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Apparently, getting better at something now requires adding "maxxing" to its name. There's sleepmaxxing, proteinmaxxing, looksmaxxing, and even cozymaxxing, because a night on the couch can apparently be optimized, too.

As of Oct 26, "maxxing" is Dictionary.com’s 2026 Word of the Year. The publisher describes it as:

“the practice of pursuing an activity to the fullest or optimizing a certain aspect of your life.”

The shorthand for "maximizing" can describe a serious self-improvement effort or a joke about doing very little. Its versatility has helped it spread across beauty, wellness, work, and everyday internet conversation.

Dictionary.com traces the term’s roots through "min-maxing," a gaming strategy that involves developing a character’s strengths until their weaknesses matter less. Online communities eventually gave "maxxing" another "x" and an expanding list of things to work on.

One of its most recognizable forms is "looksmaxxing," which focuses on improving physical appearance. But the template has spread into workplace conversations about "tokenmaxxing," or using as much AI as possible, and lifestyle trends like "frictionmaxxing," which implores you to "rethink your relationship to your device — and your humanity." Increasingly, Dictionary.com says, people also use "maxxing" as a word on its own.

The dictionary recognition has been building, too. In September, Merriam-Webster added "looksmaxxing" among 1,400 new words and definitions, alongside "vibe-coding" and "cuffing season."

The word's history also goes beyond jokes about optimizing your bedtime. Looksmaxxing grew out of incel forums and sits within the broader manosphere, a network of online communities often associated with misogyny and rigid ideas about masculinity. Mashable has explored the subculture through its looksmaxxing glossary and coverage of its racist beauty standards and dehumanizing language about women.

SEE ALSO: The Looksmaxxing Glossary: Every term you need to understand the internet's most unhinged subculture

One of looksmaxxing's most recognizable figures is Braden Peters, better known as Clavicular, who shares appearance-focused (and often misogynistic) advice with millions of followers. While looksmaxxing can involve everyday grooming and skincare, its more extreme forms include crash dieting and "bone smashing" — striking facial bones in the unfounded belief that doing so will create a more defined face. There's also "pheromone-maxxing," which involves skipping showers, avoiding deodorant, or wearing unwashed clothes in the hope that a stronger natural scent will attract potential partners.

The concerns extend beyond physical injury. New Zealand's Classification Office, for example, warns that some looksmaxxing content can encourage disordered eating, obsessive scrutiny of appearance, and feelings of hopelessness, while exposing viewers to misogynistic or extremist messaging. That history matters as the language becomes mainstream, even as people adopt "maxxing" for pursuits far removed from those communities.

What else made the shortlist?

Dictionary.com’s other finalists were "affordability" "data center," "odyssey," and "unc." Its explanations, respectively, pointed to the cost of living, debates over AI infrastructure, Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, and slang for someone considered older or out of touch.

Together, the choices offer a recognizable portrait of 2026: money worries, AI everywhere, a major movie event, and, yes, slang with roots in incel forums.

If that all sounds exhausting, there's always touching-grass-maxxing.

The Elon Musk-owned X has a new main character — or, this time, two entire countries.

While the platform is no stranger to users from different countries trading barbs with their neighbors (see: the FIFA World Cup), what's happening between France and Japan has gotten a little ugly. As protests in France continue over the rising cost of living and demands for better learning conditions in schools, X users in the country began to fight back against Japanese users who blamed the unrest on Black and Arab people.

At the end of the day, it's ugly internet beef. But to understand why it's these two countries in particular, here's some context.

France's "Act 3" protests

France is in the middle of a major protest movement. It started in mid-September at a high school in Créteil, southeast of Paris, where students and staff were frustrated by a shortage of teachers and resources. Since then, parents and union members have joined high school students, and some demonstrations have ended in clashes with police using tear gas. On Oct. 6 alone, about 56,000 people marched through Paris.

Frustration over rising living costs and struggling public services has fueled the unrest, too. Given that mass movements like these create unruly environments, there has also been rioting and looting in the streets of Paris.

Because the protests are about the state of education in France, the turnout skews toward students — and Gen Z loves anime. As Bloomberg reports, a Sony Group study of anime watchers across 10 countries found that "79 [percent] of anime fans between the ages of 13 and 17" had watched more anime than the year prior, with 68 percent of Gen Z respondents saying the same. At Oct. 17 demonstrations in Paris, Lyon, and Montpellier, students carried the Straw Hat Pirates' flag from One Piece, along with references to Naruto, Dragon Ball, and Jujutsu Kaisen. One slogan going around declared, "The world will be saved by Otakus."

The Straw Hat Jolly Roger is not an uncommon sight at protests these days. In the show itself, the main character, Monkey D. Luffy, and his pirate crew spend much of their adventures fighting corrupt governments and freeing oppressed peoples. The flag, as a symbol of rebellion, has appeared at demonstrations in Indonesia and Nepal.

Ironically, though, some Japanese users on X did not like this. On Oct. 19, the X account Anime Spotlight shared a roundup of Japanese users who were angry that the flag had become associated with violent unrest. It’s unclear how widely that view is shared.

Some Japanese X users then blamed France's unrest on Black and Arab immigrants, often with slurs and images of monkeys or the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Those posts echoed anti-immigration talking points that circulate among right-wing influencers and politicians in Europe and the U.S., even though the protests are about underfunded schools.

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French users hit back, and they weren’t any gentler. Their posts, translated from French, have gone viral — primarily going after Japanese men, playing on stereotypes about brutal work culture, loneliness, and the sexualization of young girls in some anime and manga.

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While the beef started with Japanese users attacking Black people, plenty of the French jokes are racist, too.

Why France and Japan?

What makes the feud strange is that these two countries usually get along famously. Japan has long held a romantic view of France, and France has been one of manga's biggest markets in Europe. Their leaders have even gotten in on the anime fandom: In April, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and French President Emmanuel Macron struck the Dragon Ball Kamehameha pose together at a joint news conference.

In fact, Japan has its own fantasy version of France, so well known that there’s a name for the shock some tourists feel when the real city doesn't match it, called Paris syndrome.

The fantasy of what Paris and France are is part of the reason this feud kicked off. Many Japanese fans love an idealized "Western" version of Paris, not one with tear gas in the streets. Plenty of Westerners hold an equally idealized picture of Japan, largely shaped by anime, in which the country is viewed as polite, safe, quirky, and seemingly problem-free.

The lens through which many in the Western world view Japan is now being shattered, as the feud sheds light on some very real issues in the country.

It's been an open topic for a while now that foreigners can face less-than-stellar treatment in Japan. Nationalist party Sanseito won 14 seats on a "Japanese First" platform. In February, Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party won a landslide while taking a tougher line on immigration. A Stanford survey found that opposition to bringing in foreign workers rose to about 53 percent in February, roughly 17 percentage points higher than in 2022.

Takaichi became Japan’s first female prime minister last October and is a staunch conservative. Before taking office, she regularly visited Yasukuni Shrine. The shrine honors Japan’s war dead, including 14 convicted World War II war criminals. Takaichi also considers the late nationalist Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a mentor. Japan’s neighbors, especially China and South Korea, see the shrine as a symbol of the country’s wartime aggression.

Another well-documented part of Japanese culture that's being poked at is its work culture. The problem of overwork is serious enough that the government is required by law to report on it to parliament every year, and its 2025 white paper was the 10th such report. The first report, published in 2016, found that 22.7 percent of surveyed companies had employees logging more than 80 hours of overtime a month, the official threshold at which the risk of death from overwork becomes serious.

Relatedly, there is great concern over mental health. Japan recorded 19,097 suicides in 2025, the first time the yearly total fell below 20,000 since records began in 1978. That brought the suicide rate down to 15.4 per 100,000 people. Men accounted for 13,117 of those deaths, compared with 5,980 women. The picture is more complicated than overwork alone, though. Health problems were the most commonly cited factor, followed by economic struggles and family issues. And while overall numbers fell, suicides among children hit a record high in 2025 for the second year in a row, reaching 532.

The bigger picture

As stated, online beef between citizens of two countries is not new. This particular moment in digital culture is a bit different, as it targets the West's mythical image of Japan, shaped by anime, games, and the Japanese government’s own "Cool Japan" soft-power push.

Japan may be propped up as safe, polite, and a bit quirky, but its image, like every country's, has blind spots too. The same Western audiences that idealize Japan can overlook its immigration fights, its overwork crisis, its abusive justice system, or the way its wartime history is still contested at home and across Asia.

Race plays a part in which stories stick, too. Asian American immigrants, particularly from East Asian countries, are often held up in the West as model minorities, a "flattering" stereotype often used to justify continued oppression of Black American and Asian communities.

None of that excuses the racism flying both ways. Many of the posts from French users attacking the Japanese are no better than the posts they’re answering, and stereotypes about either country don’t add up to a fair critique of it. But the feud illustrates why a country’s pop culture exports rarely tell its whole story.

That’s true of Japan seen through anime, and of Paris seen through postcards.

Los Angeles turned on approximately 20 cameras at dangerous intersections around the city on Monday (Oct. 26), intended to catch speeding drivers and, hopefully, save lives.

For the next 60 days, drivers exceeding the speed limit by at least 11 miles per hour will receive written warnings by mail. Following that, tickets will be issued to offenders, with fines ranging from $50 to $500, depending on the driver's speed. By the end of the year, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) plans to activate 125 cameras across the city.

SEE ALSO: This Flock Camera map shows more than 300,000 devices

LA is currently trying to get a handle on vehicular violence, with car crashes in the city claiming about 300 lives annually, a toll that exceeds the annual number of homicides in the city of 4 million, according to the Los Angeles Times. The city has placed cameras near high-injury/high-death intersections, near schools, and at spots known for street racing.

LA is years behind other large cities like New York, Oakland, and San Francisco, which have already installed speed cameras. In the latter city, the cameras brought about a dramatic 80 percent drop in speeding.

LADOT expects its cameras to reduce fatal crashes at their locations by 53 to 71 percent. Malibu, a nearby city in Los Angeles County, recently launched a speed camera pilot program on 21 miles of the Pacific Coast Highway. Over the course of nine days last month, the cameras recorded approximately 100,000 speeding violations.

Apple has a fresh new iOS update for everyone to check out.

Monday marked the official launch of iOS 27.2, which is now available as a software update on all compatible iPhones. To install it, simply open the Settings app, tap General, and then tap Software Update. No need to fiddle with beta software this time — this is the real deal.

As for what's new, iOS 27.2 isn't the most monumental update in the world, but there's plenty to mess around with. For starters, Siri AI is now available in several new languages: French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. It's also been updated for English-language users so it will now be able to recall past conversations you've had with Apple's chatbot. Additionally, the Messages app will offer context-sensitive suggestions to take quick actions in Calendar or Reminders based on what's being said in the text conversation.

SEE ALSO: Apple breaks silence on iPhone Duo cracking reports

Dual Capture now works on FaceTime group calls, meaning you can have both your front and rear cameras active at the same time while talking to more than one other person. For new iPhone Duo owners, iOS 27.2 also adds Apple Pencil support. Meanwhile, the Edge Light feature uses the iPhone Duo's display to light up your face during video calls in low light.

There are plenty of other small changes to check out, too, such as individual profiles in the Apple TV app and a reimagined Up Next view in the Podcasts app. Multiview will also let sports fans watch up to four events simultaneously, though the feature appears to be limited to sporting events on Apple TV.

In total, iOS 27.2 might not be the most seismic update in the world, but there's still a good amount to play with.

We broke down the A.I. company’s key figures, which give insight into the health of its business, its future plans and who’s in charge.

About a quarter of the tech giant’s employees were eligible for the packages, although the company cautioned it did not expect many employees to sign on.

Last year, KPop Demon Hunters had us fixated on every HUNTR/X song. By the time Halloween came around, there was a flood of costumed fans dressed as Rumi, Mira, and Zoey.

Now, Netflix has treated fans to the gift that keeps on giving. Need a casual cosplay that requires only a wig and some workout gear? Need a new reason to revisit the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack? Need a new TikTok dance to level up your viewership? Need another reason to look forward to the eventual KPop Demon Hunters 2?

Netflix has released a HUNTR/X dance rehearsal set to "How It’s Done." The new clip shows the K-pop icons working out a new dance routine.

But that's not all. Netflix will be releasing complete official choreography for HUNTR/X's "Golden" and "Takedown" as well as the Saja Boys' "Soda Pop," and "Your Idol."

The race is on to see which fan can nail the choreo first. Be like HUNTR/X and show them how it's done, done, done.

KPop Demon Hunters is now streaming on Netflix.

After days of viral reports about the iPhone Duo's inner screen, Apple has publicly acknowledged the problem.

In a statement provided to Mashable, the company said it is aware of an issue affecting the inner display on a "small number" of units.

"The response to iPhone Duo from early users has been incredibly positive, and we are seeing exciting things from developers who are rapidly updating their apps to take advantage of its unique form factor,” Apple said. “We are aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units. If users experience issues with their iPhone Duo display, they should contact AppleCare for a replacement."

The statement doesn’t say what’s causing the problem, how many units are affected, or whether Apple plans a broader fix. Apple appears to have sent the same statement to several other outlets covering the reports. Still, it’s the company’s first public acknowledgment of the problem.

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The Duo has drawn plenty of attention as Apple’s first foldable iPhone. It sold out almost immediately when pre-orders opened Oct. 16, with some delivery estimates stretching into January 2027. But early owners have found that it’s very much a first-generation device, and the display reports are just one of several complaints.

Beyond durability, users have flagged a few other issues, as reported by Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder. First, as JerryRigsEverything points out, the protective matte screen on the foldable dulls its color and vibrance, and it picks up heavy glare. The FaceTime camera, as Schroeder notes, is bad for photos, with Apple leaning heavily on AI processing that can leave selfies looking plasticky and smudged. Finally, many apps aren’t yet optimized for the Duo’s inner display, including Apple’s own App Store — though Schroeder reported that he expects app developers to catch up within the next month.

Durability concerns had been building before the display reports went viral. YouTuber Tim Pan ran the Duo through 10,000 folds in a folding machine, plus another 1,000 at -4 degrees Fahrenheit. Before-and-after images from the test spread online, appearing to show a much deeper crease.

Samsung seems to be enjoying this. While the Korean tech giant hasn’t taken any direct shots at the Duo, at least not officially, its Samsung Mobile US account has been playing reply guy under iPhone Duo posts on X. One reply simply read "mogged. respectfully."

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Cringe looks-maxxing speak aside, Samsung is getting plenty of free marketing out of the Duo’s rocky start. The company is now on its eighth-generation Galaxy Z Fold. Although its foldables went through their own early durability problems, Samsung has had years to refine the hinge, crease, and display that Apple is only attempting for the first time. Every viral post about a cracked Duo screen is, in effect, an ad for the competition.

If your Duo’s inner display is showing problems, Apple recommends contacting AppleCare for a replacement.

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The A.I. company took great pains to describe the many benefits that can come from using its Claude chatbot and technology, but also offered up a heavy dose of gloom.

Save $50: The Sony WH-1000XM4C are $50 off for the first time ever — and at a new record low price — thanks to an on-page coupon at Amazon as of Oct. 26. This brings their price down to $248 from the list price of $299.99, saving you 16% off their total list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM4C $248
$299.99 Save $51.99 save $50 with on-page coupon Get Deal

As a professional headphones reviewer, I've watched as consumer audio prices increased over the years. These days, it's standard for flagship headphones to cost $450.

That's why it's been a breath of fresh air to see more mid-range headphone releases, with Sony's update on the viral WH-1000XM4 being one of the most interesting. The result — the Sony WH-1000XM4C headphones — are some of the best-sounding $300 headphones you can get, and as of Oct. 26, you can pick them up for $248 at Amazon, thanks to an on-page coupon that slashes $50 off the price.

The XM4C are a return to form. Where Sony's newer flagships, the XM5 and XM6, opt for a more varied design, the XM4C stick to the extremely popular look of the XM4 — an unassuming, yet classic pair of headphones. That's not where the similarities between the two generations stop. The XM4C feature the same four microphones and QN1 processor for noise cancellation, meaning you'll get a similar performance to the 2020 release. That said, it holds up enough to be solid in today's headphone landscape. Sound-wise, Sony upgraded the equalizer from a five-band custom EQ on the XM4 to the 10-band EQ on the XM4C. I was impressed by how clear, yet well-rounded and balanced the sound came through.

SEE ALSO: The 9 best budget headphones we've tested under $100

I also recently tested these headphones directly against the other big mid-range release of the year: the second gen Bose QuietComfort headphones. Much as I appreciate the comfort and replaceable ear cushions on the Bose headphones, the better battery life, sound quality, and value on the Sonys (the Boses go for $359 at full price) make them the better buy for most folks. Especially at this price point, these headphones are over $100 cheaper than Bose's mid-range option. I'd be surprised to see a much better deal over Black Friday, so if you're looking to get your headphones shopping done early, the XM4Cs are definitely worth your consideration.

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If you own a Samsung TV without a built-in microphone, it might still be listening to you, according to a researcher who shared his findings this week.

On the social media platform X, cybersecurity researcher @log4j shared that an investigation into Samsung smart TVs found that televisions without a mic will scan for connected devices that are equipped with a microphone. The smart TV will then utilize the audio data collected from the soundbar or other connected Bluetooth devices.

"This is pretty evil and clever," @log4j said about their discovery.

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The researcher recently gained administrator root access to their own 2025 Samsung smart TV and has been sharing their findings in a series of posts on X.

Your smart TV is likely listening to you. At this point, that shouldn't be a surprise. Many televisions advertise this functionality, since your TV has to be listening to you to take voice commands and interact with other smart home devices.

However, other unadvertised and concerning privacy issues are arising from the device's ability to listen in.

For example, @log4j started looking into their TV after receiving oddly specific advertisements and found that their television was logging things like "dog barking" and "baby crying" under an event called EV201/SOUNDSENSOR_ON.

As NotebookCheck.net points out, while Samsung 2025 Vision AI TVs advertise that the devices detect barking dogs and crying babies and send alerts through the company's SmartThings app, Samsung does not advertise that this data is also sent back to the company.

Researcher @log4j also found that Samsung TVs track what happens inside specific apps. For example, the TV monitors what a user does in the YouTube app and even logs data such as the ads a user skips.

Mashable has reached out to Samsung for more information about the reports from @log4j and will update this piece when we hear back.

These privacy issues are not unique to Samsung TVs either. Last month, Mashable covered a report from YouTuber Gamers Nexus, which claimed to find that LG TVs were secretly recording users even when the televisions were turned off. LG later responded, denying some but not all the claims.

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Halloween is just around the corner this year, but frights have been going on all year thanks to raising tech prices.

Shopping Black Friday earbuds deals is a good way to mitigate the worst of the price raises, and though we're not quite in the depths of the sale season, you can already find some savings. It does take some digging, so I used my knowledge as a deals expert and one of Mashable's headphones and earbuds testers to find the best possible earbuds deals you can shop already.

SEE ALSO: 11 headphones and earbuds deals you can pick up ahead of Black Friday sales

The result: this list of 18 earbuds deals, live ahead of Black Friday. Check them out:

Best earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort earbuds $129 at Amazon
$179 Save $50   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Bose's QuietComfort earbuds may not be the newest release from the brand, but they do give you great cancellation and sound quality without the $200 or $300 price tag. Once you find the right positioning, the ear and wing tip combo provides a great seal on these buds, and the battery life is hard to run down quickly. They're a great pair of all around earbuds, and at $129, they're also at an impressively low price for the brand.

Read our full review of the Bose QuietComfort earbuds.

More earbuds deals

• CMF by Nothing Buds 2 — $29 $49 (save $20)

• JBL Vibe Beam 2 — $29.95 $49.95 (save $20)

• Nothing Ear (a) — $59 $79 (save $20)

• Sony WF-C710N — $78.99 $129.99 (save $51)

• Nothing Ear (3a) — $79 $99 (save $20)

• Apple AirPods 4 —  $99 $129 (save $30)

• Beats Studio Buds + — $99.95 $169.95 (save $70)

• Bose QuietComfort earbuds — $129 $179 (save $50)

• Marshall Motif II — $129.99 $219.99 (save $90)

• Refurbished Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds — $149 $299 (save $150)

• Beats Powerbeats Fit — $169.95 $199.99 (save $30.04)

• Apple AirPods Pro 3 — $199 $249 (save $50)

• Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 — $199.95 $249.95

• Refurbished Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen) — $279 $299 (save $20)

Best open earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: CMF by Nothing CMF by Nothing Clip Pro $69 at Amazon
$99 Save $30   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

I was wowed by CMF's Clip Pro open earbuds back when they launched over the summer, and they remain one of my favorite releases of the year. They feature the same on-ear tactile controls as Bose's $300 open earbuds, great sound quality, and impressive battery life at 10 hours per charge. They're a bargain at full price — for $30 off, they're an absolute steal.

More open earbuds deals

• Shokz OpenFit 2 — $139.95 $179.95 (save $40)

• Refurbished Bose Open Ultra — $149 $299 (save $150)

• Bose x Kendra Scott Ultra Open earbuds — $199.99 $349.99 (save $150)

Best early Black Friday speaker deals at a glance: Best speaker deal overall JBL Charge 6 $149.95 (save $50) Get Deal Best budget speaker deal Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go $22.99 (save $12) Get Deal

If you haven't noticed, we're covering Black Friday deals earlier than ever. Of course, it's way too early for Amazon to call any of these official Black Friday discounts. But we're already tracking potential price cuts and keeping tabs on MSRPs to spot inflated list prices, so you know you're getting the best bang for your buck.

SEE ALSO: Early Black Friday noise-cancelling headphones deals are here: Get Sony headphones for under $90

We aren't seeing October Prime Day-level prices on speakers just yet. That makes total sense considering we are still weeks out from the actual holiday. But since we're starting so early, we'll be here to catch those price drops the second they happen.

Prices are going to bounce around a lot between now and Nov. 27, so whether you want to hold out for a record low or you just want to get your holiday shopping out of the way right now, we'll be updating this list all month long to reflect the best current deals.

Best early Black Friday speaker deal so far Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Charge 6 $149.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $50   Get Deal at Amazon Why we picked this

As of Oct. 26, the JBL Charge 6 is on sale for $149.95 at Amazon, down from $199.95. That's a 25% discount ($50 in savings) and the lowest price we've seen on this model to date.

We already named the Charge 6 our top-rated Bluetooth speaker for most people (which you can read all about in our official portable speaker guide), so seeing it hit a record low this early in the game is a pretty big deal. It's lightweight, has superior sound quality, and doubles as a power bank to charge your other devices while it plays music.

More early Black Friday speaker deals

• Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go — $22.99 $34.99 (save $12)

• Anker Soundcore 2 — $29.98 $44.99 (save $15.01)

• Sony SRS-XB100 — $53 $64.99 (save $11.99)

• Ultimate Ears Miniroll — $49.99 $79.99 (save $30)

• Sony ULT Field 1 — $108 $139.99 (save $31.99)

• JBL Flip 7 — $129.95 $149.95 (save $20)

• Beats Pill — $99.95 $149.95 (save $50)

• Ultimate Ears Boom 4 — $114.99 $149.99 (save $35)

• JBL Partybox Encore Essential — $299.95 $329.95 (save $30)

Whether you've gotten your hands on an iPhone Duo or not, the main thing on most people's minds regarding Apple's new foldable device is just how much stress it can withstand before breaking.

That's what our friends at CNET (Note: Mashable and CNET are both owned by Ziff Davis) are trying to find out from Monday until they know the answer. A YouTube livestream will run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET, in which a specially built phone-folding robot will take the iPhone Duo to its limits and beyond. As of late Monday morning, the robot had already accomplished 55,000 folds before the cameras even started rolling. The idea is to see how many folds it takes before the screen buckles, if it ever does.

This stream serves a sort of scientific purpose, of course, but it'll also make for nice background noise as you try to soldier through another Monday. It's worth noting that some iPhone Duo owners have allegedly already experienced screen issues within just a few days of launch, so we'll see if the folding robot is able to recreate any of that.

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Early Black Friday home improvement deals at a glance Best cordless power tool deal DeWalt 20V Max Drill and Impact Driver $129 (save $110) Get Deal Best robot lawn mower deal Segway Navimow i105N Robot Lawn Mower $669 (save $130) Get Deal Best smart lighting deal Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights 2 (100 feet) $279.99 (save $50) Get Deal Best smart home deal GE Smart Shades Motorized Roller Shade (38 inches wide) $270.74 (save $99.25) Get Deal Best space heater deal Dreo Whole-Room Heater (725) $71.97 (save $8.02) Get Deal Best home security deal Philips WiFi Keypad Deadbolt with Handle $109.98 (save $60.01) Get Deal Best outdoor power equipment deal Greenworks 24V Mini Chainsaw $94.99 (save $65) Get Deal

Early Black Friday is shaping to be a perfect time to make home improvements. We're seeing great sale prices on everything from cordless power tools to robot lawn mowers to Christmas lights that never need to be taken off the house.

Shopping early means you'll get to avoid any shipping delays and start on those home improvement projects before holiday guests arrive. We've gatherer our favorite home improvement deals below that are ready to shop before Black Friday. Check back as we keep this page updated with fresh deals.

Best cordless power tool deal Opens in a new window Credit: DeWalt DeWalt 20V Max Drill and Impact Driver $129 at Amazon
$239 Save $110   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Every home needs a cordless drill. Even if you don't consider yourself to be espeically handy, having a cordless drill around will be endlessly useful for various projects that crop up. The DeWalt 20V Max combo set gives you both a compact drill driver and impact driver. Both have onboard LED lights to make the job easier, and they're designed to fit into small spaces. The bundle comes with the two cordless tools, two 20V Max batteries, a compact battery charger, and a convenient contractor case to keep everything stored.

Best robot lawn mower deal Opens in a new window Credit: Segway Segway Navimow i105N Robot Lawn Mower $669 at Amazon
$799 Save $130   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

A robot lawn mower is the ideal home improvement upgrade if you dislike the yard-care task or you have allergies. The Segway Navimow i105N is designed to mow lawns that measure up to an eighth of an acre while operating at a quiet 58 decibels. Segway equipped this model with the smarts to automatically detect and avoid over 150 types of obstacles like ground lights, rocks, barbecues, and more.

More robot lawn mower deals

• Dreame LiDAR Robot Lawn Mower A3 AWD — $1,304.99 $1,599.99 (save $295)

• Ecovacs Goat O1000 LiDAR Pro — $1,425.89 $1,499.99 (save $74.10)

• Mammotion LUBA mini 2 — $1,799.99 $1,999.99 (save $200)

• Roborock RockMow X130H — $1,999.98 $2,499.99 (save $500.01)

Best smart lighting deal Opens in a new window Credit: Govee Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights 2 (100 feet) $279.99 at Amazon
$329.99 Save $50   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Every year, just as the weather gets frigid and wet, someone has to climb onto the roof to get the Christmas lights up. Instead of doing this every year, upgrade to the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights 2 and make this the last trip onto the roof in sketchy weather.

With the Govee app, the RGBIC lights are capable of displaying 16 million colors. If that feels like an overwhelming number of options, go with one of Govee's preset holiday options. Keeping lights up year-round means you get to be the cool house on the block that has a great display for every holiday and sporting event.

Best smart home deal Opens in a new window Credit: GE GE Smart Shades Motorized Blackout Roller Shade (38 inches) $270.74 at Amazon
$369.99 Save $99.25   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Nothing will make you feel like you live in a smart home more than upgrading to motorized window coverings. The GE Smart Shades Motorized Roller Shade can be controlled either with the included remote or via Matter-compatible smart home systems like Alexa.

Fall is a great time to make the home improvement move to motorized shades since sunset is creeping into the 4 p.m. hour soon. They're also a great option for those with limited mobility or injuries that make it hard to operate standard window coverings.

Best space heater deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dreo Dreo Whole-Room Heater (725) $71.97 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $8.02   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Tis the season to finally get the space heater for that chilly office or corner bedroom. Instead of dealing with frozen toes for another year, the Dreo Whole-Room Heater is already on sale ahead of Black Friday. Dreo designed the space heater to provide 360-degree heating power while operating at a super quiet 25 decibels, so you won't notice it's there.

Of course, the Dreo comes with safety features like tip-over protection and a child lock. Plus, the included remote control glows in the dark.

More space heater and air purifier deals

• Vornado VH10 Space Heater — $64.99 $79.99 (save $15)

• Levoit Air Purifier — $69.99 $89.99 (save $20)

• Blueair Blue 511i Max Air Purifier — $112.99 $139.99 (save $27)

• Vornado VHeat Vintage Metal Space Heater — $123.34 $169.99 (save $46.65)

• Shark NeverChange Detect iQ Compact Pro — $179.98 $229.99 (save $50.01)

Best home security deal Opens in a new window Credit: Philips Philips WiFi Keypad Deadbolt with Handle $109.98 at Amazon
$169.99 Save $60.01   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Available in a matte black or satin nickel, the Philips WiFi Keypad Deadbolt is great for busy families. With the ability to store up to 50 fingerprints, everyone who should have access to the front door will have instant unlocking power. You can also use codes on the touchpad. From the app, you'll get real-time notifications and a log of past events for ultimate peace of mind. It's a great home upgrade to snag before holiday travel.

Best outdoor power equipment deal Opens in a new window Credit: Greenworks Greenworks 24V Mini Chainsaw $94.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $65.00   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

For plants, trees, and bushes that need maintenance during dormant seasons, now's the time to get pruning. The Greenworks 24V Mini Chainsaw is perfect for trimming the yard without gas fumes or lugging around a massive power tool. It's both easy to start and easy to store thanks to the compact size. Plus, it recharges in 60 minutes with the included charger.

CapCut is coming to ChatGPT.

The ByteDance-owned video editor announced a ChatGPT plugin on Oct. 24 at CapCut World in Los Angeles, an event for creators and partners. The plugin isn’t available yet; CapCut says it will arrive in the coming months.

According to CapCut, creators will be able to develop a video idea in ChatGPT and have CapCut put together a rough first cut. From there, they can keep tweaking it by chatting. CapCut’s examples include holding a shot for longer, making captions more readable, or keeping music playing quietly under a voiceover.

SEE ALSO: FBI warns against foreign mobile apps like CapCut in new PSA

Creators aren’t limited to prompts, either. CapCut says users can make hands-on changes themselves, and ChatGPT will take those edits into account as the conversation continues.

CapCut shared a demo of the plugin on X. In the video, a user uploads clips from a sports game and asks ChatGPT, "@capcut turn these clips into a 12-second highlight reel." The plugin generates the reel, and the user then refines it, including asking ChatGPT to add on-screen text.

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

"Creators across the Americas are showing us that a great idea can begin anywhere," Xiaoqi Fu, CapCut’s global head, said in a statement. Fu added that the company’s new tools aim to keep the creator’s own imagination and judgment at the center of the process.

The plugin was one of several AI features CapCut announced at the event. This includes new generative AI features for its web and mobile apps, as well as an AI agent for CapCut that'll be tested in the coming months.

CapCut also says it labels AI-generated content and uses watermarks and C2PA Content Credentials, an industry standard for tracking how media was made. It is also testing a tool that lets anyone upload a file to see whether it was made with AI tools from CapCut or its sister apps, Dreamina, Pippit, and Hypi.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

TL;DR: Domino’s and Minecraft Dungeons II are launching a block-shaped pizza collab with free game giveaways.

Do your weekend plans involve grinding through local co-op dungeons with a slice of pizza in hand? Domino’s and Minecraft just dropped the ultimate collab for you.

Starting Oct. 26, Domino’s is teaming up with Minecraft Dungeons II for a limited-time nationwide partnership. Order a new block-shaped pizza to unlock collectible character boxes, digital in-game cosmetics, and a chance at claiming a free digital copy of Minecraft Dungeons II.

How to score a free game code and digital loot

We showcase a lot of these free giveaways from major brands, and it's always a little disappointing when you have to jump through a million hoops to qualify for the promotion. That's not the case here. It's refreshingly straightforward.

Customers who purchase a Domino's block-shaped pizza will receive one of six boxes, each featuring a different Minecraft Dungeons II character: Corrupted Creeper, Prime Enchanter, Valorie, Zombie, Pig, and Creeper.

Domino's Rewards members who purchase a Domino's online can also unlock one of three exclusive, randomly awarded in-game items to use in Minecraft Dungeons II. The order automatically generates a promo code in your "My Rewards" tab redeemable for one of the random items: the Domino’s Skin, the Slice Slayer Cape, or the Cheesy Cube Pet.

Credit: Domino's / Minecraft

That's exciting, but the real draw of this collab is the free game giveaway. Between Oct. 26 and Nov. 4, purchase a pizza and submit your receipt at dominos.com/minecraft-dungeons-ii for a chance to win one of 20,000 free Minecraft Dungeons II game codes (2,000 codes awarded daily for PC and Xbox).

We love the characters, and the in-game items are cool, but giving away 20,000 full-game downloads turns a brand collab into a genuinely high-value opportunity. With 2,000 game tokens up for grabs daily across the 10-day sweepstakes window, your odds of scoring a free PC or Xbox copy are surprisingly solid if you submit proof of purchase early in the day.

Just note that game codes are only valid on PC and Xbox, so PlayStation or Nintendo Switch players can only redeem cosmetic item codes.

Best early Black Friday beauty tech deals at a glance: Best hair tool deal Shark FlexStyle, Air Multi-Styler & Drying System $249.99 (save $120) Get Deal Best red light therapy mask deal Wavytalk Red Light Therapy Mask $109.99 (save $69.01) Get Deal Best hair laser hair removal device deal Braun IPL Pro 5 (2 Heads, Pouch, Venus Razor) $349.94 (save $70) Get Deal

Black Friday is still weeks away, but we're hard at work covering potential beauty tech deals way before the sale even starts.

Whether you want to test out the red light therapy trend or you're finally ready to try at-home laser hair removal, we're checking price history and tracking MSRPs to spot inflated list prices. That way, you can beat the holiday rush and know you're getting an actual bargain on the good stuff.

Here are the best early Black Friday beauty tech deals we've spotted so far.

Best hair tool deal Shark FlexStyle, Air Multi-Styler & Drying System $249.99 at Amazon
$369.99 Save $120   Get Deal at Amazon Why we picked this

Black Friday is usually the time to buy the coveted Dyson Airwrap — the i.d. Multi-Styler is on sale right now for $534.49. That's a 25% discount, or $175.50 in savings. But it's still pretty expensive, even with the attachments and storage box.

If you want a similar experience for a more affordable price, the Shark FlexStyle is on sale for $249.99, which is a lot easier to swallow. This specific deal doesn't include a storage case or serum, but you can spend a little more ($385 total) if you actually need those things.

More hair dryer and multistyler deals

• Conair Double Ceramic 1-inch Curling Iron — $18.97 $21.99 (save $3.02)

• Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus Hair Dryer and Styler — $45.24 $65.99 (save $20.75)

• Drybar The Baby Brush Crush Mini Heated Straightening Brush — $41.29 $59 (save $17.71)

• Mythsight StyleVibe 6-in-1 Air Styler, Hair Dryer & Blow Dryer Brush — $93.38 $132.99 (save $39.61)

• Drybar Baby Buttercup Travel Blow-Dryer — $118.15 $139 (save $20.85)

• Dyson Airwrap i.d. + Chitosan Post-Style Serum bundle — $534.49 $709.99 (save $175.50)

Best red light therapy mask deal Wavytalk Red Light Therapy Mask $109.99 at Amazon
$179 Save $69.01   Get Deal at Amazon Why we picked this

Red light therapy is officially a thing in 2026. (I mean, if Paris Hilton's Chihuahua allegedly lived to be 25 because of it, I'm all ears.) There's also tons of actual science backing up its effectiveness, but not all red light devices deliver the same results. And since Black Friday is still weeks away, we aren't seeing the best deals on these gadgets just yet. (At least, not at Amazon.)

Our top pick for the best red light mask overall is the Shark CryoGlow. We awarded it a Mashable Choice Award and a 4.5-out-of-5-star rating, but it unfortunately isn't on sale right now.

What is on sale is the Wavytalk Red Light Therapy Mask in pink, which is marked down to $109.99 from $179.99. (The white mask is also $109.99, but that's full price.) I just started testing this mask myself and will definitely report back on the long-term results, but so far, it's super easy to use and comfortable to wear. The packaging was also well done (I'm a sucker for organized packaging), and it comes with everything you need to get started — minus a USB wall adapter.

Best laser hair removal device deal Braun IPL Pro 5 (2 Heads, Pouch, Venus Razor) $349.94 at Amazon
$419.94 Save $70   Get Deal at Amazon Why we picked this

The fact that we can undergo laser hair removal at home has me gagged. Actual sessions cost hundreds of dollars and require multiple visits, but with an at-home device, you just pay the upfront cost and do it on your own schedule — provided you shave first. I just got the Wavytalk Bare It IPL Hair Removal Device myself (on sale for $149.99, down from $195 at Amazon OR $134.99 with code HALLOWEEN on the Wavytalk website), and I'm excited to see how well it works.

But I chose the Braun IPL Pro 5 Kit as the best deal in this category based on reviews and the overall value you get for the price. Right now, you can get the Pro 5 device, two heads, a pouch, and a Venus razor for $349.94, down from $419.94. If you don't need the extras, you can just get the device with one head and a storage pouch for $279.94.

More laser hair removal device deals

• INNZA IPL Hair Removal Device — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)

• Bare It IPL Hair Removal Device — $149.99 $199 (save $49.01)

• Dreame Nova IPL Hair Removal Device — $179.98 $249.99 (save $70.01)

• Braun IPL Pro 5 — $279.94 $319.99 (save $40.50)

• Ulike Air 10 IPL Hair Removal Device — $284 $359 (save $75)

• Nood Flasher Pro — $299 $399 (save $100)

• Philips Lumea 8000 IPL Hair Removal Device — $349.95 $499.95 (save $150)

The best early Black Friday noise-cancelling headphones deals: Best headphones deal Sony WH-CH720N headphones $88 (save $91.99) Get Deal best earbuds deal Soundcore P42i earbuds $59.99 (save $20) Get Deal best Bose deal Bose QuietComfort earbuds $129 (save $50) Get Deal best AirPods deal Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) $119.97 (save $59.03) Get Deal

Whether you're a frequent flyer, a commuter, a remote worker, or just someone who often needs to turn down the volume of the outside world, noise-cancelling headphones are a must. And we're heading into the best season to snag a pair at a discount.

While we're technically still a month out from Black Friday, we're already seeing deals flutter in on some noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds that we love. None of the latest flagship options from Sony or Bose are discounted quite yet, but plenty of budget picks are.

We suspect all of our top picks will get the deal treatment as we inch closer to the official sale, so we'll be keeping a watchful eye out in the weeks ahead. Until then, we've rounded up the best early Black Friday noise-cancelling headphones deals worth grabbing.

Best early Black Friday noise-cancelling headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-CH720N $88 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $91.99   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Since Sony just dropped a newer version of these headphones, you can grab a pair for an extremely low price. The Sony WH-CH720N are some of our favorite budget headphones, with surprisingly good ANC and overall audio quality. Mashable contributor Alex Bracetti wrote that the sound is "near-flagship" level, with the ability to tweak it further to your liking. So if you're a Sony fan looking to spend less than $100, these are your best bet. Of course, you won't get some of the premium features like hi-res LDAC codec support and a foldable body, but for $88? We can look past that.

Read our full review of the Sony WH-CH720N.

More noise-cancelling headphones deals

• Soundcore Q20i — $44.99 $69.99 (save $25)

• JLab JBuds Lux ANC — $64.99 $79.99 (save $15)

• Sony WH-CH720N — $88 $179.99 (save $91.99)

• Nothing Headphone (a) — $129 $199 (save $70)

• Soundcore Space One Pro — $139.99 $199.99 (save $60)

• Apple AirPods Max 2 — $449 $549 (save $100)

Best early Black Friday noise-cancelling earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Soundcore P42i $59.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $20.00   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

These Soundcore earbuds are wallet-friendly, but they definitely don't skimp on features. We named them our favorite budget earbuds overall, with nods to their multi-level noise-cancellation, impressive battery life, and overall excellent audio quality. They also include more premium features like a Fit Test, multi-device connectivity, wearing detection, Game Mode, and AI integration. "If you don't want to drop $150 on AirPods or Bose wireless earbuds, these are a great all-around pick under $100," Mashable's reviewer writes. This early Black Friday discount brings them down to their best price to date.

More noise-cancelling earbuds deals

• Soundcore P30i — $26.99 $49.99 (save $23)

• JBL Vibe Beam 2 — $39.95 $64.95 (save $25)

• JBL Tune Flex 2 — $59.95 $109.95 (save $50)

• Sony WF-C710N — $78.99 $129.99 (save $51)

• EarFun Air Pro 4+ — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20 with on-page coupon)

• Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) — $119.97 $179 (save $59.03)

• Bose QuietComfort — $129 $179 (save $50)

• Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 — $199.95 $249.99 (save $50.04)

How tough is Apple's first-ever foldable phone?

JerryRigEverything, the YouTube channel that made a name for itself by putting phones through a series of very tough stress tests, has now done the same to the iPhone Duo.

The tests included scratching the phone's surface with a scalpel, burning it with a lighter, covering it with dirt, and bending it the wrong way to see how much force its hinge mechanism can absorb.

The iPhone Duo passed some of the tests fairly well; for example, the minor scratches on its display appeared to magically heal. However, when Jerry covered it with sand and dirt, some of it appeared to enter the Duo's hinge mechanism, which is concerning. Also, the phone failed the most brutal test: it was bent until its screen broke, rendering the Duo nearly useless.

SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone Duo review: This changes everything

To be fair, most of these tests go way harder than normal use, and most phones ultimately fail several of them. However, compared to some other foldable phones, the iPhone Duo seemed a tad more fragile. The message is clear: Don't bend, scratch, or burn this one, folks.

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