Feed aggregator

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 21, 2025

Mashable - Thu, 11/20/2025 - 22:00

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're a big eater.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. 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 today's 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?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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 Pips hints, answers for November 21, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Found on a jacket

  • Green: Alcoholic drinks

  • Blue: Found in animated films

  • Purple: To scarf down

Here are today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Things worn on lapels

  • Green: Cocktails

  • Blue: Pixar protagonists

  • Purple: Starting with synonyms for "Eat"

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 #894 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

  • Things worn on lapels: AWARENESS RIBBON, BOUTONNIERE, LAPEL PIN, LAVALIER

  • Cocktails: COSMOPOLITAN, GREYHOUND, SCREWDRIVER, SEA BREEZE

  • Pixar protagonists: CLOWNFISH, GRUMPY OLD MAN, RACECAR, TALKING DOLL

  • Starting with synonyms for "Eat": BOLT CUTTER, CHOW MEIN, SCARF RING, WOLF EEL

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 21, 2025

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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.

NYT Strands hints, answers for November 21, 2025

Mashable - Thu, 11/20/2025 - 22:00

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you work a 9 to 5.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 21, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 21, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Heard at the board meeting

The words are related to work.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe work terms.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Corporate Speak.

NYT Strands word list for November 21

  • Liaise

  • Disrupt

  • Align

  • Corporate Speak

  • Ideate

  • Scale

  • Pivot

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and 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 Strands.

Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 21, 2025

Mashable - Thu, 11/20/2025 - 22:00

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're good with words.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today'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 hints today: Clues, answers for November 21, 2025 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 Pips hints, answers for November 21, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A, E, I, O, U.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter V.

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...

VOWEL

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 21, 2025

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.

Hurdle hints and answers for November 21, 2025

Mashable - Thu, 11/20/2025 - 22:00

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

To avoid.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

AVERT

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A steep overhang.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 21, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

CLIFF

Hurdle Word 3 hint

An email service.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 21 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 21, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

YAHOO

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Chaos.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 21 Hurdle Word 4 answer

HAVOC

Final Hurdle hint

A peak.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

CREST

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

From Oura to Whoop, we tested the best sleep trackers of 2025

Mashable - Thu, 11/20/2025 - 20:00

Sleep trackers — wearable devices that monitor all your vitals — provide detailed summaries of your sleep cycle so you know how many hours of REM, deep, and light sleep you're getting. Most fitness trackers come equipped with sleep tracking these days, but choosing the best from that bunch is not as straightforward. These days, sleep trackers come in all shapes and sizes, and fortunately, our experts here at Mashable have tested them all.

Plus, with Black Friday 2025, we expect to see our favorite sleep trackers on sale. If your sleepmaxxing routine of magnesium supplements and pillow sprays isn't cutting it, here are the best sleep trackers of 2025.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More portable speaker dealsBest fitness tracker deal

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

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

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

More fitness tracker dealsBest vacuum deal

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

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

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

Best kitchen deal

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

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

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

More kitchen deals

How Nano Banana changes Google Messages

Mashable - Thu, 11/20/2025 - 18:26

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

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

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

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

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

The new Remix feature on Android Credit: Google

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More noise-cancelling earbuds deals

Mashable contributor Matt Ford also assisted with this guide.

This $40 app can turn your iPhone into a scanner

Mashable - Thu, 11/20/2025 - 18:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More early Black Friday Fire tablet deals

Pages

Subscribe to Page Integrity, Inc. aggregator