - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Give the gift of universal charging with the Statik 360 Pro, a magnetic cable for all devices, on sale for the early Black Friday price of $19.99 (reg. $23).

Opens in a new window Credit: KeySmart Statik 360 Pro 100W Universal Magnetic Charging Cable $19.99
$23.99 Save $4.00 Get Deal

Need a stocking stuffer that won’t end up in a drawer by New Year’s? The Statik 360 Pro 100W Universal Magnetic Charging Cable is here to simplify their charging routine and make life a bit easier.

Designed to work with just about all devices, this cable comes with interchangeable magnetic tips for USB-C, Lightning, and micro-USB — so they can power up phones, tablets, laptops, and more with just one cable. And right now it's on sale for just $19.99.

No more fumbling for the right charger or dealing with worn-out cables. The Statik 360 Pro’s magnetic connection swivels 360 degrees, making it easy to plug in from any angle without the usual wear-and-tear. Its durable design means it shouldn't fray or bend like traditional cords, so it’s built to last. With 100W power delivery, it’s strong enough to fast-charge everything from smartphones to larger devices, letting them power up in record time without switching cables.

This 3-foot cable is compact and travel-friendly, the perfect length for desks, nightstands, or on-the-go charging. It’s the kind of stocking stuffer that actually gets used, solving everyday charging hassles for anyone who juggles multiple devices.

For the early Black Friday price of $19.99, the Statik 360 Pro 100W Universal Magnetic Charging Cable is on sale — a gift that combines versatility, convenience, and speed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Get a lifetime of language learning with Babbel for only $150

Mashable - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: There's no need to wait for Black Friday — lifetime access to Babbel is now $149.97 (reg. $599) through Dec. 1.

Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $149.97
$599.00 Save $449.03 Get Deal

Have you seen social media? There's a consensus that Americans are (arguably) bad travelers and unknowledgeable tourists. You could avoid falling into this category (and enjoy a more enriching trip abroad) by learning the local language of your destination or at least a few key phrases to navigate your destination more expertly.

Whether you're planning to stroll through the Champs-Élysées or surf in Indonesia, you don't have to look any further than Babbel to learn a new language. It's an App Store favorite, boasting 10 million users worldwide and counting. You don't need to wait for Black Friday to save, either, since a lifetime subscription is available for only $149.97 (reg. $599) through December 1.

Babbel's language lessons aren't the ones you had in school. These are 10 to 15 minutes long and can be studied at your own pace, providing a more sustainable learning experience to get you from beginner to speaker. Just select one of its 14 languages, which include Spanish, Dutch, and Indonesian. 

You'll gain practical conversational skills that you can apply in your international adventures, or maximize in your job hunt to land your dream job. Learn how to order food, ask for directions, and more to make navigating your vacation destination more easily. You don't necessarily have to be fluent to reap all the benefits of a second (or third) language, either.

While learning a language online does offer flexibility, it can pose a challenge when it comes to figuring out pronunciation and accents. Fortunately, Babbel offers speech-recognition technology that listens to and analyzes your speech to help you improve. Personalized review sessions are also available to ensure your learning actually sticks.

Why wait for Black Friday to start your language-learning journey? Grab this $149.97 Babbel lifetime subscription while supplies still last. No coupon is needed, but this price drop ends December 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT!

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Whats new to streaming this week? (Nov. 22, 2024)

Mashable - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 05:00

When it comes to streaming, viewers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, Max, Disney+, Apple TV+, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television within each one!

Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services trying to determine what to watch! We've got your back whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, animation, and more.

But if you're seeking something brand spanking new (or new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too.

SEE ALSO: The best Netflix TV shows of 2024

Mashable's Entertainment Team has scoured the streaming services to highlight the most buzzed-about releases of this week and ranked them from worst to best — or least worth your time to most watchable. Craving something history-based that reimagines true events? In need of a funhouse horror or deep sea documentary? Even if you're seeking one of the most meta shows of the year or an unfathomable reality competition newcomer, we've got what you're looking for.

Here's what's new on streaming, from worst to best.

12. Human vs Hamster

Yes, you read that title right. There is a new reality competition show on Max that pits human against hamster in a variety of challenges, from hot dog eating contests to a hamster wheel race. (Duh.) And based on its trailer, Human vs. Hamster looks as ridiculous as it sounds.

Hosts Sarah Sherman (Saturday Night Live) and Kyle Brandt, along with "hamster expert" Brian Balthazar, are here to guide us through the madness, as pairs of humans — ranging from nurses to firefighters to magicians — battle it out against these pint-sized pets. Thanks to its premise alone, I can safely say that Human vs. Hamster takes the title for 2024's most coveted prize: Show That Sounds The Most Like A 30 Rock Joke. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Human vs Hamster is now streaming on Max.

11. Spellbound 

Netflix's star-studded animated fantasy adventure Spellbound is flying onto the platform, with West Side Story's Rachel Zegler voicing and singing the leading princess Ellian. She's a regular 15-year-old in a lot of ways, but in others — namely she rides a giant, fluffy winged cat, has royal duties in the kingdom of Lumbria, and has two literal monsters for parents — she's a little different. That last detail forms the core of Spellbound, a tale in which Ellian goes on a quest to free her mother (Nicole Kidman) and father (Javier Bardem) from their beastly curse. — S.C.

Starring: Rachel Zegler, Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, Nathan Lane, Titus Burgess

How to watch: Spellbound is now streaming on Netflix.

10. Smile 2

If you thought smiling was safe again, there's a sequel to Smile, Parker Finn's buzzy 2022 horror film in which people suddenly engage in brutal violence wearing broad grins. "It's not often that a sequel exceeds its original, but Smile 2 delivers the thrills and chills of its predecessor with an even more pronounced funhouse feel," writes Monica Castillo in her review for Mashable. In Smile 2, popstar Skye Riley (Charlie's Angels star Naomi Scott) is at the centre of such smile-adorned traumatic events linked to a sinister curse. If you didn't get enough nightmare fuel last time, dive in. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

Starring: Skye Riley, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kyle Gallner, Lukas Gage, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Peter Jacobson, Raúl Castillo, Dylan Gelula, and Ray Nicholson.

How to watch: Smile 2 is now available to rent/buy on Prime Video.

9. Our Oceans

If the latest headlines have you wanting to get in the sea, Netflix's beautiful new docuseries Our Oceans will give you both a visual respite and a reminder that the drama doesn't cease at the surface. Narrated by Barack Obama and produced by the Obamas' Higher Ground company, the series will remind you of the vast, highly populated expanse that is our deep, dark oceans — one long under threat thanks to human-induced climate change. But there's wonder among the harsh reality; enjoy playful baby humpback whales, a spring cuttlefish ball, and the general sense that most regular humans have no real clue about what's beneath the surface. If you love David Attenborough’s Blue Planet, you should check this out. — S.C.

How to watch: Our Oceans is now streaming on Netflix.

8. James Acaster: Hecklers Welcome

James Acaster's first HBO special embraces chaos. The comedian invites his audience to heckle him throughout, with results ranging from a devastating Kermit the Frog dig to the most polite heckle ever. As Acaster feeds off the energy from the crowd, he also dissects his own relationship to stand-up comedy, weaving in stories from his childhood (including his lackluster Prince Charles impression) and his first gigs. Gloriously meta and bursting with contagious energy, James Acaster: Hecklers Welcome is a perfect streaming choice for this weekend if you're craving a laugh. — B.E.

How to watch: James Acaster: Hecklers Welcome is streaming on Max from Nov. 23.

7. Joy

Set in the late '60s, early '70s, Ben Taylor's Joy follows the British scientists who pioneered in vitro fertilisation, and enabled the birth of Louise Joy Brown, the first baby born through IVF, on July 25, 1978. The film not only tracks the team — nurse/embryologist Jean Purdy (Thomasin McKenzie), scientist Robert Edwards (James Norton), surgeon Patrick Steptoe (Bill Nighy), and operating theatre supervisor Muriel Harris (Tanya Moodie) — but shows the battle they faced against church, state, and media at the time. A poignant, moving, and deeply timely film about the right to choose, Joy is a gem on Netflix's film slate this year. — S.C.

Starring: Thomasin McKenzie, Bill Nighy, James Norton, Tanya Moodie, Joanna Scanlan, Charlie Murphy, Ella Bruccoleri, Rish Shah

How to watch: Joy is now streaming on Netflix.

6. Blitz

British film writer-director Steve McQueen delivers a powerful World War II drama with the London-set Blitz, which centers on a family torn apart by the threat of unpredictable German bombs. Hoping to save her young son George (mesmerizing newcomer Elliot Heffernan) from the violence of war, single mum/factory worker Rita (Saoirse Ronan) sends him off by train to be safe in country. But the headstrong boy runs away from this route, charting his own course back home to his mother and grandfather. Along the way, he'll meet warm-hearted heroes, and sticky-fingered villains. Meanwhile, she'll struggle with how to use her voice as the world around her falls apart.

While McQueen's film has received mixed reviews overall, Blitz comes alive through Dickensian characters, poignant musical moments, and the astonishing lead performances from Ronan and Heffernan. As Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards wrote in her review out of the New York Film Festival, "Ronan imbues Rita with both magnificent warmth and deep worry for her son, and Heffernan shines in his breakout role, bringing a still thoughtfulness to even the most harrowing scenes."

If you're seeking a drama that both confronts the horrors mankind is capable of and the hope, resilience, and love of humanity as well, you'll treasure Blitz. But have tissues at the ready. — Kristy Puchko, Film Editor

Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Elliot Heffernan, Harris Dickinson, Benjamin Clementine, Kathy Burke, Paul Weller, and Stephen Graham

How to watch: Blitz is now available on Apple TV+.

5. A Man on the Inside

The Good Place creator Mike Schur and star Ted Danson reunite for A Man on the Inside, a charming new Netflix sitcom. Danson plays Charles, a retired professor and widower who's grown distant from everyone around him. So when his daughter Emily (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) challenges him to find a new project that excites him, he does the unexpected: He teams up with private investigator Julie (Lilah Richcreek Estrada) to go undercover at a retirement home and recover some stolen jewelry.

What follows is a delightful spy caper that, in true Schur fashion, quickly becomes a tale of Charles letting his guard down and finding a new community. You'll laugh plenty, but you'll also find yourself sobbing too, as A Man on the Inside delves into the issues many of its elderly characters face, like absentee family members or the beginnings of dementia. As I wrote in my review for Mashable, "[the show's] ensemble boasts incredible chemistry right off the bat, with Danson proving a rock-solid ringleader. These are things you'd expect from a Schur show, and they build A Man on the Inside's wonderful foundation. But it's the show's thoughtful portrayal of aging that really makes it stand out, and turns A Man on the Inside into something remarkable." — B.E. 

Starring: Ted Danson, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Stephanie Beatriz, Lilah Richcreek Estrada, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Sally Struthers, Eugene Cordero, Margaret Avery, John Getz

How to watch: A Man on the Inside is now streaming on Netflix.

4. Missing

Fast-paced and unpredictable, Missing is an exhilarating new mystery for the modern age, where amateur detectives can be teens as long as they're techno-savvy. Storm Reid plays June Allen, an 18-year-old waiting to pick up her mother, Grace (Nia Long), and her mother’s boyfriend, Kevin (Ken Leung), at LAX after the pair’s trip to Colombia. Unfortunately, they never arrive. And when the FBI fails to make any headway investigating their whereabouts, June decides to use her Gen Z digital native powers to track them down with her friend Veena (Megan Suri).* — Kristina Grosspietsch, Writer

SEE ALSO: Directors Nick Johnson and Will Merrick talk 'Missing' and the real meaning behind its whirlwind ending

Starring: Storm Reid, Nia Long, Joaquim de Almeida, Ken Leung, Amy Landecker, Daniel Henney

How to watch: Missing is now streaming on Hulu.

3. Alien: Romulus

The Alien franchise returns to its roots with Alien: Romulus, a stone-cold horror fest that pits a group of young space colonists against the scariest creatures in the galaxy: good ol' Xenomorphs. Chests will burst. Faces will be hugged. And director Fede Álvarez will deliver what might be the most gonzo, gross-out third act of an Alien film to date. The only thing holding Alien: Romulus back from true perfection? Too much fan service, including a cameo that's sickening — and not in a good way.

Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko said as much in her review. While she praised everything from the sound design ("you don't just watch Alien: Romulus; you are absorbed into it") to the film's gore ("this movie had me dry-heaving") to David Jonsson's performance as android Andy ("David Jonsson steals this movie"), she also noted that its deference to what came before felt stifling.

"Alien: Romulus won't be sunk by its flimsy final act," she wrote, "but some of the thrill is lost amid the clutter of callbacks." — B.E

Starring: Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, Aileen Wu

How to watch: Alien: Romulus is now streaming on Hulu.

2. The Piano Lesson

August Wilson's Pulitzer-winning 1987 play The Piano Lesson has been adapted by the Washington family — it's the directorial debut for Malcolm Washington (who co-wrote it with Virgil Williams), his brother John David Washington stars, and their father Denzel Washington is producing. Set in the '30s in post-Depression Pittsburgh, The Piano Lesson centres on the looming sale of a piano, passed down through the Charles family, an instrument carved with intricate detail by their enslaved ancestor, and emblematic of generations of Black trauma, loss, and resilience.

As Siddhant Adlakha writes in his review for Mashable, "Rather than simply filming a stage show in three dimensions, as was the case with Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and Fences, Washington uses his camera to interrogate the confines of the text, and builds on Wilson's Pulitzer Prize–winning play in impeccable ways." — S.C.

Starring: John David Washington, Samuel L Jackson, Danielle Deadwyler, Ray Fisher, Corey Hawkins

How to watch: The Piano Lesson is now streaming on Netflix.

1. Interior Chinatown

Adapted from Charles Yu's National Book Award-winning novel of the same name, Interior Chinatown centers on Willis Wu (Jimmy O. Yang), a waiter in Chinatown who feels like a background character in someone else's story. (The "someone else" being the lead detectives in the cop show Willis and everyone in Chinatown are unknowingly trapped in, titled Black & White). But when Willis witnesses a crime, he'll team up with Detective Lana Lee (Chloe Bennett) to uncover the sinister truth at the heart of Chinatown.

Featured Video For You How 'Interior Chinatown' made the invisibility of Asian Americans visible

What follows is one of the most stylish, ambitious, and super meta shows of the year, which also doubles as an examination of Asian representation in media. As I wrote in my Mashable review, "between its [police procedural] parodies and its musings on identity, Interior Chinatown already proves that it's a sharply constructed show with a lot to say. But with the help of its dizzying genre switch-ups and some dynamic direction from episode directors like Taika Waititi, Alice Wu (The Half of It), and more, the show jumps into the realm of fearlessly unique, making a place all for itself." — B.E.

Starring: Jimmy O. Yang, Ronny Chieng, Chloe Bennet, Sullivan Jones, Lisa Gilroy, Archie Kao, Diana Lin

How to watch: Interior Chinatown is now streaming on Hulu.

Echo Dot vs. Echo Pop: Which Amazon device should you buy for Black Friday 2024?

Mashable - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 05:00
Echo Dot vs. Echo Pop: Specs Credit: Chart: SaVanna Shoemaker / Mashable Design: We like color options

The Echo Dot and the Echo Pop are nearly the same size, but while the Echo Dot is round, the Echo Pop has a flat face. It basically looks like a cross-section of the Dot.

The Echo Dot (left) and Echo Pop (right) — as you can see, the Dot has been graced by toddler spaghetti fingers. Credit: SaVanna Shoemaker / Mashable

The Echo Dot also comes in three fairly muted colors (gray, white, and blue), but the Echo Pop is available in some, well, poppier colors (lavender and teal in addition to gray and white).

Overall, I like the appearance of the Echo Pop a little better. The brighter colors add a cute splash of color to a corner shelf. The Pop can serve as a more discreet Alexa assistant than the Echo Dot (which is fairly universally recognized as a smart home gadget).

Both have a modern, sleek appearance that can easily complement or blend into your home decor.

Winner: Echo Pop

Setup and ease of use

Amazon has made setting up these devices extremely easy. You’ll need the Alexa app on your phone, and it walks you through setup step-by-step. The app is also where you’ll connect other apps like Spotify or Audible to stream them on your Echo devices using Alexa voice commands.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best Bluetooth speaker deals ahead of Black Friday

The devices themselves are also very straightforward. The physical buttons on them allow you to mute and unmute the microphone and adjust the volume. Everything else is done through voice commands or through the Alexa app. I had no problems setting up either device and both were highly responsive to my “Hey, Alexa’s.”

Winner: Tie

Sound quality is almost identical

Amazon describes the Echo Pop’s sound as a “full sound” that’s a good fit for bedrooms and small spaces and the Echo Dot’s sound as a “bigger vibrant sound” for any room.

In my side-by-side comparisons of the Echo Dot and the Echo Pop, I couldn’t detect a difference in sound quality between the two devices. Both devices were excellent for playing background music in my office or listening to podcasts while doing housework, providing fuller, clearer sound and increased volume compared to my smartphone.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Prime Day vs. Black Friday: When are the deals better?

The Echo Pop does have an ever-so-slightly larger speaker. However, the Dot’s round shape can help it to fill a space with sound no matter where it’s placed.

Winner: Echo Dot

Alexa integration and smart home connectivity

Both the Echo Dot and the Echo Pop integrate with Alexa through the Amazon Alexa app. You can use Alexa to ask questions, check the weather, set timers and alarms, and open connected apps (like music or streaming apps including Spotify, Pandora, Audible, and Amazon Music). 

Personally, I have always found Alexa devices most handy in the office and in the kitchen. They provide a hands-free, screen-free way to set timers (for productivity or pizza) or to stream audio. A centrally-located Echo device is also a great way to free up space in your brain. I’ve used Alexa to remind me to water my plants, put birthday cards in the mail, and check the water level in the pool at regular intervals when filling it up for the season.

However, the Echo Dot edges out the Echo Pop here in two key ways: temperature sensing and motion detection. So your Echo Dot can execute Alexa Routines that involve temperature or motion, while the Echo Pop can’t. Some examples: 

  • The Echo Dot can adjust your smart thermostat settings when it reaches a certain temperature

  • The Echo Dot can turn on smart lightbulbs when it senses motion in a room

Winner: Echo Dot

Considering additional features

The Echo Dot and the Echo Pop can both serve as WiFi extenders if you have an existing Amazon Eero network, adding up to 1,000 square feet of additional WiFi coverage.

However, once again the Echo Dot edges out the Echo Pop in terms of extra features. As mentioned above, the Dot comes equipped with motion and temperature detection capabilities. 

Winner: Echo Dot

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (2021) review: The upgrade is worth the money

Mashable - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 05:00

UPDATE: Nov. 22, 2024, 5:00 a.m. EST This story has been updated with information on Amazon's Black Friday sale, which includes a discount on the new 2024 Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (12th gen).

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, despite the fancy name, is a simple device. It's exactly the same as the fifth-generation Kindle Paperwhite, but it costs $40 more and has four upgrades: 32GB of memory (up from 16GB), wireless charging, an automatically adjusting front light, and no ads.

Since we already established that the standard Paperwhite is a great e-reader, the focus of this review is simple: To figure out whether these four improvements are worth the extra money.

SEE ALSO: We tried every Amazon Kindle to find the best for every bibliophile A thoroughly great e-reader

My colleague Alex Perry reviewed the regular fifth-gen Paperwhite, but here are my basic impressions (coming from someone whose primary e-reader before now was a second-gen Paperwhite).

The new Kindle Paperwhite is just the right size and sat perfectly in my hand. It's also beach-ready, with an IPX8 rating, which is a big deal to me, especially when compared to my iPad mini, which officially isn't water-resistant at all.

The USB-C charging port on the bottom was a much-needed upgrade from the microUSB port on previous Paperwhites. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

I have only one beef with the device's design, and that's the fact that Amazon moved the power button to the bottom from the top, which took some getting used to. (It's worth noting that this change happened on a previous iteration of the Paperwhite.)

The new Paperwhite is a lot faster than my old model, but it could be faster still, especially when browsing through menus. The battery lasts forever, and having a USB-C port instead of the old microUSB connector is a blessing.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about Kindle Rewards Best Black Friday Kindle deals

Amazon's Prime Day and Black Friday sales are always a great time to grab a discounted Kindle. Here are some of the best deals during Black Friday 2024:

So, what do you get for that extra $40? Compared to my ancient, 3rd generation Paperwhite, the new one is shaped a bit more like a typical book, which isn't a bad thing. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

One thing you won't get on this Kindle is ads. Compared to ads on certain other devices, advertisements on the Kindle's homescreen aren't nearly as intrusive, but I still prefer zero ads on something I paid for. You can remove the ads from the base model Kindle for an extra $20, but then the price difference between the two is a mere $20, which means you should really look at the other extras you get with the Signature Edition.

You know what they say about memory: More is always better. That said, unless you're a voracious reader, or you constantly send a bunch of periodicals to your Kindle, you won't need more than 8GB. The Kindle Paperwhite SE has 32GB, which is overkill, but it is comforting to know you'll never have to worry about storage.

When this review was originally published, the Kindle Paperwhite cost $139.99 for 8GB of storage. That configuration is no longer offered, and the current base model includes 16GB for $149.99. So, there's an even smaller price gap between the standard model and Signature Edition now at $40 compared to the previous $50, making these bonus features even more worth the upgrade.

Whether wireless charging will be worth it for you depends entirely on whether you normally use it in other scenarios. All Kindles have great battery life, so you won't be charging them very often. I do have wireless chargers in my car and scattered all around the house, so the ability to just toss the Kindle onto them and have it charge is a nice, if marginal, improvement.

The MagSafe isn't the best way to charge your Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, but it works! Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Fun fact: I tried to charge the Kindle Paperwhite SE using Apple's MagSafe magnetic charger for the iPhone, and not only does it work, but the charger sticks (though just barely) to the Kindle like it does to the iPhone. Pretty great.

The display, automated

The last big improvement on the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is the display.

The 6.8-inch, 300ppi display is sharp, crisp, beautiful to look at, and won't tire your eyes even after long reading sessions. The bezels on the sides and top of the device are far smaller than on the previous iteration, but there's still enough room to rest your fingers without accidentally flipping the page.

The display now makes brightness adjustments on its own. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Now for the big difference between the regular and the SE version of the Paperwhite: Automatically adjusting front light. The best way to explain the importance of this feature is to think of smartphones: Literally every single modern smartphone has this feature. You don't think about it much, but if someone took the feature away, you'd definitely notice.

It's similar on the Paperwhite. The display automatically sets brightness depending on the amount of light in your environment. I like reading in very dim light, and the Kindle set the screen's brightness pretty much as I would do. The device supports dark mode (bright text on dark background), and if I switched to that, it readjusted the brightness accordingly. I love the feature and though I could live without it, I'd be slightly annoyed about having to adjust brightness manually again.

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition battery life

A single charge should have the Kindle Paperwhite lasting up to 10 weeks. While we didn't run the e-reader for 10 weeks until it died, we can say it had excellent battery life based on our usage.

Is the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition worth it?

This may be because I'm biased from reviewing Apple devices — Apple charges an arm and a leg for upgrades and extra features — but I feel like the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is worth it.

For $50, you get no ads (a $20 value), wireless charging, 32GB, and an improved display. None of it is essential, but it does feel like you're getting a decent value for your money.

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition $189.99 at Amazon
Shop Now

UPDATE: Jul. 9, 2024, 5:00 a.m. EDT This review has been updated to reflect that the base Kindle Paperwhite model now houses 16GB and retails for $149.99. Previously, the device started at 8GB for $139.99. That means there's now a $40 difference between the standard Paperwhite and the Signature Edition, rather than $50.

Featured Video For You Kindle Paperwhite vs. Kobo Clara Colour: Which one is better?

Amazon Echo Show 5 vs. Echo Show 8: Which should you buy on Black Friday?

Mashable - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 05:00

It can be exciting when a brand like Amazon drops new versions of its devices, but it can also be overwhelming to figure out which one is best for you (and if it's worth paying more than its original version). After testing the second generations of both the Echo Show 5 and the Echo Show 8, I'll walk you through what’s the same, what’s different, what they bring to the table compared to the first gen versions — and which one you should buy during Black Friday 2024.

While these smart displays don’t have the portability or functionality of an iPad or a Surface tablet, they work flawlessly with Alexa and serve as a smart home HQ to make your day-to-day life just a little bit more streamlined.

Black Friday pricing and discounts

While the 2nd gen Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8 are no longer available, the newest Echo Show 5 retails for $89.99 and the current Echo Show 8 goes for $149.99. For Prime Day, the prices dropped to $49.99 and $84.99 respectively. However, their Black Friday discounts are even better.

As of Nov. 21, these smart displays are now priced at $44.99 and $79.99.

Size: It's in the name

The most noticeable difference between the Echo Show 5 and the Echo Show 8 is, of course, their size. The Echo Show 5 has a 5.5-inch screen and 6-inch x 3-inch footprint, while the Echo Show 8 is significantly larger — boasting an 8-inch screen and an 8-inch x 4-inch footprint.

Echo Show 5 (2nd gen) is smaller and would work better in a bedroom or office. Credit: Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd gen) is significantly larger — best for a central house hub. Credit: amazon

In my opinion, that makes the Echo Show 8 way better suited to be your family “hub” — located in a central location like the kitchen or dining room for easy video calls with the grandparents using Alexa. All you have to do is add contacts you’d like to call in the Alexa app on your phone. However, it may not be a necessary purchase if you already have a tablet with great video functionality. And if you want a larger device as your smart home hub, the Echo Show 10 is an even better choice.

Regardless, the Echo Show 8 offers some other advantages for video calls in addition to its size.

On the other hand, the Echo Show 5 would be better in places where you want the device's functionality, without it being front and center — like your desk or nightstand.

And if you're a sucker for colorways, the Echo Show 8 only comes in the glacier white and charcoal color options. You can get more variety with the new Echo Show 5, which comes in glacier white, charcoal, and deep sea blue. The Echo Show 5 Kids comes in chameleon green.

Camera and video calling

The Echo Show 5 got a decent camera upgrade from its 1st gen version — increasing the megapixels from one to two. However, it was a whole different ball game for the Echo Show 8. While the 1st gen Echo Show 8 offered a 1 MP camera, the revamped 2021 model came equipped with a 13 MP camera, which carried over into the 2023 model.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Echo Show 15 is a smart hub for connected homes

The image is incredibly crisp, and alongside the larger screen makes the Echo Show 8 the video call winner. But that’s not even the best part: The Echo Show 8 features auto-framing functions that automatically pan and zoom the camera to keep it focused on the people in view.

Both devices also feature some handy connectivity features, like intercom to page every Alexa device in the house (“We’re leaving in 15 minutes, so be ready!”) and drop-in, which allows you to video chat with any connected Alexa device.

Zoom calls

The Echo Show 8 can also join Zoom calls, while the Echo Show 5 can’t. To be totally honest, I could not get the Zoom call feature to work after several tries because none of the calls I joined had a dial-in number.

I’ll still say the Echo Show 8 wins on this one just because it’s theoretically possible, and I’m really hoping to be able to join Zoom calls from it soon to free up my laptop and extra monitor for in-meeting multi-tasking.

Kid-friendly content

During the initial setup, you can choose to make any Echo Show device a dedicated device for a kid. This gives you access to some expanded parental controls, which is great for older children, tweens, and teens that you still want to shield from some of the worst things the internet has to offer.

However, the Echo Show 5 Kids is the first and only Echo Show that’s bottom-to-top and side-to-side designed for kids. It features a fun design (the chameleon color looks like dinosaur scales, according to my 5-year-old), and comes with a free year of Amazon Kids (usually $5.99 per month) — which offers curated books, games, and videos just for kids far beyond what’s available through a basic Prime membership. In addition, it comes with souped-up parental controls so you can tweak things even more.

Alexa functionality

Both the 2nd gen Echo Show 5 and the 2nd gen Echo Show 8 have some Alexa abilities that their 1st gen counterparts don’t.

First up is the home monitoring function, where you can remotely access the camera on your device from the Alexa app just to check in on things. You’ll need a WiFi connection to do it, but I had no problems getting it to work. I can imagine it would be great to check in on pets, the babysitter, or just to take a peek at your home while on vacation to make sure everything is on the up and up.

Next is the addition of motion-enabled routines. This allows Alexa to detect when you enter or leave a room and use that activity to start a routine. Fair warning, this can open a can of worms re: privacy, but it also opens up some exciting possibilities for the smart home buff. You could have Alexa read your calendar when you walk into your office, or turn off all smart-enabled devices when there’s no motion detected in the living room — and those are just two simple ideas. With the addition of Alexa-enabled devices or smart plugs, your options open up even more. Amazon does offer ways to manage these settings if you'd like to delete recordings or manage your data.

All of these devices feature the same Alexa functionality you came to expect from the previous iteration of Echo Show devices.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Prime Day vs. Black Friday: When are the deals better? Echo Show 5 vs. Echo Show 8: Which one is better?

For only $45 more, the Echo Show 8 was the clear winner for me. Not only does it have a larger screen and a 13 MP camera with auto-framing (making it the best for video calling), it also allows you to hop on Zoom meetings, if/when you can get that function to work properly.

If video calls and Zoom meetings aren’t your concern, then the Echo Show 5 is still a great choice — like the 2nd gen Echo Show 8, the new Echo Show 5 boasts many of the same expanded Alexa functions, like home monitoring and motion detection routines. And of course, if you want one made for kids, then you’ll want to go with the Echo Show 5 Kids.

Overall, I’m a fan of both, but the Echo Show 8 came out on top for our home.

Amazon Echo Show 8 $79.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $70.00 Shop Now

Editor's note: This comparison originally focused on the 2021 models of the Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8. New models (with only modest changes) were released in 2023, so the older versions are no longer available to purchase as new. We've updated our links to take you to the current Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8.

The Beats Solo 4 just got a 50% discount in Amazons Black Friday sale

Mashable - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 04:51

SAVE $100: As of Nov. 22, Beats Solo 4 are on sale for $99.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 50% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Solo 4 $99.99 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $99.96 Get Deal

The discounts are just getting started and Amazon's Black Friday event has officially kicked off. Running from Nov 21. through to Dec. 2, there are plenty of deals and savings to be had across TVs, headphones, tablets, and much more. And if you're on the hunt for a new set of headphones, why not check out this great deal on the Beats Solo 4.

As of Oct. 11, you can grab these headphones for just $99.99, saving $100 on list price. This deal is available across all colorways at Amazon, including matte black, black/gold, cloud pink, and state blue. However, this price is only available when purchasing without AppleCare+. You can add this on for a price of $118.99 (down from $228.95).

SEE ALSO: Don't miss grabbing an Apple Magic Mouse for its lowest price ever

The Beats Solo 4 were only released earlier in the year, so to see such a big discount already is truly a win. This latest model in the Solo range boasts a battery life of up to 50 hours, a super-quick 10-minute charge time, and personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking. This is a technology that creates a 3D surround sound, and a more immersive listening experience by adjusting sound based on your head movements, so music, movies, and calls feel more lifelike. As with all Beats devices, the sound quality is stellar for all types of listening.

Interested? Head to Amazon to grab this deal.

Get Samsung’s blazing-fast 1TB SSD for under $100 this Black Friday

Mashable - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 04:38

SAVE OVER $60: As of Nov. 22, the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB SSD is down to $98.37 at Amazon. That’s 39% off its regular price of $159.99 for Black Friday.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 990 PRO 1TB SSD $98.37 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $61.62 Get Deal

Black Friday is here, and it's time to supercharge your PC or gaming setup without torching your wallet. Samsung's 990 PRO 1TB SSD sells for just $98.37 — an impressive Black Friday discount of over $60. With sequential read speeds of up to 7,450 MB/s, this PCIe 4.0 drive offers performance that smooths everything from gaming to heavy-duty workloads.

What makes the 990 PRO stand out? It's 40% faster than its predecessor, the 980 PRO. This drive can handle up to 1,400K input/output operations per second (IOPS). It is a beast for resource-heavy tasks like 4K video editing or running modern games. Power efficiency has also been improved by 50%, so you get maximum performance without stressing your system or energy bill.

SEE ALSO: Save over 80% and get a free £10 voucher with the best Black Friday Audible deal

Thermal control is a standout feature here, too. Samsung's nickel-coated controller keeps the drive cool even during intense use, preventing thermal throttling from slowing down your epic gaming sessions or massive file transfers. And with Samsung's Magician software, you can monitor drive health, optimize settings, and protect your data, all from an easy-to-use dashboard.

Upgrading a desktop, laptop, or even a PlayStation 5? The 990 PRO is an easy fit thanks to the PCI-SIG D8 standard for slim devices. Samsung's reputation as the global leader in flash memory backs its top-tier performance and durability.

At under $100, this Black Friday deal is a no-brainer for gamers, content creators, or anyone looking to breathe new life into their system. Don't let this Black Friday deal pass you by — this speed doesn't come cheap any other day of the year.

Save $800 on Samsung’s 65-inch OLED 4K TV this Black Friday

Mashable - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 04:36

SAVE $800: As of Nov. 22, the Samsung 65-inch OLED 4K S90D smart TV is on sale for $1,397.99 at Amazon. That’s 36% off its $2,197.99 list price for Black Friday.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 65-inch OLED 4K S90D smart TV $1,397.99 at Amazon
$2,197.99 Save $800.00 Get Deal

Black Friday is the perfect time to give your entertainment setup a serious glow-up, and this deal on Samsung’s 65-inch OLED S90D smart TV is a chef’s kiss. Originally priced at $2,197.99, this feature-packed screen is now just $1,397.99 — a whopping $800 in Black Friday savings.

So, what makes this TV worth your attention (and wall space)? For starters, Samsung’s OLED technology delivers unbeatable picture quality with inky blacks, dazzling whites, and vibrant, Pantone-validated colours. Whether you’re streaming, gaming, or catching the big game, the HDR+ feature ensures stunning brightness and sharpness, scene by scene. It’s like seeing your favourite content in a whole new light — literally.

SEE ALSO: Save over 80% and get a free £10 voucher with the best Black Friday Audible deal

Gamers, this one’s for you too. The Motion Xcelerator 144Hz refresh rate keeps visuals smooth and lag-free, even during the most intense action sequences. Add in Samsung’s Real Depth Enhancer, which makes on-screen content feel almost 3D, and you’ll be totally immersed.

Audio fans aren’t left out, either. Dolby Atmos and Object Tracking Sound Lite create a 3D sound experience that follows the action on screen, making explosions feel bigger and dialogue more explicit. Plus, with Alexa built-in, you can control your TV and smart home devices and even check the weather without lifting a finger (or maybe just the remote).

At $1,397.99, this deal on the 65-inch Samsung S90D isn’t just a price drop — it’s a full-on Black Friday flex. Grab it now and make your living room the envy of your entire neighbourhood.

Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 22

Mashable - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 04:34

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for November 21's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for November 22 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for November 22 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

An undersea gem.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

PEARL.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 22

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

Save $350 on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra this Black Friday

Mashable - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 04:32

SAVE $350: As of Nov. 22, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (256GB) is marked down to $949.99 at Amazon for Black Friday. That’s 27% off its list price of $1,299.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (256GB) $949.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $350.00 Get Deal

Black Friday has delivered the ultimate upgrade opportunity for the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, Samsung’s flagship smartphone for 2024. Loaded with cutting-edge features and decked out in a stunning titanium violet finish, this device usually costs a wallet-pinching $1,299.99. But right now, you can snag it for $949.99 — a hefty $350 saving.

Why is this deal worth jumping on? Let’s break it down. This phone features a massive 200MP camera that’s practically a portable DSLR, capable of capturing jaw-dropping detail even in low light, thanks to Samsung’s Nightography feature. That 100x zoom? Perfect for snapping close-ups from, well, really far away. Whether photographing a bustling cityscape or a sleepy cat on the next rooftop, your shots will be ready for social media.

SEE ALSO: Save over 80% and get a free £10 voucher with the best Black Friday Audible deal

The Galaxy S24 Ultra doesn’t just take pretty pictures. With its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and a buttery smooth 120Hz edge-to-edge display, this phone handles multitasking, gaming, and streaming without sweat. Need real-time translation while travelling? Check. Want AI-assisted photo edits that make every pic look flawless? Double-check.

Samsung’s S Pen is also included, transforming this phone into a mini productivity hub. Take notes, draw sketches, or circle and search things on your screen like a futuristic Sherlock Holmes. Plus, with 256GB of storage, you’ll have plenty of room to hoard memes, photos, and all your apps.

At this Black Friday price, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is hard to beat. So why settle for your outdated device when you can grab this tech marvel for less? Don’t wait too long — this deal will disappear faster than your phone’s battery after a TikTok binge.

Score Dell’s stunning 4K 27-inch monitor for under $200 this Black Friday

Mashable - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 04:28

SAVE $100: As of Nov. 22, the Dell S2721QS 27-inch 4K UHD monitor is available for $199.95 in the Amazon Black Friday sale. That’s 33% off its usual price of $299.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dell Dell S2721QS 4K UHD Monitor $199.95 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $100.04 Get Deal

Forget Black Friday doorbusters — this is a desk upgrade you can snag from the comfort of your chair. The Dell S2721QS is a 27-inch 4K monitor ready to elevate your home office, gaming rig, or streaming setup. With its $199.95 price tag, down from $299.99, this deal is as sharp as the screen itself.

Let’s talk pixels: 8.3 million of them, to be exact. This monitor boasts 4K Ultra HD resolution with HDR content support, delivering vibrant colours and razor-sharp clarity. Whether you’re binging your favourite series or meticulously editing photos, the visuals on this thing are stunning. The ultra-thin bezel gives you that seamless, edge-to-edge viewing experience — perfect for dual-monitor setups or just flexing your superior tech taste.

SEE ALSO: Save over 80% and get a free £10 voucher with the best Black Friday Audible deal

But it’s not all about looking good. The S2721QS knows you’ll be spending hours staring at it, so it’s built with comfort in mind. The stand is fully adjustable, letting you tilt, swivel, and pivot until you find the perfect angle. Plus, the ComfortView feature reduces harmful blue light, which your eyeballs will thank you for after a long day.

Need functionality? The dual HDMI ports make it easy to swap between devices, and AMD FreeSync ensures buttery-smooth visuals during gaming sessions. Translation: no more screen tearing when you’re mid-battle.

Dell doesn’t put their monitors on sale like this every day, and seeing this 4K beauty drop under $200 is a rare treat. If you’ve been waiting to upgrade, Black Friday just handed you the perfect excuse. Grab this Black Friday deal now — your setup (and eyes) deserve it.

All the best early Black Friday deals at Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and Walmart

Mashable - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 04:00
Best Early Black Friday Deals Best Apple deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749 at Amazon (Save $250) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal Roborock Qrevo S $459.99 at Amazon (Save $340) Get Deal Best headphone deal Bose QuietComfort headphones $199 at Amazon (Save $150) Get Deal Best Kindle deal Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition $154.99 at Amazon (Save $45) Get Deal Best laptop deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,399 at Amazon (Save $200) Get Deal Best Echo deal Amazon Echo Pop $17.99 at Amazon (Save $22) Get Deal Best TV deal Hisense 85-inch QD6 QLED 4K Google TV $649.99 at Best Buy (Save $450) Get Deal Best fitness tracker deal Oura Ring Gen3 (Horizon, Gold) Starting at $249 at Best Buy Get Deal Best kitchen deal KitchenAid 5.5-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer $279.99 at Target (Save $170) Get Deal

Now that we're in the thick of the holiday season, it also means we're deep into holiday shopping. Black Friday proper falls late in the month this year on Nov. 29. But official sales from big retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target have already kicked off. Even if you're prepared, you know who and what you're buying for, it's hard to not get in a tizzy. You're in luck though, we've done most of the leg work for you. At this point we've been tracking Black Friday deals for weeks, finding the best prices on all the big names: Apple, Bose, Sony, Samsung, and more.

If you want to take the day after Thanksgiving off, you can start shopping early Black Friday deals now. Here are the best deals to shop.

Best Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749.00 at Amazon
$999.00 Save $250.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the M2 MacBook Air.

"A couple of weeks ago, the MacBook Air got a quiet RAM upgrade, without a price hike. Now, we're seeing the M2 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage on sale for $749, officially back to its lowest price ever. With these specs, this MacBook will be more than capable of handling everyday tasks with ease, while offering you more flexibility to run more (and more intensive) programs at once. Considering Mashable reporter Alex Perry called this laptop "just about the ideal work-from-home (or work-from-wherever, really) companion," in his review, this memory upgrade is certainly welcome." – Bethany Allard, Shopping Reporter

More Apple dealsMacBooksMacsiPadsApple WatchesAirPods and speakersAirTagsBest robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Qrevo S $459.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $340.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"I think of the Roborock Qrevo S as the diet version of my favorite self-emptying robot vacuum right now, the Roborock Qrevo Master. And unless you're open to spending $1,000 or more on a robot vacuum, you can probably live without the Qrevo Master's fluff features like a livestream pet camera or extending side mop — especially when, at this price, you could buy a Qrevo S for two stories of your home for less than the price of one on-sale Qrevo Master.

Opting for the cheaper Qrevo is still a solid move: Compared to other 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop combos also on sale for Black Friday, the Qrevo S is one of the rare options under $500 that washes and dries its mopping pads." — Leah Stodart, Senior Shopping Reporter

More robot vacuum dealsRobot vacuum and mop combosBest headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Headphones $199.00 at Amazon
$349.00 Save $150.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"Bose makes some of the best headphones they've tested. The brand's QuietComfort line-up strikes the genius balance of sound quality and comfort. While the QuietComfort Ultra headphones and earbuds are the most elevated Bose models, the basic QuietComforts are still great.

If you don't need spatial audio, but you do want sound that will make your music sound better, elevating drop beats and sick synth, go for the Bose QuietComfort headphones. The power button on the side is responsive, and the battery is insanely long. I wore these while taking the train from Boston to New York and by the time I reached my destination, they still had 50% battery life.

Normally, $349, the Bose QuietComfort headphones are down to $199. That saves you $150 for 43% savings." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More headphone and speaker dealsHeadphonesEarbudsSpeaker dealsBest Kindle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition $154.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $45.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"The new batch of 2024 Kindles are the fastest yet, turning pages quickly and with less delay when switching between books in your library. The Kindle Paperwhite and Signature Edition both have bright, high-contrast screens, so you can read in any environment. While I prefer the Kindle Paperwhite over the Signature Edition most of the time, right now you can't beat the SE's Black Friday price.

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is 23% off, bringing it down to $154.99. That's some big savings ($45 to be exact) on a device that's usually $200. You get everything you love in the Paperwhite, lightweight and waterproof design, with the added benefits of double the storage, wireless charging, and auto-adjusting brightness." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More Kindle dealsBest laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,699.99 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $300.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the 13-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7.

"Microsoft's Copilot+ PC has an even longer battery life than the new M4 MacBook Pros — it lasted nearly 23 hours in our testing — and it comes with AI features that 'make Windows fun again,' Gedeon wrote. She gave it a 4.8/5; it's a Mashable Choice Award winner and our current favorite laptop for most people, barring any app compatibility issues.

The upgraded configuration that Gedeon tested is a 13-inch model featuring a Snapdragon X Elite processor, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. It usually retails for $1,999.99, but Amazon and the Microsoft Store both have it listed for $1,699.99, or 15% off. That's its biggest discount to date." — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

More laptop and computer deals

For MacBook and Mac deals, scroll back up to the Apple deals section.

Windows laptopsChromebooksGaming laptopsBest Echo device deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Pop $17.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $22.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"The line-up of Amazon Echo devices is sprawling. You can find everything from a multitasking smart speaker to a touchscreen smart home hub. The absolute best deal on Echo devices right now is on the Amazon Echo Pop. This small but mighty device with a quality speaker and built-in assistant so you can play music just by calling out to Alexa.

Currently, it's down to $17.99 — its lowest price ever. That knocks 55% off the regular price for $22 in savings. While we expect this price to hang around through Black Friday weekend, you can rest assured you're getting it at a great deal when you buy now." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More Echo dealsBest TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 85-inch QD6 QLED 4K Google TV $649.99 at Best Buy
$1,099.99 Save $450.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"Black Friday is all about huge discounts on huge TVs, and this 85-inch Hisense model is a perfect case in point: Now just $650, it's far cheaper than any other TV this big — not just at Best Buy, but at Amazon and Walmart, too. (And abnormally-cheap-for-their-size TVs are really more Walmart's thing.) The fact that it has a bright and vibrant QLED display, not a standard 4K screen, sweetens the deal even further.

Kind of surprised this one wasn't chosen as a doorbuster, TBH. Let's call it a hidden gem." — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

More TV deals

TV deals are sorted by size, then price.

43- to 50-inch TVs55-inch TVs65-inch TVs75-inch TVs and largerStreaming devices and media playersBest fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Oura Oura Ring Gen3 (Horizon, Gold) $349.00 at Best Buy
$449.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Oura Ring Gen3.

"The previous-gen Oura Ring is an excellent fitness wearable with heart-rate and blood oxygen monitoring, temperature and activity tracking, and a multi-day battery life — all wrapped up in a sleek, durable titanium design. It's on sale at Best Buy this Black Friday for $50 to $200 off, depending on the style and finish (starting from $249.99)." — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

More fitness tracker deals

For Apple Watch deals, scroll back up to the Apple deals section.

Best kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: KitchenAid KitchenAid 5.5-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer $279.99 at Target
$449.99 Save $170.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"If you're getting ready to whip up dozens of Christmas cookies, don't even think about doing it all by hand. Sure, it will be a great arm workout, but at what cost? Upgrade your kitchen tools ahead of the holiday season with the KitchenAid 5.5-quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer. It has twice the power of KitchenAid's standard tilt-head mixer and can mix batches of 11 dozen cookies at a time. This mixer is no joke.

You can get the savings ahead of Black Friday as it's marked down to $279.99, saving you $170 for 38% off." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More kitchen deals

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