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NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 28

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:33

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. 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 What is Connections Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for November 28 Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

  • Yellow - Texas squads

  • Green - A divisional roundup

  • Blue - Famous basketball players

  • Purple - Athletic siblings

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

  • Yellow - Dallas Teams

  • Green - NFC North teams

  • Blue - UConn women's basketball alumni

  • Purple - NBA brothers

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #66 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

  • Dallas Teams: COWBOYS, MAVERICKS, STARS, WINGS

  • NFC North teams: BEARS, LIONS, PACKERS, VIKINGS

  • UConn women's basketball alumni: BIRD, CASH, MOORE, TAURASI

  • NBA brothers: CURRY, HOLIDAY, LOPEZ, MORRIS

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections 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.

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 Connections.

Best Buy and Walmart are absolutely dominating Amazon in Black Friday TV deals

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:33
A quick look at the best early Black Friday TV deals Best 55-inch deal Hisense 55-inch QD5 QLED TV $219.99 at Best Buy (save $180) Get Deal Best 65-inch TV deal LG 65-inch B3 Series OLED 4K TV $998 at Walmart (save $301) Get Deal Best 75-inch TV deal LG 75-inch 85 Series QNED TV $999.99 at Best Buy (save $500) Get Deal

UPDATE: Nov. 27, 2024, 4:37 p.m. EST This post has been updated with the latest pricing on the best TV deals live right before Thanksgiving, including new Amazon Omni Mini LED deals and a 55-inch 4K TV under $180 at Walmart.

As one of the OG items being stampeded after in those old Black Friday clips you're picturing right now, we've known for most of our adult lives that Black Friday is one of the best times of year to buy a TV.

The types of TVs spotlighted in the pre-holiday sale have shifted, however. The biggest factor when upgrading your TV this year will probably be the normalization — and subsequently, affordability — of QLED. Over the past few years, QLED TVs have officially gone from "the TV that only the fanciest people you know have" to quite accessible for the average household. Finding a 55-inch QLED under $300 or a 65-inch QLED under $500 during an event like Black Friday isn't hard at all.

SEE ALSO: Get both Hulu and Disney+ for $2.99 per month for Black Friday

However, the "best" TV deal for one household won't be the "best" TV deal for another. Rather than jumping between a mess of tabs of every store's TV doorbusters, knowing which type of TVs each big retailer tends to focus on is a way smarter strategy going in.

Are TV deals better at Amazon, Best Buy, or Walmart?

In my experience, Best Buy focuses on large screens and has a bigger selection of the premium QLED and OLED models from Samsung, Sony, and LG on sale. Amazon gears its TV discounts more toward 43-inch to 65-inch Fire TVs, especially its in-house models. Walmart is known for a more concise list of doorbusters that are often simply the cheapest 4K TV possible in a certain size, specifically options in the 50- to 75-inch range that are more likely to sell out than TVs at other retailers. However, there's been a bit of a plot twist with cheap 43-inch to 65-inch QLEDs this year — Best Buy is kind of stealing Walmart's spotlight on that one.

The TV wheelhouses of these retailers don't completely bar any overlap between TV deals, though. There will be a handful of popular models (like Samsung's The Frame) seeing price matches across each, but we'll keep you posted if one retailer is able to undercut the others on one of these icons.

SEE ALSO: We track Apple deals year-round — here are the best ones leading up to Black Friday

I've been tracking early Black Friday TV deals since the beginning of November and have watched retailers amp discounts even further in the days right before Thanksgiving — a ton of models are already back to their October Prime Day price or beating it completely.

So yes, almost all of the TV deals in this list are already at their Black Friday prices — but that doesn't mean retailers won't hit us with a surprise extra price drop or add a few more secret doorbusters to their ranks. This list will be refreshed regularly as we head into Black Friday itself on Nov. 29 (and beyond) if you'd prefer to hold out and compare.

All newly added or updated deals have been marked with a ✨, while struck-through deals were either sold out or expired at the time of writing.

One more thing: If you're getting rid of an old TV to make room for this Black Friday purchase, take it somewhere that recycles old electronics (like Best Buy) rather than trashing it.

Best Black Friday TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 55-inch QD5 QLED 4K Google TV $219.99
$399.99 Save $180.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Remember when I said QLEDs are becoming way more accessible for the average household? At $219.99, this 55-inch QLED is hovering around the same price point that many regular, dull LED TVs were a few years ago. Now, I can see this 55-inch Hisense QLED being baby's first adult TV purchase for a ton of people. (Note: Best Buy has dropped this price by an extra $30 since this TV first went on sale a few weeks before Black Friday.)

The difference between those two cheap TVs is that the "Q" in QLED stands for quantum dots, which form a layer of extra light over the traditional LED panel to pump more saturated colors through the screen. QLED TVs are also significantly brighter than regular LED TVs, making them ideal for watching sports, especially in the daytime.

Black Friday TV deals at Best Buy43-inch to 50-inch TVs55-inch TVs65-inch TVs75-inch TVs and upBlack Friday TV deals at Walmart43-inch TVs50- to 55-inch TVs65-inch TVs70-inch TVs and upBlack Friday TV deals at Amazon43-inch TVs50- to 55-inch TVs65-inch TVs75-inch TVs and up85-inch TVs and up

Can we say these early Black Friday deals on Amazon tablets are... fire?

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:31

SAVE UP TO 50% OFF: Ahead of Black Friday, shop early deals on Amazon Fire tablets. Find the Amazon Fire HD 10 for $74.99 and 46% off. Or check out the Fire 7 Kids Tablet for just $49.99 and 50% savings.

Best Amazon Fire Tablet Deals Best Amazon Fire Tablet deal Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet 74.99 (Save $65) Get Deal Best Fire Kids Tablet Deal Amazon Fire 7 Kids Tablet 49.99 (Save $50) Get Deal Best Amazon Fire 8 Deal Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet 54.99 (Save $45) Get Deal

We know it's hard to stomach, but the holiday shopping season has begin. The Thanksgiving Turkey isn't even in the oven, but the sales are here, and who are we to ignore good deals? Think of it this way: get all your online shopping done now, so you can shop in-store on Black Friday.

Holiday deals have kicked off at Best Buy, Target, and of course, Amazon. One of the better sales out of Amazon is on the retailer's Fire Tablets. Amazon's answer to Apple's iPad is significantly cheaper, even at full price. During this early Black Friday, find Amazon Fire Tablets for their lowest prices ever, up to 50% off.

Best Amazon Fire Tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet $74.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $65.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon's Fire HD 10 tablet is a lot friendlier on the wallet than an iPad. With a 10.1-inch screen, it's similar in size, but it's also a fraction of the price. In our review of the Amazon Fire HD 10, we delighted in its lightweight design and long-battery life. The biggest downside to Amazon's Fire tablets are the limited selection of apps offered, especially compared the the Google Play or Apple stores.

That being said, it's still not a bad choice for those who want a tablet for streaming or reading through the Kindle app. And ahead of Black Friday, the Fire HD 10 is down to its lowest price ever of $74.99. That's a generous 46% off for $65 in savings.

Best Amazon Fire Kids Tablet Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire 7 Kids Tablet $49.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Unlike Apple, Amazon makes tablets designed for kids. Not only does it come in a hefty case that can certainly withstand a temper tantrum, but it limits content so you don't have to worry about kids stumbling into inappropriate territory.

The Amazon Fire 7 Kids Tablet is now 50% off and down to $49.99. Plus, it comes with 6 months free of Amazon Kids+, a subscription service that offers age-friendly books, games, and videos for kiddos. Plus, just just $5 more, you can get a whole year of the service free.

More Amazon Fire deals

The best early Black Friday Kindle deals are beating records

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:27

SAVE UP TO $60: Amazon's latest Kindles are seeing some of their first discounts. Find the Kindle Scribe bundled with a cover and power adapter for $479.97, saving $60 for 11% off. Plus, single devices are finally on sale for up to 27% off.

Early Black Friday Kindle deals Best Kindle deal Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition $154.99 (Save $45) Get Deal Best budget Kindle deal Amazon Kindle $84.99 (Save $25) Get Deal Best Kindle Kids deal Amazon Kindle Kids $94.99 (Save $35) Get Deal Best Kindle bundle deal Amazon Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle $479.97 (Save $60) Get Deal

You know what they say: Good things come to those who wait. Well, it's proving true when it comes to Black Friday Kindle deals. Amazon finally kicked off its official early Black Friday deals, and they've surprised us with some solid Kindle deals.

Amazon has a knack for launching new devices around Prime Day, so it was no surprise when they dropped a new batch of Kindles post-October Prime Day. We've tested our way through most of the latest models, and they're improving upon already great tech for the fastest, brightest Kindles yet. Our favorite is the Kindle Paperwhite, and yes, it's on sale.

Because these items are so new, we weren't expecting to see amazing discounts. The last few Prime Day sales on Kindles have been disappointing, so it's a delight to see such good prices. Early on we saw Kindle bundles go on sale, but now, single devices are marked down up to 27% off.

Here are the best Kindle deals to shop ahead of Black Friday. Check back for better deals as the big shopping day approaches.

Best 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.

More Kindle dealsBest Kindle bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle $479.97 at Amazon
$539.97 Save $60.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Among the new Kindles is a redesigned Scribe, which comes in classic black or a flashy metallic jade and won't be officially available until Dec. 4. The new Scribe's screen got a makeover with added white borders to give it a more notebook-like feel. If the new model is anything like the current one, I'm excited to see what it offers.

If you're an annotator, the Kindle Scribe is the e-reader for you. The matte screen feels like writing on paper, and includes a notebook section so you can take notes in addition to annotating your e-books. Personally, I like writing with the Kindle Scribe far more than I do with an iPad and Apple Pencil.

This deal gives you a little extra off ahead of the Scribe's December release. The Essentials Bundle comes with the device, premium pen, folio-style case, and power adapter — everything you need to get started. Normally $539.97, you can find the bundle for $479.97, saving you $60 for 11% off.

Not sold on the Scribe (or its price)? There are other bundle deals to explore ahead of Black Friday.

More Kindle deals

Shop the best early Black Friday 2-in-1 laptop deals from HP, Samsung, Lenovo, and more

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:24

UPDATE: Nov. 19, 2024, 11:00 a.m. EST This article has been updated with the latest 2-in-1 laptop deals ahead of Black Friday across a variety of retailers.

Early Black Friday 2-in-1 laptop deals Best 2-in-1 laptop deal Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 (Intel 13th Generation Core i7, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $2,499.99 (save $300) Get Deal Best 2-in-1 Chromebook deal HP Chromebook x360 14 (Intel Processor N100, Intel UHD Graphics, 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC) $199 (save $230) Get Deal

The countdown to Black Friday is well underway, and so are the early deals. That's right, the holiday shopping event has basically already started (unofficially, of course), so it's time to start scouring every retailer you can to find the best discounts possible. Fortunately, we're here to do all that hard work for you.

SEE ALSO: Pick up a new keyboard at a nice discount ahead of Black Friday 2024

If you're hoping to pick up some new tech, you've come to the right place. Take a look at our favorite 2-in-1 laptop deals below. Be sure to keep visiting this page as Black Friday nears, though, because we'll be updating it as new deals go live.

If you're looking for other tech items on sale, we've also been building comprehensive deals guides for laptops in general, tablets, headphones, TVs, fitness trackers, and plenty more.

Best 2-in-1 laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 (Intel 13th Generation Core i7, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $2,499.99 at Best Buy
$2,799.99 Save $300.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is one of the more high-end 2-in-1 laptops you can get, and we can confirm that it's not just style over substance — we enjoyed our time with it. If you're a creative type who's consistently taking on processor-hungry tasks like photo and video editing, the Surface Laptop Studio 2's powerful CPU and versatile design are going to be exactly what you need to stay productive. Pick one up ahead of Black Friday and save $300 off the original price, for just $2,499.99.

Best 2-in-1 Chromebook deal Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP Chromebook x360 14 (Intel Processor N100, Intel UHD Graphics, 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC) $199.00 at Walmart
$429.00 Save $230.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're looking stay on the more budget-friendly side of the spectrum, going the Chromebook route is probably where you'll want to start. The HP Chromebook x360 14 has decent enough specs that should help you get through simple tasks like web browsing and document editing, and it's only $199 leading up to Black Friday. That's over $200 in savings, so don't miss out.

More 2-in-1 laptop deals

Shop a bunch of stunning tablet deals ahead of Black Friday

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:23
Best Early Black Friday tablet deals Best iPad deal Apple iPad, 9th generation (A13, 64GB, WiFi) $199.99 (Save $129.01) Get Deal Best Samsung tablet deal Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE $299.99 (Save $220) Get Deal Best Google tablet deal Google Pixel Tablet $279 (Save $120) Get Deal

If you're doing any travel this holiday season, do yourself a favor and grab a tablet. It will certainly be a better way to stay occupied than whatever in-flight entertainment you may (or may not) get stuck with. Plus, family can be a lot, so after a big holiday meal, we don't blame you if you want to hide away with a comfort film.

Tablets simplify your tech while traveling since they can double as a laptop, e-reader, and gaming device. Luckily, with Black Friday around the corner, the deals are already rolling in. Plus, more than just iPads are up for grabs: Amazon Fire and Samsung Galaxy tablets are on sale too.

Explore the best early Black Friday deals on tablets available now:

Best iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad, 9th generation (A13, 64GB, WiFi) $199.99 at Target
$329.00 Save $129.01 Get Deal Why we like it

An iPad under $200 is a true gift this holiday season. Apple's 9th generation model is down to $199.99 at Target, less than a dollar short of its lowest price ever. While there might be newer generations available, this is the most budget-friendly model, especially now that it's $129.01 off.

The 9th generation Apple iPad comes with the A13 bionic chip, which provides plenty of processing power for streaming, gaming, or working. The 10.2-inch retina display gives plenty of space for your creative pursuits, as it's compatible with the first generation of Apple Pencil.

Now is the right time to shop, as you can find the Apple iPad 9th generation for 39% off.

More iPad dealsiPadiPad AiriPad miniiPad ProBest Android tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE $299.99 at Amazon
$519.99 Save $220.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're in the market for an Android tablet, Samsung delivers with its Galaxy tablets. With a 10.9-inch screen, this is one of the largest tablets on this list. Plus, it comes with the S Pen, to let you get to work whether you're illustrating or taking notes.

Plus, you can save over $200 ahead of Black Friday on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE. Find it on sale for $299.99, saving 42%.

More Android tablet dealsAmazon Fire tablet deals

Save $150 on the Apple AirPod Max at Amazons Black Friday event

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:21

SAVE $150: As of Nov, Apple AirPod Max are on sale at Amazon for $399. That's a 27% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPod Max $399.00 at Amazon
$549.00 Save $150.00 Get Deal

The discounts are just getting started and Amazon's Black Friday event is fully underway. Running from Nov 21. through Dec. 2, there are plenty of deals and savings to be had across TVs, headphones, tablets, and much more. And with these great deals, it means a new pair of AirPods doesn't need to cost you a fortune.

As of Nov. 28, you can find the AirPods Max reduced to $399 at Amazon, saving you $150. This isn't the first Black Friday discount this model has seen. Just a week ago, they were reduced to $499, meaning you now get an additional $100 off.

The AirPods Max are a fantastic option for great audio quality. Designed with Apple-specific drivers and powered by the all-encompassing H1 chip, you can expect a completely unmatched listening experience.

SEE ALSO: We track Apple deals year-round — Black Friday 2024 has the lowest prices we’ve seen

Handy noise-blocking technologies help you to choose your level of immersion, the Active Noise Cancellation mode will block outside noise so you can focus on your music, and

Transparency mode lets you stay aware of your surroundings, keeping you safe and alert.

The Personalized Spatial Audio function adapts to your ear shape to help give you a much more immersive and personalized sound. It also includes dynamic head tracking, which uses a built-in sensor to adjust audio based on your head movements, creating a 3D sound experience - perfect for enjoying Dolby Atmos content.

SEE ALSO: The best early gaming laptop deals you can snag ahead of Black Friday

And let's not forget the comfort aspect, the knit-mesh canopy and memory foam ear cushions provide a snug fit that seals in sound and keeps your ears happy for hours of wearing.

This model also boasts up to 20 hours of battery life and comes with a slim Smart Case for storage.

Convinced yet? Pop over to the Amazon website to get this great deal.

Pick up a new keyboard with a big discount ahead of Black Friday

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:20

UPDATE: Nov. 26, 2024, 10:50 a.m. EST

Best early Black Friday keyboard deals Best keyboard deal Logitech Casa Pop-Up Desk Kit $149.99 (save $30) Get Deal Best gaming keyboard deal SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Gaming Keyboard $128.99 (save $51) Get Deal

Black Friday is one of the best, if not the best, times to pick up some new tech at a deep discount (rivaled only by shopping events like Amazon Prime Day). Whether you need a new laptop, TV, or gaming console, you're bound to find a great deal during the holiday shopping season. That also includes keyboards.

If your laptop or daily driver keyboard is no longer cutting it for you and you're looking to add a new one to your tech lineup, now is a good time to do it, because the early Black Friday keyboard deals are actually pretty sweet. Check out our top picks — just be sure to keep checking in, because we'll be updating this page with new discounts as they pop up.

SEE ALSO: The best early gaming laptop deals you can snag ahead of Black Friday 2024 Best keyboard deal Opens in a new window Credit: Logitech Logitech Casa Pop-Up Desk Kit $149.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If your laptop's keyboard isn't doing it for you anymore, the Logitech Casa Pop-Up Desk Kit is the answer to your problems (we absolutely love it.) The kit comes with a laptop stand, wireless keyboard, and wireless mouse pad that'll serve as a serious upgrade to your work-from-home or coffee shop setup. Ahead of Black Friday, you can grab one of your own for $149.99, which is $30 off the original price. Don't miss this one.

Best gaming keyboard deal Opens in a new window Credit: SteelSeries SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Gaming Keyboard $128.99 at Best Buy
$179.99 Save $51.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Gaming keyboards are awesome, but they can take up a lot of real estate on your desk. The Apex Pro Mini gaming keyboard is a fantastic compromise, featuring a smaller profile without sacrificing important functions like RGB customization, macro assignments, low latency, and more. It's one of our favorite gaming keyboards, and it's on sale for $51 off in the weeks leading up to Black Friday. If you want a top-tier mini gaming keyboard, look no further.

More early Black Friday keyboard deals

The best early gaming laptop deals you can snag ahead of Black Friday

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:19

UPDATE: Nov. 18, 2024, 11:25 a.m. EST

Best early Black Friday gaming laptop deals 2024 Best gaming laptop deal Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (Intel Core Ultra 9, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,599.99 (save $400) Get Deal Best budget gaming laptop deal Acer Nitro V (AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $699.99 (save $250) Get Deal

If you can believe it, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are just around the corner. We know, it seems like we just got done with another massive sale in Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days event, but there's simply no rest for dedicated deal hunters. So, let's keep the momentum going, shall we?

While Black Friday is a good time to buy pretty much anything you're looking for, it's especially kind to gamers. From discounts on individual games, consoles, accessories, and more, you're bound to save a ton this holiday season if you're an avid player. That includes gaming laptops, too, which are a fantastic way to dip your toes into the realm of PC gaming if you're not ready (or able) to commit to a desktop setup just yet.

SEE ALSO: Alienware m16 R2 review: The best RTX 4070 gaming laptop

If you're one of those people, take a look at some of our favorite gaming laptop deals ahead of Black Friday 2024, including offers from big brands like Razer, Asus, and plenty of others.

Best gaming laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Asus Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $2,399.99 at Best Buy
$2,799.99 Save $400.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Asus is known for its high-quality gaming laptops, and the ROG Zephyrus line is one of the very best to come from the lineup (we loved the G14). The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 comes packed with some great internals right out of the box, including an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 GPU and a sizeable 1TB SSD for storage. Better yet, this model features a stunning OLED display that'll have all of your games looking their best, whether you're playing at home or out in the wild. Ahead of Black Friday, the gaming machine is $2,399.99 at Best Buy, saving you $400 off the usual asking price.

Best budget gaming laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Nitro V (AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $699.99 at Best Buy
$949.99 Save $250.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Not every gaming laptop has to drain your bank account, and that's never been more true than with the Acer Nitro V. It's one of our favorite budget gaming laptops to date, and it's only $699.99 ahead of Black Friday — that's $250 in savings. Plus, this bundle comes with a nice carrying case, so that's fun.

More early Black Friday gaming laptop deals

Amazon has actually managed to beat some of Best Buys Black Friday laptop deals

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:17

UPDATE: Nov. 26, 2024, 10:40 a.m. EST This story has been updated with more Black Friday laptop deals at Amazon, including all-new top picks.

Amazon's best Black Friday laptop deals at a glance: Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M3, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $844 (save $255) Get Deal Best Windows laptop deal Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,549.99 (save $450) Get Deal Best gaming laptop deal Acer Nitro V 15 (Intel Core i7-13620H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $749.99 (save $250) Get Deal Best Chromebook deal Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (AMD Ryzen 3 7320C, 8GB RAM, 128GB eMMC) $299.99 (save $100) Get Deal

Amazon's laptop deals are unusually competitive during its Black Friday Week sale (live now through Friday, Nov 29.)

For reference, Best Buy is typically the major retailer with the best Black Friday laptop deals simply because it stocks the biggest selection. There are tons of discounts on a slew of configurations across a variety of brands there, including lots of newer models. (Best Buy is the exclusive retailer partner for a bunch of this year's Copilot+ PCs, for example.)

Meanwhile, Amazon typically zeroes in on Apple MacBooks and a handful of options from Acer, Asus, LG, Microsoft, and Samsung during major savings events. It seems to pick and choose its Windows models pretty randomly, so those who shop there exclusively may have to settle for a configuration that doesn't have the exact specs they want.

Amazon and Best Buy usually offer the exact same deals where their inventories overlap, but in the case of Black Friday 2024, the former has managed to crush its competitor in several notable cases. The base configuration of the 13-inch M3 MacBook Air (now with 16GB of RAM) is $5 cheaper on Amazon than at Best Buy, for instance, while the base M4 Pro-powered MacBook Pro is $50 cheaper.

Among Windows laptops, the Mashable Choice Award-winning Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 is $150 less at Amazon, and the highly rated Asus Zenbook Duo is $100 cheaper even with an extra boost from a My Best Buy discount.

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

Things reach more of a stalemate when it comes to gaming laptops. Best Buy has the best overall deal with its $600 discount on the Alienware m16 R2, Mashable's top gaming laptop of 2024. And the $430 HP Victus featured in one of its doorbusters is the cheapest gaming laptop we've seen thus far. That said, Amazon is offering a pretty stellar deal on a variant of the Acer Nitro V 15, the best budget gaming laptop we've tried. It's actually better than advertised.

Keep in mind that Amazon does not offer price matching, but most items purchased there through Dec. 31 can be returned until Jan. 31, 2025 — save for MacBooks, which can be sent back until Jan. 15. (For its part, Best Buy's price match guarantee does not apply to competitors' offers when they're marked as Black Friday deals. It may eventually decide to conform to Amazon's prices on its own, but there's no telling if or when.)

Read on for a more detailed rundown of the best laptop deals available from Amazon's Black Friday Week sale. We'll continue to price-check our featured offers and look for more deals as the sale progresses, so check back often.

Note: Any deal marked with a 🔥has dropped to a record-low price.

Best MacBook deal at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M3, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $844.00 at Amazon
$1,099.00 Save $255.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple MacBook Air (M3).

The M3 Air is Mashable's favorite MacBook for most people, combining an "exquisite keyboard" with dual external monitor support and "zippy performance," wrote Mashable Tech Editor Kim Gedeon. (She gave it a 4.3/5 in her review.) As briefly mentioned, Apple just upgraded the base configuration from 8GB of memory to 16GB, making it an especially great value at its current sale price.

Amazon has the 13-inch model on sale for just $844 during its Black Friday Week sale, or $255 off its $1,099 MSRP — a 23% savings and a new record-low. It's now less than $100 more than the M2 version, so it's easy to recommend over its predecessor for future-proofing's sake.

The 15-inch version is also on sale for $255 off at Amazon, which Best Buy has decided to match.

More MacBook deals at Amazon:Best Windows laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) 🔥 $1,559.99 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $440.00 Get Deal Why we like it

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

Microsoft's slick Qualcomm-powered laptop lasted nearly 23 hours in our battery life test and one-upped the M3 MacBooks in our performance benchmark (both the Air and the Pro models). If Windows on Arm doesn't pose any compatibility issues for your go-to apps, we think it's the best Windows laptop for most people. It's a Mashable Choice Award-winner that got a 4.8/5 rating from Gedeon, which makes it one of our highest-rated laptops of 2024. (The Asus Zenbook Duo got the same score.)

The 13-inch model we tested came with a Snapdragon X Elite CPU, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage. It usually retails for a hefty $1,999.99, but Amazon's Black Friday Week sale has brought it down to just $1,549.99 there. That's 23% off and another new all-time low. It was $1,699.99 at Best Buy and $1,599 in the Microsoft Store at the time of writing, FYI.

If you don't want to spend that much, pared-down configurations start at $849.99.

More Windows laptop deals at Amazon:

2-in-1 laptops

Gaming laptop dealsBest Chromebook deal

Get some new tech on a budget with discounted Chromebooks for Black Friday

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:15

UPDATE: Nov. 26, 2024, 10:15 a.m. EST This article has been updated with the latest Chromebook deals ahead of Black Friday 2024.

Best early Black Friday Chromebook deals Best Chromebook deal Asus Chromebook Plus XC34 (Intel Core i3-1215U, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, 8GB RAM, 128GB UFS) $329 (save $40) Get Deal Best 2-in-1 Chromebook deal Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 (Intel 13th Generation Core i5, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $449.99 (save $250) Get Deal

Chromebooks don't get the respect they deserve when most people talk about which laptops are worth buying. While Chromebooks aren't necessarily the top-tier machines many are looking for, they're still great budget options for those who don't need a technical powerhouse of a laptop. They're affordable, and they get the job done — sometimes, that's all you need.

Ahead of Black Friday 2024, Chromebooks are even more affordable, because a lot of them are on sale before the big event. If you're interested in picking up some new tech for cheap, now is the time to seriously consider your options.

SEE ALSO: HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch review: A big-screened budget laptop for the right user

Check out our favorite pre-Black-Friday Chromebook deals below, and be sure to keep checking back — we'll be updating this article as new offers go live.

Best Chromebook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Asus Asus Chromebook Plus XC34 (Intel Core i3-1215U, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, 8GB RAM, 128GB UFS) $329.00 at Walmart
$369.00 Save $40.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Asus Chromebook Plus XC34 is a great laptop for those who take a more minimalist approach to their tech. It can handle all the basics with flying colors, from web browsing, to document editing, and all the other day-to-day tasks most people find themselves doing. Ahead of Black Friday, the Chromebook is only $329 at Walmart, which is a nice little $40 discount off a super affordable computer.

Best 2-in-1 Chromebook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 (Intel 13th Generation Core i5, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $449.99 at Best Buy
$699.99 Save $250.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Prefer versatility to everything else? You'll probably want a 2-in-1 laptop, and the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 may be one you'll want to check out. The laptop-tablet combo comes with some pretty decent specs for a budget device, and features a seamless convertible body that you can switch up at a moment's notice. This Chromebook is currently sitting at $449.99 at Best Buy, which is $250 off the original price. It also comes bundled with a convenient carrying sleeve.

More Chromebook deals

MacBook deals are going hard this Black Friday — here are the best deals live now

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:12

UPDATE: Nov. 28, 2024, 4:00 a.m. EST This article has been updated with the latest MacBook deals ahead of Black Friday 2024.

Best early Black Friday MacBook deals Best MacBook Pro deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4,16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,399.99 (save $200) Get Deal Best MacBook Air deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749 (save $250) Get Deal

Well folks, it's about that time. Black Friday 2024 is just around the corner, and the deals are already starting to trickle in, especially on big-ticket tech items.

If you're hoping to pick up a new laptop during the holiday sales, you're in luck, because Black Friday (and pre-Black Friday) is always a great time to snag some fantastic offers. MacBooks normally show up to the Black Friday party in a big way, and the discounts are already brewing (even the latest M4 MacBook Pro is on sale).

SEE ALSO: M4 Pro and M4 Max benchmarks just leaked — the new MacBook Pro should terrify Windows laptops

While they may be scarce at the moment, there are some worthwhile MacBook deals out in the wild as we speak. Here are the best ones we could find so far, but be sure to keep checking back, as we'll be updating this page as new deals go live.

Best MacBook Pro deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4,16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,399.00 at Best Buy
$1,599.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The newest MacBook Pro is here, and it's already on sale. The M4-chip-equipped powerhouse is the fastest the MacBook has ever been, and you can save $200 on one at Best Buy ahead of Black Friday. It's the most powerful MacBook to date, so if you've been waiting to splurge, now is your moment.

More early Black Friday MacBook Pro dealsBest MacBook Air deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749.00 at Amazon
$999.00 Save $250.00 Get Deal Why we like it

When it comes to MacBooks, going back a few generations isn't a huge sacrifice, and it'll almost always save you a bunch of money. The M2 Air is still a fantastic laptop, and you can snag one for just $749 ahead of Black Friday. That's $250 off the original price and a pretty sweet deal if you need some new tech on short notice.

More early Black Friday MacBook Air deals

The best early Black Friday laptop deals: Score all-time lows on the M4 MacBook Pro and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:10

UPDATE: Nov. 28, 2024, 4:00 a.m. EST This story has been updated with new laptop deals ahead of Black Friday.

The best early Black Friday laptop deals at a glance: Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,399 (save $200) Get Deal Best Windows laptop deal Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,699.99 (save $300) Get Deal Best gaming laptop deal Lenovo Legion 7i Gen 9 (Intel Core i9-14900HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,799.99 (save $560) Get Deal Best Chromebook deal Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus (Intel Core 3 100U, 8GB RAM, 256GB UFS) $599.99 (save $100) Get Deal

Black Friday is the absolute best time for finding good deals on laptops. (I would know: I've tracked them for Mashable since 2019.) And with retailers taking full advantage of the holiday's abnormally late timing this year, steep savings have been abundant all month long.

As things currently stand, Black Friday sales are already in full swing at HP, Dell, Lenovo, LG, Microsoft, and Samsung, ushering in discounts as high as $900. While tech retailers like Amazon and Best Buy still haven't kicked off their holiday sales at this point, their prices are quite competitive: I'm seeing year-round lows on the new M4 Apple MacBook Pro, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, and the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus between the two of them.

SEE ALSO: Best Buy's Black Friday sale starts this week: Here's a sneak peak at some of its upcoming doorbusters

If nothing's jumping out at you just yet, hold tight. Deals will continue to trickle out in the lead-up to Black Friday and the day of. (Don't buy a laptop with specs that don't fit your needs just because it's on sale.) For its part, Best Buy is gearing up to drop a $749 M2 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and a $430 HP Victus gaming laptop when its Black Friday sale formally starts on Nov. 21.

I also expect the Apple Store's usual Black Friday gift card offer to hold out until Black Friday proper. That could be a practical option for those enmeshed in the Apple ecosystem, if a specific configuration you're eyeing doesn't get a significant markdown elsewhere.

Below, I'm keeping track of the best Black Friday laptop deals that are available now. Bookmark this page and check back often, as I'll be updating the list continuously in the days leading up to the year's biggest shopping holiday.

Best early Black Friday MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,399.99 at Amazon
$1,599.00 Save $199.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro (M4).

In our all-new testing, Apple's latest starter MacBook Pro lasted almost 17 hours on a single charge and outperformed the M3 version by 27 percent. Mashable Tech Editor Kim Gedeon was impressed by its power efficiency, its stellar speakers, and its upgraded 12MP webcam, rating it a 4.2/5, but said that "at a starting price of $1,599, it’s an investment that’s not for the faint of heart." (On the plus side, it comes with 16GB of RAM.)

Amazon has done a good job of remedying that ahead of Black Friday: The base configuration with 512GB of storage is on sale there for $1,399, which is a 13% savings and its lowest price since launch.

More MacBook dealsBest early Black Friday Windows 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 and the Microsoft Store
$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.

More Windows laptop deals

2-in-1s

Best early Black Friday gaming laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Legion 7i Gen 9 (Intel Core i9-14900HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,799.99 at Lenovo.com
$2,359.99 Save $560.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Lenovo's specced-out 16-incher features a brawny 14th-gen Intel Core i7 CPU, a premium Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card, and a bright 240Hz display. We haven't tried it ourselves, but the experts over at our sister site PCMag gave it a 4/5 "Excellent" rating and their Editor's Choice distinction. It delivers "punchy gaming performance and premium features in a reasonably slim chassis," they wrote, and "stands out as a well-rounded, high-end gaming laptop."

Gamers in need of a future-proofed upgrade can snag it for $560 off lead-up to Black Friday, which pushes it well under the $2,000 mark — a pretty solid value.

More gaming laptop dealsBest early Black Friday Chromebook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus (Intel Core 3 100U, 8GB RAM, 256GB UFS) $599.99 at Best Buy
$699.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Announced in October, this 15.6-inch Samsung Galaxy machine is the thinnest, lightest Chromebook Plus model on the market and the only one with an AMOLED display. (Translation: It's super vibrant.) It has an Intel Core 3 100U processor, 8GB of memory, and 256GB of UFS storage, and supports newer Gemini AI features like Live Translate.

Typically $699.99, Best Buy has it on sale for $100 off as part of an early Black Friday deal — its first-ever discount.

More Chromebook deals

A lot of fitness tracker deals are live ahead of Black Friday — here are the best deals

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:09
Best early Black Friday fitness tracker deals Best fitness tracker deal Fitbit Charge 3 $69.95 (save $30) Get Deal Best smartwatch deal Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 (44mm) $169.99 (save $160) Get Deal

2025 is nearly upon us, and we can already feel those New Year's resolutions brewing. If your resolution has anything to do with becoming more active, you may want to consider picking up a fitness tracker to assist you in achieving your goals next year. Luckily, Black Friday deals are already starting to rear their heads, so it's a fantastic time to pick one up at a discount whether you're looking for something more basic, or something high-tech like a smartwatch.

SEE ALSO: Home gym starter kit: Everything you need to work out from home

Below, take a look at our favorite fitness tracker deals we've found in the weeks leading up to Black Friday. Keep checking in with us, though — we constantly update our deals pages with new discounts as soon as they go live, so if you want to stay on top of it, stick with us.

Best fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Charge 3 $69.95 at Amazon
$99.95 Save $30.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Fitbit is synonymous with the entirety of the fitness tracker category, and it's for a good reason: They work well, and they're affordable. The Fitbit Charge 3 has become even more affordable ahead of Black Friday — just $69.95 for the tracker, which is $30 off the original price. If you want to track your activity, stress, sleep, and more on a budget, the Fitbit Charge 3 isn't a bad place to start.

Best smartwatch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 (44mm, Bluetooth) $189.99 at Amazon
$329.99 Save $140.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Most people turn to the Apple Watch for their smartwatch needs, which isn't a bad choice, but the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 also might be something you want to consider. (You don't always have to go for the most popular thing!) It also packs in a bunch of great features like heart monitoring in addition to your usual activity and sleep analytics, and it's on sale for $160 off the usual price at Amazon. Pick one up ahead of the Black Friday season and secure those savings.

More early Black Friday fitness tracker deals

The best early Black Friday iPad deals: Several models are over $100 off

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:08

UPDATE: Nov. 28, 2024, 3:00 a.m. EST This post has been updated with the best iPad deals available ahead of Black Friday, including a $100 price cut on the iPad Air and new iPad Pro deals.

Best iPad deals ahead of Black Friday Best overall deal Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M2, WiFi, 128GB) $499 (Save $100 at Best Buy) Get Deal Best budget iPad deal Apple iPad, 10.9-inch (10th generation, WiFi, 64GB) $259 (Save $90 at Amazon) Get Deal Best iPad mini deal Apple iPad mini, 8.3-inch (A17 Bionic, WiFi, 128GB) $399.99 (Save $99.01 at Amazon with on-page coupon) Get Deal

If you don't want to wait until the actual day of Black Friday to shop, iPad deals aren't waiting either.

In these days before Black Friday, every major retailer has started some version of their sale programming. That means we're seeing prices at or near record lows already, from the iPad Air at $100 off, the 10th generation iPad at $90 off, and the new iPad mini at $99 off.

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

As for whether you'll score significantly better prices during Black Friday, it's hard to say, especially as these prices currently are some of the best of the year. What we can say is that we'll be updating this post with any iPad price drops leading into, on, or following Black Friday. As of Nov. 26, here are the best iPad deals already available:

Best iPad deal ahead of Black Friday Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M2, WiFi, 128GB) $499.00 at Best Buy
$599.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

We consider the iPad Air the best Apple tablet for most people: it has the flexibility to be a good school companion as it can be a laptop replacement or art tablet. The M2 chip also powers some older Pro models, but you'll be saving a few hundred bucks (especially with this iPad deal).

At $499, this iPad is just a dollar away from its record low pricing, making it an excellent time to pick it up ahead of the holidays. If you're looking to score the most savings possible, even if that means wading into the chaos of Black Friday, you might want to hold off — the Air initially dropped to this price about a week ago, so there is a chance that it drops even more come Black Friday. At the time of writing, this deal is available at Target, Best Buy, and Amazon, with the latter two having all four colors available.

More iPad deals

iPad

iPad Air

iPad mini

iPad Pro

Early Black Friday AirPods deals are live — here are the best ones so far

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:06

UPDATE: Nov. 28, 2024, 3:15 a.m. EST This post has been updated with the latest pricing on all available AirPods models ahead of Black Friday.

Best early Black Friday AirPods deals Best AirPods Pro deal Apple AirPods Pro 2 $169.99 (save $79.01) Get Deal Best AirPods Max deal Apple AirPods Max $399.99 (save $149.01) Get Deal

Black Friday isn't here just yet, but it kind of already is, if that makes sense. You know the drill: Before most big shopping events nowadays, we usually see a bunch of early deals start to slowly crop up, ones that are definitely worth paying attention to. Especially if you're looking for tech products — Black Friday and pre-Black-Friday are always exciting times for those who are looking to catch up on the latest and greatest that the industry has to offer.

Headphones definitely fall into that category, specifically Apple's line of popular audio tech: AirPods. A few different AirPods models are on sale in the weeks preceding Black Friday, including the lastest release, the AirPods 4.

SEE ALSO: The 8 best noise-cancelling headphones of 2024

Check out all the best early Black Friday AirPods deals we could find below, and be sure to keep checking back, because we'll be updating this page as more offers go live.

Best AirPods Pro deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 2 $169.99 at Amazon
$249.00 Save $79.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Apple AirPods Pro 2.

The Apple AirPods Pro 2, which come packed with great features like ANC, hearing protection options, personalized spatial audio, and more, are currently $60 off at Amazon ahead of Black Friday. Considering the record low price on these earbuds is $168.99, we're definitely expecting to see a better price drop during Black Friday. Though that $168 price point may be rare, we frequently see these earbuds go on sale for $199 throughout the year, so much so that we don't really consider that a good deal anymore.

Best AirPods Max deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Max (Lightning) $399.99 at Amazon
$549.00 Save $149.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Apple AirPods Max.

If you're not really into earbuds, the AirPods Max are a good pair of over-ear headphones that'll allow you to stay within the Apple ecosystem (we get it, we like our tech to have synergy, too). While we like them for Apple users, we do have some qualms with their shorter battery life, weird carrying case, and lack of a power button, especially at their price point. That said, it's easier to look past those flaws with a good discount, which you'll find on the Lightning pairs instead of the newer USB-C model (which is the only upgrade, other than different colorways, on the newer version of these headphones).

More early Black Friday AirPods deals

The best Apple Watch deals before Black Friday: The Series 10, 9, and SE are down to all-time low prices

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:05

UPDATE: Nov. 28, 2024, 4:00 a.m. EST This post has been updated with the most recent price drop on the Apple Watch Series 10, Series 9, SE, and Ultra.

The best Apple Watch deals ahead of Black Friday Best Series 10 deal Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm, GPS) $329 at Amazon (Save $70) Get Deal Best Series 9 deal Apple Watch Series 9 (45mm, GPS) $329 at Walmart (Save $100) Get Deal Best Ultra deal Apple Watch Ultra 2 (49mm, GPS + cellular) $699.99 at Amazon (Save $99.01) Get Deal

Black Friday sales are in full swing, bringing some of the best prices we've seen on Apple Watches all year.

As of Nov. 26, the Series 10 is $70 in most of its configurations, the Series 9 is down to $279.99 (returning to its July Prime Day pricing), and the SE is at the new low price of $149.

If you hesitated to pick up the Series 9 deal during Prime Day because the Series 10 wasn't out yet, this Black Friday season offers you another chance to make the call between last year and this year's watches. The differences between the watches aren't too drastic, so if you're most focused on saving money, you might want to go with a Series 9, especially as we don't expect them to be available new for much longer.

SEE ALSO: Walmart's second Black Friday sale is live: Get a $149 Apple Watch SE, a $178 55-inch 4K Roku TV, and more

Of course, for those most interested in getting the cheapest Watch possible, grabbing the new discount price of $149 you'll find on the 40mm SE is a solid option.

Below, you'll find each of those picks, along with more of the best Apple Watch deals live leading up to Black Friday.

Best Apple Watch deal ahead of Black Friday Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm, GPS) $329.00 at Amazon
$399.00 Save $70.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read more from Mashable about the Apple Watch Series 10.

Just two months after its release, the Series 10 is down to a record-low price for the third time. Throughout November, we watched it fall in price from $355 to $349, and now, finally, $329. Last year, the Series 9 also dropped to $329 during the Black Friday. With programming running early yet again this year, it's hard to tell if Amazon, or any retailer for that matter, will drop the price even further — it would be their biggest Black Friday discount on a fall Apple Watch release if they did. Still, $329 is a great price on a newly released smartwatch that includes upgrades of a larger display, a slightly thinner watch, and an inbuilt speaker for playing audio directly from your watch.

More Apple Watch deals

Series 10

Series 9

SE

Ultra

All the best Black Friday streaming deals so far: Hulu, Peacock, Max, and more

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:01
The best Black Friday streaming deals at a glance: BEST OVERALL Hulu with ads $0.99/month for one year (save $108) Get Deal BEST BUNDLE DEAL Hulu and Disney+ (both with ads) $2.99/month for one year (save $96) Get Deal BEST PEACOCK DEAL Peacock Premium $1.99/month for six months of $19.99/year with codes REALDEALMONTHLY or REALDEAL (save up to $60) Get Deal BEST MAX DEAL Max With Ads $2.99/month for six months (save $42) Get Deal BEST PRIME VIDEO ADD-ON Paramount+ with Showtime (Prime Video add-on) $2.99 per month for two months (save $20) Get Deal BEST FOR HORROR FANS AMC+ Ad-Free (Prime Video add-on) $2.25 per month for two months (save $13.48) Get Deal BEST FOR NEW THEATRICAL RELEASES MGM+ (Prime Video add-on) $1.75 per month for two months (save $10.48) Get Deal BEST FOR CHRISTMAS ADDICTS Hallmark+ (Prime Video add-on) $2 per month for two months (save $11.98) Get Deal

'Tis the season for streaming. Black Friday is one of the best times (if not the best time) to sign up for streaming services, as you can typically score some serious savings on monthly membership fees. In years past, we've seen Hulu offer 99 cent subscriptions and Max offer six months of streaming for $2.99 per month. And we're pleased to report that those deals have been resurrected in 2024.

With streaming prices skyrocketing over the past year, we're actually a bit surprised at how impressive some of these Black Friday deals are. If you're looking for a way to cut back on streaming costs, now's a great time to take advantage of a majorly discounted subscription. Just make note that these deals are limited to new and returning subscribers (as in, you once subscribed to Max, but cancelled your subscription months back) only.

There's no need to wait around for Black Friday proper. Snag these subscriptions before the deals vanish. If any other streaming deals surface, we'll be sure to update this with the latest and greatest ones. For now, here are all the best Black Friday streaming deals live.

Best Black Friday streaming deal

Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu with ads monthly subscription $0.99/month for one year (save $108) Get Deal Why we like it

Hulu remains the top dog when it comes to Black Friday deals. For the second year in a row, the streamer is offering an entire year of Hulu with ads for just $0.99 per month. That's less than $12 total for an entire year of streaming. It's a bit surprising, honestly, as Hulu upped the cost of its basic plan just last month from $7.99 per month to $9.99 per month. In other words, the savings this year is even more impressive — 90% or $108 in total over 12 months. That's just...insane.

Hulu is the streaming home for three of our favorite shows of 2023, The Bear, Abbott Elementary, and Reservation Dogs, as well as our top favorite show of 2024, Shōgun. It's also where you'll find episodes of ABC shows the day after they air, like Dancing with the Stars, and Neon movies fresh out of the theaters, like Cuckoo (coming Dec. 17).

Best Peacock streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium $1.99/month for six months or $19.99/year (save up to $60) with codes REALDEALMONTHLY or REALDEAL Get Deal Why we like it

Peacock drops one of the best streaming deals year after year during Black Friday season. And because of the streamer's price hike back in July, this year's deal is even better. Through Dec. 2, new and returning Peacock subscribers can score a year of ad-supported Peacock Premium for either $1.99/month for six months (reg. $7.99/month) or $19.99 for an entire year (reg. $79.99/year) using the codes REALDEALMONTHLY or REALDEAL, respectively. That's 75% in savings. Peacock is home to classic TV hits like The Office and New Girl, Peacock Originals like Poker Face and Love Island USA, new theatrical releases from Universal like Abigail, The Fall Guy, and Twisters, as well as live sports, reality TV on Bravo, and more. At just $20 for the whole year, it's going to be a hard deal to beat this Black Friday.

Best Max streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max With Ads $2.99/month for six months (save $42) Get Deal Why we like it

Max has resurrected its exact Black Friday deal from last year, but that doesn't make us love it any less. If you're a new or returning HBO Max subscriber, you can score six months of the streamer's plan with ads for just $2.99 per month instead of $9.99 per month. That saves you $42 total. The Warner Bros. Discovery-owned streaming service is home to not only Warner Bros. films, but also new A24 theatrical releases. That means you have an insane array of hit films at your fingertips, including Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Civil War, Love Lies Bleeding, Dune, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Barbie, Elvis, The Iron Claw, and more. Max also offers its own original series that are definitely worth watching, like True Detective, The Last of Us, and Station Eleven, as well as the B/R Sports add-on for a limited time.

Best Prime Video add-on deal Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video / Paramount+ Paramount+ with Showtime (Prime Video add-on) $2.99 per month for two months (save $10 per month) Get Deal Why we like it

Typically $12.99 per month, you can score Paramount+ with Showtime for just $2.99 per month for your first two months as a Prime Video add-on. That saves you $20 total and gets you unlimited, ad-free access to the entire Paramount+ catalog, plus Showtime originals and movies (like Yellowjackets and The Curse), live TV with CBS, and college football. Paramount+ is home to NFL on CBS, UEFA Champions League matches, CBS originals like Ghosts, Survivor, and Big Brother, old Nickelodeon and MTV shows, and Paramount's latest theatrical releases like A Quiet Place: Day One and Smile 2 (coming soon). For just under $6, you can binge a whole lot of stuff over the next two months. After the promo period, the cost will jump back up to $12.99 per month, so be sure to cancel before that if you want to avoid charges. If you're not a Prime member, Paramount+ is also offering the same deal on their standalone streaming service.

More Black Friday streaming deals

We track Apple deals year-round — Black Friday 2024 has the lowest prices we’ve seen

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 03:59

UPDATE: Nov. 28, 2024, 3:00 a.m. EST This post has been updated with the latest Apple deals leading up to Black Friday, including a new price drop on the Apple AirPods Pro 2, which just landed at an all-time low.

The best early Black Friday Apple deals Best AirPods deal Apple AirPods Pro (2nd gen) $154 at Amazon (Save $95) Get Deal Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749 at Amazon (Save $250) Get Deal Best iPad deal Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M2, WiFi, 128GB) $499 at Amazon (Save $100) Get Deal Best Apple Watch deal Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm, GPS) $329 at Amazon (Save $70) Get Deal

If you think Apple doesn't show up with good deals during Black Friday season, think again.

It's true that if you're shopping straight from the Apple Store, you won't see any special deals ahead of Nov. 29. On Black Friday proper, Apple is giving out gift cards up to $200 on eligible purchases of iPhones, MacBooks, AirPods, and more.

SEE ALSO: Finally live: Amazon's official Black Friday sale and a ton of new deals are here

So, where can you find Black Friday Apple deals? The trick is to shop from retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart — each has started their official Black Friday programming, with the former two kicking off a new phase of their sale as of Nov. 21. As we get into the full swing of the shopping holiday season, you can score historic prices on the most coveted Apple products.

For anyone skeptical as to whether Black Friday deals on Apple products are genuine, we get it. Retailers have a bad habit of slapping Black Friday labels on mediocre deals. That said, we track Apple prices year-round, and only the legit price drops earn a spot in this guide.

SEE ALSO: Early Black Friday TV deals at Best Buy and Walmart absolutely school Amazon's

For instance, with the start of Amazon's sale on Nov. 21, the newer configurations of the M3 MacBook Air just dropped an additional $50 from their existing sale prices, with select models starting at a new record low of $849. The AirPods Pro also hit a new record-low price of $154 at Amazon and Walmart, beating out their old Prime Day record by nearly $15.

Basically, if you're looking to get some early holiday shopping in, it's a good time to shop for Apple products. Below, you'll find our top picks for the best Apple deals of Black Friday 2024.

Early Black Friday AirPods deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro (2nd gen) $154.00 at Amazon
$249.00 Save $95.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the AirPods Pro.

Whether you're a frequent flyer or someone who simply appreciates quality noise-cancelling headphones, we're betting you'd be a fan of the AirPods Pro. (If you're reading this far, let's assume you're not an Android user.) And as of Nov. 25, the latest version of the Pro is at a historic low of $154. Considering they've only hit $168.99 a handful of times prior to this price drop, we're impressed that Amazon and Walmart went all in on this deal a good week ahead of Black Friday.

Not for nothing, they're also about $15 cheaper at this price than their affordable alternative, the new AirPods 4 with ANC, which are also on sale. Alongside top-notch ANC, you'll get six hours of battery life per charge, balanced sound, and of course, a seamless integration into the Apple ecosystem, making these earbuds some of our favorite headphones, period.

More AirPods dealsEarly Black Friday iMac and MacBook deals 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 few weeks ago, the MacBook Air got a quiet RAM upgrade, and without a price hike. Now, we're seeing the M2 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage on sale for $749 — the same price the model with 8GB of RAM was at two weeks ago. 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.

More MacBook and Mac deals

MacBook Air (13-inch)

MacBook Air (15-inch)

MacBook Pro

Mac

Early Black Friday iPad deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M2, WiFi, 128GB) $499.00 at Amazon
$599.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

On the first day of Amazon's Black Friday sale, the iPad Air is just one dollar away from its lowest price ever. This Apple tablet is our favorite for most people, thanks to its versatility. It works just as well for artists as it does for students. The M2 chipset makes it a more viable laptop replacement than other tablets while costing you a few hundred dollars less than a supercharged iPad Pro. At the time of writing, only the blue and purple colorways are in stock at Amazon.

SEE ALSO: The best iPads for reading, working, and streaming More iPad deals

iPad

iPad Air

iPad mini

iPad Pro

Early Black Friday Apple Watch deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm, GPS) $329.00 at Amazon
$399.00 Save $70.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read more from Mashable about the Apple Watch Series 10.

The Apple Watch Series 10 is officially down to a new record low price for the third time this month. This time around, it's at $329, as compared to last week's $349. In years past, this is the absolute lowest price we've seen for Apple Watches released in the fall drop preceding Black Friday. That's not to say Amazon couldn't up the ante this year and mark it off even more come next Friday, but we don't think the Series 10 will get any more discounts in the week ahead.

More Apple Watch deals

Series 10

SE

Ultra

More early Black Friday Apple deals

The Samsung Frame TV is at its lowest-ever price in Amazons Black Friday sale

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 03:56

SAVE $600: As of Nov. 28, the Samsung Frame TV is on sale at Amazon for $897.99, saving you 40% on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Frame TV $897.99 at Amazon
$1,497.99 Save $600.00 Get Deal

Amazon's Black Friday event is the perfect chance to secure incredible deals across laptops, earbuds, and TVs. There's something for everyone. One of the best deals we've seen is on the beloved Samsung Frame TV, a top-tier option that comes with a top-tier price.

But, as of Nov. 28, you can find this TV heavily discounted at Amazon, saving you $600. For a limited time, the 55-inch model is priced at $897.99. There are discounts across all sizes, however, so if you want bigger (or smaller) just browse through the different options. And that's not all, this price is the lowest it has ever been at Amazon, so it's not one to miss.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's official Black Friday sale is live, and a ton of new deals are here SEE ALSO: The best early Black Friday deals at Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and Walmart

A stylish and aesthetic TV, the Samsung device has long been famous for its ability to camouflage as a painting on your wall. The 4K QLED display gives you a stellar viewing experience when bingeing your favorite shows, before giving you an amazing artwork image when not watching. Special mention to the matte finish, reducing reflections and making your displayed images pop even more. How many of your friends can you trick?

Artwork aside, it also features a Tizen smart interface for a user-friendly experience for navigating apps and settings, voice control compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant, and multiple HDMI ports and USB connections, making it a great option for TV fanatics.

Ready to upgrade your TV before the Christmas movie rewatches? Head to Amazon to grab this deal.

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