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SAVE $42: Through Dec. 2, get six months of Max with ads for only $2.99 per month instead of $9.99 per month. That's a total of $42 in savings or 70%.
Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max with ads $2.99 per month for six months (save $42) Get DealMax's Black Friday 2024 deal is officially live and it's essentially just a copy-paste from last year. That doesn't mean we're disappointed, though; it is a pretty damn good deal.
From Nov. 25 through Dec. 2, new and returning subscribers can get six months of Max with ads for just $2.99 per month instead of the usual $9.99 per month. That's a total of $42 in savings or 70%.
Following in Netflix's footsteps, the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned streaming service is expected to start cracking down on password sharing very soon, so that's all the more reason to sign up for your own Max account.
Max is a treasure trove of excellent content. Not only is it the home of Warner Bros. films, but also new A24 theatrical releases. That means you'll have an epic collection of movies at your fingertips, including Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (as of Dec. 6), MaXXXine, Civil War, Love Lies Bleeding, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Barbie, The Iron Claw, and Dune: parts One and Two. The streamer also offers its own original series that are worth a watch, like The Last of Us, Station Eleven, and Dune: Prophecy, as well as access to its B/R Sports add-on for an unknown limited time.
Sure, you'll have to deal with a few ad breaks here and there, but for $2.99 per month, we're willing to look past that. After the six-month promotional period runs out, your subscription will renew at the full cost of $9.99 per month, so be sure to cancel ahead of time if you want to avoid that charge.
The HP Omen 17 is designed with minimalists in mind — and I’m here for it. It’s nice to sometimes go crazy with per-key RGB lighting and designs that scream "gaming laptop," but the HP Omen 17 elicits sleek simplicity with just enough customization to keep things fun.
Granted, I wish the chassis was aluminum, not plastic, but that would’ve made this big boy even heavier. Plus, thermal management would be trickier. Its hefty weight is a fair trade for all the delicious internals you’ll find inside, capable of tackling triple-A gaming with ease.
Is it the best gaming laptop Mashable has tested so far? Probably not. With its powerful RTX 4070 GPU and incredible thermal design, it’s definitely a solid contender. But there are some aspects I wasn’t enamored with. Read on for all the juicy details.
HP Omen 17 price and specsThe HP Omen 17 configuration I tested retails for $1,799 via B&H, though right now, it’s discounted by $300. For that mid-range price, here are the specs you’ll get:
AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS CPU
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 with 8GB of VRAM
32GB RAM
1TB of SSD storage
17.3-inch, 2560 x 1440-pixel display with a 240Hz refresh rate
Or, if you want to downgrade to an RTX 4050 GPU with 6GB of VRAM, but otherwise keep the same specs, there’s a configuration available for $1,599 via Amazon.
Opens in a new window Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable HP Omen 17 $1,799.00 at HPAt first glance, the HP Omen 17 looks quite polished, with a chassis that’s all black with an etched ‘Omen’ logo on the lid.
Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableWhen I looked closer, however, I discovered the entire chassis is made of black plastic, which makes it feel kinda cheap. But I understand that plastic is better for heat management.
Despite its plastic construction, the hinges are fairly sturdy and the thermal design functions well.
That said, if the chassis was anything other than plastic, like anodized aluminum, it would’ve been even heavier — and this laptop is already pretty dang heavy, starting at 6.5 pounds.
The internal speaker design and one-zone, RGB-backlit keyboard are the only things that scream ‘gaming laptop,’ which is great if you’re looking for a machine that can double as a work laptop in public and a gaming laptop at home.
Unscrewing the bottom lid reveals swappable RAM sticks and a swappable WLAN module if you need to upgrade down the line. There’s also an extra M2 SSD slot if you wanted to add more storage or experiment with Linux OS.
HP Omen 17 displayThe HP Omen 17 comes with a 17.3-inch, 2560 x 1440-pixel IPS display with a 240Hz max refresh rate and a 3ms response time.
Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableI inspected the display by watching the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice trailer on YouTube. Its sharp resolution helped me catch small details, like fine face lines and flyaway hairs, but the colors were a bit muted.
I had a similar experience with the display when playing Helldivers 2. Fighting bugs and bots is an easy feat with crisp resolution and a smooth refresh rate, but I wish the display was just a little bit brighter.
If HP offered an OLED or miniLED display panel (or even just an LED panel with more than 300 nits max brightness), that’d make this display a stunner.
HP Omen 17 portsThe HP Omen 17 has no shortage of ports. You’ll find ports adorning both the left and right sides, as well as along the back edge.
Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableOn the left:
Headset jack
Gigabit Ethernet port
On the right:
USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port (5 Gbps)
On the back:
Two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports (10 Gbps)
USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port (10 Gbps, DisplayPort 1.4a)
HDMI 2.1 output port
DC-in power port
The DC-in power port is conveniently located towards the back edge center, making it easier to maneuver the charging cable (which is extra long, by the way) no matter where your power outlet is. And for connecting wired peripherals, I love that there are three USB-A ports.
HP Omen 17 audioLaptop speakers generally aren’t great, especially on gaming laptops, but I found the HP Omen 17’s audio setup to be below average.
To test the speakers, I fired up “dancing in the kitchen” by LANY on Spotify. The highs came through tinny and the lows were practically nonexistent, resulting in a complete lack of full-bodied sound.
I got the same result with Unprocessed’s “Real ft. Polyphia’s Tim Henson & Clay Gober,” a song I test on every set of speakers or headphones I’m reviewing. Bumping up the volume to max made it clear the speakers are very quiet, the icing on a lackluster listening experience.
You’ll definitely want to grab one of the best gaming headsets to pair with the HP Omen 17 if you want immersive, atmospheric sound.
HP Omen 17 keyboard and trackpadThe HP Omen 17’s keyboard isn’t what I’d want in a gaming laptop keyboard. I wouldn’t necessarily call the keys ‘mushy,’ but they’re not as clicky as I’d like them to be (except for the space bar) — and not as satisfying as most other HP keyboards.
There’s not much travel or responsive feedback with every key press, and the keys are quite small — especially the arrow keys. On a gaming laptop with a full-size keyboard, I’d love to see full-size arrow keys. Trying to call in stratagems on Helldivers 2 missions with those tiny arrow keys was a pain.
Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableThe one slight win for the HP Omen 17’s keyboard is its RGB backlighting, but even that comes with a few catches. There’s no per-key RGB lighting and you have to carry out all changes in the Omen Light Hub, even toggling backlighting on and off. Luckily, there’s a quick-access key for the Omen Gaming Hub — and the Light Hub within features a lot of fun effects and colors to play with.
If you’re pounding out some work, responding to emails, or researching something, the keyboard is perfectly acceptable. But for gaming, it’s disappointing. It’d definitely be worth investing in a separate mechanical keyboard to use with the HP Omen 17. Luckily, this laptop features plenty of USB ports to accommodate a wired option.
Similar to the keyboard, the trackpad is acceptable only for non-gaming tasks. It’s quite large (although there looks to be a lot of wasted space above and below it), satisfying to click, and very responsive to gestures. For gaming, however, you’ll definitely want to invest in a mouse.
HP Omen 17 benchmarks and performanceTo refresh you, the HP Omen 17 is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS CPU, a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 with 8GB of VRAM, and 32GB of RAM. With those specs, this is a fairly powerful gaming rig that can play most AAA games at native resolution with at least 60 frames per second.
Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableFor a real-world test, I hopped into multiple level 6 missions in Helldivers 2 and averaged around 70 frames per second, with the Medium graphics preset and native resolution (2560 x 1440) with no upscaling and no framerate limit. I had a wireless mouse connected, and I probably would’ve played better with a different keyboard connected — the HP Omen 17’s arrow keys are tiny.
In our Cyberpunk 2077 benchmark, which tests performance with DLSS off, the presets notched at High, and the resolution set to 1080p, the HP Omen delivered an average of 98.8 frames per second. Turning DLSS on bumped up the average to 128.9 frames per second. (At native resolution, this benchmark returned frame rate averages of 88.6 and 105.4, respectively.)
These results pale slightly in comparison to the Alienware m16 R2 — sporting an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU and the same 4070 GPU — which delivered 98.7 frames per second with DLSS off and 167.9 frames per second with DLSS on.
Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableOn 3DMark’s TimeSpy benchmark, which assesses graphical prowess, the Omen 17 earned a score of 12,105, just nearly matching the m16 R2’s score of 12,224.
These two laptops also had similar scores for Geekbench 6, which tests CPU performance. On Geekbench 6, the Omen 17 delivered a multi-core score of 12,781, while the m16 R2 beat it slightly with a multi-core score of 12,842.
One thing the HP Omen 17 definitely has going for it performance-wise is a stellar thermal design. The keys below my fingers never got too hot to touch, and even the underside was only a little warm after playing an intense Helldivers 2 mission.
HP Omen 17 battery lifeBattery life on gaming laptops is notoriously awful — and the HP Omen 17’s battery life lived up to that. The HP Omen 17 lasted a mere 1 hour and 4 minutes in PCMark10’s gaming battery life test.
This is marginally better than the Alienware m16 R2’s battery life of 59 minutes on the same test, but if you’re looking for a gaming laptop with decent battery life, opt for the HP Victus 16 with an RTX 4060 GPU instead, which lasted 1 hour and 56 minutes.
Since most people probably won’t be gaming unplugged, I also ran our video rundown battery test on this laptop, which involves looping a 1080p video at 50% brightness until it shuts down. The HP Omen 17 lasted 8 hours and 13 minutes on this test, making it at least a viable option to get some work done outside the home or not be tethered to an outlet while answering emails or streaming.
HP Omen 17 webcamThe HP Omen 17 features a 1080p webcam, but I would’ve guessed it had a 720p webcam solely by looking at the selfie I took with it.
Credit: Sarah Chaney / MashableWhether I was sitting in front of a window for natural light or only using the overhead light, the camera couldn’t quite pick up on my true complexion and majorly blurred the background.
If you want a webcam that’s so fuzzy, it acts like a built-in blur filter, hiding blemishes and redness, then this just might be the webcam for you. If you’re looking for a sharp, high-res webcam, you probably won’t find it on a gaming laptop.
Is the HP Omen 17 worth it?The HP Omen 17 is more than capable of playing AAA titles at high settings with a smooth refresh rate and practically no retained heat, thanks to an impressively effective thermal design.
That said, this isn’t the laptop you should buy if high-quality, loud speakers or a satisfyingly clicky keyboard are important to you. The Alienware m16 R2 we reviewed, which also sports an RTX 4070 GPU, produced quite tinny sound, but its keyboard was a breath of fresh air.
Its minor flaws and low battery life are easy to overlook if you’re the type of gamer who knows they’ll be connecting headphones, a mouse, and other peripherals for a better experience and won’t play unplugged because it often means sacrificing higher frame rates.
If all you care about is overall performance and you’d prefer a gaming laptop with a minimalist look (and you don’t mind a plastic chassis), I’d say the HP Omen 17 is worth it.
If you feel like you're not seeing many news stories while scrolling X, there might be a simple explanation: The site actively keeps them off your feed.
Elon Musk seemingly suggested that on Nov. 24, when he replied to another user on his social platform X — the website formerly known as Twitter — who claimed the site throttled the performance of posts with links. This would mean you'd likely see fewer articles from actual news sites.
Paul Graham, a popular poster with some 2 million followers, posted that "deprioritization of tweets with links in them is Twitter's biggest flaw" because "what draws me to Twitter is to find out what's going on, and you can't do that without links."
Musk responded, seemingly confirming Graham's point that posts with links get deprioritized.
Wrote Musk in response: "Just write a description in the main post and put the link in the reply. This just stops lazy linking."
Tweet may have been deletedThe suggestion from Musk seems like quite the strange way to share info. If you're sharing news, it would make sense — in a vacuum — to provide the link that gives more context. But such a link, of course, takes people off Musk's platform. Basically, he wants you to summarize the news — or anything else that requires a link — while hiding the full context in the replies.
Musk also retweeted a post that suggested posting everything directly to X because sharing links will affect your post's reach. That's another seeming admission that X is throttling posts with links.
Tweet may have been deletedMusk's X deprioritizing links wouldn't be all that surprising. The Washington Post reported last year, for instance, that X slowed links to competitors Musk disliked, such as the New York Times and Facebook.
X, meanwhile, might have a real competitor in Bluesky, which has seen its users skyrocket in the wake of the election and Musk's diehard support for President-elect Donald Trump. Users have reported seeing increased, and better, engagement on Bluesky — and throttling links seemingly wouldn't help X's case.
Sonic x Shadow Generations is a remaster of the original 2011 game, Sonic Generations, and includes new content focusing on Shadow the Hedgehog. The Shadow tie-in contains roughly the same amount of content as the base game, which makes Sonic x Shadow Generations a compelling package.
The remaster also fixes the performance issues of the original Sonic Generations.
'Sonic x Shadow Generations' plotOn the Sonic Generations side, Sonic’s birthday celebration is interrupted by the Time Eater — and he has to team up with his younger self (Sonic Classic) to rescue his friends in White Space.
Credit: Sonic Team / SegaShadow Generations takes place concurrently with the events of Sonic Generations and follows Shadow as he is trapped in White Space. While Shadow explores the area, he unlocks new powers and Black Doom threatens to take over the world — and Shadow has to stop him.
Let’s be honest, most of us don’t play Sonic games for the story, but both stories here are serviceable enough to set up what matters the most: gameplay.
'Sonic x Shadow Generations' charactersThe interactions between classic Sonic and modern Sonic are amusing, as classic Sonic simply smiles and nods while the rest of the cast discusses the unfolding events, staying completely silent.
Credit: Sonic Team / SegaThe lighthearted cast of Sonic Generations contrasts with the brooding atmosphere of Shadow Generations where Shadow’s edgy personality oozes charm. Again, the story and characters aren’t really the focus of these games, but there’s enough intrigue to keep going.
'Sonic x Shadow Generations' mechanicsWhile playing as classic Sonic, levels are strictly a 2D affair, similar to the retro Sonic games — and playing the same level as modern Sonic turns them into a mix of both 2D and 3D gameplay.
Credit: Sonic Team / SegaThey remain virtually unchanged from the original 2011 release, and 3D Sonic mechanics didn’t necessarily age well. Modern Sonic can boost his speed, but then that puts Sonic at risk of completely falling off the stage, ruining the fast-paced momentum. It’s hard to gauge in 3D space how far platforms are, so you just have to pray and hope that you end up landing on your feet.
Shadow’s levels still have the 2D and 3D mix of modern Sonic, but are much better designed. The spacing between railings and platforms is tighter, making the levels a blast to speed through. Additionally, the levels are much more cinematic, with reality warping around Shadow like a Doctor Strange movie. Shadow also has an ability to slow down time, which comes in handy to make some tricky platforming jumps.
Shadow’s White Space is also much more fleshed out than Sonic’s. While Sonic’s White Space hub merely divides the levels, Shadow’s hub offers a range of activities, including mini coin-collecting challenges and opportunities to discover collectibles celebrating the franchise’s milestones.
'Sonic x Shadow Generations' graphicsSonic x Shadow Generations looks great, especially Shadow’s portion.
Credit: Sonic Team / SegaThe blue-and-white color scheme of Sonic is directly contrasted with Shadow’s black and red. The user interface has inklings of Persona 5’s impeccable style, which adds a lot of charm to the game.
'Sonic x Shadow Generations' soundtrackShadow’s levels have electrifying tracks, with blaring guitars that keep you excited to play more. The tracks really complements Shadow’s style — and the music selection is on par with Sonic Frontiers as one of the best in the series.
'Sonic x Shadow Generations' difficultyPlaying as classic Sonic is easier due to not having to deal with the iffy 2D and 3D gameplay mix that modern Sonic has, but you’ll need to clear stages with both characters in order to progress through the story.
Credit: Sonic Team / SegaThankfully, however, you also don’t need to score high ranks on every single level to see how the story plays out. But for completionists, there’s still plenty of replayability if you want to go for S ranks on all ranks or find all collectibles.
'Sonic x Shadow Generations' performanceThe performance in Sonic x Shadow Generations, played on an Xbox Series X, is perfect, which is a big difference compared to the original 2011 version. Load times are reasonable and there weren’t any framerate hiccups.
Is 'Sonic x Shadow Generations' worth getting?Sonic x Shadow Generations is only $50 and the inclusion of the new Shadow content alone makes this remaster worth it. If you’re a Sonic fan, you’ll definitely find a lot of fun revisiting the Sonic Generations game, even if the modern Sonic controls and levels aren’t the best designed. However, the Shadow levels are a big step in the right direction for future games in the series, as they keep up the speedy momentum that you’d expect from a Sonic game.
SAVE $250: As of Nov. 25, you can get the Hisense 85-inch Class R6 Series 4K UHD Roku Smart TV for $548 at Walmart.
Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 85-inch Class R6 Series 4K UHD Roku Smart TV (85R6030N, 2024 Model) $548.00 at WalmartWe’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Walmart’s early Black Friday deals are insanely good. We’ve seen huge price cuts on everything from headphones to speakers to smart TVs.
Speaking of, as of Nov. 25, you can snag a Hisense 85-inch Class R6 Series 4K UHD Roku Smart TV (85R6030N, 2024 Model) for just $548 — $250 off the list price.
SEE ALSO: Walmart Black Friday ad: The best deals you can buy onlineThis massive 85-inch smart TV features 4K UltraHD resolution, four times the resolution of standard 1080p HD, and HDR (high dynamic range) technology for improved color, contrast, and brightness. With Roku TV OS, you can stream your favorite shows and movies across a variety of apps or score free channels with Roku's extensive lineup of free content.
Game Mode Plus with VRP and three high-speed HDMI inputs make this TV great for gaming and connecting devices like streaming boxes, cable boxes, consoles, and more.
Walmart is the place to shop for early Black Friday deals, and this Hisense 4K TV is among the best we've seen.
GET $39.99 OFF: As of Nov. 25, you can get Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for just $30.00. That's 57% off the original price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom $30.00 at WalmartThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has been out for about a year and a half, and it’s currently on sale for its best price yet by far ahead of Black Friday. The Great Sky Island is yours.
The successor to the console-defining Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom sends you into the sky. With crafting dynamics, cooking, and a vast and vertical open world, you’ll want to explore every inch of this vast game world.
SEE ALSO: Save $75 on the Nintendo Switch OLED 'Mario Kart 8 Deluxe' bundle for Black FridayPlay as Link as he searches for Princess Zelda, battling through a Nintendo Switch world chock full of monsters to stop Ganondorf and save Hyrule.
As of Nov. 25, Tears of the Kingdom is on sale for $39.99 off. Walmart+ members get access at 12pm EST, while everyone else can grab the sale at 5pm.
Tears of the Kingdom sold 10 million copies in its first three days and has sold more than that again since. Get it now for its best deal yet and glide through the kingdom of Hyrule.
Black Friday may be a great time of year to pick up the $429 Dyson Supersonic on sale (it is currently down to $329), but as someone who's tested Dyson's beauty tech lineup and the many dupes it's inspired, I wouldn't necessarily recommend going straight for the Supersonic just because it's $100 cheaper.
For starters, the Supersonic does drop down $100 in price over the course of the year, not just Black Friday — if you're willing to wait a few weeks from when you think to buy it, you'll almost certainly be able to score a deal. But maybe more importantly, you can actually save a lot more money if you opt for a dupe — and just a few days out from Black Friday on Nov. 29, each of the top picks I've personally tested for the best Dyson Supersonic dupes are on sale.
SEE ALSO: All the best early Black Friday deals at Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and WalmartAs it stands, Mashable recommends five different hair dryers to serve as worthy Dyson dupes, with each being suited to different needs, whether you want the cheapest dupe on the market (less than $100) or the dupe that'll minimize damage to your hair (infrared light does some heavy lifting here). Below, you'll find more info on each of the five picks on sale.
Best Supersonic dupe deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable Our pick: Laifen Swift $97.99 at LaifenThe Laifen Swift is compact, lightweight, dries hair quickly, and looks and sounds like the a Dyson Supersonic. While you won't get the five attachment versatility that you do with the Supersonic, you might find that you prefer the simplicity of the Swift (or that this is a sacrifice you can make for a hair dryer that clocks in under $100 on sale). Attachment-wise, it's maybe a better one-to-one dupe of the Supersonic Origin, but at a much more reasonable price point.
With cheaper dupes, I like to test out their longevity as much as I can — I've used the Swift regularly for just under two years, and haven't seen it show its age at all. Yes, the hottest setting is a little too hot for me and the attachment options are limited, but in my experience, those have been the biggest cons. If you are looking for a diffuser, Laifen also offers a model that includes one for just a few dollars more.
Best Supersonic dupe deal for spending less than $70 Opens in a new window Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable Our pick: Dreame Gleam hair dryer $69.99 at AmazonUsually, the Dreame Gleam hair dryer is our best Supersonic dupe under $100, but Black Friday upped the ante. If you have a Prime membership, you can grab this hair dryer on sale for just $69.99 at Amazon. If you don't have Prime, you can also pick this dryer up directly from Dreame's website. So what's the $28 difference between the Dreame and the Laifen dryers? To be honest, not a whole ton, but I can't personally attest to how the Dreame holds up over time (I tested it for the first time in Oct. 2024). What I will say is the Gleam doesn't have a diffuser attachment you can bundle, it doesn't sound like a Supersonic, and it is the slightest bit bulkier than the Laifen Swift.
Best Supersonic dupe deal for minimizing hair damage Opens in a new window Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable Our pick: Zuvi Halo $209.00 at ZuviThe Zuvi Halo certainly isn't the cheapest dupe we recommend, but it's maybe the most unique. Unlike other options, this dryer doesn't try to outright copy Dyson's idea for a heat-minimizing dryer so much as offer an alternative that's just as innovative, thanks to the ring of infrared lights it uses in tandem with its airflow. While I was initially skeptical of how much these lights would actually do anything, I found that the Halo often left my hair feeling soft and shiny, and used noticeably cooler air than either of the above two dupes.
Instead of heat and air settings, the Halo has "care" modes you choose from, which automatically set the heat and intensity of the air you're getting. That might be a bit annoying for someone who craves more customizability, but for set-and-forget types, this feature might just be a godsend. At this sale price of $209, the Halo is still less than half the price of the Supersonic at full price, and $120 cheaper than the Supersonic on sale.
Best Supersonic dupe deal for the smoothest hair possible Opens in a new window Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable Our pick: Shark SpeedStyle Pro Flex $179.00 at AmazonShark is known for making some of the best Dyson dupes on the market, and though the SpeedStyle Pro Flex doesn't look anything like a Supersonic, if your goal is smooth hair and a good selection of attachments, this is the hair dryer to get. In addition to a standard drying nozzle, the Pro Flex comes with a QuickSmooth brush, a diffuser, and a FrizzFighter finishing tool. Each of these attachments automatically adjust the heat and speed setting for what Shark would consider the most optimal for each, but unlike the Zuvi, you can easily manually adjust each, too.
As for storage, this configuration of the ProFlex doesn't come with a storage case, but the folding neck does make the hair dryer a slightly less awkward shape to store. At $179, you'll save $50.99 on this hair dryer, grabbing it at the lowest price we've ever seen.
Best Supersonic dupe deal if you also want an Airwrap Opens in a new window Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable Our pick: Dreame Pocket hair dryer $99.99 at AmazonIf you've been eyeing the Dyson Supersonic, there's also a good chance you've checked out the Dyson Airwrap. If the $600 price tag scared you away, fair (though it is now $100 off for Black Friday). Sale price or not, that multistyler is expensive, and for many, the most interesting attachment can be the Coanda-air powered curling wands. With so many dupes on the market these days, this is no longer a Dyson exclusive option, even if you're looking at a more traditional hair dryer.
The Dreame Pocket hair dryer is super compact, with a neck that folds down and up, meaning you can use it as you would any hair dryer, fold it down for storing, or fold it up to use the curling nozzle (it also comes with a smoothing nozzle). While it does only go in one direction, it still gives a pretty, bouncy blowout — it didn't really curl my hair, but neither does the Airwrap curling wands, as both are more targeted at providing wavy blowout than true curls. The pocket also comes with a convenient storage bag that fits everything into a surprisingly compact package. I recommend it at full price, which makes it even easier to say its worth giving a go at $99.99.
SAVE $50: As of Nov. 25, you can score a pair of JLab JBuds Lux ANC headphones for just $29 at Walmart. That's a savings of $50 and a crazy good deal.
Opens in a new window Credit: JLab JLab JBuds Lux ANC headphones $29.00 at WalmartLooking to score a wicked deal on noise-cancelling headphones? Walmart’s early Black Friday sale has tons of deals on headphones, including the JLab JBuds Lux ANC headphones.
As of Nov. 25, you can snag these babies for just $29 — that’s an insanely good deal for a pair of headphones that typically retail for around $79.99. The lowest price we’ve ever seen on these is $46.99 (Amazon’s current price), so this $29 sale price is an absolute steal. Note: This deal is only available online.
SEE ALSO: Walmart Black Friday ad: The best deals you can buy onlineThe JLab JBuds Lux ANC headphones feature 40mm drivers and active noise cancellation technology to help block out background noise, whether you're on a noisy flight, in the office, or just trying to focus at home. With the ANC on, you can get 40 hours of playtime. With ANC off, that jumps up to 70 hours.
There’s also a “Be Aware” mode that lets you hear your surroundings while listening to music or podcasts, so you can stay safe when walking or biking. You can adjust this setting, get software updates, and more with the JLab App.
With Bluetooth connectivity and a built-in mic, you can take hands-free calls and control your music playback from the headphones. Plus, the Cloud Foam ear cushions are super soft and comfortable. We’d definitely recommend hopping on this deal before it’s gone.
SAVE $45.95: As of Nov. 25, you can snag an OtterBox Defender Series Pro case for your iPhone 16 Pro for just $19 at Walmart. That's a savings of $45.95.
Opens in a new window Credit: OtterBox OtterBox Defender Series Pro iPhone 16 Pro case $19.00 at WalmartWe’re just a few days from Black Friday, but Walmart’s website is overflowing with deals you can take advantage of right now. From headphones to mobile accessories, Walmart’s impressing us with its pre-Black Friday sales.
As of Nov. 25, you can grab an OtterBox Defender Series Pro phone case for the iPhone 16 Pro for just $19 at Walmart. That’s $45.95 off the list price and a really good deal for a tough-as-nails phone case.
SEE ALSO: All the best early Black Friday deals at Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and WalmartRemember, this deal is available to Walmart+ members at noon ET and non-members at 5 p.m. ET. If you want to hop on it early, you’ll need to sign up for a Walmart Plus membership right now, which is half-off for new members through Dec. 2.
The OtterBox Defender Series Pro Case for MagSafe iPhone 16 Pro is a multi-layered case that provides heavy-duty protection. It features DROP+ technology, which safeguards your phone from five times more drops than the military standard, and raised edges to protect your camera, screen, and port openings from dust and dirt.
JUST $178: As of Nov. 25, Walmart shoppers can get a 55-inch Hisense 4K TV for just $178 ahead of Black Friday. Note that this deal goes live at 12PM ET on Nov. 25 for Walmart+ members exclusively, and then will be open to everyone starting at 5PM ET.
Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 55-inch Class R6 Series 4K UHD Roku Smart TV $178.00 at WalmartBlack Friday is hands-down one of the best times to get a new TV — tons of can't-miss deals tend to go live before the main event officially starts, and 2024 is looking like it's going to follow suit.
If you're looking for a new 4K TV but don't have a huge budget this holiday shopping season, this deal from Walmart should absolutely be on your radar: The retailer is offering a 55-inch Hisense 4K TV for just $178. It's one of the cheapest 55-inch 4K TVs we've seen leading up to Black Friday and is bound to sell out quickly, so make sure you don't miss out.
SEE ALSO: Early Black Friday TV deals at Best Buy and Walmart absolutely school Amazon'sThere is one catch, though. This deal will only be available to Walmart+ members for a short period of time before being released to the general public. So if you're not a member, you'll want to act fast when the deal goes live for you, because you'll be shopping the leftover stock. The deal will become redeemable for Walmart+ members starting at 12PM ET on Nov. 25, and then will be available to all other shoppers starting at 5PM ET on the same day.
GET $20 OFF: As of Nov. 25, you can get a set of Nintendo Joy-Cons (L/R) - Left Neon Red/ Right Neon Blue Controllers for just $59.00. That's 25% off the original price or $20 off.
Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch Joy-Con (L/R) - Left Neon Red/ Right Neon Blue Controllers $59.00 at WalmartIt’s the time of year for huge discounts, but even so, our eyebrows shot up when we saw that Nintendo Joy-Cons are on sale today for $20 off. The Switch system remains immensely popular — consequently Joy-Cons rarely ever get significant discounts.
Whether you’re a cozy gamer doing dealings with Animal Crossing’s Tom Nook, or you’re battling your friends in Super Smash Bros, Joy-Cons are your point of entry to the action. The Nintendo Switch’s signature is its ability to transition from handheld system to TV and Joy-Cons make this happen.
SEE ALSO: Save $75 on the Nintendo Switch OLED 'Mario Kart 8 Deluxe' bundle for Black FridayAttached to a Switch, they control the action on the Switch’s main screen. Unattached to the screen, they connect with a Joy-Con Grip to make one large controller or function as two individual controllers. As individual controllers, each contains a separate accelerometer and gyro-sensor.
As of Nov. 25 you can get a set of Nintendo Joy-Cons (L/R) - Left Neon Red/ Right Neon Blue Controllers for $59.00 and save 25%.
As a gift, Joy-Cons open up multiplayer gaming for a Switch owner. The clear choice as a part gaming system Nintendo Switch is a great choice for multiplayer gaming, and a gift of Joy-Cons brings even more friends into the action.
GET $50 OFF: As of Nov. 25 at 12PM EST, Lego Ideas The Office US TV Show Series Dunder Mifflin Scranton Model Building Set is on sale for $70, save $50 at Walmart.
Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Ideas The Office US TV Show Series Dunder Mifflin Scranton Model Building Set, 21336 $70.00 at WalmartResurrected from the Schrute Farms compost bin, The Office Dunder Mifflin Scranton Model Building Set brings the classic Scranton comedy to life. The set was recently retired by Lego; if you were eyeing the set and missed out, this is your notice that it's back now. Get it on sale for Black Friday week at Walmart.
SEE ALSO: 15+ of the best Lego Black Friday deals you can shop earlyWith 15 mini-figures that you’ll recognize from Dunder Mifflin HQ, you’ll be able to call a meeting in the boardroom, banish Michael Scott to sulk in his office, or give Pam an engagement ring. The set even comes with Dwight’s secret stash of weapons and Michael’s "World's Best Boss" mug.
As of Nov. 25 at noon EST, The Office Lego Building Set is on sale for $70 for a total savings of $50.
Made for adult fans of The Office, this collector’s set comes with an illustrated book about The Office and the set’s creators.
If you’ve been following this Lego Ideas set you might have thought it was gone for good. Don’t wait, because it might not come out of retirement again. As Michael says, “Fool me once, strike one. But fool me twice... strike three.”
SAVE $150: As of Nov. 25, you can snag the JBL Partybox 110 at Walmart for $199. That's a 43% discount or $150.95 off the list price. Note: The Walmart MSRP price is slightly inflated, so we're basing this off the actual MSRP.
Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Partybox 110 $199.00 at WalmartIf you’ve been looking for a speaker that doubles as a karaoke machine, we’ve found just the product — and it’s on sale.
As of Nov. 25, you can get the JBL Partybox 110 for just $199 at Walmart. (Walmart+ shoppers can snag it at this price at noon; non-members will have to wait until 5 p.m. ET.) That’s a $150.95 discount and a record-low price for this speaker. It looks like Amazon, Best Buy, and the JBL website are selling it for a mere 95 to 99 cents more, so if Walmart sells out, you can still grab it elsewhere for a great price.
SEE ALSO: Black Friday store hours: What time do Walmart, Best Buy, Target and more open their doors?The JBL Partybox 110 is a fun, portable party speaker that can fill a room with that signature JBL Original Pro Sound. It’s IPX4 splashproof (take it to the pool or the beach) and has a mic and guitar input, so you can use it as an amp or host karaoke nights.
With the PartyBox App, you can control your music, update settings, and customize the colors and patterns of the lights — perfect for setting the mood at any event. You'll get up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge.
Dictionary.com's word of the year is demure, a nod to the "very mindful, very demure" social media trend started by TikTokker Jools Lebron.
Demure beat out brainrot, brat (inspired by the Charli XCX album of the same name), extreme weather, midwest nice, and weird. Dictionary.com defines demure as "characterized by shyness or modesty; reserved," but its announcement acknowledged that the use popularized by Jools changes the word's meaning.
SEE ALSO: 'Pookie' is more than a pet name. TikTok's new favorite word is rooted in a rich cultural history.Online, it's come to mean anything from self-aware, sophisticated, and restrained to good and praiseworthy. But as is the case with any viral word, it's also come to mean nothing.
Jools first posted how to be mindful and demure in early August. "You see how I do my makeup for work? Very demure. Very mindful," she said in the now-viral video. "I don't come to work with a green-cut crease. I don't look like a clown when I go to work. I don't do too much. I'm very mindful while I'm at work."
SEE ALSO: 'Very demure' demonstrates TikTok's ability to shape modern languageThe word quickly caught on and was inescapable online. Dictionary.com saw 200 times more searches for the word than it did on dates preceding August.
SAVE 75%: 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 an entire year (reg. $79.99/year) using the codes REALDEALMONTHLY or REALDEAL, respectively.
Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium $1.99/month for six months or $19.99/year (save 75%) Get DealPeacock has consistently dropped one of the most impressive Black Friday deals for multiple years in a row. Thankfully, this year is no different.
From Nov. 25 through Dec. 2, new and returning subscribers can sign up for Peacock Premium (the ad-supported tier) for either $1.99/month for six months with the code REALDEALMONTHLY or $19.99/year with the code REALDEAL. That's 75% off the usual streaming cost either way you slice it. At a glance, this basically mirrors Peacock's Black Friday deal from last year, but since the streamer raised its prices back in July — now $7.99/month or $79.99/year (up from $5.99/month or $59.99/year) — it's actually a much bigger discount.
If you've never checked out Peacock, Mashable's film editor found that it's a subscription worth your while — even at full price. At $19.99 for an entire year, it's a complete no-brainer. Peacock is home to popular shows like The Office, New Girl, Law & Order: SVU, and Yellowstone, as well as new theatrical releases like Twisters, The Fall Guy, and Abigail. For reality TV junkies, it's also the home of all of your favorites from Bravo. Don't sleep on Peacock Originals like Poker Face and Mrs. Davis either. Check out our watch guides for the best shows on Peacock, the most binge-worthy shows on Peacock, the best horror movies on Peacock, and more if you need more convincing.
With a Premium subscription, you'll have to sit through some ads, but with this Black Friday deal, it's kind of hard to complain. Just think of those ads as built-in snack and bathroom breaks. If you want to avoid paying full price, be sure to cancel your subscription before the promotional period is up.
SAVE $100: The Lomi 2 food recycler, normally $599, is available for only $499 as part of the brand's Black Friday sale. For even more savings, Pela (Lomi's parent company) is offering two package deals that include the Lomi, along with extras, like regular shipments of odor-eliminating charcoal filters.
Opens in a new window Credit: Courtesy Lomi Lomi 2 food recycler $499.00 at PelaThe idea of composting may conjure images of stinky barrels overflowing with bugs. Pela's Lomi 2 food recycler is a much more accessible way of cutting down waste (along with reducing garbage bags and trips to the bins). About the size of a slow cooker, Lomi makes composting food scraps and paper waste possible on your countertop, so you can do your part for the environment without having to leave your home or apartment (read Mashable's very thorough review of Lomi here). The machine is also relatively quiet and one composting cycle uses less than 1kWh of electricity, less energy than a dishwasher load.
As mentioned, Pela's Black Friday deals feature more than the $499 Lomi 2 special. Because the composter requires recurring materials — namely, charcoal filters that eliminate bad smells — the other deals combine the Lomi with a "membership." One option for $359 and $10 per month includes the Lomi 2, along with a starter pack of the charcoal filters and a one-year supply of filter refills (4 packs); the $10 charge is billed annually.
Another special holiday option is available for $399 and $10 per month — it includes the Lomi 2, a starter pack of charcoal filters, the one-year supply of filter refills, a Lomi Cap (a place to store scraps while the Lomi is busy composting older detritus), and a three-pack of wax wraps (an eco-friendly replacement for plastic wrap).
All three specials are available for a limited time.
For the first time since 2012, Sony is developing a legitimate handheld device for playing PlayStation games, Bloomberg reports.
For good reason, there isn't much else to say about the device right now, as Bloomberg noted that it's most likely years away from launch, if Sony decides to follow through with launching it at all. Sometimes products like this go through some portion of development only to get scrapped before seeing the light of day.
SEE ALSO: PlayStation Portal just got a big updateBloomberg's reporting indicated the machine would be able to natively play PS5 games on the go, which means it would have to be more powerful than the current crop of premium handhelds like the Steam Deck. That would also distinguish it from the recently released PlayStation Portal, which does allow you to stream PS5 games on the go, but only as long as you have a constant Wi-Fi connection.
Sony's sudden interest in returning to the handheld market is interesting because it didn't go well last time. The PSP made some waves in the mid-2000s, but the PlayStation Vita (launched in 2012) failed to generate any traction whatsoever, with Sony neglecting to release many big first-party games for it over its lifespan. However, since then, the Nintendo Switch has taken over the world, and Xbox is even reportedly working on a handheld.
What's old is new again, apparently.
It's all about Keanu Reeves and the end of the world as we know it in the latest trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
Reeves made a cheeky cameo as Shadow the Hedgehog in Sonic 2, but will be up front in this one as the key villain. He's up against an unlikely team: Ben Schwartz returning as Sonic, Colleen O'Shaughnessey back voicing Tails, and Idris Elba crushing it as Knuckles.
But as you'll see from the trailer, perpetual Sonic series highlight Jim Carrey is also back, this time playing both Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik and his grandfather Gerald, Shadow's creator. That's a lot of villain firepower.
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